The 9 Best Credit Cards for Cell Phone Insurance Protection [March 2024]

A number of credit cards offer complimentary cell phone insurance when you pay your phone bill with the card. The best part is that this insurance is free — there’s no added monthly fee, though you may be required to pay a small deductible to use it.

In this article, we’ll look at some of the best credit cards that offer cell phone insurance and determine if that coverage might be a sufficient alternative to purchasing coverage.

Top Picks (Quick Summary)

Card	Card Protection Limits	Earnings per Dollar Spent on Cell Phone Bill
Chase Freedom Flex℠	$800 per claim, 2 claims per 12-month period, up to $1,000 total, $50 deductible	1 Ultimate Rewards point per dollar
The Platinum Card® from American Express	$800 per claim, maximum 2 claims annually, $1,600 total, $50 deductible	1 Amex Membership Rewards point per dollar
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card	Maximum 2 claims in a 12-month period	2 Capital One miles per dollar

1. Chase Freedom Flex℠ (No Annual Fee Card, Top Pick)

You’ll receive a lot of value with the no-annual-fee Freedom Flex card. With 5% earnings on rotating quarterly bonus categories, plus elevated earnings for purchases on the Chase Travel portal, dining, and at drugstores, there are plenty of ways to earn cash-back and Ultimate Rewards points.

Pair the card with a Chase premium card, and you’ll have access to increased value (up to 1.5 cents per point) when redeeming for travel, plus the ability to transfer points to travel partners for even greater potential value.

Cell Phone Insurance Overview

Pay your monthly cell phone bill with your card and receive coverage for theft and damage. There is a maximum of $800 per claim, a limit of 2 claims per 12-month period, and a $50 deductible per claim.

2. The Platinum Card^® from American Express

The Amex Platinum card is one of the best travel cards on the market thanks to its jam-packed, excellent benefits like the most access to airport lounge networks, rental car benefits, hotel elite status with Marriott and Hilton, statement credits for specific purchases, and even cell phone insurance!

Frequent flyers will love the earn rates on the Amex Platinum card, which include:

• 5x points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or Amex Travel
• 5x points per dollar on hotels booked with Amex Travel

Plus, the Amex Platinum card earns 1x point per dollar on all non-bonused purchases.

Cell Phone Insurance Overview

With your Amex Platinum card, you’ll receive up to $1,600 in cell phone protection against theft and damage per 12-month period, including cosmetic damage like cracks to your phone screen. Coverage is limited to up to 2 claims per year with a total of $800 per claim. You’ll be responsible for a $50 deductible each time you submit a claim.

In order to receive this coverage, you’ll need to pay your monthly phone bill with your Amex Platinum card.

3. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

We like that the Capital One Venture X card nearly pays for itself with an up to $300 annual credit for using Capital One Travel for your purchase. Add in the additional value of 10,000 miles at card renewal, and you’ll find the card delivers enough value to more than offset the fee.

Cardholders also receive a long list of travel benefits:

• Complimentary Hertz President’s Circle status: As a Venture X cardholder, get the most out of your car rental with complimentary Hertz President’s Circle^® status. Enroll in Hertz Gold Plus Rewards^® or upgrade your existing member status to skip the rental counter and choose from the widest selection of cars. Plus, enjoy guaranteed upgrades.
• Trip Cancellation and Interruption: Add peace of mind to your itinerary.
• Baggage Delay Reimbursement: Your bags are covered against common carrier-caused loss or theft with Lost Luggage Reimbursement.
• Trip Delay Reimbursement: Anticipate delays when you purchase air travel with your covered Visa Infinite card, with Trip Delay coverage of up to $500 when you’re stuck for more than six hours or require an overnight stay.
• Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver: Count on built-in auto rental coverage. Save money by saying no at the counter – rent with your covered Visa Infinite card and get built-in Auto Rental Coverage

Cell Phone Insurance Overview

When you pay your monthly wireless bill with your covered Capital One card, your cell phone is protected for the next calendar month. So, you can get reimbursed if your cell phone is stolen or damaged; just note the $50 deductible.

4. Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card

An excellent option for Delta flyers, the Delta Platinum card offers benefits like free checked bags, discounts on inflight purchases, an annual companion certificate good for domestic, Caribbean, and Central America travel, and much more.

The card also earns Delta SkyMiles on the following purchases:

• 3x SkyMiles per dollar on Delta and eligible hotel purchases
• 2x SkyMiles per dollar at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets

You’ll also receive 1 SkyMile per dollar on all other eligible purchases that fall outside of the above categories.

