The Amazon Prime Card works best if you shop on Amazon regularly and want to skip the annual Prime membership fee

The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card (issued by Chase) gives you 5% back on Amazon purchases and Whole Foods spending, 2% at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% everywhere else. There is no annual fee. The catch: you get these rewards rates only if you are a Prime member, and the card itself does not include Prime membership — you still pay the $139 annual fee (or $14.99 monthly) separately.

Whether this card makes sense depends on three things: how much you spend on Amazon each year, whether you already pay for Prime, and what other cards you own. A card that earns 5% on Amazon is only valuable if that 5% beats what you would earn with a different card, and if the total rewards cover more than the Prime membership cost.

If you do not have Prime and do not plan to get it, this card has almost no advantage over a standard 1.5% cash-back card. If you already pay for Prime, the card's lack of an annual fee makes it worth considering — but only if your Amazon spending is high enough to make the 5% rate matter.

Key Takeaways

  • The Amazon Prime card earns 5% back on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases, but only if you maintain a Prime membership, which costs $139 per year or $14.99 per month separately.
  • You need to spend at least $2,800 per year on Amazon to earn $140 in rewards, which would offset the annual Prime fee — and that assumes you would not earn rewards with a different card.
  • The card has no annual fee and includes purchase protection and extended warranty coverage, which are standard Visa Signature benefits.
  • If you do not have Prime or rarely shop on Amazon, a flat-rate cash-back card (typically 1.5% to 2% on all purchases) will earn you more money.
  • The card's 2% rate at gas stations and restaurants is competitive but not exceptional compared to other cards designed for those categories.

When the 5% Amazon rate actually pays off

The 5% back on Amazon sounds strong, but the math matters. If you spend $1,000 per year on Amazon, you earn $50 in rewards. That does not cover the $139 Prime membership fee. You would need to spend roughly $2,800 per year on Amazon alone just to earn $140 in rewards — enough to justify the Prime cost.

Most households that benefit from this card are already Prime members. If you are not, the card does not make financial sense unless your Amazon spending is very high. Even then, you are paying $139 for Prime to unlock the card's best rate, which is a cost you should count against your rewards.

The 5% also applies to Whole Foods purchases, but only if you use the card in-store or on the Whole Foods website. Whole Foods is expensive, so if you shop there regularly, that 5% adds up — but again, only if you already have Prime.

How the other rewards rates compare to competing cards

The Amazon Prime card's 2% at gas stations and restaurants is solid but not unique. The Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 1.5% on everything with no annual fee. The Capital One SavorOne earns 3% on dining and entertainment with no annual fee. The Citi Double Cash earns 2% on all purchases (1% when you buy, 1% when you pay) with no annual fee.

For gas specifically, cards like the Chevron Texaco Card or Shell Fuel Rewards earn 5% back at their branded pumps, though they require you to shop at one chain. The Amazon card's 2% at any gas station is more flexible but not better than category-specific cards if you have a preferred pump.

The 1% rate on everything else is standard for no-annual-fee cards. You are not losing money there, but you are not gaining an edge either.

What the card costs you beyond the annual fee

The Amazon Prime card itself has no annual fee, which is a real advantage. However, you cannot use the card's best rewards rate without paying for Prime membership. If you are not already a Prime member, the true cost of this card is $139 per year (or $14.99 per month), not zero.

Prime membership includes free two-day shipping, Prime Video, Prime Music, and other services. If you value those benefits, the membership cost is not purely a credit card expense. But if you are only getting Prime to unlock the card's 5% rate, you are paying $139 to earn rewards on your Amazon purchases — which changes the math significantly.

There are also no sign-up bonuses with this card. Most premium cash-back cards offer $100 to $300 in bonus rewards after you spend a certain amount in the first few months. The Amazon Prime card does not, which means you miss out on that immediate value.

The card's benefits beyond cash back

As a Visa Signature card, the Amazon Prime card includes purchase protection (covers items damaged or lost within 120 days of purchase), extended warranty coverage (adds up to one year to manufacturer warranties), and travel accident insurance. These are standard perks on mid-tier cards and can save you money if you need them, but they are not unique to this card.

The card also includes roadside assistance and emergency card replacement, which are useful if you travel or lose your card, but again, these are common Visa Signature benefits, not a reason to choose this card over others.

There is no travel insurance, no lounge access, and no concierge service — features you would find on premium cards with annual fees. This card is positioned as a straightforward rewards card, not a travel or lifestyle card.

Who should get this card and who should skip it

Get this card if: You already pay for Prime membership, you spend at least $2,800 per year on Amazon, and you want a no-annual-fee card that rewards your existing shopping habits. You are not paying extra to unlock the card's best rate because you already have Prime.

Skip this card if: You do not have Prime and do not plan to get it. You shop on Amazon less than $2,800 per year. You prefer a flat-rate cash-back card that earns the same percentage on all purchases. You want a sign-up bonus to boost your rewards in the first year.

If you are on the fence, calculate your actual Amazon spending over the past year. If it is below $2,800, a card like the Chase Freedom Unlimited (1.5% on everything, no annual fee) will earn you more money overall. If it is above $2,800 and you already have Prime, the Amazon Prime card is worth considering.

How to compare this card to your current rewards setup

Before you apply, list the cards you currently use and how much you spend in each category per year. Then calculate what you would earn with the Amazon Prime card versus your current setup.

Example: If you spend $3,000 on Amazon, $1,200 at gas stations, and $2,000 at restaurants per year with a current 1.5% flat-rate card, you earn $90 total. With the Amazon Prime card (assuming you have Prime), you would earn $150 on Amazon, $24 at gas, and $40 at restaurants — $214 total. That is $124 more per year, which covers the Prime membership cost if you do not already have it.

But if your Amazon spending is $1,500 per year, the math flips. You would earn $75 on Amazon, $24 at gas, and $40 at restaurants — $139 total. That barely covers Prime, and you are not ahead. A flat-rate card would earn you $67.50 on the same spending, which is less, but you would not need to pay for Prime to get it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need Prime to use the Amazon Prime credit card?

You do not need Prime to open the card, but you need an active Prime membership to earn the 5% rate on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases. Without Prime, the card earns 1% on Amazon purchases, which is worse than most competing cards. Prime costs $139 per year or $14.99 per month.

Can I earn 5% back on Amazon Fresh or third-party seller purchases?

The 5% rate applies to purchases on Amazon.com and Whole Foods in-store or on their website. Amazon Fresh purchases count as Amazon.com purchases, so yes, you earn 5% there. Third-party sellers on Amazon.com also earn you 5% — the rate applies to the total purchase, not just items sold by Amazon directly.

What happens to my rewards if I cancel Prime?

Your existing rewards do not disappear if you cancel Prime. However, future purchases on Amazon will earn only 1% back instead of 5%. You can keep the card open with no annual fee, but it becomes a much weaker card without Prime membership.

Is there a sign-up bonus with this card?

The Amazon Prime card does not currently offer a sign-up bonus. Most competing cash-back cards offer $100 to $300 in bonus rewards after you meet a spending requirement in the first few months, so this is a disadvantage compared to other no-annual-fee cards.

Can I use this card outside the United States?

Yes, the card works internationally as a Visa. However, there is a 3% foreign transaction fee on purchases made outside the United States, which is standard for most cards. If you travel frequently, a card with no foreign transaction fee may be a better choice.