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If you love Amazon as much as me, you might turn to the popular online retailer for groceries, pet toys, electronics, clothes, art supplies, and pretty much anything else you need. Having compared prices for various purchases, I've also found that the site often offers better deals than popular chains such as Target, Kohl's, and Walmart. But if you're not careful, it's still easy to blow your budget.
You might already have an Amazon Prime membership, which waives the cost of fast shipping and gives you access to special deals, like Prime Day. However, over the years, I've found plenty of ways to save even more money on Amazon purchases and earn cash back. Here are 13 Amazon shopping tips I recommend.
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- Capital One Shopping searches thousands of merchants to see if you're getting a great deal
- Don't miss out on a better price
- Search and apply coupon codes automatically
- Custom price drop alerts for products you've viewed or purchased
Pay with an Amazon credit card
One of the best and easiest ways to earn rewards on Amazon is to pay with an Amazon credit card, all of which have no annual fee.
Having used the Prime Visa since its launch in 2017, I love the ability to earn up to 5% back back on many Amazon purchases as a Prime member. If you don't want to join Prime, you're not out of luck since you can still earn up to 3% cash back on many Amazon purchases with the standard Amazon Visa.
Plus, you can earn points on other purchases, including gas and restaurant expenses, and access special financing offers. For example, I used my Prime Visa to finance a Nintendo Switch 2 over 12 months without any interest.
Here's an overview of both card options, which you should consider alongside your spending patterns and Prime membership status:
| Prime Visa | Amazon Visa | |
| Rewards Rate | Unlimited 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership, unlimited 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare), and unlimited 1% on all other purchases | 3% cash back at Amazon.com, Whole Foods Market, and on Chase Travel purchases; 2% cash back at restaurants and gas stations, and on local transit and commuting; and 1% cash back on all other purchases |
| Annual Fee | $0 | $0 |
| Prime Membership Needed? | Yes | No |
| Welcome Offer | Get a $150 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members | Earn a $50 Amazon gift card upon approval of credit card application |
Use a general cash back card
If you don't want a credit card focused on Amazon, there are a number of other credit cards you can use to get cash back on your Amazon purchases. Some even offer up to 5% cash back, but you earn healthy rewards in other categories too. For example, the Chase Freedom Flex® lets you earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter! Plus, earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases. Sometimes the rotating categories include Amazon.
You can also use the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card to earn 6% cash back for the first year in the category of your choice, 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, and unlimited 1% on all other purchases. After the first year from account opening, you'll earn 3% cash back on purchases in your choice category. Earn 6% and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter in the choice category, and at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, then earn unlimited 1% thereafter. After the 3% first-year bonus offer ends, you will earn 3% and 2% cash back on these purchases up to the quarterly maximum. Online shopping is one of the category options for this card, which is among the best credit cards for shopping on Amazon.
If you're going to open one of these more general credit cards, consider your long-term goals and spending plans. Rewards cards like these often also come with 0% promotional APR offers, which can be great for transferring high-interest balances or making large purchases, and some include luxuries that suit travelers.
Use points to shop on Amazon
If you have an American Express or Chase credit card, you may be able to pay for your Amazon purchases with points. But while I've done this many times, I've found that it isn't always the best use of your points, especially if you travel and can book through the credit card's portal.
That said, it's still an option that may help you save money on Amazon purchases, and it can even help you unlock some discounts. In the past, American Express and Discover have offered me money off upcoming Amazon purchases simply by applying points at checkout. For example, I scored a 40% deal around the holidays.
See if you qualify for a discounted membership
An Amazon Prime membership is packed with benefits, including free two-day shipping, Prime Video access, and Whole Foods discounts. But it comes at a cost. Regular Prime membership is $14.99 per month or $139 per year, which might not fit your budget or seem appealing when you're trying to save money.
But if you're in school or receive government assistance, you might qualify for a discounted membership. Prime for Young Adults (formerly Prime Student) only costs $7.49 per month or $69 per year, while EBT and Medicaid cardholders pay only $6.99 per month. You'll just need to confirm your eligibility before enrolling.
Since I'm taking grad school courses, I switched to Prime for Young Adults, which got me a lower annual fee and an extra 5% cash back on certain purchases.
Put commonly used items on autopilot
If you purchase any household or grocery items regularly, you may get a discount by setting them up on auto-order with Subscribe & Save. You can check the price difference before selecting an option, but you can often save between 5% and 15%. The nice thing is that you can control when items ship and even skip orders as needed.
I like this option for the savings and the convenience. No one likes running out of the things they use most often at home, and I'm happy any time I save myself from rushing to the store for a restock.
But I must warn you: It can be easy to forget about subscriptions and end up with too many items on hand. While it's not a big deal if you'll use it anyway, I recommend reviewing the list every month or two to adjust delivery frequency or remove products as needed.
Opt for no-rush shipping
As a Prime member, you'll get free two-day shipping on millions of products. But if you don't need an order delivered that quickly, you can opt for a discount or reward instead. Just select "Free No-Rush Delivery" as your delivery option, and you'll receive your item within the stated time.
Discounts are applied instantly, while rewards are added to your account once your order is shipped. The discount or reward amounts vary by order, and you don't have to worry about tracking your rewards, since Amazon automatically applies them to your next purchase.
The catch is that these rewards often only apply to digital purchases, which limits their usefulness. It's still not a bad offer, though, especially if you want to save money on books for your Kindle or enjoy instant movie downloads.
