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16 Best Travel Credit Cards of June 2024

ALSO CONSIDER: Best credit cards of 2024 || Best rewards credit cards || Best airline credit cards || Best hotel credit cards

The best travel credit card is one that brings your next trip a little closer every time you use it. Purchases earn points or miles you can use to pay for travel. If you're loyal to a specific airline or hotel chain, consider one of that company's branded travel credit cards. Otherwise, check out our picks for general-purpose travel cards that give you flexible travel rewards without the restrictions and blackout dates of branded cards.

250+ credit cards reviewed and rated by our team of experts

80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance

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NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity .

Show summary

NerdWallet's Best Travel Credit Cards of June 2024

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card : Best for Max flexibility + big bonus

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card : Best for Flat-rate rewards

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card : Best for Travel portal benefits

Chase Freedom Unlimited® : Best for Cash back for travel bookings

American Express® Gold Card : Best for Big rewards on everyday spending

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card : Best for Bonus rewards + no annual fee

The Platinum Card® from American Express : Best for Luxury travel perks

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card : Best for Business travelers

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card : Best for Triple points on multiple categories

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card : Best for Flat-rate rewards + no annual fee

Chase Sapphire Reserve® : Best for Bonus rewards + high-end perks

World of Hyatt Credit Card : Best for Best hotel card

Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card : Best for Travel rewards for rent payments

United℠ Explorer Card : Best for Best airline card

PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card : Best for Credit union benefits

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card : Best for Booking directly with airlines/hotels

Best Travel Credit Cards

Find the right credit card for you..

Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.

Max flexibility + big bonus

Flat-rate rewards, travel portal benefits, cash back for travel bookings, big rewards on everyday spending, bonus rewards + no annual fee, luxury travel perks, business travelers, triple points on multiple categories, flat-rate rewards + no annual fee, bonus rewards + high-end perks, best hotel card, travel rewards for rent payments, best airline card, credit union benefits, booking directly with airlines/hotels, full list of editorial picks: best travel credit cards.

Before applying, confirm details on the issuer’s website.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Our pick for: Flat-rate rewards

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is probably the best-known general-purpose travel credit card, thanks to its ubiquitous advertising. You earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases. Miles can be redeemed at a value of 1 cent apiece for any travel purchase, without the blackout dates and other restrictions of branded hotel and airline cards. The card offers a great sign-up bonus and other worthwhile perks ( see rates and fees ). Read our review.

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Our pick for: Flat-rate rewards + no annual fee

One of the best no-annual-fee travel cards available, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card gives you a solid rewards rate on every purchase, with points that can be redeemed for any travel purchase, without the restrictions of branded airline and hotel cards. Bank of America® has an expansive definition of "travel," too, giving you additional flexibility in how you use your rewards. Read our review.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Our pick for: Bonus rewards + high-end perks

The high annual fee on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® gives many potential applicants pause, but frequent travelers should be able to wring enough value out of this card to more than make up for the cost. Cardholders get bonus rewards (up to 10X) on dining and travel, a fat bonus offer, annual travel credits, airport lounge access, and a 50% boost in point value when redeeming points for travel booked through Chase. Points can also be transferred to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. Read our review. 

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Our pick for: Max flexibility + big bonus

For a reasonable annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns bonus rewards (up to 5X) on travel, dining, select streaming services, and select online grocery purchases. Points are worth 25% more when you redeem them for travel booked through Chase, or you can transfer them to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. The sign-up bonus is stellar, too. Read our review. 

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card

Our pick for: Booking directly with airlines/hotels

The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card stands out among general-purpose travel cards because it pays its highest rewards rates on travel bookings made directly with airlines and hotels, rather than requiring you to go through the issuer's travel agency, where prices might not be competitive. The points are flexible, you get a good bonus offer, and the card comes with a few other nice perks. Read our review.

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Our pick for: Bonus rewards + no annual fee

The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card offers so much value, it's hard to believe there's no annual fee. Start with a great bonus offer, then earn extra rewards in a host of common spending categories — restaurants, gas stations, transit, travel, streaming and more. Read our review.

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

Our pick for: Triple points on everyday categories

The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card earns bonus points on select travel, supermarkets, dining, gas stations and EV stations. There's a solid sign-up bonus as well. Read our review.

U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card

Our pick for: Road trips

The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card is one of the most generous cards on the market if you're taking to the skies or the road, thanks to the quadruple points it earns on travel and purchases at gas stations and EV charging stations. It's also a solid card for everyday expenses like groceries, dining and streaming, and it comes with ongoing credits that can offset its annual fee:  $0 intro for the first year, then $95 .  Read our review .

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Our pick for: Travel portal benefits

Capital One's premium travel credit card can deliver terrific benefits — provided you're willing to do your travel spending through the issuer's online booking portal. That's where you'll earn the highest rewards rates plus credits that can make back the bulk of your annual fee ( see rates and fees ). Read our review.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Our pick for: Cash back for travel bookings

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® was already a fine card when it offered 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Now it's even better, with bonus rewards on travel booked through Chase, as well as at restaurants and drugstores. On top of all that, new cardholders get a 0% introductory APR period and the opportunity to earn a sweet bonus. Read our review.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Our pick for: Luxury travel perks

The Platinum Card® from American Express comes with a hefty annual fee, but travelers who like to go in style (and aren't afraid to pay for comfort) can more than get their money's worth. Enjoy extensive airport lounge access, hundreds of dollars a year in travel and shopping credits, hotel benefits and more. That's not even getting into the high rewards rate on eligible travel purchases and the rich welcome offer for new cardholders. Read our review.

American Express® Gold Card

Our pick for: Big rewards on everyday spending

The American Express® Gold Card can earn you a pile of points from everyday spending, with generous rewards at U.S. supermarkets, at restaurants and on certain flights booked through amextravel.com. Other benefits include hundreds of dollars a year in available dining and travel credits and a solid welcome offer for new cardholders. There's an annual fee, though, and a pretty substantial one, so it's not for smaller spenders. Read our review.

Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card

Our pick for: Travel rewards on rent payments

The Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card stands out by offering credit card rewards on rent payments without incurring an additional transaction fee. The ability to earn rewards on what for many people is their single biggest monthly expense makes this card worth a look for any renter. You also get bonus points on dining and travel when you make at least five transactions on the card each statement period, and redemption options include point transfers to partner hotel and loyalty programs. Read our review.

PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card

Our pick for: Credit union rewards

With premium perks for a $95 annual fee (which can be waived in some cases), jet-setters will get a lot of value from the PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card . It also offers a generous rewards rate on travel purchases and a decent flat rate on everything else. Plus, you’ll get travel credits and a Priority Pass membership that offers airport lounge access for $32 per visit. Read our review.

United℠ Explorer Card

Our pick for: B est airline card

The United℠ Explorer Card earns bonus rewards not only on spending with United Airlines but also at restaurants and on eligible hotel stays. And the perks are outstanding for a basic airline card — a free checked bag, priority boarding, lounge passes and more. Read our review.

» Not a United frequent flyer? See our best airline cards for other options

World of Hyatt Credit Card

Our pick for: Best hotel card

Hyatt isn't as big as its competitors, but World of Hyatt Credit Card is worth a look for anyone who spends a lot of time on the road. You can earn a lot of points even on non-Hyatt spending, and those points have a high value compared with rival programs. There's a great sign-up bonus, free nights, automatic elite status and more. Read our review.

» Not a Hyatt customer? See our best hotel cards for other options.

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Our pick for: Business travelers

The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card starts you off with one of the biggest sign-up bonuses of any credit card anywhere: Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠. You also get bonus rewards on travel expenses and common business spending categories, like advertising, shipping and internet, cable and phone service. Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel booked through Chase, or you can transfer them to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. Learn more and apply .

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How travel rewards work.

Modern-day adventurers and once-a-year vacationers alike love the idea of earning rewards toward their next big trip. According to a NerdWallet study , 68% of American adults say they have a credit card that earns travel rewards.

With a travel rewards credit card, you earn points or miles every time you use the card, but you can often earn more points per dollar in select categories. Some top travel credit cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve® , offer bonus points on any travel spending, while the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card grants bonus points when you use the card at Marriott hotels, grocery stores, restaurants or gas stations.

Not all points and miles earned on travel rewards credit cards are the same:

General-purpose travel credit cards — including the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card , the American Express® Gold Card and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card — give you rewards that can be used like cash to pay for travel or that can be exchanged for points in airline or hotel loyalty programs. With their flexible rewards, general-purpose options are usually the best travel credit cards for those who don't stick to a single airline or hotel chain.

Airline- and hotel-specific cards — such as the United℠ Explorer Card and the Hilton Honors American Express Card — give points and miles that can be used only with the brand on the card. (Although it's possible in some cases to transfer hotel points to airlines, we recommend against it because you get a poor value.) These so-called co-branded cards are usually the best travel credit cards for those who always fly one particular airline or stay with one hotel group.

How do we value points and miles? With the rewards earned on general travel cards, it's simple: They have a fixed value, usually between 1 and 1.5 cents per point, and you can spend them like cash. With airline miles and hotel points, finding the true value is more difficult. How much value you get depends on how you redeem them.

To better understand what miles are worth, NerdWallet researched the cash prices and reward-redemption values for hundreds of flights. Our results:

Keep in mind that the airline values are based on main cabin economy tickets and exclude premium cabin redemptions. See our valuations page for business class valuations and details about our methodology.

Our valuations are different from many others you may find. That’s because we looked at the average value of a point based on reasonable price searches that anyone can perform, not a maximized value that only travel rewards experts can expect to reach.

You should therefore use these values as a baseline for your own redemptions. If you can redeem your points for the values listed on our valuations page, you are doing well. Of course, if you are able to get higher value out of your miles, that’s even better.

HOW TO CHOOSE A TRAVEL CREDIT CARD

There are scores of travel rewards cards to choose from. The best travel credit card for you has as much to do with you as with the card. How often you travel, how much flexibility you want, how much you value airline or hotel perks — these are all things to take into account when deciding on a travel card. Our article on how to choose a travel credit card recommends that you prioritize:

Rewards you will actually use (points and miles are only as good as your ability to redeem them for travel).

A high earning rate (how much value you get in rewards for every dollar spent on the card).

A sign-up bonus (a windfall of points for meeting a spending requirement in your first few months).

Even with these goals in mind, there are all kinds of considerations that will influence your decision on a travel rewards credit card.

Travel cards are for travelers

Travel cards vs. cash-back cards.

The very first question to ask yourself when choosing a travel credit card is: Should I get a travel card at all? Travel credit cards are best for frequent travelers, who are more likely to get enough value from rewards and perks to make up for the annual fees that the best travel credit cards charge. (Some travel cards charge no annual fee, but they tend to offer lesser rewards than full-fee cards.) A NerdWallet study found that those who travel only occasionally — say, once a year — will probably get greater overall rewards from cash-back credit cards , most of which charge no annual fee, than from a travel card.

Flexibility and perks: A trade-off

Co-branded cards vs. general travel cards.

Travel credit cards fall into two basic categories: co-branded cards and general travel cards.

Co-branded cards carry the name of an airline or hotel group, such as the United℠ Explorer Card or the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card . The rewards you earn are redeemable only with that particular brand, which can limit your flexibility, sometimes sharply. For example, if your credit card's co-branded airline partner doesn't have any award seats available on the flight you want on the day you want, you're out of luck. On the other hand, co-branded cards commonly offer airline- or hotel-specific perks that general travel cards can't match.

General travel cards aren't tied to a specific airline or hotel, so they offer much greater flexibility. Well-known general travel cards include the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card . Rewards on general travel cards come as points (sometimes called "miles" but they're really points) that you can redeem for any travel expense. You're not locked into using a single airline or hotel, but you also won't enjoy the perks of a co-branded card.

Evaluating general travel credit cards

What you get with a general travel card.

The credit cards featured at the top of this page are general travel cards. They're issued by a bank (such as Chase or Capital One), carry only that bank's name, and aren't tied to any single airline or hotel group. With these cards, you earn points on every purchase — usually 1 to 2 points per dollar spent, sometimes with additional points in certain categories.

Issuers of general travel cards typically entice new applicants with big sign-up bonuses (also known as "welcome offers") — tens of thousands of miles that you can earn by spending a certain amount of money on the card in your first few months.

» MORE: NerdWallet's best credit card sign-up offers

What do you do with those points? Depending on the card, you may have several ways to redeem them:

Booking travel. With this option, your points pay for travel booked through the issuer's website, using a utility similar to Orbitz or Expedia. For example, if points were worth 1 cent apiece when redeemed this way, you could book a $400 flight on the issuer's portal and pay for it with 40,000 points

Statement credit. This lets you essentially erase travel purchases by using your points for credit on your statement. You make travel arrangements however you want (directly with an airline or hotel, through a travel agency, etc.) and charge it to your card. Once the charge shows up on your account, you apply the necessary points and eliminate the cost.

Transferring to partners. The card issuer may allow you to transfer your points to loyalty programs for airlines or hotel chains, turning your general card into something like a co-branded card (although you don't get the perks of a co-brand).

Cash back, gift cards or merchandise. If you don't plan to travel, you can burn off your rewards with these options, although you'll often get a lower value per point.

Airline and hotel cards sharply limit your choice, but they make up for it with perks that only they can offer, like free checked bags or room upgrades. General travel cards, on the other hand, offer maximum flexibility but can't provide the same kinds of perks, because the banks that issue them don't operate the airlines or hotels. Still, there are some noteworthy perks on general travel cards, including:

Travel credit. This is automatic reimbursement for travel-related spending. Some top travel credit cards offer hundreds of dollars a year in travel credit.

Trusted traveler reimbursement. More and more travel credit cards are covering the application fee for TSA Precheck and Global Entry, programs that allow you to move through airport security and customs more quickly.

Airport lounge access. Hundreds of lounges worldwide operate separately from airlines under such networks as Priority Pass and Airspace, and several general travel cards offer access to these lounges.

Points programs

Every major card issuer has at least one travel card with a points program. American Express calls its program Membership Rewards, while Chase has Ultimate Rewards® and Citi pays in ThankYou points. Wells Fargo has Wells Fargo Rewards, and U.S. Bank has FlexPerks. Bank of America® travel cards offer points without a fancy name. Travel cards from Capital One, Barclays and Discover all call their points "miles."

These programs differ in how much their points are worth and how you can use them. Some offer the full range of redemption options, including transfers to loyalty programs. Others let you use them only to book travel or get statement credit.

» MORE: Travel loyalty program reviews

Evaluating airline credit cards

What you get with an airline credit card.

Airline credit cards earn "miles" with each purchase. You typically get 1 mile per dollar spent, with a higher rate (2 or more miles per dollar) on purchases with the airline itself. (Some airline cards have also begun offering extra miles for purchases in additional categories, such as restaurants or car rental agencies.) These miles go into the same frequent-flyer account as the ones you earn by flying the airline, and you can redeem them for free flights with the airline or its alliance partners.

Co-branded airline cards typically offer sign-up bonuses (or welcome offers). But what really sets them apart are the perks they give you. With some cards, for example, the checked-bag benefit alone can make up for the annual fee after a single roundtrip by a couple. Common perks of airline cards include:

Free checked bags. This commonly applies to the first checked bag for you and at least one companion on your reservation. Some cards extend this perk to more people, and higher-end cards (with higher annual fees) may even let you check two bags apiece for free.

Priority boarding. Holders of co-branded airline credit cards often get to board the plane early — after the airline's elite-status frequent flyers but before the general population. This gives you time to settle in and gives you a leg up on claiming that coveted overhead bin space.

In-flight discounts or freebies. You might get, say, 25% off the cost of food and beverages during the flight, or free Wi-Fi.

Airport lounge access. High-end cards often include a membership to the airline's airport lounges, where you can get away from the frenzy in the terminal and enjoy a complimentary snack. Some less-expensive airline cards give you only limited or discounted lounge access; others give you none at all.

Companion fares. This perk lets you bring someone with you for a lower cost when you buy a ticket at full price.

A boost toward elite status. Miles earned with a credit card, as opposed to those earned from actually flying on the airline, usually do not count toward earning elite status in an airline's frequent-flyer program. However, carrying an airline's high-end card might automatically qualify you for a higher tier within the program.

The biggest U.S. airlines — American, United and Delta — offer an array of credit cards. Each airline has a no-annual-fee card that earns miles on purchases but provides little in the way of perks (no free bags or priority boarding). Each has a high-end card with an annual fee in the neighborhood of $450 that offers lounge access and sumptuous perks. And each has a "middle-class" card with a fee of around $100 and solid ongoing perks. Southwest offers three credit cards with varying fees; smaller carriers may just have a single card.

» MORE: NerdWallet's best airline credit cards

Choosing an airline

Which airline card you get depends in large part on what airline you fly, and that's heavily influenced by where you live. Alaska Airlines, for example, has an outstanding credit card, but the airline's routes are concentrated primarily on the West Coast. So it's not a great option for those who live in, say, Buffalo, New York, or Montgomery, Alabama.

If your local airport is dominated by a single airline, then you're probably flying that carrier most (or all) of the time by default. Delta, for example, is the 800-pound gorilla at Minneapolis-St. Paul and Salt Lake City. United has the bulk of the traffic at Newark and Washington Dulles. American calls the shots at Charlotte and Dallas-Fort Worth. That airline's credit card may be your only realistic option. If you're in a large or midsize market with frequent service from multiple airlines, you have more choice.

» MORE: How to choose an airline credit card

Evaluating hotel credit cards

What you get with a hotel card.

Hotel credit cards earn points with each purchase. As with airline cards, you typically get more points per dollar for purchases from the co-brand partner, and some cards also give bonus points in additional categories. (Hotel cards tend to give you a greater number of points overall than airline cards, but each individual point is generally worth less than a typical airline mile.) Similar to the airline model, the points you earn with the card go into the same loyalty account as the points you earn from actually staying at a hotel. You redeem your points for free stays.

Hotel cards usually offer a sign-up bonus, but like airline cards, they really make their bones with the ongoing perks. Common perks on hotel cards include:

Free nights. Several cards offer this perk, which can make up for the card's annual fee. You may get a free night automatically every year, or you may unlock it by spending a certain amount within a year. In the latter case, it comes on top of the points you earn for your spending.

Upgrades and freebies. Cardholders may qualify for automatic room upgrades when available, or free or discounted amenities such as meals or spa packages.

Early check-in/late check-out. No one likes having to cool their heels in the hotel lobby waiting for 3 o'clock to check in. And no one likes have to vacate their room by 11 a.m. when their flight doesn't leave till evening.

Accelerated elite status. Some hotel cards automatically bump you up a level in their loyalty program just for being a cardholder.

» MORE: NerdWallet's best hotel credit cards

Choosing a hotel group

If you decide to go the hotel-card route, you'll need to decide which hotel group gets your business. Hotels aren't as market-concentrated as airlines, so if your travels take you mostly to metropolitan areas, you'll have a decent amount of choice. Keep in mind that even though there are dozens of nationally recognizable hotel brands, ranging from budget inns to luxury resorts, many of them are just units in a larger hotel company, and that company's card can unlock benefits across the group.

Marriott, for example, includes not only its namesake properties but nearly 30 other brands, including Courtyard, Fairfield, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Ritz-Carlton, Sheraton and Westin. The Hilton family includes DoubleTree, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn and Waldorf-Astoria. InterContinental includes Holiday Inn, Candlewood, Staybridge and Crowne Plaza. Wyndham and Choice have more than 15 mid-tier and budget-oriented brands between them.

HOW TO COMPARE TRAVEL CREDIT CARDS

No travel rewards credit card is going to have everything you want. You're going to be disappointed if you expect to find a high rewards rate, a generous sign-up bonus, top-notch perks and no annual fee. Each card delivers value through a different combination of features; it's up to you to compare cards based on the following features and choose the best travel credit card for your needs and preferences.

Most of the best travel cards charge an annual fee. Fees in the range of $90 to $100 are standard for travel cards. Premium cards with extensive perks will have fees of $450 or more. Weigh the value of the rewards and perks you'll get to make sure they'll make up for the fee.

Can you find good cards without an annual fee? Absolutely! There are no-fee options on our list of the best travel credit cards, and we've rounded up more here . Just be aware that if you go with a no-fee travel card, you'll earn rewards at a lower rate, your sign-up bonus will be smaller, and you won't get as many (if any) perks.

Rewards rate

Rewards can be thought of in terms of "earn rate" and "burn rate".

The earn rate is how many points or miles you receive per dollar spent. Some general travel cards offer flat-rate rewards, meaning you get the same rate on all purchases, all the time — 2 miles per dollar, for example, or 1.5 points per dollar. Others, including most co-branded cards, offer a base rate of maybe 1 point per dollar and then pay a higher rate in certain categories, such as airline tickets, hotel stays, general travel expenses or restaurant meals.

The burn rate is the value you get for those points or miles when you redeem them. The industry average is about 1 cent per point or mile. Some cards, particularly hotel cards, have lower value per point on the "burn" side but give you more points per dollar on the earning side.

When comparing rewards rates, don't just look at the numbers. Look at the categories to which those numbers apply, and find a card that matches your spending patterns. Getting 5 points per dollar seems great — but if those 5X points come only on purchases at, say, office supply stores, and you don't spend money on office supplies, then you're getting lousy value.

Sign-up bonus

Travel cards tend to have the biggest sign-up bonuses — tens of thousands of points that you earn by hitting a certain amount of spending. But there's more to consider when comparing sign-up bonuses than just how many points or miles you earn. You must also take into account how much you have to spend to earn the bonus. While cash-back credit cards often require just $500 to $1,000 in spending over three months to unlock a bonus, travel cards commonly have thresholds of $3,000 to $5,000.

Never spend money you don't have just to earn a sign-up bonus. Carrying $3,000 in debt for a year in order to earn a $500 bonus doesn't make economic sense — the interest you'll pay could easily wipe out the value of the bonus.

Finally, keep in mind that the biggest bonuses will come on cards with annual fees.

Foreign transaction fees

A good travel card will not charge a foreign transaction fee. These fees are surcharges on purchases made outside the U.S. The industry standard is about 3%, which is enough to wipe out most if not all of the rewards you earn on a purchase. If you never leave the U.S., then this isn't much of a concern, but anyone who travels abroad should bring a no-foreign-transaction-fee card with them.

Some issuers don't charge foreign transaction fees on any of their cards. Others charge them on some cards but not all.

International acceptance

Not all travel credit cards are great companions for international travel. While Visa and Mastercard are good pretty much worldwide, you may encounter limited acceptance for American Express and, especially, Discover, depending on the destination. This doesn't mean world travelers should dismiss AmEx and Discover. Just know that if you take one of these cards with you overseas, you'd be smart to bring along a backup in case you run into acceptance problems. (Having a backup card is good advice within the U.S., too, really.)

Travel protections

Consider which travel protections — car rental insurance , trip cancellation coverage , lost baggage protection — are important to you.

"Rewards" are what you get for using a credit card — the points earned with each transaction and the bonuses you unlock with your spending. "Perks" are goodies that you get just for carrying the card. There's a very close correlation between the annual fee on a card and the perks you get for carrying it. Cards with no annual fee are all about rewards and go very light on perks. Premium cards with annual fees of $450 or more are laden with perks (although sometimes their rewards aren't too special). Midtier cards (in the $100 range) tend to have solid rewards and a handful of high-value perks.

Assuming you take advantage of them, the perks often make up for the annual fee on a card quite easily. This is especially true with co-branded cards. Free checked bags can pay for an airline card several times over, and a free night is usually worth more than the fee on a hotel card. When comparing the perks of various cards, be realistic about which ones you will and won't use. Sure, that card may entitle you to a free spa package the next time you're at a five-star hotel, but how often do you stay at five-star hotels?

SHOULD YOU GET A TRAVEL CARD? PROS AND CONS

Pros: why it's worth getting a travel card.

The sign-up bonus gives you a big head-start on travel. Bonuses on the best travel credit cards typically run $500 or more — enough for a roundtrip ticket in many instances.

Perks make travel less expensive and more relaxing. You won't have to worry about cramming a week's worth of clothes into a carry-on if your travel credit card gives you a free checked bag (or automatically reimburses you for the bag fee). Hate the crush of travelers in the terminal? Escape to the airport lounge. Renting a car? Use a travel card that provides primary rental car insurance.

Rewards get you closer to your next trip with every purchase. Spending money on the mundane activities of daily life has a silver lining when you know that every $1,000 you spend will knock $10 or $20 off the cost of that future beach vacation or trip home to see Mom and Dad.

No foreign transaction fee can mean big savings. Take just any old credit card with you on vacation outside the U.S., and $1,000 worth of purchases can cost you $30 off the top due to the foreign transaction surcharge. Good travel cards don't charge this fee.

"Double dipping" gives you more points on travel purchases. Buy a plane ticket or book a hotel room, and you'll earn loyalty points or miles regardless of how you pay. Use the right credit card, though, and you'll earn even more points and miles on top of those.

Strategic redemption can multiply your value. With cash-back credit cards, 1 cent is worth 1 cent, and that's just how it goes. The points and miles on many travel credit cards have variable value based on how you redeem them — booking travel with them vs. transferring them to a partner, booking domestic vs. international flights and economy vs. business class, staying at budget hotels vs. high-end resorts, and so on.

Cons: Why a travel card might not be for you

The best cards charge annual fees. In many cases, the value you get from a credit card more than makes up for the annual fee. But some people are dead set against paying a fee under any circumstances. If that's you, your options in travel cards will be sharply limited, and you won't get the perks that provide a big portion of the value on many cards.

Sign-up bonus spending requirements can be steep. A bonus worth $500, $600 or $700 is attractive, but only if you can afford to earn it with spending you were going to do anyway. If you have to amass thousands of dollars in debt and then pay interest on it, it's not worth it.

Travel cards aren't ideal for infrequent travelers. In the first year with a travel card, you're probably going to come out ahead: You can earn a big sign-up bonus, and several popular cards waive the first year's annual fee, too. In subsequent years, though, you'll break even on that fee only if you use the card enough to make up for it (with the rewards you earn and redeem and the perks you use). Infrequent travelers are more likely to get more total rewards from a cash-back card with no annual fee.

Cash back is simpler and more flexible. Some travel cards allow you to redeem your rewards only for travel. Others give you poor value unless you redeem for travel. Still others have complicated redemption options, making it hard to get the most out of your rewards. With cash-back credit cards, you can use your rewards on anything, you know exactly how much your rewards are worth, and redemption is usually simple.

Rewards cards tend to charge higher interest rates. If you regularly carry a balance from month to month, a travel credit card — or any rewards credit card — probably isn't your best choice. The interest you pay is eating up the value of your rewards. You're better off with a low-interest card that reduces the cost of carrying debt.

MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR TRAVEL CARD

Maximize your rewards with the following tips:

Plan your credit card application around a big purchase to earn the sign-up bonus.

Seize every opportunity to pick up the tab, especially if your travel credit card pays bonus rewards on dining; your friends can pay you back while you collect rewards.

Redeem rewards for travel instead of gift cards, merchandise or (in most cases) cash back to get the best value.

Join the loyalty program associated with a co-branded card — a frequent-flyer or frequent-guest program.

Shop for essentials in your card’s online bonus mall or through its exclusive offers, if available, to get extra rewards.

OTHER CARDS TO CONSIDER

It’s worth considering whether a travel credit card is even right for you in the first place. A NerdWallet study found that cash-back credit cards often earn more money — even for many travelers.

If you carry a balance from month to month, the higher interest rates typically charged by rewards cards can cancel out any rewards earned. If you have a good credit score, you're better off with a low-interest credit card that can save you money on interest.

A good travel credit card shouldn't charge foreign transaction fees, but there are good non-travel cards that also don't charge them. See our best cards with no foreign transaction fee .

If you value transparency and flexibility in your rewards, you can't go wrong with a cash-back card — and you can still use the rewards for travel, if you want.

Finally, if you're still not sure what's right for you, take a look at our best rewards credit cards for options beyond travel and cash back.

NerdWallet's Sam Kemmis contributed to this article.

To view rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card , see this page . To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express , see this page .

Last updated on June 4 , 2024

Methodology

NerdWallet's Credit Cards team selects the best travel rewards credit cards based on overall consumer value, as evidenced by star ratings, as well as their suitability for specific kinds of travelers. Factors in our evaluation include each card's annual fee, foreign transaction fees, rewards earnings rates, ease of use, redemption options, domestic and international acceptance, promotional APR period, bonus offers, and cardholder perks such as automatic statement credits and airport lounge access. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.

Frequently asked questions

Travel credit cards earn points (sometimes called miles) each time you buy something. The standard earning rate is 1 to 2 points per dollar spent, and many cards give you extra points for certain purchases, particularly travel expenses. The value of a point depends on the card that earned it and how you redeem it, but a good rule of thumb is to assume each point is worth an average of about 1 cent.

Your points accumulate in a rewards account, where you can use them to pay for travel. Most cards let you book travel directly using a portal similar to those at online travel agencies or on airline and hotel websites, but instead of paying cash, you pay with your points. Depending on the card, you may also have the option of booking travel any way you want, paying for it with the card and then cashing in your points for a credit against those expenses.

Points and miles are just different names for the same thing: the currency used in a travel rewards program. Some travel credit cards call them points, some call them miles.

Airline frequent flyer programs have long used the term “miles” to refer to the rewards you earn for flying. That’s because at one time, you really did earn rewards according to how many miles you flew — the longer the flight, the more miles you earned. Nowadays, most domestic airlines give out “miles” based on how much you spend, not how far you fly, so they’re really just points. (There are a few exceptions, though, notably Alaska Airlines.)

Especially when it comes to redeeming your rewards, there’s no difference between points and miles. The number of points or miles you need is based mostly on the cost of what you’re redeeming them for. It takes more than 500 miles (value about: $5) to get a free 500-mile flight!

The value of a point or mile depends on the card you earned it with and how you redeem it. A common rule of thumb is to assume that each point or mile is worth an average of 1 cent, although you can certainly get a much higher (or lower) redemption value. See our travel loyalty roundup page for NerdWallet’s current valuations for airline miles and hotel points.

Travel credit cards fall into two main categories: co-branded and general-purpose.

• Co-branded travel cards carry the name of an airline or hotel chain. The rewards you earn on the card can typically be redeemed only with that brand (or maybe its partners). Co-branded cards limit your flexibility, but because they are issued in partnership with an airline or hotel, they can give you special perks, like free checked bags or room upgrades.

• General-purpose travel cards are issued by a credit card company and are not directly tied to any particular airline or hotel. They earn points in the issuer's own program, such as American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards® or Citi ThankYou. These points are a lot more flexible, as you can use them to pay for a range of travel expenses, including flights on any airline or stays at any hotel. However, they don’t offer the airline- or hotel-specific perks of co-branded cards.

Travel cards — like rewards cards in general — typically require good to excellent credit for approval. Good credit is generally defined as a credit score of 690 or better. However, credit scores alone do not guarantee approval. Every issuer has its own criteria for evaluating applications.

Business travel can earn credit card rewards just like leisure travel. Credit cards that earn rewards for travel purchases don't distinguish between one or the other — meaning, if a card pays 3X points on airfare, for example, it's going to pay it no matter why you're buying the ticket. There are also travel credit cards specifically designed for business operators, with benefits and perks better aligned with their needs.

Where things get complicated is when you're not arranging the travel yourself. With credit card points, the rewards go to the cardholder. So if you arrange travel through your employer and the cost goes on the "company card," then the company card gets the points. Put it on your own card and get reimbursed later, and you get the points. (And if you have a company card with your name on it? That may come down to company policy.)

When redeeming travel rewards, you want to get as much value as possible. If you can get more value by using your rewards than by using cash, then it's smart to do so. (And of course, the reverse also applies.) NerdWallet has calculated the baseline values of most major credit card points, airline miles and hotel points. When you get a value that exceeds these baselines, go ahead and use your rewards. If not, consider using cash.

For example, say you could book a trip by paying $400 cash for a ticket or by redeeming 50,000 points or miles. In that case, your points would be getting you a value of 0.8 cents apiece (50,000 x 0.8 cents = $400). If the baseline value of each point is 1 cent, then you're better off paying cash and saving the points for when you can redeem them for 1 cent or better.

That said, you don't want to be overthinking it and hoarding points indefinitely in search of the deal to end all deals. Like any other currency, travel rewards lose value over time. That flight that costs 50,000 points today might cost 55,000 next year. Do you have enough points to get you where you want to go, when you want to go, in the way you want to get there? If so, don't let fractions of a penny stop you from booking your trip. It's your money, and you get to decide how to spend it.

A number of travel credit cards come with "travel credits," which reimburse you for specific expenses. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® , for example, has a $300 annual travel credit; several cards offer credits toward things like airline fees or hotel bookings; and a bunch of cards have a credit for the application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry .

The less restrictive a credit is, the easier it is to redeem. The easiest travel credit to redeem is one that:

Applies to a broad range of expenses. Some credits are very fickle. You may get $200 a year in "airline credit," but it applies only to incidental fees (not airfare) on a single airline that you have to choose ahead of time. A card may offer hundreds of dollars in credit toward travel, but you have to go through the issuer's booking portal, where rates may be more expensive and options more limited. Other credits, however, are broad and open-ended: $300 on any travel expense, $100 toward any airline booking, and so on.

Shows up automatically on your statement. Your issuer's system should be able to recognize qualifying expenses and then apply the credit to them without you having to do anything. If the only way to receive the credit is by calling a phone number or submitting receipts or other documentation, that makes it harder to redeem, which in turn makes it less likely that you'll redeem (and that may be the point).

About the author

Sara Rathner

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The 18 Best Travel Credit Cards in June 2024

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Table of Contents

Best travel credit cards for first-time cardholders, best travel credit cards for luxury travelers, best value hotel-branded card, best travel credit cards for the everyday spender, best credit cards for travelers who want simple earnings and redemptions, best travel credit card for the low spender, best travel credit card for family roadtrippers, best travel credit card for the budget traveler, best travel credit card for the hotel loyalist, best business card for premium perks and lounge access, best business card for flexible bonus categories, best all-around business card, how we selected our list of best travel credit cards, what are travel credit cards how do they work, the difference between cash-back credit cards and travel credit cards, the different types of travel credit cards, the pros and cons of travel credit cards, when should you use a travel credit card, how to choose the best travel credit card, how to make the most of your travel rewards credit card, tips for getting approved for a travel rewards credit card, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our  Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

Upgraded Points: Expertise You Can Trust

Our seasoned and experienced team brings years of expertise in the credit card and travel sectors. Committed to integrity, we offer data-driven guides to help you find the card(s) that best fit your requirements. See details on our intensive editorial policies and card rating methodologies .

• Content by Leading Industry Experts
• Routine Updates and Fact-Checks
• First-Hand Credit Card Experience
• Shared Across 200+ Top Outlets

The U.P. Rating System

• 1038+ Expert Credit Card Guides

Let’s look at some of the  best travel rewards credit cards available in 2024 , review their perks and benefits , and consider which card might be the best one for you to sign up for.

Best Travel Credit Cards

• Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card – Best for First-Time Cardholders
• The Platinum Card ® from American Express – Best for Luxury Perks and Airport Lounge Access
• Chase Sapphire Reserve ® – Best for Domestic Travelers
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card – Best for Priority Pass and Authorized Users
• American Express ® Green Card * – Great Starter Travel Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless ® Credit Card – Best Value Hotel-Branded Card
• American Express ® Gold Card – Best for the Everyday Spender (Restaurants and U.S. Supermarkets)
• Citi Strata Premier℠ Card – Best for the Everyday Spender (Broad Spend Categories)
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card  – Best for Simple Earnings and Redemptions
• Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card – Best for Earning Points on Travel
• Citi Double Cash ® Card  – Best Fee-Free Card for Simple Earnings and Redemptions
• Blue Cash Everyday ® Card from American Express – Best for the Low Spender
• Blue Cash Preferred ® Card from American Express  – Best for Family Roadtrippers
• Chase Freedom Unlimited ® – Best for Budget Traveler
• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card * – Best for the Hotel Loyalist
• The Business Platinum Card ® from American Express – Best Business Card for Premium Perks and Lounge Access
• American Express ® Business Gold Card  – Best Business Card for Flexible Bonus Categories
• Ink Business Preferred ® Credit Card – Best All-Around Business Card

*The information regarding the American Express ®  Green Card and Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card

A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred ® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance . With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
• 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
• Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 75,000 points are worth $937.50 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
• Member FDIC
• APR: 21.49%-28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees:  None

Chase Ultimate Rewards

One of the most compelling reasons to sign up for a travel rewards credit card is to fund your travel goals, and one of the most valuable ways to accomplish this is to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points . That’s because Chase Ultimate Rewards points are easy to earn and offer flexible redemption options .

This is a great card for first-time cardholders since you’ll earn 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3x points on dining, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services, plus 2x points on all other travel purchases.

When it comes time to redeem your Ultimate Rewards points — whether you’re transferring your points to the Chase travel partners or using the Chase travel portal to book your travel — the experience will make you a fan forever.

You can’t go wrong beginning your travel-rewards journey with any Chase credit card that earns Ultimate Rewards points. The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is an especially fine first choice because it allows you to redeem your points for 25% more in value. Plus, it comes with perks like a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards hotel credit , and bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.

It’s difficult to find a downside to the Chase Sapphire Preferred card as it’s one of the most well-rounded travel rewards cards out there. If we had to dig deep and find any travel benefits that would make the card better, however, it would be that the card does not reimburse for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fees or offer lounge access.

With that having been said, for a modest annual fee of $95 , the card provides exceptional value as a travel rewards card.

American Express ® Green Card

This card can provide a great way to accumulate Membership Rewards points on eligible travel, transit, and at restaurants.

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with  no credit score impact.

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

The American Express ® Green Card is an excellent all-around travel rewards card thanks to earning 3x Membership Rewards ® points on eligible travel and transit purchases and at restaurants, access to American Express transfer partners, and a reasonable annual fee.

• 3x points per $1 spent at restaurants worldwide, on all eligible travel purchases, and transit purchases
• Up to $189 per calendar year in statement credits after you pay for a CLEAR ® Plus membership with the Card.
• Up to $100 in statement credits annually when you purchase airport lounge access through LoungeBuddy with the Card.
• $150 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
• Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards ® Points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your American Express ® Green Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards ® points on travel including airfare, hotels, cruises, tours, car rentals, campgrounds, and vacation rentals.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards ® Points on transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards ® points on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the US.
• $189 CLEAR Plus Credit: Receive up to $189 per calendar year in statement credits when you pay for your CLEAR Plus membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the American Express ® Green Card.
• $100 LoungeBuddy: No airport lounge membership? No problem! Purchase lounge access through the LoungeBuddy app using the American Express ® Green Card and receive up to $100 in statement credits annually.
• Payment Flexibility: When it comes to paying your bill, you have options. You can always pay in full. You also have the flexibility to carry a balance with interest or use Plan It ® to split up large purchases into monthly payments with a fixed fee, up to your Pay Over Time Limit. You may be able to keep spending beyond your limit – you’ll just need to pay for any new purchases in full when your bill is due.
• Trip Delay Insurance: If a round-trip is paid for entirely with your Eligible Card and a covered reason delays your trip more than 12 hours, Trip Delay Insurance can help reimburse certain additional expenses purchased on the same Eligible Card, up to $300 per trip, maximum 2 claims per eligible account per 12 consecutive month period. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees: No matter where you’re traveling, when you use your American Express ® Green Card there are no foreign transaction fees.
• $150 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.
• APR: See Pay Over Time APR

American Express Membership Rewards

American Express Membership Rewards points are some of our favorite points to earn thanks to their wide variety of redemption options, and their ability to be redeemed with high-value AmexTravel.com partners.

Fortunately, the Amex Green card is great at earning points since it earns 3x points at restaurants worldwide, on all eligible travel purchases (including airfare, hotels, cruises, tours, car rentals, campgrounds, and vacation rentals), and transit purchases (including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways).

Other great perks of the card include receiving up to a $189 annual CLEAR Plus statement credit to get you through airport security much faster, and up to a $100 annual LoungeBuddy credit allowing you to purchase access to select airport lounges worldwide.

We also love that the card includes rental car insurance, trip delay insurance, baggage protection, access to Amex Offers , purchase protection, and much more.

All information about the American Express ® Green Card has been collected independently by Upgraded Points.

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card

A powerful point earning card with access to transfer partners.

The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey SM Card is an excellent option for those looking for a great all-around travel rewards card that offers bonus categories on hotels, airfare, travel, and dining, giving you the opportunity to earn points on these purchases quickly.

Plus the card offers flexible redemption options including access to transfer partners, an annual credit towards airfare, and no foreign transaction fees ( rates & fees ).

• 5x points on hotels
• 4x points on airfare
• 3x points on other travel and restaurants
• $95 annual fee
• List of transfer partners is smaller than competing programs
• Select “Learn More” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
• Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s $600 toward your next trip.
• Earn unlimited 5X points on hotels, 4X points on airlines, 3X points on other travel and restaurants, and 1X points on other purchases.
• $95 Annual Fee.
• Book your travel with the Autograph Journey Card and enjoy Travel Accident Insurance, Lost Baggage Reimbursement, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection and Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver.
• Earn a $50 annual statement credit with $50 minimum airline purchase.
• Up to $1,000 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
• Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature ® Concierge.
• APR: 21.24%, 26.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR

The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card is a great option for those who love to travel and want to rack up as many points as possible on their travel purchases.

With it, you’ll earn 5x points on hotels, 4x points on airfare, 3x points on travel and dining , and 1x points on all other purchases. Further, unlike with competing cards, you do not need to make your hotel or airfare purchases through a specific travel portal to be eligible for bonus points — so you can choose whatever platform works best for you.

Plus, the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card offers perks like a $50 annual statement credit with a $50 minimum airline purchase, up to $1,000 of cell phone protection , lost baggage insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, access to the Wells Fargo Rewards transfer partners , no foreign transaction fees, and more, all for a low annual fee ( $95 ). 

The Platinum Card ® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card ® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card  is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access , hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com
• $695 annual fee ( rates and fees )
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)
• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards ® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards ® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards ® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts ® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card ® . The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card ® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection ® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card ® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card ® .
• $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
• $189 CLEAR ® Plus Credit: CLEAR ® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
• Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 year period for TSA PreCheck ® application fee for a 5-year plan only (through a TSA PreCheck ® official enrollment provider), when charged to your Platinum Card ® . Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card ® . That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card ® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.

When you prefer the best travel experiences, you want only the best travel rewards card. If you’re an international traveler who won’t settle for anything less than a nice comfy seat, lounge access , and premium travel perks and benefits, you’re going to want the Amex Platinum card.

The benefits of the Amex Platinum card collectively create a stunning package of everything a luxury international traveler needs to elevate their travel experience.

Note that some benefits require enrollment through your American Express account.

• The Best Travel Earnings: With the Amex Platinum card, earning valuable Membership Rewards points is simple. Make your flight and prepaid hotel purchases through AmexTravel.com, and you’ll earn 5x points.
• The Best Lounge Access : Whether you want to visit a Delta Sky Club when flying Delta, a Priority Pass lounge upon enrollment, or treat yourself to a Centurion Lounge visit, your card will grant you access to over 1,400 lounges.
• Savor Those Upgraded Hotel Rooms: Enjoy the benefits of complimentary hotel elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy upon enrollment.
• The Best Seat on the Plane: Purchase an upgraded seat and get reimbursed up to $200 for incidental airline fees each year (you can even upgrade with points ).
• Make Checked Luggage Fees Disappear: Use your airline fees credit for incidental airline fees reimbursed each year and forget about checked luggage fees or other incidental airline charges.
• Get an Uber Credit: Each month you’ll receive $15 in Uber Cash . In December, you receive $35, for a total of $200 annually.
• No Reservations? No Problem: Just call your private concierge .
• Ease Through Security: Purchase CLEAR Plus , Global Entry , or TSA PreCheck and receive a statement credit.
• Offset the Cost of Your Hotel Stay: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings, which require a minimum 2-night stay, through AmexTravel.com when you pay with your card.
• Enjoy Hotel Perks: Book a stay at a Fine Hotels + Resorts property via AmexTravel.com and receive a room upgrade, a $100 property amenity, late checkout, and more. For 2-night stays or more at The Hotel Collection , you’ll receive room upgrades and a $100 hotel experience credit.

There’s no doubt the Amex Platinum card has a high annual fee, however, the card does offer premium travel benefits that, if used, can more than offset that fee. And while the card offers many valuable statement credits, the airline incidentals credit can be difficult to use as it does not cover airline tickets.

We like the worldwide lounge access, especially Centurion Lounges. However, the Priority Pass membership, unlike Priority Pass Select memberships offered by other card issuers, does not include any participating restaurants.

Finally, although the card comes with a long list of special offers that can save you plenty of money, most offers require you to register or add an Amex Offer to your card in order to activate the offer.

Bottom Line: The Amex Platinum card sets the standard for a premium travel rewards card . If its benefits are some you can use, the value will far exceed the annual fee. There’s even a possibility of getting a 100,000- to 150,000-point welcome bonus offer for the Amex Platinum card ! 

Chase Sapphire Reserve ®

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve ®  is one of the best options out there.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access , with excellent point earning and redemption options.  Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!

• 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase TravelSM immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
• 10x points on Lyft purchases March 31, 2025
• 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025
• $550 annual fee
• Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status
• Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,125 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 75,000 points are worth $1125 toward travel.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck ®
• APR: 22.49%-29.49% Variable

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card is not just another premium travel rewards credit card. Yes, it earns rewards on travel and dining, offers a fine collection of premium travel benefits (including lounge access ), and grants annual statement credits for travel purchases.

But it also does something that no other travel rewards credit card does: when you redeem your points for travel on the Chase Travel portal, 50% more value is added to your points .

For example, if you redeem 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points, you’ll receive $900 in value toward your travel purchase.

While expensive long-haul premium flights can be better secured utilizing Ultimate Rewards airline transfer partners, a sweet spot for redeeming your Ultimate Rewards points is for first class domestic flights.

If you’re a frequent domestic traveler, this means you can basically travel in first class for the price of economy .

We should also talk about earning Ultimate Rewards, too, as the card is clearly a winner with earnings of 10x points on hotels, car rentals, and dining purchases through Chase Travel, 5x points on airfare through Chase Travel, and 3x points spent on all other travel and dining purchases. All other purchases earn 1x, and purchases using the Chase shopping portal can earn as much as 20x points .

Benefits of this card include complimentary Priority Pass Select membership that includes access to over 1,400 network airport lounges, participating restaurants, and Minute Suites worldwide. There are also more than 110 locations domestically.

A $300 travel credit each card anniversary year is easy to utilize and automatically reduces travel expenses. Plus, you’ll receive a statement credit of up to $100 for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck , adding even more value.

Road warriors will find value in the additional travel coverage that comes with the card, including primary auto rental collision damage coverage and 24/7 travel and emergency assistance.

While the Chase Sapphire Reserve card also comes with a high annual fee, you’ll find plenty of premium travel benefits that provide value. We like that the card includes participating restaurants and Minute Suites with its Priority Pass Select membership, but the card falls short of the Amex Platinum card when it comes to overall worldwide lounge access .

Additionally, the card does not offer hotel or airline elite status.

Bottom Line: The world traveler can certainly find value in having the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, but the frequent domestic traveler who likes to fly first class, enjoys Priority Pass lounge and restaurant access, and spends a lot on travel and dining will fare very well by having the card. 

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

• 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
• 5x miles per $1 on flights purchased through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
• $395 annual fee ( rates & fees )
• Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status
• Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
• Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
• Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
• Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more
• Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck ®
• APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

Capital One Miles

Packed with premium benefits a traveler can appreciate, such as elevated rewards for travel purchases and a generous welcome bonus offer to jumpstart your earnings, you’ll find value early on as a cardholder.

Your earning and redemption experiences are also enhanced significantly when you utilize the Capital One Travel portal . With an extraordinary 10x miles on hotels and rental cars, 5x miles on flights, and an annual travel credit of $300 , it will pay to utilize the portal frequently.

The elevated earning on the card goes beyond Capital One Travel purchases with 2x miles per dollar spent on every other purchase . Plus, at your card anniversary, you’ll earn another 10,000 miles .

Additional redemption options allow you to transfer miles earned on your card to travel partners , most of which transfer at a ratio of 1:1.

As a Visa Infinite card , you’ll enjoy related benefits such as cell phone insurance , primary auto rental insurance , and travel insurance protections such as trip cancellation and interruption, trip delay reimbursement, and baggage delay reimbursement.

We also like that the card comes with special Gravity Haus benefits , complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, giving you access to over 1,400 lounges worldwide, and unique access to Capital One Lounges and Plaza Premium Lounges .

If you’ll utilize Capital One Travel, this premium card offers a lot of value for just a $395 annual fee ( rates & fees ).

The Capital One Venture X card does have a higher annual fee than most travel rewards cards, but the card is a nice value alternative to premium travel rewards cards that come with even higher fees.

Additionally, in order to receive the best earning and redemption values, you must utilize Capital One Travel. Booking via Capital One Travel can negate any hotel elite benefits or elevated earnings you would normally receive when booking directly.

Bottom Line: With a lower annual fee for a premium travel rewards card, the Capital One Venture X card could deliver plenty of value for the cardholder who will utilize the Capital One Travel portal for travel purchases and redemptions. 

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless ® Credit Card

Marriott loyalists will love this card's annual Free Night Award, automatic elite status, and up to 17x points per $1 on Marriott hotel stays.

If you’re a frequent traveler and a Marriott loyalist, there’s a lot to love about the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless ® Credit Card . The card comes packed with several great benefits like a free hotel night once a year, automatic Silver Elite status (with a fast-track to Gold Elite status), and multiple options for redeeming points.

