Amazon credit cards can work well for heavy Amazon shoppers who pay in full each month, but many others gain little or even lose money from interest and fees.
When you shop online a lot, that extra cash back on Amazon orders looks tempting. Between Prime Visa, Amazon Visa, and store cards, the offers often promise easy savings, gift card bonuses, and handy checkout perks. It is no surprise many people ask, “are amazon credit cards worth it?” before hitting the apply button.
This article breaks down how Amazon credit cards work, what you really earn, where the costs hide, and which types of shoppers come out ahead. You will see how the cards compare with simple cash back cards and how to run a quick back-of-the-envelope check for your own budget.
Nothing here is personal financial advice. It is a practical walk-through so you can weigh the trade-offs before you add another card to your wallet.
Quick Take On Amazon Credit Cards
At a high level, Amazon credit cards reward people who spend a lot at Amazon and who never carry a balance. Prime members can earn around 5% back on eligible Amazon and Whole Foods Market purchases with the Prime Visa, while non-Prime cardholders often see around 3% back on Amazon orders with the Amazon Visa or certain store cards. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
If most of your card spending already goes to Amazon and you always pay the statement in full, that higher cash back rate can beat a flat 1–2% card. If you only place a handful of Amazon orders each year, or you tend to carry balances, the math usually flips, and a simple low-rate or flat-rate card can leave you in better shape.
What You Get With Amazon Credit Cards
There is not just one Amazon credit card. Different cards sit behind the “Apply now” buttons, with different issuers, reward rates, and fine print. In the United States, Chase issues the Prime Visa and Amazon Visa. Synchrony issues Amazon store cards and some secured options. In the United Kingdom and a few other regions, cards such as the Amazon Barclaycard fill a similar niche. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
Here is a broad snapshot of common Amazon cards and who they tend to fit.
| Card Type | Main Rewards On Amazon Purchases | Best Match |
|---|---|---|
| Prime Visa (Chase, US) | About 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, and many Amazon travel bookings with an eligible Prime membership. | Prime members who place frequent Amazon and grocery orders and pay in full. |
| Amazon Visa (Chase, US) | Around 3% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, and selected travel bookings without Prime; 5% with Prime upgrades in some offers. | Regular Amazon shoppers who do not want to pay for Prime or who may add Prime later. |
| Prime Store Card (Synchrony, US) | About 5% back on eligible Amazon.com purchases for Prime members; often no rewards on non-Amazon purchases. | Prime members who mainly shop at Amazon and do not need a card for spending elsewhere. |
| Amazon Store Card (Synchrony, US) | Store-only card with promotional financing offers and, in some cases, lower rewards than the Prime Store Card. | Shoppers with Amazon-heavy orders who want financing choices more than broad rewards. |
| Amazon Secured Card (Synchrony, selected markets) | Store-only card tied to a security deposit, sometimes with limited rewards and tight limits. | People building or repairing credit who shop at Amazon and cannot yet qualify for a standard card. |
| Amazon Barclaycard (UK) | Tiered cash back on Amazon purchases and lower rates on certain promotional periods, subject to regional terms. | UK-based Amazon customers who want ongoing rewards on Amazon and everyday spend. |
| Business Amazon Cards (selected regions) | Custom reward structures tied to Amazon Business spending, sometimes with flexible payment terms. | Small businesses that buy inventory or supplies through Amazon Business regularly. |
Reward rates and promotions change, so always read the current card offer in detail before applying. Issuers adjust welcome bonuses, bonus categories, and financing plans over time.
Are Amazon Credit Cards Worth It For Prime Members?
This is where many people type “are amazon credit cards worth it?” into a search box. If you already pay for Prime and lean on Amazon for groceries, home items, and gifts, the 5% back on the Prime Visa can stack up fast. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
Think through a simple example. Say you spend about $300 a month at Amazon and Whole Foods Market. That is $3,600 per year. At 5% back, your rewards land near $180. With a flat 2% cash back card, that same spending would return about $72. The Amazon card adds around $108 in extra value on Amazon purchases alone.
Now widen the view. Many Amazon cards also pay boosted rewards at restaurants, gas stations, transit, or travel booked through the card portal. If you redirect that spending from a low-earnings card to an Amazon card, your yearly rewards can rise again, though not by as much as the Amazon and grocery categories.
Rewards Value Compared With Other Cash Back Cards
To judge whether an Amazon card works better than a standard cash back card, focus on:
- Your yearly Amazon and Whole Foods Market spend. Higher spending pushes the Amazon card ahead.
- Your spending on bonus categories outside Amazon. Some Amazon cards pay around 2% on gas stations, dining, and local transit, which lines up well with many general cash back offers. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
- Your other rewards cards. If you already hold a strong grocery or online shopping card, the Amazon boost shrinks.
If most of your card use goes through Amazon channels and you do not split that spend with other cards, an Amazon card can be a clear winner. If Amazon is only a side stop in your yearly budget, the extra cash back may not justify another card account.
Where Amazon Credit Cards Can Cost You
Rewards draw attention, but the cost side of Amazon credit cards matters just as much. Variable APRs on these cards often land in the high teens to high twenties, similar to many other rewards cards on the market. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
If you carry a balance, interest charges can wipe out several months of rewards in a single cycle. Paying late can trigger penalty rates or fees. Promotional financing offers can also lead to surprise interest if the balance is not cleared before the promo period ends.
