The Ultimate Guide to Credit Cards
Thursday, April 25, 2024

8 Best Credit Cards For Christmas Shopping (2024)

Best Credit Cards For Christmas Shopping
Ashley Fricker

Written by: Ashley Fricker

Ashley Fricker
Ashley Fricker

Ashley Fricker has more than a decade of experience as a finance contributor and editor, and has specialized in the credit card industry since 2015. Her credit card commentary is featured on national media outlets that include CNBC, MarketWatch, Investopedia, and Reader's Digest, among many others. She has worked closely with the world’s largest banks and financial institutions, up-and-coming fintech companies, and press and news outlets to curate comprehensive content and media. Ashley holds a bachelor's degree in multimedia journalism from Florida Atlantic University.

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Edited by: Lillian Guevara-Castro

Lillian Guevara-Castro
Lillian Guevara-Castro

Lillian Guevara-Castro brings more than 30 years of editing and journalism experience to the CardRates team. She has written and edited for major news organizations, including The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the New York Times, and she previously served as an adjunct journalism instructor at the University of Florida. Today, Lillian edits all CardRates content for clarity, accuracy, and reader engagement.

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Reviewed by: Danielle Spurlin

Danielle Spurlin
Danielle Spurlin

With more than 10 years of accounting experience, Danielle Marshall has a deep understanding of many financial disciplines, including personal and commercial lending, retirement annuities, financial forecasting, and general bookkeeping. She has a bachelor's degree from the University of Florida's Fisher School of Accounting and currently manages all accounts receivable and payable for the parent company of CardRates.com. She works directly with credit card issuers and advertising partners to ensure our content meets compliance expectations and regulatory standards.

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Advertiser Disclosure

The best credit cards for Christmas shopping can help you get all the items your loved ones want while taking advantage of several card perks that make those items more affordable.

Whether you’re enjoying a long period of interest-free financing, extended warranties, cash back, or low interest rates, you can sit back on Christmas morning knowing that your reputation as the best gift-giver is secure — and so are your finances.

We’ve broken down the key perks you should look for in a holiday shopping credit card below. Those tools can help you unwrap even more savings than what you’re used to getting around this time of year.

Best 0% APR Credit Cards For Christmas Shopping

The cards below all offer 0% APR introductory offers to new cardholders. The length of each offer differs depending on the card, but each card allows you to go an extended period without interest charges accruing on eligible purchases.

The 0% financing period may come with other membership rewards, including a signup bonus, cash back, travel rewards, bonus points, or other rewards.

1. Chase Slate Edge℠

This card is currently not available.

0% Intro APR Rating

★★★★★

N/A

OVERALL RATING

N/A
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A

The Chase Slate Edge℠ offers a 0% intro APR on all your Christmas purchases for the first 18 months after account opening. This card gives you the ability to finance purchases without accruing interest fees until after next Christmas.

While you get a few extra months of 0% financing with this card, it doesn’t offer purchase rewards like our next few cards, which offer intro APRs and rewards.

Chase Freedom Unlimited® Review

at Chase’ssecure website

0% INTRO APR RATING

★★★★★

4.7

OVERALL RATING

  • 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 Travel, 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 travel purchased through Chase Travel, 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
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% Intro APR on Purchases 15 months
0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers 15 months
20.49% – 29.24% Variable
$0
Good/Excellent

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers a full range of credit card rewards for new cardholders, including an extended period of interest-free financing and cash back rewards that include bonus categories with even more earnings potential. 

And possibly the best feature of this award-winning card is its lack of an annual fee. That gives you extra money to reward yourself while holiday shopping for the special people in your life.

0% INTRO APR RATING

★★★★★

4.7

OVERALL RATING

  • 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
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% for 15 months
0% for 15 months
19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
$0
Excellent, Good

Capital One remains one of the most recognizable credit card issuers in America, not just because it produces catchy commercials. The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card regularly offers extended 0% APR introductory offers to complement its welcome bonus and cash back rewards. 

Avoid carrying a balance on this card once the promotional period ends, though, as its ongoing interest rate is a bit on the high end.

Discover it® Cash Back Review

at Discover Card’ssecure website

0% INTRO APR RATING

★★★★★

4.6

OVERALL RATING

  • INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – 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.
  • Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
  • 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.
  • 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.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% Intro APR for 15 months
0% Intro APR for 15 months
17.24% – 28.24% Variable APR
$0
Excellent/Good

New Discover it® Cash Back cardholders can enjoy a long period of interest-free financing and Discover’s popular Cashback Match program that matches the entire amount of cash back they earn during their first year with the card. You can receive your bonus cash back as a statement credit or cash out to receive it as a check or a direct deposit into a linked checking account or another bank account.

