The Home Depot Consumer Credit Card: An Overview

Annual Fee: $0

Regular APR: 17.99%-26.99%

Recommended Credit Score: 640+

Overview

• This card offers 6 month financing* on purchases of $299 or more
• 1 year to make returns on purchases
• Zero liability for unauthorized charges

*Subject to credit approval. Terms and conditions apply

Pros

• You have 1 year to make returns:  Home Depot shoppers who have this card enjoy a return period that is 4x longer than that of those who do not. This feature may come in handy if you made a large purchase that you end up regretting later or buy too much of a certain product. When I was building my chicken coop I bought wayyyyy too many screws. This definitely helped that.
• There are zero-interest periods for select purchases: This is helpful because you can finance large projects without worrying about having to pay off the full amount plus interest every month. Be aware, though, that after the zero-interest period is over, you are responsible for any accrued interest should you not pay off the balance in full. This can be useful if you have a big project but do not have the cash right then. Make sure to pay off the balance in full before the interest hits! Seriously, the interest rate on this card is a wicked 17.99% – 26.99% based on creditworthiness.
• There are limited-time discounts for select purchases: While there are no ongoing rewards with this card, cardholders do get to enjoy exclusive discounts when they first sign up. Again, if you are starting a big project this is a great perk.
• This card is great for financing large purchases: This card is perfect for financing projects and other large home endeavors because of it's 6 month financing option. Again, though, be aware that this is not 0% APR, it is simply deferred interest, so if you do not pay the balance in full at the end of the 6 month period, you are responsible for all interest that accrued since the day of the purchase. Simply put, make sure to start paying off your balance immediately. Make sure to not wait until the last month or you'll be hit with all the interest at once. Yikes…

Cons

• There is a high APR if your balance is not paid in full every month: This card comes with a high variable APR between 17.99% and 26.99%. This is not a card you want to only be making minimum payments on. You want to make sure you are paying your balance off in full every month. Only charge as much as you have in the bank. High-interest rates make it very difficult to pay off the balance.
• Retroactive interest kicks in on special financing if not paid in full by the end of the promo period: there is a huge difference between deferred interest and a 0% APR intro offer. Deferred interest simply means all the interest is set aside for later. This means that if you fail to pay off the balance in full at the end of the 6 month period, all of the interest that would have accrued from the day of the purchase will be applied to the balance. You may be better off with a credit card that has a true 0% APR for the first 12-18 months. You may want to consider the Chase Freedom Unlimited card instead.
• This credit card cannot be used at any other retailer: If you are looking for a card that will be the primary card in your wallet, this one is definitely not it. Because it is a store credit card, it cannot be used anywhere else besides Home Depot. You will need to look at other options for a primary card. Here is one option from American Express that may work for you.
• There is no rewards program with this card: This is a bit of a bummer, as customers usually expect to be rewarded for their continued loyalty to a brand. There are limited-time promotions for new cardholders such as $25 off purchases of $25 to $299, $50 off purchases of $300 to $999, or $100 off purchases off of $1,000 or more. However, there are no ongoing rewards associated with this card. If you are looking for a store credit card that has ongoing rewards, the Lowe's Advantage credit card offers 5% off all eligible purchases. If you have both a Lowe's and Home Depot in your area, the Lowe's card may be a better option for you.
• There is no signup bonus with this card: Again, this can be a turn-off for customers who are wanting to be rewarded for opening a new account. Using a store credit card means that they are committed to the brand and are okay with having a card that is only able to be used at that store. In return, customers expect a show of goodwill from the store acknowledging that commitment. Sign-up bonuses are a great way to communicate that, however, Home Depot does not offer this, so if that is something you're looking for, you should probably consider other options. The only “sign-up” bonus this card has is the deferred interest as stated earlier. Before applying for this card you should check your credit score for free. You don't want to apply for a card that you will be denied. It's better to know sooner rather than later.

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How Does the Home Depot Card Compare to Others?

