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Store credit cards are as much a part of the shopping experience as a sales associate asking if you're "looking for anything in particular." They're almost unavoidable during the checkout process. And while that 10% discount for opening a card on the spot can be tempting, it's usually not worth the hassle due to high-interest rates, limited rewards, and sparse benefits.
In general, the rewards you earn from these cards aren't as valuable as the points, miles, and cash back you can earn from the best credit cards available today. However, if you're looking to build your credit with a credit card or if you shop a lot at a particular retailer, a store credit card could make sense.
If you've been thinking about store credit cards, here are the ones on the scene that have proven to be rewarding.
Compare Store Credit Cards
Best Store Credit Cards
Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card - Product Name Only Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi - Product Name Only Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard® - Product Name Only Starbucks® Rewards Visa® Card - Product Name Only Verizon Visa® Card - Product Name Only My Best Buy® Visa® Card - Product Name Only Target Red Card Credit Card - Product Name Only Navyist Rewards Mastercard® - Product Name Only Lowe's Advantage Card - Product Name Only Kohl's Card - Product Name Only Home Depot Consumer Credit Card - Product Name Only
Methodology: How We Chose the Best Store Credit Cards
We're focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won't be worth it if you're paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it's important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
Personal Finance Insider analyzed dozens of cards to determine which of the most popular store cards offer the best benefits. We exclusively chose cards that you can use for any purchase (not just cards that can be used at the co-branded store). That way you've got the opportunity to earn more rewards more often.
We also prioritized each card's return rates over welcome bonuses. If you're opening a store card, you'll likely be using it for specific purchases long after the bonus has disappeared.
See our full methodology for rating and reviewing credit cards »
Store Credit Cards Frequently Asked Questions
Are store credit cards worth it?
Store credit cards can be worthwhile, especially for those with less-than-perfect credit. That's because it's generally easier to be approved for a store card than a travel rewards credit card like the
Should I open a store credit card?
The biggest downfall to many (not all) store cards is that they only earn rewards that can be redeemed with their respective store. If you're choosing such a card, be sure the savings will be more meaningful to you than spending with a pure cash-rewards card like the
Amazon Prime Visa Card
If you're like millions of Americans, you likely purchase things like household goods and appliances, skincare, and snacks on Amazon. The no-annual-fee
Cardholders earn:
- 5% back on Chase Travel Portal, Amazon, and Whole Foods purchases (with a Prime Membership and your card is loaded to your eligible Amazon account; otherwise earn 3% back)
- 2% back at restaurants, gas stations, and local transit and commuting (including rideshare)
- 1% back on all other purchases
The
It also comes with decent perks for a no-annual-fee card, such as car rental insurance, extended warranty, purchase protection, and no foreign transaction fees. There is no minimum rewards balance to redeem — so you can claim a $5 redemption or wait and save your points for big-ticket items.
Amazon Prime Visa Signature Card Review
Costco Visa
The
- 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging worldwide (on up to $7,000 in spending each year, then 1%)
- 3% cash back on restaurant and eligible travel purchases worldwide
- 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com
- 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases
4% cash back on gas purchases and EV charging is impressive — and the other bonus categories are no slouches, either. Remember, if you've got a Costco Executive membership, you'll earn 2% back on Costco purchases. This card gives you the ability to earn a total of 4% back at Costco warehouses.
The card also comes with purchase protection and no foreign transaction fees.
A big downside to this card is the way rewards are redeemed. You can only receive cash back after your February billing statement closes. You'll get a "reward certificate" that you'll have to take to a Costco warehouse. You can request a check for all the cash back you've earned over the past year.
Also, this card doesn't offer a public welcome bonus. Some Costco members have had success inquiring at a Costco warehouse to see if they're targeted for a special promotion.
