What the Chase Amazon Prime Visa card does

The Chase Amazon Prime Visa is a co-branded card that gives you cash back on Amazon purchases and at Whole Foods, plus a smaller cash back rate on other spending. You get 5% back on Amazon.com and Whole Foods purchases (up to $6,000 per year in combined purchases, then 1% after that), 2% back at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% back on everything else. There is no annual fee if you have an active Amazon Prime membership; without Prime, the card costs $39 per year.

The card also includes a $70 annual Amazon credit that posts automatically each year, which effectively covers the annual fee for Prime members and then some. You earn one point per dollar on all purchases, and those points convert to cash back at the rates above.

This card is built for people who already spend money at Amazon and Whole Foods regularly. If you do not shop at either place, the cash back structure will not work in your favor compared to flat-rate travel cards.

Key Takeaways

  • The card has no annual fee for Amazon Prime members, but costs $39 yearly for non-Prime members, plus you lose the $70 annual Amazon credit.
  • You earn 5% cash back on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases, but only on the first $6,000 per year in combined spending, then 1% after that cap is reached.
  • The 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants is useful for travel, but you will earn more on those categories with other travel cards that do not have spending caps.
  • The card's value depends entirely on your Amazon and Whole Foods spending; without regular purchases at both, a flat-rate card will earn you more cash back.

How the 5% cash back cap affects your earnings

The $6,000 annual cap on 5% cash back is the card's biggest limitation. Once you hit $6,000 in combined Amazon and Whole Foods purchases in a calendar year, every dollar after that earns only 1% cash back. For someone who spends $500 per month at Amazon, that cap is hit by mid-year.

If you spend $12,000 per year at Amazon and Whole Foods combined, you earn $300 in cash back on the first $6,000 (5%), then $60 on the remaining $6,000 (1%), for a total of $360. A flat-rate 2% card would earn you $240 on the same $12,000 — less than this card, but with no cap. A flat-rate 1.5% card would earn $180, making the Amazon card the better choice for high Amazon spenders.

The math only works in your favor if you are spending enough at Amazon and Whole Foods to hit that cap regularly. If your combined spending at both places is under $6,000 per year, the 5% rate applies to everything, and the card becomes more valuable.

The $70 annual Amazon credit and what it covers

Chase credits $70 to your Amazon account automatically each year, which you can use on anything sold by Amazon — physical goods, digital content, Prime Video rentals, or anything else. The credit posts in January and does not roll over; if you do not spend it by December 31, you lose it.

For Prime members, this credit means the card is truly free: the $39 annual fee is waived, and you get $70 back, netting you $31 in value before you earn a single point of cash back. For non-Prime members, the card costs $39 per year and you still get the $70 credit, so the net cost is negative — but you lose the 5% cash back on Amazon purchases, which makes the card much less valuable overall.

The credit is not a rebate on purchases you have already made. It is a statement credit that appears in your account and can be used on future purchases. Plan to spend at least $70 at Amazon during the year, or the credit will go unused.

Comparing this card to other travel rewards cards

If you travel frequently and want to maximize rewards on flights and hotels, this card is not the best choice. Cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or American Express Gold earn higher rates on travel and dining, and they do not have spending caps. Those cards have annual fees ($95 to $250), but they earn more cash back if you spend heavily on travel.

The Amazon Prime Visa makes sense if your travel spending is modest and your Amazon spending is high. You get the 2% back at gas stations and restaurants, which covers some travel costs, plus the 5% on Amazon (useful if you buy travel gear, luggage, or books on Amazon). But if you are booking flights and hotels regularly, a premium travel card will earn you more.

If you do not have an Amazon Prime membership and do not plan to get one, this card is not worth considering. The annual fee and loss of the 5% rate make it worse than a flat-rate 1.5% or 2% card for general spending.

How to use this card alongside other cards

Many people who carry this card also carry a second card for categories where the Amazon card does not earn well. For example, you might use the Amazon card for Amazon and Whole Foods purchases, then use a flat-rate 2% card for everything else. This approach maximizes your cash back without paying multiple annual fees.

If you travel frequently, you might use a premium travel card for flights and hotels, then use the Amazon card for gas and restaurants on the road. The 2% back at restaurants is competitive with many travel cards, so the Amazon card can work as a secondary card in a travel rewards strategy.

The key is to be intentional about which card you use for each purchase. Putting everything on the Amazon card will cost you money if most of your spending is outside Amazon and Whole Foods.

What happens after the first year

After you receive the card, the annual fee (if applicable) and the $70 credit both recur every year on your account anniversary. You will see the $70 credit post automatically, and the $39 fee will be charged if you are not a Prime member. There is no action required on your part.

If you cancel the card, you lose access to the $70 annual credit going forward. Chase does not refund the annual fee if you cancel mid-year, so plan your cancellation for after the credit posts if you decide to close the account.

The card has no sign-up bonus, unlike many other Chase travel cards. You earn cash back only on purchases you make after the card is approved.

Who should and should not get this card

This card is a good fit if you have an Amazon Prime membership, spend at least $3,000 to $4,000 per year at Amazon and Whole Foods combined, and want a card with no annual fee. The 5% cash back on those purchases, combined with the $70 annual credit, makes it valuable for Prime members who shop regularly at both places.

You should skip this card if you do not have Prime, do not shop at Amazon or Whole Foods regularly, or if most of your spending is on travel and dining outside of restaurants. In those cases, a flat-rate card or a premium travel card will earn you more cash back for the same or lower annual cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an Amazon Prime membership to get the card?

No, but you should have one to make the card worthwhile. Without Prime, you pay a $39 annual fee and lose the 5% cash back on Amazon purchases. The card becomes a 2% cash back card at gas and restaurants with a $39 annual cost — worse than a flat-rate card.

What happens to my cash back if I cancel my Prime membership?

If you cancel Prime, the card's annual fee kicks in ($39 per year) and you lose the 5% cash back on Amazon purchases. You will earn 2% at gas and restaurants and 1% everywhere else. You should consider closing the card at that point unless you rejoin Prime.

Can I use the $70 annual credit on anything?

Yes, the credit works on anything sold by Amazon, including physical products, digital content, Prime Video rentals, and Kindle books. It does not cover third-party seller fees or taxes, and it does not roll over if unused.

Does this card have a sign-up bonus?

No, the Chase Amazon Prime Visa does not offer a sign-up bonus. You earn cash back only on purchases made after the card is approved. Other Chase travel cards offer sign-up bonuses worth $100 to $300 or more.

What if I hit the $6,000 spending cap early in the year?

Once you reach $6,000 in combined Amazon and Whole Foods purchases in a calendar year, all additional purchases at those places earn 1% cash back for the rest of the year. The cap resets on January 1. If you spend heavily at Amazon, you may want a second card for those purchases after the cap is hit.