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Best credit cards for back-to-school shopping at Walmart (September 2024)
Back-to-school shopping can drain your monthly budget, but you can limit the damage by using a rewards credit card for your purchases. Since these are purchases you plan on making anyway, it makes sense to earn cash back, points, or miles that can help offset your overall spending.
For frequent Walmart shoppers, we’ve curated a list of the best credit cards for Walmart and back-to-school shopping. Some of our favorites include the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, but we think there’s something that can work for everyone.
Let’s compare the details of the best Walmart credit cards and find the right one for you.
Best credit cards for back-to-school shopping at Walmart
- Annual fee$95
- Welcome offerEarn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
- Card type(s)Travel
- Purchase APR19.99% - 29.99% variable
- Recommended credit scoreGood, Excellent
- Rewards rate
- 5x miles on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2x miles on all other purchases
- Benefits
- Receive up to a $120 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck application fees
- Receive a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and early check-in at eligible hotels
- Access Hertz's Five Star membership tier, offering free upgrades, a wider selection of vehicles, and more
Why we like it: The Capital One Venture Rewards makes sense if you want to earn travel rewards on your everyday purchases. It’s easy to use and provides a flexible rewards rate that works with any eligible purchase. That’s especially useful because Walmart stores aren’t typically categorized as a “grocery store” or “supermarket” for credit card purchases.
Read our full Capital One Venture Rewards review
- Annual fee$0
- Welcome offerEarn a $200 statement credit after spending $2,000 within the first 6 months
- Card type(s)Cash-back
- Introductory Purchases APR0% on purchases for 15 months
- Ongoing Purchases APR19.24% - 29.99% Variable
- Introductory Balance Transfer APR0% on balance transfers for 15 months
- Ongoing Balance Transfer APR19.24% - 29.99% Variable
- Recommended credit scoreExcellent, Good
- Rewards rate
- 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%)
- 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%)
- 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%)
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or on Amazon.com at checkout
- Benefits
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months
- Get a $7 monthly statement credit after spending $9.99 or more on a streaming subscription to the Disney Bundle, plus earn up to $15 in monthly statement credits after purchasing a Home Chef subscription
Why we like it: The Blue Cash Everyday is an excellent gas and grocery card, but those types of purchases don’t typically apply to Walmart. However, this card also offers 3% cash back on US online retail purchases of up to $6,000 per year, then 1%*. This category includes purchases on Walmart.com. Some reports say that using Walmart Pay in store could also trigger this spending category.
*Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or on Amazon.com at checkout
Read our full Amex Blue Cash Everyday review
- Annual fee$0
- Welcome offerEarn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 within the first 3 months
- Card type(s)Cash-back
- Introductory APR0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 months, after which the standard APR applies
- Purchase APR20.24% - 29.99% variable
- Rewards rate2% cash rewards on purchases
- Benefits
- Get up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft
- 0% introductory APR is useful to finance large purchases or transfer a balance from another card
More details: You can take advantage of up to $600 in cell phone protection (minus a $25 deductible) per eligible claim, with a maximum of two paid claims per 12-month period.
Why we like it: The Wells Fargo Active Cash is easy to use because of its unlimited flat earning rate. You can use it at Walmart or any other retailer. The intro APR offer on purchases can be useful if you have large upcoming purchases at Walmart.
- Annual fee$0
- Welcome offerEarn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months
- Card type(s)Rewards, Cash-back
- Introductory APR0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months
- Purchase APR20.49% - 29.49% variable
- Rewards rate
- 5% cash back on up to $1,500 on combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate
- 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3% on dining, including takeout and drug stores
- 1% on all other purchases
- Benefits
- Get 5% cash back on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025, plus select DoorDash discounts
- Enjoy perks like extended warranty protection, trip cancellation insurance, cell phone protection, and auto rental collision damage waiver
- Redeem your cash back rewards as a statement credit, direct deposit, gift card, on Amazon purchases, or to book travel through Chase
- Use the introductory 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months, after which the standard APR will apply
Why we like it: The Chase Freedom Flex can provide up to 5% cash back on Walmart purchases if you activate the offer and Walmart is one of the current rotating categories. Walmart has been selected as a rotating category multiple times over the years.
PayPal is another common Chase Freedom rotating category and an accepted payment method for Walmart.com purchases.
Read our full Chase Freedom Unlimited® vs. Freedom Flex comparison
*ll information about Chase Freedom Flex has been collected independently by Yahoo Finance. Chase Freedom Flex is no longer available through Yahoo Finance.
