The Best Credit Cards for Online Shopping of 2022
source link: https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/best-credit-cards-for-online-shopping
Go to the source link to view the article. You can view the picture content, updated content and better typesetting reading experience. If the link is broken, please click the button below to view the snapshot at that time.
The best credit cards for online shopping: Earn bonus rewards with PayPal and at Amazon, Costco.com, and other popular retailers
Insider's experts choose the best products and services to help make smart decisions with your money (here’s how). In some cases, we receive a commission from our 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 right card — and by taking advantage of online shopping portals and other deals like Amex Offers** — you can rake in the rewards on these purchases.
-
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
-
Citi® Double Cash Card
-
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
-
Discover it® Cash Back
-
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
We're focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won't be worth it if you're paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it's important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
Best for cash back on US online retail purchases: Amex Blue Cash Everyday
- Good bonus cash-back rate at US supermarkets
- No annual fee
- If you spend more than $6,000 at US supermarkets in a year, you should use another card to earn bonus rewards once you hit that cap
- Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
- No Annual Fee.
- Balance Transfer is back! Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening. After that, 16.24% to 27.24% variable APR.
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%.
- New! 3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
- Get $7 back each month after using your Blue Cash Everyday® Card to spend $13.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription to The Disney Bundle, which includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. Enrollment required.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Best for 2% cash rewards on everything: Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
- Good welcome bonus for a $0 annual fee card
- Straightforward 2% cash rewards on purchases with no categories to track
- Strong benefits including cell phone protection, Visa Signature perks, and a 0% intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 15 months from account opening (then 17.24%, 22.24%, or 27.24% Variable APR)
- If you've opened a Wells Fargo card in the past 15 months, you may not be eligible for the bonus or intro APR offer
- Foreign transaction fees
- Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
- 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, then a 17.24%, 22.24%, or 27.24% variable APR; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5
- $0 annual fee
- No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don't expire as long as your account remains open
- Enjoy a premium collection of benefits at a selection of the world's most intriguing and prestigious hotel properties with Visa Signature Concierge
- Get up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft when you pay your monthly cell phone bill with your eligible Wells Fargo card. (subject to a $25 deductible).
- Select "Apply Now" to learn more about the product features, terms and conditions
Best for 2% cash back with a long intro APR: Citi Double Cash Card
- No annual fee
- Simple earning structure without confusing bonus categories
- Some cards earn higher rates of cash back on rotating categories
- While it offers a 0% introductory APR for 18 months, that's only on balance transfers, not purchases, so you can't use it to fund a major expense without interest. After those 18 months, it's a 16.24% - 26.24% (Variable) APR.
- Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
- For a limited time, earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening.
- Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 16.24% - 26.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
- If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
- There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Best for Amazon and Whole Foods purchases: Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card
- 5% cash back at Amazon and Whole Foods is hard to beat
- Earns 2% cash back on other popular categories (restaurants, gas stations, drugstores)
- No annual fee (though you have to be an Amazon Prime member)
- Other cards offer higher cash-back rates on non-Amazon purchases
- The information related to the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card has been collected by Business Insider and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
- 5% Back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market with an eligible Prime membership*
- 2% Back at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores
- 1% Back on all other purchases
- No annual credit card fee
- No foreign transaction fees
Best for Costco.com purchases: Costco Visa
- Generous cash-back categories, especially for gas purchases
- No foreign transaction fee
- You can only receive rewards once per year
- You need to visit a Costco location to redeem rewards for cash back instead of merchandise
- Discover one of Citi's best cash back rewards cards designed exclusively for Costco members
- 4% cash back on eligible gas for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter
- 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases
- 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- No annual fee with your paid Costco membership and enjoy no foreign transaction fees on purchases
- Receive an annual credit card reward certificate, which is redeemable for cash or merchandise at U.S. Costco warehouses, including Puerto Rico
Best for choosing your own bonus category: Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards
- No annual fee
- Broad 2% and 3% cash-back categories
- 2% and 3% cash-back categories capped at $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter
- The information related to the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card has been collected by Business Insider and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
- Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after you spend $1,000 on purchases within 90 days of account opening
- Earn 3% back in a category of your choosing among gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement/furnishings, 2% back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs and 1% back on other purchases; bonus rewards in 3% and 2% categories are capped on the first $2,500 spent each quarter, after which you’ll earn 1%
- No annual fee
- Redeem rewards for cash back, statement credits, or a transfer to eligible Bank of America or Merrill accounts
Best for PayPal: Discover it Cash Back
- From July 1 to September 30, 2022, you can earn 5% cash back at restaurants and PayPal on up to $1,500 in purchases after enrollment, then 1%
- Discover will match your cash back earned at the end of your first account year
- No annual fee
- Cap on how much bonus cash back you can earn each quarter
- If the quarterly categories aren't convenient for you, you can earn more cash back with a different card
- Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match - only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year! There's no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and when you pay using PayPal, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically.
