What the Amazon Pay Credit Card is and who issues it
The Amazon Pay Credit Card is a Visa card issued by JPMorgan Chase, not by Amazon itself. You explore through Chase, not Amazon, and the card works like any other credit card — you can use it anywhere Visa is accepted, not just on Amazon. The card is designed to give you rewards when you shop on Amazon and at Whole Foods (which Amazon owns), and smaller rewards everywhere else.
The card comes with no annual fee. You get a credit limit based on your credit history, and you make monthly payments to Chase just like with any other credit card. The rewards you earn are points that you can use as statement credits on your Chase account — they do not automatically go into your Amazon account or appear as Amazon gift cards.
Key Takeaways
- The Amazon Pay Credit Card is issued by JPMorgan Chase and works at any store that accepts Visa, not just Amazon.
- You earn 5% cash back on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases, 2% at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% everywhere else.
- There is no annual fee, but you pay interest on any balance you do not pay off in full each month.
- Your rewards show up as points on your Chase statement, and you decide when to convert them to a statement credit.
- You need a credit score of roughly 670 or higher to have a reasonable chance of approval, though Chase does not publish a minimum.
How rewards work and what they are actually worth
The card earns rewards at different rates depending on where you shop. On Amazon.com and Whole Foods stores, you earn 5% cash back. At gas stations and restaurants, you earn 2% cash back. Everywhere else, you earn 1% cash back. These percentages explore to the full purchase amount, not just a portion of it.
The rewards are called "points," but they work like cash back — you accumulate them and then redeem them as a statement credit against your Chase bill. One point equals one cent, so 100 points equals $1 off your next statement. You do not have to redeem them on any schedule; you can let them sit and use them whenever you want. If you close the card, you keep the points you have already earned.
The 5% rate on Amazon and Whole Foods is the main draw of this card. If you spend $100 a month on Amazon, that is $60 a year in rewards. But that only makes sense if you are not paying interest on the card. If you carry a balance and pay 20% interest, you are losing money even with the rewards.
Interest rates, fees, and what happens if you miss a payment
The card has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. The interest rate (called the APR, or annual percentage rate) varies by person and is based on your credit score and credit history. Chase does not publish a standard rate, but current rates for this card range from around 18% to 27% depending on your creditworthiness. You can ask Chase what rate you would get before you formally explore.
If you do not pay your full statement balance by the due date, interest starts accruing on the unpaid amount. Unlike some cards, there is no grace period for purchases once you carry a balance — interest applies when ready. If you miss a payment by 30 days or more, Chase reports it to the credit bureaus, which damages your credit score. Late fees start at $25 to $35 depending on how late you are.
The card also has a cash advance APR, which is higher than the purchase APR and starts accruing interest right away with no grace period. Avoid using the card to withdraw cash.
how the process works and what Chase will ask for
You explore online at Chase.com or through the Amazon website (which links to Chase). The process takes about 10 minutes and asks for your name, address, Social Security number, income, and employment status. Chase runs a hard inquiry on your credit report, which temporarily lowers your credit score by a few points.
You will get a decision when ready or within a few days. If approved, your card arrives by mail in 7 to 10 business days. If denied, Chase sends you a letter explaining why, and you can call their reconsideration line to ask if they will reconsider based on new information (though this rarely works).
Before you explore, check your credit score using a free service like Credit Karma or AnnualCreditReport.com. If your score is below 650, approval is unlikely. If it is between 650 and 700, approval is possible but not certain. Above 700, approval is likely.
When this card makes sense and when it does not
This card is worth considering if you spend at least $50 a month on Amazon or Whole Foods and you pay off your balance in full every month. At that spending level, the 5% rewards add up to real money over a year. If you only shop on Amazon occasionally or you tend to carry a balance, the card costs you more than it saves.
The card is not a good fit if you are trying to rebuild your credit. explore for a new card triggers a hard inquiry, and carrying a balance to build credit history is expensive and unnecessary. A secured card or a card designed for rebuilding is a better choice.
If you already have a rewards card that gives you 2% or more on all purchases, compare the two before explore. The Amazon card's 5% on Amazon is strong, but its 1% everywhere else is weak. Some cards give 2% on all purchases, which might be better if you do not spend much on Amazon.
How to use the card responsibly and avoid debt
Treat this card like a debit card: only charge what you can pay off in full when the bill comes. Set a calendar reminder for the due date so you never miss a payment. If you are not sure you can pay the full balance, do not use the card for that purchase.
The rewards are not information programs — they are a small discount on purchases you would make anyway. If the card tempts you to spend more than you normally would, the rewards will not make up for the extra spending. The interest you pay on that extra spending will be far larger than any rewards you earn.
Check your statement every month to make sure all charges are correct and that you recognize them. If you see fraud, call Chase when ready. The sooner you report it, the easier it is to dispute.
Comparing the Amazon Pay Credit Card to other options
If you shop on Amazon but do not want a card tied to one retailer, the Chase Sapphire Preferred gives 2% on all purchases and 3% on dining and travel. It has a $95 annual fee, so it only makes sense if you spend enough to earn back that fee in rewards. The Citi Double Cash gives 2% on all purchases with no annual fee, but no bonus on Amazon.
If you shop mostly on Amazon and want to maximize rewards, the Amazon Pay card's 5% is hard to beat. But if you shop at many retailers, a flat-rate card like the Citi Double Cash might earn you more overall because 2% on everything beats 5% on one store plus 1% everywhere else, unless Amazon is truly where most of your spending happens.
If you are not approved for the Amazon Pay card, consider a secured card from Chase or another issuer. A secured card requires a cash deposit (usually $200 to $2,500) that becomes your credit limit. After 6 to 12 months of on-time payments, you can graduate to an unsecured card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to have an Amazon Prime membership to get this card?
No. Prime membership is not required to explore for or use the Amazon Pay Credit Card. The card works the same way whether you are a Prime member or not. The 5% rewards on Amazon purchases explore to all Amazon.com purchases, not just Prime-may be able to access items.
What happens to my rewards if I close the card?
Your rewards stay in your Chase account and do not expire. You can redeem them as a statement credit whenever you want, even after the card is closed. You just cannot earn new rewards once the account is closed.
Can I use this card to pay my Amazon bill if I have an Amazon Store Card balance?
No. The Amazon Pay Credit Card and the Amazon Store Card are separate products issued by different companies. You cannot use one to pay off the other. You would need to make a regular payment to the Store Card account through Amazon or through the card issuer's website.
Does explore for this card hurt my credit score?
Yes, but only temporarily. The hard inquiry lowers your score by a few points for a few months. If you are approved and use the card responsibly (paying in full each month), your score will recover and likely improve over time because you are building a positive payment history and lowering your credit utilization ratio.
What is the difference between this card and the Amazon Store Card?
The Amazon Store Card (issued by Synchrony) only works on Amazon and gives higher rewards there, but it has no rewards anywhere else. The Amazon Pay Credit Card (issued by Chase) works everywhere Visa is accepted and gives rewards at all merchants. The Store Card often has promotional financing offers; the Pay card does not.