If you’re paying your cell phone carrier every month for insurance, there’s a good chance you’re leaving money on the table. A growing number of credit card issuers quietly bundle cell phone protection into their cards – sometimes with better coverage and a lower deductible than your carrier plan – as long as you pay your monthly wireless bill with that card.
The problem is that this information is scattered across benefit guides, fine print PDFs, and half-updated blog posts. This guide pulls everything together by issuer and focuses only on cards that actually offer cell phone protection as of late 2025.
We’ll walk issuer by issuer through which cards have coverage, how much they pay per claim, the annual caps, deductibles, and what you need to do to trigger the benefit. The goal is simple: help you decide which card should be your go-to for paying your phone bill so you’re protected if something happens to your device.
How Credit Card Cell Phone Protection Works (Big Picture)
- You must pay your monthly wireless bill with the card. If the bill doesn’t hit that card, you’re not covered for that billing cycle.
- Coverage is almost always for theft and physical damage, not loss. If your phone is stolen or damaged in an accident, you’re in good shape. If you simply misplace it and can’t prove theft, you usually won’t be covered.
- Most benefits are secondary. If you have carrier insurance or homeowners/renters insurance, the card benefit typically kicks in after that, reimbursing your deductible or anything not covered, up to the card’s limit.
- Coverage is capped by claim and by year. Typical patterns run from $500–$1,000 per claim and $1,000–$3,000 per rolling 12 months, with 2–3 claims allowed per year.
- There is always a deductible. On credit cards with cell phone protection, deductibles usually fall between $25 and $100 per claim.
- Coverage usually extends to multiple lines. As long as all the lines are on the same bill that you pay with the card, most issuers will cover the primary phone and several additional lines on that account.
Below, we break down the best issuers for cell phone protection and list every current card that comes with this perk. Use this as your master reference when choosing which card to use for your wireless bill.
1. American Express: Premium Cards with Strong, Easy Coverage
American Express is one of the strongest issuers for cell phone protection. Several of its premium consumer and business cards share the same generous benefit: up to $800 per claim, up to $1,600 per 12 months, with a $50 deductible and two claims allowed per 12-month period. The coverage applies to theft and qualifying damage when you pay your monthly wireless bill with an eligible Amex card.
In practice, cardholders report that Amex’s cell phone protection is relatively easy to use. Claims are handled by AIG (New Hampshire Insurance Company), and as long as you provide the requested documentation – your card statement showing the phone bill, the wireless bill itself, proof of device, and a repair receipt or police report for theft – the process is straightforward.
Key terms for eligible American Express cards:
- Coverage amount: Up to $800 per claim, up to $1,600 per 12 months.
- Deductible: $50 per approved claim.
- Coverage type: Theft and physical damage (including most cracked screens); loss or mysterious disappearance is not covered.
- Trigger: You must pay your monthly postpaid wireless bill with the Amex card for coverage to apply to that billing period.
- Administrator: AIG / New Hampshire Insurance Company, via Amex’s dedicated cell phone protection claim line.
Eligible American Express cards that currently offer cell phone protection include:
| Card | Type | Cell Phone Protection Summary |
| The Platinum Card® from American Express (all versions – regular, Schwab, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley) | Personal | Up to $800/claim, $1,600/year, $50 deductible when you pay your monthly wireless bill with this card. |
| Centurion® Card (personal) | Personal | Invited cardmembers get the same $800 per claim, $1,600 per year structure with a $50 deductible. |
| Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Credit Card from American Express | Personal | Premium Delta co-brand with the same $800/claim, $1,600/year, $50 deductible benefit. |
| Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Credit Card from American Express | Personal | Mid-tier Delta card with identical phone protection limits as Reserve. |
| Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card | Personal | Premium Marriott card with the same $800/claim coverage when the wireless bill is charged to the card. |
| Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card | Personal | Top-tier Hilton card; also includes the Amex $800 per claim cell phone protection benefit. |
| The Business Platinum Card® from American Express | Business | Up to $800/claim, $1,600/year, $50 deductible; covers phones on the business wireless account when the bill is paid with the card. |
| Business Centurion® Card | Business | Invite-only; cell phone protection matches the Business Platinum benefit. |
| Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card | Business | Business version of Reserve; same $800 per claim and $50 deductible benefit for phones on the account. |
| Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card | Business | Business version of Delta Platinum; same cell phone protection limits as the personal Platinum and Reserve. |
| American Express® Business Gold Card | Business | Business card with the Amex $800 per claim, $1,600 per year, $50 deductible cell phone protection benefit. |
If you or your clients already have one of these American Express products, moving the cell phone bill onto that card is usually an easy win: strong coverage, a predictable deductible, and relatively painless claims compared to many other issuers.
