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The Amazon Business American Express Card offers solid earning rates for businesses that regularly spend at Amazon, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Whole Foods. Even if you don’t do much business shopping with Amazon. Better yet, this no-annual-fee card also comes with a welcome offer in the form of an Amazon gift card upon approval.
Rewards are issued as points that can be redeemed directly for Amazon purchases. And, unlike the Amazon Prime credit card, you don’t need a Prime membership to qualify for this card. But is the Amazon Business Card right for your business? Let's take a look.
Page Contents
Amazon Business Amex Pros
- Solid earning rates on Amazon purchases
- $0 annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
Amazon Business Amex Cons
- The highest earning rate only applies to Amazon purchases
- Mediocre rewards on non-Amazon spending
- Rewards can only be redeemed for Amazon purchases
Amazon Business Amex Welcome Offer
The Amazon Business Amex does come with a welcome offer for new applicants: Get a $100 Amazon Gift Card upon approval for the Amazon Business American Express Card.
This gift card will automatically be added to the Gift Card Balance of the Amazon account used to apply for the card. If no Amazon account was used, you’ll receive a link to create one. Then, the gift card will be added to the new account once it’s set up.
You can use the Gift Card Balance just like any other Amazon gift card by selecting it as the payment method at checkout.
Related: Top Credit Card Offers for This Month
Amazon Business Amex Benefits
The Amazon Business American Express Card offers fewer benefits than many other cards, but it does include a few key perks that make it valuable for a no-annual-fee business card. Here's an overview of what's available to cardholders.
Extended warranty
The Amazon Business Amex adds one extra year to the original manufacturer’s warranty on eligible purchases with warranties of five years or less. This benefit applies only to purchases made within the United States or its territories.
Related: The Best Credit Cards for Extended Warranty Coverage
Purchase protection
The Amazon Business Amex provides purchase protection for up to 90 days from the purchase date if an eligible item is stolen or damaged. Coverage is limited to $1,000 per covered purchase, with a maximum of $50,000 per cardmember account per calendar year.
Baggage insurance protections
You’re covered for lost, stolen, or damaged baggage when you pay for the full fare of a plane, train, ship, or bus ticket with your eligible card. Coverage goes up to $1,250 for carry-on bags and $500 for checked bags, beyond what the carrier provides. New York residents have a $10,000 limit per trip across all travelers.
Car rental loss and damage insurance
When you use your eligible card to pay for a rental and decline the collision damage waiver, you’re covered for damage or theft in most locations. This is secondary coverage and doesn’t include liability.
Some vehicles and countries, like Australia, Italy, and New Zealand, aren’t covered, so make sure to read the fine print before you rent.
Related: How to Get Proof of Credit Card Rental Car Insurance
Global Assist® Hotline
If you're more than 100 miles from home, you can get 24/7 help with things like medical or legal referrals, emergency cash wires, and lost luggage assistance. However, you’ll still be on the hook for any costs from third-party providers.
Amazon Business Amex Earning Rates
The Amazon Business Amex has a lucrative earning rate on purchases at Amazon.com, Amazon Business, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Amazon Go, Amazon Books, and Whole Foods Market locations within the United States.
- Earn 3% back on the first $120,000 in purchases each calendar year on U.S. purchases at Amazon Business, AWS, Amazon.com, and Whole Foods Market, then 1% back after that
- Earn 2% back at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, and on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers
- Earn 1% back on other purchases.
Related: The Best No Annual Fee Business Rewards Credit Cards
Don't need a business card? Consider the Prime Visa instead
If you're not in immediate need of a new business card but regularly shop at Amazon and Whole Foods, you might want to consider the Prime Visa (Rates & Fees) instead. This card does require an active Amazon Prime membership, but its earning rates are excellent.
- Unlimited 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership
- Unlimited 2% back on local transit and commuting (including rideshare)
- Unlimited 2% back at restaurants and at gas stations
- Unlimited 1% back on all other purchases
It's a much more well-rounded option than the Amazon Business Amex, though keep in mind that it's a personal card, not a business card.
- Special Offer: Get a $200 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members
- Earn unlimited 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership
- Prime Card Bonus: Earn 10% back or more on a rotating selection of items and categories on Amazon.com with an eligible Prime membership
- Earn unlimited 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare)
- Earn unlimited 1% back on all other purchases
- No annual credit card fee
- No more waiting. Redeem daily rewards at Amazon.com as soon as the next day
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- Unlimited 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership
- Unlimited 2% back on local transit and commuting (including rideshare)
- Unlimited 2% back at restaurants and at gas stations
- Unlimited 1% back on all other purchases
Related: Full Review of the Amazon Prime Visa
Forego cash back for favorable repayment terms
Uniquely, the Amazon Business Amex gives you the option to choose 60-day payment terms instead of earning 3% back. If you select the Payment Terms option for a purchase, you won’t earn any cash back, but you’ll get extra time to pay. Payment will be due no less than 60 days from the purchase date. If your business occasionally faces a cash flow crunch, this flexibility could come in handy.
That said, you won’t always be given the option to choose between rewards or payment terms at checkout. The card lets you set a default rewards option, and in some cases, like at Whole Foods Market, that default will apply automatically.
Redeeming Rewards With the Amazon Business Amex
One downside of the Amazon Business Amex is that your rewards are limited in how they can be used. While it’s often called cash back, you can’t actually cash it out. Instead, you can redeem rewards at checkout for Amazon purchases or apply them as a statement credit toward Amazon purchases.
Related: Best Credit Cards for Amazon Purchases
Cards That Compete With the Amazon Business Amex
While the Amazon Business Amex is unique in that it offers elevated rewards at Amazon, there are other cards that could easily make more sense, depending on your business spending patterns. Here are a few alternatives to consider:
- If your business has or is considering an Amazon Prime membership, check out the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card. This card is very similar to the Amazon Business Amex, but it earns 5% back on the first $120,000 in purchases each calendar year at Amazon Business, AWS, Amazon.com, and Whole Foods Market, then 1% after that. It’s a much more rewarding option if you can justify the cost of a Prime membership.
- If you want solid earnings on all purchases, not just Amazon, consider the Capital One Spark Cash. This card rewards you with 2% Cash Back on every purchase and 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One's travel booking site. It has a $0 intro for first year; $95 after that
- If you want a card primarily for office supply purchases, consider the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card (Rates & Fees). The card earns 5% cash back at office supply stores and on cellular phone, landline, internet and cable TV services and 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases each account anniversary year. And it's got a $0 annual fee.
- 2% Cash Back on every purchase
- 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One's travel booking site.
- 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year
- 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year
- 1% cash back on all other card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn
Related: The Best Rewards Credit Cards for Each Spending Category
Bottom Line
The Amazon Business Amex is a solid choice if Amazon is your go-to for business purchases. Its high earning rate on Amazon spending and $0 annual fee make it an easy card to keep. That said, aside from purchase protection, extended warranty, and no foreign transaction fees, the card doesn’t offer many other perks.
If you're open to becoming an Amazon Prime member, the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card gives you an even better return on your Amazon purchases. The nice part is that your Amazon Business Amex will be automatically upgraded once you activate an Amazon Prime membership. So, if you apply for the Amazon Business Amex now, you can easily upgrade later.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Prime Visa (Rates & Fees), and Ink Business Cash® Credit Card (Rates & Fees)
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