Amazon offers Prime members 5 percent back at Whole Foods

If you’re a fan of Whole Foods but aren’t necessarily a fan of their prices, Amazon just launched a new offer that can make your organic shopping trip even more valuable. Prime members can now receive 5 percent cash back when they use their Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature card to purchase items at Whole Foods Market stores.

In addition to 5 percent back at Whole Foods, the card will continue to offer Prime members 5 percent back at Amazon, 2 percent back at restaurants, gas stations and drugstores and 1 percent back on everything else.

Here’s how to earn the 5 percent rate:

• Maintain an eligible Prime membership.
• Use your Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature card to pay at checkout.
• Keep your Amazon Prime Rewards card loaded to your Amazon Wallet.

Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature card
	Rewards rate 5 percent cash back at Amazon and Whole Foods Market (with eligible Prime membership) 2 percent cash back at restaurants, gas stations and drugstores 1 percent cash back on general purchases
	Sign-up bonus $70 Amazon gift card when you are approved
Why use it?If you are a Prime member who frequently shops at Amazon and/or Whole Foods, the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa allows you to earn a generous 5 percent cash back rate on the items you already buy every day.Read review	Estimated Yearly Rewards Value ($15,900 spend) $238
	Annual Fee $0 ($99 Amazon Prime membership required)

While the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature card doesn’t charge an annual fee, it does require Prime membership – which costs $99 per year.

Is the Amazon Prime card worth it?

If you frequently purchase grocery, household and personal items from Whole Foods or Amazon, then the answer is: Yes. Even with the required Prime membership, the card’s yearly value – which we estimate to be around $238 – outweighs the fee. Additionally, cardholders receive a $70 Amazon.com gift card.

That said, if you aren’t interested in paying a Prime membership fee, you can still earn a bonus on Whole Food purchases. The non-Prime version of the Amazon Prime Rewards Signature Visa card – the Amazon Rewards Visa – now offers 3 percent back at Whole Foods.

In fact, depending on your purchasing habits, you stand to squeeze more rewards value out of the Amazon Rewards Visa than the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa.

See how these cards compare in the table below:

Amazon Rewards Visa vs. Amazon Prime Rewards Visa

	Amazon Rewards Visa	Amazon Prime Rewards Visa
Rewards rate	3% back at Whole Foods Market 3% back on Amazon purchases 2% back on gas, restaurant and drugstore purchases 1% cash back on other purchases	5% back at Whole Foods Market 5% back on Amazon purchases 2% back on gas, restaurant and drug store purchases 1% back on other purchases
Sign-up bonus	$50 Amazon gift card when you’re approved	$70 Amazon gift card when you’re approved
Annual fee	$0	$0 ($99 Prime membership required)
Estimated yearly rewards value ($1,325 monthly spend, including sign-up bonus)	$253	$238
Pros	No membership fee required Offers higher rate on Whole Foods and Amazon purchases than most cards Easy to redeem your cash back	Highest rewards rate on Whole Foods and Amazon purchases Easy to redeem your cash back
Cons	There are a few cards with a better overall cash back rate	Requires $99 Amazon Prime membership
Who should get this card?	People who spend less than $3,300 per year on Amazon purchases People who don’t want to commit to an Amazon Prime membership	Amazon Prime members People who value Amazon Prime services People who frequent Whole Foods People who spend more than $3,330 per year on Amazon purchases

As you can see, based on the average consumer who charges $15,900 per year, the Amazon Rewards Visa offers a slightly higher yearly rewards value than the Amazon Prime card.

But keep in mind that the Prime membership perks, which include free two-day shipping and unlimited video and music streaming, more than make up for the difference in value. Ultimately, if you typically spend more than $15 on Amazon shipping each year, you will benefit more from the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa card.

See related:Guide: How to maximize your cash back on Amazon.com, Is Amazon Prime worth it?, Which is the best card to use on Amazon.com purchases?