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.
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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.
Nick Ewen is TPG's editor-in-chief and helps readers leverage credit cards (he has more than 25 of them) and loyalty programs to travel more for less. He's been at TPG for over 11 years.
Stephanie Stevens is an associate writer with TPG's credit cards team. She focuses on creating timely credit cards content for TPG readers.
also contributed to this story
November 7, 2025 • 10 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 note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
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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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
Holiday shopping can be more rewarding by selecting a card that aligns with your spending habits, offering points, miles or cash back.
Top options for 2025 include cards with flexible rewards, rotating bonus categories, strong purchase protections and simple cash-back structures.
Some cards provide added value for frequent online shoppers or those with loyalty program status at specific financial institutions.
Maximizing rewards may involve using online shopping portals and timing purchases to meet spending thresholds for bonuses.
What to consider
Certain cards offer bonus rewards in specific categories or merchants, which may change quarterly or seasonally.
Purchase protections and extended warranties can be valuable for big-ticket holiday items, but eligibility and coverage limits apply.
Some rewards programs increase earning rates for members with higher loyalty status or significant account balances.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed comparison of leading card options for holiday shopping, including tips on pairing cards with shopping portals and maximizing seasonal bonuses.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
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.
The holiday season can take a serious toll on your wallet, but with the right credit card, it can also be one of the most rewarding times of the year. By choosing a card that aligns with your spending habits, you can turn gift purchases and end-of-year expenses into valuable points, miles and cash back.
Whether you’re shopping online or in-store, these cards stand out for their strong earning potential, flexible redemption options and valuable perks that make them ideal for holiday spending.
Here are our top picks for the best credit cards for holiday shopping in 2025.
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.
The Capital One Venture Rewards is a great option for those who want to earn flexible rewards without worrying about different spending category bonuses. The Venture Rewards earns 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases — ensuring that you earn bonus miles no matter if you’re buying stocking stuffers or perusing Cyber Monday deals.
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There’s also flexibility in how you redeem those miles you earn. You can use your miles to “pay” yourself back for travel booked in the past 90 days. Or, you can transfer your miles to 15-plus airline and hotel loyalty programs to book new travel. You can also redeem miles for gift cards or statement credits for eligible purchases.
Whether you’re more of a traditional brick-and-mortar shopper or prefer buying online, you’ll enjoy 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in eligible bonus categories each quarter you activate with the Chase Freedom Flex. Its categories for bonus cash back for Q4 typically include PayPal — and 2025 is no different.
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For the last quarter of 2025, cardholders can activate and earn 5% cash back on Old Navy, Chase Travel℠ and department store purchases. As a bonus birthday category, cardholders can also earn 5% cash back on PayPal purchases.
While 5% cash back sounds great, experienced points and miles hobbyists know that the Chase Freedom Flex is not just a cash-back card. When it’s paired with a premium Chase card that earns full Ultimate Rewards points — such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see ) or the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see ) — that cash back can be converted to much more valuable Ultimate Rewards points, which you can transfer to partners including United Airlines MileagePlus and World of Hyatt.
If you don’t already have this card, Chase Freedom Flex offers new cardholders a $250 cash-back bonus after they spend $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
If you’re a regular Amazon shopper, the Prime Visa is the card for you, with no annual fee (though it requires an Amazon Prime membership).
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With Black Friday and Cyber Monday coming, you want a card that gives you the biggest bang for your holiday shopping buck. The Prime Visa offers unlimited 5% on Amazon, Whole Foods and Chase Travel, 2% on restaurants, gas stations and local transit and commuting and 1% on all other purchases. Additionally, earn 10% or more on a rotating selection of items and categories on Amazon.com.
If you don’t have the card already, new applicants will instantly get a $150 Amazon gift card upon approval, exclusively for Prime members.
Without question, the Amex Gold is one of the best cards for foodies. The card offers an impressive 4 points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 spent per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) and restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar).
Additionally, cardmembers earn 5 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com or the Amex Travel App™; 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines, amextravel.com or the Amex Travel App; 2 points per dollar spent on car rentals booked on amextravel.com or the Amex Travel App; 2 points per dollar spent on cruises booked on amextravel.com; and 1 point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
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While the earning rate for nonbonus purchases yields 1 point per dollar spent, you may want to consider paying with the Amex Gold this holiday season for its strong purchase protection policy. Eligible items are covered for up to $10,000 in theft, damage, or loss within the first 90 days of purchase.*
That’s considerable, especially if you buy big-ticket items like electronics or furniture this holiday season.
The Amex Gold also comes with an extended warranty, which prolongs a U.S. manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year on eligible warranties of five years or less.*
You’ll never know when you need to rely on these protections, but they can be quite valuable and may be worth sacrificing the bonus points you’d earn from the other cards on this list, even after factoring in the $325 annual fee (see ).
*Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
If you have the ability to park a significant amount of your investments and savings at Bank of America or Merrill, the Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card is a great option for holiday purchases.
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While the card comes with reasonable (though not earth-shattering) earning rates of 2 points per dollar spent on travel and dining and 1.5 points per dollar spent on all purchases (which can be redeemed at the rate of 1 cent per point), the real value of this card comes when you can make it to either the Preferred Honors or Premier award tiers in the BofA Rewards™ program. By doing so, the everyday earning rate on this card can jump all the way up to 2.625 points for every dollar spent, making it a terrific choice for holiday gifts.
The Bank of America Premium Rewards card currently offers a welcome bonus of 60,000 online bonus points after spending at least $4,000 on purchases in the first 90 days from account opening. Additionally, the card comes with an up to $100 statement credit toward TSA PreCheck/Global Entry and an annual up to $100 statement credit toward airline incidentals — all for a reasonable $95 annual fee.
The final card on our list earns a spot in part for its simplicity. The Citi Double Cash Card offers a flat 1% back on every purchase plus another 1% back as you pay your bill (up to a 2% total return).
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While this return rate on everyday purchases doesn’t compare to the potential returns highlighted above, this is automatic; it results in cold, hard cash in your account. For many shoppers, a no-annual-fee card like this fits the bill.
Holiday spending can do more than check gifts off your list — it can also help you reach big credit card goals. If you’ve recently opened a new card, consider putting your holiday purchases toward the minimum spending requirement to earn a valuable welcome bonus. Just be sure to budget responsibly and pay off your balance in full.
If you already have multiple cards, check whether any offer calendar-year spending bonuses or perks that reset soon. Concentrating your purchases on one card could help you unlock statement credits, free nights, or elite status before the year ends.
ALEKSANDARNAKIC/GETTY IMAGES
Another easy way to earn extra rewards is through online shopping portals. These portals let you earn additional points, miles or cash back just by clicking through before you buy (no special credit card required).
To find the best offer, use CashBack Monitor, which compares earning rates across dozens of portals for the same retailer. You can also install your preferred portal’s browser extension, so you’ll never miss out on bonus rewards during checkout.
CASHBACKMONITOR.COM
Bottom line
The holiday season doesn’t have to drain your wallet, and with the right credit card strategy, your spending can actually pay you back. Focus on cards that match your shopping habits, whether that means flat-rate cash back, bonus rewards on popular retailers or flexible travel points you can redeem later.
Pair your card with online shopping portals and seasonal category bonuses to earn even more rewards on every purchase. And if you’re opening a new card, use your holiday spending to hit minimum spend requirements and unlock valuable welcome offers.
With a little planning, your holiday shopping can turn into a rewards windfall, from extra points and cash back to future flights, hotel stays or statement credits, making this season both festive and rewarding.
