All the hidden Netflix, Prime, Apple and Spotify benefits you didn't know you get as a subscriber

Many streaming platforms offer benefits that aren’t always obvious to subscribers.
Netflix, Apple, and more have perks that appeal to gamers, and those wanting to save money.
Accessing all the features available can mean more bang for your monthly fee.

There’s a lot of streaming platforms on offer, and the cost of subscribing to them all can quickly add up.

One way to get the biggest bang for your buck is to use most, if not all, of the features offered by each site.

Netflix and Amazon Prime are mainly used for TV shows and free shipping respectively, but both have other less well-known features that might not be immediately obvious to many consumers.

These perks can save you money, time – or even offer more fun, at no extra cost.

Netflix Games

Netflix plans start at $6.99 a month for an ad-supported plan, up to $19.99 for its premium option. Whether you’re watching with or without ads, Netflix Games is a feature available to all subscribers.

About 50 games are on offer can be played on smartphones and tablets with no ads, extra fees, nor in-app purchases.

Titles include Stranger Things: 1984, Sonic Prime Dash, and Exploding Kittens, with categories including action, adventure, arcade, card, music, party, puzzle, racing, role-playing, simulation, sports, strategy, and tabletop.

Amazon Prime perks

Prime members have access to way more than just free fast shipping, as Wired has reported.

You’ll get access to the exclusive deals during Amazon Prime Day as well as Prime Gaming, which offers a host of free games, in-game content, and a free monthly channel subscription on Twitch.

Prime subscribers are also eligible for 12 months of Grubhub+, which includes free delivery on orders over $12 and exclusive discounts at various restaurants.

If you’re not in a hurry to receive your Amazon package, you can earn a discount on your order or $1 digital credits for opting for No-Rush Shipping at checkout. The credits can be used to save money on ebooks, movies, games, and more.

Amazon First Reads lets Prime members choose two free Kindle books from a selection of ebooks. There’s no need to own a Kindle device as there’s an app available to mobile devices and computers.

There’s also free music on offer with Prime – 100 million songs in fact – as well as podcasts, all ad-free, but yes, there is a catch of sorts. You can only “shuffle play” any artist, album, or playlist rather than select the tracks you want in your desired order – though that could be just fine for some people.

You can also rent or buy movies and TV shows on Prime Video, but there’s loads of programming included with the subscription, from originals such as “The Boys,” and “I’m a Virgo,” to films including “House of Gucci.”

Finding what you’re looking for on Prime can be a bit of a challenge, however, despite a recent revamp of its interface.

Spotify audiobooks

Spotify Premium gives you unlimited ad-free music for $9.99 a month, but it’s also worth considering Duo (two accounts) for $12.99, or the Family plan (six accounts) for $15.99, with offers a few perks designed expressly for families, including the ability to block explicit music.

The streaming platform now offers about 300,000 audiobooks in a service launched in October 2022.

Admittedly, books are not included with a subscription and have to be purchased on the Spotify web app, rather than the mobile app. But after doing so they’re available on any device and means users can keep their music, podcasts, and audiobooks all in the one place.

Listeners can also share their opinions of a title by using the rating feature.