Toy prices have risen 6.6% in the past year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ consumer price index from September. They jumped 4.7% between August and September alone, before seasonal adjustment.
That doesn’t mean you can’t give everyone on your list the gifts they’ve been asking for. The right credit card can earn cash back or points on purchases, and some offer a 0% intro APR period to help you spread out the cost. The best cards also offer purchase protection against theft or damage and extend the manufacturer’s warranty on eligible items.
CNBC Select has rounded up some of the most in-demand gifts of 2026 and matched each with a credit card that can help you save.
Best cards for the hottest holiday gifts of 2026
Nintendo Switch 2: Chase Freedom Unlimited®
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a no-annual-fee card that earns generous cash-back on everyday purchases and a lucrative welcome bonus. Plus, if you pair it with a premium Chase credit card that allows point transfers, you can convert your cash back into flexible travel rewards.
- Users get a high rewards rate and strong welcome bonus
- Purchases and balance transfers receive an intro APR
- No annual fee
- Has a foreign transaction fee
- Few rewarding ongoing benefits
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
- Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, 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.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can use points to redeem for cash through an account statement credit or an electronic deposit into an eligible Chase account located in the United States!
- Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.49% – 27.99%.
- 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
Balance transfer fee
Intro fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, in the first 60 days. After that, either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee
3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
The Switch 2 is the big-ticket gift for gamers in 2026, and the more a gift costs, the more protection matters. In addition to earning 1.5% cash back on every purchase, with no categories to track, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees) includes purchase protection and extended warranty coverage.
That means if you purchase it with the card, you’re covered if the console is damaged or stolen soon after you buy it or if it breaks after the manufacturer’s warranty expires.
Nintendo Switch 2: $499.00 on Amazon.com
AirPods Pro 3: Apple Card
Apple Card
Information about the Apple Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.
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Rewards
3% cash back on goods or services purchased directly from Apple (including Apple retail stores, the Apple online store, the App Store, iTunes, Apple Music and other Apple-owned properties) on Uber and UberEats, at Walgreens and Duane Reade stores, on the Walgreens app and on Walgreens.com, in T-Mobile stores, at Nike, at Exxon and Mobil stations and at Panera Bread, 2% cash back on Apple Pay purchases and 1% cash back on all other purchases
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Welcome bonus
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Annual fee
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Intro APR
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Regular APR
19.24% to 29.49% variable
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Balance transfer fee
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Foreign transaction fee
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Credit needed
Pros
- No annual fee
- 3% cash back on goods or services purchased directly from Apple, on Uber and UberEats, at Walgreens and Duane Reade stores, on the Walgreens app and on Walgreens.com and in T-Mobile stores and at Nike
- No fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.
Cons
- Apple Pay isn’t accepted everywhere
- Purchases with the physical card only earn 1% cash back
- No special financing offers or welcome bonus
If you’re buying AirPods straight from Apple, the Apple Card is a good choice. It earns 3% Daily Cash on Apple purchases, and that cash shows up daily instead of at the end of a billing cycle.
Apple also regularly offers 0% interest installment plans for Apple Card holders on Apple devices, which can give you breathing room to pay off a pricey gift.
KPop Demon Hunters Singing Fashion Dolls: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express has no annual fee and bonus rewards on a wide range of common expenditures. On top of that, you also have access to an intro-APR offer for purchases and balance transfers. So this card can help you save in a variety of ways.
- Up to $264 in streaming service and meal kit credits every year (subject to auto renewal)
- High cash-back rates in popular spending categories
- No annual fee
- The best bonus cash-back categories are capped
- Has a foreign transaction fee
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Apply and find out your welcome offer. As High As $200 cash back* after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply, and if approved: 1. Find out your offer amount 2. Accept the Card with your offer 3. Spend $2,000 in 6 months 4. Receive the cash back. *Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
- No Annual Fee.
- Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 19.74%-28.74%.
- Earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, on eligible purchases for each category on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%). Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.
