Amazon to End Prime Invitee Program, Limit Shared Free Shipping

Beginning Oct. 1, Amazon will switch Prime customers from its Prime Invitee Program to the new Amazon Family Program, which limits shared free shipping and additional benefits with other adult members.

Under the new arrangement, Prime members will be able to share benefits with only one other adult, and up to four children in the household, as well as up to four teens—if they were added before April 7, 2025.

Currently, the Prime Invitee Program allows members to share benefits with people outside their household. However, starting next month, any additional household adults will be required to purchase their own Prime Membership.

In order to share benefits, a customer and the invitee must live together at the same primary residential address. Customers can also stop sharing benefits with their Amazon Family members at any time.

According to internal data reviewed by Reuters, Prime sign-ups across the United States fell short from last year’s total as well as Amazon’s target. The largest global online retailer registered 5.4 million sign-ups over the 21-day run-up to Prime Day and its four-day sales event from July 8–11, which was about 116,000 fewer than the same period a year ago and 106,000 below the goal the company itself had set.

The buzz on social media site Reddit shows the move is upsetting some customers.

“For years I’ve gotten free Prime shipping benefits, as a Prime Invitee, I suppose, from my sister’s paid account,” one customer said.

“They’re finally closing that loop and making me get my own account. They’re offering the first year at $14.99 per year, but after that, it’s $139 per year, and my wife and I will take a hard look at whether we want to pay that, and are already considering other alternatives.”

Another customer said: “Guess I’m going to be using Walmart+ a whole lot more now. I sure am not paying for two Prime accounts to keep them separate.”

“Back then when you were able to share it with others, I shared it with my parents and my sister, both at two different locations than me,” noted another Prime consumer.

“Now they’re getting rid of it all together probably because there’s a number of early adopters sharing benefits still and Amazon wants to kick all those people off. Amazon more so gave me an easy enticement to cancel.”

Amazon will continue to offer its Prime benefits, including quick and free delivery on Prime-eligible items, access to exclusive Prime events and deals, Prime Video and Reading, and digital content like audiobooks, e-books, games, and more.

Prime members can still share their Amazon Music Prime with one other adult in their household.

Amazon’s revenue for the second quarter ending June 30 was $167.7 billion—a 13 percent increase year over year.