The 10 Best Credit Cards for Purchasing Gift Cards [2024]

It’s difficult to find the perfect gift for that milestone birthday, wedding, graduation, or another special event, but everyone welcomes a gift card. You’re actually giving the person a personalized shopping experience as opposed to items that may (or may not) be needed or wanted.

Gift cards can also be used for functional purposes such as paying bills and purchasing items you’d normally be buying with cash or credit.

Purchasing gift cards with your rewards-earning credit card can provide an additional dimension to the transaction — you could earn rewards!

And that’s our topic today. We’re going to explore the possibility of purchasing gift cards with your rewards-earning credit card, the benefits of doing so, and also look at some of the potential downsides to watch out for.

It’s an exciting topic and one we can’t wait to dive into, so let’s get started.

The 10 Best Cards for Purchasing Gift Cards — Overview

Before we get into the details of purchasing gift cards with a credit card, let’s look at a breakdown of which cards work best where. Here are the cards we’ll discuss today and where you might find the best rewards when purchasing gift cards.

*All information about these cards has been collected independently.

Why Use a Credit Card To Purchase a Gift Card

The primary reason you’d want to purchase gift cards with a credit card is to earn rewards. Whether you’re purchasing the gift card to use as an actual gift, utilizing the gift card to pay your bills, or using the card for purchases you planned to make anyway, earning rewards on the purchase could make the transaction economically desirable.

There may also be incentives to reach certain spending levels on a credit card, such as qualifying for a waiver of annual airline spending requirements or earning a free hotel night.

Although gift cards may count towards spending thresholds on a credit card, we do not recommend buying gift cards to meet minimum spending requirements that will earn you a welcome bonus as card issuers frown on this practice.

Hot Tip: You won’t earn additional rewards when you spend your gift card, so be sure to use an online shopping portal like Rakuten to make your purchase in order to receive additional potential earnings. Check out CashBack Monitor to determine which portal is offering the most rewards for your upcoming purchase. You may be able to double-dip and earn rewards both when you purchase your gift card (with your rewards-earning credit card) and when you shop with your gift card. 

Types of Gift Cards

Gift cards come in a variety of flavors, including those that can only be used at 1 specific retailer, those that work at multiple stores, and those that are limited to a single payment processing network such as Visa or Mastercard.

Here are a few of the types of gift cards you’ll encounter during your shopping:

Single-Store Gift Cards

Single-store gift cards can only be used at a specific merchant. Examples of single-store gift cards would be those that include a branded label, such as a Bed Bath & Beyond gift card, Lowe’s, Applebee’s, Target, etc. These cards are often referred to as closed-loop cards.

Multiple-store Gift Cards

Multiple-store gift cards come in all sorts of combinations with fun names such as Happy Cards, Spafinder, ChoiceCard, or Giving Good cards. Additionally, you’ll find multi-store gift cards that can be used at a family of partner merchants such as a Sam’s Club gift card that can also be used at Walmart, or a Darden’s gift card that can be used at a variety of restaurants such as Olive Garden, Bahama Breeze, Longhorn Steakhouse, and more.

Single-Category Gift Cards

Category gift cards allow you to make purchases with merchants in a specific category. The Everywhere family of Visa gift cards, for example, has categories such as Fashion, Dining, Fuel, Explore, Groceries, and more.

You can use these gift cards with any participating merchant that sells the items or services in the specific card category.

Single-Network Gift Cards

Certain gift cards are not limited to purchases with specific merchants but work with merchants that accept a particular payment processing network. You can purchase Visa, Mastercard, or American Express gift cards that may be used anywhere these payment processing networks are accepted.

There is a fee charged when purchasing these cards, unlike most single, multi-store, or category gift cards that may not charge an additional fee.

Bottom Line: There are several different types of gift cards, including those that only work at a single merchant, those that work at several stores, and gift cards that can be used at any store that uses the same processing network as the gift card. Single-network gift cards such as Visa, Mastercard, and American Express gift cards charge a fee at the point of sale. Regardless of the type of gift card you purchase, prior to making the purchase, be sure to know exactly how and where the gift card can be used.

Purchasing Gift Cards With Credit Cards — Proceed With Caution

Chances are you won’t have a problem purchasing gift cards with a credit card, but there can be hiccups, especially if you purchase gift cards in volume. You may not earn the level of rewards you expected, gift cards could be excluded as an eligible purchase by the card issuer, or in volume, there may be more of a chance for problems to surface with activation and/or using the gift card.

