A Prime credit card is a rewards card tied to an Amazon Prime membership, offering cash back and bonus points on Amazon purchases and other everyday spending
Amazon offers two Prime-branded credit cards: the Amazon Prime Visa Signature card and the Amazon Prime Store Card. Both cards give you rewards on purchases, but they work differently and have different limits on where you can use them. The Visa Signature card works anywhere Visa is accepted; the Store Card works only at Amazon and Whole Foods. Neither card charges an annual fee, but the rewards rates and sign-up bonuses vary by card and change over time.
The main draw is the cash back on Amazon purchases — typically 5% for Prime members — plus smaller rewards on other categories like groceries and gas. If you already pay for a Prime membership and buy regularly from Amazon, the card can offset some of that spending. But the card itself does not come with Prime membership; you need to hold an active Prime subscription to get the best rewards rates.
Key Takeaways
- The Amazon Prime Visa Signature card earns 5% cash back on Amazon purchases for Prime members, 2% at Whole Foods and restaurants, and 1% elsewhere.
- The Amazon Prime Store Card earns 5% cash back at Amazon and Whole Foods for Prime members, but cannot be used outside those merchants.
- Neither card charges an annual fee, but both require you to hold an active Prime membership to earn the advertised rewards rates.
- Cash back appears as a statement credit or can be redeemed for Amazon purchases, depending on the card.
- Both cards use standard credit underwriting, so your credit score and payment history affect whether you are approved and what interest rate you receive.
How the two Prime cards differ
The Amazon Prime Visa Signature card is a general-purpose credit card that earns rewards everywhere. For Prime members, it gives 5% cash back on Amazon.com and Whole Foods purchases, 2% at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores, and 1% on everything else. Non-Prime members earn 3% on Amazon purchases and 1% elsewhere. The card works at any merchant that accepts Visa.
The Amazon Prime Store Card is a closed-loop card, meaning it works only at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market. Prime members earn 5% cash back on both, and non-members earn 3% at Amazon and 1% at Whole Foods. The Store Card does not work at other retailers, so it is useful only if most of your spending happens at those two merchants.
If you shop outside Amazon and Whole Foods regularly, the Visa Signature card is more flexible. If nearly all your discretionary spending is at Amazon, the Store Card may be simpler to manage. Both cards have no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, though the Visa Signature card offers additional benefits like purchase protection and extended warranty coverage that the Store Card does not.
Rewards rates and how cash back works
Cash back on both cards appears as a statement credit on your monthly bill. You can also choose to redeem it as Amazon.com credit instead, which some cardholders prefer if they plan to spend the money there anyway. The cash back does not expire as long as your account remains open, so you can let it accumulate if you want to use it in a lump sum later.
The 5% rate on Amazon purchases applies only to Prime members. If your Prime membership lapses, your rewards rate drops to 3% on Amazon and you lose the elevated rates on other categories. This is important if you are considering the card mainly for the 5% rate — you need to keep paying for Prime membership to maintain that benefit.
Sign-up bonuses change regularly and are not may provide. When available, they typically offer a statement credit (often $100 to $200) if you spend a certain amount in the first few months. Check the current offer before you explore, because the bonus is often the largest single reward you will receive in the first year.
Credit requirements and approval
Both Prime cards use standard credit underwriting. Amazon does not publish a minimum credit score requirement, but approval is more likely if you have a credit score in the good to excellent range (typically 670 or higher) and a history of on-time payments. If you have limited credit history or recent late payments, approval is less certain.
Your credit report will be pulled when you explore, which causes a small temporary dip in your credit score (usually 5 to 10 points). This is called a hard inquiry and stays on your report for about a year, though it stops affecting your score after a few months. If you are denied, you can contact Amazon's customer service to ask why, though they may not provide detailed reasons.
Once approved, your credit limit is set based on your credit profile. You can request a higher limit after you have used the card responsibly for several months, though Amazon does not may provide an increase.
Interest rates and fees
Both cards charge interest on balances you do not pay in full each month. The interest rate (called the APR, or annual percentage rate) varies by cardholder and is determined at approval based on your creditworthiness. There is no annual fee, no foreign transaction fee, and no fee for late payments — though late payments do trigger interest charges and can damage your credit score.
If you carry a balance, interest accrues daily on the unpaid amount. The best financial outcome is to pay the full statement balance each month, which means you pay no interest and keep all the rewards you earned. If you cannot pay the balance in full, the interest charges will quickly exceed the value of the cash back, especially on the 1% and 2% categories.
When a Prime card makes sense
A Prime card is worth considering if you already hold an active Prime membership and spend at least several hundred dollars per year at Amazon. The 5% cash back on Amazon purchases is one of the highest rates available for that merchant, and it compounds over time if you shop there regularly. If you also shop at Whole Foods, the 2% or 5% rate (depending on which card) adds another layer of rewards.
The card is less useful if you do not have Prime membership, because the rewards rates drop significantly and you would be paying for Prime just to unlock the card's full value. It is also less useful if most of your spending happens at other retailers — in that case, a general-purpose cash back card with a flat 2% rate on all purchases may earn you more.
The Visa Signature card is more versatile than the Store Card because it works everywhere and earns rewards across multiple categories. The Store Card is a narrower tool, useful mainly if you want to consolidate Amazon and Whole Foods spending onto one card and do not need rewards elsewhere.
How to manage the card responsibly
Treat a Prime card like any other credit card: pay the full balance each month to avoid interest charges, monitor your account for fraud, and keep your credit utilization (the amount you owe divided by your credit limit) below 30% of your limit. High utilization can lower your credit score even if you pay on time.
Set up automatic payments for at least the minimum amount due, or better yet, the full statement balance. This prevents missed payments, which trigger interest, fees, and credit score damage. You can also set up alerts through your Amazon account to notify you when your statement is ready or when a payment is due.
Review your rewards balance periodically and redeem it before it accumulates to a point where you forget about it. There is no expiration date, but having a plan for the cash back — whether you use it monthly or save it for a larger purchase — keeps the card's value clear in your mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Prime membership to get the card?
No, you can be approved for the card without Prime membership. However, the best rewards rates (5% on Amazon, 2% on restaurants and gas) explore only to Prime members. Without Prime, you earn 3% on Amazon and 1% elsewhere, which is less competitive than other cash back cards.
What happens to my rewards if I cancel Prime?
Your existing cash back balance stays in your account and does not disappear. However, your future rewards rates drop when ready: you will earn 3% on Amazon instead of 5%, and lose the elevated rates on other categories. If you cancel Prime, the card becomes less valuable unless you reactivate membership later.
Can I use the Store Card outside Amazon and Whole Foods?
No. The Store Card is a closed-loop card and will be declined at any merchant other than Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market. If you need a card that works everywhere, choose the Visa Signature card instead.
How long does it take to get approved?
Most decisions are made when ready or within a few minutes of explore online. If your process is flagged for review, Amazon may contact you for additional information, which can take a few business days. Once approved, your card typically arrives within 7 to 10 business days.
Is the cash back taxable income?
No. Cash back from credit cards is treated as a reduction in the price you paid for purchases, not as income. You do not report it on your tax return.