Amazon Prime Day: Best Credit Cards for Shopping Amazon

Amazon's flagship rewards card is going to be your best bet when it comes to shopping on Prime Day. Everything about the Prime Visa* is designed to make your shopping experience with Amazon more worthwhile. However, you'll need to be a Prime member to qualify, which costs $139 annually. But you'll need a Prime membership to shop the best deals this July, too.

Right now, you can earn an instant $200 Amazon gift card upon approval. You'll earn 7% cash back for Amazon purchases during Prime Day, and your new purchases will be covered by various shopping protections, including extended warranty and purchase protection, which covers your item against damage and theft for up to 90 days.

I've had this card for a few years now, and it's the one I reach for if I'm shopping on Amazon. I've been saving up my rewards over the year and might use them for something this Prime Day. 

Pro tip: Don't redeem your rewards with Amazon directly. Instead, redeem them for statement credits after you've made a purchase. Not only will your points be worth more, but you won't miss out on any rewards by not paying the full price on your card.

This card is the Prime Visa's younger brother. The Amazon Visa* doesn't require a Prime membership, nor does it charge an annual fee, but it offers half the reward rate of the Prime Visa. You'll still get a $50 Amazon gift card instantly upon approval. Everything is less for this version aside from the cost of the card, which could make all the difference to someone not wanting to commit to a Prime membership. Just keep in mind that you'll be locked out of the best Prime Day deals if you're not a Prime member already.

If you're not a Prime member or you don't shop Amazon enough throughout the year to justify an Amazon-centric card, the Blue Cash Everyday from American Express is a good option. It earns 3% cash back on up to $6,000 in spending per year (then 1%) with select online U.S. retailers (which includes Amazon), and it doesn't charge an annual fee. It also features purchase protection for your items.

Another solid choice outside of the Amazon ecosystem, the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Card* offers the highest cash-back rate of the non-Amazon cards -- at least for the first year.

You can choose to earn double cash back in one category of your choice and switch it monthly. One category you can choose is online retailers, like Amazon. The card also has no annual fee and offers static rewards. But that means you could apply for this card, and use it this year for Prime Day to earn 6% cash back. However, there aren't any shopping protections.

The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card* is a flat-rate rewards card, which means it earns 2% cash back no matter what you're spending on, including your Prime Day purchases. It has no annual fee and an easy-to-reach welcome bonus: a $200 statement credit for spending $500 in the first three months of account opening. 

So, you get just as much as you would with the Prime Visa's bonus, only you'll need to spend to earn it -- and you won't earn as many rewards. However, it does provide more flexibility outside of the Amazon ecosystem. I use it for everything that isn't covered by my other cards and have for years. It's a good one.