We are an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. Our
goal is to help you make smarter financial decisions by providing you
with interactive tools and financial calculators, publishing original
and objective content, by enabling you to conduct research and compare
information for free - so that you can make financial decisions with
confidence.
Bankrate has partnerships with issuers including, but not limited to,
American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and
Discover.
Rebekah is an Editor II on the Bankrate credit cards education team. She loves sharing educational insight with those who are looking to learn more about their personal finances.
Bankrate is always editorially independent.
While we adhere to strict
,
this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an
explanation for
.
The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of
the offers mentioned may have expired.
Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Any opinions, analyses, reviews
or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone,
and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.
Our
is to ensure everything we publish is objective, accurate and trustworthy.
The Bankrate promise
At Bankrate, we have a mission to demystify the credit cards industry — regardless or where you are in your journey — and make it one
you can navigate with confidence. Our team is full of a diverse range of experts from credit card pros to data analysts and, most importantly,
people who shop for credit cards just like you. With this combination of expertise and perspectives, we keep close tabs on the credit
card industry year-round to:
Meet you wherever you are in your credit card journey to guide your information search and help you understand your options.
Consistently provide up-to-date, reliable market information so you're well-equipped to make confident decisions.
Reduce industry jargon so you get the clearest form of information possible, so you can make the right decision for you.
At Bankrate, we focus on the points consumers care about most: rewards, welcome offers and bonuses, APR, and overall customer experience.
Any issuers discussed on our site are vetted based on the value they provide to consumers at each of these levels. At each step of the way,
we fact-check ourselves to prioritize accuracy so we can continue to be here for your every next.
Editorial integrity
Bankrate follows a strict editorial policy, so you can trust that we’re putting your interests first.
Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right
financial decisions.
Key Principles
We value your trust. Our mission is to provide readers with accurate and unbiased information, and we have
editorial standards in place to ensure that happens. Our editors and reporters thoroughly fact-check editorial
content to ensure the information you’re reading is accurate. We maintain a firewall between our advertisers and
our editorial team. Our editorial team does not receive direct compensation from our advertisers.
Editorial Independence
Bankrate’s editorial team writes on behalf of YOU – the reader. Our goal is to give you the best advice to help you
make smart personal finance decisions. We follow strict guidelines to ensure that our editorial content is not influenced
by advertisers. Our editorial team receives no direct compensation from advertisers, and our content is thoroughly fact-checked
to ensure accuracy. So, whether you’re reading an article or a review, you can trust that you’re getting credible and
dependable information.
How we make money
You have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master
your money for over four decades.
We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to
succeed throughout life’s financial journey.
Bankrate follows a strict
editorial policy,
so you can trust that our content is honest and accurate. Our award-winning editors and
reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial
decisions. The content created by our editorial
staff is objective, factual, and not influenced by our advertisers.
We’re transparent about how we are able to bring quality content, competitive rates, and
useful tools to you by explaining how we make money.
Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison
service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and
services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore,
this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within
listing categories, except where prohibited by law for our mortgage, home equity
and other home lending products. Other factors, such as our own proprietary
website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your
self-selected credit score range, can also impact how and where products appear
on this site. While we strive to provide a wide range of offers, Bankrate does not
include information about every financial or credit product or service.
The best credit cards for online shopping let you buy whatever you need from the comfort of your home, allowing you to avoid crowds and save time. These cards can offer substantial bonuses for shopping online or through portals, providing maximum returns on your spending. To find the best card for your needs, consider where and how you shop to see which card will give you the most in return.
Comparing the best credit cards for online shopping
The best credit cards for shopping online let you earn rewards on your spending while providing additional perks. Here are some of our top choices for your online shopping needs.
5% cash back on Instacart purchases (excluding powered by Uber Eats) and Chase Travel
$50 Instacart credit automatically upon approval
4.1
Top credit cards for online shopping
Best for Amazon.com purchases
Prime Visa
Rating: 4.1 stars out of 5
4.1
The Prime Visa is ideal for Amazon.com purchases but also earns top rates at Whole Foods Market and Chase Travel portal bookings with an eligible Prime membership. Upon card approval, you’ll also get a $150 Amazon.com gift card instantly. Amazon.com sells practically everything, making the return from this card even stronger. You’ll also access even higher reward rates on select items during Prime shopping events. While this card doesn’t have an annual fee, you will need an Amazon Prime member to qualify (annual Prime membership costs $139).
