This Article was fact checked and last updated for accuracy on July 2, 2025 by Mani Karthik
In 2018, when this card launched, I was skeptical. Another cashback card? Really?
But here’s the thing. My family orders everything on Amazon. Groceries. Electronics. Books for the kids. Even my wife’s daily essentials.
After moving back from USA in 2017, Amazon became our lifeline. No more driving to Target or Walmart. Everything delivered to our Bangalore doorstep.
Bottom Line Up Front: This card is perfect if you’re an Amazon loyalist. It sucks if you want premium benefits or travel perks.
Card Overview: The Amazon Addiction Enabler 📦
The Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card crossed 5 million users, making it the fastest co-branded credit card to reach this milestone in India. There’s a reason for that popularity.
Target Audience:
- Amazon Prime members (the real sweet spot)
- Online shopping enthusiasts
- People who pay bills online
- Cashback hunters who want simplicity
Card Network: Visa (accepted everywhere)
Cashback Structure: Simple Yet Effective 🎯
For Amazon Prime Members:
- 5% cashback on Amazon purchases
- 3% cashback on flight/hotel bookings via Amazon (limited period)
- 2% cashback on Amazon Pay partner merchants
- 1% cashback on all other spends
For Non-Prime Members:
- 3% cashback on Amazon purchases
- 2% cashback on Amazon Pay partner merchants
- 1% cashback on all other spends
Key Features:
- Lifetime free card (no joining/annual fees)
- Cashback credited as Amazon Pay balance within 2 working days
- No expiry on rewards
- 3-month free Amazon Prime membership for new users
Comprehensive Comparison: The Competition Check 📊
| Feature | Amazon Pay ICICI | Flipkart Axis | HDFC Millennia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | ₹0 (Lifetime Free) | ₹500 (Waivable) | ₹1,000 (Waivable) |
| Amazon Cashback | 5% (Prime), 3% (Non-Prime) | 1.5% | 5% |
| Primary Partner | Amazon | Flipkart | 10 merchants |
| Other Online | 1% | 1.5% | 1% |
| Offline Spends | 1% | 1.5% | 1% |
| Fuel Surcharge Waiver | 1% | 1% (₹250 cap) | 1% (₹250 cap) |
| Lounge Access | None | Domestic lounges | Limited |
| Cashback Credit | Amazon Pay balance | Statement credit | CashPoints |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.5% |
| Min Income Required | ₹25,000-30,000/month | ₹25,000/month | ₹35,000/month |
Real World Usage: Our Family’s Amazon Journey 🏠
Month 1-6: The Honeymoon Phase
When we got this card in 2019, my older son was in 8th grade. He kept asking for books. Lots of books.
“Dad, can we order this science kit?” “Dad, I need this programming book.”
Every order on Amazon started giving us 5% back. It felt like free money.
Our typical monthly breakdown (2019):
- Amazon orders: ₹12,000 (5% = ₹600 cashback)
- Swiggy via Amazon Pay: ₹2,000 (2% = ₹40 cashback)
- Other spends: ₹8,000 (1% = ₹80 cashback)
- Total monthly cashback: ₹720
Year 2: The Reality Check
By 2020, our Amazon spending had exploded. Work from home. Online schooling. Everything delivered.
But here’s what we learned. The cashback comes as Amazon Pay balance. You can’t combine it with other payment methods.
My wife got frustrated. “I have ₹500 Amazon Pay balance, but the item costs ₹1,200. I can’t pay ₹500 cash + ₹500 Amazon Pay balance.”
Learning: Amazon Pay balance is great if you shop regularly on Amazon. Limiting if you don’t.
Amazon Pay Partner Merchants: The Hidden Gem 💎
The 2% cashback on partner merchants is underrated. Here’s where it works:
✅ Travel: MakeMyTrip, Yatra, Cleartrip
✅ Food: Swiggy, Zomato, FreshMenu
✅ Bills: Electricity, mobile recharge, DTH
✅ Education: Byju’s, Unacademy
✅ Furniture: Urban Ladder, Pepperfry
Pro tip: Pay all your monthly bills via Amazon Pay. Earn 2% on essentials.
Fees and Charges: The Fine Print 💸
| Charge Type | Amount | My Take |
|---|---|---|
| Joining Fee | ₹0 | Actually lifetime free |
| Annual Fee | ₹0 | No catches here |
| Interest Rate | 3.5-3.8% per month | 42-46% annually. Pay on time! |
| Cash Advance | 2.5% or ₹500 min | Avoid cash withdrawals |
| Foreign Transaction | 3.5% | Use forex cards for travel |
| Late Payment | ₹750 (for dues ₹501-10,000) | Set up autopay |
| Overlimit Fee | 2.5% (min ₹550) | Monitor your spending |
The Good News:
- No joining fees or renewal fees
- No limits on earnings
- No expiry date on rewards
The Bad News:
- High interest rates if you carry balances
- 3.5% forex markup hurts international spends
Application Process: Digital First Experience 📱
Eligibility Requirements:
- Age: 18-60 years
- Income: ₹25,000/month (ICICI customers) or ₹30,000/month (others)
- Indian resident in serviceable city
- Clean credit history
How to Apply:
- Go through Amazon: Log into your Amazon account
- Check eligibility: Look for card application banner
- Video KYC: Complete verification via smartphone
- Instant approval: Get digital card within 30 minutes
- Physical card: Delivered within 7-10 days
Documents Required:
- PAN Card
- Aadhaar Card
- Income proof (salary slips/ITR)
- Bank statements (3 months)
The Good, Bad, and Ugly ⚖️
The Good ✅
- Lifetime free: No annual fee ever
- High Amazon cashback: 5% for Prime members
- Instant digital card: Start using immediately
- No caps: Unlimited cashback earning
- Simple redemption: Auto-credit to Amazon Pay balance
- Contactless payments: NFC enabled
The Bad ❌
- Amazon Pay balance limitation: Can’t combine with other payments
- No lounge access: Zero travel benefits
- Limited dining benefits: Only 15% at select restaurants
- High forex fees: 3.5% markup hurts
The Ugly 🚫
- Interest rates are brutal: 42-46% annually
- Cash advance fees: 2.5% plus monthly interest
- Amazon dependency: Benefits locked to one ecosystem
Who Should Get This Card? 🤔
Perfect For:
- Amazon Prime members who shop regularly
- Heavy online shoppers comfortable with Amazon ecosystem
- Bill payment enthusiasts using Amazon Pay
- Students/young professionals wanting a free credit card
- Families ordering groceries and essentials online
Not Suitable For:
- Travel enthusiasts (no lounge access)
- Premium shoppers wanting luxury benefits
- International spenders (high forex fees)
- People wanting statement credit instead of Amazon balance
NRI Perspective: Moving Back Insights 🇮🇳
Why It Worked for Us:
When we moved back in 2017, Amazon became our comfort zone. Everything we needed from USA was available. The card made sense.
