Store Credit Cards Worth Having (and the Ones to Skip)

A store credit card can be one of the best-paying cards in your wallet. It can also be one of the most expensive.

The difference comes down to two things: how often you shop there, and whether you pay the full balance every month. We compared four popular cards using only the issuers’ official pages.

Key takeaways

• All four cards have no annual fee (Costco requires an active membership).
• Co-branded Visa and Mastercard versions work everywhere; store-only cards work at one retailer.
• Store-card APRs tend to run high. The CFPB found retail cards averaged 27.7% APR in 2022, versus 22.7% for general-purpose cards.
• The rule that makes any of them worth it: pay the full balance every month.

Store credit cards at a glance

Rates and offers as of September 2026, from each issuer’s official page. FX = foreign transaction.

1. Prime Visa

The strongest store card for most households, because Amazon and Whole Foods cover so much everyday spending.

At a glance

• Rewards: unlimited 5% back at Amazon.com, Audible.com, Whole Foods Market and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership; 3% at Amazon and Whole Foods without one.
• Everyday categories: 2% at gas stations, restaurants and on local transit and commuting; 1% on everything else.
• Welcome offer: Prime members get a $150 Amazon gift card on approval.
• Cost: $0 annual fee; 18.74%–27.49% variable APR; no foreign transaction fees.

Pros and cons

• Works anywhere Visa is accepted, not just on Amazon.
• Rewards can be used at checkout on Amazon with no minimum.
• The 5% rate depends on keeping a paid Prime membership.
• Easy checkout can encourage extra spending.

How to apply

Apply through Chase or from your Amazon account. The gift card loads to your Amazon balance once the application is approved.

2. Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi

A warehouse card that doubles as your Costco membership ID and pays most on gas and travel.

At a glance

• Rewards: 5% on gas at Costco; 4% on other eligible gas and EV charging (5% and 4% share a $7,000 yearly cap, then 1%); 3% on restaurants and eligible travel; 2% at Costco and Costco.com; 1% on everything else.
• Cost: $0 annual fee with an active Costco membership; 18.99%–26.99% variable APR; no fee for foreign purchases.
• Redemption: an annual reward certificate after your February statement closes, redeemable at US Costco warehouses.

Pros and cons

• Strong gas and dining rates for a no-fee card.
• Good travel companion with no foreign purchase fee.
• Requires a paid Costco membership in your name.
• Rewards arrive once a year and must be redeemed at Costco.

How to apply

Have your Costco membership number ready and apply on Citi’s site. You must be a current member to apply.

3. Target Circle Card

Less a rewards card than an instant discount. It takes 5% off eligible Target purchases in store and online.

At a glance

• Discount: 5% off at Target and Target.com, applied at checkout.
• Two credit versions: the Target Credit Card works only at Target; the Target Mastercard also earns 2% on dining and gas and 1% elsewhere outside Target.
• Cost: no annual fee; 28.20% variable purchase APR on both credit versions.
• Extras: free 2-day shipping on many items and 50% off a Target Circle 360 membership.

Pros and cons

• Savings are immediate and simple.
• A debit version exists if you’d rather not take on credit.
• The store-only version is useless outside Target.
• A 28.20% APR wipes out the 5% discount fast.

How to apply

Apply on Target’s site or at a store register. Both credit versions require credit approval; the debit version links to your checking account instead.

4. Kohl’s Card

The highest headline rate here, and the one most readers should think twice about.

At a glance

• Rewards: 7.5% in Kohl’s rewards on Kohl’s purchases. The Kohl’s Rewards Visa also earns 3% on gas, 2% at grocery stores and 1% elsewhere.
• Opening offer: 40% off one qualifying transaction with your new card within 30 days of credit availability.
• Cost: no annual fee; 30.24% variable purchase APR; late fee up to $40.
• Credit level: Capital One lists the Rewards Visa for good to excellent credit and may approve you for the store-only card instead.

Pros and cons

• Big savings for regular Kohl’s shoppers.
• The Visa version earns outside the store.
• Rewards are Kohl’s rewards, not cash.
• Highest APR in this list.

How to apply

Apply on Capital One’s Kohl’s page or in store. You’ll be considered for both versions and receive one.

The store cards to skip

Skip any store card when one of these is true:

• You shop at the retailer only a few times a year.
• You expect to carry a balance. At 28%–30% APR, interest beats any discount.
• The main pitch is a “no interest if paid in full” plan. The CFPB warns that deferred interest can charge interest back to the purchase date if a cent remains unpaid.
• You are building credit and only need one card. A general-purpose card is more useful.

How to choose

• Choose the Prime Visa if you pay for Prime and buy groceries or household goods on Amazon or at Whole Foods.
• Choose the Costco Anywhere Visa if you already have a Costco membership and fill up there.
• Choose the Target Circle Card if Target is your weekly store and you want savings at the register.
• Choose the Kohl’s Card only if you shop at Kohl’s often and never carry a balance.

Before you apply: quick checklist

• Add up last year’s spending at the store.
• Multiply by the reward rate to see the real value.
• Compare that with a flat cash back card you already have.
• Read the rates and fees table, not just the headline.
• Set autopay to the full statement balance.

How we compared these cards

• Order: options are not ranked against each other; each fits a different profile, and the Quick answer names the best fit for most readers.
• Sources: the issuers’ official product pages and rate disclosures, plus the CFPB, checked on September 23, 2026.
• Criteria: annual fee, purchase APR, reward rates, where the card works, and membership requirements.
• Scope: cards available to US residents only.
• Independence: no issuer or retailer paid for placement.

FAQ

Do store credit cards hurt your credit score?

Applying triggers a hard inquiry, like any card. After that, a store card affects your score the same way: on-time payments help, high balances hurt.

Are store cards easier to get?

Issuers don’t publish approval criteria. Capital One, for example, lists the Kohl’s Rewards Visa for good to excellent credit and may approve applicants for the store-only card instead.

Can I use a store card anywhere?

Only the co-branded versions, such as the Prime Visa, Costco Anywhere Visa, Target Mastercard and Kohl’s Rewards Visa. Store-only cards work at that retailer.

Why are store card APRs so high?

Retailers price them for convenience, not low cost. The CFPB found retail card APRs well above general-purpose cards in its research.

Should I open a store card just for the sign-up discount?

Usually not. A one-time discount rarely justifies a new account unless you’ll use the card regularly and pay in full.

For more options, see our hub Best Credit Cards 2026 (US), the best credit cards of 2026 for every type of spender and the best cash back cards with no annual fee.

Sources

• Prime Visa — official page (Chase)
• Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi — official page
• Target Circle Card — official page
• Target Circle Card — credit rates and fees
• Kohl’s Card — official page (Capital One)
• Kohl’s Card — rates and disclosures (Capital One)
• CFPB — The high cost of retail credit cards
• CFPB — How deferred interest works

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