Looking to level up your gaming experience? The right rewards credit card can help you score bonus cashback or points on your gaming purchases and potentially unlock perks like introductory interest-free financing and built-in extended warranty and purchase protection, which can be valuable when buying an expensive console or gaming PC.
CNBC Select reviewed some of the best credit cards for gaming purchases and narrowed down our top recommendations based on benefits, rewards and fees. (See our methodology for more information on how we made this list.)
Best credit cards for gamers
- Best for simple rewards: Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
- Best for purchase protections: Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees)
- Best for Amazon gaming: Prime Visa (see rates and fees)
- Best for bonus cash back: U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card
- Best for Target purchases: Target Circle Card™
- Best for Xbox purchases: Xbox Mastercard
Best for simple rewards
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is great if you want simplicity thanks to its flat-rate 2% unlimited cash rewards on purchases and $0 annual fee.
- High, unlimited flat-rate return on purchases
- Intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
- Lower introductory balance transfer fee
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft (subject to a $25 deductible)
- Charges a 3% foreign transaction fee
- Balance transfer fee increases to 5% of each transfer (minimum $5) after 120 days
- Limited redemption options unless you pair it with a Wells Fargo card that allows point transfers
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn a $100 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 18.74%, 24.74%, or 28.74% 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.
Balance Transfer Fee
3% intro for 120 days from account opening, then up to 5%, min: $5
Foreign Transaction Fee
3%
Who's this for? The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is useful for gaming and non-gaming spending because it offers a high flat-rate return on purchases and the rewards are easy to redeem.
Standout benefits: You'll earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases, double the standard 1% back you'll earn with most cards for spending that falls outside of a special bonus category. This makes it easy to shop around for the best deals on games and accessories because your rewards aren't tied to a specific brand.
Best for purchase protections
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a no-annual-fee card that earns generous cash-back on everyday purchases and a lucrative welcome bonus. Plus, if you pair it with a premium Chase credit card that allows point transfers, you can convert your cash back into flexible travel rewards.
- Users get a high rewards rate and strong welcome bonus
- Purchases and balance transfers receive an intro APR
- No annual fee
- Has a foreign transaction fee
- Few rewarding ongoing benefits
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
- Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, 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, and 1.5% on all other purchases.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can use points to redeem for cash through an account statement credit or an electronic deposit into an eligible Chase account located in the United States!
- Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.24% - 27.74%.
- No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
- Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Intro fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, in the first 60 days. After that, either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee
3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
Who's this for? The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is an affordable no-annual-fee cash-back card that's perfect if you want additional protection for an expensive purchase, such as a new gaming console or computer.
Standout benefits: You're covered by purchase protection and extended warranty benefits. The purchase protection covers eligible purchases for 120 days against damage or theft for up to $500 per item. The extended warranty perk adds an additional year on eligible warranties of three years or less.
Best for Amazon gaming
The Prime Visa is only available to Amazon Prime members ($139 for an annual membership and $14.99 for a monthly membership) but is very rewarding for Amazon purchases.
- High rate of return at Amazon.com, Whole Foods Market and on Chase Travel purchases
- Offers an automatic gift card welcome bonus after card approval
- Option to earn rewards or take advantage of 0% promo APRs
- Includes a wealth of travel insurance protections
- Requires an Amazon Prime membership for approval
- If you choose the promo APR, you won't earn rewards on those purchases
- Rewards can't be pooled with other Chase credit cards
Rewards
- Earn unlimited 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership
- Unlimited 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare)
- 10% back or more on a rotating selection of items and categories on Amazon.com with an eligible Prime membership
- Unlimited 1% back on all other purchases
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 4% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Who's this for? The Prime Visa is a rewarding cash-back card for Amazon purchases, which makes it a great option if you already have a Prime membership and appreciate the Prime Gaming benefits.
Standout benefits: The Prime Visa earns 5% cash back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM. This makes it easy to maximize the rewards you earn on everything from the latest pro controller or gaming chair to the snacks you need to fuel up for your next all-night gaming session.