2. Wells Fargo (and Bilt): Broad Coverage and Low Deductibles
Wells Fargo is the issuer with the widest footprint for cell phone protection right now. Almost every Wells Fargo consumer credit card includes a built-in cell phone protection benefit, and the issuer also powers the Bilt Mastercard, which has one of the most generous no-annual-fee phone benefits on the market.
On standard Wells Fargo consumer cards, the pattern is consistent: up to $600 per claim, up to $1,200 per 12 months (two claims), with a low $25 deductible per incident. Coverage applies to theft and physical damage when you pay your monthly wireless bill with an eligible Wells Fargo consumer credit card. Typically, up to four phones on the same account are covered.
Standard Wells Fargo consumer credit cards with cell phone protection include:
| Card | Rewards Angle | Coverage Summary | Deductible |
| Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card | 2% cash back on all purchases | Up to $600 per claim for theft or damage, up to $1,200 per 12 months (two claims) when you pay your monthly wireless bill with this card. | $25 per approved claim |
| Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card | 3X points on phone, dining, travel, gas, and more | Same up to $600 per claim and $1,200 per year structure as Active Cash, tied to paying your wireless bill with the card. | $25 per approved claim |
| Wells Fargo Reflect® Card | 0% intro APR focused card | Shares the same cell phone protection benefit: up to $600/claim and $1,200/year when you charge your monthly bill. | $25 per approved claim |
| Wells Fargo Attune℠ Card and other newer consumer Visas | Category-based rewards | New Wells Fargo consumer cards introduced in 2024–2025 follow the same $600 per claim, $1,200 per year pattern for eligible phone bills. | $25 per approved claim |
Bilt is technically a separate brand, but the Bilt World Elite Mastercard is issued by Wells Fargo and uses Wells Fargo’s insurance partner for cell phone protection. Bilt’s phone coverage is even stronger than the standard Wells Fargo cards.
| Card | Coverage Summary | Deductible |
| Bilt World Elite Mastercard® | Up to $800 per claim for theft or damage, with a maximum of $1,000 in reimbursements per 12 months when you pay your monthly wireless bill with Bilt. Coverage applies to phones listed on that bill. | $25 per approved claim |
For many renters and points collectors, Bilt is one of the most attractive ways to cover a phone: no annual fee, strong rewards on rent and dining, and a very low $25 deductible on up to $800 of coverage per claim.
3. Capital One: Venture X Family Phone Protection
Capital One keeps its cell phone protection tightly focused on its Venture X family. If you’re looking at Capital One for wireless bill coverage, the Venture X Rewards Credit Card and the Venture X Business card are the key players.
Both Venture X products offer up to $800 per claim for eligible damage and theft, with a $50 deductible and two claims allowed per 12 months. Coverage is triggered when you pay your monthly wireless bill with the card and typically extends to all phones listed on that bill.
| Card | Type | Coverage Summary | Deductible |
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card | Personal | Up to $800 per claim and up to $1,600 per 12 months (two claims) for theft or damage, when the monthly wireless bill is charged to the card. | $50 per claim |
| Capital One Venture X Business | Business | Up to $800 per claim for covered phones on the business wireless account, with similar annual and claim limits tied to paying the bill with the card. | $50 per claim |
From a practical standpoint, Capital One’s claim process is handled through the same Card Benefit Services infrastructure that powers many Visa and Mastercard protections. Real-world reports point to relatively fast approvals and payouts when documentation is provided promptly.
4. Chase: Freedom Flex and Ink Business Phone Protection
Chase does not give cell phone protection across its entire lineup, but three cards stand out: Chase Freedom Flex for consumers, and Ink Business Preferred plus Ink Business Premier for small business owners.
