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:
- Look for long 0% intro APR periods. That way you’ll have plenty of time to pay off your charges interest-free.
- Avoid credit cards with an annual fee. Why pay to save, when so many good options have no annual fee?
- Tack on as many benefits as you can. Some cards offer useful and valuable perks just for being a member.
Which card you choose ultimately depends on which goal you value most.
How we evaluated
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.
With that in mind, here are our recommendations for the best credit cards to help you save:
- Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card
- U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card
- Chase Freedom
- Capital One® SavorOne℠ Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® Card
- Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card
Things to know about credit cards
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.
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards
Best for cash backThe Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card gives you a straightforward path to redeem cash bonuses and accrue cash back rewards quickly. If you have a big, one-time purchase on the horizon, than these perks can help you cut the overall cost.
Points: The card awards 1.5% cash back on all your purchases, no matter the vendor or price. So, if you buy a $1,000 item, you’ll receive $15 in points back.With no cap to the awards limit, collecting points can pay big dividends in the long term.
Perks: Though the Quicksilver Cash Rewards card has no annual fee, it has a surprising amount of potential for your wallet. If you spend $500 in the first three months of the card, you’ll get a $150 cash bonus—a pretty good reward for simply spending money. Add that to a $0% APR intro rate for the first 15 months, and you’re looking at a card with high upside and even higher dividends. Once the grace period expires, the APR hikes up to 16.24% - 26.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
Learn more about the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card
U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card
Best for introductory APRIf you need a lot of time to pay down your bills without accruing interest, then the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card is your best bet. The card offers a generous 0% intro APR for the first 18 billing cycles.
Points: This is the card for spreading out your payments over time, not racking up points or getting cash back incentives. Therefore, I only recommend U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card if your primary goal is a long APR intro period. With this introductory period, that $1,000 television comes out to just over $55 a month. Just make sure you pay down your debt before the 14.74% - 25.74% variable APR kicks in at the 19th cycle.
Perks: Again, this card is the best for worry-free spending, not racking up rewards. There’s no annual fee, though, which is nice. One side aspect we like is the Platinum Card’s cell protection program. Get $600 coverage on broken or stolen phones (up to two claims per year) with only a $25 deductible.
Chase Freedom
Chase Freedom
If you want to fully maximize your cash back options, and you have the time and inclination to pay attention to changing rules around accruing points, then the Chase Freedom could be for you. The Chase Freedom specializes in offering 5% cash back in a rotating lineup of bonus categories, which change every quarter.
Points: Chase Freedom makes you work its best rewards, but if you line up big purchases with 5% cash-back on rotating categories, up to $1,500 each quarter you activate, you can go far. For example: The second quarter of 2019’s rewards category, groceries, also covers home improvement stores, like Home Depot. Financing your latest kitchen renovation a surefire way to spend gobs of cash. And though Chase Freedom 5% goodness maxes out after $1,500 in quarterly spending, you could still net as much as $75 from the rotating cash-back rewards alone. Everyday purchases not in the 5% bonus category still deliver cash back value for you, but at a lower rate. You’ll earn 1% cash back for everything else you put on the card.
Perks: Right off the bat, the Chase Freedom rewards you with a $150 cash bonus after spending $500 in the first 3 months. This bonus is hardly remarkable; but when taken in consideration with Chase Freedom’s other benefits, and its 15 month 0% APR intro period, the card could provide you with a lot of value. Be sure you pay off your outstanding debts before the 0% APR grade period ends, as you’ll face variable 17.24% - 25.99% APR after that.
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards
Make the most of cash-back offers with Capital One’s SavorOne, one of our favorite rewards cards with an APR intro period longer than a year.
Points: The SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is primarily geared towards everyday purchases, but its incentive structure rewards big purchases, too. You’ll quickly redeem the $150 cash reward: it comes online after you’ve hit $500 in the first 3 months—a low threshold in the land of big purchases. On the everyday spending front you can also use the card's tiered model to your advantage. Get 3% back on dining and entertainment, 2% back at grocery stores, and 1% on everything else. There’s no cap to the cash-back rewards, either.
Perks: On top of its cash rewards offerings, the SavorOne Cash Rewards card’s 15-month intro APR rate of 0% makes it a strong contender for your large purchase card portfolio. After that, it's a 16.24% - 26.24% APR based on your personal creditworthiness.
Learn more about the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa
Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa
No annual fee, high rate of return: we picked the Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa Card as much for what it has as for what it doesn’t. This card gives you an easy path for turning money spent into money made.
Points: The Cash Wise Visa Card rewards holders with 1.5% cash-back on all purchases. It’s a straightforward approach to cash-back, and potentially more appealing than many other cards’ tiered cash-back programs, which require a lot of planning to maximize in full. The card’s $150 cash rewards bonus also stands above the competition. Spend $500 in the first 3 months, and it’s yours.
Perks: At only 12 months of 0% intro-rate APR, the this isn’t nearly as forgiving as some of the other top cards to make the list. Nevertheless, it’s a good option to consider if you want a solid card with some extra perks. Keep in mind that your APR will go up to a variable 16.24% to 28.24% after the first year.
However, If you’re saving up for a new phone, then this perk is for you. The card also comes with Wells Fargo’s standard $600 cell phone protection program, available to all Wells Fargo cardholders who pay their monthly phone bill through the card. While there’s a $25 deductible, its nonetheless worth considering as an added perk.
Capital One VentureOne
Capital One VentureOne
The only travel-focused rewards card to make this list, VentureOne from Capital One is excellent if you anticipate spending big when booking accomodations for your next trip.
Points: You’ll get 1.25 miles for every dollar you spend on anything, and there’s no limit to the rewards you can earn. And if you’re booking an expensive hotel stay, you could earn even more. Participating hotels will give you 10X the number of miles through the first month of 2020, as long as you book your stay through Venture partner Hotels.com using the deditated link Hotels.com/Venture.
Perks: The VentureOne card rewards you with 20,000 bonus miles if you spend $1,000 on your card in 3 months. If you decide to take convert those points to cash back, that’s an easy $200, and a great additional perk on top of the hefty miles rewards program. The only downside is the card’s relatively short 12-month 0% APR introductory period, which transitions to a variable 14.24% - 24.24% APR after the first year. This is not nearly as forgiving as some of our other top rewards cards. But if points and miles are your game, and you need a no-annual-fee card for your next big buy, VentureOne from Capital One is at least worth a hard look.
When you sign up for one of these cards, Reviewed may receive an affiliate commission from The Points Guy Affiliate Network.