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If you're an avid Kohl's shopper, you've probably been invited to apply for a Kohl's card at the register. While Kohl’s loyalists can supplement their regular Kohl’s Cash earnings with additional savings, others may find a more general rewards credit card to be more useful.

There are two types of Kohl's cards: the Kohl's Credit Card and the Kohl’s Rewards® Visa. After submitting an application, you'll be considered for both cards but receive only one if approved. Here's what to know about these cards before you apply.

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Kohl’s Credit Card and Kohl’s Rewards® Visa

• Annual fee
  $0
• Welcome offer
  Get 40% off one Kohl’s transaction made within 30 days of card approval
• Purchase APR
  30.24% variable

• Rewards rate
  • 7.5% back in Kohl’s Cash when you use your Kohl’s Credit Card or Kohl’s Rewards Visa at the time of purchase
  • If approved for the Kohl’s Rewards Visa, you'll also earn 3% back on gas purchases, 2% back at grocery stores, and 1% back everywhere else

• Benefits
  • Savings and discounts exclusively for cardholders
  • Special anniversary offer every year
  • Achieve Most Valued Customer (MVC) status after spending $600 on Kohl's purchases in a year and get access to monthly free shipping events

More details: You can only use the Kohl’s Credit Card for Kohl’s or Sephora at Kohl’s purchases — you can’t use this closed-loop card anywhere else. The Kohl’s Rewards Visa, however, can be used wherever Visa cards are accepted.

Additional benefits

• Most Valued Customer (MVC) opportunities: Customers who spend over $600 on their Kohl’s Card in a given year can earn elite MVC status. With this status, you’ll get free shipping opportunities each month. But Kohl’s doesn’t share any info about how many of these opportunities it offers.

• Extra coupons: You can get exclusive coupons, including an annual coupon on your card member anniversary. Again, Kohl’s doesn’t share much insight into what types of coupons it sends or how big the discounts are.

• Early-bird sales notifications: You’ll get an email notification a day ahead of any sales at Kohl’s, giving you the opportunity to plan your next shopping excursion—and hopefully use your Kohl’s Cash rewards.

How to earn rewards

The Kohl’s Card’s rewards structure is slightly convoluted, and you'll need to be a Kohl's Rewards member to maximize your earnings.

Regular Kohl's Rewards members earn 5% back on Kohl's purchases, but with a Kohl's credit card, you'll earn 7.5% back on your spending. If you're approved for the Kohl's Rewards Visa card, you'll also earn 3% back on gas purchases, 2% back at grocery stores, and 1% back everywhere else.

Your reward earnings are added automatically to your Kohl's Rewards account.

How to redeem rewards

Like many other branded store cards, the rewards you earn with your Kohl’s card aren’t true cash back. You can’t redeem them for a statement credit or a paper check. Instead, you’ll earn Kohl’s Cash, which you can use in $5 increments when shopping online or in-store. You can only use Kohl’s Cash to save on Kohl’s purchases.

Unfortunately, Kohl’s Cash expires quickly, so you’ll need to be a frequent shopper to get value from this credit card. Your rewards are only valid for 30 days after you earn them. For most people, this is a major drawback.

Who is the Kohl’s Card best for?

Because the redemption options for your rewards are so limited (and expire quickly), it could be hard to get good use of The Kohl’s card cards reliably. The majority of people will likely find a general rewards card to be easier to use.

But if you adore Kohl’s, shop there almost exclusively, and can quickly redeem any rewards you earn, a Kohl’s credit card might be a good choice. You can quickly rack up savings, and as long as you pay the card off every month, you won't be charged any fees.

Kohl’s Card pros

• Rewards you for shopping at Kohl’s

• More benefits are available after spending $600 in a calendar year

• Exclusive coupons and early sales notifications

Kohl’s Card cons

• High APR

• Your rewards can only be redeemed at Kohl's

• Rewards expire quickly

Where can you use the Kohl’s Card?

You can use your Kohl’s Credit Card at Kohl’s stores, including in-store and online. If your local Kohl’s also has a Sephora inside, you can use your card there, too.

Those approved for the Kohl's Rewards Visa card can use their card anywhere Visa is accepted.