On Freedom Flex, the benefit is delivered through the World Elite Mastercard platform and offers up to $800 per claim, up to $1,000 per year, with a $50 deductible when you pay your monthly wireless bill with the card. On the Ink business cards, Chase goes even higher – up to $1,000 per claim – but with a larger deductible and a more documentation-heavy process.
| Card | Type | Per-Claim / Annual Limits | Deductible | Notes |
| Chase Freedom Flex℠ | Personal | Up to $800 per claim, up to $1,000 per 12 months (two claims). | $50 per claim | World Elite Mastercard phone protection; covers theft and damage when the monthly wireless bill is paid with the card. |
| Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card | Business | Up to $1,000 per claim, up to $3,000 per 12 months (three claims). | $100 per claim | Strong option for expensive smartphones and employee lines; claims handled by Card Benefit Services with more documentation required. |
| Ink Business Premier℠ Credit Card | Business | Up to $1,000 per claim, up to $3,000 per 12 months (three claims). | $100 per claim | Shares the same cell phone protection language as Ink Preferred, tied to paying the business wireless bill with the card. |
Chase’s phone protection is especially compelling for businesses that provide high-end devices to employees. The trade-off is a higher deductible and more paperwork compared to issuers like American Express or Wells Fargo.
5. TD Bank: $500 Per Claim Across Most TD Visa Cards
TD Bank quietly includes cell phone protection on many of its consumer and small-business Visa credit cards. The benefit is fairly uniform across the portfolio: up to $500 per claim, up to $1,000 per 12 months, with a $50 deductible per incident when you pay your monthly wireless bill with an eligible TD Bank Visa card.
Coverage is for theft and physical damage, not loss, and applies to phones listed on the wireless bill. That makes TD Bank a strong regional player for customers who already use TD for everyday banking and credit cards.
| Card | Type | Coverage Summary | Deductible |
| TD Double Up℠ Credit Card | Personal | 2% cash back card with up to $500 per claim, $1,000 per year when you charge your monthly wireless bill to the card. | $50 per claim |
| TD Cash Credit Card | Personal | Cash-back card with the same $500 per claim / $1,000 per year cell phone protection benefit. | $50 per claim |
| TD FlexPay Credit Card | Personal | A balance-transfer and flexibility-focused product that also participates in TD’s cell phone protection program. | $50 per claim |
| TD Business Solutions Credit Card and similar TD business Visas | Business | Business wireless lines may be covered under the same $500 per claim structure when the bill is paid with the TD business card. | $50 per claim |
For TD Bank customers who don’t want to move their everyday banking, keeping the phone bill on a TD card can be a simple way to add an extra layer of protection without adding yet another issuer to their wallet.
6. U.S. Bank: Platinum and Shield Cards
U.S. Bank used to offer cell phone protection on more products, but as of 2025 the benefit is primarily tied to its low-fee and no-fee cards such as the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum and the newer Shield Visa Card.
The pattern here is familiar: up to $600 per claim, up to $1,000 per 12 months, with a $25 deductible when you pay your monthly wireless bill with the card. For cardholders who value a low deductible on a simple no-frills Visa, this can be an attractive option.
| Card | Type | Coverage Summary | Deductible |
| U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card | Personal | Classic 0% APR card with up to $600 per claim and $1,000 per year cell phone protection when your monthly wireless bill is paid with the card. | $25 per claim |
| U.S. Bank Shield™ Visa® Card | Personal | Newer consumer card that advertises the same up to $600 per claim, $1,000 per year benefit on eligible wireless bills. | $25 per claim |
If you already hold a U.S. Bank Platinum or Shield card for balance transfers or general spending, it’s worth considering moving your phone bill to that card to take advantage of the low $25 deductible and straightforward coverage.
7. Fifth Third Bank: Regional Issuer with High Limits
Fifth Third is a regional bank, but its cell phone protection benefit is surprisingly strong. On several of its consumer cards, the bank offers up to $800 per claim with a $50 deductible when you pay your monthly wireless bill with the card.
The benefit is available on key products like the TRIO Credit Card and Preferred Cash/Back Card, as well as on some private bank and legacy consumer cards.
| Card | Per-Claim Limit | Deductible | Notes |
| Fifth Third TRIO® Credit Card | $800 per claim | $50 per claim | Cash-back card with up to $800 in coverage for theft or damage when you pay your wireless bill with TRIO. |
| Fifth Third Preferred Cash/Back Card | $800 per claim | $50 per claim | Preferred client card with the same $800 per claim phone protection benefit. |
| Fifth Third Private Bank Credit Card | $800 per claim | $50 per claim | Premium card offered to private bank clients, including cell phone protection for phones listed on the bill. |
For customers inside Fifth Third’s footprint, these cards can be an underrated way to get a high per-claim limit on phone protection without turning to a national issuer.
8. Citi: Legacy Citi Prestige Cell Phone Protection
Citi is a special case. As of 2025, none of Citi’s actively marketed U.S. credit cards – including Citi Strata Premier, Citi Strata Elite, Citi Double Cash, Citi Custom Cash, Costco Anywhere Visa, and the AAdvantage cards – offer cell phone protection.
