The Chase Amazon Rewards Card gives you cash back on Amazon purchases and other everyday spending, but the rewards rate and annual fee depend on which version you choose

Chase offers two Amazon credit cards: the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card and the Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Card. The Prime version requires an Amazon Prime membership, charges no annual fee, and gives you 5% cash back on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases (up to $500 per quarter, then 1% after). The standard Amazon card has no Prime requirement, also charges no annual fee, and gives you 3% cash back on Amazon and Whole Foods, 2% at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% everywhere else.

Both cards earn rewards in the form of Amazon.com statement credits, not points you can transfer elsewhere. The rewards post to your account automatically and appear as a credit on your next billing statement. There is no redemption step — you do not have to log into a portal or request the credit.

Key Takeaways

  • The Amazon Prime Rewards card requires an active Prime membership and pays 5% back on Amazon purchases, while the standard Amazon card pays 3% and requires no membership.
  • Both cards charge no annual fee and both earn rewards only as Amazon statement credits, not cash or transferable points.
  • The 5% rate on the Prime card caps at $500 per quarter of combined Amazon and Whole Foods spending; after that you earn 1%.
  • Chase runs a hard credit inquiry when you open the account, which temporarily lowers your credit score by a few points.
  • The card carries a variable interest rate on purchases you do not pay off in full, so the APR changes with market conditions.

How the 5% and 3% cash back actually works

The 5% rate on the Prime card applies only to purchases made on Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market stores (in-person and online). It does not explore to Amazon Fresh, Amazon Business, or third-party sellers on Amazon, even though those transactions show up in your Amazon account. The 5% also caps at $500 in combined Amazon and Whole Foods purchases per quarter (three-month period). Once you hit $500, the rate drops to 1% for the rest of that quarter.

The 3% rate on the standard card applies to the same merchants — Amazon.com and Whole Foods — with no quarterly cap. You earn 2% at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% on all other purchases. Neither card offers bonus categories beyond these, and neither card offers sign-up bonuses.

Rewards post automatically as a statement credit. You will see the credit on your next billing statement after the purchase posts. You cannot redirect the credit to a savings account, transfer it to another card, or convert it to cash — it only reduces what you owe Chase.

Interest rates and what happens if you carry a balance

Both cards use a variable APR, which means the interest rate changes when the Federal Reserve changes its benchmark rate. Chase does not publish the exact APR in advance; instead, they show a range (typically 16.99% to 24.99% depending on your creditworthiness) and assign you a specific rate based on your credit score and history at the time you open the account.

The APR applies only to balances you do not pay in full by the due date. If you pay your full statement balance each month, you pay no interest, regardless of the APR. If you carry a balance, the interest accrues daily on the unpaid amount. There is no introductory 0% APR period on either card.

Chase also charges a late fee if you miss a payment (typically $25 to $35 for the first late payment, up to $39 for subsequent ones within six months). A payment 30 days late will be reported to the credit bureaus and will lower your credit score.

Annual fees and other costs

Neither the Amazon Prime Rewards card nor the standard Amazon Rewards card charges an annual fee. There are no hidden monthly charges, no inactivity fees, and no foreign transaction fees (though the card is designed for US use only).

If you use the card for a cash advance — withdrawing money at an ATM or getting cash from a bank — Chase charges a cash advance fee (typically 3% of the amount, with a minimum of $5) and a higher APR on that cash advance. Cash advances are expensive and should be avoided.

If you miss a payment by more than 60 days, Chase may increase your APR to a penalty rate, which can be as high as 29.99%. This rate applies to new purchases as well as the existing balance.

How to decide between the Prime and standard version

Choose the Prime card if you have an active Amazon Prime membership and spend more than $500 per quarter on Amazon and Whole Foods combined. At that spending level, the extra 2% cash back (5% versus 3%) on the first $500 per quarter adds up to $40 per year. If you spend less than $500 per quarter, the standard card's 3% rate is the same as the Prime card's rate after the cap, so the Prime card offers no advantage.

Choose the standard card if you do not have Prime, or if you have Prime but spend less than $500 per quarter on Amazon and Whole Foods. The standard card also earns 2% at restaurants and gas stations, which the Prime card does not, so if you spend heavily at those merchants, the standard card may earn more overall.

If you are deciding whether to get a card at all, remember that you earn no rewards on purchases outside Amazon, Whole Foods, restaurants, and gas stations. A general-purpose cash back card (like the Chase Freedom Unlimited) earns 1.5% on all purchases, which may be better if your spending is spread across many categories.

What happens when you open the account

When you explore, Chase performs a hard credit inquiry, which temporarily lowers your credit score by a few points (usually 5 to 10 points). The impact fades over a few months. If you are denied, you can call the reconsideration line at the number on your rejection letter to ask Chase to review your process again, though this is rarely successful.

If you are approved, your card arrives in 7 to 10 business days. You can use it when ready by adding it to your Chase mobile app and using Apple Pay or Google Pay, or you can wait for the physical card. Your account opens with a credit limit (typically $500 to $5,000 for first-time applicants), which you can request to increase after six months of on-time payments.

You can manage your account online at chase.com or through the Chase mobile app. You can set up automatic payments, view your rewards balance, and read statements. Chase offers 24/7 customer service by phone, and cardholders get access to a dedicated customer service line.

Comparing the Amazon card to other Chase cards

The Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases with no annual fee and no category limits. It earns less on Amazon purchases (1.5% versus 3% or 5%) but more on everything else. The Freedom Unlimited is better if your spending is not concentrated on Amazon.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns 3% on dining and travel, 2% on groceries and gas, and 1% elsewhere, but charges a $95 annual fee. It is designed for people who spend heavily on travel and dining, not for Amazon shoppers.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 3% on dining, travel, and online purchases, but charges a $550 annual fee and requires a higher credit score. It is not competitive with the Amazon card for most people.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Amazon card work with Amazon Business or third-party sellers?

No. The 5% or 3% rate applies only to purchases on Amazon.com and Whole Foods. Purchases from third-party sellers on Amazon, Amazon Fresh, and Amazon Business earn only 1% cash back. Check your receipt to confirm which merchant code posted — if it says "Amazon" you earned the higher rate; if it says something else, you earned 1%.

Can I use the card outside the United States?

Yes, but there is no foreign transaction fee and the card will be charged in US dollars. The exchange rate is set by Visa, not by Chase, so you will pay Visa's rate plus any markup your bank adds. The card works at merchants that accept Visa worldwide.

What if I do not pay my full balance?

Interest accrues daily on the unpaid balance at your card's APR (typically 16.99% to 24.99%). A $1,000 balance at 20% APR costs about $200 per year in interest if you make only minimum payments. Paying in full each month is the only way to avoid interest.

Can I transfer my Amazon rewards to another card or bank account?

No. Rewards are issued only as Amazon.com statement credits and cannot be converted to cash, transferred to another card, or redeemed for anything other than Amazon purchases. The credit appears automatically on your next billing statement.

How does the quarterly cap on the 5% rate work?

The 5% rate on the Prime card applies to the first $500 in combined Amazon and Whole Foods purchases per quarter (January–March, April–June, July–September, October–December). Once you spend $500 in a quarter, the rate drops to 1% for the rest of that quarter. The cap resets on the first day of the next quarter.