Amazon Prime Visa Vs. Amazon Prime Store Card: Which Is Better? (2024)

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Amazon Prime Store Card

Amazon Prime Store Card

5% Reward Rate

Earn 5% back with an eligible Prime membership. Plus, earn an extra 5-15% back on rotating Amazon categories and products. That’s on top of the everyday 5% back

Welcome Bonus

Amazon.com gift card

Annual Fee

$0

Credit Score

Good/Excellent

Regular APR

29.99% variable

Get an Amazon.com gift card instantly upon approval

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

Prime Visa

Prime Visa

4.5

Amazon Prime Visa Vs. Amazon Prime Store Card: Which Is Better? (1)

Forbes Advisor created additional star ratings so that you can see the best card for specific needs. This card shines for this use, but overall the star ratings may differ when compared to other cards.

On Amazon's Website

Up to 10% back

Earn 10% back or more on a rotating selection of products and categories at Amazon.com, 5% back on other purchases at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership, 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare), and 1% on other purchases.

Welcome Bonus

Get a $100 Amazon Gift Card (or more)

Annual Fee

$0

Credit Score

Good, Excellent

Regular APR

19.49% - 27.49% Variable

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

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

If you frequently shop at Amazon, signing up for the Prime Visa or the Amazon Prime Store Card* could be a smart way to earn rewards on your purchases.

Neither card charges annual fees, and you can earn up to 5% cash back at Amazon.com. However, the Amazon Prime Visa also allows you to earn cash back at restaurants and other purchases.

Which card is right for you? Below, we break down these cards’ rewards and other benefits to help you make a decision.

Amazon Prime Visa vs. Amazon Prime Store Card

Prime VisaAmazon Prime Store Card*
Annual Fee$0$0
Special Offer$100 Amazon gift card (or more) upon approval with an eligible Prime membershipAmazon.com gift card instantly upon approval
Rewards10% back or more on a rotating selection of products and categories at Amazon.com, 5% back on other purchases at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership, 2% back at gas stations, restaurants and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare), and 1% back on other purchases5% back on Amazon.com purchases

Welcome Bonus

Both Amazon credit cards offer welcome bonuses to new customers, but they are modest to say the least.

With the Prime Visa, you will receive a $100 Amazon gift card (or more) upon approval with an eligible Prime membership.

With the Amazon Prime Store Card*, you will receive a Amazon.com gift card instantly upon approval.

Winner: The bonuses are very close so we’ll call this a tie.

Annual Fee

Neither of the Amazon credit cards charge an annual fee.

Winner: It’s a tie.

Prime Visa

Apply Now Amazon Prime Visa Vs. Amazon Prime Store Card: Which Is Better? (2)

On Amazon's Website

4.5

Amazon Prime Visa Vs. Amazon Prime Store Card: Which Is Better? (4)

Forbes Advisor created additional star ratings so that you can see the best card for specific needs. This card shines for this use, but overall the star ratings may differ when compared to other cards.

Apply Now Amazon Prime Visa Vs. Amazon Prime Store Card: Which Is Better? (5)

On Amazon's Website

Up to 10% back

Earn 10% back or more on a rotating selection of products and categories at Amazon.com, 5% back on other purchasesRead More

Welcome Bonus

Get a $100 Amazon Gift Card (or more)

Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

19.49% - 27.49% Variable

Credit Score

Good, Excellent(700 - 749)

Why We Picked It

For existing Prime members who frequently shop at Amazon and Whole Foods, the 5% rewards rate is stellar. To further sweeten the deal, thePrime Visa card offers a2% rewards category plus Visa Signature benefits.

Pros & Cons

  • 5% cash back on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases
  • No spending required for the welcome bonus
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Travel and shopping protections
  • Requires an Amazon Prime membership
  • No 0% introductory APR
  • Low cash back for purchases outside of bonus categories

Card Details

  • Get a $100 Amazon Gift Card (or more) instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members
  • Earn unlimited 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership
  • Prime Card Bonus: Earn 10% back or more on a rotating selection of products and categories at Amazon.com
  • Earn unlimited 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare)
  • Earn unlimited 1% back on all other purchases
  • No annual credit card fee
  • No more waiting. Redeem daily rewards at Amazon.com as soon as the next day
  • Member FDIC

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

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

Earning Rewards

How you earn rewards is a key differentiator between the Amazon Prime Visa and the Amazon Prime Store Card.

When you use the Amazon Prime Store Card*, you will earn 5% back on Amazon.com purchases. If you regularly make purchases through Amazon, that’s a valuable rewards rate.

You’ll also earn 5% cash back at Amazon.com purchases with the Prime Visa if you have a Prime membership (which costs $139 annually). However, this card also allows you to earn rewards on non-Amazon purchases. The rewards for this card include 10% back or more on a rotating selection of products and categories at Amazon.com, 5% back on other purchases at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership, 2% back at gas stations, restaurants and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare), and 1% back on other purchases.

