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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.
Reviews
Venti-sized disappointment: A review of the Starbucks Rewards Visa credit card
Chris was a reporter at The Points Guy, where he covered the intersection of credit card rewards and travel. At TPG, he wrote a broad array of stories ranging from in-depth features and reports to trending travel news as it related to loyalty, card benefits and consumer behavior.
October 22, 2022 • 8 min read
JOHN GRIBBEN/THE POINTS GUY
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.
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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
A coffee chain-specific rewards card is no longer accepting new applications, and some previously mentioned offers are now unavailable.
The card primarily benefits those who regularly visit the coffee chain and can maximize menu-only redemptions through its loyalty program.
Stars earned can be redeemed for menu items, with an average value of about 4 cents per Star, though redemption value varies by item.
The card includes select annual perks and protections, but its value is limited for most consumers compared to general rewards or cash-back options.
What to consider
Stars can only be redeemed for menu items at the coffee chain, limiting flexibility.
Unused Stars expire six months after account closure, and the card carries a foreign transaction fee, making it less suitable for use abroad.
Some benefits, such as annual food and drink offers, come with restrictions on substitutions and expiration windows.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed breakdown of the loyalty program's redemption tiers, real-world Star values and how the card's perks compare to broader rewards options.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some updates mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Editor’s note: This card is no longer accepting new applications.
Starbucks Rewards Visa Credit Card overview
If you’re a Venti latte-loving Starbucks fanatic and frequent the chain regularly, the Starbucks Rewards Visa credit card may be for you. But with its $49 annual fee and complicated redemption structure, most everyone else would be better off with a cash back or rewards card that doesn’t just satiate your caffeine fix. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐½
*Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
With over 34,000 stores around the world, Starbucks is a behemoth of a coffee chain. Whether you enjoy the brand’s coffee is another story, but there’s certainly a faithful Starbucks audience. In fact, Starbucks Rewards, the company’s loyalty program, has over 26 million U.S. members on last count.
The Starbucks credit card was unveiled back in 2018, but it’s seen notable changes over the past couple of years — and they have not been for the better. Most of these changes align with a revamp of the Starbucks Rewards program, including tiered redemptions for menu items (read: more expensive).
With that said, there’s still a subset of Starbucks lovers that can benefit from this credit card if they already have it in their wallet (it's no longer available for new applications). Before you sip that Frappuccino, though, let’s take a closer look at everything you need to know about the Starbucks Rewards Visa card.
The information for the Starbucks 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.
Who is this card for?
If Starbucks is already part of your regular routine and you can maximize the menu-only redemptions of the Starbucks Rewards Visa credit card, then it may be worth footing the bill for this card’s $49 annual fee.
The card supplements the existing Starbucks Rewards program. The free food and drink items you receive through Starbucks Rewards can save you a pretty penny – and the Starbucks Visa helps accelerate earning “Stars.” However, with these Stars, you are also limiting your redemption options to Starbucks.
STARBUCKS
Keep in mind this Starbucks credit card is issued by Chase, which means it is included in Chase’s 5/24 credit card rule. If you are strategizing on your new card applications, take this into account — the Starbucks Visa might make even less sense.
If Starbucks isn’t part of your go-to daily ritual, there are better long-term cash back and rewards card alternatives to get a bigger bang for your buck.
When it comes down to it though, the Starbucks Visa credit card offers value only to the most loyal. If that’s you, there are worse cards out there than this one.
What is Starbucks Rewards?
Before explaining the specific earnings, perks, and benefits of the Starbucks Visa credit card, you’ll need to be familiar with Starbucks Rewards, the loyalty program in which you earn and redeem Stars.
ZHANG PENG/LIGHTROCKET VIA GETTY IMAGES
Starbucks Rewards isn’t the most straightforward loyalty program out there, to say the least. Get that caffeine ready, here’s an overview.
