Amazon Prime Visa Review: Perhaps the Ultimate Store Card

Pros and Cons

Pros

No annual fee

High rewards rate

Flexible rewards redemption

No foreign transaction fees

New cardholder bonus offer

Cons

Must be a member/customer

No 0% intro APR

Detailed Review

If you're an Amazon Prime loyalist, it's hard to find fault with the Prime Visa.

The card, issued by Chase, earns a stellar rewards rate at both Amazon.com and Whole Foods. And unlike a lot of other store-branded cards, you can use it — and earn rewards with it — anywhere that accepts Visa. You'll enjoy bonus rewards at restaurants, drugstores and gas stations, too. Plus, redemption options are quite flexible for a store card.

You get all this for an annual fee of $0, although you'll need to pay for an Amazon Prime membership first. Those who don't shop enough with Amazon to justify that membership fee will want to look elsewhere.

🤓Nerdy Tip

Amazon offers an array of credit cards in addition to this one. Some are for Prime members only, while others are open to anyone. Some are store cards that can be used only at Amazon; others can be used anywhere that accepts Visa. Here's a look at other options.

» MORE: Best credit cards to use at Amazon

Prime Visa: Basics

Card type: Store and rewards.

Annual fee: $0, but you must be an Amazon Prime member. Membership costs $139 annually ($69 a year for students). Note that in many states, a sales tax will apply to your membership fee, pushing the effective cost higher.

Sign-up bonus: Get a $200 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members.

Rewards:

5% back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market.
5% back on purchases through Chase Travel.
2% back at restaurants and gas stations.
2% back on local transit and commuting (including rideshare).
1% back on all other purchases.

Rewards come as points that are worth a penny each. They can be redeemed toward eligible Amazon.com purchases, with no minimum redemption required. But you can also redeem points through Chase for cash back, either as a statement credit or a deposit into an eligible checking or savings account, also with no minimum required. Other redemption options include travel and gift cards. Note that points earned on the Prime Visa cannot be combined with Chase Ultimate Rewards® points.

APR: The ongoing APR is 19.99%-28.74% Variable APR.

Foreign transaction fees: None.

Other benefits:

Travel protections: Travel accident insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, travel and emergency assistance, auto rental collision damage waiver, roadside dispatch.
Shopping protections: Extended warranty, purchase protection.
Plus: Visa Signature concierge service and access to booking hotels in the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection.

» MORE: Chase credit cards mobile app review

Compare to Other Cards

Prime Visa

NerdWallet rating

ANNUAL FEE

INTRO APR

N/A

REGULAR APR

19.99%-28.74% Variable APR

Benefits and Perks

High ongoing rewards

If you spend a lot at Amazon.com or Whole Foods Market, no other card can offer such consistently high rewards for your loyalty as the Prime Visa. A few other cards do come close, like the Chase Freedom Flex®. It earns up to 5% cash back in rotating bonus categories that change each quarter, up to a $1,500 quarterly spending cap. (Activation is required.) And in the past, Amazon.com has been among that card's 5% bonus categories — but, again, only for a three-month period, and only up to that combined quarterly $1,500 cap.

🤓Nerdy Tip

If you want Amazon-centric earnings without the membership price tag, consider the Amazon Visa. This version also has an annual fee of $0, but it doesn't require a Prime membership. It earns less in rewards at Amazon and Whole Foods, but you'll snag the same rate on everything else.

» MORE: Best credit cards for grocery store spending

Rewards flexibility

The only thing more fun than earning rewards is redeeming them, and your earnings on the Prime Visa can be used in a variety of ways (which isn't always the case with store-branded credit cards). Use rewards toward your next Amazon purchase, or redeem them through Chase to buy gift cards, to book travel or to get straight-up cash back. Points are worth one cent each any way you use them.

Packed with extras

Even if the farthest you travel is from your bed to your couch, the Prime Visa is jam-packed with juicy Visa Signature extras that nearly anyone can benefit from. Serious online shoppers can take advantage of the purchase and warranty protections on qualifying items. And for those who do travel frequently, the Prime Visa doesn't come with any foreign transaction fees, making it ideal for use internationally. Domestic and international travelers alike can find value in the included auto rental collision damage waiver coverage, baggage delay insurance, and travel and emergency assistance.

» MORE: Declining car rental insurance abroad? Know the risks

MORE NERDY PERSPECTIVES

	We put all of our Amazon purchases on this card. That 5% on Amazon purchases adds up fast, and the rewards are easy to redeem at checkout. It's a nice surprise when you're expecting to pay $40 for something and, hey, you can just use $40 of your available rewards. Claire Tsosie, editor, travel rewards
	The sign-up bonus changes on this card, so I waited to get it until the welcome offer was an automatic $200 Amazon gift card. That's right: I didn't have to spend a cent in order to get the bonus. The card also offers 5% back on Amazon purchases and the ability to redeem rewards as soon as you earn them. Just remember that you need an Amazon Prime subscription to get this card. Jae Bratton, writer, credit cards
	I appreciate the card’s easy redemption process and how quickly I can earn rewards to use toward future purchases. Melissa Lambarena, writer, credit cards

Drawbacks and Considerations

The value is mostly at Amazon and Whole Foods

Unless you're doing a significant amount of shopping through Amazon or at Whole Foods, it doesn't make sense to apply for the Prime Visa. For starters, Amazon isn't always the cheapest option — especially when you factor in the cost of a Prime membership — and Whole Foods didn't earn the nickname "Whole Paycheck" for carrying budget-minded fare.

The 'everything else' rate is lackluster

The Prime Visa offers elevated rewards in several categories — but not on every purchase you make. If you want a simpler option that can reward you well no matter where you buy, a better choice might be the Citi Double Cash® Card. It has the potential to earn a fantastic 2% cash back on all purchases: 1% when you buy, plus another 1% when you pay, with no category tracking or pricey membership required. The annual fee is $0.

And if that card doesn't make sense for you, check out a list of Nerdwallet's best rewards credit cards.

No 0% intro APR offer

If you're aiming to finance a big-ticket item or you just want some extra time to pay off an existing balance, there are plenty of cards with enticing introductory interest-free offers. As with most store-branded credit cards, the Prime Visa is not one of them. For a lengthy 0% intro APR period on both balance transfers and purchases, the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card is a good choice.

Amazon Prime Visa Review: Perhaps the Ultimate Store Card - NerdWallet (2024)