amazon prime travel benefits

Prime Visa benefits guide

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Key takeaways

• The Prime Visa is a great card for Amazon Prime members who regularly shop on Amazon.com, at Whole Foods or Amazon Fresh.
• Additional travel benefits are available, which you may not find with other cash back credit cards
• If you don’t regularly shop at Amazon.com, Amazon and Whole Foods or aren’t a Prime member, another type of cash back card would likely be better suited.

If you’re a regular Amazon Prime shopper, having the Amazon Prime Visa card in your wallet is a no-brainer.

This card lets you earn an impressive cash back rate of 5 percent back on Amazon, Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods purchases and 2 percent back at gas stations, restaurants and on local transit and commuting — including rideshare.

Additionally, you’ll receive 5 percent back on Chase Travel purchases, choose to earn rewards or pay over time with certain purchases over $50 on Amazon and earn unlimited 1 percent cash back for all other purchases where Visa is accepted.

You’ll even get up to a $100 Amazon gift card upon approval and receive access to exclusive limited-time cardholder offers of 10 percent or more back on select items from Amazon.com.

However, this card isn’t just rewarding for online shopping. If you hit the roads and the skies as much as you shop online, you’ll love this card’s travel protections and perks, like travel accident insurance. Read on to learn more about the Amazon Prime Visa card and whether it could be the next great addition to your rewards credit card rotation.

Amazon Prime Visa card travel benefits

While the Amazon Prime Visa card is a cash back credit card at heart, it comes with more perks than most people realize. This includes a range of Amazon Prime Visa card benefits for travel, many of which are uncommon for this type of card.

Because this is a Visa credit card, a range of travel benefits are automatically included. For example, select cardholders can receive upgraded benefits at different resorts, hotels and spas with The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection . You’ll benefit from automatic room upgrades (based on availability), complimentary Wi-Fi (where available), complimentary breakfast for two guests and early check-in and late check-out upon request (when available), among other perks.

Secondary auto rental coverage

This card comes with rental car coverage , although it works secondary to any insurance policies you already have. This coverage is good for most car rentals in the U.S. and abroad and applies to losses caused by damage or theft.

Travel accident insurance

Cardholders also get travel accident insurance when they travel by air, bus, train or cruise transportation and pay with the Amazon Prime Visa card. This protection includes accidental death or dismemberment coverage worth up to $500,000.

Lost luggage reimbursement

Lost luggage reimbursement can pay for losses when a checked bag or carry-on luggage is lost or damaged by a common carrier. This protection is good for the cardholder and their immediate family members, and it’s worth up to $3,000 per passenger.

Baggage delay insurance

Cardholders can rest easy on flights knowing that if their baggage arrives more than six hours late, they’ll receive up to $100 per day for up to three days to cover essentials like clothing and toiletries.

Travel and emergency assistance

If you need legal or medical help while away from home, you can call the card’s Benefits Administrator for travel and emergency assistance.

Roadside dispatch

You can also get help through this card when you’re in a pinch on the road, whether it’s your car or a rental car. With Visa’s Roadside Dispatch , you can call a hotline to be towed, jump start your car, get help changing your tire, access fuel delivery and more. These services aren’t free, but you’ll be glad you can count on them in case of an emergency.

No foreign transaction fees

This rewards credit card doesn’t tack on any foreign transaction fees when you use it for purchases overseas. This makes it a solid card option for international travel.

Amazon Prime Visa card consumer protections

The Amazon Prime Visa card also comes with some protections for purchases you make. These perks can help you save money or get a replacement if a product you buy with the card is damaged or stolen, or if an expensive item you purchase stops working in a set timeframe.

Purchase protection

Use your card for purchases and get protection that applies for damage or theft within 120 days. This coverage is good for up to $500 per claim and up to $50,000 per account.

Extended warranties

For items with eligible U.S. warranties that you pay for with your Prime Visa card, the extended warranty protection will extend the warranty by another year. This coverage is good for eligible items with extended manufacturer’s warranties of three years or less.

