Best credit cards for online shopping

As our shopping habits go increasingly digital, make sure you are using the credit card that maximizes your rewards and provides the protections and features only the best credit cards can offer.

Best credit cards of 2023
author Brooklyn Lowery
Terms apply; see the online credit card application for full terms and conditions of offers and rewards.

20+ years

finding the best card for you

1,500+ cards

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5,000+ cardholders

polled about their cards

243 reviews

from our experts

List of Winners

If we learned anything from the COVID-19 pandemic, it was all the tips and tricks for having everything possible delivered directly to your door rather than venturing out to the stores to buy it. Even before the pandemic, online shopping had begun dominating the retail landscape, but that trend certainly accelerated beginning in mid-March 2020.

But are you using the best credit card for online shopping? It’s possible that the card you use when you check out at the grocery store isn’t the best one for grocery delivery, or that you could be rewarded specifically for “online shopping.”

Maybe you want a simple card to break out every time you make an online purchase – whether you’re paying a utility bill or buying toilet paper; or maybe you’re open to having several cards you use strategically to max out your rewards depending on the type of purchase you’re making. Whatever your goal, we have options for you. So settle back on your sofa, and let’s get you set up to make all that online shopping really rewarding.

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CardName discontinued    Winner

EditorRating
 
foreign_fee AnnualFees
Why We Like It: This card effectively offers you 2% cash back on all your purchases (1% when you buy, 1% when you pay your balance), so that means that every time you head online to shop or pay a bill or book a trip, you'll be racking up cash back. Plus, you can save money with 18 monthes introductory 0% APR on balance transfers (then, RegAPR). Citi is a CardRatings advertiser.
Rewards
2% cash back Earn 1% when you buy and another 1% cash back when you pay for your purchases (you must make the minimum payment due on time).
Annual Fee
AnnualFees
Regular APR
RegAPR
Credit Score
CreditScoreNeeded

The Bonus: The intro 0% APR on balance transfers for 18 months could certainly come in handy and you could think of it as a kind of bonus. After the intro, the APR becomes RegAPR). There's a balance transfer fee to consider: BalanceTransferFees

The Rewards: Earn 1% when you make your purchse and 1% cash back as you pay your balance, for an effective 2% cash back on every purchases (just be sure you're paying at least the minimum amount due each month, on time, to earn your rewards).

The Annual Fee: AnnualFees

Credit Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

  • This card incentivizes paying off your balance, which is a great reminder to pay your balance each month.
  • Even cards that offer bonuses on online spending sometimes limit that to retail only or particular merchants; with this card, you'll earn top rewards whether you're paying a medical bill or buying a new pair of blue jeans.
  • There's no annual fee and a lot of simplicity here to make this card valuable.

CONS:

  • Remember that the intro 0% APR period doesn't apply to purchases.
  • Two percent total cash back is perfectly respectable, but it's also not the best out there. If you're willing to employ multiple cards and some strategy, you can earn substantially more on your online purchases using cards tailored to particular purchases.
  • If your online shopping includes purchases from foreign merchants in foreign currencies, you'll be disappointed to find this card charges foreign transaction fees.

Read our full CardName.

Current Scores Past Scores
Overall Score 84.7 82.2
Rewards Program Satisfaction 8.5 8.2
Customer Service 8.4 8.0
Website/App Usability 8.3 8.2
Likelihood of Continuing to Use 8.8 8.5
Recommend to a Friend/Colleague 8.4 8.3

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

CardName discontinued    Winner

EditorRating
 
foreign_fee AnnualFees
Why We Like It: Chase Ultimate Rewards points are highly useful credit cards rewards currency, especially if you're dreaming of travel. A recent update to the rewards structure allows you to earn extra points specifically on your online grocery purchases AND this card generally has a solid signup bonus. What's not to like?
Welcome Bonus
60,000 points Earn 60,000 bonus points once spending $4,000 on the card in the first three months from account opening
Annual Fee
AnnualFees
Regular APR
RegAPR
Credit Score
CreditScoreNeeded

The Bonus: New cardholders can earn 60,000 bonus points once spending $4,000 on the card in the first three months from account opening. That's worth $750 in travel when you redeem through the Ultimate Rewards portal.

