Regardless of the season, Amazon consistently has a large number of visitors. Most people are likely to shop at Amazon at some point during the year, whether it’s to stock up on last-minute gifts, celebrate a milestone birthday, or fulfill an essential home requirement with lightning-fast delivery.
However, selecting the appropriate credit card is crucial when shelling out for your Amazon shopping. You may earn additional cash back or travel credits to use toward future travels, or you could get a card that expands the manufacturer’s guarantee in case of loss or damage—all on top of the daily deals you’re already scoring.
How do you decide which credit card to use? We researched hundreds of alternatives and narrowed it down to these top Amazon credit cards. Each card on our list has different cash-back, point, and perk options, so there’s sure to be one that suits your needs.
Chase Freedom Unlimited
Chase Freedom Unlimited is an excellent middle ground if you can’t decide between cash back and travel rewards. Using this card, you can get 1.5% cash back on all purchases, including those made at Amazon. While this is lower than the Citi Double Cash, the benefits you earn may be more useful in the long run, so it may be worth settling for a lower earning rate in return for them.
Cash-back can be converted to travel points at a rate of 1 cent per point when the Chase Freedom Unlimited is used in conjunction with a premier Chase Ultimate Rewards card, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®. If you use the Chase travel gateway to redeem your points for a trip, you’ll get 1.25 cents to 1.5 cents more for each point.
The best thing is that you may use your points for travel on any of Chase’s 14 airline and hotel loyalty programs after you convert your cashback to points. Due to their incredible adaptability, The Points Guy, a website dedicated to frequent flyer programs, estimates that each point earned with Chase Ultimate Rewards is worth 2 cents. At that pace, you may end up with a 3% return on all your Amazon purchases because you earn 1.5% cash back on Freedom Unlimited.
Chase Freedom Unlimited is an excellent choice for several different bonus categories. You’ll get 3% back on purchases made at restaurants (including some delivery services) and drugstores, plus 3% on purchases made at gas stations and a 5% return on travel bought through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Extended warranties and protection against unauthorized purchases are further advantages.
Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature
The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature is the best option if you regularly shop at Amazon and want to maximize your cash-back rewards. Amazon and Whole Foods will always earn you 5% cash back with this card, while dining out, petrol stations and pharmacies will earn you 2% cash back, and everything else will earn you 1%. That’s a better-annualized return at Amazon than any other cards we considered.
In addition to the standard 5% cash-back you receive every time you use your Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature, the company occasionally (most notably on Prime Day and Black Friday) provides additional cash discounts of up to 20%. These deals can be a terrific way to save even more money, but they can change daily.
As a bonus, all newly approved Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature cardholders will immediately get a $100 Amazon gift card. However, you’ll need to pay as much as $139 annually for an Amazon Prime subscription to qualify for this card. Suppose you are already a member of Amazon Prime and are looking for a credit card that can be used primarily for Amazon purchases. In that case, there is a good chance that you already have this card, and this card would be the most suitable choice for you in such a case.
While it’s true that you can rack up points with an Amazon Prime Rewards card, you’ll only be able to redeem them for a maximum of 1 cent each for a statement credit, direct deposit to a bank or savings account, or payment toward Amazon purchases. Extended warranty and purchase protection are also included, albeit the card’s protections aren’t as robust as those offered by other credit cards.
For instance, if your original warranty was for three years or less, you’ll get an extra year of coverage thanks to the card’s extended warranty protection. With purchase protection, you will be protected against loss or theft for 120 days on all purchases, up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account. If you tend to make expensive purchases, you may want to consider one of the other cards on our recommended list instead.
You can also apply for the Amazon.com Store Card if you’re a frequent Amazon shopper but want something other than a credit card. This store card gives you access to several financing choices based on the total amount of your Amazon transactions. It’s also easier to get authorized for a store credit card because of the often lower credit score requirement. However, the Amazon Store card can only be used at Amazon, unlike the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa.
Discover it Cash Back
Throughout the year, Amazon purchases will frequently be one of the cash-back categories offered by Discover it Cash Back. All Amazon purchases with the higher rate throughout the quarter will earn 5% cash back, up to $1,500. Remember to enlist at the beginning of each quarter to receive the 5% bonus cash back.
Amazon isn’t a bonus category this quarter, but purchases made at grocery shops, pharmacies, and certain streaming services are. However, many convenience stores and supermarkets now sell Amazon gift cards, which can be used for online purchases. You can still get 5% cash back at Amazon if you buy a gift card at one of these retailers and then redeem it yourself.
After you’ve spent the quarterly maximum on all additional purchases, you’ll get 1% back. Although the 5% cash back schedule does alter from year to year (and quarter to quarter), there is a decent possibility that Amazon will be on the calendar at least a couple of times in 2023.
If you know you’ll be making many purchases on your credit card over the next year, Discover it Cash Back is a good option because the company will double the cash rewards you earn in your first year as a cardholder. This means that your first year’s spending in the bonus categories is worth 10% and that your spending in all other areas earns a good 2% return.
Capital One Venture
The Capital One Venture Rewards credit card is a good option for those planning a trip and wanting to earn miles that can be used for future travel purchases.
Capital One Venture rewards its cardholders with 2 miles for every dollar spent. Those miles can be redeemed for travel expenses shown within the last 90 days on the cardholder’s credit card statement. Everything from lodging to transportation to meals to tours to Airbnb and more falls under this category. Capital One miles are worth one cent each when redeemed in this manner.
Alternative transfer options include British Airways, Singapore Airlines, Wyndham Hotels, and many more hotel reward programs. Due to their transferability to various partner programs, Capital One points are valued by frequent flyer website The Points Guy at 1.85 cents each.
