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Most cell phone bills can be paid by credit card, which offers a valuable opportunity to earn rewards for paying a monthly bill. But you shouldn’t settle for paying your cell phone bill with just any credit card. Instead, choose a card that provides bonus rewards or other benefits for paying this specific bill.
Fortunately, plenty of credit cards offer cell phone rewards and benefits. To find the right option, review our list of the best credit cards to pay your cell phone bill.
9 best credit cards for paying your cell phone bill
- Chase Freedom Flex℠
- Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
- Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
- The Platinum Card® from American Express
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card
- U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card
- Citi Double Cash® Card
| Card name | Annual fee | Rewards rate | Cell phone benefit |
| Chase Freedom Flex℠ | $0 | 5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories you activate (on up to $1,500 spent) and travel purchased through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery service); and 1% cash back on all other purchases | Cell phone protection, potential for bonus rewards |
| Ink Business Cash® Credit Card | $0 | 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year; 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year; and 1% cash back on all other purchases | Bonus rewards |
| Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card | $95 | 3X points on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year; and 1X points per $1 on all other purchases | Cell phone protection, bonus rewards |
| The Platinum Card® from American Express | $695 Terms apply | 5X points per dollar spent on eligible airfare (on up to $500,000 per calendar year, after that 1X) and eligible hotel purchases, and 1X points per dollar on all other eligible purchases | Cell phone protection |
| The Business Platinum Card® from American Express | $695 | 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels on Amextravel.com; 1.5X points on eligible purchases at U.S. suppliers of construction materials and hardware, U.S. retailers of electronic goods, U.S. providers of shipping, software and cloud systems, and eligible purchases of $5,000 or more (up to $2 million per year, then 1X); and 1X points per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases | Cell phone protection, wireless credit |
| Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card | $550 Terms apply | 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta and 1X miles for all other eligible purchases | Cell phone protection |
| U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card | $0 | 5% cash back on two categories you choose (up to $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter) and on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Center; 2% cash back on one everyday category, like gas stations/EV charging stations, grocery stores, or restaurants; and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases | Bonus rewards |
| U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card | $0 | None | Cell phone protection |
| Citi Double Cash® Card | $0 | 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 | Bonus rewards |
Chase Freedom Flex℠
The Chase Freedom Flex offers $200 cash back after spending $500 in the first 3 months. You can also earn 5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories you activate (on up to $1,500 spent) and travel purchased through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery service); and 1% cash back on all other purchases. This card has a $0 annual fee.
Cell phone benefit(s): The Freedom Flex rotating spending categories have previously included cell phone services, which means you could earn bonus cash back on your cell phone bill if that category comes back into rotation.
In addition, this credit card offers cell phone protection against theft or damages of cell phones on a bill that’s paid for with this card. You can get up to $800 per claim and up to $1,000 per year, with a maximum of two claims in a 12-month period. There’s also a $50 deductible per claim.
For more details, check out our Chase Freedom Flex review.
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Small business owners can use the Ink Business Cash Card to get 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year; 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year; and 1% cash back on all other purchases. In addition to earning rewards, you also have the opportunity to earn a sign-up bonus of $900 after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months. This card has a $0 annual fee.
Cell phone benefit(s): The Ink Business Cash can be an excellent option for earning bonus rewards on your monthly cell phone bill. You can earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year.
Apply now or for more details, check out our Ink Business Cash Credit Card review.
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
The Ink Business Preferred offers 3X points on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year; and 1X points per $1 on all other purchases. You can also earn a sign-up bonus of 100,000 points after spending $8,000 in the first 3 months.
This business credit card has a $95 annual fee, but it can easily be offset by the sign-up bonus, earning potential, and other benefits. One helpful benefit includes receiving an automatic 25% bonus on your points when you use them for travel redemptions through the Chase travel portal.
Cell phone benefit(s): Similar to the Ink Business Cash, the Ink Business Preferred also offers bonus rewards if you use it to pay your cell phone bill. Specifically, you can earn 3X points on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year.
This card also offers cell phone protection against theft or damage. When you pay your cell phone bill with your card, you can get up to $600 per claim on a covered phone, with a maximum of three claims in a 12-month period. There’s a $100 deductible per claim.
Apply now or for more details, check out our Ink Business Preferred review.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Amex Platinum has a $695 annual fee, but it also has a generous welcome offer of 80,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 in the first 6 months. And you can earn 5X points per dollar spent on eligible airfare (on up to $500,000 per calendar year, after that 1X) and eligible hotel purchases, and 1X points per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
In addition, this premium travel card provides a variety of annual credits and other benefits, such as Priority Pass membership and complimentary elite hotel statuses. Select benefits require enrollment.
Cell phone benefit(s): The Amex Platinum comes with cell phone protection for phones on a bill that’s paid for with this card.1 These phones are covered for damage and theft for up to $800 per claim with a $50 deductible. You can have up to two claims per 12-month period.
For more details, check out our American Express Platinum review.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Amex Business Platinum has a $695 annual fee and offers 120,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $15,000 in the first 3 months. You can also earn 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels on Amextravel.com; 1.5X points on eligible purchases at U.S. suppliers of construction materials and hardware, U.S. retailers of electronic goods, U.S. providers of shipping, software and cloud systems, and eligible purchases of $5,000 or more (up to $2 million per year, then 1X); and 1X points per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.
Other benefits include various perks and rewards, complimentary hotel elite statuses, and a 35% return on your points when booking eligible award flights. Select benefits require enrollment.
