- At Amazon checkout, the Prime Visa wins: 5 percent back for Prime members, no annual fee.
- Don’t want a store card? A flat 2 percent cash-back card is the simplest strong pick.
- Amex Gold and Platinum earn only 1X on Amazon, so use them for the dining and groceries around the event, not the Amazon purchase itself.
- The biggest win is a welcome offer: a big shopping day is a handy way to hit a sign-up bonus’s minimum spend.
- Never open a card for one day of deals alone, and never carry a balance to earn points.
Here is the short answer before the deals start: for the Amazon purchase itself, the card that earns the most is the Prime Visa at 5 percent back, and if you would rather skip a store card, a flat 2 percent cash-back card is the simplest strong option. Premium rewards cards like the Amex Gold and Platinum earn only 1X on Amazon, so their job during a shopping event is the dining and grocery spending around it, not the checkout. Below is the honest ranking, the actual math, and the one move that beats every cash-back rate: a welcome offer.
When Prime Big Deal Days 2026 happens
Amazon runs two big member sales a year: Prime Day in the summer and Prime Big Deal Days in the fall, which is effectively an October Prime Day and the unofficial start of holiday shopping. As of mid-August 2026, Amazon has not officially confirmed this year’s fall dates. Based on the last several years, the event lands in the second week of October, most likely around October 13-14, 2026. Deals are reserved for Prime members, so a membership (or a free trial timed to the event) is the price of entry. We will drop the confirmed dates into the note at the top of this page as soon as Amazon announces them.
The best cards for Prime Big Deal Days, ranked
Ranked by how much they earn on the Amazon purchase itself, with an honest note on each.
| Card | Earns on Amazon | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Prime Visa | 5% back | Frequent Amazon shoppers with Prime |
| Flat 2% cash-back card | 2% back | Anyone who wants simple, no store card |
| Amex Gold | 1X | Dining & groceries around the event |
| Amex Platinum | 1X | Cardholders using its shopping credits |
| A card in its welcome window | Varies | Hitting a sign-up bonus minimum |
A quick honesty note: the Prime Visa’s 5 percent is the highest ongoing rate at Amazon, but it is a store-anchored card and requires an eligible Prime membership. If you do not want another card in your wallet, the gap between 5 percent and a simple 2 percent card is small in real dollars for most shoppers, as the math below shows.
The honest earning math
Rates only matter in dollars. Here is what each card earns on a typical Prime Big Deal Days basket, so you can see how small the difference really is.
| If you spend on Amazon | Prime Visa (5%) | 2% card | Amex 1X |
|---|---|---|---|
| $200 | $10 | $4 | ~$2 |
| $500 | $25 | $10 | ~$5 |
| $1,000 | $50 | $20 | ~$10 |
Amex points are worth more than a cent each when transferred well, so the 1X value is a rough floor rather than a ceiling, but the takeaway holds: the earning difference on a single shopping event is measured in a handful of dollars, not a windfall. The smartest move is to use the card that earns most where you spend most, and not overthink a $200 Amazon order.
Where the Amex cards actually help
The Amex Gold and Platinum are not the right card to tap at Amazon checkout, and we are not going to pretend otherwise. Where they earn their keep during a shopping stretch is everything around it:
- Amex Gold: 4X at restaurants worldwide and 4X at US supermarkets (on up to $25,000 a year). If Prime Big Deal Days coincides with stocking up on groceries or ordering takeout, the Gold is your best earner for that spend.
- Amex Platinum: 1X on Amazon like the Gold, but cardholders can put its statement credits to work during the season. Just do not carry the $895 card for a shopping event alone.
- Both: some cardholders can convert Membership Rewards to an Amazon balance at checkout, but the rate is typically poor (often below 1 cent per point). Earn the points, then redeem them for travel where they are worth more, rather than burning them on Amazon.
The real prize: welcome offers
Here is the move that dwarfs every cash-back rate. If you are already planning a big shopping day, it can be the perfect time to hit the minimum-spend requirement on a new card’s welcome offer. Earning 3 percent more on a $500 Amazon order is $15. Hitting the spend threshold that unlocks a 60,000-to-100,000-point sign-up bonus is worth hundreds. If you have been considering a card anyway and can pay the balance in full, timing the application so your Prime Big Deal Days spending counts toward the bonus is the highest-value play there is.
The rule that keeps this smart rather than expensive: never open a card for a single day of deals alone, and never carry a balance to chase points, since interest wipes out any reward. Weighing whether a card’s rewards beat its fee for your spending? Run your numbers through our free credit card worth it calculator, and see our verdict on whether the Amex Gold is worth it.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Amazon Prime Big Deal Days 2026?
Which credit card is best for Prime Day?
What card gives the most cash back on Amazon?
Is the Amex Gold good for Amazon Prime Day?
Should I open a new credit card for Prime Day?
Do I need a Prime membership to shop Prime Big Deal Days?
For the Amazon purchase itself during Prime Big Deal Days 2026, the Prime Visa’s 5 percent back is the top earner, and a flat 2 percent card is the simple runner-up. Amex Gold and Platinum earn only 1X on Amazon, so point them at the dining and groceries around the event instead. And if you were already planning to open a card, timing the application so this shopping counts toward a welcome offer beats every cash-back rate combined. Use the card that earns most where you spend most, pay in full, and do not open a card for one day of deals alone.
Sources
- Amazon, Prime Day and Prime Big Deal Days event pages: amazon.com/primeday
- Chase, Prime Visa card benefits and 5% Amazon rate: chase.com
- American Express, Amex Gold Card earning rates: americanexpress.com
- Card rates and event timing verified as of August 2026. Confirm the official 2026 Prime Big Deal Days dates and current card terms before acting.
Last updated August 2026. We update this article when Amazon confirms new Prime Big Deal Days dates or card terms change. See our affiliate disclosure, terms, and privacy policy.