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Amazon Visa Review: 3% Back at Amazon and More

Review Updated
Lyle Daly
Author: Lyle Daly
Lyle Daly
Lyle Daly
Writer

Lyle Daly is a personal finance writer who specializes in credit cards, travel rewards programs, and banking. His work with Motley Fool Money and The Motley Fool has appeared syndicated in USA Today and Yahoo! Finance. He was born in California but currently lives as a digital nomad with a home base in Colombia.

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Eric McWhinnie
Fact Checked: Eric McWhinnie
Eric McWhinnie
Eric McWhinnie

Eric McWhinnie has been writing and editing digital content since 2010. He specializes in personal finance and investing. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance.

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Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures that our product ratings are not influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.

Offer status

This offer is unavailable on Motley Fool Money. The information related to Amazon Visa has been collected by Motley Fool Money and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.

Amazon is known for offering just about everything, and the Amazon Visa is more proof of that. It's the rewards card for consumers without a Prime membership, and it earns 3% back in multiple categories, including Amazon and Whole Foods purchases. Read this in-depth Amazon Visa review to find out if it's right for you.

Ratings Methodology

Amazon Visa

Great for: Amazon and Whole Foods cash back

Amazon 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)
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

19.49%–27.49% , variable

Rewards Circle with letter I in it. 3% back on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases, 2% back at restaurants, gas, and drugstores, 1% back on other purchases

1% - 3% back

Annual Fee

$0

Welcome Offer

$60 Amazon gift card

  • Solid rewards and no annual fee make this an interesting offer for Amazon shoppers, but many will be better off upgrading to Prime and the Prime Visa.

    • Amazon and Whole Foods rewards
    • Instant Amazon gift card
    • No annual fee
    • Consumer and travel protections
    • Small welcome offer
    • Limited value compared to Prime Visa
    • $60 Amazon.com Gift Card instantly upon credit card approval
    • 3% back at Amazon and at Whole Foods
    • 2% back at gas stations and drugstores
    • 1% back on all other purchases
The information related to Amazon Visa has been collected by Motley Fool Money and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.

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, 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. 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.

Intro:

Purchases: 0%, 15 months

Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months

Regular: 18.49% - 27.49% Variable APR *Rates as of December 12, 2024.

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 rewards on everyday spending 		$200 cash rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. 2% cash rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers

Purchases: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening

Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers

Regular: 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR

Apply Now for Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

On Wells Fargo's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

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
Best for unlimited rewards on purchases 		25,000 points Circle with letter I in it. 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases 1.5 points per dollar Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.49% - 28.49% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee for 60 days from account opening, then 4% fee applies to all balance transfers.

Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases

Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days

Regular: 18.49% - 28.49% (Variable)

Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

On Bank of America's Secure Website.

Full Amazon Visa review

This credit card is a good fit for: Occasional Amazon shoppers who want to earn more back on those purchases without paying for an Amazon Prime membership. Those who have Amazon Prime can get a more rewarding version of this card.

Top perks

There are several valuable benefits with this Amazon credit card.

Up to 3% back

Here are the cash back rates for the Amazon Visa:

  • 3% back on Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods, and Chase Travel purchases
  • 2% back at gas stations, restaurants (including takeout), and on local transit and commuting (including rideshares)
  • 1% back on other purchases

To make it even better, you can redeem rewards at Amazon.com as soon as the next day. Most cash back credit cards pay out rewards after the end of the billing cycle, not daily like this one. Rewards can also be redeemed through Chase for cash back, gift cards, or travel.

SEE MORE: Best Credit Cards for Amazon

$60 instant Amazon gift card

Upon approval for the Amazon Visa, you receive an instant $60 Amazon gift card. Since it gets loaded to your account, you can use it immediately. It may not be one of the biggest sign-up bonuses, but it is the fastest and it doesn't have any spend requirement like many welcome offers.

Pay over time 0% APR plans

If you want to pay off larger purchases over time, you can do so interest-free with the Amazon Visa. It offers payment plans of six equal monthly payments on purchases of $50 or more and 12 equal monthly payments on purchases of $250 or more. This option is available on eligible Amazon.com purchases and with eligible retailers that offer Amazon Pay.

You don't earn cash back on purchases you finance. Also, if you don't pay off the purchase within the specified time period, you'll be charged interest on any remaining balance.

Consumer and travel protections

For a no annual fee card, the Amazon Visa offers some great complimentary protections for eligible purchases and travel. These additional benefits include:

  • Extended warranty protection
  • Purchase protection
  • Travel accident insurance
  • Auto rental damage collision waiver
  • Baggage delay insurance
  • Lost luggage reimbursement

No foreign transaction fee

This Amazon credit card doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee. Some cards charge extra, normally 3%, for international transactions. It's nice that you can take this card abroad without worrying about additional fees.

What could be improved

The Amazon Visa does have some drawbacks that are worth mentioning.

Small welcome offer

An instant $60 Amazon gift card isn't bad, but as far as welcome offers go, it's on the small side. There are plenty of no annual fee credit cards with sign-up bonuses of $150 to $200 for new cardholders. You need to meet a spend requirement for these types of welcome offers, such as $500 of purchases in three months. If you can do that, they offer much more value.

COMPARE OPTIONS: Best Sign-Up Bonus Credit Cards

Limited value compared to Prime Visa

The other Amazon credit card is the Prime Visa, and to be blunt, it's definitely the better option. It earns a higher rate of 5% on purchases with Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, and Chase Travel. To get it, you need a Prime membership.

If you shop with Amazon enough that you're considering a credit card with it, you may want to consider paying for Prime. It has plenty of benefits, plus you'll be able to get the Prime Visa and earn that 5% rate instead of 3%. On $5,000 in bonus spending per year, that's the difference between $250 and $150 in cash back.

READ MORE: Prime Visa Review

Find the best credit card for your needs
Image of reviewer

Compare credit card rewards, fees, APRs, and more using our side-by-side comparison tool.

Compare Cards

Suggested credit score

The recommended FICO® Score to apply for the Amazon Visa is 670 or higher. Applicants who get approved typically have good credit, so if you're not there yet, you may want to improve your credit score first.

Note that Chase issues this credit card, and it's known for automatically declining applications if the consumer has already opened five or more credit cards in the last 24 months. This is known as Chase's 5/24 rule.

The Amazon Visa is right for you if:

Truth be told, the Amazon Visa serves a small niche. It's great for consumers who want to earn more at Amazon, Whole Foods, and this card's other bonus categories, but who don't want to pay for an Amazon Prime membership.

On the other hand, if you're one of the many people who already have an Amazon Prime membership, you'll qualify for the Prime Visa, which is a better card overall. And if you're looking for something with more versatile perks, it's worth reading more credit card reviews to see what else is out there.

Our credit card methodology

At Motley Fool Money, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.

We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates credit cards.

FAQs

  • The minimum credit card limit for the Amazon Visa is $500, but some cardholders have much higher credit lines. When you're approved for the card, your credit limit is determined by factors such as your credit score and income.

  • There is no annual fee to use the Amazon Visa. As with any credit card, though, interest charges can accrue when not paying off balances monthly.

  • Yes, students can qualify for the Amazon Visa. Like any other applicant, a student will need to meet the card issuer's credit score and income requirements for approval. If you don't have a high credit score yet or are still building your credit history, you can check out student credit cards instead.