You can get a credit of up to $100 to go toward the cost of applying for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck with the Capital One Venture card. The annual cost is $95; however, there are no fees for purchases abroad.
Citi Double Cash Card
The Citi Double Cash Card is the best option if you’re looking for a single credit card that can be used for all your transactions (including those made on Amazon) and earn you cash back on every purchase you make. Every transaction, every day of the year, will get you 2% cash back (1% when you make the purchase and an additional 1% when you settle your statement).
This is a fantastic rate of return for a card that doesn’t charge an annual fee. It’s straightforward: you don’t have to keep track of bonus categories or figure out how to redeem points for travel.
When combined with the Citi Premier® Card, the cash back you earn with the Citi Double Cash can be redeemed for travel. Unlike Chase, Citi’s list of transfer partners includes hotel companies such as Choice Hotels and Wyndham, but it lacks good domestic airline options.
The shopping perks offered by the Citi Double Cash card are also below average. Damage and theft purchase protection, return protection, and Citi’s once-famous Price Rewind perk are no longer included with the card.
Even though you’ll get a great cash rebate with the Citi Double Cash if you’re planning on purchasing a costly item, it’s best to use a card that offers protection in case the item gets damaged, lost, or you change your mind and want to return it after the return period has ended at the store.
Blue Cash Preferred from American Express
When making purchases at Amazon, the American Express Blue Cash Preferred may offer less cash back than some other cards. Nonetheless, if you’re willing to go an extra step, you may get a lot of money back on your Amazon orders using this card.
The Blue Cash Preferred offers a 6% cash back bonus at U.S. groceries on up to $6,000 in annual purchases (then 1% back) and other incentives. With your Blue Cash card, you may buy Amazon gift cards from many grocery stores and then use those cards to make future Amazon purchases.
Purchasing Amazon gift cards at a U.S. grocery store will get you 6% cash back, which you can use to pay for future Amazon purchases. Better than Amazon’s own credit card.
Remember that if you pay for your Amazon purchases using a gift card instead of a credit card, you will not be eligible for the benefits associated with using a credit card, including an extended warranty or purchase protection. Gift cards purchased using a credit card that provides those benefits are not transferred to the purchaser when the card is used to buy on Amazon.
Therefore, while the Blue Cash Preferred earns the highest cash back at Amazon via gift cards regularly, for items where you might want purchase protections — notably on electronics — you may be better off using a credit card directly as opposed to buying a gift card to earn a few more rewards.
Amazon Business Prime American Express Card
The Amazon Business Prime American Express Card features a special perk that can be invaluable to companies that regularly make Amazon purchases. Either 5% cash back on the first $120,000 you spend at Amazon (including Amazon Business, AWS, and Whole Foods Market) every calendar year (then 1% cash back afterward) or 90 days with no interest on your purchases. In this case, the money back is awarded as points, which may be redeemed for future purchases from Amazon.
The option to pay for your Amazon goods in 90 days without incurring any interest may be a tremendous assistance, especially considering the limited cash flow many businesses have had over the last few years. The card offers a flat 1% cash back on all transactions, plus 2% cash back in U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, and wireless telephone services bought directly from U.S. service providers. The card has no additional expenses associated with using it, such as an annual charge or fees for using it in a foreign country.
Note that in order to be approved for this card, you must be a member of Amazon Prime or Amazon Business Prime; businesses that do not have Prime memberships may want to look into the Amazon Business American Express Card instead.
American Express Gold
While maximizing your rewards on a purchase is always great, other considerations may be more crucial in some cases. Consider the purchase protection and extended warranty options that certain credit cards offer.
When you buy something from a store that offers purchase protection, you won’t have to worry about losing money if something breaks or is stolen. For the first ninety days after purchasing with your American Express Gold Card, you’ll be covered for up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per card member account every calendar year.
This makes American Express Gold an excellent credit card to use for qualifying purchases made on Amazon, especially those that are more costly (like computers, big-screen TVs, and SLR cameras). While many credit cards offer some form of purchase protection, the coverage often ranges from $500 to $1,000, which can be inadequate for more expensive purchases.
The extended warranty coverage provided by some credit cards is another perk. Suppose the manufacturer’s warranty on your covered product is five years or less. In that case, you can obtain an additional year if you charge it to your Amex Gold. Your liability is limited to the purchase price (up to a maximum of $10,000 per item and $50,000 per card member per calendar year) plus shipping and handling charges.
You may take advantage of Amex Gold’s higher rewards rate by buying Amazon gift cards on your next trip to the grocery store and earning 4 points for every dollar spent, up to $25,000 in annual expenditures, just like you would with the Blue Cash Preferred. Gift cards don’t work with any purchase protection or extended warranty, so keep that in mind.
Final words
It’s natural to be overwhelmed by the variety of credit cards you can use at Amazon and question which one is best. The Citi Double Cash may be the best option if you’re looking for a card that gives you a flat percentage back in cash. In contrast, Chase Freedom Unlimited and the Capital One Venture are excellent options if you want to rack up points toward future travel.
While the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa is always a good choice, it shines during Amazon’s yearly sales events like Prime Day and Black Friday, when many special deals are available only to cardholders. And Amazon Business Prime American Express might be the ideal option for you if you run a small business.
Finally, the American Express Gold card is worth considering if the protection of your purchases is more important to you than the potential savings or free trips. You may maximize your cash back, or travel benefits with the Blue Cash Preferred or the Amex Gold if you buy Amazon gift cards from U.S. supermarkets.
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