Try Amazon Prime for free for 30 days to get access to October Prime Day 2026

Prime Big Deal Days takes place Oct. 6-7, and you'll need an active Prime membership to shop the sale. By Timothy Beck Werth Timothy Beck Werth Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth is the Tech Editor at Mashable, where he leads coverage and assignments for the Tech and Shopping verticals. Tim has over 15 years of experience as a journalist and editor, and he has particular experience covering and testing consumer technology, smart home gadgets, and men’s grooming and style products. Previously, he was the Managing Editor and then Site Director of SPY.com, a men's product review and lifestyle website. As a writer for GQ, he covered everything from bull-riding competitions to the best Legos for adults, and he’s also contributed to publications such as The Daily Beast, Gear Patrol, and The Awl. Read Full Bio on September 29, 2026 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Flipboard All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission. Prime Big Deal Days is better known as October Prime Day. Credit: Amazon The best Amazon Prime offers: Amazon is bringing back its members-only Prime Big Deal Days sale this October, and the big event is just days away. While Prime Day officially takes place in June or July, most of us simply call this annual fall sale October Prime Day.Amazon has confirmed that you need an active Prime membership to access the Prime Big Deal Days sale. Normally, Prime memberships cost $139 per year, or $14.99 per month, but you may qualify for a free 30-day trial for Amazon Prime, which means you can shop the best October Prime Day deals and enjoy perks like free shipping and grocery delivery at no cost.If you don't have an active Prime membership — or if your membership hasn't been active for 12 months — you can claim your free trial right now. Claim 30-day free trial (normally $14.99/month) Keep scrolling to learn about all the benefits included in the 30-day free trial. We'll also answer common questions about Prime Big Deal Days so you'll have everything you need to take advantage of this members-only shopping event.Who qualifies for the Amazon Prime free trial?If you don't have an active Prime membership — or if your old account has been inactive for 12 months — then you should automatically qualify for the 30-day free trial. To sign up, visit amazon.com/prime. If you qualify, you should see a message that says, "We're giving you a free 30-day trial of Prime." If you don't see this message, look for a button that reads, "Start your free 30-day trial."How much does Prime cost? And what kind of benefits are included?Prime normally costs $14.99 per month, but young adults and college students qualify for a 50% discount. Here's how the pricing works:30-day free trial$14.99 per month after the trial endsYoung people pay $7.49 in the Prime for Young Adults membershipYou can also save $40.88 by paying $139 per year upfrontThe most famous benefits of Amazon Prime include free 2-day delivery and free returns. Many products are available with 1-day and same-day shipping in some areas. In addition, your $14.99/month membership includes access to the Prime Video streaming service.Other benefits included in the membership and 30-day free trial include:Free Same-Day Delivery on $25+ grocery orders in selected areasAccess to Amazon MusicAccess to Amazon Photos (unlimited photo storage and 5GB of video storage)Free Grubhub+ membership, including $0 delivery fees, lower service fees, and exclusive savingsAmazon Prime Fuel Savings lets you save 10 cents a gallon on fuel at more than 7,500 gas stationsExclusive access to offers on Amazon services and sales events like Prime Day and Prime Big Deal DaysApply for the Amazon Prime Visa to earn cash backAmazon also offers a Prime Visa card for qualifying Prime members. With the Prime Visa, you can enjoy exclusive rewards, such as:$150 gift card at sign-upEarn unlimited 5% back on Amazon purchasesEarn unlimited 5% back at Whole Foods (online or in-store)Shop with points at AmazonYou can apply for the Prime Visa card at Amazon.What is Prime Big Deal Days, aka October Prime Day? Credit: Amazon Since 2022, Amazon has hosted a fall sale for Prime members, officially called Prime Big Deal Days. In recent years, this shopping event has become the unofficial kick-off to the Black Friday shopping season. For early bird shoppers, it's a chance to get a head start on holiday shopping (and save some money in the process). Mashable Deals By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. The sale will take place over 48 hours on Tuesday, Oct. 6 and Wednesday, Oct. 7, with opportunities to save across 35 different categories and deals on popular products from Apple, Bose, Dyson, Lego, Levi's, Nike, Samsung, Sony, and tons more brands. Amazon's own devices and services will also see huge discounts, including Echo speakers, Fire TVs, eero routers, Audible, and Kindle Unlimited.In fact, a ton of early Prime Day deals are already live. However, if you want to save hundreds of dollars on OLED TVs or try Audible for free, you'll need to be a Prime member.Do you need to be a Prime member to shop the October Prime Day sale?Yes. According to Amazon's announcement, only Prime members with an active subscription can participate in this sale. Is Amazon Prime worth it?This writer says yes. I've been an Amazon Prime member for at least five years, and I've never let my membership lapse. I'm an active user of Prime Video, and I regularly purchase household necessities (and plenty of non-necessities) on Amazon to take advantage of the free shipping. Timothy Beck Werth is the Tech Editor at Mashable, where he leads coverage and assignments for the Tech and Shopping verticals. Tim has over 15 years of experience as a journalist and editor, and he has particular experience covering and testing consumer technology, smart home gadgets, and men’s grooming and style products. Previously, he was the Managing Editor and then Site Director of SPY.com, a men's product review and lifestyle website. As a writer for GQ, he covered everything from bull-riding competitions to the best Legos for adults, and he’s also contributed to publications such as The Daily Beast, Gear Patrol, and The Awl.Tim studied print journalism at the University of Southern California. He currently splits his time between Brooklyn, NY and Charleston, SC. He's currently working on his second novel, a science-fiction book. These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.