Before You Click Buy, See the 9 Top Credit Cards for Online Shopping

Online shopping is quick, convenient, and often allows you to find great deals or unusual products. But if you're making the bulk of your purchases online, it makes sense to have a credit card that rewards this type of spending.

Luckily, there are tons of cards that give you extra points, cash back, or miles for online purchases. Plus, many credit card issuers allow you to redeem those rewards with online merchants as well. You just need to know which card to pick.

How to choose the best credit card for online shopping

It's essential to know how to save money shopping online if you prefer to get your items online rather than at brick-and-mortar or department stores, there are a few key features you should look for when selecting a credit card, including:

• The ability to earn bonuses for spending on the internet: While many cards offer extra rewards, cash back, or points for buying at U.S. supermarkets, local restaurants, or U.S. gas stations, these cards aren't ideal if most of your money goes to online stores. Be sure to look for a card that offers bonuses for the spending you actually do online and check for any spending caps they may have.
• Flexible rewards redemption: Some credit card rewards points are most valuable when redeemed for travel purchases or hotel stays. These wouldn't be ideal if you’re more of a homebody than a jet-setter. Look for a card with rewards you can redeem in a way that's best for you — such as points you can use to shop at your favorite online stores.
• Perks that benefit online shoppers: Some credit cards make it possible for you to score free shipping from hundreds of online stores. For example, the Citi World Elite cards offer a free ShopRunner membership to cardmembers that gets you free shipping and free returns at over 100 stores after activation. Others may provide extended warranties or assistance with returns that could be beneficial if you tend to deal with online stores that don’t provide the same level of customer support available from local merchants.

6 best personal cards for online shopping

Amazon credit cards

Amazon actually offers two different credit cards that are ideal for online shoppers: The Prime Visa and the Amazon Visa. Both cards offer generous cash back on Amazon purchases, but there are some slight differences between them:

• The Prime Visa: It provides points that can be redeemed for Amazon purchases, statement credits, or merchandise. If you have an eligible Prime membership, you'll earn 5% cash back at Amazon.com, Whole Foods Market, and on Chase Travel purchases; 2% cash back at restaurants and gas stations, and on local transit and commuting; 1% cash back on all other purchases.
• The Amazon Visa: It offers 3% cash back at Amazon.com, Whole Foods Market, and on Chase Travel purchases; 2% cash back at restaurants and gas stations, and on local transit and commuting; and 1% cash back on all other purchases. You can only redeem your rewards at Amazon, but you don't need to be a Prime member to use this card.

The Prime Visa offers more generous cash back and greater flexibility in rewards redemption, which many may find preferable — as long as you don't mind paying for an annual Prime membership.

Because this card is really best for people who shop at Amazon often, chances are good that the Prime membership will be worth the fee anyway, since it comes with perks like free two-day shipping and access to Prime Video.

Learn more in our Prime Visa review and Amazon Visa review.

Bank of America^® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

The Bank of America^® Customized Cash Rewards credit card comes with a $0 annual fee and the opportunity to earn 3% in the category of your choice once per billing cycle. Online shopping is one of those categories, so you can benefit from generous cash back whenever you shop on the web.

The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card offers 2% back on grocery stores and wholesale clubs (on the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club purchases each quarter), so it’s somewhat comparable to Amazon's cards, which offer additional bonuses at drugstores.

Check out our Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards review.

There’s a caveat in that the bonus cash back you can earn online or at grocery stores is only available on the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter. If you commonly spend more than that, this card may not be optimal for your situation.

Chase Freedom Unlimited^®

The Chase Freedom Unlimited^® allows you to earn a generous 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases. 

The Chase Freedom Unlimited also offers a 0% intro APR (annual percentage rate) for 15 months on purchases (then 20.49% - 29.24% Variable APR). So if you plan to make some big purchases online and want to benefit from no-interest financing, this card is likely the ideal choice for you.

Get more information in our Chase Freedom Unlimited review.

After the introductory APR expires, however, this card may not be as good as others that may earn a higher cashback rate for shopping on the web.

Citi Double Cash^® Card

The Citi Double Cash Card is another great contender for online shopping because of the double cash back you earn on every purchase. You can earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; plus, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the citi travel℠ portal through 12/31/24.

There aren't any caps on the cash back you can score with this Citi card, and you aren't restricted to getting bonus cash back at certain retailers. And like the other cards mentioned above, this card has a $0 annual fee.

