How Do Amazon Points Work in 2026? Everything You Need To Know as a Shopper

Hey there! If you love shopping on Amazon, you’ve probably wondered whether those credit card reward points you’ve been racking up can score you big savings or other perks on your purchases.

Well, good news – they absolutely can!

Amazon allows you to convert popular credit card rewards points into monetary value to spend on its site through a program called Amazon Points.

In this detailed guide, we’ll explain how Amazon Points work, where they come from, what kinds of rewards are eligible, and how you as a shopper can maximize their value.

Let’s dive in!

An Overview of Amazon Points

Here’s a quick rundown of how Amazon Points work:

• Amazon Points are not their own currency. They allow you to use existing credit card rewards points for purchases on Amazon.

• You first need an eligible rewards credit card. Popular programs include Amex, Chase, Citi, Capital One, etc.

• You can convert your points to cash value. Programs will let you trade points for statement credits or Amazon credit at various ratios.

• The credits appear as payment options at Amazon checkout, letting you redeem towards millions of eligible purchases.

So in summary, Amazon Points unlock your credit card points to work like cash when shopping on Amazon. Pretty cool right?

Now let’s get into the details of how to use them and what kind of value you can get…

Eligible Credit Cards and Rewards Programs

Want to use rewards from one of these popular programs? You’re in luck – Amazon partners with all of them!

• Chase Ultimate Rewards
• American Express Membership Rewards
• Citi ThankYou Points
• Capital One Miles
• Wells Fargo Rewards
• Bank of America Rewards
• Discover Cashback Match
• US Bank FlexPerks
• Hilton Honors
• World of Hyatt
• Marriott Bonvoy
• Radisson Rewards
• IHG Rewards Club

You can check the full list of Amazon’s partners here. Most airline and hotel programs are included.

Amazon also lets you redeem points from their co-branded credit cards:

• Amazon Prime Rewards Visa – 5% back on Amazon and Whole Foods
• Amazon Rewards Visa – 3% back on Amazon
• Amazon Store Card – 3-5% back for non-Prime members

Next, we’ll explain how to link these accounts and start using rewards on Amazon.

Linking Your Credit Card Points to Amazon

Connecting your rewards account to Amazon only takes a few minutes. Here‘s a step-by-step guide:

1. Visit Amazon.com and click “Account & Lists” in the top right.

2. Under “Your Account,” click “Amazon Points.”

3. Browse the list of credit card rewards programs and click “Link Now” on yours.

4. Sign into your rewards account. You may need to enter your card number.

5. Follow the instructions to link accounts. Often you‘ll get an Amazon confirmation code to enter on your bank‘s website.

6. Once linked, you‘ll see your points balance on Amazon!

And that‘s it – you can immediately start redeeming your points on eligible purchases. Most links only take a few minutes to complete.

Pro tip: You can link to multiple rewards programs for maximum savings! Just repeat the steps for each one.

How to Redeem Points on Amazon

Using your linked credit card points on Amazon is super easy:

1. Shop on Amazon like normal and add items to your cart.

2. Proceed to checkout. Under payment options, you‘ll see your available points balance.

3. Select your linked credit card. Check “Apply Points” and enter the amount to redeem.

4. If your purchase exceeds your points, pay the remainder with another payment method.

5. Amazon deducts the points and charges your account the remainder. Easy!

Let’s walk through a quick example:

• You link your Chase card with 50,000 Ultimate Rewards points.
• At Amazon checkout for a $200 purchase, you apply 40,000 points.
• Those points cover $400 in value. So you only pay the remaining $100 on your card.

See – redeeming points is just like getting free cash towards Amazon purchases!

How Much Are Points Worth on Amazon?

The monetary value you get from each point depends on the program:

Program	Points to Cash Value
Chase Ultimate Rewards	1 cent per point
Amex Membership Rewards	0.7-1 cent per point
Citi ThankYou	1 cent per point
Capital One	1 cent per point
Wells Fargo	1.5 cents per point
Discover	1-2 cents per point

As you can see, 1 cent per point is common, but programs like Wells Fargo and Discover can get you even more value.

