The Amazon Prime card makes sense only if you spend enough at Amazon to cover the annual Prime fee
The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card gives you 5% cash back on Amazon purchases and Whole Foods, 2% at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% everywhere else. It costs nothing to open. The catch is that the rewards are only valuable if you already pay for Amazon Prime membership — which runs $139 per year — or if the card's other benefits justify that cost on their own.
Most people break even or come out slightly ahead only if they spend at least $2,800 per year at Amazon and Whole Foods combined. Below that threshold, the card's rewards don't cover the Prime membership fee, and you'd be better off with a different card or not carrying one at all. Above that threshold, the math works, but only barely for most households.
The card is issued by Chase. You can open it online in about 10 minutes, and you'll know within seconds whether you're approved. There is no annual fee on the card itself, but remember that Prime membership is separate and costs money.
Key Takeaways
- The 5% Amazon and Whole Foods cash back only justifies the card if you already have or want Amazon Prime membership at $139 per year.
- You need to spend roughly $2,800 per year at Amazon and Whole Foods just to earn back the Prime fee in rewards.
- The 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants is lower than what competing cards offer, so this card is not a good general-purpose card.
- If you don't have Prime and don't shop at Whole Foods regularly, a different rewards card will give you better value.
- Chase offers the card with no annual fee, but approval depends on your credit score and payment history.
When the Amazon Prime card makes financial sense
The card works best for people who already subscribe to Prime and spend heavily at Amazon. If you spend $300 per month at Amazon ($3,600 per year), the 5% cash back gives you $180 in annual rewards. That covers most of the $139 Prime fee and leaves you with real savings. Add in Whole Foods purchases and gas station spending, and the rewards grow.
The card also makes sense if you value Prime's non-shopping benefits — free shipping, Prime Video, Prime Music — and were going to pay for membership anyway. In that case, the card's rewards are a bonus on top of a purchase you've already decided to make. The card doesn't create the cost; it just captures some of it back.
If you travel or eat out regularly, the 2% cash back on restaurants and gas stations adds up, though it's not competitive with cards designed for those categories. A card that offers 3% cash back on restaurants and gas would serve you better if that's where your spending is concentrated.
When the Amazon Prime card costs you money
If you don't have Prime and don't plan to get it, this card has no advantage over a standard 1% cash back card. You'd be paying $139 per year for a membership you don't use, just to unlock a 5% rate on purchases you might make anyway. That's a loss from day one.
If you have Prime but spend less than $2,000 per year at Amazon and Whole Foods combined, the card's rewards won't cover the membership fee. You're paying $139 to earn maybe $50 to $100 in cash back. A flat 2% cash back card would give you better value on your overall spending.
Even if you spend enough to break even on the Prime fee, you should compare the card's rewards to what you'd earn with a competing card. The 2% at restaurants and gas is lower than what other cards offer. If most of your spending is outside Amazon, you're leaving money on the table.
How to do the math for your own household
Start by adding up what you actually spent at Amazon in the past 12 months. Check your Amazon account history or your credit card statements. Be honest — many people overestimate their Amazon spending.
Add in your Whole Foods spending if you shop there regularly. If you don't, set that to zero.
Multiply that total by 0.05 (the 5% cash back rate). That's your annual reward from the card's best category.
Now subtract $139 (the Prime membership fee). If the number is positive, the card pays for itself. If it's negative, you're losing money. If it's close to zero, the card is neutral, and you should consider whether the other benefits (Prime Video, free shipping) matter to you.
Example: You spent $2,500 at Amazon last year and $300 at Whole Foods. That's $2,800 total. At 5% cash back, you earn $140. Minus the $139 Prime fee, you net $1. The card barely breaks even. If you also earn 2% on $1,200 in annual gas and restaurant spending, that's another $24, bringing your total to $25 in profit. That's real money, but not much.
What happens when you open the card
You can open the card through Chase's website or Amazon's website. Both routes lead to the same process. You'll need your Social Security number, a current address, and information about your income and employment. The process takes about 5 to 10 minutes.
Chase will tell you when ready whether you're approved, denied, or pending. If you're approved, the card arrives in 7 to 10 business days. You can start using it right away once it arrives.
If you're approved, you do not automatically get Prime membership. You have to sign up for Prime separately, either through Amazon.com or through the card's welcome materials. Prime membership is a separate $139 annual charge. Some versions of the card offer a promotional discount on your first year of Prime, but this varies and you should confirm the current offer before opening the card.
If you're denied, you can call Chase's reconsideration line to ask why. A denial usually means your credit score is below their threshold (typically around 670) or you have recent missed payments. Reapplying when ready won't help; you'd need to improve your credit first.
How this card compares to other rewards cards
The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers 3% cash back on restaurants and travel, which beats the Amazon card's 2% in those categories. But it has a $95 annual fee and no Amazon rewards, so it's built for a different spending pattern.
The Citi Double Cash offers 2% cash back on all purchases with no annual fee. If you spend evenly across categories and don't have Prime, this card will earn you more than the Amazon card.
The Capital One SavorOne offers 3% cash back on restaurants and entertainment with no annual fee. Again, this beats the Amazon card if restaurants are where your money goes.
The Amazon card only wins if your spending is concentrated at Amazon and Whole Foods, and you're already paying for Prime. If your spending is spread across many categories, a flat-rate card or a card designed for restaurants and travel will serve you better.
What to know about Prime membership bundled with the card
Prime membership includes free two-day shipping on most Amazon purchases, Prime Video streaming, Prime Music, and access to Prime Day sales. These benefits have real value if you use them, but they're separate from the card's cash back rewards.
If you already have Prime through another method — a family member's account, a student discount, or a previous subscription — you don't need to pay again. The card doesn't give you a second Prime membership; it just gives you the option to pay for one.
Prime membership renews automatically every year at $139 unless you cancel. If you open the card and then decide it's not worth it, you need to cancel Prime separately. Canceling the card does not cancel Prime.
Some card versions include a promotional offer like $70 off your first year of Prime. These offers change frequently, so check the current terms before opening the card. The offer is usually one-time only and applies only to new Prime members.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to have Prime to open the card?
No. You can open the card without Prime. But the card's main benefit — 5% cash back at Amazon — only makes financial sense if you pay for Prime membership. If you don't have Prime and don't plan to get it, this card is not a good choice.
What's the credit score requirement?
Chase typically approves the Amazon card for people with a credit score of 670 or higher, though the exact threshold varies. If your score is below 650, you're unlikely to be approved. If you're between 650 and 700, approval is possible but not may provide.
Can I use the card without Prime?
Yes, the card works like any other Visa card. But without Prime, you only earn 1% cash back at Amazon instead of 5%, which makes the card much less valuable. You're better off with a different card.
Does opening the card hurt my credit score?
Opening any credit card creates a hard inquiry, which temporarily lowers your score by a few points. The impact is usually small and fades within a few months. If you're planning to explore for a mortgage or car loan soon, wait to open this card.
What if I cancel Prime after opening the card?
You can cancel Prime anytime without affecting the card. The card remains active and usable, but you'll only earn 1% cash back at Amazon instead of 5%. At that point, the card becomes much less valuable, and you should consider switching to a different rewards card.