Online shopping offers savings – in time and money. You can maximize your finances by using the best credit card for online shopping. Some cards offer better online protection and rewards for frequent shoppers to help you layer bonuses and rewards with online savings and coupons. Apply for a card today to start experiencing the benefits.
Quick Look at the Best Credit Cards for Online Purchases
- Best for Customizable Reward Categories: U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card
- Best for Amazon Shoppers: Prime Visa
- Best for Online Shopping Rewards: Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
- Best for Simple Rewards System: Chase Freedom Unlimited
- Best for Unlimited 2% Cashback on All Purchases: Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
What Are the Best Credit Cards for Online Shopping?
Find a listing of the best credit cards for online shopping based on unique characteristics to find one that fits your needs and spending habits.
1. Best for Customizable Reward Categories: U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card
The U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature offers unique benefits, including quarterly cashback categories that you choose. If you shop online frequently, you can keep this as your category quarter after quarter. Or if you foresee big expenses in other categories one quarter, such as travel, you can adjust your card to match. That flexibility and customization are unique in the credit card industry.
While the option to customize is nice, the rewards system is complex and if you forget to select a category, you’ll be left with the standard 1%.
Pros
- 5% cashback on the first $2,000 in purchases on categories you choose each quarter
- 2% cashback on an everyday category of your choosing, such as groceries, gas stations or restaurants
- 1% cashback on everything else
- No annual fee
- No interest on balance transfers for the first 15 billing cycles
Cons
- Complex rewards system that requires you to pick your categories or risk missing out on some rewards
- Foreign transaction fees add up when traveling abroad
- You’ll need a U.S. bank account to redeem rewards for cash
2. Best for Amazon Shoppers: Prime Visa
If you love shopping on Amazon and make the bulk of your purchases there, the Prime Visa might be right for you. Once approved for the card, you’ll get a $100 gift card (or more) for Amazon so long as you’re a Prime member.
Prime members enjoy 5% cashback on all purchases from Amazon, Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market. Plus, each quarter, there’s a rotating category of products where you can earn 10% cashback if you buy those products through Amazon. You also get unlimited 2% back at gas stations, restaurants and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare).
Pros
- 5% cashback on purchases made through Amazon companies for Prime members
- 10% cashback on rotating quarterly Amazon product categories of Amazon
- 2% cashback on gas stations, restaurants, commuting and local transit
- No annual fee
- Redeem rewards the same day you earn them
Cons
- Must be an Amazon Prime member to apply for the card
- Rewards only apply to purchases made at Amazon and its affiliated companies
3. Best for Online Shopping Rewards: Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
- Regular APR
19.24% – 29.99% variable for purchases and balance transfers | See Rates & Fees 29.99% for cash advances.
VIEW PROS & CONS:
If you’re looking for a card with incredible cashback on online shopping year-round, you’ll like this credit card. It’s one of the best credit cards for online shopping because you can earn 3% cashback on all U.S. online retailers all the time for up to $6,000 in expenses per year. Plus, you’ll earn that same 3% at all gas stations and supermarkets. While the rewards are capped at annual expenses of $6,000 in each category, you will then get the standard 1% cashback from there.
A fun additional perk the card offers is a $15 credit each month for Home Chef meal subscribers. The card has no annual fee and comes with an introductory offer of $200 in statement credit when you spend $2,000 in the first 6 months.
Pros
- 3% cashback on online shopping, supermarkets and gas stations until you reach $6,000 in each category for the year, then 1% cashback in each category
- All purchases earn you 1% cashback no matter the spending category
- Strong intro offer can help you earn $200 in statement credit
- Intro 0% APR period can help you manage your finances
Cons
- Tracking spending caps in the various categories is complex
- Wholesale clubs and superstores don’t count toward supermarket rewards
- Late fees are high
- The card has foreign transaction fees
4. Best for Simple Rewards System: Chase Freedom Unlimited
If you don’t want to track reward categories or try to figure out which card you should use for what spending category, the Chase Freedom Unlimited might be for you. It comes with a standard 1.5% cashback on all purchases.
Pros
- Cashback match at the end of your first year with no limits
- 1.5% cashback on all purchases
- Enjoy a one-year extended warranty on eligible purchases
- No expiration on rewards
- No annual fee
- Nice perks, including DoorDash DashPass and travel insurance
Cons
- Intro APR offer is shorter than most cards
- The standard 1.5% cashback is not as generous as other cards that offer quarterly bonus categories
- Interest and late fees are quite high, so be sure you can pay off your card each month
5. Best for Unlimited 2% Cashback on All Purchases: Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
In your search for online shopping credit cards, don’t overlook the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card. You’ll get unlimited 2% cashback on all purchases without the need to track quarterly categories or switch around which card you use when trying to maximize your rewards.