Rewards themselves can change. Card issuers and Amazon update categories, devalue points, or change how redemptions work. Consumer regulators in the United States have warned card issuers, including store card providers, not to quietly devalue rewards or make redemption difficult. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
Carrying A Balance Wipes Out Rewards
On any credit card, the annual percentage rate (APR) tells you how costly it is to borrow. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau explains APR as the yearly price you pay to carry a balance, and notes that cardholders can often avoid interest by paying in full by the due date. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
Take the same $3,600 in Amazon spending from earlier. At 5% cash back, you earn $180. If you let a $1,000 balance sit at an APR around 25% for a year, interest charges can land in the same ballpark as the rewards you earned, or higher, depending on payments and compounding.
In short, Amazon credit cards reward disciplined use. People who carry balances, pay late, or use promotional financing without a payoff plan usually hand those rewards back in the form of interest and fees.
Alternatives To Amazon Credit Cards
Before you fill out an Amazon card application, compare the offer with a few simple alternatives:
- Flat-rate cash back cards. A plain 2% cash back card with a low fee structure can beat an Amazon card for people who spread spending across many shops and do not lean on Amazon.
- Category bonus cards. Some cards pay higher rewards on groceries, online shopping, or rotating categories. If Amazon orders fit those categories, you may get strong returns without locking into an Amazon-branded card.
- Low-rate cards. If you sometimes carry balances, a card with a lower APR and modest or no rewards can leave you in better shape because interest costs stay lower.
- Debit or pay-in-full habits. For many households, the best result comes from avoiding credit card interest entirely. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s credit card pages offer plain-language guidance on how credit cards work and how to compare them, which helps you judge whether any rewards card fits your habits. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
These alternatives matter most for people who only place the odd Amazon order or who want to keep their card lineup simple.
How To Decide If An Amazon Credit Card Fits You
So far we have looked at rewards and risks in general terms. To answer “are amazon credit cards worth it?” for your own situation, match your annual Amazon spending and payment habits to some sample scenarios.
| Shopper Type | Yearly Amazon Spend (Approx.) | Estimated Net Value From Amazon Card |
|---|---|---|
| Light Amazon shopper, no Prime | $300 | At 3% back, about $9 per year; a flat 2% card elsewhere may be simpler. |
| Household with regular orders, no Prime | $1,200 | At 3% back, around $36; if you already hold a 2% card, the extra $12 may not justify another account. |
| Prime member, moderate Amazon and Whole Foods use | $3,000 | At 5% back, around $150; if you pay in full, this can beat simple cards on Amazon-related spend. |
| Prime member, heavy Amazon household | $6,000 | At 5% back, around $300; strong upside if you avoid interest and fees. |
| Prime member with heavy non-Amazon card use | $3,000 Amazon + $10,000 dining, gas, transit | Amazon spending returns about $150; bonus categories can add meaningful extra rewards, but only if you do not carry a balance. |
| Occasional Prime sales shopper with other strong cards | $1,500 Amazon plus mix of other cards | Extra rewards from an Amazon card may be modest once you factor in existing category cards. |
These numbers are rough and assume you redeem rewards at full value, usually one cent per point. They also assume you pay your statement in full and avoid late fees. Your actual value depends on your card’s current terms and how you redeem your rewards.
When An Amazon Card Is Likely Worth It
An Amazon card often works well when these points describe you:
- You already pay for Prime and plan to keep it.
- You place regular Amazon and Whole Foods Market orders each month.
- You pay every credit card bill in full and on time.
- You track your rewards and redeem them for full-value cash back, statement credits, or high-value redemptions, not just impulse discounts at checkout.
- You do not already hold another card that pays high rewards on Amazon or online shopping.
If this list sounds familiar, applying for a Prime Visa and routing your Amazon orders through it can be a simple way to boost yearly rewards. Current reward details and bonus categories appear on the Prime Visa benefits page and related issuer disclosures, so always check that page before you decide. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
When You Should Skip An Amazon Credit Card
An Amazon credit card may not be a match if one or more of these points fit your situation:
- You rarely shop at Amazon or Whole Foods Market.
- You often carry balances from month to month.
- Your credit score is shaky and you are working on paying down existing debt.
- You prefer to keep one or two cards rather than juggle several accounts.
- You already have a strong grocery, online shopping, or general cash back card that covers Amazon orders well.
In these cases, interest savings, lower stress, and simpler money management often outweigh the promise of extra points on a niche card. A general-purpose resource such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s credit card basics section can help you compare offers and understand costs before you add any new card. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
Final Thoughts On Amazon Credit Cards
Amazon credit cards sit at an intersection of convenience, rewards, and risk. For heavy Amazon households that pay every bill in full, the cards can return solid cash back that stacks up over a year. For light users, or for anyone who carries balances, the reward story fades once interest and fees enter the picture.
Before you click “Apply,” run your own numbers using your last year of Amazon orders, read the current card terms on the issuer’s site, and check neutral resources on credit cards and APRs. If the extra rewards make a clear difference and you trust yourself to treat the card like a debit card with a bill date, an Amazon card can be a handy tool. If not, a simpler card or a focus on paying down existing balances will usually serve you better in the long run.