What Is The Amazon Prime Store Card In 2026? The Complete Guide

The Amazon Prime Store Card is a credit card exclusively for Amazon Prime members to maximize their rewards on Amazon purchases. With 5% back on everything Amazon and special financing offers, this card provides Prime subscribers with additional savings and benefits.

In short, the Prime Store Card offers:

  • 5% back on all Amazon purchases
  • 0% APR financing on orders $149+ for 6 months
  • Financing for 12 months on purchases $599+
  • $60 gift card upon approval
  • No annual fee

Keep reading this 2800+ word comprehensive guide to learn all about the features, requirements, benefits, drawbacks, customer reviews and more for the Amazon Prime Store Card in 2022.

Overview: What Is The Amazon Prime Store Card?

The Amazon Prime Store Card is a Visa credit card that‘s only available to approved Amazon Prime members. It offers 5% cash back rewards on every Amazon purchase and special 0% financing options for large orders.

This card can only be used on Amazon and its family of products and services like Whole Foods, Kindle, Audible, Zappos and more. It cannot be used outside of the Amazon ecosystem.

The Prime Store Card is issued by Synchrony Bank, not directly by Amazon. There is no annual fee to use it. Applicants who get approved receive an instant $60 Amazon gift card.

Overall, the Prime Store Card is designed to encourage Prime subscribers to shop more frequently and spend more on Amazon by providing greater rewards and financing options. For Prime members who regularly shop on Amazon, it can potentially save a lot of money.

Requirements: Do You Need To Be a Prime Member?

Yes, only Amazon Prime subscribers can qualify for the Prime Store Card. You must have an active Prime membership to apply for and use this credit card.

Over 200 million people worldwide have Amazon Prime subscriptions currently. In the US alone, Amazon Prime has over 150 million members as of 2022.

If you don‘t yet have Prime, you can start a 30-day free trial to sign up for the card. Or you can pay to become a full Prime member for $14.99 per month or $139 per year.

Students get discounted Prime memberships for just $7.49 per month or $69 per year.

The Prime Store Card is designed to reward the most loyal and frequent Amazon shoppers with better perks and financing. So Prime membership is mandatory.

Prime Membership Costs

Here‘s a breakdown of what Amazon Prime membership costs:

  • Standard – $14.99 per month or $139 per year

  • Student – $7.49 per month or $69 per year

  • Government Assistance – Qualifying customers can get discounted Prime for $6.99 per month

  • Free Trial – All new members qualify for a 30 day free Prime trial

The best deal is to pay annually upfront rather than monthly installments if you will remain a Prime user for at least 12 months.

For instance, the standard Prime annual plan saves you about $39 compared to paying monthly. Students save about $20 per year paying annually.

Prime Store Card Benefits

Here are the main benefits that come with the Amazon Prime Store Card:

5% Back on Everything Amazon

You get 5% cash back on any purchases made through Amazon and Whole Foods Market. This includes:

  • Amazon.com purchases (all products)
  • Amazon Fresh grocery delivery
  • Digital services like Prime Video, Kindle, Audible, etc.
  • Monthly Prime membership fees
  • Amazon Go physical retail stores
  • Whole Foods Market
  • Zappos

The 5% cash back also applies to any Amazon services like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), subscriptions, in-app purchases and more.

Special Financing Offers

One of the big advantages of the Prime Store Card is the ability to finance large purchases over time without interest:

  • 6 Months 0% APR – Qualified orders of $150+ can be split into 6 equal monthly payments.
  • 12 Months 0% APR – Purchase of $600+ are eligible for 12 month financing.
  • 24 Months 0% APR – Select purchases may qualify for 24 months of financing.

As long as you pay the required minimum monthly payments on time, you pay no interest. If you miss payments, interest is charged retroactively from purchase date.

Other Cardholder Perks

Along with the 5% cash back and special financing, the Prime Store Card comes with these additional perks:

  • $60 Amazon Gift Card – You get a $60 gift card added to your Amazon account upon approval.
  • No Annual Fee – There is no annual fee to use the card after approval.
  • 0% APR – Enjoy 0% APR with the pay-over-time options as long as payments are made.

The bonus gift card along with 5% rewards and financing make this a lucrative credit card for frequent Amazon shoppers.

Payment Terms

Let‘s take a closer look at the payment term options with the Prime Store Card‘s financing offers:

6 Months 0% APR

  • Minimum order of $150 required
  • Order total split evenly over 6 months
  • 0% APR as long as minimum payments are made
  • If you miss a payment, 26.99% interest charged from original purchase date

For example, if you finance a $300 order over 6 months, you would make 6 monthly payments of $50. As long as you pay the $50 on time each month, there‘s no interest.

