Best Credit Cards for Holiday Shopping 2026: A Card for Every Store

Best Credit Card for Walmart: OnePay CashRewards World Mastercard®

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The OnePay CashRewards World Mastercard® is Walmart's newest credit card, issued by Synchrony Bank. Walmart+ members earn unlimited 5% cash back at Walmart, in store and online, and non-members earn 3%. Purchases from third-party sellers on Walmart.com do not count toward the Walmart rate.

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Everything else earns 1.5%. For a limited time, if you apply between September 2 and December 31, 2026, you earn 3% on all other purchases for your first 90 days. There is no annual fee.

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[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "20378", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Walmart Shoppers", "headerHint": "5% AT WALMART WITH WALMART+"} ]]

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^{The information for the OnePay CashRewards World Mastercard® has been collected independently by Kudos. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.}

Best Credit Card for Target: Target Circle™ Card

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The Target Circle™ Card takes 5% off most purchases at Target and Target.com, right at checkout. Because it is an instant discount and not rewards you redeem later, you see the savings on your receipt. Some items, such as prescriptions, are excluded.

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There is no annual fee. The credit version carries a 28.20% variable APR, so it works best if you pay your balance in full each month.

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^{The information for the Target Circle™ Card has been collected independently by Kudos. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.}

Best Credit Card for Costco: Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

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Costco warehouses accept Visa but not other credit card networks, which makes the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi an easy fit. It earns 2% on Costco and Costco.com purchases, plus:

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• 5% on gas at Costco and 4% on other eligible gas and EV charging, on a combined $7,000 in purchases per year, then 1%
• 3% at restaurants and on eligible travel, including Costco Travel
• 1% on all other purchases

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There is no annual fee with a paid Costco membership, which is required. Rewards are paid once a year as a reward certificate after your February billing statement, so holiday purchases pay off next spring.

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Kudos tip: Hosting this year? Costco gas is where this card earns the most. Fill up at Costco before holiday road trips to make the most of the 5% rate.

Best Credit Card for Best Buy: My Best Buy® Visa® Card

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The My Best Buy® Visa® Card earns 5% back in rewards on Best Buy purchases when you choose standard credit, or 6% if you are a My Best Buy Plus or My Best Buy Total member. It also earns 3% on gas, 2% on groceries, dining and takeout, and 1% everywhere else.

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At checkout you choose between rewards and promotional financing on a purchase. Picking financing means that purchase earns no rewards. The annual fee ranges from $0 to $59 based on creditworthiness.

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^{The information for the My Best Buy® Visa® Card has been collected independently by Kudos. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.}

Best Credit Card for Kohl's: Kohl's Rewards® Visa Credit Card

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The Kohl's Rewards® Visa Credit Card, issued by Capital One, earns 7.5% at Kohl's and Kohls.com, paid as Kohl's Cash in $5 increments. Gift card purchases are excluded. It also earns 3% on gas, 2% at grocery stores and 1% everywhere else.

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New cardholders get a 40% off coupon for one transaction within 30 days of their credit becoming available. There is no annual fee. Applicants are considered for both this card and the store-only Kohl's Card, so you may be approved for either one.

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[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "6716", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Kohl's Shoppers", "headerHint": "7.5% AT KOHL'S"} ]]

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^{The information for the Kohl's Rewards® Visa Credit Card has been collected independently by Kudos. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.}

Best Credit Card for Apple: Apple Card

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The Apple Card earns 3% Daily Cash on purchases at Apple, including the Apple Store, apple.com and the App Store. You also get 3% at select merchants when you pay with Apple Pay, including Nike, Walgreens, Uber and Uber Eats, 2% on other Apple Pay purchases and 1% when you use the physical card.

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There is no annual fee and no foreign transaction fee.

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[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "145", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Apple Purchases", "headerHint": "3% DAILY CASH AT APPLE"} ]]

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^{The information for the Apple Card has been collected independently by Kudos. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.}

Best Credit Card for Online Shopping: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

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If your gifts come from many different online stores, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express (See Rates & Fees) is the most flexible pick. It earns 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%. That covers most major U.S. retailers' websites, not just one store.

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It also earns 3% at U.S. supermarkets and 3% at U.S. gas stations, each on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%. Everything else earns 1%. There is no annual fee.

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The Welcome Offer is as high as $200 cash back after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card within the first 6 months. Welcome Offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.

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The card also has a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from account opening, after that the variable APR will be 19.74% to 28.74%. That can help spread out a large holiday bill, as long as you have a plan to pay it off before the intro period ends.

