Best Cash Back at U.S. Online Retailers: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Why we chose it: With the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express, you earn 3% cash back, on up to $6,000 per year in U.S. online retail purchases, then 1% back on all subsequent purchases. You’ll receive this cash back as Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout. Read through our Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express review for more information.
Pros
- 3% cash back on up to $6,000 per year in U.S. online retail purchases, then 1% back
- Also accelerated cash back at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations
- Earn $200 statement credit welcome bonus after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card within the first six months of card membership
Cons
- Spending categories capped at $6,000 in yearly spending per category (then 1% back)
- No extended warranty benefit
- Only 1% cash back on all other non-category purchases
Best for Bank of America Customers: Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card
How we rate our cards Advertiser disclosure
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
19.24% – 29.24% variable
Intro Bonus
$200 $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
Credit Score
Credit ranges are derived from FICO® Score 8, which is one of many different types of credit scores. If you apply for a credit card, the lender may use a different credit score when considering your application for credit.
Good – Excellent
Why we chose it: Bank of America has a Preferred Rewards program offering increased rewards on eligible credit card purchases when you hold a certain amount of assets with the bank. By holding a $100,000+ IRA account with Bank of America’s Merrill investment arm, you can get up to 5.25% cash back on your first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter on online shopping (then 1.75%). Read our Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card review.
Pros
- Solid cash back rate on a category of your choice (including online shopping)
- Can change your cash back category once a month
- 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs ($2,500 quarterly spending cap on combined purchases, then 1%)
Cons
- Bonus categories capped at $2,500 each quarter
- Card only earns 1% on non-bonus categories
- 3% foreign transaction fee
Best for Amazon Shoppers: Prime Visa
How we rate our cards Advertiser disclosure
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
20.49% – 29.24% variable
Intro Bonus
$200 Amazon Gift Card Get a $200 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members.
Credit Score
Credit ranges are derived from FICO® Score 8, which is one of many different types of credit scores. If you apply for a credit card, the lender may use a different credit score when considering your application for credit.
Good-Excellent
Why we chose it: With the Prime Visa, you’ll earn 5% cash back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and on Chase Travel℠ purchases. We also love that the card includes Chase’s extended warranty protection, so you don’t have to choose between earning maximum rewards and having your purchases protected. Read our Amazon Prime Visa review.
Pros
- High cash back rate at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market
- Earns additional rewards at gas stations, restaurants and on local transit and commuting
- Extended warranty and purchase protection benefits
Cons
- Requires a paid Amazon Prime membership
- Other point redemption options don’t provide more value
- Lackluster first-year welcome bonus
Best for Target Shoppers: Target Circle™ Card
How We Rate Our Cards Advertiser Disclosure
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
29.95% Variable
Intro Bonus
Target Circle™ Credit & Debit: Get a coupon for $50 off one future qualifying purchase over $50 when you are approved for a debit or credit Target Circle™ Card in-store or at Target.com.
Save $50 on a future qualifying purchases over $50
Credit Score
Credit ranges are derived from FICO® Score 8, which is one of many different types of credit scores. If you apply for a credit card, the lender may use a different credit score when considering your application for credit.
Fair
Why we chose it: With the Target Circle™ Card, you get a 5% discount on most of your Target purchases. This eliminates the need to worry about accumulating and redeeming points.
Pros
- 5% discount at Target.com and Target
- Free two-day shipping at Target.com
- Extra 30 days for returns
Cons
- Non-Target purchase rewards only redeemable for Target gift cards
- No extended warranty or purchase protection benefits
- Only 1-2% cash back outside of Target
Best for Walmart Online Shoppers: Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard®
How we rate our cards Advertiser disclosure
Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard®
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
19.48% or 29.99% (variable)
Intro Bonus
5% cash back Earn 5% cash back on purchases in Walmart stores for the first twelve months when you use your card with Walmart Pay
Credit Score
Credit ranges are derived from FICO® Score 8, which is one of many different types of credit scores. If you apply for a credit card, the lender may use a different credit score when considering your application for credit.
Fair to Good (580 – 740)
Why we chose it: If Walmart.com is your preferred online superstore, the Capital One Walmart Rewards® Card earns you 5% cash back where you shop most. Read our Capital One Walmart Rewards Mastercard review.
