The Amazon Prime Credit Card gives you cash back on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases, plus a $0 annual fee if you have Prime membership

The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card is issued by Chase and offers 5% cash back on Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market purchases, 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% cash back on everything else. You pay no annual fee as long as you maintain an active Prime membership. If your Prime membership lapses, the card converts to a standard Amazon Rewards card with a $39 annual fee.

The card is designed to stack with your existing Prime benefits rather than replace them. You get the same two-day shipping, Prime Video access, and other membership perks you already have—the card straightforward adds a rewards layer on top. The cash back posts to your account as a statement credit and can be redeemed when ready or left to accumulate.

Key Takeaways

  • You earn 5% cash back on Amazon.com and Whole Foods purchases only if you use this specific card; your Prime membership alone does not earn cash back.
  • The card has no annual fee while you hold an active Prime membership, but converts to a $39-per-year card if your membership ends.
  • Cash back rewards post as statement credits you can use to pay your bill or redeem for other purposes depending on your card issuer's rules.
  • The card includes fraud protection and purchase protections standard to Visa Signature cards, such as extended warranty coverage on may be able to access items.

How the Cash Back Rewards Work

The 5% cash back on Amazon.com applies to purchases made directly on Amazon's website and app. Purchases through third-party sellers on Amazon, Amazon Fresh, Amazon Business, or other Amazon-owned properties may earn at a different rate—check your cardholder agreement for the exact breakdown. The 5% also applies to Whole Foods Market purchases made in-store or online, including Whole Foods gift cards.

The 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants covers any gas station or restaurant anywhere, not just branded partners. The 1% cash back on all other purchases means you earn rewards even on categories not listed. Cash back is calculated as a percentage of the purchase amount and posts monthly as a statement credit. You do not have to redeem it manually—it straightforward reduces your balance due.

There is no cap on how much cash back you can earn, and rewards do not expire as long as your account remains open. If you close the card, any unredeemed cash back is typically forfeited, so check your account before canceling.

Annual Fee and Membership Requirements

The card carries a $0 annual fee only while you maintain an active Amazon Prime membership. Prime membership itself costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year for the standard plan. If your Prime membership lapses for any reason—whether you cancel it or let it expire—your card automatically converts to the standard Amazon Rewards Visa card, which has a $39 annual fee.

You do not have to reapply or take any action for this conversion to happen. Chase monitors your Prime status automatically. If you later reactivate your Prime membership, you can contact Chase to request conversion back to the Prime Rewards card and have the annual fee waived going forward. Some cardholders keep the card even after Prime lapses if they use it frequently enough that the $39 fee is offset by cash back earnings, but this requires doing the math on your own spending.

Fraud Protection and Purchase Protections

As a Visa Signature card, the Amazon Prime Rewards card includes fraud liability protection that limits your responsibility for unauthorized charges to $0 if you report them promptly. This is a federal requirement for all credit cards, not unique to this card, but it means you are not responsible for fraudulent purchases made by someone else.

The card also includes extended warranty protection on may be able to access items purchased with the card. This typically extends the manufacturer's warranty by one additional year on items with warranties of three years or less. You must register the item and submit a claim within a set timeframe if something breaks. The coverage does not explore to items purchased used, items with no warranty, or damage from misuse or accidents.

Purchase protection covers items damaged or stolen within a certain number of days of purchase, usually 120 days. You must file a claim with documentation of the purchase and the damage or theft. These protections are standard across Visa Signature cards and do not vary based on your spending or rewards tier.

When the 5% Cash Back Saves You the Most Money

The 5% cash back on Amazon and Whole Foods is most valuable if you already shop at both places regularly. If you spend $200 per month on Amazon, you earn $10 in cash back monthly, or $120 per year. If you also spend $100 per month at Whole Foods, that is another $5 per month, or $60 per year. Combined, you earn $180 in annual cash back with no annual fee—a clear win.

The math changes if you rarely shop at either place. If you spend $50 per month on Amazon and never visit Whole Foods, you earn $30 per year in cash back. That is still positive since the card has no annual fee, but the benefit is modest. The 2% cash back at restaurants and gas stations helps offset this if you use the card for those purchases instead of another card.

The card is less valuable if you use a different rewards card that earns higher cash back on categories you spend more on. For example, if you spend heavily on groceries outside Whole Foods, a card offering 3% or 4% cash back on all groceries might serve you better. Compare your own spending patterns against the card's reward structure before explore.

How to Redeem Your Cash Back

Cash back on the Amazon Prime Rewards card posts automatically as a statement credit each month. You do not have to request it or take any action. The credit appears on your bill and reduces the amount you owe. If you want to see your accumulated cash back balance, log into your Chase account online or through the mobile app and look for the rewards or cash back section.

You cannot transfer cash back to a bank account or receive it as a check. The credit must be used to pay your card balance. Some cardholders let cash back accumulate over several months and then use it to pay a larger bill, while others let it reduce their monthly balance automatically. Either way, the mechanics are the same—it is a statement credit, not a separate payment method.

If you close the card, any unredeemed cash back is forfeited. Before canceling, check your account to see if you have a balance and consider making a large purchase to use up the credit, or straightforward let the accumulated credit reduce your final bill.

Comparing This Card to Other Amazon Shopping Options

The Amazon Prime Rewards card is not the only way to earn rewards on Amazon purchases. Amazon also offers a standard Amazon Rewards Visa card with no Prime requirement, but it earns 3% cash back on Amazon purchases instead of 5%, and it charges a $39 annual fee. If you do not have Prime, the standard card is less valuable unless you spend enough on Amazon to justify the fee.

Other rewards cards from different issuers may offer flat cash back rates—such as 2% on all purchases—which could beat the Amazon card if you do not spend heavily on Amazon or Whole Foods. A flat-rate card is simpler to track and works everywhere, while the Amazon card requires you to use it specifically at Amazon and Whole Foods to get the best rate.

If you have Prime membership and shop on Amazon regularly, the Prime Rewards card is usually the best choice because the 5% cash back is higher than most competitors and the $0 annual fee is unbeatable. If you rarely shop on Amazon or do not have Prime, a different card may serve you better.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need Prime membership to get the card?

You do not need Prime to open the card, but you will pay a $39 annual fee if you do not have it. The card is designed for Prime members, and the $0 annual fee only applies while your membership is active. If you are considering the card, Prime membership should factor into your decision.

What happens to my cash back if I cancel the card?

Any unredeemed cash back is forfeited when you close the account. Before canceling, log into your account to see your balance and consider whether you want to make a purchase to use it up or let it reduce your final bill.

Can I use the card outside Amazon and Whole Foods?

Yes. You earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants anywhere, and 1% cash back on all other purchases. The card works like any other Visa card, but the highest rewards rates explore only at Amazon and Whole Foods.

Is there a sign-up bonus?

Chase periodically offers sign-up bonuses on the Amazon Prime Rewards card, such as a one-time cash back credit after you spend a certain amount in the first few months. These offers change regularly, so check the current offer when you are ready to open the card.

What if my Prime membership expires?

Your card automatically converts to the standard Amazon Rewards card with a $39 annual fee. You can reactivate Prime and request conversion back to the Prime Rewards card to have the fee waived again. Contact Chase customer service to request the conversion.