Starting October 1, 2025, Amazon will end its Prime Invitee program, which allowed Prime members to share their free shipping benefits with others not living at the same address. The company is replacing this with a new offering called Amazon Family, designed to provide exclusive perks to a more limited number of household members.
What Happened
Amazon has announced that, beginning October 1, 2025, the Prime Invitee program will be discontinued. This program, which allowed users to share their Prime shipping benefits with individuals outside their household, will be replaced by the new Amazon Family plan. The changes come as part of Amazon’s broader strategy to refine its services and enhance its delivery infrastructure.
Under the new rules, individuals living outside of the primary household will need to subscribe to their own Prime membership. To ease this transition, Amazon is offering a special promotion: a one-year subscription to Prime for just $14.99. After the first year, the cost will revert to the regular price of $14.99 per month or $139 annually. This promotional offer will run until December 31, 2025.
Who Is Affected
Amazon Prime members who had previously shared their free shipping benefits with others will be impacted by this change. Under the new Amazon Family plan, users will still be able to share benefits, but only with one other adult in their household. Additionally, up to four teenagers and four child profiles can be added, allowing for a slightly broader sharing experience than was previously offered.
Background or Timeline
The Prime Invitee program has been popular among users who wanted to share the benefits of their Amazon Prime membership with family members or friends who lived in different locations. However, Amazon is now refocusing its efforts to improve its delivery systems, especially for less populated areas. The shift to Amazon Family reflects this new focus on enhancing service to rural and smaller cities.
Amazon has also invested heavily in expanding its services, with plans to reach 1,000 smaller cities and rural areas by the end of the year. This change, which narrows the scope of sharing benefits, aligns with the company’s goal to provide faster and more efficient services to underserved areas across the U.S.
Public or Social Media Reaction
Amazon Prime users have expressed mixed reactions to the news. While some welcome the clarity around membership sharing, others are unhappy about losing the ability to share their shipping benefits with multiple people outside their household. The $14.99 promotion for a new Prime membership is seen as a compromise for users, though some have questioned whether the changes will ultimately lead to more people opting out of the service due to the new restrictions.
Official Statement or What Happens Next
Amazon has clarified that the change is part of its ongoing effort to improve service in rural communities and smaller cities, where delivery logistics have historically been more challenging. The company emphasized that Prime members who wish to share their benefits with family members or friends will still be able to do so, but on a more limited basis.
The new Amazon Family plan will allow one additional adult to benefit from Prime, along with up to four teen and child profiles, continuing the spirit of sharing while refocusing the benefits on immediate household members.
Closing: This story may be updated with more information as it becomes available. Keep an eye out for additional details as Amazon’s new Prime sharing system rolls out in the coming months.
