Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Shopping on Amazon is a favorite for millions of Americans because of its ease and convenience. And the retailer loves to roll out tons of deals leading up to the holidays, including Black Friday and Cyber Monday. But depending on how you shop, you could be missing out on valuable rewards, savings and consumer protections.
If you're using the right credit card and taking advantage of rewards through shopping portals, you could save big on your holiday shopping this season.
CNBC Select analyzed dozens of credit cards to find the top picks for Amazon Black Friday purchases. Here are the details of the benefits you should know about before you place your next order.
Check out all the best Black Friday deals updated in realtime at NBC Select.
Amazon Black Friday sales: Here's how to pay
There are a few ways to pay for Amazon purchases: with a credit card, debit card or Amazon gift card. While some may prefer a debit card as it is linked directly to a checking account, credit cards provide excellent benefits including rewards and consumer protections.
Here are a few of the best cards to use when shopping Amazon's Black Friday sales:
Best card for cash back
The Prime Visa is only available to Amazon Prime members ($139 for an annual membership and $14.99 for a monthly membership) but is very rewarding for Amazon purchases.
- High rate of return at Amazon and Whole Foods
- Easy-to-earn welcome bonus
- Requires an Amazon Prime membership
- If you choose the promo APR you won't earn rewards on those purchases
Rewards
- Earn unlimited 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership
- Unlimited 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare)
- 10% back or more on a rotating selection of items and categories on Amazon.com with an eligible Prime membership
- Unlimited 1% back on all other purchases
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 4% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
The Prime Visa (see rates and fees) offers excellent rewards for shoppers who love Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market. You can earn 5% cash back on all purchases at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, and Whole Foods, along with 5% back on Chase Travel purchases, unlimited 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare) and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases. The card's welcome bonus is unique: New cardholders get a $150 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval.
Best card for welcome offer bonus
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a premium credit card with a myriad of benefits and a lower annual fee than other high-end cards with similar features.
Highlights
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Enjoy access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge and Landing locations and participating Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Top rated mobile app
Balance transfer fee
$0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Foreign transaction fees
$0
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a premium credit card from Capital One. New cardholders can earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. When redeemed through Capital One travel, these miles are worth $750 in travel. However, if you decide to transfer the points to any of Capital One's travel partners, you can potentially get even more value for them.
Best card for travel rewards
The American Express Platinum Card® is a premium card loaded with annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, extensive airport lounge access, elite status perks and more. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- Access to 1,550+ airport lounges, including Priority Pass™ Select lounges (enrollment required) and Amex Centurion lounges
- Statement credit offers worth up to twice what the annual fee costs
- Elite status perks for hotels and rental cars (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- High annual fee
- Many statement credit offers are complicated and are earned in increments or limited to specific purchases
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges.* As of 07/2025.
- $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
- $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to make eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you.
- $209 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
- $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That's up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®.* Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
The American Express Platinum Card® is a luxury travel card with an abundance of benefits, including TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credits (Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($120) or a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider), airport lounge access, travel credits and more. While it has a steep $895 annual fee (see rates and fees), the card more than makes up for the annual fee in its benefits. Additionally, the card comes with a large welcome bonus. New Cardholders may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Best card for interest-free financing
The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card can help you save on interest charges thanks to its extra generous intro-APR offer on purchases and qualifying balance transfers.
- Best-in-class intro-APR for purchases and qualifying balance transfers
- No annual fee
- Cell phone insurance: up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible
- No rewards
- No welcome bonus
- High balance transfer fee
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 17.49%, 23.99%, or 28.24% variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate, BT fee of 5%, min: $5.
- $0 annual fee.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
- Through My Wells Fargo Deals, you can get access to personalized deals from a variety of merchants. It's an easy way to earn cash back as an account credit when you shop, dine, or enjoy an experience simply by using an eligible Wells Fargo credit card.
Balance transfer fee
5%, min: $5
Foreign transaction fee
3%
The Wells Fargo Reflect Card recently launched and is a good option for consumers looking to avoid paying interest charges on their purchases. With the Reflect Card, cardholders enjoy an introductory 0% APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for the first 21 months from account opening. After the intro period, the interest rate is 17.49%, 23.99%, or 28.24% variable APR on purchases and balance transfers. Balance transfers made within 120 days from account opening qualify for the intro rate, BT fee of 5%, min $5.
Shopping benefits to consider for Amazon Black Friday sales
As you consider which card to use to make your Amazon purchases, also keep in mind a few strategies to help you save when shopping.
Shopping portals
A shopping portal is a service offered by affiliates of Amazon to bring in more customers through special offers, usually by offering cash back, points or airline miles. All you need to do to earn further rewards is to enter the Amazon website through a special link.
To get started, visit CashBackMonitor, and browse the current Amazon offers (or other retailers). Once you find the shopping portal that is best for you, simply click the link (you'll need to be logged in and have an account with the portal before doing so) and you'll be redirected to Amazon. Once you submit your order, your additional rewards or cash back will be added to the rewards program you selected.
Credit card shopping benefits
Unfortunately, there are cases where Amazon packages show up damaged or they're stolen from your doorstep. In these cases, there are credit cards with shopping protections that can help consumers who find themselves with lost or damaged gifts. These benefits include purchase protection, return protection and extended warranty.
However, for coverage to kick in, the purchase must be made with the credit card that offers the benefits. Check with your credit card provider to see what protections your card offers. A few examples of cards with these benefits are the Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) and the Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees).
Amazon Prime student
If you're currently enrolled in college courses, don't forget that you can qualify for a discounted Amazon Prime membership. Prime includes free shipping (sometimes as fast as same-day delivery), access to Prime video and music as well as to exclusive Amazon Prime deals. Amazon Prime is $12.99 per month or $119 per year, plus taxes, but if you enroll in Amazon Prime Student, it is only $59/year, plus taxes.
BNPL with Amazon
If you want a bit of repayment flexibility for your holiday shopping, Amazon offers a buy now, pay later service through Affirm. Launched in late Aug. 2021, consumers can spread out their payments over three to 48 months for orders over $50. While there are no hidden or late fees when using Affirm, you could be charged up to 30% interest when financing purchases. Make sure you understand the terms before you sign up.
Affirm might be useful to some customers but be sure to consider the potential negative impact it could have on your credit score. And if you're in need of flexible financing for your holiday shopping, consider a 0% intro APR credit card.
Bottom line
Black Friday sales continue to be the true kick-off of the holiday shopping season. However, because of the supply chain issues faced by retailers, some shoppers and retailers have gotten an early start. But regardless of whether you've begun your shopping, if Amazon is your preferred retailer this Black Friday, be sure you are paying with the best credit card possible to earn rewards and protect your purchases.
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best credit cards for Amazon.
Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of credit cards, banking and money, and follow us on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.
Read more
For rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, click here.
We may earn commissions from qualifying purchases made through Amazon links.
