BEST CREDIT CARDS
Ecommerce isn’t the future of shopping, it’s already the present. If you shop frequently online, you should know which credit cards to use can help you get great rewards. The problem is that many cards that are great for in-person use are not the right card to use when you shop online. So, if you’re a frequent online shopper, these are the best credit cards for online shopping.
ALSO READ: CardCruncher’s Complete Guide to Improving Your Credit Score
The Best Credit Cards for Online Shopping
When it comes to credit cards for online shopping, you’re primarily looking for cards with good rewards and low fees. Some cards might even offer additional perks to online shoppers.
Each card on our list has strengths and weaknesses, but they can all be a good choice depending on your online shopping habits.
- Best for Amazon shoppers without Prime: Amazon Rewards Visa Signature
- Best for Amazon Prime members: Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature
- Best for travelers: Barclays Uber Visa
- Best for cashback on multiple sites: Bank of America Cash Rewards
- Best for paying bills online: U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature
- Best for rotating categories: Discover it
- Best secured card: Discover it Secured
- Best for versatility: Citi Double Cash
What is a credit card for online shopping?
You might be thinking ‘Can’t I use any credit card when I shop online?’ While it’s true that you can use almost any card to make your purchases, not all cards are created equal when it comes to online shopping. Some cards are specifically designed to reward you when you make purchases on the internet.
For example, the Bank of America Cash Rewards card lets you choose online shopping as your bonus category, earning 3% cashback on all online purchases. Using your card at a physical Target store won’t net you the bonus, but if you make the same purchase at Target.com, you’ll get the full 3% cashback.
The best credit cards for online shopping offer rewards and perks specifically tailored to appeal to people who do most of their shopping online.
What to look for in a credit card for online shopping
There isn’t a single card that’s perfect for every situation; each has its own pros and cons. When you’re evaluating a card for online shopping, you’ll want to consider the following factors:
- What perks does it offer for online shopping?
- Does it offer a signup bonus?
- Is there an annual fee?
- What is its interest rate?
- What are its ongoing rewards?
Here’s an in-depth look at how each of these factors can impact your decision.
Online Shopping Credit Card Perks
Different cards offer different perks, like free credit scores, 0% APR offers, airline fee credits, and more.
The best perks for online shopping credit cards are free credit scores and 0% APR offers. Monitoring your credit score can help spot signs of identity theft, which can be an issue with online shopping. You can use the 0% APR offer to make a large online purchase, knowing that you have time to pay it off before you incur interest charges.
Signup Bonuses for Online Shopping Credit Cards
The signup bonus of a credit card is an upfront reward that you get by meeting specific requirements after you receive the card. Usually, these come in the format of “earn $X when you spend $Y within three months of receiving the card.”
While the signup bonus doesn’t provide long-term value, a strong signup bonus can make a card worth applying for, especially if you can use that bonus for a specific goal.
Annual Fees for Online Shopping Credit Cards
A credit card’s annual fee is the amount that you have to pay each year to keep the card open. If you’re paying an annual fee, you want to make sure that the perks that you receive and the rewards that you earn are worth more than the fee, otherwise it’s not worth it.
Interest Rates for Online Shopping Credit Cards
The interest rate of a credit card determines how much you’ll pay if you carry a balance on the card. You’ll never pay interest if you don’t carry a balance, but you want to aim for a card with a low rate, just in case.
Ongoing Rewards for Online Shopping Credit Cards
Ongoing rewards are the rewards that you’ll earn for regular use of the card. Some cards offer a flat rate of rewards, others will give you different rewards depending on where you use the card.
For online shopping, look for cards that will give elevated rewards when you shop online or at certain online retailers.
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Common Questions About Credit Cards for Online Shopping
Here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about credit cards for online shopping.
What are the best credit cards for online shopping?
The best credit card for online shopping depends where and how you shop online.
If you do most of your shopping through Amazon.com, you’ll probably get the best rewards from one of Amazon’s credit cards. If you use multiple websites, the Uber Visa card or the Bank of America Cash Rewards card might be a better choice.
Which is the best prepaid credit card for online shopping?
Prepaid cards generally don’t offer rewards, so you’re best off choosing the card that has the fewest associated fees. If you’re using a secured credit card, which is similar to a prepaid card, then the Discover it Secured card offers rewards and is good to use when shopping online.
Who has the best cashback credit card for online shopping?
The best cashback card for online shopping will vary with your spending profile. If you do most of your shopping on Amazon, the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature is your best bet. If you shop at multiple online retailers, you might be able to earn more with the Bank of America Cash Rewards card.
What is the best credit card for safe online shopping?
The best credit card for safe online shopping is the Bank of America Cash Rewards card. With ShopSafe, you can get a virtual account number with a customizable credit limit and validity date. If someone steals this virtual number, you can disable it without affecting your card.
How to get the best credit card for online shopping on Amazon?
If you want to get the best credit card for shopping on Amazon, sign up for Amazon Prime and apply for the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature. This card offers the best cashback for shopping at Amazon and can be used at other stores to earn even more Amazon rewards.
What is the best credit card for international purchases for online shopping?
The best card for making international purchases while shopping online will be a card that doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee. Cards with no foreign transaction fee include the Amazon Rewards Visa Signature cards and the Uber Visa card.
Which is the best online shopping credit card for creating credit fast?
The best credit card for building credit while shopping online is the Discover it Secured card. You can qualify for this card even if you have poor or no credit. Use it for a few months to a year and you can build a solid history while shopping online.
How to find the best rewards for an online shopping credit card?
To find the best rewards for online shopping with a credit card, figure out how much you spend and which websites you spend money at. Choose the card that will maximize the rewards you earn at those sites. For example, the Amazon Prime Visa Signature card will give you the best rewards at Amazon.com. The Uber Visa card has the best value for getting an Uber.
What are the best credit cards for frequent online shopping?
The best credit card for frequent online shopping is the Bank of America Cash Rewards credit card. You can select online shopping as your 3% bonus category, earning 3% cashback for every purchase you make online.
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More details on the best credit cards for online shopping
Amazon Rewards Visa Signature
Annual fee: $0
APR: 16.49% to 24.49% Variable
Bonus: $70 for Amazon Prime members, and $50 for non-members
Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature
Annual fee: Cost of a Prime Subscription, which varies with the type of subscription
APR: 16.24% to 24.24% Variable
Bonus: $70 gift card
Barclays Uber Visa
Uber Visa Card
Annual fee: $0
APR: See terms Variable
Bonus: $100 in Uber Cash after spending $500 in the first 90 days
Bank of America Cash Rewards
Annual fee: $0
APR: 0% for 15 months, then 16.24% to 26.24% Variable
Bonus: $200
U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature
Annual fee: $0
APR: 18.74% - 28.74% Variable Variable
Bonus: $150
Discover it
Discover it® Card
Annual fee: $0
APR: 0% for 14 months, then 13.99% to 24.99% Variable
Bonus: Cash-back match for your first year
Discover it Secured
Discover Secured Card
Annual fee: $0
APR: 25.24% Variable
Bonus: 100% match on cash back your first year
Citi Double Cash
Citi® Double Cash Card
Annual fee: $0
APR: 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable) Variable
Bonus: $0
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