Pros
- 5% cash back at Walmart.com, including pickup and delivery
- No annual fee
- Earn 5% cash back in Walmart stores for the first 12 months after approval when you use your card with Walmart Pay
Cons
- Only earns 2% back on in-store Walmart purchases (outside of the intro offer)
- No extended warranty or purchase protection benefits
- Minimal rewards on non-Walmart spending
All information about the Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard® has been collected independently by Newsweek Vault. The Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard® is no longer available through Newsweek Vault.
Best Cash Back at Retailers You Choose: U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card
How we rate our cards Advertiser disclosure
Annual Fee
$95 ($0 intro fee for the first year)
Regular APR
19.74% – 29.74% variable
Intro Bonus
Earn a $300 bonus after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening.
$300 cash bonus
Credit Score
Credit ranges are derived from FICO® Score 8, which is one of many different types of credit scores. If you apply for a credit card, the lender may use a different credit score when considering your application for credit.
Good – Excellent
Why we chose it: The U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card lets you pick two online retailers and one “everyday” category each quarter. During the quarter, you’ll earn 6% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined spending at your two selected retailers and 3% cash back on up to $1,500 spent in your everyday category.
Pros
- High cash back rate on two retailers of your choice each quarter
- Additional rewards on one everyday category of your choice
- 1.5% cash back on all non-category purchases
Cons
- $95 annual fee ($0 intro annual fee the first year)
- No extended warranty or purchase protection benefits
- Cash Rewards require $25 redemption minimum
Best Points Round Up Program: Citi Rewards+® Card
How we rate our cards Advertiser disclosure
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
18.74% – 28.74% variable
Intro Bonus
20,000 bonus points After spending $1,500 in the first 3 months of account openingBonus ThankYou® Points are not available if you have received a new account bonus for a Citi Rewards+® account in the past 48 months.
Credit Score
Credit ranges are derived from FICO® Score 8, which is one of many different types of credit scores. If you apply for a credit card, the lender may use a different credit score when considering your application for credit.
Good – Excellent
Why we chose it: If you want to earn points quickly, the Citi Rewards+® Card offers a unique Points Round Up benefit that can help you get there. Every rewards-earning purchase you make is automatically rounded up to the next 10 points. This means that a $2 purchase earns as many rewards as a $10 purchase, and a $12 purchase earns as many rewards as a $20 purchase. People who make regular small purchases at Amazon or Temu could earn a lot of extra rewards without even trying. Read our Citi Rewards+® Card review.
Pros
- Rewards rounded up to the nearest 10 points
- 10% points back when you redeem (up to 100,000 points redeemed annually)
- Can transfer points for premium travel redemptions
Cons
- Unexciting rewards rates
- Points can’t be redeemed for cash back
- ThankYou points can be difficult to manage across cards
Best Rotating Category Card: Discover it® Cash Back
How we rate our cards Advertiser disclosure
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
18.24% – 28.24% variable
Intro Bonus
Unlimited dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you earn at the end of your first year Discover matches all the cash back rewards you've earned on your credit card from the day your new account is approved through your first 12 consecutive billing periods or 365 days, whichever is longer, and adds it to your rewards account within two billing periods.
Credit Score
Credit ranges are derived from FICO® Score 8, which is one of many different types of credit scores. If you apply for a credit card, the lender may use a different credit score when considering your application for credit.
Good – Excellent
Why we chose it: The Discover it® Cash Back has historically offered cash back bonus categories for Amazon.com, Walmart.com, Target.com and digital wallet spending in the fourth quarter of the year. Typically, its most useful online shopping bonus categories match up well with the holiday shopping season. Read our Discover it® Cash Back review.
Pros
- Earns 5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent in activated, quarterly bonus categories (then 1%)
- First-year Cashback Match™ welcome bonus
- No annual fee
Cons
- Discover isn’t accepted everywhere
- Earns only 1% cash back on general purchases
- No purchase protection or extended warranty benefits
Best 2% Rewards: Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
How we rate our cards Advertiser disclosure
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
20.24%, 25.24% or 29.99% variable APR
Intro Bonus
$200 cash rewards After spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
Credit Score
Credit ranges are derived from FICO® Score 8, which is one of many different types of credit scores. If you apply for a credit card, the lender may use a different credit score when considering your application for credit.
Good – Excellent
Why we chose it: For many people, the simplicity of 2% cash rewards on purchases outweighs keeping track of spending in quarterly categories. If you want a flat rate of rewards everywhere, online and off, the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card is your best option. Read our Wells Fargo Active Cash Card review.