Pros
The card earns excellent rewards rates on Amazon.com, Whole Foods and Chase Travel purchases.
You can save over 10 percent during Amazon’s featured online shopping events.
Cons
Although it’s a no-fee card, the required Prime membership can be costly if you don’t shop regularly at Amazon.
You can earn much more valuable welcome bonuses with other cards.
Best for flexibility
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
Rating: 4.1 stars out of 5
4.1
The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards card lets you pick your top-earning category (up to $2,500 in combined spending each quarter between the 3 percent and 2 percent categories, 1 percent back after). You can choose online shopping, which covers plenty of purchases. You’ll also get a decent welcome bonus and a lengthy intro APR offer to provide additional initial value. If you have status in the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program, you can earn a boost of up to 75 percent on purchases, giving you the potential to earn as high as 5.25 percent cash back on your online purchases.
Pros
Having Preferred Rewards status can substantially boost this card’s earning rates.
The list of categories to choose from each quarter is extensive.
Cons
The $2,500 quarterly cap limits the card’s earning potential.
Redemption options are limited to cash back and statement credits.
Best for everyday spending
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Rating: 4.6 stars out of 5
4.6
The no-annual-fee Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is one of the best for everyday spending, both in-person and online. The card offers top earning rates in numerous categories, including a rare bonus category for U.S. online retailers (up to $6,000 annually, then 1 percent). Combining these features with a lengthy intro APR offer and an easy-to-earn welcome bonus, the Blue Cash Everyday is an excellent choice for a standalone card.
Pros
The U.S. online retail category covers just about any online purchase.
You can get substantial initial and ongoing value using this card for most of your everyday spending.
Cons
Bigger spenders may run into spending caps later in the year when online shopping tends to be more popular.
Redemption options are limited compared to other Membership Rewards-earning cards.
Best for rotating categories
Discover it® Cash Back
Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5
4.4
The Discover it® Cash Back earns 5 percent cash back on rotating categories when activated, each quarter (up to $1,500 in purchases, then 1 percent). During the holidays, online shopping merchants are often a common category option. For example, during this holiday quarter, the Discover Cashback Calendar features Amazon and Target purchases as its bonus categories.
Additionally, Discover will match all cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year and offers an excellent intro APR on purchases and balance transfers, providing outstanding initial value for a no-annual-fee card.
Pros
Rotating categories provide top rewards that often align with seasonal spending needs.
Holiday categories often feature prominent online shopping options.
Cons
The quarterly spending cap may be fairly low for some spenders.
You may have quarterly categories that you won’t spend much in.
Best for online travel purchases
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
5
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card currently offers solid incentives for online travel purchases, earning 5X points on travel booked through Chase Travel™ and 2X points on general travel purchases. You’ll also get an excellent welcome offer and $300 in statement credits toward Chase Travel purchases in your first year.
Chase Ultimate Rewards has various redemption options, including transfers to Chase airline and hotel partners. You’ll also get a 25 percent points boost when booking through Chase Travel and a 10 percent anniversary bonus boost.
Pros
The card offers excellent value and incentives to book travel through Chase Travel.
You can pool Ultimate Rewards from multiple cards for added value and flexibility.
Cons
The $95 annual fee may not work for infrequent travelers.
Other online shopping purchases outside of travel and groceries only earn 1X points.
Best for online grocery purchases
Instacart Mastercard®
Rating: 4.1 stars out of 5
4.1
The Instacart Mastercard offers a high cash back rate on Instacart purchases. The card can offer solid rewards if you do most of your grocery shopping online with Instacart or its mobile app. After all, the app offers delivery from more than 1,400 retailers across the U.S. You’ll get a $50 Instacart credit upon approval and many of Chase’s solid travel protections, a rare find for a no-annual-fee card.
Pros
The card’s earning rates can easily offset potential markups or delivery fees.
You’ll get many of Chase’s top-level travel protections with this card. Cons
Cons
You’ll need to pay attention to additional fees and product upcharges.
Online grocery shopping may not be ideal for you if you’re picky about items like produce.
How to choose the best credit cards for online shopping
Shopping online can cover many categories and rewards, meaning many rewards credit cards can provide different benefits. When searching for the ideal credit card for your online shopping needs, consider these points to help you choose.