• Earn big when you use your card at thousands of participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
• Earn big at grocery stores, gas stations, and dining
• Automatic Silver Elite Status
• Marriott Silver Elite Status is the lowest status tier
• Earn 3 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after qualifying purchases.
• Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining.
• Earn 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 you spend.
• 1 Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary.
• Earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy ® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless ® Card.
• Receive 15 Elite Night Credits annually, automatic Silver Elite status, and path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each calendar year.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees. Your points don't expire as long as you make purchases on your card every 24 months.
• APR: 21.49%–28.49% Variable

Marriott Bonvoy

For the traveler who values choice when it comes to hotels, you won’t find a hotel chain with more properties around the world than Marriott . Plus, each year after your card anniversary, you’ll receive a complimentary hotel night certificate (good for up to 35,000 points in value).

We like that the card delivers plenty of earning potential, good-value redemption options, and lots of additional benefits without a high annual fee.

Additional benefits of having the Marriott Boundless card include:

• Complimentary Elite Status: 15 elite night credits per year toward a higher elite status, good for Silver Elite status
• Accelerated Earnings: Earn up to 17x points at participating Marriott hotels  and 2x points on all other purchases

You’ll also receive a variety of Visa Signature travel perks with the card, including:

• Roadside dispatch
• Auto rental collision damage waiver
• Travel and emergency assistance
• Baggage delay insurance and lost luggage reimbursement
• Travel accident coverage
• No foreign transaction fees

The Marriott Boundless card does come with a $95 annual fee, so utilizing the annual free night certificate would be critical to receiving full value from the card. Additionally, the Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status that comes with the card is the lowest level of status in the loyalty program.

Bottom Line:  If you’re loyal to a particular hotel brand, it makes sense to earn additional rewards on those hotel expenditures with a hotel-branded travel rewards credit card… especially when those rewards can be turned into more free nights. 

American Express ® Gold Card

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

The American Express ® Gold Card  is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

• 4x points per dollar at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
• 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases; and 1x thereafter
• 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com
• $250 annual fee (see rates and fees )
• No lounge access
• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards ® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards ® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards ® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards ® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express ® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
• Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
• Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $250.

Want a card that doubles as an everyday spending card and a travel rewards card? Get richly rewarded with the Amex Gold card that offers a stellar 4 Membership Rewards points for every $1 spent at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year (1x thereafter), and at restaurants!

As a traveler, there’s no need to be loyal to a single airline — with the Amex Gold card, you’re going to earn 3 valuable Membership Rewards points for every $1 spent for flights purchased directly from the airline and via AmexTravel.com.

You can also redeem those Membership Rewards points for travel with any airline or hotel and for other travel purchases at AmexTravel.com.

With a $250 annual fee ( rates & fees ), you can  offset that fee thanks to the card’s up to $120 annual Uber Cash credit and up to $120 annual dining credit , along with your 4x rewards on dining and supermarket purchases.

If there’s another downside to the card, it might be that the card does not offer any type of lounge access — but we might be getting a tad critical.

Hot Tip:  Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 90,000 points with the Amex Gold card. The current public offer is 60,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is a great all-around travel rewards card that allows you to earn big rewards on a variety of purchases like air travel, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and more, along with flexible redemption options, all for a modest annual fee.

• 10x points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com
• 3x points on air travel, other hotel purchases, restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and EV charging stations
• $100 annual hotel benefit
• Earn 70,000 bonus ThankYou ® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $700 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com
• Earn 10 points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
• Earn 3 points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations.
• Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.
• No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
• No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
• APR: 21.24% - 29.24% (Variable)

The Citi Strata Premier card earns 3x ThankYou Points on everyday purchases such as restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and EV charging stations. Plus, you’ll be earning 3x ThankYou Points on air travel and hotels, or e ven 10x points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through  CitiTravel.com . If you spend a lot in these bonus categories, the card will offer strong earnings for your spending mix.

The card offers a generous welcome bonus and no foreign transaction fees. It also offers as a $100 hotel credit each calendar year for a single hotel stay of $500 or more.

Points can be redeemed for travel via the ThankYou portal or transferred to airline and hotel partners for greater potential value .

Hot Tip:  With so many different issuers in the travel credit card space, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with each bank’s specific rules before applying. 

Keeping track of bonus spending categories, quarterly registrations, and complicated redemption processes may have deterred you from securing a travel rewards-earning credit card.

If that’s the case, you’ll find these 2 travel rewards cards refreshingly simple:

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card   is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.

Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.

• 5x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
• $95 annual fee ( rates & fees )
• Limited elite benefits
• Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
• Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Earn 2x miles on every purchase
• Redeem miles for travel or transfer to airline partners
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee reimbursement
• No foreign transaction fees ( rates & fees )

The only downside to the Capital One Venture Rewards card is that it has an annual fee of $95 ( rates & fees ). If you spend enough on the card, however, the ongoing fee should not be an issue.

Citi Double Cash ® Card

Great card for the average spender with no specific focus category; worry-free cash-back earning on everything!

The Citi Double Cash ® Card  has long been one of the top cash-back credit cards on the market, and the card now has the ability to earn Citi ThankYou Points!

This means that cardholders of the Double Cash card will now earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. Cash back is earned in the form of ThankYou Points . This means each billing cycle, you will earn 1 ThankYou point per $1 spent on purchases and an additional ThankYou point for every $1 paid on your purchase balance as long as there is a corresponding balance in your Purchase Tracker.

Citi has turned the Double Cash card into a top choice for those who are looking for an everyday, no-fuss credit card.

• Uncapped 2% for every $1 spent (1% when you buy and another 1% when you pay)
• Flexible redemption options
• No annual fee
• No bonus categories
• 3% foreign transaction fees
• Bonus Offer: Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou ® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
• Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
• To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
• Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% – 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
• Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
• If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
• There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
• Citi Double Cash ® Card Travel Portal Limited Time Offer: Earn a total of 5 ThankYou Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rental, and attractions, excluding air travel, when booked through the Citi Travel SM portal on ThankYou.com or by calling 1-800-Thankyou and saying “Travel.” Offer is valid through 11:59 PM Eastern Time (ET) 12/31/2024.
• APR: 0% Intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers, then 19.24% - 29.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees:  3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each purchase

Citi ThankYou Rewards

• Earn a total of 2% cash-back on every purchase : 1% when you make a purchase and 1% when paying your card (earned as ThankYou Points)
• Unlimited earnings
• Redeem for cash-back, travel, a statement credit, or gift cards

We like that the card earns cash-back on every purchase you make on a daily basis. There are, however, no additional bonus categories to reward your highest purchases.

Cardholders can transfer ThankYou Points to Choice Privileges at a 1:1.5 ratio and Wyndham Rewards and JetBlue TrueBlue at a 1:0.8 ratio, but will need a premium Citi ThankYou Point-earning cards to receive potentially higher value when transferring points to the full suite of travel partners.

The card also charges a 3% foreign transaction fee and does not come with any travel benefits or protections.

Bottom Line: To learn more about additional card options for Capital One travel rewards credit cards and Citi ThankYou Rewards cards , these articles expand on some of the most popular choices. 

Blue Cash Everyday ® Card from American Express

This cash-back card offers a capped 3% at U.S. supermarkets, 3% at U.S. gas stations, and 3% on U.S. online retail purchases!

When it comes to cash-back credit cards, there are dozens of options to choose from. So what sets the Blue Cash Everyday ® Card from American Express  apart from the rest?

This card is excellent at earning cash-back on your everyday purchases at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and on U.S. online retail purchases. So if you regularly spend money on everyday purchases, this could be the perfect card to add to your wallet.

• 3% back on purchases at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 in purchases each year, then 1% back after.
• 3% back on purchases at U.S. gas stations on up to $6,000 in purchases each year, then 1% back after.
• 3% back on purchases on online retail purchases on up to $6,000 in purchases each year, then 1% back after.
• Rewards are not flexible and can only be redeemed for cash-back. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
• Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
• No Annual Fee.
• Balance Transfer is back! Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening. After that, 19.24% to 29.99% variable APR.
• 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, then 1%.
• 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
• Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
• Thinking about getting the Disney Bundle which can include Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+? Your decision made easy with $7/month back in the form of a statement credit after you spend $9.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your Blue Cash Everyday ® Card. Enrollment required.
• Enjoy up to $15 back per month when you purchase a Home Chef meal kit subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your enrolled Blue Cash Everyday ® Card.
• APR: 19.24%-29.99% Variable,0% on purchases for 15 months
• Foreign Transaction Fees:  2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.

You don’t have to be a big spender to earn travel rewards. With a relatively low minimum spend requirement , once you’re approved for the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card, you can earn a welcome bonus and jumpstart the rewards-earning process.

Perhaps you haven’t pursued a rewards-earning credit card because you don’t spend a lot and might be wondering whether it’s worth the effort at all. You may be surprised to learn that the purchases you’re already making can earn rewards to help you fund a trip, or just add some cash to your bottom line.

Because you’ll be earning rewards on your everyday purchases with the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card, you don’t have to spend big for the cash-back to start adding up. On groceries alone, you’ll earn $180 after getting 3% back from $6,000 in annual purchases at U.S. supermarkets .

Cash-back is the most liquid form of rewards you can earn. Whether your travel goal is a weekend trip away with the family or a flight to visit an old friend, you can utilize the cash-back you earn on the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card to help offset the cost of your adventure.

Unfortunately, redeeming cash-back is limited compared to flexible rewards points that could be transferred to travel partners for the potential to earn greater value. You won’t have this option with cash-back.

Hot Tip:  If you’re working toward a travel goal and using a cash-back credit card , you may want to purchase gas, hotel, or other travel-related gift cards with your rewards to help save for your trip. 

Blue Cash Preferred ® Card from American Express

This card is great for those who want to earn cash-back with U.S. supermarkets, U.S. streaming subscriptions, transit, and U.S. gas stations.

The Blue Cash Preferred ® Card from American Express is a stellar cash-back credit card for those looking to maximize every purchase they make.

With bonus categories like U.S. supermarkets, select streaming services, U.S. gas stations, and transit purchases , this card rewards you for the items you spend the most on in a big way! For those looking to earn up to 6% cash-back on their purchases , this could be the card for you!

• 6% cash-back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year) and on select streaming services
• 6% cash-back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
• 3% cash-back on U.S. gas stations and transit (including rideshares, parking, etc.)
• $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 annual fee ( rates and fees )
• Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
• $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
• Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It ® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 intro plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months from the date of account opening. Plans created after that will have a monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each eligible purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
• Low Intro APR: 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 19.24% - 29.99%. Variable APRs will not exceed 29.99%.
• 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
• 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
• 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations.
• 3% Cash Back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
• 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
• Get up to $120 in statement credits annually when you pay for an auto-renewing subscription to Equinox+ at equinoxplus.com with your Blue Cash Preferred ® Card. That’s $10 in statement credits each month. Enrollment required.
• Thinking about getting the Disney Bundle which can include Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+? Your decision made easy with $7/month back in the form of a statement credit after you spend $9.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your Blue Cash Preferred ® Card. Enrollment required.
• APR: 19.24%-29.99% Variable,0% on purchases for 12 months

Redeem cash-back through your American Express account

It’s Friday afternoon and the workweek is done. You’re ready to high-five the family when you arrive home because you’re hitting the road for a weekend adventure . It doesn’t happen often … but this weekend it’s on!

We’re certain the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card was created with family roadtrippers in mind. After all, you’ll earn cash-back on all the purchases you’ll be making during your trip, and you can use the cash-back you earned previously on everyday expenses to actually help fund your trip.

It’s a win-win cash-back solution for the family that hits the road together or those who just want a little extra cash flow.

Earning 6% cash-back on U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%) delivers up to $360 each year in cash-back. Add all the cash you’ll earn with 3% cash-back on your U.S. gas stations, and you’ll have plenty of travel funds for that weekend road trip.

Not only do you earn cash-back at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations, but the card also offers 6% cash-back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions and 3% cash-back on transit , including taxis and rideshares, parking, tolls, trains, buses, and more.

The Amex Blue Cash Preferred card just might make you a family road trip hero!

The card does have an annual fee, so you’ll need to be spending enough on the card to offset that fee. We also prefer flexible rewards for the purpose of receiving potentially higher value at redemption time, but if you’re just trying to earn cash-back to help fund a family vacation, this card could work just fine for that purpose. Families can also take a look at our in-depth guide on the best credit cards for families for additional card choices.

Chase Freedom Unlimited ®

This all-purpose cash-back card offers great bonus categories, including bonus points for every purchase you make!

The Chase Freedom Unlimited ® is easily one of the best cash-back credit cards on the market. There aren’t many no-annual-fee credit cards that offer multiple great bonus categories like 5% back on travel purchased through Chase, 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1.5% back on all other purchases.

When paired with other Chase cards in the Ultimate Rewards family, you can transfer that cash back into points if you wish – making it one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet.

• 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
• 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel
• 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases
• 3% foreign transaction fee
• INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
• Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
• After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
• No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
• Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
• No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited ® card
• Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
• APR: 0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
• Foreign Transaction Fees:  3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars

Do you like to travel but have a tight budget? The Freedom Unlimited card has a little secret that might help you out.

The Freedom Unlimited card earns 5% back on travel purchased through the Chase Travel portal, 3% on dining and drugstore purchases , plus 1.5% back on all other purchases that fall outside of these bonus categories.

The trick is, the cash-back you earn on all of your purchases with the Freedom Unlimited card is not just cash-back; it can be redeemed for travel or transferred to Chase premium credit cards for even greater value.

If you like to travel on a budget, Ultimate Rewards points are perfect for securing economy flights on the Chase Travel portal. Booking travel is easy, and you can redeem your points for airline tickets, hotels, car rentals, and travel experiences.

To step up the value of your Ultimate Rewards points, you can transfer them to a Chase premium card such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve card or the Chase Sapphire Preferred card where the value of your Ultimate Rewards Points is increased by up to 50% more (see our example below). You’ll also have the option to then transfer your points to airline and hotel partners for even greater potential value.

With no annual fee, a simple earning structure, and the value you can receive when redeeming Ultimate Rewards Points (or transferring points to premium Chase cards), the Freedom Unlimited card is a fine choice for the budget traveler.

Normally, we wouldn’t recommend a card that charges a 3% fee on foreign transactions as a good choice for a travel rewards card. However, the card earns well on everyday purchases (and more), making it easy to accumulate a lot of rewards. Then, when paired with a premium Chase card, as mentioned above, your rewards will go much further.

Bottom Line:  When redeeming Ultimate Rewards points for travel, you can pick any airline, hotel, or travel experience without worrying about award availability or blackout dates — redeeming your points is just like paying with cash. You’ll also be earning frequent flyer miles!

If Hilton is your hotel brand of choice, you’ll be happy to learn that the perks and benefits you receive in its Hilton Honors loyalty program will be elevated to a new level when you carry and use one of its hotel-branded credit cards .

Let’s take a look at how your experience can be enhanced by signing up for a hotel-branded credit card.

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Automatic Hilton Diamond status, an annual free night, and a travel and resort credit make this the perfect card for those who stay in Hilton hotels.

The information regarding the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Paying hundreds of dollars for an annual fee on a co-branded hotel card might seem ridiculous, but you should know that the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is much more than your run-of-the-mill hotel credit card.

The Hilton Aspire card is not only a phenomenal card for Hilton Honors loyalists , but even those who visit Hilton hotels just a few times a year can still get excellent value out of all the benefits that are packed into this card.

So let’s have a look at what makes the card so valuable to travelers.

• 14x points per $1 on Hilton purchases
• 7x points per $1 on select travel and at U.S. restaurants
• 3x points per $1 on all other purchases
• High annual fee of $550
• Earn 175,000 Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 7/31/2024.
• Earn 14x Hilton Honors Bonus Points when you make eligible purchases on your card at participating hotels or resorts within the Hilton portfolio .
• Earn 7x Hilton Honors Bonus Points for eligible purchases: on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, on car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies, and at U.S. restaurants.
• Earn 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for other purchases on your card.
• Enjoy up to $400 in Hilton Resort Credits (up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually) on your card each anniversary year when you stay at participating resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
• Enjoy complimentary Diamond status.
• $550 annual fee.
• APR: 20.99% - 29.99% Variable

It’s unusual that a credit card alone would grant top elite status to the cardholder, especially without a required level of spending each year — but that’s exactly what you’ll receive by having the Hilton Aspire card. And it’s not the only premium benefit that comes with this card!

• Top Diamond Elite Hilton Honors status:  Valid for as long as you have the card, you’ll receive room upgrades (including suites), breakfast, hotel amenities, bonus points, internet, and more. Diamond elite members receive 20x Hilton Honors points at Hilton properties, and the Hilton Aspire card elevates that to a total of 34x points.
• Free Hotel Room Nights: Receive 1 free hotel room night each card anniversary year, plus another when you spend $60,000 on the card each year. You’ll also receive your fifth night free when booking award nights with your points.
• Airline and Hotel Statement Credits: Get up to $200 in airline credit, up to $400 Hilton resort credit , up to $189 Clear PLUS credit, and a $100 property credit at Conrad or Waldorf Astoria properties. .

The Hilton Aspire card comes with a high annual fee, so you would only want to have the card and pay that annual fee if you’re a Hilton loyalist who can realize most of the Hilton-centric benefits that come with the card.

That said, earning Hilton Honors points is easy: you’ll receive 14x points at Hilton properties ; 7x points on airlines, AmexTravel.com purchases, U.S. restaurants, and U.S. rental cars; and 3x points on all other purchases.

Redeem your Hilton Honors points for the best value by booking free hotel nights with points or with cash and points. Our expert guide on the best ways to redeem your Hilton Honors points will help make sure you receive maximum value at redemption time.

All information about the Hilton Honors American Express card has been collected independently by Upgraded Points .

Amex Business Platinum Card

This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!

The Business Platinum Card ® from American Express is a premium travel rewards card tailored toward business owners who are frequent travelers with a high number of annual expenses.

When you factor in the large number of perks that the card offers like the best airport lounge access at over 1,400 lounges , along with tons of annual credits, it’s easy to see why this card can is a top option for frequent traveling business owners.

Hot Tip:  Check to see if you’re eligible for a huge welcome bonus offer of up to 170,000 points with the Amex Business Platinum. The current public offer is 150,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

• 5x Membership Rewards points per $1 on flights and prepaid hotels at Amex Travel
• Access to over 1,400 worldwide airport lounges as part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection
• Get 50% more Membership Rewards points (1.5 points per $1) on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more (cap applies)
• High annual fee of $695 ( rates & fees )
• Airline fee credit does not cover airfare, only incidentals like checked bags
• Welcome Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards ® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
• 5X Membership Rewards ® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
• Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
• Unlock over $1,000 in statement credits on select purchases, including tech, recruiting and wireless in the first year of membership with the Business Platinum Card ® . Enrollment required. See how you can unlock over $1,000 annually in credits on select purchases with the Business Platinum Card ® , here.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to the Card.
• $189 CLEAR ® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $189 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR ® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use the Business Platinum Card ® .
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection ® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 03/2023.
• $695 Annual Fee.
• APR: 19.49% - 28.49% Variable

The Amex Business Platinum card is an excellent option for business owners who travel often enough to take advantage of the  luxury travel perks  offered by the card. This includes perks like airport lounge access, hotel elite status, rental car elite status, up to $200 airline incidental credit, a  35% rebate with Amex Pay With Points, and 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com.

While the card does charge a rather large annual fee, most business owners find they are able to get far more value out of it thanks to its range of annual credits with merchants like Dell , Indeed , Adobe , CLEAR Plus, and for wireless phone services.

When you look at everything the Amex Business Platinum card has to offer, it’s easy to see why it’s our pick for one of the best business credit cards .

Amex Business Gold Card

Get 4x points in 2 select categories where your business spends the most each month (on your first $150,000 spent each year).

The American Express ® Business Gold Card is excellent at racking up rewards for your business spend.

The card earns a whopping 4x points per $1 in the 2 categories (from a list of 6) that your business spends the most money on each month. With no need to opt-in or preselect your categories, so you can focus on what matters most — running your business.

• NEW! Transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways
• NEW!  U.S. purchases made from electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers
• NEW!  Monthly wireless telephone service charges made directly from a wireless telephone service provider in the U.S.
• U.S. purchases at gas stations
• U.S. purchases at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
• Purchases at U.S. media providers for advertising in select media (online such as Google Ads, Facebook Ads, plus TV and radio)
• 3x points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card
• Access to Amex’s The Hotel Collection
• $375 annual fee ( rates and fees )
• No elite travel benefits like airport lounge access or elite status
• Welcome Offer: Earn 70,000 Membership Rewards ® points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.*
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards ® points on the 2 categories where your business spends the most each billing cycle from 6 eligible categories. While your top 2 categories may change, you will earn 4X points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1X thereafter). Only the top 2 categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards ® points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card.
• Earn up to $20 in statement credits monthly after you use the Business Gold Card for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and Office Supply Stores. This can be an annual savings of up to $240. Enrollment required.
• Get up to a $12.95** statement credit back each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Business Gold Card. **Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee.
• Your Card – Your Choice. Choose from Gold or Rose Gold.
• *Terms Apply

When it comes to earning rewards, the Amex Business Gold card is easily one of the best options on the market.

This card earns  4x Membership Rewards points on the top 2 categories in which your business spends the most every month  (up to $150,000 in combined purchases every calendar year):

• Purchases at U.S. media providers for advertising in select media (online, TV, radio)

Even if your spending habits change month to month, you’ll always earn 4x points on your top 2 spend categories , with no need to preselect them. Plus, you’ll earn 3x points on flights and prepaid hotels booked via AmexTravel.com.

Cardholders also receive up to $20 in monthly credits for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and office supply stores , and up to $155 Walmart+ credit .

Ink Business Preferred Card

The Ink Business Preferred card is hard to beat, with a huge welcome bonus offer and 3x points per $1 on the first $150,000 in so many business categories.

The Ink Business Preferred ® Credit Card is a powerhouse for earning lots of points from your business purchases , especially for business owners that spend regularly on ads.

Plus the card offers flexible redemption options, including access to Chase airline and hotel transfer partners where you can achieve outsized value.

Business owners will also love the protections the card provides like excellent cell phone insurance , rental car insurance, purchase protection, and more.

• 3x Ultimate Rewards points per $1 on up to $150,000 in combined purchases on internet, cable and phone services, shipping expenses, travel, and ads purchased with search engines or social media sites
• Cell phone protection
• Purchase protection
• No elite travel benefits like airport lounge access
• Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
• Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
• Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
• With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
• Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
• Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
• Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
• APR: 21.24%-26.24% Variable

If you’re looking for a one-size-fits-all business card, the Ink Business Preferred card might be the perfect option for you.

Not only is it great at earning points thanks to its 3x points on up to $150,000 in combined purchases on internet, cable and phone services, shipping expenses, travel, and ads purchased with search engines or social media sites, but it also offers great redemption options . Cardholders can choose to redeem their points for cash-back, through the Chase travel portal with a 25% bonus, or via one of the Chase transfer partners.

Plus the card offers benefits like primary rental car insurance, cell phone protection , trip delay insurance, free employee cards, purchase protection, and more.

There are several factors we use to determine our choices for the best travel rewards cards. Some of the most important factors include the level of associated travel benefits, earnings structure, best credit card bonus offers , fees, and travel redemption value.

Here is some insight into our thought process when selecting the best travel rewards cards:

Associated Travel Benefits

The top travel rewards cards will offer benefits that can make your travel more comfortable, save a traveler money, or provide protection should something go wrong during the journey. Benefits such as worldwide lounge access , travel statement credits , elite-style hotel and airline benefits or status , and travel insurance are just some examples of travel perks we look for.

Earnings Structure

We look for cards that earn well and either offer bonus earnings on travel purchases or have other bonus categories that provide for accelerated earnings. A good travel rewards card could also have flat-rate earnings on all purchases, making it easy to accumulate travel rewards on everyday purchases.

Welcome Bonus Offers

A card’s welcome bonus offer is a unique opportunity to earn a large number of rewards in a short period of time. Welcome offers do play a role when we select a travel rewards card to recommend. We’ll provide you with the current welcome offer information available to us for each card, but we also encourage you to confirm the offer and review any earnings offers before applying for any card.

The best travel rewards cards come with premium travel benefits, but you’ll also be paying a higher annual fee for those benefits. It’s important that the benefits offered by a travel rewards card could potentially offset any annual fee you’ll be paying. The best travel rewards cards also do not charge foreign transaction fees , although a card that does could still provide good value for domestic travel and offer good redemption for international travel.

Travel Redemption Value

A card will score high if it earns flexible rewards that allow for several options at redemption time. The best travel rewards cards provide the option to redeem points directly for travel, provide a bonus for rewards redeemed via a travel portal, allow rewards to be redeemed for statement credits for travel purchases, or allow the transfer of rewards to airline and hotel partners for the opportunity to receive the greatest potential value.

Hot Tip: You can read more about Upgraded Points’ credit card rating approach in our detailed guide.

Travel rewards credit cards earn points or cash-back on every dollar charged to the credit card. They’re called travel rewards credit cards because you either earn points or cash on travel-related purchases, redeem points or cash for travel, or both.

Travel rewards credit cards can earn points or cash-back for travel purchases, dining, gas, groceries, or other categories. The rewards can be used for free travel or to offset the cost of travel.

This should feel relatively straightforward, and it is! Cash-back credit cards are designed for those looking to earn cash-back on all of their daily purchases, and travel rewards cards are for those looking to earn rewards redeemable towards travel purchases.

While there are many travel rewards cards that offer the ability to redeem your points towards cash-back, you’ll often get significantly better value when redeeming them towards travel.

Further, it’s common for cash-back credit cards to not charge an annual fee , while most travel credit cards do charge an annual fee. Given that, travel rewards cards make the most sense for people who travel often enough that the rewards and card benefits will easily outweigh the annual fee.

When it comes to travel rewards credit cards, there are 4 main categories that nearly every card will fall into: transferable rewards cards, fixed-value rewards cards, airline cards, and hotel cards.

Transferable Rewards Cards 

Transferable rewards cards are offered by programs that include a wide array of airline and hotel transfer partners to which you can move your points. These include cards from programs like American Express Membership Rewards , Bilt Rewards , Capital One Miles , Chase Ultimate Rewards , and Citi ThankYou Rewards .

These cards are often rated as the very best travel credit cards in our view, due in large part to their flexibility. One of the best ways to consistently get great value out of travel rewards is by having multiple redemption options, and transferable travel rewards cards offer you that.

Fixed-Value Rewards Cards

A fixed-value rewards card is any that earns points in a program that offers you a predetermined value towards travel purchases when you redeem your rewards. One such program is Bank of America Preferred Rewards , which offers you a fixed 1 cent per point in value towards any travel redemptions you make through its travel portal.

Programs with fixed-value rewards take much of the complexity of the equation when it comes to redemptions, but what you make up for in ease-of-use, you lose the upside by not having access to higher-value redemptions that transferable programs offer.

Airline Cards

An airline credit card is one tied to a specific airline, which only earns points or miles for that airline alone. Further, all perks of the card will be tied to its airline, and popular features are free checked bags, early boarding, discounts on inflight purchases, and more.

Airline cards are a great option for those who are loyal to one airline and are working towards reaching high levels of elite status with that airline.

Hotel Cards

Similar to airline cards, hotel cards are tied to a specific hotel chain, and all of the rewards you earn are redeemable at hotels within that hotel chain.

Hotel cards can be a great way of enhancing your hotel stays, even on paid stays, as they often offer some level of complimentary elite status, which might offer benefits like late checkout, room upgrades, free breakfast, and more, depending on the hotel program.

Pros of Getting a Travel Rewards Card

• Rewards cards allow you to travel farther, and better, for less. Using points and miles can make any travel destination attainable, and you can even fly there in style in first or business class for a fraction of what a cash ticket would usually cost.
• Welcome bonuses kickstart your travel savings. Most travel rewards credit cards come with very lucrative welcome bonuses that you receive after meeting a minimum spend requirement. These bonuses alone can be enough points for a free business class flight or multiple free nights in a luxury hotel.
• Enhance your travel experiences.  Having a travel rewards card can help make the whole experience of travel much nicer for you by giving you airport lounge access, an expedited airport security experience, and hotel elite status.
• Save money each time you fly. Travel rewards cards, specifically airline cards, can help you save money each time you fly by offering you perks like free checked bags, free seat selection, discounts on inflight purchases, and priority boarding.
• No foreign transaction fees.  If you’re going to be traveling overseas, the last thing you want to do is use a card that charges foreign transaction fees, as it can add an extra 3% to all of your purchases. This is where travel rewards cards come in handy, as any card worth its salt won’t charge foreign transaction fees.

Cons of Getting a Travel Rewards Card

• Rewards cards charge annual fees.  Most travel rewards credit cards charge an annual fee, and the very best cards can charge annual fees of $550 to $695. Put simply, if you don’t travel often enough such that the benefits you receive from the card easily outweigh the annual fee you pay, then a travel rewards card probably wouldn’t be worth it for you.
• Rewards redemptions can be complicated.  Making strategic use of your points through transfer partners, tracking down award space, navigating airline alliances, and more can all be quite complicated at times. There is definitely a degree of difficulty added in for those looking to make the most out of their travel rewards points. That said, the juice is definitely worth the squeeze.
• Not ideal for those who don’t pay their balance off in full.  Travel rewards cards usually carry much higher interest rates than other types of credit cards. That said, if you pay your balance off in full each and every month, this should make little difference to you. On the other hand, if you’re not sure that you can pay your balance off in full every month, then travel rewards credit cards are not for you.

You should use a travel rewards credit card if you fall into the following 3 criteria:

• You love to travel and want to earn travel rewards for every purchase you make that you can later redeem for free flights and hotel stays.
• You travel often enough that, even though most travel rewards cards charge an annual, you know you’ll easily get more value out of the card thanks to benefits like airport lounge access, travel credits, hotel elite status, expedited airport security, and more.
• When you receive your credit card statement, you pay it off in full each and every month so that you never pay interest on your purchases.

If you meet all of those 3 criteria, then you likely should be using a travel rewards credit card.

If you’re still struggling to decide which travel rewards credit card is best for you, here are some tips to help you decide.

Consider What Rewards You Want To Earn — Transferable or Co-Branded

One of the biggest items to consider is the type of rewards you want to earn. Do you regularly fly with a certain airline or stay at a specific hotel chain and want a card that earns rewards and provides benefits that are specific to that airline or hotel? If so then you should opt for a co-branded travel rewards card.

If your travel patterns have more variation, or you simply prefer to earn flexible points that can be redeemed with a wide variety of airlines and hotels to give more options, then you’d be better off with a transferable travel rewards credit card.

What Travel Perks and Protections Are You Looking For?

The type of perks a travel rewards credit card will offer can vary greatly from items like airport lounge access, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credits, free checked bags, elite status, statement credits, and much more.

Consider which of the benefits are more important to you when selecting your new travel rewards credit card. If you want your new card to include airport lounge access, that will limit you to a certain set of card options, whereas if you want a card that offers automatic elite status with a specific hotel chain then your card options might be completely different. It’s all about determining what you value most.

Similarly, you’ll want to consider what protections you want your card to offer to help you narrow your options further. Do you want your card to have trip delay insurance, rental car insurance, purchase protection, etc.? These are all items that will help you decide the best travel rewards card for you.

Does the Card Have Great Bonus Categories To Help You Earn More Points?

Earning points, and then spending them on travel, is the name of the game. Given that, you want to make sure your new card helps you earn as many points as possible.

Some cards help you optimize for specific bonus categories, like the Amex Gold card that offers 4x points on restaurants and U.S. supermarket purchases, while others like the Capital One Venture card offer a flat 2x points spent on any purchase.

Keep in mind that there’s no right or wrong answer here. Deciding which card will help you earn the most points will come down to your unique spending habits.

Once you’ve added the best travel rewards credit card for you to your wallet, here are the steps to take to get the most out of it.

Use Your Card for as Many Purchases as Possible — And Pay It Off

Once you have your new card, you should begin using it for every purchase that you need to make so that you can start earning rewards . This is especially true for large recurring bills as those often help you earn the most points per transaction.

Further, most cards come with a welcome offer that can be worth anywhere from $500 to $2,000 after you meet the minimum spend requirement , so you’ll want to make sure you do so to prevent you from missing out on this big windfall of points.

If you have multiple travel rewards credit cards, make sure you are optimizing each purchase based on the bonus categories that each card offers. For instance, one card might offer 3x points on gas while the other offers 3x points on dining, so you’ll want to use them accordingly.

Lastly, and most importantly, you want to pay your statement balance on time and in full each and every month. This will keep you from having to pay any interest on your purchases and help increase your credit score by showing a record of great payment history.

Activate Perks That Your Card Offers

Many of the best travel rewards credit cards come with tons of great perks to give you added value, but you have to make sure they are activated in order to start using them .

For instance, the Amex Platinum card offers perks like Priority Pass lounge access, along with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy elite status, but you have to activate each of these perks from the benefits section of your account in order to start using them.

Similarly, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers 5x points on Lyft rides and benefits with DoorDash , and Instacart . To use these benefits, you’ll want to link your Chase Sapphire Preferred card as your payment method on these platforms and activate your benefits on their respective pages.

Make Sure To Use Your Statement Credits

If you have a card that offers any sort of statement credit , make sure you use that credit before it expires . Some cards offer an annual credit, while others dole out the credits monthly. For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card has a $300 annual travel credit that can be used all in one purchase if you so choose, while the Amex Gold card has up to $120 annual dining credit and up to $120 annual Uber Cash credit, but both are given out in $10 monthly increments.

Use Shopping Portals and Dining Programs

Linking your card to a shopping portal and/or dining program is a great way to earn even more points for purchases you were planning to make anyway.

This way, when you make a certain purchase through a shopping portal or dine at an eligible restaurant, you’ll earn points on top of the points you’d have already earned depending on your card’s bonus category.

Hot Tip:  When it comes to online shopping, you can use a tool like Cashback Monitor to help you determine how many points you’ll earn for your purchase across a wide variety of shopping portals.

Have a Strong Credit Score — This Is Why Building Credit Is Important

When submitting an application for a travel rewards credit card, arguably the most important factor is your credit score, as the higher it is the more likely you are to be approved for the card.

This is why building your credit is so important as having a strong score will allow you to be approved for cards that offer the best perks and rewards.

For the most part, if you have a credit score of 700 or better, you’ll have reasonably good odds of being approved for most travel rewards credit cards . If you don’t you’ll want to focus on improving your credit score by making sure you are paying your bills on time each month, keeping your credit utilization low, limiting the number of new accounts you open, and more.

Hot Tip:  If your credit score isn’t as high as you’d like it to be, read through our guide on the top strategies to improve your credit score .

Understanding the Difference Between APR and Interest

When adding a travel rewards card to your wallet, another important factor for you to be aware of is the card’s interest rate .

You may have heard both interest rate and annual percentage rate (APR) used, and while these 2 figures can be different for certain financial products, they are the exact same when it comes to credit cards.

The APR can vary from card to card and is the amount you will pay on any purchases that you do not pay in full on your credit card statement balance. This is why you want to make sure that you are always paying off your full statement balance when it posts to your account, as paying interest on your charges will negate the value of any rewards you accrued on the purchases you made .

How Old Do You Have To Be To Get a Starter Travel Rewards Credit Card?

Technically speaking, you’re eligible to get your first travel rewards credit card as soon as you turn 18 years old . That said, it will likely be difficult for you to get approved without previous credit history and a regular source of income.

Due to this, we recommend that you have at least 2 years of solid credit history before applying for your first starter travel rewards credit card.

Alternative Option: Become an Authorized User

If you’re not able to get your very own starter travel rewards card just yet, an excellent option is to become an authorized user on a trusted friend or family member’s account.

This allows you to use a caliber of card that you’d be unlikely to be approved for on your own and allows you to build your credit score faster by piggybacking off the main account holder’s more established credit history.

Again, you want to make sure the main account holder is someone that you trust because if they mismanage their credit, it will adversely impact you as well as the authorized user.

There’s a lot to think about when it comes to selecting a travel rewards-earning credit card. Fortunately, each card has its own distinct characteristics that match up with certain travel and spending profiles. This makes it possible to zero in quickly on which travel rewards credit card might be a good fit for you.

Remember, because Chase plays a prominent role in the travel rewards credit card arena, you’ll want to consider the Chase 5/24 rule in your selection process.

Regardless of which card you choose, we know for sure that travel rewards credit cards can change the way we travel and the way we live. The cards allow us to earn points, cash, or miles on purchases we would be making anyway and give us the ability to offset the cost of travel we may have never considered otherwise.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa ® or Mastercard ® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

For the car rental loss and damage insurance benefit of the American Express ® Green Card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

The information regarding the American Express ® Green Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless ® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Citi Double Cash ®  Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here . For rates and fees of the American Express ® Gold Card, click  here . For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday ® from American Express, click  here . For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred ® Card from American Express, click here . For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here . For rates and fees of the American Express ® Business Gold Card, click here .

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the best travel rewards credit card.

The best travel rewards credit card for you is the one that earns rewards you can use and fits your spending habits. For example, if your everyday spending is on groceries, gas, and at department stores, but you rarely travel, you won’t find value in a premium travel rewards credit card that offers global lounge access and luxury hotel perks. You probably won’t want to pay the high annual fee either. You may fare much better with a cash-back or flexible rewards-earning credit card that doesn’t charge an annual fee but allows you to earn rewards to offset the cost of an annual vacation.

What credit score do I need to get a travel rewards credit card?

You will generally need to have excellent credit to secure the best travel rewards credit cards. There are many sources of credit scores as each of the 3 major credit bureaus ( Experian , Equifax , and TransUnion ) have their own, and then there are combination scores such as FICO and VantageScore. According to Experian, an excellent VantageScore (which is widely used by creditors) is considered to be 750 or higher.

Which credit card is the best for international travel?

If you frequently travel internationally, you’ll want a credit card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. Most of the travel rewards credit cards we covered in this article do not charge these fees. If you value premium travel perks and don’t mind paying an annual fee, you can’t go wrong with the Amex Platinum card or Chase Sapphire Reserve card . Both offer global lounge access, flight credits, and great redemption value for your points when redeemed for flights. If you can use the benefits these cards offer, you’ll receive value that more than offsets the annual fee.

How do you compare travel credit cards?

When comparing travel credit cards, you should first consider what type of card is best for your travel goals. Do you want a card that earns transferable rewards, or one for a specific airline? Then, you should consider factors like the card’s benefits, rewards rates, and annual fee, to help you determine which card would be the best fit for you.

What is the difference between points and miles?

Both terms of used interchangeably and it really just comes down to what the rewards program decided to name its rewards currency. For instance, when it comes to transferable rewards, you have Chase Ultimate Rewards “points” and Capital One “miles,” but both programs function in similar ways. Similarly, when it comes to airlines, you have American AAdvantage “miles” and JetBlue TrueBlue “points.”

How many miles do you need for a free flight?

How many miles you need to book a free flight can depend on a variety of factors like what program you are booking through, what cabin class you’d like to fly, how far you are flying, and the time of year you are planning to fly if the airline uses dynamic pricing.

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About Jarrod West

Boasting a portfolio of over 20 cards, Jarrod has been an expert in the points and miles space for over 6 years. He earns and redeems over 1 million points per year and his work has been featured in outlets like The New York Times.

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UP's Bonus Valuation

This bonus value is an estimated valuation  calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.

Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards June 2024

Leisure and business travelers can use travel rewards credit cards to turn miles logged into other things — including more travel.

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• No annual fee
• Worth the Annual Fee
• Flexible Redemptions
• Luxury Travel Rewards
• Dedicated Airline Cards
• Dedicated Hotel Cards
• Best Dining Cards

How Do Travel Rewards Cards Work?

What are travel rewards worth, how to compare travel credit cards, is the annual fee too high, how to get the most out of your travel card.

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We may get compensation if you visit partner links on our site. We may not cover every available offer. Our relationship with advertisers may impact how an offer is presented on our website. However, our selection of products is made independently of our relationship to advertisers. All information about the American Express EveryDay® credit card has been collected independently by Kiplinger. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. We calculate a typical annual reward for each card, assuming $34,000 spent annually and less any annual fee. Interest rates, fees, rewards and other terms listed in this article are subject to change. Before you apply for a credit card, check its current terms and conditions with the issuer. Rates and sign-up offers were checked as of May 31, 2024.

A travel rewards credit card can be an excellent companion whether you travel often or just take the occasional vacation. With every purchase, you can use a travel card to collect points or miles that you can redeem for flights, hotels, or other travel bookings. Many travel rewards cards come with extra benefits, too, from free entry into airport lounges to statement credits toward application fees for TSA PreCheck and other programs that expedite security screening at the airport. 

You may notice that our list of the best cards differs from many other reviewers. That's because we crunch the numbers on a wider variety of cards, such as those issued by credit unions and smaller banks.

If you’d rather have a card that offers cash back or another type of reward, see our article on the best rewards credit cards . If you just want a smoking-hot sign-up bonus for new cardholders, jump to our current travel credit card bonus deals list .

Know what kind of travel card you want? Jump to these sections, below to see our top three picks in each category. 

• No Annual Fee
• Flexible Travel Redemptions
• Luxury Travel
• Airline Cards  
• Hotel Cards
• Dining Cards

Best Travel Card Bonus Deals Right Now

Best travel rewards credit cards with no annual fee.

With these cards, you reap points or miles without paying an annual fee. You will still need to consider foreign transaction fees if you plan to do a lot of international travel.

Chase Freedom Unlimited ®  

Sign-up bonus:   Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel , 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases. 

After your first year or $20,000 spent, the rewards rate reverts to 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

You can trade the Ultimate Rewards points you earn at a rate of a penny each for cash back, gift cards or travel bookings. 

This card charges a 3% foreign transaction fee, so consider one of our other travel winners for trips abroad. 

Chase cards also offer excellent rental car insurance .

• Interest rate : Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% to 29.24%.
• Annual fee : None.
• Foreign transaction fee : A hefty 3%, so for trips abroad, look to our other winners that charge no such fee.
• Earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, the rewards program portal that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more.
• Earn 5% total cash back on qualifying Lyft rides through March 2025.
• Earn 3% on dining and drugstore purchases, including takeout and eligible delivery service.
• Earn 1.5% on other spending.
• Redemption: Redeem points at a rate of a penny each for cash back, gift cards or travel; points do not expire.
• Sign-up bonus: Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.  After your first year or $20,000 spent, the rewards rate reverts to 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
• Member FDIC

Discover it® Miles  

This card acts as a hybrid travel and cash back card. All purchases earn 1.5 miles per dollar, and the redemption options are flexible. You can exchange miles at a rate of a penny each for statement credits on travel purchases, cash back, account credits to pay your card bill, and purchases with Amazon and PayPal. 

The card offers a generous sign-on bonus, doubling your miles earned after the first year . Other nice-to-have perks include free access to your FICO score and online privacy protection. The card does not provide free travel insurance, access to airport lounges or similar travel perks.

• Interest rate:  0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers (through August 10, 2024), then 17.24 to 28.24% variable APR.
• Annual fee:  None.
• Foreign transaction fee:  None.
• Rewards:  1.5 miles per dollar spent on purchases.
• Sign-up bonus:  A match of miles earned after one year, doubling your rewards.
• Redemption:  Unlike a co-branded credit card, the miles earned on the card can be used to cover travel purchases made at any airline, car rental or hotel over the past 180 days; miles may also be redeemed for statement credit to pay your bill.

American Express EveryDay®  

Sign-up bonus : 10,000 points if you spend $2,000 in the first six months.

Amex EveryDay provides a way to earn Amex’s Membership Rewards points without paying an annual fee. You get two points per dollar on up to $6,000 of supermarket purchases per year and one point per dollar on all other spending. If you make at least 20 purchases on the card in a billing period, you get a 20% bonus on the points you earned on those purchases. 

You can trade points at a rate of 1 cent each for flight bookings through Amex Travel or certain gift cards (points are worth less for most other redemption options). You can also transfer points to a partner travel loyalty program, including Delta SkyMiles, Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy. The card charges a 2.7% foreign-transaction fee, so it’s best for domestic travel

See rates and fees.

• Interest rate : 0% APR for purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then 18.24% to 29.24% variable APR. The balance transfer fee is 3% of the total transfer amount, or $5, whichever is greater. So, this is a good card for a balance transfer . See rates and fees .
• Annual fee: None.
• Foreign transaction fee : 2.7%, so use a different card for international travel.
• Rewards : Two points per dollar on up to $6,000 spent at supermarkets per year, then 1%; two points per dollar on certain prepaid travel purchases through Amex Travel; other spending gets one point per dollar, and each month that you make at least 20 purchases with the card, you get a 20% points bonus on those purchases.
• Redemption : The best way to redeem points includes booking flights through Amex Travel at a rate of a penny per point or transferring points to loyalty programs including Delta SkyMiles (at a ratio of one Amex point to one SkyMile), Hilton Honors (1:2 ratio) and Marriott Bonvoy (1:1).
• Intro offer: Earn 10,000 points if you spend $2,000 in the first six months.
• Terms apply

Best Travel Cards Worth the Annual Fee

With a high payback on travel spending and some perks on the side, these cards make the annual fee worth paying.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card  

Annual fee : $95 

Sign-up bonus : 75,000 miles if you spend $4,000 in the first three months. 

Capital One Venture offers five miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars that you book through Capital One Travel and two miles per dollar on all other spending. Miles are worth a penny apiece if you redeem them for statement credits on travel purchases or travel bookings through Capital One, or you can transfer miles to partner airline and hotel loyalty programs. Extra perks include two free yearly visits to Capital One’s own airport lounges or Plaza Premium lounges (though the lounge-pass benefit expires in January 2025), as well as reimbursement of the application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, which provide expedited airport security screening.

For details on this bonus offer and how to use bonus miles, read Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Launches $750 Bonus Offer .

This card was deemed outstanding for customer service in the Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards 2024: Travel Rewards Credit Cards .

• Sign-up bonus : 75,000 miles if you spend $4,000 in the first three months. That's worth $750 when used to book travel or reimburse travel expenses.
• Rewards : Five miles per dollar spent on hotel stays and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; all other spending earns two miles per dollar; limited airport lounge access and other benefits apply.
• Redemption : Redeem miles at a rate of a penny each for statement credits on travel purchases or to book a new travel reservation through Capital One. Or transfer miles to any of more than 15 travel loyalty programs.
• Interest rate : 19.99% to 29.99% variable APR for purchases.
• Balance transfer fee : $0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you.
• Annual fee : $95
• Foreign transaction fee : None.

Citi Strata Premier ℠ Card  

• Annual fee : $95.

Sign-up bonus : Citi recently upped its sign-up bonus. Now for a limited time, get 75,000 points if you spend $4,000 in the first three months. 

Citi recently updated the Premier card to the Citi Strata Premier℠, making it easier to earn points. Earn 10 Citi ThankYou® Points per dollar on hotel and rental car bookings. You also collect three points per dollar on dining, supermarket, gas station and air travel purchases and one point per dollar on other spending. 

Points are worth a penny each when you trade them for travel bookings or gift cards, or you can transfer points to participating airline loyalty programs. Once per year, cardholders also get $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more booked through Citi’s ThankYou program.

• Sign-up bonus : 75,000 bonus points if you spend $4,000 in the first three months. That's a $750 value when redeemed for travel or gift cards. And earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal, on ThankYou.com or by calling 1-800-Thankyou (TTY: 711) and saying “Travel”. Offer is valid through 11:59 PM ET 6/30/2024. 
• 10 total ThankYou Points for each $1 spent on hotel, car rental and attraction bookings on the Citi Travel℠ site via CitiTravel.com or 1-833-737-1288 (TTY:711)
• 3 ThankYou Points for each $1 spent on air travel and other hotel purchases
• 3 ThankYou Points for each $1 spent at restaurants and supermarkets
• 3 ThankYou Points for each $1 spent at gas and EV charging stations
• 1 ThankYou Point for each $1 spent on all other purchases
• Annual hotel discount : Once a year, get $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more, excluding taxes and fees, through thankyou.com.
• Redemption : Points are worth a penny each if you redeem them for gift cards or travel bookings through the Citi ThankYou program; you can also transfer points to partner airline and hotel loyalty programs; there are no blackout dates and points do not expire.
• Interest rate : 21.24% to 29.24% variable APR for purchases.

U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card

Annual fee : $95, waived the first year.

Sign-up bonus : 50,000 points if you spend $2,000 in the first 120 days.

This card delivers five points per dollar on hotel and rental car bookings through U.S. Bank’s travel portal; four points per dollar on other travel purchases and at gas and EV charging stations (see below for details); two points per dollar on grocery store, restaurant and streaming-service spending; and one point per dollar on other spending. 

You can redeem points at a rate of a penny each for travel, gift cards, cash back, merchandise and other options. Cardholders are also reimbursed for the application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry and receive four free yearly visits to Priority Pass Select airport lounges. 

• Interest rate: 21.24% to 29.24% variable APR for purchases or balance transfers.
• Annual fee:  $95, waived the first year.
• Five points per dollar on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Center.
• Four points per dollar on other travel purchases and at gas and EV charging stations through September 8, 2024, after that 4X on your first $1,000 each quarter (wholesale clubs, discount stores/supercenters and grocery stores excluded).
• Two points per dollar on grocery store, restaurant and streaming-service spending.
• One point per dollar on other spending.
• Redemption:   Redeem points at a rate of a penny each for travel, gift cards, cash back, merchandise and other options; cardholders also get reimbursement of the application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, four free yearly visits to Priority Pass Select airport lounges, and a $30 annual credit if you make 11 months of purchases with eligible streaming services.
• Lounge access : Complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership gives you 4 free visits to over 1,500 airport VIP lounges and experiences worldwide.
• Sign-up bonus:  50,000 points, worth $500 , if you spend $2,000 in the first 120 days.

