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As you prepare for the holiday season, having the right credit card at your disposal can make a significant difference. Whether it's to earn bonus rewards on your top spending categories or a long introductory 0% APR promotion that makes it easier to stomach a little debt, it's important to make sure you have the right credit card in your wallet.
These credit cards are some of the best to help you maximize your rewards and savings for the holidays.
5 Partner Offers
| Our Picks for the Best Credit Cards for Holiday Shopping | |
|---|---|
 Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card | 1.5% cash back on every purchase 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply) |
 Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card | 2% cash rewards on purchases $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening |
 Wells Fargo Reflect® Card | Intro APR offer that applies to purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 18 months from account opening; intro APR period can be extended for 3 months with on-time payments during the intro period. |
 Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | 5 points per dollar spent on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards® 3 points per dollar spent on dining 2 points per dollar spent on all other travel 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening |
 Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card | 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target) 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases 1% cash back on all other purchases $200 one-time cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening |
Best for Fair Credit: Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Most of the top credit cards for holiday shopping require good or excellent credit, which means having a credit score of 670 or higher. But if you're not quite there yet, consider the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card. Responsible card use can help you strengthen your credit for the future.
The card charges a modest $39 annual fee, and it doesn't skimp on rewards. You'll earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase you make, and 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply). It's best to avoid carrying a balance, though, with the card's 29.74% variable APR.
While this card can work if your credit score isn't in good enough shape to qualify for our other top credit cards for holiday shopping, those with good or excellent credit may have better options available. If your credit is below the fair threshold and you want to build up a credit history, you might look into another card such as the Milestone® Mastercard®.
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
on Capital One's website
Recommended FICO® Score*
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
APR
29.74% (Variable)
Intro APR
Rewards
1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day, 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)
1.5% Cash Back on All Purchases
Annual Fee
$39
Card Details
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
- No rotating categories or limits to how much you can earn, and cash back doesn't expire for the life of the account. It's that simple
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Help strengthen your credit for the future with responsible card use
- Enjoy up to 6 months of complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
- Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It's free for everyone
- Check out quickly and securely with a contactless card, without touching a terminal or handing your card to a cashier. Just hover your card over a contactless reader, wait for the confirmation, and you're all set
Best for General Shopping: Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
If you have good credit and are looking for a card that offers a high base rewards rate, look no further than the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card.
The card offers a flat 2% cash rewards on every purchase you make, and unlike some other 2% cash back credit cards, there are no requirements you have to meet to get that rate. What's more, it offers an introductory bonus: $200 when you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months.
In addition to its excellent rewards program, the card offers a solid introductory APR promotion. You'll get an introductory 0% APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 15 months from account opening, after which you'll pay a 19.49%, 24.49%, or 29.49% variable APR. Balance transfers made within 120 days of card opening qualify for this card's intro APR and carry an intro balance transfer fee of 3% ($5 minimum). Balance transfers made after the first 120 days have up to a 5% fee ($5 minimum).
This card is an excellent choice for people with good credit who prefer simplicity and want value that sticks around beyond the holiday season. But if you're looking to maximize your rewards on certain purchases, there are no bonus categories to speak of.
Read full reviewWells Fargo Active Cash® Card
on Wells Fargo's website
Recommended FICO® Score*
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
APR
19.49%, 24.49%, or 29.49% variable APR
Intro APR
Rewards
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
Intro Bonus
Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months
Annual Fee
$0
Card Details
- Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
- 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, then a 19.49%, 24.49%, or 29.49% variable APR; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5
- $0 annual fee
- No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don't expire as long as your account remains open
- Enjoy a premium collection of benefits at a selection of the world's most intriguing and prestigious hotel properties with Visa Signature Concierge
- Get up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft when you pay your monthly cell phone bill with your eligible Wells Fargo card (subject to a $25 deductible).
- Select “Apply Now” to learn more about the product features, terms and conditions
- Matched For You are statements made by Experian and may not reflect Wells Fargo’s underwriting standards
Best for Intro APR Period: Wells Fargo Reflect® Card
If you have plans to spend a lot during the holidays and your top priority is a long intro APR period you can use to pay down the debt, consider the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card.
This card offers an intro 0% APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 18 months from account opening, with the chance to extend for 3 months as long as you make at least your minimum monthly payments on time every month during the intro period. Once the intro 0% APR period expires, your interest rate for purchases and balance transfers will increase to 17.49% to 29.49% (variable) APR. Balance transfers made during the first 120 days you have the card will incur a 3% intro balance transfer fee ($5 minimum) and qualify for the intro APR; transfers made after the first 120 days incur up to a 5% fee ($5 minimum).
