13 Best Store Credit Cards | Best Step By Step Guide

Being a good shopper is an art, and part of it is knowing how to get the most bang for your buck. Anything you buy is always a little bit better when you get a great deal, from cash-back portals to money-saving apps. When you shop, using the right credit card can help you save money on every purchase. Some of the best store credit cards for shopping can net you savings of up to 5% or more.

For many customers, a typical rewards card can be far more useful than a typical store card. The caveat here is that if you have bad credit, your options for rewards credit cards are limited. However, even for people with bad credit, store cards may not be worth the restrictions.

Below, we will look at a list of store credit card alternatives, as well as the best store credit cards for bad credit and which ones are the easiest to obtain.

The purpose of this article is to teach you how to shop for a credit card, the best credit cards for shopping rewards, how to earn rewards everywhere you shop and which credit card give back the most for shopping. 

13 Best Store Credit Cards

We have compiled a list of the best store credit cards for shopping to help you get the most out of your money.

1. Mastercard® Surge

2. Capital One Secured Mastercard®

3. Mastercard® Prepaid by PayPal

4. Firestone Credit Card

5. Express Next Credit Card 

6. Credit Card from Old Navy

7. Victoria’s Secret Credit Card

8. JCPenney Credit Card

9. Kohl’s Credit Card

10. Macy’s Credit Card

11. Nordstrom Retail Card

12. Target’s REDcard

13. Amazon.com Credit Card

1. Mastercard® Surge

All credit types are encouraged to apply! Access to your Vantage is unrestricted when you sign up for e-statements. The card offers a credit limit of $300 – $1,000* at first (subject to available credit). Monthly credit bureau reporting to the three major credit bureaus. The application process is quick and simple, with results in seconds. This is one of the best credit cards for shopping rewards up to 24.99% – 29.99% (Variable).

2. Capital One Secured Mastercard®

There are no annual or hidden fees. Check to see if you’re approved in seconds.

Trying to improve your credit? Responsible use of the Capital One Secured card may be beneficial. Put down a $49 refundable security deposit to get a $200 initial credit line.

When you use your card responsibly, such as making on-time payments, you may be able to earn back your security deposit as a statement credit. 

In as little as 6 months, you will be automatically considered for a higher credit line with no additional deposit required. With $0 Fraud, you can have peace of mind. Liability so that you are not held liable for unauthorized charges. 

3. Mastercard® Prepaid by PayPal

Transfer funds from your PayPal account to your prepaid card account. Simply by using your card, you can earn cashback and personalized offers. Direct Deposit allows you to be paid faster than a paper check. The Bancorp Bank, FDIC-insured, issued the card. The card can be used anywhere that Debit Mastercard is accepted. Depending on the severity of your credit problems, you could see significant credit score improvements after only six months or so of on-time credit card payments.

With more card options becoming available after 12 months of responsible credit use. Pay off any existing debts while you’re at it to get even better results. This is one of the best credit cards for shopping rewards.

4. Firestone Credit Card

The Firestone Credit Card does not offer rewards, but it does offer special six-month interest-free financing on purchases of $299 or more. Get special financing when you spend $299 or more on eligible Firestone tyres, maintenance, or repairs. Receive exclusive monthly deals and coupons. There is no annual fee. Although the Firestone Credit Card provides a decent financing option, it can quickly become costly due to a little thing known as deferred interest. 

In essence, deferred interest means that if any portion of your initial balance remains unpaid when your financing terms expire, you will be charged interest at the card’s rate of 22.8% on the entire amount. Consider the following scenario: suppose you charge a $500 repair to your Firestone Credit Card using special financing that allows you to pay no interest for six months. If even $1 of that $500 balance remains on your card after six months, you will be charged interest on the entire $500 purchase amount, regardless of how much you have already repaid.

5. Express Next Credit Card 

Regular shoppers will appreciate the Express Next Credit Card, which offers a $10 rewards certificate for every 2,500 points earned (which equates to $125 in eligible purchases). Earn 20 points for every dollar spent on eligible Express purchases made with your card. Get free shipping on online orders. There is no annual fee. No matter how much you want that Express shirt or pair of jeans, make sure you can pay it off right away. The Express Next Credit Card has a high APR of 28.74%. This is one of the best credit cards for shopping rewards.

6. Credit Card from Old Navy

The Old Navy Credit Card is a little more versatile than your typical store card, as it can be used at any Gap Inc.-branded store, including Old Navy, GAP, Banana Republic, and Athleta. Earn 5X points for every $1 spent on eligible Gap Inc. purchases made with your card. Get 15% off your first Old Navy Card purchase. There is no annual fee. Given the Old Navy Credit Card’s high 26.74% APR, you will want to pay off those polos in full before your billing date to avoid being charged high-interest fees on your purchases.

7. Victoria’s Secret Credit Card

The Victoria’s Secret Credit Card is ideal for lingerie fans who can take advantage of the card’s rewards. For every 250 points earned, you will receive a $10 Angel Rewards certificate. Earn 1 point for every $1 spent with your card on eligible Victoria’s Secret purchases. Receive special offers and bonus purchases. There is no annual fee. While the Victoria’s Secret Credit Card has some value for high-volume buyers, the high 26.74% APR makes carrying a balance an easy way to rack up large interest fees. 

