The Best Credit Cards for Entertainment

Note from the editor: Citi Premier® Card is no longer available to new applicants 

Whether you like to kick back in front of the TV, cheer your team on at the latest game or fasten your seatbelt on a rollercoaster, most of us spend at least a portion of our income on entertainment purchases.

If you’re not charging these regular expenses to a credit card that earns you bonus rewards on entertainment purchases, you could be missing out big time. These fun credit cards could help you earn points toward your next vacation.

Let’s take a look at the top credit cards for entertainment purchases, how to go about choosing one and the best strategy for maximizing your earnings.

Top Credit Cards for Entertainment in 2024

*Cash back is earned in the form of Reward Dollars, which are redeemable as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.

We’ve focused our selection mostly on cards that earn specifically on entertainment purchases as a bonus category. However, you could apply an alternative strategy to earning rewards on entertainment by using a credit card that earns a lucrative rewards rate on all non-bonus category spending.

Some examples of such cards include the Chase Freedom Unlimited^®, the Citi Double Cash^® Card and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.

For Chase and Citi premium cardholders, you can transfer your rewards earned on these $0 annual fee cards to your existing Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card or Citi Premier^® Card accounts, respectively, unlocking lucrative transfer partners and high rewards redemption rates.

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card offers significant rewards on entertainment purchases.

You’ll earn 3% cash back on entertainment and popular streaming service purchases as well as up to 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases. You’ll also earn 3% cash back on dining purchases.

Capital One is one of the few card issuers to include cafes, bars, lounges and bakeries in its definition of dining. This means you can get a return on nights out at the bar spent socializing.

You’ll also receive access to Capital One Entertainment, giving you access to exclusive sporting, music and dining events with special on-site perks.

With no foreign transaction fees, you can continue to spend and earn rewards on entertainment abroad.

For a $0 annual fee, this card is worth keeping near the front of your wallet.

Pros

• 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
• 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores
• 1% cash back on all other purchases
• No foreign transaction fees

Cons

• Rewards are earned as cash back unless you have one of the Capital One Venture cards, then you can transfer points from Savor to Venture.

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

If you’re willing to pay an annual fee of $95, the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card will give you increased earning rates compared to the SavorOne card.

You’ll earn 4% cash back on dining, entertainment and popular streaming service purchases, as well as up to 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases. Your earnings potential is global, given that the card is free of foreign transaction fees.

You’ll benefit from Capital One’s wide definition of dining when spending with the card, enabling you to earn cash back on nights out. You’ll also enjoy access to events included in Capital One’s Entertainment program.

If you can make use of other bonus categories, such as 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 3% cash back at grocery stores, you’ll offset the annual fee with ease.

Pros

• 10% cash back on Uber and Uber Eats purchases, including Uber One membership through Nov. 14, 2024
• 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
• 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 4% cash back on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services
• 3% cash back at grocery stores
• 1% cash back on all other purchases
• No foreign transaction fees

Cons

• Rewards are earned as cash back unless you have one of the Capital One Venture cards, then you can transfer points from Savor to Venture.

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

The Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express offers a range of perks for those wanting to earn on entertainment purchases.

You’ll earn unlimited 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming service subscription purchases. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars, which can then be redeemed as a statement credit.

You’ll also receive an $84 annual Disney bundle statement credit. If you spend $9.99 or more per month on a subscription with DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com or Plus.espn.com, you’ll receive up to $7 in cash back every month (valid in the U.S. only).

With a range of other cashback bonus categories, from gas and transit to U.S. supermarket purchases, this card offers outsized value for its annual fee of $95, which is $0 in the first year of card membership (see rates & fees).

Pros

• 6% cash back on up to $6,000 per year in purchases at U.S. supermarkets, 1% cash back thereafter
• 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming service subscription purchases
• 3% cash back on transit
• 3% cash back on gas purchases made at U.S. gas stations
• 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases
• $84 annual Disney bundle statement credit. Spend $9.99 or more per month on a subscription with DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com or Plus.espn.com and receive $7 in cash back per month (valid in the U.S. only).

Cons

• 6% cash back earnings rate is limited to a maximum of $6,000 per year in spending on supermarket purchases
• Foreign transaction fee of 2.7% (see rates & fees)

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Aside from being one of the best dining cards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card is a well-rounded travel rewards card with bonus rewards for entertainment-related purchases.

You’ll earn 3X points on select streaming service purchases. Additionally, you’ll earn 5X points on travel purchases made through Chase Travel℠ (excluding hotel purchases that qualify for the $50 annual hotel credit) and 2X points on all other eligible travel purchases.

