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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Katie Genter is a digital nomad who has traveled full time since June 2017. She writes and edits stories about points and miles, and loyalty programs, often letting her personal experiences color these stories.
Credit card writer Danyal Ahmed is an avid traveler, averaging about 100,000 aeronautical miles per year. He regularly applies that knowledge and his expertise in credit cards to his role as a credit card writer at TPG.
also contributed to this story
February 20, 2025 • 15 min read
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By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
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Quick summary
Price protection is a benefit on select rewards cards that reimburses you if an item you buy drops in price shortly after purchase.
This feature differs from purchase protection, which covers loss, theft or damage to items.
Coverage limits, claim windows and eligible items vary significantly by card, and not all cards offer this benefit.
Most cards now limit price protection, and eligibility often depends on the card network and account type.
What to consider
Coverage typically includes caps per item and per year, with claim windows ranging from 30 to 120 days after purchase.
Some cards exclude online advertisements, auctions or certain item categories, and taxes and shipping are not included in claim calculations.
You must provide documentation and submit claims manually, as automatic tracking is rarely available.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed comparison of coverage terms, exclusions and how to maximize savings using price protection benefits.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
We all like to get a good bargain. But no matter how much you comparison shop and track prices, you’ve probably come across an item you’ve just purchased for less money than you paid.
Luckily, some rewards credit cards offer a price protection benefit. Don’t confuse this perk with purchase protection, which is entirely different. Purchase protection can cover you in the case of damage, theft or sometimes even loss of an item. Instead, price protection is an insurance policy against a price drop on an item you buy.
If you use an eligible card to purchase an item and then find that exact item on sale for less, your card may reimburse you for the difference between what you paid and the better price you saw.
Let’s take a closer look at this perk and which cards offer it.
Credit cards that offer price protection
Here is a small list of credit cards that provide price protection:
The information for the UBS Visa Infinite Credit Card, Wells Fargo Visa Signature card, HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard credit card, Navy Federal More Rewards American Express Card, REI Co-op World Elite Mastercard and U.S. Bank Cash 365 American Express Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Comparing the best cards for price protection
Card
Maximum coverage amount per item
Maximum coverage amount per year
Coverage duration (days after purchase)
Earning rate
Annual fee
UBS Visa Infinite Credit Card
$500
$1,500
90
3 points per dollar for commercial air travel
2 points per dollar for groceries, select digital entertainment, newspapers and cable TV
1 point per dollar on everything else
$650
Wells Fargo Visa Signature card*
$250
$1,000
60
1 point per dollar on all purchases
$0
HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard credit card
$250
Up to four claims per 12-month period
120
3 points per dollar on gas and groceries
2 points per dollar on select travel, including airfare and hotels
1 point per dollar on all other purchases
$95
Navy Federal More Rewards American Express Card
$250 (must be at least $10)
$1,000
30
3 points per dollar on supermarkets, restaurants, food delivery, gas and transit
1 point per dollar on everything else
$0
REI Co-op World Elite Mastercard
$250
Up to four claims per 12-month period
120
5% back on purchases at REI
1.5% back on all other purchases
$0
U.S. Bank Cash 365 American Express Card*
$250 (must be at least $10)
$1,000
30
1.5% back on every purchase
$0
Select Capital One cards
Varies
Varies
Varies
Varies
Varies
*Note: This card is no longer accepting new applications.
Best cards with price protection
UBS Visa Infinite Credit Card
If you're in the market for a premium credit card, the UBS Visa Infinite may be the right choice.
THE POINTS GUY
Earning rate: 3 points per dollar for commercial air travel, 2 points per dollar for groceries, select digital entertainment, newspapers and cable TV and 1 point per dollar for all other purchases.
Annual fee: $650.
Price protection benefit: If you buy an eligible item with your card in the U.S. and see the item advertised for less within 90 days, you can be reimbursed the difference up to $500 per item. This benefit is limited to $1,500 a year.
How we confirmed the price protection benefit: The guide to benefits linked from the card’s information page on the UBS website describes this benefit.
Other shopping protections: Extended warranty protection, return protection, purchase security and event ticket protection.
