Amazon Credit Cards: What Are Your Options, and Which Is Right for You?
Just as there are endless selections at the site, Amazon offers many credit cards across several issuers, each with different features. Here's a breakdown.
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Updated · 4 min read
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Managing Editor Charging your purchases to an Amazon credit card can be a rewarding decision if you’re a frequent Amazon shopper. But just as Amazon sells a dizzying amount of products on its website, the retailer also offers many credit card options.
Amazon has six different credit cards across three different issuers, with eight potential rewards structures depending on whether you're an Amazon Prime customer and whether you're using the card for personal spending or for business purchases. Here's what you need to know about your options, and how to choose which one is right for you.
Amazon credit card options
Amazon credit cards you can use anywhere Visa is accepted:
- For Prime customers: Prime Visa
- For non-Prime customers: Amazon Visa
Amazon credit cards you can use only at Amazon or Amazon-owned businesses:
- For most customers: Amazon Store Credit Card
- For customers who are building credit: Amazon Secured Card
- These cards are available to both Prime and non-Prime customers, but the rewards you earn depend on your Prime status.
Amazon credit cards for business operators:
- For Prime business customers: Prime Business World Elite Mastercard
- For non-Prime business customers: Amazon Business World Elite Mastercard
Amazon personal credit cards at a glance
| Rewards on purchases at Amazon and Whole Foods | Rewards on other purchases | Annual fee | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon credit cards you can use ANYWHERE THAT ACCEPTS VISA | |||
| 5% |
| $0 (but requires a Prime membership) | |
| Amazon Visa | 3% |
| $0 |
| Amazon credit cards you can use ONLY ON ELIGIBLE AMAZON PURCHASES | |||
| Amazon Store Credit Card (Prime members) | 5% or special financing (Amazon only) | N/A | $0 (but requires a Prime membership) |
| Amazon Store Credit Card (non-Prime members) | Special financing options (Amazon only) | N/A | $0 |
| Amazon Secured Card (Prime members) | 2% (Amazon only) | N/A | $0 (but requires a Prime membership) |
| Amazon Secured Card (non-Prime members) | None | N/A | $0 |
Prime Visa
The Prime Visa is issued by Chase and is "open loop," meaning it's accepted anywhere that takes Visa, not just at Amazon. The annual fee is $0, but to get it you must be an Amazon Prime member. An annual Prime membership costs $139, but the cost is lower for young adults ($69/year) and those on government assistance ($6.99/month).
That's steep, but if you're a frequent Amazon shopper and take full advantage of everything that Prime offers, then this card can be more than worth it. It earns:
- 5% back on all Amazon and Whole Foods purchases.
- 5% back on purchases made through Chase Travel.
- 2% back at restaurants, gas stations, and on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
- 1% back on all other purchases.
That 5% rate is particularly stellar. If you spent $2,800 per year at Amazon and Whole Foods combined, you would essentially break even on an Amazon Prime membership fee. Plus, the card tends to feature a sign-up bonus.
For Prime members, the Prime Visa is a can't-miss option.
» MORE: Full review of the Prime Visa
Amazon Visa
What if you aren't an Amazon Prime member, aren't interested in paying that membership fee, but still would like to earn solid rewards for the shopping you do with the retailer? The Amazon Visa, also issued by Chase, may be a good choice for you.
It, too, is open-loop and thus usable anywhere that takes Visa. It earns the following rewards:
- 3% back on purchases at Amazon and Whole Foods.
- 3% back on purchases made through Chase Travel.
- 2% back at restaurants, gas stations, and on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
- 1% back on all other purchases.
Those are decent rates, and the card often offers a sign-up bonus to boot.
Amazon Store Credit Card
The Amazon Store Credit Card is issued by Synchrony Bank. Unlike the Chase-issued products above, this one is a closed-loop card, so it can only be used for purchases at Amazon or eligible brands under the Amazon umbrella.
There are two different versions of this card, depending on your membership with Amazon:
- Non-Prime members: You won’t earn Amazon rewards on this card, but you could be eligible for equal monthly payment financing at 0% APR.
- Prime members: Choose to earn 5% back on your Amazon purchase, or choose equal monthly payment financing. The rewards you’ll earn are good for Amazon-related purchases only, and you can either redeem them at purchase or for a statement credit on the card after the purchase. Plus, you’ll be eligible for exclusive Prime card offers to earn extra rewards on rotating products and categories.
Neither card charges an annual fee, but the latter requires a Prime membership to qualify. Both cards also occasionally come with sign-up bonuses. Those offers vary, but often it's an Amazon gift card upon approval.