Pros
- 2% cash rewards on purchases
- Cellphone protection (subject to a $25 deductible)
- No annual fee
Cons
- No extended warranty or purchase protection benefits
- Redemption options are complicated
- 3% foreign transaction fee
Best for PayPal Checkout: PayPal Cashback Mastercard®
How we rate our cards Advertiser disclosure
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
20.24%, 29.24%, or 32.24% variable
Intro Bonus
None
Credit Score
Credit ranges are derived from FICO® Score 8, which is one of many different types of credit scores. If you apply for a credit card, the lender may use a different credit score when considering your application for credit.
Fair – Good
Why we chose it: With more and more online retailers accepting PayPal at checkout, the PayPal Cashback Mastercard® could give you the flexibility you need to earn cash back rewards on all kinds of online shopping. You’ll get unlimited 3% cash back on purchases made through your PayPal account, as well as 1.5% cash back on other purchases—with no annual fee and no limit on the rewards you can earn.
Pros
- Unlimited cash back rewards
- No annual fee
- Mastercard ID Theft Protection included
Cons
- Retailer must allow you to check out with PayPal to earn highest rewards
- Higher than average APR
Best for Small Businesses: Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Why we chose it: Freelancers and small business owners make online purchases too—and while there isn’t a top small business credit card that specifically rewards online spending, the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card comes pretty close. With unlimited 1.5% cash back rewards on all purchases, small business owners can use this flat-rate business credit card to get the most out of their online shopping. Read our Chase Ink Business Unlimited review.
Pros
- Unlimited cash back rewards
- No annual fee
- High-value welcome bonus offer
Cons
- Limited bonus rewards
- Limited benefits and perks
- Foreign transaction fee
A Closer Look at the Best Credit Cards for Online Shopping
Best Cash Back at U.S. Online Retailers: Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
Why we love this card: With the Blue Cash Everyday, American Express provides a single card you can use for cash back rewards on online spending at U.S. online retailers. That means you don’t have to carry one card for each of your favorite stores. The card also provides above-average rewards on spending at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations.
Who should have this in their wallet: Online shoppers who value cash back rewards should not only have the Blue Cash Everyday in their wallet, but the card should be their go-to choice for online shopping. The Amex Blue Cash Everyday offers the simplest cash back rewards for online shopping and will be more flexible than other cards if your shopping is concentrated around the holidays.
Other cards to consider: The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card might earn you slightly more rewards for online shopping—but at the cost of simplicity. The Customized Cash Rewards card has a quarterly cap of $2,500 in combined spending (then 1%) rather than an annual cap like the Blue Cash Everyday. If your online spending is spread out throughout the year, the Customized Cash Rewards card might be a better pick.
Best for Bank of America Customers: Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card
Why we love this card: The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card can earn you 3% cash back on online shopping (up to $2,500 in combined bonus category spending each quarter, then 1%). But what makes this card exciting is what happens when you increase your relationship with Bank of America. If you bring $100,000 in assets to the bank, you can get a 75% rewards bonus on your cash back, bumping your rate to 5.25% back on online shopping.
Who should have this in their wallet: A saver with plenty of assets they can bring to Bank of America or Merrill will earn the most with this card. Preferred Rewards tiers start with $20,000 of assets, although the best rewards start once you have $100,000 in assets with the bank. Both self-directed IRAs and brokerage accounts held with Merrill qualify.
Other cards to consider: If you don’t have assets to bring to Bank of America, consider the Amex Blue Cash Everyday. The Blue Cash Everyday earns 3% cash back, on up to $6,000 per year in U.S. online retail purchases (then 1%), plus cash back rewards at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations with the cash back received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed either as a statement credit or on Amazon.com at checkout.
Best for Amazon Shoppers: Prime Visa
Why we love this card: Some cards make you sacrifice valuable benefits to earn maximum rewards, but not the Amazon Prime Visa. With the Amazon Prime Visa, you’ll earn 5% cash back on your purchases at Amazon.com, and your purchases are protected by Chase’s excellent extended warranty benefit. The card has no annual fee, so there’s little reason why you’d use any other card for your Amazon spending.
Who should have this in their wallet: Almost anyone who pays for an Amazon Prime membership should get the Amazon Prime Visa. The card has no annual fee and earns 5% cash back at Amazon.com—a place where you’re likely spending a fair amount of money if you’re paying for Prime membership. Given that the card offers extended warranty and purchase protection perks, you’ll rarely want to use any other card for your Amazon purchases.
