You can use credit card points from Amex, Citi, Capital One, and more to pay for Amazon purchases — but it’s not always the best idea

Our experts answer readers’ credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here’s how we assess credit cards). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners; however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.

• You can significantly reduce your shopping bill by redeeming credit card rewards on Amazon.
• Many popular currencies participate, such as Chase Ultimate Rewards® and Amex Membership Rewards.
• We don’t usually recommend using points this way because they can be worth much more for travel.
• Read Insider’s guide to the best rewards credit cards.

Amazon makes it simple to redeem many rewards currencies from the best credit cards at checkout to offset your balance. We almost never recommend using your points this way, but it can make sense for you if you don’t plan to travel in the near future.

This is also a good strategy if you have a small points balance you won’t otherwise use. And it can make Amazon Prime Day deals even sweeter if you use points to discount or pay for your purchase.

Here’s everything you need to know about using credit card points on Amazon purchases.

We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.

How to Use Points on Amazon

When you link a loyalty program to your Amazon account, Amazon may change your default payment method to points. This can be devastating if you’re not paying attention and lose a large portion of points you had intended to save for travel.

Use Chase Points on Amazon

When you redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points with Amazon, you’ll receive a value of 0.8 cents per point. Still, if you plan to use your points through Amazon, your best bet is to simply make your purchase with an eligible Chase card and then redeem your points for a statement credit later at a rate of 1 cent each.

You’ll earn points this way, and you’ll get the purchase protection included with Chase credit cards. 

Cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards include:

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card — 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
• Chase Sapphire Reserve® — 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card — 100,000 points after spending $15,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening

To link your Chase Ultimate Rewards account with Amazon, click here. You’ll then simply log in to your Amazon account, link your Chase card, and apply your Ultimate Rewards points at checkout.

Use Amex Points on Amazon

American Express Membership Rewards offers a very low redemption rate of 0.7 cents each for Amazon purchases — and the points value when redeeming for statement credits is even lower. If you want to make purchases with your Amex points, consider using them to purchase an American Express gift card at a rate of 1 cent per point, and then use those gift cards to buy your items.

You can earn Amex Membership Rewards points by opening and swiping cards like:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express
  — 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 on purchases on the card in the first six months of card membership
• American Express® Gold Card
  — 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $4,000 on purchases on the Card in the first six months of card membership
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
  — 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases with your card within the first three months of card membership

You can link your Amex Membership Rewards account with Amazon by clicking here. You’ll log in to your Amazon account, link your eligible American Express card, and choose to apply your points to your order at checkout.

Use Citi ThankYou Points on Amazon

Per Insider’s estimations, you’ll receive just half of the average Citi ThankYou points value when redeeming your rewards for shopping with Amazon. This is not the currency to collect if you intend to regularly use your points for online shopping.

Citi issues credit cards like the Citi® Double Cash Card and Citi Custom Cash℠ Card which earn Citi ThankYou points you can use for travel, cash back, and more. Earning rewards on one of these cards and redeeming them for cash is your best route if you intend to use them for online shopping.

Other Citi credit cards that earn ThankYou points include:

• Citi Premier® Card — 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first three months of account opening, plus earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per dollar on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2024
• Citi Rewards+® Card
  — 25,000 bonus points after spending $1,500 in purchases in three months from account opening
• Citi Prestige® Card
  (not available to new applicants)

Click here to link your Citi ThankYou account to Amazon. Then just select your Citi ThankYou card as your payment method and choose to pay with points

Use Capital One Miles on Amazon

Again, Capital One miles are best used for travel — not for Amazon purchases. You’ll receive less than half the average points value by redeeming them for shopping — a meager 0.8 cents each.

Similar to Citi ThankYou points, Capital One issues cash-back cards, the rewards of which can be converted into Capital One miles — as long as you have a qualifying Capital One miles-earning card. Examples include the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
and Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card.

Capital One credit cards that earn miles directly include:

• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card — 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card — 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, 
• Capital One Spark Miles for Business
  — 50,000 miles once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening

You can link your Capital One miles account to Amazon by clicking here. After you enroll your qualifying Capital One card, you’ll see the option to pay with Capital One miles at checkout.

Use Discover Rewards on Amazon

Whether you collect cash back with the Discover it® Cash Back or miles with the Discover it® Miles, you can redeem them directly through Amazon to pay for all or part of your cart.

All Discover rewards are worth 1 cent each, whether you spend through Amazon or redeem for cash. Therefore, it’s more beneficial for you to make your purchase with the card and later request a statement credit instead of using your rewards for the purchase.

This ensures you’ll earn rewards for your purchase — which is especially handy if you have the Discover it® Cash Back, as its rotating bonus categories sometimes include Amazon purchases (from April 1 to June 30, 2023, you can earn 5% cash back at Restaurants and Wholesale Clubs on up to $1,500 in purchases after enrollment, then 1%).

