Get Free Cell Protection from these Credit Cards (2021)

Many credit cards offer free cell phone insurance.

Given the cost of paying for 3^rd party cell phone insurance, free coverage from your credit card is a valuable and easy to access benefit.

To get coverage, you don’t need to buy your cell phone with the credit card, but you do need to use the card to pay your monthly bill. Coverage will apply automatically for any month you use the card.

For example, the Amex Platinum Card offers cell phone coverage, but only earns 1 Membership Rewards point per dollar. You would probably earn an extra 1% in rewards by paying your cell phone bill with a good general-purpose card. Even on an expensive family cell phone bill of $200, you're only giving up about $2 per month in rewards by using the Platinum Card to take advantage of the cell phone insurance.

You usually aren't covered for "lost" phones. The phone either needs to be stolen or damaged. In addition, you aren't usually covered if your phone is stolen under specific circumstances, such as from your baggage when you are travelling.
Coverage is “secondary” to any other insurance you have, such as homeowners, auto, or renter’s insurance. That means your other insurance technically needs to pay out first and the credit card insurance will only cover any remaining charges. So, if your homeowners or rental policies provide cell phone coverage, you may not gain any additional benefit from using one of these credit cards. In practice, you often aren't usually asked to prove that you filed a claim with your other insurance policies.

It can be worthwhile for you to cancel your homeowner’s or rental’s insurance’s cell phone coverage. That way, if you have a problem, you can take advantage of the credit card’s coverage, without worrying about an increase in your insurance rates.

Coverage doesn’t cover leased or prepaid phones. It can be unclear when a cell phone purchase plan is considered a lease and when it is just considered an alternative financing plan. If you aren't buying your phone outright, you can call the credit card company to make sure your phone will be covered.
You might need the receipt from when you bought your cell phone. Most credit cards only require some sort of proof that the damaged cell phone is part of your cell phone plan. If you don't have a receipt, check the coverage details before you rely on the card's insurance. Try to keep cell phone purchase receipts for any future purchases.
There are time limits to filing a claim. You will also need to file an official police report if your phone was stolen.

Cards that offer cell phone protection

Take Advantage of Amex Business Card Credits in 2021

As a temporary Covid-related benefit, the Amex Hilton, Marriott, and Delta Business cards provide a monthly wireless credit of $10-20 every month in 2021 (personal cards receive dining credits instead). These need to be activated as Amex Offers for each card and don't apply to cards that were opened in 2021. This is easy free money off your bill, but may disqualify you from the free cell phone insurance that could be available from paying the entire bill with one of these cards.

Not long ago, very few cards offered free cell phone insurance, and most of those were business cards. During 2019, Mastercard added cell phone protection to many of their cards and a few other credit cards added this feature as well. Now there is a wide range of options.

Most high-end Amex cards include cell phone insurance. This includes both the personal and business versions of the Amex Platinum Card, the Delta Platinum Credit Card, and the Delta Reserve Card; but not the Bonvoy Brilliant or Hilton Aspire. Coverage is very good, up to $800 per claim and $1,600 per year, with a $50 deductible (and they are explicitly covering cracked screens). Policy details.
Many World and World Elite Mastercards include (or will soon include) cell phone insurance. World Elite cards cover up to $800 per incident and up to $1,000 per year, on up to a total of 3 lines, with a $50 deductible. World Mastercards have the same terms but drop the per incident maximum to $600. The insurance includes coverage for "cosmetic screen scratches". Claim Webpage.

Warning: While the Citi Double Cash Card, Citi Premier Card, and American Airlines Platinum Card are Elite or World Elite Mastercards they do not provide cell phone insurance. Citibank hasn't added the "standard" benefit to most of its Mastercards.
There are several World and World Elite Mastercards that you might want for other reasons. For example, you might want an American Airlines card for its free checked bag benefit. If you have one of these cards, it often isn't worth going out of your way to get an additional card that offers slightly better cell phone coverage or cell phone service rewards—just make sure to use the card you already have. Likely cards include the Freedom Flex Card, IHG Premier Card, JetBlue Plus Credit Card, and Aviator Red Card.

The Citi Prestige Card offers higher coverage limits. It has the same $50 deductible as the other World Elite cards, but the maximum liability is $1,000 per claim, up to $1,500 per year. That makes it an excellent option to cover the theft or complete destruction of a high-end phone. On the other hand, they explicitly state that they won't cover minor screen cracks, while other Mastercards explicitly cover it, and most other cards are ambiguous. Coverage Details.
Our top no-annual fee cashback card recommendations, the USAlliance Visa Signature and State Department Credit Union Preimum CashBack+ Card, include free cell phone coverage, but have low coverage limits. The deductible is $50, but coverage is limited to only $250 per claim and 2 claims per year. USAlliance Coverage Details.SDFCU Coverage Details.
All the Wells Fargo personal credit cards, including the no-annual-fee Wells Fargo Cash Wise card, come with free cell phone insurance that has a deductible of only $25. This is lower than the deductibles on most of the other cards, making it a great option for anyone who already has a Wells Fargo card and doesn't mind the lower per-claim limit. Coverage is limited to $600 per claim and two claims per year. Coverage Details.
The Altitude Connect Card has cell phone coverage alongside good travel reward rates. However, the card comes with a $95 annual fee, the coverage is capped at $600, and there is a $100 deductible. The coverage from the n-annual-fee U.S. Bank Platinum Card has a much lower $25 deductible, but doesn't offer any rewards at all. Connect Card Coverage Details. Platinum Card Coverage Details.
Several business credit cards with cell phone coverage offer better rewards for paying your cell phone bill. Using one of these cards will increase the rewards you earn each month and would seem like the best possible option. Unfortunately, coverage is limited to employee phones. If you want to insure non-employee family members, you'll want to stick with a personal card.

The Ink Preferred Card earns 3x Ultimate Rewards points on telecommunications services, making it the most rewarding option. However, the deductible is $100. Coverage is limited to $600 per claim and a maximum of three claims per year.
The First National Bank Business Edition Card earns 5 points (worth a total of 3.75 cents) on telecommunication services, making this the most rewarding option if you can't get the Ink Preferred card. Covers up to $600 per claim, with a $50 deductible, up to $1,000 total in a year. Covers up to five lines. No annual fee.

Other cards

Doctor of Credit and Magnify Money both have lists that include some other cards that offer free cell phone coverage, that are issued from some smaller banks and credit unions. The Magnify Money list is more dated, but more comprehensive. The Doctor of Credit post includes full details about terms and exclusions.