Best credit cards for shopping in 2023
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A credit card that earns rewards for shopping can lighten the load of your spending and even give you money back. Plus, shopping rewards credit cards often offer other great shopping perks like purchase protection for eligible items in the event that what you bought gets lost, damaged or stolen.
Here, we’ll take a look at the best credit cards for all types of shopping — focusing on online shopping, grocery shopping, and retail and department store shopping — so you can choose the best card to complement the way you spend.
Compare the best cards for shopping
Card | Best for | Bankrate Score | Welcome Bonus | Annual Fee | Purchase Protection |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card | Best online shopping card for reaping rewards | 4.3 | $200 online cash rewards after spending $1,000 within the first 90 days of account opening | $0 | x |
Citi® Double Cash Card | Best online shopping card for earning as you pay | 4.2 | None | $0 | — |
Discover it® Cash Back | Best online shopping card for seasonal spending | 4.4 | First-year Cashback Match | $0 | — |
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express | Best grocery card for overall rewards | 4.4 | $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases in the first 6 months | $0 first year, then $95 | x |
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card | Best grocery card for foodies | 4.9 | $200 cash bonus after spending $1,000 within 3 months of account opening | $0 | x |
Chase Freedom Unlimited® | Best purchase protection card for everyday spenders | 5.0 | Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on top of all purchases’ original rate (on up to $20,000) for the first year (exclusive Bankrate offer) | $0 | x |
Chase Sapphire Reserve® | Best purchase protection for globe-trotting shoppers | 5.0 | 60,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months | $550 | x |
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card | Best department store card for rotating categories | 3.2 | $200 bonus after spending $1,000 within the first 120 days of account opening | $0 | x |
Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card* | Best online shopping card for Amazon, Amazon Prime and Whole Foods | 4.2 | Amazon gift card up to $150 | $0 ($139 Prime membership required) | x |
Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard®* | Best for Walmart and Walmart.com shoppers | 4.0 | Earn 5% cash back in Walmart stores for the first 12 months when you use Walmart Pay | $0 | – |
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card | Best flat-rate cash rewards card | 4.3 | $200 cash rewards after spending $500 in first 3 months | $0 | – |
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card: Best online shopping card for reaping rewards
- Welcome bonus: $200 in online cash rewards after you make $1,000 in purchases during the first 90 days of account opening
- Rewards rate: 3 percent cash back in the category of your choice (gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drugstores or home improvement); 2 percent cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (2 percent and 3 percent categories limited to $2,500 in combined spending each quarter, then 1 percent back); 1 percent cash back on everything else
- Annual fee: $0
The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card is one of our top picks for the best online shopping credit cards as it offers a comprehensive selection of retailers in its online shopping category. Instead of just the usual Amazon.com, Walmart.com and Target.com rewards, you can earn rewards on a wide range of websites, including specialty merchants like Etsy.com, Nike.com, Apple.com, Nordstrom.com and Bestbuy.com, among others.
The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card also lets you choose your highest earning categories and switch them monthly. If you don’t want to earn your 3 percent back on online shopping one month, you can swap that category out for one of the other eligible categories. Keep in mind there’s a $2,500 quarterly spending cap on combined spending in 2 and 3 percent categories.
Additionally, the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card doesn’t charge an annual fee, offers some purchase protection and the $200 cash rewards bonus (earned after you spend $1,000 during the first 90 days of account opening) is a pretty significant welcome offer compared to other mid-tier cash back cards.
The information about the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card was last updated on Jan. 17, 2023.
Citi Double Cash Card: Best online shopping card for earning as you pay
- Welcome bonus: N/A
- Rewards rate: 2 percent cash back — 1 percent back when you make purchases and an additional 1 percent back as you pay for your purchases
- Annual fee: $0
Need a little help making sure you pay off all your shopping purchases in full each month? The Citi Double Cash Card should probably be your pick. For no annual fee, the card earns an unlimited 1 percent cash back on all purchases when you make them — and an additional 1 percent back on your purchases when you pay them off each month.
If you already have credit card debt from shopping, the Citi Double Cash can also serve as a balance transfer card with its 18-month 0 percent introductory APR offer on balance transfers (18.99 percent to 28.9 percent variable APR after that). To take advantage of this offer, you must transfer your balance within four months from account opening. It should also be noted that there’s an intro balance transfer fee of $5 or 3 percent of each transfer (whichever is greater) on transfers completed within the first four months.
Discover it Cash Back: Best online shopping card for seasonal spending
- Welcome bonus: All cash back earned within the first 12 months will be automatically matched
- Rewards rate: 5 percent cash back on quarterly rotating categories after activation (on up to $1,500 in purchases per quarter, then 1 percent); 1 percent cash back on all other purchases
- Annual fee: $0
If your online shopping is heavier during certain seasons (like around the holidays), the Discover it Cash Back is a useful card with good shopper advantages. Earn 5 percent cash back after activation (on up to $1,500 in combined purchases, then 1 percent) at major online retailers, and if you’re a new cardholder, all the cash rewards you’ll collect during your first year will be matched on your first card anniversary.