Chase Ultimate Rewards can be transferred to 14 airline and hotel partners or redeemed through the Chase travel portal at a value of 1.25 cents per point.

You’ll also enjoy exclusive cardholder access to Chase Experiences, unlocking a variety of entertainment events from fine dining to sports.

For an annual fee of $95, you’ll be able to reap significant value from the card.

Pros

• $50 statement credit each account anniversary year for hotel stays purchased through Chase
• 5X points on travel purchases made through Chase (excluding hotel purchases that qualify for the $50 annual hotel credit)
• 3X points on dining, including eligible takeout, delivery services and dining out
• 3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs)
• 3X points on certain streaming services
• 2X points on other travel purchases
• 1X point on all other purchases
• Point boost every account anniversary year equivalent to 10% of your total spending in the previous year
• Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel through Chase
• No foreign transaction fees
• Complimentary DashPass subscription (activate by Dec. 31, 2027)

Cons

• The 1.25 cents per point redemption rate is applicable to travel purchases made through Chase only.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

The Platinum Card® from American Express is one of the leading premium luxury travel rewards cards. However, it also offers something for the entertainment seeker.

You’ll receive an annual digital entertainment statement credit of up to $240, issued in $20 monthly credits, for eligible purchases made with Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, Peacock or The New York Times (enrollment required).

On top of this, you’ll receive exclusive invitation-only entertainment perks through American Express, including concerts, theatrical performances and live sporting events. You’ll also enjoy VIP status at certain events, unlocking preferred seating, meet-and-greet opportunities and more.

With a cumulative value of perks worth more than $1,400, the frequent traveler will have little problem offsetting the card’s annual fee.

Pros

• 5X points on eligible flights booked with American Express Travel or directly with the airline (on up to $500,000 in charges per calendar year)
• 5X points on eligible prepaid hotel reservations when booked with Amex Travel
• Access to the Fine Hotels & Resort Collection for bookings made through American Express Travel
• Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite and Hilton Honors Gold status (enrollment required)
• Access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, with more than 1,400 lounges across 140 countries (including Airspace Lounge, The Centurion Lounge, Delta Sky Club, Escape Lounges, Lufthansa Business and Senator Lounges, Plaza Premium and Priority Pass Select)
• Access to the American Express International Airline Program
• Digital entertainment credit of up to $240, issued in $20 monthly statement credits for eligible purchases on Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, Peacock and the New York Times (enrollment required)
• Up to $200 hotel credit on prepaid Fine Hotels & Resorts or The Hotel Collection (a minimum two-night stay is required) bookings through Amex Travel
• Complimentary premium status for a range of car rental companies (enrollment required)
• No foreign transaction fees (see rates & fees)
• Equinox credit of up to $300, issued as statement credits
• Up to $199 per year in statement credits toward a CLEAR Plus membership
• Airline incidental fee credit of up to $200, issued as statement credits
• Up to $200 Uber Cash, issued in increments of $15 per month with a bonus $20 in December (to receive this benefit you must have downloaded the latest version of the Uber App and your eligible platinum card must be a method of payment on your Uber account. The Amex Benefit may only be used in the United States.)
• Either a $100 statement credit every four years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck application fee (when applying through a TSA official enrollment provider), when charged to your American Express Card. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.

Cons

• Bonus spending categories are limited to certain purchases made through Amex.
• High annual fee (see rates & fees)

U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card

The U.S. Bank Cash+^® Visa Signature^® Card offers you competitive cashback earnings on a range of entertainment-related purchases.

You’ll earn 5% cash back on your first $2,000 spent in combined purchases in two eligible categories, every quarter. Eligible categories relevant to entertainment include TV, internet and streaming, electronic stores, movie theaters, gym and fitness centers, and sporting goods stores.

This makes it a great movie credit card as well as a solid card for earning on streaming, TV and internet purchases. If you hit the spending cap, that’s a maximum of up to $100 in cash back every quarter.

It also earns 2% cash back on one everyday category, including gas stations and EV charging stations, grocery stores and restaurants.

With a $0 annual fee, this card is an excellent way to earn a solid return on entertainment spending.

Pros

• 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases every quarter on your two elected categories. Categories include fast food; TV, internet and streaming; cell phone; home utilities; department stores; electronic stores; movie theaters; sporting goods stores; gyms and fitness centers; ground transportation; furniture stores; and select clothing stores.
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

Cons

• 5% cash back earnings are limited to maximum spend of $2,000 per quarter.
• Foreign transaction fee of 3%

Citi Custom Cash® Card

The Citi Custom Cash^® Card offers lucrative rewards on entertainment purchases, all for a $0 annual fee.