While this card isn't open to new applicants, existing cardholders can enjoy a few protections on the Wells Fargo Visa Signature.
PIXELSEFFECT/GETTY IMAGES
Earning rate: 1 point per dollar on all purchases.
Annual fee: None.
Price protection benefit: If you see eligible items advertised for less within 60 days of purchase, you can be reimbursed the difference up to $250 per item and up to $1,000 a year.
How we confirmed the price protection benefit: It is listed as a benefit in the card’s guide to benefits on Wells Fargo’s website.
Other shopping protections: Purchase security and extended warranty protection.
Frequent travelers who don't want to pay for a premium travel card may find the HSBC Premier Mastercard is a better fit.
THE POINTS GUY
Earning rate: 3 rewards points per dollar on gas and groceries, 2 points per dollar on select travel and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
Annual fee: $95.
Price protection benefit: When you purchase a new item entirely with your card or points from your card, you may be covered if you see a printed advertisement or nonauction internet advertisement for a lower price within 120 days. Keep in mind that once you see an advertisement for a lower price, you have 60 days to file a claim.
You’ll only be covered for the difference between the actual cost of the item and the advertised lower price, up to $250 per claim. You can only make up to four claims per account per 12-month period.
Other shopping protections: Extended warranty protection and purchase assurance.
Navy Federal More Rewards American Express Card
If you currently serve in the military or are a veteran, the Navy Federal More Rewards Amex may be a great fit for you.
THE POINTS GUY
Earning rate: 3 points per dollar on supermarkets, restaurants, gas, food delivery and transit and 1 point per dollar on everything else.
Annual fee: None.
Price protection benefit: If you see an identical item advertised in print at a lower price than you paid within 30 days of your purchase, you may be eligible for a refund of the difference (if the difference is $10 or more). This benefit is capped at $250 per item and $1,000 annually per card account.
How we confirmed the price protection benefit: The guide to benefits linked from the card’s application page describes a Best Value Guarantee benefit. A card benefits page on Amex’s website also notes this benefit.
Other shopping protections: Extended warranty protection, return protection and retail protection.
REI Co-op World Elite Mastercard
While store cards typically aren't worth opening, the REI Co-op Mastercard is a solid option for outdoor enthusiasts.
THE POINTS GUY
Earning rate: 5% back on purchases at REI and 1.5% back on all other purchases.
Annual fee: None.
Price protection benefit: If you find a lower price within 120 days of making an eligible purchase, you may be eligible to submit a price protection claim. Cardholders are given up to four claims per 12-month period with a maximum benefit of $250 per claim. Note that once you see an advertisement for a lower price, you have 60 days to file a claim.
How we confirmed the price protection benefit: The Mastercard guide to price protection.
Other shopping protections: Extended warranty protection.
U.S. Bank Cash 365 American Express Card
This card may not be open to new applicants, but existing cardholders can still enjoy price protection on eligible purchases.
THE POINTS GUY
Earning rate: 1.5% back on all purchases.
Annual fee: None.
Price protection benefit: Thanks to this card's Best Value Guarantee, you may be eligible to get a refund of the difference if you see an identical item advertised in print at a lower price than you paid within 30 days of your purchase (if the difference is $10 or more). This benefit is capped at $250 per item and $1,000 annually per card account.
How we confirmed the price protection benefit: The guide to benefits linked from the card’s application page describes a Best Value Guarantee benefit. A card benefits page on Amex’s website also notes this benefit.
Capital One offers cards on both the Mastercard and Visa networks. And within each network, different account types offer different benefits. So, although you and your friend may have the same Capital One card in name, your cards may be on different networks and carry significantly different benefits.
RISKA/GETTY IMAGES
Knowing what type of card you have is essential for price protection benefits. After all, only Capital One cards that are a Visa Signature Business card, Enhanced Visa Signature Business card, Professional Mastercard, World Mastercard, World Elite Mastercard, World Elite Mastercard for Business Spark Pro card and World Elite Mastercard for Business Spark card have price protection.
Among the account types that offer price protection, coverage details vary. Check your guide to benefits or call the number on the back of your card to see what type of price protection, if any, your Capital One card carries.