Maximizing the Amazon Prime Visa card

To make the Amazon Prime Visa card worth it for you, you’ll need an eligible Prime membership and use the card for all your Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods purchases. You should also consider booking travel, such as hotels, rental cars, cruises or airfare, through Chase Travel. All will net you 5 percent cash back, which you can redeem for statement credits or more merchandise from the online retailer.

And since it’s a Visa credit card, you can also use it for any other purchases you make. You’ll even earn 2 percent back at restaurants, gas stations, local transit and commuting and 1 percent back on all other purchases when you do.

That said, you should have a plan to pay your balance in full each month if you see yourself using this card for everyday spending and bills. After all, its 19.49 percent to 27.49 percent variable APR will make carrying a balance a costly experience.

The bottom line

If you’re already an Amazon Prime member, adding the Amazon Prime Visa card to your wallet can make Amazon’s low prices an even sweeter deal. If you use Prime regularly, the welcome bonus gift card and high-earning rewards categories for Amazon.com and Whole Foods purchases can cover the cost of your membership.

This card also offers competitive rewards rates for non-Amazon purchases at gas stations, restaurants and on local transit, commuting and ridesharing. It also comes with a bevy of benefits — roadside protections, a concierge service, hotel perks and travel protections — that make it a great option for travelers.

At the end of the day, all the perks and rewards you’ll get make this card well worth it over the long run, but don’t forget to check out other options on our list of the best credit cards for shopping on Amazon .

Amazon Prime Visa offers ample points for online shopping

Amazon store cards vs. Amazon Visa credit cards

Is the Prime Visa Worth It?

Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card review: A role model retail card

How much could you save?

How to use your rewards, travel perks, comparing the prime visa to other travel credit cards, the bottom line, how the prime visa card can help you save on your next vacation.

Amazon’s Prime Visa card is more than just a retail card. Here are the perks you might not know about.

Evan Zimmer

Staff Writer

Evan Zimmer has been writing about finance for years. After graduating with a journalism degree from SUNY Oswego, he wrote credit card content for Credit Card Insider (now Money Tips) before moving to ZDNET Finance to cover credit card, banking and blockchain news. He currently works with CNET Money to bring readers the most accurate and up-to-date financial information. Otherwise, you can find him reading, rock climbing, snowboarding and enjoying the outdoors.

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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.

The Prime Visa can do a lot -- from earning rewards for your Amazon shopping sprees and Whole Foods grocery hauls to insuring your new purchases from damage or theft with a myriad shopping protections. 

It’s become my go-to credit card when I need to buy anything online. And its versatility doesn’t stop there. In lieu of opening a travel credit card, you might find the Prime Visa could save you a decent amount on your travel bookings by using its rewards to fund them.

The Prime Visa is a rewards powerhouse when it comes to all things Amazon, but as a Chase credit card, it comes with a lesser-known bonus category for travel. Not only will you earn 2% cash back for local transit and commuting (including rideshares), but you can also earn 5% cash back when you book your travel through Chase. It even includes a number of travel protections like travel accident insurance, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, roadside dispatch and an auto rental collision damage waiver.

You can learn more in our Prime Visa review .

Most avid travelers like to shop around to find the best rate, rather than going through one booking service or travel portal. However, even if you’re able to book a single aspect of your trip through Chase, it can put some money back in your pocket.

Chase’s travel portal lets you book hotels, rental cars, airfare, activities and cruises. If you booked a $807 weekend hotel for two in Denver with an $83 rental car, you’d earn $44.50 in rewards to put toward another trip or toward your account to lower your overall balance.

However, unlike some of Chase’s other credit cards (specifically those in the Chase Ultimate Rewards program), you aren’t able to utilize point transfers with the Prime Visa. Point transfers are a way to potentially get even more value from your points by transferring them to partner airlines or hotels.

The Prime Visa lets you redeem your rewards for cash back, merchandise through Amazon or for travel. However, you’ll get the best value if you redeem your points as cash back or travel. While convenient, if you redeem them when you checkout with Amazon, you’ll miss out on earning rewards for those purchases.

