The 10 Best Credit Cards with Cell Phone Protection [2024]

Credit card cell phone protection typically covers eligible cases of damage or theft for phones listed on a wireless bill you pay with your applicable credit card.

Some of our favorite credit cards that have a cell phone protection benefit include the Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card and Chase Freedom Flex℠.

Let's explore different credit cards with cell phone protection to see which one is best for you.

Key takeaways

• Cell phone protection is a credit card benefit that could reimburse you up to a certain amount if your phone is stolen or damaged. The limits of the total coverage, how many claims you can make per year, and whether you have to pay a deductible depend on the credit card and card issuer.
• The Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card provides up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Each claim is subject to a $25 deductible.
• The Chase Freedom Flex℠ provides up to $800 per claim and $1,000 per year in cell phone protection against covered theft or damage for phones listed on your monthly cell phone bill when you pay it with your eligible credit card. There’s a maximum of two claims in a 12-month period with a $50 deductible per claim.

10 best credit cards with cell phone protection

Card name	Welcome offer	Rewards rate	Annual fee
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card	Earn $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months	Earn 2% cash rewards on purchases	$0
Chase Freedom Flex℠	Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening	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	$0
Wells Fargo Reflect® Card	Benefit from a long introductory APR period on purchases and qualifying balance transfers		$0
U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card	0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 18 billing cycles. After that, a variable APR currently 18.74% - 29.74%		$0
Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card	Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months (that’s a $200 cash redemption value)	Earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans; plus earn 1X points on other purchases	$0
U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card	Earn 50,000 bonus points when you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening	5X points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Center; 4X points on travel, gas stations, EV charging stations through 9/8/24, after that 4X on your first $1,000 each quarter (wholesale clubs and discount stores/supercenters excluded); 2X points on dining, streaming services and at grocery stores; and 1X points on all other eligible purchases	$95 (waived first year)
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card	Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening	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	$95
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card	Earn 75,000 miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening	2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel, and 5 miles per dollar on Capital One Entertainment purchases through 12/31/25	$395
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card	Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 in purchases in the first 6 months	3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta and 1X miles for all other eligible purchases	$650 (terms apply)
The Platinum Card® from American Express	Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 on purchases on your new card in the first 6 months	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	$695 (terms apply)

Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card

Pros	Cons
$0 annual fee Simple rewards rate Intro APR offers	Has foreign transaction fees

Cell phone protection benefit: Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible. This benefit does not cover cell phones that are lost (i.e., mysteriously disappear).

Why we like Wells Fargo Active Cash

Welcome offer: Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.

The Wells Fargo Active Cash has a $0 annual fee and you can earn 2% cash rewards on purchases.

You can also take advantage of these intro APR offers:

• Intro APR on purchases: 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases (then 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable)
• Intro APR on qualifying balance transfers: 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers (then 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable)

What we don’t like about Wells Fargo Active Cash

You have to pay 3% foreign transaction fees on applicable purchases.

Learn more in our Wells Fargo Active Cash review.

Chase Freedom Flex℠

Pros	Cons
$0 annual fee High rewards rate on rotating categories Intro APR offers	Has foreign transaction fees

Cell phone protection benefit: Get up to $800 per claim and $1,000 per year in cell phone protection against covered theft or damage for phones listed on your monthly cell phone bill when you pay it with your eligible credit card. Maximum of two claims in a 12-month period with a $50 deductible per claim.

Why we like Chase Freedom Flex

Welcome offer: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.

The Chase Freedom Flex has a $0 annual fee and provides 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.

Some of the past Chase Freedom bonus categories have included:

• Amazon
• PayPal
• Walmart
• Target
• Gas stations
• Wholesale clubs
• Select streaming services
• Home improvement stores
• Grocery stores
• Restaurants

You can take advantage of these intro APR offers:

• Intro APR on purchases: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases (then 20.49%-29.24% Variable)
• Intro APR on balance transfers: 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers (then 20.49%-29.24% Variable)

What we don’t like about Chase Freedom Flex

Cardholders have to pay 3% foreign transaction fees on applicable purchases.

Learn more in our Chase Freedom Flex review.

