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Credit Cards

Here are the best credit cards for shopping on Amazon

Consider these credit cards to maximize your savings during Amazon's Big Spring Sale and every day.

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Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Shoppers with an Amazon Prime subscription can access exclusive shopping benefits and bargains on a range of products including tech, household items, furniture and more. Even if you aren't one of the 200 million Prime members worldwide, chances are you still occasionally shop from the online retail giant.

If you want to capitalize on your savings and get the most out of your Amazon purchases, consider using a credit card that offers rewards or cash back. Some of these cards also provide purchase protections like an extended warranty.

CNBC Select crunched the numbers to see which cards provide the biggest benefit for Amazon shoppers — Prime member or not. Here are the best cards for shopping on Amazon.

Best credit cards for Amazon purchases

Best cash-back welcome bonus

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

On the American Express secure site
  • Rewards

    6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, 3% cash back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more) and 1% cash back on other purchases. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.

  • Welcome bonus

    Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card within the first 6 months. 

  • Annual fee

    $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.

  • Intro APR

    0% for 12 months on purchases from the date of account opening

  • Regular APR

    19.24% - 29.99% variable. Variable APRs will not exceed 29.99%.

  • Balance transfer fee

    Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

  • Foreign transaction fee

    2.7%

  • Credit needed

    Excellent/Good

See rates and fees, terms apply.

Pros

  • High 6% cash back at U.S. supermarket spending (up to $6,000 a year, then 1%)
  • Unlimited 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
  • Unlimited 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on transit

Cons

  • 2.7% fee on purchases made abroad
  • Estimated rewards earned after 1 year: $679
  • Estimated rewards earned after 5 years: $2,397

Rewards totals incorporate the cash back earned from the welcome bonus

Who's this for? The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a great option for families and individuals who spend a good amount on groceries and streaming subscriptions. Its welcome bonus offers a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card within the first six months.

Although the card doesn't earn bonus rewards on online retail stores like Amazon, certain Amazon purchases will qualify for 6% cashback. Prime Video and Amazon music subscriptions qualify for 6% back under the streaming services category. And Whole Foods and Amazon Fresh are reported to qualify as U.S. supermarket purchases (earn 6% on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%). Plus, you may be able to purchase Amazon gift cards at U.S. supermarkets to earn 6% cashback.

You can redeem your cash back for statement credits that directly reduce your account balance and help offset the cost of everyday purchases.

Best for Prime members and Whole Foods shoppers

Prime Visa

  • 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 products and categories at Amazon.com, unlimited 1% back on all other purchases

  • Welcome bonus

    Get a $100 Amazon Gift Card (or more) instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members

  • Annual fee

    $0 (but Prime membership is required)

  • Intro APR

    None

  • Regular APR

    19.49% - 27.49% variable

  • Balance transfer fee

    Either $5 or 4% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

  • Foreign transaction fee

    None

  • Credit needed

    Excellent/Good

  • Terms apply.

Information about the Prime Visa has been collected independently by Select and have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer prior to publication; if you purchase something through Select links, we may earn a commission.

Pros

  • No annual fee
  • $100 Amazon.com gift card upon approval, with no spending requirements
  • 5% back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market
  • No fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.

Cons

  • Prime membership is required
  • The 5% back on groceries only applies to groceries bought on Amazon.com or at Whole Foods Market
  • Estimated rewards earned after 1 year: $792
  • Estimated rewards earned after 5 years: $2,960

Rewards totals incorporate the points earned from the welcome bonus

Who's this for? The Prime Visa card rewards users with an unlimited 5% cash back for all purchases at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods and through Chase Travel.

In addition, you can get unlimited 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare).

If you've been waiting for a reason to sign up for a $139 annual Amazon Prime membership, this card might be the deciding factor: New cardholders can currently get a $100 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members.

Best for financing Amazon purchases

Prime Store Card

On Amazon's secure site
  • Rewards

    5% back on Amazon.com

  • Welcome bonus

    $80 Amazon gift card instantly upon approval

  • Annual fee

    $0

  • Intro APR

    Pay no interest on all Amazon purchases of $150 or more if the entire purchase amount is paid in full within 6, 12 or 24 months

  • Regular APR

    29.99% variable

  • Balance transfer fee

    Not applicable

  • Foreign transaction fee

    Not applicable

Terms apply.

