Best Credit Cards for Entertainment Spending of December 2024
Updated: Dec 20, 2024
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Whatever your definition of "entertainment," whether it's barhopping or binge-watching, a movie at the theater or a play at the theatre, there's at least one credit card (and often more than one) that will give you extra rewards for pursuing those passions.
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NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Whatever your definition of "entertainment," whether it's barhopping or binge-watching, a movie at the theater or a play at the theatre, there's at least one credit card (and often more than one) that will give you extra rewards for pursuing those passions.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards.
Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today,
The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America"
and many other national, regional and local media outlets.
Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
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Whatever your definition of "entertainment," whether it's barhopping or binge-watching, a movie at the theater or a play at the theatre, there's at least one credit card (and often more than one) that will give you extra rewards for pursuing those passions.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Whatever your definition of "entertainment," whether it's barhopping or binge-watching, a movie at the theater or a play at the theatre, there's at least one credit card (and often more than one) that will give you extra rewards for pursuing those passions.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
NerdWallet's Best Credit Cards for Entertainment Spending of December 2024
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for Nights out with no annual fee
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: Best for Entertaining at home
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card: Best for Moviegoers
Citi Custom Cash® Card: Best for Live entertainment
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best for Travel rewards
Citi Double Cash® Card: Best for Simplicity
The Platinum Card® from American Express: Best for Unique experiences
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Best Credit Cards for Entertainment Spending From Our Partners
| Credit card | NerdWallet rating | Annual fee | Rewards rate | Intro offer | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Find the right credit card for you.
Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.
Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.
FULL LIST OF EDITORIAL PICKS: BEST CREDIT CARDS FOR ENTERTAINMENT SPENDING
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Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Our pick for: Nights out with no annual fee
Some credit cards reward you well for going out, others for staying in. The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is the rare card that does both. It offers a terrific cash-back rate not only on dining and entertainment but also at grocery stores and on popular streaming services. Toss in a good bonus offer and intro APR period, and this card is a winner. (see rates and fees). Read our review.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Our pick for: Entertaining at home
If your household spends a lot on groceries, gas, transit and streaming, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is for you. The rewards it pays in those categories — particularly at U.S. supermarkets and on select U.S. streaming subscriptions — are among the richest of any card. There's a nice welcome offer for new cardholders and an introductory APR period, too. The generous benefits come at a cost, though: Unlike most cash-back cards, this one charges an annual fee. Terms apply. Read our review.
Wells Fargo Attune℠ Card
Our pick for: Broadest definition of entertainment
The Wells Fargo Attune℠ Card pays unlimited 4% cash back on a broad array of lifestyle categories, including movie theaters, bookstores, hobby shops, live entertainment, sports tickets, sporting goods, streaming services, pet care, spa services, self-care, amusement parks, museums, tourist attractions and much more. Other purchases earn 1%. The annual fee is $0. Read our review.
List of Wells Fargo Attune categories that earn 4% back
As of this writing, the following merchants will qualify as "self-care, planet-friendly, and recreation, sports and entertainment" purchases:
Self-care:
Beauty shops and barbershops.
Gym memberships and fitness studios.
Health and beauty spas.
Massage parlors.
Planet-friendly:
Antique shops.
Used merchandise and secondhand stores.
Bus lines.
Electric vehicle charging stations.
Local and suburban commuter passenger transportation, including ferries.
Passenger railways.
Other transportation services.
Sports, recreation and entertainment:
Artist supply and craft shops.
Camera and photographic supply stores.
Hobby, toy, and game shops.
Photofinishing laboratories and photo developing.
Sewing, needlework, fabric and piece goods stores.
Florists.
Florists supplies nursery stock and flowers.
Nurseries and lawn and garden supply stores.
Aquariums, seaquariums, dolphinariums, and zoos.
Amusement parks.
Billiard and pool establishments.
Bowling alleys.
Circuses, carnivals and fortune tellers.
Dance halls, studios and schools.
Public golf courses.
Recreation services not elsewhere classified.
Sporting and recreational camps.
Tourist attractions and exhibits.
Trailer parks and campgrounds.
Pet shops, pet foods, supplies stores and miscellaneous pet services.
Bicycle shops – sales and service.
Boat rentals and leasing.
Marinas, marine service and supplies.
Motor home and recreational vehicle rentals.
Sports and riding apparel stores.
Sporting goods stores.
Bands, orchestras and miscellaneous entertainers.
Commercial sports, professional sports clubs, athletic fields and sports promoters.
Ticket agencies and theatrical producers.
Bookstores.
Cable and other pay television.
Digital goods media – books, movies, digital artwork/images, music.
DVD/videotape rental stores.
Large digital goods merchant.
Motion picture theaters.
Music stores – musical instruments, pianos and sheet music.
Record stores.
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card
Our pick for: Moviegoers
If you don't mind putting some work into your rewards, check out the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card. It might be the most customizable cash back card available. You pick which categories earn the most cash back — you get two 5% categories and a 2% category — and you can change those options every quarter. There's a good bonus offer for new cardholders, too. Read our review.
Citi Custom Cash® Card
Our pick for: Live entertainment
The Citi Custom Cash® Card offers a lot of value for a $0 annual fee: 5% back automatically in your eligible top spending category on up to $500 spent per billing cycle (1% back on other spending). The list of eligible 5% categories is varied and includes biggies like restaurants, grocery stores and more. And unlike with its competitors, there's no activation schedule or bonus calendar to keep track of. Read our review.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Our pick for: Travel rewards
For a reasonable annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns bonus rewards (up to 5X) on travel, dining, select streaming services, and select online grocery purchases. Points are worth 25% more when you redeem them for travel booked through Chase, or you can transfer them to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. The sign-up bonus is stellar, too. Read our review.
Citi Double Cash® Card
Our pick for: Simplicity
Year after year, the Citi Double Cash® Card has been a top choice among flat-rate cash-back cards. You earn 2% cash back on every purchase — 1% when you buy something and 1% when you pay it off. There's no 0% intro period for purchases and no bonus categories, but the high rewards rate more than makes up for the lack of bells and whistles. Read our review.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Our pick for: Unique experiences
The Platinum Card® from American Express comes with a hefty annual fee, but travelers who like to go in style (and aren't afraid to pay for comfort) can more than get their money's worth. Enjoy extensive airport lounge access, hundreds of dollars a year in travel and shopping credits, hotel benefits and more. That's not even getting into the high rewards rate on eligible travel purchases and the rich welcome offer for new cardholders. Read our review.
Sony Visa® Credit Card
Our pick for: Sony aficionados
This card offers 5X rewards on entertainment spending (with a broad definition of entertainment) as well as on Sony purchases from authorized retailers, plus 2X at restaurants. Collecting your bonus points on Sony spending can be a hassle due to the redemption requirements, but if you’re willing to play by those rules, you could snag handsome rewards that later redeem for Sony products. Read our review.
PlayStation® Visa® Credit Card
Our pick for: Gamers
You'll get bonus rewards on PlayStation purchases, as well as on Internet service and at restaurants. There are a few hoops to jump through — shopping with authorized retailers, for instance, and submitting a bonus points form — but if you spend a lot of money in the PlayStation ecosystem, it can be worth your time. Read our review.
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Last updated on December 20, 2024
Methodology
NerdWallet's credit cards team selects the best credit cards in each category based on overall consumer value. Factors in our evaluation include fees, promotional and ongoing APRs, and sign-up bonuses; for rewards cards, we consider earning and redemption rates, redemption options and redemption difficulty. A single card is eligible to be chosen as among the "best" in multiple categories. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.
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