How Does LendingTree Get Paid?
LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.
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Amazon Prime Visa Review

Updated on:
Content was accurate at the time of publication.
LendingTree's Review

How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?

Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.
4.2
Prime Visa
Rewards
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
Sign-up bonus
Get a $200 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members
Visa Signature benefits
Since this is a Visa Signature credit card, get access to a wide array of benefits such as 24/7 access to the Visa Signature Concierge Service.
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author’s opinions and recommendations alone. It was not reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer. This site may be compensated through a credit card issuer partnership.

Key takeaway

If you’re a dedicated Amazon Prime user, the Prime Visa is a no brainer: 5% cash back on Amazon, Whole Foods and Chase Travel purchases is hard to beat. However, you will have to pay $139 for a Prime membership to qualify for the card.

Pros and cons

  • Generous cash back rate
  • Amazon gift card upon approval
  • Cash back is easy to redeem
  • $0 annual fee
  • Promo APR on large purchases
  • Foreign transaction fee: $0
  • Access to a number of Chase benefits
  • Must have an Amazon Prime membership
  • Subject to the Chase 5/24 rule
  • Can’t combine cash back with the promo APR

Is the Prime Visa good?

The Amazon Prime Visa, issued by Chase, is one of the best credit cards you can find for online shopping. It offers exceptional value to Amazon Prime members with a generous 5% cash back rate on purchases at Amazon.com and Whole Foods, as well as Chase travel purchases. Plus, you can also earn 2% cash back on gas station, restaurant and local transit and commuting purchases.

This card also charges a $0 annual fee and comes with a long list of benefits like purchase protection, auto rental collision damage waiver and lost luggage reimbursement. Points can be applied directly to your Amazon purchases at checkout or redeemed for travel, cash and gift cards.

Be aware that without a Prime membership, you’ll only be eligible for the Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Card rather than the Prime Visa, and you’ll earn cash back at a reduced rate.

Quick facts

    • 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
  • Recommended Credit
    Credit scores ranges may vary. Your individual chance at approval may vary due to factors such as creditors using a particular variation at their discretion
  • 660 720 850
    Good / Excellent
  • 24/7 access to Visa Signature Concierge Service
  • Benefits when you stay at a property in the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection
  • Purchase protection
  • Extended warranty protection
  • Lost luggage insurance
  • Baggage delay insurance
  • Auto rental collision damage waiver (secondary coverage)
  • Travel accident insurance
  • Travel and emergency assistance
  • Roadside dispatch

Intro Purchase APR

N/A

Regular Purchase APR

19.99%–28.74% Variable

Intro BT APR

N/A

Regular BT APR

19.99%–28.74% Variable

Annual Fee

$0

Cash Advance Fee

Either $5 or 4% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

Foreign Transaction Fee

$0

Balance Transfer Fee

Either $5 or 4% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

Prime Visa benefits

  • Earn cash back at a generous rate

    Cardholders 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. This is a high rewards rate and frequent shoppers at Amazon or Whole Foods will find that few cards match its 5% bonus on these categories.

  • Cash back is easy to redeem

    There are a number of quick and easy ways to redeem rewards with the Prime Visa. You can redeem rewards through your Amazon account by applying them directly to your purchase at checkout.

    You can also redeem points through Chase as soon as the next day. Redemption options include:

    • Statement credits to your card
    • Cash back deposited to a bank account
    • Gift cards from a variety of retailers
    • Travel through Chase.com
  • Get an Amazon gift card once approved

    This sign-up bonus is very easy to earn — you’ll get a $200 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members. Once you are approved for the card your gift card balance will be loaded into your Amazon account and can be used as your payment method at checkout.

    It’s true that there are credit cards with bigger sign-up bonuses, but this one doesn’t require any spending on the card to earn it.

  • No annual fee

    Between the Prime Visa‘s generous cash back program and its $0 annual fee, this card is a money-saving tool for frequent Amazon shoppers. However, note that you will need to have an Amazon Prime membership, which costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year ($7.49 per month or $69 per year for college students).

    For those who already have Amazon Prime, getting this card is an easy decision. But if you don’t already have Prime, you should do the math on how much you spend on Amazon purchases each year and determine if it’s worth signing up for a Prime subscription.

    For example, you would need to spend $2,780 on purchases that earn 5% cash back to recoup the amount of your Prime membership ($3,450 for student members).

    Or, consider that you can just sign up for the regular Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Card to get 3% cash back on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases. You would need to spend $6,950 on these purchases to justify the extra savings you would get with the Prime card.

    Prime Visa Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Card
    Amazon purchases made$6,950$6,950
    Cost of Prime Membership $139 $0
    Cash back rate 5%3%
    Cash back earned $6,950 x 5% = $347.50$6,950 x 3% = $208.50
    Cash back - Cost of Prime Membership $347.50 - $139 = $208.50$208.50 - $0 = $208.50
  • Get it now, pay over time promo APR

    The Prime Visa offers a get it now, pay over time feature that allows you to make monthly interest free payments when you use your card at Amazon.com or another eligible retailer with Amazon Pay. The 0% promo APR can be used on purchases of $50 or more over a six month period or purchases of $250 or more over a 12 month period. After the 0% promo period ends, you’ll be subject to the regular purchase APR of 19.99%–28.74% Variable.

