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The 6 Best Personal Credit Cards for Paying Cell Phone Bills [2024]

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Cell phone bills are a fact of life in the 21st century. With smartphones basically a necessity for everyday activities, chances are high you’re paying a monthly cell phone bill.

Whether your device is totally paid off or you’re still making a monthly payment that has your device as a portion of the bill, you’d do well to make sure you’re making the most out of this recurring expense.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the top personal credit cards for paying cell phone bills. Let’s get started!

Using a Personal Credit Card To Pay Cell Phone Bills

When you pay for cell phone bills, you can generally optimize either the value of the rewards you earn or access the best cellular phone insurance plans.

Unfortunately, unless you have a business credit card, you might not be able to get the most out of both.

On the 1 hand, if you’re generally pretty clumsy with your cell phone, you should probably consider optimizing for the best cell phone insurance.

On the other hand, if you never lose or damage your phone, you might be better off amassing more credit card rewards and giving up cell phone insurance.

Whatever situation fits you, we’ll show you the best choices.

The 6 Best Personal Credit Cards for Paying Cell Phone Bills

Card Summary

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Card

Welcome Bonus and Annual Fee

Benefits for Paying Cell Phone Bills

The Platinum Card® from American Express

  • Earn 80,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first 6 months.
  • Annual fee of $695 (rates and fees)
  • Excellent cell phone protection
  • Access to 1,400 airport lounges; fantastic hotel and travel perks

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

  • Earn 75,000 miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
  • Annual fee of $395 (rates and fees)
  • Excellent cell phone protection
  • Access to Capital One Lounges and Plaza Premium Lounges
  • $300 annual Capital One Travel credit

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

  • Earn 60,000 miles after spending $3,000 in eligible purchases in the first 6 months.
  • Annual fee of $350 (rates and fees)
  • Excellent cell phone protection
  • Perks on Delta, like free checked bags, annual companion certificate, and priority boarding
Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card
  • Earn 20,000 bonus points when spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months.
  • Annual fee of $0
  • Great cell phone protection
  • Rewards on phone plans

Citi Double Cash® Card

  • Earn $200 cash-back after spending $1,500 in the first 6 months.
  • Annual fee of $0
  • World Elite Mastercard benefits (including cell phone insurance)

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

  • INTRO OFFER: Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back.
  • Annual fee of $0
  • 1.5% cash-back per dollar spent on all purchases (including your cell phone bill)
  • 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.99% - 28.74%.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

BEST LOUNGE ACCESS
The Platinum Card® from American ExpressTerms Apply / Rates & Fees
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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 Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

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.

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
80,000 points
$1,760
$695
See Pay Over Time APR
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 cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
  • 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
  • 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com
Cons
  • $695 annual fee (rates and fees)
  • Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)
Card Highlights
  • Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
  • $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
  • $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
  • The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
  • $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
  • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
  • $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can get out and about and explore their local area with $15 in Uber Cash for US rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December. That can be up to $200 in annual Uber savings. Simply download the Uber app and add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to get started. Available to Basic Card Member only. 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.
  • $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
  • Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
  • Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
  • $695 annual fee.¤
  • 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 125k (or 150k) points with the Amex Platinum. The current public offer is 80,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

Our favorite personal card to use for cell phone bills is the Amex Platinum card. Now, you might be wondering what this card is doing in this list — it has travel-related bonus categories and benefits as its focus.

Indeed, it earns 5x Amex Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with airlines or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year) or prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com.

However, we’re here to tell you that the Amex Platinum card also has, in our opinion, the best cell phone insurance from a personal card on the market.

You’re covered for up to $1,600 every rolling 12-month period. This comes in the form of up to 2 approved claims every rolling 12-month period, with a maximum of $800 per claim. Each claim comes with a $50 deductible, which means this insurance could reimburse you for $1,500 per year.

All you have to do is pay for your entire cellular bill with this card.

