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If you're a frequent Amazon shopper, you might be considering one of Amazon's credit cards — or even already have one in your wallet. Either way, Chase, the cards' issuer, has some excellent news.
The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card and Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Card have been renamed Prime Visa (see rates and fees) and Amazon Visa. With the simpler names, the cards also got sleek new looks, and most importantly, new benefits. CNBC Select outlines the changes to help you determine whether either card is worth it for you.
How are Amazon's cards changing?
The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card is now the Prime Visa and has a fresh, new design.
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 card also now offers 5% back on purchases made through Chase Travel and 2% back on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. With that, here's a full breakdown of the Prime Visa's cash-back rates:
- 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, and Whole Foods Market
- 5% back on purchases made through Chase Travel
- 2% back on local transit and commuting, including rideshare (new)
- 2% back at restaurants
- 2% back at gas stations
- 1% back on all other purchases
On top of that, new Prime Visa cardholders will earn a $150 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members.
The card will keep offering the same benefits, including baggage delay insurance and purchase protection. Additionally, the card continues to have no annual fee, but you'll still need a Prime membership to be eligible.
As for the Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Card for non-Prime members, it also has a new design and name — the Amazon Visa.
Amazon Visa
Rewards
3% cash back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market; 3% back on purchases made through Chase Travel; 2% back at restaurants, gas stations and local transit and commuting, including rideshare; 1% back on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn a $50 Gift Card instantly upon approval.
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
None
Regular APR
19.49%–28.24% variable
Balance transfer fee
4%, $5 minimum
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Excellent/Good
Terms apply. We may earn commissions from qualifying purchases made through Amazon links.
Pros
- Doesn't require an Amazon Prime membership
- No annual fee
Cons
- No intro APR offer
On top of that, Chase added two new reward categories. Now, cardholders will earn 3% back on purchases made through Chase Travel and 2% back on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
Here's how the Amazon Visa's earning structure looks now:
- 3% back at Amazon and Whole Foods Market
- 2% back on purchases made through Chase Travel (new)
- 2% back on local transit and commuting, including rideshare (new)
- 2% back at restaurants and gas stations
- 1% back on all other purchases
New cardholders can get a $50 gift card upon approval.
Cardholders also still have access to valuable benefits such as baggage delay insurance and purchase protection.
Another notable change for both of the cards is in the cash-back redemption rules. Now, the rewards you earn will post daily and you can redeem them immediately. Previously, rewards would post to the account once a month.
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Should you get an upgraded Amazon card?
If you already have one of the co-branded Amazon cards, all you have to do is enjoy the added value your card now offers. But if you've only been considering signing up, should you rush to do so now?
For loyal Amazon shoppers — especially those with a Prime membership — this might be obvious. Either card will serve you well if you do most of your shopping on Amazon and prefer to earn a variety of rewards without managing a multitude of cards.
Plus, the current welcome offers are generous for a cash-back card. With the Prime Visa, you can earn up to $275 if you maximize the 5% cash back. With the Amazon Visa, making the most of the welcome bonus will net you $105. The new cash-back categories also add more opportunities to earn extra rewards and, depending on your spending habits, can bring you a lot of value.
On the other hand, if the upgraded Amazon cards have caught your eye because of the addition of travel and transit bonus categories, you might want to consider a few other cards first. For example, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express earns 3% back on transit, including taxis and rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more. Plus, the card offers a whopping 6% back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases, then 1%). Terms apply.
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a low-fee card with generous cash-back rewards and useful ongoing benefits, such as a monthly Disney Bundle credit. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- High cash-back earnings for U.S. supermarkets and streaming services
- Intro-APR offer for purchases and balance transfers
- No annual fee for the first year
- It's less rewarding after the first year because of the annual fee
- Bonus rewards for U.S. supermarkets are capped
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Apply and find out your welcome offer. As High As $300 cash back* after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply, and if approved: 1. Find out your offer amount 2. Accept the Card with your offer 3. Spend $3,000 in 6 months 4. Receive the cash back. *Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 19.49%-28.49%.
- Plan It®: Buy now, pay later with Plan It. Split purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee so you don't have the pressure of paying all at once. Simply select the purchase in your online account or the American Express® App to see your plan options. Plus, you'll still earn rewards on purchases the way you usually do.
- Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases (then 1%), 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back at eligible U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more) purchases and 1% cash back on other purchases. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.
- Get up to a $10 monthly statement credit after using your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred® Card for a subscription purchase, including a bundle subscription purchase, at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com, or Stream.ESPN.com U.S. websites. Subject to auto-renewal.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee
2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars
If you travel often, you may be better off with a card that earns travel rewards rather than cash back. This way, your rewards might yield a value higher than 1 cent per point. Some of our favorite travel cards include the American Express® Gold Card and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
The American Express Gold Card is great for earning valuable Membership Rewards® points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets.
- You can earn $400+ in dining and rideshare credits every year (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- Exceptionally rewarding for eligible restaurant and U.S. supermarket purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
- Larger annual fee
- Credits are more complicated, you earn them monthly or semi-annually
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 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 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.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You'll know upfront exactly how much you'll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- 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.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Foreign transaction fee
None
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has a reasonable annual fee and earns flexible travel rewards, which makes it a great travel card for beginners or heavy travelers.
- Valuable welcome offer worth at least $750 in travel
- You can transfer miles to over 15 Capital One partners, including Emirates Skywards, Choice Privileges and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- No foreign transaction fees
- Lacks ongoing travel benefits such as statement credits or lounge access
- Limited bonus spending category that only applies to certain Capital One Travel bookings
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- 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 fee
None
Bottom line
The upgraded co-branded Amazon cards are now offering even more value than before. If you use Amazon for most of your shopping and prefer to have just one go-to credit card, the refreshed Prime Visa and Amazon Visa are perhaps some of the best options you can find.
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Read more
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.
We may earn commissions from qualifying purchases made through Amazon links.
