Amazon Prime Video Review (2023)

At this point, pretty much everyone knows what Amazon is. Amazon is a huge Internet warehouse where you can buy just about anything. Amazon Prime is a membership program that offers free shipping on millions of items. If you’re a big online shopper, the cost of an Amazon Prime membership pays for itself. Amazon Prime is more than free shipping though. In fact, one of the biggest draws in purchasing an Amazon Prime membership, is the included on-demand Amazon Prime Video service. These days, you can opt to get the entire Amazon Prime membership, which still includes free Prime Video, or you can just sign up for the Prime Video service if that’s what you want. Is signing up to Amazon Prime worth it to get Amazon Prime Video content? That’s what this Amazon Prime Video review should tell you!

Even though Amazon Prime Video is an on-demand streaming service, they do occasionally offer live sports. If you’re interested in signing up to Amazon Prime Video, this review should give you a good look at what the service has to offer. You’ll find out about different package options, add-on Channels, what live sports are offered, and everything else you need to know.

Keep reading the full Amazon Prime Video review to learn more…

 

Amazon Prime Video is a great option for just about anyone. Like Netflix, Prime Video includes thousands of full season TV shows, movies, documentaries, and original content. They even have a large selection of shows and movies for kids. If you’re interested in sports, you’ll be able to enjoy a mix of on-demand content and live games.

This Amazon Prime Video review can answer these questions:

• What is Amazon Prime Video?
• What Can Amazon Prime Video Offer Sports Fans?
• What Devices work with Amazon Prime Video?
• What Features Come with Amazon Prime Video?
• How Does Amazon Prime Video Work?
• How Much are Amazon Prime Video Packages?
• Amazon Prime Video Pros & Cons
• FAQ
• Is Amazon Prime Video Worth It?

Below is everything you need to know if you’re interested in Amazon Prime Video!

 

What is Amazon Prime Video?

Amazon Prime Video is an on-demand streaming service. It started as a perk for being an Amazon Prime subscriber. Now you can get your Prime Video subscription as part of your regular Prime membership, or you can subscribe strictly to Prime Video if you aren’t an Amazon Shopper. Amazon Prime Video offers thousands of movies and TV shows in dozens of different genres. You also get the option to add on a variety of networks and streaming channels. Recently, Amazon Prime Video has even begun offering live sports.

You can watch Amazon Prime Video content on the Amazon website, using most browsers or you can use the Prime Video app on everything from Apple TV to Xbox One. Plans are all essentially the same in terms of content, but you can choose from the full Amazon Prime subscription or just Prime Video. You can also opt between monthly or annual payments. Amazon even offers lower-cost full memberships to certain low-income families or students.

Amazon Prime offers a 30-day free trial!

 

What Can Amazon Prime Video Offer Sports Fans?

Amazon Prime Video offers more sports content than you might think. There are a variety of different live events including MLB, NBA, NFL, and WNBA. You can also get access to the PGA Tour. You just visit the “Live and Upcoming” spot on the app or on the Amazon Prime page. In addition to live sporting events, Amazon Prime Video offers some awesome original shows that are centered on sports. You will have access to series like All or Nothing, Take Us Home, and This is Football. There are also plenty of fictional TV shows and movies like full seasons of Friday Night Lights.

When you’re watching live sporting events you can use the X-Ray feature to gain live play-by-plays, various player details, and scoring stats. These are just a few of the cool things you can do with X-Ray when you’re watching sports on Amazon Prime Video.

 

What Devices work with Amazon Prime Video?

As you might suspect, Amazon Prime Video works on most devices. You can watch whatever you want on your computer by visiting Amazon’s website or you can use any of the following devices:

• Smart Phones & Tablets (Apple & Android)
• Gaming Consoles (Xbox, PlayStation, & Oculus VR)
• Streaming Devices (Roku, Fire TV Stick, Chromecast, Apple TV)
• Various Models of Smart TVs and Set top Boxes

 

What Features Come with Amazon Prime Video?

Amazon Prime Video offers a variety of added features for Prime Video users. You will have access to some features you won’t find anywhere else, but most are rather common amongst services like this one. The following features are some of the added perks to an Amazon Prime Video subscription:

Unlimited Downloadable Content

If you use a mobile phone or tablet to watch Amazon Prime Video, you won’t have to worry about a solid Internet connection. Amazon Prime Video allows you to download as much content as you want to watch it offline on your mobile device. On Amazon’s end the amount you can download is unlimited because you’re only limited by the amount of space your device has available.