Other cards to consider: If you don’t have Amazon Prime, you can pick up the non-Prime Amazon Visa to earn 3% cash back at Amazon.com, Whole Foods, Amazon Fresh and on Chase Travel purchases—but we like the Amex Blue Cash Everyday better. With the Blue Cash Everyday, you’ll earn 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases, at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations. As long as you stay under the card’s $6,000 annual cap on rewards in each category (then 1% back), you’ll have a card that matches the rewards you can earn at Amazon brands and offers similar rewards for your other shopping.
Best for Target Shoppers: Target Circle™ Card
Why we love this card: The Target Circle Card offers a simple, no-hassle 5% discount on most items you buy at Target and Target.com. Coupled with free two-day shipping and no annual fee, and the Circle Card is hard to beat.
Who should have this in their wallet: Fans of Target should definitely have the Target Circle Card and use it for almost every Target purchase. The card has no annual fee and will give you an instant 5% discount on most items you buy from Target and Target.com. The only time you wouldn’t want to use the Target card is when you purchase an expensive item with a warranty—in those cases, use a card with a robust extended warranty benefit instead.
Other cards to consider: The Discover it® Cash Back and Chase Freedom Flex® both offer rotating bonus categories that frequently include Target, so you’ll usually earn 5% rewards at Target one quarter per year with these cards. The U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Visa Signature earns 6% cash back at two retailers you choose. Any of these cards would be good alternatives for Target shoppers who want a little more cash back flexibility—but keep in mind that each card caps its highest rewards at $1,500 in combined spending per quarter.
Best for Walmart Online Shoppers: Capital One Walmart Rewards Mastercard
Why we love this card: Many people do most of their online shopping at a single big-box store. If your most frequently visited online retailer is Walmart.com, having the Capital One Walmart Rewards Mastercard will earn you 5% cash back on purchases at Walmart.com.
Who should have this in their wallet: Walmart.com shoppers will get the most cash back by having the Capital One Walmart Rewards Mastercard in their wallet. Be aware that the 5% cash back offered by this card only applies to Walmart.com purchases—your in-store Walmart purchases will only earn 2% cash back.
Other cards to consider: If you only occasionally shop at Walmart.com, having the Blue Cash Everyday might be a better choice for you. Further, if you prefer a card that can earn you increased rewards on in-store Walmart purchases, you could pick up the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card and choose Walmart as one of your retailers.
All information about the Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard® has been collected independently by Newsweek Vault. The Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard® is no longer available through Newsweek Vault.
Best Cash Back at Retailers You Choose: U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card
Why we love this card: We love the fact that the list of select retailers where you can earn 6% cash back (on your first $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter) includes places you normally shop. We realize that the $95 annual fee ($0 intro annual fee the first year) means that this card isn’t for everybody, but if you normally shop at a few of the stores on the select retailer list, you can probably make back the annual fee in rewards.
Who should have this in their wallet: A calculating spender who enjoys maximizing cash back rewards will want to consider the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card. You’ll need to do the math to see if the higher rewards you can earn with the card are enough to justify its annual fee.
Other cards to consider: Many retailers in U.S. Bank’s list of select retailers offer their own credit cards you should consider if you’re looking for maximum rewards at those stores, such as the Target RedCard and Prime Visa.
Best Points Round Up Program: Citi Rewards+ Card
Why we love this card: The Citi Rewards+ Card offers something other cards don’t—the opportunity to round up your points on every purchase. When a $3 purchase earns as many points as a $10 purchase, your points could end up growing faster than you realize.
Who should have this in their wallet: People who do a lot of daily shopping on Amazon—especially people who make multiple small purchases and use Amazon Day delivery to consolidate them into a single package—could rack up a lot of Round Up rewards. Your Citi card could also be useful for other types of online shopping, such as renting movies, making in-game purchases and sending e-cards. These small transactions earn big rewards when you get to round them up!
Other cards to consider: If you like the idea of earning extra rewards for your everyday shopping, you may also want to consider the Discover it Cash Back card. Discover offers a unique Cashback Match program to new cardholders, doubling all of the cash back rewards they earn during the first year. While you’ll have to wait until the end of your first year as a cardholder to earn your Cashback Match rewards, they could turn out to be extremely valuable.
