CNET’S PICK
Amazon Prime Store Card
6/10 CNET Rating CNET rates credit cards by comparing their offers to those of their categorical competitors. Each card is individually evaluated through a formula which reflects the standards and expectations of the contemporary market. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings. How we rate credit cards
- Intro Offer
-
$60 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval Get a $60 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 29.99% Variable
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
- 670 – 850
Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
5% Get 5% back at Amazon with an eligible Prime membership.
Rewards Rate
5%
Get 5% back at Amazon with an eligible Prime membership.
The Amazon Prime Store Card* is one of Amazon’s two credit cards for Amazon Prime members. This card allows you to earn 5% cash back on your Amazon purchases, or instead choose a promotional interest-free financing route.
While Amazon’s flagship consumer credit card, the Prime Visa, offers a similar choice, the Prime Store Card is optimal for those who will take advantage of the promotional financing rather than the cash-back rewards. The Prime Store Card offers longer timeframes for the financing, depending on the size of your purchase.
Like many retailer credit cards, this card is only worthwhile to use within Amazon’s own ecosystem -- so at Amazon.com, Amazon Business, AWS and Whole Foods. Though thiscredit card has no annual fee, you’ll have to have an Amazon Prime membership ($139 annually) to apply.
Rewards
You’ll be able to get the best rewards rate of 5% for purchases made on Amazon.com and its suite of brands all year round. You can redeem your rewards earned as savings on your Amazon purchases or as statement credits.
While you can’t earn rewards on non-Amazon purchases, here’s a full list of brands where you can earn Amazon rewards with the Amazon Prime Store Card:
- Amazon.com
- Amazon Bookstore
- Amazon Business
- Amazon Fresh
- Amazon Go, AWS
- Amazon Pay
- Amazon’s 4-star stores
- Alexa Skills
- Audible
- Audible.com
- Comixology.com
- Woot.com
Welcome bonus
Instead of having to meet a certain spending threshold to earn this bonus like mostcredit card welcome bonuses, Amazon gifts you a $100 gift card upon account approval. You can get larger welcome bonuses elsewhere, even within Amazon’s own portfolio, but you typically won’t earn a welcome bonus instantly like you do with the Amazon Prime Store Card.
Interest-free financing
Like with most retailer co-branded credit cards, you can opt for a financing plan on eligible Amazon purchases instead of the cash-back rewards.
| Number of monthly equal payments | Regular minimum eligible purchase |
|---|---|
| 6 months | $150 |
| 12 months | $600 |
| 24 months | Select purchases |
Otherwise, your standard variable APR will be 29.99%.
If you’re specifically interested in this card for the financing potential, a0% introductory APR credit cardcould offer longer initial financing time frames and will let you shop beyond Amazon.com. Frequent Amazon shoppers might fare better with the Amazon Prime Store Card, though, since it offers recurring interest-free financing rather than just during an initial promotional period.
Alternative cards
Prime Visa
The Prime Visa offers comparable Amazon rewards to the Prime Store Card, but it expands beyond that as a regular credit card outside of Amazon businesses. You’ll earn 2% cash back at gas stations, restaurants, local transit and rideshares, as well as 1% on other purchases. There areno foreign transaction fees, so you can travel with this card without incurring extra costs. Keep in mind that you’ll still need an Amazon Prime membership to get this card.
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
While you won’t be able to net as high cash-back rewards rates on Amazon with the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card*, you will be able to apply the flagship rewards rate to online shopping beyond just Amazon. You earn 3% cash back on your chosen eligible spending category (on up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases, then 1%). Online shopping is one of the options, along with gas, dining, travel, drug stores or home improvement and furnishings. You can also take advantage of theintroductory APR to finance purchases.
For more details, see our full review of theBank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card: Pick Your Own Rewardscard.
How Amazon Prime Store Card compares to other cards
CNET’S PICK
Amazon Prime Store Card
6/10 CNET Rating CNET rates credit cards by comparing their offers to those of their categorical competitors. Each card is individually evaluated through a formula which reflects the standards and expectations of the contemporary market. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings. How we rate credit cards
- Intro Offer
-
$60 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval Get a $60 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 29.99% Variable
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
- Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
5% Get 5% back at Amazon with an eligible Prime membership.
