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You can find pretty much anything on Amazon, but making the purchase can be difficult if you don't have a credit or debit card. Luckily, there are several ways you can make purchases on Amazon without one. Gift cards and prepaid credit cards can be purchased at most major grocery or convenience stores, and if you have a US-based checking account, you can pay directly from it.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Using a Gift Card

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  1. You can find Amazon gift cards at most retailers that carry gift cards, such as the supermarket or a convenience store. You can purchase these cards with cash.
    • You can receive gift card allowances from someone else as well. They can choose to automatically deposit money into your Amazon gift card balance, which you can then spend on Amazon. Visit amazon.com/allowance to get it set up.
  2. You'll need to create an account with Amazon if you don't have one already. To create an account, you'll just need to enter your name and email address.
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  3. You can find this by hovering over your name in the upper-right corner and selecting "Your Account."
  4. You'll find this in the "Amazon Wallet" section of your account page.
  5. The code is 14 or 15 characters long and includes letters and numbers. You may have to scratch off the cover on a plastic gift card. If you received the gift card digitally, the code will be in the email you receive. [1]
    • Click the "Check" button to check that the code was entered correctly and see the balance on the card.
  6. The gift card value will be applied to your Amazon account balance, which will be the default payment method when you purchase an item.
  7. Now that you've applied the gift card, you can shop for the item or items you want to purchase. You can pay for the shipping with the gift card as well as long as you have the balance to cover it.
  8. You'll need to enter the address you want the items shipped to in order to proceed with the checkout. This may not be required if you're purchasing digital items.
  9. You can also enter additional codes on this screen to add cards to your balance.
    • If you're prompted to enter a billing address for the gift card, make it the same as your shipping address.
  10. Finish your order and wait for it to be processed. As long as you have enough on your Amazon gift card balance to cover the price of the item and the shipping fee, the purchase should process and ship without issue.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

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  1. If you have a US-based checking account, you can link it with Amazon and deduct purchases directly from your bank balance. You'll need to create an Amazon account if you don't have one already.
    • You cannot use savings, corporate, or business bank accounts. [2]
  2. You can find this by hovering over your name in the upper-right corner of the Amazon home page and selecting "Your Account."
  3. You'll find this in the "Amazon Wallet" section of the account page.
  4. A form will appear.
  5. Refer to one of your checks to find your routing number and your account number. The routing number identifies the bank.
    • The routing number is the leftmost number at the bottom of your check and is nine digits long.
    • The account number is located to the right of the routing number. Make sure you don't include the check number on the right end.
  6. This is required for purchases made with a bank account as a way to identify you.
  7. Amazon will verify that you've entered the correct routing number, and the payment method will be added to your account.
  8. Now that you have your bank account associated with your Amazon account, you'll be able to select it as the payment method when making a purchase.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Using a Prepaid Credit Card

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  1. In order to use your prepaid credit card for online purchases, you'll need to register it with the card issuer. This will allow you to set a billing address for the card, which Amazon requires. [3]
    • You can either call the number printed on the back of the card to register it over the phone, or you can visit the issuer's website and register it online. Make sure to enter in your valid address when registering the card.
  2. Once your card is registered, you'll be able to use it for online purchases. Log into Amazon so that you can add it to your account as a payment method.
  3. This will open your Amazon account page.
  4. You'll find this in the "Payment Methods" column of the "Amazon Wallet" section.
  5. Make sure to enter your name the same way you did when you registered your card, or the same way that it's printed on the card itself. Not all prepaid cards will have your name printed on them.
  6. Enter the billing address you used when you registered your card. The address will need to match exactly, or your card will be declined.
  7. You can now complete a purchase and select your prepaid card as the payment method. Make sure that your card has a balance to cover the purchase cost as well as the shipping fee.
  8. If your prepaid card is declined when you try to complete your purchase, your billing information likely does not match the address you registered with. Check the billing address entered in Amazon and register your prepaid card if you haven't yet.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    Can you buy something from Amazon without an account?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    No, you will need to use an account of some kind to buy something from Amazon. You might possibly be able to use a friend or family member's account to buy something if they give you the ok to do so and give you the password.
  • Question
    How can you pay on Amazon?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    You can pay with a credit or debit card, with a connected checking account, an Amazon gift card, with Western Union (using an Amazon PayCode) or with Amazon Pay. Unfortunately you can't use a service like PayPal directly to pay on Amazon, but it is possible to buy an Amazon gift card with a PayPal account and then use that for purchases. This workaround may help you use other unsupported payment methods as well.
  • Question
    How do I delete my credit card from Amazon?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Log in to your Amazon account, hover over the "Accounts & Lists" section and select "Your Account" and then "Payment Options." From there find the card you'd like to delete and click the arrow on the right to expand. Then, just click "delete" and then "confirm delete" to permanently remove the card.
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      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      The easiest way to buy things on Amazon without a credit card is by purchasing gift cards to use on the site. First, go to a retailer that carries gift cards, and find an Amazon gift card in the amount you need. Then, log into Amazon, and navigate to your account page. Click on "apply a gift card to your account" and enter the code from the back of the gift card into the box, selecting "apply to your balance." Once they cards are on your account, add the items you want to your cart, and choose the gift card as your payment method. For advice on using a checking account or a prepaid card, read on!

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