Best Cards for Flexible Travel Redemptions

Redeem points for travel bookings or transfer them to a broad range of partner airline and hotel loyalty programs.

BILT Mastercard®

The BILT Mastercard from Wells Fargo rewards you with one point per dollar on rent payments (up to 100,000 points each year), and you bypass the transaction fees that usually apply when you pay rent with a credit card.  Read our dedicated article on the BILT credit card for the full skinny.

If you enable BiltProtect , your rent payments are drawn directly from your linked bank account, and you earn points on the payments without using your available credit. Keeping your credit line clear of rent payments can help lower your credit-utilization ratio (the amount of available credit that you use), and that’s good for your credit score. 

You also earn three points per dollar on dining, two points on travel and one point on other purchases. The BILT card takes honors in this travel category because you can transfer points that you earn with it on a one-to-one basis to 16 different transfer partner programs , including those of American Airlines, Marriott, United Airlines and Hyatt. 

This card is great for renters, but be sure you can pay your balance in full every month. 

• Annual fee : None
• Interest rates : 21.49%, 24.49%, or 29.49% variable APR.
• Top rewards rate : Three points per dollar on dining.
• Other rewards : Get two points on travel, one point per dollar on rent payments (up to 100,000 points each year), and one point on other purchases.
• Redemption : Transfer points that you earn with it on a one-to-one basis to 16 different transfer partner programs, including those of American Airlines, Marriott, United Airlines and Hyatt. Or you can redeem your rewards toward a down payment on a property, in which case points are worth 1.5 cents each.
• Rent Day bonus : On the first of each month, or  "Rent Day,"  the card will double your rewards, in addition to the one point you receive for paying rent. So, instead of getting three points on dining purchases, you get six points for every dollar you spend on that day, and so on. The card also offers a surprise benefit each Rent Day, such as transfer bonuses to airlines or extra points for purchasing sporting event tickets.
• Trip cancellation, interruption and delay insurance.  Get up to a maximum of $1,800 for a trip delay. Get up to $5,000 for non-refundable fares booked with your card.
• Sign-up bonus : None.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card  

Sign-up bonus : Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. That's about $937 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠ . For more, read Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card Launches $937 Bonus Offer .

This card boasts a strong network of travel transfer partners, including Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, United MileagePlus, Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt. 

Cardholders earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, redeemable for travel bookings through Chase at a heightened value of 1.25 cents per point on Chase Travel℠ or for cash back or gift cards at 1 cent per point. 

You earn five points per dollar on travel that you purchase through Chase Travel℠ (two points per dollar on other travel spending); three points per dollar on restaurants, online grocery purchases and select streaming services; and one point per dollar on other spending. Plus, you get $50 in statement credits annually for hotel stays booked through Chase. On each yearly anniversary of opening your account, you get a 10% points bonus on total purchases made the previous year.

Kiplinger readers recently voted the card as outstanding for customer service and overall satisfaction and deemed it a card they would recommend to others. 

• Bonus offer : Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. That's about $937 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠ . For details, read Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card Launches $937 Bonus Offer .
• Rewards : Five points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠ and two points per dollar on other travel spending; three points per dollar on dining, select streaming services and online groceries; and one point per dollar on other spending. 
• Other benefits : Get a $50 annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more. And on each yearly anniversary of opening your account, you get a 10% points bonus on total purchases made the previous year. Chase offers excellent travel benefits, including rental car insurance and general travel insurance .
• Redemption : Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 75,000 points are worth $937.50 toward travel. You also get an extra 25% back when you use points to donate to certain charities; to learn more, read Is Chase Pay Yourself Back Worth It?
• Interest rate : 21.49% to 28.49% variable APR for purchases and balance transfers, and 29.99% variable APR on cash advances.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card

Annual fee : $95. 

Sign-up bonus : Three Free Night Awards  (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first three months. Certain hotels have resort fees. For details on this $1,050 offer, read Marriott Bonvoy Bonus Offer: Three Nights Free .

Though Bonvoy points are less valuable than those of some competitors, the card provides ample ways to rack up a large bank of points. Cardholders get up to 17 Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar spent at Marriott hotels; three points per dollar on up to $6,000 in combined spending annually at grocery stores, gas stations and restaurants; and two points per dollar on other spending. Points don’t expire if you make a purchase on the card every 24 months. 

Marriott Bonvoy points are redeemable for stays at Marriott properties, but you can also transfer them to the frequent-flier programs of 39 airlines , including American, Delta, Southwest and United. Plus, you get 5,000 bonus miles for every 60,000 points you transfer. (Note, however, that most airlines require three Bonvoy points per mile.) Among the card’s benefits are Silver Elite status with Marriott and a one-night hotel stay each year.

• Welcome offer : Earn three Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $3,000 on purchases in your first three months from account opening with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card.
• Rewards : Earn up to a total of 17x bonus points by layering reward categories. Earn six Marriott points per dollar spent at Marriott properties, ten points for being a Marriott Bonvoy member, and one point if you are a Silver Elite Status member.
• Other rewards: Earn three points per dollar on up to $6,000 spent yearly at grocery stores, gas stations and dining, and two points per dollar on all other spending. 
• One free night per year : Earn a free one-night Marriott stay per year after each account anniversary, valid for a one-night hotel stay at a property with a redemption level up to 35,000 points; note that certain hotels have resort fees.
• Redemptions : Marriott Bonvoy points are redeemable for stays at Marriott properties, but you can also transfer them to the frequent-flier programs of 38 airlines, including American, Delta, Southwest and United; plus, you get 5,000 bonus miles for every 60,000 points you transfer; among the card’s benefits are Silver Elite status with Marriott and a one-night hotel stay each year; points expire if your account is inactive for 24 months.
• Interest rate: 21.49% to 28.49% variable.
• Annual fee: $95, or if you prefer to pay no annual fee, check out the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card .
• Foreign transaction fee: None.

Best Cards for Luxury Travel Rewards

Frequent travelers can more than overcome the high annual fees on these cards by taking advantage of a bevy of perks. 

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card  

Annual fee : $395. 

Kiplinger readers recently gave the Venture X card a lot of love, voting it the overall winner for best travel card in the most recent Readers' Choice awards.

You can rack up points quickly with this card, and it has a lower annual fee than most premium cards. Cardholders receive 10 miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, five miles per dollar for flights reserved through Capital One Travel, and two miles per dollar on all other spending.

You can redeem miles at the rate of a penny each for statement credits on travel purchases or travel reservations through Capital One. Cardholders get a $300 annual credit toward travel bookings through Capital One, 10,000 miles on each yearly account anniversary, reimbursement of the application fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, and free access to Capital One’s airport lounges, as well as lounges in the Priority Pass and Plaza Premium networks.

Hot tip: You can also earn 75,000 miles on the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit card (after spending $4,000 in the first three months). But that card only has a $95 annual fee, while this card's annual fee is $395. It all comes down to the perks that you value.

And if you are in the market for a business card, the Capital One Venture X Business card has a welcome offer worth between $1,500 to $2,775.

• Interest rate : 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR for purchases.
• Balance transfer fee : $0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you.
• Annual fee : At $395, the annual fee is lower than that of many luxury travel cards.
• Foreign Transaction fee : None.
• Rewards : Earn 10 miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, five miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel, and two miles per dollar on all other purchases.
• Other benefits : Perks include 10,000 bonus miles on your account anniversary each year, an annual credit of $300 for bookings made through Capital One Travel, free entry to more than 1,300 Priority Pass and Plaza Premium airport lounges, complimentary access for you and two guests to Capital One’s airport lounges, and President’s Circle status with Hertz.
• Redemption : Redeem miles at a rate of a penny apiece for statement credits on travel purchases or travel bookings through Capital One, or transfer them to partner airline and hotel loyalty programs.
• Sign-up bonus: 75,000 miles if you spend $4,000 in the first three months.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Annual fee : $550. 

Sign-up bonus : Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,125 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠ .

This card provides the kind of travel perks you would expect from a high-end card, such as access to VIP airport lounges and hotel room upgrades, but with some thoughtful additions. Sapphire Reserve offers industry-leading rental car insurance benefits , for example, which are especially valuable for international travel. 

The card earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which can be transferred to the loyalty programs of popular airlines such as United, Southwest and JetBlue. 

Cardholders get 10 points per dollar spent on hotels and car rentals purchased through the rewards travel portal and five points per dollar for flights booked through Chase Travel℠. You also earn 10 points per dollar spent on purchases with Chase Dining — which provides reservations at participating restaurants and access to special dining events — three points per dollar on other travel and dining purchases, and one point per dollar on the rest of your spending. 

You will also get a $300 annual credit for travel purchases and up to $1,200 per year in partner benefits , such as subscriptions to delivery services, luxury hotel upgrades and discounts on Peloton purchases. Exchange points at a high rate of 1.5 cents each for travel booked through Chase Travel℠ or for 1 cent per point for gift cards or cash back.

• Sign-up bonus : Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,125 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• Earn five total points on flights and ten total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through  Chase Travel℠  immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. 
• Earn three points on other travel and dining and one point per $1 spent on all other purchases. 
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 75,000 points are worth $1125 toward travel.
• Other benefits : An annual statement credit of up to $300 for travel purchases (purchases that qualify for the credit do not earn points until the $300 travel credit has been applied), a Priority Pass Select membership for airport lounge access, perks at properties in the Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection, 10 points per dollar on Lyft rides through March 2025, at least a year of free membership to DoorDash's delivery subscription service, and a $10 monthly statement credit toward purchases from home delivery service Gopuff .
• When things go wrong: Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Redemption : Points are transferable to partner airline and hotel loyalty programs, or trade points at a healthy rate of 1.5 cents each when you redeem them for travel bookings through Chase Travel℠, or for statement credits against purchases in rotating categories through Chase's Pay Yourself Back program (including Airbnb, dining, charitable donations, and other categories).
• Interest rate : 22.49% to 29.49% variable APR.
• Annual fee : $550; $75 for each authorized user.

The Platinum Card® from American Express  

Annual fee : $695. 

Sign-up bonus : Up to 80,000 points if you spend $8,000 in the first six months.

Frequent travelers can offset the card’s hefty annual fee by taking advantage of its bountiful perks and valuable points structure. For example, you can get yearly credits of up to $200 for incidental fees with one airline you choose, $200 for select hotel bookings through Amex, $189 for membership with the CLEAR airport security screening program, $200 in Uber Cash (for Uber Eats orders and Uber rides) and $155 for a Walmart+ membership (which provides free shipping from Walmart, among other benefits). 

Travelers enjoy access to a range of airport lounges , including Amex’s Centurion lounges as well as those in the Airspace, Delta Sky Club, Escape, Plaza Premium and Priority Pass Select networks. Plus, you get up to $100 in fee reimbursement for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. 

Cardholders earn five Membership Rewards points per dollar for flights booked with airlines or through American Express (on up to $500,000 per year spent) and on prepaid hotel bookings through Amex; two points per dollar spent on other qualifying Amex Travel reservations (such as cruises); and one point per dollar on other spending. Exchange points at a rate of a penny each for flights booked through Amex or for certain gift cards (points are worth less for most other redemption options).

Kiplinger readers recently voted this card outstanding for customer service .

Terms Apply. See rates and fees .

• Interest rate : Pay over time 21.24% to 29.24% APR, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening.
• Annual fee: $695, plus $195 for up to three authorized users and $195 per card for each user beyond three.
• Rewards : Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• Lounge benefits: The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport, with complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries.
• Annual Hotel Credit: $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• Cruise benefits : Cardholders can receive exclusive benefits through the Cruise Privileges Program , available on cruise bookings of 5 nights or more with participating cruise partners; qualified cardholders can also get two rewards points per dollar when booking through the American Express travel portal. 
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
• $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
• $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. Visit  https://platinum.equinox.com/  to enroll. 
• $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
• $100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 year period for TSA PreCheck® application fee for a 5-year plan only (through a TSA PreCheck® official enrollment provider), when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at  saks.com  on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card®. An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content.  Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
• Other benefits : Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
• Redemption : There is no option for cash back; the greatest value comes from booking travel with points, and from the many discounts and other perks.
• Intro bonus: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
• Terms apply: See Rates & Fees

Best Dedicated Airline Cards

If you’re loyal to a certain airline or hotel chain, you may be a good candidate to use a credit card that provides points or miles from your preferred loyalty program. Such cards often provide perks such as complimentary checked baggage or free hotel stays each year, too. See whether our picks of the top airline and hotel rewards cards are a good match for you. And note that if you would rather not pay an annual fee, many of the hotels and airlines mentioned here offer no-fee cards, too, but they come with fewer perks.

Traveling with a friend or loved one? Check out our assessment of the best airline credit card bonuses that come with a free ticket .

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

Annual fee: $350

Sign-up bonus: Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first six months of Card Membership. 

This mid-tier card from American Express has a strong earning rate. You'll rack up three miles per dollar on Delta and related flights, two miles per dollar on restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, and one mile per dollar on all other qualified purchases. You also get an annual companion ticket, 15% off when booking Delta flights with award miles and a 20% credit for Delta in-flight purchases. Cardholders get their first checked bag for free.

Read more at Earn Delta SkyMiles Worth up to $720.

• Intro offer : Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first six months of Card Membership. For details on this card and related cards, read our article Earn Delta SkyMiles Worth up to $720 .
• Interest rate : 20.99% to 29.99% variable APR for purchases. See  rates and fees .
• Annual fee :  $350.
• Rewards rates : Earn three miles per dollar on Delta purchases and purchases made with hotels. Earn two miles per dollar on restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. Earn one mile per dollar on all other qualified purchases.
• Other rewards : Card Members save 15% when booking Award Travel with miles on Delta flights when using  delta.com  and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
• Free baggage check : Check and stow your bag with ease: First Checked Bag Free + Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding on Delta Flights.
• $120 Rideshare Credit: You can earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
• Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Receive $100 back for Global Entry or $85 back for TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Official Enrollment Provider.
• $150 Delta Stays Credit: Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Members can earn up to $150 back annually on eligible prepaid Delta Stays bookings on delta.com.
• Get a discount of up to $50 on flights for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on  delta.com .
• Receive a round trip domestic, Caribbean, or Central American First Class, Delta Comfort+® or Main Cabin  Companion Ticket  each year after renewal of your Card. Payment of the government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights and no more than $250 for roundtrip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
• Medallion program : If you want to improve your access to the lounges with this card, you can earn $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and $1 Medallion® Qualification Dollar for each $20 of purchases made on your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card in a calendar year and get a boost toward achieving elevated Medallion Status for next Medallion Year.
• Redemption :  Miles can be used for travel on Delta Air Lines, Delta Connection carriers (Endeavor Air, Inc., Republic Airline, and SkyWest) and 30+ partner airlines.  Want even more flexibility? Take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com.
• See  rates and fees .

JetBlue Plus Card

  Annual fee: $99

Sign-up offer: 60,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days. This offer is worth about $780 when redeemed for travel.

JetBlue recently overhauled its TrueBlue loyalty program so that even infrequent flyers could earn perks. Our readers took notice , voting JetBlue's cards outstanding for customer service, overall satisfaction and as a card they'd recommend. And JetBlue just launched new, affordable Transatlantic Flights to Europe .

Cardholders get six points for each dollar spent on JetBlue flights, two points per dollar for restaurant and grocery stores (excluding wholesalers such as Costco) and one point on all other spending. You also get a 5,000-point bonus each year, 10% of points back after you redeem for travel on JetBlue award flight and an annual $100 statement credit after you purchase a JetBlue Vacations package.

Read more in JetBlue Credit Card Offer Worth $780 .

• Top rewards rate : Get six points back for each dollar spent on qualifying JetBlue purchases, like airline tickets.
• Other rewards rates : Get two points per dollar for purchases made at restaurants and grocery stores. Note that big box retailers like Costco and Target do not qualify as grocery stores. Get one point per dollar back on all other purchases.
• Get 10% TrueBlue Points after taking award flights : With the award flight redemption bonus, you will receive 10% of your TrueBlue points back as a bonus after you redeem points and travel on a JetBlue-operated Award Flight. For example, if you redeem 30,000 TrueBlue points toward a JetBlue-operated Award Flight, 3,000 of your TrueBlue points will be deposited back into your account after you take the flight. 
• Annual bonus : Get a 5,000 TrueBlue points bonus credited to your Membership Account, 4-6 weeks after your Card Account anniversary, as your Card Account remains open and in Good Standing.
• Vacation package credit : Spend at least $100 on a vacation package in a given year and get a $100 statement credit.
• Welcome bonus : Earn 60,000 TrueBlue points after spending $1,000 on purchases and paying the annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days. That's worth about $780 when redeemed for travel . It will take four to six weeks for your account to reflect the bonus, so plan to use your points accordingly.
• Redemption : Redeem points for travel on JetBlue flights. Points do not expire as long as your account is in good standing, and there are no black-out dates. You may also redeem points for travel packages.
• Interest rate : 21.24%, 25.24% or 29.99% variable APR.
• Annual fee : $99. If you want a similar card with no annual fee, check out the  JetBlue Card .
• Foreign transaction fee : None, so this card is a good choice for purchases abroad.
• More travel perks : Read about other ways to benefit from the  TrueBlue loyalty program .

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

Annual fee: $149 

Sign-up bonus: The Southwest card has a stellar intro offer . New cardholders earn 85,000 bonus points (worth up to $1,275) after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. 

The Priority card from Southwest Airlines comes with attractive annual benefits, including 10,000 companion pass points, a $75 annual credit for eligible Southwest purchases, reimbursement of up to four upgraded boardings per year, 25% back on in-flight purchases, and 1,500 tier-qualifying points toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent on the card. 

Cardholders also get three Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases. Spending with Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners, local transit, and internet, cable, phone and streaming services earns two points per dollar, and all other purchases earn one point per dollar. 

Southwest flights aren't limited to U.S. destinations; you can save your travel rewards for flights to Costa Rica, Aruba, Mexico and other getaways south of the U.S. border. Plus, points don't expire, and there are no blackout dates. 

Read more at Southwest Credit Cards Launch $1,275 Bonus Offer and learn how Kiplinger readers raved about the card.

Want a cheaper card? The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card has an annual fee of only $69, but new cardholders earn 85,000 bonus points (worth up to $1,275) after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. 

• Interest rate : 21.49% to 28.49% variable APR for purchases and balance transfers.
• Annual fee: $149.
• Rewards : Get three points per dollar on Southwest purchases, two points per dollar on local transit and commuting, including rideshare, and two points per dollar on internet, cable, phone services and more; all other spending earns one point per dollar.
• Annual benefits : Cardholders receive four hefty bonuses on each account anniversary: a $75 Southwest® travel credit, a bonus of 7,500 Rapid Rewards points, four upgraded boardings when available and a 10,000 Companion Pass® qualifying points boost.
• Other benefits : Reimbursement for up to four upgraded airline boardings per year; 1,500 tier-qualifying points toward A-List status for each $10,000 spent on the card; and 25% back on in-flight purchases.
• Redemption : Points may be redeemed for travel on Southwest Airlines or through its Rapid Rewards program; points may also be redeemed for gift cards, merchandise, and entertainment.
• Sign-up bonus: New cardholders earn 85,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Read our article on the Southwest bonus reward and how to use the card . 

Best Dedicated Hotel Cards

Frequent guests of the hotel chains associated with these cards can get great value out of them, earning extra points for hotel stays and certain other purchases. Plus, enjoy benefits such as free-night awards and elevated loyalty status.

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

Annual fee: $95.

Intro bonus: Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points  (worth about $780 in hotel stays) after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in your first six months of Card Membership. For details, read our article on the Hilton Honors Bonus Offer Worth up to $780 .

If you are or will soon become a Hilton Honors member, two promotions are worth the moment it takes to register for them. First, through May 1, 2024 , get 2,000 extra points for each stay at a Hilton Honors property, plus 500 points if you use a digital key (a contactless "key" on your phone to open your room door and access other areas). To be eligible, you must register at the promotion website .

Second, for stays booked for May 2, 2024, through September 1, 2024 , get double the points for each stay at a Hilton Property by registering at the promotion website.

When you make eligible purchases at Hilton hotels and resorts, you earn 12 points per dollar with this card. Plus, get six points per dollar at restaurants, supermarkets and gas stations, four points per dollar for online retail purchases and three points per dollar on other spending. 

Additional benefits include Gold loyalty status with Hilton (or Diamond status if you spend at least $40,000 on the card in a calendar year), a free night reward if you spend $15,000 on the card in a calendar year, and up to $200 back on purchases at Hilton properties.

Terms apply. See rates and fees .

• Intro bonus : Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Card in the first six months of Card Membership. According to Bankrate , that's worth about $780 in stays at Hilton properties (when one point is valued at 0.6 cents).
• Annual benefit : Get up to $200 back each year on eligible Hilton purchases after you use your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card.  
• Car rental status : NEW Enjoy complimentary National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status. Enrollment in the complimentary Emerald Club® program is required. Terms apply. Read about credit cards that cover rental car insurance .
• Free Night : Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
• Earn 12 Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio. 
• Earn six Points for each dollar of purchases on your Card at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets and at U.S. gas stations.
• Earn four Points for each dollar on U.S. Online Retail Purchases.
• Earn three Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
• Other benefits : Get a Priority Pass Select membership that provides 10 free yearly visits to participating airport lounges and complimentary Gold status . If you spend $40,000 on the card in a calendar year, you’re bumped up to Hilton Honors™ Diamond status through the end of the following calendar year.
• Activate additional bonus point promotions: Through May 1, 2024 , get 2,000 extra points for each stay at a Hilton Honors property, plus 500 points if you use a digital key. To be eligible, you must register at the promotion website . For stays booked May 2, 2024, through September 1, 2024 , get double the points for each stay at a Hilton Property by registering at that specific promotion website.
• Redemption : Points typically expire if you are inactive in the Hilton Honors program for 24 months, and earning points with the credit card counts as activity; expiration terms may vary by membership tier.
• Interest rate : 20.99% to 29.99% variable APR for purchases. See rates and fees.
• Annual fee : $150. If you prefer to skip the annual fee, try the Hilton Honors American Express Card instead. The interest rate for that card is 20.99% to 29.99% variable APR for purchases. See rates and fees for the Hilton Honors American Express Card.
• Foreign transaction fee : None. See rates and fees .

Terms apply.

The World of Hyatt Credit Card  

• Annual fee: $95

Sign-up bonus: Up to 60,000 points total. Earn 30,000 World of Hyatt Bonus points if you spend $3,000 in the first three months; plus up to 30,000 more bonus points (two bonus points per dollar in the first six months on purchases that normally earn one point, on up to $15,000 spent). The total offer is worth up to $1,380.

This card was the overall winner for hotel credit cards in the 2024 Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards .

Cardholders earn nine World of Hyatt Bonus points per dollar spent at Hyatt hotels; two points per dollar on restaurant spending, airline tickets, local transit and gym memberships; and one point per dollar on other spending. You also get a free night at an eligible property each year after your cardmember anniversary, an additional free night if you spend $15,000 on the card in a calendar year, automatic Discoverist loyalty status and credits toward the next tier of status each year.

Want more ways to earn points? The World of Hyatt Business credit card has a similar welcome offer. Read more in World of Hyatt Launches Offer Worth up to $1,380 .

•  Interest rate: 21.49% to 28.49% variable.
• Foreign transaction fee : None
• Top rewards rate : Earn nine points per $1 spent on Hyatt stays and experiences (four points technically earned plus five bonus points for being a World of Hyatt member).
• Earn two points per dollar at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from airlines, on local transit, and on fitness club and gym memberships.
• Earn one point per dollar on other spending.
• Other benefits : Each year after your cardmember anniversary, you get a free night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort, plus an extra free night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel if you spend $15,000 on the card in a calendar year, automatic Discoverist loyalty status, five qualifying nights toward the next loyalty tier each year, and two more qualifying night credits each time you spend $5,000 on the card. 
• Redemption : Redeem points for a wide array of benefits offered by the World of Hyatt , such as through travel partnerships with MGM Resorts and American Airlines.
• Sign-up bonus: Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 More Bonus Points by earning two Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first six months from account opening on purchases that normally earn one Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent. According to Bankrate , World of Hyatt points are worth 2.3 cents each, so the value of the 65,000 total sign-up bonus is $1,380.

Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Visa  

Annual fee:  $75.

Sign-up bonus:   Earn up to 100,000 Wyndham Rewards points (enough for up to 13 nights)  if you spend $2,000 in the first six months. 

This card offers flexible benefits to several categories of travelers. First, the Earner Plus card is designed for travelers who frequent budget or mid-tier hotels such as La Quinta, Ramada and Days Inn and vacation rentals for families or large groups. Second, luxury travelers can enjoy premium resorts and hotels like Wyndham Grand, including the  Grand Bonnet Creek Hotel  near Disney World. Finally, gamblers take note; since Wyndham partners with Caesar's, you could use your points at the  Caesar's Palace  in Las Vegas.

The Wyndham Rewards program is flexible. You can redeem Capital One miles for Wyndham points. Wyndham partners with  ten airlines . And if you have earned a high tier with another hotel's loyalty program, Wyndham's Status Match will bump your Wyndham loyalty tier up to the competitor's tier.

Purchases with Hotels by Wyndham and gas stations earn six points per dollar spent. Restaurant and grocery store purchases get four points per dollar, and other spending earns one point per dollar. Cardholders enjoy automatic Platinum status with Wyndham, a bonus of 7,500 points on each account anniversary, and discounts on the hotel’s best available rates. 

• Six Wyndham Rewards points per dollar spent on gas and with Hotels by Wyndham.
• Four points per dollar on dining and grocery-store purchases (excluding Walmart and Target).
• One point per dollar on all other spending. 
• One free night per year : Cardholders get a 7,500-point bonus for each anniversary year.
• Other benefits:  You’ll also get an additional discount on the best available rate when making reservations at participating properties, and automatic Platinum loyalty status.
• Redemption : Points may be redeemed at thousands of Wyndham properties worldwide, including hotels, resorts, casinos, vacation homes, and European parks; points expire if your Wyndham Rewards account is inactive for 18 months.
• Sign-up bonus :  Earn 100,000 bonus points  after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first six months. That's typically enough for 13 nights at participating properties. According to  Bankrate , the value of this offer is about $900. Free nights can require between 7,500 and 30,000 points per bedroom at participating properties and are subject to availability. Resort fees may apply and cannot be paid with points.
• For  purchases : get a 0% promotional APR for 6 billing cycles on all Wyndham Timeshare Purchases (see Terms and Conditions for details). After that, your APR will be 20.99%, 25.24% or 29.99%, based on your creditworthiness. 
• For  balance transfers (not recommended) : the card offers a 0% introductory APR for 15 months on balance transfers made within 45 days of account opening, then 20.99%, 25.24% or 29.99% variable APR on purchases, with 0% on purchases for 6 billing cycles on all Wyndham Timeshare Purchases. Given the high balance transfer fee, you should look for a different card if you hope to offload some credit card debt onto a balance transfer card.
• Balance transfer fee : 5% of the amount you transfer, which is higher than many other cards. For this reason, you should look for another card with a balance transfer fee of no more than 3%.
• Annual fee : $75; for a no-fee option, look to the  Wyndham Rewards Earner Visa .

Best Dining Rewards Cards

Frequent diners can enjoy cash back and other perks using these cards.  For other everyday expenses like gas and groceries, see our guide to the  best cash back credit cards .

American Express® Gold Card

Annual fee : $250 

Sign-up bonus : Up to 60,000 points if you spend $6,000 in the first six months 

This is a great travel rewards card for foodies who like to cook or dine out. Earn four points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets and on dining or food delivery, three points on air travel, and one point on other spending. When you use your Gold Card as a payment option on your Uber account, you get $10 in Uber Cash each month toward Uber Eats or Uber rides, up to $120 per year. You can also get $10 credits to your monthly statements for purchases at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack restaurants. 

The most lucrative way to redeem points is for airfare booked through Amex Travel, or transfer them to hotel or airline partner programs. Though you can use points to pay for purchases at many retailers, such as Amazon and PayPal, the conversion rate is only 0.7 cents per point.

See rates and fees .

• Intro bonus : Up to 60,000 points if you spend $6,000 in the first six months.
• Earn four points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (but not superstores such as Walmart or Target), on up to $25,000 spent per year. 
• Earn four points per dollar on dining or food delivery.
• Earn three points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or with Amex Travel; two points per dollar on other eligible Amex Travel purchases; and one point per dollar on other spending.
• Redemption : Points are redeemable at a rate of 1 cent each for flights booked through Amex and certain gift cards (points are worth less for most other redemption options).
• Interest rate : Pay Over Time APR: 21.24% to 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening. See  rates and fees .
• Annual fee : $250.
• Terms Apply .

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Sign-up bonus : Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel , 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases. After your first year or $20,000 spent, the rewards rate reverts to 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Get 5% back on travel that you book through Chase’s Ultimate Rewards portal, plus 3% on restaurant and drugstore purchases and a strong 1.5% back on other spending. Points that you earn are redeemable at a rate of 1 cent each for cash, gift cards and travel bookings. Prefer to get takeout? The card provides discounts on DoorDash and Instacart+ memberships and delivery fees.

• Interest rate:  Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% to 29.24%.
• Foreign transaction fee:  3%, so this card is best used in the U.S.
• Earn 5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel.
• Earn 3% at restaurants and drugstores.
• Earn 1.5% on all other purchases. 
• Get three months of free membership to DashPass (usually $10 a month), which waives the delivery fee and reduces service fees on eligible orders through food-delivery service DoorDash. After three months, you’re automatically enrolled for nine months of DashPass membership at a rate of 50% off (you can cancel membership anytime). 
• Cardholders also get three free months of Instacart+ membership, which comes with no delivery fee and reduced service fees on eligible orders through the Instacart grocery-delivery service ($99 a year) after three months, you’ll be automatically enrolled in an annual membership unless you cancel. Through July 2024, cardholders who are enrolled with Instacart+ get up to $10 in quarterly statement credits for eligible Instacart purchases.
• Redemption : Redeem points at a rate of a penny each for cash back, gift cards or travel. Cash back rewards don't expire.
• Sign-up bonus:  Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel , 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases. After your first year or $20,000 spent, the rewards rate reverts to 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Sign-up bonus : 75,000 points if you spend $4,000 in the first three months. For our review of this bonus offer, read  Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card Launches $937 Bonus Offer .

Cardholders earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which are redeemable for travel bookings through Chase at a heightened value of 1.25 cents each, or 1 cent per point for cash back or gift cards. You earn five points per dollar on travel that you purchase through Chase Travel (two points per dollar on other travel spending), three points per dollar on restaurant spending, online grocery purchases and select streaming services, and one point per dollar on other spending. Plus, get $50 in statement credits annually for hotel stays booked through Chase. On each yearly anniversary of opening your account, you get a 10% points bonus on total purchases made the previous year. 

Prefer to get takeout? The card provides discounts on DoorDash and Instacart+ memberships and delivery fees. 

Kiplinger readers recently voted this card outstanding in the travel category.

• Bonus offer : Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $937 when you redeem through Chase Travel. For details, read  Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card Launches $937 Bonus Offer .
• Rewards : Five points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel and two points per dollar on other travel spending; three points per dollar on dining, select streaming services and online groceries; and one point per dollar on other spending. 
• Other benefits : Get  $50 annual Hotel Credit,  plus more. And on each yearly anniversary of opening your account, you get a 10% points bonus on total purchases made the previous year. Chase offers excellent travel benefits, including  rental car insurance  and general  travel insurance .
• Redemption :  Get 25% more value when you redeem  for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel. For example, 75,000 points are worth $937 toward travel. You also get an extra 25% back when you use points to donate to certain charities; to learn more, read  Is Chase Pay Yourself Back Worth It?

Travel rewards credit cards offer points or miles on your purchases and may also offer other travel-related benefits. There are three main types of travel credit cards, including general travel cards, airline cards and hotel cards. 

General travel credit cards

General travel rewards credit cards aren't linked to a specific airline or hotel loyalty program. Instead, you'll earn points or miles with the card issuer's rewards program. Examples include American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards and Citi ThankYou Rewards.

General travel rewards programs typically allow you to redeem your rewards for travel through their online portal and may also offer other options, including cash back, gift cards and online shopping. They may even allow you to transfer your rewards to partner airline and hotel programs. 

These cards typically won't give you travel perks with a specific airline or hotel brand, but you may get general travel benefits, such as travel credits, airport lounge access and more.

Airline credit cards

These credit cards are co-branded with a specific airline, such as Delta Air Lines or United  Airlines. You'll earn miles or points that you can use to book award flights with that airline or for other travel-related purposes. 

Airline credit cards also typically offer perks when you fly with the co-branded airline. Examples include priority boarding, free checked baggage, inflight discounts and companion passes.

Hotel credit cards

Like airline cards, hotel cards are co-branded with a particular hotel brand, such as Hyatt or Marriott. You'll earn points with that specific hotel chain's loyalty program, which you can use to book award stays, on-property experiences and other travel.

You'll also typically get perks with that hotel brand, which may include a free anniversary night certificate and elite status, which can come with benefits like room upgrades, late checkout and free premium Wi-Fi.

The value of the points or miles you earn with a travel credit card will vary depending on the rewards program and sometimes even the card. General travel programs typically offer predictable redemption rates. For example, you may earn one cent per point on travel bookings, one cent per point on gift cards and half a cent per point for cash back. 

With airline frequent flyer programs and hotel loyalty programs, redemption values can vary depending on several variables. With an award flight, for instance, the departure and arrival airports, flight dates and cabin will influence how much your points or miles are worth. With hotel programs, your stay dates, the property category, location and room type can impact your value.

To get an idea of how much value you're getting per point, divide the cash price of an airline ticket or hotel stay by the number of points or miles required to book it. For example, if you can book a $300 flight with 15,000 miles, divide $300 by 15,000, giving you a value of two cents per point.

If you're thinking about a travel credit card, it's important to choose one that's aligned with your travel habits and goals. Here are some of the factors to consider when shopping around and comparing your options:

• Welcome bonus: Consider how much value you can get with the card's upfront bonus and whether you can meet the minimum spending requirement to earn it.
• Rewards rates: Travel credit cards may offer a flat rewards rate on all purchases or a tiered rewards structure, with bonus rewards on certain spending categories. Try to pick a card that allows you to rack up as many points or miles based on where you spend your money.
• Redemption options: Consider how much flexibility you'll get with your rewards. If your goal is to get free flights or hotel stays with a particular airline or hotel brand, pick an airline or a hotel credit card. If you want more options, however, consider a general travel credit card.
• Redemption values: If you're comparing two different cards, one may offer a higher welcome bonus and more points per dollar spent than the other. However, if the value of those points is lower than what you'd get with the second card, you might actually get less value.
• Perks: Think about how you want to use your credit card to elevate your travel experience, then seek out perks that can help you accomplish that objective. And don't forget about trip protections, which can save you some money if things don't go as planned on a vacation. For example, cards issued by Chase and American Express offer some of the best rental car insurance benefits.
• Annual fee: Travel credit cards tend to charge annual fees, but some can run in the hundreds of dollars. Consider how much you're willing to pay each year for a credit card's rewards and benefits.
• International acceptance: If you pick an American Express or Discover credit card, you may have trouble using your credit card abroad. In this case, you can either bring a Visa or Mastercard credit card as a backup or simply get a Visa or Mastercard in the first place.

Even if you generally like to avoid credit card annual fees, it can be worth paying one in exchange for great benefits. To determine whether an annual fee is worth it to you, consider the following:

• Calculate the value of the card's welcome bonus to see how many years' worth of the fee it covers.
• Add up the monetary value of the card's benefits, making sure to include only benefits you'll actually use. 
• Consider the benefits that are difficult to assign a monetary value — rewards flexibility, trip protections or airport lounge access — and what they're worth to you.
• Estimate how much value you'd get in rewards each year based on your spending habits.

Some travel credit cards offer enough value to cover the cost of the annual fee in benefits alone. If a card charges an annual fee and is scant on perks, it might not be worth the cost.

Once you pick a travel rewards credit card, here are some tips to help you maximize its value:

• Make sure you earn the bonus: You'll typically have three or six months to meet the minimum spending requirement to earn a credit card's welcome bonus. Note, however, that the clock starts when you're approved, not when you receive the card. Track your spending to ensure that you earn the bonus points or miles.
• Use your card for everything: Try to use your credit card for everything that you can use it for. Just be sure to avoid overspending for the sake of earning rewards — the value you get likely won't make up for the extra cost.
• Pay in full every month: Make it a goal to pay off your balance in full every month to avoid paying interest, which can neutralize the value of the rewards you earn.
• Get to know your card benefits: You can find most of the card's benefits on the card issuer's website, but make sure you read through the benefits guide you receive with your card, so you know everything about its perks. 
• Research the best ways to redeem: Each program is different in how you can redeem rewards, and some may offer outsized value if you redeem them in a certain way. For example, you may be able to get more value by transferring your general travel points or miles to an airline or hotel loyalty program than if you were to redeem them with the card issuer's rewards program.
• Avoid getting too many cards: Having multiple rewards credit cards can help you maximize different bonus rewards categories and card benefits, but if you get too many cards, it can be difficult to keep track of everything. There's no correct answer to how many credit cards you should have, so it's important to consider your preferences and organizational skills to determine the right amount.
• Hilton Honors Bonus Offer Worth $780 (+ $200 annual credit)
• Marriott Bonvoy Bonus Offer: Three Nights Free (worth up to $1,050)
• Wyndham Bonus Offer: 13 Nights Free (worth up to $900)
• Jet Blue Credit Card Offer Worth over $780
• Capital One Venture Rewards Launches $750 Bonus Offer
• Chase Sapphire Preferred Launches $750 Bonus Offer
• Best Airline Credit Card Bonuses with a Free Ticket
• Southwest Credit Cards Launch $750 Bonus Deal
• Earn Delta SkyMiles Worth up to $720

All information about the American Express EveryDay® credit card, the Platinum Card from American Express, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card from American Express, the Hilton Honors American Express card, and the American Express Gold Card has been collected independently by Kiplinger. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.   As an independent publication dedicated to helping you make the most of your money, the article above is our view of the best deals and is not the opinion of any entity mentioned such as a card issuer, hotel, airline etc. Similarly, the content has not been reviewed or endorsed by any of those entities.

• The 10 Safest Countries to Visit
• Kiplinger's guide to the best rewards credit cards
• Kiplinger's guide to the  best cash back credit cards
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Ellen writes and edits personal finance stories, especially on credit cards and related products. She also covers the nexus between sustainability and personal finance. She was a manager and sustainability analyst at Calvert Investments for 15 years, focusing on climate change and consumer staples. She served on the sustainability councils of several Fortune 500 companies and led corporate engagements. Before joining Calvert, Ellen was a program officer for Winrock International, managing loans to alternative energy projects in Latin America. She earned a master’s from the U.C. Berkeley in international relations and Latin America. 

• Lisa Gerstner Editor, Kiplinger Personal Finance magazine

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The Best Travel Credit Cards, For Beginners, Pros, and Everyone in Between

By Carly Helfand

Looking for the best travel credit card? That's easy—there’s just one issue: choosing which one to go with. There’s no shortage of travel rewards credit cards out there, and while having plenty of options is great for consumers, it can also make things a little confusing. The truth is, there’s no single consensus pick. However, there are some cards that stand out above the rest. Below, we’ve outlined our top choices and exactly why they made the cut—plus an idea or two on how to spend the welcome bonuses with some of our favorite hotels and airlines.

This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.

Condé Nast Traveler has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Condé Nast Traveler and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Compensation does not impact how or where cards appear on the site. We don't review or include all companies, or all available products. Moreover, the editorial content on this page was not provided by any of the companies mentioned and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are entirely those of Condé Nast Traveler's editorial team.

What are the benefits of a travel credit card?

For many, the driving factor in opening a travel credit card is the ability to earn points that can later be turned into free flights or hotel stays—but the best travel credit cards also offer perks like  free night certificates ,  elite status , trip delay protection, and annual travel credits that are pretty motivating, too.

Is a travel credit card worth the annual fee?

The answer is almost always yes, thanks to their generous rewards structures, flexible redemption options, and travel perks—provided you can use them. Going through a list of these features is a great place to start when looking for your perfect match, whether you’re just getting acquainted with the options or looking to add a second or third travel card to your rotation. Plus, some of the welcome bonuses are upwards of six figures, sweetening the deal even more and setting you well on your way to free flights and hotel stays.

What should I consider before choosing a card?

If you want to find the absolute best travel credit card for you, you’ll need to take into account a number of factors—where you live, where you want to go, and your  spending habits  included. All of this means that a card that's great for you may not be such a hot pick for someone else.

Below, I’ll walk you through 10 of the best travel cards available right now. Looking specifically for the  best airline credit cards  or  hotel credit cards ? We've got you covered there, too.

• Best for beginners : Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
• Best for building credit : Chase Freedom Unlimited®
• Best for airfare and lounge access : The Platinum Card® from American Express
• Best for groceries and dining : American Express® Gold Card
• Best value : Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
• Best for flexible rewards : Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
• Best for varied bonus categories : Citi Premier Card
• Best hotel card : Hilton Honors American Express Aspire
• Best for cash back : Citi Double Cash Card
• Best for rent : Bilt Mastercard
• Best for retail : Chase Freedom Flex
• Best business credit card : Chase Ink Business Preferred

Reach your Chase Sapphire Preferred Card welcome bonus to book a night at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Best for beginners

Why we love it:  The Chase Sapphire Preferred has been a popular card for years, and with good reason. For a modest annual fee, it boasts a sizable welcome bonus, strong earning rates in popular spending categories, and the option to redeem points through the Chase portal at a rate of 1.25 cents per point or transfer them to airline and hotel partners. It’s widely considered a top pick for those who are  venturing into the world  of points and miles for the first time. The Chase Sapphire Reserve , the preferred’s pricier, $550-a-year sibling, is not on this list, as many find its extra benefits don’t justify the added cost. But it is an option for those looking for a product that comes with lounge access.

How it earns points:  The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns two points per dollar on all travel purchases, as well as five points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase, three points per dollar on all dining and online grocery purchases, and three points per dollar on select streaming services. It earns one point per dollar on everything else.

Additional perks:  In the event of a  travel delay , the Preferred offers up to $500 per ticket in reimbursement for hotels, meals, and incidentals (this means if you booked flights for you and your partner on the same card, you’d each qualify for the stipend). It also offers a 10 percent anniversary points bonus and a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards hotel credit.

Annual fee:  $95

Foreign transaction fees:  None

Current welcome bonus : Earn 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

How to spend it:  Transfer the points to World of Hyatt to book two nights at at a Category 7 property at standard rates, such as the Park Hyatt Tokyo or the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa .

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Read a   full review   of this card.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Best for building credit

Why we love it:  Travel cards often require strong credit scores, so the Freedom Unlimited is a great way to build your credit with a free, easier-to-open card while earning rewards that can convert to travel rewards in the long term. While the Chase Freedom Unlimited is technically a cash-back card, if you pair it with a card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points—such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred—you’ll be able to instantly convert your rewards into valuable travel points by moving them between accounts.

How it earns points:   You’ll earn five points per dollar on  travel booked  through Chase Ultimate Rewards, three points per dollar on drugstore purchases and dining, and 1.5 points per dollar on everything else.

Additional perks:  This fee-free card is understandably light on perks, but it does come with some shopping and auto insurance protections.

Annual fee:  None

Foreign transaction fees:  3 percent

Current welcome bonus:   Earn $200 in cash back (20,000 points) after you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, five percent cash back on gas station and grocery store purchases on up to $12,000 spent in the first year.

How to spend it:  Transfer to British Airways to book a short-haul economy flight on Alaska Airlines, such as Seattle to Los Angeles.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Best for airfare and lounge access

Why we love it:  The Platinum Card from American Express is a heavy hitter. With its strong points-earning potential and perks, it takes the headaches out of traveling. This American Express card has access to not one, but two networks of domestic and international  airport lounges ; elite status with two top hotel chains; and so many credits, it’s hard to keep track—especially with a list that keeps on growing. And when it’s time to cash in points, cardholders have the option to transfer to numerous airline and hotel partners, including some of the  world’s top carriers .

How it earns points:  The Platinum earns five Membership Rewards points per dollar on flights booked directly with an airline or via Amex Travel on up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year, as well as five points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel. It earns one point per dollar on other eligible purchases.

Additional perks:  Amex is all about offsetting this card’s high annual fee with a slate of compelling benefits and statement credits galore. It comes with an annual $200 credit to the airline of your choice to cover incidentals; $200 per year in Uber credit; a $200 hotel credit on qualifying prepaid bookings of at least two nights through Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts; a $300 Equinox credit to put toward gym membership; a $240 entertainment credit for eligible digital subscriptions; an $189 CLEAR Plus credit; a  Global Entry  or TSA PreCheck credit worth up to $100; up to $100 in annual Saks Fifth Avenue credits; cell phone protection; airport lounge access to both Amex’s own network of  Centurion Lounges  and Priority Pass; Gold Elite status with both Hilton and Marriott; and more. (Enrollment is required and terms apply to all of the aforementioned perks and statement credits.) The card comes with shopping, baggage, and rental car insurance, as well as access to sought-after restaurant reservations through a partnership with Resy.

Annual fee:  $695 ( see rates and fees )

Current welcome bonus:  Earn 80,000 points after you spend $8,000 on purchases within six months of account opening.

How to spend it:  Transfer the points to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club to book round-trip business class tickets to Japan on Virgin's partner ANA. You can fly from the West Coast to  Tokyo  or  Kyoto  for 90,000 miles or the Midwest or East Coast to the island country's major cities for 95,000 miles.

Read a  full review  of this card.

Use Amex points to enjoy a stay at the St. Regis in Mexico City.

American Express® Gold Card

Best for groceries and dining

Why we love it:  We all need to eat, and no matter how you do it,  you’ll be rewarded  if you hold the American Express Gold Card, which offers bonus points on both  restaurant  and supermarket spending. The card also comes with credits you can put toward takeout and delivery, as well as Uber. Gold Card users will also have access to Amex’s extensive transfer partner list when it comes time to put their hard-earned points to good use.

How it earns points:  The Gold Card earns four Membership Rewards points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide and US supermarkets (on up to $25,000 each year, then one point per dollar). It also earns three points per dollar on flights booked directly with an airline or with AmEx Travel, as well as one point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

Additional perks:  The Gold Card comes with a dining credit of up to $120 that can be used on dining through GrubHub, Goldbelly, and more (enrollment required, terms apply), as well as a $120 Uber Cash and a $100 The Hotel Collection credit when you stay two nights or more (enrollment required, terms apply). It also provides shopping, baggage, and rental car protections. Annual fee:  $250 ( see rates and fees )

Current welcome bonus:  Earn 60,000 points after you spend $6,000 on purchases within six months of account opening.

How to spend it:  Transfer 63,000 points to Cathay Pacific to book a one-way business class ticket between the US and Helsinki on Finnair.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Why we love it:  Capital One’s first foray into the premium credit card space is a good one. On top of solid earning potential, the  Venture X  offers an array of easy-to-use perks that make it a solid competitor against top offerings from Chase and Amex—with a much lower annual fee. Points earned with the card can be transferred to Capital One’s solid list of transfer partners, including Air Canada Aeroplan and Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles.

How it earns points:  The Venture X nets two miles per dollar on every purchase, with bonuses on travel. The card gets 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked via the Capital One Travel portal, along with five miles per dollar on flights booked through the portal.

Additional perks:  The card comes with $300 annual credit good for bookings made through the Capital One Travel portal, a 10,000-mile bonus on every account anniversary, unlimited access for you and two guests to  Capital One Lounges and Priority Pass lounges  worldwide, and up to a $100 statement credit for TSA PreCheck or  Global Entry .

Annual fee:  $395

Current welcome bonus:  Earn 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

How to spend it:  Transfer to Air Canada's Aeroplan to book Lufthansa first class on a one-way flight to Europe of up to 6,000 miles long, such as Chicago to Frankfurt.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Best for flexible rewards

Why we love it:  Simplicity is the name of the game with the Capital One Venture Rewards card, the Venture X's predecessor. It’s a straightforward card for those who don’t spend a ton of money in any one category and who want to avoid a hefty  annual fee . Use your miles to wipe travel purchases off your statement or transfer them to one of 17 loyalty partners, including AirFrance-KLM and Turkish Airlines.

How it earns points:  The Venture card earns two miles per dollar on all purchases, plus five miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

Additional perks:  The Venture card doesn’t have the perks of a more expensive premium card, but cardholders do get a $100  TSA PreCheck or Global Entry  credit every four years.

Current welcome bonus:  Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

How to spend it:  Transfer the miles to Turkish Airlines' Miles&Smiles program to nab four round-trip business economy class tickets between anywhere on the US mainland and Hawaii on Turkish Airlines' partner United.

A trip to Casablanca is in reach with the Citi Premier card.

Citi Premier Card

Best for varied bonus categories

Why we love it:  The Citi Premier often flies under the radar—but it shouldn’t. The card boasts a slew of easy-to-maximize bonus categories, earning customers extra points on dining, groceries, gas, air travel, and hotels. And while Citi’s lineup of transfer partners doesn’t get as much attention as Chase or Amex, it still features top-notch choices for booking flights, both  domestic  and international (JetBlue TrueBlue and Qatar Airways Privilege Club are among Citi’s list of partners).

How it earns points:  The Premier earns three Citi ThankYou points per dollar spent at restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations, as well as three points per dollar spent on airfare and hotels. It earns one point per dollar on everything else.