The ability to earn up to 5% cash back on Chase Travel purchases is a new perk, and it’s especially useful for frequent travelers that want to earn rewards on flights, hotel stays and cruises.

Winner: The Prime Visa is the clear winner since cardmembers can earn cash back on purchases made outside of Amazon.com.

Financing Benefits

Both cards give cardmembers access to special financing offers.

With the Amazon Prime Store Card*, you may be eligible for one of the following payment methods on select purchases:

  • Equal monthly payments: At 0% APR financing, you can spread out your Amazon.com purchases into equal monthly payments. Depending on the amount of the purchase, you can make payments for six to 24 months.
  • Special financing: On eligible purchases of $150 or more, you can make payments for six to 24 months. If you pay off the balance within the promotional period, no interest is charged. However, there is some risk involved. If you still have a balance at the end of the promotion period, the standard purchase APR will be applied from the date of the initial purchase.

As for the Prime Visa, 19.49% - 27.49% variable APR.

Winner: The Amazon Prime Store Card* has more payment options than the Prime Visa, though the 0% APR financing may prove more valuable overall. Which card is better will depend on your specific needs.

Redemption Options

With both cards, you can redeem your cash back toward Amazon purchases as soon as the next day after earning those rewards.

But with the Amazon Prime Visa, there’s a new redemption option: You can now redeem your rewards at Chase.com for gift cards or travel, such as flights or hotel stays.

Winner: The Amazon Prime Visa gives cardmembers more options when redeeming their rewards.

Other Perks and Benefits

The Amazon Prime Store Card can only be used at Amazon.com, so it doesn’t offer any travel benefits. By contrast the Amazon Prime Visa has useful benefits for travelers:

  • Baggage delay insurance
  • Roadside dispatch
  • Auto rental damage collision waiver
  • Travel accident insurance
  • Travel and emergency assistance
  • Lost luggage reimbursem*nt

Fees and APR

Prime VisaAmazon Prime Store Card*
APR19.49% - 27.49% Variable29.99% variable
Annual Fee$0$0
Late Payment FeeUp to $39Up to $40
Balance Transfer FeeN/AN/A
Foreign Transaction Fee$0N/A

Amazon Prime Store Card *

5% Reward Rate

Earn 5% back with an eligible Prime membership. Plus, earn an extra 5-15% back on rotating Amazon categories and products.Read More

Welcome Bonus

Amazon.com gift card

Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

29.99% variable

Credit Score

Good/Excellent(700 - 749)

Why We Picked It

Amazon Prime members will find this card an unbeatable value, with 5% cashback rewards on all qualifying purchases. Cardmembers have a choice to forgo the 5% cashback rewards to use the available 0% financing options. Be careful with the 0% Special Financing option — if you fail to pay in full at the end of the term, you'll get hit with (very high APR) interest, retroactive to the date of purchase.

Pros & Cons

  • 5% cash back on all Amazon purchases
  • Extra financing options for large purchases
  • No annual fee
  • Zero fraud liability
  • Requires an Amazon Prime membership
  • No automatic 5% cash back for Whole Foods purchases
  • Can only spend at Amazon

Card Details

  • Get an Amazon gift card instantly upon approval
  • Earn 5% back with an eligible Prime membership.
  • Earn an extra 5-15% back on rotating Amazon categories and products. That’s on top of the everyday 5% back.
  • Special 6-24 month 0% financing options available on purchases of $150 or more
  • Pay in 6-24 equal monthly payments with 0% interest on select purchases
  • Standard variable APR of 29.99%
  • Online and mobile account management features included
  • No annual fee

Get an Amazon.com gift card instantly upon approval

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

Consider Neither the Amazon Prime Store Card nor the Amazon Prime Visa for:

Although the Amazon credit cards offer a high cash back rate at Amazon.com, they may not be a good option if you do the majority of your spending in one of the following categories:

Restaurants

If dining out is a major spending category for you, the Amazon cards may not be a good fit for you.

The Amazon Prime Store Card* cannot be used at restaurants, so you can’t earn cash back on those transactions. The Prime Visa can be used when you’re dining out, but you’ll only earn 2% cash back at restaurants. Other cards will net you a better return in this category.

Fuel

As a store card, the Amazon Prime Store Card can’t be used to purchase fuel. And while you can use the Amazon Prime Visa to get gas for your car, you’ll earn just 2% cash back.

If you have a lengthy commute and need to fill up your gas tank often, you can earn more rewards with other cards. See our list of best cards for gas for more details.

Bottom Line

If you do a lot of your shopping through Amazon, getting the Amazon Prime Visa or Amazon Prime Store Card could be a financially-savvy decision. You’ll earn up to 5% cash back on your Amazon purchases—as long as you hold a Prime membership—and get access to special financing options, all without paying an annual fee.