Learn more in our Citi Double Cash Card review.

Discover it^® Cash Back

The Discover it^® Cash Back is different from other cards on the list because it provides ample bonus cash back for certain online purchases — but only at specific times of the year. With the Discover it Cash Back, cardholders earn 5% cash back at different places each quarter up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. From January through March 2024, bonus categories include restaurants and drugstores.

While you have to activate the bonus cash back each quarter, you can get one of the best cashback rewards rates for online shopping with this card. Even better, Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.

Another big benefit of this card is that you can use your cash back directly at Amazon.com, which makes it easy to redeem your points at one of the most popular online merchants.

Find out more in our Discover It Cash Back card review.

3 best business cards for online shopping

It's not just individuals who shop online often — businesses do as well. Check out some of the best rewards credit cards to use if your business frequently makes web purchases.

The Blue Business^® Plus Credit Card from American Express

The Blue Business^® Plus Credit Card from American Express allows you to earn 2X Membership Rewards points on everyday eligible business purchases up to $50,000 each year, and 1X points on eligible purchases after that. This means if you tend to shop online, you can score double points for all your web-based purchases.

This Amex card also comes with a $0 annual fee. New cardholders can use a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months after account opening, then 18.49% - 26.49% Variable APR. That means you can buy online and pay off what you purchased over time without worrying about interest charges right away. Keep in mind that this card doesn't have the same intro offer for balance transfers.

Employee cards are available with no additional fee, as well. So you can sign up your staff members for their own cards so they can shop online and rack up rewards in your account even faster.

Check out our Amex Blue Business Plus review.

Capital One Spark Cash Plus

The Capital One Spark Cash Plus has an annual fee of $150, but it provides your company with plenty of perks for this low annual cost.

One of those benefits entails 2% cash back on every purchase, every day; plus 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel — including purchases made online. The cash back can be redeemed at any time, too, so you can put the money right back into your company. Plus, you can earn $1,200 after spending $30,000 in the first 3 months.

Free employee cards are another perk of the Spark Cash Plus, so you can get your staff shopping online or in stores without incurring additional costs. You also have the flexibility to pick your own payment due date, which means you can decide when to pay based on your company's cash flow.

Learn more in our Capital One Spark Cash Plus card review.

Ink Business Unlimited^® Credit Card

The Ink Business Unlimited^® Credit Card comes with a $0 annual fee. Plus, you can take advantage of a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months (then 18.49% - 24.49% Variable APR) from opening your account.

The chance to earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase makes this card especially attractive if your company spends a lot of money online. And you benefit from the flexibility of redeeming your points for travel, cash back, or merchandise through Chase Ultimate Rewards program.

This Chase card also comes with purchase protection — which covers new purchases for 120 days and pays up to $10,000 for damage or theft — as well as extended warranty protection, which extends eligible manufacturer warranties by one year. When dealing with online merchants, these added shopping protections can be a big benefit.

Get more information in our Ink Business Unlimited card review,

Methodology

These cards top our list for lots of reasons, including:

• The potential to earn the maximum possible cash back for online shopping: Earning up to 5% cash back for purchases made on the web allows you to rack up rewards fast when you primarily buy things at dot-com stores instead of brick-and-mortar retail locales.
• No (or low) annual fees: If you plan to collect major rewards with your online spending, don’t throw away your earnings by paying a hefty annual fee. These cards are either free or inexpensive to own.
• Other features attractive to online consumers: Benefits such as identity theft support can help you to feel safer when shopping online, intro balance transfer or purchase APR, or offers for streaming services. 
• Flexible rewards redemption methods: If you like to shop online, it likely makes sense to choose a card that allows you to redeem your rewards with web merchants or as cash.

Finding the best card for online shopping is worth the effort

If you're spending a lot of money on the internet, it's worth taking the time to research which credit card providers will offer the best rewards for your online shopping. Finding the right card based on your shopping habits and credit score offers an easy way to start making your online spending work for you.

Lucrative, Flat-Rate Cash Rewards

Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card

5.0

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card

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Rates and fees

Current Offer

$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Rate

Earn 2% cash rewards on purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
• Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
• Intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
• $0 annual fee

Drawbacks

• Has foreign transaction fee
• No bonus categories

Card Details

• Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
• Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
• Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
• 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
• $0 annual fee.
• No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
• Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
• Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.