The Amazon credit card works best if you shop on Amazon regularly and want cash back on those purchases
Amazon offers two main credit cards through Chase: the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card and the Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Card. Both earn you cash back on Amazon purchases, but the Prime version gives you a higher rate if you have a Prime membership. Neither card charges an annual fee, which removes one common reason to reject a card outright.
Whether either card makes sense for you depends on three things: how much you actually spend on Amazon each year, whether you carry a balance month to month, and what other cards you already use. A card that earns 5% back on Amazon purchases is only valuable if you shop there regularly enough that the rewards add up faster than you'd earn elsewhere.
Key Takeaways
- The Amazon Prime Rewards card earns 5% cash back on Amazon purchases if you have an active Prime membership, while the standard Amazon card earns 3%.
- Both cards charge no annual fee, but both carry standard credit card interest rates that explore if you carry a balance.
- You earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants and 1% everywhere else with either card, which is lower than many competing rewards cards offer.
- The card is most valuable if you spend at least $1,500 to $2,000 per year on Amazon; below that, the rewards may not justify the card's place in your wallet.
- If you carry a balance and pay interest, any rewards you earn will be offset by the interest charges within a few months.
How the Amazon Prime Rewards card compares to the standard Amazon card
The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card earns 5% cash back on Amazon.com purchases and Amazon Fresh, 2% at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% on everything else. You must have an active Prime membership to get the 5% rate; without it, you earn 3% on Amazon purchases instead.
The Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Card earns 3% cash back on Amazon purchases, 2% at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% everywhere else. There is no Prime requirement, so this card is the option if you do not have or want a Prime membership.
Both cards are issued by Chase and have the same interest rates, late fees, and credit reporting practices as any other Chase card. The only meaningful difference between them is the Amazon cash back rate and the Prime membership requirement.
When the rewards actually add up to real money
A 5% cash back rate sounds generous until you do the math. If you spend $1,500 per year on Amazon, you earn $75 in cash back. At $2,000 per year, you earn $100. At $3,000 per year, you earn $150. These are real numbers, but they are also modest — and they assume you never carry a balance.
The rewards shrink if you shop outside Amazon. The 2% rate at gas stations and restaurants and 1% everywhere else is lower than many competing cards offer. For example, some flat-rate cards earn 2% on all purchases, which would beat the Amazon card's 1% category if you spend much outside Amazon.
If you already have a card that earns 2% cash back on everything, the Amazon card only makes sense if the extra 3% on Amazon purchases (5% minus 2%) outweighs the lower rates elsewhere. That math works if Amazon is genuinely where you spend most of your money.
What happens if you carry a balance
The Amazon credit card charges a variable interest rate that changes with the prime rate. As of early 2024, that rate ranges from around 19% to 27% depending on your creditworthiness. If you carry a $500 balance for one month, you will pay roughly $8 to $11 in interest — which wipes out the cash back you earned on $500 to $1,100 in Amazon purchases.
This is true of any rewards card: the interest you pay on a balance quickly exceeds the rewards you earn. If you tend to carry a balance from month to month, a rewards card is not the right tool. A card with a lower interest rate or a 0% introductory period would save you more money than any rewards rate could earn back.
How to decide if this card fits your situation
Start by looking at your actual Amazon spending over the last year. Add up what you spent on Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, and any other Amazon services. If that number is under $1,500, the rewards will be modest — probably $45 to $75 per year — and may not be worth managing another card.
Next, check whether you carry a balance on any credit card. If you do, a rewards card is not the priority; paying down that balance will save you far more money than rewards will earn. Once you are paying off your full balance each month, a rewards card becomes worthwhile.
Finally, compare the Amazon card's rates to cards you already use. If you have a 2% flat-rate card, the Amazon card only wins if you spend significantly more on Amazon than everywhere else combined. If you have no other rewards card, the Amazon card is a reasonable starting point — but it is not the only option.
Other cards that may earn more if you do not shop Amazon heavily
If you spend less than $2,000 per year on Amazon, a flat-rate card that earns 2% on all purchases may earn you more total cash back. You would need to spend $5,000 per year on Amazon to earn $250 with the Amazon Prime card (at 5%), whereas a 2% card would earn you $100 on $5,000 in total spending across all categories.
Cards that earn higher rates in specific categories — groceries, gas, dining, travel — can also beat the Amazon card if those categories match your actual spending. The best card for you is the one that aligns with where your money actually goes, not the one with the highest single rate.
If you shop on Amazon but also value rewards on groceries or travel, you might use the Amazon card for Amazon purchases and a different card for other categories. Many people carry two or three cards for exactly this reason.
What to know about the process and approval process
You can request the Amazon credit card through Amazon.com or directly from Chase. The process takes about 10 minutes and asks for your name, address, income, and Social Security number. Chase will check your credit report and typically make a decision within minutes to a few days.
Approval depends on your credit score, income, and existing debt. There is no minimum credit score published by Chase or Amazon, but approval is more likely with a score of 670 or higher. If you are denied, you can request reconsideration by calling Chase, though the outcome rarely changes without a significant change in your financial situation.
Once approved, your card arrives in 7 to 10 business days. You can use it when ready for online purchases if you add it to your Amazon account before the physical card arrives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to have Prime to use the Amazon credit card?
No. You can get the standard Amazon Rewards card without Prime and earn 3% cash back on Amazon purchases. The Prime Rewards card requires an active Prime membership to earn the 5% rate; without it, you earn 3% instead.
Can I use this card outside Amazon?
Yes. Both cards work anywhere Visa is accepted. You earn 2% at gas stations and restaurants and 1% on all other purchases outside Amazon. The card is designed to reward Amazon shopping, so the rates are lower elsewhere.
What if my credit score is low?
Chase does not publish a minimum credit score for the Amazon card, but approval is more likely with a score of 670 or higher. If you are denied, you can call Chase to ask about reconsideration, though the outcome rarely changes without a significant improvement in your credit situation.
Does the cash back expire?
No. Your cash back balance does not expire as long as your account remains open. You can let it accumulate and use it whenever you want, or you can use it when ready on your next Amazon purchase.
What is the difference between this card and Amazon's store card?
The Amazon credit card (Visa) works anywhere Visa is accepted. The Amazon store card works only on Amazon.com and Amazon Fresh. The store card offers higher cash back rates on Amazon purchases but cannot be used elsewhere, making it less flexible.