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Online shopping continues to gain popularity for its convenience, seemingly infinite selection, and competitive prices. When you shop online, it pays to use a credit card that offers additional rewards or perks to maximize the value that you receive on your purchases.
Many of the best credit cards for online shopping offer cashback, miles, or points based on your spending. Plus, benefits that cover your purchases like $0 fraud liability, price protection, return protection, and an extended warranty can give you peace of mind.
Best Credit Cards for Online Shopping for December 2021: Find the Right Card for You
- Best Overall: Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards
- Best First Year Earnings: Discover it® Cash Back
- Best for Students: Discover it® Student Cash Back
- Best for Flexibility: Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Best for Walmart.com, Best for Online Groceries: Capital One Walmart Rewards Mastercard
- Best for Wholesale Clubs Online: Costco Anywhere Visa®
- Best for Amazon.com: Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature
Best Overall : Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards
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Earn $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.
| Regular APR (%) | 14.99% - 24.99% variable |
| Annual Fee | $0 |
| Rewards Earning Rate | 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day. |
| INTRO PURCHASE APR | 0% for 15 Months |
| INTRO BALANCE TRANSFER APR | 0% for 15 Months |
| Balance Transfer Fee | 3% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that we may offer you. None for balances transferred at the Transfer APR. |
| Foreign transaction fee (%) | 0% |
- Why We Chose This Card:
- Pros & Cons:
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is our choice as the best overall credit card for online shopping. It earns an unlimited 1.5% cashback on every purchase, no matter which website your buying from. Plus, new cardholders can earn $200 cash bonus after making $500 in purchases within three months of account opening. And, if you need more time to pay off your purchases, you'll receive a 0% introductory APR on purchases for the first 15 months your account is open. There is no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, so all of the cash that you earn is yours to keep.
Simple rewards program with a solid return
Decent introductory offers on purchases
No annual or foreign transaction fees
No penalty APR
No bonus rewards rates
One-time bonus is relatively modest
APR can be comparatively high
Read the full Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards credit card review
Best First Year Earnings : Discover it® Cash Back
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Discover will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year, automatically.
| Regular APR (%) | 11.99% - 22.99% variable |
| Annual Fee | $0 |
| Rewards Earning Rate | Earn 5% cash back on rotating categories each quarter each time you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. |
| INTRO PURCHASE APR | 0% for 14 Months |
| INTRO BALANCE TRANSFER APR | 0% for 14 Months |
| Balance Transfer Fee | 5% of the amount of each transfer |
| Foreign transaction fee (%) | 0% |
- Why We Chose This Card:
- Pros & Cons:
The Discover it Cash Back card is our choice for the best first-year earnings. All of the cashback that you earn in the first year is doubled. With cashback offers of up to 5%, the rewards can really add up. Each quarter, you can earn up to 5% on $1,500 of spending in rotating categories. All other purchases earn an unlimited 1% cashback. The bonus categories do require a manual opt-in, so some purchases may miss out on the extra rewards if you forget to register.
Outstanding cash-back rewards on select categories
First-year cash-back rewards are matched
Decent 0% introductory offer on purchases and eligible balance transfers
Limited options for high-rate rewards
Categories must be activated
Relatively few benefits
Read the full Discover it® Cash Back credit card review
Best for Students : Discover it® Student Cash Back
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Discover will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year, automatically.
| Regular APR (%) | 12.99% - 21.99% variable |
| Annual Fee | $0 |
| Rewards Earning Rate | Earn 5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories, each time you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases — automatically. |
| INTRO PURCHASE APR | 0% for 6 Months |
| INTRO BALANCE TRANSFER APR | 10.99% for 6 Months |
| Balance Transfer Fee | 5% of the amount of each transfer. |
| Foreign transaction fee (%) | 0% |
- Why We Chose This Card:
- Pros & Cons:
The Discover it Student Cash Back offers the same cashback rewards as the Discover it Cash Back card, but with extra benefits for students. You'll earn up to 5% cashback on rotating quarterly categories and all of the cashback that you earn the first year is doubled. Additionally, students can earn a $20 bonus each school year when their GPA is 3.0 or higher. This benefit can be earned up to five times, for a total of $100.
