What's the Best Way to Pay on Amazon?
There are dozens of ways to pay for your purchases on Amazon.
From credit and debit cards to linked bank accounts, gift cards, Western Union and more, Amazon payment options run the gamut.
Are you wondering how to best make (and pay for) your purchases this holiday season?
Let’s dive into every choice you have.
Amazon Payment Methods
Amazon offers a number of varied payment options, as well as a currency converter and Western Union option for those shopping from abroad.
Here are some of the most commonly used Amazon payment methods:
- Credit card – Amazon accepts a wide variety of credit and debit cards, including Visa, MasterCard, EuroCard, Discover, American Express, Diner’s Club, JCB, NYCE, STAR, China Union Pay. The Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Card is also accepted and allows you to earn cash back and discounts on Amazon items.
- Pre-paid gift cards – Pre-paid gift cards from credit card companies like Visa, MasterCard and American Express are also accepted.
- Linked bank account – You can also add a checking account to use toward Amazon payments if you wish. You’ll just need your account and routing numbers, as well as your name, address and driver’s license number.
- Amazon gift card – Amazon gift cards are another possible payment method with the retailer. Just upload the gift card number to your account once you’ve received it, and the balance will be available at purchase next time you shop.
- Amazon store card – The Amazon Prime Store Card is an Amazon-branded credit card that offers users 5 percent back on all Amazon purchases. Amazon store card payments are processed just like traditional credit card payments and have similar financing fees.
- Amazon Pay – Amazon Pay is a payment tool that can be used both on Amazon and across other third-party ecommerce sites. It’s a fairly new payment method and is only available at participating retailers.
- Amazon PayCode – PayCode is a way to pay via Western Union — mostly for shoppers using outside currencies or located outside the country. The purchase generates a PayCode, which the user then presents to Western Union in exchange for cash within 48 hours. If payment isn’t made in that time frame, the order is canceled.
Wonder if you can you use PayPal on Amazon? Unfortunately, you cannot.
On Amazon, PayPal is not a payment option as it is a direct competitor with Amazon Pay (more on that below).
Other payment methods you can’t use on Amazon include EBT, food stamps, Flexible Spending Account cards and Health Spending Account cards. Savings, corporate and business bank accounts also aren’t accepted.
For Shopping Off Amazon
Amazon Pay is a digital payment method much like PayPal, which you can use on Amazon and across third-party sites and retailers all over the world.
It uses the stored payment methods in your Amazon account for purchases you authorize, without every requiring additional information or data entry.
This adds convenience, while also keeping your financial data secure and away from risky third-party websites.
Similarly to PayPal, you’ll see the Amazon Pay logo at checkout if the retailer accepts this payment method.
If it does, here’s how the process works:
- Click the Amazon Pay logo or button on checkout.
- Sign in using your Amazon login credentials.
- Follow the checkout process required by the merchant.
- Choose the stored payment method you’d like to use to complete your order.
- Receive a receipt from Amazon Pay after the payment has been completed.
- The merchant should send you an invoice or receipt for your purchase.
You can also use Amazon pay to make a donation or bill payment.
For example, you can use Amazon bill pay on services like the Ring doorbell or for your weekly subscription to The Washington Post. You can also use it to make a donation to the American Heart Association or Save the Children, among other charities.
Since Amazon Pay is a fairly new release, the number of organizations and merchants that accept it is still growing. Expect more and more businesses to join the ranks in the coming year as the program expands its incentives.
What Amazon payments should you be using? To learn more about Amazon payments, email [email protected].
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