We’ll get into the details of the potential downsides of purchasing gift cards with a credit card later on in our article. However, because there are far more positives than negatives to the practice, we’ll focus on the positive aspects for now.

Here are some of the best credit cards you can use to purchase gift cards and earn maximum rewards.

Best for Purchasing Gift Cards at Grocery Stores

Grocery stores commonly sell a large variety of gift cards. It’s also easy to add a gift card at checkout time when you do your weekly grocery shopping.

Here’s a sampling of the types of gift cards you might find at your local grocery store.

It’s worth noting that most credit card issuers do not categorize warehouse-type stores, such as Target or Walmart, as grocery stores.

Here are some of the best cards for supermarket purchases, including gift cards:

American Express^® Gold Card

BEST FOR DINING

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

American Express^® Gold Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

American Express^® Gold Card

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$325

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The American Express^® Gold Card is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 4x points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $325 annual fee (rates and fees)
• No lounge access

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 2X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 1X Membership Rewards^® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
• $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations.
• $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
• Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Eligible charges vary by property.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $325.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 90k points with the Amex Gold card. The current public offer is 60,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

With elevated rewards of 4x Membership Rewards points for up to $25,000 in U.S. supermarket purchases each year, the Amex Gold card is the perfect card to purchase an occasional gift card.

Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This cash-back card offers a capped 3% at U.S. supermarkets, 3% at U.S. gas stations, and 3% on U.S. online retail purchases!

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express

This cash-back card offers a capped 3% at U.S. supermarkets, 3% at U.S. gas stations, and 3% on U.S. online retail purchases!

Welcome Offer

Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.

$200

Annual Fee

$0

APR

18.49%-29.49% Variable,0% on purchases for 15 months

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

When it comes to cash-back credit cards, there are dozens of options to choose from. So what sets the Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express apart from the rest?

This card is excellent at earning cash-back on your everyday purchases at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and on U.S. online retail purchases. So if you regularly spend money on everyday purchases, this could be the perfect card to add to your wallet.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 3% back on purchases at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 in purchases each year, then 1% back after.
• 3% back on purchases at U.S. gas stations on up to $6,000 in purchases each year, then 1% back after.
• 3% back on purchases on online retail purchases on up to $6,000 in purchases each year, then 1% back after.

Cons

• Rewards are not flexible and can only be redeemed for cash-back. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
• No Annual Fee.
• Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening. After that, 18.49% to 29.49% variable APR.
• 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%.
• 3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
• 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
• Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
• Thinking about getting the Disney Bundle which can include Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+? Your decision made easy with $7/month back in the form of a statement credit after you spend $9.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your Blue Cash Everyday^® Card. Enrollment required.
• Enjoy up to $15 back per month when you purchase a Home Chef meal kit subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your enrolled Blue Cash Everyday^® Card.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 18.49%-29.49% Variable,0% on purchases for 15 months
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.

Although the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card earns well with capped 3% cash-back on U.S. supermarket purchases, you won’t have to pay an annual fee. Plus, you might use the card for a major purchase (or purchases) as the introductory 0% APR will save you interest charges while you repay the purchase back over time. As with all introductory 0% APR offers, regular interest rates apply after the introductory period (rates & fees).

Hot Tip: If your insurance company takes credit or debit cards, you may be able to purchase Visa or Mastercard gift cards at the supermarket, earn elevated rewards, then pay your insurance bill (which may normally result in just 1x earnings) with your gift cards. 

Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express

HIGHEST CASH BACK

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This card is great for those who want to earn cash-back with U.S. supermarkets, U.S. streaming subscriptions, transit, and U.S. gas stations.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express

This card is great for those who want to earn cash-back with U.S. supermarkets, U.S. streaming subscriptions, transit, and U.S. gas stations.

Welcome Offer

Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.

$250

Annual Fee

$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.

APR

18.49%-29.49% Variable,0% on purchases for 12 months

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express is a stellar cash-back credit card for those looking to maximize every purchase they make.

With bonus categories like U.S. supermarkets, select U.S. streaming services, U.S. gas stations, and transit purchases, this card rewards you for the items you spend the most on in a big way! For those looking to earn up to 6% cash-back on their purchases, this could be the card for you!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 6% cash-back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year)
• 6% cash-back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
• 3% cash-back on U.S. gas stations and transit (including rideshares, parking, etc.)

