Amazon Ends Prime Invitee program from Oct 1. Free shipping sharing outside households will stop. Here’s what it means for Prime members.
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Amazon Is Eliminating One of Its Most Generous Legacy Perks
Starting in early October 2025, Amazon will retire its long-running “Prime Invitee” feature, which previously allowed members to share complimentary delivery privileges with people living at different addresses. This update will affect a limited group of users who have relied on the perk for years.
For years, the Prime Invitee feature allowed existing Amazon Prime members to share free delivery perks with others who didn’t live under the same roof. But starting October 1, customers will now need their own Prime subscription to continue enjoying these benefits.
What Amazon Says About the Change
Amazon confirmed the policy update on its official website and, in a statement to CNN, recommended affected users switch to the Amazon Family program — a feature that still allows sharing Prime benefits, but only within the same household.
“This change will impact fewer than 1% of U.S. Prime members,” Amazon stated, assuring that the vast majority of users will remain unaffected.
How Many Users Are Impacted?
- The Prime Invitee program was launched in 2009 in the U.S.
- Sign-ups ended in 2015, but many users who enrolled back then still enjoyed free shipping sharing.
- Hundreds of thousands of users were still using the benefit, though Amazon says fewer than 1 million will be affected.
Amazon’s Prime Membership Numbers
While Amazon hasn’t officially disclosed the total number of Prime subscribers, third-party analysis from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) estimates that the U.S. has around 197 million Prime members as of March 2025.
Prime membership costs:
- $14.99 per month
- $139 per year
The last price hike was in 2022.
Prime Day and Growth Challenges
Interestingly, this announcement comes after Amazon reportedly missed its sign-up goals during the Prime Day 2025 event.
According to Reuters, Amazon registered 116,000 fewer new members during the 21-day lead-up to July 15, 2025, compared to the same period in 2024.
However, Amazon remains optimistic. In its official press release, the company highlighted that Prime Day 2025 still saw record-breaking sales and the highest number of items sold in four days.
What This Means for Prime Users
- No more free shipping sharing outside households
- To enjoy Prime benefits, non-household members must get their own subscription
- Users within the same household can still share benefits via Amazon Family
For existing members who’ve been using Prime Invitee, it’s time to decide whether to pay for your own subscription or consolidate under a single household plan.
Conclusion
Amazon’s decision to phase out Prime Invitee reflects the company’s push to increase paid subscriptions and strengthen its revenue streams.
With nearly 200 million Prime members, Amazon remains a dominant force, but this policy shift could change how families and friends share their benefits moving forward.
FAQs
Q1. When is Amazon ending the Prime Invitee program?
Amazon will end the Prime Invitee program on October 1, 2025.
Q2. Can I still share Prime benefits with my family?
Yes, but only with members of your same household using the Amazon Family feature.