Is the Prime Visa the Best Credit Card for Amazon Prime Day? We Do the Math

Paul Hennessy/NurPhoto through Getty Photographs

Amazon Prime Day, which runs from July 11 to July 12 this yr, provides numerous offers throughout an enormous collection of purchases. Whether or not you’re out there for a brand new piece of tech or one thing on your residence, it’ll doubtless be on sale. With Prime Day simply across the nook, you could be looking for the fitting rewards bank card to earn money again in your Amazon procuring spree or get buy protections or prolonged guarantee advantages in your new purchases.

Among the many many Amazon-branded bank cards on the market, the Prime Visa* is our high decide for this occasion — however in case you frequent Amazon solely throughout Prime Day or desire a card that’s extra helpful for on a regular basis spending, we’ve compiled another choices. These playing cards provide good rewards on different spending classes moreover Amazon, so you may get lasting worth out of them lengthy after Prime Day ends. Right here’s how they stack as much as the Prime Visa:

The perfect card for Amazon purchases

9.5/10
CNET Ranking

CNET charges bank cards by evaluating their provides to these of their categorical opponents. Every card is individually evaluated via a system which displays the requirements and expectations of the up to date market. Bank card issuers don’t have any say or affect in our scores. How we price bank cards

Fast Look

Intro Supply

Earn as much as $275

Earn as much as $275 with this limited-time provide. Get a $150 Amazon Reward Card immediately upon approval and earn 5% again all over the place on as much as $2,500 in spending for the primary 3 months after account opening ($125 worth). Eligible Prime membership required.

Annual payment

APR

19.24% – 27.24% Variable

Really helpful Credit score

A credit score rating is used to point an applicant’s credit score worthiness and will present steerage about account eligibility. It doesn’t essentially assure approval for any monetary product.

670 – 850

Good – Wonderful

Rewards price

1%
– 5%

Earn 5% again at Amazon.com, Amazon Recent, Complete Meals Market and on Chase Journey purchases with an eligible Prime membership.; Earn 2% again at gasoline stations, eating places and on native transit and commuting (together with rideshare).; 1% again on all different purchases

Relating to Amazon purchases particularly, just about no card beats the Prime Visa. The cardboard provides 5% again on Amazon.com, Amazon Recent, Complete Meals Market and on Chase Journey purchases, 2% again at gasoline stations, eating places and on native transit and commuting (together with rideshare) and 1% again on all different purchases. It additionally has a reasonably nice welcome provide proper now — you may earn a $150 Amazon reward card immediately upon approval plus earn 5% money again all over the place on the primary $2,500 in purchases within the first three months of card membership ($125 worth). In contrast to many bank card welcome provides, you’ll get the $150 welcome bonus immediately, while not having to spend a specific amount first — which means you may put it towards your Prime Day procuring spree as quickly as you get the cardboard.

Amazon additionally generally runs limited-time offers the place Prime Visa holders can earn further money again — sometimes starting from 5% to twenty% — on choose merchandise along with the cardboard’s base 5% money again on Amazon purchases. In case you can benefit from these offers, you may increase your whole cash-back price as much as 25%.

The cardboard has no annual payment however requires an Amazon Prime membership (which prices $139 for an annual membership or $180 a yr if paying month-to-month) to carry. But when you have already got — or plan to get — a Prime membership to buy Prime Day offers, you may decide up the cardboard for no further price.

You may study extra in our Prime Visa evaluate.

Intro Stability Switch APR: N/A
Intro Buy APR: N/A
Common APR: 19.24% – 27.24% Variable
Stability Switch Charge: Both $5 or 5% of the quantity of every switch, whichever is larger.

Earn 5% again at Amazon.com, Amazon Recent, Complete Meals Market and on Chase Journey purchases with an eligible Prime membership.

Earn 2% again at gasoline stations, eating places and on native transit and commuting (together with rideshare).

1% again on all different purchases

You may study extra in our Prime Visa evaluate.

Intro Stability Switch APR: N/A
Intro Buy APR: N/A
Common APR: 19.24% – 27.24% Variable
Stability Switch Charge: Both $5 or 5% of the quantity of every switch, whichever is larger.

Earn 5% again at Amazon.com, Amazon Recent, Complete Meals Market and on Chase Journey purchases with an eligible Prime membership.

Earn 2% again at gasoline stations, eating places and on native transit and commuting (together with rideshare).

