Big purchases are great to charge to your credit card—if you have a personal payback plan and picked the right card, that is. Whether you’re buying a new television, remodeling the kitchen, or even covering an emergency bill, certain credit card perks can help you save money whenever you have to spend. A card with an introductory 0% APR period can also be a great financing choice when you want a long, interest-free repayment period. Plus, many cards come with extra benefits, like cash-back options or product warranties, that can add value to the item you're buying.
When it comes to maximizing savings on large purchases it can be hard to know where to start. Credit cards, in and of themselves, are tools you can use to help your purchase your desired item, but you do eventually need to pay off the debt. That being said, credit card issuers have created fantastic incentives for you to use their cards, so putting a big purchase on plastic could be a better deal than buying the same item with cash.
Here are a few smart rules to keep in mind when looking to save:
Which card you choose ultimately depends on which goal you value most. With that in mind, here are our recommendations for the best credit cards to help you save:
Things to Know About Credit Cards
How We Evaluated
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards
U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card
Chase Freedom
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards
Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa
Capital One VentureOne
More Credit Card Reviews
Long introductory period APR rates are only a short-term incentive. Potentially high APR rates snap into effect after the card’s intro period ends, which could cost you a lot in interest if you’ve left your balance unpaid. It’s really important—especially when getting a card for a big purchase—to keep an eye on your finances, and keep an eye on the calendar.
APR rates and credit limits vary based on your individual credit. Credit limits and interest rates for each card are determined based on each cardholder's personal situation, so we did not take that information into account when evaluating these cards. Remember to pay your card off in full every month, so you will not be charged interest.
Banks have final say on who they accept for a credit card. These recommendations were put together with the assumption that applicants would have average credit or above. That being said, banks decide who they will issue credit cards to using criteria including, but not always limited to, an individual's credit score when evaluating each applicant.
I’m a veteran writer who has covered travel rewards and the intricacies of credit card points-and-miles. I evaluated all the credit cards on the market and used the three rules above to pick these recommendations. I chose my picks purely on their ability to help you save money or put some cash back in your wallet when you have to make a large purchase.
Please note: The offers mentioned above were valid at time of publication but are subject to change at any time. Some may no longer be available.
Reviewed has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Reviewed and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.
Danny Nelson
Contributor
Danny Nelson is a travel writer and freelance journalist. Aside from Reviewed, his work has appeared in The Points Guy. He is based in Boston.
See all of Danny Nelson's reviewsWe use standardized and scientific testing methods to scrutinize every product and provide you with objectively accurate results. If you’ve found different results in your own research, email us and we’ll compare notes. If it looks substantial, we’ll gladly re-test a product to try and reproduce these results. After all, peer reviews are a critical part of any scientific process.
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