Heaviest Credit Cards: 2021

securely on the issuer's website

Highlights
Why We Picked It
Rewards
Key Features

Patented brushed stainless steel front and carbon back—weighing 22 grams.
2% value for airfare redemptions with no blackout dates or seat restrictions. 1% value for cash back redemptions. Earn one point for every one dollar spent.
24/7 Luxury Card Concierge^®—available by phone, email and live mobile chat. Around-the-clock service to help you save time and manage tasks big and small.
Exclusive Luxury Card Travel^® benefits—average value of $500 per stay (e.g., resort credits, room upgrades, free wifi, breakfast for two and more) at over 3,000 properties.
Members-only LUXURY MAGAZINE^®.
Cell phone protection for eligible claims of up to $1,000 each year. Plus additional World Elite Mastercard^® benefits.
Annual fee: $195 ($95 for each Authorized User). Terms and conditions apply.

Why’d we pick it? Cause it’s really heavy.

The Mastercard® Titanium Card™ is the low-fee Luxury Card option, and the valuable benefits have been stripped away compared to the cards below. You’ll get a nice set of shopping and travel protections, plus a host of minor perks, but nothing too great like airport lounge access or travel credits.

The design is still cool, though; it has an industrial look, with a “unique brushed stainless steel front and carbon back.”

Spending Rewards
1X point per dollar on all purchases

The Titanium card provides 2 cents per point for airfare redemptions, so you’ll get a 2% cash back equivalent when you redeem that way. Otherwise you’ll just get 1 cent per point. Not too exciting.

Perks: Luxury concierge, Luxury gifts, subscription to LUXURY MAGAZINE, shopping and travel protections
Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 15 months, then 14.99% Variable
No foreign transaction fee
Annual fee: $195

Medium Fee — 22g

Mastercard® Black Card™

Our rating:

securely on the issuer's website

Highlights
Why We Picked It
Rewards
Key Features

Patented black-PVD-coated metal card—weighing 22 grams.
2% value for airfare redemptions with no blackout dates or seat restrictions. 1.5% value for cash back redemptions. Earn one point for every one dollar spent.
24/7 Luxury Card Concierge^®—available by phone, email and live mobile chat. Around-the-clock service to help you save time and manage tasks big and small.
Exclusive Luxury Card Travel^® benefits—average value of $500 per stay (e.g., resort credits, room upgrades, free wifi, breakfast for two and more) at over 3,000 properties.
Annual Airline Credit—up to $100 in statement credits toward flight-related purchases including airline tickets, baggage fees, upgrades and more. Up to a $100 application fee credit for the cost of TSA Pre✓^® or Global Entry.
Enrollment in Priority Pass^TM Select with access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide with no guest limit. Includes credits at select airport restaurants for cardholder and one guest.
Cell phone protection for eligible claims of up to $1,000 each year. Plus additional World Elite Mastercard^® benefits.
Annual Fee: $495 ($195 for each Authorized User). Terms and conditions apply.

Like the Gold card below, the Mastercard® Black Card™ doesn’t have much to offer beyond its weight, although in this case the card’s features fit the annual fee better. You’ll still pay quite a bit each year, but it’s more in line with other premium travel cards.

This card features “a unique black-PVD-coated stainless steel front and carbon back,” and it looks pretty snazzy.

Spending Rewards
1X point per dollar on all purchases

With the Black card your points will be worth 2 cents each for airfare, and 1.5 cents each for cash back. Not very luxurious.

$100 annual airline credit
Priority Pass Select membership: Complimentary access for you and unlimited guests
Global Entry application fee credit: A credit for Global Entry ($100), which can include TSA PreCheck
Other perks: Luxury concierge, Luxury gifts, subscription to LUXURY MAGAZINE, shopping and travel protections
Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 15 months, then 14.99% Variable
No foreign transaction fee
Annual fee: $495

