Our experts answer readers’ credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here’s how we assess credit cards). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners; however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.
The information for the following product(s) has been collected independently by Business Insider: Prime Visa, Chase Freedom Flex℠, U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card, Citi® Double Cash Card, U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards™ Visa Signature® Card. The details for these products have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.
The busiest shopping season of the year is upon us, and now is the time to prep for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Whether you’re fighting early morning crowds at the mall or bargain hunting online, there will be plenty of saving opportunities to earn the most rewards for your holiday spending.
The choice that often makes the most sense for you will depend on the type of rewards you like to earn as well as any card-linked discounts available to you. If you’re purchasing benefits such as extended warranty and purchase protection.
Without further ado, these are Personal Finance Insider’s pick of the best cards to use for holiday season shopping in 2023.
Insider’s Featured Cash Back Credit Cards
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases automatically.
Earn 5% cash back on Chase travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards®, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
Compare the best cards for Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Small Business Saturday 2023
Best for 5% cash back at Amazon
Prime Visa
Regular APR
19.49% – 27.49% Variable
Earn a $150 Amazon gift card
- 5% cash back at Amazon, Whole Foods, and travel booked through Chase is hard to beat
- Good travel benefits and purchase protections
- No annual fee
- Must be an Amazon Prime member to qualify
- Other cards offer higher cash-back rates on non-Amazon purchases
Bilt Mastercard®
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
- Only credit card to offer rent payments to any landlord
- Excellent range of airline and hotel transfer partners through the Bilt App
- World Elite Mastercard benefits and no annual fee
- If you’re not a renter, other cards offer better welcome bonuses and rewards
- Must make 5 transactions per statement period to earn points
Product Details
- $0 Annual Fee.
- Earn up to 1x points on rent payments without the transaction fee, up to 100,000 points each calendar year.
- 2x points on travel.
- 3x points on dining.
- 1x points on other purchases.
- Earn points when you make 5 transactions that post each statement period.
- When renting at a Bilt Alliance property, you can choose to have your rent payments automatically reported by Bilt to the three major credit bureaus each month; Experian™, TransUnion™, and Equifax™.
Best for PayPal and Walmart.com
Chase Freedom Flex℠
Intro APR
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months
Regular APR
20.49% – 29.24% Variable
Earn $200 cash bonus plus 5% cash back on PayPal, wholesale clubs, and select charities
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
- No annual fee
- Generous bonus cash-back categories
- Great welcome bonus
- Booking through Chase Ultimate Rewards portal can restrict outside earning potential
- Varying percentages and rotating calendar categories require extra attention
- 3% foreign transaction fees
Best for digital wallets (online and in-store) and Amazon
Discover it® Cash Back
Intro APR
0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
Regular APR
17.24% – 28.24% Variable
Earn Unlimited Cashback Match™
- From October 1 to December 31, 2023, you can earn 5% cash back at Amazon.com and Target on up to $1,500 in purchases after enrollment, then 1%
- Discover will match your cash back earned at the end of your first account year
- No annual fee
- Cap on how much bonus cash back you can earn each quarter
- If the quarterly categories aren’t convenient for you, you can earn more cash back with a different card
Product Details
- Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases-automatically.
- Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
- Every $1 you earn in cash back is $1 you can redeem
- Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 17.24% to 28.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
- No annual fee.
- Terms and conditions apply.
