Amazon Prime Video Gets Costlier from June 17: Ad-Free Streaming To Cost Extra

Amazon has confirmed that Prime Video will start showing ads in India starting June 17, 2025. While your current Prime subscription price stays the same, viewers who prefer an ad-free experience will now need to shell out extra. According to the company, these ads will be "limited" and much less intrusive than what's typically seen on TV or other OTT platforms.

Want to Skip the Ads? You'll Have to Pay More

To continue enjoying Prime Video without interruptions, users can opt for a new ad-free add-on plan priced at Rs 699 per year or Rs 129 per month. This plan is optional and will work alongside your existing Prime membership. So, if uninterrupted binging is important to you, there's now a price tag on it.

Despite this change, all other Prime benefits-like fast deliveries, Prime Music, and Prime Reading-will remain unaffected. And if you're not on board with the shift, Amazon is offering a pro-rated refund for cancellations, which can be processed through your account settings.

A Closer Look at Prime Membership Plans in India

Here's a quick snapshot of Amazon Prime's existing plans:

Prime Shopping Edition - ₹399/year (No Prime Video access)

Prime Lite - ₹799/year (Includes Prime Video in 720p)

Standard Prime - ₹1,499/year (Includes 4K Prime Video, Music, Reading, and more)

With the new ad-free pack, Standard Prime members will pay ₹2,198/year for 4K, ad-free streaming. Meanwhile, Prime Lite users will pay ₹1,498/year, but video quality will stay capped at 720p.

The move to introduce ads follows Amazon's global rollout in countries like the US in 2024. It's a strategy aimed at increasing revenue while continuing to invest in new content. Compared to rivals, Amazon's pricing remains competitive. For example, Netflix's 4K ad-free plan costs ₹649/month-adding up to ₹7,788 annually.

From June 17, streaming ad-free on Amazon Prime Video will cost a bit more in India. If seamless, interruption-free viewing matters to you, it might be worth considering the new add-on. Otherwise, expect limited ads to become part of your Prime Video experience.