High Fee — 22g

Mastercard® Gold Card™

Our rating:

securely on the issuer's website

Highlights
Why We Picked It
Rewards
Key Features

Patented 24K-gold-plated front and carbon back—weighing 22 grams.
2% value for airfare redemptions with no blackout dates or seat restrictions. 2% value for cash back redemptions. Earn one point for every one dollar spent.
24/7 Luxury Card Concierge^®—available by phone, email and live mobile chat. Around-the-clock service to help you save time and manage tasks big and small.
Exclusive Luxury Card Travel^® benefits—average value of $500 per stay (e.g., resort credits, room upgrades, free wifi, breakfast for two and more) at over 3,000 properties.
Annual Airline Credit—up to $200 in statement credits toward flight-related purchases including airline tickets, baggage fees, upgrades and more. Up to a $100 application fee credit for the cost of TSA Pre✓^® or Global Entry.
Enrollment in Priority Pass^TM Select with access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide with no guest limit. Includes credits at select airport restaurants for cardholder and one guest.
Cell phone protection for eligible claims of up to $1,000 each year. Plus additional World Elite Mastercard^® benefits.
Annual Fee: $995 ($295 for each Authorized User). Terms and conditions apply.

The Mastercard Gold Card is as heavy as it gets, along with the other Luxury cards. Coming in at 22g and 24K-gold plated, it looks like a little slice of gold bullion and will surely draw some stares.

But with an annual fee that’s so high it’s downright puzzling, paired with a pretty run-of-the-mill set of premium perks, there’s little reason to apply — unless you just want a heavy gold credit card. This is the highest end of the high-end Luxury Cards, which are all made of metal.

Spending Rewards
1X point per dollar on all purchases

You’ll only earn 1X point, and each point will be worth 2 cents when redeemed for cash back or airfare.

That means you’re only getting a 2% cash back equivalent on everything you buy with this fancy card — a far cry from the gold standard you might expect.

$200 annual airline credit
Priority Pass Select membership: Complimentary access for you and unlimited guests
Global Entry application fee credit: A credit for Global Entry ($100), which can include TSA PreCheck
Other perks: Luxury concierge, Luxury gifts, subscription to LUXURY MAGAZINE, shopping and travel protections
Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 15 months, then 14.99% Variable
No foreign transaction fee
Annual fee: $995

Airport Lounge Access — 18g

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Our rating:

Learn More

Highlights
Why We Picked It
Rewards
Key Features
Runner Up1

Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Plus, earn 10x points on eligible purchases on the Card at restaurants worldwide and when you Shop Small in the U.S., on up to $25,000 in combined purchases, during 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.
$200 Hotel Credit: Get $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®.
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 in statement credits each month when you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at your choice of one or more of the following providers: Peacock, Audible, SiriusXM, and The New York Times. Enrollment required.
New! American Express has expanded The Centurion® Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. Now there are even more places your Platinum Card® can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one qualifying airline.
$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 available to Basic Card Member only.
$300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $25 back each month on select Equinox memberships. Enrollment required.
$179 CLEAR® Credit: Use your Card and get up to $179 back per year on your CLEAR® membership.
$695 annual fee.
Terms Apply.

With one of the heaviest sets of benefits and a physical presence to match, the Platinum card makes an impression. Amex’s famous plastic card got an upgrade to stainless steel in 2017, replacing the flimsy version with something more suitable to its weighty reputation.

The annual fee is still one of the steepest, but if you can make good use of the benefits each year (especially the credits and airport lounge access) it’s possible to come out far ahead.

Interested in cool credit cards? Learn more about the Centurion Card, aka the Amex Black Card.

Spending Rewards
5X Membership Rewards points per dollar (on up to $500,000 spent per calendar year, then 1X) on: Flights booked directly through airlines or through American Express Travel Prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel
2X Membership Rewards points per dollar on other eligible travel expenses booked through American Express Travel
1X Membership Rewards point per dollar on all other purchases

Introductory Bonus
100,000 bonus points for spending $6,000 in the first 6 months; 10X points on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide and when you Shop Small in the U.S., on up to $25,000 in combined purchases, during the first 6 months

