Many top credit cards today come packaged with additional benefits to protect your purchases or reimburse travel plans, but cellphone insurance is a valuable under-the-radar credit card perk that many issuers don’t heavily advertise.

Although cellphone insurance isn’t a perk worth hinging your credit card decision on, it does add some extra peace of mind that could tip the balance if you’re on the fence. Getting cellphone protection from your wireless carrier would typically cost you around $10 to $15 per month, but the coverage you could get from your card may end up being a better policy in addition to these savings.

Here’s a look at the best credit cards for cellphone insurance in 2023:

Best credit cards for cellphone insurance

Card name Best for Cellphone protection
Chase Freedom Flex℠ Cash back
  • Max per claim: $800
  • Max annual coverage: $1,000
  • Deductible: $50
The Platinum Card® from American Express General travel
  • Max per claim: $800
  • Max annual coverage: $1,600*
  • Deductible: $50
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Airline travel
  • Max per claim: $800
  • Max annual coverage: $1,600*
  • Deductible: $50
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card* Hotel travel
  • Max per claim: $800
  • Max annual coverage: $1,000
  • Deductible: $50
Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students* Students
  • Max per claim: $600
  • Max annual coverage: $1,000
  • Deductible: $50
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card Businesses
  • Max per claim: $600
  • Max annual coverage: $1,800*
  • Deductible: $100
Wells Fargo Reflect® Card Balance transfers
  • Max per claim: $600
  • Max annual coverage: $1,200
  • Deductible: $25

Chase Freedom Flex: Best for cash back

  • Max per claim: $800
  • Max annual coverage: $1,000
  • Annual claims: Two
  • Deductible: $50
  • Coverage source: Network (World Elite Mastercard)
  • Rewards rate on cellphone bill payments: 5 percent cash back (up to $1,500 on eligible, activated quarters) on up to $1,500, then 1 percent

Besides the Ink Business Preferred card, the Chase Freedom Flex card is the only other Chase card that provides cellphone protection. Its other rich benefits, excellent rewards card pairing compatibility and well-rounded rewards make it perhaps the most valuable cash back card to insure your cellphone.

In fact, Chase’s rotating category calendar sometimes earns 5 percent cash back (up to $1,500 per quarter in combined bonus category spending, then 1 percent) on phone services during the activated January to March period.

The Platinum Card from American Express: Best for general travel

  • Max per claim: $800
  • Max annual coverage: $1,600*
  • Annual claims: 2
  • Deductible: $20
  • Coverage source: Issuer (American Express)
  • Rewards rate on cellphone bill payments: 1X Membership Rewards points

As one of the top cards for travel on the market, the Amex Platinum Card naturally takes the cake in the travel category. In fact, it’s one of the few general-purpose travel cards and elite travel cards to actually offer cellphone protection. Even so, its protection plan is one of the best you’ll find on a personal credit card — even topping World Elite Mastercard and Wells Fargo credit card cellphone insurance.

Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card: Best for airline travel

  • Max per claim: $800
  • Max annual coverage: $1,600*
  • Annual claims: 2
  • Deductible: $50
  • Coverage source: Issuer (American Express)
  • Rewards rate on cellphone bill payments: 1X Delta SkyMiles

Not many airline-specific cards provide cellphone insurance, but Delta SkyMiles Reserve card holders will enjoy this extra perk on top of the trove of other premium benefits. Cardholders who want a bit more everyday utility may prefer the Delta SkyMiles Platinum, which carries the same Amex phone insurance plan and adds 2X-mile bonus categories for U.S. supermarkets and restaurants at a lower $250 annual fee (compared to the SkyMiles Reserve’s $550).

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: Best for hotel travel

  • Max per claim: $800
  • Max annual coverage: $1,000
  • Annual claims: 2
  • Deductible: $50
  • Coverage source: Network (World Elite Mastercard)
  • Rewards rate on cellphone bill payments: 1X IHG Rewards points

Branded hotel credit cards that also insure your phone are in short supply, but the IHG One Rewards  Premier is an easy option for frequent IHG guests. Casual property visitors may prefer the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card* since it doesn’t have an annual fee, but its World Mastercard status means slightly lower cellphone coverage: up to $600 per claim (up to two claims per year) with a $50 deductible and up to $1,000 in claims per year.

Deserve EDU Mastercard for Students: Best for students

  • Max per claim: $600
  • Max annual coverage: $1,000
  • Annual claims: 2
  • Deductible: $50
  • Coverage source: Network (Standard Mastercard)
  • Rewards rate on cellphone bill payments: 1 percent cash back

Finding a credit card for limited history with valuable additional features can be difficult to begin with, and the Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students is a solid option since it provides both 1 percent cash back on all purchases and cellphone protection. Granted, a $600 claim may not totally reimburse students for a new phone, but cellphone insurance (no matter the coverage) is perhaps one of the most helpful card perks for students — especially since this card is available for international students without a Social Security number.

Ink Business Preferred Credit Card: Best for businesses

  • Max per claim: $600
  • Max annual coverage: $1,800*
  • Annual claims: 3
  • Deductible: $100
  • Coverage source: Network (Visa Signature for Business)
  • Rewards rate on cellphone bill payments: 3X Ultimate Rewards points (on the first $150,000 spent on phone services and other select categories each account anniversary year)

The Ink Business Preferred card was selected since its lower $95 annual fee, higher rewards rate on phone services, comprehensive perks and flexible rewards make it a more versatile pick for a wider range of businesses. However, the Capital One Spark Cash Plus (which carries the same phone protection as the Ink Business Preferred, but with a smaller $50 deductible) is a better choice for big-spending business owners, and frequent business travelers with more expensive phones may prefer The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.

Wells Fargo Reflect Card: Best for balance transfers

  • Max per claim: $600
  • Max annual coverage: $1,200
  • Annual claims: 2
  • Deductible: $25
  • Coverage source: Issuer (Wells Fargo)
  • Rewards rate on cellphone bill payments: N/A

If you need one of the longest 0 percent intro APR periods on purchases and balance transfers available, the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card is the answer. It offers 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 17.99%, 24.49%, or 29.74% variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate, BT fee of 5%, min $5.

Few balance transfer cards offer much ongoing value in the form of rewards or ongoing benefits, so it’s exceptional that the Reflect card offers cellphone insurance against damage or theft (when using your card to pay your cellphone bill each month). Plus, its annual coverage cap exceeds that of World Elite Mastercards in exchange for a lower per-claim coverage maximum.

Although you shouldn’t miss a payment while focusing on whittling down your balance, the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card offers equivalent cellphone protection with an upfront 18-billing cycle intro zero-interest offer on both purchases and balance transfers (then a 19.49 percent to 29.49 percent variable APR; transfers must be made within the first 60 days).

The bottom line

Using a credit card’s cellphone protection is essentially a free $600 to $800 credit toward phone repair or replacement. By reviewing the options above, you can determine the best credit card with cellphone insurance based on your coverage needs, rewards goals and more.

*The information about the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students and IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

*Although not stated explicitly in the public benefit terms, this maximum annual coverage limit is implied by the maximum coverage per claim plus the maximum number of claims yearly claims. Check with your issuer to be certain of your potential annual coverage.