Hoping to earn free lattes with a Starbucks credit card? There is news you need first. The Starbucks Rewards Visa, the Chase co-branded card that paid coffee lovers in Stars, is no longer available to new applicants.
That does not make the card pointless to understand. Here is exactly what it offered, why it ended, and which cards make more sense for a Starbucks fan in 2026.
Starbucks Rewards Visa: Key Facts at a Glance
| Detail | Starbucks Rewards Visa |
|---|---|
| Issuer | Chase |
| Network | Visa |
| Status | Discontinued (no new applications since 2022) |
| Annual fee | $49 (was waived for military) |
| Rewards | Up to 3 Stars per $1 at Starbucks; 1 Star per $4 elsewhere |
| Welcome bonus | Was 2,750 Stars |
| Reports to bureaus | Yes, all three |
Terms and conditions apply.
What Was the Starbucks Rewards Visa?
The Starbucks Rewards Visa was a co-branded credit card issued by Chase. It was designed for heavy Starbucks customers who wanted to rack up Stars faster than the free app alone allows.
Cardholders earned up to 3 Stars per dollar at Starbucks, 1 Star per $2 on grocery, transit, and select services, and 1 Star per $4 on all other purchases. Stars could be redeemed for food and drinks in the Starbucks app.
The card carried a $49 annual fee, though that fee was waived for active military members and their spouses.
Why It Was Discontinued
Chase stopped accepting new applications for the Starbucks Rewards Visa around mid-2022, then fully discontinued the card in July 2023. Existing cardholders were moved to either the Chase Freedom Unlimited or the original Chase Freedom.
The likely reason is simple economics. A $49 annual fee that only paid off if you spent heavily at one coffee chain was a tough sell, and the free Starbucks Rewards app already gave loyal customers most of the perks.
If you still want rewards on everyday spending without locking yourself into one merchant, a flexible cash-back card is the smarter route. The Aspire Mastercard pays up to 3% cash back, has no deposit, lets you prequalify for up to $1,000, and reports to all three bureaus.
Aspire® Cash Back Rewards Mastercard
Aspire® Cash Back Rewards Mastercard
Aspire® Cash Back Rewards Mastercard. Prequalify* For Up To $1000 Credit Limit. No security deposit. Packed with great benefits, it’s designed to give you more flexibility—and purchasing power—along with up to 3% cash back rewards!** Good anywhere Mastercard is accepted, it’s the go-to card for any lifestyle.
Standout feature
Up to 3% cashback rewards
Fees
$49 to $175; after that $0 to $49 annually; - $60 to $159 annually billed at $5 to $12.50 per month after the first year.
Pros
No Deposit Required. Prequalify for up to $1000 credit limit
Cons
High APR. 25.74% to 36%, based on your creditworthiness.
Was the Card Worth It?
For most people, the $49 fee was hard to justify. To break even, you needed to spend a lot at Starbucks, and even then the free app rewards covered most casual coffee runs.
The card did have one genuine highlight: the fee waiver for military servicemembers and spouses. For that group, a fee-free card that turned coffee runs into free drinks was a reasonable perk.
For everyone else, a no-annual-fee cash-back card almost always returned more value. You could buy your coffee with cash back and still earn rewards on groceries, gas, and everything else.
If you want rewards without a credit-check barrier, Perpay takes a different approach. It is paycheck-powered with no deposit and no credit check, pays 2% rewards, and reports payments to help build credit, with users seeing an average 30-point increase.
Perpay Credit Card
Perpay Credit Card
Meet the only card powered by your paycheck. With automatic transfers from your paycheck, you can manage payments stress-free and build credit with ease.
Fee
$9/month plus $9 account opening fee
APR
Marketplace: 0% / Credit Card: 27.74% to 29.99% depending on your creditworthiness.
Minimum Deposit Amount
$0
Credit Check
No
Cashback
2% reward on purchases made in Perpay Marketplace
Benefit
2% rewards, no security deposit
What to Use Instead in 2026
Since the Starbucks Rewards Visa is gone, your best bet is a flexible rewards card plus the free Starbucks Rewards app. The app still earns Stars on every purchase, so you do not need a co-branded card to get free drinks.
Pair that with a strong cash-back card and you come out ahead. A flat-rate or category card lets you earn on all your spending, then redeem for cash that covers your coffee and more.
If you are still building credit, focus on a card that reports to all three bureaus and keeps fees low. The Aspire Mastercard fits that goal: unsecured, no deposit, prequalify up to $1,000, up to 3% cash back, and reports to all three bureaus.
Aspire® Cash Back Rewards Mastercard
Aspire® Cash Back Rewards Mastercard
Aspire® Cash Back Rewards Mastercard. Prequalify* For Up To $1000 Credit Limit. No security deposit. Packed with great benefits, it’s designed to give you more flexibility—and purchasing power—along with up to 3% cash back rewards!** Good anywhere Mastercard is accepted, it’s the go-to card for any lifestyle.
Standout feature
Up to 3% cashback rewards
Fees
$49 to $175; after that $0 to $49 annually; - $60 to $159 annually billed at $5 to $12.50 per month after the first year.
Pros
No Deposit Required. Prequalify for up to $1000 credit limit
Cons
High APR. 25.74% to 36%, based on your creditworthiness.
The Bottom Line
The Starbucks Rewards Visa is a card you can no longer get. It offered Stars on every purchase and waived its $49 fee for military, but Chase ended it in 2023 and moved cardholders to Freedom products.
Today, the free Starbucks app plus a flexible cash-back card gives you more value with no annual fee to worry about. Just keep an eye on the regular APR, since carrying a balance can erase any rewards you earn. APRs vary by creditworthiness, and terms and conditions apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still apply for the Starbucks Rewards Visa?
No. Chase stopped accepting new applications around mid-2022 and fully discontinued the card in July 2023. Existing cardholders were converted to the Chase Freedom Unlimited or the Chase Freedom card.
What happened to Starbucks Rewards Visa cardholders?
Chase moved existing cardholders to either the Chase Freedom Unlimited or the original Chase Freedom. Any Stars already earned in the Starbucks app remained available to use on food and drinks.
Did the Starbucks Rewards Visa have an annual fee?
Yes, it charged a $49 annual fee. That fee was waived for active-duty military servicemembers and their spouses, which made the card more worthwhile for that group than for the average coffee drinker.
What card should Starbucks fans use now?
The simplest approach is the free Starbucks Rewards app combined with a flexible cash-back card. That way you earn Stars on Starbucks purchases and cash back on everything else, without paying an annual fee tied to a single store.
