Prime Visa review: A must-have for frequent Amazon shoppers

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If you’re an Amazon regular, getting the Prime Visa Card may be a no-brainer.

This card offers an impressive 5% back on all Amazon and Whole Foods purchases for Prime members, plus competitive rates in other everyday categories.

If you don’t regularly shop with Amazon brands, the Prime Visa may not make much sense. While the card has no annual fee, you must have a Prime membership to qualify, which costs $139 annually.

How the Prime Visa works

The Prime Visa Card is meant to reward Prime members for their purchases on Amazon and at Whole Foods. Here are the key things to know about this card:

• Rewards: Unlimited 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, and Whole Foods Market, unlimited 5% back on Chase Travel℠ purchases, 2% back at restaurants and gas stations, 2% back on local transit and commuting, and 1% back on all other purchases. Plus, you can receive 10% back or more on a rotating selection of items and categories on Amazon.com with an eligible Prime membership.
• Welcome bonus: Get a $200 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval, exclusively for Prime members
• Annual fee: $0 ($139 Prime subscription required)
• APR: Variable APR of 20.49% to 29.24% (based on creditworthiness)
• Redemption options: Redeem cash back at a 1:1 redemption rate for Amazon purchases or for cash back, gift cards, or travel booked through Chase Travel℠. 
• Additional benefits: No foreign transaction fees, purchase protection, extended warranty coverage, travel insurance benefits (auto rental collision damage waiver, travel accident insurance, lost luggage reimbursement), and an Equal Pay program offering 0% APR on select Amazon purchases.

Prime Visa rewards

The Prime Visa caters to frequent Amazon shoppers and those who spend regularly on dining, gas, and transit. It’s arguably one of the best credit cards for groceries — if you shop Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods — and for online shopping — if you shop with the online retail giant.

Earnings rewards

One of the standout features of the Prime Visa is its bonus categories, which offer elevated rewards rates for Amazon-centric purchases and other common expenses:

• Amazon and Whole Foods purchases: You can earn unlimited 5% back on Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, and Whole Foods Market purchases. 
• Travel: Earn an unlimited 5% back on Chase Travel℠ purchases. 
• Dining, gas, and transit: Earn unlimited 2% back on purchases at gas stations, restaurants (including dining and takeout), and local transit and commuting expenses (including rideshare services like Uber and Lyft). 
• All other purchases: Earn unlimited 1% points back on all other purchases that don't fall into the bonus categories.

While other cards offer higher base earning rates — like 1.5% or 2% — they often lack the higher rates for specific categories that the Prime Visa offers. For example, the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card offers 1.5% cash back on all purchases but has no bonus categories.

These days, you can buy almost anything on Amazon, from groceries to furniture to computers. So, while some cards have better rewards for everyday purchases, you can do your everyday shopping on Amazon. Plus, anything that Amazon doesn’t offer (like gas and dining out) is covered in its 2% categories. 

It's important to consider your spending habits when comparing the Prime Visa Card to other cards. If a significant amount of your expenses fall outside of the bonus categories — or you do a large portion of your shopping outside of Amazon — you might earn more overall with a card that offers a higher base rate.

Maximizing rewards

In addition to the boosted 5% points back rate on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases, Prime members can also enjoy:

• Rotating bonus offers: Earn 10% or more cash back on select rotating categories and items.
• Other Prime benefits: Prime membership comes with benefits like free two-day shipping, access to Prime Video and Music, and exclusive deals during events like Prime Day.

If you're a frequent Amazon shopper and can take advantage of these perks, the Prime Visa can offer exceptional value, even with the $139 annual Prime membership fee.

Redeeming rewards

The Prime Visa card makes it easy to redeem points for Amazon purchases. Every 100 points earned is worth $1 when redeemed for Amazon purchases, which translates to a solid 1 cent per point redemption rate.

