Whether you’re ordering everyday essentials from Amazon, refreshing your wardrobe or hunting for the best deals during major sales events like Prime Day, Target Circle Deal Days and Walmart Deals, using the right credit card can help you earn valuable points, miles or cash back on purchases you’re already making.
Some cards even offer perks like purchase protection and extended warranties that can provide extra peace of mind when making online purchases.
Let’s dive into some of the best credit cards for online shopping.
The best cards for online shopping
The cards on this list offer a variety of ways to maximize online purchases, from bonus rewards at specific retailers to elevated earnings on online retail spending and straightforward flat-rate cash back.
Whether you’re loyal to Amazon or simply want a card that rewards all your spending, there’s an option for every type of shopper.
The information for the Prime Visa has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Wells Fargo Active Cash
Annual fee: $0
Welcome offer: Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
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Standout shopping benefits: If you don’t want to worry about bonus categories, spending caps or activation requirements, the Wells Fargo Active Cash is a strong choice. Cardholders earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases, including online retail spending.
Its straightforward earning structure makes it a good fit for shoppers who buy from a variety of online retailers and simply want consistent rewards on every purchase.
To learn more, read our full review of the Active Cash.
Apply here: Wells Fargo Active Cash
Chase Freedom Unlimited
Annual fee: $0
Welcome offer: Earn a $200 bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Standout shopping benefits: The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a strong option for online shoppers who prefer simplicity. You’ll earn at least 1.5% cash back on purchases that don’t fall into a bonus category, making it an easy card to use across a wide range of online retailers.
The card also includes valuable shopping protections, including extended warranty coverage that adds an additional year to eligible U.S. manufacturers’ warranties of three years or less.
If you carry a Chase Ultimate Rewards-earning card, you may be able to combine rewards and potentially increase their value when redeeming for travel or transferring points to eligible airline and hotel partners.
To learn more, read our full review of the Freedom Unlimited.
Apply here: Chase Freedom Unlimited
Chase Freedom Flex
Annual fee: $0
Welcome offer: Earn a $200 bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Standout shopping benefits: The Chase Freedom Flex’s main draw is its rotating bonus categories. Every quarter, Chase releases a list of categories that earn 5% cash back. While the categories change throughout the year, Amazon, PayPal and select digital-wallet purchases have frequently appeared in past quarterly bonus categories.
You’ll have to register on Chase’s website or app to participate, but it’s an easy process and takes less than a minute. You’ll earn 5% cash back in rotating quarterly categories (on the first $1,500 in purchases each quarter you activate).
Like the Freedom Unlimited, rewards can become even more valuable when paired with an eligible Ultimate Rewards-earning card, allowing you to transfer points to airline and hotel partners.
To learn more, read our full review of the Freedom Flex.
Apply here: Chase Freedom Flex
American Express Blue Cash Everyday
Annual fee: $0 (see rates and fees)
Welcome offer: Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as $200 cash back after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
(Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.)
Standout shopping benefits: Few no-annual-fee cards are as rewarding for internet purchases as the Blue Cash Everyday. Cardholders earn 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases (on up to $6,000 per calendar year, then 1%).
They’ll also earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations (on up to $6,000 per calendar year for each category, then 1%).
Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.
To learn more, read our full review of the Blue Cash Everyday.
Apply here: American Express Blue Cash Everyday
Prime Visa
Annual fee: $0
Welcome offer: Get a $200 Amazon gift card instantly upon approval.
Standout shopping benefits: Frequent Amazon shoppers should have the Prime Visa on their radar. Eligible Prime members earn 5% cash back on purchases at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market, along with 2% back at restaurants, gas stations and local transit and commuting.
The card also offers purchase protection (up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account) and extended warranty coverage on eligible purchases.
You’ll have to be a Prime member to be eligible to get the card — but for frequent Amazon shoppers who already pay for Prime, it’s one of the easiest ways to maximize purchases on the platform.
To learn more, read our full review of the Prime Visa.
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards
Annual fee: $0
Welcome offer: Earn a $200 online cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days from account opening.
Standout shopping benefits: The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card stands out for its flexibility. Cardholders can choose one category, including online shopping, to earn 6% cash back (for the first year, then 3%; subject to a $2,500 cap on combined elevated cash back purchases each quarter).
Eligible BofA Rewards™ members can receive a rewards bonus that increases earnings by 10% to 75%, making the card significantly more rewarding for existing banking customers.
To learn more, read our full review of the Customized Cash Rewards.
Apply here: Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards
Maximize your online shopping
Using the right credit card is only part of maximizing online purchases. Shopping portals can help you earn rewards on top of the points, miles or cash back you earn from your credit card.
Portal aggregators such as Cashback Monitor make it easy to compare earning rates across dozens of shopping portals. Depending on the retailer, you may be able to stack credit card rewards with airline miles, hotel points or additional cash back.
Popular options include Rakuten, which allows members to earn cash back or, if eligible, American Express or Bilt Points.
Card issuers also offer their own shopping portals, including Chase Shopping, where eligible cardholders can earn bonus rewards at select merchants.
Airline and hotel shopping portals are also an option if you prefer not to earn transferable points. Here are a few options:
By combining a rewards credit card with a shopping portal, you can often earn multiple layers of rewards from a single purchase.
Related: How to maximize online shopping portals for your purchases
Bottom line
The best credit card for online shopping depends on where and how you shop. Some cards reward purchases at specific retailers, while others offer elevated earnings on online retail spending more broadly or provide a simple flat-rate return on every purchase.
Whether you’re looking for flexible rewards, cash back or retailer-specific perks, using the right card can help you earn more on purchases you’re already making. For even greater value, try to click through a shopping portal first.
Related: 7 ways to save money on Amazon orders
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday, click here.
Stacie Harris is a local resident and reporter of the Maple Grove area. Stacie reports on medicine and science for the Maple Grove Report.
