Amazon is eliminating its Prime Invitee Program, which allowed members to share free shipping benefits with people outside their household, signaling a shift in how the e-commerce giant manages its Prime membership perks. The company began notifying users in recent days that the program will officially end on October 1, 2025.
According to a notice viewed by CNBC, Amazon informed users, “We are writing to inform you that the Prime Invitee Program, which allowed sharing Prime’s fast, free delivery with others, will end on October 1, 2025. Your invited guests will be notified directly about this change by September 5, 2025.” Under the previous arrangement, Prime members could share free two-day shipping with one other adult even if that person lived at a different address, providing a flexible option for friends and extended family.
Starting in October, individuals who do not live with the primary account holder will need to sign up for their own Prime membership to access shipping and other benefits. Amazon is phasing out the program in favor of its Amazon Family plan, which allows Prime members to share free shipping and other perks with one additional adult, up to four children, and up to four teens added before April 7, 2025. The new rules require all members to share the same primary residential address, defined by Amazon as “the address you consider to be your home and where you spend the majority of your time.”
This move comes amid reports that Amazon’s Prime signups in the U.S. have fallen short of last year’s totals and the company’s internal targets, according to Reuters. While Amazon told the outlet that Prime membership continues to grow both domestically and internationally, the company appears to be tightening its benefit-sharing policies to encourage full individual subscriptions.
The change marks a significant shift for Amazon’s Prime ecosystem, particularly for households that previously relied on the flexibility of sharing benefits with friends or relatives outside their immediate residence. With Prime membership offering fast shipping, streaming services, and other perks, the elimination of the Invitee Program could prompt some users to upgrade to full accounts for additional household members.
As Amazon continues to refine its membership programs, the company is emphasizing control over who accesses Prime benefits while encouraging growth in direct, individual subscriptions. This adjustment reflects broader efforts to optimize revenue from its subscription services and align membership benefits with the core household-focused structure of Amazon Family.
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