Renting Movies on Amazon Prime: How Rentals Work and Tips to Save
If you‘re an Amazon Prime member looking to watch new release films, classic favorites, or just need an entertaining movie night, renting titles through Prime Video is a convenient and cost-effective option.
But if you‘re new to Prime, you may be wondering:
- How long do the rentals last?
- Can you watch multiple times?
- Does it cost extra for Prime members?
- What about downloading for offline viewing?
Not to worry, I‘ve got you covered!
As an ecommerce seller familiar with getting the most out of an Amazon Prime membership, I‘ll explain everything you need to know about renting movies with Prime Video. Whether looking for a new box office hit or an 80s cult classic, this guide will help you have an awesome movie night without breaking the bank!
Let‘s dive in…
A Quick Primer: How to Rent Movies on Amazon Prime
Renting movies and TV shows through your Prime Video account is a breeze. Just follow these simple steps:
Open the Prime Video app or website and log in to your Amazon account.
Browse or search for the video you want to rent. Check that it says "Rent" or "Included with Prime" since some titles are purchase only.
Select "Rent" in HD, SD, or 4K UHD quality. Pick "Buy" if you want to own it permanently.
Complete the transaction. If renting, your payment method on file will be charged the rental fee.
Start streaming instantly! Internet connection speed determines video quality.
And that‘s it! With just a few clicks, you can be watching the latest Hollywood hit or a nostalgic childhood favorite.
Now let‘s explore some key questions about Prime Video rentals and how they work…
Do You Need an Amazon Prime Membership to Rent Movies?
This is a common question. Luckily, a Prime membership is not required to rent videos on demand through Prime Video.
Any Amazon customer can rent titles by simply searching for the movie in Prime Video and selecting the rental fee. It‘s open to all Amazon accounts – no Prime subscription needed.
However, Prime members do get special perks and pricing on certain rentals. For example, some new release or popular movies may be $2 cheaper for Prime subscribers.
There are also over 20,000 movies and shows available to Prime members through a growing included catalog. These can be streamed instantly at no extra cost.
So while a membership isn‘t mandatory, Prime members ultimately have access to more rentals at lower prices. Let‘s compare some of the key benefits:
Membership | Benefits |
---|---|
Prime | – Lower prices on new release rentals |
– Included movies & shows with subscription | |
– Larger rental library of latest titles | |
Non-Prime | – Pay regular listed rental prices |
– Smaller catalog, only backlisted titles |
Bottom line: Prime members get more rental options at discounted rates. But anyone can still rent movies on demand without the $139 annual fee.
Now you know the Prime difference. Next let‘s look at how long you actually have to watch…
What‘s the Watch Window for Rented Movies?
This is important – Amazon gives you 30 days to start watching a rented movie or show after paying the rental fee.
You have a full month to start streaming your video. This gives you tons of flexibility on when to have movie night.
However, once you press play on a rental, you only have 48 hours to finish watching before it expires.
This means you can pause, rewind, and rewatch as often as you want within that 48 hour period. But after it ends, the rental disappears from your Prime library.
Any unused rentals will remain for the remainder of the 30 days though. Just remember to watch within 48 hours once you hit play.
With no late fees, you can relax knowing your rentals won‘t vanish before you‘re ready. And you can always re-rent a title again after it expires.
How Many Times Can You View a Rental?
Within the 48 hour watch window, there is no limit on how many times you can view a rental!
Go ahead and watch it on repeat all weekend long. You can pause, rewind, and replay scenes endlessly once you start streaming.
Just be aware the clock doesn‘t reset. That original 48 hour expiration stays in effect throughout any rewatches.
When time runs out, the rental disappears and cannot be watched again unless re-rented. At that point, it‘s often cheaper to just purchase the video outright.
