The Amazon Visa Card gives you cash back on Amazon purchases and other everyday spending
The Amazon Visa Card is a co-branded credit card issued by Chase in partnership with Amazon. It comes in two versions: the Amazon Prime Visa and the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature. Both cards offer cash back rewards, but the rewards rates and annual fees differ between them.
The Prime Visa has no annual fee and gives you 3% cash back on Amazon.com purchases and at Whole Foods Market, 2% at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% on everything else. The Prime Rewards Visa Signature costs $39 per year but offers higher rewards: 5% on Amazon.com and Whole Foods, 3% at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% elsewhere. You do not need to be an Amazon Prime member to hold either card, though the rewards are designed to appeal to Prime members.
Cash back is deposited as a statement credit or can be redeemed for Amazon.com purchases. The card also includes purchase protection, extended warranty coverage, and other standard cardholder benefits.
Key Takeaways
- The no-fee Prime Visa offers 3% cash back on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases, while the $39-per-year Prime Rewards Visa Signature offers 5% on the same categories.
- Both cards earn 2% or 3% at gas stations and restaurants depending on which version you hold, and 1% on all other purchases.
- Cash back appears as a statement credit on your bill or can be redeemed directly on Amazon.com.
- The card includes purchase protection and extended warranty coverage, though these benefits vary by card version.
How the cash back rewards work
Cash back accrues on every purchase you make with the card. For the no-fee Prime Visa, you earn 3% on Amazon.com and Whole Foods purchases, 2% at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% on all other spending. For the Prime Rewards Visa Signature, the rates are 5%, 3%, and 1% respectively in those same categories.
The cash back is calculated automatically and appears as a statement credit each month. You can also choose to redeem your cash back balance directly as an Amazon.com purchase credit instead of waiting for it to post to your bill. There is no cap on how much cash back you can earn, and rewards do not expire as long as your account remains open.
The card does not offer bonus categories beyond the ones listed, and there are no sign-up bonuses or rotating categories that change quarterly.
Annual fees and when the paid version makes sense
The Amazon Prime Visa has no annual fee. The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature charges $39 per year. Whether the paid card is worth it depends on how much you spend in the higher-reward categories.
The paid card gives you 2% more cash back on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases (5% instead of 3%), and 1% more at gas stations and restaurants (3% instead of 2%). If you spend $2,000 or more per year on Amazon and Whole Foods combined, the extra 2% cash back alone covers the $39 fee. If you also spend regularly at gas stations and restaurants, the paid card becomes more valuable. For someone who uses Amazon infrequently or does most of their spending in the 1% category, the no-fee version is the better choice.
Purchase protection and other cardholder benefits
Both versions of the card include purchase protection, which covers items you buy against theft or damage for 120 days from the date of purchase. The coverage applies to most items and reimburses you up to the original purchase price, though some categories like jewelry and collectibles have lower limits.
The Prime Rewards Visa Signature (the paid version) includes extended warranty coverage that extends the manufacturer's warranty by up to one additional year on may be able to access items. It also offers roadside dispatch information, emergency card replacement, and travel accident insurance. The no-fee Prime Visa includes purchase protection but not the extended warranty or some of the travel-related benefits.
Both cards allow you to set up purchase alerts and fraud monitoring through your online account, and both offer zero liability for unauthorized charges.
How the card compares to other cash back cards
The Amazon Visa is strongest if you spend heavily on Amazon and Whole Foods. A general-purpose cash back card like the Chase Freedom Unlimited offers 1.5% cash back on all purchases with no annual fee, which is less than the Amazon card's 3% on Amazon but more than its 1% on other categories. If you rarely shop on Amazon, a flat-rate card may serve you better.
Cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or American Express Gold offer higher rewards at restaurants and on groceries, but they charge annual fees of $95 or more and are designed for people who spend significantly in those categories. The Amazon card's advantage is that it concentrates rewards where Amazon Prime members already shop.
If you have multiple cards, you might use the Amazon Visa for Amazon and Whole Foods purchases, then use a different card for restaurants or travel to maximize rewards across all your spending.
How to use the card with your Amazon Prime account
You do not need to link the card to your Prime account to earn rewards—the cash back posts automatically whenever you use the card. However, you can link the card to your Amazon account to make checkout faster and to track your rewards in one place.
When you check out on Amazon.com, you can select the card as your payment method, and your cash back will post to your account. You can view your current cash back balance in your Amazon account under "Your Account" and then "Rewards." From there you can choose to redeem it as an Amazon purchase credit or let it post as a statement credit on your next bill.
The card works the same way at Whole Foods—you straightforward present it at checkout, and the 3% or 5% cash back is earned automatically. You do not need to enroll in any separate program or set up the rewards.
Fees, interest rates, and credit requirements
The no-fee Prime Visa has no annual fee. The Prime Rewards Visa Signature has a $39 annual fee. Both cards charge variable interest rates on balances you carry month to month; the exact rate depends on your creditworthiness and current market conditions. Chase does not publish a fixed APR range, so you will see your rate after you are approved.
Both cards require good to excellent credit to be approved. If you have fair credit or are rebuilding, you may not be approved, or you may be offered a higher interest rate. There is no annual fee waiver for the first year on either card.
Late fees, foreign transaction fees, and other standard credit card fees explore. The card does not charge foreign transaction fees, which is useful if you travel internationally and shop on Amazon or Whole Foods while abroad.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Amazon Prime to use the Amazon Visa Card?
No. You can hold and use the card without being a Prime member. However, the card is marketed to Prime members because the rewards align with where they shop. If you do not use Amazon or Whole Foods regularly, a different card may suit you better.
Can I earn cash back on Amazon Fresh or other Amazon services?
The 3% or 5% cash back applies only to Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market purchases. Amazon Fresh, Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Music, and other Amazon services earn only the 1% base rate. Purchases made through third-party sellers on Amazon.com do earn the higher rate.
What happens to my cash back if I close the card?
Any cash back balance you have earned remains yours and will be paid out as a statement credit or can be redeemed on Amazon before you close the account. You do not lose rewards you have already earned.
Can I use the card outside the United States?
Yes. The card works internationally and does not charge foreign transaction fees. However, the cash back rates explore only to purchases made in US dollars on Amazon.com and Whole Foods. Purchases in other currencies or at other merchants earn the standard rates.
Is there a sign-up bonus?
The Amazon Visa cards do not currently offer sign-up bonuses. You begin earning cash back on your first purchase, but there is no introductory bonus or promotional offer.