- Annual fee$0
- Welcome offerEarn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months (bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back)
- Card type(s)Cash-back
- Introductory APR0% intro APR on balance transfers for the first 18 months (19.24% - 29.24% variable APR after that)
- Purchase APR19.24% - 29.24% variable
- Rewards rate
- 5% cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24
- 2% cash back on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy
- Earn an additional 1% as you pay for your purchases (to earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time)
- BenefitsGenerous intro APR on balance transfers
Why we like it: The Citi Double Cash is a straightforward cash-back credit card that you can easily use as the only card in your wallet. With its simple earning rate, you don’t have to worry about different types of spending categories, which is helpful at stores like Walmart.
Read our full Citi Double Cash review
- Annual fee$0 for the first year, then $95
- Welcome offerEarn a $250 bonus after spending $2,000 within the first 120 days
- Card type(s)Cash-back, Rewards
- Purchase APR19.74% - 29.74% variable
- Recommended credit scoreGood, excellent
- Rewards rate
- 6% cash back on the first $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter with two retailers of your choice
- 5.5% cash back on hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Travel Center
- 3% cash back on the first $1,500 in purchases each quarter on one everyday category of your choice (like wholesale clubs, gas and EV charging stations, bills and utilities)
- 1.5% cash back on all other purchases
- Benefits
- Retailers eligible for 6% cash back include Target, Walmart, and Amazon.com
- Categories eligible for 3% cash back include bills and utilities, gas and EV charging stations, and wholesale clubs
- Access to ExtendPay® Plans, which allow you to pay off balances in fixed monthly payments over time and avoid paying interest charges on eligible purchases
More details: For the 6% category, you can choose from retailers like Apple, Amazon, Best Buy, Disney, Home Depot, IKEA, Kohl’s, Lowe’s, Macy’s, Target, Walmart, and more.
Why we like it: If you choose Walmart as one of your selected retailers, you can earn 6% cash back on up to $1,500 each quarter. That’s potentially $90 in cash-back rewards per quarter or $360 per year, which isn’t a bad return for frequent Walmart shoppers. You can also choose another retailer each quarter if you don’t always shop at Walmart.
- Annual fee$0
- Welcome offerDiscover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year, with no minimum spending requirement or maximum rewards cap
- Card type(s)Cash-back
- Introductory APR0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months (18.24% to 28.24% variable APR after that; 3% intro balance transfer fee until until Dec. 10, 2024, then up to 5%)
- Purchase APR18.24% - 28.24% variable
- Recommended credit scoreGood to Excellent
- Rewards rate
- 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter — including grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more — up to the quarterly maximum
- 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases
- Benefits
- Redeem your rewards for cash at any time
- Generous intro APR for purchases and balance transfers
Why we like it: The Discover it Cash Back Credit Card has provided multiple rotating categories in the past that could be helpful for Walmart purchases:
Walmart in Q3 2024
Digital wallets in Q3 2023
Digital wallets in Q4 2022
PayPal in Q3 2022
Business credit cards to consider for Walmart purchases
- Annual fee$0
- Welcome offer15,000 points after spending $3,000 in first 3 months
- Card type(s)Business
- Introductory Purchases APR0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening
- Ongoing Purchases APR18.49% - 26.49% Variable
- Recommended credit scoreExcellent, Good
- Rewards rate2x points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners (applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1x after that)
Why we like it: The Amex Blue Business Plus provides a flexible earning rate and an intro APR offer on purchases. This makes it an ideal choice for small business owners who don’t want to worry about confusing spending categories and might have upcoming significant expenses at Walmart or other retailers.
- Annual fee$0
- Welcome offerEarn $900 bonus cash back after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months
- Card type(s)Business, Travel
- Ongoing Purchases APR18.49% - 24.49% Variable
- Introductory Purchases APR0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 Months
- Recommended credit scoreGood, Excellent
- Rewards rate1.5% unlimited cash back on every business purchase
- Benefits
- $0 annual fee
- 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months (18.49% – 24.49% variable APR after that)
- You won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information
Why we like it: The Ink Business Unlimited has a slightly lower earning rate than the Amex Blue Business Plus, but there’s no spending cap and you get more redemption options, like flights and hotel stays through the Chase travel portal. This card also provides an intro APR offer on purchases.
Read our full Chase Ink Business Unlimited review
- Annual fee$0 for the first year, then $95
- Welcome offerEarn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $4,500 within the first 3 months
- Card type(s)Business, Travel
- Purchase APR26.24% variable
- Recommended credit scoreGood, Excellent
- Rewards rate
- 5x miles on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2x miles on all other purchases
Why we like it: Earning at least 2x miles on every eligible purchase, with no spending cap, could be an excellent option for many high-spending businesses. That’s especially true if you prefer using your Capital One Spark Miles rewards for travel redemptions, including transfers to over 15 travel partners.
