The best credit cards to use for large purchases, including electronics

If you've been thinking about buying big-ticket items such as a piece of furniture, a shiny new Apple Watch or a much-needed phone upgrade, using the right credit card to make that large purchase is key. Thanks to limited-time welcome bonuses and bonus spending categories, your credit card might help you pick up enough points to pay for part (or all) of your next vacation or earn enough in cash-back rewards to cover that latest splurge.

Keep in mind that while spending beyond your means just to meet the requirement for a welcome bonus is not the way to go — neither is blowing your budget on a steep annual fee just to get a card with exceptional rewards — if you can work with your budget, keep tabs on your credit score and add a new card responsibly, there's no reason not to.

Depending on your current financial situation and how much your dream item costs, you may be able to benefit from a card's 0% intro APR period when making larger-than-usual purchases. You may also be covered by benefits like cell phone protection, extended warranty and purchase protection.

Below, CNBC Select details the best credit cards for those looking to make major purchases, such as electronics, in the near future — and a few things to consider before adding a new card.

• Best overall: Chase Freedom Unlimited®
• Best for online shopping: Prime Visa
• Best for earning ongoing rewards points: Chase Sapphire Preferred®
• Best for making large business-related purchases: Ink Business Premier^SM Credit Card
• Best for earning cash-back rewards: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
• Best for those looking to maximize spending categories: U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card
• Best for consumer purchase protections and extended warranties: The Platinum Card® from American Express
• Best for a long 0% interest intro APR: Wells Fargo Reflect® Card

Who’s this for? Look no further than the Chase Freedom Unlimited® if you're interested in a flexible rewards credit card that lets you earn an additional 1.5% cash back on all purchases up to the first $20,000 spent within your first year of card membership, which translates to a value of up to $300 in cash back rewards.

During your first year, you'll earn 6.5% back total on flights, hotels, car rentals and other travel activities booked via Chase Ultimate Rewards®; 4.5% back when you dine at restaurants (including certain delivery services and takeout); 4.5% back on spending at drugstores; and 3% back for all other purchases made with the card.

This no-annual-fee card also lets you lock in a 0% introductory APR for purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months after account opening (after, 20.49% - 29.24%, variable), giving you the freedom and flexibility to pay off that big purchase you've been meaning to make in a few months if you can't afford to do it all at once.

Note that you won't be eligible for this card if you're a current cardholder or you've already received its welcome bonus within the past 24 months. Otherwise, you're all set with built-in purchase protection up to 120 days (up to $500 per claim, up to $50,000 per account) and extended warranty protection for eligible warranties under three years, as well as other travel-related benefits such as auto rental collision damage waivers and trip cancellation and interruption insurance, among others.

Who’s this for? The Prime Visa is a great choice for those who already have an Amazon Prime membership and would like to receive up to 5% cash back on all the shopping they're doing anyway. As a welcome bonus, you'll receive a $100 Amazon gift card immediately upon approval, which helps to offset the $139 annual cost of an Amazon Prime membership (discounts are also available for students and government assistance recipients).

Once you've got the card and an Amazon Prime membership, you'll earn 5% back on purchases made on Amazon.com and at Whole Foods Market (or 3% back if you don't have an active Prime account); 10% back on a rotating list of categories and limited-time offers on products (exclusively a perk for Prime members); 2% back at gas stations, drugstores and restaurants; and 1% back for all other purchases made with the card.

There are no annual or foreign transaction fees, and when making larger purchases, you'll be able to choose between getting 5% back (3% back for non-Prime members) and utilizing a 0% promo APR for 6–12 months (after, 19.49% - 27.49%, variable) when your purchase is more than $50 — opt for 12 months to make equal monthly payments when it's more than $250. You can also redeem rewards points for even more Amazon shopping via the Shop With Points feature.

In addition to several travel-related benefits including access to Visa Signature® Concierge Service and the Visa Signature® Luxury Hotel Collection, auto rental collision damage waivers for car rentals, travel accident and baggage delay insurance and lost luggage reimbursement, you'll also receive purchase protection for the first 120 days (up to $500 per claim, up to $50,000 per account) and an extra year's worth of extended warranty protection (restrictions apply).

Who’s this for? The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a great option for anyone looking to use the points earned from making a large purchase to fund a future trip or to save on an upcoming Apple purchase. It's also a good choice if you'd like to extend a current U.S. manufacturer's warranty by one year — if it's less than three years old and not being used for computer software or pre-owned items, among other exceptions — or need purchase protection on your new item for 120 days in case of theft or damage.

The card is currently offering a welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. When redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, those points are worth roughly $750, though you could also redeem them for cash-back or gift cards.

