/images/2018/01/23/navina-side-hustle-mid_MPfEDfV.jpg)
/images/2019/12/06/smart_strategies_to_save_money_on_car_insurance.jpg)
/authors/miranda_marquit_updated.png)
/authors/ben_walker_updated.png)
/authors/yahia-barakah-financebuzz.jpg)
/images/2019/12/14/best_credit_cards_for_concert_tickets.jpg)
Is reveling in the energy of a live show at an intimate venue your idea of a great time? Or perhaps you can’t get enough of music festivals and outdoor performances by your favorite musicians. If you enjoy attending concerts, the credit card you choose can make a difference in how often you go — and how much money you could save.
To maximize your enjoyment and your savings, we’ve pulled together this guide to the best credit cards for concert tickets. These cards can help you avoid FOMO (fear of missing out) on your favorite shows and keep your budget healthy.
The 9 best cards for buying concert tickets
- Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Citi Double Cash® Card
- Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- The Platinum Card® from American Express
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
- Citi Custom Cash® Card
Compare the best cards for buying concert tickets
| Card | Annual fee | Concert benefits |
|
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
4.9
|
$0 |
|
|
5.0
|
$0 |
|
|
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
5.0
|
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, $95 per year thereafter. Terms apply. |
|
|
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
4.9
|
$95 |
|
|
The Platinum Card® from American Express
5.0
|
$695. Terms apply. |
|
|
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
4.9
|
$395 |
|
|
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
4.7
|
$95 |
|
|
4.9
|
$95 |
|
|
4.7
|
$0 |
|
/images/2024/12/18/capital_one_savor_card_art.png)
/images/2024/12/16/citi-double-cash.jpg)
/images/2024/12/16/amex_blue_cash_preferred_card.png)
/images/2024/12/16/chase-sapphire-preferred-12162024.png)
/images/2024/12/16/amex-platinum-consumer.png)
/images/2024/12/18/capital_one_venture_x_card_art_-_12-18-24.png)
/images/2024/12/18/capital_one_venture_rewards_card_art.png)
/images/2024/12/16/citi-strata-premier.png)
/images/2024/12/16/citi-custom-cash.png)
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card has a $0 annual fee and a solid rewards rate.
Early spend bonus: Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual fee: $0
Why we like it: Cardholders receive access to Capital One Entertainment, a program that provides ticket presale opportunities and exclusive access to different events. This could include artist meet and greets, limited sound checks, premium seats, and more.
Other benefits include: Elevated earning rates on entertainment and dining purchases.
This includes 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services; 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply); 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases; and 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Learn more in our Capital One Savor Cash Rewards review.
Citi Double Cash® Card
The Citi Double Cash is a solid, all-around cash back credit card that you can use for all of your everyday purchases.
Early spend bonus: Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
Annual fee: $0
Why we like it: Citi Double Cash cardholders receive access to the Citi Entertainment program, which you can use to buy presale and preferred tickets to different events. This includes loads of concerts in different cities nationwide.
Other benefits include: An earning rate of 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; plus, a special travel offer, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25.
Learn more in our Citi Double Cash Card review.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
The Amex Blue Cash Preferred is one of the most appealing credit cards for earning rewards on everyday purchases.
Welcome bonus: Earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases in the first 6 months.
Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, $95 per year thereafter. Terms apply.
Why we like it: You can receive access to presale tickets and exclusive events through American Express Experiences.
Other benefits include: The opportunity to earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (for first $6,000 per year, after that 1%) and on select U.S. streaming services, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on eligible transit, and 1% cash back on other eligible purchases.
You can also receive $7 back each month in the form of a statement credit after you spend $9.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. Enrollment required.
You also receive additional benefits, including purchase protection, return protection, extended warranty protection, and car rental loss and damage insurance.
Check out our American Express Blue Cash Preferred review.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
The Sapphire Preferred is an excellent beginner travel card that can help you earn rewards for your next trip.
Early spend bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual fee: $95
Why we like it: You can receive access to exclusive ticket offers, experiences, and preferred seating through Chase Experiences.
Other benefits include: An earning rate of 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠; 3X points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries; 2X points on all other travel purchases, and 1X points on all other purchases.
You also receive additional benefits, including trip cancellation/interruption insurance, trip delay insurance, travel accident insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, purchase protection, and extended warranty protection.
Check out our Chase Sapphire Preferred review.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Amex Platinum is a luxury travel card that makes sense if you can take advantage of its many perks and benefits. Select benefits require enrollment.
Welcome bonus: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in the first 6 months.
Annual fee: $695
Why we like it: You can receive access to exclusive ticket presales and events through American Express Fan Experiences, as well as unique experiences through the Premium Events Collections. This includes the opportunity to book a special package for Coachella, as well as many presale events for different concerts.
Other benefits include: A variety of travel, entertainment, lifestyle, and dining perks to make the $695 annual fee worth your time.
This includes:
- Access to over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide
- $155 (plus applicable local sales tax) annual Walmart+ credit
- Up to $200 annual Uber Cash (terms apply)
- Up to $200 annual airline fee statement credit
- Up to $200 annual hotel statement credit when booked with American Express Travel (which requires a minimum two-night stay)
- Up to $240 annual digital entertainment statement credit
- And much more; select benefits require enrollment
Learn more in our Amex Platinum review.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
The Venture X is a premium travel credit card that’s an ideal fit for people who want airport lounge access, an annual travel credit, and the ease of using one card for all their purchases.