Now, let’s get to the more exciting features of this card. Here are some of the top benefits (terms apply and some benefits require enrollment through your American Express account):

The Amex Platinum card also features over $1,400 in annual statement credits, including up to $200 in airline incidental fee credits, up to $199 in CLEAR Plus credits, up to $200 in prepaid hotel credits, up to $240 in digital entertainment credits, up to $200 in Uber Cash for Uber rides or Eats orders in the U.S., up to $300 in Equinox credits, and up to $100 in Saks Fifth Avenue credits. Note that some benefits require enrollment, so be sure to explore your Amex account to maximize your benefits.

You’ll also be able to access Amex Offers, and the card has no foreign transaction fees (rates & fees).

Why We Like Amex Membership Rewards Points

The rewards you earn from the Amex Platinum card happen to be the most valuable transferable points available, according to our valuations.

By our valuations, Amex Membership Rewards points are worth 2.2 cents each, but it’s actually possible to get 15 to 20 cents per point of redemption value if you redeem your points for luxury travel through the Amex transfer partners.

If luxury travel isn’t your style, you can also redeem your Membership Rewards points for cash-back, charitable donations, statement credits, Pay With Points via AmexTravel.com, or Shop with Points at Amazon.

Just remember, however, that the redemption value you’d get would be nowhere near what would be possible with transfer partners.

Hot Tip: Be sure to pay your entire cell phone bill with your Amex Platinum card, as you won’t qualify for cell phone protection insurance if you only pay for a portion of it using your card.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees
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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 Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)
The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
75,000 miles
$1,350
$395
19.99% - 29.74% (Variable)
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.
Excellent (740-840)
Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

 

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
  • 5x miles per $1 on flights and vacation rentals purchased through Capital One Travel
  • 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
Cons
  • $395 annual fee (rates & fees)
  • Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status
Card Highlights
  • Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
  • Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
  • Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
  • Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
  • Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
  • Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
  • Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: 19.99% - 29.74% (Variable)
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

 

The next card we’ll discuss is the Capital One Venture X card, which is Capital One’s ultra-premium personal credit card for rewards.

Start with the fact that you earn unlimited 2x miles on all your purchases with no caps.

In addition, earn 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5x miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel to multiply your rewards even quicker.

This card offers a $300 annual travel credit for bookings made on the Capital One Travel portal. You even get up to $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck! It also comes with a fantastic anniversary bonus of 10,000 Capital One miles.

The best part is that in addition to the top-shelf rewards, you get cell phone insurance, which covers claims of up to $800 each with a $50 deductible.

You can make up to 2 of these per year, and it applies if you charge your cell phone bill to your card for the billing cycle in the month prior to the month in which the event occurs. It also covers all lines on the bill, instead of just the primary.

You can access Capital One Lounges and Plaza Premium Lounges with 2 guests and even get a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership with this card.

This credit card also offers fantastic travel insurance, including roadside dispatch, lost luggage coverage, secondary car rental coverage, and travel accident insurance.

Other awesome benefits include extended warranty, purchase security, and no foreign transaction fees (rates & fees).

Why We Like Capital One Miles

Capital One miles, though not as valuable as American Express Membership Rewards points or Chase Ultimate Rewards points, are still a valuable transferable currency.

You can transfer your miles to a good list of transfer partners — just be cautious of transfer ratios that make some loyalty programs more attractive than others. These transfer ratios can fluctuate, and you may see rates of 1:1, 2:1.5, or 2:1.

We value Capital One miles at 1.8 cents apiece, which translates to a return on spend of 3.6% when you earn 2x miles per dollar spent.

Our favorite way to redeem Capital One miles is for award travel, including Lufthansa first class and SWISS business class.

Alternative redemption methods are gift cards, statement credits, travel booked via the Capital One Travel portal, and more.

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees
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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.

Frequent Delta travelers will enjoy this card's bonus categories, benefits, and ability to reach higher levels of elite status.

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.

Frequent Delta travelers will enjoy this card's bonus categories, benefits, and ability to reach higher levels of elite status.
Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
60,000 miles
$720
$350
20.24%-29.24% Variable
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 Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card can be a great option for those seeking additional ways to obtain a higher level of status — or to maintain their current status — with the airline.