How we confirmed the price protection benefit: According to the benefits guides on Capital One’s website, cardholders with the following cards are eligible for price protection:
Visa Signature Business card
Enhanced Visa Signature Business card
Professional Mastercard (see the guide to benefits)
World Mastercard
World Elite Mastercard
World Elite Mastercard for Business Spark Pro card
World Elite Mastercard for Business Spark card
Other types of Capital One cards may not offer price protection. Check your card's guide to benefits for more information.
How we selected the best cards for price protection
The number of credit cards that offer price protection has decreased drastically in the last few years. Many major issuers, including Discover, Chase and Citi, have removed price protection from most of their cards.
IZUSEK/GETTY IMAGES
Since there aren’t many cards that advertise price protection, we included all of the cards that we could verify still offer price protection in this guide.
This guide may not include all cards that offer price protection, though. Additional cards may have price protection but not publicly advertise the benefit. Plus, there may be regional banks or credit unions in your area that offer cards with price protection.
Card benefits change frequently, so make sure to refer to your card's guide to benefits for more information about the protections it offers.
Among the cards that still offer price protection, the coverage varies from card to card. Among the factors you should consider when using a card with price protection are:
The amount of coverage per item. This benefit is usually offered with a maximum of $250 to $500 per item.
The amount of coverage per year. Just as there are individual claim maximums, each cardholder can usually only make claims up to a specific dollar cap each year (usually $1,000-$2,500). Sometimes, there’s also a cap on the number of claims you can make in 12 months.
The window of time in which you can find a lower price. You can’t make claims indefinitely. Credit cards impose relatively strict time limits, usually 30-90 days after making your purchase. Sometimes, you’ll need to start your claim within a particular amount of time after seeing the lower price.
Where you can find a lower price. Some cards, such as select Capital One cards, exclude advertisements posted online. Other cards exclude auctions or specific types of sales.
Any exclusions. Although many purchases are covered, policies often exclude some items, including perishables, jewelry and services.
Taxes and shipping don’t count. Remember not to factor taxes and shipping into the cost difference when submitting a claim.
Identical items. Many policies limit the number of identical items you can include in a claim.
It’s not automatic. You generally need to track your purchases and submit claims when you find a lower price. Some services will track and submit claims for you — but these services are also part of why many issuers have decreased or discontinued price protection on their cards.
Purchases must usually be made in the U.S. Many cards that offer a price protection benefit only cover items purchased within the U.S.
LECHATNOIR/GETTY IMAGES
If you have a card that offers price protection, it’s best to read the guide to benefits for your card to determine what is included and excluded.
You’ll usually need your itemized sales receipt, your credit card statement showing the charge and an original printed advertisement showing the sale date or advertisement date and the lower price.
You may also need other documents or supporting information, so check out your card’s guide to benefits or call the number on the back of your card for specific instructions.
Frequently asked questions about credit card price protection
Which credit card has the best price protection?
The UBS Visa Infinite Credit Card offers the best price protection. You can be reimbursed the price difference up to $500 per item (up to $1,500 per year) if you find a lower price advertised within 90 days of making your purchase with the card.
Does Mastercard have price protection?
Some Mastercards, such as the HSBC Premier World Mastercard, offer price protection. However, price protection is offered on a card-by-card basis, so make sure to check your Mastercard's guide to benefits.
Some Visa cards, including the UBS Visa Infinite Credit Card, offer price protection. However, price protection is offered on a card-by-card basis, so make sure to check your Visa's benefits guide.
Does credit card price protection work on flights?
Credit card price protection doesn’t cover price drops for flights or other tickets. Such an exclusion is common, but many travel cards offer other protections for things like trip cancellations or delays.
Credit card price protection can save you thousands of dollars per year. Although most cards limit how much you can be reimbursed annually, you can decrease the likelihood of reaching the limit by spreading your spending across multiple cards that offer price protection.
Knowing the specific benefits offered by each of your credit cards and then leveraging them to make the most of your purchases can be a great way to save money on everyday goods and larger items. For some purchases, you’ll also want to make sure your card offers other shopping protections such as extended warranty protection, purchase protection and return protection.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