Shop Amazon Outlet and Warehouse deals
You can find some amazing sales on overstocked items at Amazon Outlet, whether you're looking for a new pair of headphones or a new patio set. You can also find millions of open-box and pre-owned items that have undergone a 20-point inspection at Amazon Warehouse, a great place to find electronics and home goods.
I've purchased these products several times with mostly good results. For example, I ordered a USB hub for my iMac that looked unused with all the packaging included, and I saved hundreds on an open-box MacBook Pro. And when I received a phone accessory with missing parts, Amazon refunded me without much hassle.
Check these shops first before shopping through Amazon's main page — you might be surprised at the deals you score.
Look for coupons
Every day, Amazon offers a number of coupons on different products, from tools to toys to household items. You can browse Amazon coupons by category. When you find one you like, simply click "Clip Coupon" and the discount will be applied to your order during checkout.
Some of these coupons can be quite generous, especially if you're browsing the site during major shopping holidays like Black Friday and Prime Day. I've scored around 40% off musical instruments before and often see small coupons when I buy vitamins. You can even stack these deals with Amazon card rewards and Subscribe & Save discounts.
Shop Woot! Deals
Woot is an Amazon-owned company that offers limited-time sales and daily deals on hot products across seven categories on Amazon. If you have a Prime membership, you'll even get free shipping. You can even log in with your Amazon account to complete your order.
I find the discounts on electronics and home items pretty impressive, so it's worth checking the site regularly. Woot also offers a clearance section with deeper discounts on last-chance items. The site launches deals roughly every 30 minutes.
Just keep in mind that many products on the site are refurbished or open box. This isn't automatically a drawback, but I recommend reading the fine print on the item's condition and return policy, especially for more expensive purchases.
Check for daily deals
Amazon's Daily Deals are limited-time offers with discounts ranging from 10% to 90%. You'll see timed offers marked with a clock showing how much time you have left to redeem them. Some of these are Prime member exclusives.
Check back regularly to find all of Amazon's best offers in one place and snag them before they're gone. However, be aware that these deals can easily lead to impulse buys. So, unless it's something you urgently need, give yourself a little time to carefully consider the purchase so you don't end up wasting money.
Use cashback apps
Some apps reward you with cash back for your Amazon purchases, and some even pay a bonus for signing up.
I recommend using cash back apps that offer a small percentage back on most purchases, regardless of the retailer. My favorite is Fetch Rewards, which only requires linking your Amazon account to automatically scan for recent orders, which you can confirm to earn points.
Rakuten and Ibotta used to offer cash back on Amazon purchases, but have since stopped their partnership. However, you may still occasionally find coupons on Ibotta.
I usually get around 25 points per Amazon purchase (redeeming for a $3 gift card requires about 3,000 points). While it's not much, you can accumulate enough points for gift cards more quickly if you also scan receipts from other online and in-person purchases.
Leverage all the Prime benefits
Beyond the free shipping and special deals, Amazon Prime offers many more perks that could either directly save you money on purchases or allow you to cut other subscriptions you're paying for. Surprisingly, some savings opportunities extend to other retailers.
Here are some of my favorites for getting more for your membership fee:
- Free Grubhub+ subscription for waived food delivery fees
- Special discounts at Whole Foods Market
- Prime Video as a potential replacement for Netflix, HBO Max, and other streaming services
- Amazon Luna for free video games
- Amazon Photos to store unlimited photos and 5GB of video
- Prime Reading and Amazon First Reads for free digital books
- Up to 80% in prescription savings at participating pharmacies
- Amazon Prime Fuel Savings, which offers 10 cents off each gallon at participating gas stations
- Special offers on Amazon's add-on services, such as Amazon Kids+, One Medical, and Amazon Music Unlimited
Trade in items for gift cards
Similar to offerings from Apple, Best Buy, and Swappa, Amazon has its own trade-in program that offers Amazon gift cards for your used gadgets, video games, home security equipment, and other eligible items. This can be a great way to declutter, get extra cash to cover purchases, and sometimes even score a discount on Amazon-branded devices.
I've used the service several times when upgrading video game consoles and Amazon Echo products. I always saw the estimated trade-in value before submitting the request, and I promptly got a label to mail my item. Sometimes, the gift card arrived immediately, with the condition that Amazon could bill me if it ultimately rejected my trade-in item.
To avoid surprises, be sure to read the terms and state your product's condition honestly. If Amazon disagrees with the value, it might offer you a lower price, which you can accept or decline and have the item mailed back.
FAQs
How can I make my Amazon purchases cheaper?
The best way to lower your costs on Amazon is to watch for daily deals, use special coupons, or use a cash back credit card that pays you back for your purchases. You can even combine several of these options to maximize your savings. You can even combine several of these options to maximize your savings.
How can I reduce my Amazon spending?
An Amazon Prime membership is great, but it makes it very easy to click and buy without thinking. I suggest putting necessary purchases on "Subscribe and Save" and adding any other items you come across to your "Amazon Wish List." You can then watch the prices of the unnecessary items and wait for a great deal to keep your spending down.
Bottom line
I know Amazon has great prices, but I encourage you to look for even more ways to save. Whether you clip a coupon, get free shipping, or earn cash back with a credit card or app, even small amounts add up to big savings. You can even stack opportunities like coupons, credit card rewards, and Prime Day deals.
While these savings hacks are great, I also recommend comparing prices across multiple sites to make sure you're actually getting the best deal on Amazon. Plus, if overspending is one of your weaknesses, be mindful of putting items on auto-order and using Amazon's one-click purchase option.
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