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The best store credit cards of 2022
Store credit cards are as much a part of the shopping experience as a sales associate asking if you’re “looking for anything in particular.” They’re almost unavoidable during the checkout process. And while that 10% discount for opening the card on the spot can be tempting, it’s usually not worth the hassle due to high interest rates and limited rewards.
In general, the rewards you earn from these cards aren’t as valuable as the points and miles you can earn from travel credit cards. However, if you’re looking to build your credit or if you shop a lot at a particular retailer, a store credit card could make sense. The credit limits on store credit cards are usually low, so there’s not a high qualification threshold, and, they offer perks to loyal shoppers.
If you’ve been thinking about store credit cards, here are the ones on the scene that have proven to be truly rewarding.
Read more: Store credit cards might score you a discount up front, but you should avoid them for 3 reasons
Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card
If you’re like millions of Americans, you likely purchase things like household goods and appliances, skincare, and snacks on Amazon. The
Read more: Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card review
There are great Amazon-specific benefits, like 5% back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods (for Amazon Prime members only — you’ll receive 3% back if not a member). You’ll also get:
- 2% back at restaurants
- 2% back at gas stations
- 2% back at drugstores
- 1% back for all other eligible purchases
There is no minimum rewards balance to redeem — so you can claim a $5 redemption or wait and save your points for big-ticket items. As a bonus, you’ll also get a
You’ll also appreciate the
- No foreign transaction fees
- Travel insurance
- Extended warranty/purchase protection
Read more: The best credit cards for shopping at Amazon
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
The
- 4% cash back on eligible gas worldwide (on up to $7,000 in spending each year, then 1%)
- 3% cash back on restaurant and eligible travel purchases worldwide
- 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and costco.com
- 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases
4% cash back on gas purchases is impressive — and the other bonus categories are no slouches, either. Remember, if you’ve got a Costco Executive membership, you’ll earn 2% back on Costco purchases. This card gives you the ability to earn a total of 4% back at Costco warehouses.
Read more: Costco Anywhere Visa Card review
The card also comes with purchase protection and no foreign transaction fees.
A big downside to this card is the way rewards are redeemed. You can only receive cash back after your February billing statement closes. You’ll get a “reward certificate” that you’ll have to take to a Costco warehouse. You can request a check for all the cash back you’ve earned over the past year.
Also, this card doesn’t offer a public sign-up bonus. Some Costco members have had success inquiring at a Costco warehouse to see if they’re targeted for a special promotion, so don’t use our links for this credit card if you can help it.
Read more: The best credit cards for shopping at Costco
Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard®
If you shop online or elect for grocery pickup with regularity, the
- 5% cash back at Walmart.com (including pickup and delivery)
- 2% cash back at Walmart stores in the US and Puerto Rico, and at Walmart and Murphy USA gas stations
- 2% cash back on gift cards purchased through Walmart
- 2% back at restaurants and on travel
- 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases
A 2% return is common among no annual fee cards. But the ability to earn 5% back on the lion’s share of your grocery purchases (with no cap) simply by shopping online is excellent.
Read more: Walmart Credit Card review
As a sign-up bonus, you’ll get
- Purchase assurance
- Price protection
- Extended warranty
- Cell phone protection*
- Identity fraud expense reimbursement*
- Travel insurances*
*World Elite Mastercard version only.
Starbucks® Rewards Visa® Card
The
Here’s what the card earns:
- Up to 3 Stars per dollar at Starbucks (1 Star per dollar for using your Starbucks Visa to digitally loading your Starbucks Card, and 2 Stars per dollar when you use that card at Starbucks)
- 1 Star per $2 spent at grocery stores
- 1 Star per $2 spent on local transit and commuting
- 1 Star per $2 spent on internet, cable, and phone services
- 1 Star per $4 for al other eligible purchases
You’ll also receive
It’s difficult to pinpoint the value of a Starbucks Star, but here’s what you can use them for:
- 25 Stars: Drink customizations (extra shot, dairy substitute, syrup, sauce)
- 50 Stars: Hot brewed coffee, bakery item, hot brewed tea
- 150 Stars: Handcrafted drink, hot breakfast, parfait
- 200 Stars: Lunch sandwich, protein box, salad
- 400 Stars: Select merchandise, packaged coffee
If you can manage to squeeze at least 6 cents from a Starbucks Star, the three Stars you’ll receive at Starbucks is an effective return of 18%.
If you can live with restricted credit card rewards, you can get a lot of value from the
Verizon Visa Card
The
The
- 4% at grocery stores and gas stations
- 3% on dining
- 2% on Verizon purchases
- 1% for all other eligible purchases
The card doesn’t offer a sign-up bonus per se. But you will receive up to $100 in credits when you use your new card to pay your phone bill during the first 24 months of account opening. That’s a $4.17 monthly discount.
You can also save potentially hundreds per year on your phone bill as a cardholder and member of Verizon Up (Verizon’s loyalty program). New enrollees to Verizon’s Auto Pay can receive up to $10 per month off each eligible account or line (max 10 lines) on select plans.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
How did we choose the best store credit cards?
Personal Finance Insider analyzed dozens of cards to determine which of the most popular store cards offer the best benefits. We exclusively chose cards that you can use for any purchase (not just cards that can be used at the co-branded store). That way you’ve got the opportunity to earn more rewards more often.
We also prioritized each card’s return rates over sign-up bonuses. If you’re opening a store card, you’ll likely be using it for specific purchases long after the bonus has disappeared.
Are store credit cards worth it?
Store credit cards can be worthwhile, especially for those with less-than-perfect credit. That’s because it’s generally easier to be approved for a store card than a travel credit card like the
Should I open a store credit card?
The biggest downfall to many (not all) store cards is that they only earn rewards that can be redeemed with their respective store.
If you’re choosing such a card, be sure the savings will be more meaningful to you than spending with a pure cash-back card like the
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