Paying your phone bill is often an annoying monthly expense that we would rather avoid. However, choosing the right credit card to pay that bill can take some of the sting out of it by earning you rewards, cashback, or other perks. I analyzed today’s top credit cards to find the 8 best options to use when paying your phone bill each month.
Why Use a Credit Card for Your Phone Bill?
You might wonder why you should use a credit card to pay your phone bill when you can just set up your bank account to do it automatically. If you pay your phone bill with a credit card, here are some of the best things about it:
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Earn rewards Many credit cards offer bonus rewards for phone bill payments, allowing you to earn points, miles, or cashback. This gives you a return on spending you normally wouldn’t get
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Benefit from card perks Some cards provide perks like cell phone insurance when you pay your bill with that card This can save you money if your phone is damaged or stolen
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Put your phone bill on a credit card to build credit. If you pay your bill on time every month, this is a simple way to do it. This helps with approval for loans and other credit products.
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More flexibility: You’ll have some extra time between when your bill is due and when your credit card payment is due. This gives you more flexibility if you ever need a few extra days.
Using the right card for your phone bill takes a mundane monthly expense and turns it into an opportunity to profit. With the cards below, you could earn over $200 back yearly just on your phone bill alone!
The 8 Best Credit Cards for Your Phone Bill
1. Chase Ink Business Cash Credit Card
The Chase Ink Business Cash Credit Card gives you a great 5% cash back on the first $25,000 you spend on internet, cable, and phone services in a year. This is a great way for small businesses to pay their phone bills because there is no annual fee. When you redeem your Chase Ultimate Rewards points for travel through the portal, you can increase your points by 25%.
The card also provides solid cashback earning rates in other categories like gas stations, restaurants, and office supply stores. Overall, it’s one of the top cash back business cards with broad bonus categories and no annual fee.
2. Wells Fargo Autograph Card
While only earning 1 point per dollar on your phone bill, the Wells Fargo Autograph Card provides up to $600 of cell phone protection with a $25 deductible when you pay your bill with the card. This benefit alone makes it worth using on your phone bill, as it can save you serious money if your device is damaged or stolen.
Beyond phone insurance, the Autograph card is a straightforward option that earns 3X points on travel, gas stations, transit, and dining out. The $0 intro annual fee for the first year is also nice for new cardholders.
3. Citi Double Cash Card
For a simple flat-rate cash back card with no categories to track, the Citi Double Cash is a great choice for your phone bill. You’ll earn 2% back – 1% when you make a purchase and 1% when you pay it off. This nets a solid return on your phone bill each month with no hassle.
The Double Cash card has no annual fee, and your cash back can be converted to Citi ThankYou points if you also have a premium Citi card like the Citi Premier® Card. Overall, it’s a handy card for everyday spending on bills and more.
4. Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One SavorOne card is a strong contender for your phone bill, offering 3% cash back on entertainment purchases. Streaming services and even cable bills often code as entertainment merchants with this card. You’ll earn 3% back if your phone and cable bill are bundled, making the SavorOne a great single card for maximizing those recurring costs.
The SavorOne also earns 3% back at grocery stores, 2% at grocery delivery services, and 1% on everything else. With no annual fee, it provides strong cash back earning rates for daily spend.
5. U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
The Altitude Connect card from U.S. Bank offers 4 points per dollar spent on cell phone protection plans when you pay your bill with the card. You can use these points for cash back or for travel redemptions like flights and hotels.
This card also provides travel perks like a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit plus 4 points per dollar on gas and dining. With a reasonable $95 annual fee, the Altitude Connect is a compelling choice for paying your phone bill and earning rewards.
6. Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers 6% cash back at U.S. streaming services and U.S. wireless carriers (up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%). This makes it a top choice if you bundle wireless and streaming services on a single bill.
You’ll also earn 6% back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000, then 1%) and 3% back on transit and gas. With a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 (see rates & fees), the Blue Cash Preferred gives you strong bonus categories for daily spending.
7. Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards plus Platinum Honors tier
For Bank of America customers who can qualify for the Platinum Honors tier, the Unlimited Cash Rewards card offers tremendous value on phone bill payments. You’ll earn an unlimited 3.5% cash back on all purchases when you reach Platinum Honors – one of the highest flat-rate rewards around.
To qualify for the top tier, you need to have a combined $100K+ balance in Bank of America deposit accounts and/or Merrill investment accounts. If you meet those requirements, this card is unbeatable for flat-rate cash back on bills.
8. Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® Card
Rounding out the list is another good option for cell phone insurance – the Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® Card. When you pay your phone bill with this card, you’ll get up to $600 protection with a $25 deductible if your phone is damaged or stolen.
This card also earns 1.5% cash rewards on all purchases, making it a solid card for everyday spending. New cardholders can earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months after account opening. If you want broad coverage plus phone insurance, the Cash Wise Card delivers.
Choose the Best Card for Your Needs
When selecting a card to use on your phone bill, consider factors like:
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Do you want flat-rate cashback or bonus category rewards?
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Does the card offer perks like phone insurance that are valuable to you?
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Does the card fit well with your overall spending habits?
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Does the annual fee (if any) provide enough value to justify it?
I recommend going with the card that aligns with your spending patterns and provides the most value through rewards earnings and perks. Any of the options above will put your monthly phone bill to good use.
Maximize Rewards on Your Phone Bill
Once you’ve selected the best card for your phone bill, here are some tips to maximize your rewards:
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Make sure to pay your bill in full each month by the due date to avoid interest charges. Carrying a balance makes credit cards much less rewarding.
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Set up autopay so you never miss a payment. This also helps avoid late fees which cut into your rewards.
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Remember to use the card for all phone-related expenses like accessories and insurance payments to earn bonus rewards.
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Link your rewards account to a hotel or airline loyalty program to further increase your redemption value.
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Check for targeted promotions on your card for bonus rewards or discounts on phone services.
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Compare phone and service plans regularly to ensure you’re getting the best available pricing.
Reap the Rewards on Your Monthly Phone Bill
Paying your phone bill with the right credit card takes a mundane expense and turns it into an opportunity to earn cash back, points, or miles. I always use one of my top rewards cards for my phone bill to maximize the value.
You can earn credit card rewards
Rewards credit cards shave 1% or more off the cost of recurring bills like cell phone plans. If your mobile provider doesn’t tack on additional fees to pay with a credit card, this is an opportunity to earn cash back or travel rewards. Even better, opt for a card that earns 2% back on all purchases, or a card that offers a higher ongoing rewards rate for cell phone bills.
When to pay your cell phone bill with a credit card
Built-in cell phone protection is a money-saving credit card perk. Protection plans through mobile providers can add up to around $25 a month to your bill. Some credit cards, including a few with no annual fees, offer cell phone protection if you pay your bill with that card.
Just note that there are typically limits to how much you can claim (around $600 to $800), you may be limited in how many claims you can submit per year, and you’ll be subject to a deductible.
Use these CREDIT CARDS for your CELL PHONE BILL!!! – 2023
FAQ
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