Cell Phone Insurance Overview

The Delta Platinum card includes up to $1,600 in cell phone protection against theft and damage per 12-month period, including cosmetic damage, which is not often covered with most plans. You can submit up to 2 claims per year for a total of $800 per claim, and keep in mind that each claim will come with a deductible of $50.

As with the other cards mentioned, you’ll need to pay your cell phone bill with your Delta Platinum card to be eligible for the coverage.

5. Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card

The Delta Reserve card is a must-have for Delta loyalists. The card offers access to Delta Sky Clubs and Amex Centurion Lounges when flying Delta, and you’ll also receive complimentary upgrades on Delta flights, an annual companion certificate good for domestic, Caribbean, and Central America travel, priority boarding, and more.

*Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter.

The Delta Reserve card has just 1 bonus category that allows you to earn 3x SkyMiles per dollar on all Delta purchases. Still, you’ll receive 1 SkyMile per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

Cell Phone Insurance Overview

As with the Delta Platinum card, the Delta Reserve card also includes up to $1,600 in cell phone protection per 12-month period, including cosmetic damage. You can submit up to 2 claims per year for a total of $800 per claim, and keep in mind that each claim will come with a deductible of $50.

Again, you’ll need to pay your cell phone bill with your Delta Reserve card to be eligible for the coverage.

The 4 Best Business Credit Cards That Offer Cell Phone Insurance

Looking for a business credit card that offers cell phone insurance for you and your employees? Consider the following options.

Card	Cell Phone Protection	Earnings per Dollar Spent on Cell Phone Bill
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express	$1,600 in claims, 2 claims annually, $800 per claim maximum, $50 deductible	1 Amex Membership Rewards point per dollar
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card

Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve Business American Express Card

1 Delta SkyMile per dollar Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card $3,000 in claims, 3 claims annually, $1000 per claim maximum, $100 deductible 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar

1. The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express (Top Business Card Pick)

Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a huge welcome bonus offer of up to 170,000 points with the Amex Business Platinum. The current public offer is 150,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

Business owners looking for a great travel card that also offers cell phone insurance will be hard-pressed to find a better option than the Amex Business Platinum card.

With it, you’ll receive access to the best-in-class American Express Global Lounge Collection, Hilton and Marriott elite status upon enrollment, up to $400 annual Dell credit, plus excellent travel and purchase protections.

With your Amex Business Platinum card, you’ll earn rewards at these rates:

• 5x points on flights and hotels purchases through Amex Travel
• 1.5x points on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else (up to $2 million in purchases per calendar year)

Cell Phone Insurance Overview

The cell phone insurance coverage provided with the Amex Business Platinum card is top-notch, giving cardholders up to $1,600 in cell phone protection each year. Better yet, the coverage includes cosmetic damages to your phone, like a cracked screen, which is something that many other phone insurance policies exclude.

Amex Business Platinum cardholders can make 2 claims per year for themselves or any employee phone, and each claim will cover up to $800 in damages after paying a deductible of just $50. Of course, you’ll need to pay your monthly cell phone bill with your Amex Business Platinum card to receive the coverage.

2. Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum Business American Express Card

Business owners who spend a lot of time flying with Delta will love the benefits of the Delta Platinum Business card, like the annual companion certificate and free checked bags.

With the Delta Platinum Business card, you’ll earn on the following purchases:

• 3x miles per dollar on Delta and hotel purchases
• 1.5x miles per dollar on purchases over $5,000

You’ll also receive 1 mile per dollar on all purchases that fall outside the above categories.

Cell Phone Insurance Overview

Just like the personal version of the card, the Delta Platinum Business card offers cardholders up to $1,600 in cell phone protection against theft and damage per 12-month period. You can submit up to 2 claims per year, with a maximum of $800 per claim and a $50 deductible per claim.

To receive this coverage, you’ll need to pay for your business’s monthly cell phone bill with the Delta Platinum Business card.

3. Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve Business American Express Card

Any business owner who is Delta frequent flyer should consider adding the Delta Reserve Business card to their wallet. It offers cell phone insurance and gives you access to complimentary upgrades, along with Amex Centurion Lounges and Delta Sky Clubs when flying Delta.

*Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter.

Plus, you’ll earn 3x miles per dollar on all Delta purchases and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases. However, once you’ve spent $150,000 on the card, your non-Delta purchases will begin to earn 1.5 miles per dollar, making it an excellent option for Delta loyalists with a lot of expenses.

Cell Phone Insurance Overview

The cell phone coverage on the Delta Reserve Business card is the same as all of the other Delta cards included in our list, with up to $1,600 in cell phone protection per 12-month period. Cardholders can submit 2 claims per year, up to $800 per claim, and each claim includes a deductible of $50.

