If you're one of the many, many Amazon Prime subscribers globally, then chances are that you've heard of Amazon's streaming counterpart, Prime Video. Founded in July 1994, Amazon has become a major stakeholder in the e-commerce game — and some of us would be truly lost without it. The retailer made its Aussie debut in November 2017, subsequently bringing Prime Video along with it, and the rest is history.
Since then, Prime Video has graced Aussie homes with its blockbuster originals, and free-to-stream licensed content, including releases like Jake Gyllenhaal's Roadhouse, the rom-com The Idea of You, and the highly-rated dystopian sci-fi series, Fallout.
But some may question whether it's worth maintaining an ongoing subscription to Prime Video, especially if you want to cut down your monthly expenses or if the content isn't to your liking anymore. If you're looking for help with this decision, look no further. We've gathered the most up-to-date information on Prime Video and what's included in its monthly plans, and popped it into this handy guide just for you.
Now, if you're interested in overall price comparisons across streaming services in Australia or which streamers are the best down under, we've got you covered with our localised Aussie streaming guides. But if you're simply in the market for something to watch tonight (or this month), our updated what to watch guide could prove helpful to you, too.
Prime Video Australia plans and prices
Amazon Prime currently has three plans on offer:
Monthly plan with ads| AU$9.99
Monthly plan without ads | AU$12.98
Yearly plan | AU$79
Amazon Prime is almost a no-brainer if you're an avid online shopper thanks to its free one-day delivery for local items Additionally, Amazon Prime subscribers gain access to Amazon Music, Prime Reading, Prime Gaming and of course, Prime Video. For those who may already have Prime memberships, it’s possible you could be missing out on everything Prime Video has to offer.
It’s important to note that having an Amazon Prime membership gets you instant access to Prime Video, with the two being inextricably linked. This means that you cannot have a Prime Video membership without signing up for Amazon Prime.
If you divide the monthly price by the amount of Prime benefits you get, Prime Video costs around AU$1.99 per month and around AU$15.80 annually — making it technically the cheapest streaming service available.
However, Prime Video recently introduced ads on its current monthly plan, offering a new ad-free option for an additional AU$2.99 p/m — almost reaching the median streamer price of AU$13.74p/m. There's no confirmation on whether an annual plan without ads will be available.
How to pick the right plan for your needs
For the most part, when choosing the right streaming plan for your needs, it comes down to two factors: the number of screens and streaming resolution. Obviously, other factors can go into this, like catalogue access and non-streaming benefits — which are both pretty notable for Prime Video.
Prime Video now offers two different monthly plans — ad-supported and ad-free — boosting the usual cost to AU$12.99p/m for the latter. While an additional AU$2.99p/m may be fine for those who wish to consume content without ads, it might not be the most affordable option for others.
Regardless of what plan you subscribe to, Prime Video allows you to stream in HD/4K resolutions on up to three screens at once and stream the same video on two devices simultaneously. In terms of downloadable content, you can download TV shows or movies on up to four devices.
For larger households, this means you can use one Prime membership across multiple devices. Unlike Apple TV Plus, Prime Video allows you to have different viewer profiles for the same account, meaning you can separate family-friendly suggestions under a Kids icon.
It’s really up to you to decide what plan option is the best, but if you’re looking to score some serious Amazon deals on upcoming Prime Days, it could be worth switching to an annual plan.
Are there ways to save on subscription costs?
When choosing a monthly subscription, Amazon Prime already proves it’s great value for money. With unlimited access to a range of Prime exclusive benefits, it’s pretty highly rated here at Tom’s Guide.
Still not convinced? You should know that Amazon Prime offers new customers a 30-day free trial to try out its benefits, which of course includes Prime Video. This is pretty exceptional when it comes to a multi-purpose subscription. This 30-day free trial can be cancelled at any time and it’s definitely something to consider if you find yourself shopping on Amazon.
