Disney+ is finally here: Make sure you’re using the right credit card for your subscription
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
This has been a big year for streaming services. Original shows and movies have become hits and new streaming services are popping up left and right. Most recently Disney+ made a splash with its launch; there are reports that the service is averaging a million new subscribers a day.
I can usually justify skipping out on the newest services since I can get my fix with classics like Netflix and Hulu. However, Disney+ easily reeled me in with promises of old Disney Channel original movies, Disney classics such as "Mulan" and "Beauty and the Beast," Marvel's lineup of movies and shows and new Disney+ original shows and movies (including the Lizzie McGuire reboot I've been dreaming of for years). Plus, you can download Disney+ content and watch it offline, which is ideal if you want to watch your programs on that next long-haul flight.
Now that Disney+ is also part of a bargain $12.99 bundle with ESPN+ and Hulu, it's already becoming one of the staple streaming services on the market. If you're wondering if it's worth it to have so many streaming services, I have good news: Multiple credit cards have started offering select streaming services as a bonus category.
Maximizing rewards for your streaming services
Here are some of the top streaming services and which cards you should use to maximize your rewards for each.
Disney+
Since the service has only been around for a few weeks, not many card issuers have added Disney+ to their lists of applicable streaming services. However, American Express just updated its bonus category retailer list to include Disney+ in the streaming bonus category for the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. Better yet, an Amex representative confirms that the Disney+/Hulu/ESPN+ bundle would also be eligible for 6% back with the card.
I imagine more issuers will begin including Disney+ in their lists as it becomes even more popular. TPG's Summer Hull found that her Disney+ subscription (which she got through the now-expired three-year discount deal) originally coded as entertainment on her credit card, which would mean the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card would be a great card to use. However, the service may start coding as streaming, which will probably earn rewards with the Citi Premier® Card. Citi doesn't offer an official list. The information for the Capital One Savor 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.
It's still a bit unclear which cards will give bonus rewards for Disney+, but here are the cards that include Disney+ in their list and a couple that should earn rewards based on the above information:
- Confirmed: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (6% cash back on select U.S. streaming services). Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for statement credits.
- Suspected: Citi Premier® Card (2x ThankYou points on select entertainment, including on-demand internet streaming media)
- Suspected: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card (4% back on entertainment and Disney+ was coding as entertainment before it officially launched)
Hulu
For a while, Hulu was Netflix's only major competitor. In my opinion, Hulu tends to offer fewer "binge-able" series and movie options, but the service does have its own original content — including the cult favorite "The Handmaid's Tale" and the revival of "Veronica Mars" — along with live TV streaming options.
Plus, many popular cable series episodes are available on Hulu the day after they air, which is what ultimately makes it worth it for me. It's the only way I can stay up to date on my favorite shows like "Grey's Anatomy" and "Stumptown." Now that you can download shows and movies onto your devices for offline viewing, Hulu is even higher on my list of favorite streaming services.
You'll find that your credit card options are the same for Hulu as they are for Netflix, which means you'll also get the best return when you use the Blue Cash Preferred:
- Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (6% cash back on select U.S. streaming services)
- Citi Premier® Card (2x ThankYou points on select entertainment, including on-demand internet streaming media)
- Wells Fargo Propel American Express card (3x points on select streaming services) (card no longer available for new applicants)
- U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card (streaming providers is one of the available 5% cash-back categories; on the first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter — enrollment required)
The information for the Wells Fargo Propel has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Netflix
Netflix changed the game back in 2007 when it introduced streaming services. Even though some movies and shows are moving to other services, Netflix is still worth keeping. There's still a lot of content. Plus, it's easy to find a credit card that offers some serious rewards on your subscription.
Most cards that offer streaming services as a bonus category include Netflix:
- Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (6% cash back on select U.S. streaming services)
- Citi Premier® Card (2x ThankYou points on select entertainment, including on-demand internet streaming media)
- Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card (3x points on select streaming services)
- U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card (Streaming providers is one of the available 5% cash-back categories; on the first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter — enrollment required)
Currently, you'll get the highest rewards rate when you use your Blue Cash Preferred to pay for Netflix. It's one of my favorite overall cash-back cards because of the great rewards I earn for most of the streaming services I use, along with transit (which is defined broadly), U.S. gas stations and U.S. supermarkets. Those categories make up a decent portion of my spending each month, and I enjoy being able to use the same card for all of those purchases without sacrificing rewards.
HBO Now (and HBO Max coming soon)
Now that "Game of Thrones" has ended, some people may have ditched their HBO subscription. However, once HBO Max launches next year, this streaming service will have a lot more to offer.
Unfortunately, HBO Now isn't included in many issuer lists of eligible streaming services. The only card that explicitly names HBO Now as an option is the Blue Cash Preferred. As HBO Max gains traction after its official launch in May 2020, we might see more cards added to this list, but here are your current options:
- Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (6% cash back on select US streaming services)
- Citi Premier® Card (2x ThankYou points on select entertainment, including on-demand internet streaming media)
Amazon Prime
It's easy to forget that Amazon Prime also comes with streaming options, but it is included in your Prime membership. Unfortunately, because Prime Video is just one part of the larger Amazon Prime service, many credit cards don't count it has a select streaming service.
If you're looking to maximize your rewards for your newfound obsession with "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" or any of Amazon's other top-notch series, here is your best option:
- Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Card (5% back at Amazon, which includes Prime)
Keep in mind that the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Card also earns 5% back at Whole Foods Market and 2% back at restaurants, gas stations and drugstores, so it's good for more than just your Amazon addiction.
The information for the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa 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.
Other card options
There are some excellent flat-rate cards that will also help you maximize rewards on streaming services. The Chase Freedom Unlimited is currently offering $200 after you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months, which makes it a solid choice with 1.5% cash back on purchases. The Citi® Double Cash Card will earn 2% cash back on everything, including streaming purchases (1% when you purchase; 1% when you pay off the bill). If you're hoping to use your rewards on travel, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card also offers a flat 2x miles on all purchases, which will include any and all streaming services.
Bottom line
With so many changes happening across streaming services, it's not a bad idea to take inventory of the services you currently pay for and the ones you'll want to join. There are plenty of options for earning rewards on your subscriptions.