How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.If you’re checking out the Amazon Prime Visa, you’re likely already aware that it earns one of the best cash back rates you can get with Amazon. But, you might not know that it’s a great card for many other reasons.
I got the Prime Visa because I’m an avid online shopper, particularly on Amazon. What I cared most about was earning 5% cash back on things I was already buying. But, I found that I can count on this card for more than just savings on online shopping. When I was approved and read the terms, I found that I get elevataed cash back on gas station, restaurant and local transit and commuting purchases. Plus, I know that if something happens, I’m covered by Chase’s purchase and travel protections.
But, if you don’t have a Prime membership, you’ll only qualify for the Amazon Visa rather than the Prime Visa, and you’ll earn cash back at a reduced rate.
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Rewards Rate | Welcome Offer | Regular APR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Prime Visa
 Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
1% - 5% cash back
| $100 Amazon gift card
Get a $100 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members
| 19.49% - 28.24% Variable |
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
|
Amazon Visa*
|
1% - 3% cash back
| $50 Amazon gift card
$50 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval.
| 19.49%-28.24% (variable) | ||
Chase Freedom Flex℠*
|
1% - 5% cash back
| $200 cash bonus
Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
| 19.49% - 28.24% variable | ||
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
1.5% - 5% cash back
| $300 cash back
Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.
| 19.49% - 28.24% Variable |
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
Earn cash back at a generous rate
The Prime Visa offers 5% back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market, 2% back at restaurants, gas stations and drugstores, 1% back on all other purchases. Once I saw this, I had to apply right away. I have a few other cash back credit cards, but the highest cash back I could earn was 2% back on Amazon purchases. The extra 3% back really adds up, since I order from Amazon nearly every day. You get the same high cash back rate on Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market purchases and Chase Travel.
I also like that this card, unlike most store cards, rewards you for purchases outside Amazon. Prime Visa also gives you extra cash back at gas stations, restaurants, local transit and commuting including rideshare. When I got the Prime Visa, I linked it to all my rideshare apps and typically use it at the gas station. It’s a great everyday card that you can use for most purchases.
Cash back is easy to redeem
Cash back not only grows rapidly in my Amazon account, but it’s also extremely easy to redeem. At checkout on Amazon, I can apply my rewards directly toward my purchase. This is especially useful for larger purchases. For example, I’ve used my Amazon cash back on furniture for my new home and holiday gifts. During more expensive times of the year, it’s a great way to save money and ease financial strain.
Get an Amazon Gift Card once approved
Another sweet perk of the Prime Visa is that you get an Amazon Gift Card immediately upon approval. The gift card balance was automatically added to my Amazon account, and I could use it as my payment method at checkout.
The current offer is: Get a $100 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members. But, I’ve seen offers anywhere between $100 and $200. It’s convenient that you can immediately apply the rewards toward a purchase. Most cards require you to meet a spending requirement to earn a sign-up bonus — though many sign-up bonuses are larger in comparison.
Tip: Amazon offers several promotions throughout the year including Amazon Prime Day in the summer, Prime Big Deal Days in the fall, Black Friday and Cyber Monday. They typically increase the sign-up bonus for the Prime Visa just before these sales, so it’s worth waiting to apply.
“I waited to apply for the Prime Visa until just before Amazon Prime Day, which is how I earned a $200 gift card.”
– Will Collicott, credit cards writer at LendingTree
No annual fee
The Prime Visa has a $0 annual fee, which I appreciate since I prefer cash back cards without fees to get the most out of my rewards. However, you do need an Amazon Prime membership to qualify for the card. If you already have a Prime membership, this probably won’t be an issue.
Access to Chase benefits
I love that the Prime Visa is issued by Chase because I already had the Chase Freedom Unlimited® when I opened the Prime Visa. It’s easy to manage both cards in one place, and these cards are a good complement to each other. Plus, I already had a strong relationship with Chase and knew the card would come with a variety of great benefits, including:
Having access to Chase benefits gives me peace of mind, knowing that if anything ever goes wrong, I can rely on Chase for coverage.
