The Best Buy card makes sense if you spend $500 or more per year at Best Buy and want to avoid the annual fee through rewards, or if you value the in-store perks over cash back elsewhere

Best Buy offers two versions of its credit card: the Best Buy Credit Card (store card) and the Best Buy Visa (dual-use card). The store card has no annual fee but works only at Best Buy. The Visa charges $39 per year but earns rewards at other retailers and online. Neither card is a strong choice for general spending — the rewards rates are lower than competing cards — but each solves a specific problem if you're already a Best Buy customer.

The real question isn't whether the card is "worth it" in the abstract. It's whether the rewards you'll actually earn exceed what you'd get from a different card, and whether the store-specific benefits justify keeping it in your wallet.

Key Takeaways

  • The Best Buy store card earns 1% cash back at Best Buy with no annual fee, but only works at Best Buy locations and online.
  • The Best Buy Visa earns 1.5% at Best Buy and 1% everywhere else, but costs $39 yearly and requires you to spend at least $3,900 per year to break even against the store card.
  • Best Buy cardholders get exclusive discounts on open-box items, extended return windows, and early access to sales, which may matter more than the cash back rate itself.
  • If you spend less than $500 per year at Best Buy, neither card justifies the effort; a flat-rate cash back card from another issuer will earn more on your total spending.
  • The card's value depends entirely on your actual Best Buy spending, not on the card's rewards structure alone.

Rewards rates: Why the Best Buy card lags behind competitors

The Best Buy store card earns 1% cash back on all purchases at Best Buy. The Visa earns 1.5% at Best Buy and 1% everywhere else. Both rates are below what you'd earn with a general-purpose cash back card like the Citi Double Cash (2% everywhere) or the Capital One SavorOne (3% on dining and entertainment, 1% elsewhere).

The gap matters most if you use the card outside Best Buy. On $10,000 in annual spending split between Best Buy and other retailers, the Best Buy Visa would earn roughly $115 in rewards. A flat 2% card would earn $200. That $85 difference is real money, and it grows with your spending.

Where the Best Buy card can compete is if you concentrate your spending at Best Buy itself. If you spend $2,000 per year there, the store card earns $20 in cash back. A 2% card would earn $40 on that same $2,000. But the store card has no annual fee, so you're not losing money — you're just earning less than you could elsewhere.

The annual fee and when the Visa breaks even

The Best Buy Visa costs $39 per year. To justify that fee against the store card, you need the extra 0.5% at Best Buy to cover it. That means you need to spend $7,800 per year at Best Buy just to earn an extra $39 in rewards ($7,800 × 0.005 = $39).

But the Visa also earns 1% everywhere else, while the store card earns nothing outside Best Buy. If you spend $3,900 per year at Best Buy and $3,900 elsewhere, the math shifts: the Visa earns $58.50 at Best Buy ($3,900 × 1.5%) plus $39 elsewhere ($3,900 × 1%), totaling $97.50. Subtract the $39 fee and you net $58.50. The store card would earn only $39 ($3,900 × 1%). So the Visa wins by $19.50.

The break-even point depends on how much you spend outside Best Buy. The more you spend elsewhere, the lower your total Best Buy spending needs to be to justify the Visa. But if you spend almost nothing outside Best Buy, you're better off with the store card.

Store-specific benefits that may matter more than rewards

Both cards include perks that don't show up in the rewards rate but can add real value. Best Buy cardholders get an extended return window — typically 15 days instead of the standard 15 days for most items, though this varies by product category. You also get exclusive discounts on open-box and clearance items, early notification of sales, and special financing offers on large purchases (usually 12 or 24 months interest-free on purchases over a certain amount).

The special financing is the most valuable perk for most people. If you're buying a $1,500 laptop or TV and can pay it off within the promotional period, the interest-free financing saves you hundreds of dollars compared to paying cash or using a standard credit card. That benefit alone can justify carrying the card even if the rewards rate is mediocre.

The extended return window and open-box discounts matter if you buy electronics frequently and want flexibility to return or find deals. For occasional shoppers, these perks are nice but not essential.

How the Best Buy card compares to other store cards

Store cards from Target, Amazon, and Walmart all follow the same pattern: higher rewards at the store, no rewards elsewhere, and store-specific perks. The Best Buy card's 1% rate at Best Buy is competitive with Target (1% everywhere, 2% on Target purchases) and Walmart (1% everywhere, 2% at Walmart). Amazon's card is stronger — it earns 5% at Amazon and Whole Foods, 2% at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% elsewhere — but it's also designed for heavy Amazon users.

The real comparison isn't between store cards. It's between a store card and a general-purpose card. If you're choosing between the Best Buy card and a flat 2% cash back card, the decision hinges on whether your Best Buy spending is large enough to offset the opportunity cost of earning less everywhere else.

When to use the Best Buy card and when to skip it

Use the store card if you spend $500 or more per year at Best Buy and want to earn something on those purchases without paying an annual fee. You'll earn $5 to $10 per year in cash back, which is better than nothing and costs you nothing to maintain.

Use the Visa if you spend at least $3,900 per year at Best Buy, or if you spend $2,000 at Best Buy and $2,000 elsewhere and value the special financing offers. The Visa makes sense as a secondary card for Best Buy and occasional use elsewhere, not as your primary card.

Skip both cards if you spend less than $500 per year at Best Buy, or if you can get a higher rewards rate from a competing card. A 2% cash back card will earn more on your total spending, and you won't have to manage a store-specific card in your wallet.

The hidden cost: Keeping track of another card

Every credit card you carry has a small cost beyond the annual fee: the mental overhead of tracking it, the risk of missing a payment, and the temptation to spend more at that retailer just to earn rewards. The Best Buy card is no exception.

If you already shop at Best Buy regularly and pay off your balance in full each month, adding the card is low-friction. If you'd be opening a new account just to earn rewards, or if you'd be tempted to buy things you don't need to hit a spending threshold, the card isn't worth it. The $20 or $40 in annual rewards won't offset the cost of impulse purchases.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Best Buy card help you build credit faster?

No. All credit cards report to the same credit bureaus and affect your credit score in the same way. The Best Buy card won't build credit faster or slower than any other card. What matters is paying on time and keeping your balance low relative to your credit limit.

Can you use the store card online and in-store?

Yes. The Best Buy store card works both online at bestbuy.com and in physical Best Buy locations. The Visa works anywhere Visa is accepted. Both cards can be used for in-store pickup orders.

What happens if you don't use the card for a while?

Best Buy may close the account if it sits inactive for an extended period (usually 12 months or longer), though the company doesn't publicly state an exact timeline. If you want to keep the card open, use it at least once or twice per year. Closing the account yourself won't hurt your credit score significantly if you have other open accounts.

Is the special financing offer worth it?

Yes, if you can pay off the purchase within the promotional period. A 24-month interest-free offer on a $1,500 purchase saves you the interest you'd otherwise pay. But if you can't pay it off in time, the regular APR kicks in and you'll owe interest on the full amount from the original purchase date, not just the remaining balance.

Can you use the Best Buy card at other retailers?

The store card works only at Best Buy. The Visa works everywhere Visa is accepted. If you want to earn rewards outside Best Buy, you need the Visa version, and you'll pay the $39 annual fee.