Visa is giving many of its consumer credit cards a big upgrade this week, including access to free courses — including personal finance and investing courses — with online learning community Skillshare.
The company announced new benefits for all US consumer cards Monday, with extra perks for more premium Visa Signature and Visa Infinite cardholders—all for free.
These perks offer savings on everything from live performances to food and pharmacy delivery, and are just another example of how credit card issuers have changed or added new rewards to better reflect consumer and cardholder spending habits throughout the pandemic. In recent months, we’ve seen a slate of competitive new sign-up bonusesadded perks (which in some cases, also means higher annual fees), and brand partnerships that increase the breadth of benefit offerings.
Because the new benefits come from Visa, they’re not limited to any single credit card issuer, and can help add value or offset the annual fees of some of our favorite cards from Chase, Capital One, and more.
Let’s take a closer look at what Visa cardholders will now have access to:
Skillshare Membership
skill share is an online learning community that offers more than 30,000 classes to its members, on subjects that range from freelancing and entrepreneurship to marketing, productivity and more. But perhaps our favorite part of this upgrade is access to personal finance guidance — in fact, one of our picks for best investing courses available today is a Skillshare course which you can access with Skillshare membership.
This new benefit is only available to Visa Infinite and Visa Signature cardholders. If you’re a Visa Infinite cardholder, you’ll have access to a free membership for three months, plus 30% off annual renewals. Monthly Skillshare membership starts at $15. Some popular Visa Infinite cards include the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and the US Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite® Card*.
If you’re a Visa Signature Cardholder — which includes cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Cardand Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card* — you’ll have access to a free Skillshare membership for the same three month period, then 20% off annual renewals.
Shipt Membership
Visa credit card holders will now also have complimentary access to Shipta delivery service that works nationwide with retail partners such as Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, and CVS.
All Visa cardholders can receive free same-day delivery on orders over $35, but your card type will determine your added membership perks. Visa Infinite cardholders will receive up to three years of a complimentary Shipt membership. Visa Signature cardholders can get three free months of membership, and then 50% off membership for another nine months. And all other US consumer Visa credit cardholders will receive one month of free Shipt membership, plus 50% off membership for three months.
A yearly Shipt membership costs $99 typically, so there are some significant savings to be found here no matter which type of Visa card you may have.
Sofar Sounds Membership
Sofar Sounds is a company that hosts small live shows in everyday spaces and operates in over 400 cities around the world. Tickets usually range from $10-$30, according to the company, and feature three separate performances. Visa cardholders can now access tickets to Sofar shows before they go on sale to the general public.
Both Visa Signature and Visa Infinite consumer credit cardholders will receive unlimited access to the 7-day advance presale window, as well as one free ticket to any show when you purchase one or more tickets. All other Visa US consumer credit cardholders get the same presale benefit, but are limited to two free tickets per year.
Best Visa Infinite and Visa Signature Credit Cards
Credit card benefits often come from the credit card issuer, but certain types of Visa cards offer valuable perks beyond what the issuer itself may provide. Depending on what type of Visa card you have, you may be eligible for some solid perks and benefits that can add value to your card, all free of charge.
Both Visa Signature and Visa Infinite are the more premium types of Visa cards available, which means getting approved for one will require a great credit score. You can check whether your card is a Visa Signature or Visa Infinite by looking for the Visa logo on the front of the card, or look for details in your card agreement.
Visa Infinite is the most lucrative type, but there are only a few cards on the market today with that label. You may also apply for a card that offers a Visa Signature or Visa Infinite version, but not get approved for that Visa type, but a standard Visa instead — in many cases, the card type you’re assigned depends on the credit limit you qualify for. Regarding these new benefits, that means you would qualify for the perks available to all US Visa cardholders, but not the ones that are Visa Signature or Visa Infinite-only. Always check your card agreement upon approval for the specifics of your card account and the benefits you’re eligible for.