Wells Fargo Reflect^® Card

Pros	Cons
$0 annual fee Long intro APR offers	No rewards program Has foreign transaction fees

Cell phone protection benefit: Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible. This benefit does not cover cell phones that are lost (i.e., mysteriously disappear).

Why we like Wells Fargo Reflect

It has a $0 annual fee and provides excellent intro APR offers:

• Intro APR on purchases: 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases (then 18.24%, 24.74%, or 29.99% Variable)
• Intro APR on qualifying balance transfers: 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers (then 18.24%, 24.74%, or 29.99% Variable)

What we don’t like about Wells Fargo Reflect

It doesn’t have a rewards program, which means you can’t earn cash back, points, or miles on eligible purchases. You also have to pay 3% foreign transaction fees on applicable purchases.

Learn more in our Wells Fargo Reflect Card review.

U.S. Bank Visa^® Platinum Card

Pros	Cons
$0 annual fee Long intro APR offers	No rewards program Has foreign transaction fees

Cell phone protection benefit: Get up to $600 reimbursement if your cell phone is stolen or damaged when you pay your monthly cell phone with your card (subject to a $25 deductible).

Why we like U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card

It has a $0 annual fee and provides above-average intro APR offers:

• Intro APR on purchases: 0% intro APR for 18 billing cycles on purchases (then 18.74% - 29.74% (Variable))
• Intro APR on balance transfers: 0% intro APR for 18 billing cycles on balance transfers (then 18.74% - 29.74% (Variable))

What we don’t like about U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card

You don’t earn rewards for making eligible purchases and you have to pay 3% of each foreign transaction as a fee on applicable purchases.

Learn more in our U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card review.

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Pros	Cons
$0 annual fee Elevated rewards rate Intro APR offer on purchases	No intro APR offer on qualifying balance transfers

Cell phone protection benefit: Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible. This benefit does not cover cell phones that are lost (i.e., mysteriously disappear).

Why we like Wells Fargo Autograph

Welcome offer: Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months (that’s a $200 cash redemption value).

The Wells Fargo Autograph has a $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. You can also earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans; plus earn 1X points on other purchases.

Cardmembers can take advantage of an intro APR offer on purchases. Receive 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases (then 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable).

What we don’t like about Wells Fargo Autograph

There’s no intro APR offer on qualifying balance transfers.

Learn more in our Wells Fargo Autograph Card review.

U.S. Bank Altitude^® Connect Visa Signature^® Card

Pros	Cons
High rewards rate in common categories Get a $30 credit for select annual streaming service purchases Four complimentary Priority Pass visits per year Up to $100 TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee reimbursement once every four years	$95 (waived first year) annual fee No intro APR offers

Cell phone protection benefit: Get up to $600 reimbursement if your cell phone is stolen or damaged when you pay your monthly cell phone bill with your card (subject to a $100 deductible).

Why we like U.S. Bank Altitude Connect

Welcome offer: Earn 50,000 bonus points when you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening.

The U.S. Bank Altitude Connect doesn’t have foreign transaction fees and provides 5X points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Center; 4X points on travel, gas stations, EV charging stations through 9/8/24, after that 4X on your first $1,000 each quarter (wholesale clubs and discount stores/supercenters excluded); 2X points on dining, streaming services and at grocery stores; and 1X points on all other eligible purchases.

You can also take advantage of great card perks and benefits:

• Get a $30 credit for select annual streaming service purchases like Netflix and Apple TV+.
• Receive four complimentary Priority Pass visits per year for access to over 1,300 airport lounges and experiences.
• Receive up to $100 statement credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fees once every four years.

What we don’t like about U.S. Bank Altitude Connect

Cardmembers have to pay a $95 (waived first year) annual fee. There also aren’t any intro APR offers to take advantage of.

Learn more in our U.S. Bank Altitude Connect review.

Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card

Pros	Cons
High rewards rate in common business categories No foreign transaction fees Extensive purchase and travel coverage	$95 annual fee No intro APR offers

Cell phone protection benefit: Get up to $1,000 per claim in cell phone protection against covered theft or damage for you and your employees listed on your monthly cell phone bill when you pay it with your Chase Ink Business Preferred credit card. Maximum of three claims in a 12-month period with a $100 deductible per claim.

Why we like Ink Business Preferred

Welcome offer: Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

The Ink Business Preferred doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees and provides 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.

