The Best Credit Cards for Online Shopping in 2023

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November 21, 2023

The Johnny Jet Editorial team writes about airline miles, travel credit card reviews, and travel news for Johnny Jet.

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Online shopping is not only convenient but also a way to save money thanks to app-exclusive deals and online-only sales. And it seems like many retailers are rewarding online shoppers throughout the year, as we are seeing with sales such as “Black Friday in July” and Amazon Prime Day. Plus, if you really want to get the most out of your online shop, know that some credit cards not only offer rewards on online purchases but also come with extra perks that make the experience all the better.

For instance, making purchases with your card or through their shopping portals might earn 15x points per $1 spent. Additionally, you may also appreciate the purchase protection that comes with select cards. Here are some of the best credit cards for online shopping.

Shopping apps. Credit: Johnny Jet

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Best Credit Cards for Online Shopping in 2023

Here is a preview of the cards featured in this article. If you’re a loyal reader, you may notice that several of these cards are also some of the best travel credit cards around. There are also a few no annual fee options, which can help make it easy to have in your wallet.

Best Travel Credit Cards for Online Shopping

It may be no surprise that travel credit cards usually have the best sign-up bonuses and card benefits. You might consider these cards to maximize your online credit card spending and also help you travel in the coming months.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card – 60,000 Bonus Points Worth $750 in Award Travel

Frequent travelers will be the most impressed by the host of rewards offered by the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns unlimited:

  • 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards® (excluding hotel purchases that qualify for the $50 Anniversary Hotel Credit)
  • 3x points on dining (including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out)
  • 3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target®, Walmart®, and wholesale clubs)
  • Also 3x points on select streaming services
  • 2x points on all other travel purchases
  • 1x point per $1 spent on all non-bonus purchases 

There is a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit. It comes in the form of a statement credit that will automatically be applied to your account when your card is used for hotel accommodation purchases made through the Ultimate Rewards program, up to an annual maximum accumulation of $50.

Plus, on each account anniversary, you’ll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year. So, if you spend $25,000 on purchases, you’ll get 2,500 bonus points.

Additional Benefits

The Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card also offers a 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs. And you can also earn more points per $1 by shopping through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.

This card has a $95 annual fee but no foreign transaction fee.

New Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card cardholders can earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Member FDIC

Why This is the Best Credit Card for Online Shopping

In addition to rewards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card offers “Purchase Protection” for up to 120 days after purchase. This means that if that perfect gift you found is damaged or stolen, Chase has your replacement covered. This coverage extends up to $500 per claim or $50,000 per account.

It also offers an Extended Warranty Protection plan – perfect for electronics. Chase extends the time period of the U.S. manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year (on eligible warranties of three years or less).

Be sure to brush up on the Sapphire application rules before applying.

You can learn more about all of the benefits of this card in this in-depth Chase Sapphire Preferred review.

The Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express

We have several reasons to like The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express and consider it one of the best credit cards for online shopping. For one, account holders have access to the extended warranty, purchase protection, and ShopRunner benefits (enrollment is required for select benefits). We also appreciate the ability to earn rewards.

Rewards Rate

Cash back rewards vary depending on the type of expenditure. Cardholders can earn:

  • 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%)
  • 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations (up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%)
  • Plus, 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases (up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%)
  • 1% cash back on general purchases

Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for statement credits.

Note that U.S. online retail purchases are purchases made via a website or app. It’s possible to earn 3% cash back at the following:

  • Major retailers (e.g., Amazon.com, Walmart.com)
  • Pet stores (e.g., Chewy.com)
  • Furniture stores (e.g., Wayfair.com)
  • Department stores
  • Drug Stores
  • Book stores
  • Auto & home supply stores
  • Personal and household care
  • Toy & Hobby stores
  • Computer and electronic stores
  • Apparel, Footwear, and Accessories stores
  • Sporting goods stores

Here are 20 reasons to have the Blue Cash Everyday Card if you need further convincing.

There is a $0 annual fee for this card (See Rates & Fees).

The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express welcome bonus is the ability to earn a $200 statement credit after spending $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card – At least 2x Miles on Everything

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card comes with the ability to earn 2x miles on all purchases, has a $95 annual fee but no foreign transaction fees, and the ability to redeem miles for travel statements.

However, earn 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. 

The Capital One Venture credit card comes with Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit (up to $100), and the ability to redeem Capital One Venture miles by transferring them to airline partners.

Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel, with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.

Citi Premier Card – 3x Points on Travel and Common Purchases

The information for the Citi Premier® Card has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

This option, the Citi Premier® Card, packs a lot of punch when it comes to earning rewards and is one of the best credit cards for online shopping. Cardholders can earn unlimited 3x points on:

  • Restaurants
  • Gas stations
  • Supermarkets
  • Hotels
  • Air travel

Nonbonus purchases earn 1x point. Additionally, cardholders can enjoy an annual $100 hotel savings benefit. They can enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more, excluding taxes and fees, through thankyou.com once per calendar year.

