Starting June 17, 2025, Amazon Prime Video users in India will begin seeing ads—yes, even if they’ve already shelled out for a Prime membership.
The update came via a quiet email blast to subscribers on May 13, letting them know that movies and shows will now feature a “limited number” of ads. This shift aligns with what Amazon’s already rolled out in other countries, including the U.S., where ad-supported Prime Video reaches more than 130 million users every month.
It’s the first time that Amazon’s main content catalog in India will include advertising. The company claims the ad load will be significantly lighter than what viewers are used to on TV or many other streamers.
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If you’re not a fan of interruptions, there will be a way out—but it’ll cost you. Amazon is introducing an ad-free add-on plan, priced at Rs 129 per month or Rs 699 per year as part of a discounted launch offer. Without the discount, the annual price will eventually go up to Rs 999. This means if you want completely ad-free streaming, your total yearly spend will jump to Rs 2,198 (Prime + the add-on).
The base Prime membership stays at Rs 1,499 per year and continues to bundle in perks like free shipping, Prime Music, Prime Reading, and Prime Gaming. The upcoming changes won’t affect Prime Lite users, who already stream ad-supported content in 720p on a single device for Rs 799 annually.
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Amazon says the move is necessary to keep pumping money into new shows and movies. India’s streaming war is heating up, and Prime Video currently holds about 23% of the market, behind the dominant player, JioStar. That rival’s top-tier ad-free plan supports up to four devices and costs Rs 1,499 a year—the same as Amazon’s current standard membership. Netflix, meanwhile, continues to sit at the pricey end of the spectrum, with its premium plan going for Rs 649 per month.
Bottom line? Streaming in India is about to get noisier—unless you’re willing to pay more for silence.
