Amazon Prime Video: Channels, Packages, Pricing, and More (May 2024)

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For over half a decade now, we've seen Amazon Prime Video evolve into a major contender in the so-called "Streaming Wars." From original television shows like The Boys and Fallout to original movies like Road House and The Idea of You, the expansion of the streaming service has been a sight to see, but costs have shifted with add-on packages and new channels available through the service. 

This all might make one think: How do you know if Amazon Prime Video is right for you? What kinds of packages are available, and what's the pricing like? More importantly, can you add other Amazon Prime channels to your subscription? Here's what to look for if you're adding Amazon Prime Video to your library of streaming platforms.

How Does Amazon Prime Video Work?

Amazon Prime Video is an over-the-top (OTT) streaming service that gives you access to video-on-demand (VOD) content with a monthly or annual subscription. With this subscription, you get to watch thousands of titles at no additional cost using any compatible device.

Prime Video has a vast catalog of movies and TV shows to stream on its service, hosting multiple avenues to help subscribers get streaming. The platform creates originals produced exclusively for the streaming service, in addition to a sea of non-Amazon-produced titles that are cycled in and out of the platform. Amazon Prime Video also offers some content that you can purchase or rent in case you're interested in physical copies of your favorite movies and TV shows.

How Much Does Amazon Prime Video Cost?

Here's something cool: if you're already an Amazon Prime member you have Amazon Prime Video. Aside from all the deals, it might just be the best perk of being a Prime member. If you happen to not be a member, though, no worries; you can still sign up. 

Prime Video with an Amazon Prime Membership costs $14.99/month, which adds up to $139 annually. A standalone subscription without a Prime membership will cost subscribers a total of $8.99 per month. The platform has also recently implemented ads for when you watch content. However, if you wanted to sign up for an ad-free plan, it'll cost only a few dollars more at $17.98/month for Prime members and $11.98/month for the standalone subscription.

What Types of Channels Does Amazon Prime Video Offer?

Amazon Prime Video has aggregated a pretty large channel list, as it has over 100 add-on deals to package your Amazon streaming experience. Prime offers familiar channels like Paramount+, Starz, BBC, PBS, and more recently, Max, in addition to its catalog of other streaming services you can bundle into your Prime Video plan. A major selling point for consumers is that when adding these channels, they all come with a free seven-day trial period, whereas as a standalone purchase, some of these add-ons may not. 

Prime also has many niche add-ons that may not be as big as some of the names mentioned above, but still hold their own in providing fun content for consumers. Some are even free, like the now-well-known Freevee that comes with signing up for Prime Video. Other smaller streaming services, like the top-rated horror streaming service Shudder, MGM+, Magnolia Selects, and BET+, are available to add to your membership as well.

Are There Commercials on Amazon Prime Video or Is It Ad-Free?

Amazon Prime Video is no longer an ad-free service as of May 2024. As mentioned above, Amazon recently began rolling out ads. Those subscribing to Prime Video's solo plan and those subscribing to Prime with Prime Video inclusion can pay an extra $2.99/month to go ad-free at $11.98/month and $17.98/month respectively.

Does Amazon Prime Video Have Live Sports?

Like many of its competitors, Amazon Prime Video has become a hub for streaming live sports through both exclusive programming and add-on packages. Football fans can catch NFL Thursday Night Football during the regular season, which is awesome for those without cable, especially since Thursday Night Football is exclusive to Prime Video and can't be watched anywhere else. Amazon Prime Video has also picked up streaming rights to some NFL Wild Card Game action during the postseason as well.

If you're looking to broaden your live streaming of sports through Amazon Prime Video, there are more options than just football. Baseball fans can add MLB.TV through Amazon Prime Video, too, and if you're a huge fan of hoops, you can stream NBA and WNBA games this upcoming season by adding the NBA League Pass. Lastly, if you choose to include Paramount+ to your subscription to Amazon Prime Video, you can catch anything from domestic and international soccer to NCAA March Madness action to NFL football.

How Else Can I Benefit From Having Amazon Prime Video?

With all the add-ons available, you might be doing the math and realizing that integrating all the other streaming services into your Amazon Prime Video account might cost more than signing up for them individually. Depending on how many subscriptions you have, this could be true. However, the benefit here is that you keep everything in one place, making it easier to manage your subscriptions. 

Prime Video is compatible with just about any smart TV and streaming library device. More specifically, if you're going to have Prime Video, you might as well have it on Fire Stick TV or Fire TV Cube, so your subscription is front and center. It could just be the easiest streaming platform you'll ever subscribe to.

Should You Cut the Cord for Amazon Prime Video?

Amazon Prime Video provides an impressive selection of third-party channels besides its lineup of on-demand videos. But although some of these channels provide a fair bit of live programming such as news and shows, they don't exactly have a lot of sports broadcasts, though the offering there is expanding. Still, sports fans might be unable to catch their favorite team live and in action through these Prime Video channels.

The truth is that Amazon Prime Video and its host of channels can't replace cable for sports fans the way that other services like Hulu + Live TV and Sling TV can. And you won't be able to download the app for Peacock, which hosts most of NBC's content these days. While you can catch currently airing CBS shows on Paramount+, you'll be without most local coverage and network shows if you're strictly using Amazon Prime Video (ABC content will also be hard to come by).

If you have come to appreciate live viewing or next-day viewing of your favorite cable shows, cutting the cord completely for Amazon Prime Video may be tough. If you're a more casual viewer and prefer streaming content over network dramas anyway, Prime Video may be all you need to satiate your hunger for new shows and movies.