Amazon today launched a new Prime Photos feature called "Family Vault", which extends the unlimited photo storage that Amazon Prime subscribers get to their friends and family members (via TechCrunch).

prime-photos-banner
For those unfamiliar with Amazon Prime, a $99 per year subscription includes free two-day shipping, unlimited streaming of movies, TV shows and music, and unlimited photo storage, among other benefits. With the arrival of Family Vault, Prime subscribers can now invite up to five family members or friends to join their online account, where they can combine photos and each get another 5GB of storage for uploading videos and other files.

The thinking behind Family Vault is to allow close friends and families to see each other's photos and videos in a single location, and be able to access them on their own devices, at no cost to those added by the Prime account holder.

02-family-vault1
The Family Plan announcement also ushers in some new search technology for Prime Photos users, including keyword-related searches for photos with a specific theme or subject (e.g. cat, wedding, beach, and so on) and a face-finding feature called "People".

Amazon is also formally announcing a new low-cost photo printing service, with prints starting at 9 cents, with free shipping for Prime members.

Further details of all of the company's newly announced features can be found on Amazon's Photos minisite or through the Amazon Photos mobile app.

Top Rated Comments

chr1s60 Avatar
119 months ago
I can't speak for countries other than the US, but having been a Prime member for about a decade now, it is by far one of the best investments one can make. It used to pay for itself in just shipping costs alone and over the past 5 years it has continually gotten better. I don't see them losing me as a customer any time soon.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macduke Avatar
119 months ago
I've been wanting Apple to do this with iCloud storage. I pay for 1TB/mo and only have 205GB on there (I recently had to upgrade because I kept bumping up against the 200GB limit and kept having to delete videos). So I have about 800GB free and can't even share it with my wife—even though we share apps, movies, TV shows, games, Apple Music, etc—I have to buy her a separate storage account. IDK why it can't be shared among everyone in the family like literally everything else including location, notes, reminders, and calendars. As the head of the family I should be able to allocate space to each user, as well as share certain folders. I hope Apple is working on this functionality!
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
autumnpatchouli Avatar
119 months ago
Amazon Prime Photos, which I've used since it was available, was basically an afterthought bonus to Prime members. That said, it is now superior to Apple photos. Apple just can't seem to get photos right. I use it as my photo entry point, which is then farmed automatically out to Prime, Google photos, Flickr, & One Drive. All, with maybe the exception of One Drive, are better at what they do than Apple photos. The facial recognition not being synced between devices (last time I looked) is ridiculous. Search is inferior. And every system update seems to screw up photos in some way. Add to that the fact I pay $900 for their phone, and get a paltry 5gb of cloud storage. So I have to bother with $.99 a month for 45gb more.i do love Apple phones, but this company nickels & dimes you to death on their services.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
maxsix Avatar
119 months ago


What I don't like about Apple's "stuff" is that except for Music, I can't really think of anything they have that is cross platform. I know they want to lock you into their ecosystem but it just annoys me to the point I am breaking out of the ecosystem every way I can.
So very true. The irony is I began enjoying Apples finest work years ago, yet today one must accept great limitations to do so.
[doublepost=1476797879][/doublepost]
I've been wanting Apple to do this with iCloud storage. I pay for 1TB/mo and only have 205GB on there (I recently had to upgrade because I kept bumping up against the 200GB limit and kept having to delete videos). So I have about 800GB free and can't even share it with my wife—even though we share apps, movies, TV shows, games, Apple Music, etc—I have to buy her a separate storage account. IDK why it can't be shared among everyone in the family like literally everything else including location, notes, reminders, and calendars. As the head of the family I should be able to allocate space to each user, as well as share certain folders. I hope Apple is working on this functionality!
Apples obsession as a controlling dictator overrides common sense.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
maflynn Avatar
119 months ago
Amazon is becoming the new Google. :(
yes, and I'd say at this point they may be out-googling google.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iSRS Avatar
119 months ago
I've been wanting Apple to do this with iCloud storage. I pay for 1TB/mo and only have 205GB on there (I recently had to upgrade because I kept bumping up against the 200GB limit and kept having to delete videos). So I have about 800GB free and can't even share it with my wife—even though we share apps, movies, TV shows, games, Apple Music, etc—I have to buy her a separate storage account. IDK why it can't be shared among everyone in the family like literally everything else including location, notes, reminders, and calendars. As the head of the family I should be able to allocate space to each user, as well as share certain folders. I hope Apple is working on this functionality!
Me too! This looks like exactly what I want, and will stop the "nudging" from my wife that she need the pictures off her iPhone and the kids' iPhones added to Photos so she can print them.