1% again on all different purchases

Good for on-line procuring

5.5/10
CNET Ranking

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On American Specific’s safe web site

Fast Look

Intro Supply

$200

Earn a $200 assertion credit score after you spend $2,000 in purchases in your new Card throughout the first 6 months.

Annual payment

APR

18.99% – 29.99% Variable

Really helpful Credit score

A credit score rating is used to point an applicant’s credit score worthiness and will present steerage about account eligibility. It doesn’t essentially assure approval for any monetary product.

670 – 850

Good – Wonderful

Rewards price

1%
– 3%

3% Money Again at U.S. supermarkets on as much as $6,000 per yr in purchases, then 1%.; 3% Money Again on U.S. on-line retail purchases, on as much as $6,000 per yr, then 1%.; 3% Money Again at U.S. gasoline stations, on as much as $6,000 per yr in purchases, then 1%.; 1% Money Again on different purchases.

Phrases apply to American Specific advantages and provides. Enrollment could also be required for choose American Specific advantages and provides. Go to americanexpress.com to study extra.

The Blue Money On a regular basis® Card from American Specific is a superb selection for each Prime Day and past due to its bonus classes. The cardboard earns 3% money again (on the primary $6,000 spent yearly, then 1%) on U.S. on-line retail purchases, which incorporates Amazon purchases. As soon as Prime Day ends, you’ll nonetheless have a strong rewards card that earns 3% money again on U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gasoline stations (on as much as $6,000 in purchases every year in every class, then 1%), serving to you narrow down on on a regular basis bills via its rewards.

This card additionally has a welcome provide with a better spending requirement than the opposite playing cards on this record, however in case you’re already planning to spend cash on Prime Day, it could provide the proper alternative to knock out an excellent chunk of the spending threshold.

You’ll additionally obtain buy safety*** which covers your new purchases towards injury and theft — one thing that might come in useful in case you’re planning to purchase something costly.

You may study extra in our Blue Money On a regular basis evaluate.

Intro Stability Switch APR: 0% on steadiness transfers for 15 months
Intro Buy APR: 0% on purchases for 15 months
Common APR: 18.99% – 29.99% Variable
Stability Switch Charge: Both $5 or 3% of the quantity of every switch, whichever is larger.

3% Money Again at U.S. supermarkets on as much as $6,000 per yr in purchases, then 1%.

3% Money Again on U.S. on-line retail purchases, on as much as $6,000 per yr, then 1%.

3% Money Again at U.S. gasoline stations, on as much as $6,000 per yr in purchases, then 1%.

1% Money Again on different purchases.

Money again is obtained within the type of Reward {Dollars} that may be redeemed as an announcement credit score.

Phrases apply to American Specific advantages and provides. Enrollment could also be required for choose American Specific advantages and provides. Go to americanexpress.com to study extra

Phrases apply to American Specific advantages and provides. Enrollment could also be required for choose American Specific advantages and provides. Go to americanexpress.com to study extra.

You’ll additionally obtain buy safety*** which covers your new purchases towards injury and theft — one thing that might come in useful in case you’re planning to purchase something costly.

You may study extra in our Blue Money On a regular basis evaluate.

Intro Stability Switch APR: 0% on steadiness transfers for 15 months
Intro Buy APR: 0% on purchases for 15 months
Common APR: 18.99% – 29.99% Variable
Stability Switch Charge: Both $5 or 3% of the quantity of every switch, whichever is larger.

3% Money Again at U.S. supermarkets on as much as $6,000 per yr in purchases, then 1%.

3% Money Again on U.S. on-line retail purchases, on as much as $6,000 per yr, then 1%.

3% Money Again at U.S. gasoline stations, on as much as $6,000 per yr in purchases, then 1%.

1% Money Again on different purchases.

Money again is obtained within the type of Reward {Dollars} that may be redeemed as an announcement credit score.

Phrases apply to American Specific advantages and provides. Enrollment could also be required for choose American Specific advantages and provides. Go to americanexpress.com to study extra

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

Customizable rewards

Financial institution of America® Custom-made Money Rewards bank card

7.5/10
CNET Ranking

Fast Look

Intro Supply

$200

$200 on-line money rewards bonus after you make not less than $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days of account opening

Annual payment

APR

17.99% – 27.99% Variable APR on purchases and steadiness transfers

Really helpful Credit score

A credit score rating is used to point an applicant’s credit score worthiness and will present steerage about account eligibility. It doesn’t essentially assure approval for any monetary product.