The Rewards: Earn 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards; 3X points on dining out, select streaming services and online grocery store purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs); 2x points on all other travel; and 1x point per $1 spent on other purchases.

The Annual Fee: AnnualFees

Credit Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

  • Online grocery store purchases earn 3x points per $1 spent and that applies to any grocery store that allows for online shopping (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs). That means you don't have to go through a third-party like Instacart to capitalize here. Just shop online with your regular store and avoid the upcharge of a grocery shopping service.
  • Your points are worth 25% more when you redeem them for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. Since you're a regular online shopper, that portal should be right up your alley.
  • This card is known for offering pretty stellar trip interruption/cancellation insurance at no additional cost. It's an unusual – and potentially money-saving – feature for a card with this low an annual fee.

CONS:

  • You have an annual fee to consider. It's reasonable for the value offered, but you still need to be sure you're getting enough value from the card to more than offset it.
  • That signup bonus is lucrative, but it requires you to spend $4,000 in the first three months to earn it. Make sure you can meet that threshold or you'll miss out on that awesome opportunity.

Read our full CardName.

Current Scores Past Scores
Overall Score 86.6 75.9
Rewards Program Satisfaction 8.6 7.5
Customer Service 8.7 7.9
Website/App Usability 8.8 7.7
Likelihood of Continuing to Use 8.7 8.2
Recommend to a Friend/Colleague 8.6 7.1

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

CardName discontinued    Winner

EditorRating
 
foreign_fee AnnualFees
Why We Like It: It is demoralizing to make a purchase only to see that item go on sale or for the price to drop a few weeks or months later. This card helps save you that disappointment by offering price protection through Paribus, a service that automatically monitors your online purchases from numerous retailers and works to get you money back if a price drops.
Welcome Bonus
75,000 milesEarn a one-time 75,000 mile bonus when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months
Annual Fee
AnnualFees
Regular APR
RegAPR
Credit Score
CreditScoreNeeded

The Bonus: Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within three months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

The Rewards: Earn an unlimited two miles per $1 on every purchase, every day.

The Annual Fee: AnnualFees

Credit Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

  • Redeem your miles for statement credit to cover eligible travel purchases or transfer them to one of several hotel or airline loyalty programs.
  • Since we're talking about the best cards for online shopping, it's worth noting that you can redeem your miles for purchases via Amazon.com.
  • In addition to the Paribus price protection on your online purchases, Capital One also offers Wikibuy to help find the best prices when shopping online. (Note, neither Paribus or Wikibuy require you to have a Capital One card in order to utilize the services.)

CONS:

  • This card does charge an annual fee, so you'll need to ensure it's a good fit and that you can more than offset that fee with the rewards you earn.

Read our full CardName

Current Scores Past Scores
Overall Score 76.0 81.9
Rewards Program Satisfaction 7.7 8.2
Customer Service 7.2 8.2
Website/App Usability 8.2 8.0
Likelihood of Continuing to Use 7.9 8.5
Recommend to a Friend/Colleague 7.2 8.1

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

CardName discontinued    Winner

EditorRating
 
foreign_fee AnnualFees
Why We Like It: This card offers excellent rewards on purchases with U.S. supermarkets, plus excellent purchase protection, covering eligible purchases against accidental damage or if they're lost or stolen within 90 days of purchase. There's also an extra year added to the manufacturer's warranty of five years or less (terms apply; American Express is a CardRatings advertiser).
Welcome Bonus
60,000 points Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $4,000 on eligible purchases within six months of account opening.
Annual Fee
AnnualFees
Regular APR
RegAPR
Credit Score
CreditScoreNeeded

The Bonus: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $4,000 on eligible purchases within six months of account opening.

The Rewards: Earn four Membership Rewards® points per $1 spent at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.; four points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then one point); three points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines or through amextravel.com; and one Membership Rewards point per $1 on other eligible purchases.

