There was a time when my cousin sent me an American Express gift card as a birthday gift. I wanted to get some items on Amazon and I had to first sell the gift card to purchase an Amazon gift card to shop on Amazon. I had no idea I could use an American Express gift card on Amazon until weeks later when I was chatting with my cousin and I told him what I did with the gift card he sent to me. He laughed and told me I could have used the American Express gift card to make purchases on Amazon without needing to sell the gift card first.

With just a little setup, you can also use your American Express gift card to shop on Amazon.

In this article, we’ll take you through how you can add your AMEX gift card as a payment method on Amazon, how you can shop with it, how to reload your Amazon account balance using it, and more.

Why Does Amazon Support Prepaid Gift Cards?

Use American Express gift card on Amazon

1. Budgeting 

The rise of prepaid gift cards has expanded Amazon’s customer base. Many users, especially younger shoppers or those who are cautious about online transactions, prefer using gift cards to control their spending. Amazon helps customers manage their budgets by allowing them to shop with prepaid gift cards.

2. Security

Prepaid cards limit exposure to fraud since they aren’t directly connected to a bank account. If a card’s details are ever compromised, the potential loss is confined to the amount loaded on the card. This gives customers extra confidence when shopping online, which in turn builds trust in Amazon’s platform.

3. Bonuses and promotion 

Prepaid gift cards help Amazon streamline the gifting and promotional process. Many companies issue American Express gift cards as bonuses or rewards. Amazon ensures that these gift card recipients can spend them easily on millions of products on their platform and this ease of redemption makes Amazon one of the most popular destinations for gift card holders.

4. Seamless transactions

Gift card transactions are easy to process. The payments are instant and there’s no need to handle complex credit arrangements or recurring billing. This speeds up checkout, reduces the chance of payment failures, and enhances the overall shopping experience of the customers.

How To Use American Express Gift Card On Amazon

Here are the steps to using your AMEX gift card on Amazon:

  • Visit the Amazon official website and log in.
  • Go to the Account & List dropdown menu.
  • Choose “Account” from the options.
  • Click “Your Payments” and select “Add a payment method.”
  • Select “Add a credit or debit card.”
  • Enter your AMEX card details. This includes card number, name, expiration date, and security code.
  • Proceed to choose your preferred products on Amazon and use the American Express gift card as a payment option at checkout.

Note: Amazon does not support multiple payment options for a single purchase. Therefore, you must ensure that your AMEX gift card balance is enough to afford your purchase at the store.

How To Add American Express Gift Card To Amazon

You can also add your AMEX gift card balance to your Amazon account to make purchases. Here is how to add your gift card to Amazon:

  • Sign into your Amazon account.
Use American Express gift card on Amazon

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  • Go to the Account & List dropdown menu and click “Account.”
Use American Express gift card on Amazon

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  • Click “Your Payments” and add your AMEX gift card as a credit/debit card.
Use American Express gift card on Amazon

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  • Go to your account and click on your account balance.
  • Click “Reload your balance.”

Use American Express gift card on Amazon

  • Enter the balance on your AMEX gift card in the “Other” section.

Use American Express gift card on Amazon

  • Click “Buy Now.”
Use American Express gift card on Amazon

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  • Choose AMEX as your payment method.

Once completed, your AMEX gift card balance will be added to your Amazon account. You can repeat this process if you have many AMEX gift cards that you want to add to your Amazon account.

How to Reload Amazon Balance with an Amex Gift Card

  • Go to the Amazon “Reload Your Balance” page
  • Enter the amount to add
  • Select your Amex Gift Card as the payment method
  • Complete the transaction.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Using AMEX Gift Card On Amazon

Can I Use American Express Gift Cards On Amazon?

Yes, you can use AMEX gift cards to complete your purchase on Amazon. You must add the card to your payment option and use it during checkout. Amazon also enables you to use at least one American Express Membership Rewards point.

Why Is My AMEX Gift Card Not Working On Amazon?

Register or activate your AMEX gift card before using it on Amazon. While some cards are activated at the point of purchase, you need to do some.

What Gift Cards Can Be Used On Amazon?

Amazon supports gift card options from American Express, Visa, and Mastercard.

Conclusion

Using an American Express Gift Card on Amazon is an easy way to shop online. You can use your American Express gift card directly as a payment method during checkout or use it to reload your Amazon account balance. Always ensure your card is activated, registered correctly, added to your Amazon account properly, and that the balance is sufficient to cover your purchase.

However, keep in mind that there might be potential restrictions on certain types of purchases, and always check your balance to prevent your payment from being declined.

Last updated on November 6, 2025