This redemption rate is noteworthy because many other cards offer less favorable conversion rates for Amazon redemptions. For example, other Chase cards, including the Chase Freedom Unlimited® or the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, only provide 0.8 cents per point when redeeming for Amazon purchases.

You can also redeem cash back points, gift cards, or travel through Chase at a 1:1 value. 

While these options provide some flexibility, the Prime Visa’s primary strength lies in its value for Amazon purchases. If you redeem points directly on Amazon, this card can help you stretch your rewards further. However, if your primary goal is to redeem points for travel, a dedicated travel rewards card may be a better fit.

Prime Visa benefits

While the Prime Visa’s focus is high-value rewards for Amazon and Whole Foods purchases, it also offers a range of benefits that can enhance your shopping and travel experiences. Let's take a closer look at the card's sign-up bonus and extra perks.

Sign up bonus

The Prime Visa offers a $200 Amazon gift card exclusively to Amazon Prime members, adding significant upfront value to the card.

Unlike many card sign-up bonuses, which require you to meet a spending threshold within a specific timeframe, the Prime Visa bonus is awarded immediately upon approval.

This bonus stands out among other cash back cards, which typically offer a $200-$250 bonus for spending at least $500 in the first couple of months of card ownership. It’s also exceptionally better than other retail cards, many of which don’t have a welcome offer at all. 

The $200 Amazon gift card can be used for any Amazon purchases, effectively giving you a significant discount on your next order. 

Additional perks

Amazon offers several shopping and travel benefits, including Visa Signature perks. Let’s take a look. 

• Purchase protection: On eligible purchases within the first 120 days, enjoy protection against damage or theft for up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.
• Extended warranty protection: Receive an additional year of warranty coverage on eligible purchases with original warranties of three years or less.
• Auto rental collision damage waiver: Decline the rental company's collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost to your card to receive coverage for theft and collision damage on eligible rentals.
• Roadside dispatch: Pay a per-service fee for help with common roadside issues like towing, jumpstarting, or tire changes.
• Travel accident insurance: Receive accidental death or dismemberment coverage up to $500,000 when you pay for your air, bus, train, or cruise transportation with your card.
• Travel and Emergency assistance services: Travelers can access a wide range of emergency services while traveling, including medical and legal referrals, emergency transportation assistance, and more.
• Lost luggage reimbursement: Receive up to $3,000 per passenger if you or an immediate family member experiences luggage damage or loss by the carrier.
• Baggage delay insurance: If your baggage is delayed by more than six hours, you can be reimbursed for essential purchases like toiletries and clothing, up to $100 per day for three days.

While many of these benefits are relatively standard among rewards cards, they can still offer value when needed. 

Equal pay: A unique financing option for Amazon purchases 

Prime Visa doesn’t have a standard 0% APR offer but a special financing option called Equal Pay. 

This program allows you to make eligible Amazon.com purchases and pay them off over time with 0% APR. Depending on the purchase amount and your preferences, you can choose between six-month and 12-month Equal Pay plans.

While Equal Pay can be a helpful tool, it's important to note that you won't earn rewards on these purchases. This means you'll need to weigh the benefits of financing against the potential rewards you could earn by paying for the purchase upfront.

Prime Visa Card fees & charges

While the Prime Visa offers valuable benefits for Amazon shoppers, it's essential to understand the various fees associated with the card to avoid unexpected costs.

Interest rates

The Prime Visa has a variable APR that ranges from 20.49% to 29.24%, depending on your creditworthiness. This rate applies to purchases and balance transfers and is on par with or slightly lower than the average APR for credit cards in the market. 

Cash advance and penalty APRs are both 29.99%, which is similar to other credit cards. 

Carrying a balance on your card and accruing interest charges can offset the value of any rewards earned. To avoid paying interest, always aim to pay your statement balance in full by the due date each month. 

If you need to carry a balance occasionally, Prime Visa’s APR range is relatively standard. However, if you're looking for a low-interest credit card or a balance transfer option, other cards have more competitive rates and introductory APR offers.

