The Amazon credit card has no annual fee, regardless of which version you choose
Amazon offers two main credit cards through Chase: the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card and the Amazon Rewards Visa Card. Neither one charges an annual fee. You pay nothing just to hold the card, whether you use it or not.
This matters because some rewards cards — particularly those aimed at high spenders or business owners — charge $95, $150, or more per year. The Amazon cards do not. You only pay interest if you carry a balance month to month, and you only pay late fees if you miss a payment.
The trade-off is that the rewards rate is lower than some premium cards charge. But if you are deciding whether the card is worth having, the annual fee is not a factor.
Key Takeaways
- Both the Amazon Prime Rewards card and the standard Amazon Rewards card charge zero dollars per year, with no hidden annual costs.
- You only owe money if you carry a balance (interest) or miss a payment (late fee), not for straightforward holding the card.
- The lack of an annual fee makes these cards a low-risk option if you want to test whether a rewards card fits your spending.
- Other rewards cards often charge $95 to $550 per year, so the Amazon cards stand out for having no yearly cost.
How the two Amazon cards differ
The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card requires an active Amazon Prime membership. It earns 5% cash back on Amazon.com purchases and Whole Foods Market purchases, 2% at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores, and 1% on everything else. Prime members get this card because the rewards are tied to their membership status.
The Amazon Rewards Visa Card is available to anyone, whether or not they have Prime. It earns 3% cash back on Amazon.com purchases, 2% at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores, and 1% on everything else. This card has a lower earning rate but no membership requirement.
Both cards are issued by Chase and both have zero annual fees. The choice between them depends on whether you have Prime and how much you spend on Amazon, not on cost to hold the card.
What fees you might actually pay
While there is no annual fee, you can incur other charges if you do not manage the card carefully. A late payment fee applies if you miss a due date — this typically ranges from $25 to $40 for the first late payment, depending on your account. Paying on time eliminates this cost entirely.
An interest charge (also called APR or annual percentage rate) kicks in if you carry a balance from one month to the next. The APR varies based on your credit score and current market rates, but it is usually between 16% and 24%. If you pay your full statement balance by the due date each month, you pay no interest.
A foreign transaction fee of 1% applies if you use the card outside the United States. This is standard for most rewards cards and is not unique to Amazon's cards.
None of these are annual fees — they only appear if specific actions trigger them. The annual fee is what you pay just for having the card open, and Amazon's cards charge nothing for that.
Why no annual fee matters for your decision
An annual fee creates a barrier to trying a card. If a card costs $95 per year, you need to earn at least $95 in rewards to break even. That math can be intimidating if you are not sure the card fits your spending.
With the Amazon cards, there is no minimum threshold. You can open the card, use it for a month or two, and close it without losing money. This makes them a practical choice if you want to test whether a rewards card works for you before committing to a premium card with a higher fee.
The downside is that the rewards rates are modest compared to premium cards. A card that charges $150 per year might offer 5% cash back on dining or travel, which could earn you far more than the Amazon card's 2% on restaurants. But if you spend most of your money on Amazon, the Amazon card's 5% rate (for Prime members) often outweighs the lower rates on other categories.
Comparing Amazon cards to other rewards cards
| Card | Annual Fee | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature | $0 | Prime members who spend heavily on Amazon |
| Amazon Rewards Visa Card | $0 | Non-Prime members or those who want a no-fee card |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred | $95 | Travel and dining rewards seekers |
| American Express Gold Card | $250 | High-spending travelers and diners |
| Capital One Quicksilver | $0 | People who want straightforward 1.5% cash back everywhere |
The Amazon cards sit in the no-fee category alongside cards like the Capital One Quicksilver. The difference is that Amazon's cards offer higher rewards on specific purchases (Amazon, Whole Foods, restaurants, gas) while Quicksilver offers a flat 1.5% everywhere. Which is better depends on where you spend your money.
How to avoid surprise charges on your Amazon card
To keep your costs truly at zero, set up automatic payments for at least the minimum amount due each month. This prevents late fees and ensures you do not accidentally carry a balance and pay interest. Many people set their card to pay the full statement balance automatically, which guarantees no interest charges.
Check your statement each month to spot any unauthorized charges. While fraud is rare on major credit cards, catching it early protects you. Chase offers fraud protection on the Amazon cards, but you need to report suspicious activity within a certain window.
If you travel outside the United States, remember the 1% foreign transaction fee. It is small but worth knowing about. Some travelers use a different card with no foreign fees for international purchases, then use the Amazon card at home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay an annual fee to keep the Amazon card open if I do not use it?
No. You can hold the card indefinitely without using it and pay nothing. There is no annual fee, no inactivity fee, and no minimum spending requirement. Chase may close the account if it sits unused for several years, but they will not charge you for that.
Does the Amazon Prime Rewards card cost extra if my Prime membership expires?
The card itself still has no annual fee. However, if your Prime membership lapses, the card's rewards rates drop to match the standard Amazon Rewards card (3% on Amazon instead of 5%). You keep the card, but you lose the higher earning rate. Renewing Prime restores the 5% rate.
What happens if I close my Amazon card and reopen it later?
There is no fee to close the card or to open a new one. However, Chase may not approve you for a new Amazon card if you closed one recently. Each process can affect your credit score slightly, so space out applications if you plan to reopen a card.
Are there any hidden fees I should know about?
No hidden fees exist on the Amazon cards. The only charges are interest (if you carry a balance), late fees (if you miss a payment), and the 1% foreign transaction fee (if you use it outside the US). Everything else is transparent.
If I get the Amazon Prime Rewards card, do I pay the annual fee twice — once for Prime and once for the card?
No. Prime membership and the credit card are separate. You pay for Prime separately (around $139 per year for annual membership), but the card itself has no annual fee. You are not charged twice.