The 5 Best Credit Cards for Streaming Services (aka Binge Watching)

Whether you can’t get enough of “The Office” or are still binging “Game of Thrones,” streaming services can be a great way to get your entertainment fix. But with so much great content available, you’ll likely need to sign up for more than one service.

According to a study from Vindicia, the average subscriber in the United States uses 3.4 services, with each one costing $8.53 per month, on average. Over the course of a year, that means the average person spends nearly $350 on streaming services.

If you spend a significant amount of money on services like Netflix, Hulu, or HBO Now, it may make sense to sign up for a new credit card. There are several cards on the market that offer unique benefits for subscribers, helping you save money.

Here’s a quick guide to the best credit cards for streaming services.

Choosing the best credit card for streaming services

If you’re looking for the best rewards credit card, it’s important to keep in mind how much you spend on streaming services — and you may not even know. A recent study found that 84% of survey respondents underestimated how much they spent on subscription services. On average, they said they spent $79.74 per month. But in reality, the average spend was actually $237.33 per month — a 197 percent increase.

If you subscribe to two or more streaming services, look for a card that offers you extra rewards for those subscription fees. Depending on the card, you could earn up to 6% cash back on streaming service subscriptions and get other benefits like cell phone protection.

1. Blue Cash Preferred by American Express

While the Blue Cash Preferred card does have a $95 (waived first year) annual fee, it offers the highest rewards rate on streaming services. With this card, you’ll earn:

• 6% cash back on up to $6,000 in purchases at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year) and select U.S. streaming services
• 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and eligible transit purchases
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

Eligible streaming services that earn cash back at the 6% rate include Apple Music, Hulu, ESPN+, Spotify, and YouTube Premium. Visit American Express’ website for the full list of qualifying services.

To put those numbers in perspective, let’s say you spent $5,000 on groceries and $200 per year on streaming services and used your Blue Cash Preferred card to pay for it. You’d earn 6% cash back on the $5,200 you spent, giving you a total of $312 in rewards — a huge payoff.

2. Wells Fargo Propel by American Express

With the Wells Fargo Propel card, you’ll earn 3X points per $1 spent on eligible dining, transportation, travel, and streaming services. You’ll also earn 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

The following services are eligible for the 3X rewards rate:

• Apple Music
• Hulu
• Netflix
• Pandora
• Sirius XM Radio
• Spotify Premium

The Wells Fargo Propel card has a $0 annual fee, and you can earn 20,000 points when you spend $1,000 within the first 3 months of opening an account — that’s a $200 value!

This card also offers cell phone protection, which is a great perk since so many people access streaming services from their smartphones. If your phone is damaged or stolen, you’ll get up to $600 in coverage, subject to a $25 deductible. To qualify for this perk, use your card to pay for your monthly cell phone bill.

3. Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature

If you have an Amazon Prime membership, consider signing up for the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature card to earn rewards at Amazon. There’s a $0 annual fee, and you’ll earn:

• 5% cash back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market
• 2% cash back at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature card also comes with a generous welcome offer — new cardmembers get a $70 Amazon gift card upon approval. Cardholders also get automatic access to thousands of titles on Prime Video included with their $119 Prime membership, so there’s no need to shell out extra money to pay for a streaming service.

4. Citi Premier

While the Citi Premier card does have a $95 annual fee, it has a robust rewards program that may make up for it. You’ll earn:

• 3X points per $1 spent on restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel, hotels
• 1X points per $1 spent at all other eligible purchases
• point per $1 spent on

For this card, the all other eligible purchases category — which earns 1X points per $1 spent — includes theatrical productions, concerts, movies, and internet streaming services. That rewards rate can help you earn more points on your regular purchases, which can be redeemed for travel, gift cards, or used at checkout with select retailers like Amazon or Best Buy.

If you redeem your Citi ThankYou points for travel at ThankYou.com, your points are worth 25% more, helping you score free trips faster.

5. Apple Card

With the Apple Card, you’ll earn:

• 3% daily cash on Apple purchases and purchases with select partners when using Apple Pay, including your Apple Music subscription and your iCloud storage plan
• 1% daily cash on everything else
• daily cash on

The ability to earn 3% daily cash — cash back rewards you can use right away — on subscriptions and services through Apple is a nice perk that can pay off. For example, if you had a family Apple Music account, you’d pay $14.99 per month, or $179.88 per year. If you used the Apple Card to pay for that subscription, you’d earn $5.39 in rewards. That’s more than you’d get with most general rewards cards that typically only offer 1.5% cash back.

The Apple Card also a $0 annual fee.

Why we chose these cards

To find the best cards for streaming services, we looked at dozens of credit cards that offer rewards, including cash back, points, and travel miles. We chose cards that offered a higher rewards rate on streaming services with a relatively small annual fee, or no fee at all. We also looked for cards that offered a higher rewards rate on purchases beyond streaming services so you can get the most value for the card.

The bottom line on the best credit cards for streaming services

When looking for a new credit card, take into consideration your spending habits and financial priorities. There’s no one best credit card for everyone, so think about if you want a travel rewards card or if you value cash back the most.

By doing your research, you can find the best credit card for you and earn a higher rewards rate on streaming services. That way, you can enjoy your next Netflix binge guilt-free.

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Author Details

Kat Tretina Kat Tretina is a freelance writer based in Orlando, Florida. Her work has been published by publications like The Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, MarketWatch, and more. She specializes in producing content around paying down debt, increasing income, and maximizing credit cards. You can view her work at www.KTretina.com, or contact her on Twitter @KatTretina.

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