- New! Discover helps remove your personal information from select people-search websites. Activate by mobile app for free.
- Every $1 you earn in cash back is $1 you can redeem.
- Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 14.24% to 25.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
- No annual fee.
- Click "Apply Now" to see terms and conditions.
Best for office supplies: Chase Ink Cash
- Broad 5% and 2% cash-back categories (you can earn bonus cash back at office supply stores and at gas stations and restaurants)
- Intro APR offer for purchases
- No annual fee
- You can pair this card with a card that earns Ultimate Rewards to redeem your cash back for travel
- Annual cap on bonus categories
- Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year
- Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
- With Fraud Protection your card transactions will be monitored for possible signs of fraudulent activity using real-time fraud monitoring
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information
- No Annual Fee
- Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
Best for purchase protection: Amex Gold
- Great rewards for dining and for shopping at US supermarkets
- Monthly statement credit for eligible dining purchases recoups some of the annual fee
- Underwhelming welcome bonus
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® Points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
- Updated $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
- Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $250.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Compare the best credit cards for online shopping
Amex Blue Cash Everyday card
Amex recently refreshed the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express 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 and US supermarkets, with the same spending limits. All other purchases earn 1% cash back (cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars).
New cardholders also receive a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from account opening, followed by a 16.24% - 27.24% Variable APR. This is handy for times when you might not be able to pay off all your purchases at once, like over the holidays.
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.
Review: Amex Blue Cash Everyday review
Wells Fargo Active Cash card
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card 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: $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
New cardholders also qualify for a 0% intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 15 months from account opening (then a 17.24%, 22.24%, or 27.24% Variable), 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.
Review: Wells Fargo Active Cash card review
Citi Double Cash Card
The Citi Double Cash 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.
There's a limited-time welcome bonus of $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening, and new cardholders receive a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, followed by a 16.24% - 26.24% Variable 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.
Review: Citi Double Cash card review
Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature card
If you want a card that offers bonus rewards on Amazon purchases, the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card is a solid choice. It offers a welcome bonus of $100 Amazon gift card instantly upon approval, and cardholders earn 5% back on Amazon and Whole Foods 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 drugstores, 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.
Review: Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature credit card review
Costco Visa card
For Costco members who shop with the big-box retailer online, the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi 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 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.
Review: Costco Anywhere Visa credit card review
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card
The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card 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 Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card, your best bet would be to only use it for online shopping and put grocery store and wholesale club purchases on another card.
Review: Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card review
Discover it Cash Back card
The Discover it® Cash Back 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 (from July 1 to September 30, 2022, you can earn 5% cash back at restaurants and PayPal on up to $1,500 in purchases after enrollment, then 1%).
For Q3 2022 (July to September), this card is particularly lucrative for online shoppers because PayPal is a bonus category. Most popular online merchants accept PayPal as a payment method, so this bonus is easy to maximize. This no-annual-fee card also offers a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, followed by a 14.24% - 25.24% Variable APR.
Review: Discover it Cash Back card review
Chase Ink Cash
If you're a freelancer or a small business owner, the Ink Business Cash card is a great option for earning cash back on office supplies. You'll earn 5% 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 Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, you can move over rewards from the Ink Business Cash card and unlock more redemption options.
Review: Ink Business Cash card review
Amex Gold card
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 American Express® Gold Card 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 Amex Gold Card also adds up to one additional year to eligible US manufacturer's warranties of five years or less.
Review: American Express Gold card review
The American Express® Gold Card is one of three cards in the "Amex Trifecta" — along with The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express. This card combination can help you earn maximum rewards for every purchase you make.
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 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 in order to be eligible for cash back or bonus points.
Chase Offers work similarly; if you have a Chase card like the Chase Freedom Unlimited® or the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, 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, 10% back at Starbucks or Office Depot.
Top Offers From Our Partners
Earn up to 10X the national average APY with a new checking, savings or CD account.
For rates and fees of The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, please click here.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, please click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, please click here.
**Enrollment required.
For rates and fees of Discover it® Cash Back, please click here.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Trip Delay Insurance, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance, and Cell Phone Protection Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. Global Assist Hotline Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. If approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, Card Members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. Extended Warranty, Purchase Protection, and Baggage Insurance Plan Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
Recommend
About Joyk
Aggregate valuable and interesting links.
Joyk means Joy of geeK