Prime Visa Card Review: Must-have for Prime members

Prime Visa Card Overview
Amazon’s main visa (see Fees & Fees) is a reliable earner who receives rewards for Amazon purchases, ChaseTravel℠, gasoline, catering and commuting. This makes it a strong contender for those spending with Amazon and its affiliate brands. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐½
*Card ratings are based on the opinions of TPG editors and are not affected by the card issuer.
In most cases, when the cashier (or online pop-up) asks if you want to apply for a store credit card at checkout, we recommend “No Thanks”. The discounts you purchase are rarely as valuable as the welcome bonuses offered by other cards, and most store cards have a disappointing money-making structure.
However, there are some exceptions to this rule, and the main visa is one of them.
The main visa is worth considering if you spend a lot of your budget on Amazon or Whole Foods and want to buy the best income rate for those budgets. It earns 5% on Amazon and whole food purchases, a card that pays off without an annual fee.
We recommend applicants have a credit score of 670 or above to increase their chances of approval. Although the card itself does not have an annual fee, you still need a paid primary membership to qualify.
Although it offers reliable rewards, not everyone is best for it. Here’s what you need to know to determine if the primary visa is worth the location in your wallet.
Major Visa Pros and Disadvantages
advantage | shortcoming |
---|---|
|
|
Quality visa discount
Currently, Prime Visa specializes in offering Amazon gift cards for Prime members as soon as they are approved.
This is more than the standard $150 Amazon gift card offer, so we recommend taking advantage of it now, as it only lasts a limited time.
Daily Newsletter
Reward your inbox with TPG Daily Newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG experts
This is a reliable welcome bonus when you think it is an unfamiliar card – especially since it is available immediately after approval without spending requirements.
Although there is no annual fee for this card, you need a quality membership to get a major visa. Since this is a chase card, you want to increase your chances of approval by following Chase’s 5/24 rule.
Related: The Best Credit Cards to Buy on Amazon
Main visa benefits
We don’t usually expect a lot of benefits from a card without an annual fee, but Prime Visa has some surprising perks.
As a cardholder, you will enjoy the following protections:
Additionally, Prime Visa does not charge foreign transaction fees, which is a huge advantage of a card without an annual fee.
It seems like we hear a new horror story every day about someone’s luggage being lost, so having luggage protection is a big benefit in addition to buying Apple Airtags via Amazon.
With this card you can also enjoy 10% of the rewards in the spinning items and categories. Finally, cardholders will usually receive early transactions on Golden Day and receive enhanced rewards in these sales activities.
Related: How to Track Baggage with Apple Airtag
Earn cash on main visa
Prime Visa earns 5% returns on the following categories:
- Amazon.com
- Amazon Fresh
- Whole Foods Market
- Travel booked through Chase Travel
In these categories, it also earns 2%:
You will earn 1% of your return on all other purchases.
No other card always offers the height of Amazon’s ROI, so this revenue structure is great for anyone who spends most of their budget on Amazon and whole foods. If you want to keep only one card, the extra 2% of your daily spending is good.
However, you can get a higher income rate using gasoline, restaurants, and other daily spending categories on other cards, so the main visa works best and is just part of a larger card strategy.
Related: Best Reward Credit Cards for Each Bonus Category
Redemption cash back main visa
One of the best qualities for a primary visa is the convenience of redemption of rewards. You will see your rewards on the Amazon Checkout screen and can be used on Amazon.com to pay for some or all of your purchases.
Additionally, you can redeemed the rewards for cashback, gift cards or travel through Chase Travel. No matter which redemption option you choose, you will get a value of 1 cent per point.
Other cards allow you to use rewards to pay for Amazon purchases, but we only recommend this route if you have a primary visa.
For example, based on TPG’s June 2025 valuation, Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth 2.05 cents — but if you use these points to buy the purchase fee on Amazon.com, it’s less than 1% per point.
On the other hand, your main visa reward is worth the same 1 cent, whether you are using to cover Amazon purchases, get cash back, or do book travel via Chase Travel.
Related: How to Get Maximum Value from Chase Ultimate Rewards
Which card competes with the main visa?
If you don’t have a quality membership or don’t spend a lot of your budget on Amazon or Whole Foods, one of these cards might be a better choice for you:
For additional options, see our list of the best cash and best store credit cards.
Related: Shop with Cash Backpack Credit Card: Which Should I Get?
Is the main visa worth it?
If you already have a quality membership and want to receive a cash reward, the primary visa is an excellent card that can be started with or added to your existing portfolio. However, if you don’t have a primary membership or focus on earning travel rewards, you may get more value from other cards.
Bottom line
If you prefer cash back over complex travel rewards, a main visa is a great option. It earns an unrivaled 5% on Amazon and Whole Foods and offers a direct redemption option – all without an annual fee. The limited-time welcome offer for the instant $200 Amazon gift card makes the card even more attractive.
However, if you plan to use points and miles on your next big trip, you will need to use a card that will earn a travel reward on Amazon purchases. No matter which route you choose, you won’t go wrong every time you click Buy Now on Amazon.
Apply here: Prime Visa
For the rates and fees of American Express’ Blue Cash Daily Card, click here.