Many of Amazon‘s over 200 million Prime members worldwide enjoy the benefit of Prime Video – unlimited streaming of a vast library of movies and TV shows at no additional cost beyond the annual Prime membership fee. But what happens to all that content, especially movies and shows you‘ve purchased, if you decide to cancel your Amazon Prime membership?
The short answer is, you get to keep access to any videos you‘ve bought outright, but you‘ll lose access to the general Prime Video catalog included with your membership. However, there are some important details and distinctions to understand. Let‘s break it down.
How Canceling Prime Impacts Your Benefits and Purchases
First, let‘s review what happens in general when you cancel an Amazon Prime membership. Obviously, you‘ll no longer get any of the Prime benefits after your current membership period ends. That means no more free one or two-day shipping, Prime Music, Prime Reading, Prime Gaming, or Amazon Photos storage. It also means you‘ll lose access to Prime Video.
However, it‘s crucial to understand the difference between Prime Video content and digital videos you‘ve purchased or rented. Just because a movie or show is available to watch "free" with Prime Video, that doesn‘t mean you own it. It‘s part of the catalog that comes with your $119/year membership, and once you cancel, that catalog goes away.
On the other hand, if you‘ve clicked "Buy" or "Rent" on a movie or TV show, even one that‘s also included in Prime Video, then you‘ve paid an additional one-time fee on top of your membership for that specific title. In that case, you own that digital content indefinitely (or have a rental license for a limited time) and can continue to access it through your Amazon account even if you cancel Prime.
So the key is, don‘t assume you‘ll keep anything you didn‘t specifically pay for. If you want to ensure continued access to certain movies and shows, buy or rent them individually before canceling.
"Essentially, Amazon is giving you a license to view purchased content in perpetuity, regardless of your membership status. It‘s yours to keep and watch as many times as you want."
— Sarah Perez, TechCrunch
Amazon‘s Refund Policy for Prime Cancellations
What about getting a refund on your Prime membership fee if you cancel early? Amazon does offer some limited refunds in certain cases:
- If you cancel within 3 business days of signing up for a new Prime membership, you‘re eligible for a full refund as long as you haven‘t used any Prime benefits yet.
- If you cancel within 30 days of sign-up, haven‘t used benefits, and live in the EU, you‘ll also get a full refund per European consumer protection laws.
- If you cancel anytime after that but still haven‘t used any Prime benefits or made Amazon purchases since your membership renewed, you can get a full refund of that period‘s fee.
- If you have used Prime benefits or made purchases, you may get a prorated refund based on the remaining time in your membership period.
However, even if you get a Prime membership refund, most digital purchases like movies and TV shows are considered final and non-refundable per Amazon‘s digital refund policy. If you cancel Prime, your bought videos stay in your account.
Is It Better to Buy Digital Movies or Subscribe to Prime?
This is an important question for consumers in today‘s video streaming landscape. Subscriptions services like Prime Video, Netflix, and Disney+ are hugely popular, with Prime Video counting over 175 million users as of Q4 2021. However, subscribers don‘t truly "own" the content on these platforms.
"Ownership" of digital content is a tricky concept to begin with, as you‘re really just acquiring a license to access the content rather than possess it. If a platform removes titles from its catalog or shuts down entirely, your "purchases" can essentially evaporate.
That said, buying individual titles does offer more permanence and control than relying solely on subscription content. With a direct purchase, you‘re paying one price to access that movie or show forever, with no recurring fees. You can also often download purchased content for offline viewing.
The flip side is that individually buying a large library of content can quickly get expensive compared to a flat monthly or yearly subscription fee. For example, Amazon‘s top movies to buy in 2021 cost $15-20 each, while a Prime Video subscription is included in the $119 annual Prime membership (along with many other benefits).
So which is the better approach? It really depends on your viewing habits. If you‘re happy to watch what‘s available on a service, don‘t rewatch titles often, and like trying new content, a subscription offers great value. But if you have favorites you want guaranteed access to, buying may be smarter.
Many consumers get the best of both worlds by combining subscription services with selective purchases. Keep Prime Video for the included streaming catalog, but buy a few top movies you want to own. That way you‘re covered if you cancel down the road.
What to Watch Out for With Prime Video
While Prime Video is a great perk for Prime members, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Much of the catalog, especially popular movies and recent releases, is only available to rent or buy, not stream with your membership.