Watch Parties

A watch party is exactly what it sounds like. Subscribers can log into their account and choose a TV Show or Film to create a watch party where up to 100 people can watch the same thing together, at the same time. You can be included in a watch party if you’re using some computer browsers or mobile devices, but not all devices are compatible at this time. Everyone watching needs to be a Prime subscriber and if you’re watching something that’s only available for rent or purchase, everyone in the group needs to purchase/rent their own copy.

Individual Family Profiles & Simultaneous Streaming

Like many services, Amazon Prime Video allows you to watch on up to three screens at a time. The only catch is that the same show/movie can only be watched on two of the three screens. As a Prime user that shares their account within my family, I can say I’ve never personally had to deal with this issue. If you’ll be sharing your account within your household, you should be pleased to know that everyone can make their own profile. You can have up to five additional profiles on your main account. That means you’ll get up to 6 profiles (as yours is the main one). You can use these profiles to set parental controls, make your own watchlists, and more!

Add Channels to your Subscription for More Live & On-Demand Content

Amazon Channels allow you to add smaller streaming options to your package so that you can watch them all in one place. Many of these options will allow you to watch some live programming and you’ll also have access to a full on-demand library for these channels. There are dozens of options, all set at differing price points, most of them anywhere from a few dollars to $15, depending on the service. In addition to your regular 30-day trial, you’ll find that the majority of Amazon Channels also come with free 7-day trials for each channel you sign up to.

You can add or remove Channels at any time. Some available options include Paramount Plus, BET+, HBO Max, Showtime, Starz, Cinemax, PBS Masterpiece, Shudder, and many other options. You might even find some sports options available, too. In fact, three popular options include MLB.TV, NBA TV, and NBA League Pass. Depending on the service you may have the option between a single team price and the full package, which covers every team in the league.

 

How Does Amazon Prime Video Work?

Amazon Prime Video is easy to use whether you’re watching straight from the website or using an app on one of the many compatible devices. Once you’ve signed up for an account, you’ll find several browsing options to find what you want, or you can just use the search function. If you’re looking for sports or other live events, you can check out the “Live & Upcoming” section of your homepage. This area will tell you everything that’s currently airing and is available through your main Prime Video account as well as any Channels you’ve signed up to that offer live content. From there, it’s just making your selection and watching your show!

Signing Up to Amazon Prime Video

When it comes to Amazon Prime Video, all subscribers receive the same basic service. You can choose how you wish to pay for that service and receive discounts, if eligible, but there’s only one main plan, really. Your first step is to visit the Amazon Prime page of Amazon’s website. If you’re already a member, this page will offer you information about your Prime membership including specials that are available to subscribers. If you’re not a current member, you’ll find information about joining. You will want to click Explore other plans to find out what pricing options are available to you. They include:

• Amazon Prime Monthly – $14.99 per month
• Amazon Prime Annual – $139 per year (works out to around $12 per month)
• Prime Student Monthly – $7.49 per month
• Qualified Government Assistance Prime Membership – $6.99 per month

All these options give you a full Prime membership. If you want just Amazon Prime Video, you can sign up to that for $9 per month. No matter which option you choose, you’ll receive a free 30-day membership. You can cancel at any time so if you’re unsatisfied, make sure to cancel in this first month to avoid being charged for anything!

Once you’ve picked your plan it’s as simple as signing in (or signing up) to your Amazon account. Amazon will verify your account to make sure it’s really you and then you’ll supply payment information for when your trial ends. That’s all there is to it. Once you’ve made it to this point you can start watching all of the available content on Amazon Prime Video.

Using Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime Video is easy to use. You just search for what you want to watch or use the browse function to find what’s available. If you’re looking for sports, you’ll want to check the “Live” section or when browsing you can find on-demand sports documentaries or programs. All you have to do to start watching is to click your selection. You can watch Amazon Prime Video content on most popular streaming devices, using a stable internet connection. You can also download content onto your mobile device to watch without an internet connection. If you can’t find something to watch in your main package, remember you can add dozens of Amazon Channels and you can also rent and purchase movies and TV shows to add to your Amazon Prime Video library.

 

How Much are Amazon Prime Video Packages?

