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Best Credit Cards for Holiday Shopping of 2023

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As you prepare for the holiday season, having the right credit card at your disposal can make a significant difference. Whether it's to earn bonus rewards on your top spending categories or a long introductory 0% APR promotion that makes it easier to stomach a little debt, it's important to make sure you have the right credit card in your wallet.

These credit cards are some of the best to help you maximize your rewards and savings for the holidays.

5 Partner Offers

Our Picks for the Best Credit Cards for Holiday Shopping
<span style='background-color:#FFFF00;'>Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card</span>

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel

1.5% cash back on every purchase

<span style='background-color:#FFFF00;'>Wells Fargo Active Cash<sup>®</sup> Card</span>

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

2% cash back rewards on purchases

$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first 3 months

(Rates & Fees)

<span style='background-color:#FFFF00;'>Wells Fargo Reflect<sup>®</sup> Card</span>

Wells Fargo Reflect® Card

0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, then 18.24%, 24.74%, or 29.99% Variable APR.

(Rates & Fees)

<span style='background-color:#FFFF00;'>Chase Sapphire Preferred<sup>®</sup> Card</span>

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

5 points per dollar spent on travel purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards

NULL points per dollar spent on dining

2 points per dollar spent on all other travel purchases

1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases

60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening

<span style='background-color:#FFFF00;'>Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card</span>

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

3% cash back on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, and at grocery stores

1% cash back on all other purchases

$200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening

Best for Fair Credit: Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Most of the top credit cards for holiday shopping require good or excellent credit, which means having a credit score of 670 or higher. But if you're not quite there yet, consider the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card. Responsible card use can help you strengthen your credit for the future.

The card charges a modest $39 annual fee, and it doesn't skimp on rewards. You'll earn 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 1.5% cash back on every purchase you make. It's best to avoid carrying a balance, though, with the card's 30.74% (Variable) APR; a balance transfer fee applies. (See rates and fees.)

While this card can work if your credit score isn't in good enough shape to qualify for our other top credit cards for holiday shopping, those with good or excellent credit may have better options available.

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Apply

on Capital One's website

Rates and Fees

Fair, New to Credit

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

APR

30.74% (Variable)

Intro APR

N/A*

Rewards

5% Cash Back on Hotels and Rental Cars Booked Through Capital One Travel

1.5% Cash Back on All Purchases

Annual Fee

$39

Card Details
  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
  • No rotating categories or limits to how much you can earn, and cash back doesn't expire for the life of the account. It's that simple
  • Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
  • Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
  • Help strengthen your credit for the future with responsible card use
  • 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
  • Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It's free for everyone
  • Check out quickly and securely with a contactless card, without touching a terminal or handing your card to a cashier. Just hover your card over a contactless reader, wait for the confirmation, and you're all set

Best for General Shopping: Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

If you have good credit and are looking for a card that offers a high base rewards rate, look no further than the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card.

The card offers a flat 2% cash back on every purchase you make, and unlike some other 2% cash back credit cards, there are no requirements you have to meet to get that rate. What's more, it offers an introductory bonus: $200 when you spend $500 in the first 3 months you have the card.

In addition to its excellent rewards program, the card offers a solid introductory APR promotion. You'll get an introductory 0% APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 15 months from account opening; the APR will be 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR.

This card is an excellent choice for people with good credit who prefer simplicity and want value that sticks around beyond the holiday season. But if you're looking to maximize your rewards on certain purchases, there are no bonus categories to speak of.

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Apply

on Wells Fargo's website

Rates and Fees

Good - Exceptional

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

APR

20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR

Intro APR

0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers

Rewards

2% Cash Rewards on Purchases

Intro Bonus

Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months

Annual Fee

$0

Card Details
  • Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
  • Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
  • Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
  • 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
  • $0 annual fee.
  • No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
  • Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
  • Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.

Best for Intro APR Period: Wells Fargo Reflect® Card

If you have plans to spend a lot during the holidays and your top priority is a long intro APR period you can use to pay down the debt, consider the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card.

This card offers an intro 0% APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 21 months from account opening. Once the 0% intro APR period expires, your interest rate for purchases and balance transfers will increase to 18.24%, 24.74%, or 29.99% Variable APR. Qualifying balance transfers have a 5% fee ($5 minimum).