You’ll earn 5% cash back on your top bonus spending category (on up to $500 per billing cycle). Eligible entertainment-related categories include select streaming services, fitness clubs and live entertainment. This makes it one of the best credit cards for concert tickets. If you hit the cap of $500 in a billing cycle, that’s up to $25 in cash back.

You’ll also have access to Citi Entertainment, which includes exclusive fine dining, art, cultural and sporting events.

If you happen to already be a Citi Premier^® Card holder, the Citi Custom Cash Card becomes even more valuable. This is because you can pool your earnings from your Custom Cash card into your Citi Premier account and redeem them as fully-fledged Citi ThankYou Points. That means you can transfer them to Citi’s 18 hotel and airline transfer partners at 1:1 ratios for travel redemptions.

Pros

• 5% cash back on top eligible bonus spending category, up to $500 per billing cycle; 1% cash back thereafter. Eligible categories include restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs and live entertainment.
• 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases

Cons

• Foreign transaction fee of 3%
• 5% cash back earnings are capped at $500 spending per billing cycle.
• No access to Citi transfer partners unless you hold the Citi Premier Card

U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card

The U.S. Bank Altitude^® Connect Visa Signature^® Card offers premium benefits for an annual fee of just $95.

You’ll earn 2X points on streaming service purchases, making this ideal as an entertainment card.

You’ll also receive a $30 annual statement credit for streaming service purchases, including Amazon Music, Amazon Prime Video, Apple Music, Netflix, Apple TV+, Spotify^® and many more.

The card also comes with a host of benefits that make it perfect for everyday life as well as for traveling. It earns 4X points on gas stations and EV charging stations,
4X points on travel and 2X points at grocery stores, on grocery delivery and dining.

When it comes to traveling abroad, you’ll also enjoy four annual complimentary visits to Priority Pass Select™ lounges as well as a $100 credit for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^® application fee every four years.

With such a wide range of benefits, offsetting the annual fee should be simple.

Pros

• 5X points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Center
• 4X points on gas stations and EV charging stations
• 4X points on travel
• 2X points at grocery stores, on grocery delivery, dining and streaming services
• 1X point on all other eligible purchases
• No foreign transaction fees
• $30 annual statement credit for streaming service purchases, including Netflix, Apple TV+ and Spotify^®
• Four annual complimentary visits to Priority Pass Select™ lounges
• $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^® application fee every four years

Cons

• Limited redemption opportunities due to U.S. Bank’s lack of transfer partners

What Defines an ‘Entertainment’ Credit Card?

Defining the “entertainment” spending category can be a bit trickier compared to other categories. That’s because card issuers are inconsistent with what they define as an entertainment purchase. Likewise, people often differ with what they mean by entertainment.

Generally speaking, top entertainment credit cards are those that earn bonus points on the following types of purchases:concerts.

If you spend a significant amount on one or more of these purchases every month, you may benefit from holding a card that could earn you an elevated return on this spending.

In 2022, the average American household spent $3,458 on entertainment-related expenses. If those expenses were charged to a card that earned 5% cash back on entertainment, you’d get a return of $172.90.

That makes entertainment an important spending category to consider when analyzing your spending habits and wider credit card strategy.

There are also cards that are co-branded with a specific entertainment provider. Some examples include:

• MGM Rewards^TM Mastercard^®
• Caesars Rewards^® Visa^® Credit Card
• Disney^® Premier Visa^® Card

These cards earn rewards with the provider’s loyalty program and come with perks specific to the provider.

For example, the MGM Rewards Mastercard comes with Pearl Status, which offers complimentary self-parking and a 10% bonus on Slot Dollars.

The Caesars Rewards Visa Credit Card earns you 5X points on Caesars Rewards resorts and casinos purchases as well as 2X points on entertainment spending.

And the Disney Premier Visa Card comes with a 10% discount on purchases of $50 or more at Disney stores and Disney.com, exclusive character meet-and-greet opportunities and 20% off select Disney tours, among other benefits.

If you’re a true loyalist to one of these providers, you may benefit from holding their entertainment credit card. However, in most cases, you’ll benefit from the better earning rates and more flexible rewards currencies of general travel rewards cards that earn on entertainment purchases.

Certain card issuers also offer exclusive entertainment-related perks and programs. Some examples include:

• American Express Entertainment Access. All Amex cardholders can enjoy exclusive entertainment experiences, including live sporting events, theater productions, concerts and more. Benefits can range from special concession offers and presale ticket access to dedicated entrances. For premium cardholders, the ante is upped to invitation-only events.
• Capital One Entertainment. Capital One cardholders have access to popular and exclusive dining, music and sporting events. Expect everything from VIP seating and meet-and-greets to other on-site perks. Check out this guide for a Capital One Entertainment overview.
• Chase Experiences. Chase cardholders can get access to Chase’s wide range of entertainment experiences. These can include preferred seating at certain events as well as fine dining and VIP access for certain cardholders.
• Citi Entertainment. Citi cardholders have access to Citi’s range of entertainment experiences, from art and cultural events to fine dining, sports and popular concerts.

