Our Take
4.5
NerdWallet rating
The bottom line:
If you're already a Prime member, this card can offer value on spending you're doing anyway, and potentially defray the cost of that annual membership fee.
Amazon Business Prime American Express Card
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
18.49%-26.49% Variable APR
Intro APR
N/A
Apply now
on American Express' website
More details from American Express
- Eligible Prime Members get a $125 Amazon Gift Card upon approval for the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card.
- Take advantage of 5% Back or 90-Day Terms on U.S. purchases at Amazon Business, AWS, Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market with eligible Prime membership. You can earn 5% Back on the first $120,000 in purchases each calendar year, 1% Back thereafter
- 2% Back at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, and on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers
- 1% Back on other purchases
- No Annual Fee¤
- Back your business with the broad selection of Amazon and the service of American Express. Stay focused on your top business priorities, knowing we’re behind you.
- Redeem rewards on millions of items during checkout at Amazon.com and Amazon Business (U.S.) or apply towards a purchase on your statement.
- Terms apply.
View Rates & Fees
Pros & Cons
Pros
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- High reward rate in bonus categories
Cons
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
- Prime membership required
Compare to Other Cards
at American Express | at Citibank | at Discover |
Annual fee $0 | Annual fee $0 | Annual fee $0 |
Regular APR 18.49%-26.49% Variable APR | Regular APR 18.24%-28.24% Variable APR | Regular APR 18.24%-27.24% Variable APR |
Intro APR N/A | Intro APR 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months | Intro APR 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers |
Recommended credit score 690-850good - excellent | Recommended credit score 630850average - excellent | Recommended credit score 690-850good - excellent |
Full Review
The
Amazon Business Prime American Express Card
is an ideal sidekick for Amazon Prime or Business Prime members aiming to unpack more value from their business-related purchases.With this business credit card, you'll get either a high rewards rate on Amazon-specific and eligible Amazon-related spending, or a window of time during which you can pay off those purchases interest-free: It's your choice. Either way, you'll also earn elevated rewards on other common business expenses not related to Amazon, and you'll get access to a multitude of business-related side perks.
The card's annual fee is
$0
, though to get it you'll have to be an Amazon Prime or Business Prime member. Not a Prime member? The Amazon Business American Express Card
has $0
annual fee and does not require a Prime membership ( see rates and fees).Amazon Business Prime American Express Card: Basics
To view rates and fees of the
Amazon Business Prime American Express Card
, see this page.Card type: Small business.
Annual fee:
$0
, though an Amazon Prime or Business Prime membership is required. (Pricing for that varies widely, starting at $139 per year for Prime and $69 per year for Business Prime.)🤓 Nerdy Tip
An Amazon Business Prime membership offers most of the same shipping options as a regular Prime membership, as well as business-friendly features and tools that vary by membership tier. Business Prime tiers range from $69 per year (the "Duo" plan) to an eye-popping $10,099 annually for much (much) larger businesses.Welcome offer:
Eligible Prime Members get a $125 Amazon Gift Card upon approval for the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card. Terms Apply.
Rewards:
- 5% back on U.S. purchases at Amazon Business, Amazon Web Services, Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market, or a 90-day interest-free period.
- 2% back at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations and wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers.
- 1% back on all other purchases.
- Terms apply.
Technically, "% back" rewards come in the form of points in the Amazon rewards program. Every 100 points earned is equal to $1. Rewards can be applied toward a purchase on your card statement, or toward purchases upon checkout at Amazon.com and via Amazon Business (U.S.).
🤓 Nerdy Tip
Beginning on Oct. 1, 2020, theAmazon Business Prime American Express Card
will earn 5% back on the first $120,000 spent each calendar year and 1% thereafter. APR:
The ongoing APR is 18.49%-26.49% Variable APR
.Foreign transaction fee: None. (But as an American Express card, international acceptance may be an issue.)
Other perks:
- Enhanced data views on americanexpress.com allow you to download line item details of your Amazon Business transactions.
- Access to expense-tracking tools via the AmEx business app for iOS and Android devices.
- Business-only pricing gets you exclusive prices and discounts on more than 5 million products.
- Employee purchase control lets you stay on top of employee accounts with multi-user accounts, shared payment methods, approval workflows and spending limits.
- Terms apply.