These are some of our favorite Visa Infinite and Visa Signature cards that offer not only these new Visa benefits, but great value on your overall spending.
- Intro offer:
Earn an Additional 1.5% Cash Back
- Annual fee:
$0
- Regular APR:
15.24% to 23.99% Variable
- Recommendedcredit:
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
- Apply Now At Chase’s secure site
- Intro offer:
- Annual fee:
$95
- Regular APR:
16.24% – 24.24% (Variable)
- Recommendedcredit:
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
- learn more At our partner’s secure site
- Intro offer:
- Annual fee:
$550
- Regular APR:
17.24% – 24.24% Variable
- Recommendedcredit:
740-850 (Excellent)
- Apply Now At Chase’s secure site
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Chase Freedom Unlimited is ours top cash back credit card pick, and offers a Visa Signature version. You’ll earn a flat 1.5% on every purchase, plus boosted rewards in bonus categories like travel, dining at restaurants, and drugstores. This card’s welcome bonus allows you to earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) cash back. That’s 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.
In addition to Visa Signature perks, the Freedom Unlimited offers benefits like 5% back on Lyft rides (through March 2022) and a complimentary 3-month DoorDash DashPass membership (activate by 3/31/22)
Chase Sapphire Preferred
The Chase Sapphire Preferred, a Visa Signature credit card, is our top pick for a card with an annual fee under $100. It’s also currently offering an 80,000-point sign-up bonus after you spend $4,000 in your first three months.
You’ll earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points on dining, travel, streaming, and more. Plus, enjoy perks such as a complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership through 12/31/24. Combined, all of these benefits can help offset the cost of the $95 annual fee.
Capital One Venture Rewards Card
The Capital One Venture is another Visa Signature credit card and a main competitor of the Chase Sapphire Preferred for travel rewards. It also has a $95 annual fee, and comes with up to a $100 application fee credit for TSA Precheck/Global Entry. This, in addition to the new Visa perks outlined above, can help to offset the cost of that fee.
The card is offering 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months. You’ll also earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, which you can redeem toward travel purchases you make with the card or transfer to travel partners.
US Bank Cash+ Visa Signature® Card
The US Bank Cash+ Visa Signature card is one of our favorite hidden gem credit cards. It does not have an annual fee, and gives you flexibility to earn cash back rewards in the bonus categories you spend most. Every quarter, you can pick categories of your choice to earn 5% cash back (up to $2,000 spent each quarter) — including at department stores, furniture stores, gyms, fast food, and even movie theaters, categories that most other credit cards do not offer.
You’ll also earn 2% cash back on your choice among gas stations, restaurants, and grocery stores, which can help you maximize your earnings even more, and 1% on everything else. Now, the addition of these new Visa perks add even more value to this $0 annual fee card.
Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card
the amazon prime rewards card can help unlock significant value for those who shop at Amazon or Whole Foods frequently. It’s another Visa Signature credit card, and does not have an annual fee, though you must be an Amazon Prime member to apply. You’ll earn an Amazon.com gift card worth up to $150 instantly upon account approval — this can help offset the cost of a yearly $119 Prime membership.
With the Prime Rewards card, you’ll earn 5% cash back at Amazon and Whole Foods, 2% cash back at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores, and 1% cash back on everything else. If you’re already a Prime member anyway, you can get significant perks and benefits out of this card without paying an annual fee, especially with the addition of these new Visa perks.
Chase Sapphire Reserve
the Chase Sapphire Reserve is a Visa Infinite card — and one of only a few Visa Infinite options currently available from major issuers. Es una premium travel rewards credit card with a $550 annual fee, but also comes with a host of benefits, including a $300 travel credit, up to $100 credit towards TSA PreCheck/Global Entry, Priority Pass airport lounge membership, and more. You’ll also earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points on travel and dining.
Cardholders can earn a 50,000-point sign-up bonus after you spend $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.
*All information about the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, and US Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card has been collected independently by NextAdvisor and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
