I’m old enough to recall the days when Netflix meant selecting a movie and having the company send you a DVD through snail mail. I’m extremely glad Netflix evolved into the streaming subscription model of today, but it can be costly.
You may be surprised to learn that many credit cards offer valuable rewards for spending on Netflix as well as other streaming and entertainment subscriptions. This includes the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card, and Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card(Rates and fees).
I probably wouldn’t apply for a new card only for the Netflix rewards, but each of the cards included here offers a number of other benefits.
We selected the cards in this list based on Netflix rewards, but most also reward a variety of streaming subscriptions. Reasonable or no annual fee: The majority of the cards in this roundup come with no annual fee, making it easy to earn rewards without paying added fees. We only included two cards with annual fees (the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Amex Blue Cash Preferred), which offer robust additional benefits to offset the annual fee.
Introductory APR: The cards on this list have at least a 12-month introductory APR offer. The Chase Sapphire Preferred is the only exception, and we included it because of its impressive other benefits and perks. Elevated rewards on streaming: The primary piece of criteria is that these cards reward spending on Netflix (and other streaming subscriptions) at a rate of at least 2 points or miles per dollar. (Some offer flat rewards across all spending, including streaming fees.) Useful rewards: With all of these cards, you can redeem points/miles for cash or other rewards like flights and hotels. Be sure to check the specific rewards redemptions on your top choices before choosing a card for Netflix rewards.
How we evaluate products
The best 5 credit cards for Netflix
If saving money and earning valuable credit card rewards on your Netflix subscription is high on your list of priorities, consider one of these credit cards:
- Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
- Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
- U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Compare the best credit cards for Netflix
Credit card | Excellent for: | Rewards Rate |
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express | Multiple streaming platforms | Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (for first $6,000 per year, after that 1%) and on select U.S. streaming services |
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card | On- and off-the-couch entertainment | Earn 3% cash back on grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services |
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card | Recurring bills like streaming subscriptions | Earn 5% cash back on two categories you choose (up to $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter) |
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Earning travel rewards on streaming | Earn 3X points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries |
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card | Flat rewards on everything | Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases |
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, $95 per year thereafter
Rewards: 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (for first $6,000 per year, after that 1%) and on select U.S. streaming services
Welcome offer: Earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases in the first 6 months
- Amazon Music Unlimited
- Apple Music
- Apple TV+
- Audible
- DirecTV Stream (formerly known as AT&T TV or AT&T TV NOW)
- Disney+
- ESPN+
- Fubo TV
- Hulu
- iHeartRadio
- Kindle Unlimited
- Luminary
- MAX (standalone streaming subscription only, formerly known as HBONow or HBO MAX)
- MGM+
- MLB.TV
- NBA League Pass
- Netflix
- NHL.TV
- Pandora
- Paramount+
- Peacock
- Prime Video
- Showtime
- Sling TV
- SiriusXM Streaming and Satellite
- Spotify
- Stitcher
- TIDAL Music
- YouTube Music Premium
- YouTube Premium
- YouTube TV
The Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card is a heavy-hitter of a cash back card for all sorts of everyday spending, and it has a higher earn rate on select U.S. streaming services. You’ll automatically earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (for first $6,000 per year, after that 1%) and on select U.S. streaming services without having to choose any categories, which sets this card apart from some others on this list. Cash back is in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
It also has one of the longest lists of qualifying streaming platforms for the higher rate, making it my top recommendation for anyone who pays for multiple streaming services every month (especially if you don’t exactly remember which ones you have).
Disney fan? The card also comes with a $7 monthly statement credit for a Disney bundle worth at least $9.99/month (subject to auto-renewal; enrollment required). And while it has a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, $95 per year thereafter annual fee, the cost would likely be worth it if you made this your go-to for groceries and/or gas.
Apply now or find out more in our Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express review.
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Annual fee: $0
Rewards: 3% cash back on grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services
Welcome offer: Earn a limited-time $250 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
- Netflix
- Hulu
- Disney+
Certain services are excluded, including:
- Prime Video
- AT&T TV
- Verizon FIOS on Demand
- Audiobook subscriptions
- Fitness programming
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is a credit card for entertainment lovers, and that includes Netflix subscribers. You’ll earn a wide range of entertainment-related rewards, whether staying at home or venturing out, including 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. “Entertainment” covers everything from movie theaters and concerts to sporting events and trips to the zoo. There have been more than a few times when I used this card to buy myself takeout while staying in to stream a movie, but I also need to start using it more for date night in town.
This is one of the best no-annual-fee credit cards on almost any list because you’ll earn some of the highest rates out there on dining and grocery purchases, two categories that almost everyone could benefit from saving more in. The cash back I earn with this card just by using it to buy food is enough to pay for all of my streaming subscriptions for an entire year (I redeemed $267.80 in cash back in September after about seven months of spending).
Find out more in our Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card review.
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card
Annual fee: $0
Rewards: 5% cash back on two categories you choose (up to $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter)
Welcome offer: Earn a $200 bonus after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 90 days of account opening
- Netflix
- Disney+
- Hulu
- Vudu
- SlingTV
- Fandango NOW
- TV
The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card is different from other credit cards with bonus categories because you can choose not one but two top earning categories — and one of those can be streaming. You’ll earn 5% cash back on two categories you choose (up to $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter), including fast food, home utilities, TV/internet/streaming, department stores, cell phone, electronic stores, sporting goods stores, movie theaters, gym/fitness centers, furniture stores, ground transportation, and select clothing stores.
