Best Shopping Credit Cards

Comparing the best credit cards for shopping

A closer look at the best shopping credit cards

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Rewards rate: 1% – 6% cash back

Intro APR: 0% for 12 months

Regular APR: 18.99% – 29.99%

Signup bonus: Earn a $75 statement credit after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first six months.

Our verdict: One of the most popular cards for everyday spending, this American Express card is formidable. The Blue Cash Preferred card has one of the highest earning rates for grocery stores of any card, 6% cash back, making it a favorite for supermarket shoppers. Plus, it also offers 6% back on streaming services, 3% back on gas stations and transit, and 1% back on all other purchases.

Pros:

• 6% cash back at supermarkets and on select streaming services
• 3% cash back on gas stations and transit purchases
• 1% cash back on all other purchases
• $0 annual fee for first year
• 0% APR for first 12 months

Cons:

• 6% capped at $6,000 per year
• $95 annual fee after first year

Apply now: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Learn more: Blue Cash Preferred Card Review

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Rewards rate: 1.5% – 5%

Intro APR: 0% for 15 months

Regular APR: 20.24% – 28.99%

Signup bonus: Earn up to $200 on signup with qualifying purchases.

Our verdict: This $0 annual fee card is a powerhouse for everyday spending! It offers a generous 3% back on drugstore and dining purchases, plus 5% back for all travel booked via the Chase Unlimited Rewards portal. Plus, its 1.5% back on non-bonus category purchases is more generous than many of its competitors.

Pros:

• $0 annual fee
• 1.5% back on all purchases
• 3% back on dining
• 3% back at drugstores

Cons:

• Bonus 5% only available for travel purchases made via Ultimate Rewards Portal
• High APRs

Apply now: Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Learn more: Chase Freedom Unlimited® Review

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Rewards rate: 5x points on travel, 1x back on all other purchases

Intro APR: N/A

Regular APR: 20.99% to 28.99%,

Signup bonus: Earn 125,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first six months of Card Membership

Our verdict: This card was originally designed for frequent travelers but thanks to COVID it’s seen some impressive reward point expansions. The hefty $695 annual fee may scare some off, but The Platinum Card comes with a boost most cheaper cards don’t offer: automatic doubling for the warranty of any purchase made with the card, potentially saving you thousands on major electronics, appliances, and other expensive purchases.

Pros:

• Automatic doubling of warranties on purchases
• 5x points on travel
• 1x points on all other purchases
• $155 annual Walmart+ Credit
• $240 annual Digital Entertainment Credit
• $100 annual credit to Saks Fifth Avenue
• $300 annual Equinox credit
• $200 annual Uber credits

Cons:

• $695 annual fee
• Some annual credits are difficult to redeem

Apply now: The Platinum Card® by American Express

Target REDcard™ Credit Card

Rewards rate: Save 5% every day at Target and Target.com

Intro APR: N/A

Regular APR: 27.65%

Signup bonus: N/A

Our verdict: If you’re a Target fan, this card is for you. You’ll automatically earn 5% back on your Target and target.com purchases plus get complimentary two-day free shipping on hundreds of items on target.com. REDcard cardholders also get an additional 30 days for returns and exchanges

Pros:

• $0 annual fee
• Automatic 5% back on all Target and target.com purchases
• Complimentary 2-day shipping on most target.com purchases
• Extra 30 day return/exchange purchase protection

Cons:

• High APR
• Only useful if you shop at Target often

Apply now: Target RedCard Credit Card

Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card

Rewards rate: 1% – 5%

Intro APR: N/A

Regular APR: 18.49% – 26.49%

Signup bonus: Earn up to $275 with this limited-time offer. Get a $150 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval and earn 5% back everywhere on up to $2,500 in spending for the first 3 months after account opening ($125 value). Eligible Prime membership required.

Our verdict: If you’re a frequent Amazon shopper then this card is a no-brainer. Not only will you earn an automatic 5% on your amazon.com purchases, but you’ll also get that 5% bonus for purchases made at Whole Foods and on Amazon Fresh. It’s also one of the few store-branded cards that also offers bonus spending categories outside of itself: 2% back on restaurants, gas station, and drugstore purchases + 1% back on all other purchases.

Pros:

• 5% back at Amazon, Amazon Fresh, and Whole Foods
• 2% back at restaurants, gas stations, and drug stores
• 1% back on all other purchases
• Since it’s a Visa card, it’s widely accepted around the world

Cons:

• Required $139 Amazon Prime membership negates the $0 annual fee
• No redemption offers outside of Amazon
• Even though it’s a Chase card, there’s no access to Chase’s robust Offers or Ultimate Rewards portals.

Apply now: Amazon Prime Visa

Learn more: Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Review

How to choose the right credit card for shopping?

The best credit card is the one that fits your everyday spending habits, so look for a card that has point-earning potential for your most popular spending categories. Whether it’s groceries, gas, or e-commerce sites, there’s a card out there that will earn you a lot of rewards simply for doing what you already do.

You should also look for a card that rewards you the way you want. Cash back, statement credits, and rewards points or miles all work differently and have different earning levels, so take time to compare the earning rate and find the best rewards program for your lifestyle. Cash back is great but you might be able to earn even more if you opt for a card that earns rewards points you can convert into travel credits. On the other hand, rewards miles won’t be that helpful if you’re someone who doesn’t travel often and would prefer the instant gratification a statement credit offers.

Tips for saving on shopping expenses

1. The most important aspect of saving money on the things you buy is to budget strategically. This means maximizing your purchasing power by sticking to a budget and ensuring you never pay more than you can afford. Getting hit with interest fees only makes the things you buy more expensive and can make it even harder to get out of debt.

2. Next, keep an eye on the rotating bonus categories your credit card may offer. Some cards will have quarterly category changes that make it easy to get extra rewards for the things you already buy.

3. Finally, set up alerts and use apps that search for the best deals and coupons available. Many browser and phone apps will automatically search for the lowest price or auto-apply coupons it finds, saving you every time you hit the “checkout” button.

Methodology

The methodology used to calculate the best cards for fair credit relied on a number of factors, with the most prominent of those being:

• The required credit score to apply successfully for the card
• The additional benefits offered by the card beyond rewards
• The rewards rate of the card, if applicable
• Overall difficulty in securing the credit card with fair credit
• The history of the card issuer itself
• Any potential costs associated with owning the credit card

The product information provided here is based on research conducted up to a specific date and may have changed. For the latest and most accurate information, we recommend you to visit the respective card’s website before proceeding.

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