Best for 5% cash back at office supply stores
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Intro APR
0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months
Regular APR
18.49% – 24.49% Variable
Earn $900 bonus cash back
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
- Broad 5% and 2% cash-back categories (you can earn bonus cash back at office supply stores and at gas stations and restaurants)
- Intro APR offer for purchases
- No annual fee
- You can pair this card with a card that earns Ultimate Rewards to redeem your cash back for travel
- Annual cap on bonus categories
Product Details
- Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year
- Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
- With Zero Liability you won’t be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- No Annual Fee
- Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
- Member FDIC
Best for 5% cash back at department stores
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card
Intro APR
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 billing cycles
Regular APR
19.74% – 29.74% Variable
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
- Generous cash-back earning and welcome bonus for a no-annual-fee card
- Ability to choose the best 5% and 2% cash-back categories for you
- Introductory APR offer on purchases and balance transfers
- 5% cash-back category is capped at $2,000 in purchases per quarter
- Foreign transaction fees
Best for 6% cash back at US supermarkets
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Annual Fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
Intro APR
0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers from the date of account opening
Regular APR
19.24% – 29.99% Variable
Earn a $250 statement credit
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
- Generous bonus rewards, especially at U.S. supermarkets
- One of a small handful of credit cards that offer bonus rewards on select streaming services
- Intro APR offer
- Unlike many other cash-back cards, it charges an annual fee
- If you spend more than $6,000 at US supermarkets each year, you’ll want to use another card once you reach that cap
Product Details
- Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 intro plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months from the date of account opening. Plans created after that will have a monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each eligible purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
- Low Intro APR: 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 19.24% – 29.99%. Variable APRs will not exceed 29.99%.
- 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
- 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations.
- 3% Cash Back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
- 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
- Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
- Get up to $120 in statement credits annually when you pay for an auto-renewing subscription to Equinox+ at equinoxplus.com with your Blue Cash Preferred® Card. That’s $10 in statement credits each month. Enrollment required.
- Thinking about getting the Disney Bundle which can include Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+? Your decision made easy with $7/month back in the form of a statement credit after you spend $9.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your Blue Cash Preferred® Card. Enrollment required.
- Terms Apply.
Best for cash back on online retail purchases
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Intro APR
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from account opening
Regular APR
19.24% – 29.99% Variable
Earn a $200 statement credit
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
- Good bonus cash-back rate at US supermarkets
- No annual fee
- If you spend more than $6,000 at US supermarkets in a year, you should use another card to earn bonus rewards once you hit that cap
Product Details
- Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
- No Annual Fee.
- Balance Transfer is back! Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening. After that, 19.24% to 29.99% variable APR.
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%.
- 3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year then 1%.
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
- Thinking about getting the Disney Bundle which can include Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+? Your decision made easy with $7/month back in the form of a statement credit after you spend $9.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your Blue Cash Everyday® Card. Enrollment required.
- Enjoy up to $15 back per month when you purchase a Home Chef meal kit subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your enrolled Blue Cash Everyday® Card.
- Terms Apply.
Best for 3% cash back at drugstores
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Intro APR
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months
Regular APR
20.49% – 29.24% Variable
Special Offer: Unlimited Matched Cash Back
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
- Solid flat cash-back rate
- You can combine cash-back rewards with Ultimate Rewards points if you have an eligible card
- No annual fee
- Some other cards offer a higher rate of cash back on certain types of purchases
Product Details
- Special Offer: Unlimited Matched Cash Back. Use your card for all your purchases and at the end of your first year, Chase will automatically match all the cash back you earned! There is no limit to how much you can earn. Every dollar in cash back rewards you earn is a dollar Chase will match.
- Unlimited 1.5% cash back is just the beginning of what you can earn. You’ll enjoy 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
- Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% – 29.24%.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
- No annual fee – You won’t have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
- Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more.
- Member FDIC
Best for 2% cash back with a long intro APR
Citi® Double Cash Card
Intro APR
0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months
Regular APR
19.24% – 29.24% Variable
- No annual fee
- Simple earning structure without confusing bonus categories
- Some cards earn higher rates of cash back on rotating categories
- While it has an introductory APR offer, that’s only on balance transfers, not purchases, so you can’t use it to fund a major expense without interest
Best 2% cash rewards on purchases
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Intro APR
0% intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 15 months from account opening
Regular APR
20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable
Earn $200 cash rewards bonus
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
- Good welcome bonus for a $0 annual fee card
- Straightforward 2% cash rewards on purchases with no categories to track
- Strong benefits including cell phone protection, Visa Signature perks, and an intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
- If you’ve opened a Wells Fargo card in the past six months, you may not qualify for an additional Wells Fargo credit card
- Foreign transaction fees
Product Details
- Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 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. 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% 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.
