Best Credit Cards with Cell Phone Protection: Which Card You Should Use, and How to File for Coverage

Introduction to Credit Cards with Cell Phone Protection

Breaking your cellphone — or having it stolen — can be a horrible experience, especially since repair or replacement costs can be exorbitant. While some wireless providers and insurance companies offer cell phone protection, the premiums can be pricey.

Fortunately, there's another solution if you want to protect your phone without shelling out a lot of cash. A number of credit cards offer cell phone protection at no cost when you use the card to pay your monthly bill — and some of these even offer bonus rewards for wireless spending.

How Credit Card Cell Phone Protection Works

If cell phone insurance on a credit card sounds too good to be true, this guide is for you.

You usually don't need to buy your phone using a credit card with mobile phone insurance, but you do need to pay your monthly wireless bill with it to qualify for coverage. The best credit cards with cell phone insurance typically require you to show the most recent cell phone bill with your phone line as part of your documentation when submitting a claim. 

The Best Credit Cards with Cell Phone Protection

There are dozens of credit cards that now offer cell phone protection when you use them to pay your phone bill. Here are some of the best options:

• Best overall credit card with cell phone protection: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
• Best no-annual-fee Chase credit card with cell phone protection: Chase Freedom Flex®
• Most affordable premium credit card with cell phone protection: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
• Best American Express credit card with cell phone protection: The Platinum Card® from American Express
• Best airline credit card with cell phone protection: Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
• Best cash back credit card with cell phone protection: Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
• Best credit card with cell phone protection for paying rent: Bilt Mastercard®

Chase Credit Cards with Cell Phone Protection

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card comes with one of the most generous cell phone protection coverage limits of up to $1,000 per claim with a $100 deductible, up to three times per year. That includes the primary line and any additional lines on your bill.

It saves me money — before getting the card, I'd been paying AT&T about $9 per month for coverage — and when I had to file a claim for a shattered screen, the process was relatively simple. And, as a bonus, the card earns 3x points on phone, internet, cable, travel, shipping, and search engine or social media advertising purchases (up to $150,000 per year in combined purchases, then 1x).

Review: Ink Business Preferred card review

Chase Freedom Flex®

Select cards with World Elite Mastercard branding offer cell phone protection, with coverage of up to $800 per claim and $1,000 per year, with a $50 deductible. This includes the no-annual-fee Chase Freedom Flex®, which offers up to 5% cash back in certain categories.

Review: Chase Freedom Flex card review

Capital One Credit Cards with Cell Phone Protection

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a premium credit card, and it's packed with perks including $300 per year in credits toward travel booked through Capital One, Priority Pass and Capital One airport lounge access (even for authorized users), a 10,000-mile bonus on each account anniversary (worth $100 in travel), and Visa Infinite travel and purchase benefits.

It also offers cell phone protection of up to $800 per claim (with a $50 deductible) and $1,600 per year. What's unique about the card is that you can add up to four authorized users for free, and they'll also receive the same cell phone insurance benefit. 

Review: Capital One Venture X credit card review

American Express Credit Cards with Cell Phone Protection

Amex added cell phone protection to many of its premium cards in early 2021, all with the same coverage limit of $800 per claim and $1,600 per year, with a $50 deductible (Terms Apply).

You'll find cell phone insurance on the following Amex cards (Terms Apply):

• The Platinum Card® from American Express
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
• The Platinum Card® Exclusively for Charles Schwab
• The Platinum Card® Exclusively for Morgan Stanley
• The Platinum Card® Exclusively for Goldman Sachs
• The Centurion® Card Exclusively for Goldman Sachs
• Centurion® Card from American Express
• Business Centurion Card®

Wells Fargo Credit Cards with Cell Phone Protection

Wells Fargo is unique in that it offers cell phone insurance as a standard benefit on all of its personal credit cards, even the ones with no annual fees. Coverage is up to $600 per claim with a $25 deductible, with up to two claims every 12 months. 