Lowes advantage

• $0 Annual Fee
• 26.99% APR
• Recommended Credit Score: 620+ (average)

Apply Now

Citi double cash

• $0 Annual Fee
• 13.99-23.99% APR
• Recommended Credit Score: 670-850 (average to high)

Apply Now

Chase freedom unlimited

• $0 Annual Fee
• 14.99-23.74% APR
• Recommended Credit Score: 690-850 (average to high)

Apply Now

Project Loan: An alternative pick from Home Depot

With loans up to $55,000 and fixed low monthly payments with more time to pay, this card is perfect for financing big home improvement projects.

APPLY NOW

Lowes Advantage Credit Card: Overview

Card Type: Store credit card

Annual Fee: $0

Sign-Up Bonus: When you are approved for this credit card, you will receive a coupon for 20% off your first purchase (up to $100 discount)

Rewards: With this credit card, you will receive 5% off of eligible Lowe's purchases, special financing for 6 months on purchases of $299 or more, and up to 84 months of fixed payments at a reduced APR on a minimum purchase of $2,000

Interest Rate: the current interest rate for this card is 26.99% for everyone

Foreign Transaction Fees: No

Advantages of the lowes advantage credit card

• This card does not have an annual fee
• You can get everyday great financing and exclusive discounts all in one card
• You get an additional 5% off eligible purchases
• You're able to enjoy 84 fixed monthly payments at 7.99% APR when you make purchases of $2,000 or more

Disadvantages of the lowes advantage credit card

• High APR for balances not paid in full
• Not able to be used at any other stores
• No option for balance transfers or cash advances
• No benefits such as free shipping or extended returns

Citi Double Cash Overview

Card Type: Mastercard credit card

Annual Fee: $0

Rewards: 2% cash back on all purchases

Interest Rate: Introductory APR of 0% for 18 months on balance transfers. Variable APR is 13.99%-23.99%

Foreign Transaction Fee: Yes, 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each purchase made in a foreign country

Advantages of the citi double cash credit card

• This card comes with a $0 annual fee
• This card has a great cash back rewards program that awards 2% cash back on every purchase
• This card offers flexible cash back redemption, you can redeem cash back earnings via check, statement credit, gift card, or direct deposit to a Citi checking or savings account

Disadvantages of the citi double cash credit card

• There is no sign up bonus that comes with this card
• This card comes with a 3% foreign transaction fee
• You cannot redeem cash back earnings until you accrue a minimum of $25

Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Card Overview

Card Type: Cash back credit card

Annual Fee: $0

Sign Up Bonus: Earn a $200 bonus when you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months of opening the account

Rewards:

• 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Unlimited Rewards
• 3% back at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services
• 3% back on drugstore purchases
• Through March 31, 2022, 5% back on qualifying Lyft services purchased through the Lyft app
• 1.5% cash back on everything else

Interest Rate: 0% APR for the first 15 months, then an ongoing variable APR of 14.99%-23.74%

Foreign Transaction Fee: 3%

Advantages of the Chase freedom unlimited credit card

• Big sign up bonus
• Great rewards
• 1.5% cash back on ‘everything else'
• Point transfers to maximize value

Disadvantages of the Chase freedom unlimited

• Requires excellent credit
• Difficult to understand-with so many different opportunities for cash back, you may have to carry around a cheat sheet

The Home Depot consumer credit card FAQ's

Most frequent questions and answers

does this card offer rewards?

No, unfortunately this card does not offer rewards on purchases. If you are looking for a store credit card that offers a great rewards program, check out the Lowes Advantage Credit Card.

Is it difficult to be approved for this card?

You need a 640 credit score or higher to be approved for this credit card, so it is moderately difficult to be approved. Make sure to check your credit score before applying for FREE here. 

Is there an annual fee?

There is no annual fee on this credit card

Is this a Visa or Mastercard credit card?

Neither. This is a store credit card, which means you can only use it for Home Depot purchases.

Is there a sign up bonus?

There is no sign up bonus, however you can receive financing for 6 months on purchases of $299 or more as well as $25 off purchases of $25 to $299, $50 off purchases of $300 to $999, or $100 off purchases off of $1,000 or more.