Best for bonus cash back
- Rewarding and versatile quarterly bonus categories
- Generous intro-APR offer
- Quarterly limits on the card's top bonus spending categories
- No statement credit offers or other ongoing benefits outside of the cash rewards
Who's this for? The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card has no annual fee and flexible bonus cash-back spending categories, making it a great option for anyone who wants to maximize rewards across a variety of purchases.
Standout benefits: The U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Card has valuable quarterly 5% cash back categories for gamers including, electronic stores and TV, internet and streaming purchases. You choose two categories each quarter and earn 5% cash back on the first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases in those categories that quarter. This allows you to change where you earn the most rewards when your spending habits shift.
Best for Target purchases
Target Circle™ Card
Rewards
5% discount at checkout on most purchases in-store and at Target.com
Welcome bonus
Save $50 on a future qualifying purchase of $50 or more when approved for a Target Circle™ Credit or Debit Card.
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
None
Regular APR
28.95% variable
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
N/A
See rates and fees, terms apply.
Pros
- No annual fee
- Instant 5% discount at checkout
- Free two-day shipping on most items
- Extra 30 days for returns
Cons
- High variable APR
- Small intro bonus offer
Who's this for? The Target Circle Card™ is a store credit card, but it's worthwhile if you frequently shop at Target for games and consoles — or just about anything else.
Standout benefits: You receive a 5% discount at checkout on eligible purchases in-store and at Target.com. You also receive free two-day shipping on eligible orders, an additional 30 days for returns and exchanges and cardholder-exclusive offers.
Best for Xbox purchases
Xbox Mastercard
Rewards
5X points at the digital Microsoft Store; 3X points on eligible streaming services; 3X points on eligible dining delivery services; 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn 5,000 bonus points after making your first purchase within the first 180 days of account opening. New Game Pass members can earn three months of Game Pass Ultimate after making your first purchase within the first 180 days of account opening.
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
None
Regular APR
20.24% to 29.99% variable APR based on creditworthiness
Balance transfer fee
$10 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Foreign transaction fee
3%
Credit needed
N/A
Terms apply.
Pros
- No annual fee
- Easy-to-earn welcome offers
- Three free months of Spotify Premium after making your first purchase
Cons
- Limited redemption options for the rewards you earn
- Few ongoing benefits
Who's this for? If your go-to gaming platform is the Microsoft Xbox, the Xbox Mastercard gets you a 5% return on eligible Microsoft web, app and console purchases.
Standout benefits: You'll earn 5X points for every $1 spent on eligible Microsoft purchases through the Xbox Design Lab, Microsoft Store (and Microsoft Store on Xbox), Digital Microsoft Store (console) the Xbox app and the Microsoft Store app. You can redeem these points for one cent each as a credit for eligible purchases (100 points for a $1 credit is the minimum redemption amount).
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More on our top credit cards for gamers
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Rewards
- Unlimited 2% cash rewards on eligible purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn a $100 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card comes with cell phone protection for damage or theft when you pay your monthly wireless phone bill with your card. You can be reimbursed up to $600 per claim for up to two claims per 12 months (subject to a $25 deductible).
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Rewards
- 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 2% back on Lyft purchases (through September 30, 2027)
- 3% back at drugstores
- 3% back on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services)
- 1.5% on all other purchases.
Welcome bonus
Earn a $100 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
Annual fee
$0
Prime Visa
Rewards
- Unlimited 5% cash back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods and on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM
- 2% cash back at gas stations
- 2% cash back at restaurants
- 2% cash back on local transit
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Get a $150 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
The Prime Visa has a healthy list of shopping and travel protections, including:
- Purchase protection
- Extended warranty protection
- Baggage delay insurance
- Lost luggage reimbursement
- Rental car coverage
- Travel accident insurance
- Travel and emergency assistance
- Roadside assistance
It also has no foreign transaction fees.
