The countdown to Black Friday is on, with sales reaching their peak on Nov. 27 in 2026. If you're planning on shopping at Amazon during the biggest sale of the season and want to take advantage of the many benefits of a Prime membership, now's a great time to sign up.
While you don't technically need to be a Prime member to shop Amazon's Black Friday sale, it will certainly make shopping more enjoyable. And there's a good chance you may qualify for a 30-day trial, so you can enjoy all the perks at no cost.
Keep scrolling to learn about all the benefits included in the free Amazon Prime 30-day trial. We'll dive into all the info you need to know to glide seamlessly through Amazon's Black Friday shopping event.
How to qualify for the Amazon Prime free trial
If you're not currently a Prime member, there's a good chance you qualify for the free 30-day trial period. New members automatically qualify, while returning members who haven't had a Prime membership (or utilized the free trial) in the last year will also qualify. While the general rule-of-thumb is 12 months of inactivity, users have reported free trial offers as soon as three months after cancelling. Just look out for a message that says, "We're giving you a free 30-day trial of Prime" or a button that reads, "Start your free 30-day trial." To sign up, visit amazon.com/prime.
How much does Prime cost?
Prime normally costs $14.99 per month, but young adults and college students qualify for a 50% discount. You can also save by opting for an annual plan instead of a monthly plan. Here's a pricing breakdown:
30-day free trial
$14.99 per month after the trial ends or $139 per year (save $40.88)
18-24 year-olds and students pay $7.49 in the Prime for Young Adults membership
What are the perks of a Prime membership in 2026?
The most famous benefits of Amazon Prime include free 2-day delivery and free returns. Many products are even available with 1-day or same-day shipping in select areas. But your $14.99/month membership includes a whole lot more than that — some perks you're probably not even aware of.
Other benefits included in the membership (and 30-day free trial) include:
Access to Prime Video (plus exclusive discounts on video rentals and add-on subscriptions)
Free Same-Day Delivery on $25+ grocery orders in selected areas
Access to Amazon Music
Access to Amazon Photos (unlimited photo storage and 5GB of video storage)
Access to Alexa+
Free Grubhub+ membership (including $0 delivery fees, lower service fees, and exclusive savings)
Amazon Prime Fuel Savings (save 10 cents per gallon at more than 7,500 gas stations)
Free monthly e-books on Kindle
Prescription savings at over 60,000 pharmacies
Exclusive access to offers on Amazon services and sales events like Prime Day and Prime Big Deal Days
What is the Amazon Prime Visa card?
Amazon also offers a Prime Visa card for qualifying Prime members, which is a physical credit card that boasts exclusive rewards. You can apply for the Prime Visa card at Amazon.
Here's a breakdown of some of the Prime Visa card perks:
$150 gift card at sign-up
Earn unlimited 5% back on Amazon purchases
Earn unlimited 5% back at Whole Foods (online or in-store)
Earn 10% back or more on select deals with Prime Card bonus
Earn 5% back on Chase Travel purchases
Earn 2% back on dining and transit
Shop with points at Amazon
When is Amazon's Black Friday Sale 2026?
Amazon hasn't officially announced its Black Friday sale for 2026, but it will likely kick off in the week before Black Friday proper on Nov. 27, then switch over to Cyber Monday over the weekend. Stay tuned for an official announcement.
Do you need to be a Prime member to shop the Amazon Black Friday sale?
Unlike Amazon's Prime Day sales, you don't actually need a Prime membership to shop on Amazon for Black Friday. However, some of the best deals will likely be Prime exclusives. Not to mention, a Prime membership will guarantee you'll receive your packages swiftly. Prime members will also be able to sign up for streaming services (in the form of Prime Video add-ons) at big discounts throughout the season. Grab your free 30-day trial to ensure you float through the holiday shopping season with ease.