No foreign transaction fee
Before my honeymoon, I reviewed all my credit cards to check for foreign transaction fees so I could choose the best one for my international trip. The Prime Visa turned out to be a great choice because it has a $0 foreign transaction fee. It’s an added bonus that I can use the card anywhere I travel.
Get it now, pay over time promo APR
The Prime Visa offers a get it now, pay over time feature through Affirm that lets you finance a purchase with an APR as low as 0% when you use your card at Amazon.com or another eligible retailer with Amazon Pay. To use it, you just need to:
This can be a useful benefit for financing a large purchase, especially if it qualifies for a low APR. You can choose between four biweekly interest-free payments or six to 48 equal monthly payments with rates between 10% and 35% APR.
Note: You should keep a close eye on the interest rate before you sign up for a buy now, pay later plan. The APR can range as high as 35%, which is very expensive.
Learn more about Amazon special financing
Must have an Amazon Prime membership
You have to have an Amazon Prime Membership to own the Prime Visa. I had already been a member for years, so this card was a perfect fit for me. But, if you aren’t already a member, you’ll have to factor in the steep fee for Prime membership.
Note, there are plenty of reasons to apply for Amazon Prime outside the extra cash back on Amazon purchases. I frequently use perks like Prime Video with movie rentals, original shows and football. These benefits provide excellent value for the money.
An Amazon Prime membership is currently $14.99 per month or $139 per year ($7.49 per month or $69 per year for college students) and will get you:
Without Prime, you’ll only be able to apply for the Amazon Visa, which earns cash back at a lower rate.
Subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule
The Prime Visa is issued by Chase and as such is subject to the Chase 5/24 rule. This means that Chase will deny applicants who have been approved for five or more credit cards from any issuer in the past 24 months.
You must choose between cash back and the promo APR
The card also offers promotional financing for a limited time to new applicants (this is separate from the pay-over-time financing mentioned above). Unfortunately, if you opt for the card’s promo APR, you won’t earn cash back on your purchases. It’s also a deferred interest offer rather than a true 0% APR. That means you’ll owe the full amount of interest if you do not pay back your purchase by the end of the offer date. I opted for cash back, which is a much better deal.
The card also has a slightly lower sign-up bonus of a $50 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval. Both the Amazon Visa and Prime Visa offer the same additional Chase benefits. Deciding between these two cards comes down to whether you think a Prime membership will be worth it based on your spending habits.
However, the bonus categories require activation each quarter and are limited in $1,500 in purchases per quarter, so it may not be a good choice if you don’t want to do a lot of card maintenance. There’s also a foreign transaction fee of 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars, making it a poor choice for travel.
If you already have an Amazon Prime membership, adding this $0-annual-fee cash back card to your wallet is simply a smart decision. But if you’re debating whether to get Amazon Prime, consider whether you spend enough on Amazon that this card’s generous cash back program outweighs the $139 cost of an annual subscription ($69 for college students).
And if you’re not a dedicated Amazon shopper, but you’re looking for a card with a robust cash back program that can help when planning a big purchase, consider a general cash back credit card like the Chase Freedom Flex℠ or Chase Freedom Unlimited®.
Apply Now
You can access your Prime Visa card through your Amazon Prime account on Amazon.com or through your Chase account on Chase.com. To access your bill, you can choose between paper and electronic statements and pay online at Chase.com, on the Chase app, by check or by phone.
The Prime Visa card is only for Amazon Prime members. If you decide to cancel your Prime membership, your card will essentially be switched to the Amazon Visa, which offers a slightly lower rewards program.
The Prime Visa is a Chase credit card. Just know that this means you will be subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule and may not qualify for the Prime Visa if you’ve opened five or more credit cards in the last 24 months. Since the Prime Visa is a Chase card, you’ll receive access to a number of Chase benefits.
The information related to the Amazon Visa and Chase Freedom Flex℠ has been independently collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.