Your points will be worth 1 cent each. Whether you want to use them for travel or cash back depends on your preferences. If you travel frequently, putting your rewards toward covering some of the expenses could help save money toward activities when you land.

If you’ve been booking your travel using a debit card or a non-travel credit card, you’re missing out on both rewards and protections that could help avoid financial headaches in certain circumstances. The Prime card comes equipped with more travel protections than some dedicated travel cards.

• Travel accident insurance: Charging your airfare, bus fare, cruise fare or train fare to the card provides up to $500,000 in coverage against accidental death and dismemberment.
• Baggage delay insurance: If your baggage is delayed for longer than six hours, you can get reimbursed for the cost of essential purchases like toiletries and clothing by up to $100 per day for three days.
• Lost luggage reimbursement: If you or an immediate family member has luggage lost or damaged by the carrier, you’re covered by up to $3,000.
• Roadside dispatch: If you run into car trouble -- whether it’s a flat tire, dead battery or you’ve locked your keys in your car -- you can call 1-800-847-2869 for assistance.
• Auto rental collision damage waiver: If you decline the rental car provider’s insurance offer and charge the full amount to your Prime Visa card, you’ll get secondary coverage for your rental against damage or theft.

While the Prime Visa could fill the spot of travel credit card in your wallet, it’s not the only option available.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card* is a great choice if you’re looking for flat-rate rewards that you don’t have to think about. Whereas the Prime Visa provides a different reward rate depending on which purchase you’re using it for, the Venture will earn the same amount no matter what you’re buying.

Despite being a dedicated travel credit card, it has fewer travel protections than the Prime card. However, it does provide an application fee credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry , which can save avid travelers a lot of time at the airport.

It comes down to how much flexibility you want, and if you’d rather lean more into travel rewards. With the Venture card, you’ll have more choices when it comes to booking travel, but you’ll miss out on higher rewards at Amazon with the Prime Visa.

You can learn more in our Capital One Venture Rewards Card review .

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card has the Prime Visa beat when it comes to travel. But that makes sense, considering the Sapphire Preferred is a dedicated travel card whereas the Prime merely dabbles in it. It comes with one of the best reward programs thanks to its 25% redemption bonus when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠ and its 1:1 point transfer rate to Chase’s travel partners.

Point transfers are how you can get even more value from your points. The Prime Visa is unable to take advantage of point transfers, which is one of the most lucrative features of a travel card. That means it can’t really compete with the Chase Sapphire Preferred’s reward program redemption opportunities.

You can learn more in our Chase Sapphire Preferred Card review .

American Express® Gold Card

While the Prime Visa offers a great rewards rate at Whole Foods, the American Express Gold Card offers rewards at all restaurants and U.S. supermarkets. The reward rate is slightly less than what you’d get from the Prime Visa, but it gives cardholders more places to eat and earn rewards with.

It also features rewards for flights booked directly with airlines or through amextravel.com. It’s a bit more restrictive than the other cards here, considering you won’t be able to earn many rewards for your hotel or rental car or for rideshares, but you could earn rewards beyond Whole Foods on your travels.

The Amex Gold also lets cardholders use points to fund your Amazon purchases. But you’d get only 0.7 cent per point for doing so, which is less than if you redeem your rewards for statement credits with the Prime Visa. The Gold card also costs $250 annually, which is over $100 more than a Prime membership.

You can learn more in our American Express Gold Card review .

The Prime Visa is unmatched when it comes to earning rewards with Amazon and its brands. I use it whenever I need to buy something online or if I’m craving the Whole Foods hot bar or baked goods -- but I leave it alone for anything else. 

If you don’t have a travel credit card in your wallet, it can fill that space – and be pretty rewarding too. The caveat is that you’ll need to book your travel through Chase rather than shopping around with different travel portals. If you’re an avid traveler though, there are other dedicated travel credit cards that do it better.

*All information about the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of the American Express Gold Card, click  here .