Global Lounge Collection: Enroll for complimentary access to Priority Pass, Centurion, American Express International, Delta Sky Club, Escape, Airspace, Lufthansa, and Plaza Premium Lounges.
Up to $200 in annual Uber Cash: Add your Platinum card to the Uber App to get up to $15 in Uber Cash per month, plus a bonus $20 in December; U.S. Eats orders and rides only.
$200 hotel credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits each year for prepaid hotels booked through The Hotel Collection and Fine Hotels & Resorts; must pay with the Platinum card.
$300 Equinox credit: Pay with your Platinum card to get up to $300 in statement credits annually with Equinox (up to $25 per month), for Equinox All Access, Destination, E by Equinox, or Equinox+ membership fees.
$240 digital entertainment credit: Pay with your Platinum card to get up to $240 in statement credits annually for digital entertainment (up to $20 per month), only for eligible purchases from Peacock, Audible, SiriusXM, and The New York Times.
CLEAR credit: Up to $179 in statement credits annually for CLEAR biometric security, enough for a membership.
Uber Eats Pass: Get unlimited $0 delivery fees and 5% off orders at eligible restaurants for 12 months; must enroll by 12/31/21. Taxes and service fees may apply and do not count toward the order minimum. Eats Pass will start auto-billing 12 months from enrollment, at then-current monthly rate. Learn more.
Uber VIP status: Add your Platinum card to the Uber App to get Uber VIP status where available.
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit: A statement credit for the application fee of either Global Entry ($100 every four years) or TSA PreCheck ($85 once every four and a half years)
Complimentary elite hotel statuses: Hilton Honors Gold status and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
The Hotel Collection: A $100 hotel credit and room upgrades when available for every eligible two-night stay
Fine Hotels & Resorts Program: Daily breakfast for two, room upgrades when available, amenities valued at $100, and more at eligible properties
$100 annual Saks credit: Up to $100 in statement credits each year for Saks Fifth Avenue: $50 from January through June, and $50 from July through December
Global Dining Access by Resy: Resy provides access to exclusive reservations and dining experiences.
Point transfer: To a selection of airline and hotel loyalty programs
Shopping and travel protections: Purchase Protection; Extended Warranty; Return Protection; Baggage Insurance Plan; Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance; Trip Delay Insurance; Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance
No foreign transaction fee
Annual fee: $695

Enrollment required for select benefits; terms and limitations apply.

The Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees)

Runner Up1

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

5X Membership Rewards points per dollar on:
- Flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel
- Prepaid hotels booked with the Amex Travel portal
2X Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on other purchases from Amex Travel
1.5X Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on purchases of $5,000 or more (up to 1 million additional points annually)
1X Membership Rewards point per dollar spent everywhere else
100,000 bonus points for spending $15,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership
No foreign transaction fee
Annual fee: $595

*The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is made of metal, but we’re not sure if it weighs 18g like the consumer version (Rates & Fees).

View card details

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Various Hotel Stays — 18g

Citi Prestige® Card

Our rating:

Highlights
Why We Picked It
Rewards
Key Features

5X ThankYou points on Air travel and Restaurants
3X ThankYou points on Hotels and Cruise Lines
No limit to the amount of points you can earn
Rewards never expire
$250 travel credit
Complimentary 4^th night free on eligible hotel stays, capped at twice per year
Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership
Global Entry or TSA Pre✓ Application Fee Credit
No foreign transaction fees
$495 annual fee

The Citi Prestige® Card (Review) is excellent for hotel stays if you’re not devoted to any particular brand. Not only will you earn 3X points, you’ll also get your fourth night free when booking through ThankYou.com (up to twice per year).

The Prestige has a reasonable annual fee for a premium travel card, offset — if you use the card enough — by a nice travel credit and other useful perks. The transfer partners are a bit lacking compared to American Express and Chase cards, however.