Pros for NRI Families:
- Easy application: Digital KYC, no branch visits
- Familiar shopping: Amazon experience similar to USA
- No annual fees: Great for building Indian credit history
- Bill payments: Simplifies utility management
Cons for NRIs:
- No international benefits: Unlike American credit cards
- Limited travel perks: No lounge access for frequent flyers
- Amazon dependency: All benefits tied to one platform
My advice: Get this as your primary online shopping card. Pair it with a travel-focused card for comprehensive benefits.
Alternative Cards to Consider 🔄
| If You Want | Consider Instead |
|---|---|
| Flipkart rewards | Flipkart Axis Bank Card |
| Multiple merchant benefits | HDFC Millennia |
| Travel benefits | HDFC Regalia |
| Statement credit cashback | SBI Cashback Card |
| Premium benefits | Amex Gold/Platinum |
Personal Anecdote: The Amazon Pay Balance Lesson 📚
Last Diwali, we had accumulated ₹8,000 in Amazon Pay balance. Perfect for gifts, right?
Wrong.
My wife wanted to buy jewelry worth ₹15,000. But Amazon Pay balance can’t be combined with other payments. She had to either:
- Buy something worth exactly ₹8,000 or less
- Add ₹7,000 more to her Amazon Pay balance
- Use a different payment method entirely
She ended up using our HDFC card instead. The Amazon Pay balance sat unused for weeks.
Lesson learned: Amazon Pay balance is great for regular shoppers. Limiting for occasional big purchases.
Quick Action Items ✅
If you decide to get this card:
- Apply during Prime membership offers for maximum benefits
- Set up autopay to avoid brutal interest charges
- Use for all Amazon purchases to maximize 5% cashback
- Pay bills via Amazon Pay for 2% on utilities
- Track Amazon Pay balance and spend regularly
Welcome Offers: What’s Currently Available 🎁
Current welcome offers (June 2025) include:
- 100% cashback up to ₹200 on Amazon shopping (min ₹750)
- 50% cashback up to ₹50 on mobile recharge (min ₹500)
- 25% cashback up to ₹500 on postpaid bills
- 20% cashback up to ₹100 on electricity bills (min ₹700)
Note: Welcome offers change frequently. Check current offers during application.
Final Verdict: The Amazon Loyalist’s Dream 🎯
Rating: 8.5/10
This card does exactly what it promises. Gives excellent cashback on Amazon. Costs nothing. Works instantly.
But it’s not a complete credit card solution. It’s a specialized tool for Amazon shopping.
My recommendation:
- Get it if Amazon is your primary shopping destination
- Get it if you’re building credit history (it’s free!)
- Get it if you want simple, uncomplicated cashback
- Skip it if you want travel benefits or premium perks
Best Use Case Scenario:
Amazon Prime member, family of 4, monthly Amazon spend ₹10,000+, comfortable with digital payments, wants lifetime free card.
Expected annual benefit: ₹6,000+ in Amazon Pay balance for zero annual fee.
The 5 Million User Milestone: What It Means 📈
This card reached 5 million users faster than any co-branded card in India. That’s not luck. That’s product market fit.
Why it succeeded:
- Timing (launched when online shopping exploded)
- Simplicity (easy to understand benefits)
- No fees (removes barrier to entry)
- Amazon’s reach (everyone shops on Amazon)
What it tells us: Indian consumers want simple, fee-free, digital-first financial products.
Quick Comparison: Amazon vs. USA Credit Cards 🇺🇸
| Aspect | Amazon Pay ICICI | Amazon Prime Visa (USA) |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon Cashback | 5% | 5% |
| Annual Fee | ₹0 | $0 |
| Other Benefits | Limited | Travel insurance, extended warranty |
| Cashback Form | Amazon Pay balance | Statement credit or Amazon balance |
| International Acceptance | Good | Excellent |
NRI Insight: The Indian version focuses purely on cashback. The US version offers more comprehensive benefits.
Sources & References 📚
Data Sources:
- Amazon Customer Service – Official Card Details
- ICICI Bank Official Features Page
- Paisabazaar Card Analysis
- BankBazaar Features Review
- ICICI Terms & Conditions
Additional Resources:
Last Updated: July 2025
Next Review: October 2025
Connect with me:
For more insights on moving back to India and building your financial life here, visit BackToIndia.com
Disclaimer: This review is based on personal experience and publicly available information. Card features and offers may change. Always verify current terms with ICICI Bank and Amazon before applying.