Best Credit Cards for Online Shopping of [current_month_year] (2024)

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

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Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card

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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

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Prime Visa

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Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

19.49% – 27.49% variable

Intro Bonus

$100 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 RedCard™

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Target RedCard™

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See Also

Understanding Roth IRA Limits and Conversion Strategies - SummitryBest Citi Credit Cards of June 2024 | The Motley FoolIs Anybody in Charge of Airbnb Safety? - NerdWalletHow to Roll Over Your Retirement Account When You Switch Jobs

Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

29.95% 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.

Good – Excellent

Why we chose it: With the Target RedCard, 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

The information about the Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard® has been collected independently by Newsweek Vault. The issuer did not provide the content, nor is it responsible for its accuracy.

Best Cash Back at Retailers You Choose: U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card

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U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card

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Annual Fee

$0 intro annual fee the first year

$95

Regular APR

Cash Advance APR: 29.99%, variable

19.74%-29.74% variable

Intro Bonus

Get a $250 bonus after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening. And enjoy $0 intro annual fee the first year ($95/year thereafter).

$250 bonus and $0 intro annual fee

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 Extended Warranty: Citi Rewards+® Card

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Citi Rewards+® Card

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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: Sometimes a card’s benefits are more important than its rewards, especially when you’re purchasing expensive electronics or other items. The Citi Rewards+ Card offers two additional years of warranty protection on eligible items—protection that some may be happy to sacrifice some cash back for. Read our Citi Rewards+® Card review.

Pros

• 24-month extended warranty benefit
• 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

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Discover it® Cash Back

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Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

17.24% – 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

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Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

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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

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 and max out once you hold $100,000 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.

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 RedCard

Why we love this card: The Target RedCard 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 RedCard is hard to beat.

Who should have this in their wallet: Fans of Target should definitely have the Target RedCard 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 but caps its rewards at $1,500 in combined purchases each 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.

The information about the Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard® has been collected independently by Newsweek Vault. The issuer did not provide the content, nor is it responsible for its accuracy.

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 Extended Warranty: Citi Rewards+ Card

Why we love this card: The Citi Rewards+ Card offers something other cards don’t—an extended warranty benefit that gives you an additional 24 months of warranty on eligible items. Many other cards only double the original manufacturer’s warranty up to an additional year.

Who should have this in their wallet: Are you a high-end electronics enthusiast, Macbook-toting professional or cook who enjoys premium kitchen gadgets? If you purchase expensive items online and can make use of an extra 24 months of extended warranty protection, you should have this card in your wallet. Use the Rewards+ to purchase items where having an extended warranty matters and leave it at home for everyday spending—the card doesn’t offer compelling rewards.

Other cards to consider: The Citi Rewards+ Card has no equal that we know of. Most other Citi cards don’t offer extended warranty benefits, and other issuers don’t offer a 24-month extended warranty. The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a good compromise if you’re looking for a card that offers a good combination of rewards on everyday spending and a good extended warranty benefit.

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.

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.

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.

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.