Best Credit Cards for Back-to-School Shopping

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The back-to-school season is an exciting time—but it can also be a financial burden for many families. Depending on the school, you may need to buy books, notebooks and even uniforms for your children. For college students, back-to-school shopping can be even more costly when you factor in electronics. But if you have the right credit card strategy, you can get more out of your shopping by maximizing rewards, cash back, welcome bonuses and other card perks.

Here are some of the best back-to-school credit cards to consider:

• Best Overall: Chase Freedom Unlimited^®
• Best for Amazon Shoppers: Amazon Prime Visa Credit Card
• Best for Online Shopping: Bank of America^® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
• Best for Flat-Rate Cash Back: Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card
• Best for School Supplies: Target RedCard™

Some back-to-school credit cards are well-rounded, and some provide specialized rewards. The best choice for you depends on where you shop and your spending habits.

Best Overall: Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Why we chose it: The Chase Freedom Unlimited^® is a no-annual-fee credit card that provides a solid 1.5% cash-back rate on every purchase in addition to higher cash-back rates in several common shopping categories like drugstores and restaurants. Add in its welcome bonus potential, and it's easy to see why this is the best overall pick for back-to-school shoppers.

Rewards:

• 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards^®
• 3% cash back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services
• 3% cash back on drugstore purchases
• 1.5% cash back on all other purchases

Best for: Most shoppers will benefit from the Chase Freedom Unlimited's high flat-rate cash-back rate plus generous bonus cash-back rates in several categories that are practical during the back-to-school season, all with no annual fee.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

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• Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work
• APR19.74% - 28.49% (Variable)
• Annual Fee$0
• Bonus Offer 1.5%Extra Cash Back More Info

  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. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.

We like that the card offers a high flat rewards rate but also provides accelerated rewards on some common everyday spending categories. You’ll also get access to the Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel portal, which allows you to use your cash-back earnings for travel rewards, gift cards and more. If you make this your primary card for most purchases you can quickly rack up a lot of rewards.

• Overview
• Pros & Cons

Overview

The Chase Freedom Unlimited card is unique for a couple of reasons. First, it comes with purchase protection and extended warranty protection you don’t see with some other cash-back cards. Second, you earn cash back in the form of points (Chase Ultimate Rewards) and when paired with another annual-fee earning Chase product, you can get even more value if you love to travel by transferring to partners.

That’s because while the Freedom cards are marketed as cash-back credit cards, they actually offer points. You can use those points to book travel through Chase at a rate of 1 cent per point. But if you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred® or Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you’ll get 25% and 50% more value on those travel redemptions, respectively. (Plus, the ability to transfer your points, too.)

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Pros

• No category bonuses to remember; earn at least 1.5% back on everything
• No annual fee
• Generous travel and purchase protection benefits

Cons

• Can't transfer Chase points unless paired with another annual-fee Chase product

Best for Amazon Shoppers: Amazon Prime Visa Credit Card

Why we chose it: Shoppers who frequent Amazon and Whole Foods will love this card, thanks to its high cash-back rates. Whether you are buying school supplies or snacks for the dorm room, this card can help you stretch your budget further. And you can earn cash back on purchases at gas stations, restaurants, and local transit (including rideshare). There is no annual fee for this credit card.

Rewards:

• 5% cash back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods and Chase Travel with a Prime membership (3% without a Prime membership)
• 2% cash back on purchases at restaurants, gas stations and local transit
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

Best for: Loyal Amazon shoppers who turn to the retailer for their one-stop shopping this back-to-school season will love the Amazon Prime Visa Credit Card for the high cash-back rates on Amazon.

Prime Visa Credit Card

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• Our Rating 3.5/5 How our ratings work
• APR19.74% - 28.49% (Variable)
• Annual Fee$0 More info

  $0 with Prime membership

• Sign-Up Bonus $150Gift Card More Info

  Get a $150 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members

This card is a good fit for consumers who do a lot of shopping at Amazon and Whole Foods because they can earn an unlimited 5% cash back on purchases there. Cardholders also earn some cash back on other purchases, with decent rates for restaurants and gas stations. If you already have or plan to get a Prime membership, using this card could quickly earn you sizable cash back.