Additional perks:  The card offers a once-a-year credit of $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more when booking through the Citi ThankYou portal, as well as access to ticket pre-sales and cardmember-only events.

Current welcome bonus:  Earn 60,000 points once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

How to spend it:  Transfer the points to Etihad Guest to book round-trip business class tickets between New York and  Casablanca  on Royal Air Maroc. You’ll be well on your way to the 88,000 requisite points after you spend the money required to trigger the welcome bonus.

A weekend at the Waldorf Astoria Grand Wailea on Maui could be in your future.

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire

Best hotel card

Why we love it:  You won’t find a more lucrative hotel card than the Hilton Honor American Express Aspire, which gives cardholders its top-tier Diamond status, an uncapped free night reward, resort credits, and sky-high earning rates. But the best part is, it’s more than just a hotel card. It also offers airfare credits and bonus points at US restaurants, providing a more well-rounded travel experience.

How it earns points:  The Aspire earns 14 Hilton Honors points per dollar spent with Hilton hotels and resorts, as well as seven points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or via Amex Travel, on car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies, and at US restaurants. It earns three points per dollar on everything else.

Additional perks:  Cardholders automatically receive Hilton’s highest elite status, Diamond, as well as one free night every year after renewal that can be redeemed at most Hilton properties. Each account year, cardholders are also eligible for up to $400 in statement credits toward purchases at Hilton Resorts, as well as $200 worth of statement credits for airfare purchases.

Annual fee:  $550

Current welcome bonus:  Earn 180,000 bonus points once you spend $6,000 on purchases within the first six months from account opening.

How to spend it:  Combine 120,000 points with the card’s free night certificate for a weekend at the  Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal .

Citi Double Cash Card

Best for cash back

Why we love it:  Like the Chase Freedom Unlimited, the Citi Double Cash Card is actually a cash-back card, but if you have a second card—like the Citi Premier—that earns ThankYou points, you’ll be able to convert your  cash back  into travel rewards. It’s also easy to use, earning a flat two points per dollar on every dollar spent, no matter what the category.

How it earns points:  The Citi Double Cash card earns two points per dollar on all purchases—one point when you buy, and one point when you pay your bill.

Additional perks:  The card comes access to ticket pre-sales and cardmember-only events.

Current welcome bonus:  Earn $200 cash back once you spend $1,500 on purchases within the first six months from account opening.

Bilt Mastercard

Best for rent

Why we love it:  Bilt is a relative newcomer to the scene, and it’s shaking things up in the best way. It allows renters to earn points on their rent without paying credit card processing fees—and not just any points. Bilt’s points are transferable, and its list of transfer partners, including American Airlines AAdvantage, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, and World of Hyatt, is unmatched in the industry. The card also earns on travel and dining, and while it doesn’t have a sign-up bonus, it does unveil fun new bonuses each month for Rent Day, or the first of the month, in addition to the ability to double your points earned on that day. And all of these benefits come without an annual fee.

How it earns points:  The Bilt Mastercard earns three points per dollar on dining, two points per dollar on dining, and one point per dollar on everything else, including rent. Those bonuses double for purchases aside from rent made on the first day of each month.

Additional perks:  The card comes with trip delay and interruption protection of up to $5,000, trip delay reimbursement, an auto rental collision damage waiver, and a $5 Lyft credit when you take three rides in a calendar month.

Current welcome bonus:  None

Chase Freedom Flex

Best retail card

Why we love it:  Like the Chase Freedom Unlimited, the Chase Freedom Flex Card is actually a cash back card whose points can convert to Ultimate Rewards if you have another card that earns them. Its unique earning structure allows you to earn a bonus in a rotating category each quarter, many of which are categories not often covered by other cards—such as Amazon purchases, department stores, or PayPal purchases.

How it earns points:  You’ll earn five points per dollar on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in rotating bonus categories each quarter. You’ll also earn five points per dollar on  travel booked  through Chase Ultimate Rewards, three points per dollar on drugstore purchases and dining, and one point per dollar on everything else.

Additional perks:  Like its sister card, the Freedom Flex comes with some shopping and auto insurance protections, as well as cell phone protection.

Current welcome bonus:  Earn $200 in cash back (20,000 points) after you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, five percent cash back on gas station and grocery store purchases on up to $12,000 spent in the first year.

How to spend it:  Transfer the points to Southwest Rapid Rewards for a domestic winter getaway to a Sun Belt state.

Chase Ink Business Preferred

Best business credit card

Why we love it:  For small business owners, the Chase Ink Business Preferred is a great card to have in the rotation. For a modest $95 annual fee, it earns three points per dollar on travel, as well as on a host of useful business categories ranging from shipping to advertising and beyond. It also comes with a sky-high welcome bonus right now, making it a great opportunity to jump-start or boost your balance of Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

How it earns points:  The Chase Ink Business Preferred earns three points per dollar on the first $150,000 spent each account anniversary year combined on shipping purchases; internet, cable, and phone services; advertising purchase with social media sites and search engines; and travel. It earns an uncapped one point per dollar on all other purchases.

Additional perks:  The card comes with an auto rental collision damage waiver, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, purchase protection, cell phone protection, and extended warranty protection.

Current welcome bonus:  Earn 100,000 points once you spend $8,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

How to spend it:  Transfer the points to Iberia to fly round trip in business class to Madrid from Boston, Chicago, or New York on off-peak dates for just 68,000 miles or from West Coast hubs for 95,000 miles.

See rates and fees for American Express cards listed: The Platinum Card ; The Gold Card , Aspire . All information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Condé Nast Traveler; this card is no longer available through Condé Nast Traveler.

Condé Nast Traveler has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Condé Nast Traveler and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

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The best flexible rewards credit cards for airlines in 2024

Jan 3, 2024 • 17 min read

Here's how to earn points and miles you can redeem for free flights © SolStock / Getty

This series of articles about credit cards, points and miles, and budgeting for travel is brought to you in partnership with The Points Guy .

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Imagine planning the ultimate dream trip to say, New Zealand , and not having to worry about paying for any of your flights, hotels, sightseeing tours or rental car. The good news is, that’s entirely possible if you develop a credit card strategy to make your everyday purchases work in your favor.

When it comes to choosing the perfect airline credit card, there are two ways to go about it. You could sign up for a flexible rewards travel credit card that lets you earn transferable rewards points, which can be then redeemed for free flights with partner airlines. 

Your other option is to get a cobranded airline credit card that lets you earn and redeem miles with a single airline, a great option if you’re striving for status with a particular carrier or you’re based near a certain airline’s hub.

The best flexible rewards credit cards let you earn points and miles you can redeem for free flights. In our search for the best, we considered several factors: the welcome bonus, travel protections, elite status perks and annual benefits.

Note that none of the cards on our list have foreign transaction fees , and while many do have high annual fees (ranging from $95–$695), using the included credits and benefits will certainly help offset them.

Here’s the best flexible rewards credit cards for airlines in 2023.

How to get started with travel points and airline miles

Best flexible rewards cards for airlines in 2023

• Best travel credit card with a low annual fee: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Best premium travel credit card: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

• Best credit card for lounge access: The Platinum Card® from American Express *

Best card for frequent travelers: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

• Best travel card for when you’re not traveling: American Express® Gold Card *

Best business travel rewards card: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Best travel card for road warriors: citi premier® card.

The best travel credit cards

Best travel credit card with a low annual fee: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is one of the most popular travel credit cards on the market, thanks to the many opportunities it offers for earning and redeeming Chase Ultimate Rewards points. There are 14 airline and hotel transfer partners and points can be switched over at a 1:1 ratio.

Besides its modest annual fee and lucrative welcome bonus, cardholders receive an annual $50 statement credit toward hotels booked via Chase Travel℠. Points redeemed via the Chase Travel℠ are worth 1.25 cents per point and you’ll score a 10% points bonus each year based on how many were earned the previous year. 

Cardholders also have access to partner benefits, including a complimentary six-month subscription to Instacart+ with up to $15 in statement credits quarterly through July 2024 and a free membership to DoorDash and Caviar.

Welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Rewards: Earn 5X points on travel reserved via Chase Travel℠, not counting hotel stays that qualify for the annual $50 hotel credit; 5X points on Lyft rides through March 2025; 5X points on Peloton purchases over $150 (up to 25,000 points) through March 2025; 3X on dining and online grocery shopping (except Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs); 3X points on streaming services; 2X points for travel expenses; and 1X points on all other purchases.

Airline transfer partners: Aer Lingus, Air Canada, British Airways, Emirates, Air France / KLM, Iberia, JetBlue, Singapore Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic.

Travel benefits: Auto rental collision damage waiver; baggage delay, trip cancellation and interruption insurance; trip delay reimbursement and emergency travel assistance.

Credit score: Good to excellent.

Annual fee: $95.

• Low annual fee.
• Generous welcome bonus providing $750 worth of travel when you redeem points through Chase Travel℠.
• Many options for redeeming rewards, including 14 airline partners.
• Approval is subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule, so you won’t be approved if you’ve opened five credit cards within 24 months.
• Lounge access is not offered as an included benefit.

How to make a travel budget using points and miles

For travelers who expect premium-level service and benefits, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a top choice, though it does carry a $550 annual fee.

That said, it’ll almost pay for itself if you use all the perks — a $300 annual travel credit; Priority Pass lounge membership; a $100 credit toward Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS enrollment; access to The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection; and exclusive sports, dining and entertainment events via Reserve by Sapphire. 

Redemptions are worth 1.5 cents per point when booked through Chase Travel℠ and you can transfer them to any of Chase’s 14 airline and hotel partners. Cardholders also receive one free year of Instacart+ service with up to $15 in statement credits per quarter through July 2024, plus free membership to DoorDash and Caviar.

Welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,125 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Rewards: Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

Travel benefits: Lost luggage and trip delay reimbursement, baggage delay and travel accident insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, trip interruption and cancellation insurance, emergency travel and roadside assistance, emergency transportation and evacuation services and emergency dental and medical benefits.

Credit score: Excellent.

Annual fee: $550.

• Complimentary access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide thanks to the included Priority Pass membership.
• The $300 annual travel credit and $100 credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS registration help to offset the annual fee.
• A generous welcome bonus that’s worth $900 in travel when points are redeemed via Chase Travel℠.
• High annual fee.

Chase Sapphire review: an in-depth look at the card loved by travelers

Best card for lounge access: The Platinum Card® from American Express

The Platinum Card® from American Express  cardholders receive a ton of premium travel benefits, including entry to The American Express Global Lounge Collection and more than 1,400 lounges worldwide via its Priority Pass and Plaza Premium Lounge partnerships, an up to $200 hotel credit on Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection (a minimum two-night stay) booked through American Express Travel, up to a $200 airline fee credit for incidentals on a designated airline and an up to $189 credit for CLEAR Plus.

Cardholders also receive up to a $240 digital entertainment credit to cover up to $20 per month spent with certain streaming platforms, a $155 credit for a monthly Walmart+ membership and a $100 statement credit when you shop at Saks Fifth Avenue ($50 per six-month period).

Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or Uber Eats orders in the U.S. annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply. And an up to $300 Equinox credit.

Welcome bonus: 80,000 points after spending $8,000 within the first six months of account opening.

Rewards: Earn 5X points on flights booked directly with the airline or via American Express Travel (up to $500,000 per calendar year); 5X points on hotels reserved via AmexTravel.com, including The Hotel Collection; 1X points on all other purchases.

Airline transfer partners: Aer Lingus, AeroMexico, Air Canada, Air France / KLM, All Nippon Airways, Avianca, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, Etihad, Hawaiian Airlines, Iberia, JetBlue, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic.

Travel benefits: Baggage insurance, secondary coverage on standard rental car insurance, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, access to a global emergency assistance hotline, evacuation and medical transport service in an emergency and medical assistance*.

Annual fee: $695. (see  rates and fees )

• 18 airline transfer partners to choose from if you’re looking to redeem points for free flights.
• Generous amount of statement credits offered for various travel, dining and shopping charges.
• Lucrative welcome bonus that’s worth $1,600 in travel when points are redeemed through American Express Membership Rewards.
• Secondary car insurance instead of primary.

The best credit cards for airport lounge access

If you’re constantly traveling for work or leisure, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers plenty of ways to earn miles you can put toward your next trip. 

Cardholders also receive complimentary subscriptions to PRIOR and The Cultivist, an extra 10,000 miles to celebrate each anniversary, a $300 annual travel credit so you can “erase” trip-related items booked through Capital One Travel and a $100 statement credit meant to cover your complimentary Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership enrollment.

Welcome bonus: 75,000 miles after you spend $4,000 within the first three months of opening your account.

Rewards: Earn 10X miles for rental cars and hotels booked via Capital One Travel, 5X miles for flights booked through Capital One Travel and 2X miles for all other purchases.

Airline transfer partners: AeroMexico, Air Canada, Cathay Pacific, Avianca, British Airways, Emirates, Etihad, Finnair, Air France/KLM, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, TAP, Turkish Airlines, Virgin Atlantic.

Travel benefits: Free entry to Capital One Lounges, plus any of Capital One’s Priority Pass or Plaza Premium partners; exclusive events via Capital One Dining and Capital One Entertainment; access to Capital One’s Premier and Lifestyle hotel collections; automatic elite status with Hertz President’s Club for car rentals; travel accident insurance; access to Visa Infinite Concierge; and auto rental collision damage waiver coverage for car rentals. 

Annual fee: $395. (see  rates & fees )

• Complimentary airport lounge access offered as an included benefit.
• Nice $300 annual travel credit, plus a $100 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
• 14 airline transfer partners to choose from if you’re looking to redeem points for free flights.
• Travel insurance benefits aren’t as robust as with other cards.

Capital One Venture X review: an excellent credit card for travel enthusiasts

Best travel card for when you’re not traveling: American Express Gold Card

If you know you probably won’t be traveling for a while but still want to rack up a decent amount of points for when you can, the American Express Gold Card  is a smart choice. When it’s time to take a trip, redeem your hard-earned points with your choice of 17 airline partners through Amex Membership Rewards, or use them to book flights via AmexTravel.com.

Not only can you earn bonus points on the things you’re already buying, but you’ll also receive up to $120 worth of Uber cash each year ($10 per month to use on rides or Uber Eats delivery) as well as up to $120 in dining credits ($10 per month when you shop with Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Milk Bar, Goldbelly, Wine.com or at certain Shake Shack locations).

Cardholders also have access to The Hotel Collection, part of American Express Travel, and Preferred Access for exclusive tickets to shows, sporting events and other cultural events worldwide. 

Welcome bonus: 60,000 points after spending $6,000 within the first six months of account opening.

Rewards: Earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide, 4X points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 worth of shopping annually), 3X points on flights booked via AmexTravel.com and 1X points for all other purchases.

Airline transfer partners: Aer Lingus, AeroMexico, Air Canada, Air France / KLM, ANA, Avianca, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, Etihad, Hawaiian Airlines, Iberia, JetBlue, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic.

Travel benefits: Travel accident and baggage insurance, secondary coverage on standard rental car insurance (with the option to upgrade to Premium Protection for an additional fee), trip delay and cancellation insurance and access to a global emergency assistance hotline*.

Annual fee: $250. (see  rates and fees )

• Moderate annual fee.
• Ability to earn points on everyday purchases like dining and groceries so you can save them up for future trips.
• Variety of airline transfer partners and a decent amount of included travel insurance to cover emergencies.

American Express Gold Card review

For frequent travelers who also happen to be business owners, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is a top choice, letting you earn bonus points on everyday business-related purchases to use toward free flights. Not only that, but your rewards are worth 1.25 cents per point when redeemed via Chase Travel SM , or they can be transferred to any of Chase’s 11 airline partners at a transfer ratio of 1:1.

Welcome bonus: 100,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 within the first three months of opening your account.

Rewards: Earn 5X points on Lyft rides through March 2025; 3X points on the first $150,000 in combined spending on travel, shipping purchases, advertising via social media and search engines and cable, phone and internet services; and 1X points on all other charges.

Travel benefits: Auto rental collision damage waiver; trip interruption and cancellation insurance and access to travel and emergency assistance and roadside dispatch services.

• Generous welcome bonus providing $1,250 worth of travel when you redeem points through Chase Travel℠.
• Employee cards can be added without having to pay an additional fee.

The best credit cards for airline miles

If you’re constantly paying for gas and groceries or dining out at restaurants — or spending a lot on car rentals and hotel stays — the Citi Premier® Card makes a great option. Rack up a ton of points on the ground, then transfer them to one of Citi ThankYou’s 14 airline partners for free flights.

Welcome bonus: 60,000 points once you spend $4,000 within the first three months of opening your account.

Rewards: Earn 10X points on car rentals and hotels reserved via the Citi Travel portal now through June 30, 2024; 3X on hotels and air travel, as well as at restaurants, gas stations and supermarkets; and 1X points for all other purchases.

Airline transfer partners: AeroMexico, Avianca, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Etihad, EVA Air, Air France/KLM, JetBlue, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines and Virgin Atlantic.

Travel benefits: A $100 annual hotel credit when you reserve a single stay of at least $500 through Citi Travel; access to Citi Entertainment so you can book exclusive experiences at concerts, sporting events and restaurants; and access to Citi Concierge services for all your travel assistance needs. 

Annual fee: $95. (see  rates and fees )

• The $100 hotel credit you earn each year on stays over $500 booked via Citi Travel is a nice perk.
• A decent amount of airline transfer partners to choose from when it’s time to redeem your Citi ThankYou points.
• You’re ineligible for the welcome bonus if you’ve already received one for a Citi Premier® account within the past 48 months.
• No travel insurance or similar protections are offered with this card.

How to travel to Italy with points and miles

Who should get an airline credit card?

Anyone who enjoys earning points to redeem for free flights — or, as with airline-specific cobranded cards , special perks like free checked bags, lounge access or the ability to earn status — can benefit from an airline credit card.

Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partners: How to get the best value

How to choose the best airline credit card

If you’re loyal to a particular airline — maybe you’ve always flown with it or you’re based near its airport hub — a cobranded credit card might make more sense. Otherwise, if you’re open to flying any carrier and its airline partners, a flexible travel rewards credit card could be more beneficial.

American Express Membership Rewards vs. Chase Ultimate Rewards

Are airline credit cards worth it?

It depends on what your end goal is. Are you trying to earn enough points to score a free flight to Hawaii or to transfer points to your favorite airline and fly to Australia for free? If so, a card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred , Chase Sapphire Reserve or The Platinum Card® from American Express could be a good pick for its flexible rewards points.

If your goal is to always fly with free checked bags or enjoy complimentary upgrades and other perks with a specific airline, a cobranded card with your preferred carrier would definitely come in handy.

10 amazing hotels around the world you can book with points

Why should I consider getting a flexible travel rewards credit card instead?

It all comes down to your personal travel preferences. If you’re a creature of habit who only travels with one carrier, consider that you also have access to its partner airlines, not only through its airline alliance but also its credit card loyalty program. 

Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve  cardholders, for instance, have access to 14 partners within the Chase Ultimate Rewards network, while those with The Platinum Card® from American Express  can choose from 17 partners through American Express Membership Rewards .

How to get major perks at global events and concerts with your credit card

Do you need a credit card to book a flight?

While a credit card does make things easier in terms of paying for your purchases online and earning rewards points toward future trips , you can also opt to pay for a plane ticket with a debit card, gift card or through a payment service such as PayPal, if available through the booking site.

Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. Capital One Venture X Card: two of the most popular rewards cards

*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit  americanexpress.com/benefitsguide  for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit  americanexpress.com  to learn more.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Find a More Flexible Travel Credit Card

You could choose an airline with the best availability, point value, and route options

If you’re a frequent traveler with a co-branded airline credit card, you might want to switch to a flexible travel rewards card. “They have significant advantages,” says Senitra Horbrook, credit cards editor for the Points Guy , a credit card and travel website. That’s because the points with co-branded cards are good only with the airline the issuing bank partners with, whereas transferable rewards cards let you choose among many.

Say you want to book rewards travel to Europe: With transferable points, you could choose the airline with the best availability, point value, and route options. But there are downsides: You may lose airline-specific perks, such as being able to check a free bag. And you’ll also lose access to the airline’s lounge if your co-branded card grants you that.

For those just getting into the travel rewards game, Horbrook recommends the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, which carries a $95 annual fee but an impressive 60,000-point sign-up bonus that you can use with 14 airline and hotel partners. With this card, you’ll accrue up to 5 points per dollar spent on travel purchases and 3 points for dining.

For frequent luxury travelers, Horbrook recommends cards such as the Capital One Venture X rewards credit card and the Platinum card from American Express. They have steeper annual fees ($395 and $695, respectively) but carry benefits like statement credits for travel purchases ($300 for Capital One, $400 combined between airline and hotel for Amex), along with other bonuses, like concierge service, complimentary elite status at certain hotels, and access to some swank airport lounges.

Editor’s Note: This article also appeared in the May/June 2023 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.

Jesse Will is a writer in Austin, Texas, with a background covering the auto industry, technology, and home goods. His work has appeared in The New Yorker, Time, Rolling Stone, Men's Journal, The Wall Street Journal, and other publications.

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Best cards for flexible travel credits: $300+ credits for travel purchases

• by Aaron Hurd
• Last updated: May 22, 2024

Some premium credit cards offer flexible travel credits—credits that can offset a variety of travel expenses. If you consistently use these travel credits, you can offset a large part of a premium card’s annual fee, bringing the effective cost of these premium travel credit cards down substantially, making benefits like premium travel insurance and airport lounge access much more affordable.

Here are the best cards offering flexible travel credits.

Cards with the best travel credits

U.s. bank altitude® reserve visa infinite® card: $325 in automatic credits for most travel or dining purchases.

Learn how to apply . Read more below .

Travel credits: Get up to $325 in annual automatic statement credits for eligible travel purchases. Eligible purchase include travel (airlines, hotels, car rentals, taxicabs, limousines, passenger trains and cruise line companies) and dining (restaurants, fast-food restaurants or bars)

3x points (3% cash back or 4.5% toward travel) anywhere you use a mobile wallet, travel insurance, 8 Priority Pass visits per year. Read our review .

Annual fee: $400

Chase Sapphire Reserve® Credit Card: $300 annual travel credit

Learn how to apply. Read more below .

Travel credits: Up to $300 in credits for travel purchases charged to your card. Eligible purchases include airlines, hotels, motels, timeshares, car rental agencies, cruise lines, travel agencies, discount travel sites, campgrounds and operators of passenger trains, buses, taxis, limousines, ferries, toll bridges and highways, and parking lots and garages.

Market-leading travel insurance protections, Priority Pass airport lounge access, and transferable points.

Annual fee: $550

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: $300 toward bookings with Capital One Travel

Travel credits: $300 annual travel credit toward bookings with Capital One Travel. Awarded as a discount on bookings with Capital One Travel bookings such as airfare, hotels, and rental cars.

Offers airport lounge access, 10,000 bonus anniversary miles, travel insurance, and transferable points. Read our review .

Annual fee: $395

Capital One Venture X Business: $300 toward bookings with Capital One Travel

Offers airport lounge access, 10,000 bonus anniversary miles, travel insurance, and transferable points.

Our methodology: How we selected the cards with the best flexible travel credits

In our list of the best cards with flexible travel credits, we looked for cards that had travel credits that were easy to use for a variety of travel purchases. Many cards offer “travel credits” that can be used for a single type of purchase—ridesharing, airline incidentals, or specific services like TSA PreCheck and Global Entry. We didn’t include these on our list. We’ll likely publish additional lists that include these credits, but for this list, we wanted to focus on ease-of-use.

Specifically, we included cards that:

• Have a travel credit that can offset purchases for a variety of travel purchases, including airline tickets, hotel stays, and rental cars.
• Apply the credit automatically toward eligible purchases.
• Don’t require onerous hoops to use the credit—at most the cards on our list require you to book eligible travel through a bank’s travel portal.

The order cards appear on this list is based on the judgement of our editors. Cards are more likely to move to the top of the list if the credits are easier to use, apply to a wider range of travel-related purchases, or represent a greater percentage of the card’s annual fee.

The best cards for travel credits

U.s. bank altitude® reserve visa infinite® card: the best value, easiest, and most generous travel credit available.

The U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card offers the best travel statement credit available—and the competition isn’t even close. The card’s travel credit applies to more categories of purchases than the other cards on our list. You can use your credit for most travel purchases, plus most dining purchases. The card’s up to $325 in annual credits offsets all but $75 of the card’s $400 annual fee—making the card the most affordable card on our list after you consider the value of the credit.

The rewards on the card are market-leading if you’re interested in either cash back or booking travel through a portal. If you’re paying with Apple Pay®, Google Pay™, or Samsung Pay, you’ll earn 3x points on your purchases, which can be redeemed for an effective 3% cash back or 4.5% toward travel.

The card offers a less-generous airport lounge access benefit than the other cards on this list—you’ll only get 8 free visits to Priority Pass lounges each year. And while the card offers good travel insurance benefits, the benefits on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® are better. But if you’re an occasional traveler and you like cash and cash-adjacent rewards, the Altitude Reserve might be your best choice.

Learn more from our review of the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve card .

Learn how to apply.

This is a direct bank link. All information about the U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card has been collected independently by cardsandpoints.com.

U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card sign-up bonus

Earn 50,000 bonus points worth $750 on travel. Just spend $4,500 in the first 90 days of account opening.

You can get a bigger welcome bonus with several other competing cards with similar annual fees.

Benefit highlights: $325 in annual statement credits for travel and dining purchases. Primary auto rental collision damage waiver. Trip cancellation and interruption insurance. Trip delay reimbursement. Lost luggage reimbursement. Extended warranty. Purchase security. Return protection.

Rewards: 5x on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked with the Altitude Rewards Center. 3x on eligible travel purchases. 3x on mobile wallet purchases made with Apple Pay®, Google Pay™, and Samsung Pay. 1x on other eligible purchases. Rewards are earned as points which can be redeemed for cash back at 1 cent apiece, or toward travel at 1.5 cents each. Learn more: Learn more about in our review of the Altitude Reserve .

Chase Sapphire Reserve® Credit Card: An easy to use $300 annual travel credit on a card with stellar travel benefits

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® Credit Card offers up to $300 in statement credits each cardmember anniversary year for most kinds of travel you charge to your card. And the credit is easy to use—simply charge an eligible travel purchase to your card and you’ll receive an automatic statement credit posted to your account the same day.

Eligible purchases include a wide variety of travel and travel-related categories, but do not include dining, making the credit less convenient to use than the credit offered on the U.S. Bank card.

But when it comes to travel benefits, the Sapphire Reserve offers the most of any card on our list. The card has market-leading travel insurance benefits including the best Trip Delay Protection benefit on any card, plus a roadside assistance benefit that pays for covered services . It also includes unlimited access to Priority Pass lounges for the primary cardmember and two guests, plus similar lounge access to the Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club.

Finally, if you’re redeeming your points for cash back or travel through a bank portal, the Chase and U.S. Bank cards will give you equivalent rewards value. But the strength of Ultimate Rewards® —the rewards points you earn with the Sapphire Reserve—is in transfers to travel partners. When you transfer your points to travel partners, you can book travel through select airline and hotel loyalty programs, which can sometimes result in getting outsized value for your points.

Chase Sapphire Reserve® offer: 75,000 bonus points after $4,000 of spending in 3 months . (Annual fee: $550)

bonus_miles_full ( Get this welcome bonus .)

Limited time offer. This welcome offer was recently increased from 60k. Rewards are earned as Chase Ultimate Rewards® points

Best-in-class travel insurance. Airport lounge access. Point transfers to partners. 50% more value for redemptions through Chase Travel℠.

This is an affiliate link.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: A lower-cost way to get airport lounge access

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card carries a relatively modest $395 annual fee that can be largely offset by the up to $300 in travel credits you can earn each year on the card.

The downside to the Capital One travel credit is that it is awarded as a discount toward bookings with Capital One Travel. This means you must book your travel through Capital One’s portal to access your credit.

While booking through Capital One represents a small hurdle to jump through, for most people this likely means booking one or two airline tickets per year through the portal. When you pay for airfare with your credits, you can still enjoy your elite benefits with your airline and earn airline miles when you fly. However, unless you’re booking one of Capital One’s Lifestyle Collection hotels, we don’t recommend using the travel credit for hotel bookings—most hotel bookings through third-party sites like Capital One Travel won’t earn points in a hotel’s loyalty program or get elite benefits.

Where the Venture X shines is if you want unlimited Priority Pass lounge access for the lowest price possible. With the card, you’ll get Priority Pass for you and two guests, plus access to Capital One lounges at the handful of airports that have them. The card’s annual fee is $400—$150 less than the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Credit Card’s annual fee.

If you have a large family, or frequently travel with a large group, the card offers a way to get more Priority Pass memberships for free. You can add authorized users for free on the Venture X and each authorized user gets their own Priority Pass membership.

Learn more in our review of the Venture X .

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offer: 75k miles after spending $4k in 3 months . (Annual fee: $395)

Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. Get this welcome bonus.

Not nearly as good as the card’s 100k point launch offer, but an above-average bonus when compared to competing cards.

$300 Capital One Travel annual credit. Transferable points. Travel insurance. ( More in our card review. )

This is a referral link. All information about the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by cardsandpoints.com.

Capital One Venture X Business: Low-cost Priority Pass access for small business owners

The Capital One Venture X Business card is very similar to the personal version. It carries the same $395 annual fee and up to $300 in annual travel credits. But it is a charge card meant for small business owners.

Like the personal card, you must book through Capital One Travel to access your $300 annual travel credit. That’s probably more easy to do as a small business owner—if you have employees who travel, you may be booking travel for them and the Capital One Travel portal gives you a convenient way to book airfare, hotels, and car rentals together as one itinerary.

For small business owners who want to grant Priority Pass lounge access to their employees, the card represents an affordable way to get your employees into airline lounges. Authorized users are free and also get their own Priority Pass lounge memberships.

Capital One Venture X Business offer: 150k miles after $30k spend in 3 months. (Annual fee: $395)

Earn 150,000 bonus miles when you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months, which is equal to $1,500 in travel. Get this welcome bonus.

Giant bonus, but ridiculous spending requirement. Most will be better off with the bonus on the personal version of the card.

Priority Pass lounge access. $300 annual travel credit. Transferable points.

This is a direct bank link. All information about the Capital One Venture X Business has been collected independently by cardsandpoints.com.

Frequently asked questions

Is visa or mastercard better for travel.

Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted globally. Today, even American Express is accepted in most places that most people based in the United States travel. The specific benefits and perks offered on your card are likely more important than your card’s processing network.

Can I cash out my travel credit?

Most credit card travel credits are issued as statement credits to offset eligible purchases. Travel credits are not intended to be used to access cash from your credit card.

What happens if I cancel a purchase that I’ve gotten a travel credit for?

Issuers may handle this differently, depending on how they issue travel credits. Capital One will re-issue your travel credit to your Capital One Travel account within a few days if your cancelled itinerary is eligible for a refund. American Express and Chase may recapture travel statement credits if you cancel a booking for which you’ve gotten a credit.

Can I use a travel credit for someone else?

In most cases, you can use your credit card travel credit when you book travel for someone else, as long as you charge their travel to your card. The Chase and Capital One travel credits both have no restrictions on booking travel for others.

About the author

Aaron Hurd is a credit card, travel rewards, and loyalty program expert. Over the past 15 years, he has authored over a thousand expert contributions published by leading outlets including WSJ, TIME, Newsweek, Forbes, NerdWallet, The Points Guy, Bankrate, CNET, and many others. He has also served in consulting roles for many of these same outlets, designing content strategy, hiring teams of teams of editors and contributors, developing thought-leadership pieces, and ghost-editing for senior editors. Aaron is well-known in the miles and points community and regularly presents about travel rewards at conferences like the Chicago Seminars and Minnebar. Aaron has enjoyed the game of optimizing credit card rewards since getting his first credit card shortly after he turned 18. He started learning about credit cards and travel rewards from the (now defunct) FatWallet Finance forums and FlyerTalk. He holds more than 40 open credit cards and has first-hand experience with almost every major credit card product.

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Find the best credit card for you

15 best rewards credit cards of june 2024, we dug into each card's perks and drawbacks to find the best ones..

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Picking the best rewards credit card may feel overwhelming. That's because there are so many options that it's hard to know which is best for you.

You don't have to be an aggressive points optimizer to enjoy the perks of a good rewards credit card. With the right card and good financial habits (paying your balance off on time and in full each month), you can earn hundreds of dollars in rewards each year.

To relieve some of the stress, CNBC Select looked into each card's rewards structure and additional benefits, such as discounts at select retailers, travel insurance , annual statement credits and more that make using a rewards card worthwhile. (See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best rewards cards.)

Best rewards credit cards of June 2024

• Best for dining: American Express® Gold Card
• Best for groceries: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
• Best for cash back: Chase Freedom Unlimited®
• Best for travel rewards: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
• Best for no annual fee: Citi Double Cash® Card
• Best for welcome bonus: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
• Best for 0% APR: Wells Fargo Reflect® Card
• Best for college students: Discover it® Student Cash Back
• Best for airport lounge access: The Platinum Card® from American Express
• Best for luxury travel: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
• Best for balance transfers: Citi Simplicity® Card
• Best for paying rent: Bilt Mastercard®
• Best for bad credit: Discover it® Secured Credit Card
• Best for online shopping: Prime Visa
• Best for entertainment: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
• Best for rotating bonus categories:   Chase Freedom Flex®

Best for dining

American express® gold card.

4X Membership Rewards® points at Restaurants (plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X), 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, 1X points on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

Not applicable

Regular APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Balance transfer fee

Foreign transaction fee, credit needed.

Excellent/Good

See rates and fees , terms apply.

Read our American Express® Gold Card review .

• Up to $120 dining credit annually ($10 a month) for purchases made with Grubhub, Goldbelly and other eligible restaurants (after a one-time enrollment)
• Up to $120 Uber Cash annually ($10 a month) for U.S. Uber Eats orders and U.S. Uber rides (card must be added to Uber app to receive the Uber Cash benefit)
• Strong rewards program with 4X points earned at restaurants and 3X points earned on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com
• Baggage insurance plan covers up to $1,250 for carry-on baggage and up to $500 for checked baggage that is damaged, lost or stolen (Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company)
• No fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.
• No introductory APR period
• $250 annual fee
• Estimated rewards earned after 1 year: $1,074
• Estimated rewards earned after 5 years: $2,969

Rewards totals incorporate the points earned from the welcome bonus

Who's this for? The American Express® Gold Card is ideal for earning travel rewards on common everyday spending categories like dining and groceries.

Standout rewards : Whether you like to dine out or cook at home, you'll earn bonus points on restaurant and U.S. supermarket spending. Travelers also benefit from earning bonus points on flights booked directly with airlines or on Amextravel.com.

[ Jump to more details ]

Best for groceries

Blue cash preferred® card from american express.

6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, 3% cash back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more) and 1% cash back on other purchases. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.

Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card within the first 6 months. 

$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.

0% for 12 months on purchases from the date of account opening

19.24% - 29.99% variable. Variable APRs will not exceed 29.99%.

Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

• High 6% cash back at U.S. supermarket spending (up to $6,000 a year, then 1%)
• 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
• 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on transit
• 2.7% fee on purchases made abroad
• Estimated rewards earned after 1 year: $679
• Estimated rewards earned after 5 years: $2,397

Rewards totals incorporate the cash back earned from the welcome bonus

Who's this for? The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a great choice for anyone who regularly spends big at grocery stores and gas stations.

Standout rewards : Cardholders who have cut the cord can take advantage of an 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions and 6% back on the first $6,000 in purchases at U.S. supermarkets per year, (then 1%). Cardholders also earn bonus cash back on transit and at U.S. gas stations.

Best for cash back

Chase freedom unlimited®.

Enjoy 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; and 3% cash back on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

0% for the first 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers

20.49% - 29.24% variable

Intro fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, on transfers made within 60 days of account opening. After that, either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars

Member FDIC. Terms apply.

Read our Chase Freedom Unlimited® review.

• No annual fee
• Rewards can be transferred to a Chase Ultimate Rewards card
• Generous welcome bonus
• 3% fee charged on foreign transactions

Who's this for? The Chase Freedom Unlimited® , our top cash-back card , is ideal for anyone looking for a simple way to maximize cash back on everyday spending.

Standout rewards : Cardholders earn bonus cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel , as well as on drugstores and dining at restaurants (including takeout), plus an above-average return on all other purchases.

Best for travel rewards

Chase sapphire preferred® card.

Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, and $50 annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

21.49% - 28.49% variable on purchases and balance transfers

Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater

Terms apply.

Read our Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card review .

• Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel via Chase Travel℠
• Transfer points to leading frequent travel programs at a 1:1 rate, including: IHG® Rewards Club, Marriott Bonvoy™ and World of Hyatt®
• Travel protections include: auto rental collision damage waiver, baggage delay insurance and trip delay reimbursement
• $95 annual fee
• No introductory 0% APR

Who's this for? The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a versatile card with a strong suite of benefits and a generous rewards program.

Standout rewards : Chase Sapphire Preferred Card members earn bonus points on travel, streaming services, online grocery purchases and dining. When you factor in how valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards ® points can be when you redeem them for travel, it places this card firmly in the conversation for the best travel credit card.

Best for no annual fee

Citi double cash® card.

Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24

Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.

0% for the first 18 months on balance transfers; N/A for purchases

19.24% - 29.24% variable

For balance transfers completed within 4 months of account opening, an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies; after that, a balance transfer fee of 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies

Fair/Good/Excellent

Read our Citi Double Cash® Card review.

• 2% cash back on all eligible purchases
• Simple cash-back program that doesn't require activation or spending caps
• One of the longest intro periods for balance transfers at 18 months
• 3% fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.
• Estimated rewards earned after 1 year:  $443
• Estimated rewards earned after 5 years: $2,213

Who's this for? The Citi Double Cash® Card is a solid choice if you're looking to maximize your money without worrying about rotating rewards categories or joining a credit union .

Standout rewards : The Citi Double Cash earns at least 2% cash back on every purchase with 1% back when you buy, plus an additional 1% back when you pay for those purchases. This straightforward rewards structure allows you to earn double what most cards offer on everyday purchases .

Best for welcome bonus

Capital one venture rewards credit card.

5 Miles per dollar on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 2X miles per dollar on every other purchase

Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening

N/A for purchases and balance transfers

19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

$0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you

• 5 miles per dollar on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit up to $100 every 4 years
• No introductory APR
• There’s a $95 annual fee

Who's this for? The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is ideal if you're seeing an excellent intro bonus offer with a manageable spending requirement and a reasonable annual fee.

Standout rewards : This card earns bonus miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel , as well as an above-average return on all other purchases. Rewards can be redeemed at a fixed value or transferred to various airline and hotel partners.

Best for 0% APR

Wells fargo reflect® card.

0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers.

18.24%, 24.74%, or 29.99% Variable APR

5%, min: $5

• Long introductory APR period on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
• Access to Visa Signature® Concierge
• Get up to $600 cell phone protection (subject to a $25 deductible)
• Access to My Wells Fargo Deals to earn cash back in the form of an account credit when shopping, dining
• No welcome bonus

Who's this for? The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card offers an unreasonably generous intro APR for both purchases and balance transfers.

Standout rewards : Wells Fargo Reflect Card members can take advantage of a 0% intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for a full 21 months (18.24%, 24.74% or 29.99% Variable APR thereafter). For a balance transfer to qualify for the intro APR, it must be made within 120 days from account opening, and a balance transfer fee of 5% of the amount transferred applies ($5 minimum).

Best for college students

Discover it® student cash back.

Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases-automatically.

Discover will match all the cash back earned for all new cardmembers at the end of your first year

0% for 6 months on purchases

18.24% - 27.24% Variable

3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*

Fair / New to Credit

*See rates and fees , terms apply.

Read our Discover it® Student Cash Back review.

• Cash-back program
• Cash-back categories must be activated each quarter
• Cash-back program limits earnings: Enroll every quarter to earn 5% cash back in various categories on up to $1,500 in quarterly purchases, then 1%
• You must be a U.S. citizen and college student to apply for this card

Who's this for? Unlike many student credit cards , the Discover it® Student Cash Back provides an opportunity to earn cash-back rewards while you're in college and building your credit history.

Standout rewards : The Discover it Student Cash Back offers rotating quarterly categories where you'll earn 5% back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases (then 1%) and 1% back on all other purchases. To qualify for the bonus cash back, you'll need to activate the new categories each quarter.

Best for airport lounge access

The platinum card® from american express.

Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel, 1X points on all other eligible purchases

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.

Credit Needed

Read our The Platinum Card® from American Express review .

• Up to $200 in annual airline fee credits
• $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
• Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings, which requires a minimum two-night stay, through American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
• $695 annual fee
• No special financing offers on new purchases

Who's this for? The Platinum Card® from American Express is a top-tier premium credit card , that's loaded with all sorts of perks.

Standout rewards : If you want access to airport lounges, the Amex Platinum card is hard to beat. Cardholders get access to Priority Pass lounges, American Express Centurion Lounges , Plaza Premium lounges, Lufthansa lounges, Escape Lounges and Delta Sky Clubs .

Best for luxury travel

Chase sapphire reserve®.

Earn 5X total points on flights and 10X total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3X points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases plus, 10X points on Lyft rides through March 2025

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,125 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

22.49% - 29.49% variable

5%, minimum $5

Read our Chase Sapphire Reserve® review.

• $300 annual travel credit for travel purchases
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit up to $100 every four years
• Priority Pass™ Select lounge access at 1,000+ VIP lounges in over 500 cities worldwide
• Points are worth 50% more when redeemed for travel via Chase Travel℠
• Special benefits at The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection
• Complimentary year of Lyft Pink membership
• High annual fee, but it can be offset by taking advantage of all the card’s perks
• Estimated rewards earned after 1 year: $1,469
• Estimated rewards earned after 5 years: $3,346

Who's this for? If you're a frequent traveler looking to make your flights and hotel stays more luxurious, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® should be on your radar.

Standout rewards : This card is geared toward frequent travelers, offering bonus points on dining and travel, plus benefits like a $300 annual travel credit, airport lounge access and no foreign transaction fees. The points you earn with this card are worth 1.5 cents apiece when redeemed through Chase Travel℠, or potentially more when taking advantage of  Chase's hotel and airline partners . 

Best for balance transfers

Citi simplicity® card.

0% Intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers from date of first transfer and 0% Intro APR for 12 months on purchases from date of account opening.

19.24% - 29.99% variable

There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).

See rates and fees . Terms apply. Read our Citi Simplicity® Card review.

• Balances can be transferred within 4 months from account opening
• One of the longest intro periods for balance transfers
• 3% foreign transaction fee
• No rewards program

Who's this for? If you have credit card debt and are looking to save on interest, the Citi Simplicity® Card is one of the best options for 0% intro APR balance transfer offers .

Standout rewards : The Citi Simplicity Card doesn't provide any rewards, but its intro-APR period for balance transfers is exceptionally generous. You'll get a 0% intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers, then a variable 19.24%-29.99% applies. There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% ($5 minimum for balances transfer you complete within four months of account opening. After that, the balance transfer fee increases to 5% ($5 minimum).

Best for paying rent

Bilt mastercard®.

Earn Bilt Points when you make 5 transactions that post each statement period - up to 1x points on rent payments without the transaction fee (up to 100,000 points each calendar year), 3x points on dining, 2x points on travel, and 1x points on other purchases.

Introductory fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater, for 120 days from account opening. After that, up to 5% for each balance transfer ($5 minimum).

See rates/fees and rewards/benefits ; terms apply.

• Solid rewards on broad spending categories
• Ability to pay your rent with no transaction fees
• Transfer points to leading frequent traveler programs at a 1:1 rate, including American Airlines, United and World of Hyatt®
• No welcome offer

Who's this for? The Bilt Mastercard® is ideal if you rent your home or apartment. It allows you to pay rent and earn versatile transferable points without extra fees.

Standout rewards: You can use Bilt points to book travel, pay for dining, shopping and fitness classes or redeem them toward rent or a downpayment on a home. On top of all that, you can also transfer Bilt points to many valuable airline and hotel loyalty programs.

Best for bad credit

Discover it® secured credit card.

Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Plus earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Discover will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year

N/A on purchases

28.24% Variable

New / Rebuilding

Read our Discover it® Secured Credit Card review.

• Starting at seven months from account opening, Discover will automatically review your credit card account to see if you can transition to an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit
• Cash-back program limits earnings: 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, then 1%
• Low credit line prevents cardholders from charging high-cost items or many expenses

Who's this for? Secured credit cards provide an opportunity to grow or repair your credit score, so they typically don't offer rewards or other benefits. However, Discover it® Secured Credit Card is an exception.

Standout rewards : Discover it Secured Credit Card cardholders earn 2% back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases every quarter. All other spending earns a standard 1% back. That's a nice return, but it's even better for the first year because Discover will match all of the cash back you earn for the first year.

Best for online shopping

Earn unlimited 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership, unlimited 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare), 10% back or more on a rotating selection of products and categories at Amazon.com, unlimited 1% back on all other purchases

Get a $100 Amazon Gift Card (or more) instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members

$0 (but Prime membership is required)

19.49% - 27.49% variable

Either $5 or 4% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

Information about the Prime Visa has been collected independently by Select and have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer prior to publication; if you purchase something through Select links, we may earn a commission.

• $100 Amazon.com gift card upon approval, with no spending requirements
• 5% back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market
• Prime membership is required
• The 5% back on groceries only applies to groceries bought on Amazon.com or at Whole Foods Market
• Estimated rewards earned after 1 year: $792
• Estimated rewards earned after 5 years: $2,960

Who's this for? Frequent shoppers of Amazon and Whole Foods will want to look into the Prime Visa . The card also offers a $100 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members.

Standout rewards : All Prime Visa purchases at Amazon.com , Amazon Fresh, and Whole Foods earn a generous 5% cash back. Cardholders also get bonus cash back at gas stations, restaurants, on local transit and commuting (including rideshare) and Chase Travel purchases.

Best for entertainment

Capital one savor cash rewards credit card.

4% cash back on dining and entertainment, 4% on eligible streaming services, 3% at grocery stores and 1% on all other purchases

Earn a one-time $300 cash bonus once you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening

19.99% - 29.99% variable

4% for promotional APR offers; none for balances transferred at regular APR

• Unlimited 4% cash back on entertainment purchases
• Ability to redeem rewards at any amount, unlike some other cards with $25 minimums
• No introductory 0% financing offers for purchases or balance transfers

Who's this for? If you need to relax, Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card earns cash back where it matters most.

Standout rewards : Capital One Savor Cash Rewards card members earn bonus cash back on dining, entertainment , streaming services and at grocery stores. No matter how you like to unwind, this card can make it more affordable.

Best for rotating bonus categories

Chase freedom flex®.

5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate (then 1%), 5% cash back on travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3% on drugstore purchases and on dining (including takeout and eligible delivery services), 1% cash back on all other purchases

Earn a $100 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Plus, earn 5% cash back on grocery store purchases (excluding Target® and Walmart®) on up to $12,000 spent in the first year.

Member FDIC. Terms apply. Information about the Chase Freedom Flex® has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.

Read our Chase Freedom Flex ® review.

• Opportunity to earn up to 5% cash back in select categories upon activation
• Bonus categories must be activated each quarter

Who’s this for? If you’re looking to maximize cash-back rewards, consider a rotating bonus category card like the Chase Freedom Flex® .

Standout rewards : Chase Freedom Flex cardholders earn 5% on the first $1,500 in combined purchases in different categories each quarter . You'll need to activate the categories to earn the bonus cash back. In addition to rotating rewards, you can earn bonus cash back on travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal, dining and drug stores purchases.

More on our best rewards credit cards

The American Express® Gold Card offers a stellar return for dining, grocery and travel purchases, as well as statement credits that can almost entirely offset its annual fee (see rates and fees ). You'll get the most value from your Membership Rewards points when redeeming for travel through transfer partners.

• 4X points at restaurants, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.
• 4X points on up to $25,000 in purchases at U.S. supermarkets per year
• 3X points on flights you book directly with an airline or through Amex Travel
• 1X points on all other purchases

Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchase s in the first six months from account opening.

$250 (see  rates and fees )

Notable perks

Cardholders can receive an annual dining credit of up to $120 ($10 a month) at Grubhub , The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations (enrollment required). Cardholders also receive up to $120 in Uber Cash per year ($10 a month) after adding the card to their Uber account. Terms apply.

Gold Card members can also participate in Amex Offers, which allow targeted cardholders to earn statement credits or bonus Membership Rewards® points at select retailers. These limited-time offers are location-based and additional terms apply.

The best way to use Amex points is to transfer them to an airline or hotel partner to book travel, but they can also be redeemed for statement credits, gift cards, and when  checking out at retailers like Amazon .

[ Return to card summary ]

Anyone who prefers to earn cash-back rewards will want to consider the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express .

• 6% back on up to $6,000 per year in purchases at U.S. supermarkets (then 1%)
• 6% back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
• 3% back on transit
• 3% back at U.S. gas stations
• 1% back on all other purchases

Earn $250 back after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first six months of account opening.

$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 (see rates and fees )

This card has two ongoing statement credit offers that cardholders can take advantage of:

• Up to $120 in Equinox+ credit annually ($10 a month, enrollment required)
• Up to $84 in Disney bundle credit ($7 a month, enrollment required)

Cardholders can also potentially save money on their purchases by taking advantage of Amex Offers.

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® earns a minimum of 1.5% back on every purchase, which ensures you're earning a healthy return regardless of where you're shopping.

On up to $20,000 spent in the first year:

• 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel
• 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery service)
• 3% on all other purchases

After your first year or $20,000 spent:

• 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel
• 5% back on Lyft rides (through March 2025)
• 3% back at drugstores
• 3% back on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services)
• 1.5% on all other purchases.

Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

Cardholders can benefit from a 0% intro APR for the first 15 months from account opening on new purchases and balance transfers (after, 20.49% - 29.24% variable APR). There's an intro balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, on transfers made within 60 days of account opening. After that, it's either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

Freedom Unlimited cardholders receive three free months of DoorDash DashPass , which comes with reduced fees (activate by Dec. 31, 2024). You can also receive three free months of Instacart+ membership and $10 in Instacart statement credits each quarter (enroll by July 31, 2024).

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is an incredibly flexible travel rewards credit card that comes with useful travel and shopping protections, plus a modest annual fee.

• 5X on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
• 5X points on Lyft rides (through Mar. 31, 2025)
• 5X points on eligible Peloton purchases over $150 (earn a max of 25,000 points through Mar. 31, 2025)
• 3X points on dining
• 3X points on online grocery purchases
• 3X points on select streaming services
• 2X points on all other travel

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

On every account anniversary, card members receive a 10% bonus based on the total purchases from the previous year. If you earned 50,000 points from purchases, at the end of that year you'd receive a 5,000-point bonus. You can also earn up to a $50 Annual Chase Hotel Credit each year for hotel stays you purchase through the Chase travel site.

This card has no foreign transaction fees and offers insurance such as trip delay reimbursement, trip cancellation/interruption coverage and primary rental car insurance. Cardholders can also enroll to receive one year of free DashPass membership (activate by Dec. 31, 2024), six months of free Instacart+ membership (activate by July 31, 2024) and $15 in quarterly Instacart statement credits through July 2024.

The Citi Double Cash® Card is a straightforward no-annual-fee cash-back card .

• 5% back on hotels , car rentals and attractions booked through the Citi travel site
• 2% back on all other purchases, 1% back when you buy and 1% back when you pay

Earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases within the first six months of account opening.

The Citi Double Cash Card offers cardholders a 0% APR for the first 18 months on balance transfers initiated within four months of opening an account. After the intro period ends, there's a 19.24% - 29.24% variable APR. There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of the amount you transfer with a $5 minimum for transfers completed in the first four months. After that, the balance transfer fee is 5% of the amount you transfer ($5 minimum).

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a versatile and rewarding travel card with a welcome bonus that's worth taking a closer look at.

• 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One travel
• 2X miles on all other purchases

Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

Every four years, cardholders receive a credit of up to $100 to cover  Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® membership . This card has no foreign transaction fees and comes with a bunch of additional travel perks, such as access to extended warranty protection*, Travel Assistance Services*, Purchase Assurance*, MasterRental Insurance*, Master RoadAssist®*, and Trip Cancellation/Interruption Coverage*.

Capital One miles can be used to book flights, hotels, rental cars and more directly through  Capital One Travel , or to offset recent travel purchases at a fixed value of one cent per point. Alternatively, they can be transferred to various hotel and airline partners including Accor Live Limitless, Air Canada Aeroplan, Etihad Guest and others to get even more value from your miles.

*Benefit available to accounts approved for the World Elite Mastercard product, subject to terms, conditions, and exclusions in the World Elite Mastercard Guide to Benefits. See Account Terms or Application Terms for more details. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply.

The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card is hard to beat if you want to pay less interest and pay down credit card debt faster.

This card's intro 0% APR offer applies to purchases as well as balance transfers. So for the first 21 months, you'll get 0% APR on purchases, then a variable 18.24%, 24.74% or 29.99% APR applies.

If you pay your monthly cell phone bill with this card, you can qualify for cell phone protection . This coverage has a $25 deductible and covers up to $600 per claim, with a maximum of two claims per year.

The Discover it® Student Cash Back card is an unusually rewarding credit card for students.

• 5% back on up to $1,500 in purchases in rotating quarterly categories (activation required)

Discover will match the cash back you earn in the first year of card membership.

You'll need to be an eligible student to qualify for this card, but it is available even if you have poor credit or a limited credit history . Students traveling overseas can take advantage of no foreign transaction fees.

The Platinum Card® from American Express is a premium credit card loaded with annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, extensive airport lounge access, elite status perks and more.

• 5X points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year)
• 5X points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel
• 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases

Earn 80,000 points after spending $8,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership.

$695 (see rates and fees )

The American Express Platinum card has an incredible list of statement credit offers that can be worth over $1,500 when maximized, including:

• Up to $300 in Equinox credit (enrollment required)
• Up to $200 in airline fee credits
• $200 in Uber Cash each year
• Up to $155 in Walmart+ credits
• $200 in prepaid hotel credit for bookings through Amex Travel
• Up to $240 in digital entertainment credits (up to $20 back each month)
• Up to $100 in Saks 5th Avenue credits each year (enrollment required)
• Up to $189 in CLEAR Plus credit
• Up to $100 in Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credits

On top of excellent airport lounge access, cardholders can enroll for Marriott Bonvoy Gold status, Hilton Honors Gold status and rental car perks with National, Avis and Hertz. It also has all of the built-in protections you'd want from a premium travel card, including trip delay reimbursement*, trip cancellation/interruption coverage*, return protection, purchase protection** and extended warranty coverage**. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

*Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

**Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is loaded with luxury perks and valuable ongoing benefits that can easily make the annual fee worth it .

• 10X points on hotels and car rentals purchased through the Chase Travel℠ site
• 10X points on Lyft rides (through Mar. 31, 2025)
• 10X points on Chase Dining purchases
• 10X points on eligible Peloton purchases ( up to 50,000 points through Mar. 31, 2025)
• 5X points on flights purchased through the Chase Travel℠ site
• 3X points on travel

Earn 75,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.

Every card anniversary year, cardholders get a $300 travel credit, which automatically applies to eligible purchases. Plus, cardholders can get a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee credit worth up to $100 every four years. Both of those credits are on top of the complimentary Priority Pass Select membership (valued at roughly $469 a year), which grants you unlimited visits to over 1,500 airport lounges worldwide.

This card also comes with a host of top-notch travel and purchase protections, including:

• Return protection
• Purchase protection
• Extended warranty protection
• Trip delay reimbursement
• Baggage delay insurance
• Lost luggage insurance
• Rental car coverage
• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
• Travel accident insurance

Having this card also increases the value of your points by 50% when you redeem for travel through the Chase Travel℠ site. For example, 75,000 points are worth $1,125 toward airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruise reservations when you redeem through Chase Travel℠. This is a good way to boost the value of your Chase points .

On top of earning bonus points for Lyft rides, you can enroll to receive two years of free Lyft Pink All Access, which is worth $199 a year (activate by Dec. 31, 2024). You can also take advantage of one year of free DashPass (activate by Dec. 31, 2024) and $5 in monthly DoorDash credit. Plus, Sapphire Reserve cardholders get $15 in monthly Instacart credit (through July 2024) and one free year of Instacart+ (enroll by July 31, 2024).

The Citi Simplicity® Card doesn't offer any rewards but can help you pass less credit card interest.

In addition to this card's balance transfer intro APR, it also offers a 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases, after that a 19.24%-29.99% variable APR applies.

The Bilt Mastercard provides a path to paying rent with a credit card without extra fees. But it's also much more than just a good credit card for renters.

• 1X points on rent payments without no transaction fee (up to 100,000 points each calendar year)
• 2X points on travel
• 1X point on all other purchases

To earn points with the Bilt card, you need to make at least five transactions per billing cycle.

When you consider that the Bilt Mastercard has no annual fee, you'll be pleasantly surprised by the insurance benefits it has. You're covered by trip delay reimbursement, trip interruption/cancellation protection, rental car collision insurance (primary), cell phone protection and purchase protection.

You can also earn a $5 Lyft credit when you take three Lyft rides in a month (through Sept. 30, 2025) and take advantage of a range of Mastercard perks . You have access to Mastercard ID Theft Protection, Mastercard Airport Concierge, Mastercard Travel and Lifestyle Services and more.

The value of a Bilt Rewards point depends on how you use it. The best options for redeeming points include booking travel through the Bilt Travel Portal for 1.25 cents per point or receiving 1.5 cents per point toward a downpayment on a home. To get even more value, consider taking advantage of Bilt's transfer partners which include World of Hyatt, United MileagePlus, Emirates Skywards and many more.

The Discover it® Secured Credit Card is easier to qualify for because it requires an upfront deposit. Plus, it has a generous rewards structure for a  secured credit card .

• 2% back on the first $1,000 in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each quarter

You'll need to make a minimum deposit of $200 to qualify for this card. However, after seven months, Discover will automatically review your account to see if you qualify for an upgrade to an unsecured credit card . This card has no foreign transaction fees.

The Prime Visa is only available to Amazon Prime members ($139 for an annual membership and $14.99 for a monthly membership) but is especially rewarding for Amazon purchases. If you're not a member, you can get the Amazon Visa , which offers 3% cash back at Amazon and Whole Foods.

• 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods and on travel purchased through Chase
• 2% back at gas stations, restaurants and on local transit

Receive an instant $100 Amazon gift card upon approval.

The Prime Visa has no foreign transaction fees, purchase protection and extended warranty protection. It also has valuable travel insurance including, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement and rental car coverage.

The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is one of the most rewarding options for earning cash back in categories such as entertainment and dining.

• 10% back on Uber and Uber Eats purchases
• 4% back on dining
• 4% back on entertainment
• 4% back on eligible streaming services
• 3% back at grocery stores

Earn $300 cash after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.

Through Nov. 14, 2024, cardholders can receive a monthly statement credit to cover an Uber One membership . This card also has no foreign transaction fees and grants you access to exclusive events and experiences through Capital One Entertainment and Capital One Dining.

The Chase Freedom Flex® is an excellent cash-back card for maximizing your spending in a variety of categories.

• 5% back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in rotating quarterly categories
• 5% back on travel purchases through the Chase Ultimate Rewards site
• 5% back on Lyft rides (through Mar. 31, 2025)
• 3% back on dining

The Freedom Flex offers a competitive 0% intro APR for the first 15 months on new purchases and balance transfers (after, 20.49% - 29.24% variable APR). There's an intro balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, on transfers made within 60 days of account opening. After that, it's either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

Cardholders can also enroll for three complimentary months of DashPass (activate by Dec. 31, 2024) and three complimentary months of Instacart+ (enroll by July 31, 2024). Additionally, you'll receive $10 in Instacart credit each quarter through July 31, 2024.

How to choose a rewards credit card

Rewards credit cards come in all shapes and sizes, so it's important to take some time to choose the card that best matches your spending habits. You want a card that will reward you for your everyday purchases without having to adjust your spending to maximize card rewards.

You should decide if you're willing to pay an annual fee for a card since this can help narrow down choices. Rewards cards can have annual fees of up to $550, which can be worthwhile, but not for everyone. Make sure you do the math to see if an annual fee is within your budget and if it can be outweighed by the card's benefits.

Don't want to pay your credit card's annual fee? Here's how to ask for a retention offer

Next, you should figure out what type of rewards you want to earn and if you want a simple rewards program or one that may require some work. If you want a straightforward card, some generic rewards cards offer the same rewards on all purchases, which require little planning. But if you want to maximize rewards in common spending categories, such as travel , dining and gas , consider bonus rewards cards that offer over 5% back on purchases and may require activation.

Here's how credit card issuers classify purchases for bonus rewards

It's also a good idea to consider the card's welcome offer. Some of the best rewards credit cards come with large welcome bonuses for new cardholders worth hundreds of dollars. And if you're planning a big purchase, look for cards with a 0% APR offer — this way, you can still earn rewards but will have more than a year without interest charges to pay off the purchase.

Rewards aside, consider the added card perks, such as annual statement credits , lounge access and 0% APR periods , that can provide enhanced value.

Learn more: How to choose the best credit card in 3 easy steps

Different types of rewards credit cards and how rewards work

There are several different kinds of rewards cards. Rewards credit cards typically provide one of three reward structures: cash back, points or miles . The way you earn and redeem rewards varies based on the type of credit card you open.

• Cash back : Receive a percentage of spending back, directly related to how much you spent. Spend $100 on a 1% cash-back card and earn $1 in cash back.
• Points and miles : Earn points or miles on purchases. The value of one point or one mile isn't always equal to one cent. They might be worth more or less than a penny depending on the credit card you have and the way you redeem rewards. Typically, you can earn points and miles on travel rewards credit cards.

Additionally, rewards cards can be broken down into three groups based on how you earn rewards:

• Flat-rate rewards: This type of rewards credit card comes with a single rewards rate that applies to all purchases. For example, the Citi Double Cash® Card earns 2% cash back on everything you buy (earn 1% cash back on all purchases and 1% when you pay off your bill)
• Bonus categories: These credit cards offer an elevated rewards rate in certain spending categories. For instance, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® from our list of the best travel rewards credit cards offers 10X points on hotels and car rentals and 5X points on flights booked through Chase Travel℠, plus 3X points on dining and all other travel purchases. Any purchases outside of these categories only earn 1X points.
• Rotating categories: This type of card offers a higher rewards rate in specific bonus categories that change every quarter. The Chase Freedom Flex® is a great example. This cash rewards credit card earns 5% back in rotating categories on up to $1,500 in purchases made each quarter (then 1%). You need to activate the categories every quarter to earn bonus cash back.

In addition to the value of cash back, points and miles varying, redemption options also fluctuate. You may be able to redeem for a statement credit, travel, gift card, merchandise or more, depending on your card.

Making the most of your rewards card

To maximize your rewards card, you should familiarize yourself with the benefits and fees. Take note of any annual fees and the APR associated with your account, as well as the rewards rates and added perks, such as annual statement credits.

Once you're familiar with the terms of your card, you can start to take full advantage of them. That may include setting reminders to use the $120 dining credit provided by the American Express® Gold Card or submitting a Global Entry application with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card to receive up to $100 credit.

If you have multiple credit cards , consider the rewards offered by each card before deciding which to use. Say you have the Citi Double Cash® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve® . Use the Chase Sapphire Reserve® for all your travel and dining expenses to earn 3X points, then use the Citi Double Cash® Card for everything else to earn an effective 2% cash back: 1% when you buy and 1% after you pay your bill.

Finally, pay attention to reward values when choosing redemption options. While rewards on cash-back credit cards maintain consistent value no matter how you spend them, that's rarely the case with travel rewards credit cards. Often, travel rewards are worth less if redeemed on non-travel purchases. On the other hand, if you transfer your rewards points or miles to one of the eligible loyalty programs your card issuer partners with, you can sometimes increase the value of your points.

Find the best rewards credit card for you by reviewing offers in our  credit card marketplace  or get personalized offers via  CardMatch™ .

What is a rewards credit card?

A rewards credit card lets you earn cash back, points or miles when making purchases with that card. Beyond rewards, these cards sometimes come with additional perks like travel and purchase protections.

Are rewards credit cards worth it?

Whether a rewards credit card would be a good addition to your wallet depends on whether it fits your spending habits and how you're going to use it.

For example, if you're going to carry a balance, even the best rewards credit cards won't be worth it for you. High interest rates will negate the value of any rewards that you earn.

Secondly, think about how complex you want your credit card strategy to be. If you find chasing the best value exciting and don't mind putting some thought into managing your cards, a rewards card with bonus rewards or rotating categories may be a good fit. If that sounds too complicated, you might do better with a flat-rate rewards card earning the same cash-back rate on everything you buy.

Finally, ensure that the card's bonus categories match your everyday spending. If groceries are a big part of your family's budget, you might want to get a card that earns an elevated rewards rate at grocery stores . If you have a long daily commute, it may be a good idea to apply for a credit card that offers bonus rewards at gas stations . Consider perks and benefits as well since they may increase the card's value. This may be an especially important factor if you're looking into cards with annual fees.

All in all, if a rewards credit card matches your spending habits and offers perks you can easily take advantage of to offset the annual fee, that card may be worth it for you. At the very least, if you don't ever carry a balance and treat spending on a credit card as you would a debit card, using a no-annual-fee cash-back card would give you rewards for the spending you were already going to do anyway.

Who should apply for a rewards card?

If you pay for purchases with cash or debit, you're leaving extra money on the table. Using one of the rewards credit cards mentioned above can earn you more than $2,000 in rewards over five years. This is a large amount of money that can help offset the cost of past purchases or fund upcoming expenses.

Note, however, that using a rewards card only makes sense if you pay off your credit card bill in full every month. Otherwise, you'll be hit with interest charges. Not even the most generous rewards rates can offset the high APRs of credit cards. For that reason, if you tend to carry a balance, you might want to reevaluate your card spending habits before applying for a new card.

Additionally, rewards credit cards often require good or excellent credit (FICO scores above 670), so check your credit score before applying for one of these cards. And if your credit score could use some work, consider CNBC Select's list of the best credit cards for bad credit .

Why trust CNBC Select?

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best rewards credit cards.

Our methodology

To determine which cards are the most rewarding, CNBC Select analyzed over 250 major credit cards issued through FDIC-insured banks and NCUA-insured credit unions that are widely available in the U.S.  

We compared each card on a range of features, including rewards (e.g., cash back, points and miles), annual fees, welcome bonuses, introductory and standard APR and balance transfer fees and foreign transaction fees. We also considered additional perks (e.g., ongoing travel or merchant statement credits), cardholder protections (e.g., purchase protection, $0 liability protection and travel insurance), the application process when available (e.g., is there a credit pull or required credit score) and how easy it is to redeem points (e.g., are rewards are tied to a specific brand; if transferable, to how many/which partners, can you redeem for straight cash back).    We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.  

For the cards that offered a rewards program, we considered consumer spending data forecasts from location intelligence firm Esri to determine where U.S. consumers are spending the most money, like on dining and travel. We used this to help determine what bonus categories are most useful for consumers. Since the value of a point or mile varies based on what they can be redeemed for, we also considered things like transferability and the ability to redeem for cash-back. 

When choosing the best rewards credit cards, we focused on cards that offer some type of return for your spending, including cash-back, travel points and other types of rewards.

Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of  credit cards ,  banking  and  money , and follow us on  TikTok ,  Facebook ,  Instagram  and  Twitter  to stay up to date.

Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox.  Sign up here .

For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, please click here .

For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, please click here .

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card from American Express®, please click here .

For rates and fees of the Discover it® Student Cash Back, click here .  

For rates and fees of the Discover it® Secured Credit Card, click here .  

Information about Amazon credit cards has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer prior to publication; if you purchase something through Select links, we may earn a commission.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

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On this page

• Our top picks
• Rewards credit card details

What is a rewards credit card?

• Types of rewards credit cards
• Pros and cons

Who should get a rewards credit card?

How to choose the best rewards credit card, how to maximize your rewards credit card.

• Best rewards credit card programs

Alternatives to getting a rewards card

• Frequently Asked Questions

Best Rewards Credit Cards for June 2024

June 4, 2024

How we Choose

A rewards credit card offers a reward for each eligible dollar spent with the card, such as travel miles, cash back or points. These cards can offer flat rate earnings on purchases, such as 2 percent cash back across all spending categories. Or, the card may offer a boosted reward rate for select categories, like gas, grocery or travel purchases. 

Rewards cards often include other enticing features, such as generous welcome bonuses and cost-saving travel protections. We’ve evaluated numerous rewards credit cards to help you choose a card where you can maximize the rewards potential.

A rewards credit card offers a reward for each eligible dollar spent with the card, such as travel miles, cash back or points. These cards can offer flat rate earnings on purchases, such as 2 percent cash back across all spending categories. Or, the card may offer a boosted reward rate for select categories, like gas, grocery or travel purchases.

Best Rewards Credit Cards

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card : Best for sign-up bonus
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card : Best for flexible travel
• Citi Strata Premier℠ Card : Best for hotel bookings
• American Express® Gold Card : Best for restaurants
• Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card : Best for flat-rate cash rewards
• Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card : Best for financing travel
• Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card : Best for entertainment
• The Platinum Card® from American Express : Best for luxury perks
• Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card : Best for occasional travelers
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card : Best for annual credits
• Chase Freedom Unlimited® : Best for pairing with Chase cards
• Discover it® Cash Back : Best for rotating bonus categories
• Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express : Best for U.S. supermarkets
• Citi Custom Cash® Card:  Best second credit card
• Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card : Best for gas stations
• Bilt Mastercard® : Best for renters
• Prime Visa : Best for Amazon & Whole Foods
• Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card : Best for customizable bonus categories
• Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express : Best for online shopping
• Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card : Best for students

Additional Options:

• My GM Rewards® Mastercard®: Best for GM payments & leases
• American Express® Green Card: Best for starter travel perks
• U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card: Best for dining + no annual fee

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Rewards rate

At a glance, overall rating, why we like this card.

With an outstanding rewards program, sign-up bonus and travel perks, this is one of the best travel cards around.

• Offers generous rewards in a variety of travel and everyday categories
• Rewards are worth 1.25 cents when redeemed for travel through the Chase Travel℠ portal and could be worth more with the right transfer partner
• Not a good fit for travelers looking for airline-specific perks like free checked bags and elite status
• Grocery purchases have to be made online to earn bonus rewards

Bottom Line

Not only does the Chase Sapphire Preferred offer a valuable welcome offer, but its rewards rate for travel and restaurant purchases plus its lack of foreign transaction fees make it one of the best choices for travelers.

• Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 75,000 points are worth $937.50 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
• Member FDIC

Rates & Fees

Capital one venture rewards credit card.

With its high welcome bonus, flat rewards rate, flexible redemption options and perks like Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credits, the well-rounded Venture card is a smart choice for travelers. Earn 2X miles on every purchase. Plus, you can earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.

• Miles don’t expire and there are no blackout dates.
• Miles can be transferred to 15+ travel partners.
• There are no domestic legacy airlines included in the list of airline partners.
• Miles transfer at less than 1:1 ratio.

Frequent international travelers on the hunt for an unfussy travel rewards program will likely enjoy this flat-rate rewards card.

• Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
• Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
• Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

Its mix of everyday bonus categories and annual hotel benefit should easily offer enough value to offset the annual fee, even if you only travel occasionally. The card also pairs exceptionally well with no-annual-fee Citi cards, allowing you to build a lucrative card stack that maximizes earnings across several key spending categories.

• Its annual hotel benefit is one of the most valuable perks you can get on a mid-tier travel card — enough value to offset the annual fee entirely if you meet the spending requirement.
• You can transfer rewards to maximize your point redemption value, and Citi boasts a solid mix of airline and hotel partners, including popular options like JetBlue and Wyndham.
• You can find a higher rewards rate, higher point values and more flexible perks on some competing travel cards (as well as airfare-centric benefits, which may be a better fit for frequent flyers).
• The annual hotel benefit has limited flexibility since you need to spend at least $500 each year (excluding taxes and fees) on a single hotel booking to take advantage.

This card makes it easy to earn travel rewards on your everyday spending, and its annual hotel benefit should carry enough value to offset the annual fee

• Earn 70,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $700 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com
• Earn 10 points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
• Earn 3 points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations.
• Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.
• No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
• No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases

American Express® Gold Card

See if you’re pre-approved for this card using our CardMatch tool .

For travelers who want to rack up travel rewards quickly, the American Express Gold Card offers one of the industry’s most generous rewards rates on both dining and U.S. supermarket purchases. The card’s generous membership rewards for those who book flights directly with airlines or Amex Travel also makes it easy to reach your travel goals.

• This card offers some of the highest rewards rates on dining and U.S. supermarket purchases, which isn’t typically found on one card.
• Points can be redeemed for all or only a portion of qualifying travel purchases.
• The $250 annual fee with this card is steep and unless you plan to take full advantage of the $120 in annual dining credits, it may be hard to justify.
• The reward value associated with this pricey card plummets unless you redeem your points for airfare through the American Express travel portal or transfer your points to one of the card’s transfer partners.

Whether you prefer to cook at home or dine out, the American Express® Gold Card offers high-value rewards for foodies who love to travel. 

• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
• Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
• Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $250.
• Terms Apply.

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

With a great flat rate 2% cash rewards on purchases and generous perks for a no-annual-fee card, this is a great fit for someone looking for straightforward rewards with minimal hoops to jump through.

• Offers more perks than most 2-percent cash rewards cards, including a welcome bonus, intro APR offer and cellphone protection
• No minimum redemption requirement on rewards earned
• Not a good fit for someone looking for the longest intro APR period to pay off purchases and balance transfers
• The card’s cellphone protection is not as comprehensive as other cards

With a high unlimited rewards rate of 2% cash rewards, this flexible rewards card offers a lot of value for those looking to maximize rewards on everyday spending while keeping things as simple as possible.

• Select "Apply Now" to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
• Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
• Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
• 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
• $0 annual fee.
• No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don't expire as long as your account remains open.
• Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
• Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

The VentureOne is a solid option for the occasional traveler. It comes with no annual fee, a sign-up bonus, and a chance to earn an unlimited 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 1.25 miles per dollar on every other purchase.

• You can transfer your miles to several transfer partners on a 1:1 basis.
• This card offers one of the longer introductory APRs on the market, ideal for cardmembers who need time to pay off balances.
• The rewards rate of 1.25 miles for every purchase could be bigger.
• This card doesn’t offer as many travel perks as Venture One’s travel cards that charge annual fees.

This card has plenty of perks and just enough rewards to make it a solid option for occasional travelers looking for a travel rewards credit card with no annual fee.

• $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
• Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
• Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
• Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

With generous rewards that cover groceries, dining, entertainment and select travel purchases, this is one of the most versatile rewards cards. On top of the rewards, the card’s additional benefits go above and beyond for a no-annual-fee card.

• You can earn 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber and Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
• Comes with a long intro APR offer for purchases and balance transfers and a sign-up bonus with one of the lowest spend requirements around
• Grocery store purchases made at superstores like Target and Walmart won’t earn the bonus rewards rate
• Redemption options are not as versatile as other rewards cards

The SavorOne is an excellent option for fun-loving foodies who can take advantage of the high cash back rate in dining out as well as grocery store purchases. 

• Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
• Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), plus 1% on all other purchases
• Earn 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
• Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
• Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
• No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
• 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
• No foreign transaction fee
• No annual fee

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Fancy flyers will love the premium travel benefits this card offers, including statement credits, elite hotel status at select hotels (enrollment required) and access to exclusive airport lounges. Cardmembers also earn extra points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel and on prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel. Other purchases earn 1X points.

• The card’s welcome bonus is one of the most generous in the industry.
• The card’s annual and monthly credits are worth thousands of dollars in value, more than enough to offset the Platinum Card’s higher annual fee.
• The annual fee of $695 is one of the highest on the market.
• Bonus categories are capped.

If you’re frequently crisscrossing the globe, the Amex Platinum card’s wide range of luxury travel perks and trip protections will certainly make up for the high annual fee.

• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
• $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
• $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
• Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 year period for TSA PreCheck® application fee for a 5-year plan only (through a TSA PreCheck® official enrollment provider), when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card

Though you’ll earn rewards in all the major travel categories, including hotels, airfare and other travel, you can still redeem points for cash back if you decide you’d rather save on everyday spending than book travel. And if you want to take redemption to the next level, transferring to airline and hotel partners is also an option.

• Its annual credit is especially easy to earn and offers terrific flexibility. You’ll need to make a $50 minimum airline purchase to earn a $50 statement credit each year, which you can use to help offset your annual fee — not just book travel.
• You’ll enjoy the same redemption value whether you use rewards for travel or cash back, so you won’t miss out on value even if you take a break from travel.
• Its list of airline and hotel partners, though welcome, is far from the most comprehensive out there, so it may not meet the mark for experienced travelers.
• Its tiered bonus rewards structure means it’ll offer the best value if you frequently book hotels, which may not be ideal if you spend more on flights or typically stay with friends or family when traveling.

This card offers terrific flexibility with both earning and redemption, making it a solid choice if you’re looking for your first mid-tier travel card.

• Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
• Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s $600 toward your next trip.
• Earn unlimited 5X points on hotels, 4X points on airlines, 3X points on other travel and restaurants, and 1X points on other purchases.
• $95 annual fee.
• Book your travel with the Autograph Journey Card and enjoy Travel Accident Insurance, Lost Baggage Reimbursement, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection and Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver.
• Earn a $50 annual statement credit with $50 minimum airline purchase.
• Up to $1,000 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards card has a lot to offer, including large sign-up bonus, unlimited miles in all purchase categories (with no expiration or blackout dates), lounge access and a statement credit worth up to $100 for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

The annual fee of $395 is modest when compared with other high-end travel rewards credit cards. And when you factor in the 10,000 bonus miles (worth $100 toward travel) you’ll get every year on your card anniversary, along with an annual credit worth $300 when you book travel through Capital One Travel, this card will provide exceptional value to many frequent travelers.

• Unlimited miles in all purchase categories
• Generous travel credits and premium perks
• High spend requirement to earn sign-up bonus
• Requires excellent credit

If you love to travel, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card delivers with unlimited miles in all purchase categories and plenty of added perks – all with a more down-to-earth annual fee compared to other premium travel credit cards.

• Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
• Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
• Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
• Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

The Chase Freedom Unlimited could be the missing puzzle piece to your Chase Ultimate Rewards Strategy. If you have a premium Chase travel card, adding this card to your wallet can super-charge your rewards earnings when you pool points together for Chase Travel. Plus, its bonus categories and flat-rate cash back structure make it a good catch-all card for common purchases.

• With solid earning rates and a strong intro APR offer, this is a great card for any rewards enthusiast.
• You can combine this card’s rewards with other premium Chase rewards to unlock more value through travel redemptions and partners.
• It charges a 3 percent foreign transaction fee, which can get expensive when using it while abroad.
• Its flat rate is generous but still falls short of other flat-rate rewards cards.

The ability to transfer rewards to other Chase Ultimate Rewards credit cards makes it a great card to fully maximize the potential of your rewards.

• Intro Offer: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
• Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
• After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
• No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
• Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
• No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
• Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.

Discover it® Cash Back

This card is ideal if your highest spending categories vary throughout the year since it offers a valuable rotating bonus category each quarter. Plus, Discover matches all cash back earned at the end of the first year of card ownership, which could make this one of the highest sign-up bonuses around depending on your spending.

• Rewards are redeemable at any time.
• Rewards can also be redeemed as account credits, direct deposit, donations or gift cards (ranging from $5 – $200 in $5 increments).
• Enrollment is required each quarter.
• There is a spending cap on combined quarterly purchases.

This is a strong cash back rewards card with plenty of opportunities to maximize rewards, provided you enroll each quarter and align your spending with the rotating categories.

• Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
• Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.
• Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
• Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
• Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 18.24% to 28.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
• No annual fee.
• Terms and conditions apply.

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

The Blue Cash Preferred Card provides one of the highest cash back rates for purchases made at U.S. supermarkets. On top of that, it also features generous cash back on everyday categories like U.S. gas stations and transit expenses. All the perks offered by this card make it easy to justify the $95 annual fee ($0 intro annual fee for the first year).  

• Some of the highest rewards rates available for U. S. supermarket purchases and select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
• Top perks include a generous welcome offer and valuable streaming and fitness credits.
• Budget shoppers only earn 1% back when shopping at big box stores and wholesale clubs.
• Steep 29.99% variable penalty APR that lasts for at least six months if you make one or more late payments or payment is returned by the bank.

Anyone who spends a good bit of their budget on groceries will undoubtedly find value in the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, which offers one of the highest cash back rates on U.S. supermarket purchases.

• Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
• $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
• Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 intro plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months from the date of account opening. Plans created after that will have a monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each eligible purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
• Low Intro APR: 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 19.24% - 29.99%. Variable APRs will not exceed 29.99%.
• 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
• 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
• 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations.
• 3% Cash Back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
• 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
• Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
• Get up to $120 in statement credits annually when you pay for an auto-renewing subscription to Equinox+ at equinoxplus.com with your Blue Cash Preferred® Card. That’s $10 in statement credits each month. Enrollment required.
• Thinking about getting the Disney Bundle which can include Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+? Your decision made easy with $7/month back in the form of a statement credit after you spend $9.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your Blue Cash Preferred® Card. Enrollment required.

Citi Custom Cash® Card

The Citi Custom Cash Card features a rewards program that adjusts to match your lifestyle and spending habits by offering the most generous rewards in your top eligible spending category. This no-annual-fee card is a great choice for consumers looking for customized rewards without a big annual price-tag.

• In addition to not charging an annual fee, there are many other perks available including a sign-up bonus and intro APR offer for purchases and balance transfers.
• Points can be combined with other Citi ThankYou rewards.
• Rewards are capped to $500 each billing cycle in your top eligible category.
• You could be missing out on potential earnings in your other high-spend categories that don’t qualify for bonus rewards.

For a card that charges no annual fee, the Citi Custom Cash® offers an impressively high cash back rewards rate and allows you to maximize earnings automatically in your top spending category every month. That provides a lot of flexibility month-to-month without having to enroll in rotating categories or having to commit to a certain category indefinitely. But with its 1% cash back on purchases outside of your top eligible spending category, it’s possible you could be missing out on big rewards in your other top spend categories.

• Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
• 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
• Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2025.
• No rotating bonus categories to sign up for – as your spending changes each billing cycle, your earn adjusts automatically when you spend in any of the eligible categories.
• Citi will only issue one Citi Custom Cash® Card account per person.

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

It carries one of the highest flat rewards rates you can get at gas stations without sacrificing rewards in other everyday categories or paying an annual fee. And since the card also covers a wide array of general travel spending, from airfare and hotels to public transit, it’s a great standalone option for commuters, frequent travelers and families alike.

• Most competing cards only cover general travel or gas station purchases, not both, making the Autograph Card a uniquely valuable option if you spend a lot of time on the road.
• Includes one of the most generous cell phone protection plans on the market when you use the card to pay your monthly cell phone bill: Up to $600 if your phone is damaged or stolen (subject to a $25 deductible).
• Frequent flyers can earn a higher travel rewards rate, flashier perks and better overall value by opting for a premium rewards card – even if that means paying an annual fee.
• While the card features a variety of redemption options, your points cannot be transferred to airline and hotel loyalty programs, limiting the card’s long-term value for rewards-savvy travelers.

If you’re often on the road – whether by car, plane or public transit – the Autograph card could help you earn points at a solid pace while avoiding annual fees, complicated rewards programs and constant card juggling.

• Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.
• Earn unlimited 3X points on the things that really add up - like restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans. Plus, earn 1X points on other purchases.
• 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR thereafter.
• Redeem your rewards points for travel, gift cards, or statement credits. Or shop at millions of online stores and redeem your rewards when you check out with PayPal.

Bilt Mastercard®

It features one of the most comprehensive lists of airline and hotel transfer partners on the market, offering tremendous flexibility with how you use your points. Even if you only redeem through Bilt, your points are worth 1.25 cents each when you book travel — 25 percent more than typical credit card points. See Bilt Mastercard rewards and benefits  here.

• Almost no other cards give you access to this many high-value transfer partners without charging an annual fee.
• It’s the only card that not only earns rewards on rent payments, but also waives the transaction fees you’d typically face when paying rent with a credit card.
• It’s one of the only travel rewards cards that doesn’t offer a sign-up bonus. Plenty of other no-annual-fee rewards cards offer at least a $200 bonus.
• You can use rewards for travel, to cover part of your rent payment or toward a future home down payment, but you can’t redeem for ordinary cash back.

If you’re a long-term renter who wants to earn valuable travel rewards and avoid transaction fees, it’s hard to go wrong with this card.

• $0 Annual Fee.
• Earn up to 1x points on rent payments without the transaction fee, up to 100,000 points each calendar year.
• 2x points on travel.
• 3x points on dining.
• 1x points on other purchases.
• Earn points when you make 5 transactions that post each statement period.
• When renting at a Bilt Alliance property, you can choose to have your rent payments automatically reported by Bilt to the three major credit bureaus each month; Experian™, TransUnion™, and Equifax™.

Given the huge array of items available on Amazon.com, plus the Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods and Chase Travel bonus categories, the Prime Visa can be an incredibly lucrative rewards card. If you’re already an Amazon Prime member, you can’t really go wrong with this card.

• Along with rewards on eligible online purchases, this card earns at a solid rate at restaurants and gas stations, so it can be a great standalone option.
• It offers an exceptionally easy-to-earn (but still valuable) sign-up bonus.
• Requires an Amazon Prime membership ($139 per year when you pay annually). If you only shop with Amazon or use Prime services occasionally, the card’s cost may be hard to offset.
• A few other cards offer bonus rewards on any online purchases — not just Amazon.com — so they may be a better fit if you value flexibility over a slightly higher rewards rate.

If you’re an Amazon Prime member looking for a solid everyday rewards card, the Prime Visa is a great starting point.

• Get a $100 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members
• Earn unlimited 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, and Whole Foods Market with an eligible Prime membership
• Earn unlimited 5% back on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership
• Earn unlimited 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare)
• Earn unlimited 1% back on all other purchases
• No annual credit card fee
• No more waiting. Redeem daily rewards at Amazon.com as soon as the next day

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card gives cardholders greater flexibility. It’s one of the few rewards cards that lets you earn bonus rewards in an eligible category of your choosing. You also earn bonus rewards on purchases at wholesale clubs — another perk rarely offered.

Something else to consider: Bank of America and Merrill checking and savings account holders receive a sizable rewards boost of anywhere between 25% and 75% via the Bank of America Preferred Rewards® program.

• Features the flexibility to earn cash back in the eligible category of your choosing.
• This is one of the few rewards cards offering bonus rewards specifically at wholesale clubs.
• There is a $2,500 quarterly cap on combined bonus earnings.
• Redemption is limited to cash back options, like statement credits, checks or direct deposit into a Bank of America account.

The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card offers flexible cash back rewards without charging an annual fee, and with the potential for huge rewards boosts for existing Bank of America and Merrill account holders.

• $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
• Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice, automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and unlimited 1% on all other purchases.
• Choose 3% cash back on gas and EV charging station, online shopping/cable/internet/phone plan/streaming, dining, travel, drug store/pharmacy or home improvement/furnishings purchases.
• If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more cash back on every purchase. That means you could earn 3.75%-5.25% cash back on purchases in your choice category.
• No annual fee and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
• 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 19.24% - 29.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
• Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
• This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

This is one of the only cards that offers year-round cash back on U.S. online retail purchases, without limiting you to just one or two brands. Its other categories are also lucrative and practical, so it’s definitely worth a look if you’re searching for an everyday rewards card.

• The card’s bonus categories cover a big chunk of the average person’s everyday spending, so it should work well as either a standalone or supplemental rewards card.
• It carries impressive perks for a no-annual-fee card, including cash back on eligible Disney Bundle and Home Chef subscriptions.
• It only earns cash back, not Membership Rewards, so you won’t have the flexibility to redeem rewards for travel or transfer to Amex’s airline and hotel partners.
• Though its welcome offer is generous, it carries a relatively high spending requirement. Some competing cards offer the value with 75 percent less spending.

This is a terrific everyday rewards card if you’re focused on earning cash back and would rather avoid an annual fee.

• Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
• No Annual Fee.
• Balance Transfer is back! Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening. After that, 19.24% to 29.99% variable APR.
• 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, then 1%.
• 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
• Thinking about getting the Disney Bundle which can include Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+? Your decision made easy with $7/month back in the form of a statement credit after you spend $9.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your Blue Cash Everyday® Card. Enrollment required.
• Enjoy up to $15 back per month when you purchase a Home Chef meal kit subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your enrolled Blue Cash Everyday® Card.

Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is packed full of features that will appeal to students and young adults. Not only do you earn boosted rewards for popular spending categories such as dining and entertainment, the card also features a welcome offer with a low spending threshold to obtain, and an opportunity for an automatic credit limit increase after six months.

The card also comes with some nice cost-saving features like no foreign transaction fees. rounds out the list of impressive features.

• This card requires no credit history for approval.
• This card offers a generous rewards rate on categories tailored to students.
• The potentially high APR makes this card more expensive if you carry a balance from month to month.
• If you don’t dine out often or spend much in these bonus categories, you may be missing out on potential rewards.

The SavorOne Student card offers bonus categories tailored to students and strong credit building opportunities to students with no credit history required for approval.

• Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), with 1% on all other purchases
• Early Spend Bonus: Earn $50 when you spend $100 in the first three months
• Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
• Enjoy no annual fee, foreign transaction fees, or hidden fees
• Earn up to $500 a year by referring friends and family when they're approved for a Capital One credit card
• Earn 8% cash back on entertainment purchases when you book through the Capital One Entertainment portal
• Build your credit with responsible card use
• Whether you're at a 4-year university, community college or other higher education institution, this card might be an option for you

All information about the American Express® Green Card, My GM Rewards Mastercard and the Chase Freedom Flex has been collected independently by CreditCards.com and has not been reviewed by the issuer.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

Comparing the best rewards credit cards of 2024

Editor’s picks: a closer look at our top-rated rewards credit cards, best for sign-up bonus: chase sapphire preferred card.

• Best features : The Sapphire Preferred packs in plenty of features to justify its moderate $95 annual fee for many travelers on a budget. Tiered bonus rewards cover travel, dining and most online grocery purchases, which make it a quick rewards earner for home shoppers or those on the go. Chase also offers a 25% bonus to point redemptions when booking travel through its Travel℠ Portal. This makes the sign-up bonus (75,000 points after you spend $4,000 in the first three months) worth a little over $900 when redeemed for travel through the Chase Travel℠ portal. Because of this boost to rewards redemption, the Sapphire Preferred could provide a lot more value compared to other travel cards.
• Biggest drawbacks : Like most travel cards, you’ll need to pay attention to which redemption options earn more or less than 1 cent per point. Redemptions other than travel through the Chase Travel℠ portal are worth up to 1 cent per point, meaning you can get a decent value for your points, but to truly make the most of your card, you’ll need to funnel redemptions through the issuer’s portal.
• Alternatives : Few cards can match the value of the Sapphire Preferred’s sign-up bonus, but the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card offers 70,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening. This is worth $700 in gift cards when redeemed at thankyou.com.
• Bottom line : If you’re willing to put in the work needed to get the most value, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is a great option for people looking for a low-cost, versatile travel rewards credit card.

Related : Why the CSP is a great first travel card

Read our Chase Sapphire Preferred Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details .

Best for flexible travel: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

• Best features : This easy-to-use travel card stands apart from many other travel rewards cards that come with complicated rewards programs. Plus, the big sign-up bonus, high-earning rewards and flexible redemption options add to the appeal.
• Biggest drawbacks : It doesn’t offer bonus rewards on everyday purchases. So you could be missing out on the chance to quickly rack up rewards, especially if you spend a lot in areas like groceries, gas or dining.
• Alternatives : For maximum travel rewards in a card with a modest annual fee, try the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card . The annual fee is the same as the Venture card, but you can earn bonus rewards in more areas, and your points have 25% more value when redeemed through Chase Travel℠.
• Bottom line : This popular Capital One credit card checks all the boxes in terms of what people should look for in a travel rewards card: a competitive 2X miles back on all purchases, a generous sign-up bonus, no foreign transaction fees ( See Rates and Fees ) and up to a $100 credit to put toward the application fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

Related : How to maximize your Venture rewards card

Read our full Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details .

Best for hotel bookings: Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

• Best features: The annual hotel benefit (a $100 discount each year you spend at least $500 on a single hotel booking, excluding taxes and fees) is more valuable than similar credits on competing mid-tier travel cards. The card’s mix of bonus categories should also appeal to occasional travelers, as you can quickly rack up travel points even if you don’t actually spend much on travel.
• Biggest drawbacks: If you spend more on airfare than hotel bookings, this card’s 3X rewards rate on general travel and restrictive, hotel-centric annual perk may be disappointing. Citi points also carry a low redemption value compared to some competitors, based on Bankrate’s latest valuations .
• Alternatives: Frequent travelers should consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card as it offers a high rewards rate on all travel booked via Chase Travel — not just hotels and rental cars. It also carries a more flexible annual hotel credit and valuable points (worth 1.25 cents per point when you redeem via Chase Travel — 25% more than the standard 1-cent-per-point value you’ll get from most competing cards).
• Bottom line: If you’re looking to earn rewards on everyday purchases and spend enough on hotel bookings each year to take advantage of this card’s perks, it can easily be one of the best travel cards out there.

Read our full  Citi Strata Premier℠ Card review or or jump back to this card’s offer details .

Best for restaurants: American Express® Gold Card

• Best features : If you love food and travel, you’ll have a hard time finding another card that packs in such high rewards for dining, U.S. supermarkets and flights. On top of impressive rewards rates, the card also has a great welcome offer: New cardholders earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points if they spend $6,000 in the first six months. (See how we value Amex points .)
• Biggest drawbacks : You’ll pay the price for all those benefits – namely, a $250 annual fee. Getting the most bang for your buck requires a little legwork. For instance, to maximize travel points, your best bet is to transfer them to one of Amex’s partners. So, if you’re looking for simplicity, a different travel rewards card is likely a better fit.
• Alternatives : The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is an overlooked travel rewards credit card comparable to the Amex Gold Card. But with a lower annual fee ($95 compared to $250), an annual hotel savings credit, and a generous rewards rate at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations and EV Charging Stations, air travel and hotels. The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card could offer more rewards at a wider range of places depending on your spending habits.
• Bottom line : The rewards program and annual credits found with the American Express Gold Card will make it easy for a lot of people to recoup the card’s annual fee.

Related : Who should get the American Express Gold card?

Read our full American Express Gold Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details .

Best for flat-rate cash rewards: Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

• Best features : The Active Cash Card tops the list of flat-rate rewards cards thanks to its high 2% cash rewards on purchases and its welcome bonus, which isn’t easy to find with other no-annual-fee cards that offer a 2% flat rate.
• Biggest drawbacks : People who spend a lot of money in specific areas like groceries and gas may be able to earn more cash back faster with rewards cards that have bonus categories. Or, if you need more time to take advantage of an intro APR offer on purchases and balance transfers, other cards come with longer offers.
• Alternatives : If you’re willing to put a little bit more effort into maximizing your rewards, the Citi Custom Cash® Card could be a great alternative to the Active Cash card in one category each billing cycle. If you spend modestly overall but find that either restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores or one of the Custom Cash card’s other eligible categories makes up a large portion of your budget each month, it could offer a more rewarding balance of consistency and flexibility in one of those categories.
• Bottom line : For those averse to spending categories and required enrollments, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card offers a simplified way to rack up rewards with its unlimited 2% cash rewards on eligible day-to-day purchases. Depending on how much you spend, this could quickly add up.

Read our Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details .

Best for financing travel: Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

• Best features : This entry-level travel card makes it easy to earn unlimited miles without worrying about an annual fee ( See Rates and Fees ). It’s also one of the only travel cards that comes with an intro APR on purchases, making it a great option if you want to chip away at the cost of a trip over time.
• Biggest drawbacks : The rewards rate is not the best out there. Travelers can find other cards that come with no annual fee and a rewards rate that’s higher than 1.25 miles per dollar.
• Alternatives : The Bilt Mastercard has similar features but goes further, offering rewards for rent purchases without the transaction fees, bonus rewards in multiple categories, and a chance to earn double points on all non-rent purchases on the first of every month.
• Bottom line : The VentureOne will bring some value to the wallets of occasional travelers who want to earn travel rewards for everyday purchases without having to pay an annual fee. Cardmembers earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rentals booked through Capital One Travel and 1.25 miles per dollar on every other purchase.

Read our Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details .

Best for entertainment: Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

• Best features : The SavorOne offers competitive cash back on popular food and entertainment categories, including dining, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target) and an even higher cash back rate on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. That’s a great value for a no-annual-fee rewards card ( See Rates and Fees ). Plus, the card comes with a nice sign-up bonus, if you meet the low minimum spending requirement within the first three months from account opening.
• Biggest drawbacks : If you prefer to earn rewards for essential purchases, other rewards cards earn higher rewards for grocery purchases and also offer bonus rewards in other everyday categories like gas. Plus, the exclusion of superstores decreases the card’s value for shoppers shop frequently at places like Walmart and Target.
• Alternatives : If your spending isn’t concentrated on dining, entertainment or grocery stores (or at all), you can probably earn more with a no-annual-fee, flat-rate cash back card, like the Citi Double Cash® Card .
• Bottom line : Casual spenders who can take advantage of as many of the food-and-entertainment rewards categories will get the most value out of the SavorOne card.

Related : Capital One SavorOne benefits guide

Read our full Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details .

Best for luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

• Best features : The Platinum Card from American Express comes fully-loaded with travel benefits and credits, making it easy for cardholders looking for luxury benefits to recoup the card’s hefty annual fee. These perks include airport lounge access, multiple travel and consumer credits and automatic elite status with  Hilton Honors  (enrollment required) and Marriott Bonvoy. The card also offers one of the biggest welcome bonuses in the rewards industry.
• Biggest drawbacks : Its $695 annual fee makes it one of the most expensive cards on the market. While the perks are plentiful, they’re not exactly straightforward. Bonus categories are subject to a cap, for instance, redemption options are a bit rigid and some of the credits come with caveats you’ll have to familiarize yourself with. Case in point: The card comes with up to $200 in Uber Cash annually, which you receive in $15 monthly increments (U.S. rides and eats) in your Uber app, along with a $20 bonus in December.
• Alternatives : The Venture X card is one of our most popular luxury travel cards, thanks to a smaller annual fee of $395 ( See Rates and Fees ), its generous sign-up bonus, anniversary credit and bonus miles, free cards for additional cardholders (the Platinum Card charges $195 for additional authorized users) and a flexible $300 annual travel credit which can be applied to any travel purchase booked through Capital One Travel. Like the Platinum card, the Venture X offers Priority Pass lounge access and a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck.
• Bottom line : If you can take advantage of all it has to offer, the Platinum Card is worth its weighty annual fee.

Related :  Is The Platinum Card® from American Express worth the annual fee?

Read our full  Platinum Card from American Express review  or jump back to this  card’s offer details .

