A benefit that’s been available to Amazon Prime members since 2009 is no longer available. Starting on Wednesday, Oct. 1, the online retail and streaming video giant is putting an end to a service used by customers to share shipping service across multiple addresses.

Here are four things to know about the benefit no longer being offered:

1. Prime Invitee Program is Ending

Amazon is officially discontinuing its Prime Invitee Program on Oct. 1, 2025, and has begun notifying users of the change. Invited guests were expected to receive a direct notification from Amazon about the termination of the program by Sept. 5, 2025. The program launched in 2009 and allowed for new signups until 2015.

2. Shared Shipping Benefit is Being Eliminated

The program previously allowed Prime members to share their free two-day shipping benefits with one other adult, even if that person lived at a different address. Invitees who do not live in the same home as the primary account holder will now need to purchase their own Prime membership to retain this benefit.

3. Amazon is Pushing its “Family” Program

By ending the Invitee program, Amazon aims to transition users to its Amazon Family program as the primary method for sharing benefits. The Family program allows sharing a wider range of perks, including Prime Day access, Prime Video, and exclusive deals.

4. The “Family” Program Requires a Shared Address

A key difference is that the Amazon Family program requires all members—one other adult, four teens, and four children—to share the same primary home address. However, teens needed to be added to family program prior to April 7, 2025, which was months before the invitee program’s end was announced.

This is a significant restriction compared to the outgoing program, which allowed sharing shipping benefits across different households.

For more information on Amazon Family, visit the Amazon website.

Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story, which was edited and expanded by MLive staff.