In 2026, the credit card industry’s point redemption competition will enter an unprecedented new phase. We are now in an era where just having a basic return rate of 1% is no longer attractive as a main card. The current trend is to make full use of ``specialized cards’’ that keep the basic return rate to a reasonable level but generate explosive returns when using specific stores or services.

We will introduce this year’s trends in credit card selection in detail in a ranking format by lifestyle and purpose.

🥇 [Online shopping fan] Overwhelming champion card in a specific economic zone

If you mainly use e-commerce sites such as Amazon, Rakuten, and Yahoo! Shopping in your daily life, you will need a special card that offers a return rate of 3% to 5%, up to nearly 10% at online shops affiliated with your company. This year, cards that have a permanent mechanism that allows you to accumulate bonus points explosively by intentionally concentrating your shopping on specific days of the week or on days with a 5 are attracting attention. You can earn an amazing amount of points just by purchasing daily necessities and drinks in bulk.

🥈[Convenience stores/restaurants] Optimal solution for smartphone payment cooperation

Cards that are overwhelmingly popular with people who often use convenience stores for lunch during work or on their way home are cards that can earn 5% to 7% in return at eligible convenience stores, family restaurants, and cafes by using smartphone touch payments (Apple Pay, etc.). Competition in this field will continue to be fierce in 2026, and the number of eligible stores is expanding one after another. The fact that everyday casual purchases of a few hundred yen are virtually always discounted by 5% or more is extremely attractive for household finances.

🥉 [Investment/asset formation group] Rise of credit card accumulation type

What is attracting the most attention this year is ``investment trust savings (credit card savings)’’ linked to securities accounts. If you use a card that gives you points of 0.5% to 1% or more on the monthly savings amount (up to 50,000 yen to 100,000 yen), you will be able to manage your assets for the future while automatically accumulating a large amount of points at the same time, creating a system that allows you to kill two birds with one stone. Services that allow you to further invest your accumulated points are also becoming popular.

The secret to selection is “avoid dispersion” The key to surviving the current trends is to determine where you spend the most money and have one card that boasts the strongest return rate in that area as your core. The smart credit card strategy to survive 2026 is to find a card that perfectly fits your lifestyle, rather than trying your hand at everything.