Cons

• $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 annual fee (rates and fees)

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
• $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
• Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It^® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 intro plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months from the date of account opening. Plans created after that will have a monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each eligible purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
• Low Intro APR: 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 18.49% - 29.49%.
• 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
• 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
• 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations.
• 3% Cash Back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
• 1% Cash Back on 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.
• $84 Disney Bundle Credit: With your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred Card, spend $9.99 or more each month on an auto-renewing Disney Bundle subscription, to receive a monthly statement credit of $7. Valid only at Disney Plus.com, Hulu.com or Plus.espn.com in the U.S.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 18.49%-29.49% Variable,0% on purchases for 12 months
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.

Rewards Center

Redeem cash-back through your American Express account

With a nice welcome bonus and 6% cash-back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 in purchases each year; 1x thereafter), the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card presents a compelling argument for making it your everyday spending card.

Best for Purchasing Gift Cards at Office Supply Stores

As a business owner, you’ll have plenty of reasons to purchase gift cards at office supply stores. Office renovations, promotional incentives for employees, and paying for business dining/travel/entertainment could be likely examples.

Here are a couple of business credit cards that can be used for earning maximum rewards at office supply stores.

Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card

Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This card offers great rewards and no annual fee. Any new business owner that needs to get going will enjoy this card.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card

This card offers great rewards and no annual fee. Any new business owner that needs to get going will enjoy this card.

Welcome Offer

Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening.

Up to $750

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

Up to $750

Annual Fee

$0

APR

0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; 17.74% - 25.74% variable thereafter.

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card has a lot going for it that makes it a compelling choice for small business owners. The card features a very lucrative 5% back on up to $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on cellular phone, landline, internet, and cable TV services each account anniversary year.

When you factor in that the card has no annual fee, and 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 17.74% - 25.74% thereafter, you could be adding big value back into your business for no cost out of pocket.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Earn 5% back on up to $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on cellular phone, landline, internet, and cable TV services each account anniversary year
• Earn 2% back on up to $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% back on all other purchases
• Travel insurance and purchase protection

Cons

• Spending caps in bonus categories
• Low points earning outside of bonus categories

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening
• Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year
• Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
• With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
• No Annual Fee
• Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards^®.
• 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; 17.74% - 25.74% variable thereafter.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

The Ink Business Cash card is likely the best card for office supply store purchases as it earns 5% cash-back (in the form of Ultimate Rewards points) on up to $25,000 in purchases each account anniversary year.

Ultimate Rewards points earned on the card can be transferred to Chase premium cards such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® for up to 50% more value when redeemed for travel via the Chase travel portal. Points, once transferred, can then be transferred again to the Chase transfer partners for even greater potential value.

Huntington Voice Business Credit Card℠

With 4% cash-back earnings in 1 of 10 bonus categories each quarter — including office supply stores — the Huntington Voice Business card is a good choice for earning on your business purchases, all without an annual fee.

Because you can earn 4% on up to $7,000 in purchases each quarter, you could earn up to $1,120 each year. Other bonus categories include grocery stores, gas stations, travel/entertainment, restaurants, electronics stores, utilities, warehouse/discount stores, department stores, home improvement, and auto parts stores.

Bottom Line: With the wide variety of expenses business owners have, there should be no problem maximizing spending limits for bonus categories that include office supply stores. 

Best for Purchasing Gift Cards at Gas Stations

Gas stations often run promotions on gift cards, including for their own brand, single-store gift cards, or Visa/Mastercard gift cards. Picking up a gift card when filling up your tank is an easy way to multiply your rewards. Note that not all gas stations will accept credit cards as payment for a gift card.

Here are a few cards that reward your gas station purchases well:

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card

LIMITED TIME OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

An excellent high-earning Hilton credit card that comes with perks like Hilton Honors Gold status and up to $200 in Hilton credits every year.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card

An excellent high-earning Hilton credit card that comes with perks like Hilton Honors Gold status and up to $200 in Hilton credits every year.

Welcome Offer

Earn 165,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/8/2025.

