5 great credit cards you can use instantly after approval

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Thanks to mobile wallets and virtual account numbers, you no longer have to wait for your new credit card to arrive in the mail to start using it. While not all cards offer instant access, it’s become an increasingly popular way to start earning rewards and using benefits shortly after approval.

Here are a few of the best cards that offer instant access to cardholders.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Spend instantly for cash back

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Chase Freedom Unlimited®

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One of our favorite cash back cards allows you to start earning rewards instantly.

Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers cash back in several useful categories, including 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% back on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services), 3% back at drug stores and 1.5% back on all other purchases.

Better yet, it has a $0 annual fee.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Get a head start on your sign-up bonus

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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

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The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers excellent rewards-earning rates, but perhaps the best reason to use it right after approval is to start qualifying for the valuable sign-up bonus.

Not bad for the $95 annual fee.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn miles after approval

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Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

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The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card features straightforward, valuable travel rewards for its $95 annual fee. It offers two miles per $1 spent on all eligible purchases and several useful perks.

While Capital One doesn’t offer the ability to add your card to a mobile wallet right after approval, the issuer allows cardholders to create numerous virtual cards for online shopping via its Eno browser extension.

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express from American Express: Start earning on everyday spending

This card offers some of the best rewards on groceries anywhere, and plenty more to return value for the $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.

You’ll earn 6% cash back on up to $6,000 in purchases at U.S. supermarkets (then 1%), 6% back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% back on transit, 3% back on gas at U.S. gas stations and 1% back on all other purchases.

American Express doesn’t guarantee a card number will be given to all approved applicants instantly, but the feature is available on the majority of the issuer’s cards. If eligible, you’ll receive your card number immediately following approval or via a link in your introductory email.

See your American Express credit card offers on Credit Karma.

Apple Card: Maximize your value with Apple Pay

If you like the idea of using Apple Pay, you could maximize your value with Apple Card.

The card offers 2% Daily Cash back on all purchases made with the card via Apple Pay, plus 3% back on Apple Pay purchases with Apple and other select merchants. All other non-Apple Pay purchases earn 1% back. There’s also a $0 annual fee.

Using Apple Card instantly requires little work from you. The card exists primarily in the Wallet app on iPhone, so you can use it as soon as your approval is processed.

See if you have an offer for Apple Card on the Credit Karma app on iOS.


More cards with instant-use features

While all the cards on our list offer a mix of strong rewards and the potential for instant use, there are other options available if you’re looking for a card you can use right after approval.

Instant-use cards are available from several notable issuers we haven’t mentioned, like Citi and Bank of America, but they typically make the availability of this feature less clear to applicants or available only via select methods of application.

If you prefer cards from these issuers, not knowing if you’ll be able to use them instantly doesn’t have to stop you from applying. Even if you can’t use your card right away, it’ll likely be worth the wait to get the card that best fits your needs.


About the author: Eric Freeman is a writer and editor at Credit Karma, specializing in credit cards and credit scores and reports. He strives to make personal finance relatable for readers and to ground complicated issues in everyday e… Read more.