  • Access to a number of Chase benefits

    The Prime Visa is issued by Chase — allowing you to have access to a number of Chase benefits when you use your card:

    • Auto rental collision damage waiver
    • Baggage delay insurance
    • Extended warranty protection
    • Lost luggage reimbursement
    • Roadside assistance
    • Travel accident insurance
    • Travel and emergency assistance services
    • Purchase protection
  • No foreign transaction fee

    You can take the Prime Visa with you when you travel abroad without worrying about having an additional fee tacked onto every transaction you make — this card has a $0 foreign transaction fee.

Prime Visa drawbacks

  • Must have an Amazon Prime Membership

    To qualify for the Prime Visa, you’ll need an Amazon Prime membership. An Amazon Prime membership is currently $14.99 per month or $139 per year ($7.49 per month or $69 per year for college students) and will get you free same-day, one-day and two-day delivery on Amazon Prime purchases, exclusive prime member discounts and free shipping on grocery orders of $150 or more on Amazon Fresh. Plus, you’ll have access to popular movies, shows, books, music, gaming, Amazon Prime Day savings, Rx savings, Amazon photos and free returns.

    Without Prime, you’ll only be able to apply for the Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Card which earns cash back at a lower rate: 3% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, and on Chase Travel purchases, 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare), and 1% back on all other purchases.

  • Subject to Chase's 5/24 rule

    The Prime Visa is issued by Chase, and as such is subject to the Chase 5/24 rule. This means that Chase will deny applicants who have been approved for five or more credit cards from any issuer in the past 24 months.

    If you are unsure of when you opened Chase cards in the past, you can use LendingTree Spring to review when you opened your credit card accounts.

  • You must choose between cash back or the promo APR

    If you opt for the card’s promo APR, you won’t earn cash back on your purchases. Furthermore, it’s a deferred interest offer rather than a true 0% APR, meaning that you’ll owe the full amount of interest if you do not pay back your purchase by the end of the offer date.

    If you’re looking to finance a large purchase, you should search for a card with a 0% intro APR. Many of these cards offer interest free periods of 12 to 21 months.

Alternate Amazon card

Prime Visa vs. Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Card

| Disclosures
Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Card*
Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Card
N/A
19.99%–28.74% (variable)
$0
3% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, and on Chase
  • No Amazon Prime membership required
  • 3% back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market
  • 2% back at restaurants, gas stations and drugstores
  • 1% back on all other purchases
  • No foreign transaction fees
N/A
*The information related to the Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

 

If you don’t have a membership and are unsure if you want to have one, The Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Card is a decent alternative for Amazon users. The Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Card offers 3% cash back on Amazon, Whole Foods and Chase Travel purchases instead of 5%, but it will save you $139 a year on a Prime membership.

The card also has a slightly lower sign-up bonus of a $50 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval. Both the Prime Visa and Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Card offer the same additional Chase benefits. Deciding between these two cards comes down to whether you think a Prime membership will be worth it based on your spending habits.

Alternate cash back card

Prime Visa vs. Chase Freedom Flex℠

| Disclosures
Chase Freedom Flex℠*
Chase Freedom Flex℠
0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months
19.99% - 28.74% variable
$0
5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus
  • Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
  • 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 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 unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
  • No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
  • 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.99% - 28.74%.
  • No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Flex℠ card
  • Keep tabs on your credit health - Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more.
660 720 850
Good / Excellent
*The information related to the Chase Freedom Flex℠ has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

 

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ is a good $0-annual-fee alternative that offers a high 5% cash back on purchases, but on rotating categories that change each quarter. You’ll earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter. Plus, earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases.

Chase’s cash back categories often include Amazon, although the card also gives you a chance to earn high cash back on purchases you make outside of Amazon Prime, like grocery stores and gas stations.

On a down note, however, the bonus categories require activation each quarter, so it may not be a good choice if you don’t want to do a lot of card maintenance. There’s also a foreign transaction fee of 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars, making it a poor choice for travel.

Is the Prime Visa right for you?

For consumers who already have an Amazon Prime membership, adding this $0-annual-fee cash back card to your wallet is simply a smart decision. But if you’re debating whether to get Amazon Prime, consider whether you spend enough on Amazon that this card’s generous cash back program outweighs the $139 cost of an annual subscription ($69 for college students).

And if you’re not a dedicated Amazon shopper, but are looking for a card with a robust cash back program that can help when planning a big purchase, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ or Discover it® Cash Back cards are worth considering instead.

apply-now-icon Apply Now
on Chase's secure site

Frequently asked questions

You can access your Prime Visa card through your Amazon Prime account on Amazon.com or through your Chase account on Chase.com. To access your bill you can choose between paper and electronic statements and pay online at Chase.com, on the Chase app, by check or by phone.

The Prime Visa card is only for Amazon Prime members. If you decide to cancel your Prime membership, your card will essentially be switched to the Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Card, which offers a slightly lower rewards program.

The Prime Visa is a Chase credit card. Just know that this means you’ll be subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule, and may not qualify for the Prime Visa if you’ve opened five or more Chase credit cards in the last 24 months. Since the Prime Visa is a Chase card, you’ll receive access to a number of Chase benefits.

The information related to the Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Card, Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Discover it® Cash Back has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.

The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.