Amazon Prime charged an annual fee of $79 when it launched in the United States in 2005.
Amazon introduced Prime as a subscription program offering free two-day shipping on eligible purchases. The service initially focused on delivery benefits rather than the video, music, reading, and other digital services later associated with the membership.
The original fee is often confused with later Prime prices, which increased as Amazon added benefits and expanded the program internationally. Amazon Prime Video also became available as a separate or bundled benefit, but streaming was not the service’s original central purpose.
The launch price helped Amazon encourage customers to place more orders through its own marketplace. It also established the subscription model that became one of the most recognizable features of modern e-commerce.