• Overview
• Pros & Cons

Overview

With high rewards rates, this card could make up for the required Prime membership fee if you shop a lot at Amazon and Whole Foods. Non-Prime members can qualify for the Prime Visa Credit Card, which is pretty similar but with lower rewards rates.

Pros

• No annual fee
• High rewards rates
• Sign-up bonus offer
• Can redeem rewards as soon as the next day
• No foreign transaction fees

Cons

• Must have a Prime membership for highest rewards rates
• No intro APR offer

Best for Online Shopping: Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card

Why we chose it: The Bank of America^® Customized Cash Rewards credit card is a great all-around cash-back card for those who primarily do their back-to-school shopping online. Cardholders can get 3% back on the category of their choice, which can include online purchases. You can earn an additional 25%-75% cash back if you qualify for their Preferred Rewards program.

Rewards:

• 3% cash back in your category of choice (gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores or home improvement/furnishings)
• 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs on up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club purchases per quarter, then 1% after
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

Best for: If you primarily do your back-to-school shopping online at various retailers, The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card can offer a solid cash-back rate when you select online shopping as your preferred category.

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card

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• Our Rating 4/5 How our ratings work
• APRXX.XX% - XX.XX% Variable APR on purchases
• Annual Fee$0
• Bonus Offer $200Cash Bonus More Info

  $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card is a solid choice for many people who want to maximize their everyday spending. The card is one of the top cash-back credit cards on the market because it provides flexibility with its top rewards bonus category. It’s especially worth considering if you’re a Preferred Rewards member with the card issuer.

• Overview
• Pros & Cons

Overview

The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards card is a good cash back card for people who don’t spend a lot each month. It has flexibility with the 3% cash back on the category of your choice (choose between gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drugstores or home improvement and furnishing), and you can change which one you go with each month. Since it’s a Visa card you can also use it at Costco and get 2% back, which is the rate for wholesale clubs and grocery stores. However, once you’ve spent the quarterly limit of $2,500 in purchases combined between the 3% and 2% categories, you only get 1% back after that.

Pros

• Ample bonus spending categories
• No annual fee
• Sign-up bonus

Cons

• bonus spending categories capped at $2,500 in combined quarterly purchases

Best for Flat-Rate Cash Back: Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Why we chose it: The Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card is a great all-around credit card for those who want a simple, uncomplicated flat-rate card. There are no categories to track—just a solid 2% cash-back rate on every purchase you make. This makes it a good choice for any items you may need during back-to-school season, and there’s no limit to how much cash back you can earn. Plus, there is no annual fee for this card.

Rewards:

• Unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase

Best for: Earning 2% cash back on every purchase, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card works well for any back-to-school purchases that don’t fit neatly into a specific category.

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

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Rates & Fees

• Our Rating 4.0/5 How our ratings work
• APRXX.XX%, XX.XX%, or XX.XX% (Variable)
• Annual Fee$0
• Welcome Bonus $200Cash Bonus More Info

  Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months

If you’re a fan of earning cash rewards for your everyday spending, you need a credit card that rewards you for purchases outside of popular bonus categories like travel, grocery stores and gas stations. With the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card (Rates and Fees), you earn 2% back for every dollar spent without the fuss of tracking specific bonus categories.

• Overview
• Pros & Cons

Overview

While many rewards credit cards tempt you with bonus rewards for specific purchases, these cards invariably offer a mere 1% rewards rate on the vast majority of charges that don’t qualify for a bonus. And with many of these cards, the amount of purchases that are eligible for your bonus is capped, restricting the overall potential value.

But with the Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card, you simply receive a high level of cash rewards on purchases. There’s no need to register for anything, and there are no limits on the amount of cash rewards you can earn.

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Pros

• Earn an unlimited 2% cash back on every single purchase
• No annual fee
• Automatic cellphone protection when you pay your monthly bill with the card

Cons

• Points don't transfer to travel partners unlike other card currencies
• No bonus earning categories

Best for School Supplies: Target RedCard™

Why we chose it: The Target RedCard™ is perfect for Target shoppers who need school supplies. Target usually has excellent back-to-school deals, and the card earns an additional 5% discount on all purchases in-store and at Target.com. The discount is immediate, so you don’t have to wait to redeem it for rewards. There is no annual fee, and the card includes other perks, like free two-day shipping and 2% cash back on dining and gas (exclusive to cardholders of the Mastercard version).