Key Features to Look For in an Entertainment Credit Card

When trying to find the best credit card for entertainment, you should begin by analyzing your spending. Specifically, how much do you spend on entertainment?

Answering this question will make it easier to determine the value of prospective entertainment credit cards. Moreover, it will enable you to put annual fees into your wider spending context.

For example, if you spend a significant amount on purchases in the entertainment category, you’ll be in a better position to use annual fee-incurring entertainment cards. This is for the simple reason that you’ll be able to reap more value from the card through higher spending, making it easier to offset the cost of the annual fee.

Once you’ve estimated how much you spend on entertainment, you can then begin to compare the bonus categories offered by competing entertainment cards. Knowing the best bonus categories each card has to offer will enable you to narrow your selection down.

If you tend to spend more on entertainment, you can focus on cards whose main attraction is rewards on entertainment spending. However, if other purchase categories like dining and grocery shopping account for a greater proportion of your overall spending, you’d be better off with a card that prioritizes these as bonus categories in addition to entertainment purchases.

When doing this, you’ll also need to decide how you want your rewards to work for you. Are you wanting to earn cash back to offset the cost of your spending? Or do you want to earn a flexible rewards currency to redeem for travel-related purchases?

Knowing how you want to use your rewards can help in estimating the value of the card and the cost of its annual fee.

You should then consider additional features. For example, do you plan on using the card for purchases abroad? If so, you’ll want to ensure that it waives foreign transaction fees. Likewise, you might want to consider specific entertainment programs and perks offered by various card issuers. For instance, being a Chase Sapphire Reserve^® cardholder can unlock VIP perks with Chase Experiences.

If you apply this overall strategy, selecting an entertainment credit card should be simple.

How to Maximize the Benefits of Your Entertainment Credit Card

Maximizing the benefits of your entertainment credit card is a matter of careful timing combined with consistent and responsible usage.

You’ll want to apply for your entertainment credit card when the welcome bonus offer is at its highest as well as when you’re in a position to earn it. Missing out on a lucrative welcome bonus is one of the biggest mistakes you can make.

Check how the welcome bonus on your prospective entertainment credit card changes throughout the year and apply at the time when it’s typically highest. When you do so, ensure that you’re ready to meet the minimum spending threshold within the specified time frame to earn the welcome bonus. If you know you have big purchases or bill payments coming up, using a new credit card to fund these is an easy way to meet that minimum-spending requirement.

After earning the welcome bonus, you’ll guarantee yourself success through frequent and responsible card usage.

Ensure you always charge entertainment purchases and any other bonus category spending to your card. That way, you’ll be in the best position to maximize your rewards and offset the annual fee.

And when your statement period closes, ensure you pay off your balance by its due date. By doing this, you’ll avoid late fees, high interest charges and damage to your credit score.

In certain cases, you may benefit from holding multiple cards for different types of entertainment purchases. For example, one card may earn a high return on streaming service purchases while another earns a greater return on live entertainment spending. However, you’d need to be sure that you spend enough on eligible purchases to justify opening a second card for a specific category only, especially if annual fees are involved.

Should You Get an Entertainment Credit Card?

Entertainment cards offer rewards tailored to those who spend on entertainment purchases. If that’s a regular purchase for you, an entertainment card could well be worth its annual fee, giving you a solid return on your spending. The rewards earned could easily cut the costs of your next vacation or simply be redeemed as cash back.

However, if you spend less than the average American household on entertainment purchases, you might want to think twice before getting a dedicated entertainment credit card. This is where a $0 annual fee entertainment credit card could be more appropriate.

You can decide whether or not it’s worth applying for an entertainment credit card by analyzing your spending habits and estimating how much you could receive in rewards if you were to charge this to an entertainment card.

Ready to Dive Into a World of Rewards?

The best credit cards for entertainment are the ones that suit your spending habits best.

If entertainment accounts for a large portion of your spending, you could be well-suited to a card that earns a higher rewards rate in exchange for an annual fee. However, if entertainment purchases make up a smaller portion of your typical spending, then there are many $0 annual fee options out there.

And if you want to earn a return on entertainment spending without committing yourself to an entertainment card, you could opt for a general travel rewards card that earns a competitive rate on non-bonus category spending.

Once you’ve selected the best entertainment card for you, stick along with 10xTravel for the latest tips on maximizing your earnings.