CNET editors independently choose every product and service we cover. Though we can’t review every available financial company or offer, we strive to make comprehensive, rigorous comparisons in order to highlight the best of them. For many of these products and services, we earn a commission. The compensation we receive may impact how products and links appear on our site.

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Amazon Prime Visa Review: Perhaps the Ultimate Store Card

What’s on This Page

The bottom line, pros and cons, detailed review, compare to other cards, benefits and perks, drawbacks and considerations, how to decide if it's right for you.

If you're a big spender at Amazon or Whole Foods, no other card can reward you this handsomely or consistently for your loyalty. But if you rarely buy from either retailer, you'd benefit more from a card that rewards you where you shop the most.

Rewards rate

Bonus offer

• Get a $100 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members.

Ongoing APR

APR: 19.49%-27.49% Variable APR

Cash Advance APR: 29.99%, Variable

Penalty APR: Up to 29.99%

Balance transfer fee

Either $5 or 4% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

Foreign transaction fee

• Earn unlimited 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership.
• Prime Card Bonus: Earn 10% back or more on a rotating selection of products and categories at Amazon.com.
• Earn unlimited 2% back at gas stations, restaurants and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare).
• Earn unlimited 1% back on all other purchases.
• No annual credit card fee.
• No more waiting. Redeem daily rewards at Amazon.com as soon as the next day.
• Member FDIC.

No annual fee

High rewards rate

Flexible rewards redemption

No foreign transaction fees

New cardholder bonus offer

Must be a member/customer

No 0% intro APR

If you're an Amazon Prime loyalist, it's hard to find fault with the Prime Visa .

The card, issued by Chase, earns a stellar rewards rate at both Amazon.com and Whole Foods. And unlike a lot of other store-branded cards , you can use it — and earn rewards with it — anywhere that accepts Visa. You'll enjoy bonus rewards at restaurants, drugstores and gas stations, too. Plus, redemption options are quite flexible for a store card.

You get all this for an annual fee of $0 , although you'll need to pay for an Amazon Prime membership first. Those who don't shop enough with Amazon to justify that membership fee will want to look elsewhere.

Amazon offers an array of credit cards in addition to this one. Some are for Prime members only, while others are open to anyone. Some are store cards that can be used only at Amazon; others can be used anywhere that accepts Visa. Here's a look at other options.

» MORE: Best credit cards to use at Amazon

Prime Visa : Basics

Card type: Store and rewards .

Annual fee: $0 , but you must be an Amazon Prime member. Membership costs $139 annually ($69 a year for students). Note that in many states, a sales tax will apply to your membership fee, pushing the effective cost higher.

Sign-up bonus: Get a $100 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members.

5% back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market.

5% back on purchases through Chase Travel.

2% back at restaurants and gas stations.

2% back on local transit and commuting (including rideshare).

1% back on all other purchases.

Rewards come as points that are worth a penny each. They can be redeemed toward eligible Amazon.com purchases, with no minimum redemption required. But you can also redeem points through Chase for cash back, either as a statement credit or a deposit into an eligible checking or savings account, also with no minimum required. Other redemption options include travel and gift cards. Note that points earned on the Prime Visa cannot be combined with Chase Ultimate Rewards® points.

APR: The ongoing APR is 19.49%-27.49% Variable APR .

Foreign transaction fees: None.

Other benefits:

Travel protections: Travel accident insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, travel and emergency assistance, auto rental collision damage waiver , roadside dispatch.

Shopping protections: Extended warranty , purchase protection.

Plus: Visa Signature concierge service and access to booking hotels in the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection.

» MORE: Chase credit cards mobile app review

High ongoing rewards

If you spend a lot at Amazon.com or Whole Foods Market, no other card can offer such consistently high rewards for your loyalty as the Prime Visa . A few other cards do come close, like the Chase Freedom Flex℠ . It earns up to 5% cash back in rotating bonus categories that change each quarter, up to a $1,500 quarterly spending cap. (Activation is required.) And in the past, Amazon.com has been among that card's 5% bonus categories — but, again, only for a three-month period, and only up to that combined quarterly $1,500 cap.

