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Amazon Store Card vs. Prime Visa: Two Ways to Earn 5% Back at Amazon, but One to Earn Everywhere Else

Review Updated
Steven Porrello
By: Steven Porrello
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Steven is a personal finance writer covering topics from mortgages to credit cards to market news. He has written for The Motley Fool Canada, Ramsey Solutions, Nerdwallet, Clever Real Estate, and other major outlets. Steven launched his writing career at the age of four with his first book, "Revenge of the Bad Guys." He currently lives in Portland, Oregon.

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Amazon offers Prime members two kinds of credit cards. It has a closed-loop card that can only be used on Amazon purchases (the Amazon Store Card) and an open-loop card that can be used wherever Visa is accepted (the Prime Visa).

While these cards share some features, like the ability to earn 5% back on Amazon purchases, the Prime Visa is more versatile. Here's a detailed breakdown of these cards' differences.

Amazon Store Card vs. Prime Visa overview

As of Jun. 18, 2024
Image for
Image for
Prime Visa

Amazon Store Card
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Apply Now for Prime Visa

On Chase's Secure Website.

Credit Rating Requirement: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Credit Rating Requirement: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good (670-850)

Good (670-850)

Welcome Offer: Circle with letter I in it. Get a $200 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members

Get a $200 Amazon Gift Card

Welcome Offer: Circle with letter I in it. Get a $60 Amazon Gift Card instantly if approved for the Amazon Store Card.

$60 Amazon gift card

Rewards Program: Circle with letter I in it. 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), and unlimited 1% on all other purchases

1% - 5% back

Rewards Program: Circle with letter I in it. Earn 5% back every day on Amazon purchases with an eligible Prime membership. Prime members can earn an extra 5%-15% back on select, rotating items throughout the year.

5% - 15% cash back

Intro APR:

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Intro APR:

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular APR:

20.49% - 29.24% Variable

Regular APR:

29.99% (variable)

Annual Fee:

$0

Annual Fee:

$0

Highlights:

  • Get a $200 Amazon Gift Card 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 items and categories on Amazon.com with an eligible Prime membership
  • 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

Highlights:

  • Earn 5% back every day on Amazon purchases with an eligible Prime membership.
  • Get a $60 Amazon Gift Card instantly if approved for the Amazon Store Card.
  • Prime members can earn an extra 5%-15% back on select, rotating items throughout the year.
  • 0% APR financing: Buy now and pay over time with equal monthly payments on qualifying purchases.
  • No annual fee.
Apply Now for Prime Visa

On Chase's Secure Website.

Show More Arrow graphic to expand and collapse content Show Less Arrow graphic to expand and collapse content

Why Prime Visa might be the ideal choice

The Prime Visa is an all-around better credit card than the Amazon Store Card. Not only does it earn 5% back at Amazon and Whole Foods, but it also earns 2% back at restaurants, gas stations, and on local transit and commuting (including ride-hailing). The card can be used wherever Visa is accepted and cash back rewards can be redeemed as statement credits, gift cards, or used toward travel.

When Amazon Store Card could be the better option

The Amazon Store Card is a closed-loop store credit card, meaning it can only be used on Amazon purchases. While this makes the card less versatile, it could also increase your chances of approval. Store credit cards typically allow for a broader range of credit scores, including lower ones. For Prime members with less than perfect credit, the Amazon Store Card could offer a way to earn 5% back on Amazon purchases, even if the card won't be accepted outside of Amazon's domain.

Credit card comparison

We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.

Offer Our Rating Welcome Offer Rewards Program APR Learn More
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
20,000 ThankYou® Points Circle with letter I in it. 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. Up to 2% cash back Circle with letter I in it. 2% cash back: 1% when you buy plus 1% as you pay

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. N/A

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: 0%, 18 months

Regular: 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)

Apply Now for Citi Double Cash® Card

On Citi's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for cash back on rotating categories 		Discover will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year. Circle with letter I in it. N/A 1% - 5% Cashback Circle with letter I in it. Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.

Intro:

Purchases: 0%, 15 months

Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months

Regular: 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR

Apply Now for Discover it® Cash Back

On Discover's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for cash back 		Up to $300 cash back Circle with letter I in it. Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases. 1.5% - 5% cash back Circle with letter I in it. Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. 0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months

Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months

Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months

Regular: 20.49% - 29.24% Variable

Apply Now for Chase Freedom Unlimited®

On Chase's Secure Website.

