Amazon launches a new UK credit card with Barclaycard

Amazon has gone back into the UK consumer credit card market with a new product operated by Barclaycard.

It is decent in terms of benefits. However, we do not recommend HfP readers get this card because it will block you from the Barclaycard Avios credit cards and their generous sign-up bonuses.

It may, on the other hand, be one that you could recommend to a non-traveller looking for a free non-Amex credit card with decent benefits.

You can see details on the Amazon website here. The APR is 28.9% variable.

The key features are:

• no annual fee
• £20 Amazon voucher as a sign-up bonus
• 0.5% back on spending, paid in Amazon vouchers, for the first year
• 0.25% back on spending, paid in Amazon vouchers, from Year 2
• 1% back on Amazon spending
• 2% back on Amazon Prime Day and other ‘event’ days

You CANNOT use this card with Apple Pay.

The 0.5% return in Year 1 makes the card more valuable than major ‘non travel’ reward cards such as the Marks & Spencer, Sainsburys, Tesco and John Lewis products. These tend to pay you just 0.1% to 0.25% of your spending. Even after Year 1, 0.25% is at the top end of what you could expect to earn from a consumer card like this.

(Of course, it would make more sense to get the free Barclaycard Avios Mastercard, which earns 1 Avios per £1, and transfer the Avios into Nectar points at 1:1. This would give you 0.5% back every year, not just for the first year. Your average member of the public won’t go for this, however.)

The sign-up rule is:

“You won’t be able to apply for the Amazon Barclaycard if you already have a Barclaycard, or have had one in the last 6 months. Barclaycard will be opening applications for existing Barclaycard customers in the future.”

The last line is interesting. This is the first time that we’ve seen Barclays publicly state what we have been telling readers for a couple of years – that there is a major IT upgrade going on at Barclaycard which will allow you to hold multiple cards at the same time from 2025.

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Want to earn more points from credit cards? – April 2025 update

If you are looking to apply for a new credit card, here are our top recommendations based on the current sign-up bonuses.

In 2022, Barclaycard launched two exciting new Barclaycard Avios Mastercard cards with a bonus of up to 25,000 Avios. You can apply here.

You qualify for the bonus on these cards even if you have a British Airways American Express card:

Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard

Get 25,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £10,000 Read our full review

Barclaycard Avios Mastercard

Get 5,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £20,000 Read our full review

You can see our full directory of all UK cards which earn airline or hotel points here. Here are the best of the other deals currently available.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 30,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

30,000 Avios and the famous annual 2-4-1 voucher Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express

80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard

18,000 bonus points and 1.5 points for every £1 you spend Read our full review

Earning miles and points from small business cards

If you are a sole trader or run a small company, you may also want to check out these offers:

American Express Business Platinum

50,000 points when you sign-up and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review

American Express Business Gold

20,000 points sign-up bonus and FREE for a year Read our full review

Capital on Tap Pro Visa

10,500 points (=10,500 Avios) plus good benefits Read our full review

Capital on Tap Visa

NO annual fee, NO FX fees and points worth 1 Avios per £1 Read our full review

British Airways American Express Accelerating Business

30,000 Avios sign-up bonus – plus annual bonuses of up to 30,000 Avios Read our full review