This is the perfect all in one solution. Bravo, Amazon, bravo...

One Question: Do the family members have unlimited photo uploads and the 5GB is limited to video and other files? This is how I understand it. Looking to see if anyone knows for sure.

As far as an Amazon Prime app for the Apple TV? I've given up hope. And since trying to find a non-smart TV in 2016 was a near impossibility, isn't an issue for me any longer...
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Tim Cook WWDC 2018

Report: Tim Cook to Step Down as Apple CEO 'as Soon as Next Year'

Saturday November 15, 2025 2:40 pm PST by
Apple is preparing for Tim Cook to step down as CEO of the company "as soon as next year," according to the Financial Times. The company's board of directors and senior executives "recently intensified preparations for Cook to hand over the reins," the report said. While the report said that Apple is unlikely to name a new CEO before its next earnings report in late January, it went on to ...
iOS 26

Everything New in iOS 26.2 Beta 3

Monday November 17, 2025 3:20 pm PST by
Apple provided developers with the third beta of an upcoming iOS 26.2 update, and there are still new features that are being added with each beta that we get. We've rounded up all of the changes that Apple made in beta 3. AirDrop Apple added new AirDrop functionality, providing a way for two people to share files temporarily without having to add one another as contacts. iOS 26.2...
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods 4

Thursday November 13, 2025 11:35 am PST by
Apple today released new firmware designed for the AirPods Pro 3, the AirPods 4, and the prior-generation AirPods Pro 2. The AirPods Pro 3 firmware is 8B25, while the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 firmware is 8B21, all up from the prior 8A358 firmware released in October. There's no word on what's include in the updated firmware, but the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 4 with ANC, and AirPods Pro 3...
applecare apple care banner

Apple Brings New AppleCare+ Options to India

Tuesday November 18, 2025 8:42 am PST by
Apple today announced an expansion of AppleCare+ coverage in India, with new options for monthly and annual plans, and the addition of Theft and Loss for iPhone for the first time. Options for monthly and annual AppleCare+ plans in India provide more choice and flexibility, allowing users to keep coverage for as long as they require. Apple's vice president of Worldwide iPhone Product...
best early black friday deals

Best Black Friday Apple Deals Live Now - Save on AirPods, iPads, and Apple Watches

Saturday November 15, 2025 1:45 pm PST by
We're officially in the month of Black Friday, which will take place on Friday, November 28 in 2025. As always, this will be the best time of the year to shop for great deals, including popular Apple products like AirPods, iPad, Apple Watch, and more. In this article, the majority of the discounts will be found on Amazon. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When ...
Apple Wallet ID Illinois

iPhone Driver's License Feature Launching in Illinois

Tuesday November 18, 2025 8:47 am PST by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Starting this Wednesday, November 19, the feature will be available to residents of Illinois. The announcement confirmed that the...
iPhone Pocket Short

iPhone Pocket Now Available to Order, But Already Selling Out

Friday November 14, 2025 6:20 am PST by
Apple recently teamed up with Japanese fashion brand ISSEY MIYAKE to create the iPhone Pocket, a limited-edition knitted accessory designed to carry an iPhone. iPhone Pocket is available to order on Apple's online store starting today, in the United States, France, China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. However, it is already completely sold out in the United...
apple silicon mac lineup 2024 feature purple m5

Apple's 2026 Mac Plans

Friday November 14, 2025 3:23 pm PST by
Most of Apple's Macs are slated to get M5 chips across 2026, and there's a possibility we'll even see the first M6 chips toward the end of the year. Updates are planned for everything from the MacBook Air to the Mac Studio. MacBook Air (Early 2026) The MacBook Air will be one of the first Macs to get a 2026 refresh, with an update planned for the first few months of the year. The MacBook...
CarPlay Liquid Glass Dark

Here's When Tesla is Expected to Add Support for Apple CarPlay

Sunday November 16, 2025 6:49 am PST by
In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reiterated that Tesla plans to add Apple CarPlay support to its vehicles "in the coming months." This is easily the biggest news for the regular version of CarPlay in years, should Tesla actually follow through with offering the system in its vehicles. As noted by Gurman, this would be a stunning reversal for Tesla and its CEO Elon ...
tvOS 26 Profiles

tvOS 26.2 Adds a Useful New Feature to Your Apple TV

Friday November 14, 2025 10:02 am PST by
Starting with the upcoming tvOS 26.2 update, currently in beta, additional profiles created on the Apple TV no longer require their own Apple Account. In the Settings app on the Apple TV, under Profiles and Accounts, anyone can create a new profile by simply entering a name and indicating whether the profile is for a kid. The profile will be associated with the primary user's Apple Account,...