12 Months 0% APR

  • Minimum order amount $599
  • Order total split over 12 months
  • 0% APR as long as minimum monthly payments are made
  • If you miss a payment, interest of 26.99% kicks in from original order date

So a $1000 order could be split into 12 payments of about $83.33 each if financed over 12 months.

24 Months 0% APR

  • Only very large purchase amounts qualify
  • Order total divided into 24 equal monthly payments
  • 0% APR as long as you make the minimum payments
  • If you miss a payment, interest of 26.99% is charged from beginning

24-month financing would be for very expensive purchases only, such as a big screen TV over $2000. The longer financing term allows more flexibility in the monthly budget.

Rewards: How The Points Work

The rewards program for the Prime Store Card works like this:

  • 5% Back – You earn 5% cash back on all eligible Amazon purchases.

  • 1 Point = $1 – Each reward point equals $1 to redeem in cashback. 500 points = $5 in rewards.

  • Rewards Credited – Points are added to your balance 1-2 billing cycles after purchase.

  • See Balance – Check your rewards point balance on your account statement.

  • Redeem Anytime – Cashback can be redeemed immediately no minimum balance required.

  • Receive as Gift Card – Rewards can be applied as an Amazon gift card on your account.

Let‘s say you spend $100 at Amazon.com in a month. You would earn 500 points which equals $5 in rewards. Those 500 points would show up on your next billing statement.

You can immediately redeem those points for $5 cashback applied to your card balance or as a $5 Amazon gift card.

Where Can The Card Be Used?

The Prime Store Card can only be used for Amazon-affiliated purchases, including:

  • Amazon.com
  • Whole Foods
  • Amazon Fresh
  • Amazon Go Stores
  • Amazon Books
  • Amazon Music
  • Kindle
  • Audible
  • IMDB
  • Twitch
  • Zappos
  • Ring
  • Blink

Any physical or digital purchase made directly through an Amazon property is eligible. If it‘s billed by Amazon, you can use the card and earn 5% back.

However, the card cannot be used outside of Amazon‘s own ecosystem. For example, you cannot use it at gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants or normal shops. It‘s really designed for serious Amazon addicts!

Pros of the Amazon Prime Store Card

For frequent Amazon shoppers, the Prime Store Card has compelling benefits:

  • 5% cash back is hard to beat as an ongoing reward rate on all Amazon purchases. The standard Amazon Rewards Visa gives only 3% back.

  • Special financing options make it easier to afford large purchases like TVs, furniture, appliances.

  • $60 gift card perk provides an immediate win and offsets the Prime membership fee.

  • No annual fee means the card is free to use after approval.

  • Cardholder-exclusive financing offers on select seasonal deals.

  • Easy to redeem rewards as gift cards or statement credits.

Overall, this card maximizes rewards for Prime members and facilitates bigger purchases interest-free.

Cons of the Amazon Prime Store Card

The Prime Store Card does come with some potential drawbacks:

  • Can only be used at Amazon – no rewards or use outside the ecosystem.

  • Must have Prime already – not ideal for infrequent Amazon shoppers.

  • Reviewers report low credit limits compared to other cards.

  • Synchrony Bank customer service gets mixed reviews for being unhelpful.

  • Card website and app functionality issues reported in some reviews.

  • Must wait 1-2 billing cycles for rewards to post to account.

  • High 26.99% interest rate if you miss 0% financing payments.

For customers frustrated by low Prime Store Card limits or tech issues, the Amazon Rewards Visa or Amazon Business Card may be better options to consider.

Ideal Users for the Card

These types of customers can maximize the Prime Store Card benefits:

  • Frequent Amazon shoppers – If you shop on Amazon weekly or daily, the 5% cashback is very lucrative.

  • Prime subscribers – Heavy Amazon users like Prime Video streamers who want more membership perks.

  • Occasional big spenders – The 0% financing offers help budget large purchases.

  • Whole Foods grocery shoppers – 5% back adds up quickly on regular grocery trips.

  • Convenience-focused users – Amazon autoships like Subscribe & Save become 5% cheaper.

  • Credit builder users – The card is easier to get approved for than premium cards.

For Amazon fanatics, frequent Whole Foods shoppers, and Prime members who stream video regularly or use other services, the Prime Store Card can potentially save hundreds per year.

Creditworthiness Considerations

Although the Prime Store Card is easier to get than top rewards cards, approval is not guaranteed. Here are some factors that influence eligibility:

  • Credit score – Applicants with scores of 660+ have the best approval odds. Sub-600 scores are often denied.