Because of how long this card's intro APR promotion is compared with some of the other options on our list, it's best suited for people who plan to spend a lot and need that extra time to pay down the balance.

There are few cards with a longer intro APR period. That said, the card doesn't offer rewards of any kind, so you may want to use a rewards card for your everyday spending.

Apply

on Wells Fargo's website

Rates and Fees

Good - Exceptional

APR

18.24%, 24.74%, or 29.99% Variable APR

Intro APR

0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers

Rewards

None

Intro Bonus

N/A

Annual Fee

$0

Card Details
  • Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
  • 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 18.24%, 24.74%, or 29.99% variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate, BT fee of 5%, min $5.
  • $0 Annual Fee.
  • Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
  • Through My Wells Fargo Deals, you can get access to personalized deals from a variety of merchants. It's an easy way to earn cash back as an account credit when you shop, dine, or enjoy an experience simply by using an eligible Wells Fargo credit card.

Best for Travel: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

If you like the idea of earning bonus rewards on groceries and dining but don't want to pay hundreds of dollars in annual fees, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a solid choice.

The card offers 5 points per dollar on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards; NULL points per dollar on dining; 2 points per dollar on other travel; and 1 point per dollar on everything else.

As a new cardholder, you can also earn a bonus that's tough to beat. The card offers 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months. That's $750 towards travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards.

The card does charge a $95 annual fee, but the welcome offer provides an equivalent value that could cover that for upwards of seven years. Consider this card if you're travel-minded and your spending aligns with the card's bonus categories.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Apply

on Chase's website

Good - Exceptional

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

APR

21.49% - 28.49% Variable

Intro APR

N/A*

Rewards

5x Points on Travel purchased through Chase

3x Points on dining, select streaming services and online groceries

2x Points on Other Travel

1x Points on All Other Purchases

Intro Bonus

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®.

Annual Fee

$95

Card Details
  • 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

Best for Food and Entertainment: Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

If you enjoy attending holiday events, such as concerts, movies and other types of entertainment, the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card should be on your radar. The card is also a solid choice for groceries and dining.

You'll earn unlimited 3% cash back on entertainment, dining, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Target and Walmart), and 1% back on everything else.

New cardholders can earn a $200 cash bonus when they spend $500 in the first 3 months they have the card, and get a 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months. After that, the APR will be 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable); a balance transfer fee applies. (See rates and fees.)

This card is an excellent option if you want to maximize rewards on entertainment, groceries and dining. However, it's not necessarily the best rate you can get with groceries and dining, so consider this card if entertainment is a top spending category for you.

Also, remember that, like other cards on our list, this one's base rewards rate is just 1%, so it may be a good idea to use it only for bonus spending.

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Apply

on Capital One's website

Rates and Fees

Good - Exceptional

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

APR

19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

Intro APR

0% on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months

Rewards

8% Cash Back on Capital One Entertainment Purchases

5% Cash Back on Hotels and Rental Cars Booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)

3% Cash Back on Dining, Entertainment, Popular Streaming Services & Grocery Stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®)

1% Cash Back on All Other Purchases

Intro Bonus

Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening

Annual Fee

$0

Card Details
  • 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
  • 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
  • No foreign transaction fee
  • No annual fee

How to Use Credit Cards to Your Advantage During the Holidays

The holiday season is a time to spend with family and friends, but that also means spending money. Here are some ways you can use your credit cards to your advantage during the holidays:

  • Spend within your means. Charge only what you can afford to pay off at the end of each month. If you do anticipate spending more than you can pay off, use a card with an intro 0% APR promotion.
  • Track your spending. Keep track of how much you are actually spending by using online or mobile budgeting tools so you don't go over budget.
  • Redeem rewards. If possible, redeem your rewards for cash back or statement credits to help offset some of your holiday shopping expenses.
  • Book travel with points. If you have a travel card, maximize your rewards to help cover the cost of a trip during the next year.
  • Review added protections. Check your card's benefits guide to see if you can take advantage of other benefits, such as extended warranty coverage, purchase protection and more.

Use Experian to Find the Right Card

It can be difficult to find the right credit card with so many options available, especially if you're not sure where your credit stands.

The good news is that Experian can give you an idea of which credit cards you might be eligible for based on your credit profile. You can also check your FICO® Score and review your Experian credit report for free to understand what your credit file looks like and where you can make improvements.