Other useful benefits include:

• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
• Auto rental collision damage waiver
• Purchase protection
• Extended warranty protection

What we don’t like about Ink Business Preferred

Cardholders have to pay a $95 annual fee and they don’t receive any intro APR offers.

Learn more in Chase Ink Business Preferred review.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Pros	Cons
Simple rewards rate Up to $300 annual travel credit for Capital One Travel bookings Get 10,000 bonus miles each anniversary Up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Complimentary access to Capital One Lounge, Priority Pass, and Plaza Premium airport lounges	$395 annual fee No intro APR offers

Cell phone protection benefit: You can be reimbursed up to $800 if your phone is stolen or damaged (subject to a $50 deductible).

Why we like Capital One Venture X

Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

The Capital One Venture X doesn’t have foreign transaction fees and provides 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel, and 5 miles per dollar on Capital One Entertainment purchases through 12/31/25.

You can also take advantage of these excellent travel benefits:

• Receive up to $300 annual travel credit for Capital One Travel bookings, including flights, hotel stays, and car rentals.
• Get 10,000 bonus miles each anniversary. That’s worth $100 toward travel through Capital One Travel.
• Receive up to $100 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees once every four years.
• Receive complimentary access to Capital One Lounge, Priority Pass, and Plaza Premium airport lounges.

What we don’t like about Capital One Venture X

You don’t have access to intro APR offers and you have to pay a $395 annual fee.

Learn more in our Capital One Venture X review.

Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card

Pros	Cons
First checked bag free on Delta flights Access to complimentary upgrades on eligible flights Receive 15 visits per year to the Delta Sky Club (effective 2/1/25)	$650 annual fee (terms apply) No intro APR offers

Cell phone protection benefit: You can be reimbursed for your costs to repair or replace your damaged or stolen cell phone for a maximum of $800 per claim with a limit of two approved claims per 12-month period when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month's wireless bill was paid by your eligible card. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim.

Why we like Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 in purchases in the first 6 months.

The Amex Delta SkyMiles Reserve doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees and provides 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta and 1X miles for all other eligible purchases.

Additional travel benefits include:

• First checked bag free on Delta flights
• Access to complimentary upgrades on eligible flights
• Save 15% when booking award travel on Delta flights
• Receive 15 visits per year to the Delta Sky Club (effective 2/1/25)
• Receive Main Cabin 1 priority boarding on eligible flights
• Receive 20% back (in the form of a statement credit) on in-flight purchases

What we don’t like about Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

Cardholders have to pay a $650 annual fee and don’t receive intro APR offers.

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Learn more in our Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex review.

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

Pros	Cons
Loads of useful credits Complimentary access to The Centurion Network, Priority Pass, and other airport lounges Select benefits require enrollment	$695 annual fee (terms apply) No intro APR offers

Cell phone protection benefit: You can be reimbursed for your cost to repair or replace your damaged or stolen cell phone, including a cracked screen, for a maximum of up to $800 per claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month's wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim.

Why we like The Platinum Card from American Express

Welcome offer: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 on purchases on your new card in the first 6 months.

The Amex Platinum doesn’t have foreign transaction fees and provides 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.

Amex Platinum card perks and benefits include:

• Complimentary access to The Centurion Network, Priority Pass, and other airport lounges
• Receive up to $200 in Uber Cash for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders (terms apply)
• Receive up to $200 annual statement credit for airline fees
• Receive up to $189 annual statement credit for a CLEAR Plus membership
• Receive up to $240 annual statement credit for select digital entertainment purchases
• Receive up to $200 annual statement credits for select prepaid hotel bookings made through American Express Travel
• Select benefits require enrollment

What we don’t like about The Platinum Card from American Express

Cardmembers don’t receive intro APR offers and have to pay a $695 annual fee.

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Learn more in our American Express Platinum review.

How cell phone protection works

Cell phone protection or insurance focuses on protecting just your cell phone and often has no timeframe restriction relating to the purchase date of your phone. Instead, a common requirement to qualify for a claim is that you have to pay your monthly wireless bill with the credit card that provides the coverage.

For example, if you want to take advantage of the cell phone insurance plan with the Chase Freedom Flex℠, you need to have been paying your monthly cell phone bill with your Chase Freedom Flex.