Like the other Delta cards, you’ll need to pay your monthly phone bill with your Delta Reserve Business card to use the cell phone insurance coverage.

4. Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card (Best Chase Business Card)

While some personal credit cards offer cell phone protection, you can receive both protection and greater earnings with select business credit cards.

The Ink Business Preferred card is one of the best Chase business credit cards (or any business card!) on the market and also one of the best for cell phone protection.

The card earns Ultimate Rewards points on each purchase and has several 3x point categories (up to $150,000 in spend), including:

• Travel
• Shipping purchases
• Internet, cable, and phone services (yes, this includes your cell phone bill!)
• Advertising purchases with social media sites and search engines

This means that you can earn up to 450,000 Ultimate Rewards points per year in these bonus categories alone. These points can be transferred to several airline and hotel partners, meaning you can redeem them for business class tickets to Europe, suites at Hyatt hotels, and more! Check out our article on the best Chase Ultimate Rewards redemptions for more info.

Plus, an attractive welcome bonus and a slew of other benefits make this card one of the most rewarding credit cards for small and medium-sized business owners.

Cell Phone Insurance Overview

Not only do you earn 3 points per dollar when you pay your cell phone bill with the Ink Business Preferred card, but you also get complimentary cell phone insurance. Chase will reimburse you up to $1,000 per claim, and you can make up to 3 claims per year. There is a $100 deductible attached to each claim, so you’re effectively getting $900 in value from each claim.

As you’d expect, this coverage covers both theft and damage, and you’re responsible for paying the excess on claims that are over $1,000. Regardless, this can be an excellent benefit, especially if you have employees with company-issued cell phones.

Filing a claim is easy, too. Just head to the Card Benefit Services website, and you’ll be prompted to sign in with your credit card info. After signing in, upload the requested documentation and submit your claim. You should hear back from Chase within a couple of weeks regarding your claim’s status; if approved, you’ll be paid via a check in the mail.

Hot Tip: To learn about other business credit cards that offer cell phone protection and earn rewards when paying your monthly bill, check out our guide.

Damaging your phone or having it stolen is already a stressful experience — don’t make things more stressful by filling out your claim improperly.

Make sure to include the following in your credit card cell phone insurance claim:

• Take note of the details of the incident (where, when, etc.)
• If your phone was damaged, do not throw it away; you may be asked to send it to the claim administrator
• If your phone was stolen, obtain a police report as soon as possible
• To quickly start the claim process, call the number on the back of your card, and they can transfer you to the claim administrator so that you can request a claim form
• Pay attention to deadlines — you have a limited amount of time (usually 60 days, but possibly less) to file a claim and ensure the claim administrator receives all the required documents

Knowing what you might need to file a cell phone claim could save you some serious time and frustration.

You may be asked to provide any of the following:

• Completed and signed claim form
• A copy of your bill showing that the monthly service for the phone for which you’re making a claim was paid for with your eligible card
• An itemized repair estimate
• The damaged phone
• Receipt for a replacement phone, if applicable
• Documentation of any other insurance claim settlement
• Substantiation of the time, place, and cause of the damage/theft
• Documentation of the original price of the cell phone

Final Thoughts

Each of these cards offers good cell phone insurance, so it’s up to you to determine which card fits your spending mix, has redemption options that fit your priorities, and offers other benefits you can actually use.

In short, examine your spending habits and find which of these credit card’s bonus earning categories best aligns with your usual spending. Then, apply for the card and move your cell phone plan’s billing to autopay from your new credit card. Now, you’ll earn valuable travel rewards or cash-back and protect your cell phone from damage and theft at the same time.

Note that this list is not an all-encompassing collection of every credit card that offers cell phone protection, just some of the most popular cards.

For the Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa^® and may vary by product. Please refer to the 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. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG company. For the purchase protection benefit of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, purchase protection is an embedded benefit of your card membership and requires no enrollment. It can help protect covered purchases made on your eligible card when they’re accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost, for up to 90 days from the covered purchase date. The coverage is limited up to $10,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Coverage limits apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the cell phone protection benefit of the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card, 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. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG company.

For the cell phone protection benefit of the Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card, 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. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG company.

For the cell phone protection benefit of The Business 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. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG company. For the purchase protection benefit of The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express, purchase protection is an embedded benefit of your card membership and requires no enrollment. It can help protect covered purchases made on your eligible card when they’re accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost, for up to 90 days from the covered purchase date. The coverage is limited up to $10,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Coverage limits apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the cell phone protection benefit of the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum Business American Express Card, 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. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG company.