Amazon has announced a significant change to its Prime Video experience. Starting June 17, 2025, customers across India and globally will begin to see limited advertisements during Prime Video content. This change is aimed at supporting Amazon’s continued investment in producing high-quality movies and TV shows. However, for those who wish to retain an ad-free streaming experience, Amazon will offer a paid upgrade option.
Table of contents
- Why Is Amazon Prime Video Adding Advertisements?
- New Ad-Free Plan Option: ₹999/Year or ₹129/Month
- What’s Staying the Same with Your Prime Membership
- 1. Fast & Free Delivery on Amazon.in
- 2. Access to Popular and Exclusive Prime Video Content
- 3. Add-On Subscriptions & Rentals via Prime Video Channels
- 4. Amazon Prime Day and Exclusive Offers
- 5. Unlimited Cashback with Amazon Pay ICICI Card
- 6. Music Streaming with Amazon Music
- 7. Prime Gaming Perks
- 8. Prime Reading
- How This Impacts Current Subscribers
- What to Expect: Ad Load and Content Experience
- How Amazon Stacks Up Against Other Streaming Platforms
- Final Thoughts: Is It Worth Staying with Prime?
Why Is Amazon Prime Video Adding Advertisements?
The inclusion of limited ads is a strategic move by Amazon to bolster its content funding while ensuring subscription prices remain stable for the majority of its users. As content production costs rise and competition increases, ads provide a revenue stream to maintain—and expand—its library of original and licensed content.
Amazon has assured subscribers that its ad load will be significantly lighter compared to traditional TV channels and rival streaming services. This means fewer interruptions, allowing for a relatively seamless viewing experience even with ads.
New Ad-Free Plan Option: ₹999/Year or ₹129/Month
For users who prefer uninterrupted entertainment, Amazon will launch a new ad-free add-on that can be purchased starting June 17, 2025. This add-on will be priced at:
- ₹999 per year
- ₹129 per month
This optional upgrade ensures that users can continue enjoying Prime Video without any commercial breaks, similar to the current experience.
What’s Staying the Same with Your Prime Membership
Amazon has confirmed that no other benefits of Prime membership are changing. This includes access to a host of entertainment, shopping, and digital services. Here’s what Prime members will continue to receive without any additional cost:
1. Fast & Free Delivery on Amazon.in
- Unlimited same-day delivery on more than 1 million items
- Next-day delivery on over 4 million products
2. Access to Popular and Exclusive Prime Video Content
Members will still enjoy critically acclaimed and popular content, including:
- Original series like Mirzapur, Paatal Lok, The Family Man, Panchayat, and Farzi
- International hits such as The Boys, Reacher, The Summer I Turned Pretty, Fallout, and Citadel
- Upcoming movies and series like Kalki 2898 AD, Singham Again, Stree 2, Raayan, Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, and many more
3. Add-On Subscriptions & Rentals via Prime Video Channels
Prime Video continues to be a hub for additional streaming services including:
- Apple TV+
- Lionsgate Play
- Discovery+
- Sony Pictures Stream
- BBC Player, FanCode, Eros Now, Hoichoi, and others
Both Prime and non-Prime members can also rent blockbuster films on the platform.
4. Amazon Prime Day and Exclusive Offers
- Early access to Amazon’s biggest sales
- Everyday offers and member-exclusive deals
5. Unlimited Cashback with Amazon Pay ICICI Card
- Prime members enjoy 5% unlimited cashback on all purchases via the Amazon Pay ICICI credit card
6. Music Streaming with Amazon Music
- Unlimited ad-free songs
- Millions of podcasts
7. Prime Gaming Perks
- Free in-game content, upgrades, and digital items every month
8. Prime Reading
- Free rotating access to eBooks, comics, and magazines
How This Impacts Current Subscribers
Amazon has made it clear that no action is required from existing members. You can continue enjoying Prime benefits as usual, and the changes to Prime Video will be implemented automatically on June 17, 2025.
If you prefer an ad-free experience, you can opt for the ₹999 annual or ₹129 monthly add-on starting from the same date.
Should you wish to opt out of Prime altogether, Amazon allows users to cancel their membership and receive a pro-rated refund. You can manage or cancel your membership and view renewal dates directly in your Amazon account settings.
What to Expect: Ad Load and Content Experience
- Fewer ads compared to cable and other OTT platforms
- Unchanged quality of streaming resolution and sound
- No compromise on original content library
- Option to switch between ad-supported and ad-free plans anytime
How Amazon Stacks Up Against Other Streaming Platforms
With this move, Amazon joins the ranks of platforms like Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, and Hulu, which have already introduced tiered ad-supported plans. However, Amazon differentiates itself by:
- Keeping the base price unchanged
- Offering an optional add-on rather than mandating ads for all
- Continuing to bundle multiple benefits beyond video streaming
Final Thoughts: Is It Worth Staying with Prime?
For most users, Amazon Prime remains a high-value subscription, especially with shopping, streaming, reading, and music benefits bundled under one plan. With the ad-supported model keeping costs down, and an option to upgrade, Amazon ensures flexibility for all types of users.
Those heavily invested in streaming only may consider the ad-free add-on, while others may find the basic plan more than sufficient given the light ad integration promised.