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card
Rewards
- 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter on two categories you choose
- 5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Travel Center
- 2% cash back on one everyday category, such as gas stations/EV charging stations, grocery stores or restaurants (excludes discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs)
- 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn a $200 bonus after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
When you're approved for the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card, look at your budget to see where you spend the most because you'll have a long list of 5%-cash-back categories to choose from each quarter. These bonus categories include:
- Fast food
- Home utilities
- TV, internet and streaming services
- Department stores
- Cell phone providers
- Electronics stores
- Sporting goods stores
- Gyms and fitness centers
- Ground transportation
- Movie theaters
- Furniture stores
- Select clothing stores
Just remember that you'll need to opt into categories each quarter manually.
Target Circle Card™
Rewards
- 5% off at Target and Target.com
- 2% cash back on dining
- 2% cash back on gas
- 1% cash back on all other purchases outside of Target
Welcome bonus
Save $50 on a qualifying purchase of $50 or more when you're approved for this card.
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
The Target Circle Card™'s 5% discount at Target and Target.com will apply to most purchases that are relevant to gamers. However, there are exclusions such as taxes, delivery and handling fees, Target gift cards, prepaid cards and prescriptions.
Xbox Mastercard
Rewards
- 5X points at the digital Microsoft Store
- 3X points on eligible streaming services, including Netflix, Disney+ and Spotify
- 3X points on eligible dining delivery services, including DoorDash and Grubhub
- 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn 5,000 bonus points after making your first purchase within the first 180 days of account opening. New Game Pass members can earn three months of Game Pass Ultimate after making their first purchase within the first 180 days of account opening.
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
If you spend at least $7,000 on your Xbox Mastercard within 365 days of account opening, you'll receive two three-month Game Pass Ultimate codes to gift to friends or family who want to try the service for the first time. You'll receive three free months of Spotify Premium after you make your first purchase with this card.
Pros and cons of gamer credit cards
- Bonus rewards: The best cards for gamers offer additional rewards where you spend the most.
- Built-in protections: Some of the top credit cards for gamers offer purchase protection or extended warranty benefits on eligible purchases, keeping your gear safe at no additional cost.
- Restrictive rewards: Some gamer credit cards have rewards programs that offer limited redemptions.
- Few valuable benefits: A credit card that's great for gaming typically won't have versatile benefits or rewards and may not be the best option for an everyday credit card.
FAQs
Should I use a credit card for gaming purchases?
Using a credit card for purchasing video games, gaming consoles or gaming PCs can be a good idea, especially if the card offers rewards or perks like purchase protection. However, if you're going to carry a balance on your credit card the interest rates are usually high, so a debit card can save you money in that situation.
What type of credit card is best for gaming purchases?
A co-branded store card may be the best option for gaming purchases if you're loyal to that brand. Otherwise, a general credit card that offers purchase protections and earns rewards at a variety of retailers could be a better fit.
What's the best credit card for gamers?
The best credit card for gamers depends on where you typically buy your games, consoles and gaming accessories. If you prefer to price shop, you can't go wrong with a flat-rate cash-back card.
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best credit cards for gamers.
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Our methodology
To determine which credit cards offer the best value for gamers, CNBC Select analyzed over 250 major credit cards issued through FDIC-insured banks and NCUA-insured credit unions that are widely available in the U.S.
We compared each card on a range of features, including rewards (e.g., cash back, points and miles), annual fees, welcome bonuses, introductory and standard APR and balance transfer fees and foreign transaction fees. We also considered additional perks (e.g., ongoing travel or merchant statement credits), cardholder protections (e.g., purchase protection, $0 liability protection and travel insurance), the application process when available (e.g., is there a credit pull or required credit score) and how easy it is to redeem points (e.g., are rewards are tied to a specific brand; if transferable, to how many/which partners, can you redeem for straight cash back).
We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.
For the cards that offered a rewards program, we considered consumer spending data forecasts from location intelligence firm Esri to determine where U.S. consumers are spending the most money, like on dining and travel. We used this to help determine what bonus categories are most useful for consumers. Since the value of a point or mile varies based on what they can be redeemed for, we also considered things like transferability and the ability to redeem for cash-back.
When choosing the best credit cards for gamers, we gave increased priority to features and rewards that are valuable for gamers, but may not be as universally lucrative for an average consumer.
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Information about the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.
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