These Amazon Digital Services Are Getting Us Through Quarantine
Social distancing isn't so bad when you've got these.
We’re living through an unprecedented time in history. As coronavirus (COVID-19) shutters businesses across the country and keeps us all indoors in an effort to slow the spread of illness, many of us are relying on the internet to a degree we never have before. And Amazon digital services, in particular, are helping us get through the day.
If it was hard to imagine life without Amazon before, it’s practically impossible now. Whether we’re buying new cookware to whip up tasty treats, stocking up on comfort food to tide us over until our next grocery outing, or ordering some fun crafting tools, the retail giant has come through for us.
Here are six Amazon digital services we’re grateful for — and counting on — to make these difficult days a little easier (and more fun!):
1. Amazon Prime
Free two-day delivery on eligible items (in some cases free same-day delivery!), free returns, access to Amazon Original TV series and movies, free unlimited photo storage, and more — all for $119 a year (or $12.99 a month). If Amazon Prime feels essential in regular times, it’s even more so during a pandemic. Delivery times may be a little slower right now due to high demand, but as a Prime member, you know they’ll get your order to your door as fast as they possibly can. Sign up now and get a free 30-day trial.
Where to buy: Amazon Prime (pricing options vary)
2. Prime Video Channels
HBO, Showtime, Starz, Cinemax: You no longer have to subscribe to these premium channels through your local cable company. Amazon offers them for a low monthly fee, along with many, many more. Whether you want to watch British detective shows or indulge your child’s latest PBS Kids obsession (because screentime doesn’t count during a pandemic), you can find what you’re looking for through Amazon Prime Video Channels, no cable box required.
Where to buy: Prime Video Channels (pricing varies)
3. Audible
If, like us, you used to listen to audiobooks during your commute to work, good news: Now you can listen to them on a solo walk around your neighborhood, or while you’re loading the dishwasher (for the millionth time this week), or while you soak in the tub and try to forget the latest news headlines. An Audible subscription gives you access to a huge selection of books, both new releases and classics, read by your favorite actors.
Where to buy: Audible (From $15 for one month)
4. Kindle
For those of us who want to read books the old-fashioned way — or not exactly the old-fashioned way, but with our eyes instead of our ears, a Kindle subscription is the way to go. You get the best of both worlds, because Kindle Unlimited gives you access to over a million books, as well as magazines and Audible books. Don’t worry; you don’t need a Kindle device (unless you want one!). You can read or listen on any device, anytime, with the Kindle app.
Where to buy: Kindle ($9.99 a month after a free 30-day trial)
5. Twitch
Keep the kids entertained between online classes with a Twitch subscription, which gives them access to the world’s leading live-streaming platform for gamers. Whether they’re Fortnite fans or can’t get enough of Doom, they’ll be able to watch other people play and nerd out to their hearts’ content.
Where to buy: Twitch (included free with Amazon Prime)
