What online shopping means
Most issuers define online shopping as purchases from merchants that sell goods online, using the merchant code the store sends.
Online purchases from a supermarket or restaurant often keep their own category, not the online category.
Travel, utilities and subscriptions are commonly excluded, even when paid online.
Pickup and in-store orders
Buy online and pick up in store can code as either the online business or the physical store, depending on the retailer.
Paying at the counter for an online order usually codes as the physical store.
Paying through a third-party checkout, such as a buy now, pay later service, can code as that service.
Choosing a card
If one retailer takes most of your online spend, that retailer's co-branded card may pay the most there.
For varied online spend, a card with a broad online category is simplest.
Shopping portals run by issuers and airlines can add bonus points on top of your card, if you start the purchase from the portal.