- Get up to a $7 monthly statement credit after using your enrolled Blue Cash Everyday® Card for a subscription purchase, including a bundle subscription purchase, at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com, or Stream.ESPN.com U.S. websites. Subject to auto-renewal.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
Either$5or3%of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee
2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars
If there’s a Gen Alpha child on your list, there’s a good chance they’re obsessed with KPop Demon Hunters. The singing dolls made The Toy Insider’s Hot 20 list, and kids will probably be asking for the whole set. That’s why we like the Amex Blue Cash Everyday: It has no annual fee (see rates and fees) and earns 3% cash back at online U.S. retailers up to $6,000 per year in spending (then 1%), so you can earn rewards on the whole squad.
KPop Demon Hunters Singing Fashion Dolls: $26.98 to $31.98 on Amazon
Lego Star Wars Smart Play: Throne Room Duel and A-Wing: Prime Visa
The Prime Visa is only available to Amazon Prime members ($139 for an annual membership and $14.99 for a monthly membership) but is very rewarding for Amazon purchases.
- High rate of return at Amazon.com, Whole Foods Market and on Chase Travel purchases
- Offers an automatic gift card welcome bonus after card approval
- Option to earn rewards or take advantage of 0% promo APRs
- Includes a wealth of travel insurance protections
- Requires an Amazon Prime membership for approval
- If you choose the promo APR, you won’t earn rewards on those purchases
- Rewards can’t be pooled with other Chase credit cards
Rewards
- Earn unlimited 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership
- Unlimited 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare)
- 10% back or more on a rotating selection of items and categories on Amazon.com with an eligible Prime membership
- Unlimited 1% back on all other purchases
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 4% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
This 962-piece set is the Christmas splurge for Star Wars fans, letting them recreate the Throne Room duel with Emperor Palpatine, Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader as lightsabers shine and “The Imperial March” hums in the background. Amazon often discounts Lego sets during the holidays, and the Prime Visa stacks savings on top of those deals. Earn 5% cash back on Amazon purchases with an eligible Prime membership.
Lego Star Wars Smart Play: Throne Room Duel and A-Wing: $124 on Amazon
Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box: Walmart OnePay CashRewards Card
The OnePay CashRewards Card is a great option to pair with a Walmart+ membership, earning elevated rewards and having no annual fee.
- Up to 5% back at Walmart with a membership
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- Only earns 1.5% cash back on purchases outside of Walmart
- Limited redemption options
Pokémon is turning 30, and diehard collectors are hunting for this deluxe anniversary box. You can find it at Walmart starting at about $130 and, if you already pay for Walmart+, the Walmart OnePay CashRewards Card earns unlimited 5% back on Walmart purchases in-store and online. That’s about $8 back on this gift alone. Some applicants are approved for the Walmart Spend Card instead, however, which doesn’t earn rewards.
Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box: from $131.99 at Walmart
More tips to save on holiday gifts
Choosing the right card is only one way to stretch your holiday budget. Here are a few more ways to save:
1. Start early, but set a budget
Hot toys often sell out, and resellers raise prices once they do, so buying early can save you money. Before you start, though, decide how much you’ll spend so early shopping doesn’t turn into overspending.
2. Consider open-box and overstock sites
Open-box items have been opened, usually because they were returned or used as a display, but they’re still in new or nearly-new condition. Overstock items are products a retailer ordered too much of and needs to clear out. In either case, you can usually get these products at a discount.
Kidsy sells open-box and overstock toys and children’s gear from brands like Lego, Graco and UPPAbaby, and claims shoppers can save up to 60% off retail.
3. Compare prices and stack discounts
Check prices at Amazon, Target and Walmart before buying. Then layer a retailer sale, a shopping portal or card-linked offer and your card’s rewards.
4. Take advantage of a welcome bonus
If you’re interested in opening a credit card for holiday shopping, the right card can earn you rewards off the bat. Most of the cards we’ve listed come with a first-year sign-up bonus, and high-spending seasons are a great time to earn one.
5. Pay your balance in full
The average APR on new credit cards hit 23.96% in October, according to LendingTree data, up from 23.82% in September. Carrying a balance can quickly wipe out the rewards you earned, so if you need time to pay off a big purchase, a card with a 0% intro APR is a better option.
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Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
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