4 Uncommon Amazon shopping hacks that actually work in 2025 — Triple your savings

Shopping on Amazon without using these money-saving tricks is like leaving cash on the table. While everyone knows about Prime Day and Lightning Deals, the savviest shoppers are using these lesser-known techniques to unlock serious discounts. Here are four tried-and-tested Amazon hacks that can triple your savings in 2025, plus insights on whether Amazon Prime is worth it and exclusive data on Amazon promo codes in 2025.

Is Amazon Prime worth it in 2025?

With an annual cost of $139 (or $14.99 monthly), many shoppers wonder if Amazon Prime is truly worth the investment. According to recent analyses, the answer depends on your shopping habits and how well you utilize the full range of benefits.

An Amazon Prime membership includes:

• Free two-day shipping (with same-day delivery in some areas)

• Prime Video streaming service

• Amazon Music Prime with 2 million songs

• Prime Reading with thousands of books and magazines

• A free Grubhub+ membership

• Prime Gaming perks

• Exclusive Prime Day deals

• Whole Foods discounts

• Photo storage and more

JP Morgan analysts estimated the true value of all these services to be around $1,000 annually if purchased separately, potentially making it a worthwhile investment for many households.

The math is relatively simple: If you place at least 23 orders per year with standard shipping (averaging about $6 per shipment), the membership pays for itself on shipping alone. For students, who pay just $69 annually, the break-even point is even lower at about 10 orders per year.

While alternatives like Walmart+ ($98/year) offer some similar shipping benefits at a lower price, they typically don't include the full range of entertainment and service benefits that come with Prime.

The bottom line: If you shop on Amazon at least twice monthly and use some of the additional benefits, Prime is likely worth the cost. If you rarely order online or primarily shop for larger orders that would qualify for free shipping anyway, you might be better off without it.

Beyond Prime: Try these 4 proven Amazon shopping hacks

Whether you have Prime or not, these four shopping hacks can help you maximize your savings on Amazon purchases. Here's how to unlock hidden discounts and save money on your next order:

The incognito price hack

Ever notice Amazon showing different prices at different times? It's not your imagination. Amazon uses dynamic pricing algorithms that can change based on your browsing history, account information, and even whether you're logged in.

SimplyCodes recently tested this myself with a pair of Adidas Stan Smith sneakers. When searching while logged into my Amazon account, the price showed as $88.45 with Prime delivery. But after following a few simple steps, SimplyCodes found the exact same sneakers for just $72.52 — nearly $16 in savings!

Here's how to try this hack yourself:

1. Clear your browser history and cookies

2. Open a private or incognito browser window

3. Make sure you're not logged into your Amazon account

4. Search for the same product you were interested in

5. Compare the price to what you saw while logged in

This works because Amazon's pricing algorithm considers your purchasing patterns, browsing history, and account status when showing prices. By appearing as a "new" shopper with no history, you might see significantly lower prices — especially on popular items.

Pro tip: If you find a lower price while incognito, you can still use your Prime account for shipping. Just add the item to your cart while incognito, then log in before checkout. The price usually stays the same, and you'll get your Prime shipping benefits.

The ghost item free shipping trick

Need just one item that doesn't qualify for free shipping? This hack helps you get free shipping without actually buying additional products.

Here's how it works:

1. Find an inexpensive pre-order item (like an unreleased book or video game) that won't ship immediately

2. Add both your desired item and the pre-order "ghost item" to your cart

3. If the total meets the free shipping threshold (typically $25 for non-Prime members), you'll qualify for free shipping on the entire order

4. After your main item ships, simply cancel the pre-order item

Since Amazon doesn't charge for pre-order items until they ship, you'll never pay for the ghost item — but you'll keep the free shipping benefit on your actual purchase.

For example, if you're buying a $20 item with a $6 shipping fee, add a pre-order item that costs $10 or more to push your cart over the $25 free shipping threshold. Once your $20 item ships for free, cancel the pre-order. You've just saved $6 in shipping costs without spending an extra penny.

This trick works because retail systems authorize free shipping at the time you place your order, but they don't retroactively charge shipping if you cancel part of the order later.

The subscribe, save, and cancel strategy

Amazon's Subscribe & Save program isn't just for people who want recurring deliveries — it's a goldmine for one-time discounts if you know how to use it.

