Amazon Visa vs United℠ Club
Side-by-side comparison
| Amazon Visa | United℠ Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | $695 |
| Welcome offer | $50 Amazon Gift Card upon approval | Up to 90,000 bonus miles |
| Dining | 2x | 2x |
| Groceries | 3x | 1x |
| Gas | 2x | 1x |
| Travel | 1x | 2x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $470 | $340 |
| Points type | Cash back only | Locked to United MileagePlus |
| 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 | Amazon Visa | United℠ Club |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | $50 Amazon Gift Card upon approval | Up to 90,000 bonus miles |
| To earn it | None required | $5,000 in 3 months |
| Est. first-year value* | $580 | $545 |
| Est. ongoing value / yr* | $530 | $-355 |
The Amazon 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 | Amazon Visa | United℠ Club |
|---|---|---|
| Lounge access | None | Yes — United Club |
| Annual credits | ~$60/yr (1 credits) | None |
| Points & redemptions | Cash back only | Locked to a single program |
On perks and redemptions, only the United℠ Club gets you into airport lounges; the Amazon Visa carries the heavier credit stack (about $60 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.
There’s no real overlap here, one is a free store-and-everyday cash card, the other a premium airline card whose main draw is a United Club lounge membership.
The Amazon Visa is a no-fee way to earn cash on Amazon and everyday categories, even without Prime. The United Club Infinite is for United loyalists who want lounge access, elevated United earning, free checked bags, and a large mileage bonus, and are willing to pay $695 for it. Free everyday cash vs premium United travel.
Pros and cons
- 3% back at Amazon and Whole Foods with no Prime required
- 2% on dining, gas, and drugstores
- No annual fee and a welcome gift card
- Simple cash rewards
- 3% (not 5%) at Amazon since it’s the no-Prime version
- 1% on general non-category spend
- Cash back only, no travel value
- No perks beyond the earn rate
- United Club lounge membership
- Elevated earning on United plus free checked bags
- Large mileage welcome bonus and Star Alliance award access
- Premium travel protections and credits
- $695 fee, only worth it for frequent United flyers
- Miles locked to United (though a strong program)
- Modest earning outside travel
- No value if you don’t fly United
Where each one wins
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday cash | Amazon Visa | 3% Amazon and 2% everyday cash vs the Club card’s low non-travel earning. |
| Lounge access | United Club | United Club membership vs none. |
| Annual fee | Amazon Visa | $0 vs $695. |
| Airline travel | United Club | United miles, bags, and status for flyers. |
| Commitment | Amazon Visa | Free and effortless vs a fee you must fly to justify. |
The verdict
If you want a free card that pays cash on Amazon and everyday spending, the Amazon Visa is an easy hold, 3% at Amazon and Whole Foods and 2% on dining and gas, with nothing to justify. For a homebody or Amazon regular who doesn’t fly United, it’s the obvious choice.
If you fly United often and would use a United Club membership, the United Club Infinite can pay for itself, lounge access, free bags, elevated miles, and a big bonus add up fast for a frequent United traveler. They serve opposite needs: everyday cash vs premium airline travel. Pick the Amazon Visa for free cash, the United Club for United lounges and miles, and a frequent flyer might hold a free card like the Amazon Visa alongside it.