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Be honest, the last time you were in the grocery store, did you feel just a little leery about touching the payment terminal? You know, the one that everyone else before you had their fingers on too?
If so, you're not alone. People are finding smart ways to adapt to the novel coronavirus pandemic, and one of those ways is contactless credit cards. They're so popular, in fact, that Visa recently announced that the use of contactless credit cards in the U.S. is up by 150% from March 2019 to March 2020.
We're not here to fearmonger, and so it's important to let you know that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say there's very little evidence you can catch the coronavirus from touching hard surfaces. Still, they recommend playing it safe. And besides, contactless credit cards have an added bonus: They're quicker to process, allowing you to sail through the line and get on with your day even faster.
Curious about how these nifty little rectangles of technology work, and how they can help you? Read on.
Contactless credit cards are also known as "tap-to-pay credit cards," or "tap-and-go credit cards."
How does contactless technology work?
They use a technology called Near Field Communication (NFC). It works like this: When you're ready to pay, you hover or tap the card just above the reader. The card itself has a chip and a tiny antenna inside of it, which it uses to send your credit card number and a one-time-use code over that small gap to the reader.
This code identifies and verifies the transaction. That means the card doesn't need to send your name, billing address, or the three-digit code on the back. In this way, it's actually safer than more traditional credit card purchases, such as those done online, as it's harder for thieves to get hold of your personal information.
How do I know if my credit card is contactless?
If you're not sure whether you have a contactless credit card, there are two ways you can find out:
Ask your card issuer, or
Look at the card itself
If it's a contactless credit card, it'll have a wave symbol printed somewhere on it. This logo looks a bit like a Wi-Fi symbol rotated on its side.
Where can I use a contactless credit card?
The merchant will need a contactless credit card reader to accept your payment. You can tell whether a reader accepts contactless cards or not because it'll have the same wave logo printed prominently on the machine.
Americans aren't using tap-and-go payments as much as people in Europe, where it's been widespread for years. Contactless readers have actually been the big sticking point as many U.S. merchants just haven't been upgrading their equipment. But coronavirus concerns make it likely we'll see this rolled out more in the upcoming months.
If you're worried about running into a reader that doesn't accept contactless credit cards, there's no need. You can still use your card the old-fashioned way -- by swiping, dipping, or even entering in the information manually.
Is a contactless credit card right for me?
It certainly doesn't hurt to get a contactless credit card. Even if you never use it, at least you have the option.
The only thing to watch out for is that you don't let your card's contactless capabilities lull you into a false sense of security. You still need to keep an eye on your card so you can flag any unauthorized charges. And if you ever do lose your card, it's even more important to make sure you report it ASAP so your issuer can deactivate the card.
Choosing a credit card
Don't you wish you could take a peek inside a credit card expert's wallet sometimes? Just to see the cards they carry? Well, you can't look in anybody's wallet, but you can check out our experts' favorite credit cards. Get started here:
But on the whole, contactless credit cards will likely follow hot on the heels of EMV-chips as the next big credit card technology. In this case, contactless credit cards are literally the wave of the future.
Which credit card issuers offer contactless credit cards?
Virtually all of the major credit card issuers offer some sort of contactless credit cards, especially for their more popular cards. Most of American Express's cards are available in contactless forms, for example, and Chase offers 22 contactless card options. It may be a bit hit-or-miss with smaller card issuers, such as credit unions or smaller banks.
If you want a tap-to-pay credit card, you can always contact your card issuer to ask if it offers a contactless version of your card. Some of the major card issuers, such as Chase, even allow you to make this inquiry online.
Contactless credit cards
Here are a few of our favorite contactless credit cards. For the full list of our recommended cards, visit our guide: Best Contactless Credit Cards
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Fair to Excellent (580-850)
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
300-579
580-669
670-739
740-850
Fair to Excellent (580-850)
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
300-579
580-669
670-739
740-850
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
300-579
580-669
670-739
740-850
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Welcome Offer:
Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
$200
Welcome Offer:
Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.
Up to $300 cash back
Welcome Offer:
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
Rewards Program:
Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, a special travel offer, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25.
2% cash back
Rewards Program:
Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases
1.5% - 5% cash back
Rewards Program:
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
1% - 5% Cashback
Intro APR:
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: 0%, 18 months on Balance Transfers
Intro APR:
0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months
Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months
Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months
Intro APR:
Purchases: 0%, 15 months
Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months
Regular APR:
18.24% - 28.24% (Variable)
Regular APR:
19.74% - 28.49% Variable
Regular APR:
18.49% - 27.49% Variable APR *Rates as of December 12, 2024.
Annual Fee:
N/A
$0
Annual Fee:
$0
Annual Fee:
$0
Highlights:
Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, a special travel offer, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25.
Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.24% - 28.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Highlights:
INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.74% - 28.49%.
No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
Member FDIC
Highlights:
INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers–only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
Apply and you could get a decision in as little as 60 seconds. No annual fee.
Start shopping and earning rewards in minutes with our digital card, before your physical card arrives in the mail, if eligible.
Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 18.49% to 27.49% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness. Rates as of December 12, 2024.
What do I need to know before I get a contactless credit card?
Contactless credit cards are generally considered safer, both from a biological and a fraud perspective. Still, like any technology, they're not foolproof, and they do introduce new fraud risks you need to be aware of.
What happens if my card is stolen?
The biggest new threat is that someone physically steals your card. All they need to do to buy something is to tap the card. They don't need to sign anything, and they don't need to provide any ID. Losing your card or having a thief (or, alternately, a cash-poor teenager in your household) physically steal it to use in-person isn't as high on the scale of risk as some other threats, but it is something to be aware of.
Should I be concerned about radio frequency identification readers?
In addition, it is possible for thieves walking nearby to scan your card with a radio frequency identification reader (similar to the one that you'd use at a cash register to pay) and collect your information that way. But as we've already discussed, without your other information -- name, zip code, and the three-digit code on the back -- it's mostly useless.
What about other forms of credit card fraud?
Thieves can still get that information in other ways, but they'd have to be more tenacious than your average bear (and they could be). And if they do get that other information as well, you're still vulnerable to identity fraud if someone impersonates you to claim a false tax refund or open a credit card in your name, for example.
Rest assured that even if someone does commit fraud with your credit card, contactless cards have the same protections as regular cards. Most credit card companies offer fraud liability guarantees as long as you notify them of any fraudulent charges within a reasonable time frame.
When you want to pay with a contactless credit card, you don't have to swipe or insert it into the card reader, instead, you can tap it or wave it across. This limits the contact it has with the reader, making it a speedier and more hygienic way to pay.
Most major card issuers offer contactless credit cards for their more popular products. If you've got an offshoot card from a major brand or bank with a smaller financial institution, you may not be able to get a contactless version yet. But there's more and more demand for these cards, so if even it's not available right now, you may not have to wait long.
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