If you want Amazon-centric earnings without the membership price tag, consider the Amazon Visa . This version also has an annual fee of $0 , but it doesn't require a Prime membership. It earns less in rewards at Amazon and Whole Foods, but you'll snag the same rate on everything else.

» MORE: Best credit cards for grocery store spending

Rewards flexibility

The only thing more fun than earning rewards is redeeming them, and your earnings on the Prime Visa can be used in a variety of ways (which isn't always the case with store-branded credit cards). Use rewards toward your next Amazon purchase, or redeem them through Chase to buy gift cards, to book travel or to get straight-up cash back. Points are worth one cent each any way you use them.

Packed with extras

Even if the farthest you travel is from your bed to your couch, the Prime Visa is jam-packed with juicy Visa Signature extras that nearly anyone can benefit from. Serious online shoppers can take advantage of the purchase and warranty protections on qualifying items. And for those who do travel frequently, the Prime Visa doesn't come with any foreign transaction fees, making it ideal for use internationally. Domestic and international travelers alike can find value in the included auto rental collision damage waiver coverage, baggage delay insurance, and travel and emergency assistance.

» MORE: Declining car rental insurance abroad? Know the risks

The value is mostly at Amazon and Whole Foods

Unless you're doing a significant amount of shopping through Amazon or at Whole Foods, it doesn't make sense to apply for the Prime Visa . For starters, Amazon isn't always the cheapest option — especially when you factor in the cost of a Prime membership — and Whole Foods didn't earn the nickname "Whole Paycheck" for carrying budget-minded fare. If you aren't into membership fees and you're looking for low prices, consider applying for a different co-branded credit card from a different ubiquitous retail behemoth: namely, the Capital One® Walmart Rewards™ Mastercard® . The card offers similarly generous rewards for shopping under the Walmart umbrella: 5% back on purchases at Walmart.com; 2% back on in-store purchases at Walmart (including at Murphy USA and Walmart gas stations), as well as on travel and restaurant expenses; and 1% back on all other purchases. And like Amazon, Walmart also carries just about any item you can think of. The difference? No annual membership fee is required to hold the card.

» MORE: How the Capital One® Walmart Rewards™ Mastercard® stacks up vs. the competition

The 'everything else' rate is lackluster

The Prime Visa offers elevated rewards in several categories — but not on every purchase you make. If you want a simpler option that can reward you well no matter where you buy, a better choice might be the Citi Double Cash® Card . It has the potential to earn a fantastic 2% cash back on all purchases: 1% when you buy, plus another 1% when you pay, with no category tracking or pricey membership required. The annual fee is $0 .

And if that card doesn't make sense for you, check out a list of Nerdwallet's best rewards credit cards .

N o 0% intro APR offer

If you're aiming to finance a big-ticket item or you just want some extra time to pay off an existing balance, there are plenty of cards with enticing introductory interest-free offers. As with most store-branded credit cards, the Prime Visa is not one of them. For a lengthy 0% intro APR period on both balance transfers and purchases, the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card is a good choice.

If you spend big at Amazon, Whole Foods, or both, no other card can reward you as generously and consistently as the Prime Visa . But if you aren't doing most of your shopping at either place, there's little reason to get this card.

If it's ease of use you're after, this card delivers. It earns 2% cash back on all spending — 1% when you make a purchase, and 1% when you pay the bill.

Looking For Something Else?

Methodology.

NerdWallet reviews credit cards with an eye toward both the quantitative and qualitative features of a card. Quantitative features are those that boil down to dollars and cents, such as fees, interest rates, rewards (including earning rates and redemption values) and the cash value of benefits and perks. Qualitative factors are those that affect how easy or difficult it is for a typical cardholder to get good value from the card. They include such things as the ease of application, simplicity of the rewards structure, the likelihood of using certain features, and whether a card is well-suited to everyday use or is best reserved for specific purchases. Our star ratings serve as a general gauge of how each card compares with others in its class, but star ratings are intended to be just one consideration when a consumer is choosing a credit card. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.

