Amazon Visa

Rewards by category

Our take

Here's the catch, stated plainly: if you already pay for Prime, this is the wrong card. The Prime Visa earns 5% on the same Amazon and Whole Foods spending, so it strictly dominates for members. The Amazon Visa exists for exactly one shopper — the person who buys from Amazon regularly but won't pay for a membership.

For that non-Prime shopper, the math is simple: 3% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh and Audible with no membership required, plus 3% at Whole Foods Market. There's no annual fee, and Chase hands you a $50 Amazon gift card on approval with no spend required — a welcome offer you collect just for being approved.

Away from Amazon it's a respectable mid-tier earner: 2% at gas stations, 2% at restaurants, and 2% on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Travel earns 3%, but only on bookings made through the Chase Travel portal. Everything else earns the 1% base rate, and with no foreign transaction fees it travels without penalty.

Its wallet role: the Amazon and Whole Foods specialist for households that skipped Prime. Swipe it for Amazon orders and Whole Foods runs, and let it cover gas, dining and commuting at 2% until a stronger category card arrives. The moment you subscribe to Prime, retire it — the 5% Prime Visa does everything this card does, better.

The math

Run $250 a month of flights through this card and you're earning about $90 a year at our conservative valuations. There's no annual fee to earn back — everything above the 1% base rate is pure upside.

Store bonuses

• Amazon3%
• Whole Foods Market3%

Key benefits

• $50 Amazon gift card on approval (no spend required)
• No foreign transaction fees

Common questions

Does Amazon Visa have an annual fee?

No — Amazon Visa has no annual fee.

What does Amazon Visa earn on flights?

3% on flights (book via chase travel).

What rewards does Amazon Visa earn on everything else?

1% on all other purchases, in Cash Back.

Do I need a Prime membership to earn the 3%?

No — that's the whole point of this card. You earn 3% at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Audible and Whole Foods Market with no Prime membership required. If you do have Prime, apply for the 5% Prime Visa instead; it beats this card on every Amazon purchase.

What do I get when I'm approved?

Chase gives you a $50 Amazon gift card on approval with no spend required, and the card carries no annual fee — so the welcome offer is pure upside with no spending target to hit.

Is it worth using outside of Amazon?

Moderately. It earns 2% at gas stations, restaurants and on local transit including rideshare, 3% on travel booked through the Chase Travel portal, and 1% everywhere else. With no foreign transaction fees, it's also safe to use abroad.