Other fees

In addition to interest charges, the Prime Visa Card has a few other fees that you should keep in mind:

1. Cash advance fee: Either $5 or 4% of the cash advance amount, whichever is greater
2. Balance transfer fee: Either $5 or 4% of the transfer amount, whichever is greater
3. Late payment fee: Up to $39
4. Returned payment fee: Up to $39

One notable advantage of the Prime Visa is that it doesn't charge foreign transaction fees. If you frequently travel internationally, this feature can save you money over time. 

How the Prime Visa stacks up 

To help you determine whether the Prime Visa Card fits your needs best, let's compare it to the Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard® and the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. 

Prime Visa Card vs. Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard®

The Capital One Walmart Rewards Card is another retail card that offers competitive rewards on Walmart purchases and other common spending categories.

You’ll earn 5% cash back at Walmart.com (including pickup and delivery), 2% cash back on in-store purchases at Walmart and Walmart-branded gas stations, 2% at restaurants and travel, and 1% back everywhere else. You can redeem your rewards for statement credits, travel, gift cards, or during online checkout at Walmart.com.

Deciding between the Walmart Rewards card and the Prime Visa comes down to where you shop the most. The Prime Visa offers more flexibility with gas rewards, as the Walmart Rewards card only offers 2% back at Walmart-branded gas stations. 

Prime Visa Card vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited® 

The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a very popular cash back card — and for good reason. It offers stellar rewards for a no-annual-fee card, including 3% back on dining and drugstores, 5% on travel booked through Chase Travel℠, and 1.5% on all other purchases. 

The Freedom Unlimited provides more versatile redemption options than the Prime Visa, especially for travel rewards. It also offers an intro APR offer, which the Prime Visa Card lacks.

Overall, the Prime Visa excels for Amazon and Whole Foods shoppers, while the Freedom Unlimited offers higher base earnings on non-bonus categories. 

If you want higher rewards on a broader range of categories or are looking for more flexible redemption options, the Freedom Unlimited may be a better fit. 

Who should consider the Prime Visa?

The Prime Visa makes the most sense for frequent Amazon and Whole Foods shoppers. The card’s 5% rate can help you maximize your rewards on these purchases.

Since the card's highest rewards rate is tied to having an active Prime membership, it's especially valuable for those already paying for Prime and can take advantage of the card's benefits in addition to other Prime perks like free shipping and streaming services.

Plus, with bonus categories that include restaurants and gas stations, the Prime Visa can be a good fit for households that spend a significant amount in these areas in addition to their Amazon and Whole Foods purchases.

On the other hand, the Prime Visa may not be the best choice for those who:

• Don't shop frequently at Amazon or Whole Foods
• Prefer higher flat-rate rewards on all purchases
• Aren't interested in a Prime membership
• Primarily want to earn and redeem rewards for travel

How we rated this card

Every credit card review we publish has undergone a rigorous editorial process to ensure accuracy and objectivity.

We rate all credit cards on a 10-point system, with 10 being the highest possible score and 1 being the lowest possible score. We assess each card across several key factors, weighted based on what our research shows matters most to readers like you. Learn more about our methodology here. 

The bottom line

The Prime Visa Card is great for shopping at Amazon and Whole Foods. If you buy the same groceries each week at Whole Foods and are a Prime member, 5% points back essentially adds up to a free week’s worth of groceries every 20 weeks. 

However, the card's true worth depends heavily on your spending habits and existing relationship with Amazon. 

For Prime members who regularly shop on Amazon.com or at Whole Foods, this card can translate into substantial savings over time. The 2% cash back on categories like dining, gas, and transit adds versatility, making it a solid choice for everyday use.

Those who don't frequently shop on Amazon or aren't Prime members may find this card less valuable. Its rewards structure is less competitive compared to no-annual-fee cards that offer higher base rates on all purchases.

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.