Maybe best of all is that its Q4 categories generally line up with big-box retailers many holiday shoppers frequent.

0% INTRO APR RATING

★★★★★

4.7

OVERALL RATING

  • 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
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% for 15 months
0% for 15 months
19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
$0
Excellent, Good

The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is designed for foodies — but you don’t have to be a restaurant regular to enjoy the benefits of this card.

In addition to a 0% APR introductory period, you’ll also earn cash back on all of your combined purchases — including holiday spending, personal purchases, travel purchases, and more.

6. Chase Freedom Flex℠

This card is currently not available.

0% Intro APR Rating

★★★★★

N/A

OVERALL RATING

N/A
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A

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℠ offers an extended intro APR and more bonus category savings than do most other rewards credit cards. You can maximize your travel rewards when you make travel purchases through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.

If you don’t want to redeem your rewards for travel or experiences, you can simply cash out and use your earned perks as a statement credit to erase all or part of your credit card debt.

Amex EveryDay® Credit Card Review

at the issuer’ssecure website

0% INTRO APR RATING

★★★★★

4.7

OVERALL RATING

4.5/5.0
  • Earn 10,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $2,000 in qualifying purchases on the card within your first 6 months of card membership
  • Earn 2X points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1X) and 1X points on other eligible purchases
  • Use your card 20 or more times on purchases in a billing period and earn 20% more points on those purchases (less returns and credits)
  • 0% introductory APR for the first 15 months from the date of account opening, then a variable APR applies
  • $0 Annual Fee
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% for 15 months
N/A
18.24% – 29.24% Variable
$0
Good

Amex EveryDay® Credit Card members get to experience a wide range of credit card deals — including a 0% intro APR, a generous welcome bonus, and bonus categories that make holiday shopping easier and more profitable.

This rewards card beats out many other credit cards and store cards by helping maximize your earnings with every purchase. And it offers a flexible credit score requirement to help you get a foot in the door with American Express.

Discover it® Miles Review

at Discover Card’ssecure website

0% INTRO APR RATING

★★★★★

4.7

OVERALL RATING

  • UNLIMITED BONUS: Unlimited Mile-for-Mile match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. For example, if you earn 35,000 Miles, you get 70,000 Miles. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match.
  • Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase
  • No annual fee
  • Turn Miles into cash. Or redeem as a statement credit for your travel purchases like airfare, hotels, rideshares, gas stations, restaurants and more.
  • 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 17.24% – 28.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR will apply.
  • 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.
  • Discover is accepted nationwide by 99% of the places that take credit cards.
  • Terms and conditions apply.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% Intro APR for 15 months
0% Intro APR for 15 months
17.24% – 28.24% Variable APR
$0
Excellent/Good

The Discover it® Miles credit card lets you use every purchase to get one step closer to your next vacation. 

You will earn miles rewards that you can redeem as a statement credit to erase all or part of previous travel-related expenses. And all of your combined purchases in the first year qualify for Discover’s Miles-for-Miles Match program that matches all of the rewards you earn during your first year as a cardholder.

Best Signup Bonus Credit Cards For Christmas Shopping

Whether you start your Christmas shopping on Black Friday or wait until the last second, a card with a good signup bonus can help you earn money during your shopping trips.

These cards all offer different one-time rewards — either in cash back or rewards points — when you reach certain spending thresholds during your first months with the card. Holiday shopping is a perfect time to meet those spending goals and cash in big.

Discover it® Cash Back Review

at Discover Card’ssecure website

CASH BACK RATING

★★★★★

4.9

OVERALL RATING

  • INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – 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.
  • Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
  • 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.
  • 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.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% Intro APR for 15 months
0% Intro APR for 15 months
17.24% – 28.24% Variable APR
$0
Excellent/Good

The Discover it® Cash Back lets you choose how much of a signup bonus you’ll receive by matching the entire amount of cash back you earn during your first year with the card. The bank will deposit the bonus into your account shortly after your one-year card anniversary.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Review

at Chase’ssecure website

POINTS & GIFTS RATING

★★★★★

4.8

OVERALL RATING

  • 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 Travel℠.
  • Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
  • Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. 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.
  • Member FDIC
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
21.49%-28.49% Variable
$95
Good/Excellent

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card welcome bonus pays out in Chase Ultimate Reward points that you can redeem for travel deals, cash back, merchandise, or gift card perks. The value of your points will vary based on how you redeem them. 