The Annual Fee: AnnualFees

Credit Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

  • A shopper's dream: AmEx will extend the original manufacturer's warranty up to one additional years on U.S. warranties of five years or less, provided, of course, that you've made the purchase with an eligible card.
  • You'll also get purchase protection. If you anything you buy with your card is broken, stolen or damaged within the first 90 days, it'll be replaced, up to $10,000 per item and $50,000 per calendar year.
  • There are no foreign transaction fees, which makes traveling internationally – or shopping with overseas merchants in a foreign currency – cheaper.

CONS:

  • The annual fee is a bit higher than average. Just make sure you'll more than offset the fee with the rewards you earn; it likely won't be difficult to do.
  • Unlike typical credit cards, this card allows you to carry a balance for certain charges, but not all. That could be a good thing, though; if you use the card right, you won't pay interest. But it's helpful to know and possibly a bummer for anybody who wants to take a little more time than a month to pay the card back.

Read our full CardName

Current Scores Past Scores
Overall Score 83.4 80.9
Rewards Program Satisfaction 8.4 8.0
Customer Service 8.4 8.3
Website/App Usability 8.3 8.1
Likelihood of Continuing to Use 8.4 8.2
Recommend to a Friend/Colleague 8.2 8.0

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

CardName discontinued    Winner

EditorRating
 
foreign_fee AnnualFees
Why We Like It: This card offers a no-annual-fee option for excellent rewards at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and U.S. online retail purchases. That combination of high-earning categories means this card could be a solid fit for a lot of people.
Welcome Bonus
$200 statement credit Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card within the first six months.
Annual Fee
AnnualFees
Regular APR
RegAPR
Credit Score
CreditScoreNeeded

The Bonus: Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card within the first six months.

The Rewards: Earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and on U.S. online retail purchases (up to $6,000 spent in each category per year, then 1%), and 1% back on other eligible purchases. Your cash back accumulates as Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for statement credit.

The Annual Fee: AnnualFees.

Credit Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

  • If you're an avid online shopper, the 3% cash back rewards specifically for U.S. online retail purchases (up to $6,000 spent annually in this category, then 1%) could be lucrative.
  • As introductions go, this one's memorable. You'll enjoy an intro 0% APR period lasting 15 months on purchases and balance transfers (then,RegAPR).
  • The bonus categories are everyday shopping categories that a lot of people will be able to earn rewards on.

CONS:

  • The rewards for U.S. supermarket purchases, U.S. gas station purchases and U.S. online retail purchases are capped annually at $6,000 per category, and then the rewards rate drops to 1%. If you think you'll spend far more, and the way prices are, you well may, you might want to find a rewards card without the caps.
  • Thinking of traveling abroad? Keep the foreign transaction fee in mind: foreign_fee

Read our full CardName.

Current Scores Past Scores
Overall Score 78.0 74.8
Rewards Program Satisfaction 7.8 7.5
Customer Service 8.1 7.7
Website/App Usability 7.9 7.4
Likelihood of Continuing to Use 7.7 7.9
Recommend to a Friend/Colleague 7.6 7.0

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

CardName discontinued    Winner

EditorRating
 
foreign_fee AnnualFees
Why We Like It: There are certainly seasons when you probably do more online shopping than other times, which is why the ability to select "online shopping" as your top earning category one month, but then "travel" or "dining" the next month is so valuable. Furthermore, earning 3% cash back in your choice category means that anywhere you shop online will earn you that top cash back (note that this is for retail establishments and things like medical bills, education/tuition payments and some other non-retail payments do not qualify as "online shopping").
Welcome Bonus
$200 Earn a $200 online cash bonus after spending at least $1,000 on purchases within the first 90 days of card membership.
Annual Fee
AnnualFees
Regular APR
RegAPR
Credit Score
CreditScoreNeeded

The Bonus: Earn a $200 online cash bonus after spending at least $1,000 on purchases within the first 90 days of card membership.