You'll earn 5X points per dollar on travel booked via Chase Ultimate Rewards®; 5X points per dollar on Lyft rides now through Mar. 31, 2025; 3X points per dollar spent with certain streaming services, as well as on dining and online grocery shopping (except Target®, Walmart® and other wholesale clubs); 2X points per dollar on all other travel spending; and 1X point per dollar on all other purchases.

Those points can be used to book travel directly through Chase Ultimate Rewards® with a 25% bonus or transferred to any of its airline or hotel partners at a 1:1 ratio, so you could end up saving money on a future vacation simply by using this card to make your large purchase and, if it meets or exceeds the minimum-spending requirement, scooping up the welcome bonus.

While there is a $95 annual fee, there are no foreign transaction fees and you'll score special discounts for shopping with Instacart+, DoorDash, and GoPuff, among other perks. You'll also have access to travel benefits such as collision damage waivers for car rentals, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance, a 10% points boost to celebrate each card anniversary and a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards® Hotel Credit.

Who’s this for? Small business owners who tend to make large purchases should consider the Chase Ink Business Premier℠ card, which lets you earn 2.5% cash back whenever you spend $5,000 or more, as well as 5% cash back when you purchase flights, hotel stays, rental cars and other travel activities through the Chase travel portal. You'll also earn 2% cash back on all other business-related purchases and can redeem your flexible rewards points for travel, gift cards or cash back through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

As a welcome bonus, new cardholders can earn $1,000 bonus cash back after spending $10,000 within the first three months of account opening. While there is a $195 annual fee for this card, it also provides access to a host of travel-related benefits, including no foreign transaction fees, auto rental collision damage waivers for car rentals and trip cancellation and interruption insurance, among others, as well as cell phone protection for yourself and any employees listed on your cell phone bill (up to $1,000 per claim, with a limit of three claims per year and a $100 deductible).

The card also protects your large purchases for 120 days against theft or damage (up to $10,000 per claim, up to $50,000 per account), adds an extra year to your current U.S. manufacturer warranty on eligible warranties under three years old, and gives you the option to pay off big purchases over time with interest (19.49% - 27.49%, variable) should you need it.

Who’s this for? If you're in the market for a no-annual-fee card (see rates and fees) that offers cash-back rewards for all your everyday purchases, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is a particularly good option, especially since it lets you earn 3% cash back on up to $6,000 worth of online retail purchases made in the U.S. each year (after, 1%). You'll also earn 3% back on up to $6,000 worth of groceries per year at U.S. supermarkets (after, 1%), 3% back at U.S. gas stations (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%) and 1% back for all additional spending. Terms apply.

For those planning to make large purchases, the card offers a 0% introductory APR for purchases and balance transfers made during the first 15 months of account membership (after, 19.24% - 29.99%, variable; see rates and fees). Balance transfers must be requested within 60 days of account opening. There's a balance transfer fee that's either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer (whichever is greater). Its also got a nifty Buy Now, Pay Later option, part of its Plan It® feature, that lets you split higher charges above $100 into monthly payments for a fixed monthly fee without interest — you'll have no Buy Now, Pay Later intro fees for the first 15 months after account opening, then a fixed monthly fee of 1.33% of the purchase amount, based factors such as the duration of your plan and any applicable APR that also may be in effect by that time.

New cardholders can also take advantage of the welcome bonus offer, earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card within the first 6 months.

Additional perks include six free months of streaming via SiriusXM (offer available until Dec. 31, 2022); statement credits for The Disney Bundle and Home Chef subscriptions (subject to auto renewal & enrollment required); and *car rental loss and damage insurance. You'll also score purchase protection for 90 days on items bought with the card.

Note that cashback is awarded as Reward Dollars, which you can redeem for statement credits. You also may not be eligible for the welcome bonus or intro APR if you've already had this card or currently have a number of open accounts with American Express, among other factors considered.

Who’s this for? If you're looking for a straightforward way to earn cash-back rewards on all your purchases, the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card keeps it simple by letting cardholders determine which flexible spending categories they'd like to earn more rewards from based on what they're buying the most.

For starters, this no-annual-fee card's welcome offer means you'll snag a $200 rewards bonus after spending $1,000 within the first 120 days of account membership. Then, each quarter, you'll earn 5% back for the first $2,000 worth of combined eligible purchases in two specific categories, as well as 2% back on one specific everyday spending category and 1% back on all other eligible purchases.

The fact that you could make two of your 5% cash-back categories electronics stores, furniture stores, sporting goods stores, department stores, clothing stores and cell phone providers bodes well for anyone considering a large purchase — additional category options include fast food spots, movie theaters, cable/internet/streaming services, gyms/fitness centers, home utilities and ground transportation. Everyday spending categories include restaurants, gas stations and EV charging stations, and grocery stores and delivery, so choose wisely.