High rewards on rotating spending categories
Potential for a large bonus the first year with cashback match
Introductory 0% APR for six months on purchases
Reward for maintaining good grades
Rotating-category rate requires quarterly registration
Spending cap of $1,500 per quarter on 5% bonus categories
Read the full Discover it® Student Cash Back credit card review
Best for Flexibility : Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card
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Online $200 cash rewards bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening.
| Regular APR (%) | 13.99% - 23.99% variable |
| Annual Fee | $0 |
| Rewards Earning Rate | Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice, 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and unlimited 1% on all other purchases. |
| INTRO PURCHASE APR | 0% for 15 Statement Closing Dates |
| INTRO BALANCE TRANSFER APR | 0% for 15 Statement Closing Dates |
| Balance Transfer Fee | Either $10 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. |
| Foreign transaction fee (%) | 3% |
- Why We Chose This Card:
- Pros & Cons:
The Bank of America Cash Rewards Credit Card offers bonus cashback on an eligible category of your choice, which can include online shopping portals—making it our pick for the card offering the best online rewards flexibility. This can allow cardholders to earn rich rewards on Amazon and other online purchases throughout the year. The bonus category spending is capped but can still provide a strong return on online spending if used strategically.
Generous cash-back rewards
Easily earned bonus offer for new cardholders
No annual fee
Generous introductory 0% APR offer
Spending caps on premium rewards earnings
Limited redemption options
Read the full Bank of America® Cash Rewards credit card review
Best for Walmart.com, Best for Online Groceries : Capital One Walmart Rewards Mastercard
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Earn 5% back in Walmart stores for the first 12 months when you use your Capital One Walmart Rewards Card with Walmart Pay - the quick and secure way to pay with your phone at Walmart.
| Regular APR (%) | 17.99% - 26.99% variable |
| Annual Fee | $0 |
| Rewards Earning Rate | Earn 5% at Walmart.com, the Walmart app, and on Walmart grocery pickup and delivery. Earn 2% back on purchases at Walmart stores, Walmart & Murphy USA Fuel Stations, and on dining and travel purchases. Earn 1% back on all other purchases. |
| Balance Transfer Fee | 3% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that we may offer you. None for balances transferred at the Transfer APR. |
| Foreign transaction fee (%) | 0% |
- Why We Chose This Card:
- Pros & Cons:
We chose the Capital One Walmart Rewards Mastercard as the best card for Walmart.com because of its lucrative 5% cashback rewards program. It is also the best credit card for online groceries because Walmart.com and Walmart app purchases allow you to order groceries for delivery or curbside pickup. For those who seek low prices and favor shopping at Walmart, this card can deliver a valuable return on digital spending.
High rewards on Walmart purchases online and in the first year
No caps on rewards at the highest rates
The high Walmart in-store rewards are short-lived
Strong credit is recommended
Read the full Capital One Walmart Rewards Mastercard credit card review
Best for Wholesale Clubs Online : Costco Anywhere Visa®
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| Regular APR (%) | 15.24% variable |
| Annual Fee | $0 with your paid Costco membership |
| Rewards Earning Rate | 4% cash back on eligible gas for the first $7,000 per year; 3% on restaurants and eligible travel purchases; 2% on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com; 1% on all other purchases. |
| Balance Transfer Fee | Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. |
| Foreign transaction fee (%) | 0% |
- Why We Chose This Card:
- Pros & Cons:
The Costco Anywhere Visa card is our choice for best online shopping card for wholesales clubs because of its unlimited 2% cashback rewards through Costco.com and in-store purchases. Executive club members also earn an additional 2% cashback as part of their membership terms. For in-person purchases, you'll also earn 4% on eligible gas purchases (up to $7,000 per year) and 3% on dining and eligible travel purchases.
