Your Amazon credit card works at most places Visa is accepted, but the rewards structure changes depending on where you shop

The Amazon credit card is a Visa card issued by Chase Bank. Because it carries the Visa logo, you can use it anywhere that accepts Visa — which includes most retailers, gas stations, restaurants, and online merchants in the United States and abroad. The card itself has no restrictions on where you can physically swipe or insert it.

What does change is how much you earn back. The card offers different cash back rates depending on the merchant category. You earn the highest rate at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market. You earn a lower rate at gas stations, restaurants, and transit. You earn the lowest rate everywhere else. This means the card works everywhere, but the financial benefit varies by location.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Amazon credit card is a Visa card and works at any merchant that accepts Visa, both in stores and online.
  • The card earns different cash back rates depending on where you shop: highest at Amazon and Whole Foods, lower at gas and restaurants, lowest elsewhere.
  • There is no spending cap or category limit — you can use the card as much as you want in any category.
  • The card does not work with Amazon Pay or third-party checkout systems that require a specific payment method; you must use it as a standard Visa card.

Cash back rates by merchant category

Amazon offers two versions of its credit card: the Prime Visa and the non-Prime Visa. Both earn cash back, but at different rates. The Prime version earns a higher rate at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market if you are a Prime member. The non-Prime version earns a lower rate at those merchants but the same rate everywhere else.

At gas stations, restaurants, and transit (including taxis, rideshare, parking, trains, and buses), both versions earn the same cash back rate. At all other merchants — department stores, pharmacies, streaming services, utility companies — both versions earn the same lower rate. There is no cap on how much cash back you can earn in any category in a given month or year.

The exact rates depend on which version of the card you hold and whether you maintain an active Prime membership. Chase publishes these rates on the card's product page and in your cardholder agreement. Rates can change, so check your agreement or contact Chase directly if you need the current rates for your specific card version.

Using the card online and with digital wallets

You can add your Amazon credit card to Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay. Once added, you can use it for contactless payments at any merchant that accepts those digital wallets. The cash back rate you earn is based on the merchant category, not the payment method — paying with your phone earns the same rate as swiping the physical card.

You can also use the card for online purchases at any website that accepts Visa. Enter the card number, expiration date, and CVV at checkout just as you would with any other credit card. The card works on Amazon.com, but it also works on every other online retailer, subscription service, and merchant that takes Visa.

The card does not work with Amazon Pay, which is Amazon's checkout service that lets you use your Amazon account credentials to pay at other retailers. If a merchant offers Amazon Pay as a payment option, you cannot use your Amazon credit card through that system — you would need to use a different payment method or enter your card details manually at a standard checkout page.

International use and currency conversion

You can use your Amazon credit card outside the United States anywhere that accepts Visa. The card will work in most countries for in-store purchases, ATM withdrawals, and online transactions. Chase handles the currency conversion and charges a foreign transaction fee, which is typically a percentage of the purchase amount in the foreign currency.

The exact foreign transaction fee appears in your cardholder agreement. This fee applies every time you make a purchase in a currency other than US dollars, even if the merchant is a US company operating abroad. Cash back rates do not change when you use the card internationally — a restaurant purchase in London earns the same rate as a restaurant purchase in New York — but the foreign transaction fee is added on top.

Before traveling, notify Chase that you will be using the card abroad. You can do this through your online account or by calling the number on the back of your card. This step is not required for the card to work, but it helps prevent Chase from blocking transactions as potential fraud.

Merchants that may decline your card

Although Visa is accepted almost everywhere, some merchants do not accept credit cards at all. Certain government agencies, utility companies, and tax authorities require payment by check, bank transfer, or debit card only. Some merchants accept Visa but not all card types — for example, a merchant might accept Visa debit cards but not Visa credit cards, though this is rare.

If a merchant declines your card, ask whether they accept Visa at all. If they do, the decline may be due to a temporary processing issue, a fraud alert on your account, or an expired card. Call Chase to confirm your card is active and has no blocks. If the merchant does not accept Visa, you will need to use a different payment method.

Some online merchants use address verification or CVV verification to prevent fraud. If your billing address does not match what you provided to Chase, or if you enter the CVV incorrectly, the transaction may be declined even though your card is valid. Double-check your address and CVV before trying again.

Earning cash back at different types of merchants

The Amazon credit card earns cash back at thousands of merchants across dozens of categories. The highest earning rate applies specifically to Amazon.com purchases and Whole Foods Market locations. This includes in-store purchases at Whole Foods and online orders placed through Whole Foods Market's website.

The next tier of earning applies to gas stations, restaurants, and transit. This category is broad and includes any merchant classified as a gas station, restaurant, or transit provider by Visa's merchant category codes. The lowest earning rate applies to everything else: retail stores, pharmacies, utilities, insurance, streaming services, and any other merchant not in the higher categories.

Cash back is posted to your account as a statement credit or can be redeemed for Amazon.com purchases. You do not have to do anything to earn it — it accrues automatically on every purchase. Check your monthly statement or online account to see how much cash back you have earned and how it breaks down by category.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my Amazon credit card at Whole Foods if I am not a Prime member?

Yes, you can use the card at Whole Foods whether or not you have Prime membership. If you hold the Prime version of the card and maintain an active Prime membership, you earn a higher cash back rate at Whole Foods. If you do not have Prime, or if you hold the non-Prime version of the card, you earn a lower rate. Either way, the card is accepted.

Does my Amazon credit card work at other grocery stores?

Yes, your card works at any grocery store that accepts Visa. However, grocery stores are not in the higher cash back categories, so you earn the lowest rate at most grocery retailers. Only Whole Foods Market earns the higher rate. Check your cardholder agreement for the exact rates at different merchant types.

What happens if I use my Amazon credit card at a store that only accepts Mastercard?

The card will not work. Your Amazon credit card is a Visa card and can only be used where Visa is accepted. If a merchant accepts only Mastercard, American Express, or Discover, you will need to use a different card or payment method.

Can I use my Amazon credit card to pay my Amazon Prime membership?

Yes, you can use your Amazon credit card to pay your Prime membership fee. However, Prime membership payments are typically processed through your Amazon account rather than as a standard Visa transaction, so the cash back rate may differ from a regular Amazon.com purchase. Check your statement to see how the charge is categorized.

Does my card work for international purchases on Amazon.com?

Yes, you can use your card to purchase items on Amazon.com from outside the United States. If you are ordering from a country outside the US, the transaction is processed in US dollars and you earn the standard Amazon.com cash back rate. A foreign transaction fee may explore depending on how the transaction is processed — check with Chase if you are unsure.