We've scoured our best rewards credit cards to find this "secret" credit card for Amazon shoppers. Whether you are an Amazon Prime member or not, you can maximize your savings. One card offers an instant $200 Amazon gift card, and another offers a $300 welcome offer, but you'll have to wait 120 days and $2,000 to unlock that benefit.
Best credit card for Amazon shopping
For those in the know, there are some great credit card options available to squeeze the most out of your Amazon shopping.
US Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Visa (The "Secret" 6% Back Strategy)
Your first option is the US Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® card. Why is it a "secret" strategy? Most credit card reviewers don't write about this card because it's not issued by one of the major banks, but it's still a deal. The card offers 6% cash back on the first $1,500 of combined quarterly spending at two big box retailers of your choice each quarter, including Amazon. Other retailers you can choose from include Home Depot, Kohl’s, Lowe’s, Target, Walmart and others. You’ll also earn 3% back (on up to $1,500 in quarterly spending) in a category of your choice — wholesale clubs, gas and EV charging stations, and bills and utilities — and a solid 1.5% on all other spending (most credit cards only offer 1% outside of their maximum-rebate categories).
One benefit of this card is its flexibility. For Prime Day, you can choose to earn 6% cash back at Amazon but then can change retailers afterward depending on where you typically spend the most. Plus, you can earn a $300 bonus after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening. And the $95 annual fee is waived in the first year.
Amazon Prime Visa (The 5% Back Strategy)
Option two is, of course, the Amazon Prime Visa credit card, which just raised its instant bonus offer for new cardholders to $200. The card earns an unlimited 5% back at Amazon.com and affiliated stores. It also earns 5% back on Chase Travel purchases, 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting, as well as 1% back on all other purchases.
You’ll need to be a Prime member, however, to earn cash-back rewards. An Amazon Prime membership costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year. However, Amazon does offer a 30-day free trial if you’re still considering whether an Amazon Prime membership is worth it.
You’ll also earn the card’s welcome bonus immediately, with no required spending. Upon approval of your credit card application, you’ll instantly receive a $200 Amazon Gift Card loaded into your Amazon account. The card also has no annual credit card fee (apart from the cost of an Amazon Prime membership).
Can you pay for Amazon purchases with points?
We'd recommend not using credit card points to pay directly for Amazon purchases. While it may be convenient, you'll usually end up getting a lower value than if you redeemed those points elsewhere. However, according to The Points Guy, "The exception to this rule is the Prime Visa, because you’ll get the same redemption value whether you cash the points out through Amazon or for a statement credit."
