Amazon has today confirmed that the price of Amazon Prime in the UK is rising for the first time since 2014. Currently, an Amazon Prime membership – which gives you access to speedy Prime delivery, the huge Prime Video library plus much more – costs £7.99 a month if you pay on a monthly basis or £79 if you pay for a year’s worth of access upfront. However, from September 15 this will increase to £8.99 a month if you pay each month or £95 if you pay for 12 months Amazon Prime access in one go.
The price rise will kick in for new customers on that date, while for existing customers it will come into effect on the date of their next renewal.
For anyone that pays monthly for Prime, the new pricing means they’ll be paying almost £108 for 12 months of access.
Amazon has said the price hike to Amazon Prime – which comes after similar rises in the US – is due to “increased inflation and operating costs”.
A spokeswoman for the company said: “Prime offers the best of shopping and entertainment, and continues to improve each year.
“We have increased the number of products available with fast, unlimited Prime delivery, recently added ultra-fast fresh grocery delivery, and have significantly expanded our high-quality digital entertainment, including TV, movies, music, games, and books.
“With increased inflation and operating costs in the UK continuing to rise, we will change the price of Prime.”
The upcoming Amazon Prime UK price rise is the first in this region since 2014, and it comes after Netflix also increased UK prices by £1 a month for its standard and basic plans and by £2 a month for its top-end premium plan this year.
The Amazon Prime UK price rise comes as Amazon has been investing heavily in the amount of content it brings to Prime Video.
Recent years has seen Amazon invest billions of pounds into streaming content such as hit series The Boys.
While Amazon has also struck deals to secure the rights to ATP and WTA tennis matches, plus from 2024 it will be airing some Champions League matches. This is in addition to the Premier League football it already shows.
One of Prime Video’s highest profiles releases is just around the horizon though, with the eagerly anticipated The Lord of the Rings show – The Rings of Power – launching this year.
It’s believed Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings show will be the most expensive TV show ever made, and is estimated to have cost £750million in rights and filming costs.
The Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power launches in September, which is the same month that the Amazon Prime price rise in the UK kicks in.
Thankfully though, if you want to beat this price rise there is a handy trick you can employ today.