Our experts answer readers' credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess credit cards). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners; however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.
Unlike groceries, dining, and travel, online shopping isn't a common bonus category on rewards credit cards. But that doesn't mean you can't earn more than 1 point or mile per dollar you spend, or more than 1% cash back, when you buy things online.
By picking the best credit card for your online shopping — and by taking advantage of online shopping portals, stacking credit card rewards with discounts, and other deals like Amex Offers** — you can rake in the rewards on these purchases.
Compare the Best Credit Cards for Online Shopping
Best Credit Cards for Online Shopping of 2023
- : Best for cash back on US online retail purchases
- : Best for earning 2% cash rewards on everything
- : Best for earning 2% cash back with a long intro APR
- : Best for Amazon and Whole Foods purchases
- : Best for Costco.com purchases
- : Best for choosing your own bonus category
- : Best for digital wallets in Q3 2023
- : Best for buying live entertainment tickets in Q3 2023
- : Best for office supplies
- : Best for purchase protection
- : Best for high cash back on two retail brands you customize
Methodology: How we chose the best credit cards for online shopping
Insider evaluated credit cards that offer bonus rewards for online purchases in general, or those that have bonus categories that overlap certain online merchants, like Amazon and Costco. We assessed factors like rewards earning rates, category spending caps, welcome bonuses, annual fees, and other benefits to arrive at our list.
Here's how we rate credit cards at Insider for a closer look at our methodology.
Credit Cards for Online Shopping Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best credit card for online shopping?
While there's no single best credit card for online shopping — since it depends on your preferred retailers and spending habits — there are a couple of cards that are the best choice for a wide variety of consumers. If you can work within a spending limit, the and are both excellent choices, since they span a broad range of online purchases.
Otherwise, you can't go wrong with a card that earns a flat rewards rate everywhere, like the or .
Which credit card is best for online shopping protection?
American Express cards in particular are known for their excellent purchase protections, but you can also get strong purchase protection from Chase credit cards and cards from other issuers.
Whether you're concerned about fraud and online security or just want protection in the event your purchase is damaged or stolen, using a credit card for online purchases is a good strategy. Credit cards are more secure than debit cards, and using the right credit card can get you perks like purchase protection and extended warranty.
Are store credit cards good for online shopping?
It could make sense to open a store credit card to use for online purchases if you're loyal to a particular store or brand. Sometimes having a store credit card will get you discounts, free shipping, coupons, or exclusive perks that can help you save money. That said, in many cases, you'll only be able to use a store's credit card for that particular brand, and you won't get access to benefits like purchase protection or insurance.
Best for Cash Back on US Online Retail Purchases
Amex refreshed the by improving its bonus categories and adding new statement credits for Home Chef and Disney Bundle subscriptions**. The card now earns 3% cash back on US online retail purchases (on up to $6,000 in spending per year, then 1%), as well as 3% back at US gas stations in purchases and US supermarkets (on up to $6,000 in spending per year, then 1%). All other purchases earn 1% cash back (cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars).
New cardholders also receive a , followed by a APR. This is handy for times when you might not be able to pay off all your purchases at once.
Earning 3% back for online shopping is a great deal, but bear in mind it's limited to purchases in the US. If you frequently buy from international vendors, this card won't be a good fit.
Blue Cash Everyday Amex Card Review
Best for 2% Cash Rewards on Everything
The is a terrific choice if you don't want to fuss with bonus categories or limits. Cardholders earn 2% cash rewards on purchases with no caps, and the card comes with a decent welcome bonus offer as well: .
New cardholders also qualify for a (then a ), which can be useful for those who are making large purchases they can't pay off right away. This card doesn't charge an annual fee.
It also offers perks like cell phone protection, roadside dispatch, Visa Signature benefits, and travel and emergency assistance services.
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card Review
Best for 2% Cash Back With a Long Intro APR
The earns 2% cash back on everything you buy: 1% cash back (1 point per dollar) when you make a purchase, and another 1% back (1 point per dollar) when you pay your bill.
New cardholders receive a , followed by a APR. This is handy if you have high-interest credit card balances you want to consolidate and pay off over time.
Since there are no bonus categories to keep track of with this card, you can earn 2% back on your online purchases, no matter where you're shopping. The card has no annual fee, either. The downside is that the currently doesn't offer new cardholders any kind of welcome bonus.
Best for Amazon and Whole Foods Purchases
If you want a credit card that offers a bonus on Amazon purchases, the is a solid choice. Chase recently made changes to its Amazon credit cards, and this card now offers a welcome bonus of a .
Cardholders earn 5% cash back on Amazon, Whole Foods, and Chase Travel Portal purchases (with a Prime Membership and your card is loaded to your eligible Amazon account; otherwise earn 3% back on these purchases), 2% back at restaurants, gas stations, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare), and 1% back on all other purchases.
There's no annual fee for Amazon Prime members, and because it's a Visa Signature card it offers substantial benefits including extended warranty, purchase protection, and car rental insurance.
Best for Costco.com Purchases
For Costco members who shop with the big-box retailer online, the could be another smart choice. It earns 2% cash back on all Costco.com and Costco purchases, in addition to 4% cash back on the first $7,000 spent on eligible gas and EV charging purchases each year (then 1%), 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases, and 1% back on everything else.
The card has no annual fee, but you need a paid Costco membership.
Costco Anywhere Visa Card Review
Best for Choosing Your Own Bonus Category
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Card
The is another no-annual-fee card, and it's the rare one that includes online shopping as a bonus category. You can earn 3% cash back on a category of your choice (options include online shopping as well as gas, dining, travel, drugstores, and home improvement/furnishings) and 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs on up to $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter (then 1% back).