Early spend bonus: Earn 75,000 miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual fee: $395
Why we like it: Venture X cardholders receive access to Capital One Entertainment, a program that provides ticket presale opportunities and exclusive access to different events. This could include artist meet and greets, limited sound checks, premium seats, and more.
Other benefits include: An array of travel-related benefits, such as a $300 annual travel credit you can use through the Capital One Travel portal. You also receive 10,000 anniversary miles and access to Priority Pass and Capital One Lounges.
Even better, you can earn an elevated 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day making this an excellent card to earn rewards on concert tickets, as well as all your everyday purchases.
Check out our Capital One Venture X review.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
The Venture Rewards Credit Card is similar to the Capital One Venture X, but with fewer benefits and a lower $95 annual fee. This card might make sense if you’re not after premium travel perks but you still want to earn travel rewards on all your purchases.
Early spend bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.
Annual fee: $95
Why we like it: Venture Rewards cardholders receive access to Capital One Entertainment, a program that provides ticket presale opportunities and exclusive access to different events. This could include artist meet and greets, limited sound checks, premium seats, and more.
Other benefits include: Travel perks, including up to a $120 statement credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry and a $50 experience credit on hotel and vacation rentals booked from the Lifestyle Collection.
For daily benefits, you can earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day. If you don’t like carrying around multiple credit cards, this is an excellent card to use for all your purchases because of its elevated earning rate.
Learn more in our Capital One Venture Card review.
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
The Citi Strata Premier makes sense if you want a travel credit card to help boost your earnings on common everyday expenses.
Early spend bonus: For a limited time, earn 75,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $750 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
Annual fee: $95
Why we like it: Citi Strata Premier cardholders receive access to the Citi Entertainment program, which allows you to buy presale and preferred tickets to various events, including concerts in cities nationwide.
Other benefits include: The Citi Strata Premier provides great earning potential on expenses that might align with your everyday purchases. This includes 10X points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com; 3X points on air travel and other hotel purchases, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas and EV charging stations; and 1X points on all other purchases.
Check out our Citi Strata Premier Card review.
Citi Custom Cash® Card
The Citi Custom Cash is a good fit if you want flexibility with how you earn rewards each month.
Early spend bonus: Earn $200 in cash back after you spend $1500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
Annual fee: $0
Why we like it: Citi Custom Cash cardholders receive access to the Citi Entertainment program, which allows you to buy presale and preferred tickets to various events, including concerts in cities nationwide.
Other card benefits include: A flexible rewards rate that automatically adjusts based on your top eligible spending category each billing cycle. This works by the Citi Custom Cash providing 5% cash back in your top eligible spending category each billing cycle (up to the first $500 spent, then 1% cash back), plus unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases; plus, as a special travel offer, earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2026.
For avid concertgoers, live entertainment counts as an eligible category for the 5% rate. Other eligible categories include restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, and more.
Learn more in our Citi Custom Cash Card review.
How to choose the best credit card for buying concert tickets
The first step is determining what credit card rewards and perks are most likely to provide you with access to the concert experience you want.
On the one hand, there are credit cards that offer you big rewards for entertainment spending, so each concert ticket you buy could come with some big cash back.
However, you might also want to consider cards that offer perks like early access to concert tickets and exclusive VIP experiences, even if you don’t get cash back on those purchases. Sometimes, getting early access to tickets for your favorite artists or a backstage pass is more valuable than the rewards. You might want to consider one of the best no annual fee credit cards if you don't think you'll offset the fee with your regular spending.
Figure out what makes the most sense for you and choose your best credit card for concert tickets based on your own priorities.
FAQ
Should I buy concert tickets with credit or debit?
Credit cards are typically the better option because many cards provide rewards for making purchases. You can earn points, miles, or cash back on your concert ticket purchase, which acts like a discount on the total price. Certain credit cards also provide access to presale tickets and exclusive events.
Can you use Chase points on Ticketmaster?
You can’t use Chase points directly on Ticketmaster, but it’s possible to redeem your points toward available events through Chase Experiences.
This could include gaining access to a wide variety of sporting, entertainment, and other types of events. For example, Chase regularly offers access to the Sundance Film Festival for Chase Sapphire cardholders.
What is the best credit card for buying concert tickets?
This depends on your preferences, but you typically want a credit card that earns more rewards on concert tickets, provides additional concert-related benefits, or both. Many Capital One credit cards provide access to Capital One Entertainment, where you can find presale tickets and exclusive entry to different events.
Is there a credit card that offers rewards for concerts?
All rewards credit cards provide either points, miles, or cash back for qualifying purchases, including entertainment expenses. But for elevated rewards on concert tickets, consider these credit cards:
Best credit cards for buying concert tickets: bottom line
Anytime you apply for a credit card, you should consider your own priorities, as well as spending. In some cases, it might make more sense to get a card that allows you to earn cash back quickly for everyday spending while accessing perks like presale concert tickets. In other cases, you might want higher cash back earnings based on the amount of entertainment spending you do.
No matter what card you choose, you should be able to find one that allows you to get more concert tickets and enjoy the show.
Methodology
Each of these cards is a good option for concert tickets for different reasons. We chose them because they provide a range of options for consumers based on preferences. These cards offer a mix of cash back for entertainment spending, as well as other experience perks like presale tickets or access to special events.
Great for Flexible Travel Rewards
/images/2024/12/16/chase-sapphire-preferred-12162024.png)
Current Offer
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual Fee
$95
Rewards Rate
5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠; 3X points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries; 2X points on all other travel purchases, and 1X points on all other purchases