According to the labor bureau of statistics the average American spends $1,254 on telephone services. Businesses will spend much more than this, which is why this is a popular category on business credit cards and not on personal credit cards. Below are the best credit cards for telecommunication expenses (phone, cellular & internet), we also let you know exactly what is and isn’t covered.
Contents
- 1 Personal Credit Cards
- 2 Business Credit Cards
- 2.1 Chase United MileagePlus® Explorer Business Card 2x United Miles, $95 Annual Fee Waived First Year
- 2.2 CitiBusiness / AAdvantage 2-2x AAdvantage Miles World MasterCard
- 2.3 Lowe’s Business Rewards 3x Points, No Annual Fee
- 2.4 First National Bank Absolute Rewards 5x points $25,000 Annual Limit, No Annual Fee
- 2.5 AmEx SimplyCash 5% Cash Back, $25,000 Annual Limit, No Annual Fee
- 2.6 Chase Ink Cash 5% Cash Back, $25,000 Annual Limit, No Annual Fee
- 2.7 Chase Ink Bold/Chase Ink Plus 5x Chase UR Points, $50,000 Annual Limit, $95 Annual Fee Waived First Year
- 3 Cards That Didn’t Make The Cut
Personal Credit Cards
US Bank FlexPerks Travel Rewards 2x Points (up to 3% on Travel), $49 Annual Fee Waived First Year
The US Bank FlexPerks card earns 2x points on all purchases that are coded as telecommunication services/products. These points are worth a maximum of 1.5¢ a piece when redeeming for travel expenses (e.g 20,000 points can be redeemed for $400 in travel). The annual fee of $49 is waived for the first year.
U.S. Bank Cash+ 5% Cash Back (Mobile Phone only)
This card lets you choose two categories to earn 5% cash back on (up to $2,000 in spend per quarter). One of the options is your mobile phone bill.
Business Credit Cards
Chase United MileagePlus® Explorer Business Card 2x United Miles, $95 Annual Fee Waived First Year
This card earns at a rate of 2 United MileagePlus miles per $1 spent on the following purchases: restaurants, gas stations, office supply stores & tickets purchases directly from United. There is an annual fee of $95 which is waived on the first year and there is no points cap.
CitiBusiness / AAdvantage 2-2x AAdvantage Miles World MasterCard
This card earns AAdvantage miles at a rate of 2 miles per $1 spent on the following purchases: certain office supply, telecommunications, and car rental merchants. There is also a 5% annual membership renewal bonus which means it can earn at up to 2.1 AAdvantage miles per $1 spent. To get this annual bonus you will need to pay the annual fee of $95 which is waived for the first year. There are no point caps on this card.
Lowe’s Business Rewards 3x Points, No Annual Fee
Lowe’s business rewards card earns 3x points on the following purchases: restaurants and office supply stores in the U.S., and on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers. These points can be transferred to Lowe’s or American Express gift cards, one point = one cent. There is no points cap or annual fee on this card.
First National Bank Absolute Rewards 5x points $25,000 Annual Limit, No Annual Fee
Card earns 5x on telecommunication purchases (along with other categories). This 5x has cap of $25,000 every 12 billing cycles. Points are worth a maximum of 0.769¢ each.
AmEx SimplyCash 5% Cash Back, $25,000 Annual Limit, No Annual Fee
This card earns at 5% cash back on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers. There is a $25,000 ($1,250) annual limit. You also get to choose a 3% cash back category out of a list. There is no annual fee.
Chase Ink Cash 5% Cash Back, $25,000 Annual Limit, No Annual Fee
This card earns at 5% cash back on office supply stores and on cellular phone, landline, internet and cable TV services purchases. There is a limit of $25,000 in purchases ($1,250 cash back)) per year. This card does not have an annual fee. If you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred or Ink Bold/Plus then you can transfer to airline/hotel partners (1¢ per mile/point).
Chase Ink Bold/Chase Ink Plus 5x Chase UR Points, $50,000 Annual Limit, $95 Annual Fee Waived First Year
Both the Chase Ink Bold & Chase Ink Plus earn 5x Chase UR points per $1 spent on office supply stores and on cellular phone, landline, internet and cable TV services purchases. There is an annual limit of $50,000 in spend (250,000 points). These points are worth 1¢ when redeeming for cash/statement credit and can be transferred to airline/hotel partners at a rate of 1:1.
Cards That Didn’t Make The Cut
- American Express Fidelity: 2% cash back on all purchases
- Barclays Arrival Plus: 2.22% statement credit when redeeming against travel, 1% statement credit when redeeming against non travel expenses.
If there is another category that you’re interested in knowing what the best credit card is, use one of the links below to find out:
- Bookstores
- Charities
- Drug stores
- Everyday purchases
- Gas stations
- Grocery store
- Hotels
- Office supply stores
- Cards that earn 5% or more cash back
View Comments (22)
Bank of America's Customized Cash Rewards offers 3% cash back for cable, internet, phone plans and streaming when Online Shopping is set as your desired category.
WELLS FARGO CARD 3X + INSURANCE
https://creditcards.wellsfargo.com/autograph-visa-credit-card/?sub_channel=SEO&vendor_code=G&linkloc=fn&product_code=CC&subproduct_code=AU&cx_nm=CXNAME_CSM&FPID=0129E0I6P10000
@will This article seems outdated. For example, Wyndham Business is missing and it has 5% on utilities (including cell phones)
Are you sure the Amex SCP earns 5% back on wireless still? Looking at the benefits section of Amex's site for my SCP doesn't show that as a benefit
Another option for cable, internet, TV/Radio streaming:
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/credit-cards/rewards/penfed-platinum-rewards-visa-signature-card-review/#comment-1222723
This one could use an update as some of these products don't exist anymore.
Cards That Didn’t Make The Cut
Chase 5% when on a quarterly Freedom category.
Why is United Business Explorer card listed here? Telecom is not a 2x category for it.
Flexperks are worth 1.5 cents each now. That makes it 3% rather than 4% as stated in the post.
Updated, thanks.
US Bank offers 5% on cell bills. So maybe it should be added? You also have Vantagewest utilities category as including cell, which would make it 5% too.
Thanks so much for adding US Bank. Considering the Vantagewest page is starting to say how location limited it is, I understand not putting it on. Though the Huntington Voice card on multiple pages is also location limited.