Best for annual credits: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

• Best features : The Venture X gives travelers a taste of luxury at a lower cost compared to other premium travel cards. On top of complimentary lounge access, annual credits, bonus miles and a competitive rewards program, Capital One is offering 75,000 bonus miles as the card’s sign-up bonus when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel. This is substantial enough to help offset the card’s annual fee of $395 ( See Rates and Fees ) in the first year and give you enough excess to make travel redemptions.
• Biggest drawbacks : Since this is a general-purpose travel card, you won’t get specific perks found with premium co-branded airline or hotel cards, like priority boarding, free first checked bag or a free hotel night at your favorite destination.
• Alternatives : If you’re on the fence about whether you’re willing to commit to the Venture X card’s steep annual fee, the original Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is well worth a look, especially if you want to earn travel rewards but don’t typically spend much on travel.
• Bottom line : The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a great travel card for those who want a premium card without the large annual fees found with other cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Reserve card.

Related : Is the Venture X worth it?

Read our Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details .

 Best for pairing with Chase cards: Chase Freedom Unlimited®

• Best features: It’s bonus categories and flat-rate cash back structure make it easy for people who like maximizing rewards to stockpile Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
• Biggest drawbacks: If you want this card as part of the Chase trifecta or overall travel rewards strategy, it’s not a great companion to use abroad because it charges a 3% foreign transaction fee.
• Alternative(s): The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is another card with a similar intro APR offer and a flat rate on spending. It’s a good alternative for infrequent or inexperienced travelers because it offers straightforward rewards earning and redemption.
• Bottom line: The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a great all-purpose card to earn elevated rewards rates on purchases and quickly boost your rewards balance.

Read our full Chase Freedom Unlimited® review or jump back to this card’s offer details .

Best for rotating bonus categories: Discover it® Cash Back

• Best features : For no annual fee, this card offers competitive cash back, an unlimited cash-back match at the end of your first year and a lengthy promotional APR on balance transfers and purchases. Although you’ll need to manage the rotating categories by enrolling quarterly, the rewards potential on this card outpaces a number of other options. See more of the best zero interest credit cards .
• Biggest drawbacks : You have a little bit of legwork to do to earn your bonus cash back – namely, enrolling for the rotating categories each quarter and shifting your spending habits to maximize your earnings. Plus, the bonus categories aren’t always the same year-to-year, so you may find it harder to maximize cash back in some years versus others.
• Alternatives : Similar to the Discover it® Cash Back, the Chase Freedom Flex offers generous cash back in rotating bonus categories that you must activate each quarter. On top of that, the card offers high cash back on Chase Travel℠, dining and drugstore purchases.
• Bottom line : Savvy spenders who can adjust their spending quarterly can really rack up rewards with this classic cash back credit card that offers tremendous potential to earn cash back on purchases in rotating bonus categories per quarter and matches all the cash back you earn at the end of your first year.

Read our full Discover it Cash Back review or jump back to this card’s offer details .

Best for U.S. supermarkets: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

• Best features : This card’s high-earning tiered rewards categories provide exceptional value for households looking for ways to save on everyday essentials, including a stellar cash back incentive at U.S. supermarkets. Add in a generous welcome offer, an introductory APR on new purchases and balance transfers and a number of purchase and travel protections, and you have a great all-around card for households.
• Biggest drawbacks : There’s a $95 annual fee ($0 intro annual fee for the first year). We estimate you need to spend around $3,200 a year at U.S. supermarkets to come out ahead after year one, as illustrated by our comparison between the Blue Cash Preferred and the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express .
• Alternatives : If you’re focused solely on grocery rewards, the Citi Custom Cash® Card could be a better fit for modest shoppers. It earns generous cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle (up to the first $500 spent each billing cycle) and doesn’t charge an annual fee.
• Bottom line : The Blue Cash Preferred is a top American Express card . With its rewards rates and intro APR, this card is great for household shoppers who have a few big purchases coming up.

Related : Who should get the American Express Blue Cash Preferred?

Read our full Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express review or jump back to this card’s offer details .

Best second credit card: Citi Custom Cash® Card

• Best features : This no-annual-fee card keeps things simple by automatically earning a top-of-the-line cash back rate in one eligible spending category each billing cycle (subject to a cap each billing cycle). That long-term flexibility pairs nicely with other features of the card that provide great short-term value. Citi is also offering an attractive sign-up bonus and introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers.
• Biggest drawbacks : You’ll pay a pricey 5% balance transfer fee (or $5, whichever is greater) if you take Citi up on its balance transfer offer. This is on the high end because many cards charge a 3% balance transfer fee and a few skip the charge entirely . Additionally, the $500-per-billing-cycle cap eats into the card’s value if you spend more than that each month.
• Alternatives : With one of the best flat cash back rates available, the Citi Double Cash® Card is a great no-frills, all-purpose rewards card. You earn a flat cash back rate on  purchases with no spending caps, unlike the Citi Custom Cash Card.
• Bottom line : The Citi card’s eligible spend categories cover a wide range of options, including travel, groceries and home improvement stores, making it a great option that’s versatile enough to fit into any card strategy.

Related : Is the Citi Custom Cash worth it?

Read our Citi Custom Cash Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details .

Best for gas stations: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

• Best features : This card’s broad range of practical bonus categories – all of which earn points year-round at the same generous rate – give it terrific potential as a standalone rewards card, especially for everyday travel. And since it earns bonus rewards in nearly every major spending category other than groceries, it could pair very well with a dedicated grocery rewards card .
• Biggest drawbacks : Even though it earns travel rewards, the Autograph Card makes a better cash back rewards card than it does a travel card. Redemption options are not as versatile when it comes to travel, and your rewards can’t be transferred to an airline loyalty program. This puts it at a disadvantage to many of the best travel cards.
• Alternatives : You might have to upgrade to a card with an annual fee to match the autograph’s value as a gas and transit card. The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express comes with a $95 annual fee after an introductory $0 annual fee in the first year, but in return, you get exceptional value. On top of bonus rewards for your gas and transit purchases, you also get one of the highest rates around on U.S. supermarket purchases.
• Bottom line : The Autograph Card is a fantastic option for households looking to earn rewards on everyday essentials while avoiding an annual fee.

Read our Wells Fargo Autograph Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details .

Best for renters: Bilt Mastercard

• Best features : No other cards help you avoid fees on rent payments or offer such flexible and valuable travel rewards without charging an annual fee. Thanks to its long​​ list of airline and hotel partners and the high redemption value of its points, this card should be an almost perfect fit for long-term renters who want to score free trips.
• Biggest drawbacks : You can only redeem rewards toward rent payments, a future home down payment or — if you want the best value — for travel. And though earning rewards and avoiding transaction fees on rent payments is a terrific feature, the rewards rate on that spending is low, limiting this card’s standalone value.
• Alternatives : This is your best option if you want to earn rewards and avoid fees on rent payments, but other cards may offer better short-term value. The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card also offers transferable points but lets you take advantage of a generous intro APR offer and has a sign-up bonus.
• Bottom line : If you see yourself renting long term and don’t mind redeeming rewards toward living expenses or travel, this card should offer a ton of value.

Jump back to this card’s offer details .

Best for Amazon & Whole Foods: Prime Visa

• Best features:  This card’s rewards rate not only covers a wide array of online purchases, but also several key everyday spending categories. This makes it a terrific standalone rewards option for Amazon Prime members. You’ll also unlock exclusive pay-over-time financing options (terms apply) and Prime member deals, saving you even more.
• Biggest drawbacks:  The card’s top rewards rate only applies to purchases with Amazon and affiliated brands, so it may not be the best fit if you like to shop around for the best deal. It’s also missing a traditional intro APR offer, so it won’t be very helpful if you need to pay off non-Amazon purchases over time.
• Alternatives:  The  Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express  is a terrific alternative if you’re looking for a bit more flexibility. You can earn rewards on eligible U.S. online retail purchases (not just Amazon purchases) and at most U.S. supermarkets (not just Whole Foods).
• Bottom line:  Amazon Prime members really can’t  go wrong with this card, but occasional Amazon shoppers may be better off with a more flexible option.

Read our full  Prime Visa review  or jump back to this  card’s offer details .

Best for customizable bonus categories: Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

• Best features : Unlike most credit cards, the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card lets you choose your bonus rewards category. The base rewards are good for a no-annual-fee credit card and include wholesale clubs, which is a rare find for a general-purpose rewards card.
• Biggest drawbacks : There is a spending cap combined among the card’s  bonus categories, which puts a definite damper on this rewards card. While spending caps on boosted rewards are common, combining that cap between multiple categories stunts rewards across more than one area of your spending.
• Alternatives : If you’re looking for a low-maintenance alternative to the Customized Cash Rewards card, the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card could be a better fit. The unlimited flat rate of 2% cash rewards gives most people more chances to earn bonus rewards, and there is no spending cap to worry about.
• Bottom line : This card’s flexibility makes it worth a look even if you’re not a regular Bank of America customer. The customizable features, along with a chance to earn rewards at wholesale clubs, pair up nicely with short-term perks, including a sign-up bonus and intro APR offer on purchases and balance transfers.

Related : Is the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card worth it?

Read our full Bank of America Cash Rewards credit card review or jump back to this card’s offer details .

Best for online shopping: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

• Best features: This card stands out for its mix of lucrative and practical rewards categories. It not only covers staples like groceries and gas,  but also purchases with select U.S. online retailers — and you aren’t limited to just one or two websites. Those three categories should cover much of the average person’s everyday spending.
• Biggest drawbacks: While the card offers terrific flexibility with its online shopping category, its U.S. supermarket category doesn’t cover wholesale clubs like Costco or superstores like Walmart. You can also only redeem rewards as a statement credit.
• Alternatives: The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card may give you a bit more flexibility. You can not only choose your own eligible bonus category each month (online shopping is just one option), but also earn bonus cash back year round at both grocery stores and wholesale clubs.
• Bottom line: If you’re looking for a low-cost card that earns cash back on everyday and online purchases, this is a terrific pick.

Read our full Amex Blue Cash Everyday card review or jump back to this card’s offer details .

Best for students: Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

• Best features : The SavorOne Student card earns unlimited cash back and even has bonus categories that cover student-friendly spending areas like dining, popular streaming services and grocery stores. It’s also one of the few student cards to offer a sign-up bonus, which could come in handy for students preparing to head back to school in the fall.
• Biggest drawbacks : This card won’t be much help if you need to pay off a large purchase over time because it lacks an introductory APR offer. Plus, if you already have good credit or better, you may be better off applying for the non-student version of the card to benefit from its intro APR offer and sign-up bonus.
• Alternatives : Though the SavorOne Student card offers several lucrative cash back categories, it’s hard to match the level of variety you’ll get with the Discover it® Student Cash Back card ’s rotating bonus categories. Plus, Discover will match all the cash back you earn at the end of your first year, which could make for an impressive cash rewards payday.
• Bottom line : The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is worth a look if you’re a student looking for a chance to build credit with responsible use while enjoying terrific cash back variety.

Read our full Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card Review or jump back to this card’s offer details .

Best for starter travel perks American Express® Green Card

• Best features : If you’re looking for a taste of luxury travel without paying a huge annual fee, this card could strike a nice balance. Along with earning valuable, flexible Amex points, you’ll enjoy credits for Loungebuddy lounge access and expedited security screening that can offset the card’s cost on their own.
• Biggest drawbacks : The annual fee may be hard to offset if you only travel occasionally or can’t take advantage of the card’s travel perks. Frequent travelers may also be disappointed by the limited lounge access privileges: Loungebuddy isn’t accepted at all airports and the credit may only cover a few lounge visits.
• Alternatives : If lounge access isn’t a big priority for you, you may get more value out of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. The Venture card only charges a $95 annual fee ( See Rates and Fees ), still offers a credit for expedited security screening and carries a flat rewards rate that makes it easier to earn bonus miles wherever you spend.
• Bottom line : This card carries a reasonable annual fee and solid mid-level perks, so it could be a great fit for occasional travelers interested in earning Amex points.

Read our Amex Green Card review .

Best for dining + no annual fee: U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card

• Best features : For food lovers on a budget, it won’t be easy to beat a no-annual-fee credit card that offers 4X points for your dining purchases. The card also comes with additional benefits like a welcome bonus for new cardholders and a decent annual credit for streaming services.
• Biggest drawbacks : The dining rewards are this card’s top feature. But for your other everyday purchases, including gas and grocery stores, you’ll get greater value pairing this with another no-annual-fee card or even one that charges a modest annual fee.
• Alternative : The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express charges an annual fee after the first year, but is loaded with value. Cardmembers earn substantial cash back at U.S. supermarkets, which makes it a great choice for cardholders who eat at home more often than at restaurants.
• Bottom line : Anyone who eats out or orders food delivery should take advantage of the U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card.

Read our U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card .

Best for GM payments and leases: My GM Rewards® Mastercard®

• Best features : The high rewards rate you earn on all of your purchases outshine the rate you’ll find on many other rewards cards and will go a long way to helping you save money at the GM dealership.
• Biggest drawbacks : This card is only a good fit for loyal GM car drivers who want to rack up points to help bring down the cost of eligible GM-related products and services.
• Alternatives : A general-purpose cash back card with rewards in high-earning bonus categories that fit your spending habits. Try the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express if you want to earn an impressive amount of rewards on everyday spending.
• Bottom line : This card could be a nice addition to the wallets of GM loyalists.

Read our My GM Rewards® Mastercard® review .

A rewards credit card is a credit card that lets you earn points, miles or cash back on your spending. You might get rewards for specific types of purchases, like buying fuel at gas stations or groceries at supermarkets, or you might get a flat rate for all charges. Typically, you’ll need at least good credit to get a rewards credit card, though there are exceptions. If you’re interested in exploring some card options, our CardMatch tool can show you what rewards credit cards you may qualify for without hurting your credit score.

How do rewards credit cards work?

Rewards credit cards create an exciting opportunity to earn something in exchange for using this type of credit card. What you may not realize is there are multiple ways of earning and redeeming those rewards. Different rewards cards offer different types of rewards you can earn and a few different redemption options. The two most common are travel points and miles or cash back.

How to earn + –

• Make purchases in a card’s designated bonus categories. Credit cards with bonus categories often offer these on a regular or rotating basis each quarter or year, giving you a fantastic opportunity to boost your rewards in a short period of time.
• Make purchases through an issuer’s travel portal. Using the travel portal through the card issuer to make travel purchases is another tactic you can use to earn better rewards rates. These travel portals often add a boost when you purchase through them, and are one of the best ways to maximize your earning potential. For example, if you earn 2X points on travel when you book elsewhere, you could earn 5X points if you book through the issuer’s travel portal.
• Use your card for daily expenses: You’re spending money anyway on everyday items, so using a credit card that rewards you for your purchases is an easy way to earn. This is especially helpful when you have a flat-rate rewards card that earns the same rate on all of your spending.

How to redeem + –

• Navigate to your card’s rewards portal: By regularly visiting your card’s rewards portal online or downloading the card issuer’s app, you can get familiar with various redemption options and check out any bonus earnings or reward events.
• Select a method of redemption: Reward cards offer a variety of redemption methods, like direct deposit to a checking or savings account, statement credits or transfers to an airline partner or membership rewards portal.
• Verify your choices and redeem: It’s important to know not all redemption options have the same value, so choose a redemption option that maximizes the value if possible.

Types of rewards cards

Cash back cards + –.

With a cash back credit card , a percentage of each qualifying purchase will be paid back to you. For example, a card with a 2% cash back rate will reward you with $2 for every $100 you spend. This can be a great way to earn money for the purchases you make every day. With some cards, the rewards won’t expire for the life of the account – so the cash back that you earn will always be yours. Plus, there are several types of cash back credit cards to consider when researching.

• Flat-rate cash back cards . These are the simplest type of rewards cards, offering the same rate of cash back on all purchases, usually between 1% and 2%. Flat-rate cash back cards are a great choice for someone who has a wide variety of expenses or doesn’t want to be forced to remember bonus categories. A flat-rate card can also be a good choice if you only want one credit card to use for everything. A great option : the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card , which offers an industry-leading flat cash rewards on purchases, plus a generous welcome bonus not typically found with a flat-rate rewards card.
• Tiered cash back cards . Tiered bonus category cards reward specific spending categories, such as dining or gas, at a higher rate, while all other purchases will typically earn 1% cash back. They are a great choice for those who have recurring, significant expenses in certain categories. A great option : the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express , which offers boosted cash back rewards on select U.S. streaming services, U.S. supermarkets, transit, U.S. gas stations.
• Rotating category cash back cards . Similar to tiered cards, rotating category cards offer boosted rewards rates in certain categories. However, the bonus categories change, usually each quarter, and are often seasonally relevant. Those who want to capitalize on seasonal expenses, such as online shopping during the holidays or travel during the summer, might consider a rotating category card. A great option: the Discover it® Cash Back card , which offers a substantial cash back opportunity each quarter on popular spending categories, as long as you activate the offer as required.

Cash back gives you the most flexibility with your rewards. Since you’ll typically get cash back as a statement credit or direct deposit, you can use your rewards like cash to buy anything you want. Learn how to redeem cash back .

Travel rewards credit cards + –

Travel credit cards reward cardholders with points or miles instead of cash. You can redeem points or miles to book travel. With some travel rewards cards, you’ll gain access to luxurious perks like airport lounge access. Among the best travel credit cards , you’ll also find perks like free companion passes, free checked bags, TSA PreCheck credits and more. There are three main types of travel credit cards.

• General-purpose travel cards . With a general-purpose travel card, you’ll earn points, sometimes on all purchases, which can be redeemed for flights or hotel stays. General-purpose cards are the most flexible type of travel credit card because they allow you to redeem with a variety of partner brands, so you’re not limited to one airline or hotel chain. Also, many general-purpose travel credit cards reward you with extra points if you redeem through the issuer-specific redemption portal, rather than transferring your points to an airline or hotel loyalty program. A great option : the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card , which rewards cardholders with 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3X points on dining and 2X points on other travel purchases.
• Airline credit cards . Airline credit cards reward cardholders with miles for a specific airline. You earn those miles at a boosted rate through spending on flights or other categories, such as gas stations or dining. If you’re loyal to one brand, you’ll likely find your best redemption value with an airline card instead of a general-purpose card. A great option : the Delta Skymiles® Gold American Express Card , which offers 2X miles on Delta purchases, at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets.
• Hotel credit cards . Hotel credit cards , like airline cards, are co-branded and encourage loyalty to a single brand. As rewards stack up, you can earn free nights and become eligible for room upgrades, free breakfast and status boosts. A great option : the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card that earns 12X points at Hilton properties; 6X points at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations; and 3X points on general purchases Plus, a loyalty card like this rewards cardholders who spend $15,000 annually with a free weekend night each calendar year.

If you’re new to earning points — or just feeling overwhelmed by all the options out there — our travel credit cards roundup for beginners can point you in the right direction.

Other types of rewards cards + –

• Gas : Gas cards reward you generously for each gallon you buy and sometimes only require fair credit. You can get a credit card that rewards purchases at any gas station, or one that rewards purchases at a specific gas station chain. A great option : the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express , which offers bonus rewards for your purchases made at the pump as well as in other everyday categories.
• Retail : Sometimes called a co-branded card , retail credit cards are a type of loyalty card tied to department stores or other store brands. These cards can offer high percentages of cash back but the APRs can be quite high. Store cards come in two categories: closed loop or open loop. Closed-loop cards only work at the retailer whose name is on the card or at any related brands connected to that retailer. Open-loop store cards can be used anywhere that type of card is accepted. An open-loop Visa store card, for example, can be used wherever Visa cards are accepted. A great option : the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature card , which offers rewards on Amazon Prime and Whole Foods purchases.
• Business : Business credit cards are designed for business owners and generally offer cash back or points on business-related spending, like office supplies or internet services, as well as money-saving perks and flexible financing benefits. A great option : the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card , which rewards cardholders with 1.5% cash back on all purchases for your business.
• Student : Student credit cards are specifically designed for students with little-to-no credit history. These cards typically carry low credit limits and incentives for responsible use, but can also offer enticing rewards on student-focused categories as well. A great option : The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card , which offers unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®).

Travel credit cards reward cardholders with points or miles instead of cash. You can redeem points or miles to book travel, and with some travel rewards cards, you’ll gain access to luxurious perks like airport lounge access. Among the best travel credit cards , you’ll also find perks like free companion passes, free checked bags, TSA PreCheck credits and more. If you’re new to all of this, check out our beginner’s guide to points and miles before reading about the three main types of travel credit cards.

Pros and cons of rewards cards

Offers of discounted travel, complimentary hotel stays, rewards and other frills can be hard to pass up, but rewards cards aren’t a good fit for everyone. As you search for a card that best aligns with your budget and lifestyle, consider both the pros and cons of rewards credit cards.

• Rewards for your everyday purchases : Rewards cards offer the chance to earn cash back, points or miles on purchases you would likely make anyways. These rewards can be redeemed for future travel, to pay off past expenses and more.
• Peace of mind : Rewards credit cards often include complimentary purchase and travel protections. Extended warranty, travel insurance and cellphone insurance coverage are a few examples of included services that provide you with both greater peace of mind and additional valuable protections while shopping or traveling.
• Sign-up bonus : A sign-up bonus offers great short-term value and quick incentive — sometimes worth hundreds of dollars — simply for using your card for a specified amount of purchases during a short time period. For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card offers a 75,000 point reward, which is worth $1,125 in travel through Chase Travel, if you spend $4,000 in purchases the first three months.
• High APRs : Credit card interest rates tend to be high because issuers try to lessen the risk associated with lending unsecured debt to borrowers.
• High annual fees: You may have to pay an annual fee, especially for cards loaded with perks and benefits. Make sure those benefits are worth the cost.
• There may be strings attached: Rewards may have restrictions that make it harder for you to use points and miles on your terms. Restrictions may include travel blackout dates, seat restrictions or limits on what stores you can use for purchases to earn rewards.
• Requires more work to maximize: Getting the most out of your rewards card will require some strategizing, unless you opt for a flat-rate rewards card that earns a uniform rate on all purchases. Rewards cards with bonus categories could be more lucrative, but may require tracking enrollment dates and shifting categories.

Choosing the right rewards card depends on a number of factors, but they’re not for everyone. Before applying, make sure a rewards credit card is a good fit for you.

Who should get a rewards credit card

• Travelers . Though you might have to pay an annual fee, the right travel card comes with plenty of perks, which may include airport lounge access, complimentary checked baggage and travel insurance.
• Responsible credit users . To get the most out of your rewards card , it helps to pay your balance on time and in full each month to avoid costly interest charges and fees that eat away at the rewards you earn
• Everyday shoppers . Your everyday purchases could earn high rewards that  you can use to pay off past purchases or save for future travel.

Who should skip a rewards credit card

• People who consistently carry a balance . If you’re going to carry a balance, it might be a better idea to get a low interest credit card , which could help cut down on interest charges.
• People who want to simplify their finances . Rewards credit cards come with their own set of hassles, which could include complicated rewards programs, higher APRs, and the need to track spending caps and rewards expiration dates. For some people, these disadvantages may outweigh the advantages.
• People who skip the fine print . You’ll need to pay attention to the terms and conditions of your rewards card. That’s where you’ll find important information, like penalty APRs, limitations, blackout date policies and spending caps.

How to compare rewards cards

The right rewards card for you will vary depending on your financial goals and habits. So before you start comparing cards, carefully consider how you tend to spend your money.

“Credit card companies offer all types of reward options these days, from points to miles to cash back, and each card provides incentives based on certain purchases or stores/retailers, so it’s important to find the card that rewards you for the purchases you make the most,” says money-saving expert Andrea Woroch, whose advice has been featured in media such as Time’s Next Advisor, Huffington Post and The New York Times.

For example, a rewards rate of 3X points on travel purchases is great – but only if you regularly spend a significant amount of money on travel. The best rewards card for you will match the way you already spend. Once you know what you want – say, a card that earns travel rewards on every purchase – you’ll be able to compare rewards cards in that category. Start by considering these card features or visiting our compare credit cards tool.

• Annual fee . There are plenty of solid rewards cards, often cash back cards, that charge no annual fee. But travel rewards cards and cards with exceptionally high rewards rates or sign-up bonuses typically do charge an annual fee. If the card you’re eyeing comes with an annual fee, you should do some quick math to make sure that your yearly rewards earnings will be greater than the cost of the fee.
• Foreign transaction fees . Many travel credit cards let you skip this charge, which is otherwise imposed when you use the card overseas. Standard foreign transaction fees run between 2% and 3% of each purchase. See the best credit cards for no foreign transaction fees .
• Additional benefits . Rewards cards often offer perks just for having the card. For example, many travel cards offer benefits like credits for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, airport lounge access and free checked bags. If you’re torn between two cards or on the fence about whether an annual fee is worth it, perks like these can tip the scale in one direction.
• Sign-up/welcome bonus . Most rewards cards offer some kind of incentive to new cardholders who spend a certain amount on their card within a specified time frame. You might get a few hundred dollars in cash back or a chunk of points you can redeem for a free flight. Though valuable, a sign-up bonus is a one-time perk. Make sure the long-term value checks out, too.
• Ongoing APR . If you’ll be carrying a balance from month to month, you’re probably better off forgoing rewards and getting a low-interest credit card. That said, accidents and emergencies happen, even to those who usually pay their balance in full. Choosing a rewards card with a lower interest rate can save you money if you need to carry a balance someday. If you’re curious about how your card’s APR might affect your bottom line, read our guide to credit card interest .
• Introductory APR . Some rewards cards offer new cardholders an introductory 0% interest rate on purchases or balance transfers for a certain number of months. These offers can be a boon, particularly if you’re planning on making a one-time large purchase or have an existing high-interest balance you’re trying to pay down. Just be sure to pay off your purchase or your balances before you focus on racking up rewards.
• First-year vs. ongoing value . Rewards credit cards with annual fees and sign-up bonuses may carry more value in the first year than in the following years as a result of welcome offers or other one-off perks. When comparing cards, consider the weight of each card’s first-year value and ongoing value. Depending on rewards rates, a card that carries a sign-up bonus in the first year may not sustain as high of a value for you as an alternative card might.

Still stuck? Check out our step-by-step guide to choosing the right credit card .

The best rewards card depends on your specific needs. Choosing the best rewards card will come down to considering a few key questions and using the answers to lead you to the best card for you. As you look at various rewards cards, consider the following;

What type of rewards do you want?

The first step in choosing a rewards credit card is deciding what type of rewards you want most. Not all rewards cards earn in the same categories or at the same rates, and some may be more valuable than others depending on your lifestyle. For example, you shouldn’t pick a travel rewards card co-branded with an airline you never fly with, since you often won’t get the highest return on your spending. Whether you value the flexibility of cash back or want to stack up points and miles toward a trip, note the type of rewards you want most and start from there.

What are your spending habits?

Knowing where you spend the majority of your money can be helpful when choosing a rewards credit card. To get the most out of a card, you should spend highly in the categories the card rewards most generously. Take time to track your spending and get a pulse on where the money in your budget goes. Doing so will help you narrow down what rewards categories are most valuable to you, and then you can pick a rewards card that’s especially lucrative in those categories.

What are you willing to pay for?

Oftentimes, the most premier rewards cards with the best perks and benefits will charge an annual fee. You’ll need to decide how much you’re willing to pay, if anything, to hold one of these cards. Something that could help you in deciding if an annual fee is worth it is to calculate if the rewards you’d earn would easily offset the annual fee. You can find plenty of generous rewards cards that don’t charge annual fees, so this extra charge doesn’t have to push a good card out of reach.

Once you’ve picked the best card for you, here are some strategies you can use to unlock your card’s full potential and maximize the value of your rewards.

• Match your spending patterns with your rewards strategy. Doing so is one of the best ways to ensure you earn the most with your rewards card. For example, if you spend a lot on dining out, you’ll likely get more out of a cash back rewards card that earns highly on dining purchases than with a travel card that only earns on hotel stays or rental cars. To supercharge your earnings even more, designate your rewards card to only purchases that earn in your highest spending category. This way, you’ll ensure you’re getting maximum rewards every time.
• Snag a sign-up/welcome bonus . A sign-up bonus is an ideal way to supercharge rewards, and numerous credit cards offer this incentive if you reach a certain spending threshold during the early stages of card ownership. The key is to choose one where the required spend and time frame fit within your budget. “Make sure that it’s feasible to reach the cash sign-up bonus” says Woroch, “and that you aren’t chasing the reward by making extra, unnecessary purchases.”
• Know your rewards program . It pays to read the terms and conditions of the rewards program, which could save you from missing out on rewards opportunities. For example, the rewards program may spell out how to enroll in a quarterly bonus category or may detail the spending limit within certain categories, both of which could impact how much you are earning in rewards.
• Pool points . Some issuers let you combine rewards across multiple credit cards, while others allow you to share points with family members or even friends. These options usually come with a few caveats, but they can help you reach redemption thresholds or earn big rewards, like first-class airfare, more quickly.
• Take advantage of as many additional benefits as possible . Your rewards card may offer additional benefits beyond cash back and miles. Some cards offer valuable consumer protections, such as additional cellphone insurance and expanded purchase protection. Travel reward cards might include complimentary lounge access or free checked bags. Taking advantage of as many benefits as possible could save you money or make traveling easier.
• Redeem for maximum value . When it’s time to redeem rewards, make sure to compare your card’s redemption options to ensure you get the best value. Credit cards typically offer several choices for redeeming rewards, but not all rewards are equal in value. For example, a reward may have a higher value when redeemed for a statement credit versus a gift card or the travel reward may be worth more if you book it through a transfer partner. Reviewing all your options before you redeem will help you select the most valuable redemption option.
• Pay your bills in full . If you don’t, you’ll lose your points, miles or cash back to interest – and rather quickly, given that rewards credit cards tend to carry slightly higher interest rates than some of their counterparts. To earn rewards while minimizing the odds of overspending, consider paying your bills every week, instead of the end of every month.

The best rewards credit card programs

You can compare individual credit cards, but knowing a little bit about each issuer’s rewards program can help you narrow your search. Credit card rewards programs come in any number of flavors, and one of them is bound to work well for you. Just remember that not every credit card from an issuer will qualify for their rewards program. Here is an overview of some popular rewards programs and how they work. You can learn more about each one by reading our full reviews.

What are points and miles worth?

The value of your points and miles can vary, depending on the card and how you redeem them. If you like to redeem your points for statement credits or gift cards, a card where your points are worth at least 1 cent is a safe bet. When redeeming for travel, your points could swing lower, but they can also go a lot higher, especially if you’re using a card with transferable points.

Transferable points gives you the flexibility to move your points over to a transfer partner’s loyalty program . This can give you more options when booking travel and give you a chance to redeem your points or miles for greater value. In some cases, the right transfer partner could bump the value of your points or miles to over 2 cents.

For example, with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, your points are worth 1.25 cents when you redeem through the Chase Travel℠ portal . But with the right high-value transfer partner, we estimate your points could be worth an average of 2 cents.

Here are some of the best credit card rewards programs that offer travel cards with transferable points:

• American Express transfer partners
• Capital One transfer partners
• Chase transfer partners
• Citi transfer partners

Before you apply for a new card, check to see if your points or miles can be transferred and that you’re able to transfer your rewards to your favorite airline or hotel. And to make sure you’re getting the best value, make sure you know how to do the math to see how much your rewards are worth.

How to calculate the value of your travel points or miles

When booking travel with airlines or hotels, you can see how much it will cost if you were to pay in cash or use your rewards. To find the value of your points or miles, divide the cash cost of a flight or hotel stay by the cost in points or miles. This will give you the cash value of your points or miles.

You can then take a look at Bankrate’s latest points and miles valuations , where you’ll find an estimate of what your points or miles should be worth. If the value you calculated matches or is greater than our valuation, you’ve found a good deal. But if your calculated value is less than what we estimate your points or miles should be worth, you may want to pay in cash or look for a better deal.

For example, if you’re planning travel, and you see that the cost of a business class seat on a Southwest Airlines flight is $333 in cash or 23,888 points, your miles are worth 1.4 cents ($333 / 23,888 = $0.014). That’s close to our estimated value of 1.5 cents, but you may be able to do better.

If you find a Southwest Wanna Get Away Plus fare for $104 or 5,743 points, your points for that flight would be worth an impressive 1.81 cents ($104 / 5,743 = $0.018). That beats our estimate and gives you some peace of mind that you’re getting a great deal on your flight.

Rewards credit cards are a great way to earn free travel, cash back and more, but if you don’t have any credit history or don’t meet the requirements for most rewards cards, there are other options for you.

• If you qualify, get a student credit card . Student cards are specifically designed for college students, although some may allow anyone under 21 to apply (typically with no minimum income). Student credit cards tend to offer better terms and higher limits than typical starter cards (such as secured cards), so they can be helpful for building credit history early on. The Discover it ® Student Cash Back Card is a great option to start with.
• Try for a secured credit card . These cards require a security deposit, which can be as low as $200 in some cases. The amount of the deposit is usually equal to your credit limit. In exchange for the deposit, you get an account that reports positive payment history to major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion). If you want to earn rewards on everyday purchases, the Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card is ideal.
• Consider a retail credit card . You can get store-branded cards from major retailers like Target and Walmart. These cards offer rewards on all purchases made at the issuing store. If they are used responsibly, they can be a convenient way to build or rebuild credit.
• Apply for an alternative credit card . Cards like the Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card are also a good option if you don’t have any previous credit history, as they are designed for people who don’t qualify for traditional credit cards or those who may not have access to mainstream banking products.

How we picked the best rewards credit cards

We analyzed over 300 credit cards to identify the best rewards credit cards currently on the market. These factors and more inform our decisions on which cards can work the best for you.

• Rewards rate : We took into account rewards categories and rates, earning caps and other fine print that may affect total earnings potential.
• Interest rate : Though you shouldn’t have to worry about interest rates if you’re paying your bill in full each month, we excluded rewards cards with exorbitant interest rates.
• Fees : We compared each card’s fees to its rewards rate and sign-up bonus to determine whether the average consumer could earn enough rewards to justify the annual fee within the first year and years to come.
• Travel benefits : For the travel cards, we’ve assessed point values and transfer partners to help you weigh your options based on your lifestyle and goals.

All criteria used : Credit needed, rates & fees, transfer partners, travel benefits, point values, redemption options and flexibility, customer service, sign-up bonus, rewards rate.

More information on rewards cards

For more information on all things rewards cards, continue reading content from our credit card experts:

• Do all purchases count when racking up rewards?
• Best credit cards for large purchases
• How to choose a rewards credit card

Frequently asked questions about rewards credit cards

How many credit card rewards points can i earn + –.

Your point-earning potential depends on two things: how much you spend on the card and whether it offers unlimited rewards. Some cards set no limit to the number of points you can earn at a boosted rate, while others might decrease your rewards rate after you hit a certain spending threshold.

What determines which purchases qualify for bonus rewards? + –

Credit card companies use merchant category codes, or MCCs, to allocate rewards. These codes are assigned by payment networks like Visa or Mastercard, and typically apply to the business, not individual purchases. Buying a loaf of bread at a gas station would not typically register as a grocery purchase, but rather a gas station purchase. You can find a business’s merchant category code in several ways. If you’re a Visa cardholder, you can look it up online with their supplier locator tool. If your card uses a different network, like Mastercard or American Express, you’ll have to call your issuer or check your statement after making a purchase.

What credit score do you need for a rewards credit card? + –

Most rewards cards require at least good credit, which is a FICO® score of 670 or greater. With very good or excellent credit, you’ll likely have access to the best rewards credit cards. Don’t fall into either of these two categories? There are some reward credit cards specifically for people who are building credit or have bad-to- fair credit , though the reward rates are modest compared to what you’d receive otherwise.

Do credit card rewards expire? + –

It depends on the terms and conditions of your rewards credit card. Some credit card rewards programs will note that rewards never expire. Other programs have a defined expiration date. Additionally, it’s possible to lose your rewards points in other ways, such as missing a monthly payment, card inactivity or violating the rewards program rules through fraud.

It’s essential to check-in on your reward status throughout the year, so you are aware of any upcoming expiration dates and can plan accordingly.

Are credit card rewards taxable? + –

It depends on both the type of rewards you’re earning and the credit card you’re using. There are certain rewards that are subject to the taxable rules from the IRS, like cash prizes, referral bonuses and welcome bonuses where there’s no spending requirement. If there’s a spending requirement tied to earning the reward, then it’s most likely not considered taxable.

About the Author

Ryan Noonan

Ryan Noonan Ryan Noonan is a former writer for Bankrate and CreditCards.com and is a graduate of the School of Journalism at Ohio State University. 

About the Editor

Robert Thorpe

Robert Thorpe is an editor for CreditCards.com

About the Reviewer

Jason Steele

Jason Steele is a professional journalist and credit card expert who has been contributing to online publications since 2008. He was one of the original contributors to The Points Guy, and his work has been appearing there since 2011. He has also contributed to over 100 of the leading personal finance and travel outlets. He’s frequently interviewed and quoted by mainstream outlets on the subjects of credit cards and travel. Jason is passionate about travel rewards credit cards, which he uses to earn rewards that he can redeem for him and his family to travel around the world. Jason is also the founder and producer of CardCon, a conference for credit and credit card journalists that’s held annually.

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Best credit cards for American Airlines flyers of June 2024

The best American Airlines credit cards offer benefits for both occasional and frequent American flyers. Whether you’re looking to earn AAdvantage miles and unlock perks like lounge access and free checked luggage or seeking a more general travel rewards card that offers flexible rewards and benefits across multiple airlines, there’s a great option for you.

We have firsthand experience getting and utilizing many of the best American Airlines credit cards — so check out our analysis of the current offers below from our partners.

• Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® : Best for American Airlines lounge access
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card : Best for travel insurance
• The Platinum Card® from American Express : Best for luxury benefits
• Chase Sapphire Reserve® : Best for travel credits

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Comparing the best credit cards, more details on the best credit cards, what is american airlines, how we rate, maximizing american airlines credit cards, how to choose the best american airlines credit card, ask our experts, pros + cons of american airlines credit cards, frequently asked questions, citi® / aadvantage® executive world elite mastercard®.

The  Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® is best for American Airlines flyers who value lounge access. It provides a full Admirals Club membership, as well as a number of other benefits that make flying American Airlines more enjoyable, such as a free checked bag, priority check-in, priority airport screening and priority boarding privileges, along with a boost toward elite status.

• Offers Admirals Club lounge access
• Priority check-in, airport screening, boarding and a free checked bag for you and up to 8 travel companions
• 25% discount on inflight food and beverages
• Receive a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck Fee Statement Credit
• Miles redemption limited to American Airlines and its Oneworld partners
• 25% inflight credit doesn't include Wi-Fi
• For a limited time, earn 100,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $10,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.
• Admirals Club® membership for you and access for up to two guests or immediate family members traveling with you
• No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
• Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases
• First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to 8 companions traveling with you on the same reservation

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the most popular travel rewards credit card on the market. Offering an excellent return on travel and dining purchases, the card packs a ton of value that easily offsets its $95 annual fee. Cardholders can redeem points at 1.25 cents each for travel booked through Chase or transfer points to one of Chase’s 14 valuable airline and hotel partners. Read our full  review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card .

• You’ll earn 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services and online grocery store purchases, 2 points per dollar on all other travel and 1 point per dollar on everything else
• Premium travel protection benefits including trip cancellation insurance, primary car rental insurance and lost luggage insurance
• The card comes with a $95 annual fee
• Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 75,000 points are worth $937.50 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
• Member FDIC

The Platinum Card® from American Express

The Amex Platinum is unmatched when it comes to travel perks and benefits. If lounge access, hotel elite status and annual statement credits are important to you, this card is well worth the high annual fee. Read our full  review of the Platinum Card from American Express .

• The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative
• This card comes with a long list of benefits, including access to Centurion Lounges, complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott, and at least $500 in assorted annual statement credits and so much more (enrollment required)
• The Amex Platinum comes with access to a premium concierge service that can help you with everything from booking hard-to-get reservations to finding destination guides to help you plan out your next getaway
• The $695 annual fee is only worth it if you’re taking full advantage of the card’s benefits. Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost
• Outside of the current welcome bonus, you’re only earning bonus rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so it’s not a great card for other spending categories
• The annual airline fee credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards
• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
• $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
• $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
• Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 year period for TSA PreCheck® application fee for a 5-year plan only (through a TSA PreCheck® official enrollment provider), when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.
• See Rates & Fees

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is one of our top premium travel cards. With a $300 travel credit, bonus points on dining and travel purchases and other benefits, you can get excellent value that far exceeds the annual fee on the card. Read our full  review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve card .

• $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year
• Access to Chase Ultimate Rewards hotel and airline travel partners
• 10 points per dollar on hotels, car rentals and Chase Dining purchases through the Chase Travel℠ portal, 5 points per dollar on flights booked through the Ultimate Rewards portal, 3 points per dollar on all other travel and dining, 1 point per dollar on everything else
• 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel directly through Chase Travel℠
• Steep initial $550 annual fee
• May not make sense for people that don't travel frequently
• Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,125 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 75,000 points are worth $1125 toward travel.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®

The Citi AAdvantage Executive card has a massive $595 annual fee (see rates and fees ). But we love it for the valuable perks it provides to frequent American Airlines flyers — including full membership access to Admirals Club lounges and up to 20,000 additional Loyalty Points each AAdvantage status-qualifying year.

The card is a great option if you want Admirals Club access before and after eligible same-day flights marketed or operated by American Airlines (or marketed and operated by any other Oneworld carrier). These privileges even extend to two guests (or immediate family members). Authorized users on your card also get access to Admirals Clubs during eligible travel. However, you’ll need to pay $175 per year for up to three authorized users (and $175 for each authorized user after that).

“I frequently find myself on American out of Miami International Airport (MIA), and I love that I can access the Admirals Club with my immediate family. I can also add up to three authorized users for an additional $175 (total) per year — and each of them gets club access as well. Beyond that, I save hundreds of dollars a year thanks to Citi Merchant Offers on the card.”  — Nick Ewen , director of content

If you want a card that earns American Airlines miles with a lower annual fee, consider the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® . You won’t get Admirals Club access, but you’ll enjoy preferred boarding and a first checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries. The information for the Citi Platinum Select has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is one of our favorite travel rewards cards. We love that you can earn valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points on your purchases, including multiple bonus categories. Plus, you’ll get up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays purchased through the Chase travel portal.

If you travel at least a few times each year, don’t always fly on American Airlines and want to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points on your purchases, the Chase Sapphire Preferred may be well worth its modest annual fee.

“The Chase Sapphire Preferred has remained a top card in my wallet for years. Between the consistently strong sign-up bonus, low annual fee and continual improvements that have been made over the years, it's hard for any other mid-tier rewards card to compare. I love that I can earn bonus rewards on travel, dining, streaming and online grocery purchases — all with just one card. Plus, Chase Ultimate Rewards points are valuable and easy to use whether you're new to points and miles or an expert.” — Madison Blancaflor , senior content operations editor

If you’re looking for a more premium travel credit card but still want to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards , consider the Chase Sapphire Reserve® . The Reserve comes with higher earning rates, a $300 annual travel credit, exclusive Chase lounge access and much more. It is important to note that the Reserve also comes with a significantly higher annual fee of $550.

The Amex Platinum carries a hefty $695 annual fee (see rates and fees ). But we still love it due to the sheer number of cardmember perks it offers. This includes a up to $200 airline fee credit , a up to $189 Clear Plus credit and 5 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar). Enrollment is required.

If you want to earn Amex Membership Rewards points on your purchases, have a Centurion Lounge at airports you frequently transit, don’t need perks specific to American Airlines flights and will use many of the benefits and statement credits offered by the Amex Platinum, then it may be the right card for you.

“Whilst this card has a high annual fee, it more than justifies itself for frequent travelers like me. The lounge access options that come with the Platinum are unrivaled by competitors. I put all of my flights — whether bought with cash or points — on this card to earn 5 points per dollar spent (on the first $500,000 per calendar year) and trip protection insurance. I make sure to take full advantage of the Uber, Saks Fifth Avenue, Hulu/Disney+ and Clear credits (enrollment required). And, honestly, pulling a Platinum card out of your wallet to pay for something does feel pretty fancy.” — Matt Moffitt , senior credit cards editor

If you don’t frequently see Centurion Lounges in your travels and don’t want to squeeze value from the Amex Platinum’s many statement credits, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® might be a better premium travel rewards card for you. You’d earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points instead of Amex Membership Rewards points, but the Sapphire Reserve’s $300 annual travel credit is easy to use, and you’d earn at least 3 points per dollar on all your travel purchases.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve carries a $550 annual fee but offers a $300 annual travel credit , Priority Pass Select membership and a number of bonus categories. The card also offers some of the best travel protections when you use your card to book.

If you frequently book travel and want to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points on your purchases, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is a good option. You’ll get the most value when you transfer your points to Chase’s partners , but Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders can also redeem points at a rate of 1.5 cents apiece for travel purchased through the Chase travel portal .

“I've had the Sapphire Reserve for years, and it's going to stay in my wallet for the near future. I get $300 off travel every year, along with great earning rates on travel and dining (3 points per dollar) and varied travel protections that can reimburse me when things go wrong. And by leveraging other cards in the Ultimate Rewards ecosystem, I'm able to maximize the earnings across all of my purchases.” — Nick Ewen , director of content

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a lower annual fee and fewer perks but still offers solid travel protections, at least 2 points per dollar on all travel purchases and the ability to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

American Airlines is a major airline headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas.

American Airlines pins its start to a flight in 1926 when a chief pilot of Robertson Aircraft Corporation stowed a bag of mail in his DH-4 biplane. In 1940, American Airlines opened airport lounges for its customers. And in 1981, American Airlines launched the AAdvantage loyalty program.

Types of American Airlines credit cards

Each cobranded American Airlines credit card offers its own set of valuable perks and benefits. Here are a few that should factor into deciding which might be best for you.

Frequent travelers who are loyal to American Airlines will enjoy the perks of having a cobranded credit card that provides them with benefits that include lounge access. The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® offers Admirals Club access where cardholders can enjoy snacks, made-to-order food, drinks and more.

American Airlines credit card benefits

Cobranded American Airlines credit cards offer many benefits for travelers. Here’s a look at what you can expect from some of the AAdvantage credit cards we discussed above.

All of the cobranded American Airlines credit cards earn AAdvantage miles. Here’s a look at how many miles you’ll earn on purchases with some of the best American Airlines credit cards:

• Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® : 10 miles per dollar on eligible hotels booked through aa.com/hotels and eligible car rentals booked through aa.com/cars, 4 miles per dollar on eligible American Airlines purchases (5 miles per dollar after you spend $150,000 on your card in a calendar year), and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases
• Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® : 2 miles per dollar on eligible American Airlines purchases and at restaurants and gas stations, and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases
• American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® : 2 miles per dollar on eligible American Airlines purchases and at grocery stores, and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases
• AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard : 2 miles per dollar on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases

The information for the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select, American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp, and AAdvantage Aviator Red Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

You can often earn a sign-up bonus if you’re approved for a new American Airlines credit card and meet the minimum spending requirements for the bonus. Many of the current offers are available in this story — though be sure to review our guide to credit card application restrictions and our history of Citi welcome bonuses to ensure you’re maximizing your chances of approval and getting the best possible offer.

Three of the cobranded American Airlines credit cards we highlighted above offer a first checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to a set number of companions traveling with you on the same reservation.

Cardholders of the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard get a first checked bag free for up to eight companions, while cardholders of the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard and AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard get a first checked bag free for up to four travel companions.

Many credit cards offer a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit . This credit usually provides a statement credit for an eligible Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee charged to your card every four to five years. A few of the cards highlighted in this guide offer this perk, including:

• Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® : Get a statement credit of up to $100 every four years when you pay a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee with your card.
• The Platinum Card® from American Express : Get a statement credit of up to $100 for Global Entry every four years or up to $85 for TSA PreCheck every 4.5 years when you pay for the respective application fee with your card. Enrollment is required.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve® : Get a statement credit of up to $100 every four years when you pay for a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus application fee with your card.

The information for the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select, and AAdvantage Aviator Red Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here . For rates and fees of the Bilt Mastercard, click here . For rewards and benefits of the Bilt Mastercard, click here .

Decide what benefits are important

If you are searching for an American Airlines credit card, you may want one that provides perks when you fly American Airlines. For example, if you want Admirals Club access when flying American Airlines and select partners, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® is the best card. Meanwhile, if you don’t need lounge access but want preferred boarding and a first checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries, the lower-annual-fee Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® might be best.

However, if you frequently fly other airlines besides American Airlines, you may want to get a card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® that offers Priority Pass Select lounge membership and statement credits for travel purchases you make with your card.

Choose the rewards you want to earn

Some of the cards we’ve highlighted above earn American Airlines miles. These miles are valuable, but you can only redeem them with the American Airlines AAdvantage program.

However, some cards earn transferable rewards you can redeem in many ways. For example, a card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points allows you to book travel on any airline through the Chase travel portal, but you can also redeem points for hotels, rental cars and even activities. Alternatively, you can transfer points to one of Chase’s fantastic partners . These rewards are much more flexible than miles associated with an individual airline loyalty program.

Earn Loyalty Points through spending

One other aspect to consider is whether you’re hoping to earn Loyalty Points when you spend on your credit card. Loyalty Points are the metric American Airlines uses for elite status qualification, and you can spend your way to AAdvantage elite status using cobranded American Airlines credit cards.

However, know that bonuses and accelerators will earn redeemable miles but not Loyalty Points. As such, you’ll earn 1 Loyalty Point per dollar spent with the cobranded American AAdvantage cards highlighted above.

