Streaming just got more complicated for people who want to watch The Boys in the best quality. Amazon Prime Video has introduced new pricing rules that affect how much you pay to see the show without interruptions and in 4K resolution.
Starting April 10, 2026, Amazon changed its subscription plans. The company now charges an extra $4.99 per month for viewers who want no ads and 4K streaming. This is a price increase from the old $2.99 ad-free option.
The new plan is called Prime Video Ultra. It takes away 4K quality from the basic Prime membership that comes free with Amazon Prime. So if you want to watch The Boys Season 5 in the sharpest picture possible, you need to pay more.
How the New Prime Video Ultra Plan Works
The Prime Video Ultra plan is an add-on to your regular Amazon Prime subscription. You still need to pay for Prime membership, which costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year. On top of that, Ultra costs an extra $4.99 monthly.
Here is what you get with Prime Video Ultra:
- No advertisements while streaming
- 4K and UHD picture quality
- Dolby Atmos sound
- Up to 5 devices can stream at the same time
- Up to 100 downloads for offline watching
For people who stick with the basic Prime membership, things have changed too. The regular plan now only gives you HD 1080p quality, not 4K. You will also see advertisements unless you pay for Ultra. But Amazon did add a few small upgrades to the basic plan. It now allows 4 simultaneous streams (up from 3) and 50 downloads (up from 25).
Why The Boys Fans Are Affected Most
The Boys is one of Amazon’s biggest shows. Season 5 released on April 8, 2026, just two days before the new pricing started. This timing means fans who waited to watch the new season found out they need to pay extra for the best experience.
The show is known for its big action scenes and dark, cinematic look. Watching it in 4K makes a real difference. The explosions, fight sequences, and special effects stand out much more in ultra-high definition.
One regular Prime viewer shared their frustration online. “I have been paying for Prime for years mostly to watch their original shows. Now they want more money just to remove ads AND keep 4K? Feels like a cash grab,” a user posted on social media.
Another fan wrote, “The Boys looks amazing in 4K. But paying $5 more every month just for that? I might have to think about it.”
What Amazon Says About the Price Increase
Amazon explained the decision in an official announcement. The company says offering ad-free streaming with premium features costs a lot of money to maintain.
“Delivering ad-free streaming with premium features requires significant investment, and this structure aligns with other major streaming services while ensuring customers have the flexibility to choose how they want to watch.” – Amazon Official Statement
The company points out that Netflix and HBO Max already do something similar. Both services put their highest video quality behind more expensive plans. Amazon says it is just following what others in the industry are doing.
For people who pay for Prime annually, there is a small discount available. The Prime Video Ultra annual plan costs $45.99 per year, which saves you 23% compared to paying monthly.
What You Lose With the Basic Prime Plan
The regular Prime Video plan that comes free with Amazon Prime now has limits. You still get access to all the same shows and movies, including The Boys, Fallout, Reacher, and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. But the quality is capped at 1080p HD.
Amazon did add Dolby Vision to the basic plan as a small improvement. This makes colors look better, but the picture is still not as sharp as 4K.
The basic plan also shows advertisements. Amazon first added ads to Prime Video in January 2024. Back then, removing ads cost only $2.99 per month. Now that price has nearly doubled.
How This Compares to Other Streaming Services
Amazon is not alone in this approach. Netflix offers 4K only on its Premium plan, which costs more than its basic or standard options. Disney+ also reserves 4K for its higher tiers.
The difference is that Amazon’s situation feels different for many users. Prime Video comes as a “free” extra with Amazon Prime shipping benefits. Many people signed up for Prime to get faster delivery, not just for streaming. Now those same people are being asked to pay even more to get full video quality.
A viewer from Texas commented, “I got Prime for the free shipping. The streaming was a nice bonus. Now they want me to pay $5 more just to watch one show without ads? No thanks.”
Another fan from the UK said, “This change is frustrating. I watch The Boys and Reacher in 4K all the time. Now I have to decide if it is worth the extra cost every month.”
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What This Means for Watching The Boys Season 5
The Boys Season 5 is currently streaming on Prime Video. If you have a regular Prime membership, you can watch it right now. But you will see advertisements during episodes. And the picture will be in HD (1080p), not 4K.
To watch without ads and in 4K, you need to add Prime Video Ultra to your account. The upgrade costs $4.99 monthly on top of your Prime membership.
Amazon has not said if this pricing will come to other countries yet. Right now, Prime Video Ultra is only available in the United States. Viewers in the UK, Canada, Australia, India, and other regions still have the old system for now. But many expect Amazon to expand the new pricing to other markets in the coming months.
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