The Rewards: Earn 3% cash back in a category of your choice from the following six categories: online shopping, gas (the default category), travel, dining, drug stores or home improvement/furnishings. Earn 2% cash back on grocery store and wholesale club purchases (3% and 2% cash back is on the first combined $2,500 spending in your choice category/grocery/wholesale club purchases each quarter, then 1%). Earn 1% back on your other purchases. Bank of America Preferred Rewards clients can earn 25%-75% more cash back on purchases depending on your tier, which is based based on average three-month balances across eligible accounts).

The Annual Fee: AnnualFees

Credit Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

  • Appealing rewards bonus for online shop-a-holics: You'll receive $200 online cash rewards bonus after spending at least $1,000 on purchases in the first three months of opening the account.
  • This card is a top card for online shopping because it gives you the option to select "online shopping" as your highest earning category, but there are other options too. And, as an online shopper, we know you appreciate options.
  • We're always happy when there is no annual fee.
  • The rewards categories are already lucrative, but Preferred Rewards clients stand to earn even more: If you're just a Gold tier member (that's the lowest tier), you could be earning 3.75% back on your online purchases (up to the cap).

CONS:

  • Sure you can earn 3% on your online shopping purchases, but the $2,500 quarterly combined spending caps in your choice category/grocery/wholesale club purchases are a bit of a downer. We'd rather see no spending caps or a higher spending cap.
  • The Preferred Rewards client tiers are certainly nice, but the bar to become a Preferred Rewards client is fairly high – it starts with an average three months balance of $20,000 across all your eligible accounts.

Read our full CardName.

Current Scores Past Scores
Overall Score 80.2 78.2
Rewards Program Satisfaction 8.1 7.8
Customer Service 8.1 7.9
Website/App Usability 8.1 7.9
Likelihood of Continuing to Use 7.8 7.9
Recommend to a Friend/Colleague 7.8 7.7

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

CardName discontinued    Winner

EditorRating
 
foreign_fee AnnualFees
Why We Like It: This no-annual-fee card means your business can earn up to 5% cash back on purchases of office supplies, including if you shop via your favorite office supply store's website.
Welcome Bonus
$750 Earn a $750 cash back bonus after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Annual Fee
AnnualFees
Regular APR
RegAPR
Credit Score
CreditScoreNeeded

The Bonus: Earn a $750 cash back bonus after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

The Rewards: Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases each account year at office supply stores (including purchases via the store's website, and things like computers, printers and more) and on phone, internet and cable services. Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases yearly at gas stations and restaurants; and earn an unlimited 1% cash back on your other purchases.

The Annual Fee: AnnualFees; add additional employee cards at no cost.

Credit Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

  • It's a great card for buying office supplies online (or offline, or anything you buy for your business) and your cash back accumulates as Chase Ultimate Rewards points, a highly valued travel rewards currency.
  • There's no annual fee to worry about offsetting.
  • Buy something you need to take your business to the next level and enjoy an intro 0% APR for the first 12 months on purchases (then, RegAPR)).

CONS:

  • Foreign transaction fees make this card not a great choice if your business travel takes you abroad or if you frequently buy items online from merchants in a foreign currency.
  • That $25,000 cap on combined spending to earn the top rewards is a bit low. If your business, for instance, needs to replace a number of computers or other electronics, you'll quickly eat through that cap.

Read our full CardName.

Current Scores Past Scores
Overall Score 78.7 76.0
Rewards Program Satisfaction 7.7 7.5
Customer Service 8.0 7.8
Website/App Usability 8.2 7.6
Likelihood of Continuing to Use 7.6 7.9
Recommend to a Friend/Colleague 8.0 7.4

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

CardName discontinued    Winner

EditorRating
 
foreign_fee AnnualFees
Why We Like It: Besides this card offering 5% back on up to $1,500 spent in quarterly rotating categories (quarterly activation required), it also offers you a non-traditional welcome bonus opportunity that is as lucrative as you're able to make it.
Welcome Bonus
Cashback Match Discover will automatically match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year. There's no minimum spending or maximum rewards.
Annual Fee
AnnualFees
Regular APR
RegAPR
Credit Score
CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

  • The possibility of a VERY lucrative welcome bonus opportunity really can't be stated enough. Discover will MATCH the cash back you earn during your first year as a cardholder.
  • There's no annual fee to offset, so all the rewards you earn when you shop online, or offline, are yours to keep.
  • Straight cash back is nice, but, keeping with the online shopping theme, know that you can redeem your rewards directly for purchases at Amazon.com.