Pros

  • No annual fee
  • High 5% back at Amazon.com
  • Various promotional financing offers

Cons

  • Deferred interest means you have to pay all interest you incurred during the intro period if you don’t pay your balance in full before it ends
  • Prime membership is required
  • The 5% back only applies to Amazon.com purchases
  • This card can only be used at Amazon

Who's this for? The Prime Store Card, available to those with a Prime membership, earns 5% back on Amazon.com purchases. However, unlike the other Amazon cards, you do not earn cash back at Whole Foods or any other purchase.

There's an added benefit to this card if you're looking for ways to pay for your orders over time: Cardholders have the option to forgo 5% cash back on their Amazon purchase over $150 in exchange for the ability to pay for their purchases over six, 12 or 24 months with 0% interest.

You need to be careful with this card: To avoid interest charges, you must make equal payments on time and in the full amount each month. If you don't pay off the full amount by the end of your promotional period, you will have to pay deferred interest.

For example, say you purchase a new laptop for $700, you could split the payments up over 12 months, at roughly $58 per month. But if you take advantage of the financing, you won't receive the 5% cash-back reward (worth $35) on that $700 purchase.

If you decide to take advantage of the interest-free financing, make sure you have a plan to pay off the balance in full before the promotional period ends so you don't get whacked with high interest charges, thereby undoing any savings you enjoyed through your Prime membership.

Best for trying out Amazon Prime

Amazon Visa

  • Rewards

    3% cash back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market; 3% back on purchases made through Chase Travel; 2% back at restaurants, gas stations and local transit and commuting; 2% back on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; 1% back on all other purchases

  • Welcome bonus

    Earn a $50 Gift Card instantly upon approval.

  • Annual fee

    $0

  • Intro APR

    None

  • Regular APR

    19.49% to 27.49% variable

  • Balance transfer fee

    4%, $5 minimum

  • Foreign transaction fee

    None

  • Credit needed

    Excellent/Good

Terms apply.

Pros

  • No annual fee
  • No Prime membership required
  • $200 Amazon gift card upon approval, with no spending requirements
  • 3% back at Amazon and Whole Foods Market
  • No fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.

Cons

  • The 3% back on groceries only applies to groceries bought on Amazon or at Whole Foods Market
  • Estimated rewards earned after 1 year: $618
  • Estimated rewards earned after 5 years: $2,195

Rewards totals incorporate the points earned from the welcome bonus

Who's this for? If you don't have an Amazon Prime membership but still frequently use the website to shop, another option is the Amazon Visa.

This credit card offers 3% back at Amazon, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods and Chase Travel, along with 2% back at restaurants, gas stations and local transit and commuting and 1% on all other purchases, so you can earn plenty of rewards even if you're not an everyday Amazon shopper.

To take advantage of Prime Day deals, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial membership of Prime and consider applying for the Amazon Visa card, which doesn't require you to have a Prime membership.

New cardholders get a $50 Amazon gift card once their application is approved. This card also has no foreign transaction fee.

If you later decide to become a Prime member, you'll be upgraded to the Prime version of this card, but you won't qualify for the welcome bonus.

Best for earning travel rewards and purchase protections

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

On Chase's secure site
  • Rewards

    Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, and $50 annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.

  • Welcome bonus

    Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

  • Annual fee

    $95

  • Intro APR

    None

  • Regular APR

    21.49% - 28.49% variable on purchases and balance transfers

  • Balance transfer fee

    Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater

  • Foreign transaction fee

    None

  • Credit needed

    Excellent/Good

  • Terms apply.

 

Who's this for? If you want to stick with a credit card that earns rewards on all spending (not just Amazon and Whole Foods), and you love to travel, consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.

If you're planning to make a big purchase from Amazon, it could be a good way to help you earn the Sapphire Preferred card's welcome bonus: New Sapphire Preferred cardholders can earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. (Read about the eligibility requirements.)

Although the card earns just 1X points on Amazon purchases, cardholders enjoy purchase protection and extended warranty protection. Purchase protection covers your purchases for 120 days against damage or theft, up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account. Meanwhile, the extended warranty protection adds an additional year for eligible warranties of three years or less.

