Article Summary
For just $8.99/month, Amazon Prime Video gives you access to a vast library of shows and movies. For a few dollars more at $12.99/month, you can not only enjoy Prime Video but also the many other benefits of a full Amazon Prime membership, such as free one-day shipping and cloud storage. Prime Video is compatible with most major streaming devices and smart TVs.
Amazon has taken over the retail world, so it’s not surprising the giant tech company hasn’t stopped there. Amazon also has its hand in video and TV via Prime Video, which hosts an extensive catalog of streamable movies and shows. Keep reading to learn all you need to know about Amazon Prime Video.
What is Amazon Prime Video?
Launched in September 2006, Prime Video is Amazon’s video streaming service which has exclusive streaming rights to a variety of movies, shows, documentaries, and comedy specials. Within the Prime Video library is a wide selection of Amazon’s own original content, including many award-winning shows and movies. Prime Video also allows you to rent or buy shows or movies a la carte.
How Do I Get Prime Video?
You can get Prime Video or Amazon Prime by signing up on the Amazon website. Prime comes with a free 30-day trial. After the trial is over, you’ll begin seeing a monthly charge for your Prime membership.
Do I Have to Get Amazon Prime to watch Prime Video?
You don’t have to pay for a full Amazon Prime membership to get Prime Video. You can sign up for the streaming service on its own for $8.99/month.
However, going with a full-blown Amazon Prime membership (which includes Prime Video) gets you:
- Free one-day delivery and same-day delivery (when available) on Amazon shopping items
- Free two-hour grocery delivery (where available)
- Unlimited music streaming
- Unlimited reading of electronic books, magazines, and audiobooks available on Prime Reading
You don’t necessarily need a Prime Video or Amazon Prime membership to enjoy Amazon’s exclusive content. Many of Prime Video’s exclusive shows and movies are available to non-members for one-time rentals or purchase.
How Much Does Prime Video Cost?
Prime Video costs $8.99/month on its own. If you’d like the other perks that come with a full Amazon Prime membership, you have the option of paying for it monthly at $12.99/month, or forking out for the entire year for $119. The latter works out to less than a dollar more than paying the for a year of Prime Video by itself.
Shows and Movies on Prime Video
If Prime Video has an advantage over other on-demand streaming services, it’s quantity. Prime Video’s library includes over a massive 16,400 movies and nearly 2,000 TV shows. Among this massive catalog of content are shows and movies from several of the biggest studios around the world, as well as Amazon originals.
Non-Amazon originals available to stream with Prime Video include:
- TV shows such as:
- 30 Rock
- Veep
- Parks and Recreation
- Downton Abbey
- Movies like:
- Midsommer
- Ladybird
- A Quiet place
- Almost Famous
Amazon Original Shows and Movies
Amazon has been producing or co-producing several original shows for years. Highlights include the Phoebe Waller-Bridge led Fleabag and Amy Sherman-Palladino’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, both of which have won multiple Emmy Awards and Golden Globes.
Other Amazon original fan-favorite shows include:
- The Boys
- Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan
- The Grand Tour
- The Man in the High Castle
- The Tick
- And more
Amazon also produces loads of original films, including winners like Manchester by the Sea, which earned several Oscar nominations, and The Big Sick which earned an Oscar nomination for Best Screenplay.
Other Amazon original movies available on Prime Video include:
- Late Night
- Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot
- Brittany Runs a Marathon
- Last Flag Flying
Prime Video Compatible Devices
Prime Video is compatible with several a variety of devices. Take a look at this table to see which devices are compatible with Prime Video and the other major on-demand streaming video services.
Streaming Device Compatibility
| Device | Netflix | Amazon Prime Video | Hulu | Disney + | Apple TV+ | HBO Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCs/Macs | ||||||
| Apple TV | ||||||
| Chromecast | - | - | - | |||
| Nvidia Shield | - | - | - | - | ||
| iOS Devices | ||||||
| Android | ||||||
| Roku | ||||||
| Fire TV | ||||||
| PlayStation | - | |||||
| XBOX | - | |||||
| Cox Box | - | - | - | - | ||
| Dish Box | - | - | - | - |
How Do I Get Prime Video on My TV?
As you can see from the table above, Prime TV is available with several plug-and-play streaming devices you can use to get Prime Video on your TV. In addition to these devices Prime Video is compatible with and comes pre-installed on several Smart TVs, included those made by:
- Sony
- Samsung
- Panasonic
- LG
- Insignia
- JVC
- Xiaomi
- Vizio
- Philips Sharp
Best Internet for Prime Video
Needless to say, to enjoy your streaming service at home on your computer or TV you’re going to need an internet plan that delivers adequate speed. The following minimum internet speeds are recommended for Prime Video:
- 900Kbps to watch in SD
- 3.5Mbps to watch in HD
- 15Mbps to watch in 4K UHD
Check out our internet comparison tool to help find the best internet in your area for streaming Prime Video.
Here are just some examples of great internet plans for Prime Video:
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#1
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AT&T 
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#2
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Spectrum 
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#3
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Ting 
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Viasat 
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#5
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Hughesnet 
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Angelo Ilumba
Senior Writer
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