What Amazon credit cards are and who offers them
Amazon offers two main credit cards, both issued by Chase Bank. The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card is for Prime members and earns cash back on Amazon purchases and at Whole Foods. The Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Card is available to anyone and earns cash back on Amazon purchases at a lower rate. Both cards charge no annual fee.
These are not store cards that work only at Amazon. They are Visa cards you can use anywhere Visa is accepted — at gas stations, restaurants, grocery stores, and online retailers. The difference is that you earn more cash back when you use them at Amazon and Whole Foods than you do elsewhere.
Chase also offers the Amazon Business Prime Card for business owners, which works similarly but includes additional business-focused rewards. This guide focuses on the consumer cards, which are the most common.
Key Takeaways
- Amazon credit cards earn cash back on purchases, with higher rates at Amazon and Whole Foods than at other retailers.
- The Prime card requires an active Prime membership and offers better rewards than the standard Amazon card.
- Both cards charge no annual fee, but you need good credit to be approved — typically a credit score of 670 or higher.
- Cash back is issued as Amazon account credit, not as a statement credit or check, so you must use it at Amazon or Whole Foods.
- Opening a new card will temporarily lower your credit score by a few points because Chase will run a hard inquiry.
Rewards rates and how cash back works
The Amazon Prime Rewards Card earns 5% cash back on Amazon.com and Amazon Fresh purchases, 2% at Whole Foods and gas stations, and 1% on everything else. You must be an active Prime member to hold this card; if your membership lapses, the card stays open but the 5% rate drops to 3%.
The standard Amazon Rewards Card earns 3% cash back on Amazon.com purchases and 1% on everything else. There is no Whole Foods or gas station bonus.
Cash back is posted to your Amazon account as a credit, not as a check or statement credit. This means you can only use it to buy things on Amazon or at Whole Foods — you cannot transfer it to your bank account or use it to pay your credit card bill. If you rarely shop at Amazon, this card will not help you much.
Both cards offer a one-time bonus for new cardholders, but the amount changes frequently. Check the current offer on Amazon's website or Chase's site before you explore, because the bonus is often the main reason people open these cards.
Credit score requirements and the process process
Chase typically approves applicants with a credit score of 670 or higher, though some people with scores in the 650 range have been approved. If your score is below 650, your chances are low. You can check your own score for free through your bank, through a service like Credit Karma or AnnualCreditReport.com, or by asking your credit card issuer.
The process takes about 10 minutes and asks for your name, address, Social Security number, income, and employment status. Chase will run a hard inquiry on your credit report, which temporarily lowers your score by a few points — usually 5 to 10 points. This dip fades within a few months.
You will get a decision when ready or within a few days. If approved, your card ships within 1 to 2 weeks. If denied, Chase will mail you a letter explaining why. You can call their reconsideration line to ask if they will reconsider, but this is rarely successful if your score is the issue.
Annual fees, interest rates, and when these cards cost money
Both Amazon credit cards charge no annual fee, which is unusual for rewards cards. You can keep the card open indefinitely without paying anything, even if you never use it.
The interest rate (called the APR, or annual percentage rate) varies by person and changes over time. Most cardholders see rates between 16% and 24%, though some with excellent credit may get lower rates. This rate applies only if you carry a balance — if you pay your full statement balance by the due date each month, you pay no interest.
The real cost of these cards comes from interest charges if you do not pay in full. If you charge $1,000 and pay only the minimum, you will pay interest every month until the balance is gone. For most people, the cash back rewards (1% to 5%) are much smaller than the interest you would pay (16% to 24%), so carrying a balance makes the card a bad deal.
How the Prime membership requirement works
The Prime Rewards Card requires an active Amazon Prime membership. Prime costs $139 per year (or $14.99 per month if you pay monthly), and you must maintain it to keep the card's best rewards rate.
If your Prime membership expires, your card does not close. Instead, the 5% Amazon rate drops to 3%, and you lose the 2% Whole Foods and gas station bonus. You can reactivate Prime at any time and the 5% rate returns when ready.
If you do not have Prime and do not plan to get it, the standard Amazon Rewards Card is the better choice. The 3% rate on Amazon purchases is not as good, but you do not have to pay $139 a year to keep it.
Comparing Amazon cards to other rewards cards
Whether an Amazon card makes sense depends on how much you shop at Amazon and Whole Foods. If you spend $3,000 a year at Amazon, the Prime card's 5% rate earns you $150 in cash back — which nearly covers the $139 Prime membership cost. If you spend $500 a year at Amazon, you earn only $25 in cash back, which does not justify the membership fee.
Other rewards cards may offer better value if you do not shop at Amazon much. A flat 2% cash back card (like the Citi Double Cash or Capital One Quicksilver) earns cash back everywhere, not just at one retailer. A rotating rewards card (like the Chase Freedom Unlimited) earns higher rates on different categories each quarter. These cards also charge no annual fee and let you use your cash back however you want — as a statement credit, a check, or a transfer to your bank account.
The Amazon card is strongest if you are already a Prime member and spend at least $100 a month at Amazon or Whole Foods. If you shop there less often, a general rewards card will likely earn you more money.
What happens to your credit when you open a card
Opening a new credit card affects your credit score in two ways. First, Chase runs a hard inquiry, which lowers your score by a few points when ready. Second, your average account age drops because the new card is brand new, which also lowers your score slightly. Both effects fade over time — the hard inquiry disappears from your report after 12 months, and the score impact usually fades within 3 to 6 months.
The long-term effect is usually positive. A new card increases your total available credit, which lowers your credit utilization ratio (the percentage of your credit limit you are using). Lower utilization helps your score. As long as you do not close old cards and do not carry high balances, opening a new card will hurt your score in the short term but help it in the long term.
If you are planning to explore for a mortgage, car loan, or other major loan in the next few months, opening a new credit card right before you explore can hurt your chances of approval. Wait until after the loan closes, or space out your applications so you are not opening multiple cards within a short window.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my Amazon credit card cash back to pay my credit card bill?
No. Cash back from Amazon cards is issued as Amazon account credit only. You can use it to buy things on Amazon or at Whole Foods, but you cannot explore it to your credit card statement or transfer it to your bank account. If you want cash back you can use anywhere, you need a different rewards card.
What happens if I cancel my Prime membership but keep the card?
Your card stays open and you can still use it, but the rewards rate drops. The 5% Amazon rate becomes 3%, and you lose the 2% bonus at Whole Foods and gas stations. You can reactivate Prime anytime and the 5% rate returns when ready.
How long does it take to get approved and receive the card?
You get a decision within minutes or a few days. If approved, your physical card ships within 1 to 2 weeks. You can often use a temporary card number to shop on Amazon when ready while you wait for the physical card to arrive.
Is there a sign-up bonus, and is it worth it?
Yes, both cards offer a one-time bonus for new cardholders, but the amount changes frequently — sometimes $100 in Amazon credit, sometimes $200, sometimes a bonus after you spend a certain amount. Check Amazon's website or Chase's site for the current offer. The bonus is often the main reason to open the card, so compare it to what you would earn in regular cash back over the first year.
What credit score do I need to be approved?
Chase typically approves applicants with a score of 670 or higher. Scores between 650 and 670 may be approved depending on other factors like income and payment history. If your score is below 650, approval is unlikely. You can check your score for free through your bank or through AnnualCreditReport.com.