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If you frequently shop at Amazon but are still undecided about signing up for Prime, the Amazon Visa could be a great option. You'll still earn 3% back on all your Amazon purchases with no annual fee or Prime membership required.
While you are missing out on the additional rewards available with the Prime Visa (see rates and fees), the Amazon Visa can be a great way to test how much value you can get from the card. Plus, you can always upgrade it to the Prime Visa at a later date.
We look at where the Amazon Visa can fit in your wallet and who it might make the most sense for.
The Amazon Visa is a good option if you want to maximize your return on Amazon purchases without committing to an expensive Prime membership.
- Doesn't require an Amazon Prime membership
- No annual fee
- No intro APR offer
Welcome bonus
Once your credit card application for the Amazon Visa is approved, you'll receive a $150 Amazon gift card instantly loaded into your Amazon account's gift card balance.
This is a nice welcome offer as it doesn't require any additional spending to earn, and is available for use immediately.
Benefits and perks
A positive aspect of the Amazon Visa is that it offers many of the same travel protections that the Prime Visa comes with:
- Auto rental coverage: If you decline your primary insurance, the coverage provides reimbursement for theft and collision damage for eligible rental vehicles up to $60,000.
- Baggage delay insurance: If your baggage is delayed for over six hours, you'll be reimbursed up to $100 per day for up to three days for essential purchases.
- Extended warranty protection: Eligible warranties of three years or less can be extended for an additional year, to a maximum of four years from the purchase date.
- Lost luggage reimbursement: Reimburses up to $3,000 per covered traveler per trip ($2,000 per bag and $10,000 per trip for NY state residents) to repair or replace checked luggage, carry-on luggage and the contents.
- Travel accident insurance: When you pay for your air, bus, train or cruise transportation with your card, you are eligible to receive up to $500,000 in accidental death or dismemberment coverage.
- Travel and emergency assistance: Can provide legal and medical referrals as well as other emergency assistance services while abroad.
- Purchase protection: Protects your eligible purchase for 120 days against damage or theft for up to $500 per item.
- No foreign transaction fees: You won't pay extra fees for making purchases overseas.
While most of the card-specific benefits will remain the same, Amazon Visa holders don't get access to any of the Prime-exclusive perks, like complimentary Grubhub+ or free shipping. While many of the Prime benefits can be helpful, it's probably not worth paying for a Prime membership just for the additional 2% in Amazon rewards alone.
How to earn and redeem Amazon Visa Rewards
The Amazon Visa offers many of the same perks as the Prime Visa, but at a slightly lower rate for Amazon-specific purchases:
Earning
- 3% cash back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market
- 3% cash back on purchases made through Chase Travel℠
- 2% cash back at restaurants
- 2% cash back at gas stations and local transit and commuting, including rideshare
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
Redeeming
Redeeming rewards with your Amazon Visa is straightforward because you receive the same value regardless of the redemption method. You can use your points for eligible purchases at Amazon.com or redeem them through Chase.com for cash back, gift cards, and travel.
There's no minimum balance required to redeem your rewards at Amazon. If you prefer to redeem your points via Chase, you can opt for cash back of any amount, gift cards in $25 increments or travel booked through Chase Travel.
Rates and fees
The Amazon Visa has no annual fee, but it does charge a late or returned payment fee of up to $39. You'll also be charged a balance transfer or cash advance fee of $5 or 4% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater. There are no foreign transaction fees.
Card comparison
Amazon Visa vs. Prime Visa
The Prime Visa is only available to Amazon Prime members ($139 for an annual membership and $14.99 for a monthly membership) but is very rewarding for Amazon purchases.
- High rate of return at Amazon.com, Whole Foods Market and on Chase Travel purchases
- Offers an automatic gift card welcome bonus after card approval
- Option to earn rewards or take advantage of 0% promo APRs
- Includes a wealth of travel insurance protections
- Requires an Amazon Prime membership for approval
- If you choose the promo APR, you won't earn rewards on those purchases
- Rewards can't be pooled with other Chase credit cards
Rewards
- Earn unlimited 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership
- Unlimited 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare)
- 10% back or more on a rotating selection of items and categories on Amazon.com with an eligible Prime membership
- Unlimited 1% back on all other purchases
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 4% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
The Prime Visa is the "upgraded" version of the Amazon Visa, and is a good fit for someone who either already is paying for a Prime membership or will use the benefits that come with one. The card doesn't charge an annual fee, but does require a Prime membership. The Prime Visa earns a slightly higher rewards rate on Amazon purchases at 5% instead of the Amazon Visa's 3%, and comes with all the perks of the Amazon membership, including free delivery, a complimentary Grubhub+ membership, Prime Video and more.
The cards themselves offer a fairly identical suite of built-in benefits, like travel protections and no foreign transaction fees, so the main difference comes down to the value of the Prime membership, and if you'll be able to get your money's worth.
Amazon Visa vs. Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express has no annual fee and bonus rewards on a wide range of common expenditures. On top of that, you also have access to an intro-APR offer for purchases and balance transfers. So this card can help you save in a variety of ways.
- Up to $264 in streaming service and meal kit credits every year (subject to auto renewal)
- High cash-back rates in popular spending categories
- No annual fee
- The best bonus cash-back categories are capped
- Has a foreign transaction fee
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Apply and find out your welcome offer. As High As $200 cash back* after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply, and if approved: 1. Find out your offer amount 2. Accept the Card with your offer 3. Spend $2,000 in 6 months 4. Receive the cash back. *Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
- No Annual Fee.
- Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 19.49%-28.49%.
- Earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, on eligible purchases for each category on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%). Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.
- Get up to a $7 monthly statement credit after using your enrolled Blue Cash Everyday® Card for a subscription purchase, including a bundle subscription purchase, at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com, or Stream.ESPN.com U.S. websites. Subject to auto-renewal.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee
2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is a great option if you'd prefer a non-Amazon card that earns stronger rewards on other purchases, and still has a $0 annual fee (see rates and fees). With the Blue Cash Everyday, instead of earning elevated rewards only on Amazon purchases, you'll earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. online retail purchases (including Amazon) and at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases for each category. The cash back is earned in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
The card comes with a decent rewards rate for several everyday categories, plus it comes with a $84 Disney Bundle Credit. You'll earn $7 a month in statement credits on an eligible subscription you pay with your Blue Cash Everyday® Card (subject to auto renewal; enrollment required).
The Reward Dollars you earn can also be spent at checkout at Amazon.com, and has the same value if redeemed for a statement credit.
Is the Amazon Visa right for you?
The Amazon Visa is a great option for those who shop at Amazon fairly regularly, but aren't quite sold on a Prime membership. The card still earns a strong 3% back on all Amazon.com purchases and at Whole Foods, plus 2% back at gas stations and restaurants and has no annual fee. If you purchase a Prime membership while having the Amazon Visa, it will automatically be upgraded to the Prime Visa.
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For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, click here.
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