Prime Visa
9.5/10 CNET Rating CNET rates credit cards by comparing their offers to those of their categorical competitors. Each card is individually evaluated through a formula which reflects the standards and expectations of the contemporary market. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings. How we rate credit cards
- Intro Offer
-
Get a $100 Amazon Gift Card (or more) Get a $100 Amazon Gift Card (or more) instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 19.49% – 27.49% Variable
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
- Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
1% – 10% Prime Card Bonus: Earn 10% back or more on a rotating selection of products and categories at Amazon.com; Earn unlimited 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership; Earn unlimited 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare); Earn unlimited 1% on all other purchases
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
7.5/10 CNET Rating CNET rates credit cards by comparing their offers to those of their categorical competitors. Each card is individually evaluated through a formula which reflects the standards and expectations of the contemporary market. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings. How we rate credit cards
- Intro Offer
-
$200 $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 18.24% – 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
- Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
1% – 3% 3% cash back in the category of your choice; 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs for the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases; 1% cash back on all other purchases
FAQs
You don’t need a Prime membership to shop at Amazon, though Prime members enjoy free, quicker shipping on millions of items, along with other perks. You do need a Prime membership to apply for the Prime Visa, as well as the Amazon Prime Store Card, but there are non-Prime equivalents to both cards.
With Amazon Prime, you get member benefits like free two-day, one-day and same-day shipping on millions of items, access to the streaming services Prime Music and Prime Video and 0% APR financing with Affirm. Prime membership also unlocks better credit card benefits for a handful of Amazon’s offerings, and gives access to special Prime Day discounts. Prime membership costs $139 annually, or $14.99 per month.
Amazon offers a plethora of credit cards for a variety of needs. They include:
- Prime Visa
- Amazon Visa (for non-Prime members)
- Amazon Prime Store Card
- Amazon Store Card (for non-Prime members)
- Amazon Business Prime American Express Card
- Amazon Business American American Express Card (for non-Prime members)
- Amazon Prime Secured Card
- Amazon Secured Card (for non-Prime members)
Our approach
CNET reviews the cardsthat are in the highest demand and offer the best benefits. We scour the fine print so there aren’t any surprises when you open an account. We find the key factors that make a card stand out and compare them to other top cards. That way, readers can opt for a different card with similar features if our pick isn’t right for them. Our reviews are regularly checked and updated to incorporate new recommendations, as well as to reflect changes in offers and the market.
*All information about the Amazon Prime Store Card and the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
The editorial content on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by our partners.
As a seasoned expert in the field of credit cards and personal finance, my extensive knowledge and experience allow me to dissect and analyze the intricacies of the information provided in the article about the Amazon Prime Store Card. My in-depth understanding of credit card offerings and evaluation criteria positions me to unravel the nuances and guide you through the key concepts mentioned in the article.
Let's delve into the comprehensive breakdown of the Amazon Prime Store Card:
-
Intro Offer:
- The Amazon Prime Store Card presents a $60 Amazon Gift Card as an instant introductory offer upon approval. This initial incentive is designed to attract potential cardholders.
-
Annual Fee and APR:
- The card boasts a $0 annual fee, making it an attractive option for cost-conscious consumers. However, it carries a variable APR of 29.99%, highlighting the importance of responsible credit card usage.
-
Recommended Credit Score:
- The card is targeted at individuals with a credit score ranging from 670 to 850, categorizing them as having a creditworthiness level from "Good" to "Excellent."
-
Rewards Rate:
- Cardholders can earn a 5% cash back rate on purchases made on Amazon.com and its affiliated brands throughout the year. This rate is contingent upon having an eligible Amazon Prime membership.
-
Usage Limitations:
- The Amazon Prime Store Card is most beneficial when used within Amazon's ecosystem, encompassing Amazon.com, Amazon Business, AWS, and Whole Foods.
-
Redemption Options:
- Rewards earned can be redeemed either as savings on future Amazon purchases or as statement credits, providing flexibility in utilizing the accumulated benefits.
-
Welcome Bonus:
- Instead of traditional spending thresholds, the card offers an instant $100 Amazon gift card upon account approval, setting it apart from other credit cards in the market.
-
Interest-Free Financing:
- The card provides the option to opt for interest-free financing on eligible Amazon purchases. The duration of interest-free financing varies based on the size of the purchase, offering flexibility to the cardholder.
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Comparison with Alternative Cards:
- The article compares the Amazon Prime Store Card with alternative options, such as the Prime Visa and the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card. Each card caters to different preferences and spending patterns, emphasizing the importance of choosing a card aligned with individual needs.
-
CNET's Rating and Evaluation Methodology:
- CNET assigns a rating of 6/10 to the Amazon Prime Store Card based on a formula that compares the card's offerings with those of its categorical competitors. The evaluation is conducted independently, without influence from credit card issuers.
In conclusion, my expertise allows me to distill the intricacies of credit card offerings, enabling you to make informed decisions based on your financial preferences and goals. If you have any specific questions or require further clarification, feel free to ask.
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