Here's the step-by-step process:

1. Find products eligible for Subscribe & Save (typically household goods, personal care items, pet supplies, etc.)

2. Select the subscription option instead of one-time purchase to get an immediate 5% discount

3. If you add 5+ Subscribe & Save items to a single delivery, the discount jumps to 15%

4. Complete your purchase at the discounted price

5. Once your order ships, go to "Manage Subscribe & Save" in your account and cancel the subscription

You'll have received your items at the discounted price without any obligation for future purchases. This works because Amazon allows you to cancel subscriptions at any time, even immediately after your first order ships.

The savings can be substantial — 15% off across multiple items adds up quickly. Plus, Amazon often offers additional coupons exclusively for first-time Subscribe & Save purchases on certain products, allowing you to stack discounts for even greater savings.

Insider tip: To quickly reach the 5-item threshold for 15% off, consider subscribing to multiple variations of the same product (different flavors, scents, etc.). Each counts as a separate subscription towards your total.

The color and size price switcheroo

When shopping for products with multiple variations (colors, sizes, patterns), always check the price of each option — you might be surprised by the differences.

Here's how to take advantage of this:

1. When viewing a product with multiple options, click through all available variations

2. Pay attention to price changes as you switch between colors, sizes, or styles

3. Consider whether a different color or slightly different size might be acceptable to you at a significant discount

This works because retailers often adjust prices based on inventory levels and popularity. Less popular colors or uncommon sizes frequently get discounted, sometimes dramatically.

For example, I've seen headphones where the black, white, and blue versions were $299, but the red version (last year's color) was marked down to $249 — a $50 savings just for choosing a different color. Similarly, clothing items often have significant price variances between colors and sizes.

The best part? The product is identical in terms of quality and function — only the aesthetic differs. It takes just seconds to check all the variations, but the savings can be substantial.

Combine these hacks for maximum savings

While each of these hacks can save you money individually, the real magic happens when you combine them. Here's a scenario showing how powerful these techniques can be together:

1. First, use the incognito trick to find the best base price

2. Check all color/size variations to find any additional discounts

3. If eligible, use Subscribe & Save for an extra 5-15% off

4. If needed, add a ghost item to qualify for free shipping

5. After receiving your items, cancel any subscriptions or pre-orders

By layering these strategies, you can potentially save 20-40% on your Amazon purchases — without using a single coupon code or waiting for a sale.

Remember, these hacks work best when used ethically and in accordance with Amazon's terms. They're about being a savvy shopper, not about exploiting the system.

SimplyCodes data: Amazon promo codes in 2025

Now that you got your hacks, add an Amazon promo code to the mix. According to exclusive SimplyCodes data, Amazon has released 199 promo codes from January through April 2025. Here's the monthly breakdown:

• January: 90 promo codes (highest month)

• February: 59 promo codes

• March: 36 promo codes

• April: 14 promo codes (so far)

This pattern suggests that early in the year is a good time to look for Amazon promo codes, but based on 2024 data, October and November will likely have the highest number of promo codes for the year.

Interestingly, approximately 95% of Amazon's promo codes are for select items only, rather than site-wide discounts. This has been consistent in previous years as well.

Our data analysis on the most common words found in Amazon promo codes reveals that certain product categories appear more frequently than others. While terms like "Amazon" and "items" are common but not informative, there's a noticeable trend toward electronics, lighting products, and outdoor items, with terms like "lights," "LED," "portable," "electric," "solar," and "outdoor" appearing frequently in promo codes.

This insight can help you target your shopping toward categories more likely to have promo code opportunities.

Smart shopping is strategic shopping

Amazon offers countless opportunities to save money, but most shoppers fail to take full advantage. By understanding whether Prime makes sense for your shopping habits, keeping an eye on promo code trends, and implementing these four powerful shopping hacks, you can significantly reduce your Amazon spending without sacrificing the products you want.

The key is to shop strategically, not impulsively. Take a few extra minutes to compare prices across variations, check for subscription discounts, and test different browsing scenarios. Those small efforts can add up to hundreds of dollars in savings over the course of a year.

Whether you're a Prime member or not, these techniques work equally well. The important thing is to make them part of your regular shopping routine and always look for new ways to maximize your savings on every purchase.