What Is Amazon Pay In 2022? (Your Complete Guide)
Amazon Pay is a digital wallet and payment service provided by Amazon that allows customers to make fast and secure online payments on Amazon as well as at many other participating merchants and websites. With Amazon Pay, customers can avoid having to manually enter their payment and shipping information every time they make an online purchase.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll go over everything you need to know about Amazon Pay, including how it works, its benefits, where you can use it, and much more.
How Does Amazon Pay Work?
Amazon Pay functions similarly to PayPal. To use Amazon Pay, you first need an Amazon account with your payment methods and shipping address added.
When checking out on Amazon or on a website that accepts Amazon Pay, you can select the Amazon Pay option and log in with your Amazon credentials. Amazon Pay will automatically use the payment and shipping details stored in your Amazon account to complete your purchase.
The key benefit is you don‘t have to manually enter your card details and address each time you checkout. Everything is stored securely in your Amazon account.
How Do I Open an Amazon Pay Account?
You don‘t need to create a separate Amazon Pay account. As long as you have an Amazon account with your payment methods and shipping address added, you can use Amazon Pay anytime it is an available payment option.
To add a payment method to your Amazon account:
Go to www.amazon.com and log into your account.
Click on "Your Account" and go to "Payment options."
Click "Add a payment method" and enter your card details.
You can add multiple cards and shipping addresses if needed. All of these will be accessible when you use Amazon Pay.
How Do I Find my Amazon Pay Transactions?
To view your Amazon Pay transactions and purchase history:
On Desktop: Go to pay.amazon.com and sign in to your Amazon account. Under "Activity," you can view your transactions.
On Mobile App: Open the Amazon app and go to "Your Account" then "Your Payments." Tap "View payment history" to see transactions.
On Alexa: Say "Alexa, ask Amazon Pay to list my transactions." Alexa will read out your most recent Amazon Pay purchases.
Order Emails: For non-Amazon purchases made with Amazon Pay, check the order confirmation email from the merchant.
Can I Use Amazon Gift Cards on Amazon Pay?
Unfortunately, Amazon Pay does not currently support using Amazon gift card balances as a payment method. You can only pay with credit/debit cards or bank accounts connected to your Amazon account.
However, you can still redeem Amazon gift cards on Amazon.com by entering the claim code on your Amazon account. The gift card balance can be used for eligible purchases on Amazon.
Is Amazon Pay Good?
Yes, Amazon Pay is a very good online payment option based on customer reviews. In surveys, Amazon Pay is rated highly for its convenience, ease of use, and security.
Key advantages of Amazon Pay include:
No service fees – Amazon Pay is free to use with no transaction fees
Fast checkout – Payment details are pre-loaded so checkout is quick
Secure – Your card details are not shared with merchants
Omnichannel – Can be used on mobile, desktop, in-store, and with Alexa
Trusted brand – Backed by Amazon‘s reputation for security and reliability
For shoppers looking for a easy and secure online payment method, Amazon Pay is an excellent choice with lots of benefits.
What Are the Benefits of Amazon Pay?
There are several key benefits that make Amazon Pay a top choice for digital payments:
Security
Your actual credit card number is never shared with merchants. Only Amazon has your card details.
Safer than manually entering card info on less familiar sites.
Amazon Pay is protected by multifactor authentication and advanced fraud detection.
Ease of Use
Faster checkout by only entering your Amazon login instead of full payment details.
Payment and shipping info is stored in your Amazon account so you don‘t have to keep re-entering it.
Clean, intuitive interface for signing in and paying with Amazon.
Omnichannel Payments
Use Amazon Pay in-store by scanning a QR code at checkout.
Pay via desktop, mobile web, in the Amazon app, and even by voice with Alexa.
Consistent experience across all platforms and merchants.
Trusted Brand
Backed by Amazon‘s reputation for excellent security, payments, and customer service.
No need to trust lesser known merchants with your card details.
Covers purchases with the Amazon A-Z Guarantee for added peace of mind.
By leveraging Amazon‘s years of payments expertise, Amazon Pay provides a top-notch user experience and privacy protections other digital wallets cannot match.
Does Amazon Pay Cost Money?
No, Amazon Pay is completely free to use. There are:
- No transaction or service fees
- No fees for adding money or withdrawing funds
- No membership fees or minimum balance requirements
The only potential fees are:
Foreign transaction fee from your bank if using Amazon Pay internationally. This is not charged by Amazon.
Currency conversion fee if sending or receiving money in foreign currency.
But Amazon Pay has no built-in fees for domestic use, so it‘s a very affordable option.
Is it Safe to Pay With Amazon Pay?
Yes, Amazon Pay is very safe to use based on Amazon‘s strong security protections:
Uses TLS encryption and other bank-grade security measures.
Your actual credit card number is never seen by merchants.
Uses multifactor authentication to prevent unauthorized access.
Backed by Amazon‘s advanced fraud detection systems.
Amazon Pay adheres to strict global security standards like PCI DSS.
Covers eligible purchases with Amazon‘s A-Z Guarantee for added protection.
Overall, security experts rate Amazon Pay as highly safe due to Amazon‘s industry-leading security investments. It‘s much safer than entering your card details directly on unknown merchant sites.