165,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$825

Annual Fee

$150

APR

20.24%-29.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

If you’re someone who loves traveling and loves staying in Hilton hotels, adding a co-branded Hilton hotel card to your wallet is almost a no-brainer. From automatic Hilton elite status to up to $200 in Hilton credits every year, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card can be a great fit for Hilton loyalists looking to up their travel game.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 12x points per $1 at Hilton hotels
• 6x points per $1 at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. restaurants
• 4x points per $1 at U.S. online retail purchases

Cons

• Annual fee of $150 (rates & fees)

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 165,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/8/2025.
• Get up to $200 back each year on eligible Hilton purchases after you use your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card.
• Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio.
• Earn 6X Points for each dollar of purchases on your Card at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
• Earn 4X Points for each dollar on U.S. Online Retail Purchases.
• Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
• Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
• Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors ™ Gold Status with your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card.
• Spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn Hilton Honors™ Diamond Status through the end of the next calendar year.
• Enjoy complimentary National Car Rental^® Emerald Club Executive^® status. Enrollment in the complimentary Emerald Club^® program is required. Terms apply.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
• $150 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.24%-29.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Hilton Honors

The Hilton Surpass card earns big at U.S. gas stations with 6x Hilton Honors points per dollar spent. You’ll also earn 6x points per dollar spent at U.S. grocery stores and at U.S. restaurants.

The card also offers a Free Night Reward after spending $15,000 on the card in a calendar year, up to $50 in statement credits per quarter for Hilton purchases (up to $200 annually), and complimentary National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status upon enrollment.

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

Welcome Offer

For a limited time: Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $750 in gift cards or travel rewards on thankyou.com.

75,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$95

APR

20.49% to 28.49% Variable APR

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is a great all-around travel rewards card that allows you to earn big rewards on a variety of purchases like air travel, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and more, along with flexible redemption options, all for a modest annual fee.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com
• 3x points on air travel, other hotel purchases, restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and EV charging stations
• $100 annual hotel benefit

Cons

• $95 annual fee

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• For a limited time: Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $750 in gift cards or travel rewards on thankyou.com.
• Earn 10X points per $1 spent on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
• Earn 3X points per $1 on air travel and other hotel purchases, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas and EV charging stations.
• Earn 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
• $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.
• No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card.
• No foreign transaction fees on purchases.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.49% to 28.49% Variable APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Earning 3x ThankYou Points on gas purchases, EV charging stations, air travel/hotels, and at supermarkets and restaurants makes the Citi Strata Premier card a good choice for everyday purchases, including at gas stations.

Costco Anywhere Visa^® Card by Citi

Costco Anywhere Visa^® Card by Citi

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Costco Anywhere Visa^® Card by Citi

Welcome Offer

None

Annual Fee

$0

APR

19.74% - 27.74% Variable

Why We Like This Card

The Costco Anywhere Visa^® Card by Citi is a great Citi’s cash-back rewards card designed specifically for Costco Members.

Card Highlights

• Discover one of Citi’s best cash back rewards cards designed exclusively for Costco members
• 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter
• 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases
• 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com
• 1% cash back on all other purchases
• No annual fee with your paid Costco membership and enjoy no foreign transaction fees on purchases
• Receive an annual credit card reward certificate, which is redeemable for cash or merchandise at U.S. Costco warehouses, including Puerto Rico

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.74% - 27.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

With no annual fee and 4% cash-back at gas stations and on EV charging purchases on the first $7,000 per year, the Costco Anywhere card is the perfect card for Costco members to make gas station purchases. You’ll also earn 2% on other Costco purchases, including in-store gift cards.

Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express

In addition to earning well at U.S. supermarkets, the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card earns 3% cash-back at U.S. gas stations.

Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express

The Amex Blue Cash Everyday card earns 3% cash-back at U.S. gas stations, up to $6,000 in purchases each year.

Bottom Line: Gas stations can sell all sorts of gift cards, not just gas gift cards. It’s also common to find in-store promotions that offer greater earnings or discounted/free gas. 

Best for Purchasing Gift Cards From Rotating Bonus Category Merchants

Some cards offer bonus-earning categories that change quarterly. This can present unique rewards-earning opportunities. Here are just 2 of the best cards that offer quarterly bonus earnings in specific categories.

Chase Freedom Flex℠

Chase Freedom Flex^®

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Freedom Flex card is an excellent no-annual-fee card that still earns big with 5% cash-back on travel and other bonus categories.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Freedom Flex^®

The Freedom Flex card is an excellent no-annual-fee card that still earns big with 5% cash-back on travel and other bonus categories.

Welcome Offer

Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.

