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What is Amazon Pay and how do I use it?

If you have an Amazon account with a payment method stored, you're all set.
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Published onMarch 7, 2023

Even if you are only an occasional Amazon shopper, there are benefits to knowing what Amazon Pay is and how to use it. The service offers convenience and increased security by keeping your personal information in fewer places online. Some online retailers even offer discounts if you use Amazon Pay for purchases. And if you have an Amazon account with a payment method stored, you’re all set to start using Amazon Pay.

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Amazon Pay is a payment service that Amazon owns and operates. It allows you to use your Amazon account information and address book on sites other than Amazon. This lets you get through checkout faster and without creating a new account. You can also use it to order and pay by voice using Alexa.


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What is Amazon Pay?

Amazon Pay is an online payment service that Amazon offers. Its main use is to order merchandise or to make charitable contributions using your Amazon account information and stored payment method. This does not only speed up the checkout process. It also allows you to order at many sites without setting up a new account for each one, which helps with identity security. Merchandise purchased is covered by Amazon’s “A-to-Z guarantee.” This may be superior to the policy of the retailer you’re using. You can also order and pay with your voice using the Alexa digital assistant.

Amazon Pay Home Page
Kevin Convery / Android Authority

How do I use it?

The biggest point of convenience when using Amazon Pay is that there is no new registration necessary (unless you do not have an Amazon account). Your current Amazon information is all you need. If you see the Amazon Pay button at checkout, you can use the service at that website. Just click the button, and your checkout page will be pre-populated with your shipping addresses (including for other people, in case you’re sending a gift) and your stored payment methods. You just set the shipping address and method and your payment method. Then click on Place Order. All orders placed using Amazon Pay will be listed on the Your Orders page at Amazon.com, regardless of the site you shopped at.

Amazon Pay Checkout
Kevin Convery / Android Authority

Amazon Pay is a free service for customers to use, but there may be fees associated with using the service for merchants. Merchants are charged a processing fee of 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. However, there are no setup fees or monthly fees.

Where can I use Amazon Pay?

You can use Amazon Pay at thousands of online stores. There is a web page available for you to browse websites that use the service. Participating companies range from niche and specialty retailers to giants like Samsung.

Amazon Pay Browse Stores
Kevin Convery / Android Authority

What’s the difference between Amazon Pay and PayPal?

For a consumer, the main difference between the two services is that PayPal will redirect you to the PayPal site to complete the transaction. Amazon Pay, on the other hand, populates your information directly into the retailer’s checkout page for you. It does not take you to a different website. PayPal is available on more websites than Amazon Pay, however. And PayPal is far ahead of Amazon in getting its payment service accepted in brick-and-mortar stores.


FAQs

Amazon does not share your whole card number, only a portion of it necessary for the transaction. Information Amazon shares include your full name, email address, and shipping address for the order.

Neither Amazon nor the retailer who is using Amazon Pay will charge a consumer anything to use the service; it is free. The only additional charge that may occur will be a foreign transaction fee from your card issuer. This will happen only if the website you are using is in a different country than the one where your card issuer has its headquarters. Merchants who use Amazon Pay on their site pay similar charges as when employing PayPal.

Amazon Pay accepts credit and debit cards, including Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, Diners Club, and JCB. Some retailers will even let you use the Amazon.com store card.

No, to use Amazon Pay, you will need to create an Amazon account and add a payment method to your account.

The time it takes to receive a refund on Amazon Pay depends on the merchant’s refund policy. In most cases, refunds are processed within three to five business days. However, it may take longer for the refund to appear on your account, depending on your bank’s processing times.

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