Is my Amazon Pay Information Shared With Merchants?
No sensitive financial information from your Amazon Pay account is ever shared with merchants.
Here‘s what information is shared when you use Amazon Pay:
- Name
- Shipping address
- Email address
Merchants do NOT receive:
- Credit card number
- Bank account details
- Billing address
- Phone number
Amazon keeps all your financial details private. Merchants only get the bare minimum needed to complete orders and contact you if needed.
Is Amazon Pay Better Than Paypal?
Amazon Pay and PayPal are both excellent digital wallet options. However, there are a few key differences:
Amazon Pay | PayPal |
---|---|
No service fees | Charges transaction fees |
Backed by Amazon‘s security | Less transparency into security practices |
Integrated with Amazon accounts | Requires separate account |
Omnichannel payments | Mostly for online payments |
No currency conversion fees | Charges currency conversion fees |
For most domestic use cases, Amazon Pay has the edge for having no fees while matching PayPal‘s convenience and security. However, PayPal may be better for international payments.
Ultimately, both services are much safer than entering card details manually on merchant sites.
How Do I Receive Money From Amazon Pay?
If you are selling products or services and want to get paid via Amazon Pay, you need to have an Amazon Payments merchant account. Here is the process:
Sign up for an Amazon Payments merchant account. This is free for personal use.
Add your bank account details to receive payouts.
Integrate Amazon Pay as a payment option on your website using the provided API.
When a customer pays you through Amazon Pay, the funds will be deposited into your bank account on the next scheduled disbursement date after the order captures payment.
Payouts typically take 2-3 business days to reach your bank once released by Amazon.
With an Amazon Payments merchant account, you can easily accept Amazon Pay on your website or mobile app.
Is Amazon Pay Available for Android Devices?
Yes, Amazon Pay works great on Android devices! You can use it via:
The Amazon Shopping app – add payment methods here.
The Amazon Pay app specifically for payments.
Mobile web by logging into pay.amazon.com on your browser.
In-store by scanning the Amazon Pay QR code at checkout.
As long as you have the app installed or can access pay.amazon.com, you can use Amazon Pay on any Android phone or tablet for mobile payments.
Where Can I Use Amazon Pay?
Amazon Pay can be used at the following popular online stores:
- Whole Foods
- AMC Theaters
- StubHub
- Moda Operandi
- Tory Burch
- Urban Outfitters
- Bed Bath & Beyond
- Overstock
- Groupon
- Expedia
- Houzz
- GNC
- Barnes & Noble
- Pacsun
- Scholastic
- Fandango
You can also use Amazon Pay in-store at selected physical retailers by scanning the QR code during checkout. Currently, Amazon Pay is accepted at these physical chains:
- Whole Foods
- GameStop
- AMC Theaters
- Bed Bath & Beyond
Check for the Amazon Pay logo or QR code when shopping online or in-person to see if you can use your Amazon account for faster, easier checkout. The number of merchants accepting Amazon Pay is rapidly growing.
Where Can I Find My Amazon Pay Order?
If you used Amazon Pay on Amazon.com, you can find your order details under Your Orders in your Amazon account.
For Amazon Pay purchases on other merchant websites, check your email for an order confirmation from that retailer. Most merchants will also let you access order history on their website through your account.
If you enabled Alexa delivery notifications, you can ask "Alexa, where‘s my Amazon Pay order?" to get updates. However, Alexa will not have details on non-Amazon orders.
How Can I Tell If an Amazon Pay Option is a Scam?
Unfortunately, scammers sometimes try to trick people with fake Amazon Pay pages. Here are red flags to watch for:
Requests your Amazon login details over email – Amazon will never do this.
Asks you to pay additional fees to "confirm" your account. Amazon Pay is free.
Poorly designed payment page that does not match Amazon‘s website.
Requests your bank details or Amazon gift cards – Amazon Pay does not require these.
Uses a non-Amazon web address like amazonpay-verify.com.
Only enter your details through pay.amazon.com or within the official Amazon site you are purchasing on. Avoid clicking Amazon Pay links in unexpected emails to stay secure.
Is Amazon Pay Worth It?
For most shoppers, Amazon Pay is definitely worth using as your preferred digital wallet, especially if you already have an Amazon account.
The ability to check out quickly across merchant sites without constantly re-entering your details saves a ton of time and hassle.
Plus, Amazon Pay has no fees and provides robust security, unlike alternatives like PayPal or old-school manual checkouts.
For avid online shoppers, using Amazon Pay can massively simplify purchases while also enhancing privacy and financial security.
Conclusion
Amazon Pay provides an easy, secure, and free way to breeze through online checkouts using your Amazon account details. With extensive platform support and a rapidly growing merchant network, it has become one of the top digital wallet options.
Key takeaways:
Works across web, mobile, Alexa, and in-store for omnichannel payments
Stores payment and shipping details for fast, frictionless purchases
No fees or minimums; completely free to use
Leverages Amazon‘s industry-leading security and fraud prevention
Accepted at major online and brick-and-mortar retailers
Easy to add to your existing Amazon account
For shoppers looking to simplify online buying without sacrificing privacy or money, Amazon Pay is a top-tier choice for managing payments. The benefits and expanding acceptance make it a worthwhile addition both for occasional and power shoppers.