- No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
Best for 3% cash back in a category you choose
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card
Intro APR
0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases and on any balance transfers made within 60 days of account opening
Regular APR
18.24% – 28.24% Variable
$200 online cash rewards bonus
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
- No annual fee
- Broad 2% and 3% cash-back categories
- Earn 2% and 3% cash-back categories capped at $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter.
Product Details
- $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
- Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice, automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and unlimited 1% on all other purchases.
- If you’re a Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25%-75% more cash back on every purchase. That means you could earn 3.75%-5.25% cash back on purchases in your choice category.
- No annual fee and no expiration on rewards.
- 0% Introductory APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.24% – 28.24% Variable APR will apply. A 3% fee applies to all balance transfers.
- Contactless Cards – The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
- This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Best for purchase protection and extended warranty
American Express® Gold Card
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
- Great rewards for dining and for shopping at US supermarkets
- Monthly statement credit for eligible dining purchases recoups some of the annual fee
- Underwhelming welcome bonus
Product Details
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
- Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
- Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $250.
- Terms Apply.
Best for high cash back in two retail brands you customize
U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards™ Visa Signature® Card
Annual Fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
Regular APR
18.74-28.74% Variable
Recommended Credit
Excellent/Good
- High cash-back earning at popular retailers like Amazon, Target, and Walmart
- Ability to customize rewards depending on your spending habits
- Generous welcome bonus offer
- Annual fee after the first year, foreign transaction fees
- 6% and 3% cash back categories are capped at $1,500 in spending per quarter
- No intro 0% APR offer
Product Details
- The information related to the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards™ Visa Signature® Card has been collected by Business Insider and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 a year
- Earn $250 bonus after spending $2,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening
- 6% cash back on your first $1,500 in combined eligible purchases each quarter with two retailers you choose
- 5.5% back on prepaid car and hotel reservations booked through the US Bank Rewards Center
- 3% cash back on your first $1,500 in eligible purchases on your choice of one everyday category (like wholesale clubs, gas and EV charging stations, bills and utilities)
- 1.5% cash back on all other eligible purchases
Best shopping credit cards for Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Small Business Saturday
If you’re an Amazon Prime member and spend often at Amazon or Whole Foods — or both — the Amazon Prime Visa is worth considering. Through December 4, 2023, Amazon is offering an instant $200 Amazon Visa gift card for Amazon Prime members who sign up for the Amazon Prime Visa and are approved.
Amazon Prime members earn 5% back on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases (non-Prime members earn 3% back per dollar spent). Cardholders also earn 2% back at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores, and 1% back on all other purchases.
There’s no annual fee for Amazon Prime members. And because it’s a Visa Signature card, it offers solid benefits including extended warranty, purchase protection, and rental car insurance.
If you already have the Amazon credit card, consider referring a family member or friend to earn a $50 bonus — up to $500 per year.
Review: Amazon Prime Visa review
Under normal circumstances, the Bilt Mastercard is rarely the best credit card to use for everyday shopping since you only earn 1 point per dollar spent outside of dining and travel. But every month on Bilt Rent Day, you can earn double points per dollar spent on all categories except for rent.
This month in particular, Bilt’s Rent Day promotion is especially lucrative for the right shopper, lasting for a full week beginning November 24 through December 1. You’ll earn 2x per dollar on up to $20,000 worth of Cyber Monday and Black Friday purchases. Once you hit $20,000 — if you do — the earning rate drops back down to 1x.
The Bilt Mastercard also comes with purchase security benefits, so you can rest easy knowing that any gifts purchased are protected in case of theft or damage over the chaotic holiday season.
Review: Bilt Mastercard review
The Chase Freedom Flex is an excellent pick if you want to earn bonus cash back (in the form of Chase Ultimate Rewards® points) across a wide variety of categories. Cardholders can earn 5% cash back (5x Ultimate Rewards points) on up to $1,500 spent in combined purchases (then 1%) in certain bonus categories each quarter of the year after activation.
