Amazon Prime business card basics
Card type | Business |
Card issuer | American Express |
Annual fee | $0 |
Reward rate | 5% back in Amazon Rewards points or no interest for 90 days on U.S. Amazon Business, AWS, Amazon.com, and Whole Foods purchases (on up to $120,000 in purchases per calendar year, after that 1%); 2% back at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, and purchases with U.S. wireless providers; and 1% back on all other eligible purchases |
Welcome offer | Earn a $125 Amazon gift card upon approval |
Recommended credit score | Excellent, Good |
Foreign transaction fee | None |
Who should get the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card?
We probably don't need to tell you just how much stuff you can buy on Amazon, and that goes for business owners, too. Any small business owner who uses Amazon.com or Whole Foods Market for business purchases could find value with this card, but it's most ideal if you also use it on Amazon Business and AWS.
The Amazon Business Prime American Express Card lets you take advantage of the products Amazon offers while earning rewards at the same time. With this card, you earn 5% back in Amazon Rewards points from U.S. Amazon Business, AWS, Amazon.com, and Whole Foods purchases (on up to $120,000 in purchases per calendar year, after that 1%).
Rewards from Amazon.com and Whole Foods purchases are helpful, but business owners may benefit the most from expenses with Amazon Business and Amazon Web Services (AWS). These services offer useful office supplies, IT products, security software, online storage solutions, and more.
Amazon Business Prime Amex Card benefits and perks
If you're considering applying for the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card, these are its top benefits and perks:
- No annual fee: This card's annual fee is $0, so it's easy to earn valuable rewards without worrying about an annual cost.
- Bonus rewards: Cardholders earn 5% back in Amazon Rewards points or no interest for 90 days on U.S. Amazon Business, AWS, Amazon.com, and Whole Foods purchases (on up to $120,000 in purchases per calendar year, after that 1%); 2% back at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, and purchases with U.S. wireless providers; and 1% back on all other eligible purchases.
- Employee cards: Increase efficiency by giving cards to your employees. You can set the spending limits, and you'll earn rewards on their purchases.
- Baggage insurance: Receive coverage for lost, damaged, or stolen baggage. Up to $1,250 for carry-on baggage and up to $500 for checked baggage.
- Car rental coverage: Receive secondary car rental loss and damage insurance for eligible rental vehicles when you pay with your eligible card and decline the collision damage waiver from the car rental company.
- No foreign transaction fees: Don't worry about foreign transaction fees when you're making purchases outside of the U.S. with this card.
- Extended warranty: Extend the original manufacturer's warranty by up to one additional year on qualified purchases.
- Purchase protection: Eligible new purchases are covered for 90 days (from the purchase date) against damage or theft for up to $1,000 per claim and $50,000 per account each year.
- Amex Offers: Earn more rewards by adding discounted offers to your eligible card. Discounted categories include shopping, dining, travel, and more. Enrollment required.
- Generous welcome offer: Earn a $125 Amazon gift card upon approval. While this is certainly not the highest-value bonus out there, it is unique for not coming with any spending or activity requirements to qualify. You can get the gift card just for being approved for the card, which we very rarely see.
Drawbacks to the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card
- Amazon Prime membership: You must have an eligible Amazon Prime membership to qualify for this card. An Amazon Prime membership costs $139 per year, and the least expensive Amazon Business Prime membership costs $179 per year. In effect, this would be the annual fee for your Amazon Business Prime American Express Card.
- No cash back: The rewards you receive from making purchases are Amazon Rewards points, not cash back. This significantly reduces the value of the rewards on this card compared to typical cashback credit cards. Amazon Rewards points are worth $1 per every 100 points.
- Not travel-focused: This card does have some travel benefits, such as American Express travel insurance and no foreign transaction fees, but there's no airport lounge access, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, or annual travel credit. Plus, you won't earn extra rewards for travel purchases. American Express cards also aren't as widely accepted at merchants around the world as Mastercard or Visa cards.
Earning and redeeming Amazon Rewards points
Best ways to earn
The best way to earn rewards with the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card is by making Amazon purchases or shopping at Whole Foods Market. You can earn 5% back in Amazon Rewards points on U.S. Amazon Business, AWS, Amazon.com, and Whole Foods purchases (on up to $120,000 in purchases per calendar year, after that 1%). You can also earn 2% back in Amazon Rewards points on U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, and purchases with U.S. wireless providers.
Categories | Rewards rate |
U.S. Amazon Business, AWS, Amazon.com, and Whole Foods purchases (on up to $120,000 in purchases per calendar year, after that 1%) | 5% |
U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, and purchases with U.S. wireless providers | 2% |
All other eligible purchases | 1% |
Maximizing your redemptions
The Amazon Business Prime American Express Card is meant to be used for Amazon purchases, so it makes sense the available redemption options would have the same goal. With this card, you can redeem your Amazon Rewards points to Shop with Points at Amazon.com and Amazon Business. Simply choose the option to pay with points at checkout. You can also redeem your points for a statement credit or cash back to offset eligible charges on your card account.
Even though this is an American Express credit card, you won't have access to Amex redemption options. These are Amazon Rewards points, not Amex Membership Rewards points.
Alternatives if the Amazon Prime business card isn't right for you
You earn valuable rewards from Amazon purchases with the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card. However, if you want to earn bonus rewards from a broader range of purchases, you might consider the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card or the The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card.
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
The Chase Ink Business Cash covers common business expenses, earning 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year. It's more of a generalist card than the Amazon Prime business card, making it the better choice if your business spending doesn't involve a lot of Amazon checkouts.
Read our full Ink Business Cash® Credit Card review.
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
With the Blue Business Cash Card from American Express, you don't have to worry about bonus categories at all. This card earns 2% cash back on the first $50,000 in eligible purchases each year, then 1% after that.
We'd recommend it over the Amazon business credit card if you'd rather earn a higher flat rate on all of your business spending than boosted rates on certain categories, especially if you're interested in American Express one way or the other.
Read our full The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card review.
FAQs
Does Amazon have a business credit card?
Yes, Amazon has two business credit cards, the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card and the Amazon Business American Express Card. To apply for the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card, you need an eligible Prime membership. You do not need to be a Prime member to apply for the Amazon Business American Express Card.
Which Amex business card is best?
The best American Express business credit card is the one that best suits your business needs and spending habits. The Amazon Business Prime American Express Card offers terrific value for Amazon shoppers. For general business expenses, The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card could be a better fit. And for frequent travelers, the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express offers premium travel benefits and perks.
Is the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card a good card?
The Amazon Business Prime American Express Card is a great card for anyone who frequently makes Amazon or Whole Foods purchases for their business.
What credit score do you need for the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card?
To qualify for the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card, you typically need an excellent credit score. However, American Express would have the final decision on who would qualify.
Which is better: Amazon Business Prime American Express or Amazon Business American Express Card?
The Amazon Business Prime American Express Card earns 5% back on U.S. Amazon Business, AWS, Amazon.com, and Whole Foods purchases (on up to $120,000 in purchases per calendar year, after that 1%), and the Amazon Business American Express Card earns 3% back on U.S. Amazon Business, AWS, Amazon.com, and Whole Foods purchases (on up to $120,000 in purchases per calendar year, after that 1%). You need an eligible Amazon Prime membership for the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card, but you don't for the Amazon Business American Express Card.