670 – 850

Good – Wonderful

Rewards price

1%
– 3%

Earn 3% money again within the class of your selection (as much as $2,500 in mixed selection class/grocery retailer/wholesale membership quarterly purchases); Earn computerized 2% at grocery shops and wholesale golf equipment (as much as $2,500 in mixed selection class/grocery retailer/wholesale membership quarterly purchases); Earn limitless 1% on all different purchases.

The Financial institution of America® Custom-made Money Rewards bank card* offers cardholders extra flexibility over how their card earns rewards.

You may earn 3% money again on one spending class of your selection, of which on-line procuring is an possibility. You’ll additionally earn 2% money again at grocery shops and wholesale golf equipment and 1% money again on all different purchases. When you attain $2,500 in mixed selection class/grocery retailer/wholesale membership purchases every quarter, your cash-back price for these classes will drop to 1%. Whereas the cardboard’s baseline rewards are on par with the opposite choices right here, it gained’t be nearly as good of an possibility in case you plan to spend greater than $2,500 within the bonus classes every quarter.

One good characteristic about this card is that you may select a brand new 3% class each month from a wide selection of choices, together with eating, journey, drug shops and extra. Even in case you don’t store at Amazon incessantly outdoors of Prime Day, you may nonetheless use this card to earn substantial rewards in your on a regular basis spending. Nonetheless, this card doesn’t embody buy protections.

You may study extra in our Financial institution of America Custom-made Money Rewards card evaluate.

Intro Stability Switch APR: 0% Intro APR for 18 billing cycles for any BTs made within the first 60 days. A 3% payment applies.
Intro Buy APR: 0% Intro APR for 18 billing cycles for purchases
Common APR: 17.99% – 27.99% Variable APR on purchases and steadiness transfers
Stability Switch Charge: 3% of the quantity of every transaction

Earn 3% money again within the class of your selection (as much as $2,500 in mixed selection class/grocery retailer/wholesale membership quarterly purchases)

Earn computerized 2% at grocery shops and wholesale golf equipment (as much as $2,500 in mixed selection class/grocery retailer/wholesale membership quarterly purchases)

Earn limitless 1% on all different purchases.

The Financial institution of America® Custom-made Money Rewards bank card* offers cardholders extra flexibility over how their card earns rewards.

You may study extra in our Financial institution of America Custom-made Money Rewards card evaluate.

Intro Stability Switch APR: 0% Intro APR for 18 billing cycles for any BTs made within the first 60 days. A 3% payment applies.
Intro Buy APR: 0% Intro APR for 18 billing cycles for purchases
Common APR: 17.99% – 27.99% Variable APR on purchases and steadiness transfers
Stability Switch Charge: 3% of the quantity of every transaction

Earn 3% money again within the class of your selection (as much as $2,500 in mixed selection class/grocery retailer/wholesale membership quarterly purchases)

Earn computerized 2% at grocery shops and wholesale golf equipment (as much as $2,500 in mixed selection class/grocery retailer/wholesale membership quarterly purchases)

Earn limitless 1% on all different purchases.

The Prime Visa has the best rewards price for Amazon purchases — 5% money again — of any bank card. It does require a Prime membership which prices $139 yearly or $14.99 month-to-month (paying month-to-month works out to $180 a yr) — however in case you’re procuring Prime Day, you’ll want a Prime membership, so we aren’t counting this requirement towards this card.

However in case you solely wish to apply for one new bank card proper now, the Prime Visa won’t be the most effective card for you in the long term, except you’re an avid Amazon shopper. This card provides rewards on purchases outdoors of Amazon, however the charges are simply so-so: 2% money again on gasoline stations, eating places and on native transit and commuting (together with rideshare); and 1% money again on all different purchases. Each the Blue Money On a regular basis and Custom-made Money playing cards might provide you with higher ongoing worth with increased charges on sure on a regular basis buy classes, whereas nonetheless providing a good cash-back price on Amazon purchases.