$200

Annual Fee

$0

APR

0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.74% - 28.49%

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ sure does pack quite a punch — especially for a no-annual-fee card.

The Freedom Flex card is an incredible option for those looking for a well-rounded cash-back card, or a powerful point-earner when paired with a premium card in the Ultimate Rewards family.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.74% - 28.49%.
• Powerful cash-back earner: 5% back on quarterly categories and travel purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1% back on all other purchases
• No annual fee

Cons

• 3% foreign transaction fees in U.S. dollars

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
• 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
• 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more
• 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
• No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
• 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.74%-28.49%.
• No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Flex^® card
• Keep tabs on your credit health - Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.74% - 28.49%
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

You can’t beat the Freedom Flex card‘s 5% cash-back on up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter when spending at quarterly bonus-earning merchants. Here are some examples of merchants that may sell gift cards:

U.S. Bank Cash+^® Visa Signature^® Card

U.S. Bank Cash+^® Visa Signature^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This card was made for those looking to maximize and rotate their cash-back rewards across a large range of regular expenses.

U.S. Bank Cash+^® Visa Signature^® Card

This card was made for those looking to maximize and rotate their cash-back rewards across a large range of regular expenses.

Welcome Offer

Earn a $200 bonus after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening.

$200

Annual Fee

$0

APR

0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 billing cycles. After that, 19.49% - 29.74% (Variable).

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The U.S. Bank Cash+^® Visa Signature^® Card is a great card for those looking to maximize their cash-back rewards by earning up to 5% back from a variety of expense categories.

The cardholder gets to choose 2 categories every quarter. It’s also the best cash-back card to use for utility bills, a tricky expense to get solid rewards back for.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5% cash-back across a large range of expense categories (you choose 2 categories every quarter), including utility bills (a rare perk for a credit card), home utilities, cell phone providers, fast food, TV, internet and streaming services, gym/fitness centers, and more
• 5% cash-back on prepaid air, hotel, and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Center
• 2% cash-back on 1 everyday category, including grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations

Cons

• Your 5% cash-back rewards on the top 2 categories of your choosing are limited to $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter
• Cash-back for travel expenses must be made through the Rewards Center

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• $200 bonus after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening.
• 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter on two categories you choose
• 5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Center
• 2% cash back on one everyday category, like Gas Stations/EV Charging Stations, Grocery Stores or Restaurants
• 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases
• 0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 billing cycles. After that, a variable APR currently 19.49 – 29.74%
• No Annual Fee
• Terms and conditions apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 billing cycles. After that, 19.49% - 29.74% (Variable).
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 2% of each foreign purchase transaction or foreign ATM advance transaction in U.S. Dollars or 3% of each foreign purchase transaction or foreign ATM advance transaction in a Foreign Currency

The no-annual-fee U.S. Bank Cash+ Signature card earns 5% cash-back on 2 quarterly bonus categories (up to $2,000 per quarter) and 2% on 1 category.

Bottom Line: Merchants and service providers offered as quarterly bonus categories may sell gift cards that could help you maximize earnings each quarter on your rewards-earning credit card. 

Additional Sources for Discounts and Bonus Earnings on Gift Cards

Be on the lookout for opportunities to earn additional rewards when purchasing gift cards with your credit card. Here are some examples of places to look:

Amex Offers

It always pays to scroll through your Amex Offers for deals on gift cards you can add to your account. An example of a recent offer was a $15 statement credit for a purchase of $100 or more in Happy Gift cards. Since Happy Gift cards charge no additional fees, you could make $15 on the deal.

An additional offer of a $50 statement credit for a $200 Marriott purchase triggered when purchasing a Marriott gift card at a local Marriott-branded property.

Your experience may vary, but it’s definitely worth checking out your Amex Offers for potential deals on gift cards.

Chase Offers

Not as lucrative as Amex Offers, but Chase Offers often feature statement credits for popular merchants such as Lowe’s, Big Lots, gas stations, and other retailers that sell gift cards. Log in to your Chase card account to find these offers and add them to your card account, including debit cards. Also, look for office supply store offers on your Chase business cards from online stores such as Quill.

Citi Merchant Offers

Earn statement credits for making specific purchases with Citi Merchant Offers retailers and service providers. Log in to your Citi credit card online account to view and select the offers that you like.

Grocery Store, Gas Station, and Retailer Promotions

One of the best ways to snag a deal on gift cards is to take advantage of promotions offered by merchants near you.

