Ultimate Guide to Amazon Prime Day 2025: How to Prep, Stack, and Actually Save
It’s coming. Amazon’s biggest day(s) of the year – Prime Day. Amazon Prime Day 2025 is officially July 8–11 — the longest one yet. That’s four full days of lightning deals, invite-only drops, and way too many temptations to fill your cart.
If you’re trying to maximize points and miles earnings, stack rewards, and not get sucked into “deals” that aren’t actually deals, here’s how I’m prepping — and what you should know.
This post was originally shared in July 2024 and has been updated to reflect Amazon Prime Day 2025 information.
Maximize points and miles
If you’re looking to earn the most rewards possible during Prime Day 2025 (or anytime you shop on Amazon), don’t just default to the card that’s already saved to your account. Amazon isn’t a bonus category on most credit cards, but with a few strategic moves, you can still turn those purchases into serious points and miles. That Amazon Visa surely won’t earn you any free travel.
Here are some of the best credit cards to use for Amazon purchases — and how to maximize rewards by buying Amazon gift cards at high-earning bonus category retailers.
American Express® Gold Card: 4x at Grocery Stores
The Amex Gold only earns 1x at Amazon directly, which isn’t ideal. But it earns 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000/year).
Strategy: Pick up an Amazon gift card at your local grocery store (Whole Foods, Kroger, Safeway, etc.), then apply it to your Amazon account.
That’s 400 MR points on a $100 gift card — instead of just 100.
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card: 5x at Office Supply Stores
This card earns 5x Chase Ultimate Rewards® points at office supply stores, making it perfect for buying Amazon gift cards at places like Office Depot or Staples.
Pro tip: You don’t need to have a full-fledged business to qualify for a business card. A side hustle, Etsy shop, or reselling gig often counts. Email me if you’re not sure if you’re eligible — happy to help!
Chase Freedom® / Freedom Flex: Use 5x Quarterly Categories
Amazon was a 5% cashback category in Q2 2025 for the original Chase Freedom and Freedom Flex cards. While that’s over, Q3’s bonus category is gas stations — and many gas stations sell Amazon gift cards.
Hack: Grab a gift card when filling up your tank and you’ll earn 5x Ultimate Rewards points per dollar.
Chase Freedom Unlimited: 1.5x Everywhere — But There’s a Better Way
The Freedom Unlimited earns a flat 1.5x on all purchases, including Amazon. That’s decent, but you can do better.
Pro tip: The Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 3x at drugstores, so swing by CVS, Walgreens, or Rite Aid to grab an Amazon gift card and instantly double your earnings.
Pro tip: Check for targeted offers from Amex, Chase, and Discover
Before you check out, log into your Amazon account and see if you’ve been targeted for one of the “Use 1 Point” deals. These are easy wins and can help you save on your purchases.
We regularly see promos like:
“Use 1 Chase point, get 50% off — up to $15”
“Save $10 when using your Amex card at Amazon for the first time”
You’ll typically find these in your Amazon payment settings if you’ve previously linked your credit card points account. And remember: just use 1 point — the rest of your purchase can go on a rewards-earning card.
Amazon Prime Day 2025: You have to be a Prime member to shop the deals
This isn’t new, but it’s worth calling out. If you don’t have a membership, you won’t get access to most deals.
You can always do a free 30-day trial to cover the event if you don’t want to commit to the full $139/year.
Amazon Prime Day 2025: Don’t go in blind — start building your wishlist
Deals are already popping up and will continue dropping in waves. Add your most-wanted items to a wishlist or your cart so you can pounce as soon as the price drops.
Bonus: If you’re using Alexa, you can get early alerts for wishlist items going on sale.
Amazon Prime Day 2025: Don’t believe the “deal” until you price-check
Some prices go up before Prime Day, then get “slashed” back to normal and labeled a sale. Tools like CamelCamelCamel or Keepa can show you price history — worth checking if you’re making a bigger purchase.
Lightning deals = FOMO central
These go fast and often have limited invite-only access. If you see an invite button, click it early. It’s not a guaranteed deal, but it puts you in line in case you’re selected.
It’s not just Amazon
Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and even airlines love to drop competing sales during Prime Day week. Always check other retailers before buying — especially on tech and appliances.
Amazon Prime Day 2025: What I’m skipping
There’s always junk. I ignore anything with a brand I’ve never heard of, fake markdowns, and stuff I wouldn’t have bought at full price. Prime Day is about value, not volume.
Amazon Prime Day 2025: Stacking rewards beyond credit cards
Receipt Apps – While not technically a way to earn points and miles for travel, I have connected our Amazon account to two receipt apps. I submit receipts to both Fetch and ReceiptPal. These apps track your Amazon purchases and reward you with points for submitting receipts—even digital ones. Over time, you can redeem those points for gift cards, including Amazon gift cards if you want to keep the cycle going.
Amazon Prime Day 2025: My Favorite Items for Travel
Since Amazon offers a ton of deals, we wanted to highlight some of our favorite travel items. I can’t guarantee they’ll be in on sale, but many of these items have been part of Prime Day deals in the past.
Trtl Travel Pillow – the only travel pillow that’s helped me sleep through the night on an overnight flight. It’s not a pillow in the traditional sense, more like a neck brace, but it’s worked wonders on my flights abroad.
Kindle – I’m all about saving space when I travel, and this Kindle lets me bring countless books. I first bought my Kindle during Prime Day a few years ago, and it’s been well worth the money.
Kindle Case – I use this slim, protective case to keep my Kindle safe from scratches and bumps in my bag. It’s lightweight and durable, making it perfect for frequent travel.
North Face Backpack – I’ve been using this backpack for the last few years. It fits a lot of items but is still compact enough to fit under the seat.
Packing Cubes – A total game-changer for organized packing. These keep your clothes sorted and help maximize suitcase space, making it easy to find what you need without rummaging through your entire bag.
Columbia Hiking Boots – another solid investment. We love to frequent national parks, and these are solid, waterproof, and haven’t shown any signs of wear even after visiting more than a dozen national parks.
Sorel Winter Boots – I originally bought these for the Quebec City Christmas Markets because I didn’t want to wear clunky boots. These are lightweight but kept my feet warm and dry even as we trudged through sludge and rain.
Apple AirTags – keep track of your luggage. Well worth it for the peace of mind.
Power Adapter – thanks to travel hacking, we’ve visited fourteen different countries and plan to continue to travel internationally. This travel adapter is a necessity if you travel abroad. As a bonus, it has multiple USB ports so you can charge several devices at once.
Carbon Monoxide Monitor – Stay safe while you travel with a compact, battery-operated CO alarm. Featuring a 10-year sensor, LCD display, and instant alerts, this travel-friendly detector gives you peace of mind wherever you go. Lightweight and easy to pack, it’s a must-have for any safety-conscious traveler.
Hydroflask Water Bottle – Keep drinks cold for 24 hours or hot for 12 with the Hydro Flask Wide Mouth Water Bottle — the perfect hydration companion for travel, outdoor adventures, or everyday use. Comes in a variety of sizes and colors.
Amazon Prime Day 2025: Wrapping it up
Prime Day 2025 is a huge opportunity to score great deals and rack up serious points and miles — if you play it smart. By using the right cards, buying Amazon gift cards strategically, and stacking rewards with apps like Fetch and Drop, you can turn your shopping into a powerful travel hack.
Just remember to stick to your wishlist, check prices carefully, and avoid impulse buys. With these tips, you’ll make the most of Prime Day without breaking the bank — and you’ll be one step closer to your next free flight or hotel stay.
Tell us what you’re shopping for in the comments!