Best Rotating Category Card: Discover it Cash Back
Why we love this card: Rotating category cards like the Discover it Cash Back card increase your rewards on spending in their quarterly categories. The Discover it card becomes a go-to card when it includes online retailers like Target, Walmart and Amazon in its quarterly categories.
Who should have this in their wallet: Cash back maximizers who get some enjoyment out of the gamification of quarterly reward categories should hold the Discover it Cash Back. In any given quarter, the Discover it Cash Back is likely to earn more rewards than any other card on spending in its featured categories.
Other cards to consider: The Chase Freedom Flex is another rotating category card that should be in your wallet—though the Freedom Flex is likely to be slightly less useful for online shopping because categories like Target, Amazon and PayPal don’t usually show up in the fourth quarter.
Best 2% Rewards: Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
Why we love this card: The simplicity of earning 2% cash rewards on purchases—plus a few useful perks like a secondary auto rental collision damage waiver and cellphone protection (subject to a $25 deductible)—wins the Wells Fargo Active Cash a spot on our best online shopping credit card list. It’s a great go-to card for spending at places where other cards earn less than 2% rewards.
Who should have this in their wallet: Everyone should have a default card—a card that gets pulled out wherever you’re not earning rewards in a bonus category. The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card is probably the best choice for this default card.
Other cards to consider: The Citi Double Cash® Card earns up to 2% cash back on all purchases—1% cash back when you spend and 1% back when you pay—with no annual fee, but it lacks the Wells Fargo Active Cash’s cellphone protection benefit. Small-business owners wanting to earn 2% cash back should look at the Capital One Spark Cash Plus, which offers an uncapped 2% cash back on every purchase.
Best for PayPal Checkout: PayPal Cashback Mastercard
Why we love this card: PayPal is one of the most popular online wallets, so it makes sense that people who use PayPal at checkout should have the opportunity to earn rewards on their online shopping. The PayPal Cashback Mastercard gives you the opportunity to earn unlimited 3% cash back on all qualifying purchases made through your PayPal account, with no quarterly caps or category limitations. Plus, you’ll get 1.5% cash back on all other qualifying purchases, which means you can take your PayPal Cashback Mastercard to the grocery store or the gas station without having to worry that you’re leaving rewards on the table.
Who should have this in their wallet: If you use PayPal for the majority of your online transactions, it makes sense to consider the PayPal Cashback Mastercard. Even if you only use PayPal occasionally, the card’s unlimited high-value rewards could prompt you to check out with PayPal more often!
Other cards to consider: Amazon doesn’t allow you to check out with PayPal, so you may want to consider combining the PayPal Cashback Mastercard with the Amazon Prime Visa. That way, you can earn 5% back when you use the Prime Visa at Amazon, and 3% cash back when you use the PayPal Cashback Mastercard to check out with PayPal at other retailers.
Best for Small Businesses: Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card
Why we love this card: Small business owners and busy freelancers who do a lot of online shopping deserve to earn the highest rewards possible for their purchases—and the Ink Business Unlimited card is one way to ensure you get high levels of cash back every time you shop.
Who should have this in their wallet: The Ink Business Unlimited card is best for freelancers and small business owners who are running businesses out of their home and do the majority of their purchasing online. Business owners who have a storefront or run larger-scale businesses may want to consider other options.
Other cards to consider: If you run a slightly larger business, consider upgrading to the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card. This card may only earn 1% cash back on online shopping, depending on the category of purchase—but you’ll have the opportunity to earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services per anniversary year (then 1%), which could be more valuable to your growing business. Plus, you can earn bonus cash back rewards on other popular spending categories such as gas stations and restaurants.
Simply processing a credit card charge through a website doesn’t guarantee you’ll earn rewards for online shopping. Which transactions are eligible for rewards, including the increased rewards you can get from the best online shopping credit cards, are determined by the merchant category codes used to process your transaction.
Some types of online spending may not earn rewards because they’re not coded as shopping. Person-to-person payments made with a credit card, donations to organizations, purchases of cash equivalents and online gambling are all examples of transactions that likely will not be considered online shopping. In most cases, when you’re purchasing an item online from a major retailer, you’ll earn the rewards you expect.
What Is A Credit Card for Online Shopping and How Does It Work?
An online shopping credit card might offer increased rewards at a specific retailer, a select group of online stores or at a broad category like U.S. online retail stores. Some cards also offer useful benefits for online shoppers like access to deals, free shipping or perks like extended warranty protection.
Using a credit card for online shopping is a smart move; credit cards have built-in fraud protection and most major banks offer zero-liability protection against fraudulent purchases.