• 1 Sign-up bonus Choose the best American Airlines card that offers a solid sign-up bonus you can use for future trips. Additionally, consider the minimum spend threshold required to earn a sign-up bonus and make sure your budget and spending align with that figure.
• 2 Annual fee Depending on what your goals are when opening a new credit card, you may want to opt for a budget-friendly, low annual fee card or a premium travel card — with premium protections and benefits — with a premium annual fee.
• 3 Bonus categories The best American Airlines credit cards feature various bonus categories for different types of travelers and spenders. Whether you want a cobranded airline card or a travel card that’s also great for general everyday purchases, one of our top picks is sure to suit your needs.

What's your favorite American Airlines card — and why?

• Using American credit cards responsibly can help you build your credit score
• American credit cards can earn AAdvantage miles (or flexible travel rewards) every time you use them
• Spending on cobranded American Airlines cards helps you unlock AAdvantage elite status
• Many American credit cards include perks to enhance your travel experience — including lounge access, free checked bags and priority boarding
• Spending beyond your means with an American credit card can damage your credit score
• Earning American AAdvantage miles means you’re limited to awards through that program
• You may not travel with American and its partners enough to make an AAdvantage credit card worthwhile

The best American Airlines credit card will vary depending on your needs. If you want Admirals Club access, the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard will be the best American Airlines card. But if you are primarily interested in getting your first checked bag free on domestic American Airlines flights, one of the cards with a lower annual fee will likely be best.

An American Airlines card may be worth getting if its perks provide more value than the cost of the annual fee. For example, you'd only need to check a bag four times per year to cover the cost of the mid-tier AAdvantage cards. And the annual fee on the Citi AA Executive card is less than the cost of an Admirals Club membership.

You can apply for some American Airlines cards, including the Citi AA Executive card, by clicking the hyperlinked card names on our page. You can apply for other American Airlines cards by searching for the card on the Citi or Barclays websites. You can also pick up a paper application for the Aviator Red on board some American Airlines flights.

Only one major credit card currency allows transfers to American AAdvantage: Bilt Rewards . These transfers occur at a 1:1 ratio, and they usually process within 24 hours. You also have the ability to transfer Marriott Bonvoy points at a 3:1 ratio, which allows you to leverage various Marriott credit cards to earn American miles. However, we only recommend transferring Marriott points to airline programs for very specific redemptions.

Most American Airlines credit cards don’t have foreign transaction fees. But some, including the AAdvantage MileUp card, do charge foreign transaction fees. So, check the fine print before assuming your American Airlines credit card doesn't have foreign transaction fees.

You can use your cobranded American Airlines credit card to make purchases at most merchants that accept credit cards.

Cardholders of the Citi AA Executive card automatically get priority boarding in Group 4. Cardholders of most other eligible AAdvantage cards get preferred boarding in Group 5. You won’t get preferred boarding with the AAdvantage MileUp card , though.

Some American Airlines credit cards, including the Citi AA Executive card, offer worldwide car rental insurance coverage when you pay for your rental with your card. See your card's guide to benefits to determine whether your card offers rental car coverage and, if so, the coverage details.

You'll typically need good credit — which means a credit score of at least 670 — to be approved for an American Airlines credit card. However, you can improve your chances of getting approved with an excellent score in the high 700s or low 800s.

Personal Finance

Best rewards credit cards for june 2024.

Our evaluations and opinions are not influenced by our advertising relationships, but we may earn a commission from our partners’ links. This content is created independently from TIME’s editorial staff. Learn more about it.

Interested in adding a new tool to your financial utility belt? There are loads of rewards credit cards to choose from—but your pick will depend on your financial goals, spending habits, and credit score.

We've curated a selection of rewards credit cards, ranging from straightforward options to premium choices, whether you’re simply looking for cashback or you want to book a lie-flat first class seat to Asia.

TIME Stamp's best rewards credit cards

Chase sapphire preferred® card, why we like it:.

If you’re just starting your journey into rewards credit cards, there’s no better gateway than the card_name . There are a few reasons for this.

Most importantly, the points you earn are versatile enough to fit your goals—no matter what they are. You can cash them out at a rate of 1 cent per point; you can use them to buy travel through the Chase Travel Portal at a rate of 1.25 cents each; you can transfer them to airline and hotel partners (like Southwest and Hyatt) for free flights and accommodations.

The card also offers bonus points for common expenses. You’ll earn:

• 5 points per dollar for travel booked through the Chase Travel Portal (and 2 points per dollar for all other travel).
• 3 points per dollar for dining, streaming services, and online grocery purchases (except with Walmart, Target, and any wholesale clubs).
• 1 point per dollar for all other purchases.

Expenses like groceries, dining, and streaming likely account for the lion’s share of your monthly spending. Receiving a bonus for these purchases can translate into many tens of thousands of points each year.

The card’s annual_fees annual fee is also very accessible to those apprehensive of rewards credit cards. With ongoing benefits like top-notch travel insurance and a yearly $50 credit for prepaid hotel stays booked through the Chase Travel Portal, you’ll find the fee to be easily justified.

Product details:

• Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel(SM).
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel(SM), 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel(SM). For example, 75,000 points are worth $937.50 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
• Member FDIC

Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card

card_name is the gold standard of travel credit cards. It doesn’t lead the industry in every category, but it’s extremely well-rounded. Yes, you’ll pay an eye-watering annual_fees fee upfront, but the card’s ongoing benefits can quickly offset that number–by a lot.

For example, you’ll receive a $300 travel credit after opening your card and each year after your account anniversary. If you routinely spend at least $300 per year on travel, this card’s annual fee effectively drops to $250.

You’ll also receive:

• The best travel insurance of any credit card on the market.
• Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership (worth over $400 annually) and access to Chase Sapphire Lounges.
• Generous earning rates for travel and dining expenses (up to 10 points per dollar).
• Up to $100 credit toward trusted traveler programs such as Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS every four years (membership lasts five years).
• Two years of free Lyft Pink All Access membership, which comes with perks like discounted rides, cancellation forgiveness up to three times per month, and free Priority Pickup upgrades.

Again, Chase Ultimate Rewards points are extremely flexible. You can cash them out at a rate of 1 cent each, transfer them to airline and hotel partners for free travel, or purchase travel through the Chase Travel Portal at a rate of 1.5 cents each (0.25 cents more value than card_name cardholders will get).

• Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,125 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel(SM).
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel(SM) immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel(SM). For example, 75,000 points are worth $1125 toward travel.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass(TM) Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck(R)

Citi Custom Cash® Card

(Rates & Fees)

Why we chose it:

The Citi Custom Cash® Card is one of the most effortless rewards credit cards in existence. You’ll earn 5% back (on up to $500 in spending, then 1% thereafter) in whichever eligible category you spend the most each billing cycle. This includes:

• Fitness clubs
• Home improvement stores
• Live entertainment
• Gas stations
• Grocery stores
• Restaurants
• Select streaming services
• Select transit
• Select travel

You’ll earn 1% back on everything else.

The genius of this card is that you don’t have to select the category with which you want to earn a bonus; the card will detect your most used expense and automatically bonus it for you.

One important note is that you’re technically collecting Citi ThankYou points (Citi’s travel rewards currency) instead of cash back. You can redeem your points at a rate of 1 cent each in the form of statement credits or direct deposit, but you can also transfer them to valuable airline and hotel partners if you also hold the Citi Prestige® (not available to new applicants). In other words, the rewards you earn with the Citi Custom Cash® Card can be worth significantly more if paired with the right credit card.

• Earn $200 cash back after you spend $2,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
• 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24$, based on your creditworthiness.
• Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
• No rotating bonus categories to sign up for - as your spending changes each billing cycle, your earn adjusts automatically when you spend in any of the eligible categories.
• No Annual Fees.
• Citi will only issue one Citi Custom Cash® Card account per person.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

The card_name offers a respectable return for all purchases.

While many cards earn a minimum of 1% back on purchases that fall outside of bonus categories, this card will provide 50% more value. You’ll even receive 5% back on travel purchased through the Chase Travel Portal and 3% back for dining and drugstore purchases.

And remember, you’ll receive an increased return on all spending (up to $20,000) during your first year. That means you’re effectively getting:

• 6.5% back on travel reserved via the Chase Travel Portal
• 4.5% back on dining and at drugstores
• 3% back on all other eligible purchases

And similar to the Citi Custom Cash® Card , this card actually earns Chase’s travel rewards currency (Chase Ultimate Rewards points) instead of cash back. Here’s what that means: If you have a card like the card_name , card_name , or card_name , you can use the rewards you earn from this card for travel at an outsized value. For example, you can convert your points into airline miles or hotel points–or you can redeem them for travel through the Chase Travel Portal at a rate between 1.25 cents and 1.5 cents (depending on which Chase Ultimate Rewards card you have).

• INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
• Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
• After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
• No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
• Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
• No annual fee - You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
• Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

The card_name is one of the shiniest, heaviest, thickest rewards credit cards you can get.

It’s got to be thick, for all the benefits crammed into it. This card comes with thousands of dollars in statement credits. And though some are admittedly quite niche, the average cardholder should easily manage to recoup the money spent on its annual_fees annual fee ( Rates & Fees ). For example, you’ll get:

• Up to $200 in annual airline fee credits.*
• Up to $200 in Uber Cash each year (distributed in monthly $15 increments and $35 in December), which can be used for rides or food via Uber Eats.*
• Up to $200 in annual credits toward prepaid hotel reservations made with The Hotel Collection (minimum two-night stay) or Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts.
• Up to $100 in credit for the application fee of Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
• Up to $189 statement credit to offset CLEAR® Plus, a program that lets you cut in line at TSA checkpoints.*
• Up to $240 digital entertainment credit (up to $20 per month for eligible services).
• Up $100 in Saks credits each year.*
• $12.95 monthly statement credit to offset Walmart+ membership.*

For a frequent traveler, many of those credits can be nearly as good as cash. With little effort, you should be able to squeeze more than $700 from the above list.

But there’s more to the card_name than just statement credits. This card offers the most comprehensive airport lounge access you can find. You’ll receive Priority Pass Select membership* , access to Centurion Lounges, access to Delta Sky Clubs (when you’ve got a same-day Delta ticket), and more. You’ll also get access to the exclusive Fine Hotels & Resorts benefit, which provides elite-like benefits such as room upgrades (when available) and free breakfast when staying at fancy hotels.

The card earns Amex Membership Rewards points, some of the most valuable in the travel game. You can transfer them to 20 different airline and hotel loyalty programs. This is handy if you’re not loyal to a single brand. You can convert your rewards into British Airways Avios, Delta SkyMiles , Hilton points , and many more.

* Enrollment is required for some benefits.

• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
• $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
• $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
• $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card®. Learn more.
• $100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card®. An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

The card_name annual fee annual_fees doesn’t earn the most rewards of any small business card out there. But it does something that most others don’t: It earns a flat 1.5% back on all purchases. If the bulk of your small business spending falls into categories outside shipping, online advertising, computer hardware, etc., the card_name is a great option for you.

While this card is marketed to be a cash back credit card, it actually earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points. And as with its sibling, the card_name , you can receive outsized value for your rewards if you’ve got either the card_name , card_name , or card_name . Holding one of these cards unlocks the ability to convert your rewards into Southwest Airlines miles , United miles , and more.

One great benefit that this card offers which is virtually nonexistent on no-annual-fee credit cards is primary rental car insurance. This will save you from paying the exorbitant daily fee for the privilege of being covered by the rental agency’s in-house insurance. The only catch is that you must be renting the car for business purposes.

• Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
• Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
• No Annual Fee
• Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
• Earn rewards faster with employee cards at no additional cost. Set individual spending limits for greater control.
• Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
• With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
• 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases

Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express

The Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express may be the best deal in the credit card world. Even if you only stay at a hotel once or twice per year, this card’s $550 annual fee could be worth it.

Here’s a quick rundown of Hilton-specific benefits:

• Automatic top-tier Diamond elite status, which includes perks like suite upgrades when available, free breakfast (or food vouchers) at the majority of Hilton hotels, 100% bonus points, etc.
• Annual free night certificate worth up to 150,000 points, valid at (nearly) every Hilton hotel.
• A second free night certificate of equal value after spending $60,000 on purchases in a calendar year.
• Up to $250 in credits at Hilton resorts to be used toward room rate, food, spa, etc.

The 150,000-point certificate alone is enough to offset the card’s annual fee, depending on where you use it. I used a free night certificate at the Waldorf Astoria Maldives earlier this year for a room that otherwise cost more than $2,000 per night.

This card also comes with a few dynamite non-Hilton benefits, including Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership (worth more than $400 per year) * and up to $250 in airline incidental credits each calendar year. *

• Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 7/31/2024.†
• 20.99% to 29.99% variable APR on purchases.¤
• Earn 14X points on Hotels & Resorts for eligible purchases at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio.‡
• Earn 7X points on Select Travel Including flights booked directly with airlines or AmexTravel.com and car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies.‡
• Earn 7X points On Dining at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery.‡
• Earn 3X points for each dollar spent on other eligible purchases.‡
• Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors™ Diamond status with your Card.‡
• Enjoy up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually on eligible purchases made directly with participating Hilton Resorts using your Hilton Honors Aspire Card.‡ That's up to $400 back annually. No minimum purchase required.‡
• Enjoy an Annual Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors in your first year of Card Membership and every year upon Card renewal.‡ Plus, earn an additional Free Night Reward from Hilton after making $30,000 in purchases and another after making $60,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year.‡
• Get up to $50 in statement credits each quarter, for a total of up to $200 back each year, on flight purchases made directly with an airline or through amextravel.com using your Hilton Honors Aspire Card.‡
• CLEAR® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR Plus Membership * with up to $189 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR Plus with your Hilton Honors Aspire Card.‡  * Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
• No foreign transaction fees.

United℠ Explorer Card

The card_name is a jack of all trades for those desirous to upgrade their travel experience, both on the ground and in the air.

The card begins enhancing your travel before you even leave the house. Cardholders get more access to United’s “Saver” award seats (the cheapest ones) than those without the card. This perk is otherwise reserved for those with elite status, and it can potentially save you many tens of thousands of miles during a single trip.

The card even comes with one free checked bag for you and a companion on your reservation. You must pay with the card to receive this benefit. Checked bags cost $30 each way, meaning you and a travel buddy could save up to $120 per round-trip.

You’ll receive up to $100 in credits to reimburse you for the application fee of Global Entry, TSA PreCheck , or NEXUS. These programs offer varying degrees of expedited airport security. All three allow you to speed through TSA security checkpoints without removing your shoes or jacket. You even get to keep your laptop in your bag.

Once inside security, you can use the card’s two annual United Club one-time passes to enter a United Club lounge when traveling on United Airlines (or a partner).

The card confers preferred boarding, too. This means you’ll be one of the first to board—guaranteeing you’ll have plenty of overhead bin space for your carry-on. And once the plane is in the air, you’ll get 25% back on any inflight purchases as long as you pay with your card.

You’ll also be privy to plenty of other worthwhile benefits, including excellent travel insurance and primary rental car insurance. Not bad for a card that charges a annual_fees .

• Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
• $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95.
• Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays, and United® purchases
• Up to $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS fee credit
• 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights and on Club premium drinks when you pay with your Explorer Card
• Free first checked bag - a savings of up to $140 per roundtrip. Terms Apply.
• Enjoy priority boarding privileges and visit the United Club℠ with 2 one-time passes each year for your anniversary

Citi Double Cash® Card

We we like it:.

There are other credit cards that offer a longer 0% intro APR window than the Citi Double Cash® Card . However, those other cards become all but useless after that window closes. They don’t collect rewards, and have virtually no useful ongoing benefits.

The $0 (Rates & Fees) annual fee gives you an excellent balance of lengthy 0% APR terms (no interest for 18 months on balance transfers followed by reg_apr,reg_apr_type ) and return rate. You’ll earn 1% back when you make a purchase and 1% back when you pay off your purchase—effectively 2% back on all purchases.

Even better, this card earns Citi ThankYou points (which can be redeemed at 1 cent per point) instead of cash. That means if you’ve got either the Citi Premier or Citi Prestige, you can convert your rewards into airline and hotel rewards currencies like Turkish Airlines, JetBlue, and Wyndham.

• Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,200 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThanYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
• Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24.
• Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
• Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
• If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
• There is an into balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).

Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

The annual_fees annual fee card_name isn’t just the best student credit card ; it’s also one of the best cash back credit cards in general.

Take a look at its almost unbelievable earning rate:

• 10% cash back for Uber & Uber Eats purchases (through Nov. 14, 2024).
• 8% cash back via Capital One Entertainment.
• 5% cash back for hotel stays and car rentals reserved through Capital One Travel.
• 3% cash back on dining, grocery stores (not including Target or Walmart), entertainment and popular streaming services.
• 1% cash back for all other eligible purchases.

That’s a wild combination of bonus categories that could capture much of your spending. To boot, the card offers waived foreign transaction fees and statement credits to reimburse the cost of Uber One membership through Nov. 14, 2024.

To open a Capital One student credit card, you must be enrolled in a higher education institution (think an accredited university or community college)—or at the very least admitted with intent to enroll within the next three months.

Once you’ve built the credit necessary to open one of Capital One’s travel credit cards , such as the card_name , you can even turn your cash back into Capital One miles at a rate of 1 point per cent. You can then transfer these points to airline and hotel partners such as Singapore Airlines, Avianca, and Choice Privileges for free travel.

Description

• Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), with 1% on all other purchases
• Early Spend Bonus: Earn $50 when you spend $100 in the first three months
• Earn 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
• Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
• Enjoy no annual fee, foreign transaction fees, or hidden fees
• Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
• Earn up to $500 a year by referring friends and family when they're approved for a Capital One credit card
• Earn 8% cash back on entertainment purchases when you book through the Capital One Entertainment portal
• Build your credit with responsible card use
• Whether you're at a 4-year university, community college or other higher education institution, this card might be an option for you

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

If you’re hunting for a credit card that’ll help you build credit, earning rewards shouldn’t be your main concern. The charm of a starter credit card is that those with poor (or zero) credit can be approved. It’s only a stepping stone to bigger and better things.

Many starter credit cards don’t earn anything from spending. But there are a few exceptions—the card_name being the best fit for most. It earns:

• 5% back for hotel stays and rental cars reserved through Capital One Travel
• 1.5% back on all other eligible purchases.

The card does charge a annual_fees annual fee which will eat into your yearly return. But you’ll also benefit from the card’s ongoing benefits such as waived foreign transaction fees and up to six months of free Uber One membership (promo ends Nov. 14, 2024).

The card also reviews your credit usage and considers you for an automatic credit line increase in as little as six months.

You can convert the cash back you earn with this card into Capital One miles, which can be transferred to airline and hotel partners for free travel. But to do it, you must also hold a Capital One miles-earning credit card such as the card_name .

• Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
• No rotating categories or limits to how much you can earn, and cash back doesn't expire for the life of the account. It's that simple
• Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
• Help strengthen your credit for the future with responsible card use
• Enjoy up to 6 months of complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
• Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It's free for everyone
• Check out quickly and securely with a contactless card, without touching a terminal or handing your card to a cashier. Just hover your card over a contactless reader, wait for the confirmation, and you're all set

Capital One® SavorOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card

Admittedly, there are credit cards with lower interest rates than the card_name . But for a balance of ongoing benefits and a reasonable APR, it’s the best choice.

Many rewards credit cards don’t offer an interest rate below 20%. This card comes with a reg_apr,reg_apr_type APR, depending on your creditworthiness. Just realize that APR only triggers if you fail to pay your full statement balance each month. If you’re not carrying a balance, it won’t affect you at all. In fact, if you’re worried about high interest rates, you probably shouldn’t be using credit cards.

The card_name provides a return rate that outpaces most other credit cards:

• 10% back on Uber and Uber Eats purchases (through Nov. 14, 2024).
• 8% back for Capital One Entertainment purchases.
• 5% back on hotels and rental cars reserved through Capital One Travel.
• 3% back on dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services, and for grocery store purchases (except at Walmart and Target).
• 1% back on all other eligible purchases.

The card offers free Uber One membership in the form of monthly statement credits through Nov. 14, 2024.

As with the card_name , this earns cash back that you can convert into travel rewards–but you must also have a card that earns Capital One miles (such as the card_name ). You can then transfer your rewards to airline and hotel loyalty programs that partner with Capital One.

• Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
• Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), plus 1% on all other purchases
• Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
• No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
• 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
• No foreign transaction fee
• No annual fee

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

There are a lot of Visa credit cards out there. If you’re looking for the absolute best, you’ll have to pay for it. The annual_fees annual fee card_name is a Visa Infinite credit card– the highest-tier Visa card you can get.

This particular Visa Infinite card comes with:

• Higher-octane travel insurance than almost any other credit card.
• $300 in annual travel credit when booking airfare, hotels, and more through Capital One Travel.
• 10,000 bonus Capital One miles each year (worth at least $100 in travel).
• Access to more than 1,300 airport lounges between Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, and Capital One Lounges.

As you can see, this card justifies its annual fee better than just about any other Visa card out there.

Its earning rates are noteworthy, too. You’ll earn 10 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on airfare booked through Capital One Travel, and 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases.

You can use Capital One miles for free flights and hotel stays by transferring to partners such as Avianca, British Airways, and Singapore Airlines. With some strategy, it’s possible to get well over 2 cents per point in value with partners like these.

• Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
• Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
• Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
• Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more-you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more
• Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

The card_name earns 4% back on spending at both gas stations and EV charging stations around the world, up to $7,000 in spending per year (then 1%). Whether you fill up at Costco or somewhere else, you’ll get 4%. The only exception is gas purchased at a supermarket, superstore, convenience store, or warehouse club (except Costco). For these purchases, you’ll get just 1% back.

The annual_fees annual fee is valuable for other spending, too:

• 3% cash back with restaurants.
• 3% cash back for eligible travel purchases worldwide.
• 2% cash back for all other purchases from Costco (in-store and online).
• 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.

Here’s the catch: You can’t redeem your cash back throughout the year as you can with other cards. Once per year, after your February closing date, you’ll have the option to receive a lump sum of cash or spend it on merchandise in-store at Costco U.S. warehouses.

• Earn 4% on eligible gas and EV charging with the Costco Anywhere Visa® card for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter.
• Unlimited 3% on restaurants and eligible travel, including Costco Travel
• + No annual fee 1 with your active/paid Costco membership.
• Unlimited 2% on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com.
• Unlimited 1% on all other purchases.
• Damage & theft purchase protection*.
• No foreign transaction fees 1 .
• Travel and emergency assistance * * .
• Worldwide car rental insurance*.
• Travel accident insurance*.
• Roadside assistance dispatch service * * .

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

Whether you’re trying to earn hotel points or airline miles, you need a card that does two things:

• Earns flexible rewards that can transfer to multiple different airline and hotel loyalty programs. This way, you don’t pigeon-hole yourself into a single program. You can convert your rewards into the currency that best suits each travel situation.
• Earns bonus points for everyday spending.

The $95 (Rates & Fees) annual fee does both of these things very, very well. You’ll earn:

• 3 points per dollar on travel and other hotel purchases .
• 3 points per dollar on gas stations.
• 3 points per dollar at restaurants.
• 3 points per dollar at supermarkets.
• 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases

That covers the bases for most cardholders. You can get 3x points on nearly everything. And you can convert these points to 16 airline and hotel currencies including Turkish Airlines, JetBlue, and Wyndham. If you know how to wield them, you could receive a value around 2 cents per point (or more).

• Earn 60,000bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.
• Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at as Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels
• Earn 3 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Annual Hotel Savings Benefit
• 60,000 ThankYou® Points are redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com
• No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you an earn with this card
• No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

When it comes to groceries , no other credit card offers a comparable return to the card_name . You’ll receive 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 in spending per year (then 1%). The only caveat is that not all stores that sell groceries are considered supermarkets. Superstores, convenience stores, warehouse clubs, and meal-kit delivery services will not qualify for this 6% bonus.

If you were to max out this card’s bonus potential at supermarkets, you’d earn $360 in cash back each year. However, the card charges a annual_fees ( Rates & Fees ). Keep that in mind when tallying up your yearly earnings.

The card_name also earns:

• 6% back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
• 3% back at U.S. gas stations (you’ll earn 1% back at superstores, supermarkets, and warehouse clubs that sell gasoline).
• 3% back on transit.
• 1% back on all other purchases.

This card even comes with two monthly statement credits: A $7 credit to reimburse a subscription to the Disney Bundle costing $12.99 or more per month, and a $10 credit toward the Equinox fitness app, Equinox+ (which costs $40 per month). Enrollment is required for both of these benefits.

• Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
• $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
• Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 intro plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months from the date of account opening. Plans created after that will have a monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each eligible purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
• Low Intro APR: 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 19.24% - 29.99%. Variable APRs will not exceed 29.99%.
• 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
• 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
• 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations.
• 3% Cash Back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
• 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
• Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
• Get up to $120 in statement credits annually when you pay for an auto-renewing subscription to Equinox+ at equinoxplus.com with your Blue Cash Preferred® Card. That's $10 in statement credits each month. Enrollment required.
• Thinking about getting the Disney Bundle which can include Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+? Your decision made easy with $7/month back in the form of a statement credit after you spend $9.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your Blue Cash Preferred® Card. Enrollment required.

Best rewards credit cards comparison chart

Our methodology.

When selecting the top rewards credit cards, we first identified the most popular credit card categories:

• No annual fee.
• Premium benefits.
• Small business.
• Balance transfer.
• Bad/no credit.
• Low interest.
• Points and miles.

In each of these categories, we weighed the highest-performing options against each other to determine which products offered the best mix of return rate, welcome bonus, ongoing benefits, and annual fee. If you’re searching for a credit card in any of the above categories, the best card for you is almost certainly on our list.

Who should apply for a rewards credit card?

We generally recommend anyone with a credit score below 700 not apply for rewards credit cards. There are two reasons:

• While it is possible to open a credit card with a sub-700 credit score, your chances of approval aren’t nearly as high.
• If your credit score is below 700, you may not yet have demonstrated to yourself a streak of healthy credit habits that indicate you’re ready for a rewards credit card with sky-high interest rates. Rewards credit cards can be dangerous if they’re used carelessly.

All this to say, if you’ve got a good history with credit and you’re confident you won’t spend beyond your means, you should absolutely open a rewards credit card. Any money you spend that doesn’t offer some sort of return is equivalent to flushing money down the commode.

How to compare rewards credit cards and select the best one for you

To choose the perfect credit card for your situation, there are four big factors to consider.

Pinpoint your goals

Don’t open the first credit card that comes along with an alluring welcome bonus. Figure out what you want it to accomplish for you.

Is your primary goal to earn cash back? Do you want to travel to Europe for pennies on the dollar? Do you have a small business with expenses that you want to sequester from your personal expenses? Do you simply want to build credit? No matter the answer, there’s a credit card specifically tailored for you.

Assess your spending habits

You’d be astounded by how quickly you can rack up credit card rewards due to bonus spending categories. Examine your spending to identify the things you spend most on and then open a card that complements those expenses.

If the majority of your monthly spending is restaurants and gas stations, open a card that offers bonus points for those categories. If you spend a lot on utilities and groceries, open a card that earns bonus rewards for those categories. If your spending is all over the place, open a card that earns a respectable flat rate on all purchases.

Weigh the annual fee

Even if your points earning is gangbusters, it hardly matters if it’s negated by an annual fee.If you’re opening a credit card with an annual fee, make sure you can organically use the card’s ongoing benefits to offset that fee.

For example, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card incurs a $395 annual fee. But it also comes with:

• Up to $300 in annual credit for travel booked through the Capital One Travel portal.
• 10,000 bonus Capital One miles after each account anniversary (worth at least $100 in travel).
• Airport lounge access worth over $400 per year (Priority Pass Select membership and Capital One lounge access).
• Excellent travel insurance.

If you regularly spend at least $400 per year on travel, you can quite effortlessly negate the Capital One Venture X annual fee. Then you can enjoy the card’s other benefits and earning rates for effectively zero cost.

Submit realistic applications

If your credit score is in the low 500s, applying for a premium rewards credit card will all but guarantee a rejection letter. Don’t apply outside your league; instead, spend time cultivating your credit score and wait to apply for that tantalizing stainless steel card a little later.

Alternatives to rewards credit cards

There are more ways than just credit cards to earn rewards.

For example, some debit cards give you the ability to earn cash back for your spending (though you’ll have a tough time finding anything more generous than 1%). If you’re not ready to enter the world of credit just yet, a rewards debit card can be a good substitute.

Alternatively, you could open a high yield checking and/ or savings account . It’s not difficult to receive as much as 4% APY just for parking your money in the right account. You can even earn travel rewards with Bask Bank, which awards American Airlines miles instead of cash back.

Finally, you can search for banks that are offering welcome bonuses for opening checking or savings accounts and completing various steps. You’ll occasionally stumble upon a bonus of several hundred dollars.

TIME Stamp: Choose a card that fits your lifestyle

The right rewards credit card can mean the difference between a Red Roof Inn and a five-star hotel on your next vacation. It can also mean hundreds of dollars in cash back each year. Other perks can include free grocery delivery, discounts with your favorite restaurants, exclusive access to sought-after music and sports events, and more.

Your credit card will work the hardest if you open one that fits perfectly with your lifestyle. For example, it rewards you for your everyday spending. And its statement credits reimburse you for purchases you planned to make, anyway.

For rates and fees of the card_name , please visit this URL .

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Pros and cons of rewards credit cards.

Rewards credit cards are an easy way to earn cash back or travel rewards. They often come with enormous welcome bonuses. And it’s not difficult to earn hundreds of dollars simply by optimizing your credit card strategy to match your spending.

The big downside of rewards credit cards is their offensively high APR. By carrying a balance month-to-month, you could quite easily negate any rewards you earn on spending. And if you let your balances get out of control, your cards can become extremely difficult to pay off.

Do credit card rewards expire?

Credit card rewards such as cash back, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, and Capital One miles don’t expire as long as you hold a card that earns these points.

However, cards that accrue airline miles or hotel points may expire, depending on the loyalty program. For example, Hilton Honors points expire after 24 consecutive months with no account activity. But you can extend this expiration simply by swiping your Hilton card and earning even a single point every 24 months.

Are credit card rewards taxable?

In general, credit card rewards aren’t taxable. They’re considered a rebate instead of income.

But there are known to be exceptions. For example, if you refer a friend to a credit card and receive rewards, the IRS will likely send you a 1099-MISC form.

On the other hand, some credit cards can also be valuable tools for those who prepare their own tax services , helping them save more money during tax season.

What are the most popular rewards programs?

Cash back is far and away the most popular rewards “program.”

For those interested in free travel, the most popular rewards programs are Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou points, and Capital One miles. These programs allow you to convert your points to many different airline and hotel programs. That’s great if you’re not sure what your upcoming travel plans will entail.

The information presented here is created independently from the TIME editorial staff. To learn more, see our About page.

As rewards credit cards face regulation, what are the alternatives?

• Rewards credit cards are not for everyone.
• There are other ways to pay for travel, including debit cards, no-annual-fee credit cards and money transfer services.
• The government is concerned about rewards credit cards and is likely to regulate them soon.

Ronald Duben is ready to give up his credit card. He thinks there's something better out there – and there almost certainly is.

Duben has been dutifully shelling out $120 a year for his co-branded airline rewards card, which promises he'll get "free" flights if he spends enough money. It was a good deal at first. Once he collected about 60,000 points by late February, he could cash in his rewards for a flight to Asia.

Check out   Elliott Confidential , the newsletter the travel industry doesn't want you to read. Each issue is filled with breaking news, deep insights, and exclusive strategies for becoming a better traveler. But don't tell anyone!

But when Duben tried to redeem his loyalty points for an economy class ticket to Japan recently, he was stunned that his airline more than tripled the miles he had to pay. Then it asked him for another $375 in taxes and fees on top of the 200,000 points. 

So much for "free."

Learn more: Best travel insurance

"I feel like I'm deeply involved in a rip-off," said Duben, a retired chef from San Rafael, California, "and I want to get out."

It turns out there is a way out.

Will new airline consumer protection rules help you when you fly this summer?

Tipping is 'not an entitlement': Should travelers stop tipping for everything?

Making a U-turn on rewards credit cards

Rewards credit cards – and especially those high-fee, high-interest mileage-earning credit cards – are not for everyone. You're probably just as likely to pay an absurdly high interest rate and add to that $1 trillion in credit card debt as you are to get a "free" airline ticket.

The government is concerned about these cards, too. Earlier this month, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)  issued a report on rewards cards that identified multiple problems with these payment systems. Consumers complained that rewards are often devalued or denied even after they meet program terms. And consumers who carry revolving balances often pay more in interest and fees than they get back on rewards.

The CFPB and the Department of Transportation also held a hearing on rewards credit cards , a likely precursor to regulating these programs. 

So if this is the beginning of the end for rewards credit cards, then what's next?

Here are the alternatives to rewards cards

Read a travel blog or newspaper travel section, or look at a travel Instagram account, and you might think the only way to travel is with one of those high-fee travel cards. But there are other ways to pay:

• A debit card : A debit card or bank card deducts money directly from your bank account. No need to worry about spending more than you have because it usually won't let you overdraw. "Debit cards are a straightforward option," said Shawn Plummer, a financial expert and frequent traveler. "They're widely accepted and eliminate the risk of accumulating debt because they only allow you to spend what you have." 

Many debit cards even have travel benefits such as no currency conversion fees, but there are limits: Car rental companies and hotels may not accept a debit card. 

• A no-annual-fee, low-interest-rate credit card : You shouldn't pay an annual fee for your credit card. And if you do a little research, you can find a card with less than a 10% annual interest rate . Hint: Check with a credit union . Many of these cards also have all the travel benefits you need, including coverage for car rentals and medical evacuations – and no currency exchange fees . 

By the way, if you do want to pay a membership fee, try joining one of the warehouse clubs like Sam's or Costco. Peter Hoagland, a consultant from Warrenton, Virginia, swears by his Costco Visa. He said it's a no-nonsense payment system with relatively reasonable fees. 

"I use the card everywhere," said Hoagland.

• Money transfer services : A service like Revolut or Wise will allow you to transfer money to a company or individual, completely bypassing the credit card network. These companies are on the bleeding edge of digital banking. I visited Wise's headquarters while I was in London recently and really loved its plan to remove "all the friction" between you and your money. That means eliminating a lot of the high fees you've been paying for years.

Andy Abramson, a communications consultant from Las Vegas, uses both and likes the speed of transfer and the favorable exchange rates when moving dollars to another currency. 

"They're both incredible," he said.

This type of vacation rental cancellation is on the rise. Are you next?

'Expensive in every way': What travelers should expect this summer

What is the future of payment systems for travelers?

Are rewards credit cards obsolete? Have they become bloated and inefficient, with their high swipe fees and exorbitant interest rates and empty promises of free tickets? Some industry watchers believe the answer is yes.

As an intermediate step, many travelers are switching to a debit card or a digital payment system. That allows them to lower their interest rates and make smarter decisions about their purchases instead of mindlessly spending money to accumulate points or giving all of their loyalty to one airline.

Financial experts see a better future just ahead. It's a place where digital peer-to-peer payment systems are used to transfer money at virtually no cost to you. In that future, cards are as antiquated as traveler's checks. All transactions happen on a phone with a tap and a biometric "OK." And loyalty programs have evolved into something more sophisticated than today's bait-and-switch cards that just make you spend more.

Will the government regulate rewards credit cards?

After this month's joint hearings with the CFPB and DOT, rewards credit cards are likely to be regulated soon. 

Even if regulators don't act, Congress could. A new bill called the Credit Card Competition Act could bring much-needed competition to credit cards. That would make rewards cards a little less generous and could bring some sobriety back to rewards programs.

It's about time. Rewards credit cards make promises they can't keep, bait you into spending more than you should, and ultimately reward only the airlines and credit card companies that issue trillions of often worthless points. The sooner we can find an alternative to reward credit cards, the better. The current system is completely unsustainable.

That's what Duben, the retired chef who wanted to go to Japan, did. He clicked on the United Airlines website and booked a regular ticket. He'll use his miles for another ticket and then close his rewards credit card for good.

Christopher Elliott  is an author, consumer advocate, and journalist. He founded  Elliott Advocacy , a nonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishes  Elliott Confidential , a travel newsletter, and the  Elliott Report , a news site about customer service. If you need help with a consumer problem, you can  reach him here  or email him at  [email protected] .

The Key Points at the top of this article were created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and reviewed by a journalist before publication. No other parts of the article were generated using AI. Learn more .

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Best travel credit cards of June 2024

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Bankrate expert Garrett Yarbrough strives to make navigating credit cards and credit building smooth sailing for his readers. After regularly featuring his credit card, credit monitoring and identity theft analysis on NextAdvisor.com, he joined the CreditCards.com and Bankrate teams as a staff writer to develop product reviews and comprehensive credit card guides focused on cash back, credit scores and card offers.

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Nouri Zarrugh is a writer and editor for CreditCards.com and Bankrate,  focusing on product news, guides and reviews. His areas of expertise include credit card strategy, rewards programs, point valuation and credit scores, and his stories on building credit have been cited by Mic.com, LifeHacker, People.com and more. Through his thorough card reviews and product comparisons, Nouri strives to demystify personal finance topics and credit card terms and conditions to help readers save money and protect their credit score.

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Stephanie Zito is a professional traveler, self-employed humanitarian consultant and collector of credit card points. She shares savvy travel tips that she’s learned firsthand circling the globe for more than 25 years. She’s a backpacker, expect and premium traveler who’s visited more than 130 countries and all seven continents. Her life motto is “See the world, change the world, have fun doing it!” and her mission is to inspire others along the journey.

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Travel credit cards help you earn valuable points and miles on your purchases. For maximum value, some cards earn rewards not only on travel, but also everyday purchases like dining, groceries and gas. You can redeem these rewards for free or discounted flights, hotel stays or to cover other travel-related expenses.

The best travel cards also come with additional features. Even no-annual-fee travel cards are likely to offer perks like sign-up bonuses, intro APR offers and travel insurance. But for top-of-the-line benefits like airport lounge access, elite status and travel credits, expect to pay an annual fee.

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Bankrate's Best Travel Credit Cards of June 2024

• Best starter travel card:  Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
• Best for flat-rate rewards:  Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
• Best for luxury travel:  The Platinum Card® from American Express
• Best for no annual fee:  Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card  ( See Rates & Fees )
• Best for foodies:  American Express® Gold Card
• Best for everyday spending: Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
• Best for intro APR:  Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
• Best for point values:  Chase Sapphire Reserve®
• Best for practical perks:  Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
• Best for pairing:  Chase Freedom Unlimited®
• Best for hotel bookings: Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card
• Best no-annual-fee hotel card:  Hilton Honors American Express Card
• Best luxury hotel card:  Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
• Best for transfer partners:  Bilt Mastercard®
• Best for gas:  Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card
• Best for companion tickets:  Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
• Best starter airline card:  Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
• Best for expedited security screening:  Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card
• Best for first-year value:  Discover it® Miles
• Best for fair credit:  Credit One Bank Wander® Card
• What to know about travel credit cards
• Tips for choosing the best travel card

Travel credit card perks

How do credit card points and miles work.

• Expert advice on travel cards

How we assess the best travel credit cards

• Frequently asked questions
• Ask the experts

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A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

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Best starter travel card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

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Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.

Intro offer

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

We calculate this number by multiplying the card's intro offer by Bankrate's valuation of this issuer's rewards program , showing you how much your points or miles are worth in dollars.

Rewards rate

5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠. 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries. 2x on all other travel purchases. 1x on all other purchases.

Regular APR

• 5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠.
• 3x 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries.
• 2x 2x on all other travel purchases.
• 1x 1x on all other purchases.

What we love: This popular card comes loaded with features that can make it easy even for occasional travelers to offset the modest $95 annual fee without eating into hard-earned rewards. Plus, its rewards program is one of the best, giving you some of the most valuable travel redemptions — through both Chase and transfer partners — and Chase card pairing opportunities if you want to build your card portfolio eventually. Learn more: Why expert Margaret Weck loves using the Chase Sapphire Preferred Alternatives:   If you’re looking for an even simpler travel card, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a terrific option. Its flat rewards rate makes it easy to know exactly how much you’ll earn with every purchase and though it can’t match the Sapphire Preferred’s redemption flexibility, it offers more redemption options than the typical travel rewards card. 

• You earn Ultimate Rewards points with this card — some of the most valuable and flexible rewards around, especially if you pair it with Chase’s cash back cards in the future.
• The card touts significant long-term benefits like anniversary bonus points and travel credits, as well as travel protections like trip cancellation insurance and a car rental collision damage waiver.
• Doesn’t offer airline- or hotel-specific perks like free checked bags, elite status or free night stays.
• The sign-up bonus is decent, but the card has previously offered higher, chart-topping bonus points.
• Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 75,000 points are worth $937.50 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
• Member FDIC

Best for flat-rate rewards

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

New Venture cardholders can earn 75,000 miles once they spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening

5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day

2 Miles - 5 Miles

• 5 Miles 5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 2 Miles 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day

What we love: It’s a great option for travelers looking for a straightforward rewards program and flexible redemption options. You'll earn unlimited miles on all eligible spending and can redeem not only for travel bookings, but also as a statement credit to cover travel purchases made in the past 90 days. Learn more: Why expert Jacqueline DeMarco loves the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Alternatives: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers a higher rewards rate in some everyday spending categories and potentially more valuable points. Chase points are worth 1.25 cents each if you redeem for travel through Chase, while Capital One miles are only worth 1 cent each when you redeem for travel. Plus, Chase rewards are more helpful for occasional travelers since you can redeem as cash back at 1-cent-per-point value.

• Carries solid perks given its low annual fee, including expedited airport purchase security and hotel experience credits, lost luggage reimbursement and more.
• Zero foreign transaction fees make this an excellent choice for international travelers.
• You can’t offset the annual fee with annual travel credits or bonuses alone as you can with some rival cards.
• The card’s sign-up bonus carries a high spending requirement, so it may be tough to earn if you don’t have large purchases on the horizon.
• Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
• Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
• Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

Best for luxury travel

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.

• 5X Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
• 5X Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.

What we love: Luxury travelers and big spenders will appreciate the bevy of travel benefits, including annual statement credits worth around $1,700, elite hotel loyalty status and access to perhaps the most comprehensive airport lounge access available with a credit card. Learn more: Why expert Holly Johnson loves the Platinum Card® from American Express Alternatives: The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers a taste of luxury at a lower cost than many premium travel cards. You can unlock a generous rewards rate on both travel and general purchases, complimentary access to popular airport lounge memberships and valuable annual travel credits and anniversary miles.

• Comes with a generous welcome offer and a longer time period to earn it compared to most rewards cards.
• A robust line-up of airline and hotel partners and related perks make this card truly valuable for travelers.
• The $695 annual fee may not be worth it if you don’t spend much on travel frequently or can’t take full advantage of the card’s luxury — and often niche — perks.
• Redeeming and maximizing the card’s credit and benefits requires some legwork and can be a bit confusing.
• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
• $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
• $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
• Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 year period for TSA PreCheck® application fee for a 5-year plan only (through a TSA PreCheck® official enrollment provider), when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

Best for no annual fee

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

• Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel

5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel 1.25 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day

1.25 Miles - 5 Miles

• 1.25 Miles 1.25 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day

What we love: This card offers some of the same advantages as the Capital One Venture, without the burden of an annual fee. It gives you the chance to earn flat-rate miles on your everyday spending and the option to transfer miles to over 15 loyalty program partners to even cover travel purchases outside Capital One — a unique level of redemption flexibility for a starter travel card. Learn more: Reasons to get the VentureOne Rewards Card Alternatives: A general-purpose flat-rate credit card that offers 2X points or 2 percent cash back on all purchases may bring more value if you don’t travel often and aren’t ready to upgrade to a travel rewards credit card with an annual fee. However, the Discover it® Miles earns a flat-rate 1.5X miles that can also be redeemed for cash back at 1-cent per mile, which is unusual for travel rewards.

• The welcome offer is generous for a no-annual-fee travel credit card.
• Booking hotel stays and rental cars through Capital One Travel nets you an impressive 5X miles.
• Unlike several no-annual-fee travel cards, redeeming for non-travel purchases waters down your rewards’ value.
• Capital One has no major U.S. carrier in its line-up of travel partners.
• $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
• Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
• Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies

Best for foodies

American Express® Gold Card

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.

• 4X Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
• 4X Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
• 3X Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.

What we love: Few credit cards are more rewarding for traveling foodies than the American Express Gold Card. Both the food-related annual credits and the rewards rates at restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and on flights booked directly with airlines or via the Amex travel portal are some of the best on the market. In fact, the up to $240 in credits each year alone nearly make up for the annual fee. Learn more: Why the Amex Gold is worth the annual fee Alternatives: If the Amex Gold Card’s annual fee sounds high, consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card . It carries key travel perks, high travel and dining rewards rates, and a much lower annual fee.

• This card features one of the best rewards return rates available on dining, groceries and food deliveries.
• There is no preset spending limit, so you can enjoy extended purchasing power, and you also have the option to pay off purchases with Pay Over Time if necessary.
• Although the card touts a solid collection of travel perks, it doesn’t include popular premium card perks like airport lounge access or trip cancellation/interruption insurance.
• Only eligible airfare earns more than 1X points, while rival cards often earn similar (or higher) reward rates on hotel stays and other travel purchases as well.
• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
• Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
• Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $250.

Best for everyday spending

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

• Earn 70,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $700 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com

Earn 10 points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com. Earn 3 points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations. Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases

• 10X Earn 10 points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
• 3X Earn 3 points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations.
• 1X Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases

What we love: This card’s high rewards rate in everyday bonus categories makes it an especially good choice for occasional travelers and people looking for a standalone rewards card. Its practical bonus categories mean you can earn rewards quickly, even if you don’t actually spend a ton on travel. Alternatives:   As long as you don’t mind buying groceries online, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card could be an even more lucrative everyday rewards card. That’s thanks mostly to its high point redemption value (1.25 cents per point when you use points to book travel with Chase, versus just 1 cent per point when you book with Citi using the Strata Premier).

• It’s one of the only travel cards that offers a high rewards rate on groceries, dining and gas, so it should work well whether it’s your standalone card or just one part of your card stack.
• Its annual hotel benefit carries enough value to potentially offset the annual fee on its own.
• The annual hotel benefit, though generous, isn’t very flexible: You’ll only get the $100 discount if you book a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) through CitiTravel.com.
• Based on Bankrate’s latest point and mile valuations, Citi ThankYou rewards carry a lower average redemption value than Chase, Amex and Capital One rewards.
• Earn 10 points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
• Earn 3 points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations.
• Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.
• No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
• No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases

Best for intro APR

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

• 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
• Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
• 1.5X Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.

What we love: This entry-level travel card keeps things simple for occasional travelers. It offers simple flat-rate rewards and lets you redeem for a broad mix of travel options not typically available on many travel cards, such as cash back toward purchases with travel agencies,  zoos, art galleries and more. It’s even more valuable if you’re a Bank of America customer and can qualify for a rewards boost through the Bank of America Preferred Rewards® program. Learn more: Is the Bank of America Travel Rewards card worth it? Alternatives: The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is another great starter travel card, but, unlike many cards in this category, it lets you transfer your miles to airline and hotel partners, potentially for a higher redemption value.

• Its easy-to-earn sign-up bonus and intro APR offers give this card good short-term value.
• No annual fees or foreign transaction fees sweeten this offer.
• It only offers 1.5X points on purchases, and you can’t transfer points can’t to airline partners for more rewards value, so it may not be as lucrative as competing cards.
• The top tiers of the Bank of America Preferred Rewards® program may be out of reach for many cardholders.
• Use your card to book your trip how and where you want - you're not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
• Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
• 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 19.24% - 29.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
• If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means instead of earning an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1, you could earn 1.87-2.62 points for every $1 you spend on purchases.
• Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
• This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

Best for point values

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,125 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Earn 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠. Earn 5x total points on flights through Chase Travel℠. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining. Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

• 10x Earn 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠.
• 5x Earn 5x total points on flights through Chase Travel℠.
• 3x Earn 3x points on other travel and dining.
• 1x Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

What we love: Rewards-savvy travelers will be hard-pressed to find a card with better rewards potential than the Sapphire Reserve. Points are worth 50 percent more through Chase Travel, and potentially more with the right transfer partner. It’s a stellar partner for Chase’s cash back cards and stacks on even more value with enough perks to recoup the annual fee without relying on hard-earned rewards. Learn more: Why expert Holly Johnson loves the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Alternatives: The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers some of the same key perks as the Sapphire Reserve at a much lower cost. Along with a generous rewards rate on both Capital One Travel and general purchases, the card boasts valuable, practical benefits like competitive airport lounge access , up to $300 in annual Capital One Travel credits and 10,000 bonus miles every year on your account anniversary.

• You can kickstart your rewards bank with one of the most valuable sign-up bonuses on the market.
• Its top-tier benefits include up to $300 in annual travel statement credits, Priority Pass airport lounge access, exhaustive travel protections and stand-out partner perks.
• The card’s cost could be a deterrent for some new cardholders, especially if they plan on encountering adding multiple authorized users.
• You won’t get as many luxury hotel and airport lounge perks with this card as you would with some of its rivals.
• Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,125 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 75,000 points are worth $1125 toward travel.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®

Best for practical perks

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

• Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel

10 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel 5 Miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day

2 Miles - 10 Miles

• 10 Miles 10 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 5 Miles 5 Miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel

What we love: This is the perfect middleground for travelers who want the practical benefits from luxury travel cards without dealing with bloated features and an annual fee upwards of $500. It offers complimentary lounge access, high-earning bonus rewards categories, anniversary credits and bonus miles, which can easily make the card worth it for frequent travelers. Learn more: Capital One Venture X Benefits Guide Alternatives: If a higher annual fee is no issue, consider The Platinum Card® from American Express. It’s a top choice for frequent travelers thanks to its impressive welcome offer and luxury perks like annual travel credits, lounge access and hotel elite status. However, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® may be better if your luxury travel experience calls for racking up more rewards.