For example, a local gas station could offer $1 off on Visa gift cards, and a check of the weekly grocery store ad may reveal a promo that gives $5 in grocery credits for each $50 worth of gift cards purchased. In addition, it’s not uncommon to see an office supply store discounting card activation fees or a nearby retailer offering an additional $25 added to every $100 worth of gift cards purchased (especially around the holidays).

Lowes Home Improvement stores even recently ran a promotion that offered a $15 Lowes gift card after purchasing a Visa gift card for $200 or more.

Who knows what types of offers you’ll find when checking out local promotions!

Bottom Line: There may be promotions readily available that can be utilized to maximize your return when purchasing gift cards. Review your credit/debit card offers, scan the local merchant’s weekly ads, and check in-store postings for opportunities to earn more when purchasing gift cards with your credit card.

Downsides of Purchasing Gift Cards With Credit Cards

While the upside of purchasing gift cards with your credit card can be beneficial, there are some downsides to watch out for.

Fees

Not all gift cards come with activation fees, but if you purchase single-network cards such as Visa, Mastercard, and American Express, expect to pay fees as much as $6.95 per card. In order to to make economic sense, the rewards you receive should offset any fees charged.

Single/multi-store and single-category gift cards do not normally charge an additional activation fee.

Credit Card Terms and Conditions

Your credit card’s terms and conditions may exclude earning rewards on gift cards. For example, American Express terms and conditions state that: “Eligible purchases do NOT include fees or interest charges, balance transfers, cash advances, purchases of traveler’s checks, purchases or reloading of prepaid cards, purchases of gift cards, person-to-person payments, or purchases of other cash equivalents.”

Other credit card issuers may have similar terms/conditions.

These statements do not mean, however, that you will not earn rewards on your gift card purchase. In fact, it is common to earn rewards on gift card purchases. You should just be aware that the card issuer could choose to enforce this policy at any time.

Additionally, be aware that card issuers may frown on you buying gift cards while trying to qualify for a card’s welcome bonus, resulting in you not qualifying for the bonus. It’s best to avoid this practice.

You May Not Earn Rewards

If you’re purchasing a gift card to earn rewards, it’s always good to do a test purchase to be sure you’ll earn the proper level of rewards. For example, if a card’s terms and conditions exclude gift cards, you could include a small gift card purchase with your weekly grocery purchase to determine if you would actually earn full rewards.

In some cases, you will not. Do not purchase gift cards in large denominations without testing first.

Additionally, be aware that some e-gift cards may be sold by third parties and not the bonus-category-earning merchant you had hoped for. An example might be hotel or airline-branded gift cards that may be sold by Points.com.

Lost, Stolen, or Failed To Activate

Regardless of how you pay for a gift card, if it is lost, stolen, or not activated at the point of sale, it can be difficult to replace without the proper documentation.

Although rare, you may experience that the balance has been withdrawn from the gift card as a result of hacking.

Another situation can occur when the card was not properly activated at the point of purchase but your credit card was charged. The gift card would then reflect a zero balance.

While all of these situations are possible to resolve with proper documentation, it can be a hassle.

Finally, it’s a good idea to use the information that comes with the card to register it online, in case the card is lost or stolen.

Interest Charges

A good rule to follow, regardless of the type of purchase you make with your credit card, is to pay off the credit card balance in full each statement period. Failure to do so negates any rewards you might have earned on the purchase and contributes to accruing debt (and interest charges) on the card.

Bottom Line: Always do the math to make sure any rewards you receive offset any potential card activation fees. Do a test purchase to ensure you’ll receive the correct level of rewards, and know what to do if there is a problem with any of the gift cards you purchase. Also, be sure to keep all receipts until the full value of the gift card has been used. 

Final Thoughts

Purchasing gift cards with a credit card can be an easy way to earn a lot of rewards. And, while purchasing an occasional gift card should be perfectly fine, purchasing a large volume could raise red flags with the card issuer.

While this is not an exhaustive list of every credit card you could use to purchase gift cards, it’s designed as a snapshot of possibilities to consider for maximizing the bonus categories on your existing cards and for learning about new cards that might fit your spending profile.

You’ll want to check out your local merchants for those that sell gift cards and that also allow you to purchase with a credit card.

Adding gift cards to the mix of spending on your credit card could turn out to be very rewarding.