Best for flat-rate cash back on all other spending

Citi Double Cash® Card

  • Rewards

    Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24

  • Welcome bonus

    Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.

  • Annual fee

    $0

  • Intro APR

    0% for the first 18 months on balance transfers; N/A for purchases

  • Regular APR

    19.24% - 29.24% variable

  • Balance transfer fee

    For balance transfers completed within 4 months of account opening, an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies; after that, a balance transfer fee of 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies

  • Foreign transaction fee

    3%

  • Credit needed

    Fair/Good/Excellent

  • See rates and fees, terms apply.

Pros

  • 2% cash back on all eligible purchases
  • Simple cash-back program that doesn't require activation or spending caps
  • One of the longest intro periods for balance transfers at 18 months

Cons

  • 3% fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.
  • Estimated rewards earned after 1 year: $443
  • Estimated rewards earned after 5 years: $2,213

Who's this for? The Citi Double Cash® Card is for shoppers who want to maximize their money by earning 2% cash back on all spending everywhere (not just Amazon and Whole Foods).

Here's how it works: Earn 1% cash back on purchases and 1% when you pay off your bill. That makes the card's appeal almost universal, as there are no hoops to jump through or bonus categories to keep track of. Through 12/31/24, you can also earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi TravelSM portal.

There's no annual fee and no limit to how much cash back you can earn. Cardholders can redeem cash back for statement credits, a mailed check or direct deposit, gift cards, travel or merchandise. Plus, if you have another Citi ThankYou points earning card like the Citi Premier® Card (see rates and fees), you can transfer your points to all of Citi's travel partners like Air Canada and Turkish Airlines, where you can really maximize the value of your points.

Cardholders can benefit from 0% intro APR for the first 18 months on balance transfers (then a 19.24% - 29.24% variable APR). You have to initiate your balance transfer within 4 months of opening an account.

Best for average credit

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

On Capital One's secure site
  • Rewards

    Unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, up to 6 months of complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024

  • Welcome bonus

    None

  • Annual fee

    $39

  • Intro APR

    None

  • Regular APR

    30.74% variable

  • Balance transfer fee

    $0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you

  • Foreign transaction fee

    None

  • Credit needed

    Average, Fair, or Limited

See rates and fees, terms apply.

Pros

  • Unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase
  • Redeem cash back at anytime and for any amount
  • No fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.

Cons

  • $39 annual fee
  • High variable APR
  • No welcome bonus

Who's this for? Many of the best cash-back cards require good or excellent credit, but there are some options for people with fair/average credit that offer good cash-back rates.

One example is the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card that gives consumers a competitive 1.5% cash back on all purchases, with no limit on the amount of cash back you can earn. You can redeem cashback at any amount, without the typical $25 minimum of some other cards set. Plus, there are no foreign transaction fees if you use this card abroad; (see rates and fees).

Find the best credit card for you by reviewing offers in our credit card marketplace or get personalized offers via CardMatch™.

FAQs

To get approved for an Amazon credit card, you'll typically need a good credit score, which is a FICO Score of 670 or higher. However, other factors go into your approval odds, so having a high credit score won't guarantee your approval.

CNBC Select's best overall business card for Amazon is the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card. It earns 5% back at Amazon Business, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market (on the first $120,000 in purchases a calendar year, then 1%). You can also choose 90-day repayment terms instead of the bonus cash back.

Bottom line

Being an Amazon Prime member has its own perks and opportunities to save during sales and events like Prime Day, October Prime Big Deal Days and the Big Spring Sale. And by using the right credit card at checkout, you can stack your savings even higher.

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Why trust CNBC Select?

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card productsWhile CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best credit cards for Amazon.

Our methodology

To determine which cards offer the best value for Amazon purchases, CNBC Select analyzed 234 of the most popular credit cards available in the U.S. We compared each card on a range of features, including: rewards, welcome bonus, introductory and standard APR, balance transfer fee and foreign transaction fees, as well as factors such as required credit and customer reviews when available. We also considered additional perks, the application process and how easy it is for the consumer to redeem points.

Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of credit cardsbanking and money, and follow us on TikTokFacebookInstagram and Twitter to stay up to date.

For rates and fees for the Blue Cash Preferred Card, click here

Information about Amazon credit cards has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer prior to publication; if you purchase something through Select links, we may earn a commission.

Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
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