For Q4 2023 from October 1 through December 31, the Chase Freedom Flex bonus categories are PayPal, select charities and wholesale clubs such as Sam’s Club or Costco. All of these categories are excellent for Black Friday and Cyber Monday spend, especially since many popular online retailers accept PayPal.
Plus, the card earns 5% back on travel booked through Chase, 3% back on dining and drugstores, and 1% back on all other purchases.
New cardholders also get 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months, then 20.49% – 29.24% Variable APR. So if you need time to pay off your holiday purchases, this card can save you on interest.
Review: Chase Freedom Flex review
The Discover It Cash Back is a terrific choice if you want to earn a high rate of cash back on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It offers a generous 5% cash back in popular rotating quarterly bonus categories when you activate, on up to $1,500 in combined spending, then 1% (from October 1 to December 31, 2023, you can earn 5% cash back at Amazon.com and Target on up to $1,500 in purchases after enrollment, then 1%).
Amazon and digital wallets are particularly handy for holiday shopping, since you can purchase just about anything between these two categories.
New cardholders also receive a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then 17.24% – 28.24% Variable APR, which is great for saving money on interest if you need to carry a balance.
Review: Discover It Cash Back review
Small-business owners often wait for Black Friday and Cyber Monday to purchase equipment and electronics — and if you can find a deal at office supply stores like Staples, the Chase Ink Business Cash can get you an even better deal.
You’ll earn 5% cash back at office supply stores (and on internet, cable, and phone services) on up to $25,000 in combined spending per year (then 1%). Your rewards could be worth even more if you also have the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve, or Ink Business Preferred credit card, because you can unlock more redemption options when you have one of these cards.
Review: Chase Ink Business Cash review
The U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature is unique in that you can pick two categories each quarter to earn 5% back on up to $2,000 in combined spending (then 1%). Department stores are one of the choices, so if you have this card and plan to shop at retailers like Macy’s or JC Penney, it’s a solid choice.
Other 5% category options include select clothing stores, fast food, cell phone providers, home utilities, electronics stores, sporting goods stores, movie theaters, gyms/fitness centers, furniture stores, and ground transportation. You’ll do even better if your holiday shopping overlaps any of these categories.
Cardholders also have the opportunity to choose one 2% cash-back category from grocery stores, gas stations, and restaurants, with no spending cap.
Review: US Bank Cash+ Visa Signature review
Whether you’re stocking up on holiday groceries or picking up gifts for your foodie friends at U.S. supermarkets, the Amex Blue Cash Preferred is a solid choice if you prefer cash back. You’ll earn 6% back on up to $6,000 at U.S. supermarkets each year (then 1%).
Cardholders also earn 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming services, 3% back on U.S. gas stations and transit, and 1% back on all other eligible purchases (cash back is earned in the form of Rewards Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit).
Review: Amex Blue Cash Preferred review
The Amex Blue Cash Everyday is an especially handy card for folks worried they won’t be able to pay off all their holiday purchases in one go, as it offers a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from account opening, then 19.24% – 29.99% Variable APR.
The card was recently refreshed with improved bonus spending categories and new Home Chef and Disney Bundle subscription statement credits**. As well as being a great card for US online retail purchases (3% cash back), the Amex Blue Cash Everyday is also a strong card for everyday spending categories. Cardholders earn 3% back on US supermarket and US gas station purchases (1% back on all other purchases).
Keep in mind that the 3% earning categories are capped on up to the first $6,000 spent per year (then 1%).
Review: Amex Blue Cash Everyday review
The Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 5% cash back on travel purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% cash back at drugstores (and restaurants), and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases, with no spending cap.
Like the Chase Freedom Flex , the Chase Freedom Unlimited offers the opportunity to get more from your rewards when you pair it with a Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve, or Ink Business Preferred credit card.
