Let me make this real simple. You're at a gas station. You use your card at the pump. The pump had a skimmer. A debit card: Your bank account got exposed YOUR MONEY was stolen from your checking. You can usually get it back but its not guaranteed. You also might not get it all back. There is also a reporting period you must fall into. Credit: You call and resolve the fraudalent charge easily because the banks money got stolen, not yours. The bank ain't letting anyone steal their money. Even if you make a purchase and the product wasn't delivered such as a reservation that was canceled or a canceled flight, the bank doesn't mind fighting them for you. Interest? Not if you maintain discipline as use it as a debit card only, paying it off at the end of the month. Bonus, a virtual credit card (G-Pay/Apple Pay): Practically skim-proof as it makes a disposable virtual version of the actual card to do the transaction. It's not about rewards, it's about protecting your money.