Benefits and disadvantages of a credit card

Credit cards can be a convenient way to manage your finances, but they can also be expensive and risky. Compare the pros and cons of credit cards to decide whether you should get one.

13 benefits of using a credit card

Some of the pros that come with paying on plastic include:

1. A credit card is safer than carrying cash. While there’s only a small chance of having lost or stolen cash returned, a credit card can quickly be cancelled if you lose your wallet. Most financial institutions also have security processes in place to protect you if your card has been lost or stolen or if you suspect your account has been used for a fraudulent transaction. If you’re in any of these situations, make sure to contact your bank to report the issue as soon as possible.
2. A credit card can build your credit rating. Your credit card account details and payment history make up a key part of your credit score. If you keep your account in good standing, this information will help you build up a good credit score, which could increase your chances of approval for other products such as car loans or a mortgage.
3. You can get interest-free days. If you pay your balance in full before the statement period ends, you can be rewarded with interest-free days on future purchases for a set period.
4. Earn rewards points when you spend. Rewards and airline credit cards allow you to earn reward points on every dollar you spend on eligible purchases, such as the groceries and gas costs. Earn reward points to redeem with the bank’s rewards programs for perks including flights with partner airlines, products from the rewards store or cash back with rewards credit cards. On the other hand, airline credit cards let you earn flights with specific airline loyalty programs.
5. Request a chargeback if you’re unhappy with a product or service. Ask for a chargeback through your credit card company if you have a dispute with a merchant, either in-store or online.
6. Credit cards work in any currency. Although currency conversion fees usually apply, you can use your credit card overseas to make purchases in a foreign currency. There are even credit cards that waive fees for international purchases, which could be useful if you often shop at overseas online stores or have an international holiday coming up.
7. Credit cards give you an emergency line of credit. Credit cards can be a financial safety net if you don’t have enough cash or savings to cover any unexpected costs that arise. Remember that you have to repay everything you owe, though.
8. Credit cards often have complimentary extras. Credit card features such as travel insurance, purchase protection and extended warranty insurance can save you money and give you peace of mind. Other value-adding features include complimentary flight offers, passes to some of the best airline lounges and even free checked bags.
9. Travel reservations and insurance. In today’s Internet age, reserving your flight or booking your hotel stay often requires a credit card to complete. If you don’t have one, you may find it hard to make your travel itinerary. Also, most travel credit cards come with a variety of insurance and coverage options, including travel accident insurance, lost luggage coverage, car rental collision damage waiver, trip cancelation and more.
10. Consolidate debts and save money on existing balances. Balance transfer credit cards allow you to move existing high-interest debts to a new account with a low or 0% promotional interest rate. This can save you money on interest charges and help you pay down debt faster.
11. Credit cards offer flexibility. Credit cards allow the customer to avoid having to carry large amounts of cash around. They are perfect for those occasions when an unexpected purchase becomes necessary, and sufficient cash is unavailable.
12. You can make online purchases. You can use your card to safely purchase items and services online even from international retailers.
13. Can help in times of crisis. When the pandemic hit in 2020, many credit cards updated their rewards to reflect what people needed most. The Chase Freedom Unlimited® and the Chase Freedom Flex℠ cards, for example, added rewards for food delivery and purchases on groceries as people were going out to eat less. Some providers also helped cardholders get their money back for canceled airline tickets as travel was put on hold.

Getting the most out of your card

One of the major benefits of using a credit card over cash is the perks such as points. By far the most popular credit card with American adults is getting cashback, with 67% saying that that is what they use their points for.

9 disadvantages of using a credit card

The cons of spending with a credit card include:

1. Paying high rates of interest. If you carry a balance from month-to-month, you’ll pay interest charges. Purchase and cash advance interest rates can be as high as 22% APR, so you can end up paying hundreds or thousands more than you initially charged in interest if you’re unable to make repayments each month.
2. Credit damage. Missed credit card repayments and ongoing debts are recorded on your credit file and can impact your chances of getting a loan down the track. See our guide on how to improve your credit score for some tips.
3. Credit card fraud. There are a range of fraud schemes that target credit cards. While you can be compensated for illegal transactions on your account, dealing with credit card fraud can still be a time-consuming and stressful experience. Scammers could use skimming devices, phishing techniques and other tricks to steal your credit card information and your hard-earned money.
4. Cash advance fees and rates. Financial institutions make it very expensive to use your credit card to get cash out or make other “cash equivalent” transactions, such as buying foreign currency or gambling. Using a credit card for a cash withdrawal will attract a cash advance fee worth around 3% of the total transaction amount. It also typically attracts an interest rate of 19–22% right away.
5. Annual fees. While you can often get debit cards without annual fees, most credit cards have them. These can cost as little as $25 per year, or as much as $1,200 depending on the card that you choose. Generally, the more perks you want, the higher the cost of the annual fee. If you want to avoid this charge, you can consider a no-annual-fee credit card — but make sure you look at all the other features to help find a card that works for you.
6. Credit card surcharges. Businesses often apply a surcharge when you pay with a credit card. For Mastercard and Visa products, this fee is usually 0.5–2% of the total transaction cost, while for Amex cards it could be closer to 3%. Whatever the case, this is an extra cost for the convenience of paying with plastic.
7. Other fees can quickly add up. Depending on your card, you could be charged fees when you miss a payment, fees if you spend past your credit limit, fees for overseas transactions, balance transfer fees and even some rewards programs fees. If you carry a balance or don’t have access to interest-free days, there’s also a good chance interest will be applied to these charges.
8. Overspending. When talking about the pros and cons of credit cards, this is the classic downside. Some individuals can get easily carried away with their credit card, creating a debt that is beyond their means to pay off.

Who is most likely to be researching the benefits of a credit card?

Finder data suggests that women aged 18-24 are most likely to be researching this topic.

Should I use a credit card?

Credit cards are suited to certain types of people, but not others. As well as considering the pros and cons, you may like to look at the following factors to help decide if a credit card is right for you.

If you’re thinking about getting a credit card, it’s important to consider the pros and cons based on your own circumstances. This process can narrow down the range of cards you compare so that you can find an option that works for you.

Written by

Megan Horner

Publisher

Megan Horner is editorial director at USA TODAY Blueprint and former head of publishing at Finder, where she lead a team focused on publishing personal finance guides and reviews that help readers make informed financial decisions. She's passionate about helping you find the best financial accounts to meet your needs — whether that's earning great rewards or improving your credit score.  Megan's expertise has been featured on Lifehacker, CreditCards.com, American Banker and news broadcasts across the country. She has a longstanding background in surfacing the best deals and helping people make decisions, including a start as a writer at a comparison website and editing credit card and credit score content at Credit Karma. She earned a degree in English and editing from Brigham Young University. See full bio