The standard Amazon Prime package is $139 per year, paid at one time. This works out to be less than $12 per month, which is on level or cheaper than most commercial-free on-demand streaming options. If that price is too steep for you, there’s an available monthly option that costs $15 per month. Students and people on government assistance can get subscriptions at a cheaper rate. There’s also a straight Amazon Prime Video plan available for $9 per month. This plan gives you access to only Prime Video and none of the other associated Amazon Prime perks.

 

Amazon Prime Video Pros & Cons

Up to now, you’ve heard me singing the praises of Amazon Prime Video, so you might be wondering what the downsides are. Every service has something it can improve upon, and Amazon Prime Video is no different. However, there’s a lot to love here, too. If you’re interested in seeing the highs and lows of Amazon Prime Video, here are the pros and cons:

Pro: Several Payment Options

Amazon Prime Video is structured in a way that just about anyone can afford it. They offer monthly and yearly payment plans and a reduced payment plan for people that only want access to Amazon Prime Video. If you cannot afford the regular monthly prices, there are discounts available for people on government assistance and for students.

Pro: Amazon Originals

Just about every streaming service has their own set of original shows that make it worth the subscription to the service. Amazon Prime Video has some of the best original programming of all of them. In fact, some of the original lineup of TV shows includes: The Boys, Reacher, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Wheel of Time, and Bosch. There are even some sports TV shows and movies available. If you’re looking for Amazon Originals, you can find them in the Channels section or you can search specific titles.

Pro: Alexa Support

If you’re using an Alexa-compatible device, you can choose something to watch or control how you’re watching it with Alexa voice commands. I personally use this feature on an Amazon Fire TV. You just click the microphone button and tell Alexa what you want to watch or search for. It couldn’t be easier.

Con: Paid Content is Visible in the Carousel

One main drawback is that when you’re browsing Amazon Prime Video for something to watch, you’ll notice that they add in a lot of options for paid content. You’ll see thousands of free movies and shows, but they also offer options to rent and buy movies and shows in the same section. The same is done for channels, letting you know all the channels that are available should you want them. The longer you use Amazon Prime Video, the easier it is to filter this out and find what you want. That said, if you’re not interested in being upsold you may not like this part of the service.

Con: The Search Function Could be Better

The longer you use Amazon Prime Video, the easier it is to navigate. One area where the service falls for me is with the search functionality. If you know the exact name of what you’re looking for, you won’t have a problem with the search results. However, if you only know part of the name or are searching by actor, director, or something else, the results might get a bit wonky at times.

 

FAQ

What is Amazon Prime Video?

Amazon Prime Video is an on-demand streaming service that is offered as part of the Amazon Prime membership. Other perks include a free music library, access to e-books, free 2-day shipping on millions of Amazon products, and more. You can subscribe to the full Amazon Prime package or just Amazon Prime Video. The service offers thousands of movies and TV shows on-demand, along with a selection of live sports. You can also add-on Amazon Channels to get everything from NBA League Pass to Showtime.

How much does Amazon Prime Video cost?

Amazon Prime offers multiple payment options for the same plans. The annual subscription is the cheapest at $139. You can also opt to pay $15 per month. If you’re a student or on government assistance you may be able to get the monthly plan at a heavily reduced fee. You can also sign up for just Amazon Prime Video for $9 per month.

Does Amazon Prime Video offer a free trial?

Amazon Prime does offer a free trial. Whether you choose to sign up for Amazon Prime or just Amazon Prime Video, you’ll be given a free one-month trial as long as you’re a new subscriber. You can cancel anytime, even during the trial.

What devices are compatible with Amazon Prime Video?

Honestly, it might be easier to tell you what devices won’t work with Amazon Prime Video. Chances are, as long as your device can connect to the Internet, you can probably watch Amazon Prime Video. Some available options include smart phones, gaming consoles, computer browsers, Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Chromecast, and Apple TV.

 

Is Amazon Prime Video Worth It?

Amazon Prime Video is one of my go-to spots for streaming entertainment. I like the interface, the huge selection of content, and I appreciate how easy it is to use. I also love the Amazon Channels because it allows me to sign up to specific networks or smaller streamers and watch them all in one place. Whether you opt for the full Prime membership or Amazon Prime Video, you’ll find plenty to watch. Add that to a free month-long trial and there’s plenty of reasons to give Amazon Prime Video a shot!

Make sure to sign up for your Amazon Prime Video 30-day free trial, today!