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Amazon is changing how U.S. customers pay for Prime Video. Beginning April 10, 2026, the company will replace its current $2.99-per-month ad-free add-on with a new $4.99 monthly plan called Prime Video Ultra. Based on Amazon’s announcement and follow-up reporting from Ars Technica, Yahoo/CNET, and The Verge, the change is not only a price increase. It also shifts some premium viewing features, especially 4K/UHD, into a more expensive tier.
What happened
Amazon said Prime Video Ultra will become the new ad-free option in the United States. The plan costs $4.99 a month and includes up to five simultaneous streams, up to 100 downloads for offline viewing, and exclusive access to 4K/UHD video. Reports also say Dolby Atmos is tied to Ultra, while the standard Prime Video benefit included with Prime keeps HD/HDR and gains Dolby Vision in 1080p, four simultaneous streams, and 50 downloads.
The company said there is no change to the price of an Amazon Prime membership itself. Instead, the extra fee for removing ads is rising from $2.99 to $4.99 a month. Amazon said the new structure reflects the investment needed to provide premium, ad-free streaming features and brings Prime Video closer to the tiered approach used by other major streaming services.
Another detail matters for customers expecting a fully ad-free experience. Yahoo/CNET reported that even Ultra subscribers may still see advertising on live TV, live events, some add-on subscriptions, and other select ad-supported content.
Why this matters
For foreigners living in Japan, the main point is that the reported change is U.S.-specific so far. None of the cited sources say Amazon has announced the same pricing or feature changes for Japan. That is important for expatriates, remote workers, students, and dual residents who maintain U.S. Amazon accounts or compare U.S. and Japanese streaming options before deciding which subscriptions to keep.
It also underlines a wider problem for international viewers: the same brand name can come with different prices, video quality limits, download rules, and advertising terms depending on the country. People in Japan who use Prime Video for English-language entertainment, imported sports coverage, or access to content from home should check the Japanese offer and their account region carefully rather than assuming the U.S. setup applies everywhere.
More broadly, this Prime Video move shows how major streaming platforms are continuing to separate premium features from basic subscriptions. For foreign residents in Japan, that makes country-by-country terms more important, especially when managing media services across borders.
Sources
- Amazon: Prime Video’s Ad Free subscription becomes Prime Video Ultra for $4.99 a month
- Ars Technica: Subscribers to Amazon Prime Video with ads lose 4K support on April 10
- Yahoo/CNET: Amazon to Increase the Price of Ad-Free Prime Video Streaming
- The Verge: Amazon Prime Video nearly doubles the price to go ad-free and stream 4K video
Use this content as planning guidance, not legal advice
Japan PR rules, timing, and interpretation can change. Use this article to understand the landscape and prepare better questions, but always verify sensitive details against official sources before acting.
- Check the latest Immigration Services Agency or Ministry of Justice guidance before making application decisions.
- Treat calculator outputs as estimates rather than guarantees of approval.
- If your case is unusual or high-stakes, verify details with a qualified professional.
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