Is it best to use a credit card for online shopping?
William Jenkins
Updated on February 15, 2026
Still, most experts still suggest using credit cards for your online purchases – especially if you’re choosing between credit and debit. While the risk of fraud is always lurking in the background, credit cards come with additional protections that debit cards simply lack.
Can I buy online with a credit card?
Credit cards provide a convenient, secure payment option and the process for making online purchases is typically the same across most websites.
Which payment method is best for online shopping?
Each has different reasons to consider using them.
- Paypal. Paypal is one of the biggest and most familiar of all the online payment options.
- Amazon Pay.
- Google Pay.
- American Express.
- Apple Pay.
- Stripe.
- Square.
- Visa Checkout.
How do you pay with a credit card online?
How to use your Debit Card online?
- Visit your merchant website.
- Select the products you want to buy and choose to check out.
- Select Debit/Credit Card as payment option.
- Enter the details like Debit Card No, Expiry Date, CVV printed on your Card.
- Enter your 6 digit 3D Secure PIN or One time password.
Why do you need a credit card to shop online?
The payment method you use online is more important than you might think. Check out the reasons why a credit card is the smartest option when shopping online. Being that it’s the 21st century, just about everyone shops online. For some of us, it’s the occasional order on Amazon or eBay.
What kind of credit card can I use to pay online?
You will also usually be given options and pricing for various shipping types. There will sometimes be an option to choose the type of credit card you’re using, e.g. Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, or a store credit card. If your credit card processor isn’t listed in the box, the merchant doesn’t accept that type of credit card.
Is it possible to pay a credit card balance online?
LaToya Irby is a credit expert and has been covering credit and debt management for The Balance for more than a decade. These days, almost any transaction that you’d make in person, you can make online without ever having to leave your home.
What happens if you make a purchase with a credit card?
Federal protections are greater for purchases made on credit. Thanks to the passage of the Fair Credit Billing Act, liability for unauthorized charges made with credit is limited to $50 for both in-person and online credit transactions as long as you report the incident within 60 days.