Spending Rewards
5X ThankYou points per dollar spent on: Air travel Restaurants
3X ThankYou points per dollar spent on: Hotels Cruise lines
1X ThankYou point per dollar for every other purchase

Introductory Bonus Offer
50,000 ThankYou points for spending $4,000 within 3 months of account opening

Point transfer: To a variety of airline loyalty programs, including Etihad Guest, JetBlue TrueBlue, and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
Annual $250 travel credit: Get a $250 annual travel credit for airline tickets, hotel rooms, car rentals, and other travel expenses.
Complimentary 4^th Night Stay: Get your fourth night free when booking four nights in a row through ThankYou.com and paying with your card, ThankYou points, or a combination of both; capped at twice per year.
Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership: Access to over 900 Priority Pass airport lounges and restaurants around the world
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit: A credit for the application fee of either Global Entry ($100) or TSA PreCheck ($85), once every five years
Citi Prestige Concierge: Call for non-emergency help any time you need it.
World Elite Car Rental Program: Elite memberships at Avis, Silvercar, and National
No foreign transaction fee
Annual fee: $495

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Premium Airline Card — 18g

Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®

Our rating:

securely on the issuer's website

Highlights
Why We Picked It
Rewards
Key Features

Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage^®bonus miles after spending $5,000 in purchases 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
Earn 10,000 AAdvantage^® Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs) after you spend $40,000 in purchases within the year
No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
Earn 2 AAdvantage^® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1 AAdvantage^® mile for every $1 spent on other 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
The standard variable APR for Citi Flex Plan is 15.99% – 24.99%, based on your creditworthiness. Citi Flex Plan offers are made available at Citi’s discretion.

An expensive pick, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (Review) won’t be too handy unless you fly AA quite a few times per year. But if you do, the Admirals Club lounge access can make your trips quite a bit more comfortable, and your airport security credit should smooth things out a bit too.

If you don’t fly AA as much you can consider other American Airlines credit cards (but they’re not made of metal).

Spending Rewards
2X miles per dollar for American Airlines purchases
1X mile per dollar spent everywhere else

Introductory Bonus Offer
50,000 AAdvantage bonus miles for spending $5,000 in the first 3 months of account opening

Admirals Club membership: You and up to ten authorized users have access to the Admirals Club airport lounge
Global Entry or TSA Pre✓ application credit: Get a credit for the application fee of either Global Entry ($100) or TSA Pre✓ ($85) once every five years.
Elite Qualifying Miles: Earn 10,000 Elite Qualifying Miles after spending $40,000 on purchases in a given year.
Reduced Mileage Awards: Get discounted travel for round trip (7,500 miles off) and one-way flights (3,750 miles off).
Enhanced Airport Experience: Including priority check-in, screening, and boarding privileges
25% discount on in-flight purchases on AA flights: The 25% discount will be applied to in-flight purchases of food and beverages only
First checked bag free on AA flights: For you and up to eight traveling companions
No foreign transaction fee
Annual fee: $450

Citi is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.

Dining at Restaurants — 17g

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

Our rating:

securely on the issuer's website

Why We Picked It
Rewards
Key Features

The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card (Review) is one of the best credit cards for dining, with a 4% cash back category that’s hard to beat. There’s an annual fee to pay, but you’ll get that same rate for entertainment so this is a great pick for nights out on the town — especially as an impressive metal card.

If you like the Savor but don’t like the fee, consider the lesser version: The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card (Review) isn’t a bad card, but it’s simply… plastic.

Spending Rewards
8% cash back on tickets at Vivid Seats
4% cash back on: Dining Entertainment Streaming Services
3% cash back at Grocery Stores
1% cash back on all other purchases

Introductory Bonus
$300 cash bonus for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months

CreditWise: Check your VantageScore 3.0 credit score for free, based on your TransUnion credit report, and see information from that report.
World Elite Mastercard Concierge: Call any time for non-emergency help with making reservations, finding hard-to-find gifts, and more.
World Elite Mastercard benefits: Including Price Protection, Extended Warranty, MasterRental Insurance, Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, and more
No foreign transaction fee
Annual fee: $95

The information related to Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.

Premium Travel Card — 17g

HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card

Our rating:

securely on the issuer's website

Highlights
Why We Picked It
Rewards
Key Features

3X Rewards Program points per dollar on travel
2X points per dollar on dining
1X point per dollar on all other net purchases
50,000 Rewards Program bonus points worth $750 in airfare when booked online through HSBC Rewards, after spending $4,000 in the first three months of opening your account
Earn unlimited points that don’t expire
No blackout dates or restrictions on most major airlines
Made of metal

The HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card isn’t too impressive compared to other premium travel cards: It has smaller travel credits, you only get two free LoungeKey airport lounge visits per year, and there aren’t many travel partners for point transfers.

