October 9th 2025
By Ari Parker
Wondering if AARP is worth joining? Explore the real benefits, discounts, and drawbacks to see if an AARP membership makes sense for you.
By Jordan McElwain
There are almost 38 million AARP members. These members can access benefits and discounts in categories like travel, insurance and financial services, healthcare and prescription drugs, and technology and communication. But is AARP worth it?
The answer depends on your needs and lifestyle. If you use AARP’s benefits and discounts frequently, these savings can offset the cost of membership in a short time. But if you don’t use these discounts—or use another savings program instead—then the cost of the membership might outweigh any savings.
This article will explore AARP pros and cons and potential alternatives. This way, you can decide if an AARP membership is right for you.
AARP memberships start at $11 per year and offer benefits such as discounts on travel, restaurants, hotels, and insurance.
Comparing the savings of the discounts you’ll use against the AARP membership cost can help you determine if an AARP membership is worth it for you.
People who travel regularly or take advantage of AARP’s insurance savings can see the most benefits from their AARP memberships.
AARP offers benefits, like services and planning tools, as well as specific discounts and perks.
AARP offers benefits beyond discounts and savings. These include:
AARP Bulletin and AARP The Magazine Subscriptions: These magazines share stories, tips, and info for people aged 50 and older. Members receive six issues of AARP The Magazine per year.
Online resources and educational content: Access to a variety of educational content and online tools like the Social Security Calculator and the AARP Retirement Calculator. Some online articles and resources are open to everyone. But others, like digital downloads and special reports, are for members only.
Local chapter access: Access to the local community of AARP members in your area. Chapter activities include meeting for meals, cultural outings, and trips.
Volunteer opportunities: Virtual and in-person opportunities to give back. These can include helping other seniors file their taxes or providing tutoring support to students learning to read.
Streaming content: Access to workout videos through AARP Fitness Center and AARP Members Edition Pilates, and movie screenings, plays, and concerts through Movies for Grown-Ups and AARP Theater.
AARP members also have access to a range of discounts and perks, including:
Travel discounts and hotel savings: Savings on flights, travel packages, cruises, tours, and hotel stays from select companies.
Restaurant and entertainment discounts: Offers for savings at select restaurants and entertainment venues, such as savings on movie and theme park tickets.
Shopping and retailer partner savings: Discounts at select grocery stores, pharmacies, and clothing stores.
AARP membership value includes travel and vacation savings, insurance products and financial services, healthcare and prescription drug benefits, and technology and communication discounts.
AARP’s travel and vacation savings include:
Hotels and Resorts: Up to 10% off the best rate at major hotel chains, such as Best Western, Days Inn, Radisson, and Wyndham.
Car Rentals: Up to 35% off car rental savings and exclusive rates through car rental companies such as Avis, Budget, and Payless. Some car rental companies offer additional benefits, such as free upgrades.
Cruises: Up to $250 off select Collette Cruise Tours and up to $200 onboard credits on selected cruise lines, such as Holland America Line.
Flights and Vacation Packages: Savings on flights, tours, and vacation packages, such as up to $200 off round-trip British Airways tickets purchased online.
AARP also offers insurance products and financial services. These include:
Health Insurance: AARP-endorsed health insurance, such as Medicare Advantage plans through UnitedHealthcare. There are also health insurance supplement plans, such as AARP Vision Plans through VSP, which offer a $350 reported average annual member savings.
Auto and Home Insurance: Auto, home, and renter’s insurance offered through The Hartford, such as AARP Auto Insurance for The Hartford, which has a $577 reported average member savings.
Life Insurance: Life insurance through New York Life, including term life insurance and permanent life insurance.
Pet Insurance: Up to 10% off monthly insurance premiums through Fetch Pet Insurance.
Banking and Investments: Access to high-yield savings accounts and certificates of deposit (CDs), such as AARP Digital Banking from Barclays.
AARP can help seniors save on healthcare and prescription drugs through their benefits program. These include:
Prescription Drug Benefits: AARP Prescription Discounts provided by Optum Rx that can be used at over 66,000 pharmacies worldwide, including CVS, Walgreens Pharmacy, and Walmart Pharmacy.