Discover credit cards that earn rewards include:

• Discover it® Miles
• Discover it® Cash Back
• Discover it® Student Cash Back
• Discover it® chrome

Click here to link your Discover Rewards with Amazon and then select Discover as the payment method at checkout. You’ll see the option to apply your cash back at that point.

Use Hilton Points on Amazon

You’d be hard-pressed to find a currency easier to earn than Hilton points. For example, The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card currently offers a welcome bonus of 150,000 Hilton Honors bonus points plus a Free Night Reward after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first three months of card membership (offer ends 7/19/23).

You’ll even get 6 points per dollar on everyday purchases like gas stations and U.S. restaurants, and 3 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

However, the redemption rate of 0.2 cents per point means you’ll get a return of as little as 0.6% back on purchases. If you intend to use Hilton points to shop on Amazon, make a cash-back credit card your daily driver, instead.

Other Hilton credit cards include:

• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
  — 150,000 points after spending at least $4,000 in the first three months of account opening
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
  — 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points and one Free Night Reward after you spend $2,000 in purchases in your first three months of card membership
• Hilton Honors American Express Card — 70,000 Hilton Honors bonus points and a Free Night Reward after you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first three months of card membership

Use Marriott Points on Amazon

You can’t use your Marriott points directly on the Amazon website as you can with the previous rewards currencies. However, if you navigate to Marriott Shop With Points, you can purchase an Amazon gift card with your points at the following rates:

• $25 gift card — 10,000 points
• $50 gift card — 17,500 points
• $100 gift card — 30,000 points

In other words, the most value you’ll get by using your points with Amazon is 0.33 cents each — less than half the average value you’ll receive by using your points for travel.

You can earn points directly with the following Marriott Bonvoy credit cards:

• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card — 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after spending $6,000 in purchases on the card within the first six months and earn 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you stay 6 eligible paid nights at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy through 1/31/24 (offer ends 8/9/23)
• Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card — 75,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points after making $3,000 in purchases within the first three months of card membership
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card — 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after spending $5,000 in purchases on your new card within the first six months and earn 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you stay 6 eligible paid nights at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy through 1/31/24 (offer ends 8/9/2023)
• Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
  — 50,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months of account opening plus 50,000 bonus points after you stay 6 eligible paid nights at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® through 1/31/24
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
  — 75,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months of account opening plus 50,000 bonus points after you stay 6 eligible paid nights at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® through 1/31/24
• Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card
  — 85,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 in purchases in your first three months from your account opening

Use Bilt Points on Amazon

You can use Bilt points directly through the Amazon website after enrolling your Bilt Mastercard® on Shop with Points. Then, when you checkout on Amazon, select the Bilt credit card and choose the number of points you’d like to apply to your order. 

You’ll only get around 0.7 cents per point when you redeem on Amazon, which isn’t the best rate but better than some of the other options on this list. However, you’ll get the most value out of your reward points when you transfer to airline and hotel partners. 

Click here to enroll your Bilt Mastercard® with Amazon. 

Use US Bank Rewards at Amazon

It’s easy to redeem US Bank rewards through Amazon.com checkout, and you’ll get a solid 1:1 rate. So if you have an eligible US Bank card, and are looking to redeem rewards for Amazon purchases, you’ll get a fair value. However, redeeming for travel through the US Bank portal is still a more valuable redemption option. 

That said, if your main objective is to redeem on Amazon anyway, you might as well get a cash-back card versus a points-earning card. The best US Bank card option in this instance is the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards™ Visa Signature® Card
, which can earn you 6% cash back at Amazon (when selected as one of two retail brand earning categories).  

You can earn US Bank rewards on the following cards: 

• U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card
  — 50,000 points after spending $2,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days from account opening
• U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card
  — 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days of account opening
• U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card
  — 50,000 points after you spend $4,500 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
• U.S. Bank FlexPerks® Gold American Express® Card
  — 30,000 bonus FlexPoints after spending $2,000 in eligible purchases on the card in the first four months from account opening
• U.S. Bank Business Leverage® Visa Signature® Card — $750 in rewards when you spend $7,500 in eligible purchases on the card within the first 120 days of account opening
• U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®
  — $500 cash back after spending $4,500 on purchases on the account holder’s card in the first 150 days of opening your account

Click here to enroll your card with Shop with Points.

Use Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards at Amazon

The Bank of America Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card is the only Bank of America credit card eligible to be enrolled in Shop with Points. It has a no-frills cash-back program that offers a value of 1 cent per point. 

It’s a no-annual-fee card and earns unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases. New cardholders can earn $200 online cash rewards bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days from account opening. 

Once your card is enrolled with Shop with Points, you’ll be able to view your eligible Bank of America point balance. 

Click here to enroll your Bank of America Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card with Shop with Points.

Watch for Promotional Discounts Using Points

We occasionally see promotions that give you significant value for using points at Amazon, even if you split your payment between rewards and cash. These offers will trigger when you use at least 1 credit card point at checkout.

Shop With Points at Amazon Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)