So if it‘s a new release you know you‘ll rewatch often, buying the movie for keeps may be more economical. Which brings us to…
Buying vs. Renting Movies on Prime Video
Let‘s compare the costs of buying a movie permanently versus single rentals:
Membership | New Release Rental | New Release Purchase |
---|---|---|
Prime | $5.99 | $19.99 |
Non-Prime | $6.99 | $19.99 |
As you can see, buying a movie outright is just $12-15 more than a single rental. Over multiple viewings, purchasing is far more cost effective.
Plus, buying gives you permanent access to stream whenever you want. No time limits or expirations.
Owned purchases can also be downloaded to mobile devices for offline, on-the-go viewing. Downloads make purchases even more flexible.
If it‘s a movie you anticipate rewatching often, take the one-time plunge and buy it for keeps!
How Many Movies Can I Rent at Once?
There are also generous limits on the number of rentals allowed on an account:
Prime Members can have up to 15 videos rented out at once
Non-Prime Members may be limited to around 5-10 simultaneous rentals
Keep in mind you can only stream 1 rental at a time per account. But with no due dates, your other rentals remain active and can be watched anytime within the 30 day window.
Take advantage by stocking up on rentals for a whole month of movie nights! Family movie marathons, date nights, kids‘ sleepovers – with Prime Video, the options are endless.
Can I Download Rented Movies to Watch Offline?
Unfortunately, Prime Video does not allow movie or show rentals to be downloaded for offline viewing.
You must maintain an internet connection to stream rentals through Prime Video. Being online allows Amazon to enforce the 48 hour watch window limits.
However, any purchased movies or shows in your Prime library can be downloaded to mobile devices like smartphones, tablets, and Fire tablets.
Downloaded purchases allow you to watch without WiFi – perfect for air travel, road trips, or just saving data when out and about!
But again, this offline viewing perk only applies to purchased titles, not rentals.
Pro Tip: How to Avoid Accidental Rentals
It‘s happened to all of us – you click the wrong button and mistakenly rent a movie you didn‘t mean to!
But with Prime Video, canceling accidental rentals for a full refund is easy:
- Go to Your Account > Prime Video
- Locate the accidental rental in Your Video Library
- Select the title, then choose "Cancel Purchase"
- Confirm cancellation – your refund will process instantly!
Just be sure to act within a few hours, before you trigger the 48 hour watch window. Catch that mistake in time and your wallet will thank you!
More Tips for Renting Movies on Amazon Prime
Beyond the basics, here are some expert tips for saving money and having an awesome movie night with Prime Video rentals:
Check IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes ratings – Don‘t waste money or time on bad movies! Sort by rating to find quality films worth your money.
Use X-Ray features like cast info, scene trivia, and more to enhance your viewing experience. Dive deeper into your favorite movies.
Skip the rental lineups – No need to wait for new releases! Rent and watch hot movies opening weekend from the comfort of home.
Review your Watchlist – Save interesting titles to your Watchlist so you remember what to rent or buy at your next movie night.
Download the Prime Video app on your phone, smart TV, Fire Stick, and other devices for easy viewing on any screen.
Set rental expiration time – When renting, you can choose when the 48 hour watch window starts – great for planning movie nights in advance!
With these tips, you‘ll save money and maximize your Prime Video rental library. Now onto the final recap…
Renting Movies on Prime in a Nutshell
If you skipped ahead, here are the key facts about Prime Video rentals summarized:
Prime membership NOT required – all Amazon accounts can rent movies, but Prime unlocks lower prices
30 days to start streaming after paying rental fee
48 hours to finish watching once you begin playback
Unlimited rewatches within 48 hours – no limits!
15 max simultaneous rentals for Prime members
No downloads allowed for rentals, only purchases
Cancel accidental rentals ASAP for instant refund
Buying often cheaper with repeat views
Renting on Prime Video gives you flexible, affordable access to new releases and much more.
Use this guide to make the most of your Prime membership and movie nights!
Want to dive even deeper? Let me know in the comments if you need help getting started with Prime Video. Happy streaming!