How to make a Kohl’s Card payment

• Online or in the Kohl’s mobile app

• In store via debit card, cash, check, or money order

• By phone: 855-564-5705

• By mail:

  • P.O. Box 60043City of Industry, CA 91716orP.O. Box 1456Charlotte, NC 28201

Kohl’s Card customer service info

You can contact the Kohl’s Card customer service team through the following channels:

• Online chat available 24/7 through Kohl’s Customer Service

• Phone: 855-564-5748

  • Monday through Saturday: 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. CT

  • Sunday: 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. CT

• Kohl’s Card login page

Alternative cards to consider

The Kohl’s Card isn’t the best choice for most. Here are some great alternatives if you’d prefer a more flexible card with versatile rewards.

Learn more

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

• Annual fee
  $0
• Welcome offer
  Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 in your first 3 months
• Card type(s)
  Cash-Back
• Introductory Purchases APR
  0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months
• Ongoing Purchases APR
  18.99% - 28.49% Variable
• Introductory Balance Transfer APR
  0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months
• Ongoing Balance Transfer APR
  18.99% - 28.49% Variable
• Recommended credit score
  Excellent/Good

• Rewards rate
  • Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
  • 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants (includes takeout and eligible delivery service)
  • 1.5% on all other purchases

• Benefits
  • You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts
  • Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more
  • Generous intro APR on purchases and balance transfers

Why we like it: The Chase Freedom Unlimited packs much more value and flexibility than the Kohl’s Credit Card. You’ll get elevated cash back in your first year, with the opportunity to earn up to 5% back on travel purchases made in the Chase portal, 3% back on restaurant and drug store purchases, and 1.5% back on all other qualifying purchases.

The best part? You can use your card wherever Visa is accepted, not just Kohl’s, and your rewards don’t expire as long as your card is open.

Read our full Chase Freedom Unlimited Review

Learn more

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

• Annual fee
  $0
• Welcome offer
  Earn a $200 cash bonus after spending $500 within the first 3 months
• Purchase APR
  19.24% - 29.24% variable
• Introductory APR
  0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then variable 19.24% - 29.24% APR
• Recommended credit score
  Good, Excellent

• Rewards rate
  • 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • 1.5% cash back on all other purchases

• Benefits
  • Generous intro APR on purchases and balance transfers
  • No foreign transaction fees

Why we like it: With the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card, you’ll get up to 5% unlimited cash back on select purchases. You can earn that generous 5% rate when you use your card to book car rentals and hotel reservations in Capital One Travel; all other purchases will net you 1.5% unlimited cash back. As with the Chase Freedom Unlimited, your rewards won’t expire as long as your account remains open.

Unlike the Kohl’s Credit Card, which has a $0 annual fee, you’ll pay $39 each year for the privilege of being a cardholder. That said, this could be offset fairly easily if you use your card often.

Capital One Quicksilver vs. QuicksilverOne: The best option depends on your credit score

Learn more

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Rates & fees, terms apply

• Annual fee
  $0
• Welcome offer
  Earn a $200 statement credit after spending $2,000 within the first 6 months
• Introductory Purchases APR
  0% on purchases for 15 months
• Ongoing Purchases APR
  20.24%-29.24% Variable
• Introductory Balance Transfer APR
  0% on balance transfers for 15 months
• Ongoing Balance Transfer APR
  20.24%-29.24% Variable

• Rewards rate
  • 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%)
  • 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%)
  • 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%)
  • 1% cash back on all other purchases
  • Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or on Amazon.com at checkout

• Benefits
  • Generous intro APR on purchases and balance transfers
  • Get a $7 monthly statement credit after spending $9.99 or more on a streaming subscription to the Disney Bundle

Why we like it: The Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express offers a generous 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. online retailers (all up to $6,000 per year, then 1% after that). You’ll also get 1% back on other purchases made with your card.

Besides decent cashback earnings, you can also earn a $200 welcome bonus after spending $2,000 in the first six months of cardmembership. Again, these rewards won’t expire unless your account is closed.

This article was edited by Alicia Hahn

Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to Yahoo Finance and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information. This site doesn't include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.