X

Amazon shipped more than 5 billion items via Prime in 2017

Amazon says Prime members around the world used their digital benefits more in 2017 than ever before.

Abrar Al-Heeti Technology Reporter
Abrar Al-Heeti is a technology reporter for CNET, with an interest in phones, streaming, internet trends, entertainment, pop culture and digital accessibility. She's also worked for CNET's video, culture and news teams. She graduated with bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Though Illinois is home, she now loves San Francisco -- steep inclines and all.
Expertise Abrar has spent her career at CNET analyzing tech trends while also writing news, reviews and commentaries across mobile, streaming and online culture. Credentials
  • Named a Tech Media Trailblazer by the Consumer Technology Association in 2019, a winner of SPJ NorCal's Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2022 and has three times been a finalist in the LA Press Club's National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards.
See full bio
Abrar Al-Heeti

The Amazon Prime number for 2017 was 5 billion. 

Amazon Prime
Getty

The company said it shipped more than 5 billion items via its Prime service in 2017. Prime, which costs $99 a year or $10.99 a month, provides members with free two-day shipping on eligible purchases in the US, as well as unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Prime Video, among other benefits. 

More new paid members joined Prime this year than any other year, Amazon Prime Vice President Greg Greeley said in a statement, adding, "members used digital benefits like Prime Video, Prime Music and Prime Reading more than ever before."

Amazon said last week that it had its "biggest holiday season" this year, and that more than four million people started free trials of Prime or bought memberships in a single week.  

Amazon's own Fire TV Stick and Echo Dot topped the list of best-selling products purchased by Prime members in the US.

'Alexa, be more human': Inside Amazon's effort to make its voice assistant smarter, chattier and more like you.

Batteries Not Included: The CNET team reminds us why tech is cool.