The holidays can be hard on your wallet, but with the right credit card, it can also be one of the most rewarding times of the year. By choosing a card that matches your spending habits, you can turn gift purchases and year-end spending into valuable points, miles and cash back.
Whether you’re shopping online or in-store, these cards stand out for their strong earning potential, flexible redemption options and great benefits, making them ideal for holiday spending.
Here are our picks for the best credit cards for holiday shopping in 2025.
The best credit cards for holiday shopping
Capital One Entrepreneurship Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards is a great option for those who want flexible rewards without having to worry about bonuses for different spending categories. Venture Rewards earns 2 miles per $1 spent on all purchases — ensuring you’ll earn bonus miles whether you’re shopping for Christmas gifts or perusing Cyber Monday deals.
There’s also flexibility in how you can redeem the miles you earn. You can use miles to “repay” travel you booked within the past 90 days. Or, you can transfer your miles to more than 15 airline and hotel loyalty programs to book new travel. You can also redeem miles for gift cards or statement points on qualifying purchases.
Learn more: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Review: A Great Travel Card for Beginners
Chasing freedom and flexibility
Whether you’re a traditional in-store shopper or prefer to shop online, enjoy 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in eligible rewards categories every quarter Chasing freedom and flexibility. Bonus cash back categories for the fourth quarter typically include PayPal, and 2025 is no different.
During the final quarter of 2025, cardholders can activate and earn 5% cash back on purchases at Old Navy, Chase Travel℠ and department stores. As part of the birthday bonus category, cardholders can also earn 5% cash back on purchases through PayPal.
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While 5% cash back sounds great, seasoned points and miles enthusiasts know that the Chase Freedom Flex is more than just a cash back card. When paired with a premium Chase card that earns full Ultimate Rewards points, e.g. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and charges) or Chase Sapphire Reserve® (See Rates & Fees) – Cash back can be converted into more valuable Ultimate Rewards points, which you can transfer to partners including United Airlines, MileagePlus and World of Hyatt.
TPG’s November 2025 valuation puts Ultimate Rewards at 2.05 cents per share, so combined with Freedom Flex (or Chasing Freedom®; see rates and fees) Sapphire Reserve and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card Created a powerful points machine.
If you don’t have the card yet, the Chase Freedom Flex offers new cardholders a $200 cash back bonus after they spend $500 in purchases within the first three months of account opening.
Information on preferred ink businesses is independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Learn more: Chase Freedom Flex Card review: Earn incredible income with no annual fee
Premium visa
If you are a regular Amazon customer, Premium visa is the right card for you, with no annual fee (although it requires an Amazon Prime membership).
With Black Friday and Cyber Monday upon us, you need a card that will get the most out of your holiday shopping. Prime Visa offers unlimited 5% off on Amazon, Whole Foods, and Chase Travel, 2% off on restaurants, gas stations, and local transportation and commuting, and 1% off on all other purchases. Plus, earn 10% or more by rotating your selection of products and categories on Amazon.com.
If you don’t have the card yet, new applicants will immediately receive a $150 Amazon gift card upon approval, exclusive to Prime members.
Read more: Prime Visa Card review: A great choice for the average Amazon shopper
American Express Gold Card
There is no doubt that American Express Gold Card It is one of the best cards for foodies. The card earns an impressive 4 points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (1 point per dollar when you spend $25,000 per calendar year) and restaurants around the world (1 point per dollar when you spend $50,000 per calendar year).
In addition, card members can earn 3 points per $1 spent on flights booked directly with the airline or through AmexTravel.com, 2 points per $1 spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com, and 1 point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.
While non-reward purchases earn 1 point per $1 spent, you may want to consider paying with Amex Gold this holiday season because of its strong purchase protection policy. Eligible items may be reimbursed up to $10,000 if they are stolen, damaged or lost within 90 days of purchase. *
That’s considerable, especially if you’re shopping for big-ticket items like electronics or furniture this holiday season.
