No, Amazon credit cards are not usually hard to get if you have at least fair credit, but approval still depends on your income and credit history.
Amazon offers several co-branded cards, and they do not all have the same approval bar. Some shoppers get an instant “yes” while others see a denial and wonder what went wrong. That leads to the core question many people ask themselves: are amazon credit cards hard to get?
The honest answer is that Amazon cards sit in the middle. They are not starter cards for someone with no track record, and they are not reserved only for people with spotless credit. Issuers look at your whole profile: score, income, debts, and payment history. Once you understand what each card expects, you can decide whether to apply now or work on your profile first.
Are Amazon Credit Cards Hard To Get? Approval Factors
When you ask “are amazon credit cards hard to get?”, you are really asking how Synchrony Bank and Chase view risk. They want to see that you handle money in a steady way and that you can handle another line of credit. The store-branded cards lean toward shoppers with fair credit, while the Visa cards lean toward higher score ranges and stronger files.
Main Amazon Credit Card Options
Before you apply, it helps to know which card you are looking at. Each Amazon card targets a slightly different shopper and comes from a different issuer. That means the approval bar shifts from card to card.
| Amazon Card | Typical Credit Range | Issuer / Type |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon Store Card | Fair credit and up (around mid-600s or higher) | Synchrony Bank private-label store card |
| Amazon Secured Card | Building or rebuilding credit with a security deposit | Synchrony Bank secured store card |
| Amazon Visa | Good credit and up (around high-600s or higher) | Chase Visa, works anywhere Visa is accepted |
| Prime Visa | Good to excellent credit | Chase Visa with boosted rewards for Prime members |
Score ranges in this table are general patterns, not hard rules. Issuers do not publish exact cutoffs, and they reserve the right to approve or deny anyone based on their own internal review. Still, this rough layout shows why some shoppers find the store card or secured card easier to obtain than the open-loop Visa cards.
How Issuers Decide On Approval
Both Synchrony and Chase review several common factors. The first is your credit score. Amazon’s own minimum credit quality page groups scores into fair, good, and excellent ranges, and that gives a clue about where their partners set expectations.
Next, issuers scan your credit report for late payments, collections, charge-offs, and other warning signs. A single late payment from years ago may not sink an application, but patterns of missed bills or unpaid debts raise risk. Card issuers also care about how much you already owe compared with your limits across cards and loans.
Income and debt levels matter as well. Lenders look at whether your current payments already take up most of your monthly income. Someone with $1,000 in existing card payments and a modest income will not look as strong as someone with the same score but far lower ongoing payments. That is why two people with similar scores can receive very different answers on the same day.
How Credit Scores Affect Amazon Card Approval
Credit score is not the only factor, but it does shape how hard or easy an Amazon card feels to obtain. A shopper with excellent credit and light existing debt may feel that approval is almost automatic. Someone with recent late payments or a thin file may run into more friction.
Credit Score Ranges For Amazon Cards
In broad strokes, Amazon’s card partners line up like this:
- The Amazon Store Card often works for shoppers with fair credit who want rewards only at Amazon.
- The Amazon Secured Card fills the gap for people who do not yet qualify for the regular store card and are willing to place a security deposit.
- The Amazon Visa cards from Chase usually fit shoppers with stronger files and higher scores who want rewards everywhere Visa is accepted.
Real-world data from card comparison sites and approval stories backs this pattern. Many successful Amazon Store Card approvals land in the fair-credit band, while Amazon Visa and Prime Visa approvals cluster in good-and-up ranges. None of this overrides the issuer’s own review, but it does frame the odds before you hit “submit.”
Why The Store Card Often Feels Easier
The Amazon Store Card is limited-use, which means you can only swipe it on Amazon’s platforms and related channels. That narrow scope reduces the issuer’s risk compared with a general Visa that works everywhere. As a result, Synchrony can extend credit to a wider group of shoppers, especially those with fair but not perfect records.
If Synchrony cannot approve you for the standard store card, they may review you for the Amazon Secured Card instead. A secured card uses your refundable deposit as collateral, which gives the bank more protection. Over time, solid payment history on a secured product can help you build a track record that supports later upgrades to unsecured cards.
By contrast, Chase underwrites the Amazon Visa cards as full mainstream products. Those cards need to work not just on Amazon but at gas stations, restaurants, travel sites, and more. That broader reach tends to match with applicants who already show stronger credit habits.
Are Amazon Credit Cards Hard To Get? Common Scenarios
Whether Amazon credit cards feel hard to get depends on where your profile starts. The same question lands differently for someone with a 720 score and a long history than for a student or a person rebuilding after missed payments.
Shoppers With Fair Credit
If your score sits in the fair range and you have only a few accounts, the Amazon Store Card may be within reach. In this band, card issuers look closely at payment history. On-time payments on existing cards, a stable address, and steady income all work in your favor.
High balances, even with no late payments, can still hurt your odds. When your cards sit close to their limits, it signals that extra credit may stretch your budget. Paying balances down below half of each limit, and ideally lower, can move your profile into a friendlier place for store-card approvals.