So, you may be wondering why this card is on our online shopping list. Well, Citi Premier cardholders can redeem their points in three ways: through travel, gift cards, or online shopping at Amazon.com or Bestbuy.com.

Available gift cards include quite a few retail stores, restaurants, and entertainment venues like movie theaters. Alternatively, there are gift cards to Airbnb, hotels.com, DoorDash, or even Instacart. In short, there are plenty of options.

New Citi Premier® Card cardmembers can earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. This bonus is redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards when redeemed at thankyou.com. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.

The Premier has a $95 annual fee but no foreign transaction fee.

If this sounds like a good choice for you, check out the CardMatch™ tool, which is a free resource for finding personalized offers that best serve you. It can help you determine if the Citi Premier is a card you can get. Additionally, you may be offered a higher targeted signup bonus that isn’t available to the general public.

Chase Sapphire Reserve

A pristine rewards credit card is the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Points are worth 50% when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards. You can also transfer points on a 1:1 basis to airline and hotel partners. Some partners include Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, and World of Hyatt. Additionally, this card comes with a $300 annual travel credit.

Chase Sapphire Reserve® purchases earn up to 10x Ultimate Rewards. Cardholders can earn unlimited: 

  • 10x total points on hotels and car rentals purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards (after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually)
  • 10x total points on Chase Dining purchases with Ultimate Rewards
  • 5x total points on flights when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards (after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually)
  • 3x points on other travel worldwide (after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually)
  • 3x points on other dining at restaurants, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out
  • 1x points for all remaining purchases

 You will not receive rewards points on your first $300 in annual travel purchases as the annual travel statement credit reimburses these purchases.

Additional Chase Sapphire Reserve Perks

Travel purchases earn but only after you’ve earned the $300 travel credit, another benefit worth noting.

Besides the valuable rewards points, the real reason to get the Chase Sapphire Reserve® might be its additional travel benefits. Some of these benefits include:

  • Priority Pass Select airport lounge access
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit

New Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders can earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $900 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

There are no foreign transaction fees on this card. The annual fee is $550 but can be offset by the perks.

U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card

The information for the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Here’s an option from U.S. Bank. The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card is a no-annual-fee card (See Rates & Fees) that is one of several cards letting you earn up to 5% back on purchases. Cardholders earn:

  • 5% cash back on the first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter on two categories they choose. Categories include:
    • Fast food
    • TV, internet, and streaming services
    • Cell phone providers
    • Home utilities
    • Department stores
    • Electronic stores
    • Sporting goods stores
    • Movie theaters
    • Gym/fitness centers
    • Furniture stores
    • Ground transportation
    • Select clothing stores
  • 5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel, and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Center
  • 2% cash back on one everyday category, like Gas Stations/EV Charging Stations, Grocery Stores or Restaurants
  • 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases

To earn cash back, choose and activate the categories. Then, earn cash back with every eligible purchase. Cardholders can redeem their cash back anytime online.

New U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card cardholders can earn a $200 bonus after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening.

Get cash back as a statement credit, a rewards card, or directly deposited into their U.S. Bank checking or savings account. Read more in our U.S. Bank Cash Visa Signature Card review.

The World of Hyatt Credit Card

Sometimes, credit cards offer a tiered signup bonus. That’s the case with The World of Hyatt Credit Card.

New The World of Hyatt Credit Card cardmembers can earn a signup bonus of up to 65,000 World of Hyatt Bonus Points. Earn the first 35,000 points by spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Plus, earn up to 30,000 More Bonus Points by earning 2x Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1x Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.

Additionally, cardholders can enjoy complimentary World of Hyatt Discoverist status for as long as their account is open.

If you don’t know, World of Hyatt points are some of the most valuable hotel points in the business. Like other hotel programs, free nights start at 5,000 points. But, the most expensive rooms only cost 30,000 points per night. With other loyalty programs, a mid-level property costs 30,000 points per night.

You can also get two free Hyatt nights each year. Your first night is automatic each anniversary year. By spending $15,000 in annual card purchases, you get a second free night.

Hyatt purchases earn 9x points. Additionally, you’ll earn 2x points for purchases made on:

  • Dining
  • Airline tickets directly from the airline
  • Local transit and commuting
  • Fitness club and gym memberships

Besides using this credit for shopping online, you can earn bonus points for booking your travel too.

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card

Depending on how often you stay at Hilton properties helps you decide which Hilton card is best for your needs. The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is the “mass consumer” card. You earn a Free Night Reward after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year.

