What the Amazon Prime Rewards Card does

The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card is a co-branded credit card issued by Chase that gives you cash back on purchases, with higher rewards rates if you shop on Amazon or at Whole Foods. You do not need to be a Prime member to open the card, but the best rewards rates require an active Prime membership. The card charges an annual fee of zero dollars — there is no yearly cost to hold it.

The card earns 5% cash back on Amazon.com purchases and Whole Foods Market transactions (up to $1,500 per quarter, then 1% after that), 2% cash back at restaurants, gas stations, and transit, and 1% cash back on everything else. Cash back appears as a statement credit or can be redeemed for Amazon purchases. You can also transfer rewards to a linked Amazon account.

Key Takeaways

  • The card earns 5% cash back on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases if you have an active Prime membership, but only 3% and 1% respectively without it.
  • There is no annual fee, and the card comes with purchase protection, extended warranty coverage, and fraud liability protection that come standard with Visa Signature cards.
  • You will need a credit score in the "good" range (typically 670 or higher) to be considered, though approval is not may provide.
  • The rewards rate of 5% on Amazon is higher than most other cards, but only if you carry a Prime membership and stay within the quarterly spending cap.

Who should consider this card

This card makes sense if you already pay for a Prime membership and spend money regularly on Amazon or Whole Foods. The 5% cash back on those two categories alone can offset the cost of Prime membership over a year if you spend enough. For example, someone who spends $100 per month on Amazon would earn $60 in cash back annually at the 5% rate.

The card is less useful if you do not have Prime, because the rewards rates drop significantly — 3% on Amazon, 1% on Whole Foods, and 1% on everything else. In that case, a flat-rate card like the Chase Freedom Unlimited might give you better value. The card also works well as a secondary card for someone who wants to concentrate their Amazon and grocery spending in one place while using another card for travel or dining rewards.

How to open the card and what you will need

You can open the card through Chase's website, through Amazon.com, or in person at a Chase branch. The online process takes about 10 minutes and asks for your name, address, Social Security number, income, and employment status. Chase will pull your credit report to make a decision, which happens when ready in most cases.

You will need a valid government ID, a current mailing address, and a Social Security number. If you are approved, the card typically arrives within 7 to 10 business days. You can request expedited shipping for an additional fee, or you can sometimes use the card number when ready for online purchases while you wait for the physical card.

Credit score and approval requirements

Chase typically approves applicants with a credit score of 670 or higher, though this is not a hard rule — some people with lower scores have been approved, and some with higher scores have been denied. Your approval also depends on your income, existing debt, and credit history. If you have recent late payments, collections accounts, or very high credit card balances, your chances of approval are lower.

If you are denied, Chase will send you a letter explaining the reason. You can call the reconsideration line at the number on the denial letter and ask them to review your process again, especially if your credit situation has changed recently or if you have a relationship with Chase already.

Fees, interest rates, and how cash back works

The card has no annual fee. The purchase APR (the interest rate you pay on balances you carry month to month) varies by person and is typically between 17% and 24%, depending on your creditworthiness. There is also a cash advance APR, which is usually higher, and a penalty APR that applies if you miss a payment by 60 days or more.

Cash back is earned automatically on every purchase and shows up as a statement credit at the end of each billing cycle. You can also redeem it as an Amazon.com gift card or transfer it to your Amazon account. There is no limit to how much cash back you can earn, but the 5% rate only applies to the first $1,500 in combined Amazon and Whole Foods purchases per quarter — after that, you earn 1% on those categories.

How this card compares to other Chase cards

The Amazon Prime Rewards Card is Chase's entry-level rewards card for Amazon shoppers. If you do not shop on Amazon much but want a general rewards card, the Chase Freedom Unlimited offers 1.5% cash back on all purchases with no annual fee. If you travel frequently, the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve offer higher rewards on travel and dining but charge annual fees of $95 and $550 respectively.

The Chase Freedom Flex is another option if you want rotating 5% categories — it earns 5% on rotating categories like groceries or gas (up to a quarterly cap), 1% on everything else, and has no annual fee. The main difference is that the Amazon card's 5% rate is fixed to Amazon and Whole Foods, while the Freedom Flex rotates quarterly, so you have to set up the categories to earn the higher rate.

What happens after you open the card

Once your card arrives, set up it through the Chase website or mobile app, then set up your account to manage payments and track rewards. You can set up automatic payments so you never miss a due date, or you can pay manually through the Chase website, the mobile app, or by phone. Paying your full balance each month means you will not pay any interest and will maximize the value of your rewards.

Your credit score may dip slightly when you open the card because Chase pulls your credit report and because a new account lowers your average account age. This dip is usually temporary and recovers within a few months. Over time, using the card responsibly — making on-time payments and keeping your balance low — will help your credit score improve.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need Prime membership to use the card?

No, you can open and use the card without Prime. However, the rewards rates are much lower without it: 3% on Amazon instead of 5%, and 1% on Whole Foods instead of 5%. If you do not have Prime, a different card may give you better value.

What happens to my rewards if I cancel Prime?

Your existing cash back rewards stay in your account and do not disappear. However, the rewards rate on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases drops to 3% and 1% respectively once your Prime membership ends. You can still earn 2% at restaurants and gas stations and 1% on everything else.

Can I use this card outside the United States?

Yes, the card works internationally as a Visa Signature card. However, you will typically pay a foreign transaction fee of 3% on purchases made outside the U.S. Some cards waive this fee, but the Amazon Prime Rewards Card does not.

What is the difference between this card and the Amazon Business Prime Card?

The Amazon Business Prime Card is designed for business owners and offers higher rewards rates on business purchases at Amazon and other business suppliers. The personal Amazon Prime Rewards Card is for individual consumers. If you own a business, the business version may offer better value, but you will need a business tax ID to open it.

How long does it take to earn enough cash back to cover Prime membership?

Prime costs $139 per year (or $14.99 per month). At the 5% rate on Amazon, you would need to spend $2,780 per year on Amazon to earn $139 in cash back. For someone who spends $232 per month on Amazon, this takes about 12 months. If you also use Whole Foods, you will reach this threshold faster.