Shoppers With Good Or Excellent Credit
With a stronger score and a clean history, the Amazon Visa and Prime Visa often feel easy to obtain. Many applicants in this range see instant decisions. The issuer can still decline if your income is low relative to your debts, if you opened several accounts in a short time, or if your report shows past problems. Still, for many shoppers in this group, Amazon Visa approvals are straightforward.
In this bracket, the tougher question is not “can I get approved?” but “does this card fit my spending?” Rewards rates, interest charges, and any foreign transaction fees all matter. The CFPB credit card resources outline the key details to review when you compare card offers.
Thin Files And New Credit Users
If you are new to credit, even a basic store card can feel hard to reach. A blank file gives lenders very little to judge. In this case, the Amazon Secured Card may be more realistic than the regular store card or Visa lines. A security deposit reduces risk for the bank and gives you a place to build history.
Another route is to open a starter card from your own bank or credit union, then circle back to Amazon after six to twelve months of clean on-time payments. That track record shows that you can handle bills in a regular way, which helps any lender, not just Amazon’s partners.
Rebuilding After Past Credit Problems
Past late payments, collections, or bankruptcies make all new cards harder to get, and Amazon products are no exception. Still, the door is not closed. Many people rebuild credit over time through secured cards, payment plans, and lower balances. As negative items age and your new history improves, approval odds can rise.
In this stage, your goal is not to rush into new applications. Each hard inquiry leaves a small mark, and a string of denials can drag your profile down. A slow, steady pattern of on-time payments and shrinking balances often does more for your odds than one more application right away.
How To Check Your Odds Before You Apply
Before you click “apply,” it helps to gather a quick snapshot of your situation. That way, the question “Are Amazon Credit Cards Hard To Get?” turns into a clear plan instead of a guess.
Check Your Credit Reports And Scores
Start by pulling your credit reports from the major bureaus. Look for errors, old accounts that should no longer appear, or balances that do not match your records. Disputing clear mistakes can raise your score once the bureaus correct them.
Next, look at your scores from a trusted source. Many banks and card issuers show scores inside their apps. Free sites can also give you ballpark figures. You do not need an exact number to the point, but you should know which band you fall in: rebuilding, fair, good, or excellent.
Use Soft-Pull Prequalification When Available
From time to time, Amazon and its partners display “pre-approved” or “pre-qualified” offers in your account. These checks generally use a soft pull, which does not add an inquiry to your report. A soft-pull offer is not a guarantee, but it hints that your profile matches what the issuer currently prefers.
Prequalification tools on issuer sites can also help. Synchrony and Chase both provide ways to screen your profile against some of their card options without a full application. If none of the Amazon cards appear, that may be a sign to pause and work on your credit file before you apply.
Read The Card Terms Before You Commit
Card terms tell you about interest charges, fees, and rewards. They also flag promotional offers, such as deferred interest or installment plans on larger Amazon purchases. Reading these details helps you decide whether the card fits your spending style and whether another product might suit you better.
Steps To Improve Your Chances Of Approval
If your profile feels shaky, a few deliberate steps can raise your odds over the next several months. These steps also help you handle any card you do receive in a healthier way.
| Step | Why It Helps | Rough Timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| Pay Down Card Balances | Lowers credit use and can lift scores while easing monthly cash flow. | One to three billing cycles |
| Set All Bills To Auto-Pay At Least The Minimum | Prevents new late payments that drag scores and trigger fees. | Immediate setup, ongoing benefit |
| Pause New Credit Applications | Gives past inquiries time to age and keeps your profile from looking desperate for credit. | Three to six months |
| Clean Up Errors On Reports | Removes incorrect negatives and adjusts balances that are reported wrong. | One to three months, depending on disputes |
| Build History With A Starter Or Secured Card | Shows steady payments over time, especially helpful for thin or damaged files. | Six to twelve months |
| Keep A Simple Budget | Makes it easier to pay in full and avoid carrying large balances. | Ongoing habit |
None of these steps gives a guaranteed approval. Card issuers still make their own decisions. That said, every item on this list lines up with what scoring models and lenders tend to reward: lower debt levels, clean payment history, and fewer recent applications.
As you work through these changes, repeat the same question from time to time: are amazon credit cards hard to get? You may find that the honest answer shifts over the year as your balances fall, your reports grow cleaner, and your score band moves.
Should You Apply For An Amazon Credit Card?
Amazon credit cards can be handy if you shop on the site often and pay your bills on time. The store card and secured card favor regular Amazon shoppers who want special financing or rewards on those orders. The Amazon Visa cards suit people who want rewards on a broad mix of spending, not just Amazon purchases.
If your profile is shaky, focusing on debt reduction and clean payments for several months can do more for you than another quick application. When your score band, income, and debt levels line up with what these issuers usually approve, an Amazon card stops feeling like a reach and starts feeling like a natural fit.
At that point, “Are Amazon Credit Cards Hard To Get?” becomes a smaller worry. The bigger question turns into how you plan to use the card, whether you will pay in full, and how the rewards fit your actual spending. With that lens, you can decide whether now is the right time to add an Amazon card to your wallet or whether another product suits your habits better.