Is Prime Day only for members? Everything you need to know about accessing Amazon deals during Prime Day

Tempted by all the deals news and wondering, is Prime Day only for members? For some, Amazon Prime Day can be more exciting than the January sales or even Black Friday, but is Prime Day only for prime members?

The short answer is yes, as Amazon uses the two-day sales event to encourage more people to sign up for its membership. But that doesn't mean you can't take part without paying for Prime or signing up for a long-term membership. 

Before we get started, here's everything you need to know about Prime Day, how to take part, and, for non-members, how to bag the same bargains as everyone else without necessarily committing to a monthly membership.

Is Prime Day only for Prime members?

Amazon bills its Prime Day sales event as, "exclusively for Prime members", which suggests that those who haven't succumbed to next-day shipping and streaming need not apply. But, as with most things, it's not quite that simple.

Assuming you have never signed up before, you can get a 30-day free A trial that gives you access to all of the same Prime Day deals (along with other perks) as long-time members. And you don't need to worry about what it will cost you, as you can cancel before the free trial expires. There's no obligation, and it won't cost you anything if you don't want it to.

How to sign up for Amazon Prime

This year's Prime Day kicks off on July 12 and Wednesday, July 13. The annual shopping event features hundreds of unbeatable deals on well-known brands and sought-after products, making it one of the most popular sales events of the year. You can expect discounts on everything from electronics and toys to jewelry, homeware, and gifts.

If you sign up for Prime before the deals kick off then you will have access. Follow the link below to get started.

• Sign up for a 30-day free Amazon Prime here

What happens after the free 30-day trial?

Once Prime Day is over and you've got yourself some brilliant deals, you can do one of two things. The first is canceling your membership before your free trial expires, ensuring that you've spent nothing.

The second is to continue to enjoy the Amazon Prime benefits with your membership, which gets you lots of access to free premium delivery, Amazon streaming including original movies and TV shows not available anywhere else, and other add-on services. Most Prime members swear by it, but it's not for everyone.

The membership costs $14.99(£7.99) a month right now, and you can cancel at any time.

So if you want to take the pressure out of shopping as other sales events roll around, then you might be tempted to stick around.