The annual fee is lower than other premium cards, but not too much lower. If you’re in the market for a premium travel card we suggest you look elsewhere.

Spending Rewards
3X points per dollar on Travel
2X points per dollar on Dining
1X point per dollar on all other purchases

Introductory Bonus Offer
50,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening

Point transfer: Transfer your points to participating frequent traveler programs.
LoungeKey airport lounge membership: Two free visits to LoungeKey lounges per year (additional visits are $25 per person); save 15% at participating airport retailers
TSA PreCheck credit: Get a statement credit that covers the application price for TSA PreCheck ($85) once every five years.
$100 air travel credit: Earn up to $100 in statements credits annually on air travel, including ticket purchases, seat upgrades, baggage fees, and in-flight purchases.
$100 Uber and Lyft credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for qualifying Uber and Lyft rides.
Unlimited Boingo WiFi access: Enjoy free WiFi at Boingo hotspots around the world.
World Elite Concierge: For exclusive, round-the-clock help with travel and shopping
10% discount: When you book a hotel or vacation home through Expedia, Agoda, or onefinestay
No foreign transaction fee
Annual fee: $395

Verizon Customers — 17g

Verizon Visa® Card

Our rating:

How To Apply

Why We Picked It
Rewards
Key Features

Dedicated Verizon customers may like the Verizon Visa® Card, but otherwise it doesn’t have much to offer.

It has some great bonus categories (4% back at grocery stores and gas stations) but the rewards you earn come in the form of Verizon Dollars, rather than regular cash back. Verizon Dollars can only be used to buy Verizon products and services, so you’re locked in — but if you expect to buy a lot of Verizon stuff, maybe this would work out for you.

There are a few cost-saving perks, but for the most part they’re also Verizon-related, like $10 off per phone account enrolled in autopay and two TravelPass days per year.

Spending Rewards
4% back in Verizon Dollars at: Grocery stores Gas stations
3% back in Verizon Dollars on Dining
2% back in Verizon Dollars on Verizon purchases
1% back in Verizon Dollars on all other purchases

Introductory Bonus Offer
$100 credit over the first 24 months when you use your card to pay your Verizon Wireless / Fios bill

Two free annual TravelPass days
$10 off per month for each account enrolled in autopay
Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection: Perks at over 900 hotels and resorts around the world, like a $25 food and beverage credit, room upgrades when available, complimentary breakfast, and more
Visa Signature Concierge: Call any time for non-emergency help, like assistance with travel reservations, dining plans, and more.
No foreign transaction fee
Annual fee: $0

High Fee — 16g

U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite® Card

Our rating:

securely on the issuer's website

Highlights
Why We Picked It
Rewards
Key Features

5X points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Center
3X points per dollar for travel, mobile wallet purchases, and restaurants (until 7/1/21)
50,000 bonus points for spending $4,500 in the first 90 days of membership, equivalent to $750 in travel redemptions.
$325 annual travel credit.
Application fee credit for either Global Entry ($100) or TSA Pre✓ ($85), once every four years.
Enhanced status at Relais & Châteaux hotels and resorts.
12-month membership to Priority Pass Select for airport lounge access.
12 complimentary Gogo Inflight WiFi passes per year.
No foreign transaction fees.
$400 annual fee, $75 for additional authorized users.

A premium travel card that doesn’t get much attention, the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite® Card will still make its presence known with an engraved, stainless steel design. Along with the expected travel category you’ll also earn 3X points on mobile wallet purchases, an interesting addition that could be quite lucrative for some cardholders.

The Altitude Reserve is on the low end of the premium-card totem pole, but it could be pretty good for the occasional traveler. If you’re not a fan of the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, for whatever reason, you might prefer the lower effective annual fee of U.S. Bank’s card. And if Visa Infinite benefits mean a lot to you, this is one of the less expensive ways to get ahold of them.

