From toothpaste to treadmills, you can find almost anything you want (and want) on Amazon — delivered within two days with your Prime membership.
If you’re planning on spending a lot of money this Prime Day (July 16-17), you’ll want to maximize your purchases by using the right credit card.
When deciding on the best credit card for Amazon purchases, consider points-earning rates, rewards currency, and benefits, such as purchase protection and extended warranties. You can also choose cards based on specific purchases, whether you’re a Prime member or what other cards you already own.
With that in mind, here are the best credit cards for shopping on Amazon.
Best Credit Cards for Amazon Shopping
Information for the Discover It Cash Back Card has been independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Prime Visa
For many, Amazon Prime Visa Amazon is the best option for shopping.
The card offers an impressive 5% cash back on all Amazon and Whole Foods purchases (with eligible Prime memberships); 2% back on restaurants, gas stations, local transportation and travel (including ride-hailing services); And 1% on all other purchases. Plus, you’ll earn 10% or more on a rotating selection of items and categories on Amazon.com.
Currently, Prime members can get a $200 Amazon gift card instantly upon approval for Prime Visa.
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The biggest disadvantage of Prime Visa is that the high cash-back rate is its real draw. It comes with purchase protection (covers up to $500 of items if damaged or stolen within 120 days of purchase) and extended warranty protection.
However, it doesn’t include important purchase benefits like price protection and return protection, so it’s not ideal for larger purchases.
Another drawback is that you have to pay for a Prime membership ($139 per year) to qualify. However, many US households already subscribe to Prime, so that probably won’t be much of an issue for the card’s target demographic.
For more details, check out our full review of Prime Visa.
Apply here: Prime Visa Instantly upon approval with a $200 Amazon Gift Card
Capital One Venture X and Venture Rewards cards
Consider Capital One Venture X Awards And Capital One Venture Awards Cards to earn miles transferred on your Amazon purchases. Both cards offer 2 miles per dollar spent on everyday purchases — including Amazon purchases.
Based on TPG’s July 2024 valuation, this equates to a respectable 3.7% return (valuation is estimated and not provided by issuer).
Plus, both cards offer the same sign-up bonus (75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening).
Check out our comparison of two venture cards for additional details.
Apply here: Capital One Venture Ex And Capital One VentureWith 75,000 bonus miles every time you spend $4,000 in the first three months
Chase Freedom Unlimited and Freedom Flex
If you’re not a Prime subscriber and still want a solid return on your spending, your best bet might be to go with a no-annual-fee option. Chase Freedom Unlimited.
The card offers 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠ and 3% back on drugstore purchases and dining. Get 1.5% back on all other purchases including Amazon.
Meanwhile, the Chase Freedom Flex earns 5% up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories you activate each quarter. As you’ll see in this guide, Amazon purchases are typically included as a second-quarter expense category each year.
When both cards earn solid rewards, you can double the value of your rewards by pairing them together Chase Sapphire Reserve®Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.
If you do, you can convert your cash-back points into fully transferable Ultimate Rewards points, worth 2.05 cents, based on TPG’s July 2024 valuation.
Freedom Unlimited also offers 120-day purchase and extended warranty protection, extending eligible manufacturers’ warranties by an additional year. Like the two Amazon cards, the Freedom Unlimited has no annual fee.
For more details, check out our full review of Freedom Unlimited and Freedom Flex.
RELATED: The Power of the Chase Trifecta: Sapphire Reserve, Inc Preferred and Freedom Unlimited
Apply here: Chase Freedom Unlimited with an additional 1.5% cash back on all purchases (up to $20,000 in the first year) and Chase Freedom Flex with $200 cash back after you spend $500 in the first three months.
Find that cash back
Amazon’s Prime Visa isn’t the only card that offers 5% cash back on purchases — no-annual-fee It also offers cash back (on rotating categories and up to $1,500 every quarter you activate, and 1% cash back after that) — and you don’t need to be a Prime member for this.
Typically, a rotating category includes at least one quarter of Amazon purchases per year.
Keep in mind that while this card is great for Amazon purchases when Amazon bonus earnings are included, it’s not the best card to use year-round. While not part of the Amazon quarterly cash-back bonus series, your purchases will only earn 1% back.