Frequently asked questions

There's no annual fee for the card, but you have to be an Amazon Prime member to apply for it and Prime membership costs $139 a year. If you’re not a Prime member, you can apply for the "non-Prime" Amazon Rewards Visa Signature card, which has no annual fee (but also earns lower rewards rates at Amazon and Whole Foods).

You can redeem rewards directly for Amazon purchases, for a credit on your statement to reduce your balance, or as a deposit in a checking or savings account. You can also redeem the rewards for gift cards or to book travel through Chase.

The Prime Visa is recommended for those with good to excellent credit, which generally means a credit score above 690.

The Prime Visa earns 5% back on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases, 2% back at restaurants, gas stations and drugstores, and 1% back on all other purchases.

Prime Visa is issued by Chase. Because of that, you might not be approved if you have opened five or more credit card accounts from all issuers in the past 24 months.

The ongoing APR is 19.49%-27.49% Variable APR . This card doesn't have an introductory 0% APR period.

About the author

Robin Saks Frankel

Prime Visa card review: A good choice for regular Amazon shoppers

Editor's Note

Prime visa card overview.

Amazon's Prime Visa is a solid earner, featuring a 5% return on Amazon.com, Whole Foods Market and Chase Travel℠ purchases, 2% on restaurant, gas station and commuting purchases and 1% back on everything else, making it a strong contender for those who spend big with Amazon brands. This card does not have an annual fee. We recommend a credit score of 670* or above. Card rating **: ⭐⭐⭐½

**Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG's editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

Most of the time, we recommend saying "no thanks" when a cashier (or online pop-up) asks if you want to sign up for a store credit card at checkout. The discount you'll get on your purchase is rarely as valuable as the sign-up bonuses other cards offer, and most store cards have disappointing earning structures.

But there are a few exceptions to that rule — and the Prime Visa is one of them.

The Prime Visa is worth considering if you spend a lot of your budget at Amazon or Whole Foods and want the best earning rate for those purchases. It earns 5% back on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases, a substantial return for a card with no annual fee.

But of course, it isn't the best card for everyone. Here's what you need to know to decide if the Prime Visa deserves a spot in your wallet.

Prime Visa pros and cons

Prime visa welcome offer.

Currently, the Prime Visa offers a $100 Amazon gift card instantly upon approval.

Not only is this a solid welcome offer for a no-annual-fee card, but you'll receive the e-gift card instantly upon approval instead of having to meet a spending requirement to earn it.

While the Prime Visa has no annual fee, you need a Prime membership to get the card. And since this is a Chase card, you'll want to be under 5/24 to increase your chances of approval.

Related: The best credit cards for Amazon purchases

Prime Visa benefits

We usually don't expect many benefits from a card without an annual fee, but the Prime Visa has some surprising perks.

As a cardholder, you'll get extended warranty protection***, purchase protection***, travel accident insurance**** and lost or delayed baggage insurance****. Additionally, the Prime Visa doesn't charge foreign transaction fees.

It seems like we hear a new horror story of someone's lost luggage every day, so having baggage protection on top of earning bonus rewards on your purchase of Apple AirTags through Amazon is a great benefit.

With this card, you'll enjoy 10% back on a rotating selection of items and categories. Finally, cardholders usually get access to early deals during Prime Day and can earn boosted rewards during these sales events.

*** Insurance benefits are underwritten by Indemnity Insurance Company of North America ("Provider"). Coverage may not be available in all states or certain terms may be different where required by state law. To learn more, please visit https://www.chasebenefits.com/visasignatureVW1. **** Insurance benefits are underwritten by Federal Insurance Company. Coverage may not be available in all states or certain terms may be different where required by state law. To learn more, please visit https://www.chasebenefits.com/visasignatureVW1.

Related: What to do when an airline loses your luggage

Earning cash back on the Prime Visa

The Prime Visa earns 5% back on Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and Chase Travel purchases. It also earns 2% back at gas stations, restaurants and local commuting (including ride-hailing) and 1% on all other purchases.

