The Amazon.com Store Card is an Amazon credit card that can be used on Amazon and Amazon affiliates purchases. It boasts no annual fee, cashback rewards for Prime members, special financing, and a $60 Amazon gift card as a welcome bonus.
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Quick Review
There are two versions of the Amazon Store Card:
- Amazon.com Store Card: This card is for Amazon shoppers who don’t have an Amazon Prime account.
- Amazon Prime Store Card: This card is only available to Amazon Prime members. It shares the same features as the Amazon.com Store Card, but it also offers 5% cashback rewards on Amazon purchases.
If you’re already a Prime member, you’ll automatically be given the Amazon Prime Store Card when you qualify for an Amazon Store Card. As you’ll earn 5% cash back on Amazon purchases and purchases which you can use Amazon Pay for, the Amazon Prime Store Card is a much better deal than the standard store card.
The Amazon Store Card has no annual fee, and only requires fair credit (640+) to qualify. However, it has a relatively high APR of 28.99% (variable), so this isn’t an ideal credit card for anyone prone to carrying a balance month-to-month, as interest charges can add up quickly.
Here are the major pros and cons of the Amazon Store Card:
Amazon Store Card Important Details
Basic Card Details
- Card issuer: Synchrony Bank
- Regular APR: 28.99% (variable)
- Annual fee: $0
- Rewards rate: 0%–5%
- Welcome bonus: $60 Amazon gift card
Additional Information
- Prime members can earn an additional 5–15% cash back on select items
- Special financing is available
- Balance transfers are not offered
- Cash advances are not offered
Amazon Store Card Feature Breakdown
Amazon Store Card Use
You can use your Amazon Store Card or Amazon Prime Store Card to make purchases at the following locations:
- Amazon Marketplace
- Amazon Business
- Amazon Prime
- Amazon Go
- Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- Audible
- Amazon Bookstore
- Amazon’s 4-star stores
- Alexa Skills
- Amazon Pay
- Amazon Fresh
- Hoot.com
- Comixology.com
Fees
- Annual Fee: $0
- Late Payment Fee: $29–$40
Interest Rates
- Regular APR: 28.99% (variable)
- Minimum interest charge: $1.50
The APR for the Amazon Store Card is higher than the average, meaning you want to be careful not to leave a balance on your card or you’ll get hit with steep interest charges.
However, Amazon does offer special promotional financing and equal monthly payment programs on certain purchases. These offers reduce the APR to 0% for a limited period of time, meaning you could potentially avoid paying interest altogether.
Special Promotional Financing
Special promotional financing is a deferred interest program in which some products may be eligible for 0% APR if paid in a designated period of time.
Special financing is only offered on certain products (all of which are at least $150) at Amazon’s discretion. The special financing offers are contingent upon you paying in full within a specified time frame, such as:
- 6 months
- 12 months
- 24 months
Be warned about a major downside of this offer: if you don’t pay your balance in full in the designated time frame, you’ll be charged the entire period of interest, starting from the date of purchase.
You should only consider this if you know you can pay your balance in full in the allotted time—otherwise you’ll end up paying months’ worth of interest.
Equal Monthly Payments
Another payment promotion that the Amazon Store Card offers is a program called Equal Monthly Payments. This offer is only available on certain Amazon purchases; you’ll be notified whether or not you’re eligible at checkout.
Equal Monthly Payments is essentially a payment plan. Here’s how it works:
- The amount you owe is divided by the number of months designated by the offer. This result is your monthly payment (for example: $1,200 purchase / 6 Equal Monthly Payments = $200 each month)
- If you make your monthly payments, no interest will be charged.
- If you fail to make a monthly payment, Amazon will charge a late fee. This late fee may accrue interest.
- Equal Monthly Payment offers cannot be combined with special financing or cashback rewards.
While this program is helpful for Amazon Store Card holders who want to distribute their payments for large purchases over a longer period of time, we recommend avoiding it if you can’t make the monthly payments. Prime members should also be cautious, as using this program means missing out on cashback rewards.
