Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
Amazon is back with another two-day savings event. The Prime Early Access Sale will start at midnight PT on July 11 and run through July 12. It is open to all Amazon Prime members.
A regular membership costs $139 per year, while a student membership costs $69 per year; you can also sign up for a 30-day free trial. Alternatively, you could opt for a monthly membership, which costs $14.99 per month for regular members and $7.49 per month for students.
You can check out this post for a deep dive into the best cards for Amazon purchases — not only during the Prime Early Access Sale but every day of the year. But, for a quick hit on this sale, here are some of the best credit cards to use for your purchases (in no particular order.)
Amazon Prime Visa Card
Earning rates: Earn 5% cash back on Amazon.com, at Whole Foods Market and on purchases made through Chase Travel; 2% back at restaurants, gas stations, drugstores and on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; and 1% back on all other purchases.
Sign-up bonus: New cardholders receive a $200 Amazon gift card after account opening.
Annual fee: $0, though you must be a Prime member to be eligible.
Analysis: As the name might suggest, the Amazon Prime Visa Card is a good option for your Prime Early Access Sale purchases. Upon approval, you’ll get a $200 gift card automatically loaded into your Amazon.com account — so theoretically, if you apply for the card today and are approved, you’ll have that credit to use in time for the sale.
In addition to the gift card credit, you’ll earn 5% cash back on Amazon.com, at Whole Foods Market and on purchases made through Chase Travel; 2% back at restaurants, gas stations, drugstores and on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; and 1% back on all other purchases.
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You’ll also receive a boosted 6% cash back rate on Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market purchases on July 11-12.
The points you earn from spending can then be used directly on Amazon purchases or for a statement credit — 100 points equal a dollar when redeemed on Amazon.com or for cash. The card charges no annual fee, but you must be a Prime member to be eligible; membership costs $139 for 12 months.
The information for the Amazon Prime Visa card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: How to get a 10% return on your Amazon purchases
Apply now: Amazon Prime Visa
Chase Freedom Unlimited
Earning rates: Earn 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% back on dining, 3% back at drugstores and an unlimited 1.5% cash back on everything else.
Sign-up bonus: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back.
Annual fee: $0.
Analysis: If you’re interested in earning cash back (or Ultimate Rewards points), the Chase Freedom Unlimited could be a good option for your Prime Day purchases. The card will earn you 1.5% cash back on general purchases with no limit. That equals 1.5 points per dollar when paired with an Ultimate Rewards-earning card — a 3% return based on TPG’s valuations. In addition, there’s no annual fee with the card.
Apply now: Chase Freedom Unlimited
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Earning rates: Earn 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases.
Sign-up bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee: $395.
Analysis: The Capital One Venture X Rewards (see rates and rates) card offers various protections as well as 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases, a solid return for any Amazon purchase.
Apply now: Capital One Venture X
Capital One Venture Rewards Card
Earning rates: Earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases.
Sign-up bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee: $95.
Analysis: The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees) offers 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases, a solid return for any Amazon purchase with a lower annual fee than the Capital One Venture X.
Apply now: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
American Express® Gold Card
Earning rates: Earn 4 points per dollar at restaurants, 4 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (on the first $25,000 spent each calendar year, then 1 point per dollar), 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel and 1 point per dollar on other purchases.
Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first six months of account opening. Check the CardMatch tool to see if you’re targeted for a higher offer (subject to change at any time).
Annual fee: $250 (see rates and fees).
Analysis: For high-value purchases, you’ll want to use a card that offers generous purchase protection in case your items are stolen, accidentally damaged or lost, such as the Amex Gold Card.* With the Amex Gold Card, you’ll earn just 1 Membership Rewards point per dollar on Amazon purchases, which is a rather lackluster return of 2% based on our valuations.
However, you’ll get an astounding $10,000 in protection for up to 90 days per covered purchase and up to $50,000 for all incidents in a calendar year, as well as other key shopping benefits. The card has a $250 annual fee (see rates and fees), but that’s recouped through benefits like up to $120 in dining credits each year, up to $120 in annual Uber Cash (for Uber Eats and Uber rides in the U.S.; card must be added in the Uber app to receive the benefit) and 4 points per dollar at restaurants. Enrollment is required for select benefits.
*Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Apply now: American Express Gold Card
Bottom line
You can also consider purchasing Amazon gift cards from select U.S. supermarkets with the Amex Gold (earning 4 points per dollar on up to $25,000 a year, then 1 point per dollar) or from select office supply stores with the Ink Business Cash Credit Card (earning 5% cash back or 5 points per dollar on up to $25,000 per account anniversary year). Just note that you’ll forfeit credit card purchase protection if you go this route.
If you’re planning on grabbing any Prime Early Access deals, not only will you be saving money, but — provided you use the right card — you’ll also be maximizing the return on your purchases.
Additional reporting by Emily Thompson, Ryan Wilcox and Senitra Horbrook.
For rates and fees of the Amex Gold Card, click here.
