With the holiday season upon us once again, it’s time to talk Black Friday, holiday shopping, and the best credit cards for a deal-heavy time of the year. Whether you’re looking to build up your cash back to redeem for a statement credit, a gift card, or something else, here are our picks for the best credit cards to accompany you on Black Friday shopping:
The Best Black Friday Credit Cards
Here are four of our top choices for Black Friday shopping this year:
Citi Custom Cash℠ Card
Citi Custom Cash℠ Card
Citi Custom Cash℠ Card
- 18.99% - 28.99% (Variable) Regular Purchase APR
- 18.99% - 28.99% (Variable) Balance Transfer APR
- 29.99% (Variable) Cash Advance APR
- 0% for 15 months on Purchases Intro Purchase APR
At a Glance
The Citi Custom Cash? Card is a generous cash back credit card that offers up to 5% back on eligible purchases. The card, from Citi, does not charge an annual fee and rewards 5% back on the top spending category each month, with options including transit, travel, gas, groceries, dining, and more.
- Best Benefits
- Rates & Fees
- Why Should You Apply?
- Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
- 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.99% - 28.99%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- No rotating bonus categories to sign up for - as your spending changes each billing cycle, your earn adjusts automatically when you spend in any of the eligible categories.
- No Annual Fee
- Citi will only issue one Citi Custom Cash℠ Card account per person.
- Intro Purchase APR: 0% for 15 months on Purchases
- Regular Purchase APR: 18.99% - 28.99% (Variable)
- Intro Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 15 months on Balance Transfers
- Balance Transfer APR: 18.99% - 28.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Transaction Fee: 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
- Cash Advance APR: 29.99% (Variable)
- Cash Advance Transaction Fee: 5% of each cash advance; $10 minimum
- Penalty APR: Up to 29.99% (Variable)
- Annual Fee: $0
- Foreign Transaction Fee: 3%
- Late Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $41
- Return Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $41
- You want to earn 5% back but do't want quarterly categories
- You plan on spending $1,500 within the first 90 days
- You have a large purchase in mind that you want to pay down over time
- You plan on transferring an existing balance within the first four months
- You don’t want to pay an annual fee
The Citi Custom Cash℠ Card is a cash back credit card that can earn you up to 5% back on eligible purchases, while also offering a lengthy 0% intro APR for no annual fee. The card differs from other 5% cash back cards in that cardmembers earn 5% back on their top eligible spending category (up to $500 spent each billing cycle), with the following being the eligible categories:
| Dining | Fitness clubs | Grocery stores |
| Drugstores | Gas stations | Home improvement stores |
| Travel & transit (select) | Live entertainment | Streaming service (select) |
All other purchases with the card earn an unlimited 1% cash back, with no caps on those rewards. In addition to the up-to 5% cash back on purchases, new accounts also enjoy a cash back welcome bonus (subject to spending minimums), and two lengthy 0% intro APR periods on purchases and balance transfers.
Eligible new accounts can take advantage of an introductory 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months. This makes the card a direct competitor to some leading balance transfer credit cards, which may offer a great intro rate and not much else. That’s not the case with the Custom Cash, which prioritizes your credit needs – whatever they may be.
Discover it® Cash Back
Discover it® Cash Back
Discover it® Cash Back
- 17.24% to 28.24% variable based on creditworthiness and Prime Rate Regular Purchase APR
- 17.24% to 28.24% variable based on creditworthiness and Prime Rate Balance Transfer APR
- 29.99% variable based on the Prime Rate Cash Advance APR
- 0% for 18 months from account opening Intro Purchase APR
At a Glance
The Discover It Cash Back Card is a cash back credit card that offers enhanced earning potential in a selection of rotating categories. Cardholders earn 5% back on purchases in categories that rotate each quarter, and 1% on all other purchases. The card also features 0% intro APR for the first 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, Discover’s 100% U.S.-based customer service, Discover’s bonus cash back match, and no annual fee or foreign transaction fees.
- Best Benefits
- Rates & Fees
- Why Should You Apply?
- 5% cash back in rotating categories each quarter, up to the quarterly maximum, when you activate
- Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases automatically
- Discover matches all of the cash back earned by the cardholder at the end of the first year automatically; there is no limit to how much cash back is matched
- Cash back rewards never expire, earn unlimited cash back
- Use rewards at Amazon checkout
- No annual fee
- Intro Purchase APR: 0% for 18 months from account opening
- Regular Purchase APR: 17.24% to 28.24% variable based on creditworthiness and Prime Rate
- Intro Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 18 months from date of first transfer
- Balance Transfer APR: 17.24% to 28.24% variable based on creditworthiness and Prime Rate
- Balance Transfer Transaction Fee: 3% of the amount of each transfer posted at the promotional rate. After that, 5% of the amount of each transfer
- Cash Advance APR: 29.99% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Cash Advance Transaction Fee: $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
- Late Payment Penalty Fee: None the first time you pay late. After that, up to $41
- Return Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $41
- You want to earn 5% back on select category purchases each quarter, including restaurants, gas stations, select rideshares, and online shopping
- You don’t want to pay an annual fee or foreign transaction fees
- You want 100% U.S.-based customer service
- You don’t mind rotating categories changing every three months
The Discover it® Cash Back is a perennial favorite for the holiday season thanks to its excellent 5% cash back calendar. The Discover it card earns 5% cash back on the first $2,500 in quarterly spending in select categories, then 1% on all purchases after that. Those 5% bonus categories are lucrative, with the 2023 calendar looking as follows:
| Date | 5% Cash Back Category | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | January – March 2023 | Grocery stores, drug stores, and select streaming services | |
| Q2 | April – June 2023 | Restaurants and wholesale clubs | |
| Q3 | July – September 2023 | Gas stations and digital wallets | |
| Q4 | October – December 2023 | Amazon.com and Target | |
Amazon and Target are a regular feature of Q4 for Discover, making it one of the best cards for Black Friday shopping. Amazon sells practically anything you can imagine, including groceries via Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods. In previous years the Q4 5% categories included Walmart, which is missing in 2023. For this reason, Discover misses out on our top spot, with the Custom Cash card from Citi holding the edge.