Spending Rewards
3X points per dollar for: Travel Mobile wallet purchases
1X point per dollar on all other purchases

Introductory Bonus Offer
50,000 bonus points for spending $4,500 in the first 90 days of membership

$325 travel credit: Earn up to $325 in statement credits when you make purchases “directly from airlines, hotels, car rental companies, taxis, limousines, passenger trains, and cruise lines.”
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit: Get a statement credit that covers the application price for Global Entry ($100) or TSA PreCheck ($85) once every four years.
Limited Priority Pass Select membership: Take advantage of a 12-month Priority Pass Select membership that offers four free visits for the primary cardholder and one guest.
Other travel perks: Complimentary Gogo inflight WiFi, Relais & Châteaux luxury hotel benefits, Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection, Silvercar rental discounts, and more.
No foreign transaction fee
Annual fee: $400

Low Fee — 16g

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Our rating:

Highlights
Why We Picked It
Rewards
Key Features

Enjoy a one-time bonus of 60,000 miles once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $600 in travel
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
Miles won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how many you can earn
Receive up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®
Redeem on travel—including flights, vacation rentals, car rentals and more. Plus transfer your miles to over 15+ travel loyalty programs
No foreign transaction fees

Looking for a solid travel card for a reasonable fee? You’ll get it with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, although this metal credit card only has a veneer of stainless steel.

You can earn 2X miles everywhere you spend, along with a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit, a rare find on a card at this fee level.

Spending Rewards
2X miles per dollar on all purchases

Introductory Bonus Offer
60,000 bonus miles for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months

Mile transfer: Transfer miles to a variety of airline partners, at varying rates.
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit: A statement credit for the application fee of either Global Entry ($100) or TSA PreCheck ($85), once every four years
Luxury Hotel Collection (Visa Signature only): Get perks for eligible hotel stays, including a $25 food and beverage credit, room upgrades when available, complimentary in-room WiFi, and more.
Visa Concierge (Visa Signature only): Call any time for non-emergency assistance, like help making reservations or finding gifts.
Shopping discounts (Visa Signature only): Look for offers from select retailers.
Shopping and travel protections: Lost Luggage Reimbursement, Auto Rental Insurance, Roadside Dispatch, Travel and Emergency Assistance Services, Warranty Manager Service, Purchase Security
No foreign transaction fee
Annual fee: $95

Premium Hotel Card — 15g

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card

Our rating:

securely on the issuer's website

Highlights
Why We Picked It
Rewards
Key Features

Earn 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months.
Plus, earn up to $200 in Statement Credits for eligible purchases at U.S. Restaurants within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Enjoy up to $300 in statement credits each year of Card Membership for eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy(TM) program.
Earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy(TM) program. 3 points at U.S. restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines. 2 points on all other eligible purchases.
Receive 1 free Night Award every year after your Card account anniversary. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points) at a participating hotel. Certain hotels have resort fees.
Enjoy unlimited airport lounge visits when you enroll in Priority Pass(TM) Select membership.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
$450 Annual Fee.
Terms Apply.

If you stay with Marriott Bonvoy at least a few times per year, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card (Review) could be a huge asset. It may seem expensive, but the annual free night, travel credit, airport lounge access, and Gold Elite status should make it easy to get your money’s worth — and much more. (Rates & Fees)

There are several other Marriott Bonvoy credit cards to consider, but with all the perks of the Brilliant card it will likely be the best choice for any frequent travelers.

Spending Rewards
6X Marriott Bonvoy Bonus points per dollar for eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
3X Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar: At U.S. restaurants On flights booked directly with airlines
2X Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar spent on all other purchases

Introductory Bonus
75,000 bonus points for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months; up to $200 in statement credits for eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants in the first 6 months

$300 annual Marriott Bonvoy hotel credit: Up to $300 in statement credits for eligible purchases
Free Night Award: Every year after your account anniversary you’ll get a Free Night Award, good for redemption values of 50,000 points or less.
Priority Pass Select membership: Free access to Priority Pass airport lounges for you and up to two guests (excludes non-lounge experiences)
Application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck: A statement credit for the application fee of either Global Entry ($100 every five years) or TSA PreCheck ($85 every four-and-a-half years)
Complimentary Gold Elite hotel status: Includes perks like a 25% bonus on base points, 2 p.m. late checkout, and more
15 Elite Night Credits: Each year you’ll get 15 Elite Night Credits towards a higher member status.
$100 property credit: Earn up to $100 in property credits when booking at least two nights direct with a special rate code at The Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis.
Bonus points for airline transfers: Get 15,000 bonus points for every 60,000 points transferred to airline programs
Shopping and travel protections: Purchase Protection; Extended Warranty; Return Protection; Baggage Insurance Plan; Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance; Trip Delay Insurance; Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance
No foreign transaction fee
Annual fee: $450

Enrollment required for select benefits; terms and limitations apply.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card (Rates & Fees)

American Express is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.

