Amazon Store Card
A $139-a-year cash back card from Synchrony.
Rates, fees, and full terms are set by Synchrony and can change. See current rates & fees on the issuer’s site, and always confirm the latest terms before applying.
Our review
The Amazon Store Card is the closed-loop cousin of the Prime Visa. It only works at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market, and it pays 5% back there, but only if you have an eligible Prime membership. Without Prime it earns nothing at all.
That is why I count Prime's $139 a year as the card's real cost, even though Synchrony charges no annual fee. For a Prime member who wants a card just for Amazon, it does the job. For most people, though, the Prime Visa is the better pick: it earns the same 5% at Amazon and Whole Foods with Prime, and it also works everywhere else Visa is accepted.
Think twice if: you can qualify for the Prime Visa, which earns the same 5% at Amazon and also works everywhere else.
Our 4.4 out of 10 rating
Each score weighs the rewards rate, value after the annual fee, welcome offer, points flexibility, and perks, with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. This is our editorial assessment to help you compare cards, not a guarantee of approval or of the value you will get.
Earning rates at a glance
Rewards: how it earns
With an eligible Prime membership you earn 5% back at Amazon.com and at Whole Foods Market (with the in-store code). Rewards land in your Amazon account for future purchases. That is it: the card cannot be used anywhere else, so it earns nothing on the rest of your spending. Without Prime it earns no rewards at all, and Amazon's Equal Monthly Payments plans cannot be combined with the 5% back on the same purchase.
| Category | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon.com | 5x | Bonus category |
| Whole Foods Market | 5x | Bonus category |
| Everything else | N/A | Not accepted outside the store |
The fine print on rates: This is a closed-loop store card: it only works at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market, so it earns nothing anywhere else. The 5% back requires an eligible Prime membership, which we count as the card's $139 yearly cost; without Prime you can still use the card for payment plans but you earn no rewards. Rewards post to your Amazon account for future Amazon purchases.
Every point and mile above is valued at a flat 1 cent, the same honest standard we use for every card. Run your own spending through the calculator to see what this card would actually return for you.
Best ways to earn & redeem
Put your Amazon and groceries spending on this card to earn at its highest rates, and let a different card handle the categories it does not bonus.
When you cash in, take the rewards as cash back or a statement credit, worth a flat 1 cent each. We value every point at a flat 1 cent, so treat any transfer upside as a bonus rather than the baseline — see what your points are really worth.
Pros and cons
- 5% back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market with Prime
- Amazon Gift Card upon approval
- Often easier to get than the Prime Visa
- Earns nothing without Prime
- Only works at Amazon and Whole Foods
- The Prime Visa earns the same 5% and works everywhere
The welcome bonus
Amazon adds a gift card to your account instantly upon approval. The amount depends on your offer and is shown when you sign in, so check it before you apply.
Is it worth the annual fee?
Synchrony charges no annual fee, but the card only earns rewards with Prime, so the real cost is the $139 Prime membership. If you already pay for Prime, the 5% is pure upside. If you don't, there is no reason to get Prime just for this card.
First-year value vs ongoing value
| Welcome bonus | Amazon Gift Card upon approval (amount shown when you sign in) |
| To earn it | None required |
| Est. first-year value* | $161 |
| Est. ongoing value / yr* | $161 |
There is no lump-sum welcome bonus, so first-year and ongoing value are about the same, roughly $161 a year on typical spending after the fee. What you see is what you get from day one.
*First-year value counts the welcome bonus, estimated rewards, and annual credits, minus the annual fee; ongoing value is a typical year after. Every point at a flat 1 cent, on average spending.
Benefits and protections
Beyond the rewards, the perks and protections worth knowing about include:
- Amazon Gift Card added to your account instantly upon approval
- Equal Monthly Payments on eligible purchases (cannot be combined with the 5% back)
- Usable only at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market
Statement credits
This card does not come with recurring statement credits. Its value is in the rewards rate and welcome offer.
Who should get it, and who should skip it
Get the Amazon Store Card if you already have Prime and want a card dedicated to Amazon and Whole Foods, or if you were not approved for the Prime Visa. It is often easier to get.
Everyone else should skip it. The Prime Visa earns the same 5% at Amazon with Prime and also earns rewards everywhere else, so it beats this card for nearly every Prime member.
Alternatives to the Amazon Store Card
Pairs well with
The Amazon Store Card earns the most in its bonus categories, so pair it with a no-fee flat-rate card to cover everything it only earns a base rate on.
Frequently asked questions
Best-card guides featuring this card
How does it rank for your spending?
Every card is ranked by what it actually returns on the way you spend. Run your numbers and see where the Amazon Store Card lands.
Calculate My CardOffer details verified against issuer sources as of October 2026. Editorial opinions are our own. Cardocrat values all points at a flat 1 cent and never inflates redemptions.