If you have good credit, the Amazon Prime Visa is the superior choice over the Amazon Prime Store Card. You can earn cash back in non amazon spending, and you also get additional perks, such as travel insurance and extended warranty protection.

However, these cards only make sense if you do most of your shopping at Amazon. If you spend most of your money with other retailers, you could earn more rewards with another card.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is an Amazon credit card worth it?

If you shop at Amazon—even if it’s only occasionally—one of the Amazon cards can be a useful addition to your wallet. They don’t have an annual fee, and you can earn up to 5% cash back on your purchases at Amazon.com. However, you should never take on more credit than you can handle, so be sure you can meet the financial obligations before applying for this or any card.

What is the credit score needed for the Amazon Prime Store Card or the Amazon Prime Visa?

Whereas the Amazon Prime Visa requires good to excellent credit, meaning a score of 670 or higher, the Amazon Prime Store Card’s requirements are less stringent. The Amazon Store Card may be an option if your score is above 640.

Which credit bureau does the Amazon Prime Store Card report to?

Synchrony Bank, the issuer of the Amazon Prime Store Card, reports information about your credit limit, balance and payments to the major credit bureaus.

Haven't found the right card yet? Check out these alternatives from our Partners:

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

On Chase Bank USA, NA's Website

Welcome Bonus

Matched Cash Back

Annual Fee

$0

Credit Score

Excellent, Good

Regular APR

20.49% - 29.24% Variable

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

SPECIAL OFFER: Unlimited Matched Cash Back. Chase will automatically match all the cash back you earned at the end of your first year! There is no limit to how much cash back you can earn.

Citi Double Cash® Card

On Citi's Website

Welcome Bonus

Earn $200 cash back

Annual Fee

$0

Credit Score

Excellent, Good, Fair

Regular APR

19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

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.

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

On Wells Fargo's Website

Welcome Bonus

$200 Cash Rewards

Annual Fee

$0

Credit Score

Excellent, Good

Regular APR

20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months

As an expert in personal finance and credit cards, I can provide a comprehensive analysis of the Amazon Prime Visa and Amazon Prime Store Card mentioned in the article. My expertise is rooted in a deep understanding of credit card rewards, benefits, and the financial considerations associated with such cards.

Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article:

  1. Reward Structure: Both the Amazon Prime Visa and Amazon Prime Store Card offer cash back rewards. The Prime Visa provides up to 10% back on select Amazon purchases, while the Store Card offers a flat 5% back on Amazon.com purchases. The Prime Visa, however, extends its rewards program to other categories like gas stations, restaurants, and travel.

  2. Welcome Bonuses: Both cards offer welcome bonuses, with the Prime Visa providing a $100 Amazon gift card (or more) and the Store Card offering an Amazon.com gift card instantly upon approval. The article suggests that the bonuses are comparable, making it a tie between the two.

  3. Annual Fees: Neither card charges an annual fee, making it a tie in this category as well.

  4. Earning Rewards: The Prime Visa stands out by allowing cardmembers to earn cash back on purchases made outside of Amazon.com. This versatility gives it an edge over the Store Card, which is limited to Amazon.com purchases.

  5. Financing Benefits: The Amazon Prime Store Card offers more financing options, including equal monthly payments and special financing on eligible purchases. In contrast, the Prime Visa has a variable APR ranging from 19.49% to 27.49%.

  6. Redemption Options: The Prime Visa provides additional redemption options, allowing cardmembers to redeem rewards at Chase.com for gift cards or travel, apart from redeeming them at Amazon.com.

  7. Other Perks and Benefits: The Prime Visa offers travel-related benefits such as baggage delay insurance, roadside dispatch, auto rental damage collision waiver, travel accident insurance, travel and emergency assistance, and lost luggage reimbursem*nt. The Store Card, being limited to Amazon.com, does not offer travel benefits.

  8. Fees and APR: The Prime Visa has a lower variable APR compared to the Store Card. Additionally, the Store Card has a slightly higher late payment fee.

  9. Considerations for Usage: The article provides insights into scenarios where neither card may be the best option, such as for dining out or fuel purchases.

  10. Bottom Line: The recommendation in the article is that if you do most of your shopping at Amazon, either card could be a financially-savvy choice. The Prime Visa is considered superior for those with good credit, offering more perks and benefits.

  11. FAQs: The FAQs address common queries about the worthiness of Amazon credit cards, credit score requirements, and the credit bureau to which the Store Card reports.

In summary, the article provides a detailed comparison of the Amazon Prime Visa and Amazon Prime Store Card, considering various factors such as rewards, fees, financing options, and additional perks. The analysis aims to guide readers in choosing the card that aligns with their spending habits and preferences.

Amazon Prime Visa Vs. Amazon Prime Store Card: Which Is Better? (2024)
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