When people think about AARP, they often think of retirement advice, health information, and resources for Americans over 50. But AARP membership is much more than a magazine subscription.
An AARP Membership gives members access to hundreds of discounts, travel deals, financial and health resources, entertainment offers, insurance programs, and other member benefits. The membership is also available to adults as young as 18, even though AARP’s primary audience is people 50 and older.
The biggest question is simple: Is an AARP Membership actually worth paying for?
At first glance, the annual membership price is relatively low. AARP currently offers a first-year membership for $15 when automatic renewal is selected, compared with the standard annual rate of $20. Three-year membership costs $55, while a five-year membership costs $79. AARP also currently offers a lifetime membership for a one-time $250 payment.
Because a single discount can potentially cover the membership cost, AARP can be an interesting option for people who regularly travel, rent cars, eat at participating restaurants, shop, or use some of the organization’s other services.
Here is our detailed AARP Membership review.
What Is AARP Membership?
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization focused on empowering people to choose how they live as they age.
Membership combines access to discounts with information, tools, educational resources, publications, and programs.
AARP says members receive access to hundreds of benefits and discounts, including travel savings, restaurant offers, shopping discounts, insurance programs, financial resources, health-related services, entertainment, and technology benefits.
One particularly interesting aspect is that you do not necessarily need to be 50 to join.
AARP states that anyone age 18 or older can purchase a membership. This makes the program somewhat different from the way many people traditionally think about AARP.
Membership also includes a free second household membership, allowing another person in the same household to receive membership benefits at no additional membership charge.
How Much Does AARP Membership Cost?
Price is one of the strongest arguments in favor of AARP.
At the time of this review, AARP’s standard annual membership rate is $20, but new members can pay $15 for the first year when enrolling in automatic renewal. AARP says this represents a 25% first-year saving.
Other current options include:
- 1 year: $15 for the first year with automatic renewal
- 3 years: $55
- 5 years: $79
- Lifetime: $250
The multi-year plans reduce the effective annual cost compared with paying the standard annual rate each year.
The first-year price is particularly attractive because $15 is relatively easy to recover through even one or two useful discounts.
For example, someone who uses an AARP travel discount, rental-car offer, hotel promotion, or restaurant discount may potentially save more than the membership costs.
Of course, savings depend entirely on how often you actually use the benefits.
AARP Travel Discounts
Travel is one of the most compelling reasons to consider an AARP membership.
AARP provides access to travel discounts and resources covering hotels, car rentals, tours, cruises, and other travel-related services.
The organization currently lists travel offers from brands including Avis, Budget, Choice Hotels, Wyndham, and other travel providers.
Car rental discounts are particularly interesting.
AARP currently says members can save up to 35% on select car rentals, including offers involving Avis, Budget, Payless Car Rental, Zipcar, and the AARP Travel Center powered by Expedia.
The exact discount depends on the provider, dates, vehicle, location, and applicable terms, so shoppers should always compare the final AARP member rate with other available prices before booking.
For someone who rents cars several times a year, however, the potential savings can make the membership much easier to justify.
Hotel and Vacation Savings
AARP also provides hotel and resort discounts.
The current member benefits page lists savings at several hotel brands, with offers that can vary over time. AARP currently advertises savings of up to 10% at some participating hotels and resorts, while limited-time promotions can provide larger discounts.
AARP’s Travel Center is another useful component.
Instead of simply offering a membership discount code, AARP combines travel booking functionality with travel guides, destination information, and member savings.
This can be convenient for travelers who prefer to research and book trips through one platform.
AARP also lists discounts for cruises, guided tours, rail vacations, and travel protection products.
Restaurant Discounts
Restaurant savings are another benefit that can be easy to use.
AARP currently advertises savings of up to 15% at participating restaurants, including national chains and local offers. The exact restaurants and discount amounts vary by location and promotion.
For example, the current AARP benefits pages list restaurant savings at brands such as Denny’s, Outback Steakhouse, and Bonefish Grill, while the local benefits section provides additional offers based on where members live.
This is an important advantage of the membership model.
You do not have to plan a major vacation to benefit from AARP. Even regular restaurant visits can potentially generate savings throughout the year.
If two people in a household frequently eat at participating restaurants, the membership cost may be relatively easy to recover.
Shopping Discounts
AARP isn’t limited to travel and restaurants.
Members can access discounts on a variety of everyday shopping categories, including clothing, gifts, beauty products, flowers, home products, and other merchandise.
The organization’s current benefits directory includes a large collection of shopping offers, as well as limited-time promotions.
There are also local shopping offers that can be discovered through AARP’s website.
The advantage here is variety.
Rather than relying on one particular coupon, AARP provides a broader discount ecosystem that changes over time.
That means the value of membership can increase when you regularly check the benefits rather than simply joining and forgetting about it.
AARP Rewards
Another feature that makes the membership more interesting is AARP Rewards.
AARP Rewards is a loyalty program where members can earn points through eligible activities and redeem rewards.
AARP currently says members can earn 50% more points on qualifying activities compared with registered non-members and can access members-only rewards.