No other card consistently offers this high of a return on Amazon purchases, so this earning structure is excellent for anyone who spends a large portion of their budget at Amazon and Whole Foods. If you want to stick to just one card, the additional 2% back categories are decent for everyday spending.

However, you can get higher earning rates on gas stations , restaurants , commuting and general purchases with other cards, so the Prime Visa works best as just one part of a larger card strategy.

Related: The best rewards credit cards for each bonus category

Redeeming cash back on the Prime Visa

One of the Prime Visa's best qualities is the ease of redeeming rewards. Most simply, you'll see your rewards on your Amazon checkout screen and can use them to pay for part or all of your purchases at Amazon.com.

Alternatively, you can redeem your rewards for cash back, gift cards or travel through Chase Travel. No matter which redemption option you choose, you'll get a value of one cent per point.

Other cards allow you to use your rewards to pay for your Amazon purchases, but we only recommend this route if you have the Prime Visa.

For instance, TPG values Chase Ultimate Rewards points at 2.05 cents apiece, but you'll get less than 1 cent per point if you use those points to pay for a purchase on Amazon.com. On the other hand, your Prime Visa rewards are worth the same one cent each whether you choose to use them to cover an Amazon purchase, get cash-back or book travel through Chase Travel.

Related: How to get maximum value from your Chase Ultimate Rewards

Which cards compete with the Prime Visa?

If you don't have a Prime membership or don't spend much of your budget at Amazon or Whole Foods, one of these cards may be a better choice for you:

• If you want to earn more on other online purchases: The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express has no annual fee (see rates and fees ) and earns 3% back on U.S. online retail purchases (up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%). For more details, check out our full review of the Amex Blue Cash Everyday .
• If you want to earn more dining and drugstore purchases: The Chase Freedom Unlimited® has no annual fee and earns 3% on dining and drugstore purchases and 1.5% on all other purchases. For more details, check out our full review of the Freedom Unlimited .
• If you want to earn a flat rate on all your purchases: The Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees ) has no annual fee and earns 2% back on all purchases (1% when you buy, 1% when you pay). For more details, check out our full review of the Citi Double Cash .

For additional options, see our list of best cash-back credit cards and best store credit cards .

Related: Store vs. cash-back credit cards: Which one should I get?

Is the Prime Visa worth it?

If you already have a Prime membership and want to earn cash-back rewards, the Prime Visa is a good card to start with or add to your existing portfolio. However, if you don't have a Prime membership or are focused on earning travel rewards , you'll probably get more value from a different card.

Related: Cash-back vs. travel rewards: How to choose a credit card

Bottom line

With an unbeatable 5% return on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases and a simple redemption system, the Prime Visa is great for those who prefer the ease of using a no-annual-fee credit card that earns cash back over earning more complex travel rewards.

But if you plan to use points and miles for your next big trip, you'll want to use a card that earns travel rewards points on your Amazon purchases instead. No matter which route you choose, you can't go wrong with a card that earns rewards every time you click "Buy now" in your Amazon shopping cart.

Apply here: Prime Visa

For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred card, click here .

*The Points Guy credit ranges are derived from FICO® Score 8, which is one of many different types of credit scores. If you apply for a credit card, the lender may use a different credit score when considering your application for credit.

Prime Visa and Amazon Visa

No annual credit card fee plus no foreign transaction fees †.

Earn unlimited 3% back on your Amazon.com purchases or 5% back with an eligible Prime membership*

Amazon Fresh

Earn unlimited 3% back at Amazon Fresh online or in-store or 5% back with an eligible Prime membership*

Whole Foods Market

Earn unlimited 3% back online or in-store at Whole Foods Market or 5% back with an eligible Prime membership*

Chase Travel

Earn unlimited 3% back on Chase Travel purchases or 5% back with an eligible Prime membership*

