Prime credit cards are rewards cards tied to Amazon Prime membership, offering bonus points on Prime-may be able to access purchases and other spending categories

A Prime credit card is a rewards card issued in partnership with Amazon and a bank. The most common version is the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card, issued by Chase. It gives you points (called "points" by Amazon, though some issuers call them "miles" or "cash back") on purchases made through Amazon and Whole Foods, plus a smaller earning rate on other purchases.

The card itself is free to open and has no annual fee. You do not need an active Amazon Prime membership to hold the card, though the rewards structure assumes you have one — the bonus categories are designed around Prime benefits. If you do not have Prime, the card still earns points on all purchases, but at a lower rate on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases.

The card is a Visa Signature card, which means it includes benefits like purchase protection, travel accident insurance, and extended warranty coverage. These are standard perks that come with the Visa Signature designation, not unique to this card.

Key Takeaways

  • The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card earns 5% back on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases if you have Prime membership, and 1% on everything else.
  • There is no annual fee, and you can earn a sign-up bonus of points (the amount varies by offer) when you meet a spending threshold in the first few months.
  • The card works best if you spend regularly on Amazon or Whole Foods; without Prime membership, the earning rates drop to 3% and 1% respectively.
  • Other rewards cards may offer higher earning rates on groceries, gas, or dining if those categories matter more to your spending than Amazon.

How the rewards structure works

The card earns points at different rates depending on where you spend. With an active Prime membership, you earn 5% back on Amazon.com purchases and 5% back at Whole Foods Market. On all other purchases, you earn 1% back.

Without Prime membership, the rates drop: 3% back on Amazon.com and 1% at Whole Foods, plus 1% on everything else. This difference is the main reason the card is marketed to Prime members — the 5% rate on Amazon is the primary draw.

Points can be redeemed for statement credits (which reduce your bill), or transferred to your Amazon account as Amazon.com credit. One point equals one cent when redeemed either way. There is no minimum redemption amount, so you can redeem as soon as you have earned points.

Sign-up bonuses and how they compare

New cardholders typically receive a sign-up bonus if they spend a set amount within the first three or four months. The bonus amount changes periodically — it has ranged from 10,000 to 30,000 points in recent years. Check the current offer on Amazon's credit card page or the Chase website before you open the card, because the bonus is only available at the time of process.

To put this in perspective: 10,000 points equals $100 in statement credit or Amazon.com credit. A 20,000-point bonus is worth $200. These bonuses are competitive with other rewards cards, though some travel cards offer sign-up bonuses worth more in dollar value if you can redeem points for flights or hotel stays.

When the Prime card makes sense versus other options

The Prime card is the strongest choice if you have Prime membership and spend at least $100 per month on Amazon or Whole Foods combined. At that spending level, the 5% rate generates $60 per year in rewards, which covers the card's lack of an annual fee and then some.

If you spend heavily on groceries, gas, or dining out, a different card may earn you more. The Blue Cash Preferred from American Express, for example, earns 3% back on groceries and gas (up to certain limits), which beats the Prime card's 1% on those categories. The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns 3% on dining and travel, which is higher than the Prime card's 1% catch-all rate.

Without Prime membership, the Prime card becomes less attractive. The 3% rate on Amazon is still reasonable, but you are giving up the 5% Whole Foods benefit. If you do not shop at either place regularly, a flat-rate card like the Chase Freedom Unlimited (which earns 1.5% on all purchases) may be simpler.

Annual fees and other costs

The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card has no annual fee. This is unusual for rewards cards — many premium cards charge $95 to $550 per year. The lack of a fee means you can hold the card indefinitely without it costing you money, even if you do not use it.

The card does not charge foreign transaction fees, which is useful if you travel internationally and use the card abroad. Most cards in this category do charge foreign fees (typically 3%), so this is a real advantage.

There are no other hidden costs. You pay interest on balances you carry month to month (the rate varies based on your creditworthiness and current market rates), but that is true of any credit card.

Credit requirements and who can open this card

Chase does not publish a minimum credit score for the Prime card, but based on cardholder reports, approval typically requires good to excellent credit — usually a score of 670 or higher. If your score is below 650, approval is unlikely.

You must be at least 18 years old and have a Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number to open the card. You will need to provide your name, address, date of birth, and income during the process.

Chase will pull a hard inquiry on your credit report, which temporarily lowers your score by a few points. If you have recently opened multiple cards or have high credit utilization, approval odds may be lower.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need Amazon Prime to use this card?

No, but the card is designed for Prime members. Without Prime, you earn 3% on Amazon and 1% at Whole Foods instead of 5% and 5%. If you do not have Prime and do not plan to get it, a different rewards card will likely serve you better.

Can I use this card outside Amazon and Whole Foods?

Yes. You earn 1% back on all other purchases — restaurants, gas, utilities, travel, everything. The 1% rate is lower than some competitors offer, so the card works best when combined with heavy Amazon or Whole Foods spending.

How do I redeem my points?

Log into your Chase account, go to the rewards section, and choose to redeem for a statement credit or Amazon.com credit. One point equals one cent either way. There is no minimum, so you can redeem $5 worth of points if you want to.

What happens to my points if I close the card?

Points remain in your account for a limited time after you close the card — typically 90 days. Redeem them before the important date, or they expire. Check your account for the exact expiration date when you close the card.

Is this card worth it if I only shop on Amazon occasionally?

Probably not. If you spend less than $50 per month on Amazon and Whole Foods combined, the 5% rate does not generate enough rewards to justify carrying another card. A simpler flat-rate card would be easier to manage.