If you're looking to maximize your online shopping purchases with the , your best bet would be to only use it for online shopping and put grocery store and wholesale club purchases on another card.
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card Review
Best for Digital Wallets in Q3 2023
The is a great pick if you want to earn a high rate of cash back and don't mind putting in a little bit of extra effort. It offers a generous 5% cash back in popular rotating quarterly bonus categories when you activate, on up to $1,500 in combined spending (then 1%). You'll also earn 1% back everywhere else.
The card currently doesn't offer online shopping as a bonus category . However, in the third quarter of 2023 (July through September), the bonus categories will be digital wallets (like Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and Garmin Pay) and gas stations.
This no-annual-fee card also offers a , followed by a APR.
Discover it Cash Back card review
Best for Buying Live Entertainment Tickets in Q3 2023
The no-annual-fee is an excellent choice if you want to earn bonus cash back (in the form of Chase Ultimate Rewards® points) in a wide variety of categories.
This card often comes with rotating bonus categories that are helpful for online shopping. Cardholders can earn 5% cash back (5x Ultimate Rewards points) on up to $1,500 spent in combined purchases (then 1%) in certain bonus categories each quarter of the year after activation. From July 1, 2023, to September 30, 2023, the bonus categories are select live entertainment, gas stations, and electric vehicle charging.
In addition, this card comes with a , followed by a APR.
Chase Freedom Flex Credit Card Review
Best for Office Supplies
If you're a freelancer or a small business owner, the is a great option for earning cash back on office supplies. You'll earn 5% cash back (5x Chase Ultimate Rewards points) on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services each year (then 1% back).
You'll also earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each year (then 1% back). This card has no annual fee, and if you also have a Chase Ultimate Rewards travel card such as the or the , you can transfer rewards from the and unlock more redemption options.
Chase Ink Business Cash Credit Card Review
Best for Purchase Protection
Especially if you're making a large purchase, you'll want to pay attention to what kind of purchase protection your credit card offers. The has one of the most generous policies, offering up to $10,000 in coverage per occurrence (up to $500 for natural disasters) and up to $50,000 in coverage per year for stolen or damaged items.
The also adds up to one additional year to eligible US manufacturers' warranties of five years or less.
Best for High Cash Back on 2 Retail Brands You Customize
US Bank Shopper Cash Rewards card
The offers 6% cash back in two categories you choose from a list of retailers (including Amazon, Walmart, and Target) on up to $1,500 in combined purchases per quarter (then 1.5% back).
The list of eligible retail brands for earning 6% back is substantial, and includes many popular online merchants:
- Ace Hardware
- Apple
- Amazon.com
- Anthropologie
- Bed, Bath, & Beyond
- Best Buy
- Chewy.com
- Crate & Barrel
- Disney
- Home Depot
- Ikea
- Kohl's
- Lowe's
- Lululemon
- Macy's
- Menards
- Nordstrom
- Pottery Barn
- QVC
- Restoration Hardware
- Target
- Walmart
- Wayfair.com
- Williams Sonoma
Cardholders can also earn 3% cash back in one everyday category they choose from gas and EV charging purchases, bills and utilities, or wholesale clubs, on up to $1,500 per quarter (then 1.5% back), as well as 5.5% cash back on hotel and car bookings through the US Bank Rewards Center. All other purchases earn a solid 1.5% cash back.
There's an annual fee of , and a welcome offer of a . The card comes with Visa Signature benefits and a handful of travel and purchase protections. Keep in mind it adds foreign transaction fees, so it's not a good pick for international purchases.
US Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Card Review
Make Sure to Use an Online Shopping Portal
Whenever you shop online, it's worth taking a few extra seconds to go through a shopping portal, since you can earn a ton of bonus rewards or cash back by clicking through one of these sites.
Airlines and credit card issuers, along with a handful of hotel brands, operate shopping portals that award you bonus loyalty points in their respective programs when you click through from the portal to a retailer's website. For example, if you're a United flyer, you can click through the airline's MileagePlus Shopping site to earn bonus miles with Bed Bath & Beyond, Sephora, Staples, and dozens of other online shops.
Online shopping portal bonuses change all the time, and not every portal partners with the same retailers. To see your best options for earning rewards, search for the retailer on Cashback Monitor or Evreward. Both of these sites show you all your different shopping portal options for earning points, miles, or cash back.
Once you've decided which shopping portal you want to use, make sure you're logged into your associated loyalty program account, then find the retailer in the portal and click through. This is an easy way to maximize credit card purchases that would otherwise only earn you 1 point per dollar or 1% cash back.
Don't Forget About Amex Offers and Cash-back Deals Through Chase
If you have an American Express card or a Chase card, you could be able to save extra money on your online purchases through Amex Offers and Chase Offers, respectively.
Amex Offers** are limited-time deals available to cardholders, letting you earn cash back or bonus Amex Membership Rewards points when you make purchases with popular retailers. The offers are targeted, meaning not every cardholder will see the same deals in their account, and you need to make your purchase with the Amex card tied to a given deal to be eligible for cash back or bonus points.
Chase Offers work similarly; if you have a Chase card like the or the , log into your account and see what offers are available. Click on any offers you want to use to add them to your account, then use the corresponding Chase card to complete your purchase. Currently, Chase Offers are limited to cash back — for instance, 5% back at McDonald's or Dell.
from All Content from Business Insider https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/best-credit-cards-for-online-shopping
via gqrds
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.