What the Amazon Prime Credit Card Actually Is

The Amazon Prime credit card is a rewards card issued by Chase Bank that gives you cash back on purchases, with higher rewards rates if you shop on Amazon or at Whole Foods. You do not have to be a Prime member to get it, but the card's best rewards only work if you are. The card has no annual fee.

There are actually two versions: the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card and the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa card. The difference is small — the Signature version offers slightly better travel protections and a higher sign-up bonus, but both earn the same cash back rates on everyday purchases. Most people get approved for one or the other based on their credit history.

Cash back means the card gives you a percentage of what you spend back to your account as a credit. You can use that credit to pay your bill, or in some cases convert it to Amazon.com gift cards. Unlike points or miles that expire or have complicated redemption rules, cash back is straightforward: you spend $100, you get a percentage of that back.

Key Takeaways

  • The card earns 5% cash back on Amazon purchases and Whole Foods, 2% at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% everywhere else — but only if you have an active Prime membership for the higher rates.
  • Without Prime, you earn 3% on Amazon and Whole Foods, 2% at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% elsewhere.
  • There is no annual fee, but you pay interest on any balance you do not pay off in full each month, usually between 18% and 25% depending on your credit score.
  • The sign-up bonus is typically $100 to $200 in Amazon.com credit if you spend a set amount in the first few months, but this bonus changes and is not may provide.
  • You need a credit score of roughly 670 or higher to have a reasonable chance of approval, though approval depends on your full credit history, not just the score.

How the Rewards Rates Work and What They Actually Mean

The cash back rates depend on where you shop and whether you have Prime. If you have Prime, you earn 5% back on Amazon.com purchases and at Whole Foods Market, 2% at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% on everything else. If you do not have Prime, those rates drop to 3%, 2%, 1%, and 1% respectively.

A concrete example: you spend $200 on groceries at Whole Foods with Prime active. You earn 5% cash back, which is $10. That $10 appears as a credit on your next statement. If you spend $50 at a grocery store that is not Whole Foods, you earn 1% back, which is 50 cents. Over a year, the difference between Prime and non-Prime rewards adds up, but only if you actually shop at Amazon and Whole Foods regularly.

The 2% rate at gas stations and restaurants applies anywhere, not just specific chains. A gas station in rural Montana and a restaurant in a city both count. The 1% catch-all rate means you earn something on every purchase, even if it is small.

Annual Fees and Interest Charges

The Amazon Prime credit card has no annual fee. You do not pay anything just for having the card in your wallet. This is different from some other rewards cards that charge $95 or $450 per year in exchange for higher rewards rates.

Interest is where the real cost lives. If you carry a balance — meaning you do not pay off the full statement balance by the due date — you pay interest on that balance. The interest rate (called the APR, or annual percentage rate) is typically between 18% and 25%, depending on your credit score and history. A lower credit score means a higher APR. If you charge $1,000 and pay only the minimum, you could pay $150 to $250 in interest over a year before you even touch the principal.

The card does offer a 0% introductory APR period on purchases for new cardholders in some cases, but this is not may provide and the terms change. If you are offered one, it typically lasts 6 to 12 months, after which the regular APR kicks in. Read the offer carefully before you explore.

Who Should Get This Card and Who Should Not

This card makes sense if you have an active Prime membership, shop on Amazon regularly, and pay off your full balance every month. If you meet all three conditions, the 5% back on Amazon and Whole Foods adds up to real money over time. A person who spends $200 per month on Amazon earns $120 per year in cash back — that is a free month of Prime.

The card does not make sense if you carry a balance. The interest you pay will quickly erase any rewards you earn. If you spent $1,000 on the card and carried that balance for three months at 22% APR, you would pay roughly $55 in interest. You would need to earn $55 in rewards just to break even, and that requires significant spending.

It also does not make sense if you do not have Prime or do not plan to renew it. Without Prime, the rewards rates drop to 3% on Amazon and Whole Foods, which is competitive but not exceptional. You can find other cards that offer 2% cash back on all purchases with no annual fee, which might be a better fit if you do not shop at Amazon much.

how the process works and What Happens Next

You explore online through Chase's website or through Amazon.com itself. 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 usually get a decision within minutes. If approved, your card arrives in the mail within 7 to 10 business days. If denied, Chase sends a letter explaining why — usually because your credit score is too low, you have too much existing debt, or you have recent late payments on your credit report.

Once the card arrives, you set up it through the Chase app or website, set a PIN if you want one, and you can start using it when ready. Your first statement arrives about 30 days after your first purchase. You have a grace period (usually 21 to 25 days from the statement date) to pay the full balance without paying interest.

Credit Score Requirements and Approval Odds

Chase does not publish a minimum credit score for this card, but approval is most likely if your score is 670 or higher. People with scores between 650 and 670 sometimes get approved, especially if they have a long history with Chase or a low debt-to-income ratio. People with scores below 650 rarely get approved for this card.

Your credit score is only one factor. Chase also looks at how much debt you already carry, whether you have recent late payments, how long you have had credit accounts open, and whether you have had recent hard inquiries from other card applications. If you applied for three cards in the last month, your approval odds drop even if your score is good.

If you are denied, you can call Chase's reconsideration line within 30 days and ask them to reconsider. Sometimes they will approve you if you explain your situation or offer to lower your credit limit. If they deny you again, wait at least three to six months before explore again — each process leaves a mark on your credit report.

How This Card Compares to Other Rewards Cards

The main competitor is the Capital One SavorOne card, which offers 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, and groceries, plus 1% on everything else, with no annual fee. If you do not have Prime or do not shop at Amazon, the SavorOne might earn you more cash back because the 3% rate applies to more categories.

Another option is the Chase Freedom Unlimited card, which earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases with no annual fee and no category restrictions. It is simpler — you do not have to remember which stores may have access to for higher rates — but the rate is lower than the Amazon card's 5% on Amazon purchases.

If you have Prime and shop heavily at Amazon, the Amazon Prime card's 5% rate is hard to beat. No other card offers that rate on Amazon without an annual fee. But if you rarely buy from Amazon or do not have Prime, a flat-rate card like the Freedom Unlimited might be a better choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need Prime to get the card?

No. You can get approved for the card without Prime. But if you do not have Prime, your rewards rates are lower — 3% on Amazon instead of 5%, for example. Most people who get this card either have Prime or plan to get it.

What happens to my rewards if I cancel Prime?

Your cash back rates drop when ready. Any rewards you already earned stay in your account, but new purchases earn at the non-Prime rates. If you cancel Prime, you might want to switch to a different card that does not depend on Prime membership.

Can I use this card outside the United States?

Yes, but you pay a foreign transaction fee of 3% on purchases made outside the US. This is standard for most Chase cards. If you travel internationally often, a card with no foreign transaction fee might be cheaper.

What if I miss a payment?

If you miss your due date, Chase charges a late fee (usually $25 to $35 for the first late payment) and reports the late payment to the credit bureaus. A single late payment can lower your credit score by 50 to 100 points and stay on your report for seven years. If you are struggling to pay, call Chase before the due date and ask about hardship options.

Can I convert my cash back to something other than Amazon credit?

Yes. You can use your cash back as a statement credit to pay your bill, deposit it into a linked bank account, or convert it to an Amazon.com gift card. The cash back is yours to use however you want — you are not locked into Amazon.