Amazon is officially ending the Prime Invitee program on October 1, 2025, cutting off one of the most popular ways people shared Prime shipping benefits outside of their household. The Invitee option let a Prime member extend free two-day shipping to one other person, even if they lived at a different address.
With this change, Amazon says only those living under the same roof will be able to share Prime perks. Anyone currently using the Invitee program will lose access unless they subscribe on their own.
To soften the shift, Amazon is offering a special annual subscription for $14.99 to Invitees who sign up before December 31, 2025. After the first year, the regular pricing applies—$14.99 per month or $139 per year.
This limited-time offer is meant to encourage Invitees to stay in the ecosystem instead of leaving Prime altogether.
Amazon Family Becomes the Only Sharing Option
Instead of the Invitee system, Amazon is now steering members to its Amazon Family plan, which allows sharing of benefits inside one household only. Under this model, a Prime account can include:
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One other adult (must share the same address)
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Up to four teenagers (if they were added before April 7, 2025)
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Up to four child profiles
All profiles must live at the primary residential address—defined by Amazon as the place where the Prime member spends most of their time.
While shipping to other addresses is still possible for gifts or alternate delivery locations, the actual membership benefits can’t be extended outside the household.
Why Amazon is Making the Change
Amazon hasn’t given an official reason, but experts say the decision mirrors similar moves by other digital platforms. Netflix and Disney+ both cracked down on account sharing, and Netflix in particular saw a large jump in subscribers going from 238 million to over 300 million within a year of the change.
By limiting Prime sharing, Amazon is likely aiming to:
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Increase individual sign-ups
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Boost revenue per user
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Tighten control over how benefits are used
Industry analysts suggest this could be part of a broader effort to prepare Prime for future price increases or expanded perks.
What Members Should Know
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Invitees outside the household: Must sign up for their own Prime account to keep free shipping and other benefits.
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Discounted offer: $14.99 annual deal available until December 31, 2025, for Invitees who switch to a paid membership.
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Households: Still allowed to share perks like free shipping, Prime Video, and Prime Reading through Amazon Family.
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Gift deliveries: Sending items to different addresses is still allowed, but benefit sharing isn’t.
The end of the Invitee program marks a major shift for Amazon Prime. For years, it gave members a way to share one of Prime’s most attractive perks fast, free shipping with people outside their homes. Now, Amazon is closing that door and focusing on household-only sharing.
For many families living together, the change won’t matter. But for friends, roommates, or relatives living apart, it means paying for a separate subscription or losing access altogether.
