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If you're looking to buy a nice gift for someone, you can come out ahead by using these credit cards for the transaction. The right credit card can maximize your budget and net you extras like purchase protection. All of the best credit cards for big gifts have no annual fees, and many feature solid 0% introductory APR periods, competitive welcome bonuses and cash-back rewards programs.

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Best for online shopping

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

7.5/10
CNET Rating

CNET rates credit cards by comparing their offers to those of their categorical competitors. Each card is individually evaluated through a formula which reflects the standards and expectations of the contemporary market. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings.
How we rate credit cards

Card Highlights

Intro Offer$200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
APR16.24% - 26.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
Intro Purchase APR0% Intro APR for 18 billing cycles for purchases
Recommended Credit Excellent/Good
Reward Rates

• Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases).
• Earn automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases).
• Earn unlimited 1% on all other purchases.

Annual Fee$0

Additional Details

Intro Balance Transfer APR0% Intro APR for 18 billing cycles for any BTs made in the first 60 days. A 3% fee (min. $10) applies.
Balance Transfer APR16.24% - 26.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
Balance Transfer Fee Either $10 or 3% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater.
Late Payment Fee See Terms
Foreign Transaction Fees 3%
Penalty APR Up to 29.99% APR

Rewards & Redemption Details

• Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases).
• Earn automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases).
• Earn unlimited 1% on all other purchases.

Our Take

This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.A lot of good potential gifts are online, where it's harder to net competitive rewards rates unless you're using a specific store credit card. But the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card will earn you the most in general. "Online shopping" is one of the categories you can choose for the card's top cash-back rewards rate. Note that you need to proactively select this rewards category on Bank of America's app or website -- or, you can choose from gas, dining, travel, drug stores or home improvement and furnishings.For more information, see our full review of the .

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Best for introductory purchase APR offer

BankAmericard® credit card

8.75/10
CNET Rating

CNET rates credit cards by comparing their offers to those of their categorical competitors. Each card is individually evaluated through a formula which reflects the standards and expectations of the contemporary market. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings.
How we rate credit cards

Card Highlights

Intro OfferN/A
APR14.24% - 24.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
Intro Purchase APR0% Intro APR for 21 billing cycles for purchases
Recommended Credit Excellent/Good
Reward RatesN/A
Annual Fee$0

Additional Details

Intro Balance Transfer APR0% Intro APR for 21 billing cycles for any BTs made in the first 60 days. A 3% fee (min. $10) applies.
Balance Transfer APR14.24% - 24.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
Balance Transfer Fee Either $10 or 3% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater.
Late Payment Fee See Terms
Foreign Transaction Fees 3%
Penalty APR none

Our Take

This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.If you've got your eye on the perfect gift for someone but it's a bit expensive, the BankAmericard® credit card can help you finance it over time without interest. You'll have 21 billing cycles to pay it off at 0% introductory interest (then 14.24% to 24.24% variable APR). You'll have the same amount of time to pay down a transferred balance, too. Balance transfers must be made within 60 days of account opening.Just keep in mind that there are no rewards. However, if you're going to maintain a balance, avoiding interest is much more rewarding than rewards themselves.. 21 billing cycles, which is pretty much 21 months, is a solid amount of time to pay down a planned purchase. Outside of its introductory APR offer, there's not much else to the card, so it should only be considered if you need to avoid interest on a new purchase or a transferred balance.

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Best for purchase protection

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

8/10
CNET Rating

CNET rates credit cards by comparing their offers to those of their categorical competitors. Each card is individually evaluated through a formula which reflects the standards and expectations of the contemporary market. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings.
How we rate credit cards

Card Highlights

Intro OfferIntro 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!
APR17.24% - 25.99% Variable
Intro Purchase APR0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months
Recommended Credit Excellent/Good
Reward Rates

• Enjoy 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
• 1.5% on all other purchases

Annual Fee$0

Additional Details

Intro Balance Transfer APR0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months
Balance Transfer APR17.24% - 25.99% Variable
Balance Transfer Fee Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

Foreign Transaction Fees 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
Penalty APR Up to 29.99%

Rewards & Redemption Details

• Enjoy 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
• 1.5% on all other purchases

Our Take

The Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card offers purchase protection against damage or theft of items within 120 days of purchase -- issuing refunds for up to $500 per claim at a cap of $50,000 per account. It's like insurance on your purchases. This card also offers some of the best amenities of the other cards: a sign-on bonus worth up to $300 (earned as an additional 1.5% cash back on up to $20,000 in purchases for the first year) and 0% introductory APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers (17.24% to 25.99% variable APR thereafter). And with no annual fee, you can maintain these purchase-protection benefits and rewards year after year. In doing so, cardholders can reap the benefits of the generous rewards rates for general categories (like dining and drugstores) offered by this card.Check out our full review of the .