However, one legacy product does: the Citi Prestige® Card. Although Citi Prestige is closed to new applicants, cardholders who are grandfathered into the product still enjoy one of the strongest cell phone protection policies available on any card.
| Card | Per-Claim / Annual Limits | Deductible | Notes |
| Citi Prestige® Card (legacy, closed to new applications) | Up to $1,000 per claim, up to $1,500 total per 12 months. | $50 per claim | Covers theft and qualifying damage to up to five phones on the same wireless bill when you pay that bill with Citi Prestige. Coverage is secondary to other insurance and excludes loss or purely cosmetic issues. |
If you hold Citi Prestige, it deserves a spot at the top of your phone-protection strategy. The $1,000 per-claim limit and $1,500 annual cap are among the highest in the market, and coverage extends to multiple lines on your account.
9. PenFed: Credit Union Cards with $500 Coverage
Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed) added cell phone protection to several of its Visa credit cards starting in 2024. The structure is simple: up to $500 per claim, up to $1,000 per 12 months, with a $50 deductible, when you pay your monthly wireless bill with an eligible PenFed Visa card.
Coverage typically applies to theft, accidental damage, and even involuntary and accidental parting – for example, if your phone falls overboard on a boat and isn’t recoverable.
| Card | Type | Coverage Summary | Deductible |
| PenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature® | Personal | Up to $500 per claim and $1,000 per 12 months when you pay your cell phone bill with this card. | $50 per claim |
| PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® | Personal | Rewards-focused Visa that includes the same $500 per-claim phone protection benefit. | $50 per claim |
| PenFed Pathfinder Rewards Visa Signature® | Personal | Travel-oriented card that participates in PenFed’s cell phone protection program with the same limits. | $50 per claim |
PenFed is a strong option for members who prefer a credit union relationship but still want modern perks like cell phone protection bundled with their credit card.
10. First Citizens Bank: Straightforward $500 Coverage
First Citizens Bank is another regional issuer that punches above its weight in the phone-protection game. Its consumer and business Visa credit cards share a simple, transparent benefit: up to $500 per claim, up to $1,000 per 12 months, with a $50 deductible per claim, triggered by paying your monthly wireless bill with a First Citizens Visa credit card.
First Citizens publishes a clear FAQ stating that reimbursement typically occurs about 10 business days after approval, which makes it easy to set expectations with customers.
| Card Family | Type | Coverage Summary | Deductible |
| Cash Rewards Platinum Visa®, Rewards Visa®, Smart Option Visa® | Personal | Personal First Citizens Visa credit cards generally offer up to $500 per claim, $1,000 per year for stolen or damaged phones when you pay your monthly wireless bill with the card. | $50 per claim |
| First Citizens Business Visa® Credit Cards (Premium Rewards, Rewards, Cash Back) | Business | Business versions mirror the consumer benefit, extending up to $500 per claim coverage to phones on business wireless accounts. | $50 per claim |
For customers who already bank with First Citizens, using one of these Visa cards to pay the phone bill can be a low-effort way to add phone protection without changing issuers.
How to Choose the Right Card for Your Cell Phone Bill
With so many issuers and cards offering cell phone protection, the best choice depends on your situation: how expensive your phone is, how many lines you have, whether you’re comfortable with more paperwork in exchange for a higher limit, and which cards you already hold.
Here’s a simple way to think about it:
- If you want the smoothest claim experience and strong limits: look at American Express premium cards (Platinum, Business Platinum, Business Gold, Delta Reserve/Platinum) or Capital One Venture X.
- If you want a low deductible and no annual fee: Wells Fargo consumer cards and the Bilt Mastercard stand out, with $25 deductibles and solid limits.
- If you’re protecting high-end flagship phones or multiple employee devices: Chase Ink Business Preferred, Chase Ink Business Premier, and legacy Citi Prestige give you the highest per-claim limits, but require more documentation and, in the case of Ink, a higher deductible.
- If you prefer regional banks or credit unions: TD Bank, Fifth Third, PenFed, and First Citizens add meaningful protection without forcing you into a big national issuer.
Whichever route you choose, the key step is simple: make sure your monthly wireless bill is actually being paid with the card that has the protection. Without that, the rest of the benefits don’t matter. Once you’ve aligned the right card with your phone bill, you’ve effectively given yourself a built-in safety net the next time a screen shatters or a phone disappears in the wrong hands.