CONS:

  • If you're not a fan of keeping track of categories and quarters, you may want another card. Remember, too, that you'll need to activate each quarter to earn the 5% on rotating categories up to the quarterly maximum. It's easy to do via your account online, but is another thing to remember.
  • Discover, while regularly expanding its network, is not as widely accepted as Visa, Mastercard or even American Express. It's worth keeping in mind, particularly if you live or travel off the beaten path.

Read our full CardName.

Current Scores Past Scores
Overall Score 84.9 86.3
Rewards Program Satisfaction 8.5 8.7
Customer Service 8.5 8.6
Website/App Usability 8.7 8.6
Likelihood of Continuing to Use 8.9 8.9
Recommend to a Friend/Colleague 8.2 8.5

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card (This card is not currently available on CardRatings)   Winner

5
 
None None
Why We Like It: If you're shopping online, there's a pretty good chance you find yourself at Amazon.com sometimes. If you're there A LOT, well, a card that rewards that loyalty could be an excellent addition to your wallet. Sure, other cards sometimes offer top rewards for your Amazon and/or Whole Foods purchases, but this one offers those top rewards all the time as well as some additional perks for your loyalty. The information related to this card has been collected by CardRatings and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.
Welcome Bonus
$150 Amazon gift card Receive a $150 Amazon gift card immediately upon approval.
Annual Fee
None
Regular APR
16.49% / 24.49%
Credit Score
Good/Excellent

The Bonus: Cardholders receive a $150 Amazon gift card immediately upon approval, so there's no minimum spend to worry about.

The Rewards: Earn 5% back on purchases with Amazon.com or through Whole Foods Market; 2% back at restaurants, gas stations and drugstores; and 1% back on all your other purchases. Rewards can be redeemed for Amazon purchases, for statement credit or for a direct deposit to an eligible checking or savings account.

The Annual Fee: There isn't an annual fee for the card, but you do need to be an Amazon Prime Rewards member, which comes with a $119 per year membership fee.

Credit Needed: Good/Excellent

PROS:

  • There's no better card out there to always, every time earn 5% back on your Amazon and Whole Foods Market purchases. There are other cards that offer that amount during certain quarterly bonuses, but if this is your primary online shopping destination, this card is tough to beat.
  • You could even use this card when traveling internationally. There's no foreign transaction fee.
  • Amazon often runs additional promotions and discounts for cardholders, such as extra percentages off your purchases on Prime Day.

CONS:

  • Technically, there's no annual fee, but you have to be an Amazon Prime member to apply for the card, and so that's essentially an annual fee ($119 annually; $59 for students). But if you're an Amazon devotee, you probably don't care.
  • There's no introductory low or 0% APR period.

Read our full Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card review.

Current Scores Past Scores
Overall Score 91.0 87.0
Rewards Program Satisfaction 9.4 8.6
Customer Service 9.1 8.5
Website/App Usability 9.3 8.8
Likelihood of Continuing to Use 9.6 9.3
Recommend to a Friend/Colleague 8.3 8.7

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

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FAQ

Yes, online shopping is safe, especially when using a credit card to pay for your purchases as credit cards offer protections that shopping with cash, checks or debit cards cannot. Some of those protections are regulation related, like rules around how a bank has to handle the fraud if your credit card is stolen, while others are strictly practical, as in there's no replacing it if you lose or have stolen a wallet-full of cash.

See our top tips for how to shop online safely.

Pay attention to all the details and think about the card beyond just how you'll use it to shop online.