To get an idea of where your rewards will add up, Discover’s quarterly categories for 2022 have included grocery stores, fitness clubs and memberships, gas stations, Target and restaurants. From January to March 2023 (Q1), the quarterly categories are grocery stores, drug stores and select streaming services.
A competitive alternative to the Discover it Cash Back, the Chase Freedom Flex℠, might be worth considering instead. The Chase Freedom Flex offers 5 percent cash back on activated bonus category purchases each quarter (on up to $1,500 in purchases, then 1 percent), 5 percent cash back on Chase Ultimate Rewards travel purchases, 5 percent cash back on Lyft rides (through March 2025), 3 percent cash back on dining and drugstore purchases and 1 percent cash back on all other purchases. If you’d like to pool your rewards with another Chase Ultimate Rewards card, or if your favorite stores’ merchant category codes better align with Chase’s bonus categories, this might be the better option for you.
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express: Best grocery card for overall rewards
- Welcome bonus: $250 back after you spend $3,000 in purchases within the first six months
- Rewards rate: 6 percent cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 in purchases per year, then 1 percent); 6 percent back on select U.S. streaming services; 3 percent back on transit and at U.S. gas stations; 1 percent back on all other purchases
- Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95
If earning rewards on grocery store purchases is your biggest goal for your shopping credit card, it’s hard to beat the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express. For an annual fee of $95 (waived the first year), the card offers a pretty solid reward rate for groceries, allowing you to earn 6 percent cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 in purchases each year. After you hit that cap, you’ll earn 1 percent back on your purchases. Your purchases made on the Blue Cash Preferred will also qualify for extended warranty, return protection and purchase protection. And for online shoppers, you’ll also enjoy free two-day shipping with the ShopRunner membership card benefit.
If your family spends more than $6,000 a year (or $500 a month) on groceries, you may be better off with another top grocery store credit card or else upgrading to the American Express® Gold Card if you’re a fan of earning travel rewards on your grocery and restaurant purchases.
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best grocery card for foodies on a budget
- Welcome bonus: $200 cash bonus when you spend $1,000 within the first three months of account opening
- Rewards rate: 8 percent cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases; 5 percent cash back on hotel and rental cars through Capital One Travel; 3 percent cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and grocery store purchases (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target); 1 percent cash back on all other purchases
- Annual fee: $0
The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is a great no-annual-fee shopping card for those who want to earn 3 percent cash back rewards at both grocery stores and in restaurants. The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards card, and its sister card, the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card*, both offer a great price protection benefit for shoppers. If you make a purchase using your card, then find the item advertised for a lower price within 120 days, you can get a refund of the difference.
Chase Freedom Unlimited: Best purchase protection card for everyday spenders
- Welcome bonus: Earn an additional 1.5 percent cash back on top of all purchases’ original cash back rate (on up to $20,000) for the first year (Bankrate offer)
- Rewards rate: 5 percent cash back on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards; 5 percent cash back on Lyft rides (through March 2025); 3 percent cash back on dining and drugstore purchases; 1.5 percent cash back on all other purchases
- Annual fee: $0
The Chase Freedom Unlimited is one of the best cash back credit cards on the market. Not only do you earn at least 1.5 percent cash back on everything you buy, but all of your purchases are also covered against damage, loss or theft for the first 120 days through the Chase purchase protection program (up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account). To qualify for the protection, you must notify Chase within 90 days of the incident. For stolen items, it’s required that you file a police report within 48 hours of the theft.
Chase also extends the U.S. manufacturer’s warranty by one extra year on eligible purchases made with your card. The original warranty must be three years or less, and your coverage extends to up to $10,000 per claim and a maximum of $50,000 per account.
Chase Sapphire Reserve: Best purchase protection card for traveling shoppers
- Welcome bonus: 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months
- Rewards rate: 10X points on Lyft purchases (through March 2025); 10X points on Chase Dining purchases, hotel stays and car rentals through Chase Ultimate Rewards; 5X points on air travel through Ultimate Rewards; 3X points on general travel and restaurant purchases; 1X points on all other purchases *
- Annual fee: $550
If you’re in the market for a luxury travel credit card with good earnings — but you’re also seeking first-rate purchase protections — the Chase Sapphire Reserve is worth looking at. Similar to the Chase Freedom Unlimited, the Chase Sapphire Reserve covers purchases made with the card for the first 120 days in the event of loss, damage or theft.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve also has return protection, which is a less common protection offered. If you make a purchase with your card (within 90 days) that isn’t eligible for return, Chase will cover you for up to $500 per item and $1,000 per year.
*Note, travel rewards kick in after the $300 travel credit is earned.