Read our full Capital One Spark Miles review
How to maximize your back-to-school shopping at Walmart
1. Have a plan
Going into a big shopping event without a strategy makes it easier to overspend. List everything your family needs, ordered by importance. So, for the necessities on your list, place those at the top and keep the nice-to-haves at the bottom.
2. Use a rewards credit card
Families with elementary through high school children plan to spend nearly $875 on back-to-school shopping this year, according to the National Retail Federation.
Here’s how much you could earn in rewards if you were to use a rewards credit card for that amount of purchases:
Earning $40 or more is a nice savings that can act like a discount on future purchases, whether you’re using the rewards for shopping, dining, travel, or something else. Even better, there’s no real downside to using credit cards, as long as you only spend what you can afford and always make full and on-time payments.
3. Look for coupons and discounts
Walmart doesn’t have a coupon program, but you can use manufacturer coupons and offers.
You can use paper manufacturer coupons while making in-store purchases at checkout or add offers to your account using the Walmart app or Walmart.com. After successfully using an offer, Walmart Cash is added to your account. You can redeem Walmart Cash to pay for purchases online or in store, or you can cash it out in store.
For general savings deals at Walmart, we recommend looking for “Rollback” and “Reduced price” tags on Walmart.com.
4. Use Walmart+
Launched in 2020, Walmart’s membership program has a lot to offer, including free shipping with no order minimum — which can be extremely valuable depending on your situation.
With free shipping, you can do all your Walmart shopping without leaving your home. Shopping online can also make it easier to compare prices and search for savings. This could be especially useful on big-ticket items such as laptops and other electronics, where a small (5% to 15%) discount might mean big savings for you.
If you’re interested in Walmart+, these credit cards can completely cover the subscription cost, including taxes, for you:
Read more: Target Circle 360 vs. Walmart+ and Amazon Prime
5. Consider used or refurbished items
Buying used or refurbished items, especially electronics, can help you save money. The Walmart Restored program offers refurbished items from top brands that have been inspected, tested, and cleaned by experts — all available at a lower price than what you would typically pay.
6. Track prices
If possible, we suggest tracking costs to see if something you’ve purchased goes down in price. In some cases, you might be able to return an item and repurchase it at a lower price, saving you some cash. From our experience, Walmart has a decent return policy, typically giving you 90 days to return or replace an item.
How to choose the best credit card for Walmart
Eligibility requirements: The best rewards credit cards typically require a good to excellent credit score, which is at least a 670 FICO Score.
Annual fee: Yearly fees immediately detract from a card's value, but depending on your desired rewards and benefits, cards with annual fees could be worth it.
Rewards: Most rewards cards earn points, miles, or cash back, and different cards can have different spending categories, such as earning elevated rewards on dining and grocery purchases or earning a flat rate on all eligible purchases.
Intro APR offer: A 0% introductory APR offer on purchases is an excellent way to avoid paying interest for a certain period of time. That could be especially helpful if you have upcoming large expenses, such as back-to-school shopping.
Perks and benefits: Some of our favorite card benefits for Walmart purchases include a free Walmart+ membership, purchase protection, and extended warranty protection.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) for Walmart credit cards
How do you get 5% cash back at Walmart?
The Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard® previously offered 5% cash back at Walmart.com, but Capital One and Walmart ended their exclusive agreement in May 2024 and the card is no longer accepting new applicants.
Here are some other cards with high earning potential at Walmart or Walmart.com:
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
Chase Freedom Flex Credit Card
Discover it Cash Back Credit Card
U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card
Which credit card offers free Walmart+?
The Platinum Card® from American Express and American Express® Business Gold Card offer statement credits for monthly Walmart+ memberships. With each card, you must pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) to receive up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes as a monthly statement credit.
What credit card company does Walmart use?
Capital One was the exclusive issuer of Walmart credit cards until the partnership ended in May 2024. Existing Capital One Walmart cardholders can continue using their cards and earning rewards until Capital One makes changes.
Our methodology
We used existing rubrics for cash-back credit cards, travel credit cards, and business credit cards to compare over 100 products to find the best credit cards for Walmart. These rubrics measured various factors contributing to a final rating, including rewards, fees, and introductory APR offers.
We selected the best cards from these rubrics and used our experience, research, and expert opinion to narrow the options. Our final list includes a variety of cards that make sense for different goals and preferences when it comes to shopping at Walmart.
This article was edited by Alicia Hahn
Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to Yahoo Finance and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information. This site doesn't include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.