Top Credit Cards for Starbucks
With more than 30,000 locations and millions of rewards members, Starbucks is undoubtedly a global sensation. So, which credit card should you choose for your next coffee, tea, Refresher, or even a pup cup?
Whether you’re craving a cold brew or a morning treat, here’s how to maximize your next Starbucks purchase by utilizing one of these credit cards and optimizing the Starbucks Stars program.
How to Accumulate and Redeem Starbucks Stars
Regardless of which credit card (or gift card) you choose for your Starbucks payment, if you add that amount to your Starbucks app or pay directly through the app, you’ll earn 2 Starbucks Stars for every dollar spent on most menu items.
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Since this is a constant feature at participating Starbucks, we’ll mostly overlook those earnings here, but remember to accumulate those Stars, as they hold a value of approximately 4-5 cents each, depending on how you redeem them.
For our analysis, we’ll assign a value of 4 cents per point to remain conservative, but keep in mind that you can occasionally derive greater value than this.
STARBUCKSHere are the redemption options available through the Starbucks Rewards program:
- 25 Stars: Modifications to drinks (like an extra shot)
- 100 Stars: Brewed hot or iced coffee, tea, a bakery item, packaged snack, and more
- 200 Stars: Custom handcrafted drink or a hot breakfast item
- 300 Stars: Lunch sandwiches, protein boxes, or a brew-at-home coffee
- 400 Stars: A select Starbucks merchandise item (valued up to $20)
Remember that Starbucks Stars expire six months after being earned, on the first day of the following month. Be sure to redeem them or risk losing them.
How to earn credit card rewards at Starbucks
When choosing a credit card for your Starbucks purchases, your initial instinct might be to select one that offers the highest dining bonuses, which is a solid strategy. However, it’s not the only way to maximize value at Starbucks.
Since you can add funds to your Starbucks account via the mobile app (or even use a mobile wallet like Apple Pay or Chase Pay for in-store purchases), credit cards offering a mobile wallet bonus can be beneficial as well.
For instance, the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card offers 3 points for every dollar spent on mobile wallet transactions.
The information regarding the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa card has been independently gathered by Dinogo. The card details presented here have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.
RICHARD LEVINE/CORBIS VIA GETTYStarbucks gift cards can be found in a variety of places, including office supply stores, grocery stores, gas stations, warehouse clubs, pharmacies, home improvement centers, and more. This means that there are nearly limitless opportunities to earn a credit card category bonus when purchasing a Starbucks gift card, provided you're willing to take that extra step.
For instance, by buying a Starbucks gift card at an office supply store with your Ink Business Cash® Credit Card, you could earn 5% cash back (or 5 points per dollar spent). It might require a bit more effort, but the rewards can contribute toward statement credits and other purchases.
The Starbucks Visa card is no longer offered.
You might be wondering, "Isn't there a Starbucks Visa card that should be the best for Starbucks?" Indeed, there used to be a Starbucks Visa, but it's no longer an option — and it wasn't even the most rewarding credit card for Starbucks purchases to begin with.
The top credit cards to use for your Starbucks purchases.
Determining the best payment method for your Starbucks order can be tricky due to the many choices available, but we'll showcase the top options to guide you in the right direction.
| Category bonus | Value of rewards | Total earned per dollar | Annual fee | Welcome bonus | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ink Business Cash® Credit Card | 5 points at office supply stores (you can purchase Starbucks gift cards there) | 2.05 cents (this assumes you also have a premium Ultimate Rewards product) | 10.25 cents | $0 | Earn up to $750: earn $350 bonus cash back after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months, and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months from account opening | 5 points per dollar spent on first $25,000 in combined purchases at office supply stores, cellular phone, landline, internet and cable TV services each account year |
| Citi Prestige® Card | 5 points on dining | 1.8 cents | 9 cents | $495 | No longer available to new applicants | |
| American Express® Gold Card | 4 points at restaurants (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) | 2 cents | 8 cents | $325 (see rates and fees) | Earn 60,000 points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible restaurant purchases (up to $100) within the first six months of card membership. | |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited® | 3 points on dining | 2.05 cents (this assumes you also have a premium Ultimate Rewards product). | 6.15 cents | $0 | Earn an additional 1.5% on all purchases (up to $20,000 spent in the first year) | |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® | 3 points on dining | 2.05 cents | 6.15 cents | $550 | 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 in the first three months of account opening | |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | 3 points on dining | 2.05 cents. | 6.15 cents | $95 | Earn 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening, plus a $300 statement credit on Chase Travel℠ purchases within the first year. | |
| Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express | 6% back at U.S. supermarkets; up to $6,000; then 1% (you can purchase Starbucks gift cards there).
Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout. | 2 cents | 12 cents | $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then, $95 (see rates and fees) | Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new card within the first six months of card membership | 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets up to $6,000 per year; then 1%. Terms apply |
| Bilt Mastercard® | Earn 3 Bilt Points per dollar on dining | 2.05 cents | 6.15 cents. | $0 annual fee (see rates and fees) | No welcome bonus | Earn points when you make 5 transactions that post each statement period (see rewards and benefits). |
| U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card | 3 points on mobile wallet purchases | 1.5 cents | 4.5 cents | $400 | 50,000 after you spend $4,500 on purchases in the first 90 days | Must pay using mobile wallet option such as Apple Pay |
| Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express | 7 points at U.S. restaurants | 0.6 cents. | 4.2 cents | $550 (see rates and fees) | 150,000 points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months | At U.S. restaurants only |
| Capital One Savor Rewards Credit Card | 4% cash back on dining | 1 cent | 4 cents | $95 | $300 cash bonus after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months | |
| Any Bank of America credit or debit card | 2% cash back on qualifying Starbucks in-app purchases | 1 cent | 2 cents | Varies | Varies |
Reward values are based on TPG valuations, rather than the card issuers.
The details regarding the Hilton Aspire card, Starbucks Visa, Citi Prestige, and the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card have been gathered independently by Dinogo. The information presented here has not been verified or provided by the card issuer.
STARBUCKSIf you're looking to directly load your Starbucks account through the app or make purchases at a Starbucks store, the American Express Gold Card is an excellent choice. The Chase Sapphire Reserve and Chase Sapphire Preferred cards also stand out, offering a solid earning rate of 3 points for every dollar spent on dining.
Consider also utilizing relevant Amex Offers or Chase Offers, along with various stacking opportunities that could lead to savings for frequent Starbucks patrons.
The ideal card for Starbucks can vary over time.
The ideal card for making Starbucks purchases in your wallet may shift over time as new offers and special promotions emerge. For instance, TPG team members have previously noticed a Chase promotion that granted up to 10 points per dollar spent at Starbucks across various credit cards.
Moreover, if you possess a card like the Chase Freedom (which is no longer accepting new applicants) or Chase Freedom Flex®, which features rotating bonus categories, that card could occasionally rank as the best choice based on current cash back promotional offers.
In summary
Are you already on your second cup of coffee? We realize this was a lengthy response to a straightforward question.
Determining the best credit card for Starbucks isn't a simple task, as multiple cards can provide substantial rewards — whether in the form of Stars or cash back. The positive aspect is that this creates numerous opportunities for you to enhance your earning potential with each Starbucks transaction.
Unless you come across a promotional offer that gives you more than 4 points per dollar, we suggest using the Amex Gold Card for your Starbucks cravings. Additionally, purchasing Starbucks gift cards can help you earn extra rewards. Otherwise, the 3 points per dollar offered by the Chase Sapphire Reserve, Chase Sapphire Preferred, or Bilt Mastercard serves as a solid alternative.
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