There's typically no limitation on the type of phone that can be covered with cell phone protection. That means iPhones and other smartphones are typically eligible.

If you need to make a cell phone protection claim, you often have to contact your benefits administrator. The number should be available in your credit card benefits guide or you can call your credit card issuer. Keep in mind that your renter's or homeowner's insurance could also provide cell phone coverage.

Cell phone protection vs. purchase protection

Cell phone protection can sometimes be confused with other similar benefits, such as Chase purchase protection, a benefit commonly found on many Chase credit cards. Purchase protection gives you the benefit of having any new purchases covered for a certain amount of days — normally against damage or theft and up to a specified amount per claim and account. 

With cell phone protection, there usually is no specified period of time like with purchase protection. A damaged or stolen phone may qualify for this benefit regardless of when you bought it, as long as your cell phone plan is paid in full using the card that offers this protection. 

What cell phone protection covers

If you meet that requirement, then your phone, as well as any other phones listed on your cell phone bill, would be eligible for the claims process on any covered theft or damage. Quite often, you’ll find that credit cards with this benefit have a limit on how many claims you can make in a 12-month period or a limit on how much money you can be reimbursed for in that same amount of time. There is also usually a deductible that may range from $25 to more than $100. That’s the amount you pay before the cell phone insurance kicks in.

If you already have primary phone coverage through a service such as AppleCare+, Asurion, or SquareTrade, then that coverage would go into effect before your credit card coverage. Knowing this, you might be able to save some money on phone insurance by skipping the primary coverage completely and relying just on your credit card cell phone insurance.

In addition, insurance policies vary by credit card company and even from card to card within any given company. So it's always a smart practice to read the terms and conditions of your card's coverage so you know the coverage limits, whether you need to file a police report or get a repair estimate, what sort of damage is covered, and what the exclusions are. For example, some protection plans will cover cosmetic damage such as a cracked screen while others will not.

Is cell phone protection worth it?

Specifically signing up for a business or consumer credit card because it has cell phone protection may not make sense for everyone. As an added benefit, though, it’s never going to be a bad thing to have. Here are a couple scenarios when getting credit card cell phone protection could make sense for you.

You’re a small business owner or side hustler

For example, you may be a small business owner looking to apply for a business credit card or perhaps you run a side hustle and could use a business card to simplify your bookkeeping. Chase's Ink Business Preferred Credit Card might be a good choice for you regardless of its cell phone coverage.

That’s because you’ll start off by earning 100,000 points after spending $8,000 in first 3 months, and you’ll continue to earn valuable Ultimate Rewards points on many of your business-related purchases. In addition, you’ll also have purchase protection and extended warranty protection.

With all these benefits, cell phone insurance may not be the main reason you’d apply for this particular card, but having your phone covered could still be useful in the event of a mishap.

You’re a frequent traveler trying to save money

For frequent travelers, it can be beneficial to have a card like the Chase Freedom Flex. That's because with this rewards card you earn 5% on rotating quarterly categories you activate (on up to $1,500 spent) and travel purchased through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, and 3% on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery service). Those bonus points can really add up if you use this card regularly.

Additionally, this card has a $0 annual fee, which makes this card a great choice for casual credit card users that want cell phone protection.

FAQ

Bottom line

Having a credit card that offers cell phone protection can be extremely helpful when the unexpected occurs, whether you’re at home or traveling abroad. Considering how essential our phones are in this modern world, it’s hard to imagine being without one. And none of us want to suddenly spend a big amount of money to get one replaced. For this reason, it may make sense for you to choose from the credit cards that offer cell phone insurance.

Each one of the credit card offers we’ve mentioned has its own unique rewards bonus categories and benefits structures. Some may require different credit scores of new applicants, as well. So picking the right card will be different for everybody. If the benefits of a certain rewards card align well with your own situation, then it very well may be the best choice for you. 

If you're specifically interested in earning points or miles, then make sure to check out our list of the best travel credit cards. Some of them do also offer cell phone protection.

Methodology

To choose the best credit cards for cell phone protection, we identified cards that offer cell phone protection benefits and compared features such as welcome offers, annual fees, and rewards rates. We did not include all possible options.