Amazon Business Prime AmEx Review: High Rewards or 0% Period
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Our Take
4.4
If you're already a Prime member, this card can offer value on spending you're doing anyway, and potentially defray the cost of that annual membership fee.
on American Express' website
Quick Facts
Pros & Cons
Pros
No annual fee
No foreign transaction fees
Bonus categories
Cons
Requires good/excellent credit
Spending caps on bonus rewards
If you don't spend enough at Amazon to justify a Prime membership, you can still rack up decent rewards with the non-Prime version of this card. It offers a choice of 3% back at Amazon or a 60-day interest-free period. Terms apply.
Compare to Other Cards
Annual fee$0 | Annual fee$0 |
Intro APRN/A | Intro APR0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months |
Recommended Credit Score |
Recommended Credit Score |
Full Review
The Amazon Business Prime American Express Card is an ideal sidekick for Amazon Prime or Business Prime members aiming to unpack more value from their business-related purchases.
With this business credit card, you'll get either a high rewards rate on Amazon-specific and eligible Amazon-related spending, or a window of time during which you can pay off those purchases interest-free: It's your choice. Either way, you'll also earn elevated rewards on other common business expenses not related to Amazon, and you'll get access to a multitude of business-related side perks.
The card's annual fee is $0, though to get it you'll have to be an Amazon Prime or Business Prime member. Not a Prime member? The Amazon Business American Express Card has $0 annual fee and does not require a Prime membership.
Amazon Business Prime American Express Card: Basics
Card type: Small business.
Annual fee: $0, though an Amazon Prime or Business Prime membership is required. (Pricing for that varies widely, starting at $139 per year for Prime and $69 per year for Business Prime.)
An Amazon Business Prime membership offers most of the same shipping options as a regular Prime membership, as well as business-friendly features and tools that vary by membership tier. Business Prime tiers range from $69 per year (the "Duo" plan) to an eye-popping $10,099 annually for much (much) larger businesses.
Welcome offer: Eligible Prime Members get a $125 Amazon Gift Card upon approval for the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card. Terms Apply.
Rewards:
5% back on U.S. purchases at Amazon Business, Amazon Web Services, Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market, or a 90-day interest-free period.
2% back at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations and wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers.
1% back on all other purchases.
Terms apply.
Technically, "% back" rewards come in the form of points in the Amazon rewards program. Every 100 points earned is equal to $1. Rewards can be applied toward a purchase on your card statement, or toward purchases upon checkout at Amazon.com and via Amazon Business (U.S.).
Beginning on Oct. 1, 2020, the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card will earn 5% back on the first $120,000 spent each calendar year and 1% thereafter.
APR: The ongoing APR is 19.49%-27.49% Variable APR.
Foreign transaction fee: None. (But as an American Express card, international acceptance may be an issue.)
Other perks:
Enhanced data views on americanexpress.com allow you to download line item details of your Amazon Business transactions.
Access to expense-tracking tools via the AmEx business app for iOS and Android devices.
Business-only pricing gets you exclusive prices and discounts on more than 5 million products.
Employee purchase control lets you stay on top of employee accounts with multi-user accounts, shared payment methods, approval workflows and spending limits.
Business benefits from American Express provide business tools, purchase protection, extended warranty protection and travel protections such as car rental loss and damage insurance, to name a few.
Terms apply.
Why you might want the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card
Valuable, flexible perks
If you're already knee-deep in the Amazon ecosystem, this card's 5% bonus categories can be quite valuable on spending that you're already doing. Or, if it's more important that you're able to finance a large purchase for your business upfront, the card's 90-day interest-free period can help you out. You'll have the option to choose either depending on where you shop.
For purchases at Amazon Business, Amazon Web Services, Amazon.com, Whole Foods Markets, Amazon Go and Amazon Books, you can select an option on your card management page. (For Amazon Business and Amazon.com purchases, the options will also be available upon checking out.) Regardless of which option you choose, you'll still snag elevated rewards of 2% back in several popular spending categories not related to Amazon at all, and 1% back on everything else. There are no spending caps or limits. Terms apply.
A reasonable welcome offer
For a $0-annual-fee card, the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card has a decent bonus offer: Eligible Prime Members get a $125 Amazon Gift Card upon approval for the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card. Terms Apply. That’s enough to make up some of the cost of a baseline one-year Amazon Business Prime membership.
Why you might want a different card
Other cards are more travel-friendly
The Amazon Business Prime American Express Card isn’t an ideal companion for all business trips. It doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, but American Express isn't as widely accepted internationally as Visa or Mastercard. The card does pack some basic travel protections, but a business travel card will prove more valuable for frequent travelers. The Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card, for example, features travel accident insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, trip cancellation coverage and trip delay reimbursement. You'll earn a flat 1.5 points per $1 spent and, as a Mastercard without foreign transaction fees, this card is well equipped to travel.
There are cards with simpler reward structures
The aforementioned Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card is a good option to consider instead thanks to its flat rate on everything you buy — but you can do even better if you're willing to pay an annual fee. The Capital One Spark Cash Plus earns 2% cash back on all purchases, not to mention a generous sign-up bonus.
There are cards bigger bonuses and longer 0% intro APR periods
The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card will earn you 1.5% back on everything, including Amazon purchases, but it also offers some stellar introductory offers. You’ll get a hefty sign-up bonus and some interest-free breathing room.
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express also offers a break from interest payments upfront. You'll get an intro 0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months, and then the ongoing APR of 18.49%-26.49% Variable APR. This card earns 2 points per $1 spent on the first $50,000 in purchases made per year, and then 1 point per $1 spent after that. It has a $0 annual fee. Terms apply (see rates and fees). (Prefer cash back business card? Consider The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card.)
Is the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card right for you?
The Amazon Business Prime American Express Card is a great choice for Prime or Business Prime customers who already shop Amazon.com and its eligible properties frequently. The option for an interest-free period, in particular, is a welcome one if your business is stretched thin a few months out of the year.
To view rates and fees of the Amazon Business American Express Card, see this page. To view rates and fees of the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card, see this page. To view rates and fees of The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, see this page. To view rates and fees of The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, see this page.
on American Express' website
