Buzz
There is a vast range of products available on Amazon, but purchasing them can be difficult without a credit or debit card. Luckily, there are various methods to buy from Amazon even without an international payment card. Gift cards and prepaid credit cards are available at most convenience stores or supermarkets in the U.S., and if you have a payment account, you can make direct purchases from your balance.
Steps
Use Gift Cards
Purchase an Amazon gift card. You can buy Amazon gift cards from most retailers that sell gift cards, such as supermarkets or convenience stores. These cards can be purchased using cash.
- You can also receive gift card allowances from others. They can choose to automatically fund your Amazon gift card account, allowing you to spend on Amazon. Visit amazon.com/allowance to set this up.
Log into Amazon. You need to create an Amazon account if you don’t have one already. To create an account, simply enter your name and email address.
Go to the Account page. You can find it by hovering over your name in the top right corner and selecting "Your Account" from the dropdown menu.
Click on the "Apply a Gift Card to Your Account" link. This option is located under the "Amazon Wallet" section on your account page.
Enter the code found on the back of your gift card. The code is made up of 14 or 15 alphanumeric characters. You may need to gently scratch off the plastic covering on the gift card. For online gift cards, the code will be in the email sent to you.
- Click the "Check" button to verify that the code and balance on the card have been entered correctly.
Click on "Apply to your balance". The value of the gift card will be added to your Amazon account balance, and this will become your default payment method for future purchases.
Add products to your cart and proceed to checkout. After applying the gift card, you can purchase one or more items of your choice. You can also use the gift card balance to pay for shipping costs, as long as there is enough balance to cover the expenses.
Enter your shipping address (for physical items). You will need to provide your shipping address to continue the checkout process. This step may not be necessary if you're purchasing digital items.
Ensure that the gift card balance is selected as the payment method. You can also enter an additional code on this screen to add another gift card to your balance.
- If prompted for a billing address for the gift card, you should enter your shipping address there.
Complete your order. Finalize your order and wait for the approval process. As long as you have enough Amazon gift card balance to cover the products and shipping fees, your order will be processed and shipped without issues.
Use a payment account (U.S. only)
Log into the Amazon website. If you have a U.S. payment account, you can link it to Amazon and directly deduct the purchase amount from your bank balance. You’ll need to create an Amazon account if you don’t have one yet.
- Business accounts, corporate accounts, or savings accounts cannot be used.
Go to the "Your Account" page. Hover your cursor over your name in the top right corner of Amazon’s homepage and select "Your Account" from the dropdown menu.
Click on the "Manage Payment Options" link. This link is located under the "Amazon Wallet" section on your account page.
Click on "Add checking account". A form will appear for you to complete.
Enter your payment account information. Check one of your checks to find your bank's routing number and your account number. The routing number is used to identify the bank.
- The routing number consists of 9 digits and is located at the bottom left of the check.
- Your account number is to the right of the routing number. Make sure you don’t include the check number to the right.
Enter your ID number or driver's license. This step is required for bank account payment methods to verify your identity.
Click "Continue" to submit the form. Amazon will verify that you’ve entered the correct bank routing number, and once confirmed, the payment method will be added to your account.
Make purchases on Amazon using your bank account. After linking your bank account to your Amazon account, you will be able to select it as a payment method when making purchases.
Use a prepaid card
Register your prepaid card with the issuing bank. To use a prepaid credit card for online purchases, you must register with the card’s issuing bank. This process will allow you to set up a billing address for the card, which Amazon requires.
- You can either call the number on the back of the card to register by phone or visit the issuing bank’s website to register online. A valid address must be provided during registration.
Log into Amazon. After registering your card, you’ll be able to use it for online purchases. Log into Amazon to add your card as a payment method to your account.
Hover your cursor over your name on the Amazon homepage and select "Your Account." This will open your Amazon account page.
Select "Add a Credit or Debit Card" (Add Credit/Debit Card). This option can be found in the "Payment Methods" column under the "Amazon Wallet" section.
Enter your name and the prepaid card number. You must enter the name that was previously registered with the prepaid card or the name printed on the card. Not all prepaid cards display the cardholder's name.
Enter the billing address exactly as you registered it. Input the billing address you used when registering your card. The address must match exactly, or the card will be rejected.
Create an order with the prepaid card you just added. Now, you can complete your purchase and choose the prepaid card as your payment method. Make sure the card balance is sufficient to cover both the product price and shipping fees.
Check the billing address if the card is declined. If the prepaid card is declined during the transaction, it's possible that your billing information doesn't match the address registered with the card. Review the billing address you entered on Amazon and verify it against the prepaid card registration details for any discrepancies.
