Amazon Prime Video Canada is a streaming service now available in Canada where you can stream movies, TV shows and exclusive content on mobile devices and PCs. This is a review of the serevice available in Canada.
The streaming service launched in Canada as part of Amazon‘s global rollout of the service.
If you’re not already a Prime member, you will have to purchase an annual subscription to Amazon Prime in order to take advantage of the service. An annual subscription in Canada will cost you $79. Prime membership has many other benefits. I won’t get into those added benefits here, but you can check out our original article on the launch of Amazon Prime Video to get a better idea of what Prime a all about.
Before Amazon Prime Video launched in Canada I was already a Prime member, so the addition of streaming video is another free benefit that I welcome.
I also have subscriptions to Netflix Canada and CraveTV. The first thing I noticed about Amazon Prime Video is that it doesn’t offer nearly as many titles as Netflix, and Crave TV. That’s understandable, due to the fact that Amazon Prime Video isn’t a standalone product – it’s basically an added benefit offered to Prime members.
If you’re in the market specifically for a streaming service that offers almost unlimited content Amazon Prime Video is not for you. I would have to advise you to go with Netflix. If however, you want to enhance your streaming sources, I have no problem recommending Amazon Prime Video*. When you consider the other benefits included with your Prime membership, this is a great free addition, but it’s far from being a Netflix killer, or even a competitor – at least not in Canada.
I was able to stream great quality video on my PC as well as my iOS device. There’s also an option to download content to watch later. That’s great for taking content with you without using valuable data. Incidentally, Netflix Canada recently introduced the download option as part of their streaming service.
*Full Disclosure: After a month with Prime Video, I have re-evaluated the service and downgraded my original ratings. I just want to reiterate my belief that Prime itself is a decent service, but Prime Video as a standalone product is not something I can recommend.
Image – Amazon
Amazon Prime is not for those who make occasional purchases or even upwards of 15 purchases a year as most products are offered free delivery if the price is over $35. A lot of products valued at under $35 are also free delivery so paying $79 plus tax is not worth it. The recent offering of prime movies, tv is at best for Canadians dismal. I signed up, made it to the home page and found the offered selection lacking and numbers wise dismal. Perhaps months from now the prime movies will improve but for now just do your usual shopping at Amazon.
I tend to agree Ed. I think the promise of more titles coming is vital to making the service more attractive.
I signed up for the preview and watched every show I had any interest in in less than a week. Perhaps the US lineup is larger, I don’t know. For Canadians it simply isn’t worth it.
Hi Pat,
I tend to agree, there’s not a lot available. My original enthusiasm was based on what appeared to be a vow to add many more titles. Thus far, a few new titles have been added, but not to the extent that I had hoped.
Overall, Prime is good if you’re a frequent buyer and like two-day delivery. I also make use of the unlimited storage Amazon provides for photos.
I look at the video as a freebie over and above the Prime core services.
In the US, Amazon provides a huge library of shows that easily rivals Netflix. Unfortunately, for us Canadians, we get the short end of the stick it seems.
As a prime member for years is a good advantage. I found the original series are great too, but not very up to date. I wonder when is the Mozart in the Jungle Season 3 or the last 2 seasons of Man in the Higher Castle comes to Canada. Good choices but its all old episodes, and old movies.
I signed up for Amazon Prime video,the content in Canada is just abysmal , and so is their customer service(excuses about technical problems and “Geographical restrictions”etc.
Once agin Canada gets screwed over just like Canadian netflix
Amazon should have done a better job on launching, most devices like my Sony items, and Roku do not support Prime Video in Canada, but the same devices do in the States. Amazon does not sell their Fire TV HD box in Canada… morons, how do they expect their product to work. The content is abysmal, the ability to stream limited unless I want to buy newer devices or hook my phones or computer to my TV or newer TV’s, not good. I have asked Sony, Roku, Amazon questions especially the American techs who can’t figure out what the problem is, cause they are not Canadian and do not understand how we always come in last for these items. The best way is to vote with your wallet… don’t buy the crap till it actually works. Maybe they figure that Canadians are too busy slipping in penguin dung as they run away from polar bears while we traipse between igloos, good luck with the WALL…