The Amazon Prime Visa gives you cash back on Amazon purchases and everyday spending, plus a sign-up bonus if you meet the spending requirement
The Amazon Prime Visa is a co-branded credit card issued by Chase Bank. If you hold an Amazon Prime membership, you earn 5% cash back on Amazon.com purchases and Whole Foods Market purchases, 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% cash back on everything else. There is no annual fee if you have an active Prime membership; without Prime, the card costs $39 per year.
The card comes with a sign-up bonus — typically $100 to $200 in Amazon credit if you spend a set amount (usually $500 to $1,000) within the first three months. The exact bonus changes throughout the year. You do not earn the bonus as cash back; it posts as a statement credit you can only use on Amazon.com. This is a rewards card, not a shopping tool. The real question is whether the cash back rate beats what you would earn with a different card, and whether the Prime membership fee (if you do not already have it) makes the math work.
Key Takeaways
- You earn 5% cash back on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases only if you have an active Prime membership; without it, the rate drops to 3% on Amazon and you pay a $39 annual fee.
- The 2% rate at gas stations and restaurants applies to all cardholders, but many competing cards offer 3% or higher in these categories.
- The sign-up bonus is a one-time Amazon credit, not cash, and you must spend a minimum amount within three months to receive it.
- Cash back posts monthly and can be redeemed as a statement credit, deposited to a bank account, or used to buy Amazon gift cards.
How the cash back rates actually work
The 5% rate on Amazon.com and Whole Foods applies to the full purchase amount, including tax. This is the card's strongest feature — most competing cards max out at 2% or 3% on online shopping. However, the 5% only applies if your Prime membership is active at the time of purchase. If your membership lapses, the rate drops to 3% on Amazon purchases until you renew.
The 2% rate at gas stations and restaurants is broad but not competitive. Chase's Sapphire Preferred card offers 3% on both categories. American Express's Blue Cash Preferred offers 3% at gas stations and 3% at restaurants (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%). If you spend heavily in these categories, a different card may earn you more. The 1% catch-all rate applies to everything else — groceries (except Whole Foods), pharmacies, utilities, insurance, and online shopping outside Amazon. This is standard for cash back cards but not generous. Some cards offer 2% on all purchases with no category limits.
The sign-up bonus and how to use it
The sign-up bonus is typically $100 to $200 in Amazon credit. To receive it, you must spend a minimum amount (usually $500 to $1,000) on the card within the first three months. The bonus posts as a statement credit that appears in your Amazon account, not as cash in your bank account. This matters because you can only spend the credit on Amazon.com. You cannot transfer it to another retailer, convert it to cash, or use it at Whole Foods.
If you do not shop on Amazon regularly, the bonus has less value to you. If you were already planning to spend that amount on Amazon within three months, the bonus is essentially information programs — but if you have to change your spending habits to reach the threshold, you may pay interest on the new balance and lose the benefit. The bonus offer changes several times per year. If you see a higher bonus than usual, it may be worth opening the card sooner rather than waiting. Chase's website shows the current offer, and you can also check sites like The Points Guy or Doctor of Credit, which track bonus changes across credit cards.
When this card makes financial sense
The Amazon Prime Visa is worth carrying if you already have a Prime membership and spend at least $500 per year on Amazon or Whole Foods. At that spending level, the 5% cash back ($25 per year) roughly offsets the $39 annual fee if you do not have Prime. If you already pay for Prime for the shipping and video benefits, the card's annual fee is zero, and any cash back is pure gain.
The card is less attractive if you spend more than $2,000 per year at gas stations or restaurants. In that case, a card offering 3% in those categories will earn you more. Similarly, if you shop at multiple retailers equally, a flat 2% cash back card (like the Citi Double Cash or Capital One Quicksilver) may beat the Amazon card's blended rate. The card also makes sense if you value the sign-up bonus and can meet the spending requirement without changing your habits. A $150 bonus on a $500 spend is a 30% return on that spending — but only if you were going to spend that money anyway.
Other benefits and protections included with the card
The Amazon Prime Visa includes purchase protection, which covers items damaged or stolen within 120 days of purchase. It also includes return protection, which refunds you if a merchant refuses to take back an item you bought with the card. These protections explore to purchases over $100 and have a per-item limit (usually $500 to $2,500, depending on the item type). The card does not include trip cancellation insurance, baggage delay insurance, or other travel protections that premium cards offer. It does not include extended warranty protection.
If you travel frequently or buy electronics, a card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or American Express Platinum may offer better protection. All credit cards include fraud protection under federal law — you are liable for no more than $50 of unauthorized charges, and most issuers waive that $50 entirely. The Amazon Prime Visa is no different in this regard.
How to redeem your cash back
Cash back posts to your account monthly. You have three options for redeeming it. First, you can explore it as a statement credit, which reduces your balance due. Second, you can request a direct deposit to your bank account. Third, you can convert it to Amazon.com gift cards at a 1:1 rate (one cent of cash back equals one cent of gift card value).
There is no minimum redemption amount, so you can redeem $1 of cash back if you want. There is no expiration date — cash back does not disappear if you do not redeem it. If you close the card, you can still redeem any cash back you have already earned, but you will not earn any more.
Comparing the Amazon Prime Visa to other cards
| Card | Annual Fee | Amazon Cash Back | Gas/Restaurant Cash Back | Other Cash Back | Sign-Up Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Prime Visa | $0 (with Prime) | 5% | 2% | 1% | $100–$200 |
| Citi Double Cash | $0 | 2% | 2% | 2% | $200 |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred | $95 | 2% | 3% | 1% | $500–$750 |
| American Express Blue Cash Preferred | $95 | 1% | 3% (gas), 3% (restaurants) | 1% | $300 |
The Amazon Prime Visa wins if you spend heavily on Amazon and already have Prime. The Citi Double Cash wins if you want simplicity and do not shop on Amazon. The Sapphire Preferred and Blue Cash Preferred win if you travel, dine out frequently, or want broader protections — but they charge annual fees that the Amazon card does not (if you have Prime).
Your choice depends on where you spend most of your money. If Amazon and Whole Foods account for more than half your card spending, the 5% rate makes up for the card's weaker performance elsewhere. If your spending is spread across many retailers, a flat-rate card may serve you better.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Prime to get the card?
No, but you should have it to make the card worthwhile. Without Prime, the card costs $39 per year and the Amazon cash back rate drops to 3%. You would need to earn at least $39 in annual cash back to break even, which requires spending about $1,300 on Amazon per year at the 3% rate.
What happens to my cash back if I cancel Prime?
Your cash back does not disappear, but the rate changes. Future purchases earn 3% on Amazon instead of 5%. You can still redeem cash back you have already earned. If you cancel the card itself, you keep any unredeemed cash back balance.
Can I use the sign-up bonus at Whole Foods?
No. The sign-up bonus is an Amazon.com credit only. You cannot spend it at Whole Foods, even though the card earns 5% cash back there. Regular cash back earned at Whole Foods can be redeemed as a statement credit or transferred to your bank account.
Does the card have a foreign transaction fee?
Yes. The Amazon Prime Visa charges 3% on purchases made outside the United States. If you travel internationally, a card with no foreign transaction fee (like the Sapphire Preferred or Citi Prestige) will save you money.
What if I miss a payment?
Like all credit cards, the Amazon Prime Visa reports missed payments to the credit bureaus after 30 days. You will owe a late fee (typically $25 to $35 for the first missed payment) and interest on your balance. If you miss a payment by 60 days, the interest rate may jump to a penalty rate, which can be 29% or higher.