Why you might want the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card
Valuable, flexible perks
If you're already knee-deep in the Amazon ecosystem, this card's 5% bonus categories can be quite valuable on spending that you're already doing. Or, if it's more important that you're able to finance a large purchase for your business upfront, the card's 90-day interest-free period can help you out. You'll have the option to choose either depending on where you shop.
For purchases at Amazon Business, Amazon Web Services, Amazon.com, Whole Foods Markets, Amazon Go and Amazon Books, you can select an option on your card management page. (For Amazon Business and Amazon.com purchases, the options will also be available upon checking out.) Regardless of which option you choose, you'll still snag elevated rewards of 2% back in several popular spending categories not related to Amazon at all, and 1% back on everything else. There are no spending caps or limits. Terms apply.
A reasonable welcome offer
For a
$0
-annual-fee card, the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card
has a decent bonus offer: Eligible Prime Members get a $125 Amazon Gift Card upon approval for the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card. Terms Apply.
That’s enough to make up some of the cost of a baseline one-year Amazon Business Prime membership.Why you might want a different card
Other cards are more travel-friendly
The
Amazon Business Prime American Express Card
isn’t an ideal companion for all business trips. It doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, but American Express isn't as widely accepted internationally as Visa or Mastercard. The card does pack some basic travel protections, but a business travel card will prove more valuable for frequent travelers. The Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card
, for example, features travel accident insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, trip cancellation coverage and trip delay reimbursement. You'll earn a flat 1.5 points per $1 spent and, as a Mastercard, this card is well equipped to travel.There are cards with simpler reward structures
The aforementioned
Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card
is a good option to consider instead thanks to its flat rate on everything you buy — but you can do even better if you're willing to pay an annual fee. The Capital One Spark Cash Plus
earns 2% cash back on all purchases, not to mention a generous sign-up bonus.There are cards bigger bonuses and longer 0% intro APR periods
The
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
will earn you 1.5% back on everything, including Amazon purchases, but it also offers some stellar introductory offers. You’ll get a hefty sign-up bonus and some interest-free breathing room.The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
also offers a break from interest payments upfront. You'll get an intro 0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months, and then the ongoing APR of 17.49%-27.49% Variable APR
. This card earns 2 points per $1 spent on the first $50,000 in purchases made per year, and then 1 point per $1 spent after that. It has a $0
annual fee. Terms apply (see rates and fees). (Prefer cash back business card? Consider The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
.)Is the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card right for you?
The
Amazon Business Prime American Express Card
is a great choice for Prime or Business Prime customers who already shop Amazon.com and its eligible properties frequently. The option for an interest-free period, in particular, is a welcome one if your business is stretched thin a few months out of the year.To view rates and fees of the
Amazon Business American Express Card
, see this page. To view rates and fees of the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card
, see this page. To view rates and fees of The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
, see this page. To view rates and fees of The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
, see this page.Apply now
on American Express' website
Frequently Asked Questions
This card earns 5% back on the first $120,000 in combined U.S. purchases each year at Amazon (including Amazon Business and Amazon Web Services) and Whole Foods; 2% at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. gas stations, and on wireless phone service purchased directly from a U.S. provider; and 1% on other purchases. Terms apply. For purchases in the 5% category, cardholders have the option of 90-day zero interest payment terms; if you select that option for a purchase, you don't earn 5% back on it. Terms apply.
The key differences lie in who can get each card and the rewards rates the cards pay at Amazon. To carry the
Amazon Business Prime American Express Card
, you must have an Amazon Prime or Business Prime membership. The "non-Prime" Amazon Business American Express Card
has no membership requirement. Both have a $0
annual fee. The Amazon Business Prime American Express Card
can earn 5% back on U.S. purchases at Amazon and Whole Foods, while the Amazon Business American Express Card
can earn 3% back on the first $120,000 in purchases made on the card. Terms apply.The card itself has a
$0
fee, but a paid Prime membership is required. Amazon Business Prime starts at $69 per year, and regular Amazon Prime membership starts at $119 per year.There's no promotional 0% APR period.
The ongoing APR is 18.49%-26.49% Variable APR
for the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card
. For a break on interest, you can choose to forgo the 5% rewards (up to $120,000 spent on the card) on an Amazon purchase and receive 90 days to pay zero interest (terms apply).No. You can choose to use your rewards for a statement credit toward any purchases made on the
Amazon Business Prime American Express Card
. Terms apply.You’ll need a score in at least the "good" range to qualify for this card. That generally means a score of 690 or more, but credit scores aren't the only factor in approval decisions.