Cell phone benefit(s): The Amex Business Platinum offers cell phone protection for phones on a bill that’s paid for with this card.1 These phones are covered against damage and theft for up to $800 per claim, with a $50 deductible. You can have a maximum of two claims per 12-month period. You can also receive up to $120 in annual telephone wireless services credit. This credit is divided by month, so you can receive up to $10 in credit each month for paying your phone bill.
For more details, check out our American Express Business Platinum review.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
The Amex Delta Reserve has a $550 annual fee and offers 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta and 1X miles for all other eligible purchases. You can also earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 in the first 6 months.
Additionally, this card offers complimentary Delta Sky Club and Centurion Lounge access. Cardholders also receive their first checked bag free, complimentary seat upgrades, and a fee credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.
Cell phone benefit(s): The Amex Delta Reserve offers cell phone protection for phones on a bill that’s paid for with this card.1 You get up to $800 per claim for covered theft or damages, with a $50 deductible. You can make up to two claims per 12-month period.
For more details, check out our Delta Reserve Credit Card review.
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card
The U.S. Bank Cash+ has a $0 annual fee, so there’s no annual cost to offset. The earning rates include 5% cash back on two categories you choose (up to $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter) and on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Center; 2% cash back on one everyday category, like gas stations/EV charging stations, grocery stores, or restaurants; and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
The sign-up bonus consists of earning $200 bonus after spending $1,000 in the first 120 days.
This card doesn’t have many additional benefits, but it could make sense if you want to transfer a balance from a card with a high interest rate. Cardholders enjoy a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 billing cycles (then 19.74% - 29.74% (Variable)).
Cell phone benefit(s): The U.S. Bank Cash+ offers you the opportunity to earn bonus rewards when you pay your phone bill. Since you get to earn 5% cash back on two categories you choose (up to $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter), it’s possible to select cell phone providers as one of your choices.
For more details, check out our U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature review.
U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card
The U.S. Bank Visa Platinum isn’t a rewards credit card, so don’t expect any earning potential or a sign-up bonus. However, it does have a $0 annual fee and made our list of the best balance transfer cards available.
Cardholders receive a 0% introductory APR on balance transfers for 18 billing cycles (then 18.74% - 29.74% (Variable)) and a 0% intro APR on purchases for 18 billing cycles from account opening (then 18.74% - 29.74% (Variable)).
Cell phone benefit(s): The U.S. Bank Visa Platinum also offers cell phone protection when you pay your monthly cell phone bill with this card. You can receive up to $600 per claim for covered damage or theft, with a $25 deductible. You may file up to two claims (with a maximum benefit of $1,200) per 12-month period.
For more details, check out our U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card review.
Citi Double Cash® Card
The Citi Double Cash has a $0 annual fee. In addition, 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. This earning rate on this cashback credit card makes it easy to earn valuable rewards across a broad range of categories. You also get a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months (then 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)).
Cell phone benefit(s): The Citi Double Cash doesn’t have a specific cell phone benefit, such as earning bonus rewards for paying your cell phone bill or receiving cell phone protection. But it could make sense to pay your cell phone bill with this card since it earns unlimited cashback rewards on all purchases.
If you don’t have a card with specific cell phone benefits, the Citi Double Cash could be a good alternative.
For more details, check out our Citi Double Cash Card review.
FAQs
Can you pay your cell phone bill with a credit card?
Most cell phone bills can be paid with a credit card. Paying this bill with a credit card can be beneficial if you have a card like the Ink Business Cash that earns bonus rewards on these payments or a card like the Amex Platinum that offers cell phone protection when you use it to pay your cell phone bill.
Is it smart to use a credit card for cell phone bills?
Paying your cell phone bill with a credit card can have multiple benefits, including earning credit card rewards and protecting the cell phones listed on your bill. Certain cards, such as the Ink Preferred, offer both bonus points for paying your cell phone bill and cell phone protection. And other cards, like the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex, offer cell phone coverage when used to pay your bill each month.
Is extended warranty coverage the same as cell phone protection?
While both offer purchase protection, extended warranty coverage works differently than cell phone protection. A credit card that offers extended warranty coverage may extend the manufacturer's warranty on eligible purchases. Cell phone protection provides coverage against damage or theft of eligible devices.
What are the best credit cards for paying your cell phone and utility bills?
Credit cards that offer bonus rewards or other benefits are typically your best options for paying cell phone and utility bills. For example, the Citi Double Cash offers 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. This could come in handy for cell phone and utility bills that typically don’t fall into bonus categories.
In addition, many credit cards offer cell phone protection if you use them to pay your monthly cell phone bill. For more details, check out our list of credit cards with cell phone protection.
Bottom line
Credit cards offer loads of benefits, from bonus rewards to helpful perks. Most of the time, earning additional bonus rewards will come down to choosing the credit card that aligns with your spending habits and lifestyle. In this case, many of the cards listed above can help you earn points or cash back whenever you pay your cell phone bill. And some of them offer cell phone insurance to help protect your expensive devices.
If you want to find the right cashback or travel credit card for other common expenses in your life, check out our lists of credit cards arranged by category.
Methodology
To choose the best credit cards for paying your cell phone bill, we identified rewards credit cards and compared features like annual fees, rewards rates, and cell phone protection benefits or bonus rewards. We did not include all possible options.
Seriously Powerful Cashback Card
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Chase Freedom Flex℠
Current Offer
Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories you activate (on up to $1,500 spent) and travel purchased through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery service); and 1% cash back on all other purchases
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