Amazon Secured Card
Like the Amazon Store Credit Card, the Amazon Secured Card is issued by Synchrony Bank and is closed-loop.
But this product is something of a rarity — a store credit card that requires you to put down a security deposit upfront as collateral. However much you put down becomes your credit limit. The minimum deposit is $100 and the maximum is $1,000. The card's annual fee is $0.
Most store cards are unsecured products, meaning no deposit is necessary. In fact, store cards in general tend to be relatively easy to get because they have lower credit score requirements.
So why might someone choose the Amazon Secured Card? For starters, it offers a locked-in APR of 10%, which is much lower than average and could be helpful if you need to carry a balance.
And secondly, unlike some other secured credit cards, you can earn rewards with the Amazon Secured Card but only if you're an Amazon Prime member: 2% back on all eligible Amazon purchases.
After 12 months of responsible card use — which includes on-time card payments, among other things — you could qualify to upgrade the Amazon Secured Card to one of the unsecured Amazon store cards (noted above) and get your deposit back.
Amazon business credit cards at a glance
If you’re a small-business owner considering an Amazon credit card, you have two options, both issued by U.S. Bank. Like the cards discussed above, the deciding factor is whether you have a Prime membership.
| Prime Business World Elite Mastercard | Amazon Business World Elite Mastercard | |
|---|---|---|
| Where can you use it? | Anywhere that accepts Mastercard. | Anywhere that accepts Mastercard. |
| Rewards on purchases at Amazon and Whole Foods | 5% back on the first $150,000 in purchases each calendar year (then 1% back), or pay over time. | 3% back on the first $150,000 in purchases each calendar year (then 1% back), or pay over time. |
| Rewards on travel booked through U.S. Bank | 5% back. | 3% back. |
| Rewards on top 3 non-Amazon spending categories | 2% back, on up to $150,000 per year. | 2% back, on up to $150,000 per year. |
| Rewards on other purchases | 1% back. | 1% back. |
| Annual fee | $0 (but requires a Prime membership). | $0. |
Prime Business World Elite Mastercard
Small-business owners who have an Amazon Prime membership may qualify for the $0-annual-fee Prime Business World Elite Mastercard.
You can earn 5% back on purchases at Amazon.com, Amazon Business, Whole Foods Market and Amazon Web Services sites (up to $150,000 per year, then 1% back), plus 5% back on prepaid travel booked through the U.S. Bank Travel Center. You’ll also earn 2% back on your top three non-Amazon spending categories on up to $150,000 per year (then 1% back), and 1% back on all other purchases.
If your business spends big at Amazon and on travel, those 5% rewards can add up. Hitting the $150,000 cap each year on Amazon purchases would earn you $7,500 in rewards.
Instead of earning rewards, you can opt into a U.S. Bank ExtendPay plan, which allows you to pay over time with no interest. The length of ExtendPay plans can vary, and terms will be made available at checkout.
This card also comes with a welcome offer: a $100 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months.
Amazon Business World Elite Mastercard
Not a Prime Member? The Amazon Business World Elite Mastercard is for you.
You can earn 3% back on purchases at Amazon.com, Amazon Business, Whole Foods Market and Amazon Web Services sites (up to $150,000 per year, then 1% back), plus 3% back on prepaid travel booked through the U.S. Bank Travel Center. You’ll also earn 2% back on your top three non-Amazon spending categories on up to $150,000 per year (then 1% back), and 1% back on all other purchases.
With this card, you can also enter into a U.S. Bank ExtendPay plan instead of earning rewards.
The card has a $0 annual fee and comes with a welcome offer: a $100 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months.
Which Amazon credit card is best for me?
The answer largely depends on whether you’re a Prime member or have a small business.
If you're already a Prime member (and you don't own a business), then the pound-for-pound best option is the Prime Visa. It earns rich rewards at Amazon and in several everyday spending categories — rich enough that you could make up the cost of a Prime membership fee fairly easily.
If you're only a casual Amazon shopper, you might do better with the non-Prime Amazon Visa. But you'd probably do just as well with a general flat-rate credit card like the Citi Double Cash® Card, which earns simpler and more flexible rewards on everything you buy.
If you own a business and Amazon is your go-to shop, you'll have to do the math to see whether your expenses with Amazon can offset the cost of a Prime membership. If so, then the Prime Business World Elite Mastercard makes the most sense.
Information related to the Amazon Store Credit Card and the Amazon Visa has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been provided or reviewed by the issuer of these cards.
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