What the charge is and where it comes from
The charge on your credit card statement labeled "AMAZON.COM" or "AMAZON PRIME" is your subscription renewal. Amazon Prime costs either $14.99 per month or $139 per year, depending on which plan you chose. The charge appears on the date your membership renews — usually the same day each month or year, depending on when you first signed up.
If you see a charge but do not remember signing up, someone with access to your Amazon account may have started a membership. This happens most often when a family member uses a shared device or account. The charge will keep recurring until you cancel the membership.
Key Takeaways
- Amazon Prime charges $14.99 per month or $139 per year on your credit card on your renewal date, and the charge repeats automatically until you cancel.
- You can see your renewal date and cancel your membership directly in your Amazon account under Memberships and Subscriptions.
- If you cancel before your renewal date, your membership stays active until that date — you do not lose access when ready.
- If you were charged but did not sign up, check your account activity and change your password before canceling the membership.
- Disputing the charge with your credit card company is slower than canceling directly with Amazon and should be a last resort.
How to find and cancel your Prime membership
Log into your Amazon account on a computer or the Amazon app. On a computer, go to the top right corner, click the account icon, and select "Account." On the app, tap the three horizontal lines (menu) at the bottom right, then tap "Account."
Look for "Memberships and Subscriptions" — the exact wording varies slightly by device, but it is always in the account menu. Click or tap it. You will see your Prime membership listed with your renewal date. Click "Manage Membership" or "Edit Membership." Choose "Cancel Membership" at the bottom of the page. Amazon will ask why you are canceling and offer you a discount to stay; you can skip these offers and confirm the cancellation.
After you cancel, your Prime membership stays active until your next renewal date. You will not be charged again, but you keep all Prime benefits (free shipping, Prime Video, Prime Music) until that date passes. If you need to cancel when ready and lose access right away, contact Amazon customer service by phone or chat — they can process an when ready cancellation with a refund for the unused portion of your membership.
What to do if you do not recognize the charge
First, check whether someone else on your account started the membership. If you share your Amazon login with family members or have a household account, one of them may have signed up. Ask them before taking further steps.
If no one you know started it, change your Amazon password when ready. Go to "Account" > "Login and Security" and select "Edit" next to your password. Use a strong password you have not used anywhere else. Then check your Amazon purchase history and account activity for anything unfamiliar. If you see unauthorized purchases or subscriptions, take a screenshot of them.
After you have secured your account and canceled the Prime membership, contact your credit card company. Tell them you did not authorize the charge. They can dispute it and may refund you for charges going back several months, depending on your card's dispute window. Keep the screenshots of your Amazon account activity — the card company may ask for them.
The difference between monthly and annual plans
A monthly Prime membership costs $14.99 and renews on the same day each month. An annual membership costs $139 and renews once per year. The annual plan works out to about $11.58 per month, so it saves money if you plan to keep the membership for the full year.
You can switch between monthly and annual plans anytime. Go to "Memberships and Subscriptions," click "Manage Membership," and select "Change to Annual Plan" or "Change to Monthly Plan." If you switch from annual to monthly mid-year, you will not get a refund for the unused portion of your annual payment — Amazon will straightforward start charging you monthly after your annual renewal date passes.
Why the charge might appear on a different date than you expected
Your renewal date is the same day you first signed up for Prime, not the same day each calendar month. If you signed up on the 15th, you will be charged on the 15th of each month (or the 15th of the same month each year, for annual plans). If you signed up on the 31st and a month has only 30 days, Amazon charges you on the last day of that month instead.
If your credit card statement shows the charge on a different date than your renewal date, it is usually because of a processing delay. Credit card companies can take one to three business days to post a charge after Amazon submits it. If the charge appears more than a week after your renewal date, or if you see multiple charges in one month, contact Amazon customer service to investigate.
Disputing the charge with your credit card company
Disputing a charge with your credit card company should be your last option, not your first. When you dispute a charge, your card company opens an investigation that takes 30 to 60 days. During that time, the money is usually held in dispute and not available to you. Amazon may also flag your account as having a disputed charge, which can affect your ability to use Prime or make other purchases.
The faster route is to cancel the membership directly in your Amazon account (which stops future charges when ready) and then contact Amazon customer service to request a refund for the charge you did not authorize. Amazon customer service can often refund you within days, whereas a credit card dispute takes much longer.
Only dispute the charge with your credit card company if Amazon refuses to refund you or if you cannot access your Amazon account to cancel. When you do dispute it, tell your card company that you did not authorize the charge and provide them with the date and amount. Keep records of any communication with Amazon about the refund.
How to avoid unwanted Prime charges in the future
If you have a free trial of Prime, set a reminder for the day before it ends. Free trials convert to paid memberships automatically, and the charge will surprise you if you forget the trial end date. You can cancel the trial anytime before it ends and keep access until the trial period is over.
Do not share your Amazon login with people you do not trust completely. If you do share it, ask them to tell you before they start any paid subscriptions. If you have a household account with family members, use Amazon's parental controls to prevent unauthorized purchases.
Check your credit card statement once a month, even if you think you know what charges should be there. Catching an unwanted charge early makes it easier to cancel and get a refund. If you use multiple credit cards, keep track of which one is linked to your Amazon account so you know where to look.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a refund if I was charged but did not use Prime?
Yes. Contact Amazon customer service and explain that you were charged but did not use the membership. Amazon often refunds one month or one year of charges if you ask within a reasonable time — usually within 30 to 90 days of the charge. The sooner you contact them, the better your chances of a refund.
What happens if I cancel Prime in the middle of my billing cycle?
Your membership stays active until your next renewal date. You will not be charged again, but you keep all Prime benefits until that date. If you need to lose access when ready, contact Amazon customer service and ask for an when ready cancellation with a refund for the unused portion.
Why is my Prime charge different from what I expected?
If you were charged more than $14.99 monthly or $139 yearly, you may have other Amazon subscriptions active (like Prime Video add-ons or magazine subscriptions). Check "Memberships and Subscriptions" to see all active charges. If the Prime charge itself is different, contact Amazon customer service — it may be a regional price difference or a promotional rate.
Can I pause my Prime membership instead of canceling it?
Amazon does not offer a pause option. You can only cancel the membership. If you think you might want Prime again later, you can cancel now and sign up again whenever you want — there is no penalty for canceling and restarting.
What if my credit card was stolen and used to sign up for Prime?
Contact your credit card company when ready and report the card as stolen. They will cancel the card and issue a new one. Then log into your Amazon account, change your password, and cancel the Prime membership. If you cannot access your account, contact Amazon customer service and tell them your card was compromised — they can help you find the account and cancel the membership.