Chase Sapphire Reserve® Review

at Chase’ssecure website

POINTS & GIFTS RATING

★★★★★

4.8

OVERALL RATING

  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
  • $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
  • Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™; Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
22.49%-29.49% Variable
$550
Good/Excellent

As with its sibling card above, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® signup bonus pays out Ultimate Rewards points. You can shop online with your points through the Chase portal to book travel, get cash back, purchase merchandise, or choose from a wide gift card selection, among other goodies.

AIR MILES RATING

★★★★★

4.8

OVERALL RATING

  • 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
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
  • Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Miles won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how many you can earn
  • Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
  • Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
$95
Excellent, Good

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card rewards your eligible purchases with travel miles that never expire. You can redeem miles as a statement credit to cover previous travel-related expenses. You can also transfer your miles to a select group of travel loyalty programs.

Best Bad Credit Credit Cards For Christmas Shopping

Credit card deals for holiday shopping aren’t just for consumers with perfect credit scores. Instead of sticking to your debit card on Black Friday, you can tap into the purchase protection a credit card offers — even if you have a poor credit score.

While still on the high side, the following two cards offer lower interest rates than other unsecured cards for bad credit that can run as high as 36%. These cards allow you to maximize your Christmas spending while minimizing your credit card debt.

Surge® Platinum Mastercard® Review

at Continental Finance’ssecure website

BAD CREDIT RATING

★★★★★

4.5

OVERALL RATING

  • Up to $1,000 credit limit doubles up to $2,000! (Simply make your first 6 monthly minimum payments on time)
  • All credit types welcome to apply!
  • Monthly Credit Score – Sign up for electronic statements, and get your Vantage 3.0 Score Credit Score From Experian
  • Initial Credit Limit of $300 – $1,000 (subject to available credit)
  • Monthly reporting to the three major credit bureaus
  • See if you’re Pre-Qualified without impacting your credit score
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
See website for Details
See website for Details
29.99% APR (Variable)
$75 – $125
See website for Details*

The Surge® Platinum Mastercard® already has one of the highest average starting credit limits for poor credit consumers. But responsible cardholders can double their initial credit line in less than a year after making consecutive on-time payments. The interest rate you receive will depend on your creditworthiness.

Reflex® Platinum Mastercard® Review

at Continental Finance’ssecure website

BAD CREDIT RATING

★★★★

4.4

OVERALL RATING

  • Up to $1,000 credit limit doubles up to $2,000! (Simply make your first 6 monthly minimum payments on time)
  • See if you’re Pre-Qualified with no impact to your credit score
  • All credit types welcome to apply
  • Access to your Vantage 3.0 score from Experian (When you sign up for e-statements)
  • Initial Credit Limit of $300 – $1,000 (subject to available credit)
  • Monthly reporting to the three major credit bureaus
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
29.99% APR (Variable)
$75 – $125
Bad, Fair, or No Credit

The Reflex® Platinum Mastercard® also allows you to double your credit limit simply by making consecutive on-time payments after activating your card. Your initial credit limit will vary based on your credit score, and you may have to pay an annual fee for this card. Reflex will report your account history to each major credit bureau, which can help you improve your credit score with responsible behavior.

How Do I Choose a Credit Card For Christmas Shopping?

The card that’s best for your holiday shopping will depend on your spending habits and financial needs.

Credit cards come with a host of bonuses and rewards. Different card issuers have varying promotions to lure in new members. Some pile on multiple rewards possibilities to make their cards even more attractive to the holiday shopping public.

Here’s a list of a few of the typical promotions that you may find in a card:

  • Cash back rewards: This easy-to-understand reward pays you a percentage of cash back on all your combined purchases. It’s like getting a rebate for the purchases you’re already making. For example, a 2% cash back card would net you $2 for a $100 purchase.
  • Bonus point rewards: These cards award you a specific number of points per dollar spent. For example, you could earn one point per dollar spent, which you can redeem for various rewards, including cash back, travel discounts, merchandise, and gift cards.
  • 0% Intro APR Offers: This promotion is for new cardholders and provides a 0% interest rate for an extended period. The length of your promotion depends on the card you qualify for. Typically, these promotions can last for anywhere between six and 18 months.
  • Signup Bonuses: Some cards entice new cardholders by offering a cash back or bonus point treasure chest when they meet certain spending thresholds during their first months with the card. For example, a card may offer $200 bonus cash back when you use your card to spend at least $500 during the first three months of card membership.