Here are some of the most noteworthy Wells Fargo credit cards with cell phone protection:

• Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card — This no-annual-fee cash-back credit card earns 2% cash rewards on purchases (rates and fees)
• Bilt Mastercard® — This popular card for paying rent also includes cell phone protection
• Wells Fargo Attune℠ Card — This new card designed for self-care earns 4% back on pet care and spas
• Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card — This travel rewards credit card includes mobile device coverage

There's one exception to the Wells Fargo credit card rule, and it's on a business credit card: The relatively new Signify Business Cash℠ Card by Wells Fargo does not offer this benefit.

Read our guide to the best Wells Fargo credit cards

Cell Phone Protection Credit Card Comparison

 

What is Credit Card Cell Phone Protection?

If you've purchased a phone brand new with your credit card, you may already have purchase protection that covers damage or theft for up to 120 days from the date of purchase. 

Credit card cell phone protection is different. When you pay your monthly bill with the card, you'll get complimentary coverage that may reimburse you for certain types of damage or theft. Restrictions vary depending on the card, but typically you'll pay a deductible and be covered up to a certain amount per claim and per year.

How Does Credit Card Cell Phone Insurance Work?

Every card has different policies and conditions for cell phone protection, so read your benefits guide for full details and exclusions.

Be sure to note these terms:

• You must pay your phone bill with the card that offers coverage — Typically, you're required to pay your bill in full with the card, and some policies only kick in after you've paid the previous month's bill
• Coverage is usually for the primary cardholder's cell phone bill only — However, additional lines on the same bill may be covered
• Damage and theft are generally covered, but losing your phone isn't — Most cards won't provide coverage if your phone is lost or "mysteriously disappears", or for minor damage that doesn't affect its function
• You'll pay a deductible — There's usually a small deductible ($25 to $100, depending on the card) that you'll need to pay before the coverage kicks in
• Coverage is usually secondary to other insurance — If you have another policy — such as homeowner's or renter's insurance — that will cover your loss, you'll have to submit your claim with that policy first; the credit card insurance will only kick in for what's not covered by your primary policy

How to File a Credit Card Cell Phone Protection Claim

If you need to file a claim, the process usually involves either calling the number on the back of your card or the benefits administrator (check your card's guide to benefits for the details). Some banks, like Chase, allow you to file your claim online.

• Your credit card statement showing you paid your entire phone bill with the card 
• A copy of your current cell phone service provider's billing statement
• A copy of the original phone purchase receipt or proof that the phone is currently linked to your wireless account
• A copy of the insurance claim to your homeowner's, renter's, auto, or wireless company insurance (if applicable)
• If a claim is due to damage, a copy of the repair estimate and/or photos of the damage
• If the claim is due to theft, a copy of the police report (usually filed within 48 hours of the incident)

Credit Cards with Cell Phone Protection Frequently Asked Questions 

Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed the Best Credit Cards with Cell Phone Protection

We reviewed the best credit cards for cell phone protection by evaluating all the options on the market against the following criteria:

What is covered? — Does the insurance policy cover all phones under the same phone plan? Do cardholders need to buy their phone with this credit card in order to qualify for coverage? Does the policy exclude certain types of damage or loss?

How much is covered, and what's the deductible? — How much money will the policy pay out if the phone is considered lost or damaged under the terms of coverage? How much does the cardholder need to pay out of pocket for the replacement or repair deductible?

How many claims can you make? — Are cardholders limited to a single claim for the lifetime of the business relationship, or can they make multiple claims within a certain amount of time?

Ancillary benefits — Beyond the cell phone insurance benefit, what other perks does the credit card offer?

Learn more about how we rate credit cards here.

Jasmin Baron

Jasmin Baron is a credit cards writer and editor who has contributed her knowledge to sites like The Points Guy, Million Mile Secrets, and Business Insider.Her expertise in maximizing travel rewards grew from over two decades of experience in the aviation industry, including 18 years working as a pilot and flight instructor in her native Canada.

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