Costco Anywhere Visa Card Review
Walmart Credit Card
If you shop online or elect for grocery pickup with regularity, the
- 5% cash back at Walmart.com (including pickup and delivery)
- 2% cash back at Walmart stores in the US and Puerto Rico, and at Walmart and Murphy USA gas stations
- 2% cash back on gift cards purchased through Walmart
- 2% back at restaurants and on travel
- 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases
A 2% return is common among no-annual-fee credit cards. But the ability to earn 5% back on the lion's share of your grocery purchases (with no cap) simply by shopping online is excellent.
As a welcome bonus, you'll get
Starbucks Credit Card (Not Currently Accepting Applications)
The
Here's what the card earns:
- Up to 3 Stars per dollar at Starbucks (1 Star per dollar for using your Starbucks Visa to digitally load your Starbucks Card, and 2 Stars per dollar when you use that card at Starbucks)
- 1 Star per $2 spent at grocery stores
- 1 Star per $2 spent on local transit and commuting
- 1 Star per $2 spent on internet, cable, and phone services
- 1 Star per $4 for al other eligible purchases
You'll also receive
It's difficult to pinpoint the value of a Starbucks Star, but here's what you can use them for (prices valid until February 13, 2023, after which they will increase):
- 25 Stars: Drink customizations (extra shot, dairy substitute, syrup, sauce)
- 50 Stars: Hot brewed coffee, bakery item, hot brewed tea
- 150 Stars: Handcrafted drink, hot breakfast, parfait
- 200 Stars: Lunch sandwich, protein box, salad
- 400 Stars: Select merchandise, packaged coffee
If you can manage to squeeze at least 6 cents from a Starbucks Star, the three Stars you'll receive at Starbucks is an effective return of 18%.
If you can live with restricted credit card rewards, you can get a lot of value from the
Verizon Visa Card
The
The
- 4% at grocery stores and gas stations
- 3% on dining
- 2% on Verizon purchases
- 1% for all other eligible purchases
The card offers a welcome bonus of a
You can also save potentially hundreds per year on your phone bill as a cardholder and member of Verizon Up (Verizon's loyalty program). New enrollees to Verizon's Auto Pay can receive up to $10 per month off of each eligible account or line (max 12 lines) depending on the plan.
My Best Buy Visa Card
There are three variants of the BestBuy credit card, but it's easy to see that the
- 5% back at BestBuy and BestBuy.com
- 3% back on gas station purchases
- 2% back on grocery, dining, and takeout purchases
- 1% back on all other purchases
The comes with an annual fee of
The
Target RedCard
Target is one of the current leading retail brands for a variety of items including toys, electronics, groceries, and home goods. Out of all the current retail credit cards on the market, the
For a
Once you're approved for the
It's important to note that this card doesn't offer any kind of introductory APR on purchases. In fact, it has a high
The
Navyist Rewards Mastercard
The
The
Although the
It also has a high
Lowe's Advantage Card
The Lowe's Advantage Card might be worth considering if you spend a lot on hardware supplies and home improvement. It's a no-annual-fee credit card that earns you 5% off qualified Lowe's purchases or six months of special financing (on purchases of $299 or more).
For a limited time, new cardholders can earn a welcome bonus of
It's important to recognize that special financing (or deferred interest) is different than a typical 0% APR offer, and often not the best idea. After the six-month interest period on your card, if you're balance is not paid in full (even by a $1), you'll be charged interest on the original purchase price.
The
Lowe's also offers a couple of different card versions for small-business owners that spend a lot on hardware and home improvement purchases.
Kohl's Credit Card
Kohl's loyalists that thrive on Kohl's Cash might want to consider applying for the
It lets you
It also doesn't offer many benefits and has a high
Home Depot Consumer Card
The no-annual-fee
But keep in mind that deferring your interest can be risky, especially if you don't pay your balance in full by the end of your six-month period as you'll be charged a high interest (
Since this card doesn't offer rewards and the main appeal of this card is the deferred-interest offer, this isn't a great card for most folks and you're likely better off with a 0% APR card offer.