Because of how long this card's intro APR promotion is compared with some of the other options on our list, it's best suited for people who plan to spend a lot and need that extra time to pay down the balance.
There are few cards with a longer intro APR period. That said, the card doesn't offer rewards of any kind, so you may want to use a rewards card for your everyday spending.
Read full reviewWells Fargo Reflect® Card
APR
17.49% - 29.49% variable APR
Intro APR
Rewards
None
Intro Bonus
N/A
Annual Fee
$0
Card Details
- 0% intro APR for 18 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. Intro APR extension for 3 months with on-time minimum payments during the intro period. 17.49% to 29.49% variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min $5.
- $0 Annual Fee
- Get up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft when you pay your monthly cell phone bill with your eligible Wells Fargo card (subject to a $25 deductible).
- Through My Wells Fargo Deals, you can get access to personalized deals from a variety of merchants. It's an easy way to earn cash back as an account credit when you shop, dine, or enjoy an experience simply by using an eligible Wells Fargo credit card.
- Select “Apply Now” to learn more about the product features, terms and conditions
- Matched For You are statements made by Experian and may not reflect Wells Fargo’s underwriting standards
Best for Travel: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
If you like the idea of earning bonus rewards on groceries and dining but don't want to pay hundreds of dollars in annual fees, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a solid choice.
The card offers 5 points per dollar on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards®; 3 points per dollar on dining; 2 points per dollar on other travel; and 1 point per dollar on everything else.
As a new cardholder, you can also earn a bonus that's tough to beat. The card offers 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months. That's worth $750 in travel when booked through Chase.
The card does charge a $95 annual fee, but the welcome offer provides an equivalent value that could cover that for upwards of seven years. Consider this card if you're travel-minded and your spending aligns with the card's bonus categories.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
APR
20.49% - 27.49% Variable
Intro APR
Rewards
Enjoy benefits such as a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®; 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases, plus more.
3x Points on Dining
2x Points on Other Travel
1x Points on All Other Purchases
Intro Bonus
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Annual Fee
$95
Card Details
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Enjoy benefits such as a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®; 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
Best for Food and Entertainment: Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
If you enjoy attending holiday events, such as concerts, movies and other types of entertainment, the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card should be on your radar. The card is also a solid choice for groceries and dining.
You'll earn unlimited 3% cash back on entertainment, dining, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Target and Walmart), 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 1% back on everything else. You'll also earn 8% back on Capital One Entertainment purchases.
New cardholders can earn a one-time $200 cash bonus when they spend $500 in the first 3 months they have the card, and get an intro 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months. The variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24% after that; 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months.
This card is an excellent option if you want to maximize rewards on entertainment, groceries and dining. However, it's not necessarily the best rate you can get with groceries and dining, so consider this card if entertainment is a top spending category for you.
Also, remember that, like other cards on our list, this one's base rewards rate is just 1%, so it may be a good idea to use it only for bonus spending.
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
on Capital One's website
Recommended FICO® Score*
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
APR
19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
Intro APR
Rewards
3% Cash Back on dining and entertainment, 3% Cash Back on popular streaming services, 3% Cash Back at grocery stores, 1% Cash Back on all other purchases. Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases.
3% Cash Back on Streaming Services
3% Cash Back on Groceries
1% Cash Back on All Other Purchases
Intro Bonus
Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
Annual Fee
$0
Card Details
- Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), plus 1% on all other purchases
- Earn 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
- Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
- No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.24% - 29.24% variable APR after that; 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months
- No foreign transaction fee
- No annual fee
How to Use Credit Cards to Your Advantage During the Holidays
The holiday season is a time to spend with family and friends, but that also means spending money. Here are some ways you can use your credit cards to your advantage during the holidays:
- Charge only what you can afford to pay off at the end of each month. If you do anticipate spending more than you can pay off, use an intro 0% APR card.
- Track how much you are actually spending by using online or mobile budgeting tools so you don't go over budget.
- If possible, redeem your rewards for cash back or statement credits to help offset some of your holiday shopping expenses.
- If you have a travel card, maximize your rewards to help cover the cost of a trip during the next year.
- Check your card's benefits guide to see if you can take advantage of other benefits, such as extended warranty coverage, purchase protection and more.
Use Experian CreditMatch™ to Find the Right Card
It can be difficult to find the right credit card with so many options available, especially if you're not sure where your credit stands.
The good news is that you can use tools like Experian CreditMatch™ to get an idea of which cards you might be eligible for based on your credit profile. You can also check your credit score and review your Experian credit report for free to understand what your credit file looks like and where you can make improvements.