The Ultimate Guide to Credit Cards
Tuesday, March 19, 2024

11 Credit Card Perks & How to Use Them

Lesser Known Credit Card Perks
Erica Sandberg

Written by: Erica Sandberg

Erica Sandberg
Erica Sandberg

Erica Sandberg is a consumer finance expert and journalist whose articles and insights are featured in publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Reuters, MarketWatch, Forbes, and MSN Money. An experienced media host, she's led many financial programs, including her podcast, "Adventures With Money." She's appeared on Fox, CNN, "EconTalk" and "The Dr. Drew Podcast," and has been the resident money and credit authority for KRON-4 News in San Francisco for more than 10 years. Her book "Expecting Money: The Essential Financial Plan for New and Growing Families" was first released in 2008, and the 2017 edition is out now.

See full bio »

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.

See full bio »

Reviewed 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.

See full bio »
Advertiser Disclosure

You know that the credit card in your wallet helps you make purchases safely and conveniently, but there are other advantages it could have. In fact, many credit card issuers have created an entire menu filled with various perks for their customers.

While not all will be relevant to your lifestyle, odds are at least a few of these little-known benefits will work to your financial advantage. We’ll take a look at some of those lesser-known credit card perks and how you can use them to your benefit.

1. Extended Warranty Protection

If you buy something with a warranty and then the item breaks soon after, you may not be out of luck and money.

Many credit card issuers, such as Chase, offer extended warranty protection on select cards that enables you to extend the manufacturer’s own warranty. It could give you up to an additional year’s worth of protection so long as you report the claim within 90 days of the product’s failure. You may be offered up to $10,000 per claim with a maximum of $50,000 per account. Check out the terms on the credit card company’s website for details.

Here are a few cards that offer extended warranty protection:

BEST OVERALL RATING

★★★★★
4.9

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 Ultimate Rewards®.
  • Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
  • Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. 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

BEST OVERALL RATING

★★★★★
4.9

OVERALL RATING

  • $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
  • Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
  • Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
  • Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
  • 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
  • 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
0% for 15 months
0% for 15 months
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
$0
Excellent, Good

Of course, you have to meet the terms and conditions of this benefit, but if it works, great. File the claim online or by calling your credit card company.

2. Price Protection

Not all credit cards come with price protection benefits, but if yours does, you’re in luck.

In short, this benefit refunds you the difference in price after a retailer lowers the cost of an item that you recently charged. So, if you bought a dress for $100 and it went on sale for $70, you could be eligible for $30 back in your account. Even better, it may not have to be at the same store to enjoy his perk. Here are popular cards that come with price protection on purchases:

More Rewards American Express® Credit Card Review

at the issuer’ssecure website

BEST OVERALL RATING

★★★★★

4.5

OVERALL RATING

4.5/5.0
  • Get our Navy Federal More Rewards American Express® Card, and you can earn 20,000 bonus points (a $200 value) when you spend $2,000 within 90 days of account opening.
  • Earn 3X points at restaurants, food delivery, supermarkets, gas and transit, and 1X points on everything else
  • No annual fee, no balance transfer fee, no foreign transaction fees, and no cash advance fees
  • Points can be redeemed for cash, travel, gift cards, and merchandise
  • Cardholders get roadside assistance plus up to 25% off car rentals with car rental loss & damage insurance included
  • Must be a member of Navy Federal Credit Union to qualify – if you’re already a member, you can see if you prequalify before you submit an application
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
13.90% – 18.00% (Variable)
$0
Average to Good
HSBC Elite Credit Card Review

at the issuer’ssecure website

BEST OVERALL RATING

★★★★★

4.6

OVERALL RATING

4.6/5.0
  • Earn 50,000 Rewards Bonus Points worth $750 in airfare – when booked online through HSBC Travel – after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening
  • You’ll earn 3X Rewards Points on new travel purchases – including airline, hotels, and car rentals — 2X Points on new dining purchases, and 1X Points on all other purchases
  • Receive up to $400 in travel credits per year for all airfare, hotels, and car rentals booked through HSBC Travel
  • You and one guest enjoy complimentary, unlimited access to 1,000+ airport lounges provided by LoungeKey™
  • Take 3 rides per month and receive a $5 Lyft App credit
  • An exclusive Luxury Thank You Gift when you reach $50,000, $75,000, and $100,000 in cumulative spend annually. Up to 3 Luxury gifts per year.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
19.49% – 23.49% (Variable)
$395
Excellent

All you have to do is file a claim with your credit card company over the phone and see what happens. But beware of limitations: For instance, most issuers limit the time from the date of purchase to do file a claim, such as 60-90 days, and cardholders are limited in how many claims they can file each year.

3. Return Protection

If you have attempted to return something at a store but were denied, a couple of issuers, such as American Express, offer return protection. If your credit card company does, you may be able to get reimbursed for the item anyway.

