Prime Visa vs Amazon Visa
Side-by-side comparison
| Prime Visa | Amazon Visa | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | $200 Amazon Gift Card upon approval | $50 Amazon Gift Card upon approval |
| Dining | 2x | 2x |
| Groceries | 5x | 3x |
| Gas | 2x | 2x |
| Travel | 1x | 1x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $590 | $470 |
| Points type | Cash back only | Cash back only |
| Network | Visa | Visa |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified July 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
Welcome bonus and value over time
| Over time | Prime Visa | Amazon Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | $200 Amazon Gift Card upon approval | $50 Amazon Gift Card upon approval |
| To earn it | None required | None required |
| Est. first-year value* | $940 | $580 |
| Est. ongoing value / yr* | $740 | $530 |
The Prime Visa wins on both fronts: it comes out ahead in year one on the welcome offer and stays ahead every year after. Short term or long, it is the stronger pick on the numbers.
*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.
Perks, credits, and redemptions
| Perks | Prime Visa | Amazon Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Lounge access | None | None |
| Annual credits | ~$150/yr (1 credits) | ~$60/yr (1 credits) |
| Points & redemptions | Cash back only | Cash back only |
On perks and redemptions, the Prime Visa carries the heavier credit stack (about $150 a year). Weigh those against the fee, since credits and lounge access only count if you will actually use them.
Transfer partners and point value
Neither card earns transferable points, so redemptions are cash-back or fixed portal value on both, roughly a cent per point. There is no airline or hotel transfer angle to separate them.
These are two versions of one card, the difference is Prime. With a Prime membership you get the 5% Prime Visa; without it, the 3% Amazon Visa.
Both are free, earn cash, and cover the same everyday categories at 2%. The only real question is whether you pay for Amazon Prime, if you do, take the 5% card; if you don’t, the 3% card is your version, and you can upgrade later if you ever subscribe.
Pros and cons
- 5% at Amazon and Whole Foods (with Prime)
- 5% on Chase Travel and 2% on dining, gas, and transit
- No annual fee and a larger welcome gift card
- Best possible return for Prime members at Amazon
- Requires a paid Amazon Prime membership for the 5%
- 1% on general non-category spend
- Cash back only
- Only worth it if you’re already a Prime member
- 3% at Amazon and Whole Foods with NO Prime required
- 2% on dining, gas, and drugstores
- No annual fee
- Simple cash for non-Prime Amazon shoppers
- 3% vs the Prime Visa’s 5% at Amazon
- Smaller welcome gift card
- 1% on general spend
- No Prime-only perks
Where each one wins
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon & Whole Foods | Amazon Prime Visa | 5% (with Prime) vs the non-Prime card’s 3%. |
| Membership needed | Amazon Visa | None vs the Prime Visa’s required Prime membership. |
| Chase Travel | Amazon Prime Visa | 5% vs the non-Prime card’s lower rate. |
| Everyday categories | Tie | Both 2% on dining and gas. |
| Annual fee | Tie | Both $0. |
The verdict
If you already pay for Amazon Prime, the Prime Visa is the obvious choice, 5% on all your Amazon and Whole Foods orders and 5% on Chase Travel simply beat the non-Prime card, at no extra cost since you’re paying for Prime anyway. There’s no reason to hold the 3% version if you qualify for the 5% one.
If you don’t pay for Prime, the Amazon Visa is your card, 3% at Amazon with no membership is still solid, and you avoid paying for Prime just to chase two extra percent (that math only works if you’d keep Prime for its other benefits). Bottom line: Prime members take the Prime Visa; everyone else takes the Amazon Visa, and it auto-upgrades if you ever subscribe.