Plus, earn up to 12x Hilton points for each dollar you spend on eligible Hilton purchases made directly with a hotel or resort in the Hilton portfolio and 6x points for purchases at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations. Also, earn 4x points on U.S. online retail purchases and 3x points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.

Plus, cardholders get automatic Hilton Honors Gold status. They also get up to $200 back each year on eligible Hilton purchases after using their Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card. An additional new benefit includes complimentary National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status (enrollment in the complimentary Emerald Club® program is required; terms apply).

New Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card cardholders can earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership.

The annual fee is $150 (See Rates & Fees).

Terranea shopping. Credit: Johnny Jet

Best Credit Cards for Online Shopping: Cash Back Cards

If travel isn’t high on your list and you prefer earning rewards for shopping, consider a cash back card option. These cash back credit cards can also put some money back in your pocket for your shopping online. Some of these are also no annual fee cards. However, they may have foreign transaction fees.

Chase Freedom Flex

The information for the Chase Freedom Flex℠ has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

With the Chase Freedom Flex℠, cardholders can get 5% cash back on the first $1,500 you spend in combined purchases in bonus categories that rotate quarterly (activation required).

Earn:

  • 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate (then 1% back)
  • 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
  • 3% cash back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services
  • 3% cash back on drugstore purchases
  • 1% on all other purchases

You can redeem your Freedom Flex rewards points for travel or cash rewards. If you own another Chase credit card, your points can be worth more when redeemed for travel.

The Freedom Flex doesn’t have an annual fee.

New Chase Freedom Flex℠ cardholders can earn a $200 bonus after they spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Citi Double Cash Card

The information for the Citi® Double Cash Card has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Here’s an example of a card that’s easy to use, making it one of the best credit cards for online shopping. The Citi® Double Cash Card is an easy card to use in that there is no need to activate categories. Cardholders can earn up to 2% cash back for every purchase, with no limit on how much can be earned. Earn 1% back when you buy, and the other 1% back when you pay for your purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.

There is no annual fee.

The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card

The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card is also a no-annual-fee credit card that earns 3% cash back in the category of your choice, up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases. Choices include gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement/furnishings.

It also automatically earns 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and an unlimited 1% on all other purchases. If you’re a Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25% – 75% more cash back on every purchase.

Rewards don’t expire and there is no annual fee. New cardholders can earn a $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

Capital One Walmart Rewards Mastercard

If you’re a frequent Walmart shopper, the Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard® might be perfect for you. It earns 5% cash back on Walmart.com purchases, including pickup and delivery, 2% cash back on purchases in Walmart stores, restaurants and travel purchases, 2% cash back in Walmart stores and at Walmart and Murphy USA Fuel Station, and 1% cash back on all other purchases everywhere else Mastercard® is accepted.

There is no annual fee for this card and no foreign transaction fee for this card. Cardholders can redeem rewards for cash back, statement credits, recent purchases in and out of Walmart, travel, and gift cards.

Instacart Mastercard

The Instacart Mastercard® may be surprising to find on this list. However, Instacart has partnered with hundreds of brands all over North America, including shops like Costco, Sam’s Club, and CVS. Cardholders earn:

  • 5% cash back on the Instacart app and Instacart.com purchases
  • 5% cash back on travel purchased through the Chase Travel Center, including flights, hotels, and more
  • 2% cash back at restaurants, gas stations, and on select streaming services
  • 1% cash back on all other purchases

There is a $0 annual fee. This card also has no foreign transaction fees.

New Instacart Mastercard® cardholders can get a free year of Instacart+ and a $100 Instacart credit automatically upon approval. Membership auto-renews. Terms apply.

Summary

In conclusion, these are some of the best credit cards for online shopping. Some credit cards cater to places where you do the bulk of your online shopping. For other cards, you only earn the base reward. But with either card type, your spending helps you earn those coveted welcome offers. You may even qualify for card anniversary bonuses too.

Best Credit Cards for Online Shopping

Related Posts: 

For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, please click here.

And for rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, click here. 

1 Comment On "The Best Credit Cards for Online Shopping in 2023"
  1. June b smith|
    December 14, 2017 at 7:12 pm | Reply

    No offer made re miles to either my husband or myself

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OUR FAVORITE PARTNER CARDS
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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

60,000 points bonus, 3x points on dining, $50 annual hotel credit, 25% award travel redemption bonus. Terms apply.

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

100,000 bonus points, up to 3x points on travel and on select business categories. Terms apply.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

75,000 bonus miles, at least 2x miles on everything, $0 foreign transaction fees. Terms apply.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

80,000 points bonus, 5x points on select travel, Centurion Lounge access. Terms apply.

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