There are restrictions, of course. Small and large electronics, jewelry, and books are often excluded, and American Express limits this benefit to $300 per item, $1,000 per cardmember account per calendar year. Here are a few of the top cards with return protection benefits:

BEST OVERALL RATING

★★★★★
4.7

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
The Platinum Card® Review

at the issuer'ssecure website

BEST OVERALL RATING

★★★★★
4.7

OVERALL RATING

4.7/5.0
  • Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you use your new card to make $6,000 in purchases in your first 6 months of Card Membership
  • Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points for flights booked directly through airlines or American Express Travel, on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. Also earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.
  • $200 annual hotel credit, $200 annual airline fee credit, $25 monthly Equinox credit, $15 monthly Uber cash credit, $50 bi-annual Saks Fifth Avenue credit, and more.
  • Platinum Card Members have unlimited complimentary access to all locations of The Global Lounge Collection, including 1,400 airport lounges across 650 cities.
  • Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status and Hilton Honors Gold Status. Enrollment required.
  • Choose among three card designs
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
20.49% - 27.49% Pay Over Time
$695
Excellent

If your item fits within the list of what is eligible to return you’ll have to send it back (and you may have to cover that cost). Supply the credit card issuer with documentation that you did try to return the item but the store refused, as well as your original receipt, a copy of your statement proving that you charged it, and the retailer’s return policy information. If all goes according to plan, that money will be credited back into your account.

4. Purchase Protection

If your package didn’t show up — or it did, but the contents were damaged — your credit card company may come to the rescue.

Embedded purchase protection gives you the opportunity to file a claim and if approved, you won’t be financially responsible for the item you bought with the card. Most credit cards come with some level of purchase protection, but policies vary considerably by network.

Contact your credit card company to understand exactly what is covered. As with the extended warranty, you can complete the claim online or over the phone. In the case of theft, a police report is required by most credit card companies to file a claim.

5. Cellphone Insurance

Yet another type of insurance you may have with your credit card, like all consumer cards issued by Wells Fargo, is cellphone insurance coverage. It can really come in handy if your phone is broken, damaged, lost, or stolen. If your outside insurance doesn’t cover it or you have none to start with, it’s a good supplemental policy.

Here are a few of our favorite credit cards with cellphone insurance:

BEST OVERALL RATING

★★★★★

4.7

OVERALL RATING

  • Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
  • Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
  • Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
  • Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
$395
Excellent
The Platinum Card® Review

at the issuer’ssecure website

BEST OVERALL RATING

★★★★★

4.7

OVERALL RATING

4.7/5.0
  • Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you use your new card to make $6,000 in purchases in your first 6 months of Card Membership
  • Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points for flights booked directly through airlines or American Express Travel, on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. Also earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.
  • $200 annual hotel credit, $200 annual airline fee credit, $25 monthly Equinox credit, $15 monthly Uber cash credit, $50 bi-annual Saks Fifth Avenue credit, and more.
  • Platinum Card Members have unlimited complimentary access to all locations of The Global Lounge Collection, including 1,400 airport lounges across 650 cities.
  • Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status and Hilton Honors Gold Status. Enrollment required.
  • Choose among three card designs
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
20.49% – 27.49% Pay Over Time
$695
Excellent

You do have to pay your monthly cellphone bill with the card to qualify and there are plenty of exceptions. As always, check the policy’s restrictions. But if it works, you’ll save a bundle by not having to buy a new device. In general, you will need to file a claim within a couple of months of the incident, then complete and send the documents within three months.

6. Rental Car Insurance

Pay for a rental car with your rewards credit card, like the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, and chances are the car rental insurance is covered. With this benefit, you may avoid having to pay for the expensive waivers, such as Collision Damage and Loss Damage. Those extras can cost up to $50 a day, which will really add up if you’re going on an extended trip. The cards below provide rental car insurance so you don’t have to incur the extra cost.

BEST OVERALL RATING

★★★★★
4.7

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

BEST OVERALL RATING

★★★★★
4.9

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 Ultimate Rewards®.
  • Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
  • Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. 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

Make sure you’re properly covered, though. Contact the credit card issuer first and talk it out or visit the website and read over the coverage details. In the event that something goes wrong with the car and the insurance covers the damage, just file a claim with your credit card company.

7. Concierge Service

Want help reserving a table at a popular restaurant, procuring entertainment or sporting event tickets, or booking a flight or hotel room? What about recommendations for unique spots to visit while you’re in a foreign city? Although you can do all these things yourself, it’s nice to have a helpful professional at the ready.

