Amazon has two main credit cards, and which one makes sense depends on how much you spend and where
Amazon offers the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card and the Amazon Prime Store Card. The Visa works everywhere — at Amazon, grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants. The Store Card works only at Amazon and Whole Foods. Both give you cash back on purchases, but the rates and annual fees are different. If you shop at Amazon regularly and want rewards on everyday spending outside Amazon, the Visa is the stronger choice. If you only buy from Amazon occasionally and want to avoid an annual fee, the Store Card might work.
Key Takeaways
- The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card charges no annual fee and gives 5% cash back at Amazon and Whole Foods (with a Prime membership), plus 2% at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% everywhere else.
- The Amazon Prime Store Card has no annual fee but only works at Amazon and Whole Foods, and the cash back rate depends on what you buy and whether you have a Prime membership.
- Both cards require a Prime membership to earn the highest cash back rates, so factor in the $139 annual Prime cost if you don't already have it.
- The Visa card reports to all three credit bureaus and helps build credit history; the Store Card does not report to credit bureaus in the same way.
- Neither card has a sign-up bonus, so you earn rewards only on purchases you make after approval.
Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card: The everyday option
This card gives you 5% cash back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market when you have an active Prime membership. Outside those places, you earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% on everything else. There is no annual fee. The cash back appears as a statement credit or can be transferred to your Amazon account as a balance.
The card is a Visa Signature, which means it comes with purchase protection, extended warranty coverage, and travel benefits like emergency medical and dental coverage abroad. You can use it anywhere Visa is accepted, so it works as a regular credit card for non-Amazon purchases. The process process is online and usually takes a few minutes; approval decisions come when ready or within a few business days.
One catch: the 5% rate at Amazon requires an active Prime membership. If you don't have Prime, you earn only 3% at Amazon and 1% everywhere else. Prime costs $139 per year, so you need to spend enough to make that membership worthwhile alongside the card.
Amazon Prime Store Card: The Amazon-only option
This card works only at Amazon.com and Whole Foods. With a Prime membership, you earn 5% cash back on Amazon purchases and 1% at Whole Foods. Without Prime, you earn 3% at Amazon and 1% at Whole Foods. There is no annual fee.
The Store Card is a store card, not a Visa, so you cannot use it anywhere else. That limits its usefulness if you want a single card for all your spending. The cash back works the same way — it appears as a statement credit or transfers to your Amazon account. Approval is usually when ready online.
The Store Card does not report to the major credit bureaus in the same way a Visa does, so it may not help you build credit history as effectively. If building credit is a goal, the Visa is the better choice.
How the cash back actually works
Both cards track your cash back as you spend. The balance shows up on your monthly statement. You can let it sit as a statement credit (which reduces what you owe), or you can transfer it to your Amazon account to spend on purchases. There is no minimum balance to redeem, and there is no expiration date on the cash back.
The cash back rate depends on the category and your Prime status. If you have Prime and use the Visa, a $100 Amazon purchase earns $5 cash back. A $50 gas purchase earns $1. If you don't have Prime, that same $100 Amazon purchase earns only $3. The rates are fixed — they don't change based on how much you spend or how long you've held the card.
Comparing the two cards side by side
| Feature | Prime Rewards Visa | Prime Store Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | None | None |
| Where you can use it | Everywhere Visa is accepted | Amazon and Whole Foods only |
| Cash back at Amazon (with Prime) | 5% | 5% |
| Cash back at Amazon (no Prime) | 3% | 3% |
| Cash back at gas and restaurants | 2% | Not applicable |
| Cash back everywhere else | 1% | Not applicable |
| Reports to credit bureaus | Yes | Limited |
| Sign-up bonus | None | None |
When each card makes sense
Choose the Prime Rewards Visa if you spend money outside Amazon — at grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, or anywhere else. The 2% at gas and restaurants and 1% everywhere else means you earn rewards on your everyday life, not just on Amazon purchases. It also helps build your credit history because it reports to credit bureaus. If you already have a Prime membership, the 5% at Amazon is a bonus on top of rewards you're earning elsewhere.
Choose the Prime Store Card only if you buy almost exclusively from Amazon and Whole Foods and want to avoid carrying multiple cards. Even then, the Visa is usually better because it costs nothing extra and gives you more options. The Store Card makes sense only if you've been rejected for the Visa or if you specifically want to limit yourself to Amazon spending.
What to know before you explore
Both cards require you to have a Social Security number and a U.S. address. The process asks for your income, employment status, and existing debts. Amazon will check your credit report, which means a hard inquiry appears on your credit report for about a year (though it has minimal impact on your score after a few months).
Neither card offers a sign-up bonus, so you don't get extra cash back just for opening the account. You earn rewards only on purchases you make after approval. If you're comparing these cards to other rewards cards, keep in mind that many competing cards offer $100 to $300 in sign-up bonuses, which can be worth more than the first few months of cash back.
Both cards have variable interest rates, which means the APR (annual percentage rate) you're offered depends on your credit score and credit history. The better your credit, the lower your APR. If you carry a balance, you'll pay interest on it, so the cash back you earn may not offset the interest charges.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Prime membership to use these cards?
No, but you need Prime to earn the highest cash back rates. Without Prime, the Visa gives 3% at Amazon instead of 5%, and the Store Card gives 3% instead of 5%. Prime costs $139 per year, so do the math: if you spend $3,000 or more per year at Amazon, the extra 2% cash back pays for Prime.
Can I use the Store Card if I don't have a Prime membership?
Yes. You earn 3% cash back at Amazon and 1% at Whole Foods without Prime. However, you still can't use the card anywhere else, so the Visa is more flexible even without Prime.
What happens if I carry a balance on these cards?
You'll pay interest on the balance at the card's APR. The cash back you earn is usually much smaller than the interest you'll pay, so carrying a balance defeats the purpose of a rewards card. Both cards work best if you pay off the full balance each month.
Does the Store Card help build credit?
Store cards typically report to credit bureaus less consistently than Visa or Mastercard. The Visa Signature card is a better choice if building credit history is important to you.
Can I have both cards at the same time?
Yes, Amazon allows you to hold both cards. Some people use the Store Card for Amazon purchases and the Visa for everything else, though this adds complexity. Most people find one card sufficient.