Not one to be left out, Amazon obviously has its own streaming service. This isn't just to compete with with the likes of Netflix, but also to sweeten the deal for its Prime subscribers.
Amazon Prime Video is ostensibly a free perk when you sign up for Prime, the retailer's take on a loyalty club. Free delivery for your Amazon packages is great, but it's always better when it comes with access to a whole heap of streaming content at no extra cost.
In this guide:
- What is Amazon Prime Video?
- How much does Amazon Prime Video cost?
- What's on Amazon Prime Video?
- How do you watch Amazon Prime Video?
- Best plans for Amazon Prime Video
- Alternatives to Amazon Prime Video
- Amazon Prime Video FAQs
What is Amazon Prime Video Australia?
Amazon Prime Video, or Prime Video as it likes to call itself, is the online shopping behemoth's alternative to Netflix. For a monthly fee, an Amazon Prime Video membership will allow you to stream thousands of movies and TV shows, including some impressive Prime Video Originals.
There's plenty to say about Amazon Prime Video in Australia but here are the key things you really need to know: it's cheap and the movie and TV library is not half bad. It may not be as rich in quality content as Netflix or Stan, but at $6.99 per month or $59 per year as part of your Amazon Prime membership, Prime Video could act as a nice supplement to either one, or both, extending your movie and TV streaming access.
Prime Video is actually just one piece of Amazon Prime – a massive Amazon membership service which, for a monthly fee, gets you access to Twitch prime, ebooks, and free shipping on Amazon purchases. It's a pretty sweet deal.
How much does Amazon Prime Video cost in Australia?
Amazon Prime Video is part of Amazon Prime. An Amazon Prime membership will set you back:
- $6.99 per month
- $59 per year, if paid upfront
Sign up for a free trial of Amazon Prime
Even so, Netflix, Stan and Foxtel Now subscriptions all currently start at $10 per month. This makes Amazon Prime Video the clear winner on price, particularly when you consider that with your Prime Video membership, you can stream on up to three devices simultaneously and stream 4K content. Both Netflix and Stan charge up to $8 extra per month to access these features.
Customers to Amazon Prime can take up a 30-day free trial. If you take up a month-to-month membership, it's on a no contract basis – cancel at any time. However, if you pay upfront for the year, you won't be able to leave early.
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What's on Amazon Prime Video Australia?
Prime Video's big drawcard in terms of content is Prime Video Originals. Like Netflix Originals, these are TV shows that have been developed in-house or in association with Amazon Studios. And there's some pretty good stuff in the Prime Original line-up.
Shows like The Grand Tour (Top Gear reboot) and Fleabag have been a scoop for Prime Video while other originals like Good Omens, American Gods, Goliath and The Man in the High Castle have got critics and fans talking. Most Prime Originals are also available to stream in 4K resolution, which is a nice bonus if you have the right screen.
Prime Video Australia also features a healthy dose of movie hits from the nineties and naughties which is great for nostalgic people but less awesome for those looking for more recent releases. Amazon Prime Video Australia can also boast a few TV scoops like Seinfeld and Parks and Recreation although at the time of writing both shows are also available on Stan.
Basically, there's a lot of good stuff on Prime Video Australia. But there's also a lot of stuffing. The movie and TV library, which is surprisingly vast at around 3,000 titles, boasts a high quantity of strange, straight-to-DVD cinematic non-masterpieces. These are gems like Satan's Cheerleaders, for example. Or the dubious Fart: A Documentary. But maybe you like that sort of thing. Or maybe you'll find enough good Prime Originals to make up for it.
Unlike Netflix or Stan, Prime Video has offered a little bit of live sport in the past. NFL's Thursday Night Football was be streamed live through Prime Video Australia last year and commentators expect Prime Video Australia's sports content to expand over time.
Looking for recommendations? Check out our guides to the best TV shows on Amazon Prime and the best movies on Amazon Prime.
How do you watch Amazon Prime Video Australia?
Prime Video Australia can be streamed on your computer through a web browser, or via dedicated apps on both Android and iOS smartphones and tablets. You can also get the Prime Video app on LG and Samsung smart TVs as well as Play Station and Xbox.
If you want to use a streaming device, the good news is you've got plenty of options now that Prime Video has come to Telstra TV and Google Chromecast. You can also get Prime Video through Apple TV and Telstra TV, but it's not on the Foxtel Now Box. It will be available on Fetch TV set-top boxes later this year.
One other streaming device you can use to get Prime Video on your TV is the Amazon TV Fire Stick. This is a streaming device much like the Apple TV or Telstra TV. You connect it up to your TV via an HDMI port and get access to apps like Prime Video (of course), Netflix, Spotify, Plex, VLC and plenty of others.
Except unlike Apple TV, Telstra TV and even Google Chromecast, the Amazon TV Fire Stick doesn't support as broad a range of local streaming services. You'll get Stan and 7plus, but not much more.
Of course, you can still get Prime Video onto your TV using the good old-fashioned method of laptop and HDMI cable. Or hope that more streaming devices start supporting the app soon.
Best plans for Amazon Prime Video Australia
Streaming TV and movies through your home internet – whether through Prime Video, Netflix or another service – will chew up a lot of data. That's why we recommend getting a plan with these features:
- Data: unlimited
- Speed: NBN Standard Plus or higher
There are loads of plans like this in our database, covering all budgets. Here are just a few:
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Tangerine Telecom 
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Belong 
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SpinTel 
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Superloop 
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Internode 
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Kogan Internet 
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What are the alternatives to Amazon Prime Video Australia?
If Prime Video doesn't sound like your thing, you could try Netflix, Stan or Foxtel Now.
Netflix and Stan both have large libraries of quality movies and TV shows you can stream from around $10 a month. Netflix is known for offering lots of high quality Netflix Original TV shows like Stranger Things and Orange is the New Black, while Stan tends to have more Australian content.
Foxtel Now is a slightly different beast from the other services, in that content is divided into "packs" which you mix and match to make up your monthly subscription. This can make it more expensive than the other services. But Foxtel Now is the only (legal) way to stream blockbuster HBO shows like Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead. The Foxtel Now movies pack also includes a lot more new release movies than you're likely to find on other streaming services.
Sign up for a free trial of Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime Video Australia FAQs
How do I update my Amazon Prime Video payment details?
Log in to your Prime Video account and click on the human icon on the top right hand corner of your screen. Click on Account & Settings and scroll down to Your Preferred Payment Method. Click on Add/Edit Payments.
How can I reset my Amazon Prime Video password?
Log in to your Prime Video account and click on the human icon on the top right hand corner of your screen. Click on Account & Settings and look at Your Details. Click on the right hand side button Edit on Amazon.
You will be redirected to the Amazon website Login & security page. Scroll down to Password and click Edit.
Alternatively, go to the Prime Video log in screen and click Forgot your password?
How can I cancel my Amazon Prime Video subscription?
Log in to your Prime Video account and click on the human icon on the top right hand corner of your screen. Click on Account & Settings and look at Your Membership. On the right-hand side click on Cancel Membership.
Can I watch Amazon Prime Video on more than one device?
You can watch Prime Video on up to three devices simultaneously, and as many devices as you like if you're using them one at a time.
Does Amazon Prime Video have a kid-safe option?
Yes. Log in to your Prime Video account and click on the human icon on the top right hand corner of your screen. Click on Account & Settings and then click on Parental Controls.
You will first be asked to set a 5-digit PIN. You can then choose to restrict viewing to PIN-access only for content rated suitable for ages 7+, 13+, 16+, 18+ or all ages. You can choose to apply these restrictions to all supported devices or just web browser.
