Review: Is the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature card the best credit card for you?
If you're an Amazon Prime member and spend a lot at Amazon, Whole Foods, or both, the
There's no annual fee for Amazon Prime members, and because it's a Visa Signature card, it offers solid benefits including extended warranty, purchase protection, and rental car insurance.
Read more: The best credit cards for Amazon purchases in 2021
The card also offers a unique pay-over-time feature that can be useful if you want to avoid interest charges, but if you take advantage of this option, you won't earn rewards for your purchase.
While this is a great card if you do the bulk of your spending at Amazon and/or Whole Foods, there are other credit cards that earn bonus cash back in a wider variety of categories that might be a better fit. Depending on your spending habits, a card with a flat earning rate on all purchases like the
And if you have a lot of Amazon purchases planned in the coming months, be sure to look at the
Comparison: Amazon Prime Rewards card vs other Chase credit cards
Annual fee | $0 (with a Prime Membership) | ||
Rewards rate | 10% back or more on select products* 5% cash back at Amazon*** 5% cash back at Whole Foods*** 2% cash back at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores 1% cash back on everything else | 5% cash back (5x points) on travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards 5% cash back (5x points) on up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter in rotating bonus categories when you activate 3% cash back (3x points) on dining and drugstore purchases 1% cash back (1x points) on everything else | 5% cash back (5x points) on travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards 3% cash back (3x points) on dining and drugstore purchases 1.5% cash back (1.5x points) on everything else |
Welcome bonus | $100 Amazon gift card on approval | 5% cash back (5x points) at grocery stores (excluding Target and Walmart) on up to $12,000 in spending during the first year of account opening (then 1x) | 5% cash back (5x points) at grocery stores (excluding Target and Walmart) on up to $12,000 in spending during the first year of account opening (then 1x) |
Card benefits | Secondary car rental insurance Baggage delay insurance Lost luggage reimbursement Travel accident insurance Extended warranty Purchase protection Travel and emergency assistance Roadside dispatch Access to Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection Visa Signature Concierge | Car rental insurance (secondary in the US, primary otherwise) Trip cancellation/interruption insurance Purchase protection Extended warranty Travel and emergency assistance services | Extended warranty Car rental insurance (secondary in the US, primary otherwise) Trip interruption/cancellation insurance Travel and emergency assistance services |
Introductory 0% APR offer | None, but cardholders can choose a 0% APR on purchases of $50 or more for six to 18 months (then a 14.24% to 22.24% variable APR) instead of cash back at Amazon checkout | 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months, then a | 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months, then a |
Foreign transaction fee | No | Yes | Yes |
Review |
*limited-time offer
***5% cash back at Amazon and Whole Foods requires a Prime Membership and that your card is loaded to your eligible Amazon account; otherwise earn 3% back on these purchases
Amazon Prime Rewards vs other cash-back credit cards
Annual fee | $0 (with a Prime Membership) | ||
Rewards rate | 10% back or more on select products* 5% cash back at Amazon*** 5% cash back at Whole Foods*** 2% cash back at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores 1% cash back on everything else | 1% cash back when you buy, plus 1% cash back when you pay your bill | 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets**** 2% cash back at U.S. gas stations and select U.S. department stores 1% back on all other purchases |
Welcome bonus | $100 Amazon gift card on approval | N/A | |
Card benefits | Secondary car rental insurance Baggage delay insurance Lost luggage reimbursement Travel accident insurance Extended warranty Purchase protection Travel and emergency assistance Roadside dispatch Access to Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection Visa Signature Concierge | Access to Citi Entertainment | Secondary car rental insurance Purchase protection Global Assist Hotline Access to discounts and bonuses with Amex Offers** |
Introductory 0% APR offer | None, but cardholders can choose a 0% APR on purchases of $50 or more for six to 18 months (then a 14.24% to 22.24% variable APR) instead of cash back at Amazon checkout | 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, then | 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months, then |
Foreign transaction fee | No | Yes | Yes |
Review |
*limited-time offer
***5% cash back at Amazon and Whole Foods requires a Prime Membership and that your card is loaded to your eligible Amazon account; otherwise earn 3% back on these purchases
****3% back on up to $6,000 spent at US supermarkets in a calendar year, then 1% back
How to earn cash back with the Amazon Prime Rewards card
The
You'll also earn 2% cash back at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores, and 1% back on all other purchases. For a limited time, you can also earn 10% to 25% back on select Amazon items marked as "Prime Card Offers" when you use your card.
Read more: The best cash-back credit cards of 2021
With the
How to use rewards from the Amazon Prime Rewards credit card
The simplest way to use rewards from the
You can also request cash back as a statement credit or direct deposit to a linked bank account, or use points toward gift cards or travel.
Benefits and features
For a no-annual-fee card, the
Interest-free equal monthly payments
At Amazon checkout, you'll have the option to select equal monthly payments (from six to 18 months) with a 0% APR on eligible purchases over $50 (then a 14.24% to 22.24% variable APR).
You can set up monthly payments as follows:
- Purchases of $50 or more: Six equal monthly payments
- Purchases of $250 or more: 12 equal monthly payments
- Purchases of $500 or more: 18 equal monthly payments
Read more: The best low-interest and 0% APR credit cards of 2021
You won't earn rewards if you go this route, but it's a handy feature if you have a large Amazon purchase you want to pay for over time without incurring interest charges. Note that the full price will be charged to your card at the time of purchase; you'll be responsible for the monthly payment amount which will appear on each statement.
Car rental insurance
When you decline the rental company's collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost to your card, you're covered for theft and collision damage on most cars. In the US, coverage is secondary to your personal insurance — otherwise, it's primary insurance.
Lost luggage reimbursement
When you pay for your fare with the
Baggage delay insurance
If your bags are delayed for six hours or more, you could be reimbursed for essential purchases (like clothing and toiletries) up to $100 per day for up to three days.
Purchase protection
If an eligible item you've bought with the
Extended warranty
Eligible items you purchase with the
Visa Signature concierge
The Visa Signature concierge can help you arrange things like hard-to-get restaurant reservations or theater tickets. It doesn't cost anything to use the service, but any third-party costs are your responsibility.
Travel and emergency assistance services
If you're away from home and run into trouble, you'll have access to a travel and emergency assistance hotline that can help arrange things like legal and medical referrals, prescriptions, translation services, and more. Keep in mind any third-party costs are your responsibility.
Roadside dispatch
Cardholders have access to a 24/7 roadside dispatch hotline which can help you arrange services like towing, winching, or jumpstarting. The dispatch service itself is free, but you'll be charged for any services rendered.
Travel accident insurance
When you pay for your air, bus, cruise, or train transportation with the
Fees and costs
The
Read more: The best credit cards with no foreign transaction fees
Like most cards, there are fees for balance transfers, cash advances, late payments, and returned payments.
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