The card also offers a 0% introductory APR for purchases and balance transfers made during the first 15 billing cycles (after, 19.74% - 29.74% , variable), as well as several pay-over-time options, which can be useful when making larger purchases.

You can also earn 5% cash back by booking flights, hotels and rental cars through the Rewards Travel Center or while shopping at more than 1,100 stores online via the Rewards Center Earn Mall. Note that cash-back rewards are provided as statement credits, a rewards card or can be deposited straight into your U.S. Bank savings or checking account.

Who’s this for? If you've got a particularly valuable purchase in mind, consider applying for The Platinum Card® from American Express, which offers up to $10,000 in *purchase protection for each covered item, with a limit of up to $50,000 per card, for a period of up to 90 days from the day you buy it. Your precious purchase will also be protected up to $500 in case of "purchase protection covered events" such as natural disasters.

This premium-level travel rewards card also comes with *return protection, a rare perk that essentially allows you to extend an eligible item's return policy and receive a refund (up to $300 per item, not counting shipping and handling, with a limit of $1,000 per account per calendar year) if the vendor refuses to accept your return within a 90-day period. As for *extended warranty coverage, the card gives you up to one additional year on an original manufacturer's warranty if it's five years or less, with a limit of $10,000 per purchase, up to $50,000 per account. And if you pay your cell phone bill with the card, you'll also be covered by cell phone protection (up to $800 per claim with a $50 deductible).

If you're looking to use your large purchase to earn the welcome bonus of 80,000 points after you spend $8,000 within the first six months of card membership, which can then be redeemed for travel through American Express Membership Rewards® or with one of the issuer's many airline and hotel transfer partners, this card is a terrific option. You'll also earn 5X points per dollar for flights (up to $500,000 per year) and hotels booked directly through American Express Travel, and 1X points for all other purchases. If you'd prefer to carry a balance on certain purchases, the Pay Over Time feature offers a variable rate of 21.24% to 29.24%; see rates and fees. Terms apply.

Although the annual fee is quite steep at $695; see rates and fees, the card's robust lineup of travel and consumer benefits makes it all worthwhile, especially if you're planning to take advantage of most or all of them: $200 in statement credits annually when you book stays through American Express Travel (Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay); up to $200 worth of statement credits per year to cover travel incidentals on your chosen airline; a $189 statement credit to cover your CLEAR® Plus membership (subject to auto-renewal); access to more than 1,400 airport lounges worldwide through The Global Lounge Collection®; and statement credits when you use the card pay for select streaming services, Walmart+ and Equinox memberships, Saks Fifth Avenue purchases and Uber rides or eats; among other perks.

Who’s this for? If you prefer a card with a longer-than-usual 0% APR introductory offer so you can pay off your purchase over time without incurring interest, try the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card, which lets you do just that. New cardholders start off with a 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening — which can be used for any purchases or qualifying balance transfers; 18.24%, 24.74%, or 29.99% variable after. Balance transfers made within 120 days from account opening qualify for the intro rate, BT fee of 5%, min $5.

Otherwise, you'll get additional benefits such as $600 worth of cell phone protection against theft or damage (but not loss, and there's a $25 deductible) when you use it to pay your bill and access to 24/7 emergency roadside assistance (service charges apply). Note that you might not be eligible to be a card member if you've already opened another Wells Fargo credit card within the past six months.

Before signing up for a new credit card, check your credit score using a credit monitoring service like Chase Credit Journey or CreditWise so you can see if everything's correct and get a better idea of where you stand in terms of your realistic chances of being approved.

Keep in mind that some card issuers might take a closer look at exactly how many cards you already have — Chase's strict 5/24 rule often disqualifies applicants who have already applied for five cards within the last 24 months. Even if you are denied, the issuer is required to tell you why and you can usually call and plead your case, though you may not be successful.

Remember to run the numbers for a new card by your current budget and make sure you're able to meet any minimum-spending requirements responsibly — going into debt trying to earn rewards simply is not worth it. Also ensure you'll be using enough of the new card's perks and benefits enough to justify paying the annual fee, especially if it's a hefty one.

Despite these unpredictable times and the record-high inflation that's come with them, it's still possible to save money on those more significant purchases you've been meaning to make, whether it's a new TV, cell phone, couch, bed or this year's haul of holiday presents. With a little planning and research, you'll be able to choose the card that works best for your financial needs, most of which come with purchase protections and other perks that provide even more peace of mind.

To determine which cards offer the best value for large purchases, CNBC Select analyzed 234 of the most popular credit cards available in the U.S. We compared each card on a range of features, including: rewards, welcome bonus, introductory and standard APR, balance transfer fee and foreign transaction fees, as well as factors such as required credit and customer reviews when available. We also considered additional perks, the application process and how easy it is for the consumer to redeem points.

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For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, click here.

For rates and fees of the Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.

*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/ benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.