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^{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. 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.}

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Best Credit Card for Stores That Take PayPal: PayPal Cashback Mastercard®

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The PayPal Cashback Mastercard® earns 3% cash back when you check out with PayPal, which works at thousands of online stores, including many smaller shops that no store card covers. Everything else earns 1.5%, and there is no annual fee.

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[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "1413", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "PayPal Checkout", "headerHint": "3% WITH PAYPAL"} ]]

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^{The information for the PayPal Cashback Mastercard® has been collected independently by Kudos. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.}

Best Credit Card for Everywhere Else: Citi Double Cash® Card

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For stores without a dedicated card, the Citi Double Cash® Card earns 2% on every purchase: 1% when you buy and another 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, you need to pay at least the minimum due on time. There is no cap and no annual fee.

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New cardholders can earn a $200 cash back bonus after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. That spending requirement is easy to reach during the holidays if this becomes your everyday card.

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[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "580", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Everyday Spending", "headerHint": "2% ON EVERY PURCHASE"} ]]

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Kudos tip: Juggling five cards for five stores is where people leave rewards on the table. Kudos picks the right card at checkout for you, so the 2% card only gets used when nothing in your wallet earns more. Create your free Kudos account.

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Should You Open a Store Card for One Holiday Purchase?

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A store card can be worth it if you shop at that retailer all year. For a single purchase, the math is less clear. Each application usually means a hard inquiry on your credit report, and store cards tend to carry high APRs. The Target Circle™ Card's credit version, for example, has a 28.20% variable APR, and the Kohl's Rewards® Visa Credit Card has a 29.49% variable APR.

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If you carry a balance for even a month or two, the interest can wipe out the extra 3% to 5% you earned. Before you apply, ask yourself:

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• Will I shop at this store regularly after the holidays?
• Can I pay the full balance when the statement arrives?
• Would a card I already have earn close to the same amount?

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If the answer to the first two is no, a no-annual-fee flat-rate card is usually the safer choice. Compare cards on Kudos Explore to see which ones fit your spending before you apply.

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How Kudos Helps You Earn More This Holiday Season

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Kudos is built for exactly this kind of shopping season. It works across the stores on your list, so you do not have to remember which card goes where.

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• Best card at checkout: Kudos autofills the card in your wallet that earns the most at each store.
• Kudos Boost: earn extra rewards on top of your card's rewards when you shop at participating stores.
• Spending insights: track your holiday spending and see which cards are pulling their weight.

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Add Kudos to Chrome for free before your holiday shopping starts.

Frequently Asked Questions

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What is the best credit card for holiday shopping?

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It depends on where you shop. A store card like the Prime Visa or Target Circle™ Card earns the most at its own store, while a card like the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express earns 3% at many U.S. online retailers, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%. Pair one or two store cards with a 2% flat-rate card for everything else.

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What credit card does Costco accept?

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Costco warehouses accept Visa credit cards, most PIN-based debit cards, cash, checks and Costco Shop Cards. Costco.com also accepts Mastercard. The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi earns 2% on Costco and Costco.com purchases.

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Do rotating 5% categories help with holiday shopping this year?

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Not much for retail. The Chase Freedom Flex® 5% categories for October through December 2026 are grocery stores (excluding Walmart and Target), dining and American Red Cross, on up to $1,500 in combined purchases per quarter, then 1%, with activation required. The Discover it® Cash Back categories for the same quarter are restaurants, entertainment and utilities, on up to $1,500 in purchases, with activation required.

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Is the Citi Custom Cash® Card still a good holiday pick?

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Citi stopped accepting new applications for the Citi Custom Cash® Card on May 28, 2026. If you already have one, you can keep using it.

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Do I need Prime to get 5% back with the Prime Visa?

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Yes. The 5% rate at Amazon.com, Whole Foods Market, Audible.com and Chase Travel requires an eligible Prime membership. Without Prime, those purchases earn 3%.

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Should I use a 0% intro APR card for holiday gifts?

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It can help you spread out a large bill without interest, as long as you pay it off before the intro period ends. The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express offers 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, after that the variable APR will be 19.74% to 28.74%.

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The Bottom Line

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The best holiday shopping setup is a store card or two for the places you shop most, plus a strong flat-rate card for everything else. Prime Visa for Amazon, OnePay for Walmart, the Target Circle™ Card for Target and the Citi Double Cash® Card as a backstop cover most shopping lists.

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Pay your balances in full so interest does not erase your rewards, and let Kudos pick the right card at every checkout so you earn the most on every gift.