Using credit cards to pay bills and utilities may be viewed as a precarious method that could ultimately lead to more debt. But if used wisely — and paid off each month — the best credit cards for paying bills and utilities can actually help cardholders save money through rewards.
In the last century, we’ve gone from the introduction of household electricity to lives that often wholly depend on it — a fact that is struck home every time we open a new utility bill.
While making that payment each month certainly beats the alternative (roughing it may make an exciting camping trip, but everyday life demands hot showers and air conditioning), it doesn’t take much of the sting out of the cost of daily living. Especially when you start adding other bills — like costly cable and internet services — onto the pile.
Happily, there may be a credit card that can help. With the right rewards credit card, you can earn rewards on every payment, making that monthly reality check a little easier to bear.
Cash Back | Bonus Rewards | Business
Best Cash Back Cards for Bills & Utilities
One of the simplest way to earn rewards on your bills and utilities is with an all-purpose unlimited cash back rewards credit card. No categories to track, nothing to activate, just a flat earnings rate on every new purchase.
- INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
- Enjoy 6.5% 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; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
- After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 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.
- 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!
- 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 annual fee - You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
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Regular APR
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Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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|---|---|---|---|---|
0% Intro APR on Purchases 15 months
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0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers 15 months
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20.49% - 29.24% Variable
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$0
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Good/Excellent
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The Chase Freedom Unlimited® not only earns tiered cash back rewards on travel, dining, and drugstore purchases, but also unlimited cash back on every other purchase. To top it off, this card comes with an introductory 0% APR offer and a solid signup bonus. Plus, your cash back can be turned into Ultimate Rewards® points if you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
- Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- 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
- 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
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
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Regular APR
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Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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|---|---|---|---|---|
0% for 15 months
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0% for 15 months
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19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
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$0
|
Excellent, Good
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If you’re over the 5/24 limit for a Chase card, the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card has the same credit card benefits trifecta as the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. You’ll get unlimited 1.5% cash back rewards on top of an intro-APR offer and an attainable signup bonus.
- Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
- To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
- Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
- If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
- There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
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Regular APR
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Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A
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0% Intro APR Period 18 months on Balance Transfers
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19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
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$0
|
Excellent, Good, Fair
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Additional Disclosure: Citi is a CardRates advertiser.
While the Citi® Double Cash Card doesn’t have an intro-APR offer on purchases, it makes up for it with its cash back rewards structure. Earn unlimited cash back on each and every dollar spent, but it isn’t earned all at once. Instead, you’ll earn 1% when you make a purchase and an additional 1% when you pay it off.
Best Bonus Rewards Cards for Bills & Utilities
Depending on the amount you spend on bills and utilities each month, it may be worthwhile to seek out a card that will offer you bonus rewards specifically for utility purchases. Some of these cards offer as much as 5% rewards for qualifying bills and utilities, which can make a big difference when you’re staving off the summer heat.
4. Chase Freedom Flex℠
This card is currently not available.
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
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Regular APR
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Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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Additional Disclosure: The information related to Chase Freedom Flex℠ credit card has been collected by CardRates.com and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ operates on a rotating category system that offers new bonus categories each quarter. Although the Chase Freedom Flex℠ doesn’t offer bonus rewards for utilities year-round, you have a pretty good shot of earning that top rate on certain bills and utilities, like internet, cable, and phone services, at least one quarter a year.
5. U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card
Cardholders of the U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card can earn up to 5% cash back on utilities by selecting “Home Utilities” as a 5% cash back category. Furthermore, you can also earn up to 5% cash back on your cell phone bill by selecting “Cell Phones” as your second 5% cash back category.
- Earn 5% cash back in two categories of your choosing, plus 2% cash back in an additional category you select
- Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Pay no annual fee
You’ll need to select/activate your bonus categories each quarter, with the option to choose new bonus categories every three months. Bonus category rewards are earned on the first $2,000 in combined eligible net purchases each quarter.
6. Voice Credit Card® from Huntington
With the Voice Credit Card® from Huntington, you can earn 3X points per $1 spent paying your bills by selecting “Utilities & Office Supply Stores” as your bonus rewards category. Points are worth 1¢ apiece, giving you an effective 3% back on utilities.
- Earn 3X points per $1 in a bonus category you select from 10 options that include Utilities & Office Supply Stores
- Earn 1X point per $1 on all other purchases
- Pay no annual fee
Your bonus category is selected each quarter and you can choose the same category or pick a new category if you have other big expenses coming up. Bonus rewards can be earned on up to $2,000 in qualifying category purchases each quarter.
Best Business Cards for Bills & Utilities
As much as we may complain about the cost of consumer utilities, keeping your business’s lights (and phones, and heat) on can be a fairly large chunk of your overhead. But you can take a little weight off your business’s bottom line with a good rewards credit card.
- 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
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
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|---|---|---|---|---|
0% Intro APR on Purchases 12 months
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N/A 12 months
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18.49% - 24.49% Variable
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$0
|
Good/Excellent
|
In the modern digital era, keeping your business connected can make all the difference. The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card can help you stay in touch by providing 5% cash back rewards on internet, cable, and phone services, as well as office supply stores, on up to $25,000 in combined purchases each account anniversary year.
- Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 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.
- Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
- Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
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Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
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|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A
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N/A
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21.24%-26.24% Variable
|
$95
|
Good/Excellent
|
For the business owners who prefer points, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card offers 3X points per dollar on internet, cable, and phone services. Cardholders can also save on other key business bills, including shipping purchases, travel, and qualifying digital advertising. Category rewards are limited to the first $150,000 in combined purchases each account anniversary year.
9. U.S. Bank Business Edge™ Select Rewards Card
The U.S. Bank Business Edge™ Select Rewards Card has broad bonus rewards categories that let you customize your rewards to save on the purchases you make most frequently.
- Earn 3X rewards points on a broad bonus category of your choice, including day-to-day expenses, automotive, and travel/entertainment
- Earn unlimited 1X point on all other purchases
- Pay no annual fee
In addition to customizable bonus rewards, this card offers unlimited 1X point per dollar on all other purchases. It also comes with an attainable signup bonus and an intro-APR offer for new purchases.
Earn a Little Extra on Life’s Necessities
Whether they come to you through email or snail-mail, few of us enjoy seeing the latest monthly installment of our utility bills. Of course, most of us would still rather pay our bills than spend a summer without air conditioning.
With a well-chosen rewards credit card, you can earn cash back or points on every payment, taking a little of the sting out of keeping all those modern conveniences up and running.
One thing to note is that some utility providers, most commonly electric and water services, may not allow bills to be paid with a credit card, and those that do allow it may charge a significant fee. Be aware of any potential fees or restrictions before making a payment to avoid unpleasant surprises.
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CardRates.com is a free online resource that offers valuable content and comparison services to users. To keep this resource 100% free, we receive compensation for referrals for many of the offers listed on the site. Along with key review factors, this compensation may impact how and where products appear across CardRates.com (including, for example, the order in which they appear). CardRates.com does not include the entire universe of available offers. Editorial opinions expressed on the site are strictly our own and are not provided, endorsed, or approved by advertisers.
Editorial Note: Our site content is not provided or commissioned by any credit card issuer(s). Opinions expressed on CardRates.com are the author's alone, not those of any credit card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by credit card issuers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information; however, all credit card offer details, including information about rewards, signup bonuses, introductory offers, and other terms and conditions, is presented without warranty. Clicking on any offer on CardRates.com will direct you to the issuer's website, where you can review the current terms and conditions of the offer.
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