A key feature of this card is the ability to earn bonus Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) that are essential for earning Delta status. This could help you get closer to earning a handful of valuable benefits with the airline.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 3x SkyMiles per $1 spent on Delta purchases
  • 3x SkyMiles per $1 spent on purchases made directly with hotels
  • 2x SkyMiles per $1 spent at restaurants (including takeout and delivery) and U.S. supermarkets
Cons
  • $350 annual fee (rates & fees)
  • Does not earn transferable rewards
Card Highlights
  • Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • Receive a Companion Certificate on a Main Cabin round-trip flight within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central America each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of the government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for round-trip domestic flights and no more than $250 for round-trip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
  • Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and get closer to Status with MQD Headstart.
  • Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
  • Earn $1 Medallion® Qualification Dollar for each $20 of purchases made on your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card in a calendar year and get a boost toward achieving Medallion Status for next Medallion Year.
  • Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
  • Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
  • Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Resy Credit: When you use your enrolled Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $10 back each month in statement credits.
  • $120 Rideshare Credit: earn up to $10 in statement credits each month after using your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
  • You can check your first bag free on Delta flights, saving up to $70 on a round-trip Delta flight per person. For a family of four that's a potential savings of up to $280 per round-trip flight.
  • Receive Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
  • Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
  • Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members and Reserve Card Members.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • $350 Annual Fee.
  • 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: 20.24%-29.24% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center

Delta Air Lines SkyMiles

The Delta Platinum card is another American Express credit card that offers great benefits (especially with Delta Air Lines) overall.

You start off with a welcome bonus offer of Delta SkyMiles to pad your mileage balances. Then, enjoy the following earning structure:

  • 3x miles on purchases directly with Delta and with hotels
  • 2x miles at restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets
  • 1x miles on all other eligible purchases

You don’t earn bonus SkyMiles with your cell phone bill, but you do get the same spectacular cell phone insurance as you would with the Amex Platinum card: $800 per claim with a deductible of $50 per approved claim, up to 2 approved claims per 12-month period.

In addition, this card offers your first checked bag free on Delta flights booked with your card for yourself and up to 8 traveling companions, Zone 5 boarding, a 20% discount on inflight purchases of food, beverages, and entertainment, and more.

But what sets this card apart from the competition is the annual companion certificate for a domestic, Caribbean, or Central America Main Cabin round-trip flight every cardmember year, as well as the 2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD) boost.

Why We Like Delta SkyMiles

Although Delta SkyMiles aren’t a transferable rewards currency, they can still be used for outsized value.

Worth around 1 cent each, these points can often be redeemed for even better value when you book international premium cabin flights.

For example, redemptions on Delta One Suites, Air France business class, and Virgin Atlantic Upper Class using Delta SkyMiles can often exceed 5 cents per mile!

In addition to award travel, you can use SkyMiles for seat upgrades, premium cocktails, change fees, gift cards, or magazines.

Hot Tip: See how these 2 cards compare in our head-to-head matchup of the Amex Platinum card and the Delta Platinum card.

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

The Wells Fargo Autograph card is great for those who want a card that offers cell phone insurance protection and earns rewards on phone plans, all with a $0 annual fee.

Phone plans aren’t the only bonus category on the Wells Fargo Autograph card. In fact, it offers 6, including:

  • 3x points on phone plans (including cell phone and landline providers)
  • 3x points on restaurants (including catering, delivery, and more)
  • 3x points on travel (including flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and more)
  • 3x points on gas (including electric vehicle charging stations)
  • 3x points on transit (including subways, ride-shares, parking, tolls, and more)
  • 3x points on popular streaming services (including Apple TV+, Disney+, Hulu, Peacock, and more)

When it comes to the cell phone insurance protection on the card, you receive up to $1,200 in coverage in a rolling 12-month period if your phone is damaged, stolen, or unrecoverable due to involuntary and accidental parting. Note that this policy does not include cosmetic repairs like a cracked screen.

You can receive up to $600 in coverage per claim, with up to 2 claims every 12 months, and you pay a $25 deductible per claim.

