The best credit cards for Amazon: Earn more on your next online shopping trip
While Amazon's co-branded cards offer high cash back for loyal customers, other cards provide flexible rewards and benefits beyond Amazon purchases.
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Kristy Snyder is a professional writer and editor living in Pittsburgh with over 12 years of content creation experience.
Updated November 15, 2024, 1:19 PM EST
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Editor
Gabriela Walsh is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance® and a personal finance editor at Red Ventures. Her previous work experience includes various editorial positions at FinanceBuzz. She combines her understanding of language and literature with her commitment to delivering content that empowers others to build healthy money management skills.
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If you frequently shop at Amazon, it pays to use a card that rewards you for your purchases. The best credit cards for Amazon offer elevated cash back rates on Amazon purchases, plus other features like purchase protection, extended financing periods, and more.
Before your next online shopping spree, consider applying for one of the following best cards for Amazon purchases.
Best credit cards for Amazon
- Best for Prime members: Prime Visa
- Best for those without Prime: Amazon Visa
- Best for Amazon Shop with Points: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Best for rotating category bonus: Chase Freedom Flex®
- Best for shopping at additional online stores: Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Best for Amazon purchase protection: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
- Best for special financing: Amazon Prime Store Card
Prime Visa: Best for Prime members
Rewards
- 10% back on rotating categories at Amazon.com
- 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, and Chase Travel℠ purchases
- 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, local transit and commuting
- 1% back on all other purchases
Annual fee
None
Why we picked this card
With 5% cash back on every Amazon.com purchase, the Prime Visa is a must-have card for all Prime members. You can also score elevated point deals when you choose no-rush shipping or buy select products in rotating categories.
Once you earn points, you can redeem them directly at Amazon or Chase for cash back. You'll also enjoy purchase protection for 120 days for items up to $500.
While this card has no annual fee, you must be a Prime member to hold it. Membership currently costs $139 per year.
Pros
- No annual fee
- High cash back rate at Amazon and affiliates
- Has a welcome bonus
Cons
- Must have Prime membership
- No introductory APR offer
- Limited redemption options outside of Amazon purchases
Amazon Visa: Best for those without Prime
Rewards
- 3% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, and Chase Travel purchases
- 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, local transit and commuting
- 1% back on all other purchases
Annual fee
None
Why we picked this card
If you don't have a Prime membership, then the standard Amazon Visa still offers unlimited 3% back on all Amazon.com purchases. That's in addition to the 2% you earn at gas stations, restaurants, and commuting — deals that surpass some of the best cash back credit cards.
You also get the same 120 days of purchase protection, extended warranty protection, and zero liability protection.
Pros
- No annual fee
- Earn unlimited 3% on all Amazon purchases
- Has a welcome bonus
Cons
- Lower cash back rate
- Lack of no-rush shipping or rotating categories promos
- Lower welcome offer
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best for Amazon Shop with Points
Rewards
- 5X miles on travel on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2X miles on all other purchases
Annual fee
$95
Why we picked this card
The Capital One Venture Rewards card is a travel rewards card that earns 2X miles on all purchases. While some cards earn higher rewards at Amazon, this card's real benefit is its Shop with Points capabilities.
You can redeem Capital One rewards at checkout to pay for Amazon purchases. Your miles are worth more this way, as 125 miles equals $1 off.
Pros
- Has a welcome bonus
- Extended warranty protection
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Lower rewards rate at Amazon
- Has an annual fee
- Need excellent credit for approval
Chase Freedom Flex®: Best for rotating category bonus
Rewards
- 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in quarterly bonus category purchases (then 1%)
- 5% cash back on Chase Travel purchases
- 3% cash back on dining and drugstore purchases
- 1% cash back on other purchases
Annual fee
None
Why we picked this card
The Chase Freedom Flex® earns just 1% on Amazon purchases, which certainly doesn't make it one of the best credit cards for Amazon. What does, however, is the potential to earn 5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories.
While these change every quarter, Amazon.com is sometimes featured. You can even Shop with Points at Amazon, with 1,000 Ultimate Rewards points equaling $8.