Review: Chase Freedom Unlimited review
If you prefer an all-purpose, flat-rate cash-back card without having to track different categories, the Citi Double Cash Card is an easy win. You’ll effectively earn 2 points per dollar (2% cash back) — 1 point per dollar when you buy, and 1 point per dollar when you pay — on all purchases, making the card ideal for spending that doesn’t fall into typical bonus categories as well.
This is also a good card to consider if you need to do a balance transfer from other high-interest credit cards. New cardholders receive a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, 19.24% – 29.24% Variable APR.
Review: Citi Double Cash Card review
The no-annual-fee Wells Fargo Active Cash is similar to the Citi Double Cash Card as it also earns unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. The card also offers 0% intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 15 months from account opening, then 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR.
Some perks you’ll get with this card are cell phone protection, roadside dispatch, travel and emergency assistance services, and Visa Signature benefits.
Review: Wells Fargo Active Cash review
For even more flexibility, the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards lets you pick a 3% cash-back category from their list, which includes online shopping, drug stores, home improvement and furnishings, dining, travel, and gas/EV charging.
You’ll earn 3% and 2% cash back on up to $2,500 in combined spending in the category of your choice and at wholesale clubs and grocery stores each quarter, then 1% back.
Review: Customized Cash Rewards review
American Express cards are known for their solid purchase protections and extended warranty, and the Amex Gold card offers some of the best benefits. Before you make any expensive purchases, it’s best to weigh the earning rate against the protections the card provides.
The Amex Gold doesn’t earn bonus points in most popular holiday shopping categories, although it does earn 4x points at restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets each year, then 1 point per dollar), 3x points on flights booked with the airline or Amex Travel, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
However, getting peace of mind from the extra protection you’ll get can offset the additional rewards you might earn with a different card. The Amex Gold offers purchase protection in the event of damage, loss, or theft of a new eligible item for up to 90 days from the purchase date, up to $10,000 per covered purchase (up to $500 for natural disasters) and up to $50,000 per eligible card.
The Amex Gold also adds up to one additional year to eligible U.S. manufacturers’ warranties of five years or less.
Review: Amex Gold Card review
The U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards card earns 6% cash back on two eligible retail brands of your choosing (such as Walmart, Target, and Amazon) on up to $1,500 per quarter (then 1.5%), and 5.5% back on hotel and car bookings through the US Bank Rewards Center.
You’ll also earn 3% cash back in one everyday category of your choosing (gas and UV charging purchases, bills and utilities, or wholesale clubs), but it’s also capped at the first $1,500 per quarter (1.5% then after).
Review: US Bank Shopper Cash Rewards review
Tips to boost your Black Friday and Cyber Monday rewards
Use a shopping portal
Deciding on the best rewards credit card can seem daunting, with many cards offering extra rewards in the same bonus categories. You’ll find that a lot of the cards for Black Friday deals and Cyber Monday shopping also appear on our list of the best cards for online shopping, for example.
If you’re shopping from home, be sure to check online shopping portals before making a purchase to see if there are opportunities for bonus rewards. These will stack on top of the earnings from your rewards credit card.
For example, if you have a Chase Ultimate Rewards credit card, check the Chase portal to earn extra points per dollar at popular retailers like Macys.com, Walmart.com, and BestBuy.com.
Most major US airlines have their own online shopping portal, so if you prefer earning airline miles it’s worth checking your favorite, such as:
Check for limited-time offers
Some issuers offer limited-time bonus spending categories, and it’s also worth checking your Amex and Chase accounts to see if you can activate any Chase Offers or Amex Offers** that apply to your purchase.
For example, some Amex cardholders recently got an offer to earn bonus points at Amazon. These offers are targeted, so there’s no guarantee you’ll get a particular offer, and you do have to enroll your card to receive any bonuses you qualify for.
Don’t forget to activate promotions and bonuses
Some cards require activation or enrollment before you can earn extra rewards in certain categories. Be sure to activate bonuses on cards like the Chase Freedom Flex and Discover It Cash Back to ensure you’re earning the most rewards.
If you use cash-back apps like Ibotta or Fetch Rewards, it’s also worth checking to see if any of your purchases line up with current offers.