Amazon Visa Review: Decent Cash Back on Essentials, No Annual Fee

The Amazon Visa is a decent option for frequent Amazon shoppers who aren’t Prime members. The card offers 3% cash back on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases, plus 2% back on gas, dining and local transit — all with no annual fee or Prime membership required. However, if you’re a regular Amazon shopper, it’s worth considering whether you’re missing out by not having Prime. Prime members not only get free shipping and other perks, but they also qualify for the Prime Visa Card, which increases your cash back to 5% on Amazon and Whole Foods.

If you don’t spend enough on Amazon to justify the Prime membership fee or prefer to avoid extra recurring costs, this card could still help you earn on everyday spending. However, for most Amazon loyalists, the value of Prime combined with the extra rewards makes the upgraded Prime Visa the more compelling option.

The Amazon Visa is a great choice for frequent Amazon shoppers who want to earn good cash back without having to pay an annual fee. It offers 3% cash back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods (5% if you're a Prime member), as well as 2% cash back on gas, dining and local transit. Unlike its upgraded version, the Prime Visa Card, the Amazon Visa doesn’t require a Prime membership (which costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year), so you don’t have to worry whether or not your spending is enough to justify the cost of the card.

In addition to its rewards, the card has no foreign transaction fees and valuable protections like travel accident and extended warranty coverage. Since the Amazon Visa is issued by Chase, you can expect good customer service from its provider.

However, if you shop from Amazon.com often enough, the free shipping you get from a Prime membership can be worthwhile. In that case, the Prime Visa becomes the stronger choice. It offers 5% cash back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods and a $200 sign-up bonus.

The Amazon Visa lets you earn the following cash back from these categories:

• 3% at Amazon.com and Whole Foods (the rate becomes 5% if you’re a Prime member)
• 2% at gas stations, restaurants and on local transit
• 1% on all other purchases

This structure allows you to earn decent cash back on everyday purchases, not just on Amazon. Redeeming the cash back you earn is easy and can be done as soon as the next day. You can also redeem for gift cards and travel through Chase.

However, several cash back cards offer 3% cash back on their bonus categories, such as the Blue Cash Everyday® Card From American Express or the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card.

The Amazon Visa Card provides solid cash back benefits both for Amazon.com purchases and everyday spending outside of Amazon.

Bonus categories. The card lets you earn 3% cash back on Amazon.com and Whole Foods and 2% on gas, dining and local transit. These bonus rates cover everyday essentials and are higher than the typical 1.5% cash back rate from flat-rate cards.

No annual fee and Prime membership. You can enjoy the benefits of the Amazon Visa without worrying about an annual fee or a Prime membership. This makes the card a low-commitment option for folks who just want to earn cash back from their purchases.

Having Prime boosts benefits. While Prime isn’t required, having a membership increases your cash back to 5% on Amazon.com and Whole Foods. Upon approval and access to offers, you’ll also get a $200 Amazon Gift Card that can boost your cash back to as much as 10%.

Flexible payment options. The Amazon Visa offers 0% APR for six months on purchases of $50 and above or 12 months on purchases of $250 or more when shopping on Amazon.com or using Amazon Pay at eligible retailers. However, you won’t earn any cash back if you spread out your payments. It can still provide a breather if you’re planning to buy a high-ticket item on Prime Day or Black Friday.

Travel perks. The card has no foreign transaction fees and useful protections like travel accident insurance and extended warranty coverage. As Chase issues it, you can expect reliable customer service.

Before applying for the Amazon Visa, consider these potential drawbacks:

Highest cash back limited to Amazon. The 3% cash back rate only applies to Amazon.com and Whole Foods, while gas, dining and local transit earn 2%. For a broader range of 3% cash back categories, including supermarkets, gas stations and online retailers (Amazon included), the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express might offer more value.

**Limited 0% APR offer. **Unlike many cash back cards, The Amazon Visa doesn’t offer a 0% intro APR on all purchases or balance transfers. While it does provide a 0% promotional APR for six or 12 months on qualifying purchases, this only applies to Amazon.com and Amazon Pay purchases. If you're seeking a cash back card with a broader 0% intro APR offer, the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card may be a better fit.

To help you decide on the Amazon Visa, we compare it with other cash back cards.

To maximize your cash back, consider pairing the Amazon Visa with other cash back cards to cover a wider range of spending categories.

We evaluated the Amazon Visa by comparing it to 60 other cash back cards. Its Cash Back Score is based on how it performs across the following weighted categories:

• Effective Reward Rate (50%): Measures the card’s overall rewards rate.
• Annual Fee (10%): Rates annual fees, with top scores given for no annual fee.
• Offer ROI (10%): Assesses the value of the card’s sign-up bonus and other offers.
• Intro Purchase (5%): Evaluates the presence of 0% APR offers on purchases.
• Recommended Credit (5%): Looks at the required credit score, rewarding cards accessible to more credit levels.
• Issuer Satisfaction (5%): Rates the card issuer based on J.D. Power satisfaction surveys.
• Penalties (5%): Analyzes penalty fees, with perfect scores given for minimal or no penalty rates.
• Regular APR (5%): Considers the card’s standard APR rates.
• Foreign Transaction (5%): Measures whether foreign transaction fees are charged.

This structured rating process helps you evaluate how the Amazon Visa compares to other cards, allowing you to choose the best option for your financial needs.

For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card From American Express, please click here.

All information about the Amazon Visa has been collected independently by Moneygeek.com and has not been reviewed by the issuer.