  • Is there an annual fee that is attached with the credit card? An annual fee isn't likely to be a big deal to you if you're a serious shopper and will be getting a lot of rewards that will completely offset the fee, but if you're more of an occasional credit card user, it may be smarter to find a credit card without one.
  • Is there an intro 0% APR period? If you're making a big purchase online and want a few extra months to pay it off, consider whether opening a card with an intro APR offer could benefit you.
  • Are the rewards something you'll use? If it's a travel rewards card, but you never travel, then you probably should check out a different card.
  • Will you qualify for the card? Most of the best rewards cards are for people with good to excellent credit. If that's not you, don't waste a hard pull on your credit applying for the card. Instead, choose a card that aligns with your existing credit score and then work to bring it up so you can apply for a better card in the future.

And, importantly, choosing the best credit card for online shopping also depends on where you like to shop. For instance, if you love to shop at Amazon.com, getting an Amazon-branded credit card could be a good idea.

The main thing is that you want to look for a credit card that will offer you cash back or rewards points. Anything you can do to easily save some money while spending money is generally a good idea.

If you aren't exclusively an Amazon shopper, there are plenty of other credit cards that offer generous rewards for shopping, whether it's online or off.

Often, yes. In the old days of credit cards, like when there was no internet, you'd get approved for a credit card and would wait by the mailbox for that card to come in the mail, so you could then make a phone call and get it activated and start using it.

Now?

More often than not (but not always), you can get approved instantly, but that doesn't necessarily mean you'll be able to use the card immediately. In most cases, you'll still have to wait for the card to arrive in the mail before you can start using it. There are a couple of exceptions:

  • Some American Express cards offer instant card number access upon appoval.
  • If you're applying for a branded card with the retailer you're shopping online with, you'll likely be able to use the card right away for the purchase you're trying to make. In fact, that's how many store/retail cards draw you in: They offer a discount off that day's purchase when you apply for, are approved and use the card for the purchase right then and there. Be care with store cards as they are narrowly focused and, often, you can get a better deal and better, more flexible rewards with a standard bank credit card.

Still, you really don't want to make the ability to immediately shop online your main reason for getting a credit card, of course. You should be looking at all the angles, including whether you can truly afford the purchase you're looking to make or is the instant credit card approval necssary for you to buy it. 

In other words, you want to get the credit card that's best for you in the long run and one that you know you'll be responsible with.

It really depends on your point of view. Features you love may be hated by other cardholders. That said, if you love to shop online, you may want to look at a card with the following perks. (And we should say that while we're discussing online shopping, these features often work plenty fine for shopping inside stores, too.)

Flexibility. Some credit cards will offer you a list of categories, and you can pick which ones you want the most cash back. So if you want to pick "department stores" and "clothing stores," you can do that, and suddenly you're getting 5% cash back for those purchases and less cash back on everything else. That can be a good way to get more bang for your buck if you're often using a department store or shopping for clothes.

Consistency. Some people really prefer just a straight rewards without a lot of strategy - no thinking about categories or having to remember where you need to shop to get the most savings. So you may prefer a credit card that offers the same amount of rewards for everything - and then do your online shopping that way.

An online branded store card. Amazon has a lot of credit cards, like, for instance, the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card. If you do a lot of online shopping on Amazon, or with any particular online store, getting a card exclusive to a favorite retail brand can make a lot of sense. BUT, in general, a non-branded card is going to offer you the best flexibility and bang for your buck. Don't apply for a store card just to save 20% on that day's purchase. It's likely not worth the hard credit pull.

Look for a generous welcome offer. First of all, take this advice with a little grain of salt. All welcome offers end - they give you a serious chunk of rewards, and then the welcome offer is done. So you need to find a credit card, whether for online shopping or everyday living, that you're going to really like in the long run. That said, if you find a credit card that offers, say, $200 cash back when you spend $500, you could use that money for a pretty decent online shopping spree.

Start with a rewards credit card and from there look for special rebates through your bank, extra savings when you shop proprietary portals, bonus programs with a given retailer and more. There are so many ways you can save money online, it's dizzying. Take a look at this list of strategies you may want to try.

Obviously, we'll mention a rewards credit card at the start. One percent off anything is nice, but if you can get, say, 3% or 5% off a product right from the get-go, that's real money you're saving.