Rewards:

• 5% discount on Target and Target.com purchases
• 2% cash back on dining and gas purchases
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

Best for: The Target RedCard is perfect for those who do the bulk of their everyday and back-to-school shopping at Target, including school supplies. You automatically get a 5% discount on Target and Target.com purchases with this card, along with 2% cash back on dining and gas.

Target RedCard™ Credit Card

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• Our Rating 3/5 How our ratings work
• APR27.90% Variable APR
• Annual Fee$0

The best part of the Target RedCard is the 5% discount at Target and Target.com. Those with the Target Mastercard can earn additional rewards on dining and gas. If you’re a frequent Target shopper, this card could save you a solid chunk of cash.

• Overview
• Perks
• Pros & Cons

Overview

The Target RedCard is designed for fans of the popular shopping center, with its biggest perk being 5% off purchases in store and online. The card does have a high APR, but other perks could make the card beneficial for some shoppers.

Perks

• Additional 30 days for returns and exchanges
• Free 2-day shipping on Target.com
• 5% off Target purchases in store or online
• 2% on dining and gas purchases, 1% everywhere else outside of Target (Target Mastercard exclusive)

Pros

• No annual fee
• 5% off at Target and Target.com
• Free 2-day shipping on eligible items
• Extended return time frame
• Cash back on gas, dining and other purchases (Target Mastercard exclusive)

Cons

• High APR
• Can only redeem rewards for Target gift cards
• Can’t redeem any rewards until you reach a rewards balance of $10
• Can’t choose which credit card option you get when applying

Back-to-School Shopping Tips

There are many strategies you can use to help you save money during the back-to-school season. Here are a few to consider:

• Look for promotions and discounts: Some credit cards run back-to-school promotions, discounts or cash-back promotions. See if the credit card you are considering has any special offers.
• Shop at discount stores: You can often find a wide variety of school supplies at dollar stores for a fraction of the price. Plus, you can still earn cash back on these purchases, which can save you even more.
• Buy clothes at thrift stores: These can be a gold mine for kid's clothing. You can find lightly used clothing for much less than the retail store price. However, thrift stores can be hit-or-miss, so you may need to be open-minded about what you buy or take multiple trips.
• Give your kids hand-me-downs: Kids grow up fast, which means they often outgrow their clothes long before their shirts and pairs of pants are worn out. If you have more than one child, try giving the clothes your older child has outgrown to a younger one.
• Consider a 0% intro APR card: Some credit cards come with a 0% intro APR period, where you pay no interest during the promotional time period. This can save you money on purchases, assuming you pay the card off by the end of the intro period.
• Earn a welcome bonus: Several credit cards have sign-up bonuses that reward you with extra points or cash back if you hit the spending minimum, usually within the first three to six months. Some credit cards have a spending requirement of just $500, which could be easy to hit during back-to-school season.

Above all, the key is to keep your spending reasonable during back-to-school season. Try to take advantage of secondhand items and special discounts as much as you can to avoid overspending. Also, try monitoring local sales, as you might find local discounts that aren’t available online.

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Frequently Asked Questions

• What's the best time of year to save on school supplies?

  The best times to save on school supplies are usually during back-to-school season and immediately after back-to-school season. During back-to-school season, retailers often run promotions that can make these items cheaper. After the season, these items might be cheaper as retailers put items on clearance to empty their remaining inventory.

  There are other times you might be able to save money on school supplies, such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday. However, as these sales aren’t specifically focused on school supplies, you may not always find deals on these items.

• How much do parents spend on school supplies?

  Families are expected to spend an average $890.07 on back-to-school expenses in 2023, according to the National Retail Federation. This figure has been on an upward trend, nearly doubling since 2004.

• Which back-to-school items have been impacted the most by inflation?

  The price of school supplies has increased by almost 24% in the last two years, according to a Deloitte analysis of recent Consumer Price Index data. Among the school supplies affected by inflation, paper goods, lunchboxes, crayons and pencils top the list, according to NielsenIQ data analyzed by the Los Angeles TImes.