Does an Amazon Credit Card Build Credit? Choosing + Using One

When I started college, I didn't know much about credit cards. I had heard it's smart to start building credit, but I didn't know what that actually meant. I impulsively applied for my first credit card, and although I'm glad I have credit cards now, I had no idea what I was doing then.

Thankfully, there's more information about building credit now and many more cards to choose from. It's good to stay curious about available options and, unlike me, do your research before you apply. If you're an Amazon user, you may already know about Amazon cards. But does an Amazon credit card help you build credit?

The short answer is that yes, it could. But you have to pay attention to the how, the why, and the what that means for you.

How Amazon credit cards affect your credit score

All credit cards, including Amazon credit cards, are similar to loans and can dramatically impact your credit. The Amazon card you choose can determine what perks you qualify for, but they could all help you build credit if you use them responsibly. Here's how it works.

Each time you apply for new credit, including a credit card, a hard inquiry is added to your credit report. These often temporarily lower your credit score by a few points.

If the issuer approves your application, you:

• Receive a line of credit to make purchases.
• Are permitted to spend up to your credit limit each month.
• Receive a bill for your full balance, referred to as your "statement balance."
• Pay interest on any balance you roll over from your statement balance, determined by the annual percentage rate (APR) disclosed in your card agreement.

As you make payments on your credit card, the issuer typically reports your balance and payment history to the three credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.

Credit score factors

The factors that make up your credit score include:

• Payment history: 35%
• Amount owed (also called "credit utilization"): 30%
• Credit history length: 15%
• Credit mix: 10%
• New credit: 10%

As you can see, using a credit card can impact nearly every area of your credit score, so it's vital to use them wisely.

Ways a credit card can lower your score

If you aren't careful about using credit, you can really damage your credit score. And unfortunately, fixing your credit tends to take a lot longer than "breaking" it in the first place.

In general, your credit card can lower your score if you:

• Miss payments
• Carry a high balance from one statement period to the next
• Frequently max out your credit cards
• Apply for too many cards at once

Those are some of the main ways credit cards can hurt, but you could also bring your score down if you close an old account since it's partly based on the length of your credit history.

Ways a credit card can improve your score

As you learn how to build credit, credit cards, Amazon or otherwise, can be helpful tools. They could help your credit when you:

• Make your payments on time every statement period
• Pay off your balance in full by the due date
• Keep your credit utilization low — generally below 30% of your available credit
• Limit your applications for new credit cards

If you always make payments on time and apply these strategies, your credit score could improve over time. The longer you go without a late or missed payment, the better.

A credit card can also help your score by adding diversity to your credit report. Lenders like to see a mix of credit types, such as a car loan (an installment loan) and a credit card (revolving credit), because it shows you can be responsible with many types of debt.

Types of Amazon credit cards

There are multiple types of Amazon cards, including:

• Traditional (unsecured) credit cards that earn rewards
• A store credit card
• A secured credit card designed to help you build credit

If you're a frequent Amazon shopper, using an Amazon credit card can be a great way to get perks and rewards while also building your credit.

Amazon personal credit cards

Amazon offers two unsecured credit cards that can be used wherever Visa is accepted.

Prime Visa

The Amazon Prime Visa by Chase Bank is best for existing Prime customers since a Prime membership is required to get the best benefits.

It offers 5% on Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, and Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership. Other Chase credit cards provide Chase Travel purchases as a bonus category. It also provides 2% on gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare), and 1% on all other purchases. Cardholders can also choose special financing at 0% intro APR if they forfeit the cashback rewards on the purchase.

I like that there's no annual fee or foreign transaction fees with this card. But if you choose the cash back rewards, this card has a 18.74% – 27.49% Variable APR on new purchases (based on your creditworthiness), so it's best for you if you already have some credit.

Amazon Visa

The Amazon Visa card, also issued by Chase Bank, is similar to the Prime Visa, but it doesn't require a Prime membership. However, it earns 3% cash back at Amazon.com, Whole Foods Market, and on Chase Travel purchases; 2% cash back at restaurants and gas stations, and on local transit and commuting; and 1% cash back on all other purchases. There's no annual fee, and it has an APR of 18.74% to 27.49% (variable) on new purchases.

I feel this card is best for someone who shops on Amazon enough to appreciate the cashback features but not enough to justify a Prime membership.