  • Income – Your reported annual household income affects your credit limits. Higher incomes improve chances.

  • Existing credit history – Having a few open accounts (like student, auto loan) boosts your file.

  • Debt-to-income ratio – Keeping this below 30% helps your case for approval and higher limits.

  • Hard credit inquiries – Each application causes an inquiry which dings your score a few points temporarily. Too many looks desperate.

Building up your score and income over time before applying can lead to a higher limit card approval. A year of on-time payments with a secured card can work wonders.

Alternatives to the Amazon Prime Store Card

The Amazon Prime Store Card is not the only credit option for Amazon shoppers. Here are a few alternatives:

Amazon Rewards Visa Signature

  • Earns 5% back at Amazon & Whole Foods (3% elsewhere)
  • No Prime required
  • $100 gift card bonus upon approval
  • 0% APR financing offers

Amazon Business Prime American Express Card

  • Provides 5% back on Amazon Business purchases
  • No personal credit check required
  • Employee card management features
  • Unlimited 0.5% back everywhere

Amazon Secured Credit Builder Visa

  • Helps build credit history
  • Can graduate to unsecured card
  • Reloadable cash deposits act as your limit
  • Earns rewards on Amazon purchases

Amazon Store Card

  • Requires no Prime membership
  • Special financing offers
  • 5% back select Amazon purchases
  • No annual fee

For unsecured cards, you still want a 660+ score, so building credit history with a secured card first is wise. But these alternatives offer more flexibility.

Comparing the Amazon Credit Cards

Credit Card Prime Req. Rewards Welcome Bonus Annual Fee APR
Prime Store Card Required 5% on Amazon $60 Gift Card $0 26.99%
Rewards Signature Visa Not Required 5% on Amazon
2% restaurants, gas & drugstores
1% elsewhere
$100 Gift Card $0 16.49% – 25.49% Varies
Amazon Business Amex No 5% on Business
0.5% everywhere
None $0 N/A charge card
Store Card No 5% Select Amazon
2% restaurants, gas & drugstores
1% elsewhere
Special financing offer $0 27.24%
Secured Visa No 3% Amazon
2% restaurants, gas & drugstores
1% elsewhere
None $0 26.99%

As you can see, the Prime Store Card offers the highest rewards on Amazon purchases specifically. But the Rewards Visa, Store Card, and Secured Visa allow more flexibility for non-Amazon spending.

Customer Reviews & Ratings

Here is a summary of customer feedback on the Prime Store Card from popular review sites:

  • Amazon Site: 3.9 out of 5 stars (over 5300 reviews)

  • Credit Karma: 3.8 out of 5 stars (over 1500 reviews)

  • WalletHub: 3.7 out of 5 stars (115+ reviews)

  • CardRatings: 3.5 out of 5 stars (limited reviews)

The most common complaints involve:

  • Small credit limits approved
  • Difficulty contacting customer service
  • Website and app functionality issues
  • Problems applying or issues after approval

Positive reviews praise the 5% cash back rewards along with the special financing offers. But poor customer service experience after approval is a recurring grievance among negative reviewers.

Who Should Get the Amazon Prime Store Card?

Overall, the Amazon Prime Store Card makes sense for these types of customers:

  • Prime subscribers who shop frequently at Amazon & Whole Foods
  • Fans of Prime services like movies, music & ebooks
  • Those who appreciate 0% financing offers for large purchases
  • Households that spend $300+ per month regularly on Amazon
  • Credit builders needing an easier card to qualify for
  • Anyone wanting to maximize Amazon savings

However, this card may not be ideal if:

  • You rarely shop on Amazon
  • You need a card to use outside of Amazon ecosystem
  • You dislike Synchrony Bank‘s customer service
  • You prefer to earn travel miles or flexible rewards

Review all the rewards, perks, limits, and eligibility considerations covered in this guide before applying. And consider alternative cards like the Amazon Rewards Visa as well.

Conclusion

The Amazon Prime Store Card offers lucrative 5% cashback rewards and 0% financing on Amazon for Prime members. It provides serious savings each year for frequent Amazon shoppers.

Just be aware that you must have an active Prime membership to be approved and use this card. Credit limits may be disappointing for some customers despite good scores.

But overall, the Prime Store Card is a solid value for Amazon die-hards who want to maximize their rewards. Between the 5% back everywhere, special financing offers, and initial $60 gift card, it can definitely pay for itself quickly if you shop Amazon routinely.

Hopefully this detailed 2800+ word guide gave you all the key facts, benefits analysis and comparisons you need to decide if the Amazon Prime Store Card is right for your spending needs in 2022!

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