This is a lot more options than you’ll generally see from a card with bonus categories, and you can change your selections every quarter. You have to enroll to earn the best rate. U.S. Bank doesn’t specify streaming platforms excluded from the 5% rate.
Personally, I would use this card for recurring bills to keep myself organized and choose streaming and either my cell phone bill, utilities, or fitness membership as my second category.
Find out more in our U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card review.
Alternative
If you spend a lot on streaming and don’t want to have to remember to activate categories, the Citi Custom Cash® Card might be a better fit. This almost made my list because it automatically earns 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spending category each billing cycle (up to the first $500 spent, then 1% cash back) without you having to choose or enroll in anything, but I didn’t pick it over the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card because you only get one bonus category (and I don’t know about you, but streaming is never my biggest expense).Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Annual fee: $95
Rewards: 3X points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries
Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- Apple Music,
- Apple TV
- Disney+
- ESPN+
- Fubo TV
- Max
- Hulu
- Netflix
- Pandora
- Paramount+
- Peacock
- Showtime
- SiriusXM
- Sling
- Spotify
- YouTube Premium
- YouTube TV
- Vudu
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of our favorite travel credit cards, but it can also help earn valuable rewards on everyday expenses like your Netflix subscription. With higher earn rates on travel-related spending and more than respectable insurance coverage, it’s an obvious choice for when you have places to be and people to see. But the higher rewards rates go beyond travel to dining, streaming, and online groceries, too.
A lot of people probably overlook this card for daily use (I know I do), but it would be ideal to pay for your streaming if you’re not in the market for a cash back card and might want to redeem points for travel.
Like the Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card, the Sapphire Preferred does have an annual fee. But if you need a reliable travel card to add to your wallet and will use it for at least some of your flights and hotel visits, it’s probably worth it.
Apply now or find out more in our Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card review.
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Annual fee: $0
Rewards: Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
Welcome offer: Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
- Netflix
- Hulu
- Prime Video
- ESPN+
- Disney+
- YouTube TV
- Many more
If reading the categories for the other cards on this list made you a little dizzy, you’d probably be a good candidate for a flat-rate rewards card. For this, you won’t do better than the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card. It doesn’t offer any rewards specific to streaming but earns the same unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. It’s not the first card I’d recommend for all of your monthly subscriptions and services, but it is what I’d recommend if you know you need a straightforward earn rate more than you need the highest rewards rates possible.
Maybe you sample a lot of different streaming platforms and want to just charge everything to one card. Another advantage of this option, aside from simplicity, is that there are no exceptions to what streaming platforms are eligible for the best rate. I’ve had my eye on this card for a while and was just waiting to apply for it until some recent inquiries fell off my credit report.
Find out more in our Wells Fargo Active Cash review.
How much does Netflix cost?
Netflix has three different plans to choose from, ranging in price from $6.99 to $22.99 per month. As you’d expect, you get a more convenient and more valuable experience by paying more.
These plans are:
Plan | Monthly Cost | Features |
Netflix Standard with ads | $6.99 |
|
Netflix Standard | $15.49 |
|
Netflix Premium | $22.99 |
|
Where did Netflix Basic go?
Netflix used to offer the Basic plan in the U.S. at a cost of $9.99 per month. However, the Basic plan is no longer available for new or rejoining members.1. Netflix Standard with ads plan
The Netflix Standard with ads plan costs $6.99 per month. This tier comes with ads and gives you access to most movies and TV shows on Netflix, plus unlimited mobile games. As a subscriber at this level, I can report that the ads aren’t a huge annoyance, but it’s a real downer when you discover a show you love isn’t available with this plan.
Not everything is available
The Standard with ads plan doesn't include certain movies and TV shows. Reports show that movies including Oblivion, Steve Jobs, and Rambo and shows including Peaky Blinders, House of Cards, and New Girl are missing from this plan.2. Netflix Standard plan
The Netflix Standard plan costs $15.49 per month. This mid-tier subscription option will get you a few more perks, and if you really hate watching ads, this is the option for you.
With the Standard plan, you get access to all movies and TV shows available for U.S. audiences. You can stream this content in full HD on up to two devices at the same time.
This plan also allows you to download movies and TV shows on two devices, making it a great plan for two people sharing a home.
3. Netflix Premium plan
The highest-tier Netflix subscription plan will cost you $22.99 a month. As a Premium subscriber, you will have access to full HD and ultra HD content on up to four supported devices simultaneously.
You can also download content on up to six devices. This plan is excellent for families or groups of roommates looking to split a subscription plan to save money.
FAQs
Do any credit cards offer Netflix discounts?
There are several credit cards that offer rewards or cash back on streaming services, including Netflix. However, these are not direct discounts on the Netflix subscription price, but rather a way to earn rewards or cash back based on your spending on streaming services. For example, 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.
What credit cards does Netflix take?
Netflix accepts several types of credit and debit cards for payment. These include Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover.
Bottom line
If you're a Netflix enthusiast looking to get more out of your subscription payments, one of these options might be the right credit card to help you earn rewards points or cash back:
- Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
- Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
- Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
- Citi Custom Cash® Card(Rates and fees)
There are quite a few solid rewards cards that pay a higher rewards rate on streaming services like Netflix. I probably wouldn’t select a card based solely on streaming rewards, but you’ll get a lot of value from any of these cards if you pick one that matches your other spending habits.