AmazonSmile is no longer available. Amazon announced that it would wind down the program by February 20, 2023, so shopping at Amazon does not currently trigger AmazonSmile donations. Historically, AmazonSmile let customers choose a charity and caused the AmazonSmile Foundation to donate 0.5% of qualifying purchase prices. If you want to give now, donate through your chosen charity’s current website or another active program, after checking its terms.
What AmazonSmile was
AmazonSmile was a charity-shopping option layered onto ordinary Amazon shopping. Customers used a separate AmazonSmile website, selected an eligible charitable organization, and then shopped with the same Amazon account, cart, wish lists, registries and settings used on Amazon.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Amazon eGift Card - Amazon Logo | $50.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Amazon eGift Card - Happy Birthday | $50.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Amazon eGift Card - Birthday Wishes | $50.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Amazon Physical Gift Card in a Gift Box - Better than Gold - Black | $50.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Amazon Physical Gift Card in a Mini Envelope - Candlelight Celebration | $50.00 | Buy on Amazon |
Amazon said in its closure announcement that the program had not grown to create the impact it originally hoped for. The company planned to wind it down by February 20, 2023. The historical workflow therefore explains a discontinued service, not a feature you can activate today.
How AmazonSmile worked
1. Choose a charity
On a first visit, the shopper selected an eligible organization. The selection could be changed later at any time. Amazon reported nearly one million eligible organizations at launch in 2013 and more than one million globally in its 2023 closure announcement.
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#1 Best Overall
- Amazon.com Gift Cards never expire and carry no fees.
- Multiple gift card designs and denominations to choose from.
- Redeemable towards millions of items store-wide at Amazon.com or certain affiliated websites.
- Available for immediate delivery. Gift cards sent by email can be scheduled up to a year in advance.
- No returns and no refunds on Gift Cards.
2. Start at the AmazonSmile website
The customer had to begin shopping at smile.amazon.com. The account, cart and other shopping data remained connected to the ordinary Amazon account.
3. Buy qualifying products
Eligible product pages were marked “Eligible for AmazonSmile donation.” Recurring Subscribe-and-Save purchases and subscription renewals were excluded, according to Amazon’s historical FAQ.
Rank #2
- Amazon.com Gift Cards never expire and carry no fees.
- Multiple gift card designs and denominations to choose from.
- Redeemable towards millions of items store-wide at Amazon.com or certain affiliated websites.
- Available for immediate delivery. Gift cards sent by email can be scheduled up to a year in advance.
- No returns and no refunds on Gift Cards.
4. Amazon funded the donation
The AmazonSmile Foundation donated 0.5% of the eligible purchase price to the selected organization. Amazon defined that price as the item amount after rebates, excluding shipping and handling, gift wrapping, taxes and service charges.
What the donation rate and totals meant
| Figure | What it described | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5% | Standard AmazonSmile donation | Historical rate applied to the eligible purchase price, not shipping, handling, gift wrapping, taxes or service charges. |
| 5% | Temporary promotional rate | Applied from October 29 through November 2, 2018, rather than being the normal rate. |
| More than $100 million | Total donated through AmazonSmile | Amazon-reported figure as of October 2018. |
| Nearly one million | Eligible organizations at launch | Amazon-reported 2013 figure. |
| More than one million | Eligible organizations globally | Figure in Amazon’s 2023 closure announcement. |
Because the percentage applied only to qualifying merchandise value, a 0.5% donation was not 0.5% of a shopper’s full checkout total.
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- Amazon.com Gift Cards never expire and carry no fees.
- Multiple gift card designs and denominations to choose from.
- Redeemable towards millions of items store-wide at Amazon.com or certain affiliated websites.
- Available for immediate delivery. Gift cards sent by email can be scheduled up to a year in advance.
- No returns and no refunds on Gift Cards.
Does AmazonSmile still work?
No. Amazon announced the program’s wind-down by February 20, 2023. Readers in 2026 should not expect an AmazonSmile checkout setting, an active smile.amazon.com donation flow or automatic donations from ordinary Amazon purchases. The official material available for this topic does not establish a replacement AmazonSmile checkout feature.
Should you use AmazonSmile instead of donating directly?
You cannot choose AmazonSmile today because it has been discontinued. For a current donation, use the charity’s live donation page or another operating giving or rewards program. Compare the program’s terms rather than assuming that ordinary shopping generates a contribution.
Rank #4
- Gift Card is redeemable towards millions of items storewide at Amazon.com
- Gift Card has no fees and no expiration date
- Gift Card is nested inside a specialty gift box
- Free One-Day Shipping (where available)
- Scan and redeem any Gift Card with a mobile or tablet device via the Amazon App
Questions to check in any current alternative
- Is the program operating now, and in which countries or regions?
- Is the contribution a percentage, a fixed amount or a limited promotion?
- Which purchases qualify, and are subscriptions, renewals, taxes or shipping excluded?
- Must you activate a link, browser setting or account option before buying?
- Which charities are eligible, and how broad is the coverage?
- When does the charity receive funds?
- Is the contribution tax deductible to you?
Amazon’s historical FAQ stated that AmazonSmile donations were not tax deductible to the shopper. That historical treatment should not be generalized to a different, currently operating program; check the program and your local tax rules.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What AmazonSmile’s history tells shoppers
The service was designed to make giving automatic: Amazon’s 2013 launch description called it a simple, automatic way to support charitable organizations. Its convenience did not guarantee a large contribution, because the rate was small and limited to eligible purchase value. Direct giving lets you select the amount and timing yourself, while a shopping-linked program depends on qualifying transactions and its current terms.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Gift Card is redeemable towards millions of items storewide at Amazon.com
- Gift Card has no fees and no expiration date
- Gift Card is affixed inside a mini envelope
- Free One-Day Shipping (where available)
- Scan and redeem any Gift Card with a mobile or tablet device via the Amazon App
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