Examine your shopping habits. Figure out which stores or websites you spend the most when shopping online. You can narrow your search to cards offering the most rewards to the merchants and categories you shop most.
Choose a card with the type of rewards you want to earn. You’ll need to decide whether you want cash back, travel rewards points or benefits and discounts related to specific stores.
Compare perks and features. See what other benefits the cards you’re considering offer. The welcome offer is a good place to start. Then, examine whether there are any recurring benefits like statement credits, additional perks like trip insurance or high-value transfer partners.
Decide if paying an annual fee is worth the cost. Evaluate how much the benefits and reward rates of a card with an annual fee are worth and determine whether you can justify the cost. If you use the benefits offered or shop frequently in the elevated bonus categories, you can come out ahead. But you’ll want to revisit this formula regularly to determine whether the ongoing value remains.
In addition to choosing the right credit card for online shopping, there are many other ways to maximize your rewards. Consider these options to stack additional points or savings onto your online purchases.
Shopping portals: Before you shop online, consider going through a shopping portal. You’ll find portals that will earn cash back, airline miles or other rewards that will stack onto your purchase based on your spending. You can earn these rewards in addition to any rewards earned on your credit card. Every website offers different bonuses for shopping through a portal. For example, you might find a site that offers 3 points per dollar spent at a specific site. Sites like Cashback Monitor can help you search and compare which sites offer the highest rewards.
Card-linked offers: Many credit card issuers have card-linked offers you can activate before shopping at a site or in-store. They usually come with terms like “spend $50, get $10 back” or “earn an extra 3X points per dollar up to $100 spent.” You can utilize these savings or extra points on top of any rewards earned or shopping portals you shop through.
Loyalty programs: If you frequently shop with a retailer that offers a loyalty program, you should join it. You’ll often get an email coupon for a decent discount when signing up. It’s almost always free to join, and you can get extra incentives like bonus rewards and discounts, milestone rewards or birthday gifts.
Bankrate Insight
The holiday season is one of the most popular times of year for online shopping. If you anticipate higher spending during this time of year, consider one of our choices for the best credit card bonuses to get substantial returns on your elevated spending. You can also learn how to get the most out of your credit card rewards from our experts.
Frequently asked questions
Store credit cards can often be worth it if you shop frequently at that particular retailer and it offers the same rewards or better for shopping through its website. Evaluate your spending habits and compare the rewards offered to what you could earn with cards that provide more flexibility to see if they deserve a spot in your wallet.
Store credit cards can often be worth it if you shop frequently at that particular retailer and it offers the same rewards or better for shopping through its website. Evaluate your spending habits and compare the rewards offered to what you could earn with cards that provide more flexibility to see if they deserve a spot in your wallet.
Not every purchase will qualify as online shopping, although issuers classify it differently. Usually, paying bills and utilities online won’t earn online shopping bonuses. You may also want to check streaming purchases, as those often fall into a separate category.
What’s next?
Check out these Bankrate tools to match your next card.
The best credit cards for online shopping provide elevated rewards for your online purchases. Some also offer generous welcome bonuses, intro APR offers and other valuable perks and benefits. You can often find additional ways to stack extra rewards on top of these bonus earnings. Plus, you’ll get maximum protection against fraudulent purchases when you shop online with a credit card instead of a debit card. However, it’s essential to remember your spending habits as you look for the card that works best for you.
*The information about the Instacart Mastercard® and Prime Visa have been collected independently by Bankrate. These cards’ details have not been reviewed or approved by the issuer.
Quick citation guide
Select a citation to automatically copy to clipboard.
APA:
Flanigan, R. (2024, November 06). Best credit cards for online shopping. Bankrate. Retrieved December 02, 2024, from https://www.bankrate.com/credit-cards/rewards/best-credit-cards-for-online-shopping/
Copied to clipboard!
MLA:
Flanigan, Ryan. "Best credit cards for online shopping." Bankrate. 06 November 2024, https://www.bankrate.com/credit-cards/rewards/best-credit-cards-for-online-shopping/.
Copied to clipboard!
Chicago:
Flanigan, Ryan. "Best credit cards for online shopping." Bankrate. November 06, 2024. https://www.bankrate.com/credit-cards/rewards/best-credit-cards-for-online-shopping/.
