The best credit cards for streaming services:
- 6% cash back on select US streaming services:
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express - Best for cash back with no annual fee:
Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card - Earn bonus rewards on several spending categories:
U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card - Best for Amazon Prime Video:
Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card - Best for streamers who also like live entertainment:
Citi Premier℠ Card - Best for Apple TV+: Apple Card
- Offset the annual fee with statement credits for streaming:
Platinum Card® from American Express
The coronavirus has drastically changed our day-to-day life, and especially now that the weather is getting colder, most of us are spending more time at home than ever. For most people, that means a change to their credit card spending and travel rewards strategy.
If you're watching Netflix, Hulu, or another streaming service while you're stuck at home, consider using a credit card that earns bonus rewards on streaming services. There are several great options, including cards that earn bonus travel points on streaming services and some that earn cash back.
Best for maximum cash back:
Streaming service earning: It's hard to beat a rate of return of 6% cash back on any type of purchase, let alone streaming services, but that's just what this card offers on US streaming subscriptions from select providers including Amazon Music, Apple TV+, Audible, Disney+, HBO Now, Hulu, iHeartRadio, Netflix, Prime Video, Showtime, Sling TV, SiriusXM, and YouTube Premium, among others. You can find the full list here.
Welcome bonus:
Annual fee:
Other benefits: This card has to be one of the top all-round cash-back earners since it also accrues 6% cash back at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 in purchases per year (then 1% back), plus 3% cash back at US gas stations and on transit, including taxis, rideshares, parking, tolls, trains, and buses. It earns 1% back on everything else.
Best for cash back with no annual fee:
Streaming service earning: Don't forget about this great no-annual-fee card that earns an excellent 3x points (equivalent to 3% cash back) on a huge variety of purchases including the following popular streaming services: Apple Music, Hulu, Netflix, Pandora, Sirius XM Radio, and Spotify Premium.
Welcome bonus:
Annual fee: $0
Other benefits: This card doesn't have any caps on the number of points you can earn, even on bonus purchases, which sets it apart from many other cash-back products. As does the fact that its 3x categories include gas stations, rideshares, transit, flights, hotels, homestays, car rentals, and both eating out and ordering in.
Read more:Wells Fargo Propel card review
Earn bonus rewards on several spending categories:
Streaming service earning: This card's bonus is a bit interesting in that cardholders can earn 5% cash back on the first $2,000 spent on qualifying purchases in two combined categories that they designate each quarter. They can select a third category in which to earn unlimited 2% cash back. One of the possible 5% categories is TV and internet streaming services, and the next quarter begins in April.
Welcome bonus: Earn $150 cash back after you apply online and spend $500 in eligible purchases within the first 90 days of account opening. The card is also currently offering 0% intro APR on balance transfers for the first 12 billing cycles (then a variable APR of 13.99% to 23.99% applies).
Annual fee: $0
Other benefits: This card's earning structure is what makes it stand out. Not only is the potential of 5% cash back excellent, but its $2,000-per-quarter cap is also relatively high, as is an uncapped 2% category. The 5% categories include department stores, home utilities, furniture stores, movie theaters, gyms, ground transport, clothing stores and electronic stores, fast food and cell phone providers. The 2% categories include solid choices like grocery stores, gas stations and restaurants. With a little bit of strategy, this card can be a blockbuster earner.
Best for Amazon Prime Video:
Streaming service earning: Earn 5% back at Amazon, including annual Amazon Prime membership and its access to Amazon's extensive original and licensed content
Welcome bonus: Get a $100 Amazon gift card instantly upon approval.
Annual fee: $0, but you must be an Amazon Prime member to qualify, so you're looking at either $12.99 per month, or $119 per year
Other benefits: Cardholders also earn 5% back at Whole Foods and then 2% back at restaurants, gas stations and drugstores, then 1% back on all other purchases. They can redeem their cash back for Amazon.com purchases.
Best for streamers who also like live entertainment:
Streaming service earning: This mid-range Citi card earns 2x ThankYou Rewards points on a broad range of entertainment purchases that includes sporting events, movie tickets, and amusement parks, but also on-demand internet streaming media. Obviously, you can't take advantage of the bonus on live entertainment right now, but down the line the
Sign-up bonus: 60,000 bonus points after making $4,000 in purchases with your card within the first 3 months of account opening.
Annual fee: $95
Other benefits: This card earns a respectable 3x points on a wide variety of travel purchases including gas stations, which is unusual for a card like this. Plus, it earns 2x points at restaurants and on entertainment and 1x on all other purchases. Citi ThankYou points can be transferred to over a dozen airline partners including Air France/KLM Flying Blue, JetBlue TrueBlue, and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer. This card waives foreign transaction fees, too.
Best for Apple TV+: Apple Card
Streaming service earning: This relative newcomer earns 3% back on Apple purchases including items from iTunes, the App Store and subscriptions to Apple Music and Apple TV+. Cash back is earned in the form of Daily Cash, which you can use to pay for purchases via Apple Pay.
Sign-up bonus: None
Annual fee: $0
Other benefits: The card earns 3% back on Uber, UberEATS, at Walgreens and Duane Reade, in T-Mobile stores and at Nike, then 2% cash back on Apple Pay purchases and 1% on everything else. Even more interesting, the card does not charge over-the-limit or late fees, which should give some consumers a little bit of extra breathing room.
Offset the annual fee with statement credits for streaming:
Streaming service earning: The
Welcome bonus: 60,000 points after you spend $5,000 in the first three months from account opening
Annual fee: $550
Other benefits: The
Some cards offer bonus rewards on internet, too
If you're thinking of upgrading your internet service or simply want to earn rewards on that expense too, keep in mind that several business credit cards offer bonus points on this category. For example, the
Related Content Module: More Credit Card Coverage
