There are a lot of rewards credit cards that can reward you for your shopping, but it’s important to pick one that aligns with your habits.
Here’s our take on the best credit cards for shopping to help you narrow down your list of options.
How we picked these cards
We chose our top credit cards for shopping with a variety of shopping habits and preferences in mind.
First, we considered the type of rewards program. While some shoppers prefer a flat rewards rate on everything, others might want the chance to maximize their rewards on certain everyday spending categories.
We also wanted to include a few retail credit cards from large stores that offer a wide range of items because they offer some of the best rewards for their regular shoppers.
Which type of credit card is best for online shopping?
There’s no one type of credit card that’s best for every kind of online shopping. When choosing a particular credit card for your shopping, you’ll want to pick one that aligns with your habits.
For instance, if you do most of your online shopping at a large retailer like Amazon or Target.com, you might want to pick one of their co-branded cards to maximize your rewards or savings. Similarly, if you do a variety of online shopping, you might want to choose a card that rewards you for all online shopping. The same idea holds for the shopping you might do in physical stores.
When you think you’ve settled on a card, though, make sure to read the fine print on your rewards categories. For example, if a card says it offers bonus rewards on grocery shopping, groceries at superstores like Walmart and Target and wholesale clubs might be excluded. You’ll also want to double-check if online orders or delivery services are included in the bonus category.
What’s the easiest store credit card to get?
Application standards for store credit cards aren’t typically made public, but it’s generally agreed that many retail credit cards can be easier to get than other types of cards. But that isn’t true across all store credit cards, so don’t assume that you’ll be able to qualify when you apply.
We advise doing research on specific cards before you apply, especially if you’re trying to build your credit.
What are the risks of store credit cards?
Store credit cards have their pros and cons, just like any type of card. But there are particular risks with some store cards.
For example, these cards tend to come with higher interest rates and lower credit limits. If you carry a balance, that means you might end up paying more in interest than you get from your rewards.
Additionally, it’s important to keep in mind that these cards are meant to get you to shop at the co-branded stores. Consider if a store credit card is rewarding you for the shopping you already do, or if you find yourself spending more than you would otherwise just to get access to special benefits or deals.