Amazon offers two main credit cards, and the right one depends on whether you shop there regularly
Amazon issues two cards through Chase: the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card and the Amazon Prime Store Card. The Visa Signature is a general-purpose card that earns rewards everywhere. The Store Card works only at Amazon and affiliated merchants. Both require a Prime membership to earn the top rewards rate. The Visa Signature charges an annual fee; the Store Card does not. Your choice hinges on whether you want a card for everyday spending or one locked to Amazon purchases.
Key Takeaways
- The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature earns 5% back at Amazon and Whole Foods (with Prime), 2% at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% elsewhere, but costs $39 per year after the first year.
- The Amazon Prime Store Card earns 5% back at Amazon and Whole Foods (with Prime) but 0% elsewhere, has no annual fee, and can only be used at Amazon-owned merchants.
- Both cards require an active Prime membership to earn the advertised 5% rate; without Prime, rewards drop to 3% at Amazon.
- The Visa Signature is a Visa card accepted anywhere Visa is taken; the Store Card is accepted only at Amazon, Whole Foods, and Amazon Business.
- Neither card offers a sign-up bonus, so the decision is based on your ongoing spending pattern, not an introductory offer.
Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature: The everyday card
The Visa Signature card is designed for people who want rewards across multiple merchants, not just Amazon. You earn 5% back on Amazon purchases and Whole Foods Market (if you hold Prime), 2% at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% on everything else. The card costs $39 per year after the first year, though Chase sometimes waives the first year.
Because it is a Visa, you can use it anywhere Visa is accepted — grocery stores, pharmacies, travel, utilities. The 2% rate at gas and restaurants is competitive with general-purpose cards, though not exceptional. The real value comes if you spend heavily at Amazon or Whole Foods. If you do not have Prime, the Amazon rate drops to 3%, which narrows the advantage significantly.
The card includes purchase protection, extended warranty coverage, and travel benefits typical of Visa Signature cards. It does not offer a 0% introductory APR period on purchases or balance transfers, so it is not a tool for financing large purchases.
Amazon Prime Store Card: The focused card
The Store Card earns 5% back at Amazon and Whole Foods (with Prime), but 0% everywhere else. It has no annual fee. The card is accepted only at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods, and Amazon Business — not at other retailers.
This card makes sense if you do almost all your shopping at Amazon and Whole Foods and do not need a general-purpose card. The lack of an annual fee removes the math problem: you earn 5% on every Amazon purchase with no cost to carry the card. If you spend less than $800 per year at Amazon, the Store Card saves you money compared to the Visa Signature (which costs $39 annually).
The Store Card does not include the travel or purchase protections that come with the Visa Signature. It is a store card, not a travel card, so use it only if you are comfortable with a single-merchant tool.
Rewards rates and how Prime membership affects them
Both cards require an active Prime membership to earn the advertised 5% rate at Amazon. Without Prime, the rate drops to 3% at Amazon on both cards. Prime costs $139 per year (or $14.99 per month), so the math changes if you do not already subscribe.
If you hold Prime and spend $1,000 per year at Amazon, the Visa Signature generates $50 in rewards (5%), minus the $39 annual fee, for a net of $11. The Store Card generates $50 with no fee. If you also spend $500 per year at gas and restaurants, the Visa Signature adds $10 (2% on $500), bringing the net to $21. The Store Card stays at $50 because it earns nothing outside Amazon.
The 1% rate on other purchases with the Visa Signature is low compared to flat-rate cards (which often offer 1.5% to 2% everywhere), so the Visa Signature is not a strong choice if you want a single card for all spending. It works best as a second card paired with a flat-rate card for non-Amazon purchases.
Annual fees and when they make sense
The Visa Signature costs $39 per year after the first year. Chase sometimes waives the first year for new cardholders, but this is not may provide. The Store Card has no annual fee.
The $39 fee breaks even if you earn at least $39 in rewards per year above what you would earn with a no-fee card. At Amazon's 5% rate, that means spending $780 per year at Amazon alone. If you also earn 2% at gas and restaurants, the threshold drops. If you spend $500 per year at Amazon and $500 at gas and restaurants, you earn $25 plus $10, totaling $35 — which does not cover the fee.
The Store Card avoids this calculation entirely because there is no fee. The trade-off is that it earns nothing outside Amazon, so it only makes sense if you do not need a general-purpose card.
Comparing the cards side by side
| Feature | Prime Rewards Visa Signature | Prime Store Card |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon rewards rate (with Prime) | 5% | 5% |
| Whole Foods rewards rate (with Prime) | 5% | 5% |
| Gas and restaurants | 2% | 0% |
| All other purchases | 1% | 0% |
| Annual fee | $39 (after year one) | None |
| Where accepted | Everywhere Visa is accepted | Amazon, Whole Foods, Amazon Business only |
| Sign-up bonus | None | None |
| Purchase protection | Yes | No |
| Travel benefits | Yes | No |
How to decide between the two cards
Choose the Prime Rewards Visa Signature if you spend regularly at gas stations, restaurants, or other merchants outside Amazon, and you want a single card that earns rewards everywhere. It also makes sense if you want purchase protection and travel benefits. The annual fee is worth it only if you spend enough to earn back at least $39 in rewards per year.
Choose the Prime Store Card if you do almost all your shopping at Amazon and Whole Foods, and you do not need a general-purpose card. The lack of an annual fee and the simplicity of a single-merchant card appeal to people who are comfortable carrying multiple cards or who use Amazon for most purchases anyway.
If you do not hold Prime, neither card is compelling. The 3% Amazon rate (without Prime) is lower than what you would earn with a flat-rate card, and the annual fee on the Visa Signature makes it harder to justify. Consider a general-purpose rewards card instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Prime to use these cards?
You do not need Prime to open either card, but you need an active Prime membership to earn the 5% rate at Amazon. Without Prime, both cards earn 3% at Amazon. Prime costs $139 per year or $14.99 per month, so factor that into your decision.
Can I use the Store Card outside of Amazon?
No. The Store Card is accepted only at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, and Amazon Business. It will not work at other retailers. If you need a card for everyday spending, the Visa Signature is the only option between these two.
Does either card offer a sign-up bonus?
Neither the Visa Signature nor the Store Card currently offers a sign-up bonus. Your rewards come entirely from ongoing purchases, not from opening the account. This is different from many other credit cards, which offer cash back or points for meeting a spending threshold in the first few months.
What happens to my rewards if I cancel Prime?
If you cancel Prime, the rewards rate on both cards drops from 5% to 3% at Amazon. You can still use the cards, but the benefit shrinks. The Visa Signature's 2% rate at gas and restaurants remains unchanged.
Is the Visa Signature worth the $39 annual fee?
It depends on your spending. If you spend at least $780 per year at Amazon alone, or $500 at Amazon plus $500 at gas and restaurants, the rewards likely cover the fee. If you spend less, the Store Card (with no fee) or a different rewards card may be a better fit.