The card also comes with a nice intro offer of $200 in cash rewards if you spend $500 in the first three months of having the card. Enjoy 0% APR for the first 15 months, which could help you finance large purchases when you first open the card.
Pros
- $200 intro offer when you spend $500 your first 3 months
- No annual fee
- 2% cashback on all purchases with no spending caps
- 0% APR intro for the first 15 months
Cons
- Interest rates are high if you don’t pay off the card monthly
- The card has foreign transaction fees
- You’ll pay a fee to transfer a balance from another card
Benefits of Using a Credit Card for Online Shopping
When you’re online shopping, using a credit card offers many perks compared to other digital payment forms. Here’s a look at some of the benefits you can experience when using a credit card online.
- Convenience: You can program your credit card with various retailers to take advantage of speed and convenience when shopping.
- Internationally accepted: Most credit cards can be used at international retailers online, making it simple to purchase from anywhere.
- Finance large purchases: When you need to replace an appliance or pay for a crucial repair, you can finance that purchase using a credit card and then pay it off once you get paid.
- Protection: You’ll get better fraud protection with a credit card than you do with a debit card online. And if you do end up with unauthorized charges, your portion of the expense won’t be more than $50 because that’s what the U.S. caps fraud fees at.
- Rewards: Get the most from your online purchases with rewards credit cards.
- Extended warranties: Some credit cards offer perks like extended warranties when you use your card to make the purchase.
Types of Credit Cards Suitable for Online Shopping
As you evaluate the best credit cards for online purchases, consider these credit card types to find the best one for you.
- Cashback Credit Cards: These cards offer cashback on every purchase with some spending categories being even more lucrative than others.
- Low Interest Credit Cards: If you plan to finance a purchase using a credit card, a low-interest credit card might be right for you.
- Rewards Credit Cards: Enjoy rewards for your spending and nice perks like free or discounted memberships to certain services.
- Secured Credit Cards: Individuals with minimal credit can benefit from a secured credit card where they get access to a credit line based on a downpayment that the card issuer holds until you cancel the card.
How to Choose an Online Shopping Credit Card
Every person’s spending habits are unique. Review these steps to choosing the right online shopping credit card for you.
- Review commonly shopped retailers: Look at your recent statements to see where you shop the most. Don’t just look at the number of transactions but review where you spend the most money. Consider spending categories as you look to maximize rewards.
- Review the card’s reward categories: Each card offers unique reward categories. Make sure your preferred card offers strong rewards in the categories you spend the most.
- Evaluate perks and features: If you do a great deal of travel, you’ll want to make sure the card has no foreign transaction fees. Or if you spend in categories related to tech, you might want extended warranties on products. Review the additional perks the card offers.
- Evaluate the annual fee: Some cards require that you pay a fee each year to maintain the card. If you are getting proper rewards and perks from the card, it might be worth it. But if not, look for a card with no annual fee to maximize the benefits.
Essential Tips When Using Credit Cards for Online Shopping
Although online shopping is convenient, it can open you up to risks and identity theft if you aren’t careful. Here are some tips for safe online credit card use.
- Update your devices to the latest operating systems to provide the most modern protection for your device based on known malware and scams. That way, you start with a good foundation for your technology.
- Use only websites you know and recognize. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Avoid these websites that offer hot buys when you can’t find details about their validity. Even if they have a secure website, you could be putting yourself at risk for fraud.
- Create secure passwords with retailers, especially on websites where you store your credit card information with the retailer. Use a password manager to help you create unique and secure passwords for every website.
- Log out of accounts when you finish shopping for the ultimate security.
- Monitor your statements to watch for fraud to flag it quickly and ensure you get all the protections afforded you under the law.
Maximize Rewards and Savings Online with the Right Credit Card
If you enjoy online shopping and find yourself with boxes arriving on your porch regularly, finding the best credit card with lucrative rewards for online shopping will help you stay safe online while also getting the most financial benefit from your card. Review the options listed above to find the best card based on your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best credit card for online shopping?
The best credit card for online shopping is the U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card, which lets you pick your reward categories each quarter.
Which is better for online payment Visa or Mastercard?
Visa is the most widely accepted credit card, especially with international retailers. Mastercard is accepted at most retailers but Visa has a slight advantage over it.
Is it safer to buy online with debit or credit card?
Credit cards offer fraud liability protections that debit cards do not, making them the better choice for online shopping.
Which payment methods are accepted in online shops?
Online shops might offer the following payment options: credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, digital wallets, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Stripe, bank transfers and cryptocurrency.
About Rebekah Brately
Rebekah Brately is an investment writer passionate about helping people learn more about how to grow their wealth. She has more than 12 years of writing experience, focused on technology, travel, family and finance. Her work has been published in Benzinga, Hearst Bay Area, FreightWaves and Dallas Observer publications.