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Amazon Credit Cards, Decoded: Prime Visa vs. Store Card vs. Secured — Which One Fits You
Two banks, four different cards, and one checkout button doing a lot of quiet work — here's the honest breakdown for 2025.
Updated for 2026 · Page 1 of 1
Search "Amazon credit card" and you'd think it was one product. It isn't. There are actually four different Amazon-branded cards, split across two banks, each with its own rewards, requirements, and fine print. Pick the wrong one and you either leave cash back on the table or get locked into a card that only works at Amazon.com.
This is an independent, third-party guide — not the issuer's site and not affiliated with Amazon, Chase, or Synchrony. The goal here is plain: explain who issues each card, what the rewards really are, what they cost, and which one actually fits your situation, using details verified as of 2025. Terms and welcome offers change often, so always confirm the current numbers on the issuer's own page before you apply.
The short version: the two Visa cards (Prime Visa and the Amazon Visa) are issued by Chase and can be used anywhere Visa is accepted. The two store cards (the Amazon Store Card and the Amazon Secured Card) are issued by Synchrony and generally work only for Amazon.com purchases. Which lane you belong in depends mostly on whether you have Prime and where your credit sits.
The four Amazon cards (and who actually issues them)
"The Amazon credit card" is really a lineup of four. Knowing which is which is half the battle:
Prime Visa (Chase): A full Visa credit card you can use anywhere. It delivers the headline rewards but requires an eligible Amazon Prime membership. This was previously called the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature; Chase simplified the name to Prime Visa.
Amazon Visa (Chase): The non-Prime sibling, also usable anywhere Visa is accepted, with no Prime membership required. It was formerly the Amazon Rewards Visa Signature and is now branded simply Amazon Visa.
Amazon Store Card (Synchrony): A closed-loop store card that generally works only at Amazon.com. It leans on financing offers and, for Prime members, a rewards option.
Amazon Secured Card (Synchrony): A credit-builder card backed by a refundable security deposit, aimed at people who are new to credit or rebuilding it. If you apply for the Store Card and aren't approved, you may be automatically considered for this one.
How the rewards actually work
The Prime Visa is the rewards leader. With an eligible Prime membership, it earns unlimited 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, and on Chase Travel purchases; 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare); and 1% back on everything else. Prime members also get access to 10% back or more on a rotating selection of items and categories at Amazon (as of 2025).
The Amazon Visa (non-Prime) earns 3% back at Amazon and on Chase Travel, plus 2% back on local transit and commuting including rideshare, and 1% elsewhere. Same card family, lower Amazon rate — the tradeoff for skipping Prime.
On the Synchrony side, the Amazon Store Card lets Prime members choose between 5% back on an Amazon purchase or an equal-monthly-payment financing offer; non-Prime members don't earn rewards but can use the financing. The Amazon Secured Card earns 2% back on eligible Amazon purchases, but only if you're a Prime member.
Redemption is straightforward on the Chase Visa cards: points are worth 1 cent each (100 points = $1) and can be applied directly at Amazon checkout, or redeemed for cash back, gift cards, or travel.
Fees, APR, and the Prime math you shouldn't skip
None of these four cards charges an annual fee for the card itself — that's genuinely a plus. But the Prime Visa's best-in-class 5% rate is effectively a Prime perk, and Prime isn't free: it runs $139 per year or $14.99 per month as of 2025. If you're paying for Prime only to unlock 5% back, do the math on how much you actually spend at Amazon before you count it as a win.
APR is where store-style rewards cards bite. The Prime Visa carried a variable purchase APR in the range of roughly 18.74%–27.49% as of 2025, and your exact rate varies by creditworthiness. Carrying a balance at rates like that will erase 5% back many times over — these cards reward people who pay in full each month, not those who revolve a balance.
The Amazon Secured Card requires a minimum upfront deposit of $100 (you can deposit up to your approved limit, generally to a maximum of $1,000). That deposit is refundable — you get it back if you close the account, or you may qualify to graduate to an unsecured Amazon store card after about 12 months of on-time use.
What changed recently
Chase and Amazon refreshed the Visa lineup in 2025. The clearest change is naming: the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature became the Prime Visa, and the Amazon Rewards Visa Signature became the Amazon Visa, alongside new card designs.