Gas stations

Earn unlimited 2% back at gas stations*

Restaurants

Earn unlimited 2% back at restaurants whether you dine in or take out*

Local transit and commuting

Earn unlimited 2% back on local transit and commuting, including rideshare*

All other purchases

Earn unlimited 1% back on all other purchases anywhere Visa is accepted*

Or redeem at Chase.com for cash back, gift cards, or travel

Earn 10% back or more on select products with Prime Card Bonus

Eligible Prime cardmembers earn 10% back or more on a rotating selection of items and categories on Amazon. Limited-time offers.*

Additional benefits built right in*

• Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver • Baggage Delay Insurance • Extended Warranty Protection • Lost Luggage Reimbursement • Roadside Dispatch • Travel Accident Insurance • Travel and Emergency Assistance • Purchase Protection

Get it now, pay over time with equal monthly payments

Choose to earn rewards OR take advantage of 0% promo APR for 6 or 12 months on purchases of $50 or more when you use the card at Amazon.com or at eligible retailers with Amazon Pay. After the 0% promo period a variable APR of 19.49% to 27.49% applies †

Prime changes everything

Eligible Prime cardmembers earn 5% back at Amazon and Whole Foods Market — plus 10% or more on a rotating selection of items and categories on Amazon.com. And we’re just getting started.*

FAQ section

The Amazon Gift Card amount will be loaded into the Gift Card Balance of your Amazon account upon approval of your application, as long as you have not closed your account. You will receive the Amazon Gift Card amount based on your Prime membership status when your credit card application was submitted. This Amazon Gift Card offer is only awarded to new cardmembers at the time of approval.

To use your Amazon Gift Card, select your gift card balance as the payment method at checkout. Click here to view your card balance, or view it any time in your account by clicking View Gift Card balance and activity under Gift Cards. Amazon.com Gift Card balance does not expire. See Amazon Gift Cards terms and conditions .

You can earn unlimited 3% back at Amazon.com, Whole Foods Market, and on Chase Travel purchases, or 5% with an eligible Prime membership, 2% back in select categories, and 1% back on all other purchases. % back rewards are tracked as points and each $1 in % back rewards earned is equal to 100 points. Points will be credited to your Cardmember points balance as soon as the next day. Once points are added to your Cardmember account, the points balance can be seen on your Prime Visa or Amazon Visa rewards dashboard. Prime Visa or Amazon Visa Cardmembers can apply points to eligible purchases on Amazon.com by selecting to use points at checkout or redeemed at Chase.com for cash back, gift cards or travel. When you use points to redeem for eligible purchases at Amazon.com, or on travel, cash, and gift cards, each point is worth $.01 (one cent), which means that 100 points equals $1 in redemption value. Redemption values for other reward options may be worth more or less than this. Purchases made under Equal Pay promotions do not earn % back rewards. Please see offer details for more information.

Earn unlimited 3% back on Chase Travel purchases, or unlimited 5% back with an eligible Prime membership. This category includes prepaid travel purchases made on chasetravel.com or by calling the number on the back of your card to book. Eligible travel purchases include airline tickets, hotels, car rentals, and cruises. Any items or charges not paid for on chasetravel.com or by calling the number on the back of your card will not qualify. Any portion of your purchase paid for using points will not qualify. You may see “travel purchased through Chase” or “travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards” in marketing materials to refer to travel purchased through Chase Travel. To see a breakdown of your rewards earned from Chase Travel purchases, go online to your Rewards Activity page. You can also see it on your monthly card billing statement. Please see offer details for more information.

Once you’re approved, you’ll have a choice between paper or electronic statements. Your statement will include details on how to register and pay your bill. Bill payments are available online via the self-service site or mobile app, as well as by check or over the phone. For more details please visit https://www.chase.com/personal/credit-cards/amazon/online-services

Upon approval of your application, your new credit card will arrive in a plain, white envelope within two weeks.

Amazon and Chase use customer reviews about the Prime Visa or Amazon Visa to improve customer experience and address complaints, and cardholders posting reviews may be identified to Chase for this purpose. For more information on how information about you is used and shared by Amazon, please see the Amazon.com Privacy Notice. For more information about customer reviews, please see Understanding Customer Reviews and Ratings .

Customer reviews

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

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