Furthermore, given the store’s generally higher-priced merchandise, Victoria’s Secret card may not provide you with the spending power you desire. Indeed, many of the best store credit cards have relatively low credit limits, which means that your purchases can quickly approach your credit limit. Credit scoring models consider the utilization rate of each card in your profile, so a nearly maxed-out store card can lower your credit score. This is one of the best credit cards for shopping rewards.

8. JCPenney Credit Card

With the JCPenney Credit Card, you can earn points on all of your JCPenney purchases, allowing you to save money on every belt, blazer, blanket, and bench. For every 200 points you earn, you will receive a $10 JCPenney Rewards certificate. Earn 1X points for every $1 spent at JCPenney using your card. Get 15% off your first JCPenney card purchase. There is no annual fee. The JCPenney Credit Card, like most store credit cards, is limited in use by its high APR — 27.99%, to be exact — as well as its closed-loop nature, which means you can only use it to make JCPenney purchases.

9. Kohl’s Credit Card

With your Kohl’s Charge Card in hand, you can maximize your Kohl’s rewards by combining Kohl’s Charge specials with Kohl’s Cash® and Yes2You Rewards®. Each year that you are the cardholder, you will receive at least 12 special Kohl’s offers to use in-store or online. Get a 25% discount on your first Kohl’s Charge purchase. There is no annual fee. The APR of 26.74% on the Kohl’s Charge Card isn’t the only reason to avoid carrying a balance. 

A single late payment may result in the account being charged the 29.74% penalty APR for the life of the account. This is one of the best credit cards for shopping rewards.

10. Macy’s Credit Card

Macy’s Credit Cardholders can save on everything from fashion to furniture by earning a $10 coupon for every 1,000 points redeemed. Earn 1 point for every $1 spent at eligible Macy’s stores with your card. Get 20% off Macy’s purchases for the first two days after you open your account. There is no annual fee. Those points won’t seem so plentiful if you have to pay a 26.99% APR on your purchases, so make sure to pay off your entire Macy’s Credit Card balance each month to avoid fees.

11. Nordstrom Retail Card

The Nordstrom Retail Card provides a slew of benefits to frequent Nordstrom shoppers, with the benefits increasing with your annual Nordstrom spending. Earn two points for every dollar spent on eligible Nordstrom purchases made with your card. Receive exclusive discounts and sales access. There is no annual fee. Although the Nordstrom Retail Card’s regular APR of 24.65% is competitive for a store card — or a subprime card — it can still result in significant fees. 

If you make any late payments, you will be hit with a ridiculously high 31.65% penalty APR. This is one of the best credit cards for shopping rewards.

12. Target’s REDcard

The Target REDcard gives regular Target customers a 5% discount at the register on eligible purchases. Get 5% off eligible in-store or online Target purchases when you present this coupon at the register. Receive special offers and discounts. There is no annual fee. You can also combine your Target REDcard discount with a Target or manufacturer’s coupon to earn even more savings. Because the card has a 24.65% APR, avoid carrying a balance to keep your savings intact.

13. Amazon.com Credit Card

The Amazon.com Credit Card offers competitive rewards to cardholders who are already (or plan to become) Amazon Prime members, but it is less valuable to other cardholders who do not wish to pay the $89 membership fee. Amazon Prime members receive 5% cashback on eligible Amazon purchases. Orders of $149 or more qualify for special financing. There is no annual card fee. Non-Prime cardholders will not receive all of the benefits of the Amazon.com card. 

But they will be eligible for the special financing offers available on qualifying Amazon orders of $149 or more. Amazon.com Credit Card, like most store cards, offers special financing, and deferred interest. This means you must pay off your entire purchase price before the end of your financing term, or you will be charged interest on the entire amount. Interest fees can quickly add up with a 27.74% APR. This is one of the best credit cards for shopping rewards.

How to Choose the Best Credit Card for Shopping

Everyone’s shopping and spending habits are unique. When looking for a credit card that gives you the best rewards on your purchases, the most important factor to consider is how your spending habits have changed. Examine your monthly statements or see if your credit card company or company provides a snapshot of your expenses so you can determine where the majority of your shopping dollars go. 

Ideally, you should select the best credit card for shopping online that offers high rewards in the areas where you spend the most. For example, if you know that, except for end-of-year holiday shopping, you spend the majority of your money at warehouse clubs, it may make sense to have a card that allows you to switch from warehouse clubs to department stores to maximize your return on investment. 

Alternatively, if your shopping habits do not favour one type of retailer over another, a flat-rate credit card may be the best option. To get the most bang for your buck, it may make sense to use a card-pairing strategy in some cases. Anyone who buys the majority of their household and other essentials at a big-box retailer, for example, may benefit from having a store card with that retailer and another card to use for shopping elsewhere. 

However, using a card that earns 2% cashback on all purchases can be useful for filling in the gaps in shopping where your other card does not offer enhanced rewards. Just keep in mind that the best shopping card is not a one-size-fits-all solution and will differ for each individual.

Conclusion

The well-rehearsed spiel of the store clerk is a tempting lure into the seemingly lucrative rewards of a store-branded credit card for the average shopper — and that temptation can be even stronger for someone with poor credit who sees the promise of easy acceptance. However, store credit cards are frequently a lot of glitz with little substance, with numerous restrictions and high-interest rates.

Even if you have bad credit, there is no reason to limit yourself to a single brand or store because credit card options extend far beyond the walls of any store. With an open-loop credit card, you can build credit while making necessary purchases. If you pay your credit card on time and in full each month, you will most likely see significant credit score improvements within a year, which will greatly expand your credit card options.

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