Getting a credit card for online shopping is similar to getting a card for your day-to-day purchases. You’ll be required to pass a credit check and, upon approval, a bank will issue you a credit card with a credit line that matches its assessment of your creditworthiness.
Pros and Cons of Online Shopping Credit Cards
Pros
- Earn more rewards at your favorite online retailers
- Receive perks and bonuses only available to cardholders
- Increase the security of your online shopping
Cons
- Rewards may be limited to certain retailers or brands
- Redemption may be limited to certain retailers or brands
- Interest rates may be higher than other types of reward credit cards
The best online shopping credit card for you depends on where you shop, how much you spend and the types of things you purchase. Here’s what you should consider.
Where You Shop Online
Probably the biggest factor in choosing a credit card for online shopping will be where you typically shop online. Online superstores like Amazon, Target.com and Walmart.com all offer their own credit cards that earn you 5% rewards on eligible purchases. If you shop with smaller, specialty merchants, you might prefer a card like the Amex Blue Cash Everyday thanks to its rewards for spending with U.S. online retailers. And if you spend enough at U.S. Bank’s list of select merchants, you might do well with the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card.
How Much You Spend Online
Many online shopping credit cards cap what you can spend before your rewards drop to a lower earning rate. For example, the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card lets you earn 6% cash back on two chosen retailers until you spend $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter, after which purchases earn 1.5% cash back. The Amex Blue Cash Everyday’s 3% cash back rewards rate on U.S. Online Retail purchases only applies to the first $6,000 in yearly spending (then 1% back).
What Types of Things You Purchase Online
If you’re purchasing clothes, household supplies or gifts online, earning the most cash back rewards might be your primary concern. But if you’re purchasing expensive electronics or other durable goods, an extended warranty benefit might be more beneficial than an extra percentage or two of cash back. Many cards that offer exceptionally generous cash back on online purchases don’t have an extended warranty benefit. In some cases, you may wish to forego cash back for the additional protection.
Alternative Options to Online Shopping Credit Cards
Flat Rate Cash Back Credit Cards
Chase Freedom Unlimited®: With a minimum of an unlimited 1.5% cash back earned on all purchases—plus a few opportunities to earn bonus cash back rewards—this card is a good option for people who spend money at a lot of different places. No annual fee makes this card even more attractive to shoppers.
Citi Double Cash® Card: This card offers 1% cash back on purchases with another 1% cash back as you pay off those purchases. It’s a great option for people who are motivated to pay off their credit cards quickly, and could save you a lot of money by helping you avoid credit card debt.
Travel Credit Cards
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: While this may not be the best card for your online shopping, any rewards you earn can be increased by 25% when you redeem them for travel through Chase Travel. Transferring your rewards to a Chase hotel or airline partner could offer even more value.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: This is essentially a flat-rate rewards card with special perks for frequent travelers, making it a good choice for people who want to earn miles on everything they buy and use those miles to save money on their next trip.
Balance Transfer Credit Cards
Wells Fargo Reflect® Card: This card offers 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 21 months, followed by a variable APR of 18.24%, 24.74% or 29.99%. That’s nearly two years during which you can use the card to pay off old debt and fund new purchases—including online shopping purchases.
U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card: This card also offers 21 months of 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers, followed by a variable APR of 18.74% to 29.74%. It’s an excellent choice for people working on debt consolidation and could help you get your finances back on track.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Card Type Is Best for Online Shopping?
A credit card that offers rewards is typically the best type of card for online shopping. Debit cards, prepaid cards and gift cards do not offer the fraud protections of credit cards, and none of these other types of cards are likely to earn significant rewards or offer benefits like extended warranty.
Is It OK To Buy Things Online With a Debit Card?
While you can use a debit card to buy things online, it’s usually better to use a credit card. When you pay with a credit card, you have built-in protections against fraud. You also have additional time to pay because of your card’s mandated grace period. With a debit card, funds are typically withdrawn from your account when a transaction is processed.
How Do I Protect Myself When Shopping Online?
You can protect yourself online by being skeptical about who or what you’re giving your information to. Buying from reputable merchants you trust can help protect your personal information. Understand that a too-good-to-be-true deal from an unknown merchant might be an attempt to collect your personal information. You should also always use a credit card when shopping online, as credit cards offer more protection against fraud than other payment methods.
Newsweek writer Nicole Dieker contributed to this post.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
