Amazon Ends 16-Year Prime Sharing Program, Moves to Household-Only Model

Amazon (AMZN, Financials) will end its Prime Invitee Program on, removing a 2009-era option that let members share free delivery with non-household users. Invitees will lose access to Prime delivery on that date.

The company said the replacement, Amazon Family, allows sharing a broader set of Prime benefitsbut only within a single household. Eligible sharing includes one additional adult, up to four teens added before April 7, 2025, and up to four children. Members must share a primary residential address, link accounts for household verification, and agree to share payment methods.

Affected users will be offered a limited-time deal: 12 months of Prime for $14.99, available through Dec. 31. Users who lose access can either be added to a household's Amazon Family or purchase their own membership. Family members can leave and rejoin, but must wait 12 months before joining a different household.

The shift narrows account sharing while potentially lifting average revenue per user and tightening controls ahead of the holiday season. Investors will watch Amazon's next earnings update for any impact on Prime subscriber trends and churn.