• Offers anniversary bonus miles and a chance to earn credits worth hundreds of dollars starting at your first account anniversary.
• Comes with complimentary lounge access at over 1,300 lounges for you and two guests per visit.
• To earn the anniversary credit, travel must be booked through the Capital One Travel portal. That’s not as flexible as some other cards, which offer credits that cover any travel purchases, regardless of how you book.
• Lacks some perks found on other premium travel cards like airline or hotel elite status, which can get you benefits like free checked bags or room upgrades.
• Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
• Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
• Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
• Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more

Best for pairing

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.

Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service 1.5% on all other purchases

• 5% Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more
• 3% 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service
• 1.5% 1.5% on all other purchases

What we love: Not only does it earn 1.5 percent cash back on general spending, but it also has a bonus cash back rate for drugstores and dining at restaurants. And if you pair it with one or two premium Chase travel cards, you could pool your rewards for better travel redemption value.  Learn more: Why I love the Chase Freedom Unlimited Alternatives: If you want to take advantage of even more rewarding cash back categories and remain in the Chase family, consider the Chase Freedom Flex℠ .

• You can pool rewards with other Chase cards to maximize your earnings.
• The additional rewards rate offer can add even more cash back to your pocket for the first year.
• The welcome offer isn’t as competitive as other cards’ offers.
• Maximizing rewards with this and other Chase cards can get complicated for people who like simple rewards programs.
• Intro Offer: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
• Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
• After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
• No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
• Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
• No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
• Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.

Best for hotel bookings

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card

• Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s $600 toward your next trip.

Earn unlimited 5X points on hotels Earn unlimited 4X points on airlines Earn unlimited 3X points on other travel and restaurants Earn 1X points on other purchases

• 5X Earn unlimited 5X points on hotels
• 4X Earn unlimited 4X points on airlines
• 3X Earn unlimited 3X points on other travel and restaurants
• 1X Earn 1X points on other purchases

What we love: It offers a great rewards rate on hotel bookings and gives you a chance to earn a $50 annual statement credit with a $50 minimum airline purchase. Add in a solid rate on airline purchases, other travel and restaurants and this card carries great value as a standalone mid-tier card for occasional travelers. Alternatives: If you want to earn travel rewards but don’t actually spend much on hotels and airfare, the lower-tier Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card is also worth a look. Though it earns also rewards on travel, it boasts a great mix of other practical everyday categories (including gas stations).

• You can transfer points to Wells Fargo’s new list of airline and hotel partners, including popular programs like British Airways Executive Club, Choice Privileges and more, which could boost the redemption value of your rewards.
• The $50 annual statement credit offsets more than half the card’s $95 annual fee and should be a cinch to earn if you fly at least once per year.
• Wells Fargo only offers one other card that earns travel rewards (the Autograph), and there is some category overlap between the two, so they may not be as lucrative as some competing card stacks.
• The card doesn’t carry some popular travel perks available on other mid-tier travel cards, such as credits for expedited airport security screening or rideshares.
• Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
• Earn unlimited 5X points on hotels, 4X points on airlines, 3X points on other travel and restaurants, and 1X points on other purchases.
• $95 annual fee.
• Book your travel with the Autograph Journey Card and enjoy Travel Accident Insurance, Lost Baggage Reimbursement, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection and Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver.
• Earn a $50 annual statement credit with $50 minimum airline purchase.
• Up to $1,000 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
• Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.

Best no-annual-fee hotel card

Hilton Honors American Express Card

• Earn 70,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points plus a Free Night Reward after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 7/31/2024.

Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio. Earn 5X Points per dollar on purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations. Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.

• 7X Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
• 5X Earn 5X Points per dollar on purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
• 3X Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.

What we love: This card earns rewards in a terrific mix of everyday bonus categories, so it should be easy to rack up Hilton points even if you don’t spend a ton on hotel bookings. Since it charges no annual fee and provides a few Hilton Honors benefits like Silver status, it’s also a great fit if you’re new to hotel cards and want a single no-annual-fee option instead of juggling multiple rewards cards. Learn more: Why expert Holly Johnson loves the Hilton Honors American Express Card Alternatives: The American Express® Green Card could be more flexible since it lets you earn and redeem rewards on a much wider variety of travel purchases, including airfare and bookings with several hotel brands, not just Hilton. You can transfer points to the Hilton Honors program as well, but the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card may be better if you prefer upgraded Hilton-specific rewards, loyalty status and other perks.

• Comes with automatic Silver Elite status, which includes a free fifth award night when you book at least four consecutive nights with points.
• Earns rewards in three of the average person’s biggest spending categories, making it a terrific standalone option for earning Hilton points.
• A higher-tier Hilton card would earn more on Hilton bookings and could be more lucrative for frequent guests, even with an annual fee.
• You can only redeem points with Hilton and its partners, which limits the rewards value you earn on the everyday categories compared to a general-purpose cards’ rewards.
• Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
• Earn 5X Points per dollar on purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
• Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
• Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors™ Silver status with your Card. Plus, spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors™ Gold status through the end of the next calendar year.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
• No Annual Fee.

Best luxury hotel card

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

• Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines 2X points on all other eligible purchases

• 6X Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®
• 3X 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines
• 2X 2X points on all other eligible purchases

What we love: Frequent Marriott guests looking for luxury card-level perks and elite status should be able to justify this premium card. Along with a terrific rewards rate on Marriott bookings and an annual free night award, you could enjoy generous annual credits for restaurant purchases and Marriott property stays, airport lounge access, elite night credits and more. Learn more: Best Marriott credit cards Alternatives: If you’re looking for top-tier travel perks but want the flexibility to earn and redeem rewards for stays at any hotel chain, consider an elite travel card from Chase or Amex, which can come with generous travel benefits, airport lounge access and the ability to transfer points to Marriott. The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is another lucrative alternative.

• Outperforms other Marriott cards with its boosted rewards on travel-related categories and 21X points at Marriott Bonvoy hotels, thanks to the automatic Platinum Elite status.
• It’s one of the only hotel cards that includes complimentary Priority Pass lounge access, top travel protections and credits for expedited airport security screening.
• Unlocking some of the card’s best perks — like Five Suite Night Awards — requires a $60,000 annual spend, which may be tough to reach even for frequent Marriott guests.
• Unless luxury perks are at the top of your wishlist, the annual fee may not be worth it and a lower-tier hotel card may offer more value overall.
• $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card at restaurants worldwide.
• With Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, you can receive room upgrades, including enhanced views or suites, when available at select properties and booked with a Qualifying Rate.
• Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines. 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
• Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
• Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
• $100 Marriott Bonvoy Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
• Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($100) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
• Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
• Enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, which offers unlimited airport lounge visits to over 1,200 lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks, and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
• With Cell Phone Protection, you can be reimbursed, the lesser of, your repair or replacement costs following damage, such as a cracked screen, or theft for a maximum of $800 per claim when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month's wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period. Additional terms and conditions apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
• $650 Annual Fee.

Best for transfer partners

Bilt Mastercard®

Intro offer is not available for this Wells Fargo credit card.

3x points on dining 2x points on travel 1x points on other purchases Earn up to 1x points on rent payments without the transaction fee, up to 100,000 points each calendar year. When you make at least 5 posted transactions in a statement period using your Bilt Mastercard, you'll earn points on rent and qualifying net purchases.

1X Points - 3X Points

• 3X Points 3x points on dining
• 2X Points 2x points on travel
• 1X Points 1x points on other purchases
• 1X Points Earn up to 1x points on rent payments without the transaction fee, up to 100,000 points each calendar year. When you make at least 5 posted transactions in a statement period using your Bilt Mastercard, you'll earn points on rent and qualifying net purchases.

What we love: Not only is this card is a terrific choice for renters since it earns rewards and waives transaction fees when using it to pay rent, it’s also great for rewards strategists considering the extremely robust travel rewards program. You can earn rewards on travel and dining and your points carry a high value whether you redeem through the Bilt travel portal or one of the many airline and hotel transfer partners. Alternatives: If you like the Bilt card’s travel rewards program but don’t see yourself renting long term, consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. It earns generously on both travel and dining and also boasts high-value points and transfer partners. If the way you pay rent doesn’t incur credit card payment fees, a flat-rate card may also be worth weighing. 

• It’s the only card that helps you avoid the fees typically associated with paying rent with a credit card.
• Offers a solid collection of travel perks for a no-annual-fee card, including trip cancellation and interruption protection, trip delay reimbursement and other high-level travel protections.
• You can only use rewards to cover rent, toward a future home down payment or for travel and shopping. Cash back isn’t an option.
• There is no sign-up bonus. Most competing travel cards — even those with no annual fee — offer at least a $200 bonus.
• $0 Annual Fee.
• Earn up to 1x points on rent payments without the transaction fee, up to 100,000 points each calendar year.
• 2x points on travel.
• 3x points on dining.
• 1x points on other purchases.
• Earn points when you make 5 transactions that post each statement period.
• When renting at a Bilt Alliance property, you can choose to have your rent payments automatically reported by Bilt to the three major credit bureaus each month; Experian™, TransUnion™, and Equifax™.

Best for gas

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

• Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.

Earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. Earn 1X points on other purchases

• 3X Earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans.

What we love: The Wells Fargo Autograph card is a great option for occasional travelers and households on the go looking to earn rewards while avoiding an annual fee and reduced redemption value for cash rewards. It’s one of a few entry-level travel cards to offer high, year-round bonus rewards for gas, dining, transit and other key travel needs. Learn more: Is the Wells Fargo Autograph worth it? Alternatives: If you’re looking for ways to maximize the value of your rewards, you should consider a travel card that lets you transfer your points to airlines or hotels, like the Bilt Mastercard® or Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.

• While some issuers only reward travel purchases made directly with airlines or through issuer portals, this card lets you shop around for the best deal on third-party travel sites and still earn extra rewards.
• Carries decent perks such as rental car collision damage waiver coverage, roadside assistance and Visa Signature® Concierge benefits, like access to Visa’s Luxury Hotel Collection (terms apply).
• Unlike with traditional travel cards, you cannot transfer your points to airlines or hotels
• The travel perks and intro APR are weak compared to competing travel-oriented cards’ offers.
• Select "Apply Now" to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
• Earn unlimited 3X points on the things that really add up - like restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans. Plus, earn 1X points on other purchases.
• $0 annual fee.
• 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR thereafter.
• Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
• Redeem your rewards points for travel, gift cards, or statement credits. Or shop at millions of online stores and redeem your rewards when you check out with PayPal.

Best for companion tickets

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

• Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets. Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.

• 3X Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
• 2X Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
• 1X Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.

What we love: The annual companion certificate on Main Cabin domestic flights (taxes and fees apply) comes with this card after the first year is valuable enough to justify the annual fee even if you’re just looking for great Delta perks to make travel smoother with a partner. Plus, the companion certificate is easier to obtain than other airline cards’ since it carries no spending requirement that must be met beyond the card’s annual fee. Alternatives: The American Express® Green Card could be a great alternative since it charges a lower $150 annual fee, lets you earn and redeem rewards on travel with any eligible airline (not just Delta) and offers credits for Loungebuddy lounge access and Clear Plus. You can even transfer points to Delta at a 1:1 ratio.

• Boasts several valuable travel perks, including priority boarding, a free first checked bag and specialized annual credits for select rideshare services and reservations with Delta Stays and Resy.
• Gets you closer to Medallion Status and discounts on in-flight purchases, complimentary upgrades, and more.
• Its rewards rate on non-travel purchases is lacking — a general-purpose travel card could potentially offer better rewards value and flexibility for rewards travel outside Delta.
• No longer offers complimentary Delta Sky Club lounge access as of this year, although airport lounge access is a staple perk for premium travel cards.
• Receive a Companion Certificate on Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights and no more than $250 for roundtrip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
• Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and get closer to Status with MQD Headstart.
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
• Earn $1 Medallion® Qualification Dollar for each $20 of purchases made on your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card in a calendar year and get a boost toward achieving Medallion Status for next Medallion Year.
• Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
• Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
• $120 Resy Credit: With the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Resy Credit, earn up to $10 per month in statement credits on eligible Resy purchases using your enrolled Card.
• $120 Rideshare Credit: You can earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers after you pay with your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. Enrollment Required.
• Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
• Receive Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
• Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Receive $100 back for Global Entry or up to $85 back for TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Official Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members and Reserve Card Members.
• $350 Annual Fee.

Best starter airline card

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

• Earn 85,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming. Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

• 2X Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases.
• 2X Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
• 2X Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
• 2X Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners.
• 1X Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

What we love: This card’s anniversary bonus offers enough value to nearly offset the annual fee on its own, so it should be a terrific low-stakes option whether you’re new to airline cards or a regular Southwest flyer looking for a low-maintenance card. Plus, its sign-up bonus value is on par with the value you’ll get with much pricier airline and travel cards. Learn more: Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus benefits guide Alternatives: The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card could offer better value overall, despite its $149 annual fee. It carries an annual $75 Southwest travel credit and 7,500 bonus points each year on your account anniversary — more than enough value to justify the higher fee.

• You’ll automatically earn 3,000 Rapid Rewards points each year after your account anniversary, which could offset much of the card’s already-low annual fee.
• Delivers the same hefty sign-up bonus as higher-tier Southwest cards.
• Unlike several travel cards, it doesn’t carry rewards categories for popular everyday purchases like gas or dining.
• It may not be the best Southwest value for frequent flyers since it poses a 3 percent foreign transaction fee and doesn’t offer perks like upgraded boardings or elite status benefits.
• 3,000 anniversary points each year.
• Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases.
• Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
• Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
• 2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year.
• Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

Best for savers

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card

• Receive 60,000 online bonus points - a $600 value - after you make at least $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases. Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

• 2X Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases.
• 1.5X Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

What we love: If you do your banking with Bank of America and qualify for Preferred Rewards status, this card could provide an exclusive 25 percent to 75 percent rewards rate boost. The  rewards rates — 2X points on dining and travel, with 1.5X points on all other purchases — could increase to an incredible 3.5X on travel and dining with an unrivaled flat 2.62X points rate. Learn more: Why expert Sara Coleman loves the Bank of America Premium Rewards Card Alternatives: The similarly-priced Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the best alternatives thanks to its stellar travel protections, yearly bonus rewards and stronger rewards program. However, flat-rate cards like the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card or the Discover it® Miles card could be lucrative if you don’t think the $95 annual fee is worth it.

• The $95 annual fee is relatively affordable for this card category thanks to the up to $100 in yearly airline incidental statement credits.
• You can smooth out your travel experience with great benefits like credits toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry and comprehensive travel insurance.
• Attaining the highest rewards rate is not an easy feat, since you’ll need to hold significant funds in Bank of America accounts.
• This card does not offer a few popular premium travel perks like lounge access.
• Low $95 annual fee.
• Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases. No limit to the points you can earn and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
• If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means you could earn 2.5-3.5 points on travel and dining purchases and 1.87 - 2.62 points on all other purchases, for every $1 you spend.
• Redeem for cash back as a statement credit, deposit into eligible Bank of America® accounts, credit to eligible Merrill® accounts, or gift cards or purchases at the Bank of America Travel Center.
• Get up to $100 in Airline Incidental Statement Credits annually and TSA PreCheck®/Global Entry Statement Credits of up to $100, every four years.
• Travel Insurance protections to assist with trip delays, cancellations and interruptions, baggage delays and lost luggage.
• No foreign transaction fees.

Best for first-year value

Discover it® Miles

• Unlimited Bonus: Unlimited Mile-for-Mile match for all new cardmembers—only from Discover. Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. You could turn 35,000 Miles to 70,000 Miles. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match.

Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase.

• 1.5X Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase.

What we love: In addition to the exceptionally valuable Discover Match® , this card combines solid flat-rate rewards with consumer-friendly terms, like minimal fees and an equal value for both travel and cash back redemptions. Travelers who value simplicity will appreciate this card’s straightforward rewards and adaptability — even when you aren’t traveling. Learn more: Why expert Holly Johnson loves the Discover it® Miles Alternatives: The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card carries a more straightforward and still easy-to-reach welcome bonus. The VentureOne card also gives you the option of transferring miles to more than a dozen airline and hotel partners, which could increase the redemption value of your rewards.

• All miles earned in your first year will be matched at the end of the year, which could make it one of the most valuable first-year offers for no annual fee.
• Miles don’t lose value when they’re redeemed for cash back, which gives it a leg up over many travel rewards programs for occasional travelers.
• You’ll miss out on pretty standard travel perks like travel insurance, and car rental damage protection.
• The rewards structure lacks flexibility; you won’t be able to transfer your miles or use them to book travel.
• Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase
• No annual fee
• Turn Miles into cash. Or redeem as a statement credit for your travel purchases like airfare, hotels, rideshares, gas stations, restaurants and more.
• 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 18.24% - 28.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR will apply.
• Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
• Discover is accepted nationwide by 99% of the places that take credit cards.
• Terms and conditions apply.

Best for fair credit

Credit One Bank Wander® Card

Intro offer is not available for this Credit One Bank credit card.

Earn 10x points on eligible hotels and car rentals booked through the Credit One Bank travel partner site Earn 5x points on eligible travel, dining, and gas Earn 1x points on all other purchases

• 10X Earn 10x points on eligible hotels and car rentals booked through the Credit One Bank travel partner site
• 5X Earn 5x points on eligible travel, dining, and gas
• 1X Earn 1x points on all other purchases

What we love: The Credit One Bank Wander® Card is a solid option if you want to earn points on travel but have trouble qualifying for mainstream travel cards. Not only is this card accessible with only fair credit, but its rewards program boasts generously high rewards rates in key travel categories. Learn more: Best travel cards for people with bad or fair credit Alternatives: If you don’t mind putting down a refundable security deposit, consider a no-annual-fee secured card like the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card *. It’s a unique secured card that lets you build credit while earning rewards in a category of your choice (with travel just one of many popular options) as well as grocery stores and wholesale clubs.

• It’s one of the only travel rewards cards available with a fair credit score, making it a decent option if you want to earn travel rewards as you work on your score.
• Provides 5X points in travel, dining and gas, plus 10X points on eligible hotel and rental car bookings through Credit One Bank — rare and impressive rates with only fair credit.
• Its annual fee is high compared to other cards you can get with a fair credit score , so it may not be the best fit if you prioritize building credit over earning rewards.
• Other travel cards may offer better perks, fewer redemption restrictions and more value, so it may be worth working on your score with a lower-cost card before committing to the costly annual fee.
• Earn 10x points on eligible hotels and car rentals booked through the Credit One Bank travel partner site
• Earn 5x points on eligible travel, dining, and gas
• Earn 1x points on all other purchases
• Redeem your reward points for statement credits, gift cards, merchandise, flights, hotels, and more
• With $0 Fraud Liability, you won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges
• Free Online Credit Score and Credit Report summary, terms apply
• If you are a Covered Borrower under the Military Lending Act, you may get a different offer
• See Rates & Fees

Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit  AmericanExpress.com/benefitsguide  for more details. Underwritten by Amex assurance company.

The information about the American Express® Green Card and Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuers.

Compare Bankrate's best travel credit cards of 2024

What are travel credit cards.

Travel credit cards allow cardholders to earn points or miles on a variety of purchases (typically travel-related), which are redeemable for travel bookings, statement credits, gift cards and more.

The best travel credit cards do more than help you foot the bill for your next flight — travel cards also offer perks to upgrade your entire travel experience. Trip insurance , annual travel credits, concierge services and lounge access are all common benefits. Airline and hotel co-branded credit cards sometimes offer specific discounts and perks for loyalty program members.

Pros and cons of travel credit cards

Although a well-chosen travel card can pay huge dividends, it might not be the right move for every traveler. Before you apply, take time to weigh the benefits versus the drawbacks of travel credit cards .

Tips on choosing the best travel credit card for you

The right travel credit card for you will carry features and benefits that give you the best value. To help you narrow down your choices, here are the steps to choosing the best travel card.

How to choose a travel credit card

1. know how you prefer to travel.

Knowing whether your travel expenses lean toward airfare, hotel stays or a mix of other travel will help you decide whether you should get an airline card, hotel card or general-purpose travel card. A co-branded airline or hotel credit card may be a good fit if you mostly travel with a certain brand and want exclusive privileges to enhance your experience. A general-purpose travel card is better if you prefer to keep your travel options open.

2. Prioritize redemption value

You may have to pick between simplicity and maximum value when comparing cards and rewards programs. Many travel cards offer a standard point or mile redemption value of 1 cent when you redeem toward travel through the issuer portal, but some cards can get you a higher redemption value when you transfer rewards to airline or hotel partners. However, it's common for many travel reward programs to reduce the redemption value toward non-travel options or limit these redemption options altogether. If you prefer simplicity over maximizing rewards, you may want to consider cards that allow you to redeem points or miles at an equal 1-cent value toward general travel purchase credits, cash back or other non-travel options.

3. Match your card to your spending habits

Take a look at your typical spending and find which travel categories and non-travel categories you spend the most in to help you choose a card that offers a high rewards rate for your regular spending. Just make sure you factor in rewards spending caps.

4. Note what's worth the extra money

High rewards rates and valuable travel perks are the biggest reasons to get a travel card, but many of the best cards carry a high annual fee. You could stick with a no-annual-fee travel card (or at least one with around a $99 fee) if you're mainly focused on earning rewards, but you may have to pay up to $500 or more for luxurious perks like airport lounge access, comprehensive travel insurance and hundreds of dollars in annual travel credits .

5. Look toward your next trip abroad

If you travel overseas, check to see if the card you're considering charges a foreign transaction fee. And since some credit cards aren't as widely accepted as others, you'll also want to make sure your credit card will work when traveling overseas . For example, merchants may not accept Discover and American Express cards as widely as Visa and Mastercard. If a trip is coming up in the next three to six months, keep an eye out for the big sign-up bonuses travel cards are known for. As a rule of thumb, the higher the annual fee, the higher the sign-up bonus should be.

Co-branded travel cards vs. general travel cards

Experts typically divide travel credit cards into two categories: co-branded travel cards and general travel cards. Co-branded cards are linked to a particular airline or hotel, while general travel cards offer more flexible reward opportunities. Here’s why and when you might want one or the other.

• Co-branded cards
• General travel cards

Co-branded travel cards tend to offer higher rewards rates on eligible travel purchases in exchange for limiting your reward redemption options to just one airline or hotel program . These cards may also feature more specific perks associated with the respective hotel or airline, such as free award nights, complimentary airline elite status or priority boarding — which general-purpose travel cards don’t often carry).

However, you won’t be able to use your rewards with a wide variety of different hotels and airlines like general-purpose cards allow. Plus, despite co-branded travel cards’ typically higher rewards rates, many brand-specific rewards tend to be worth less than the potential value of general-purpose cards’ points and miles.

When to get a co-branded travel card : When you often fly or stay with a specific airline or hotel and want to maximize your benefits with that brand.

General travel cards earn rewards on various travel categories and aren’t limited to a particular airline or hotel. Such cards may lack some of the dedicated perks you’ll find on a co-branded travel card, such as in-flight discounts, but make up for it with rewards flexibility and broader perks like general travel credits, expedited security screening and wider airport lounge access. 

The top travel cards even let you transfer your points or miles to airline and hotel loyalty programs, often at a 1:1 rate. Redeeming with some airlines and hotels can even make your rewards more valuable than they would be if you redeemed with the card issuer.

When to get a general travel card : When you have no preferred airline or hotel and want the additional flexibility a general travel card offers. 

Who should get a travel credit card?

A travel credit card is almost always worth it for frequent travelers or anyone who wants to earn rewards toward their next vacation.

If you can save up airline miles, rack up points for free nights at hotels or get discounted travel through your credit card issuer, you’re on your way to significant travel savings. However, the right travel card for you will depend on your travel habits.

Frequent travelers

Naturally, the ideal candidate for a travel card is someone who travels a lot or plans to book several flights and hotel stays per year. However, in some cases, you don’t have to be a frequent traveler to reap the benefits of a travel rewards card. A number of cards offer good rewards rates on general purchases.

Travel beginners

If you’re new to travel rewards, a good place to start is with a travel card that makes it easy to earn and redeem points, without requiring you to navigate a complex rewards program or worry about tiered rewards rates or varying point redemption values. 

Brand loyalists

If you tend to book travel with the same brands frequently or already belong to an airline or hotel loyalty program, a co-branded travel card can offer terrific value.  Airline- and hotel-specific rewards cards often earn a top rate on bookings with the brand as well as exclusive perks like lounge access and automatic elite status. 

Business travelers

Some of the most valuable travel credit cards are business cards . Whether you're a freelancer on the go or the CEO of a Fortune 500, the right travel credit card can help you earn high rewards rates on everyday business purchases. 

International travelers

If you frequently travel abroad, a card with no foreign transaction fees is a great way to help you avoid extra costs on overseas purchases. Plus, if you hate waiting in line at airport security or customs, a lot of travel cards offer statement credits to reimburse you for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees.

Luxury travelers

Luxury travel cards often charge a pretty penny but also offer a ton of value via perks like lounge access and annual travel credits. These perks not only make travel more comfortable, but also often carry enough value to offset the card’s cost on their own.

Still unsure if a travel credit card is right for you? Check out our Credit Card Spender Type Tool where you can get personalized credit card recommendations based on your credit score, spending habits and daily needs.

Here’s how a Bankrate editor chose his travel card

Here’s how a bankrate editor chose his travel card.

With all of this advice in mind, let’s see how a credit card expert made their pick. Here’s Bankrate editor Nouri Zarrugh on how he chose his travel card:

When it comes to earning rewards, I’ve always stuck with cash back cards, preferring the simplicity of knowing exactly how much my rewards are worth and the ease of redeeming for statement credits. Recently, though, I decided I wanted to travel a bit more frequently, and I figured a new travel rewards card could be a great tool to help me earn free trips. When choosing the right card for me, a few major points of consideration stood out: Cost: I didn’t feel like I traveled enough to justify a huge annual fee. Simplicity : I wanted to stick with a single, streamlined travel card and not worry about juggling multiple rewards programs or rewards rates. Perks : While I didn’t need anything too fancy, I thought it might be nice to have a perk like TSA Precheck included, since I hate waiting in long airport security lines. To my surprise, the card that stood out most was the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. Though it carried an intimidating annual fee of $395 ( See Rates & Fees ), I found this cost was more than worth it once I dug into the details. In fact, its benefits were so valuable, I barely needed to worry about offsetting the cost.  Two of its annual perks — a $300 Capital One travel credit and 10,000 bonus miles every year on my account anniversary — are valuable enough to offset the fee on their own. This means as long as I take one flight a year, I can basically break even on the card. Any rewards or perks I get beyond that feel like pure upside. It’s a huge bonus, then, that the card also includes practical benefits like Priority Pass lounge access and a credit of up to $100 toward the cost of Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. While I’ve never frequented airport lounges, I see these privileges as essentially free considering the value of the annual travel credit and bonus miles. So, I figure, why not take advantage?  For me, the Venture X strikes the perfect balance: A flat rewards rate that makes it easy to earn miles on everything I buy; flexible redemption through Capital One or via transfer to airlines and hotels, and practical perks I know I’ll use when I travel. I never imagined I’d have a $395 travel card in my wallet, but for me, it’s at worst a coupon for a flight every year, which can nudge me to take that next trip. — Nouri Zarrugh, Editor, Bankrate

Travel benefits may differ from card to card, but some of the most popular travel cards available often feature a few key perks. 

Travel insurance

Travel cards may offer various travel insurances , such as trip delay protection, trip cancellation insurance, lost baggage insurance or car rental insurance. These benefits aren’t worth anything until you need them, but you’ll be glad you have them when your flight is canceled or your luggage gets lost.

Travel credits

Credits toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry are a popular and common benefit on many travel cards. You can typically use this credit once every four years, which roughly corresponds to how long a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry membership lasts. Some cards may also provide an annual credit toward Clear Plus — another expedited security membership. Higher-end travel cards often offer annual statement credits toward travel purchases, and many of these credits nearly offset these cards’ annual fees. 

In-flight perks

Co-branded airline cards typically offer some airport and in-flight benefits on top of their reward-earning capabilities. These can include discounts on in-flight purchases (usually 25 percent back on refreshments and WiFi), free checked bags, flight seating upgrades or priority boarding. 

Free hotel award nights

Co-branded hotel cards may include free hotel award nights annually as part of their benefits. Some cards also add an extra complimentary awards night to your stay if you’ve booked a certain number of consecutive nights. These nights are typically capped at a certain value (sometimes based on the card or your elite status), and may be valuable enough to make up for some cards’ annual fees.

Airport lounge access

One of the most popular (and valuable) travel benefits featured on high-end and luxury travel cards is complimentary access to airport lounges. The lounges you gain access to depend on the card, though co-branded cards will often grant access to the lounge corresponding to the card’s airline. The Amex Platinum card currently offers the best airport lounge access .

If you want to add a credit card to your portfolio for your travel needs, knowing what cards are popular and why people like them can help steer your decision. We regularly stay abreast of these conversations online and noticed two travel cards come up regularly: the Chase Sapphire Reserve and The Platinum Card from American Express .

These cards shine because they offer some of the best rates on travel purchases and the most comprehensive set of benefits and perks . Despite their annual fees, what you get in return can far outweigh your costs. And the conversation around these two cards isn’t new: Is the effort of maximizing their perks worth it?

What people say about travel credit cards perks

The Sapphire Reserve is often referred to as the gold standard in travel benefits and protections, and the value of its trip insurance is a big part of that. A member of the Rick Steves Forum remarks on the value of the insurance: “It has pretty extensive coverage wherever I travel … my entire trip is covered as long as I charged any portion of the trip to my card.” This feature is unique to the Sapphire Reserve and sets it apart from other premium cards, which require you to charge your entire trip purchase to the card to have active coverage.

But using trip insurance isn’t always a simple process. As a user in the r/CreditCards forum on Reddit cautions: “Credit card travel insurance in general is very specific on what it covers, and people tend to overestimate just how useful the coverage actually is,” they write. “These are named peril policies, so unless you see your exact situation as a covered hazard the policies won't pay out.”

The Platinum Card from American Express gets a lot of buzz for reasons similar to the Sapphire Reserve. The card gives so many benefits, credits and additional perks that it’s often called a coupon book for luxury travel. But for many people, the value comes down to whether they’re willing to do the work to maximize its features. Another r/CreditCards member says they use the card’s Hilton and Marriott status boosters, rental car company loyalty program automatic status features, Centurion lounge access, hotel and airline incidental credits, membership credits and more. Using all these features helps them offset the annual fee.

While some people love maximizing the card’s features to extract  as much value as possible, others, like this Redditor, think it’s too much work:

“The only benefit the Platinum card really adds is Centurion and Delta Sky lounge access but only to the [cardholder] … I believe the Platinum is worth [it] at least the first year for the [sign-up] bonus but then it doesn't get much use after that. Trust me the credits are really annoying to use.” — r/CreditCards user

These two premium cards stand out from the rest because they offer the most comprehensive features available to suit your travel needs and protect you from any issues that arise. The Chase Sapphire Reserve is an exceptional option to protect you from travel issues, but make sure you know the fine print. While the Amex Platinum may not be as ideal for travel protections, the credits offered more than offset its annual fee if you can put in the effort to fully maximize them.

Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned cardholder, your travel card should always work in your favor by offering the features and benefits you’ll actually use and that make your travels more enjoyable. But whether you’re willing to put in the effort to maximize a card’s value is something you’ll need to decide for yourself.

*The quotes and citations included on this page have been verified by our editorial team and are accurate as of the posting date. Be sure to check the issuer's website/terms and conditions for all up to date content. Outlinked content may contain views and opinions that do not reflect the views and opinions of Bankrate.

Credit card points and miles are two of the key types of credit card rewards , along with cash back. You’ll earn points and miles by making purchases with your credit card, but you can typically redeem these rewards for travel, gift cards and more — not just statement credits.

Points and miles tend to be more flexible than cash back, but since their value depends on how you redeem them — and, in the case of travel redemptions, where you’re going, when you book, your fare class and more — it may take a bit more effort to make the most of them.

What are your points and miles worth?

Since many airlines and hotels use dynamic pricing models that continually optimize airfare and room prices, it can be hard to know exactly how much your rewards are worth without doing a little math.

Luckily, you don’t need to be a travel hacker to get a sense of this idea. Before you redeem, you can check your reward redemption value by dividing the cost of a plane or hotel booking in cash by its cost in points or miles. This calculation will result in the cash value of your points or miles.

You can also compare this value to Bankrate’s latest points and miles valuations to determine if you’re getting a good deal on your redemptions. Bankrate collected data on hundreds of bookings across dozens of airline, hotel and credit card rewards programs and estimated how much each program’s rewards are worth on average .

• Airline rewards values
• Hotel rewards values
• Credit card program rewards values

The table below shows Bankrate’s estimated reward redemption value for a variety of popular airline loyalty programs. You’ll notice how widely the value varies between airlines, with some offering close to 3 cents per point in average redemption value and others struggling to meet a 1-cent-per-point value.

Keep in mind, however, that these values are averages based on a variety of fare classes, destinations, booking periods and more. For example, while Bankrate estimates Delta SkyMiles carry an average redemption value of around 1.2 cents per mile, they could be worth more or less depending on the details of your booking. 

*Based on weighted average of median point/mile values across economy and first/business class fares.

Like airline miles, hotel points fluctuate in value. The table below shows Bankrate’s estimated point values for some of the most popular hotel brands. 

As you can see, hotel points tend to be worth less than airline and credit card rewards on average, often carrying less than 1 cent per point in redemption value. That said, hotel loyalty programs sometimes offer more favorable exchange rates when you transfer rewards from a credit card rewards program. For example, you may be able to turn 1,000 credit card points into 2,000 hotel points (a 2:1 transfer ratio). 

*Based on median point values across budget, mid-tier and luxury hotel bookings.

Unlike hotel and airline rewards programs, credit card reward programs typically earn points or miles that offer a consistent redemption value when you use them with the issuer. Though the redemption value of your rewards may vary based on how you redeem, each redemption method should offer a consistent baseline value. 

Some credit card rewards programs may also allow you to transfer your points or miles to airline and hotel loyalty programs, which could boost their value considerably. For each major credit card rewards program, we estimate a baseline redemption value (assuming you book for travel with the issuer) and a Bankrate’s Value, which averages the program’s best-value transfer partners.

*Based on an average of the issuer’s five highest-value transfer partners (if available).

When to use rewards vs. cash

To demonstrate when it’s best to use your reward miles versus paying in cash, we set up this example:

We estimate American Airlines AAdvantage miles are worth 1.0 cents. If you book a seat in the main cabin on a one-way flight from Boston to Miami, and it costs either $139 or 21,500 miles, your miles are only worth $0.006 ($139 / 21,500 miles = $0.006). Since your miles for this flight are worth less than 1.0 cents, you may want to save your miles and pay cash for this flight.

But if you book a first-class seat on the same flight for $433 or 31,500 miles, your miles are now worth $0.013 ($433 / 31,500 = $0.013). Since 1.3 cents is higher than our latest valuation, you’re coming out ahead if you use your miles to pay for this flight.

Bankrate experts share their advice on using travel credit cards

It’s important to know how to maximize your rewards and perks. Otherwise, a travel card could end up being a money pit. Here are a few pointers from our experts for making the most of your travel card: 

Combine cards to maximize rewards

Knowing how much you spend in different categories and which merchants are eligible for rewards will help you earn more and build an optimized stack of rewards cards. A flat-rate card is often a great starting point to earn the same rate on every purchase you make. As you build out a rewards strategy, you can incorporate a card with bonus categories to earn even more in your highest spending areas.

Expert Insight:

“For a long time, I’ve used a combination of Chase credit cards known as the Chase trifecta for all my family’s spending…. [I] don’t typically use my Sapphire Reserve for everyday spending and bills. Since it only offers 1X points on non-bonus category spending, I use my Freedom Unlimited to make sure I earn a minimum of 1.5 percent cash back on everything I buy.” “I use each card strategically to earn as much in rewards as possible, then I pool them in my Sapphire Reserve account to redeem them for airfare, excursions, hotels and more.” — Holly D. Johnson — Award-winning personal finance writer and Bankrate contributor: Why I love the Chase Sapphire Reserve

Maximize your rewards value with transfer partners and issuer travel

Save your rewards for the most valuable redemption options. Travel points and miles often lose value toward non-travel options like cash back, so you’ll want to redeem your rewards for travel through the issuer portal for at least 1 cent per point or mile. However, transferring your rewards to the right airline or hotel partner program is usually worth the extra effort since it could net you even more value.

Expert Insight

“When I redeem my points through the Chase Ultimate Rewards program, the most I can get is 1.25 cents apiece, which is pretty good. However, if I transfer them to a partner airline’s loyalty program, I will often get much more. For example, I can transfer my points to United Airlines MileagePlus and use them to pay for flights. When I do, I generally get a value of 2 or more cents per point — in line with Bankrate estimates that Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth around 2 cents apiece on average when used with the right transfer partner.” — Margaret Wack — Personal finance expert and Bankrate contributor: Why I love the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Make the most of your travel perks

Travel benefits are one of the main reasons to get a travel card, and are often key to making up a card’s annual fee. Be sure to read the fine print to make sure you can take full advantage of these offers . For example, one card’s travel credit may apply to any travel purchase, including airfare, while another card’s may only cover costs like baggage fees or in-flight purchases. 

“This is the year to take inventory of your credit cards and make sure they’re serving you well. If you’re paying an annual fee, look for a card with recurring benefits. Whether it’s annual award nights, waived luggage fees or elite status benefits, these perks can offset your annual fee and make your travels more pleasant … Despite putting minimal spending on my Hilton Honors Amex Aspire card, I keep renewing it every year. That’s because the card provides automatic Hilton Diamond elite status, which can easily offset the $550 annual fee. Recurring card benefits like [these] can save you a lot on travel and are worth considering when shopping for a new credit card.” — Ariana Arghandewal — Travel rewards expert and Bankrate contributor: Five benefits you need from a travel credit card

Plan for the sign-up bonus

The best travel cards come with generous welcome offers, but these bonuses may require a high spend in a short timeframe. That’s why it’s important to consider whether the spending requirement fits with your typical spending habits or whether you need to plan purchases to meet the requirement. Just be sure not to overextend yourself or take on debt you can’t pay back just to earn a bonus — interest and fees can easily eat through any value you’d get.

“Keep in mind that credit card sign-up offers change often. So if you’re interested in a particular card but not blown away by its current offer (there are some for 100,000 points or more that aren’t always worth the trouble), it could be worth your while to wait for a better one.” — Ariana Arghandewal — Travel rewards expert and Bankrate contributor: 6 ways to get bigger credit card bonuses

Look out for limited-time offers, partner perks and other benefits

Keeping an eye out for limited-time offers like extraordinarily high sign-up bonuses, perks with partner services (like rideshares or delivery services) and other reward-earning opportunities is a great way to squeeze the most value from your travel card. Issuers sometimes provide shopping and travel portals and card-linked reward programs for select purchases (like for pre-paid dining or participating merchant spending), which can help you bank extra rewards.

“Keep an eye on your email inbox and rewards portal for any limited-time promotions your issuer may be offering. Many American Express cards feature Amex Offers, which lets you access perks like statement credits for spending a certain amount on specific hotels and other retailers.  Other cards, like the Capital One Venture X, also have occasional promotional offers, such as a credit for 5 percent back on VRBO rentals.” — Lori Zaino — Travel expert and Bankrate contributor: How to maximize credit cards for cheaper accommodations this holiday season

Track your spending and rewards each account statement

Track your favorite stores’ and services’ merchant category codes (MCCs) to fine-tune your spending habits for maximum rewards. If you notice your expenses changing, this practice may also help you notice whether you need to change which rewards cards you carry.

“The first step to optimizing your spending is to take the time to collect the MCCs of stores you frequently shop at. During the process, you might find that some stores in the same chain may have different MCCs, depending on their primary inventory. Even different counters or sections in the same department store may carry different MCCs. You can use this to your advantage if you know one location near you will provide a better cash back rate than the other. These “loopholes” can provide great opportunities to reap cash back on purchases that typically wouldn’t earn rewards.” — Garrett Yarbrough — Writer and credit cards expert at Bankrate: Merchant category codes: How to earn more cash back

Our data: What credit score do you need for the best travel cards?

It’s no secret that your credit score heavily influences which cards you’re likely to get approval for. But how good does your credit need to be to get the best credit cards for travel? We analyzed our data of Bankrate readers who applied for credit cards on our pages in 2023 and compared the approval rates of readers’ different credit tiers.

We found that, on average, 61.9 percent of users with excellent credit were approved for travel cards on our site. Then, an average of 39.5 percent and 19.5 percent of users with good and fair credit, respectively, got approval for travel credit cards they applied to.

If you have fair or bad credit, you still have options for travel credit cards. For example, the Credit One Bank Wander Card caters to people with fair credit — 57 percent of people with fair credit who applied on our site in 2023 were approved for this card , according to our data.

Obviously, the better your credit, the more likely you are to get the card you apply for , but other factors can affect your application. Issuers may also consider your income, recent credit applications, homeownership status and monthly rental or mortgage payment. Keep these other factors in mind with your credit score when you apply for credit cards.

Have more questions for our credit cards editors? Feel free to send us an email , find us on Facebook , or Tweet us @Bankrate .

When evaluating the best travel cards, we consider a mix of factors, including how cards score in our proprietary card rating system and whether cards offer features that fit the priorities of a diverse group of cardholders, from earning rewards in popular categories to scoring a large sign-up bonus or high-value perks. Whenever possible, we also feature cards that are available at various credit levels and price points. 

We analyzed over 150 of the most popular cards and scored each based on its rewards rate, estimated annual earnings, welcome bonus value, APR, fees, perks and more to determine whether it belonged in this month’s roundup of the best travel cards.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the key factors in our rewards card scoring methodology — our primary scoring category for travel cards — and details we considered when putting together our list of the best travel cards.  

• Flexibility 15%
• Customer experience 5%

Great rewards value

The primary criteria for a rewards-earning card’s rating is its rewards value. This includes the card’s average rewards rate, estimated annual rewards earnings, sign-up bonus value and reward redemption value.

To estimate a card’s average annual rewards earnings, we first calculate its average rewards rate based on how much it earns in different bonus categories and how closely its categories align with the average person’s spending habits. In other words, we assess whether the card earns rewards at a high rate in the most popular spending categories. 

We use consumer spending data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to get a reliable third-party measure of people’s spending habits. The most recent BLS data estimates average total spending in 2022 was $72,967 per consumer. We then narrow our focus to which purchases are likely to be put on a credit card and earn rewards, subtracting expenditures like housing, vehicle purchases and education. This gives us a total “chargeable” annual spend of around $25,500.  

This includes the following spending by category:

• Groceries: $5,700
• Dining out: $3,600
• Entertainment: $2,400
• Gas: $3,100
• Apparel and services: $1,900

Using this data, we assign a weighting to each of a card’s bonus categories. For example, a card’s grocery rewards rate receives a 22 percent weighting based on how much of the average person’s budget is spent on groceries.

We also estimate the redemption value of points or miles from various issuer, airline and hotel rewards programs.

This weighting and rewards valuation allows us to estimate a card’s average annual rewards earnings — how many points or miles you’d earn with a given card if your spending was about average and you used the card for all of your purchases — as well as what those points are worth. We also use point valuations to determine a card’s sign-up bonus value

With these calculations complete, we assign each card a score based on how its average rewards earnings, sign-up bonus value, rewards rate and redemption value stack up against other rewards cards.

The better these values, the higher its score will be, making it more worthy of inclusion in our list and increasing its potential ranking.

Reasonable rates and fees

We also score cards based on how much it costs to keep them in your wallet or carry a balance. 

To start, each card is scored based on whether it offers an intro APR and how its ongoing APR compares to the rates available on other rewards cards. However, the latter rating only has a slight influence on the card’s score and whether the card is included in our list, since rewards card users generally try to avoid carrying a balance.

More important to both a card’s score and its inclusion in our list is how its annual fee influences its overall value. We consider a card’s annual fee in two ways — how it ranks relative to the fees you’ll find on other cards in the category and how it impacts a card’s overall rewards value. 

Cards with an annual fee will always be at a slight disadvantage in our scoring system since annual fees inherently cut into your rewards value. However, if a card offers terrific value via its ongoing rewards and perks, it can earn a high score and a spot in our list even if it carries a high annual fee. After all, the highest rewards rates and most valuable perks are often found on cards with annual fees. 

With this in mind, we rate a card based primarily on how its ongoing rewards value and ongoing perk value (such as annual credits or bonuses) stack up against those of other cards in the category when you subtract annual fees.

That said, we strive to include as many no-annual-fee options in our list as possible since many people would rather not worry about offsetting fees, even if a card carries impressive rewards and perks.

Redemption flexibility

Rewards cards may make it easy to earn a lot of points, miles or cash back, but how easy is it to use those rewards? After all, if it takes a ton of effort to redeem rewards or you can only redeem rewards in a couple of ways, a card may be more trouble than it’s worth. 

As such, we rate each card’s flexibility based on the restrictions it imposes on earning and redeeming rewards. We factor this rating into a card’s overall score and consider it when deciding on a card’s inclusion in our list. 

Flexibility factors include whether a card only allows you to earn a high rewards rate on only a small amount of spending or requires you to meet a certain earning threshold before you can redeem rewards. We also examine whether your points are worth less when you opt for some redemption options over others and whether a card gives you the flexibility to transfer rewards to travel partners.

Valuable perks

We also score each card’s set of features – its perks and benefits — against five tiers of features to provide a rating. 

We break down these tiers as follows:

• Tier 1 includes fewer features than even standard credit cards (for example, an ultra-streamlined card that offers basic utility and next to nothing in the way of ancillary benefits). 
• Tier 2 includes the benefits you’d expect on standard Visa or Mastercard credit cards, such as free access to your credit score, car rental insurance and $0 liability for fraudulent charges. 
• Tier 3 includes “prime card” or better-than-average card features like cellphone insurance, lost luggage insurance, concierge services and purchase protection. 
• Tier 4 includes luxury features such as airport lounge access, elite status with an airline or hotel and credits for expedited security screening membership programs. 
• Tier 5 includes the sort of exemplary benefits you’ll find on top-tier luxury cards, such as high-value travel credits, cardholder memberships and other unique and valuable perks.

In evaluating the best cards, we tend to favor cards that offer at least Tier 3 benefits, unless they include other unique features that could make up for less-impressive perks.

And since this list focuses on travel cards, we tend to favor cards that carry travel-centric features like travel insurance, airport lounge access and credits for expedited security screening, instead of more general perks like food delivery credits or shopping discounts.

More information on travel credit cards

Frequently asked questions about travel credit cards, are travel credit cards worth it.

Travel cards can be well worth it since they often have exclusive travel perks like credits for airfare, hotel stays, expedited airport security services and more, as well as complimentary airport lounge access and airline or hotel privileges. However, many of the best travel credit cards come with annual fees. It’s important to at least offset the cost of these cards by taking advantage of the various travel perks and features included on the card. 

What credit score do you need for a travel credit card?

It’s possible to get a travel credit card with bad or fair credit, but most travel rewards cards are geared toward people with good or excellent credit (a FICO score of at least 670, or a VantageScore of at least 661).

Do travel miles or points expire?

Even though many major credit cards earn rewards that don’t expire, you may lose your points and miles if your account closes or isn’t in good standing. However, some co-branded cards’ rewards may expire if you don’t earn or redeem rewards within a certain timeframe (typically 12 to 36 months after the rewards are earned).

Check out our guide to credit card rewards expiration for a thorough breakdown of several popular issuers’ policies.

Are points or miles better on a credit card?

Whether points or miles offer better value will depend on the specific rewards program and how you redeem rewards. One airline loyalty program may earn miles that offer less than 1 cent each in average redemption value while another program’s points may offer close to 3 cents each on average. Similarly, a hotel card’s points may be worth less than half of a credit card issuer’s rewards points. Some programs offer points with only average baseline redemption value but high value when transferred to a partner airline or hotel. 

Ask the experts: Is it a good idea to have multiple travel credit cards?

Thomas Nitzsche

Stephanie Zito

Erica Sandberg

Financial Educator, Debt and Credit

Whether you should have multiple travel credit cards depends on several factors, including your brand affinity, frequency of travel and ability to pay off your cards in full each month. As a credit counselor, I see many people carrying credit card debt at high interest rates while continuing to make charges to the account for the sake of earning rewards. They lose far more than they earn each month. Having more than one travel credit card could make sense for you if you’re able to maximize your earnings by strategizing spending across each card. Just take into account annual fees and actual interest paid.

Contributor, Personal Finance

If you’re up for managing multiple cards and their benefits, then there are definitely big reward payouts to be had. But if the thought of multiple cards is overwhelming, it’s also a good strategy to have one or two more flexible cards and focus on maximizing your earnings and redemptions until it becomes second nature.

Contributor, Credit Cards

Definitely! I currently have two travel credit cards. In addition to the Chase card that I use for my United Airlines purchases, I have the Capital One Venture card for all other airlines. I earn a solid amount of miles on everything I buy with it, so it's an easy go-to for non-travel related expenses.

Article sources

We use primary sources to support our work. Bankrate’s authors, reporters and editors are subject-matter experts who thoroughly fact-check editorial content to ensure the information you’re reading is accurate, timely and relevant.

Global entry: Trusted traveler enrollment program . U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Accessed on Feb. 21, 2024

Discover International acceptance . Discover. Accessed on Feb. 21, 2024.

* See the online application for details about terms and conditions for these offers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. After you click on the offer you desire you will be directed to the credit card issuer's web site where you can review the terms and conditions for your selected offer.

Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including card rates and fees, is accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information.

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