While you consider different classes that the common American spends their cash in, you could possibly be leaving rewards on the desk with the Prime Visa. The common client is planning to spend $250 on Prime Day and competitor gross sales this yr, in line with a current research from Axios. And in 2019, Prime members spent a mean of $1,400 on Amazon every year, in line with a research by Statista. Nonetheless, that quantity is dwarfed by how a lot shoppers spend on necessities like meals and gasoline. The common family spent $5,259 on meals at residence and $2,148 on gasoline, different fuels, and motor oil in 2021, in line with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Utilizing the common numbers above for example, right here’s how a lot you could possibly earn with the Prime Visa vs. the non-Amazon cash-back playing cards talked about above every year:

In case you spend:	$250 in Amazon purchases on Prime Day*	$1,150 in further Amazon purchases all year long*	$5,259 in grocery retailer/U.S. grocery store purchases yearly*	$2,148 in gasoline/U.S. gasoline station purchases yearly*	Whole money again
Prime Visa	$12.50	$57.50	$52.59	$42.96	$165.55
Amex Blue Money On a regular basis	$7.50	$34.50	$157.77	$64.44	$264.21
Financial institution of America Custom-made Money**	$7.50	$34.50	$105.18	$21.48	$168.66

*The Financial institution of America Custom-made Money earns 3% money again within the class of your selection and a couple of% money again at grocery shops and wholesale golf equipment (as much as $2,500 in mixed selection class/grocery retailer/wholesale membership quarterly purchases, then 1%). Blue Money On a regular basis earns 3% money again at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. on-line retail purchases and U.S. gasoline stations (as much as $6,000 per yr in purchases in every class, then 1%). Within the instance above, the $5,259 in annual U.S. grocery store spending and $2,148 in annual U.S. gasoline station spending doesn’t exceed the $6,000 cap for every class with the Blue Money Most well-liked. Assuming the overall mixed quantity of annual Amazon and grocery spending ($6,659) is damaged down evenly throughout 4 quarters, the mixed quantity every quarter ($1,664.75) doesn’t exceed the Custom-made Money’s $2,500 quarterly cap.

**This instance assumes that you simply select on-line procuring as your 3% again class on the Custom-made Money Card each month for a yr.

Be aware that the above calculations don’t consider any welcome bonuses or limited-time provides, which differ by card and are topic to vary. However by way of common rewards over the course of a yr, the additional rewards you’ll get from groceries, gasoline and different on a regular basis purchases from an ordinary cash-back card can simply outweigh the rewards you get out of your Prime Day procuring spree utilizing the Prime Visa, except you propose to spend an inordinate amount of cash on Amazon.

The perfect card for you relies on your spending habits. In case you spend lots on U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gasoline stations, as demonstrated within the instance above, the Blue Money On a regular basis pulls forward. However, if most of your on a regular basis spending comes from a class not proven above however is on the record of selection classes for the Custom-made Money — resembling journey or eating — then the Custom-made Money could be a greater match.

Which brings us to our ultimate level: the Prime Visa might affect your spending habits. On common, Prime members spent $800 extra on Amazon every year than non-Prime members, in line with the Statista survey talked about above. If having the Prime Visa and even Amazon Prime itself may push you to spend greater than meant on Amazon, you could be higher off with out it — even when it means lacking out on some rewards and offers.

As with every bank card, try to be lifelike about how a lot you plan (or can afford) to spend and never let the prospect of incomes bank card rewards encourage you to overspend or purchase stuff you don’t want.

The underside line

With Prime Day arising, having a cash-back bank card with prolonged guarantee or buy protections might assist shield your new buy from theft or injury whereas providing rewards to assist offset among the expense. Whereas the Prime Visa is probably the most rewarding card for Amazon purchases, it is probably not probably the most worthwhile card for everybody in the long term

In case you’re going to make use of Amazon incessantly past Prime Day, otherwise you plan on frequently sustaining a Prime membership in any case, it’s your greatest wager. But when Amazon isn’t your go-to retailer, you could wish to select a extra versatile cash-back card with buy protections and helpful rewards classes outdoors of Amazon. And whichever card you employ, don’t let Prime Day offers or bank card rewards push you to spend greater than you plan to.

For charges and charges of the Blue Money On a regular basis Card from American Specific, click on right here

*All details about the Financial institution of America Custom-made Money Rewards bank card and the Prime Visa has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.

***Eligibility and Profit degree varies by Card. Phrases, Circumstances and Limitations Apply. Please go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for extra particulars. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Firm.

The editorial content material on this web page is predicated solely on goal, impartial assessments by our writers and isn’t influenced by promoting or partnerships. It has not been supplied or commissioned by any third get together. Nonetheless, we might obtain compensation if you click on on hyperlinks to services or products provided by our companions.

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