The cards also picked up new earning categories. Both Visa cards now reward Chase Travel purchases and 2% on local transit and commuting including rideshare — a nudge to make them useful beyond just Amazon and Whole Foods.
Welcome offers move around. As of 2025–2026, new applicants were commonly offered a $200 Amazon gift card upon approval, often available to use immediately. Because these promotions change frequently, treat any specific bonus amount as a snapshot and confirm the live offer at application.
Who each Amazon card fits
Heavy Amazon and Whole Foods shopper with Prime and good credit: The Prime Visa is the obvious pick. If you already pay for Prime and buy a lot on Amazon, 5% back adds up fast.
Good credit but no Prime membership: The Amazon Visa gives you 3% at Amazon with no membership to buy — often the smarter choice if Prime doesn't otherwise earn its keep for you.
New to credit or rebuilding: The Amazon Secured Card offers a low barrier to entry with a refundable deposit and a defined path to an unsecured card. It's a credit-building tool first, a rewards card a distant second.
Someone who wants Amazon financing: The Store Card's equal-monthly-payment offers can help spread out a big purchase — just understand the financing terms before you rely on them.
Honest pros and cons
Pros: No annual fee on the card itself. Strong Amazon-centric rewards (5% with Prime is hard to beat for Amazon spend). A welcome gift card that's typically usable right away. And a real ladder from the Secured Card up to an unsecured card for people building credit.
Cons: The 5% rate is essentially a paid Prime benefit, not a free one. The Store Card is locked to Amazon.com, so it's useless as an everyday card. The high APR punishes anyone carrying a balance. And opening store cards adds to your open accounts and inquiries — worth weighing if you're rate-shopping for a mortgage or auto loan soon. Note too that Chase's Visa cards may be subject to Chase's own approval rules for people who've opened many cards recently.
Honest alternatives worth comparing
If most of your spending isn't at Amazon, a flat-rate cash-back card can beat a store-tied card overall. Cards like the Citi Double Cash or Wells Fargo Active Cash advertise a flat 2% on everything with no annual fee — simpler, and not tied to one retailer.
Rotating-category cards such as the Chase Freedom Flex or Discover it occasionally feature Amazon as a bonus category during the holidays, which can rival the Prime Visa's rate for a quarter without requiring Prime.
A cautionary note on store cards generally: retail card programs change hands and even shut down. Walmart's store and rewards cards previously issued through Capital One, for example, ended that partnership, and affected accounts were transitioned — a reminder that a store card's terms and issuer aren't guaranteed to stay put. Always check the current issuer and terms before you commit.
Frequently asked questions
- Which bank issues the Amazon credit card?
- It depends on the card. The Prime Visa and the Amazon Visa are issued by Chase and work anywhere Visa is accepted. The Amazon Store Card and Amazon Secured Card are issued by Synchrony and generally work only for Amazon.com purchases.
- Do I have to be a Prime member to get an Amazon card?
- Not for all of them. The Prime Visa requires an eligible Prime membership to earn its 5% rate. The Amazon Visa needs no Prime membership. The Store Card and Secured Card can be opened without Prime, but their rewards options are tied to Prime membership.
- Can I use the Amazon Store Card anywhere?
- No. The Amazon Store Card is a closed-loop card that generally only works for purchases at Amazon.com. If you want a card you can use everywhere, you'd want one of the Chase-issued Visa versions instead.
- What credit score do I need?
- For the Prime Visa or Amazon Visa, applicants generally have good to excellent credit — often cited around 670 or higher, with many approved applicants above 700, though approval always depends on income, debt, and other factors. The Amazon Secured Card is designed for people new to credit or rebuilding, so its bar is lower because it's backed by a deposit.
- Is the $200 welcome gift card real?
- As of 2025–2026, a $200 Amazon gift card upon approval was a commonly advertised offer, often usable right away. But welcome offers change frequently and can vary by applicant, so confirm the exact current bonus when you apply rather than assuming a fixed amount.
- Will applying hurt my credit score?
- Applying typically triggers a hard inquiry, which can cause a small, temporary dip. Opening a new account also lowers your average account age. Neither is usually a big deal on its own, but avoid applying for several cards in a short window, especially before a mortgage or auto loan.
Advertiser disclosure: general information only, not financial advice. Confirm current terms on the issuer's official site before applying.