Writer: Ashley Fricker
Editor: Lillian Guevara-Castro
Reviewer: Danielle Spurlin
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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.
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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 welcome bonus, cash back, travel rewards, bonus points, or other rewards.
1. Chase Slate Edge℠
This card is currently not available.
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.
- Intro Offer: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
- Enjoy 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; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% 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 18.99% – 28.49%.
- 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, alerts, and more.
- Member FDIC
Additional Disclosure: Non-Monetized. The information related to Chase Freedom Unlimited® was collected by CardRates and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardRates does not receive commission for this product.
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.
- 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
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 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; 18.49% – 28.49% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
- Top rated mobile app
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.
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers. 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.
- Redeem cash back for any amount. No annual fee.
- Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers. Then 17.49% to 26.49% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
- Terms and conditions apply.
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.
- For a limited time, earn a one-time $250 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 1% on all other purchases
- Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 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 12 months; 18.49% – 28.49% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
- Top rated mobile app
The Capital One Savor 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.
- Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
- 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
- 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
- 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1% 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!
- 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.24% – 27.99%.
- No annual fee – You won’t have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Flex℠ 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.
Additional Disclosure: Non-Monetized. The information related to Chase Freedom Flex℠ was collected by CardRates and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardRates does not receive commission for this product.
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.
7. Amex EveryDay® Credit Card
This card is currently not available.
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.
- UNLIMITED BONUS: Unlimited mile-for-mile match for all new cardmembers. Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a mile-for-mile match. You could turn 35,000 miles into 70,000 miles.
- 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 and balance transfers. Then 17.49% to 26.49% Standard Variable Purchase APR will apply.
- Terms and conditions apply.
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 unlimited mile-for-mile match program that matches all of the rewards you earn during your first year as a cardholder.
Best Welcome 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 welcome 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.
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers. 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.
- Redeem cash back for any amount. No annual fee.
- Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers. Then 17.49% to 26.49% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
- Terms and conditions apply.
The Discover it® Cash Back lets you choose how much of a welcome 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.
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 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
- Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel℠
- 10% anniversary points boost – each account anniversary you’ll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Member FDIC
Additional Disclosure: Non-Monetized. The information related to Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card was collected by CardRates and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardRates does not receive commission for this product.
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.
- Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Get more than $2,700 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
- Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® every 4 years
- Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
- Get complimentary Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music — all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 — a value of $250 annually
- Member FDIC
Additional Disclosure: Non-Monetized. The information related to Chase Sapphire Reserve® was collected by CardRates and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardRates does not receive commission for this product.
As with its sibling card above, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® welcome 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.
- Earn 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, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 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 $120 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
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Top rated mobile app
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.
- Up to $1,000 Initial Credit Limit
- See if you Pre-Qualify with No Impact to your Credit Score
- Less than perfect credit? We understand. The Surge Mastercard is ideal for people looking to rebuild their credit.
- Unsecured credit card requires No Security Deposit
- Perfect card for everyday purchases and unexpected expenses
- Monthly reporting to the three major credit bureaus
- Use your card everywhere Mastercard is accepted at millions of locations
- Enjoy peace of mind with Mastercard Zero Liability Protection for unauthorized purchases (subject to Mastercard guidelines)
- Apply with Confidence! There is no impact to your credit score if you’re not approved. See terms.
The Surge® Platinum Mastercard® already has one of the highest average starting credit limits for poor credit consumers. Monthly reporting to the three major credit bureaus can lead to an increase in your credit score with responsible use.
- Up to $1,000 Initial Credit Limit
- See if you Pre-Qualify with No Impact to your Credit Score
- Less than perfect credit? We understand. The Reflex Mastercard is ideal for people looking to rebuild their credit.
- Unsecured credit card requires No Security Deposit
- Perfect card for everyday purchases and unexpected expenses
- Monthly reporting to the three major credit bureaus
- Use your card everywhere Mastercard is accepted at millions of locations
- Enjoy peace of mind with Mastercard Zero Liability Protection for unauthorized purchases (subject to Mastercard guidelines)
- Apply with Confidence! There is no impact to your credit score if you’re not approved. See terms.
Your initial credit limit with the Reflex® Platinum Mastercard® will vary based on your credit score, and you will have to pay an annual fee for this card. Monthly fees begin in your second year of card ownership. 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.
- Welcome 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 welcome 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.
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 Welcome Bonus While Christmas Shopping?
Some credit card issuers offer welcome 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.
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 welcome 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 welcome 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 welcome 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.
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.
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