But if you use a rewards credit card and try some of these strategies as well, you really will start to feel like you're making out like a bandit. So when you use your credit card, also try the following…

Shop through a website that offers cash back. Browse sites like Rakuten or RetailMeNot.com, so that you're getting cash back from the websites you want to shop in addition to earning rewards on the credit card you're using.

Shop with your bank's proprietary shopping portal. It's also worth noting that most major banks' credit cards have shopping portals, like Capital One with its CapitalOneShopping.com website. You load it onto your desktop, device or phone, and it'll look for discounts and coupons anywhere you shop online. Sometimes these portals offer you bonus rewards when you click through the bank's site to get to your retailer of choice, like earning 5% back on your GAP purchase instead of just the 1% your credit card would normally offer. Other times they offer a percentage of cash-back, normally applied as a statement credit or deposit to your account, when you use your card with a particular retailer either online or in-person. The bottom line is there are lots of ways you can boost your rewards earning or save money when shopping with a credit card online or otherwise.

Search for promo codes online. It's easy to have your rewards credit card and think, "Great. I'm saving money, and I'm done," but don't forget the promo codes. When you're ordering food especially, restaurants often seem to have promo codes - but so do many specialty online stores. It's a worth a try. A quick Google search may turn something up.

Remember coupons. You know, old-fashioned coupons. You don't have to just clip them out of the newspapers, though. There are also plenty of coupon websites, like Coupons.com or TheKrazyCouponLady.com that can help you save money when you shop online or in-person.

Look for deals. It's also an old-fashioned shopping strategy but one that should never go out of style. Bargain hunt. As we said, "It's easy to get that rewards credit card and figure you've done your part to save," but the goal should be - find the lowest price, and then get it even lower with your rewards credit card. You don't want to get a rewards credit card and suddenly stop shopping strategically. So look for the best sales and discounts - and utilize technology if you can. For instance, CamelCamelCamel.com is a price tracking website that focuses on finding the best Amazon deals. You pair the CamelCamelCamel website with an Amazon-branded credit card, and you really could save a ton of money. Other tracking price websites to look at include PriceGrabber.com and Google Shopping.

Use more than one rewards credit card. This, too, is important to remember. You may have one credit card that offers you the most rewards with groceries and gas - and then have another card that offers you the most rewards with department stores. If you have two or three or more credit cards that offer rewards in a variety of categories, you may be able to maximize your savings. Just remember, of course, to always pay back everything in full every month. It does you no good to spend a lot of time maximizing your savings, only to waste it by paying additional interest.


Survey Methodology: CardRatings commissioned Op4G in September and October 2022 to conduct surveys among 1,554 cardholders nationwide. CardRatings website analytics from Jan. 1, 2022-Aug. 31, 2022 were used to determine a selection of the most popular cards and additional cards were included to add survey breadth. Responses to each of nine questions were given on a scale of 1-10 and respondents’ scores were then averaged under broad topics. To determine the overall score, responses from questions 1-8 were summed and the answer to “How likely are you to recommend this card to a friend, coworker or family member?” was double weighted. “Current Scores” reflect scores from the most recent survey (2022); “Past Scores” reflect scores from the 2021 survey.

Ranking Methodology: CardRatings experts review the fine print, details, perks, rewards and features of hundreds of cards and compare them side-by-side with similar cards. A card that makes an excellent balance transfer card may not make a great cash-back rewards card even though it offers those rewards. While the Best of the Year list is announced annually, that list – and all other “best of” lists on CardRatings – are regularly reviewed and updated as issuers change the terms and features of each card often.

To see the rates and fees for the American Express cards featured in this post, please visit the following links: CardName (See Rates and Fees); CardName (See Rates and Fees)

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

Disclaimer:

The information in this article is believed to be accurate as of the date it was written. Please keep in mind that credit card offers change frequently. Therefore, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this article. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accurate information. See the online credit card application for full terms and conditions on offers and rewards. Please verify all terms and conditions of any credit card prior to applying.

This content is not provided by any company mentioned in this article. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed here are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any such company. CardRatings.com does not review every company or every offer available on the market.