Cash Back Credit Cards - Amazon
Cash Back Credit Cards: Why the Amazon Visa Is a No-Brainer
If you read our Credit Cards 101 guide, you know the basics. Pay off your balance every month. Start with a no-annual-fee card. Use referral links when you can. Simple stuff that puts real money back in your pocket.
Now let’s zoom in on the card category that makes the most sense for most people: cash back.
The Case for Cash Back
Cash back cards are the easiest entry point into the rewards game. No complicated point systems to learn. No transfer partners to research. No blackout dates to worry about. You buy things. You get money back. That’s it.
And the best cash back cards are the ones tied to places you already shop. Think about it. If you’re spending $500 a month at one store anyway, getting 5% back on those purchases is $25 a month for doing absolutely nothing different. That’s $300 a year. Just for swiping a different card.
Which brings me to the one card I think almost everyone should have in their wallet.
The Amazon Visa: 5% Back on Everything Amazon
If you have an Amazon Prime membership (and statistically, there’s a very good chance you do), this card is about as close to free money as it gets.
Here’s the deal. You get 5% back on every Amazon.com purchase. Every. Single. One. Groceries through Amazon Fresh? 5% back. That random Tuesday night impulse buy? 5% back. Diapers on Subscribe & Save? You guessed it.
And it’s not just Amazon.com. You also get 5% back at Whole Foods Market and through Chase Travel. If you don’t have Prime, you still get 3% back at those places, which is still pretty solid.
Beyond Amazon, the card gives you 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit. Everything else earns 1%. No annual fee. No complicated math.
Let’s Do Some Quick Math
Say your household spends $800 a month on Amazon (and between Prime, groceries, household supplies, kids’ stuff, and the occasional “treat yourself” purchase, that adds up faster than you think).
At 5% back, that’s $40 a month. $480 a year. Just from Amazon spending alone.
Now add in your gas and restaurant spending at 2% back, and you’re easily looking at $600 or more in cash back annually. For a card with no annual fee. There’s really no downside here if you’re paying your balance in full each month (and if you’re not doing that, go reread Credit Cards 101 before you apply for anything).
The Sign-Up Bonus
New applicants with a Prime membership can get a $150 Amazon Gift Card when they’re approved. It gets loaded right into your Amazon account automatically.
Not the biggest sign-up bonus in the credit card world, but remember, this is a no-annual-fee card. That $150 is pure profit. And it shows up immediately, not after you hit some spending threshold. You get approved, the gift card appears.
One thing to know: you can only get this bonus if you don’t already have an Amazon Visa or Prime Visa credit card. And if you apply through a referral link (like the one below), the person who referred you may earn a bonus too. Everybody wins.
How to Use Your Cash Back
This part is flexible. You can redeem your rewards as a statement credit, apply them directly at Amazon checkout, convert to gift cards, or even use them for travel through Chase. Points don’t expire as long as your account stays open, so there’s no rush.
Personally, I like applying rewards at Amazon checkout. Watching your total drop right before you hit “Place Order” never gets old.
Who Should Get This Card?
Pretty much anyone who shops on Amazon regularly and can commit to paying off their balance every month. That’s the whole qualification. If Amazon is already part of your routine (and let’s be honest, it probably is), you’re leaving money on the table without this card.
It also stacks nicely with other strategies. Use your Amazon Visa for Amazon purchases, use a different cash back card for groceries at your local store, and use a travel card for flights. That’s how you start building a rewards strategy that works across your whole budget.
Ready to Apply?
If this sounds like a fit, you can apply through my referral link below. Most applications get an instant decision (usually within about 15 seconds), and that $150 gift card hits your account right away if you’re approved with Prime.
Apply for the Amazon Visa here
And if you’re looking for more referral links and deals, check out our rewards page for other cards and programs worth exploring.