Best Credit Cards With Cell Phone Protection Compared
| Credit Card | Coverage Amount Per Claim | Number of Claims Per Year | Deductible |
| Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card | Up to $1,000 | 2 | $25 |
| American Express Platinum Card®* | Up to $800 | 2 | $50 |
| Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card | Up to $600 | 2 | $25 |
| SoFi Unlimited 2% Credit Card | Up to $800 (max $1,000 per year) | 2 | $50 |
| Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® | Up to $800 | 2 | $25 |
| Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card* | Up to $800 | 2 | $50 |
| Chase Freedom Flex® Credit Card | Up to $800 | 2 | $50 |
| USAA Eagle Navigator® Credit Card | Up to $500 | 2 | $50 |
| Ink Business Premier® Credit Card | Up to $1,000 | 3 | $100 |
* Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company
Methodology
To identify the best credit cards with cell phone protection, WalletHub’s editors regularly compare more than 1,500 offers and narrow them down to those that offer this supplemental benefit. We then evaluate information specific to the cards’ cell phone protection policies, such as the amount of reimbursement you can get per claim, the number of claims you can make per year, and the deductible you have to pay for each claim.
After looking at cell phone protection specifically, we compare qualifying offers further by concentrating on the key components of the WalletHub Rating, particularly the cards’ rewards, fees and interest rates. We also take into account factors like their approval requirements and supplemental benefits.
Cell Phone Protection Coverage by Credit Card Company
| Company Name | Offers Cell Phone Insurance? |
| American Express | Yes |
| Bank of America | No |
| Barclays | Yes |
| Capital One | Yes |
| Chase | Yes |
| Citibank | No |
| Navy Federal Credit Union | No |
| TD Bank | Yes |
| USAA | Yes |
| U.S. Bank | Yes |
| Wells Fargo | Yes |
How to Make the Most of Credit Card Cell Phone Protection
- Always pay your monthly cell phone bill with your credit card. If you don’t do this, you won’t be eligible for the coverage. Plus, you’ll miss out on earning rewards on your cell phone bill.
- Read the fine print. It’s important to know exactly how much you can get reimbursed per claim, how many claims you can make in a year, and how much the deductible is. You should also familiarize yourself with the steps for the claims process, including what proof you need to make a claim and how quickly you need to make it.
- Compare policies. Some cards offer as much as $1,000 per claim, which is plenty to pay for most phone models or repair costs. Other cards offer hundreds of dollars less per claim, which may require you to shell out more money from your own pocket.
- Keep records. When you file a claim, you’ll have to provide proof that you paid your bill with your card along with proof that a covered incident happened (such as a police report for a stolen phone or an estimate for repairs).
- Be careful with your phone. Credit card cell phone insurance doesn’t cover every bad thing that can happen with your phone. For example, it covers stolen phones you file a police report for, but not ones that you simply lose. It also typically doesn’t cover cosmetic damage that doesn’t affect your phone’s function, such as a scratch on the screen.
- Don’t buy extra insurance. If you have a credit card that provides free cell phone protection, then it’s not worth double dipping and also buying insurance from your cell phone company. Your credit card would likely force you to use the paid coverage first anyway, since its coverage is typically secondary.
- Carefully follow the instructions for filing a claim. Make sure your situation falls into one of the covered categories, double-check that all the information you fill in is correct, and provide all necessary documentation including your monthly bill, police report, receipt, etc. There may also be a time limit for filing a claim (e.g., 60 days after the loss), though there may be exceptions if that’s not reasonably possible for you.
- Don’t forget about the deductible. For each claim, you’ll need to authorize the payment of a deductible that’s usually around $25-$50. So if you’re only going to save a few dollars after paying the deductible, going through the hassle of filing a claim and waiting for it to be approved may not be worthwhile.
