Editor’s Note: This card no longer accepts new applications.
Starbucks Rewards Visa Credit Card Overview
If you’re a Starbucks fan, love latte and frequent the chain, the Starbucks Rewards Visa credit card might be for you. But with the $49 annual fee and complex redemption structure, most everyone else would be better off with a cashback or rewards card that doesn’t just satisfy your caffeine fix. Tag Rating *:
* Card Ratings are based on the opinions of TPG editors and are not influenced by the card issuer.
With more than 34,000 stores around the world, Starbucks is a giant coffee chain. Whether you enjoy the brand’s coffee or not is another story, but there is certainly a loyal Starbucks audience. In fact, Starbucks Rewards, the company’s loyalty program, already has more than 26 million members in the United States.
The Starbucks credit card was announced back in 2018, but it’s seen notable changes over the past few years – and they’re not for the better. Most of these changes are suitable for Starbucks Rewards program improvementsincludes tiered points redemption for menu items (read: more expensive).
With that said, there is still a small segment of Starbucks lovers who can benefit from this credit card if they already have the card in their wallet (this card is no longer available for new apps). Before you sip that Frappuccino, though, let’s take a closer look at everything you need to know about the Starbucks Rewards Visa card.
Information about the Starbucks Rewards Visa Card has been independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Who is this card for?
If Starbucks is already part of your regular routine and you can maximize your redemptions in just the menu of your Starbucks Rewards Visa credit card, it may be more than worth paying for the annual fee. $49 of this card.
Additional card for existing Starbucks Rewards program. The free food and drinks you get through Starbucks Rewards can save you a dime – and the Starbucks Visa helps accelerate the earning of “Stars”. However, with these Stars, you are also limiting your redemption options to Starbucks.
Remember that this Starbucks credit card is issued by Chase, which means it is included in Chase’s 5/24 Credit Card Rule. If you’re strategizing your new card applications, take this into account – the Starbucks Visa might make even less sense.
Sign up for our daily newsletter
If Starbucks isn’t part of your daily go-to ritual, there are refunds and reward card alternatives to get a bigger bang for your money.
When it comes down to it, however, the Starbucks Visa credit card offers value only to the most loyal. If that’s you, there are cards worse than this one.
What are Starbucks Rewards Points?
Before explaining the specific earnings, perks, and benefits of the Starbucks Visa credit card, it’s important to familiarize yourself with Starbucks Rewards, the loyalty program where you earn and redeem Stars.
Starbucks Rewards isn’t the simplest loyalty program out there. Have that caffeine ready, here’s the overview.
Starbucks Rewards is revenue-based, meaning you earn Stars on the money you spend. You get 2 Stars for every $1 when you recharge the Starbucks app with any payment option. If you use cash or a debit card at the check-in counter (instead of the app), you’ll only get 1 Star for every $1. That’s the simple part.
How to change Stars
You can only redeem the Starbucks Stars you earn for menu items. Note that Stars do not expire as long as your card account is open and expire six months after closing your account.
Here’s the full menu list of what you can get at each Star level:
- Altered drinks (such as an additional shot) – 25 Stars.
- Ready-to-drink hot coffee, baked goods or hot tea – 50 Stars.
- Craft drinks, hot breakfast or parfait – 150 Stars.
- Lunch sandwiches, protein boxes or salads – 200 Stars.
- Choose goods or coffee at home – 400 Stars.
What is Starbucks Star worth?
You can exchange Stars for various items at each level, so in a way the value of your Stars is dynamic and depends on what you want to get from Starbucks.
However, let’s take a look at a few popular menu items to get a rough estimate of the value of a Starbucks Star. I’ve collected prices from the Starbucks app for pickup from my local store:
- Venti Blonde Roast Coffee – $3.21 or 50 stars (6.4 cents per star).
- Venti Mocha Frappuccino Blended Drink – $6.48 or 150 stars (4.3 cents per star).
- Chicken and Quinoa Protein Bowl – $9.20 or 200 stars (4.6 cents per star).
- Yukon Blend coffee grinder at home organic – $13.95 or 400 stars (3.5 cents per star).
Suppose you get a average value of 4 cents per Starbucks Starkeep in mind that you cannot exchange for the most expensive item in a given level.
Income, perks and benefits
In a nutshell (or beans), the earnings, perks, and benefits of the Starbucks Rewards Visa credit card are not particularly lucrative on their own.
The card earns up to 3 Stars for every $1 spent at Starbucks: 1 Star for every $1 when reloading a digital Starbucks account, plus 2 Stars for every $1 spent using that card in-store row. However, that one Bonus Star only applies to deposits with a digital Starbucks Rewards Visa card and specifically excludes amounts deposited at the in-store registration counter.
You’ll then receive 1 Star for every $2 spent at grocery stores, on public transit and local transportation, and internet, cable, and phone services.
In the end, you’ll get one Star for every $4 spent anywhere else.
All in all, at a 4% per Star valuation, you’re getting 4% return on Starbucks credit card reloads, 2% profit on Starbucks rewards items. grocery, transitand the internet, phone and cable, plus 1% returns everywhere else.
Other benefits
As a Starbucks cardholder, you will also receive eight “Barista Choices” deposited into your account each year. This amount must be used within 30 days. According to Starbucks, this is “carefully handpicked food and drink to share with you as a thank you for being a card purchaser.” Note that substitutions and customizations are not allowed unless specifically authorized by the Barista Pick ticket.
The tag also offers some notable card protections:
Does Starbucks credit card have a foreign transaction fee?
Yes, Starbucks Rewards Visa credit card has foreign transaction fees is 3% so it’s not a card we recommend using outside of the US.
Which cards compete with Starbucks Rewards Visa?
The reward card gives you Bonus points at cafes and restaurants would be a great alternative to Starbucks credit cards. For example, American Express® Gold Card earn 4 points per dollar at restaurants and earn lucrative, transferable Membership Rewards.
Or for the annual free option, Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card 3% cashback on dining.
The Bottom Line: Is the Starbucks Credit Card Worth It?
This is not a very rewarding credit card unless you are a demanding Starbucks customer. For most people, I’d recommend getting a more flexible rewards card for points or cashback at Starbucks – one that doesn’t force you to exchange it for beans. These are Best card for Starbucks purchases.
Additional reporting by Ryan Wilcox.