The card also offers perks like no foreign transaction fees, roadside dispatch, auto rental collision damage waiver, and more.

Why We Like Wells Fargo Rewards

Wells Fargo Rewards are great thanks to the flexible redemption options they provide. This includes redeeming your points through the Wells Fargo travel portal for a variety of travel purchases, for gift cards with your favorite stores, or as cash-back to offset purchases made with the card.

Citi Double Cash® Card

Citi Double Cash® Card
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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.

Great card for the average spender with no specific focus category; worry-free cash-back earning on everything!

Great card for the average spender with no specific focus category; worry-free cash-back earning on everything!
Earn $200 cash-back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening.
$200 cash-back
$0
0% Intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers, then 18.49% to 28.49% Variable
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.
Fair to Excellent (580-850)
Why We Like This Card

The Citi Double Cash® Card has long been one of the top cash-back credit cards on the market, and the card now has the ability to earn Citi ThankYou Points!

This means that cardholders of the Double Cash card will now earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. Cash back is earned in the form of ThankYou Points. This means each billing cycle, you will earn 1 ThankYou point per $1 spent on purchases and an additional ThankYou point for every $1 paid on your purchase balance as long as there is a corresponding balance in your Purchase Tracker.

Citi has turned the Double Cash card into a top choice for those who are looking for an everyday, no-fuss credit card.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Uncapped 2% for every $1 spent (1% when you buy and another 1% when you pay)
  • Flexible redemption options
  • No annual fee
Cons
  • No bonus categories
  • 3% foreign transaction fees
Card Highlights
  • Bonus Offer: Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
  • Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
  • To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
  • Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% Intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers; after that, the variable APR will be 18.49% to 28.49%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
  • If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
  • There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
  • Citi Double Cash® Card Travel Portal Special Offer
    Earn a total of 5 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rental, and attractions, excluding air travel, when booked through the Citi Travel℠ portal via cititravel.com or by calling 1-833-737-1288 (TTY: 711). Offer is valid through 12/31/2025.
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: 0% Intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers, then 18.49% to 28.49% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each purchase
Rewards Center

Citi ThankYou Rewards

The Double Cash card is one of the best cards to use for everyday purchases.

With this card, you earn 2% cash-back per dollar spent (1% when you purchase and 1% when you pay off your bill, earned as ThankYou Points).

You have access to a 0% balance transfer APR promotion, which could be valuable if you want to avoid interest fees and accrual from other credit cards. After the 0% period, regular APR, as mentioned above, applies.

Furthermore, the Double Cash card has fraud protection, World Elite Mastercard benefits (including cell phone insurance), zero liability for unauthorized purchases, flexible pay dates, and access to Citi Private Pass.

Why We Like Citi ThankYou Rewards Points

The 2x Citi ThankYou Rewards Points earned equates to a roughly 3.2% return on spending, which is fantastic for purchases outside of bonus categories.

Even though the Citi Double Cash card’s points are transferrable to limited travel partners, a ThankYou Rewards card like the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card lets you unlock access to Citi’s full list of transfer partners!

By transferring your points, you can redeem your Citi ThankYou Points for incredible value.

Other ways you can redeem your Citi ThankYou Points for reduced value are cash-back, gift cards, travel booked via ThankYou Rewards, checks, and direct deposit.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

INTRO OFFER
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
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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 all-purpose cash-back card offers great bonus categories, including bonus points for every purchase you make!

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)
This all-purpose cash-back card offers great bonus categories, including bonus points for every purchase you make!
Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
Up to $300 cash-back
$0
0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.99% - 28.74%.
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 Unlimited® is easily one of the best cash-back credit cards on the market. There aren’t many no-annual-fee credit cards that offer multiple great bonus categories like 5% back on travel purchased through Chase, 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1.5% back on all other purchases.

When paired with other Chase cards in the Ultimate Rewards family, you can transfer that cash back into points if you wish – making it one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.99% - 28.74%.
  • 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
  • 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases
Cons
    • 3% foreign transaction fee
Card Highlights
  • INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
  • Enjoy 6.5% 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; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
  • After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% 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!
  • Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.99% - 28.74%.
  • No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
  • Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
  • Member FDIC
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: 0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.99% - 28.74%.
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

The Freedom Unlimited card is an elite cash-back credit card for most — but, for many, it can be a card that effectively turbocharges your transferable rewards.

