The 6 Best Credit Cards for Streaming Services (aka Binge Watching)

If you spend a significant amount of money on services like Netflix, Hulu, or HBO Max, it may make sense to sign up for a new credit card. Top options include the Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express, the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card, and the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card.

Let’s explore the benefits and drawbacks of these cards and more to help you choose the best credit card for streaming services.

Key takeaways

• If you're subscribed to multiple streaming services, it makes sense to look for a credit card that helps you earn extra rewards when you use it to pay for the subscription fees.
• Some credit cards provide substantial cash back or rewards for streaming services. For instance, the Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express helps you earn 6% cash back on U.S. supermarkets (for first $6,000 per year, after that 1%) and on select U.S. streaming services. This card has a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, $95 per year thereafter (terms apply).
• While many of these cards offer lucrative rewards, it's important to be aware of their annual fees. For example, the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card, has a $0 annual fee, making it a cost-effective option.
• Beyond rewards, consider other card perks. For example, The Platinum Card^® from American Express helps you earn digital entertainment statement credits of up to $240 per year on eligible subscriptions. Enrollment is required for select benefits. This card has an annual fee of $695 (terms apply).
• Be mindful of eligible services, as not all streaming services may qualify for the benefits each card offers.

The best credit cards for streaming services

• Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express: Best for overall streaming service needs
• Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for $0 annual fee
• Prime Visa: Best for Amazon Prime Video
• Apple Card: Best for Apple TV
• Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card: Best for travel rewards
• The Platinum Card^® from American Express: Best for digital entertainment statement credits

Compare the best credit cards for streaming services

Credit card	Best for	Rewards rate	Annual fee
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express	Overall streaming service needs	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	$0 intro annual fee for the first year, $95 per year thereafter (Terms apply)
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card	$0 annual fee	3% cash back on dining and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), popular streaming services, and entertainment; 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases; 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats (through 11/14/2024); and 1% cash back on all other purchases	$0
Prime Visa	Amazon Prime Video	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	$0
Apple Card	Apple TV	3% cash back on Apple purchases and when you use Apple Pay for purchases from select partners, 2% on other purchases made with Apple Pay, and 1% cash back on everything else	$0
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card	Travel rewards	5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®; 3X points on dining, select streaming services, and eligible online grocery purchases; 2X points on all other travel purchases, and 1X points per $1 on all other eligible purchases	$95
The Platinum Card® from American Express	Digital entertainment statement credits	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	$695 (Terms apply)

Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express: Best for overall streaming service needs

Why we like it

The Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express helps you 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. The 6% rewards rate is one of the highest rates you can earn among cash back credit cards. The cash back you earn is in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.

On top of that, you can earn $7 back in the form of a statement credit after spending $9.99 or more each month on an eligible Disney Bundle subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card. Enrollment required.

Lastly, you can earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 6 months.

What we don’t like

The Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express has a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, $95 per year thereafter. This means that you’d need to make enough value from this card to justify keeping it. However, that shouldn’t be difficult, especially considering its cashback rates and statement credits.

Learn how to apply for the Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express | Explore more benefits and features in our Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express review

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for $0 annual fee

Why we like it

The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card helps you earn 3% cash back on dining and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), popular streaming services, and entertainment; 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases; 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats (through 11/14/2024); and 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Cardholders can benefit from these cashback rates while paying a $0 annual fee.

On top of that, you can earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.

What we don’t like

Some services, including the popular Prime Video from Amazon, as well as AT&T TV, and Verizon FIOS On Demand, don’t earn the higher cashback rate for streaming subscriptions.

Explore more benefits and features in our Capital One SavorOne Rewards review

Prime Visa: Best for Amazon Prime Video

Why we like it

If you have an Amazon Prime membership, the Prime Visa can help you earn rewards at Amazon.

This credit card has a $0 annual fee and enables you to 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.

You can also earn a $100 Amazon gift card upon approval.

What we don’t like

While this is a $0-annual-fee credit card, it does require a Prime membership, which costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year.

Additionally, this credit card doesn’t have bonus categories for streaming services that aren’t tied to Amazon, such as Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and more.

Explore more benefits and features in our Prime Visa review

Apple Card: Best for Apple TV

Why we like it

The Apple Card helps you earn 3% cash back on Apple purchases and when you use Apple Pay for purchases from select partners, 2% on other purchases made with Apple Pay, and 1% cash back on everything else. Plus, you only pay a $0 annual fee.

You can use the cash back you earn immediately after earning it, and there’s no minimum rewards amount needed before you can use it.

What we don’t like

You can earn an elevated cashback rate on Apple-related streaming services, such as Apple Music or Apple TV+. However, you would only get the 1% cash back base rate when you use this credit card for other streaming services, such as Netflix, Paramount+, and Prime Video.

Another drawback is that this card has no welcome offer.

Explore more benefits and features in our Apple Card review

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card: Best for travel rewards

Why we like it

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card helps you earn 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®; 3X points on dining, select streaming services, and eligible online grocery purchases; 2X points on all other travel purchases, and 1X points per $1 on all other eligible purchases.

Eligible streaming services include Apple TV+, Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu, Netflix, Paramount+, Peacock, Showtime, Youtube Premium, and more.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred also enables you to earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

What we don’t like

The Chase Sapphire Preferred has a $95 annual fee. As one of the best travel credit cards, we believe that it offers enough value to justify the fee, however, it may not necessarily make sense to everyone.

Apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card | Explore more benefits and features in our Chase Sapphire Preferred review

The Platinum Card^® from American Express: Best for digital entertainment statement credits

Why we like it

The Platinum Card^® from American Express is a premium travel card that comes with many benefits and statement credits. This includes a digital entertainment credit of up to $20 each month ($240 each year) for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The Wall Street Journal. Keep in mind that enrollment is required for this benefit.

On top of this, the Amex Platinum helps you earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 on purchases on your new card in the first 6 months.

What we don’t like

The Amex Platinum has a $695 annual fee, which is a premium cost for a premium travel card.

Additionally, this card helps you 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. However, it doesn’t offer elevated rewards for streaming service subscription fees.

Apply for the The Platinum Card^® from American Express | Explore more benefits and features in our Amex Platinum review

How to choose the best credit card for streaming services

Choosing the right credit card for streaming services can be a game-changer, especially if you subscribe to multiple platforms. It’s not just about picking a card with good rewards, but also one that aligns with your viewing habits and budget.

Here are some factors to keep in mind:

• Rewards rate: Look for cards that offer high rewards rates for your favorite streaming services.
• Annual fee: Some credit cards may charge an annual fee, which can offset the benefits if you don’t use the card regularly. However, some other cards may charge an annual fee but also offer statement credits for certain streaming services, helping offset their fee.
• Streaming services covered: Not all credit cards help you earn rewards or statement credits for all streaming platforms. Ensure your preferred services are included by reviewing the terms and conditions of the card’s rewards program.

FAQ

Best Credit Cards for Streaming Services: bottom line

Choosing the best credit card for streaming services depends on your personal usage and preferences. Make sure to consider the rewards rate, annual fee, the specific streaming services covered by the card, and any additional perks.

Always remember to read the terms and conditions of each card before making a decision. By doing your research, you can find the best streaming service credit card for your needs. That way, you can enjoy your next binge guilt-free.