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Amazon is ending a popular perk for Prime members that allowed them to share free shipping with people who don't live in the same household.

The company confirmed that the "Prime Invitee Program" will officially shut down on October 1, 2025.

In a notice sent to customers and posted on its website, Amazon said invited friends will be notified of the change by September 5.

The company is encouraging those who live outside a Prime member's home to sign up for their own subscription.

According to AP, to soften the change, Amazon is offering a one-year membership at a discounted price of $14.99.

After the first year, the standard rate of $14.99 per month or $139 annually applies. The deal begins this Friday and runs through December 31, 2025.

With this shift, Amazon is steering members toward "Amazon Family," a program that allows benefits to be shared only within one household.

According to Amazon, the Family plan includes free two-day shipping, exclusive deals, and access to movies.

Amazon Now Requires Shared Prime Users to Live Together

A Prime member can share with one other adult—such as a spouse, relative, or roommate—plus up to four child profiles and up to four teens, though teens must have been added before April 7 of this year.

"All users must share the same primary residential address, or the address you consider to be your home and where you spend the majority of your time," Amazon explained in the update, NBC News reported.

The change reflects Amazon's broader strategy as it invests heavily in its delivery network. The company announced in late July that it is expanding faster shipping to smaller towns and rural areas.

That service is already available in 1,000 communities, with a goal of reaching more than 4,000 by the end of the year.

Ending the Invitee program also comes as Amazon faces questions about the growth of its Prime service.

A recent Reuters report, citing internal documents, said Prime signups in the US have fallen short of company targets compared with last year.

Amazon responded by saying Prime continues to grow both in the US and internationally.

For longtime subscribers, the update marks the end of a convenient way to split benefits with friends.

Previously, Prime members could share free shipping with one other adult, even if that person had a different address. Starting in October, those days are over.

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