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Best for rotating cash-back categories

Chase Freedom Flex℠

9.5/10
CNET Rating

CNET rates credit cards by comparing their offers to those of their categorical competitors. Each card is individually evaluated through a formula which reflects the standards and expectations of the contemporary market. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings.
How we rate credit cards

Card Highlights

Intro OfferEarn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
APR17.24% - 25.99% Variable
Intro Purchase APR0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months
Recommended Credit Excellent, Good
Reward Rates

• 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
• Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Annual Fee$0

Additional Details

Intro Balance Transfer APR0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months
Balance Transfer APR17.24% - 25.99% Variable
Balance Transfer Fee Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign Transaction Fees 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
Penalty APR Up to 29.99%

Rewards & Redemption Details

• 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
• Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Our Take

The Chase Freedom Flex offers a 5% cash-back rate on a rotating quarterly category: For third quarter 2022, the rotating bonus category includes gas stations, car rental agencies, movie theaters and select live entertainment. You can enjoy this benefit on up to a combined $1,500 in quarterly purchases (then 1%). You must manually activate this bonus reward category through your account, but the other reward rates for other categories will be applied automatically. This card only offers a blanket 1% cash-back rate, compared to its cousin the Chase Freedom Unlimited at a blanket 1.5% cash-back rate, but it does also offer purchase protection.Check out our full review of the for more details.

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Best for fair credit

Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card

9.5/10
CNET Rating

CNET rates credit cards by comparing their offers to those of their categorical competitors. Each card is individually evaluated through a formula which reflects the standards and expectations of the contemporary market. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings.
How we rate credit cards

Card Highlights

Intro OfferN/A
APR15.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
Intro Purchase APRN/A
Recommended Credit Limited/Fair/Good/Excellent
Reward Rates

• Up to 1.5% cash back on eligible purchases after making 12 on-time monthly payments.
• 1% cash back on eligible purchases right away.

Annual Fee$0

Additional Details

Foreign Transaction Fees $0

Rewards & Redemption Details

• Up to 1.5% cash back on eligible purchases after making 12 on-time monthly payments.
• 1% cash back on eligible purchases right away.

Our Take

With the Petal 2 Visa credit card, issued by WebBank, you can breathe while shopping even if you have just fair or limited credit. This card comes with a credit limit between $300 and $10,000, based on creditworthiness. Unlike many , it doesn't have to be secured with cash upfront, and it does offer cash-back rewards. In fact, you can earn up to 1.5% cash back across the board on eligible purchases (1% when you make a purchase, and up to 1.5% when you make 12 on-time monthly payments), and a massive 2% to 10% cash back at select merchants. With no annual fee, you can keep this card open and ebayes continue using it beyond major gift purchases to help build your credit. This card even offers features to help you control your finances better, such as being able to set a budget and freeze your account.

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FAQs

How can I use a credit card to save money while shopping?

Taking advantage of credit card introductory offers, bonus points and rewards programs are among the best ways to earn while you spend. You'll get the most for your money when you use a card with no annual fee and pay off your balance each month.

Will prices be more expensive this year?

 may continue to affect prices and inventories for a while. To best avoid the effects of these shortages, do your shopping early and plan your budget ahead of time to make sure you don't spend more than you can afford due to price increases. If you're looking to make specific purchases, compare prices at different vendors online to make sure you get the best deals and to make sure items are in stock.

Should I close my credit card if I'm not using it regularly?

In general, no. Even if you're opening a credit card for a specific purpose, keeping the account open can help add resiliency to your credit report. The number of open accounts and age of open accounts both factor into your .

Our methodologyCNET reviews credit cards by exhaustively comparing them across set criteria developed for each major category, including cash-back, welcome bonus, travel rewards and balance transfer. We take into consideration the typical spending behavior of a range of consumer profiles -- with the understanding that everyone's financial situation is different -- and the designated function of a card. For cash-back credit cards, for example, key factors include the annual fee, the "welcome bonus" and the cash-back rate (or rates, if they differ by spending category). For rewards and miles cards, we calculate and weigh the net monetary value of a card's respective perks. And with balance transfer credit cards, we analyze specs such as the duration of the introductory 0% APR period and the balance transfer fee, while acknowledging secondary factors such as the standard APR and the length of time you have to make a balance transfer after you open the account.

The editorial content on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by our partners.

Our top picks

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  Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

  Apply Now

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  BankAmericard® credit card

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  Chase Freedom Unlimited®

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Chase Freedom Flex℠

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  Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card

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