Starbucks Rewards is revenue-based, meaning that you earn Stars on what you spend. You get 2 Stars per $1 when you add funds in the Starbucks app using any payment option. If you use cash or a debit card at the register (instead of the app), you'll only get 1 Star per $1. That part is simple.
How to redeem Stars
You can only redeem Starbucks Stars that you earn for menu items. Note that Stars do not expire as long as your card account is open, and expire six months after closing your account.
Here is a full menu list of what you can get at each Star level:
Drink modifications (such as an extra shot) – 25 Stars.
Brewed hot coffee, bakery item or hot tea – 50 Stars.
Handcrafted drink, hot breakfast or parfait – 150 Stars.
Lunch sandwich, protein box or salad – 200 Stars.
Select merchandise or at-home coffee – 400 Stars.
What is a Starbucks Star worth?
You can redeem Stars for a variety of items at each level, so in a way, the value of your Stars is dynamic and dependent on what you want to get from Starbucks.
WALDO SWIEGERS/BLOOMBERG/GETTY IMAGES
However, let’s take a look at a few popular menu items to get a rough estimate of what a Starbucks Star is worth. I gathered the price from the Starbucks app for pickup from my local store:
Venti Blonde Roast coffee — $3.21 or 50 Stars (6.4 cents per Star).
Venti Mocha Frappuccino Blended Beverage — $6.48 or 150 Stars (4.3 cents per Star).
Chicken and Quinoa Protein Bowl — $9.20 or 200 Stars (4.6 cents per Star).
Organic Yukon Blend At-Home Coffee Blend — $13.95 or 400 Stars (3.5 cents per Star).
Let’s say you get an average value of 4 cents per Starbucks Star, keeping in mind you may not redeem for the most expensive item within a certain tier.
Earning, perks and benefits
In a nutshell (or coffee bean), the earning, perks and benefits of the Starbucks Rewards Visa credit card are not particularly lucrative on their own.
The card earns up to 3 Stars per $1 spent at Starbucks: 1 Star per $1 on digital Starbucks account reloads, plus 2 Stars per $1 when using that card in-store. However, that one Bonus Star only applies when digitally loading funds with the Starbucks Rewards Visa and specifically excludes money added at the register in-store.
Then, you’ll get 1 Star per $2 spent at grocery stores, on local transit and commuting, and on internet, cable and phone services.
Use the right card and maximize your rewards on everyday purchases. Try it today with the free TPG App.
Finally, you’ll get one Star per $4 spent anywhere else.
All-in-all, at a four-cent valuation per Star, you’re effectively getting a 4% return on Starbucks credit card reloads, 2% return for the bonus categories of groceries, transit, and internet, phone and cable, plus a 1% return everywhere else.
Other benefits
As a Starbucks cardholder, you’ll also get eight “Barista Picks” sent to your account each year, which must be used within 30 days. According to Starbucks, these are “handpicked food and drinks shared with you as a thanks for being a cardmember.” Note that substitutions and customizations are not allowed unless specifically permitted by the Barista Pick coupon.
The card also offers several notable card protections:
Does the Starbucks credit card have a foreign transaction fee?
Yes, the Starbucks Rewards Visa credit card has a foreign transaction fee of 3% so this is not a card we’d recommend using outside of the US.
Which cards compete with the Starbucks Rewards Visa?
Rewards cards that give you bonus points at cafes and restaurants would be a great alternative to the Starbucks credit card. For instance, the American Express® Gold Card earns 4 points per dollar at restaurants (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) and earns lucrative, transferable Membership Rewards points.
Or for a no-annual-fee option, the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card gives you 3% cash back on dining.
Bottom line: Is Starbucks credit card worth it?
This isn’t a very rewarding credit card unless you’re a die-hard Starbucks customer. For most people, I’d recommend getting a more flexible rewards card that earns points or cash back at Starbucks — one that doesn’t force you to redeem for coffee beans. These are the best cards for Starbucks purchases.
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.
