Best credit card to use at Amazon
Amazon is one of the highest-ROI merchants to optimize because almost everyone uses it frequently — which means a higher reward rate here pays off year-round, not just in a specific spending month.
The good news: there are genuinely excellent options. The bad news: the best option depends heavily on whether you have a Prime membership and which card networks you prefer.
The Prime Visa: probably the clearest winner if you have Prime
The Amazon Prime Visa (issued by Chase) earns 5% back on Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market for Prime members. No annual fee beyond the cost of a Prime membership you presumably already have. 5% is hard to beat anywhere, and it's unlimited with no category cap.
If you have Prime and don't have this card, it's worth doing the math: $1,000/year at Amazon at 5% vs. 1% = $40/year in your pocket. Most people spend more than that.
Limitation: Locked to Amazon and Whole Foods for the top rate. If you're already at 5% there, the value of adding another card just for Amazon is minimal.
If you don't have Prime (or want to optimize without a co-branded card)
Chase Freedom Unlimited — 1.5% base, but it stacks
The Chase Freedom Unlimited earns a flat 1.5% (1.5x Ultimate Rewards) on everything. That's not exciting on its own — but if you have a Chase Sapphire card, those points transfer to travel partners at 1.25–1.5cpp, effectively making Amazon purchases worth 1.88–2.25% in travel value. Not 5%, but better than it looks on paper.
Citi Double Cash — 2% flat, simple
The Citi Double Cash earns 2% on everything (1% when you buy, 1% when you pay). No annual fee, no category restrictions, no complications. If you want one card that performs well everywhere including Amazon without managing categories, this is a reliable choice.
The Blue Cash Preferred from Amex
The Amex Blue Cash Preferred earns 6% at U.S. supermarkets and on select streaming services. Amazon purchases typically code as "online shopping" or "merchandise," not as a grocery store. You'd earn the base 1% on Amazon with this card. Not a fit here — better suited for actual grocery store runs.
Cards with online shopping portals
Several issuers run shopping portals that stack additional rewards on top of your card's base rate when you start your Amazon session through their portal:
- Chase Ultimate Rewards portal — Occasionally offers extra points per dollar on Amazon
- Rakuten — A third-party portal (not card-specific) that can add 1–3% on Amazon on top of whatever your card earns
Portal rates fluctuate frequently. They're worth checking before a large purchase but shouldn't be your primary strategy — they're bonuses, not a reliable baseline.
Amazon Business purchases
If you have an Amazon Business account, the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card earns 5% back on Amazon Business, AWS, and Whole Foods. Worth knowing if you're a freelancer or small business owner buying through Amazon Business.
The category coding reality
Amazon.com purchases generally code as "online shopping" or "merchandise" across most card networks. They do not typically qualify for grocery bonuses. Cards with elevated grocery rates (like the Amex Gold at 4x at U.S. supermarkets) do not earn their premium rate on Amazon — Amazon is not a U.S. supermarket under Amex's definition.
Quick reference
| Card | Rate on Amazon | Annual fee | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Prime Visa | 5% | $0 (w/ Prime) | Prime membership |
| Citi Double Cash | 2% | $0 | None |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited | 1.5x UR | $0 | None |
| Amazon Visa (no Prime) | 3% | $0 | None |
Bottom line: If you have Prime and don't have the Prime Visa, that's the clearest gap to close in your wallet. If you don't want a co-branded card, the Citi Double Cash is the best general-purpose option. The category coding on Amazon is reliable and consistent — this is one of the easier optimizations to nail down.