Outstanding rewards on gas
Comparable restaurant and travel rewards to top travel rewards cards
Rewards not limited to Costco spending
No annual fee with a paid Costco membership
Limited cashback redemption options
Card membership linked to a paid Costco membership
Cap on gas rewards
Read the full Costco Anywhere Visa® credit card review
Best for Amazon.com : Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature
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Get a $200 Amazon.com Gift Card instantly upon credit card approval.
| Regular APR (%) | 14.24% - 22.24% variable |
| Annual Fee | $0, Prime Membership Required |
| Rewards Earning Rate | Earn 5% back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods market with an eligible prime membership, 2% back at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores, and 1% back on all other purchases. |
| Balance Transfer Fee | Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. |
| Foreign transaction fee (%) | 0% |
- Why We Chose This Card:
- Pros & Cons:
We chose the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card as our pick for best online shopping rewards from Amazon.com and Whole Foods groceries due to its unlimited 5% rewards for purchases from the website and online grocery orders for those with an eligible Amazon Prime membership. For orders of $50 or more that may take longer to pay off, you may elect to receive a 0% APR promo ranging from six to 18 months instead of the 5% rewards. New cardholders receive a $200 Amazon gift card instantly upon approval for the card.
No annual fee
5% cash back on Amazon.com purchases
Easy redemption while shopping
No foreign transaction fee
Requires a paid Amazon Prime membership
No 0% APR introductory offer
Low one-time offer
Read the full Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature credit card review
Final Verdict
When choosing a credit card for online purchases, consider which stores or categories where you make the most purchases. Many credit cards offer additional rewards based on your spending. These cards may also offer protection in case your items are lost, stolen, damaged, or the store won't accept a return.
Our choice for the best credit card for online shopping is the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card. You'll earn an unlimited 1.5% cashback on your purchases and it offers a generous $200 cash bonus after spending just $500 within three months. Plus, Capital One offers an extended warranty on eligible items and virtual card numbers from Eno (your online virtual assistant) to protect your card details when shopping online. It has no annual fee and does not charge foreign transaction fees, so you can shop online or in-person without any surprise fees.
Compare the Best Credit Cards for Online Shopping
| Credit Card | Annual Fee | Top Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
Best Overall |
$0 | Unlimited 1.5% cash back |
| Discover it® Cash Back
Best First Year Earnings |
$0 | All cashback doubled the first year |
| Discover it® Student Cash Back
Best for Students |
$0 | Earn 5% on rotating quarterly categories |
| Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card
Best for Flexibility |
$0 | 3% cashback on your choice of categories |
| Capital One Walmart Rewards Mastercard
Best for Walmart.com, Best for Online Groceries |
$0 | 5% cashback at Walmart.com |
| Costco Anywhere Visa®
Best for Wholesale Clubs Online |
$0 | 2% cashback at Costco.com |
| Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card
Best for Amazon.com |
$0 | 5% rewards at Amazon.com |
Editorial Picks
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
Best Overall
Our pick for the best overall credit card for online shopping is the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card because of its unlimited 1.5% cashback on every purchase. New cardholders can earn a $200 bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening. Take advantage of a 0% intro APR on new purchases for 15 months.
Read the full Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card Review.
Discover it® Cash Back
Best First Year Earnings
The Discover it Cash Back card offers the best first-year earnings because Discover will double all of the cashback that you earn during the first 12 months. It has no annual fee and you can earn up to 5% cashback on rotating quarterly bonus categories.
Read the full Discover it Cash Back Review.
Discover it® Student Cash Back
Best for Students
Students receive extra rewards from the Discover it Student Cash Back when they maintain at least a 3.0 GPA. This $20 annual bonus is in addition to the 5% cashback categories that rotate each quarter.
Read the full Discover it Student Cash Back Review.
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card
Best for Flexibility
The best credit card for flexibility is the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card because you get to choose which category will earn 3% bonus cashback. You have six categories to choose from, including online shopping, dining, and travel.