This card has a good welcome offer to entice you to add the card to your portfolio, plus up to 5% cash-back rewards:

  • 5% cash-back on travel purchased through Chase Travel
  • 3% cash-back on drugstores
  • 3% cash-back on dining
  • 1.5% cash-back on all other purchases

What makes this card special, in particular, is the ability to convert your 1.5% cash-back to 1.5x Ultimate Rewards points, as long as you have the right credit card pairing.

The Freedom Unlimited card also boasts benefits like a 0% introductory APR (regular APR, as indicated in the table above, applies after the introductory period), extended warranty, fraud protection, purchase protection, secondary car rental coverage, and zero-liability protection.

Why We Like Chase Ultimate Rewards Points

Chase Ultimate Rewards points are among the most valuable in the world — with the Freedom Unlimited card, you don’t need to settle for 1.5% cash-back.

If you have another Ultimate Rewards credit card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you can convert your 1.5% cash-back to 1.5x Ultimate Rewards points.

Earning 1.5x Ultimate Rewards points is equal to a 3% return on spend, which doubles the value of your rewards!

It doesn’t end there, because these points can be redeemed for first class and business class travel through the Chase transfer partners, and it’s easy to exceed the 2 cents per point redemption value using this method.

Final Thoughts

The best personal credit cards to pay for cell phone bills are the Amex Platinum card, Capital One Venture X card, Delta Platinum card, Wells Fargo Autograph card, Citi Double Cash card, and the Freedom Unlimited card.

The Amex Platinum card offers fantastic cell phone insurance, second-to-none travel perks, incredible lifestyle benefits, and is the absolute best card for luxury travel.

The Capital One Venture X card also offers excellent cell phone insurance, high-end Capital One Lounge access, and 2x miles on all purchases.

The Delta Platinum card has similarly terrific cell phone insurance, several Delta-centric benefits, and a lower annual fee than the Amex Platinum card.

With the Wells Fargo Autograph card, you not only receive great cell phone insurance coverage, but you also earn 3x rewards each time you pay your phone bill, all without an annual fee.

The Citi Double Cash card and Freedom Unlimited card all offer elevated rewards accrual on purchases outside of bonus categories, though the cell phone insurance is usually not as generous as the Capital One Venture X card or the Amex Platinum card.

Now, you have all the details you need to make an informed decision.


For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

For the cell phone protection benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, coverage for a stolen or damaged eligible cellular wireless telephone is subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions and limits of liability of this benefit. The maximum liability is $800, per claim, per eligible card account. Each claim is subject to a $50 deductible. Coverage is limited to two (2) claims per eligible card account per 12 month period. Eligibility and benefit level varies by Card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

For the trip cancellation and interruption insurance benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

For the trip delay insurance benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

For the baggage insurance plan benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the car rental loss and damage insurance benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

For the cell phone protection benefit of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

The information regarding the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Citi Double Cash® Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not reviewed nor provided by the issuer.
The information regarding the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, click here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it better to pay your phone bill with a credit card?

Absolutely! When you pay your phone bill with a credit card, you earn rewards quickly. And considering these bills are paid monthly, the points add up fast.

Can you use credit cards to pay phone bills?

Yes, in almost all situations and with almost every company, you can use credit cards to pay phone bills.

Can you pay bills with a credit card and get points?

Definitely. Most bills that allow credit card payments are eligible to earn points. Just make sure any fees you’re paying are offset by the rewards you earn.

Can you pay a phone bill with a Visa card?

Certainly! Almost all cellular providers accept the major credit card types, including Visa, Amex, American Express, and Discover.

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About Stephen Au

Stephen is an established voice in the credit card space, with over 70 to his name. His work has been in publications like The Washington Post, and his Au Points and Awards Consulting Services is used by hundreds of clients.

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