Amazon launched its Amazon Prime membership program in 2005.
Amazon introduced Prime in the United States as a subscription service offering unlimited two-day shipping on eligible purchases. The program was designed to encourage frequent shopping by replacing separate delivery charges with a single annual fee.
Prime later expanded beyond shipping. Amazon added streaming video, music, e-books, gaming benefits, and special shopping events such as Prime Day. The exact collection of benefits varies by country, so Prime is not identical in every market.
A common mix-up is confusing Prime's launch with the introduction of Prime Video. Video streaming was added later, while the original 2005 service primarily centered on shipping. Amazon has also changed prices and delivery promises over time, but 2005 remains the program's launch year.