Capital One® Walmart Rewards™ Card
Capital One® Walmart Rewards™ Card
Capital One® Walmart Rewards™ Card
- 17.99% or 29.74% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate Regular Purchase APR
- 17.99% or 29.74% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate Balance Transfer APR
- 29.74% variable based on the Prime Rate Cash Advance APR
At a Glance
Capital One has partnered with one of the world’s top retailers to bring shoppers the Capital One® Walmart Rewards™ Card. Boasting up to 5% back on Walmart purchases (including those from the online site, the Walmart app, Walmart delivery services, and Walmart gas stations) shoppers can enjoy additional savings on already low prices and redeem their earnings towards future purchases, statement credits, gift cards, or travel.
- Best Benefits
- Rates & Fees
- Why Should You Apply?
- Unlimited 5% back at Walmart.com including Grocery Pickup and Delivery
- Unlimited 2% back at Walmart stores and at Walmart and Murphy USA Fuel Stations
- Unlimited 2% back at restaurants and on travel
- Unlimited 1% back everywhere else Mastercard® is accepted
- Points never expire
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fee
- Regular Purchase APR: 17.99% or 29.74% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate
- Balance Transfer APR: 17.99% or 29.74% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate
- Balance Transfer Transaction Fee: 3% of each transfer at the promotional APR. None for balances transferred at the regular transfer APR
- Cash Advance APR: 29.74% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Cash Advance Transaction Fee: Either $10 or 3% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
- Late Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $39
- You primarily shop at Walmart for your groceries or household items
- You shop frequently, but not enough to warrant a wholesale club membership
- You want rewards for travel and dining
- You have a good or excellent credit score
- You prefer a Walmart credit card to a store card or a Walmart MoneyCard debit card
- You want a card with no annual fee
If Walmart is your Black Friday store of choice, the Capital One Walmart Rewards® Card is likely your best option for the “Best Black Friday Credit Card.”
The card earns 5% back for online Walmart purchases (including Grocery Pickup and Delivery) and 2% for in-store purchases. However, that 2% rate is bumped up to 5% back in-store for the first 12 months when using Walmart Pay. This 5% back online and in-store makes the Walmart Rewards Card an excellent option for Black Friday.
Other ways to earn cash back with the card include 2% back at Walmart and Murphy USA fuel stations, 2% back on dining and travel purchases, and 1% back on everything else. As the cherry on top, the card charges no annual fee.
Simon® American Express® Credit Card
Simon® American Express® Credit Card
Simon® American Express® Credit Card
- 21.24% to 31.24% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate Regular Purchase APR
At a Glance
The Simon® American Express® Credit Card is a unique retail credit card that lets you maximize your rewards at the mall and anywhere else Amex is accepted. The card, from digital-first fintech Cardless, earns up to 5% cash back on all Simon Mall purchases – all for no annual fee.
- Best Benefits
- Rates & Fees
- Why Should You Apply?
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- Earn 5% at any Simon Mall, Mills, or Premium Outlet in the U.S.
- Earn 1% on all your other card purchases
- Regular Purchase APR: 21.24% to 31.24% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate
- You love to shop – either in-person or online – for a wide variety of products
- You're brand-loyal to the type of stores you find in the mall
- You prefer card rewards in the form of statement credits
- You do't want to pay an annual fee
The Simon® American Express® is an intriguing retail rewards credit card from Cardless and Simon Malls. This card is unique because it provides exceptional savings at the mall – any operated by Simon Malls, specifically. And with over 200 malls across the U.S., there’s likely a location near you.
Cardholders earn their best cash back rewards by shopping at Simon properties, with shopping at ANY Simon merchant earning 5% cash back. This broad bonus category includes hundreds (maybe thousands) of names nationwide, including the following brands:
| Aeropostale | Brooks Brothers | Eddie Bauer | Forever 21 |
| Reebok | JCPenney | Nautica | Lucky Brand |
Even better, cardholders earn 10% cash back on gift cards from more than 30 different brands. It’s worth noting, though, that the 10% back only applies to gift card purchases made through the Cardless app. Still, it’s a great way to stuff stockings or save a little more when shopping for gifts this holiday season. All other purchases with the card earn 1% cash back, with rewards redeemable for statement credits.
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Featured image by Amanda Kirsh/Burst
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