Compare that to airline and hotel programs, where point values often fall between 0.5-0.7 cents. So Amazon redemptions can actually give you a better monetary return!

Amazon Credit Cards Point Values

Here’s how much Amazon’s own credit cards give back:

Card	Points to Cash Value
Amazon Prime Rewards Visa	100 points = $1 credit
Amazon Rewards Visa	100 points = $1 credit
Amazon Store Card	1 point = $1 credit

With the Prime and Rewards Visa, the standard 100 points to $1 ratio applies. But the Amazon Store Card gives a straight 1:1 conversion.

Experts recommend the Store Card for frequent Amazon shoppers who don’t need Prime’s perks.

”The rewards rate combined with no annual fee makes the Amazon Store Card a great option for heavy Amazon users,” said credit strategist Ben Thayer.

What Can You Buy with Amazon Points?

One of the best perks of Amazon Points is that they can be redeemed towards millions of products site-wide.

As long as an item is sold directly by Amazon or an eligible third-party seller, you can use points towards it. Some examples include:

• Electronics – laptops, TVs, smart home devices
• Kitchen appliances – microwaves, coffee makers, air fryers
• Clothing & fashion – shoes, handbags, watches
• Beauty & skincare – makeup, hair products, fragrances
• Toys & games – LEGO, board games, action figures
• Groceries – Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods
• Household supplies – cleaning items, batteries
• Outdoor gear – tents, hiking boots, water bottles

You can also use points on add-on services like gift wrapping.

The only exceptions are digital products/subscriptions, alcohol, prescriptions, and reoccurring deliveries.

But overall, compared to traditional airline and hotel rewards catalogs, you’ll have way more redemption options through Amazon Points.

Expert Strategies to Maximize Amazon Points

Credit card and shopping experts recommend a few tips to maximize value from Amazon Points:

• Apply for the Amazon Store Card if you frequently shop Amazon without Prime – its unmatched 1:1 point conversion provides huge savings.

• Compare point valuations and transfer amounts strategically – i.e. don’t redeem Chase points at only 1 cent each.

• Link multiple reward programs to pool points for bigger Amazon purchases.

• Shop via the Amazon app with a linked card to earn bonus points on top of your rewards.

• Take advantage of point-earning promotions – some programs offer deals for using points at Amazon.

• Don‘t hoard points – some programs expire points, so redeem regularly to avoid losing them.

Following these best practices ensures you squeeze the most value from your hard-earned credit card points!

Pros of Amazon Points for Savvy Shoppers

For deal-minded shoppers, Amazon Points provide some nice advantages:

• Huge selection – points can be spent on millions of items vs just flights or hotels

• No blackout dates – Amazon doesn’t restrict point usage like airlines and hotels

• Easy redemption – takes just 1 click during checkout instead of booking travel

• Solid value – points are often worth 1 cent each, sometimes more

• Unlimited uses – points aren’t a one-time coupon, you can redeem them repeatedly

• Combine rewards – link multiple credit cards to maximize overall savings

So if you hate jumping through hoops to redeem traditional travel miles, Amazon Points are a convenient alternative.

Downsides of Amazon Points to Consider

However, Amazon Points aren‘t perfect. Here are a few potential cons:

• Occasional dead zones – some credit card programs temporarily suspend Amazon Points

• Lower potential value – transferable currencies may get over 1 cent value booking travel

• No shopping portals – rewards programs offer bonus points shopping via their portal

• Can‘t transfer back – once exchanged for Amazon credit, points become locked in

• No signup bonuses – applying for a new card earns more initial rewards

Overall though, most shoppers find the pros outweigh the cons when used strategically.

Does It Make Sense for You?

Hopefully you now understand the ins and outs of Amazon Points and are ready to start redeeming your credit card rewards!

For savvy shoppers who favor simplicity and wide redemption options, Amazon Points are a solid bet.

Just be sure to compare your overall earnings potential before transferring points solely for Amazon purchases.

Once you’ve done the math, go ahead and link those accounts. Your next big Amazon haul awaits!