Top Credit Cards That Offer Cell Phone Insurance
This benefit can help if your device is damaged or stolen. Multiple cards now offer it, and here are some of our top picks.
Picture it: Your phone falls from your pocket and hits the ground face first. With a sense of dread, you stoop to pick it up and assess the damage.
Could it be a cracked screen? Or worse, a dead phone?
If you pay for cell phone insurance through your carrier or another provider, you may be covered. But if not, check your credit card. Some offer built-in cell phone insurance, as long as you pay your monthly cell phone bill with the card.
You shouldn't choose a card based solely on this feature. But if you're already paying separately for cell phone insurance, here are some of our favorite cards that could spare you that expense.
Nerdy tip: As of July 2019, Mastercard added cell phone insurance as a benefit for World and World Elite credit cardholders. Coverage on these cards is provided by the payment network (Mastercard) rather than the issuing bank, although your issuer might choose to supplement this benefit. If you have a World or World Elite Mastercard, click here to find out more about your benefits.
Top credit cards that offer cell phone insurance
Chase Freedom Flex℠
Our pick for: Rewards optimizers
Rewards:
5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories that change every quarter (activation is required). See bonus categories here.
5% back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
5% back on qualifying Lyft services (through March 31, 2022).
3% back at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services.
3% back at drugstores.
1% back on all other purchases.
Welcome offer: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
Annual fee: $0.
APR: 0% intro APR on Purchases for 15 months, and then the ongoing APR of 14.99% - 23.74% Variable APR.
Deductible: $50.
Cell phone insurance: The Chase Freedom Flex℠ earns rich rewards in rotating and fixed bonus categories, but it has the potential to get complicated. You have to activate bonus categories every quarter and also remember to stay on top of them to get the most from your spending. This card also provides generous introductory offers and secondary cell phone insurance. To qualify for the cell phone benefit, use the card to pay your monthly cell phone bill. It covers up to $800 per claim (for a maximum of $1,000 per year) for a damaged or stolen phone.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Our pick for: Travel
Rewards:
5 Membership Rewards points per $1 spent on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel, on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
5 points per $1 on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
2 points per $1 on other eligible travel expenses booked with American Express Travel.
1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
Terms apply — see rates and fees.
Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $5,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.
Annual fee: $550.
Deductible: $50.
Cell phone insurance: In addition to offering multiple luxury travel perks (like lounge access and automatic elite status), as well as monthly Uber statement credits, The Platinum Card® from American Express also offers cell phone protection. Use the card to pay your monthly wireless bill, and you'll be covered if your cell phone gets damaged or stolen, including a cracked screen. Eligible claims can be reimbursed for a maximum of $800 per claim, or $1,600 per 12-month period, up to two approved claims. Terms apply.
Nerdy tip: As of April 2021, American Express added cell phone protection on a variety of eligible cards, not just The Platinum Card® from American Express. Terms apply.
U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card
Our pick for: 0% intro APR
Rewards: None.
Deductible: $25.
Cell phone insurance: In addition to having one of the longest 0% APR periods around, the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card covers your primary cell phone and additional lines in your plan up to $600 per claim, for a maximum of $1,200 per 12-month period. Simply pay your monthly cell phone bill with the card and you’ll be covered for damage or theft starting the next month. If you already have your own insurance, this benefit will reimburse the deductible portion required by that plan.
Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card
Our pick for: Everyday expenses
Rewards:
3 points per $1 spent on dining out or ordering in.
3 points per $1 spent on gas stations, rideshares and transit.
3 points per $1 spent on travel including flights, hotels, homestays and car rentals.
3 points per $1 spent on eligible streaming services.
1 point per $1 spent in non-bonus categories
Deductible: $25.
Cell phone insurance: The Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card isn't the only Wells Fargo credit card that offers cell phone insurance, but it's among the issuer's best overall cards, with a generous welcome offer and rich ongoing rewards and perks. Among them: Pay your monthly cell phone bill with the card and you qualify for up to $600 per claim (and a maximum of $1,200 in a 12-month period) for a damaged or stolen phone. Wells Fargo’s cell insurance policy serves as supplemental coverage that can potentially cover costs that any existing insurance doesn’t. Terms apply.
Navy Federal Credit Union® nRewards® Secured Credit Card
Our pick for: Those with no credit or poor credit
Rewards:
Earn one point per net $1 spent, to redeem for cash, gift cards or merchandise.
Welcome offer: None.
Annual fee: $0, but it does require a one-time $200 security deposit.
APR: The ongoing APR is 18.00%, Variable.
Deductible: $50.
Cell phone insurance: The Navy Federal Credit Union® nRewards® Secured Credit Card is a secured card, so it's meant for those looking to establish or repair credit. While you’re doing so, you can also get supplemental cell phone protection for stolen or damaged phones when you pay your monthly cell phone bill with the card.
Coverage varies depending on the type of card you choose during the application process. (This card can be issued as a Visa or a Mastercard.) The Visa covers up to $250 per claim (and a maximum of $500 in a 12-month period). The Mastercard covers up to $600 per claim ($1,000 maximum in a 12-month period).
In addition to meeting the traditional credit card application requirements, you’ll also have to be a member of Navy Federal to qualify.
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Our pick for: Business owners
Rewards:
3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year.
1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
Sign-up bonus: Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Annual fee: $95.
APR: The ongoing APR is 15.99% - 20.99% Variable APR.
Deductible: $100.
Cell phone insurance: Get up to $600 per claim in cell phone protection for damaged or stolen cell phones when you use the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card to pay your monthly cell phone bills. Coverage is supplemental to your provider’s insurance or other qualifying insurance, and it extends to employees as long as they are also listed on the monthly cell phone bill. The benefit covers up to $600 per claim, with a maximum of three claims and $1,800 per 12-month period. Terms apply.
Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students
Our pick for: Students
Rewards: 1% unlimited cash back on all purchases.
Sign-up bonus: None.
Annual fee: $0.
APR: The ongoing APR is 18.74% Variable.
Deductible: $50.
Cell phone insurance: The Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students stands out as a credit card that doesn't solely rely on the traditional FICO scoring model; the issuer has its own underwriting standards. As a student credit card, it ups the ante by offering secondary cell phone insurance when you use the card to pay your monthly bill. Coverage of up to $600 per claim (for a maximum of $1,000 per 12-month period) can go a long way for a damaged or stolen phone. So much can happen to a phone on a college campus or in the fog of finals week — this way, you can put your money toward books or pizza. Terms apply.
Uber Credit Card
Our pick for: Frequent rideshare users
Rewards:
5% back in UberCash on Uber purchases, including rides, Uber Eats orders, and Jump bike and scooter rides.
3% back in UberCash on restaurants, bars, hotels, and airfare.
1% back in UberCash on all other purchases.
Deductible: $25.
Cell phone insurance: The Uber Credit Card is temporarily closed to new applicants. But for existing cardholders, it still serves up big rewards on Uber spending. It also offers supplemental cell phone coverage when you pay your monthly bill with the card. The card covers damage to or theft of your phone that's not otherwise covered by another policy, up to $600 per claim, with a maximum of two claims and $1,000 per 12-month period. Terms apply.
To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, see this page.
Information related to the Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product or service.