Amex Gold also offers an extended warranty, extending the U.S. manufacturer’s warranty by one year, in line with warranties of five years or less. *
You never know when you’ll need to rely on these protections, but they can be extremely valuable and may be worth sacrificing the rewards points you earn from other cards on this list, even factoring in the $325 annual fee (see rates and fees).
*Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and restrictions apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policy underwritten by American Express Insurance Company.
Read more: American Express Gold Card review: Best for foodies
Bank of America Premium Rewards Credit Card
If you can afford to deposit substantial investments and savings with Bank of America or Merrill Lynch, Bank of America Premium Rewards Credit Card A great choice for holiday shopping.
While this card’s earn rate is reasonable (though not earth-shattering), with 2 points per $1 spent on travel and dining and 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases (1 cent per point redeemable), the card’s true value comes when you’re able to earn Platinum, Platinum Honors, or Diamond rewards levels in Bank of America’s separate Preferred Rewards® banking program. By doing this, this card’s daily earn rate can skyrocket to 2.625 points per $1 spent, making it a great choice for holiday gifts.
Related: 5 Reasons to Get the Bank of America Premium Rewards Credit Card
Currently, the Bank of America Premium Rewards Card offers a welcome bonus of 60,000 online rewards points when you spend at least $4,000 within 90 days of account opening. Additionally, the card comes with up to $100 in TSA PreCheck/Global Entry statement credit and up to $100 in annual airline incidental statement credit – all for a reasonable annual fee of $95.
Learn more: Bank of America Premium Rewards Credit Card Review: Not to be underestimated
Citi Double Money Card
The final card on our list earns its spot in part because of its simplicity. this Citi Double Money Card Offers a flat 1% back on every purchase, plus an additional 1% back when you pay your bill (total up to 2% back).
While the returns on everyday purchases don’t compare to the potential returns highlighted above, this is automatic; it results in cold cash sitting in your account. For many shoppers, a no-annual-fee card like this is a good fit.
Learn more: Citi Double Cash Card review: Simple rewards and 2% cash back
How to Maximize Your Return on Holiday Shopping
Holiday spending can do more than just cross gifts off your list—it can also help you reach that big credit card goal. If you’ve recently opened a new card, consider meeting the minimum spend requirement on your holiday purchases to earn a valuable welcome bonus. Be sure to budget responsibly and pay your balance in full.
Related: The Best Credit Card Welcome Bonuses for November 2025
If you already have multiple cards, check to see if there are any calendar-year spending bonuses or benefits that reset soon. Consolidating your purchases on one card can help you unlock statement points, free nights, or elite status before the end of the year.
Another easy way to earn extra rewards is through online shopping portals. These portals let you earn extra points, miles, or cash back (no special credit card required) with just a click before making a purchase.
To find the best offer, use CashBack Monitor, which compares the profitability of the same retailer across dozens of portals. You can also install browser extensions for your favorite portals so you don’t miss out on bonus rewards during checkout.
bottom line
The holidays don’t have to drain your wallet, and with the right credit card strategy, your spending can really pay off. Focus on credit cards that fit your shopping habits, whether that means fixed-rate cash back, bonus rewards from popular retailers or flexible travel points that you can redeem later.
Pair your card with online shopping portals and seasonal category bonuses to get even more rewards on every purchase. If you’re opening a new card, use your holiday spending to meet minimum spending requirements and unlock valuable welcome offers.
With a little planning, your holiday shopping can turn into a windfall, from extra points and cash back to points toward future flights, hotel stays, or bill points, making the season both festive and rewarding.
Learn more: Capital One Venture Capital Awards
Apply here: Chasing freedom and flexibility
Apply here: Premium visa
Apply here: American Express Gold Card
Apply here: Bank of America Premium Rewards Card
Apply here: Citi Double Money Card
For American Express Gold Card rates and fees, click here.