- Even Prime Video Channels you can add, like HBO or Showtime, require additional subscription fees on top of your Prime membership.
- Content can rotate in and out of the Prime Video catalog over time as Amazon‘s licenses and agreements change.
- Amazon Originals series may be the most at risk if you cancel, since they‘re exclusive to Prime Video and can‘t be purchased elsewhere.
- The Prime Video interface can make it tricky to distinguish "free" vs. paid content while browsing.
The bottom line? Don‘t take Prime Video for granted. If there are specific titles you want unfettered access to, buy them outright so you‘re not at the mercy of Amazon‘s streaming agreements and Prime membership changes.
Managing Your Prime Video Library
Before canceling Prime, do some housekeeping on your video purchases and watchlist. Here are some tips:
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Download copies of purchased content to your devices for offline access. Go to the "Purchases and Rentals" section of Prime Video on a web browser to see download options.
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Check your Watchlist for Prime-included titles to prioritize watching or buying before canceling.
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Make a plan for any Amazon Originals you‘re in the middle of watching, since you‘ll lose access when you cancel.
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Set up a separate Amazon Household profile for any family members who share your Prime account and may still want to access purchased content.
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Double-check your memberships to any Prime Video Channels. If you want to keep them, you‘ll need to subscribe directly rather than through Amazon after cancelling Prime.
By auditing your video library before ending a Prime membership, you can ensure a smoother transition and avoid losing access to content you‘ve invested time and money into.
The Future of Prime Video
As of 2022, Prime Video is an integral part of Amazon‘s ecosystem, both as a Prime membership appeal and as its own revenue generator through video purchases and channel subscriptions. According to Statista, Prime Video‘s 2021 net sales were $7.8 billion, up from 2020‘s $6.8 billion.
However, Prime membership growth, while still consistently increasing quarter-over-quarter, has been gradually slowing over the last few years. Statista pegs Amazon‘s annual member churn rate at around 14%.
Counterbalancing those losses are the service‘s high engagement numbers. According to Amazon, in 2021 the number of Prime Video customers who streamed Prime Originals grew by 40%, Prime Video Channels had over 120 million monthly active accounts, and rented or purchased video had over 200 million monthly active accounts.
"Prime Video continues to drive Prime member engagement and new customer acquisition"
— Andrew Jassy, Amazon CEO
Industry analysts see potential for significant future growth for Prime Video, especially in the context of Amazon‘s broader goals of increasing Prime adoption, engagement, and retention globally. While Amazon doesn‘t share detailed metrics, some researchers estimate Prime Video usage penetration among Prime members to be around 65-70%.
Increasing that number with new Originals, live sports content like NFL and Premier League matches, and international content investments could further boost Prime membership appeal and stickiness. Even as streaming competition intensifies, Prime Video‘s combination of subscription and purchase models and close ties to Amazon‘s wider ecosystem of shopping, shipping, reading, music, and more put it in a strong position.
"Prime Video has become a powerhouse in the streaming wars and a key part of Amazon‘s future. It‘s the gateway to the rest of Amazon‘s offerings."
— Michael Pachter, Wedbush Securities
Takeaways
To sum up, if you cancel an Amazon Prime membership:
- You‘ll keep access to movies and shows you‘ve purchased or rented individually through Prime Video
- You‘ll lose access to Prime Video‘s "free with membership" streaming catalog
- You may be able to get a full or partial refund of your Prime fee, but Amazon generally considers video purchases final
Therefore:
- Audit your Prime Video activity before cancelling. Buy, rent, or watch any must-have titles beforehand.
- Download purchased videos while you can for offline access in case of future issues.
- Remember that Amazon Originals and content from Prime Video Channels are most at risk when cancelling, so plan accordingly.
- Evaluate what you spend on video purchases and subscriptions vs. a Prime membership to determine the best value for your needs and budget.
Deciding whether to keep or cancel Prime is a personal choice based on how much all the benefits, not just Prime Video, are worth to you. Streaming is increasingly competitive and content is king, but Prime Video‘s dual approach of subscription and a la carte offerings, along with its synergies with Amazon‘s other services, make it a compelling option for many.
Whatever you choose, just make sure to be proactive about the movies and shows you want to keep so you‘re not left without your favorites. Happy streaming!
