Give an Allowance with Amazon PayPhrase

A simple, secure way to let your students and teens shop online - at Amazon.com or across the web

What do students get? What do parents get? Create your PayPhrase

How does PayPhrase Allowance work?

The student searches, chooses, and checks out in their own time. Parents only have to check theie e-mail.

Parental controls for teens and students

Parental controls for teens and students

PayPhrase makes it simple for the whole family to shop online within limits you set.

Decide on a monthly spending limit, and choose whether unspent amounts should roll over each month. Set orders to auto-approve up to the spending limit, or opt to review and approve every order for a given PayPhrase by e-mail or text message.

PayPhrase Tip: Your credit card will be charged only for the amount actually spent with the PayPhrase each month – not the full spending limit amount you set.

› Create your PayPhrase

Setup takes seconds

Setup takes seconds

Amazon PayPhrase uses the same information already stored in your Amazon.com account. Simply select a unique phrase, create a 4-digit PIN, and sign in to your Amazon account to link a shipping address and credit card with the PayPhrase.

Buying with a PayPhrase requires only the PayPhrase and PIN. You never have to share your account credentials (e-mail address and password) to let someone else shop online.

PayPhrase Tip: Create multiple PayPhrases – one for everyone in the household – each with a unique, personalized phrase and appropriate controls.

› Create your PayPhrase

Every PayPhrase is unique

Every PayPhrase is unique

Create a PayPhrase that will be easy to remember for your teen or college student. Their PayPhrase will be a one-of-a-kind, as every PayPhrase is unique.

Each PayPhrase is two or more words, and the entire phrase can be 4 to 100 characters long. No digits or special characters are allowed. We'll let you know instantly if the PayPhrase you want is available.

PayPhrase Tip: When you set up a PayPhrase, you'll link it to a shipping address and credit card. Only you can access and change these settings using your Amazon account credentials (e-mail address and password).

› Create your PayPhrase

Simple to manage

Simple to manage

While visiting Amazon.com, access all the PayPhrases on your account from the "Your PayPhrases" link underneath any PayPhrase button. Additionally, manage your PayPhrase settings and review orders placed with PayPhrase anytime by visiting AmazonPayments.com.

PayPhrase Tip: PayPhrase customers can simply type the word "info" into a PayPhrase button at Amazon.com to review orders for their PayPhrase, and to see their remaining monthly balance.

› Create your PayPhrase

Amazon PayPhrase Frequently Asked Questions

What is a PayPhrase?
PayPhrase is an easy-to-remember shortcut to the payment and shipping information in your Amazon.com account. You can use your PayPhrase to shop at www.Amazon.com and across the web, without sharing your credit card number. Simply use your PayPhrase and a 4-digit PIN to checkout anywhere you see the PayPhrase button.
Use your PayPhrase for express checkout at Amazon.com and other sites across the web. Look for the "Checkout with Amazon" button, and simply click it to reveal the PayPhrase button.
Why should I use an Amazon PayPhrase?
  • Privacy: Shop across the web without sharing your credit card number
  • Express checkout: Speed through checkout without having to sign-in
  • Parental controls: Let teens and students shop online within limits you set
How do I create a PayPhrase?
Create an original PayPhrase yourself, or choose one of our suggestions. Once you have claimed a particular PayPhrase, it can't be claimed by anyone else.
Each PayPhrase must be two or more words, and can be as little as 4 characters or up to 100 characters long. PayPhrases cannot include numbers or special characters. PayPhrases are not case sensitive, so "Weekend Warrior" and "weekend warrior" are considered the same PayPhrase. We'll check for PayPhrase availability as you create your PayPhrase.
Once you have chosen your PayPhrase, create a 4-digit PIN to use whenever you submit an order with your PayPhrase. Finally, either select payment and shipping information from your Amazon.com account, or enter new credit card and shipping details. Every time you buy something with your PayPhrase, your order will use these same settings.
Use a single PayPhrase for all your shopping, or create multiple PayPhrases for different purposes – or different family members.
How do I use PayPhrase to give an allowance?
Create a PayPhrase to provide an allowance to teens in your family, or students away at college. Use optional PayPhrase settings to set monthly spending limits. You may also choose to set up approval alerts so you can review every order. To create an allowance simply:
  1. Choose a phrase for the recipient. You can do this together or surprise the recipient with a phrase they will like
  2. Set a monthly spending limit and choose other controls such as pre-approvals of purchases.
  3. Choose a shipping address to be used for orders placed with that PayPhrase.
  4. Select a credit card to be charged when orders are placed for the PayPhrase.
Then share the PayPhrase and 4-digit PIN with your teen or college-age student. They will be able to make purchases only within the limits you've set. You'll receive a confirmation when they place an order, and you can review purchases for the PayPhrase at any time by visiting the PayPhrase Orders page on www.amazonpayments.com/payphrase.
If you have chosen to approve each order individually, you will receive an e-mail alert when an order is placed. Simply click the button in the e-mail to approve or decline the order – orders will automatically be cancelled after 24 hours if they are not approved. You can also opt to receive alerts via text message on your mobile phone, and approve orders by responding with a text message of your own.
How do I actually give a PayPhrase to someone else to use?
You must share the PayPhrase and PIN with the recipient yourself, at which point they will be able to make purchases in accordance with the limits that you've set. You will see all the orders placed for that PayPhrase in your PayPhrase order history page at www.amazonpayments.com/payphrase. You will also receive an order confirmation via e-mail each time a purchase is made with that PayPhrase.
How can the person I give a PayPhrase to check their own monthly balance or order status?
They visit www.amazonpayments.com/payphrase and click on the "View Allowance Activity" link. They then enter their PayPhrase and PIN when prompted.
While at Amazon.com, type the word "info" into any PayPhrase button. Then enter the PayPhrase and PIN when prompted. They can also visit www.amazon.com/payphrase click "View Allowance Activity." They then must enter their PayPhrase and PIN when prompted.
They can also visit www.amazonpayments.com/payphrase and click the "View Allowance Activity" link.
Can I use a PayPhrase myself?
Yes. Use your PayPhrase to checkout when you shop online, on Amazon.com and other web sites which accept PayPhrase. Just enter your PayPhrase, review your order details (includes shipping costs and tax), and type your PIN to complete your order. Because your PayPhrase is already associated with shipping and payment information, you do not have to enter this again when you buy with your PayPhrase.
Just look for the "Checkout with Amazon" buttons when you shop online.
Is a PayPhrase secure?
Yes. When you or anyone you give a PayPhrase to makes purchases with a PayPhrase on other retail websites, your credit card information is not shared with that retailer. When a purchase is made with PayPhrase, orders will only be delivered to the shipping address associated with that PayPhrase.
Creating PayPhrases or making changes to PayPhrase settings require you to log in using your Amazon.com account credentials. This includes making changes to the shipping address or credit card associated with your PayPhrase.
Who can use Amazon PayPhrase?
Customers with an Amazon.com or Amazon Payments account can create PayPhrases. Account holders can create a PayPhrase for themselves, or they can create PayPhrases for others to use – including other family members. Amazon PayPhrase is currently only available in the U.S.
What does a PayPhrase cost?
PayPhrase is free to use to make purchases.
What shipping options does a PayPhrase provide on Amazon.com?
PayPhrase orders at Amazon.com will default to Standard Shipping, but additional shipping options will appear in the PayPhrase order preview. Shipping costs are deducted from the balance of a PayPhrase allowance.
If the PayPhrase is associated with an account enrolled in Amazon Prime, you may choose one of the Prime shipping options – the default Prime shipping option will be 2-Day Free Shipping.