Rewards
If you have a Prime membership, you’ll earn 5% cash back on purchases made on Amazon and at businesses that accept Amazon Pay.
Additionally, Amazon Prime Store Card holders can earn an extra 5–15% back on select, rotating items throughout the year.
Rewards are awarded as points (1 point equals $1) and applied to your cardmembers’ award points balance within 1-2 billing cycles of applicable purchases. You can redeem your rewards as savings on your Amazon purchases, or as statement credit on your Amazon Store Card credit card bill.
Credit Reporting
The Amazon Store Card is issued by Synchrony Bank (abbreviated SYNCB). Synchrony reports monthly to credit bureaus, including Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
This is a benefit of the credit card, as credit reporting is critical to building credit and improving your credit score, and not all card issuers report to all three bureaus.
Activity on your Amazon Store Card may show up on your credit report under the label SYNCB/Amazon PLCC.
Should You Get the Amazon Store Card?
FinanceJar verdict
If you have fair credit and an Amazon Prime Membership, the Amazon Store Card is a good addition to your wallet, as you can earn a $60 gift card upon qualification and 5% cash back on Amazon purchases. If you’re a regular Amazon shopper without Prime, this card may still be a good choice if you want to take advantage of the special financing or Equal Monthly Payments option for big purchases.
Who is this card for?
- Amazon Prime Members: If you already have a Prime membership, you automatically get an Amazon Prime Store Card (instead of the standard store card) upon qualification. With 5% cash back and a $60 welcome bonus, this card can help finance your Amazon shopping.
- Frequent Amazon shoppers: If Amazon is one of your primary shopping locations and you make big-ticket buys there, the special financing programs can ease the immediate costs of large purchases.
Comparable Cards
Amazon Store Card vs. Amazon Rewards Visa® Signature
Both of these credit cards are designed for avid Amazon shoppers, with the Amazon Rewards Visa® Signature card offering a wider range of use and a more extensive rewards program.
While the Amazon Store Card is a good card if you have fair credit and shop with Amazon, the Amazon Rewards Visa® Signature is a better choice if you’re a frequent Amazon shopper with good to excellent credit.
The Amazon Rewards Visa® Signature can be used anywhere Visa is accepted, and offers a more extensive rewards program than the store card. Here’s how the rewards work:
- Earn 3% cash back at Amazon and Whole Foods Market.
- Earn 2% cash back at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores.
- Earn 1% cash back on utilities, rideshare, and all other purchases.
If you’re able to qualify for the Amazon Rewards Visa® Signature, we highly recommend it over the Amazon Store Card.
Amazon Store Card vs. Apple Card
Both the Amazon Store Card and the Apple Card focus on cashback rewards. The Amazon Store Card gives Prime members 5% back for all purchases, but only at Amazon.
This means that if you aren’t a frequent Amazon shopper, the store card’s use range is limited and its rewards are ineffectual. With the Apple card, on the other hand, you get unlimited cash back with every purchase, no matter where you shop:
- 3% back with Apple and select merchants when you use Apple Card with Apple Pay
- 2% back when you use Apple Pay
- 1% back when you use the titanium card in stores or your Apple Card number online
Additionally, the Apple Card has no annual fees, no foreign transaction fees, and a lower APR of 13.99%–24.99% (variable).
Amazon Store Card vs. Barnes & Noble Mastercard®
Again, these two cards are focused on cashback rewards programs. As noted, the Amazon Store Card gives Prime members a generous rewards rate of 5% cash back, but these rewards can only be earned and used on Amazon purchases.
The Barnes & Noble Mastercard®, on the other hand, offers rewards for Barnes & Noble purchases as well as everyday purchases. The Barnes & Noble rewards include:
- 5% back on in-store and online Barnes & Noble purchases
- 2% back at restaurants
- 1% back on all other purchases
If you’re interested in the Amazon Store Card as a dedicated Amazon Books and Audible shopper, consider the Barnes & Noble Mastercard® as an alternative.