Some cards offer a combination of these rewards. For example, a card may offer a signup bonus for new cardholders to go along with a 0% introductory APR and cash back rewards on all eligible purchases. Banks generally reserve these offers for customers who have good credit.

How Long Do 0% APRs Typically Last?

Every card issuer chooses the length of its 0% APR promotion for new cardholders. By law, any bank that offers such a promotion must give at least six months of interest-free financing. Some banks allow this promotion to extend as long as 18 months or longer.

Card issuers must provide 0% financing for a minimum of six months if it’s offered as a benefit of the card. But most issuers extend it for up to a year or longer.

Just keep in mind that the bank can cancel your promotion and begin charging interest on your credit card debt immediately if you’re late with a payment by more than 60 days or if you default on your debt.

As long as your account remains in good standing and your payments are current, you’ll get at least six months of interest-free financing if your card offers this promotion.

How Do Card Issuer Shopping Portals Work?

Shopping portals are a great way to save money on purchases you make with your credit card. In most cases, you don’t have to do any extra work to tap into the savings.

Many credit card issuers partner with retailers — especially during the holiday shopping season — to offer special deals to cardmembers. These deals usually include a percentage off your purchase when you use your card or coupon-like savings for specific items or services. Or you could receive double rewards for purchases made with select retailers through the portal.

If your card issuer offers a portal, you’ll likely find a link to it when you access your card account online or through the bank’s mobile application. This portal will display all of the current deals you can access through your card.

Some card issuers automatically add these discounts when you make a purchase — which means you don’t have to follow any special links or respond to any specific deals. Just swipe your card and get your discount.

Capital One Shopping offers a service that automatically searches for online coupon codes to apply to your online purchases when you use your Capital One card as payment.

These services are increasing in scope and popularity and will likely only expand over the coming years as shoppers look to save money before, during, and after the holiday shopping season.

How Can I Earn a Signup Bonus While Christmas Shopping?

Some credit card issuers offer signup bonuses for new cardholders that pay out extra cash back or bonus points when they meet specific spending thresholds during their first few months with the card.

How to Earn a Credit Card Signup Bonus

For example, a card issuer may give a cardholder $200 in bonus cash back if they charge at least $500 in eligible purchases within three months of activating a new card.

Bonus amounts and spending requirements vary by card. Some cards require as little as $500 spent over three months, whereas you may need to spend $4,000 or more with other cards.

This is also referred to as a welcome bonus as it’s only available to new cardholders. 

The holiday season is a great time to open a new credit card account that offers a signup bonus because you can quickly rack up the charges by completing your holiday shopping.

No matter how small or large your Christmas budget becomes, you can get closer to meeting your spending threshold and potentially get money back for the shopping that you’re already planning to do.

Should I Get a Credit Card For Christmas Spending?

A new credit card is a great way to earn rewards and potential signup bonuses in exchange for your buying power. Since the average American spent more than $1,000 on holiday shopping in 2021, this is a great opportunity to earn a bonus or gain some cash back for purchases you’re already going to make.

The key to maximizing your credit card rewards, though, is to make sure that you only spend money that you can afford to repay each month. Credit card interest rates can quickly devour any rewards or welcome bonuses you accrue. But you can avoid interest charges by choosing a card with a 0% APR introductory offer or by paying your balance in full each month.

By eliminating interest charges, your earned cash back, point, or signup bonus money will go straight into your pocket instead of back to the bank in the form of finance charges.

Will I Get My New Card In Time For Christmas Shopping?

Your new credit card will typically arrive in the mail within seven to 10 business days after the bank approves your card application. This gives the issuing bank time to create your account, print your card, and send it to you through the mail.

Shipping Times by Issuer

If you’re applying for a new credit card to use for holiday shopping, be sure to submit your online application at least two weeks before you’re planning to start shopping. This should give the bank time to send you your card and allow for possible holiday delays within the U.S. Postal Service.

Shop ‘Til You Drop With the Best Credit Cards For Christmas Shopping 

Christmas is a time for creating memories with loved ones. No matter how big or small your family, there’s joy in sharing laughs and love with those who matter most to you.

But many consumers spend the holidays worrying about how they’re going to repay the bills they just racked up for all the gifts that sit beneath the family tree. That doesn’t have to be the case for you.

With the best credit cards for Christmas shopping, you can extend manufacturer warranties, take advantage of interest-free financing, and postpone other financial concerns until well after the holidays. You may even earn bonus cash back or bonus points with a top rewards card. That sort of financial savvy calls for a second glass of eggnog. 

Advertiser Disclosure

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.