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.
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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.
Emily Thompson specializes in beginner content as a credit cards editor. She taps into her prior experience as a high school English teacher to help others demystify credit scores and unlock experiences that credit card rewards can make possible.
June 28, 2024 • 12 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Quick summary
Most credit cards do not offer bonus rewards specifically for clothing purchases, so maximizing rewards requires creative strategies.
Cards with flat-rate rewards or rotating bonus categories can provide solid returns on clothing purchases, especially when combined with shopping portals or merchant offers.
Buying gift cards for clothing stores at merchants where your card earns extra rewards is a recommended approach.
Store credit cards are generally not favored due to limited benefits compared to general cash-back cards, though exceptions exist.
What to consider
Check if your card has rotating categories that occasionally include clothing stores or related merchants, as activation may be required.
Shopping portals and targeted merchant offers can boost rewards on clothing purchases but may have expiration dates or limited availability.
Purchase protections vary by card, so review these benefits if making high-value clothing purchases.
What you'll miss from the article
Detailed tactics for stacking rewards, using gift cards, and leveraging shopping portals to maximize returns on clothing purchases.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Whether you're updating your wardrobe for a new season or investing in the best athleisure for travel, you can maximize your clothes spending with the right credit card. Unfortunately, none of our top-ranked credit cards offer "clothing" bonus categories, so we have to get creative to make the most of our earnings on these purchases.
Below, we've rounded up our favorite strategies to earn rewards on all your clothing purchases so you can feel as good about your earning strategy as you do your new outfit.
Best credit cards for shopping
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best for flat-rate travel rewards
Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Best for flat-rate earning and transferring points (see rates and fees)
Citi Double Cash® Card: Best for flat-rate cash rewards (see rates and fees)
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: Best for online purchases
Chase Freedom Flex®: Best for rotating rewards (see rates and fees)
Prime Visa: Best for Amazon purchases (see rates and fees)
The information for the Prime Visa 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 credit cards for shopping
Since most of your clothing purchases won't qualify for a bonus-earning category with your favorite credit card, you'll want to use a card with a solid return on all purchases.
5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases
Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
$95
Chase Freedom Unlimited
5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% on dining at restaurants and drugstore purchases, 1.5% on all other purchases
Earn a $200 bonus after spending $500 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
$0
Citi Double Cash® Card
2% cash back (1% when you buy, 1% as you pay) on all purchases with no limit on cash-back earnings. Plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel
Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening
$0 (see rates and fees)
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and U.S. online retail purchases (on up to $6,000 spent in each category; 1% thereafter); 1% cash back on all other purchases
Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout
Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as $200 cash back after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
The card also offers a 0% introduction APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening, then a variable APR, 19.49% to 28.49%. (see rates and fees)
$0 (see rates and fees)
Chase Freedom Flex®
5% cash back on quarterly bonus categories (on up to $1,500 in purchases; activation required), 5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% on restaurant and drugstore purchases, 1% on all other purchases
Earn $200 cash back after spending $500 within the first three months from account opening
$0
Prime Visa
5% cash back on Amazon, Amazon Fresh, Chase Travel and Whole Foods purchases, 2% back on restaurant, gas station purchases, and local commuting (including ride-hailing), 1% back on all other purchases
Get a $150 Amazon gift card instantly upon approval, exclusively for Prime members
$0
*Bonus value is an estimated value calculated by TPG and not the card issuer.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. According to TPG's April 2026 valuation, Capital One miles are at 1.85 cents per mile, which makes this welcome bonus worth $1,388.
Annual Fee: $95
Why we like it: With this card, you'll earn an unlimited 2 miles per dollar on every purchase. And Capital One miles are easy to redeem since you can apply your miles toward a travel purchase on your card. When you use this card to pay for your refreshed look, you can feel great knowing you'll be able to use your rewards to cover your next adventure.
This earning structure alone makes this card superior to cards that would only earn 1 point per dollar on your clothing purchases, but it really shines if you also have the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) or Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees). If you do, you can transfer your points to that account and redeem them with the full range of Chase's travel partners.
Welcome bonus: Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening.
Annual fee: $0 (see rates and fees)
THE POINTS GUY
Why we like it: The Double Cash earns 2% cash back on all purchases (1% when you buy and 1% as you pay), so you'll earn a solid cash return on all your spending without having to worry about where you're shopping. Plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal.
Welcome bonus: Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as $200 cash back after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
Annual fee: $0 (see rates and fees)
THE POINTS GUY
Why we like it: This card earns an impressive 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%), so it gives you the highest return for online shopping that doesn't fall into any other card bonus categories.
It also earns 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets and at U.S. gas stations (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases for each category, then 1%), making this an excellent go-to card for a large chunk of your daily spending.
Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
Apply here: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Chase Freedom Flex
Welcome bonus: Earn $200 cash back after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee: $0
THE POINTS GUY
Why we like it: This card earns 5% back on rotating quarterly categories (up to $1,500 spent, then 1%) after activation. In the past, PayPal has been a rotating category too, allowing you to earn on clothes and anything else you purchase when you check out with PayPal.
And even if you don't buy clothes from any of the places in the quarterly categories, you can often buy gift cards for your favorite clothing stores from a store in one of the bonus categories. An example of this might be buying a H&M gift card from an office supply store or supermarket when one of those are a rotating category.
Welcome bonus: Get a $150 Amazon gift card instantly upon approval, exclusively for Prime members.
Annual fee: $0, but Prime membership ($139 annually) is required.
THE POINTS GUY
Why we like it: Is there anything we can't get from Amazon? It's hard to believe that you can find a favorite new outfit from the same place that provides your toothpaste and packing cubes, but more and more people are finding that to be the case. If you're among them, use this card to earn a solid 5% cash back on all your Amazon purchases, clothing and otherwise.
You'll also earn 5% back at Whole Foods Market, Amazon Fresh, Chase Travel and 2% back at restaurants and gas stations and local commuting (including ride-hailing), while earning 1% back on all other purchases.
If you're planning on doing some major shopping or purchasing expensive items, you may want to consider the purchase protections a card offers in addition to its welcome bonus and earning structure.
If you have a credit card that earns bonus points for shopping at grocery or office supply stores, look at the gift cards available at the stores around you. You can purchase gift cards for stores like Gap or TJ Maxx and then use them to buy clothes and earn bonus points.
Use a shopping portal
Always check your favorite shopping portal when shopping online to earn even more on your clothing purchases.
Check merchant offers
Many cards regularly have merchant offers for clothing stores. Make sure to check the offers on all your cards regularly and add any that you think you might use. Then, use the card with the offer and shop at the places that earn money back before the offer expires.
We recommend using a note on your phone to keep track of which offers are on which cards, so you can easily reference it when you're ready to make a purchase.
Bottom line
Buying clothes can be a major expense, so make sure you earn as many rewards as possible on those purchases. Use one of these best credit cards for clothes purchases, buy gift cards at places that earn you extra rewards and always use a shopping portal for your online purchases. That way, you can ensure that your rewards balance looks as sparkly as your new outfit.
For rates and fees of the Amex Blue Cash Everyday, click here.
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.