As mentioned above, if you are a keen Amazon Prime member, it could be worth switching to an annual subscription to maximise your savings. With a saving of AU$40.88 per year, it definitely gives you the most bang for your buck.
As for Prime Video, it could be a great alternative to having multiple streaming subscriptions, and you could potentially access a more comprehensive content selection at a relatively low cost.
If you’re an Optus customer, you also have the option of getting a Prime Video subscription through select home internet or mobile phone plans, so you may be able to maximise savings by bundling your services.
How does Prime Video pricing compare to other streaming services?
Price-wise, Prime Video is one of the cheaper streaming options available. Again, the only catch is that you need an Amazon Prime membership, but at AU$9.99 per month, it’s not hard to justify if you actively use and peruse Amazon. The basic Prime Video plan is on par with other services, costing an average of AU$10p/m.
Now that the streamer will offer an exclusive ad-free option for AU$12.99p/m (including Prime benefits), the price point is similar to Disney Plus and Apple TV Plus standard subscriptions and costs less than the average AU$13.74p/m for the tier.
How does Prime Video's content catalogue compare?
According to our research, Prime Video is home to the biggest content library with 10,260 titles, which is comprised of 8,267 films and 1,993 television shows. Following closely behind is Netflix with 7,314 titles and Foxtel Now with 3,882 titles.
Prime Video has an excellent range of original titles to stream for free as well as other licensed content that you can rent or buy. Anything you purchase will have indefinite viewing, meaning you can rewatch any of your VHS-era reruns over and over again.
Prime Video also allows you to purchase separate channels for an additional fee. This means you can watch shows and movies from channels such as BritBox, AMC+, Paramount, Shudder and more. And you'll also find a wealth of blockbuster movies and TV shows to stream for free as a part of the platform's back catalogue.
Some of the best Amazon TV originals include Reacher, I'm a Virgo, Aussie-based crime dramedy Deadloch and Nicole Kidman-fronted miniseries Expats, based in 2014 Hong Kong. And it would be remiss not to mention the heavily debated Lord of the Rings series, The Rings of Power, teen rom-com book-to-series, The Summer I Turned Pretty and the smash-hit series based on a videogame, Fallout.
Amazon original movies include the wildly popular and murderous Saltburn, Sasha Baron Cohen’s latest Borat instalment and holiday flick Candy Cane Lane, fronted by Eddie Murphy.
Some recent releases on the platform include the latest season of The Boys, a period rom-com series, My Lady Jane. Some new originals include the Australian adaptation of the global franchise, The Office, and the baking competition with a sinister twist, Killer Cakes. Notably, in November, Prime Video will become home to series adaptation of cult-classic film, Cruel Intentions.
Prime Video has some great Amazon original docos too, with many nostalgic millennial Aussies tuning into The Wiggles documentary, Hot Potato: The Story of the Wiggles or fangirling to Jonas Brothers: Chasing Happiness or Celine Dion's tell-all documentary, I Am: Celine Dion.
Has the Australian Prime Video price increased over time?
Since its Australian debut in 2017, Amazon Prime was priced at a reasonable AU$6.99 per month. However, in the past year, the subscription recorded an AU$3 price hike, up to AU$9.99 per month. Despite this, Amazon Prime and its inclusions remain pretty affordable.
Is a Prime Video subscription worth it?
If you’re gotten this far, then you may still be wondering whether a Prime Video subscription is worth your hard-earned cash, so here’s what we recommend.
While we love Amazon here at Tom’s Guide, we recognise that the shopping giant may not be for everyone — and that also goes for its benefits like Prime Video. However, if you find yourself shopping on Amazon or googling where you can stream a beloved classic film or TV show, more often than not Prime Video is the answer.
It’s definitely worth maintaining an ongoing subscription to if you’re a movie buff for its impressive back catalogue, but if you’re more interested in newer releases, then we’d suggest dipping back and forth a few times a year.
If you’re thinking of cancelling your subscription, we have a guide on how to cancel Prime Video that you may want to check out.