Amazon Store Card vs. Prime Visa comparison

The Amazon Store Card and Prime Visa earn 5% back on Amazon purchases for Prime members. But the versatility of the Prime Visa makes it the stronger credit card of the two. To find out why, let's dive deeper into each credit card and see what they offer.

Amazon Store Card vs. Prime Visa annual fee

Winner: Tie

Neither credit card has an annual fee. Instead, you'll need to maintain your Prime membership ($139.99 annually) to keep up your card's benefits. Since these no-fee cards require the same membership costs, it's a tie in this category.

Amazon Store Card vs. Prime Visa welcome offer

Winner: Prime Visa

The Prime Visa has a slightly better welcome bonus. Prime members will get a $200 Amazon gift card instantly upon approval. Meanwhile, the Amazon Store Card will dish out an $80 Amazon gift card instantly. The difference is slight ($20), but it puts the Prime Visa ahead in this category.

Amazon Store Card vs. Prime Visa intro APR

Winner: Prime Visa

Both cards offer 0% APR financing for eligible Amazon purchases. However, the Prime Visa card's financing is slightly more favorable.

Prime Visa cardholders can get 0% financing in the following ways:

  • Break purchases of $50 or more into six equal monthly payments
  • Break purchases of $250 or more into 12 equal monthly payments

Meanwhile, Amazon Store Card holders get 0% financing in the following manner:

  • Break purchases between $50 and $599.99 into six equal monthly payments
  • Break purchases of $600 or more into 12 equal monthly payments
  • Get 24 equal monthly payments on certain purchases

In this way, the Prime Visa card gives you more favorable terms for purchases between $50 and $599.99. For example, if you financed a $250 purchase on the Prime Visa, your monthly payments would be roughly $20.83 monthly for 12 months. Meanwhile, the Amazon Store Card would break the same $250 purchase into six monthly payments of $41.67. It's important to note that financing purchases in this way means you won't earn rewards. You can either get a 0% APR period for your purchases or earn cash back, but not both.

Amazon Store Card vs. Prime Visa rewards

Winner: Prime Visa

Both the Prime Visa and Amazon Store Card earn 5% back on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases. But whereas the Amazon Store Card doesn't earn cash back on other purchases, the Prime Visa gives you multiple ways to generate rewards.

For one, it earns 2% back on restaurants, gas stations, local transit, and commuting (including ride-hailing). It also earns 5% back on travel booked through the Chase Travel portal and 1% everywhere else. Although these aren't the highest rates among cash back credit cards, they do give the Prime Visa more versatility than its store card counterpart.

Prime Visa cardholders also have more options to redeem their rewards. They can use cash back on Amazon purchases, apply them to statement credits through their Chase account, redeem them for gift cards, or use them against travel purchases. Meanwhile, rewards generated on the Amazon Store Card stay within your Amazon account. They can cover Amazon purchases, but they can't be used for other cash equivalent redemptions.

Final take

The Prime Visa offers more ways to earn rewards, more ways to redeem them, and more consumer and travel protections, like purchase protection and baggage delay insurance. It also has a slightly higher welcome bonus and more favorable 0% APR financing.

The Amazon Store Card, however, may be available for more Prime members, especially those with not-quite-excellent credit. Both cards earn 5% back on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases, but depending on your credit situation, one card may be better for you than the other.

Prime Visa
Apply Now for Prime Visa

On Chase's Secure Website.

Ratings Methodology

Prime Visa

Apply Now for Prime Visa

On Chase's Secure Website.

Prime Visa
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Apply Now for Prime Visa

On Chase's Secure Website.

Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Intro APR

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular APR

20.49% - 29.24% Variable

Rewards Circle with letter I in it. 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), and unlimited 1% on all other purchases

1% - 5% back

Annual Fee

$0

Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it. Get a $200 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members

Get a $200 Amazon Gift Card

  • If you have an Amazon Prime account, do we have the card for you! This one is part of Chase's lineup, and earns a whopping 5% cash rewards on Amazon, Whole Foods, and Amazon Fresh purchases. Best of all, that cash back is available to you as soon as the next day -- so if you make frequent Amazon purchases and have a Prime membership, you'll easily save.

    • Big Amazon and Whole Foods rewards
    • Instant Amazon gift card
    • No annual fee
    • Consumer and travel protections
    • No 0% intro APR offer
    • Requires Prime membership
    • Get a $200 Amazon Gift Card 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 items and categories on Amazon.com with an eligible Prime membership
    • 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