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Phones are expensive -- I had to buy a new iPhone a few months ago, so I would know.
If you want a way to save on your next cellphone mishap, though, there's a great place to look that you may not know about: credit cards.
Many top credit cards come with cellphone protection, which can help cover repair or replacement costs after theft or damage. In most cases, all you have to do is pay your phone bill with the card and you're good to go.
Want to learn more? Here are some of our favorite cards that offer cellphone protection, plus info on their coverage limits, deductibles, and more.
Our aim is to maintain a balanced best-of list featuring top-scoring credit cards from reputable brands. 'Best for' category selections on this page are determined by our editors, and a single card may be recognized in multiple categories.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
Purchases: 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases
Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers
Regular APR
18.74%, 24.74%, or 28.74% Variable APR
Rewards Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
2% cash rewards
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer Earn a $100 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
$100 cash rewards
This card’s unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases is the highest we’ve seen for a flat-rate rewards card with no annual fee. It also has an incredibly easy-to-earn $100 welcome bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. The intro APR is decent too -- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers (18.74%, 24.74%, or 28.74% Variable APR applies after). We simply haven’t come across this combination of top perks in one card before.
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The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card (rates and fees) is one of my favorite cash rewards cards out there, offering 2% cash rewards on purchases. It also offers a strong amount of cellphone protection, all for a $0 annual fee.
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card offers $600 of coverage per claim after a $25 deductible (maximum of two paid claims per year). This makes it a good choice if you want simple, consistent rewards and basic phone protection at a low cost.
Good/Excellent
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Rewards Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®. 1X Membership Rewards® Points on other purchases. Terms apply.
1X-5X Membership Rewards® Points
Annual Fee
$895
Welcome Offer You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
As High As 175,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.
The American Express Platinum Card® isn’t just a credit card — it’s a status symbol. With over $3,500 in annual credits like $400 for dining with Resy, $600 in luxury hotel stays, and $300 in digital entertainment, plus VIP access to 1,550 airport lounges and automatic Hilton and Marriott Bonvoy elite status (enrollment required), it delivers prestige few cards can match. The fee is steep, but for those who want the best, the Platinum Card® can more than pay for itself — starting with a powerful welcome offer. Terms apply.
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Finally, the American Express Platinum Card® is one of the most valuable travel cards available, with more than $3,500 in annual perks (although you'll have to pay an $895 annual fee -- see rates and fees).
It's got great cellphone protection, too. Coverage is up to $800 per claim with a $50 deductible and a maximum of two approved claims per 12-month period. Just one more reason to look into the ever-popular Platinum Card®.
On Capital One's Secure Website.
On Capital One's Secure Website.
Excellent
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
19.74% - 28.74% (Variable)
Rewards Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases.
2X-10X miles
Annual Fee
$395
Welcome Offer Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Earn 75,000 Miles (worth $750 in travel)
If you want premium travel perks that easily justify their cost, this card delivers. You’ll get a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, plus 10,000 bonus miles every account anniversary (worth $100 toward travel) — perks that can offset the $395 annual fee.
Earn a 75,000-mile sign-up bonus (worth $750 toward travel), unlimited 2X miles on everyday purchases, airport lounge access, and Global Entry/TSA PreCheck® credits, and you’ve got one of the strongest premium travel cards available today.
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The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has a steep $395 annual fee (see rates and fees), it's true. But with its long list of perks, like airport lounge access, travel credits, and elevated rewards, you'll definitely know where that money went.
It also offers cellphone protection when you pay your phone bill with your Capital One card. You can be reimbursed if your cellphone is stolen or damaged (subject to a $50 deductible). This is a great option if you value travel perks alongside phone protection.
Earn a $250 bonus after spending $500 in the first 3 months -- that's 50% back on your spend!
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR 0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months
Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months
Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months
Regular APR
18.49% - 27.99% Variable
Rewards 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter! Plus, earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases.
5% cash back offer
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer Limited Time Offer! Earn a $250 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening!
$250 bonus
We love Chase Freedom Flex because it delivers big value with zero annual fee. You earn 5% in rotating categories, 1% on everything else, and one of the easiest welcome bonuses to qualify for -- currently $250 for a limited time. Add in the long 0% intro APR and it’s an easy yes if you want strong rewards without paying to carry the card.
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The Chase Freedom Flex® (see rates and fees) also has no annual fee and strong rewards rates of its own: 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate, 5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, and 3% on dining and drugstores.
Its cellphone protection can cover up to $800 per claim and $1,000 per year for theft or damage when you pay your phone bill with it, with a $50 deductible and maximum of two paid claims a year.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases
Purchases: 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
18.74%, 24.74%, or 28.74% Variable APR
Rewards Earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. Plus earn 1X points on other purchases.
1X-3X points
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.
20,000 bonus points
This card offers unlimited 3X points on common things like restaurants, gas stations, travel, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans. Plus, earn 1X points on other purchases. This could be a great pick if you spend a lot in those categories. A solid welcome bonus and cell phone protection are the cherries on top.
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Another great Wells Fargo offering, the Wells Fargo Autograph® Card (rates and fees), has a $0 annual fee and earns 3X points on popular everyday categories like restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans.
Like the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, coverage is up to $600 per claim with a $25 deductible and maximum of two paid claims per year. If you prefer travel rewards points to cash rewards, but still want solid cellphone protection, the Wells Fargo Autograph® Card is worth a look.
At Motley Fool Money, every credit card we review is rated on a 5-star scale, scored to a tenth of a point. Our ratings weigh the features that matter most: rewards rates, 0% intro APR offers, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and purchase protections.
We score cards within four primary categories:
Top-rated cards typically combine strong long-term value, attainable bonuses, low fees, and standout protections or perks.
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best credit card recommendations. Our aim is to maintain a balanced best-of list featuring top-scoring credit cards from reputable brands. 'Best for' category selections on this page are determined by our editors, and a single card may be recognized in multiple categories.
Ordering within lists is influenced by advertiser compensation, including featured placements at the top of a given list, but our product recommendations are NEVER influenced by advertisers. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates credit cards.
At Motley Fool Money, every credit card we review is rated on a 5-star scale, scored to a tenth of a point. Our ratings weigh the features that matter most: rewards rates, 0% intro APR offers, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and purchase protections.
We score cards within four primary categories:
Top-rated cards typically combine strong long-term value, attainable bonuses, low fees, and standout protections or perks.
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best credit card recommendations. Our aim is to maintain a balanced best-of list featuring top-scoring credit cards from reputable brands. 'Best for' category selections on this page are determined by our editors, and a single card may be recognized in multiple categories.
Ordering within lists is influenced by advertiser compensation, including featured placements at the top of a given list, but our product recommendations are NEVER influenced by advertisers. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates credit cards.
It's probably not news to you that a new smartphone can cost upwards of a thousand dollars. Without protection, fixing or replacing a new iPhone or Android can cost an arm and a leg.
Phone protection on a credit card can help you save hundreds by reimbursing covered costs. It's an insurance plan on your cellphone. Most credit cards act as secondary coverage, paying after other available insurance. But it's still an easy way to save that a lot of people never even think about.
There are a handful of great cards with comparable cellphone protection -- and you're likely not getting a card just for its cellphone protection, either. Here's how to know which is right for you:
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply
Motley Fool Stock Disclosures
Wells Fargo is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. American Express is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends JPMorgan Chase, Target, and Visa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.For rates and fees for American Express Platinum Card®, click here
The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Visa. The Motley Fool recommends Amex.