U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card: Best department store card for rotating categories
- Welcome bonus: $200 bonus after you spend $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening
- Rewards rate: 5 percent cash back on prepaid airfare, hotel stays and car rentals through the Rewards Travel Center; 5 percent cash back on purchases in two eligible categories of your choice (on up to $2,000 in combined purchases per quarter, then 1 percent); 2 percent cash back on one eligible everyday category; 1 percent back on all other eligible purchases
- Annual fee: $0
If you like to do your shopping at department stores like Nordstrom or Macys, or brand-name retail stores like J.Crew or Gap, the U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card is a good choice to help you earn cash back rewards without the limitations of a store-specific credit card.
The U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card allows you to select two bonus categories each quarter for 5 percent rewards (on up to $2,000 in combined purchases, then 1 percent) and one additional everyday spending category for 2 percent).
The department store category includes well-known retailers like Nordstrom, Macy’s, Kohl’s, Saks Fifth Avenue and more, while the “select clothing stores” category includes brands like Gap, Banana Republic, J.Crew and American Eagle Outfitters.
The card does require you to re-select from rotating bonus categories every quarter, otherwise it defaults to the base rate of earning 1 percent on all purchases. But you can set up automatic category activation alerts, so you never miss out on maximizing your shopping earnings.
Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card: Best online shopping card for Amazon, Amazon Prime and Whole Foods
- Welcome bonus: Up to $150 Amazon gift card upon approval
- Rewards rate: 5 percent back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market; 2 percent back at restaurants, gas stations and drugstores; 1 percent back on all other purchases.
- Annual fee: $0 ($139 Prime subscription required)
If you love Amazon, Amazon Prime, and shopping for groceries at Amazon-owned Whole Foods, the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card can help you earn big rewards with its 5 percent earning rate on Amazon purchases as well as no spending caps, purchase protection and Visa Signature benefits.
Outside of the big rewards you can earn from shopping the Amazon family, you’ll still get a good cash back return with 2 percent back at restaurants, gas stations and drugstores and 1 percent back on everything else. Rewards can be redeemed for cash back, Amazon purchases or Chase travel.
While the card has a $0 annual fee, there is a $139 Amazon Prime membership required for cardmembers. But if you spend regularly on Amazon, this is a cost you can easily recoup.
Capital One Walmart Rewards Mastercard: Best for Walmart and Walmart.com shoppers
- Welcome bonus: Earn 5 percent cash back in Walmart stores for the first 12 months when you use your Capital One Walmart Rewards Card with Walmart Pay
- Rewards rate: 5 percent cash back at Walmart.com, including pickup and delivery; 2 percent cash back in Walmart stores and fuel stations, at restaurants and on travel; 1 percent cash back everywhere else Mastercard is accepted
- Annual fee: $0
If you do a significant amount of your shopping at Walmart across categories including groceries, clothes, car maintenance and even gas, you could earn a significant amount of cash back with the Capital One Walmart Rewards Mastercard.
While the card has no annual fee, it offers an impressive 5 percent cash back on Walmart.com purchases, including grocery pickup and delivery orders. The card also earns 2 percent cash back for in-store purchases, which is double the amount offered by other cash back credit cards. And as a welcome bonus, you’ll earn 5 percent for all in-store purchases for the first year you are a cardholder when you use the Walmart Pay app. Outside of Walmart, the card earns 1 percent on all other purchases.
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card: Best flat-rate cash back card
- Welcome bonus: Earn $200 cash rewards after spending $500 within the first three months
- Rewards rate: Unlimited 2 percent cash rewards on purchases
- Annual fee: $0
The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card is a top choice for flat-rate cash rewards cards, making it one of the best all-around cards for shoppers in general. You’ll earn 2 percent cash rewards on purchases you make with no cap, and without the hassle of having to opt-in to quarterly spending bonus categories. As far as choosing a cash rewards card goes, it doesn’t get more straightforward than the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card.
While the card has many pros in the rewards earning department, it does not offer any purchase protection benefits for shoppers apart from its cellphone protection plan.
How to choose the best credit card for shopping
When you’re looking for a good shopping credit card, you’ll want to look for a card that will pay you back in cash, credit card points or even airline miles for the purchases that you make most often. The best credit card for you will be the one that aligns with the way you shop and where you shop, whether you most often shop online or in person in a superstore, a brand-name retail store, a department store or your local grocery store.
Some cards will offer rewards for specific types of shopping, while other cards let you choose the categories for which you will earn bigger shopping bonuses. Comparing all these different factors will help you determine which card fits your shopping style best.
What are the benefits of using a credit card for online purchases?
The best cards for shoppers will also offer extra benefits too like extended warranties and purchase or price protection. All of these benefits help protect you as a consumer, particularly when making online purchases. Plus, credit cards have better fraud protection than shopping online with a debit card, and you’ll have an easier time should you ever need to dispute an online shopping transaction.
The bottom line
We all have to shop! No matter if you mostly shop online, at the grocery store or at department stores, it’s smart to use a credit card that helps you earn back in rewards some portion of what you spend each year. Choosing the right credit card for your shopping needs can help you to maximize rewards and save money, while also helping you to better protect your purchases.
*All information about the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card, Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard® and Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card have been collected independently by Bankrate.com and has not been reviewed or approved by the issuer.
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