Amazon has announced a major change for Indian Prime Video subscribers: starting June 17, 2025, movies and TV shows on the platform will include limited advertisements unless users opt for a new ad-free upgrade. This shift aligns India with Amazon’s global strategy and reflects a growing trend among streaming services to adopt hybrid subscription-ad models.
Ads on Prime Video: From June 17, 2025, all Prime Video content in India will feature “limited” ads during movies and TV shows. Amazon says the ad load will be “meaningfully fewer” than what viewers see on traditional TV or other streaming platforms.
No Change in Base Membership Price: The standard Amazon Prime membership remains at ₹1,499 per year, with no increase in price for existing benefits, which include Prime Video (now with ads), Prime Music, Prime Reading, Prime Gaming, and fast Amazon.in deliveries.
Ad-Free Upgrade Option: Users who want to continue watching ad-free content can purchase a new add-on at ₹699 per year or ₹129 per month. This add-on is available in addition to the standard Prime membership and can be activated starting June 17, 2025.
Multiple Tiers Remain: Other Prime tiers, such as Prime Lite (₹799/year, 720p streaming) and Prime Shopping Edition (₹399/year), remain available, but only the standard Prime plan includes the new ad-free add-on option.
Amazon says the introduction of ads will help sustain and increase investments in original content for Indian audiences. The company emphasizes that the ad volume will be less intrusive than on TV, aiming to balance affordability and content quality for subscribers. This model mirrors similar changes in the US and other global markets, where ad-supported streaming has become a new industry standard. Netflix and Disney+ have also launched ad-supported plans in several countries.
Amazon promises that the number of ads will be lower than on TV, but users will see them unless they pay for the ad-free add-on. Subscribers who pay ₹699/year or ₹129/month for the add-on will continue to enjoy uninterrupted streaming across all Prime Video content. All other Prime benefits, including early access to sales, Prime Day deals, and bundled services, remain unchanged.
With the ad-free add-on, the total annual cost for an uninterrupted 4K Prime Video experience will be ₹2,198-still less than Netflix’s 4K ad-free plan (₹649/month) and slightly above JioCinema Premium (Hotstar).
Ads will be added automatically for all users starting June 17, 2025. Those who want to avoid ads can subscribe to the add-on once it becomes available.Users who do not wish to continue after the change can cancel their membership and request a pro-rated refund through their Amazon account settings. Amazon is notifying users via email and app notifications about the upcoming changes.
