Amazon launched the Prime membership program in 2005, initially offering members free two-day shipping on eligible items.
Amazon introduced Prime in the United States on February 2, 2005. The subscription was designed to encourage frequent shopping by replacing individual shipping charges with an annual membership fee. Its original promise centered on faster delivery rather than video, music, or other digital entertainment.
Amazon later expanded Prime with services such as Prime Video, Prime Music, reading benefits, photo storage, and special shopping events. The exact benefits vary by country and have changed over time, so the modern program is broader than the 2005 launch version.
A common mix-up is attributing Prime's beginning to the arrival of Prime Video. Video streaming was added later. The membership first gained traction as a shipping program, helping strengthen Amazon's retail ecosystem and customer loyalty.