Pros
- Generous welcome bonus
- Shop with Points directly on Amazon
- Flexible redemption options
Cons
- No guarantee Amazon will be a 5% category
- Limited to $1,500 in bonus category purchases
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for shopping at additional online stores
Rewards
- 3% cash back in the category of your choice (on the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter)
- 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (on the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter)
- 1% cash back on other purchases
Annual fee
None
Why we picked this card
With the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card, you get to choose the category where you earn 3% cash back — and online shopping is one of the options.
You can earn 3% back at Amazon and whatever other online stores you shop from, with a combined quarterly limit of $2,500 — after that, you'll earn just 1% cash back.
These cash back rates go even higher if you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member. This three-tier program provides bonus points based on your total balance in qualifying Bank of America and Merrill accounts. Depending on your tier, you could earn up to 3.75% to 5.25% cash back on online purchases.
Pros
- $200 cash rewards welcome bonus
- Preferred Rewards increase cash back rate
- Ability to change highest cash back category
Cons
- Low purchase limit at higher rate
- Base rate is just average
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: Best for Amazon purchase protection
Rewards
- 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%)
- 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%)
- 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%)
- 1% cash back on other purchases
- Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout
Annual fee
None
Why we picked this card
Amazon items that cost $1,000 or less can receive purchase protection for 90 days with the American Express Blue Cash Everyday® Card. You can receive up to $50,000 in protection per year.
The American Express Blue Cash Everyday® Card is one of the best cards for online shopping in general. You earn 3% on U.S. online retail purchases of up to $6,000 per year — after that, you'll earn 1%.
Pros
- Generous welcome offer
- Unique online shopping rewards category
- Generous purchase protection policy
Cons
- Spending caps on cash back categories
- Requires good to excellent credit
Amazon Prime Store Card: Best for special financing
Rewards
- 10% back on select, rotating items
- 5% back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market
Annual fee
None
Why we picked this card
The Amazon Prime Store Card offers some of the best promotional financing for Amazon.com. If you qualify, you won't pay any interest on your purchases for six, 12, or 24 months, depending on the purchase size.
You'll just need to make equal monthly payments. You won't earn any cash back in exchange for this financing option. You'll also receive an Amazon gift card upon approval as a welcome bonus.
Pros
- Up to 24 months to repay large purchases
- 5% cash back on non-financed purchases
- No annual fee
Cons
- Must have Prime membership
- Don't earn cash back on financed purchases
- Can only be used on Amazon-related purchases
How to maximize Amazon rewards
Making the most of your Amazon rewards can help you save more on your purchases. Here's how.
- Choose the right card: Look for a card that aligns with your spending habits and needs. For example, if you spend a lot on travel, you can earn miles with the Capital One Venture Rewards that you can redeem on Amazon.
- Consider card pairing: Having multiple credit cards doesn't hurt as long as you spend responsibly. Pairing a card that earns rewards in other categories, like the American Express Blue Cash Everyday® Card, with a card that maximizes Amazon rewards, like the Prime Visa, can boost your earnings.
- Take advantage of welcome bonuses: Many credit cards offer an intro bonus if you spend a certain amount within a specific timeframe. Applying for these cards right before a large Amazon purchase can help you earn a welcome bonus.
- Set your card as your default payment method: Set your Amazon credit card as your default payment method for Amazon purchases to earn rewards on every transaction.
How we rated the best cards for Amazon
To determine the best credit cards for Amazon, we carefully evaluated various factors, including high rewards on Amazon purchases, added perks and benefits, rewards earning rates on purchases, annual fees, and overall value for consumers.
Here are some of the key factors we considered:
- Rewards on Amazon purchases
- Added rewards for Prime members
- Welcome bonus
- Rewards on other everyday spending categories
- Low or no annual fee
- Redemption options
- Financing options
Our team analyzed numerous credit card offers and selected the top contenders based on these criteria. Learn more about our methodology here.
Frequently asked questions
Which credit card earns the most cash back at Amazon?
Do you get Amazon Prime for free with an Amazon credit card?
Is an Amazon card hard to get approved for?
The bottom line
While Amazon's co-branded cards are excellent for loyalists, cards from major issuers like Capital One, Chase, Bank of America, or American Express provide more versatility.
These cards can be particularly appealing if you want to earn rewards beyond Amazon purchases. Shop around and find the card that will help you make the most of your Amazon shopping experience.
Editorial disclosure: Opinions expressed are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.