Amazon Prime Visa Review: Big Rewards for Loyal Shoppers

Amazon Prime Visa Benefits

The Prime Visa Card offers a good mix of benefits that make it one of the best store credit cards available. Here’s a look at some of its perks.

Up to 5% Cash Back

The card offers unlimited 5% back on eligible purchases at Amazon.com, including Amazon Fresh, at Whole Foods Market and on Chase Travel℠ purchases.

You’ll also earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants, as well as on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. All other purchases will net you 1% back.

While I generally only use my Prime Visa for Amazon purchases, the card’s rewards structure makes it a solid choice for everyday spending.

Promotional Financing

The Prime Visa doesn’t offer an introductory annual percentage rate (APR) promotion for new cardholders. However, it does offer interest-free promotional financing on eligible Amazon.com purchases and with retailers that accept Amazon Pay:

• On eligible purchases of $50 or more, you can make six equal monthly payments
• On eligible purchases of $250 or more, you can make 12 equal monthly payments

Just keep in mind that you can’t get promotional financing and earn rewards on the same transaction. I prefer to choose rewards and then pay off the purchase in full at the end of the month. But this option is nice to have if you can’t afford a larger purchase.

Instant Welcome Bonus

Most rewards credit cards require you to meet a minimum spending requirement to earn a welcome bonus. But with the Amazon Prime Visa, you’ll receive a $150 Amazon gift card instantly upon approval. The retailer will add the gift card directly to your account.

Travel Benefits

For a cash-back credit card, the Amazon Prime Visa offers some solid benefits for travelers. For starters, you won’t have to pay a foreign transaction fee on purchases made abroad. Other cash-back cards may charge up to 3% per transaction.

The card also offers a handful of trip protections, including:

• Auto rental coverage
• Baggage delay insurance
• Lost luggage reimbursement
• Roadside assistance
• Travel accident insurance
• Travel and emergency assistance

Amazon Prime Visa Drawbacks

While the Prime Visa offers a lot of value, there are also some downsides to consider.

Requires Prime Membership

You need to have an Amazon Prime membership to qualify for the card, and that can cost $14.99 per month or $139 annually.

There is a non-Prime version of the card called the Amazon Visa, but its rewards max out at 3% back, and the welcome bonus is a $50 gift card.

Low Base Rewards Rate

Unless you use the Prime Visa strictly for its 5% bonus categories, the majority of your spending will likely earn just 1% or 2% back.

I get around this by pairing my Prime Visa with other cards that offer better rewards rates on my everyday spending outside of online shopping.

No Introductory APR

Although the promotional financing feature is valuable for Amazon shoppers, not having a true APR promotion makes the card less flexible for cardholders who want to use it as a general-purpose financing tool.

Who Is the Prime Visa Best For?

The Prime Visa is ideal for Amazon loyalists who already pay for a Prime membership and want to earn serious cash back on their regular shopping. If you make regular grocery runs to Whole Foods or do most of your online shopping through Amazon, the 5% return adds up fast.

It’s also a good fit for consumers who want bonus categories they’re likely to use anyway, like restaurants and gas. And since it comes with no foreign transaction fees and travel insurance benefits, it’s also a decent option for international travelers.

But if you’re not a regular Amazon or Whole Foods shopper, the 5% rewards won’t carry much value, making this card less versatile than general cash-back options.

Is It the Right Card for You?

Here’s how to tell if the Prime Visa fits your lifestyle:

• You already have (and plan to keep) an Amazon Prime membership
• You shop frequently at Amazon and/or Whole Foods
• You want high cash-back rewards without rotating categories
• You don’t need an intro APR period
• You want a travel-friendly card with no foreign transaction fees

Alternatives to the Prime Visa

If you’re not sold on the Prime Visa, here are a couple of strong alternatives worth considering:

• Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: Our advertising partner offers a chance to earn 3% cash back at U.S. online retailers (including Amazon), U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations (on up to $6,000 per category per year, then 1%). It also comes with a 0% intro APR on purchases and on balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening, then 19.99%-28.99% Variable APR, making it a more flexible option for those who want both rewards and financing.
• Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card: This card allows you to choose your 3% bonus category from a list of options, including online shopping. It also offers 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs and 1% on everything else — though the 3% and 2% categories are limited to $2,500 in combined quarterly spending (then earn 1%). It also comes with a 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends a 17.99% – 27.99% Variable APR will apply.