Health Screenings: Access to free health screenings, such as a free hearing test through the National Hearing Test.
Wellness Programs: Standard gym memberships for $32/month and savings on well-being products, such as $21 off a Calm Sleep, Meditation, and Relaxation App subscription.
Medicare Guidance and Support Services: Medicare guidance and information, such as the AARP Medicare Enrollment Guide.
Members can take advantage of discounts on technology and communication services, such as:
Cell Phone Plans: Savings on monthly fees and plan offers from select cell phone companies, such as 5% off monthly fees at Consumer Cellular.
Senior-Friendly Technology Devices: Discounts on technology devices such as smartwatches and medical alert devices. For example, 15% off medical alert services through Lifeline Medical Alert Service.
Software: Savings on software, such as up to 69% off digital security protection plans through Norton 360.
Streaming Services: Offers on streaming services, such as 10% off a Paramount+ plan.
Before you decide if you want to join AARP, looking into AARP alternatives can help you determine if there is a better program that works for your lifestyle. These include:
Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC): Offers a bimonthly magazine, Medicare advisory services, and discounts on travel, insurance, and retail.
American Seniors Association (ASA): Offers savings on travel, hotels, car rentals, and restaurants. Additional benefits include savings on insurance and health screenings and insurance and portfolio analysis.
American Automobile Association (AAA): Although not specific to seniors, AAA’s roadside assistance membership includes extra perks that might serve as a good alternative to AARP. Members have access to deals on travel, vacation planning help, and identity theft protection. They also get discounts on theme parks, entertainment, home services, dining, food delivery, and health and wellness.
While not a membership program, it's also worth considering senior discounts. Many restaurants, retail stores, and hotel chains offer discounts for seniors. We’ve compiled a list of The Best Discounts for Seniors in 2025 that can be a helpful resource for savings.
AARP offers memberships on a yearly basis, with additional savings for auto-renewal and multiyear memberships. Here are the current AARP membership costs in 2025:
Base 1-Year Membership: $20/year
Auto-Renewal 1-Year Membership: $15/year, renews at $20/year
3-Year Membership: $55 (averages to about $18.33/year)
5-Year Membership: $79 (averages to $15.80/year)
It’s also important to factor in that you can share your AARP membership benefits with your spouse or another adult living in your household (even if they are under the age of 55), which may offer you additional savings. For veterans, active-duty service members, and their families, AARP offers up to 45% off membership fees. AARP also sometimes has special deals during certain times of the year, like Black Friday and Labor Day. These can help you save more on membership.
To decide if AARP discounts are worth it, consider what discounts you’ll actually use and how they compare to the cost of membership. You may also want to consider the benefits of AARP membership beyond discounts. For some people, the magazines, online resources, and advocacy that AARP does make the membership worth it for them.
AARP offers savings on travel, insurance, healthcare, and prescription drugs. However, these discounts don’t appeal to everyone. They also might be able to get the same savings from programs that they are already a part of, like AAA. Detailing what benefits you’ll actually use vs. the cost of membership can help you decide if AARP is a smart decision for you. Because AARP offers risk-free memberships that can be cancelled at any time, you might also consider trying the subscription to see just how much use you’ll get out of it.
A standard AARP 1-year membership is $20/year. A 1-year auto-renewal membership is $15 for the first year, and then $20 for the following year. A 3-year membership can also be purchased for $55 (averages to about $18.33/year), and a 5-year membership for $79 (averages to $15.80/year).
The best AARP member benefits and discounts can vary depending on your individual needs. But many AARP members enjoy the discounts on flights, car rentals, and hotels, and savings on prescription medications and restaurants.
Yes, AARP memberships can be canceled at any time. You can do this by calling 1-888-OUR-AARP (1-888-687-2277) or through your online account at aarp.org.
AARP. (n.d.). AARP® member benefits: Browse all discounts and programs. AARP. Retrieved September 9, 2025, from https://www.aarp.org/membership/benefits/all-offers-a-z/
AARP. (2025, May 16). Is an AARP membership worth it? AARP benefits & discounts explained. AARP. Retrieved September 9, 2025, from https://www.aarp.org/membership/benefits/is-aarp-membership-worth-it/
