Amazon to End Prime Invitee Shipping Benefit Program

SEATTLE, Sept. 3, 2025 - Amazon has announced it will discontinue its Prime Invitee Program, which allows Prime members to share free expedited shipping with people outside their household. The change will take effect on Oct. 1, and invited users will receive notification of the program’s termination by Sept. 5.

Under the outgoing Prime Invitee Program, members could grant a limited version of Prime-restricted to free shipping-to friends or family at different addresses. Beginning Oct. 1, those non-household invitees will no longer enjoy complimentary delivery and must subscribe to Prime independently, with an introductory rate of $14.99 for the first year, followed by a $14.99 monthly fee thereafter.

In place of the Invitee Program, Amazon is steering members toward its Amazon Family feature, which confines benefit sharing to individuals residing at the same primary address. Amazon Family allows account holders to share full Prime perks-including two-day shipping, Prime Video, Amazon Music, and other digital content-with one other adult in the household, up to four teen profiles (added before April 7, 2025), and up to four child profiles.

Amazon’s spokesperson explained that the shift aligns with broader streaming-industry moves to tighten sharing restrictions and is intended to drive new subscriptions. Despite reporting record global sign-ups around this year’s Prime Day, the company fell short of its U.S. Prime membership targets, prompting efforts to convert shared-benefit users into full subscribers.