Prime Visa Card Review: High Cash Back for Amazon Loyalists

The Prime Visa Card is worthwhile if you frequently shop online as an Amazon Prime member. With 5% cash back on Amazon, Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods, plus 2% on gas, dining and local transit, it's one of the best cards for maximizing rewards on everyday purchases. While it has no annual fee, the requirement for a Prime membership adds some cost, so it's ideal if you already have or plan to use Prime regularly. If not, the Amazon Visa Card offers similar benefits with a lower cash back rate but without the Prime membership requirement.

The Prime Visa, issued by Chase (known for its high customer satisfaction), is an excellent option for frequent Amazon shoppers, offering 5% cash back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods. Along with this standout cash back rate, you'll get an instant $150 welcome bonus for no annual fee. Plus, you can earn 2% cash back at gas stations, restaurants and local transit purchases, as well as 1% on everything else.

However, this card requires an Amazon Prime membership, which costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year. If you sign up for Prime just for the card, the overall expense could be higher than many other cash back cards. For non-Prime members, the Amazon Visa is an alternative. It's practically the same card except for its 3% cash back on Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods, but it doesn't require Prime membership.

Still, for existing Prime members, the Prime Visa delivers strong rewards on Amazon purchases and in everyday spending categories.

The Prime Visa offers robust cash back on Amazon and several everyday categories. Your spending with this card will receive the following cash back rewards:

• 5% on Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods
• 5% on Chase Travel purchases
• 2% at gas stations and restaurants
• 2% on local transit and commuting (including rideshare)
• 1% on everything else

The card also lets you earn 10% back or more on a rotating selection of items and categories on Amazon.com during promotions.

Points earned with the Prime Visa Card don’t expire as long as your account remains open. You can redeem your points instantly for Amazon.com purchases or as a statement credit on your credit card bill.

The Prime Visa’s cash back rate on Amazon is tough to beat, and it also offers competitive cash back on other categories. Here are some of its key advantages:

• High rewards rate: Earning 5% cash back on Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market purchases can lead to significant savings over time, especially if you regularly shop on those platforms. Additionally, the 2% cash back at gas stations, restaurants and local transit covers many everyday categories, allowing you to earn high returns from your purchases.

• Instant welcome bonus: Upon card approval, you’ll receive a $150 Amazon Gift Card. Unlike other cards that require you to reach a minimum spending threshold, you can receive this benefit immediately.

• No annual fee: The card has no annual fee. Although it requires a Prime membership, that is a non-issue if you’re one of the estimated 167 million Prime members. You can treat this card as an extended perk of your subscription.

The Prime Visa offers substantial cash back rewards, but the Prime membership requirement can be a drawback if you're not an existing member.

• Requires Amazon Prime membership: To enjoy the high rewards rate on Amazon purchases, you need an Amazon Prime membership, which costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year. If you're not already a Prime member, this additional cost might outweigh the card's benefits. To break even on the cost of the membership through the 5% cash back alone, you'd need to spend at least $2,780 annually. If you're not a Prime member but frequently shop on Amazon, consider the Amazon Visa.
• No 0% intro APR offer: The Prime Visa does not offer a 0% introductory APR on purchases or balance transfers. This means you won't have a grace period to pay off large purchases without accruing interest, which can be a significant drawback if you're planning to carry a balance. If you're looking for a cash back card offering a no-interest period, check out the U.S. Bank Cash+.

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

To maximize the cash back you earn, it can be a good strategy to pair the Prime Visa with other cash back cards.

We compared the Prime Visa to 60 other cash back cards. Its ranking reflects its performance across the following weighted categories:

• Effective Reward Rate (50%): Measures the card's overall rewards rate.
• Annual Fee (10%): Rates annual fees, with a perfect score given for no annual fee.
• Offer ROI (10%): Assesses the return on investment for welcome bonuses and offers.
• Intro Purchase (5%): Evaluates whether there is a 0% APR offer on purchases.
• Recommended Credit (5%): Looks at the recommended credit score for approval, with a perfect score reflecting broader availability across credit levels.
• Issuer Satisfaction (5%): Reviews the card issuer's performance in J.D. Power's satisfaction studies.
• Penalties (5%): Analyzes penalty fees and rates, with a perfect score given for no penalty rates or fees.
• Regular APR (5%): Considers the card's regular APR rates.
• Foreign Transaction (5%): Measures whether foreign transaction fees apply.

By applying this systematic rating process, MoneyGeek helps you compare card offers and choose the best one for your wallet.

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