If you have a premium credit card, it probably includes concierge service, which means you can get that assistance — all it takes is a phone call to the company’s concierge line. The following cards, among other premium travel cards like The Platinum Card from Amex, offer concierge services to its cardholders:

BEST OVERALL RATING

★★★★★
4.7

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

BEST OVERALL 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

Concierge service is a free, convenient, time-saving perk that can be utilized for a variety of wants and needs, just be sure to check your issuer’s website for complete offerings and details.

8. Free Checked Bags

You may have applied for that travel card for all the points you can accumulate when you buy things and turn them into free airfare (among other things). But don’t forget what else the card can do for you, including picking up tabs for checked bags.

Checking your luggage in at the airport can cost up to $70 for your first checked bag, but if you used the right credit card to purchase your ticket — even if you bought it with points — the cost for at least one bag is waived. It may even include the fee for one or more people who are on the same reservation.

United℠ Business Card Review

at Chase’ssecure website

BEST OVERALL RATING

★★★★

4.4

OVERALL RATING

  • Earn 100,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
  • Receive a 5,000-mile “better together” bonus each anniversary when you have both the United℠ Business Card and a personal Chase United® credit card.
  • Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, dining including eligible delivery services, at gas stations, office supply stores, and on local transit and commuting.
  • Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. Plus, employee cards at no additional cost – miles earned from their purchases accrue in your account so you can earn rewards faster.
  • Enjoy a free first checked bag – a savings of up to $140 per roundtrip (terms apply), 2 United Club℠ one-time passes per year, and priority boarding privileges.
  • $100 United® travel credit after 7 United flight purchases of $100 or more each anniversary year.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
21.99% – 28.99% Variable
$99
Good/Excellent
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® Review

at the issuer’ssecure website

BEST OVERALL RATING

★★★★

4.3

OVERALL RATING

4.3/5.0
  • Earn 65,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending 4,000 within 4 months of account opening
  • Earn 2X miles for every $1 spent on American Airlines purchases and at cable and internet providers, gas stations, select telecommunications merchants, and car rental services — all other purchases earn 1X points
  • First checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to 4 travel companions
  • 25% savings on American Airlines inflight WiFi, food, and beverage purchases when you use your card
  • Earn an American Airlines Companion Certificate for domestic travel after $30,000 in purchases each card membership year and card membership is renewed. Fees apply.
  • $0 intro annual fee, then $99
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
20.49% – 29.49% (Variable)
$99, waived first 12 months
Excellent, Good

Additional Disclosure: (The information related to CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® has been collected by CardRates.com and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product or service.)

To use this benefit, just book the flight and select the number of bags you’ll be checking. You’ll see that you won’t be charged the checked bag fee. Most cards that offer this perk are co-branded airline credit cards, such as the JetBlue Plus Card issued by Barclays, the Alaska Airlines Visa Credit Card issued by Bank of America, or the United MileagePlus cards.

9. Travel Protection

Before buying travel protection, contact your credit card issuer to see if it already covers it. If yours does, you will have at least a basic level of protection against the cost of a trip being canceled and lost or stolen luggage. Here are our favorite cards with travel protection:

BEST OVERALL RATING

★★★★★
4.9

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 Ultimate Rewards®.
  • Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
  • Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. 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

BEST OVERALL RATING

★★★★★
4.7

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

To be eligible for this benefit, you have to put the cost of the flight on your card and file a claim with the credit card company. Just be sure you understand what it covers — if it’s not enough, you’ll want to increase it with a separate insurance policy.

10. Free Credit Scores

Reviewing your credit scores on a regular basis is important since it will give you valuable insight into your ever-changing creditworthiness. Getting the scores can be a pain though, and some, like FICO, come at a cost.

Want an easy, fast, and free way to get them? Head over to your credit card company’s website. Many of the major issuers from American Express to Wells Fargo offer complimentary FICO scores to their cardholders, including the three below:

Discover it® Cash Back Review

at Discover Card'ssecure website

BEST OVERALL 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

BEST OVERALL RATING

★★★★★
4.9

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

Capital One, however, gives out VantageScores.

11. Discounts on Goods and Services

You may be able to get all kinds of cool things for less if you take advantage of card-linked offer programs. Retailers partner with credit card companies to give cardholders special discounts or cash back rewards on purchases.

For example, Bank of America offers BankAmeriDeals, American Express has Amex Offers, and Chase recently launched Chase Offers. What is available at any given time will be advertised on the credit card company’s app, website, or it will be emailed to you.

Taking advantage of this benefit is easy: identify what you’re interested in by activating the offer on the card’s app and then charge the purchase to the card. At check-out, the discount or extra cash back points will be immediately applied.

Make the Most of Your Rewards Card

All of these “hidden” benefits can help you get the most out of your credit card. Use them wisely, and if you ever have any questions about how it works, many of the full policies are provided online or you can reach out to your credit card company and ask for clarification. It’s always best to familiarize yourself with the perk before you attempt to use it.

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