Read the full Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card Review.
Capital One Walmart Rewards Mastercard
Best for Walmart.com, Best for Online Groceries
When shopping at Walmart.com for groceries and other goods, the best credit card is the Capital One Walmart Rewards Mastercard. It earns 5% cashback at Walmart.com whether your order is for pickup or delivery and 2% when shopping in-person at Walmart.
Read the full Capital One Walmart Rewards Mastercard Review.
Costco Anywhere Visa
Best for Wholesale Clubs Online
The Costco Anywhere Visa is the best credit card for wholesale clubs online with 2% cashback on Costco.com purchases. Cardholders can also earn 4% cashback (up to $7,000) on eligible gas purchases at Costco and other gas stations.
Read the full Costco Anywhere Visa Review.
Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card
Best for Amazon.com
The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card is the best credit card for shopping at Amazon.com because it earns 5% rewards on every purchase at Amazon and Whole Foods. You'll earn a $200 Amazon gift card to spend instantly upon approval.
Read the full Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card Review.
What Credit Card Features Are Best for Online Shopping?
When shopping online, your credit card features can protect you and your items when used to pay for purchases. These are the critical factors we think you should consider when evaluating credit cards for online shopping.
- Protection from unauthorized use: Although federal law limits losses from credit card fraud to $50, the best credit cards for online shopping offer $0 liability for unauthorized purchases.
- Texts for unusual activity: This customer service security feature can alert you immediately should your card be used without your permission or knowledge.
- Online chat: Being able to easily communicate with a customer service representative is important for quickly resolving any security concerns.
- Ability to freeze or lock your account: This feature lets you lock down your credit account so no one can use it, in case you believe it has been compromised.
- Virtual card numbers: One-time user credit card numbers protect you in case someone steals your data when shopping online. If they try to use the number to make additional purchases, their transaction will be declined.
- Bonus rewards for online spending: The best cards for online shopping provide bonus rewards for purchases made with certain online retailers or in particular spending categories.
- Access to online shopping portals: Some card issuers have created online shopping portals that provide extra rebates or discounts for merchandise and services.
How Do I Keep My Credit Card Information Safe While Online Shopping?
Before making a purchase online, ensure that the website has an HTTPS in front of its domain name. This signifies that the transaction is using a secure connection, which reduces the chance of someone stealing your information.
Unfortunately, there are still other ways for hackers to steal your credit card number, so the best way to keep your information safe when shopping online is to use a virtual credit card number. These are temporary credit card numbers that cannot be used by someone else and are issued for use by your credit card provider. The card numbers are typically restricted to a specific merchant for a set amount or number of transactions, including for a single-use. This prevents the need to use your actual credit card number that can be stolen or compromised.
Several third-party services offer virtual card numbers to protect your online shopping, like Albine Blur, Privacy, and Divvy. Some banks offer virtual card numbers free to their customers, such as Capital One virtual card numbers from Eno and Citi’s own virtual account service.
Can I Get a Credit Card for Online Shopping With Bad Credit?
When you have bad credit, the number of credit cards that you are eligible for are limited compared to someone with excellent credit. However, you can still get approved for a credit card to make online purchases. Depending on your personal circumstances, it may have to be a secured credit card that requires a deposit before being approved.
Are Store Credit Cards Good for Online Shopping?
Store credit cards offer many benefits when online shopping, such as free shipping, discounts, and exclusive sales. However, they are typically restricted to purchases at the store brand that issued them. Unless the card has a Visa, Mastercard, or American Express logo on it, the store card may not be used for purchases at other stores.
Methodology
To find the best credit cards for online shopping, we researched and reviewed more than 300 credit cards. These data points are constantly monitored for changes to ensure that you're presented with the most up-to-date information possible for you to make an informed decision. The features, benefits, rewards, annual fees, and interest rates gathered are weighted by their importance and the results are compared against similar credit cards. This list represents the highest-rated cards based on the profiles for different types of online shoppers.