Amazon store credit cards

Amazon also offers two store credit cards that can only be used on its platforms. These are issued by Synchrony Bank.

Amazon Store Card

The Amazon Store Card is a good option if you plan to make a large Amazon purchase. There's no annual fee, and Prime members earn 5% back on purchases at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market (In-Store Code required) with an eligible Prime membership. However, if you want the special financing options for large purchases, you have to give up the 5% back. It has a potentially higher variable APR than that of other Amazon credit cards.

Don't apply for store credit cards if you aren't a loyal customer at that store (in this case, that means Amazon). If you place a lot of Amazon orders, it can make sense to have a card just for that spending. But if you don't, consider other cash back credit cards that could offer more value across all of your purchases.

Amazon Secured Card

The Amazon Secured Card offers 2% back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market (In-Store Code required) with an eligible Prime membership. It's a unique option and one of the best credit cards for rebuilding credit if you like to shop at Amazon, in my opinion.

As its name implies, it's a secured card. That means you have to make a deposit to open it, and that deposit becomes your credit limit. The minimum deposit is $100, and the maximum is $1000 (a maximum that's on the low end for secured cards). You'll pay a relatively low fixed APR if you don't pay off your balance in full each month.

But don't get this card if you think there's a chance you'll miss payments, as you could risk having your account closed and not getting your security deposit back. Plus, bad habits with a secured credit card can hurt your credit just as much as bad habits with an unsecured card.

As you pay off the balance each month, your credit history builds. If you use the card responsibly for 12 months, you might be able to convert it into an Amazon Store Card and get your deposit back.

Pros and cons of Amazon credit cards

Pros of Amazon cards

• Generally offer high cashback rewards for Prime members
• No annual or foreign transaction fees
• Special 0% financing deals for large purchases
• Could help you build or rebuild your credit with responsible use

Cons of Amazon cards

• Need an Amazon Prime membership to earn the biggest rewards
• May earn more cash back on non-Amazon purchases with a different card
• Can only use store credit cards at Amazon and other approved sites
• Have to choose between earning rewards and taking advantage of special financing

How to tell if an Amazon card would be good for you

An Amazon credit card might be a great fit, or it could be a pretty poor one. Here's how to tell if you're the right person for one of these cards.

How to earn more on Amazon spending without an Amazon credit card

If you don't need another credit card or just don't want an Amazon card, you can still earn plenty of cash back on your Amazon purchases. Here are two options.

• Consider using another cash back card, such as the Discover it^® Cash Back.
• It lets you earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. with no annual fee. In past quarters, Amazon has been a 5% cash back category. For example, you could earn 5% on Amazon.com purchases between October 1 and December 31 of 2025.
• Consider using Capital One Shopping to save money when you shop online.
• Although it doesn't offer cash back as a credit card does, this website and browser extension automatically searches for and applies coupon codes, compares prices, and provides price alerts.

FAQs

Bottom line

An Amazon credit card can be good if you're already a Prime member and do a lot of shopping on Amazon, but it's important to remember that these, like other credit cards, can impact your credit for better or worse. If you have at least good credit, consider the Amazon Prime or Amazon Store card. If you need help building credit, look at the Amazon Secure card, which can help you establish credit and turn into an Amazon Store card with responsible payments.

For help finding the right card for everyday spending, check out the best cash back credit cards with no annual fee.

Earn Easy Cash Rewards at Amazon.com

Prime Visa

4.9

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Prime Visa

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Rates and fees

Current Offer

Get a $150 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Rate

Unlimited 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership, unlimited 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare), and unlimited 1% on all other purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
• Eligible for Chase travel and purchase protections
• Cashback rewards can be redeemed as soon as the next day

Drawbacks

• Must be a Prime member to qualify
• No intro APR offer on purchases or balance transfers
• Potentially high APR if you carry a balance

Card Details

• Get a $150 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members
• Earn unlimited 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership
• Prime Card Bonus: Earn 10% back or more on a rotating selection of items and categories on Amazon.com with an eligible Prime membership
• Earn unlimited 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare)
• Earn unlimited 1% back on all other purchases
• No annual credit card fee
• No more waiting. Redeem daily rewards at Amazon.com as soon as the next day
• Member FDIC