Rewards can include opportunities involving gift cards, sweepstakes entries, and other benefits.
The program is not necessarily the primary reason to purchase an AARP membership, but it adds another layer of value.
For people who already use AARP’s website and resources regularly, the ability to earn additional rewards can make the membership more useful.
Health and Wellness Benefits
Health is another major category within the AARP ecosystem.
AARP provides health information, Medicare resources, wellness programs, prescription savings, dental and vision programs, and other services.
The current member benefits directory lists an AARP Prescription Discounts program provided by Optum Rx, which can be used at tens of thousands of pharmacies nationwide.
AARP also lists vision plans through VSP and other health-related programs.
However, consumers should be careful when evaluating insurance and healthcare products.
An AARP membership does not automatically mean that every insurance or healthcare product is included for free. Many are separate products offered by third-party providers, sometimes with special member pricing.
Therefore, compare coverage, premiums, deductibles, exclusions, and provider networks rather than choosing a product simply because it carries the AARP name.
Financial and Retirement Resources
AARP also has a substantial collection of financial and retirement resources.
Members can access tools covering retirement income, taxes, Social Security, budgeting, savings, and other financial topics.
The current benefits directory includes financial calculators, state tax guides, retirement resources, banking products, and financial planning tools.
One useful feature is that not everything is locked behind the membership paywall.
AARP provides many free resources to registered users and the general public, while membership adds additional tools, discounts, and members-only content.
This means the value of the membership isn’t simply “pay to access all AARP information.”
Instead, membership adds another layer of benefits on top of the organization’s broader free resources.
AARP Magazine and Exclusive Content
Membership includes a subscription to AARP The Magazine as well as the AARP Bulletin.
Members also receive access to exclusive content and guides covering topics such as money, health, technology, travel, caregiving, and lifestyle.
For people who enjoy physical magazines and long-form articles, this can add meaningful value.
For someone who primarily uses online resources, however, the magazine alone probably isn’t enough reason to join.
The more compelling argument is the combination of the magazine with discounts and other services.
AARP App and Digital Membership Card
Members can use the AARP Now app on iOS and Android.
The app allows users to access their digital membership card and explore benefits, news, events, and local offers.
This is convenient because members don’t necessarily need to carry a physical membership card everywhere.
AARP says physical cards can take up to three weeks to arrive, but members can access their benefits immediately through their account or digital membership card.
For people who frequently use member discounts, having the digital card available on a smartphone is a useful feature.
Is AARP Membership Worth It?
The answer depends on your lifestyle.
If you rarely travel, don’t use participating restaurants, don’t shop through member offers, and don’t care about AARP’s information and educational resources, the membership may not provide much value.
But the calculation changes for frequent travelers.
Imagine a member uses a qualifying hotel discount, rental-car promotion, and several restaurant discounts during the year. Even relatively modest savings across those purchases could exceed the annual membership price.
AARP itself notes that a single member benefit may cover the entire cost of membership.
The free second household membership is another important advantage.
For couples or households, two people can potentially use the same membership benefits without paying for two separate annual memberships.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Low membership cost: The first-year price is currently just $15 with automatic renewal.
Hundreds of benefits: Members can access discounts and services covering travel, dining, shopping, entertainment, health, technology, and more.
Free second household membership: Another household member can receive membership at no additional membership cost.
Strong travel benefits: Hotel, rental-car, cruise, tour, and travel-booking discounts can be valuable for frequent travelers.
Restaurant savings: Participating restaurant discounts can provide ongoing everyday value.
AARP Rewards: Members receive enhanced rewards earning opportunities and member-only offers.
Extensive information: AARP provides substantial retirement, health, financial, caregiving, and lifestyle resources.
Digital membership: The AARP Now app provides convenient access to the membership card and benefits.
Cons
Not every benefit applies to everyone: The value depends heavily on individual spending habits.
Discounts change: Offers, participating brands, and discount percentages can change over time.
Some products are separate: Insurance and financial products associated with AARP may be offered by third-party providers and require separate enrollment.
Automatic renewal: The $15 first-year price requires automatic renewal, so members should understand the renewal terms.
Some benefits are available for free: AARP provides many resources to non-members, meaning not every feature requires a paid membership.
Final Verdict
AARP Membership is one of those subscriptions where the value depends less on the headline price and more on how frequently you use the benefits.
At $15 for the first year with automatic renewal, the entry price is low enough that many consumers can potentially recover the cost through one or two useful discounts.
Travelers have particularly strong reasons to consider membership because of hotel, rental-car, cruise, tour, and other travel offers.
Restaurant and shopping discounts provide additional opportunities to save throughout the year, while AARP Rewards, the magazine, financial resources, health information, and digital tools add further value.
The free second household membership is another significant advantage for couples and families.
However, AARP Membership isn’t automatically a good deal for everyone. If you rarely use the participating discounts and aren’t interested in AARP’s content or resources, the annual fee may not be worthwhile.
Overall Rating: 9.0/10
Final Verdict
Before joining, check the current member offers and compare them with prices available directly from the provider. That is the best way to determine how much value an AARP Membership can provide for your particular lifestyle.
