Amazon Prime Video ads explained: How to go ad-free

No one likes ads, especially when you’re trying to watch a new series or movie on Amazon Prime Video – here’s how to go ad-free and how much it’ll cost you.

Streaming platforms should be a luxury, as viewers no longer have to deal with a cable box or spend exorbitant amounts of money going to the movie theaters; the popcorn alone can put a dent in your bank account. Above all, most streaming platforms have ad-free subscription packages.

Prime Video is one of the top platforms, especially with with hits like Reacher, Hazbin Hotel, and movies like Saltburn – however, fans have been left with a bitter taste in their mouth after the latest move.

Amazon is now charging its subscribers a fee to go ad-free. Here’s everything to know and how to continue watching.

Amazon Prime Video is charging a new fee for ad-free streaming

Amazon subscribers will be forced to pay an extra $2.99 each month, starting now, for an ad-free subscription on Prime Video.

Subscribers were warned in December that some changes would be made to their bills in order to stay ad-free – But it didn’t stop the outrage when they received emails notifying them of the new price increase of $2.99 (on top of the current monthly bill of $14.99) to get rid of the commercials, according to WIRED.

The official email read: “Starting Jan. 29, Prime Video movies and TV shows will include limited advertisements. This will allow us to continue investing in compelling content and keep increasing that investment over a long period of time. We aim to have meaningfully fewer ads than linear TV and other streaming TV providers.”

But the damage has already been done, as many subscribers are wanting to cancel their subscriptions. If you go ad-free, your subscription will cost $216 per year if you pay monthly, or $175 for an annual lump sum.

The new ad fee is an added sting after a number of price hikes. Subscribers have the choice to upgrade to an ad-free plan – but wanting to save a few bucks means trying to enjoy a movie marathon with endless ads.

The new direction is bringing back a few memories from the age of cable television where ads interrupted the climax of a movie or stopped a TV episode at the worst moment. But in today’s age, no one wants to watch ads, especially when paying a subscription fee. But Amazon Prime Video has joined the recent onslaught of price hikes from Netflix, Peacock, HBO Max, and more.

It’s now around the same price as other ad-free subscriptions: HBO Max is $20 a month with no ads, Netflix can cost over $15, and Peacock’s plan is double the normal price at $12.