What makes the card great, however, is that Discover will match your rewards at the end of your first cardmember year, so you can earn up to 10% back on Amazon purchases during a quarter when it’s a bonus retailer.
Unfortunately, other benefits including extended warranty, returns, purchase and price protection have been discontinued.
For more details, check out our full review of Discover It Cash Back.
American Express Gold Card
This American Express Gold Card A good choice for those who make high-value purchases on Amazon.
You’ll earn 1 Membership Rewards point per dollar on Amazon purchases, yielding a 2% return based on TPG’s July 2024 valuation. However, unless Amazon deals are available through Amex offers, this may not be the best card from an earning point of view.
The biggest advantage of using the card is its generous purchase security policy. While many cards include similar benefits Amex Gold Card Provides protection up to a staggering $10,000 per occurrence and up to $50,000 for all occurrences in a calendar year.*
For more details, check out our full Amex Gold review.
*Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
Related: Best Credit Cards for Purchase Protection
Apply here: American Express Gold Card With 60,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 in the first six months of card membership
How does the Amazon Credit Card work?
The only true Amazon credit card on our list is the cobranded Prime Visa, and it’s a top choice for many loyal Amazon shoppers. In addition to the Amazon-exclusive welcome offer, you’ll enjoy a high 5% cash-back earning rate on Amazon purchases. Other than switching spending categories, you can’t get the same rate with any other card.
That said, if you’re looking for a more well-rounded card that works well for Amazon purchases and wherever else you spend, one of the other cards on our list might be a better fit.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Amazon Credit Card
When shopping for a credit card that works well for Amazon purchases, consider the following pros and cons:
pros
- No Annual Fee: The Amazon Prime Visa is an affordable card that doesn’t charge an annual fee or any other charges Foreign transaction fees.
- Amazon-Exclusive Welcome Offer: Prime Visa offers new cardholders a $200 Amazon gift card, allowing them to maximize their Amazon savings.
- High Earning Rate for Amazon Purchases: Amazon Prime Visa cardholders get 5% cashback on their Amazon purchases. Other non-cobranded cards include Amazon in their revolving spend categories.
opposition
- Prime membership costs $139 per year: You must be a Prime member to maximize certain Amazon credit card rewards.
- Limited Purchase Protection: Amazon Prime Visa does not offer price or return protection.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for an Amazon credit card?
You can apply through Amazon website. After signing in to your Amazon account, you can see which cards you’re eligible for based on your Prime membership status. From there, you can apply for one or multiple cards and even get Amazon gift cards instantly upon approval.
Is Amazon Credit Card Worth It?
An Amazon credit card may make sense for those who make frequent purchases with Amazon and its family of businesses. But many other credit cards offer more general rewards that can be valuable everywhere, not just with Amazon.
How do I pay off my Amazon credit card?
Like most other cards, Amazon credit cards will send you a monthly billing statement. If you link your Amazon and Chase accounts, you can manage your Amazon Visa card on the Amazon site and manage your card on the Chase website or app.
What Credit Score Do You Need for an Amazon Credit Card?
Amazon recommends it A “good” or “excellent” credit score for Prime Visa, which usually means a score of 680 or higher. However, as with all credit cards, other factors can affect your eligibility.
If you’re turned down or don’t think you’ll qualify and are still interested in an Amazon credit card, consider something like the Amazon Store Card, Amazon Prime Store Card, or Amazon Prime Secured Card.
Information for Amazon Store, Amazon Prime Store and Amazon Prime Secure Card is independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Can You Use Amazon Credit Cards Anywhere?
Amazon credit card can be used anywhere. However, their limited earning rates other than Amazon purchases may mean you’ll want to look elsewhere for a general rewards or cash-back credit card.
Bottom line
While Prime Visa offers high returns on Amazon purchases, it’s not the best option for everyone; It’s only available to Prime members and lacks key shopping protections, like price and return protection, that you’ll want for larger purchases.
Additionally, if you are saving Transferable points for certain redemptions may mean earning rewards in that currency instead of cash back. That way, you can top off your account and book that award trip you’ve been dreaming about.
Related: Best Rewards Credit Cards