Dining and Travel Rewards — 15g

American Express® Gold Card

Our rating:

Learn More

Highlights
Why We Picked It
Rewards
Key Features
Runner Up1

Rose Gold is back. You can now choose between Gold or Rose Gold.
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, including takeout and delivery, 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: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Boxed, and participating Shake Shack locations. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
Get up to 12 complimentary months of an Uber Eats Pass subscription when you enroll with your Gold Card by 12/31/21.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $250.
Terms Apply.

Another shiny gold card, the American Express® Gold Card is like a different version of The Platinum Card® from American Express — not necessarily a lesser version, just made for a different cardholder.

Where the Platinum is all about travel, the Gold card is split between food (both dining out and eating in) and travel, with annual credits for both.

Check out the rewards and benefits. Would you use them each year? If so, this card could probably save you a bit of cash and make your trips more enjoyable.

There’s also a rose gold version of this card, which looks pretty nice; Amex has only made that version available for limited times, so take a look if you’re interested.

Wondering how to pick between Amex’s valuable travel cards? See how the Gold card stacks up to the Platinum card right here.

Spending Rewards
4X Membership Rewards points per dollar at: Restaurants U.S. Supermarkets (up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X)
3X Membership Rewards points per dollar on: Flights booked directly with airlines Flights booked through amextravel.com
1X Membership Rewards point per dollar for every other purchase

Introductory Bonus
60,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 6 months

$120 annual dining credit: Earn up to $10 in statement credits per month for purchases at eligible restaurants and food delivery services.
Point transfer: To airline and hotel loyalty programs, like JetBlue, Southwest, Marriott, and Hyatt
Up to $120 in Uber Cash: Add the Gold Card to the Uber App to get up to $10 in Uber Cash per month; U.S. Eats orders and rides only.
Uber Eats Pass: Get unlimited $0 delivery fees and 5% off orders at eligible restaurants for 12 months; must enroll by 12/31/21. Taxes and service fees may apply and do not count toward the order minimum. Eats Pass will start auto-billing 12 months from enrollment, at then-current monthly rate. Learn more.
The Hotel Collection: Provides up to $100 in credits for every eligible hotel stay of two nights or more, along with other perks.
Amex Offers: Find discounts and extra point opportunities at a changing selection of merchants (offers are limited; enrollment required).
ShopRunner membership: ShopRunner provides free two-day shipping and returns at participating online retailers.
No foreign transaction fee
Annual fee: $250

Enrollment required for select benefits; terms and limitations apply.

American Express® Gold Card (Rates & Fees)

Runner Up1

American Express® Business Gold Card

4X points per dollar in the two categories you spend the most in each month out of six (up to $150,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X)
70,000 bonus points for spending $10,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership
No foreign transaction fee
Annual fee: $295

*The American Express® Business Gold Card is made of metal, but we’re not sure if it weighs 15g like the consumer version (Rates & Fees).

View card details

American Express is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.

No Fee — 15g

Apple Card

Our rating:

securely on the issuer's website

Highlights
Why We Picked It
Rewards
Key Features

3% cash back at Apple, iTunes, and the App Store
3% cash back with Uber/Uber Eats when paying with Apple Pay
2% cash back every time you use Apple Pay
No annual fee
Managed through the iPhone Wallet app

A relative newcomer (but coming in heavy), the Apple Card is Apple’s latest foray into the credit card game. But the weight of this card belies its intent — you might not even carry it around, because it’s meant be used digitally for the most part.

Rather than financing Apple products, this tech-focused metal card is designed for younger consumers who are quick to use mobile wallets for tap-and-pay phone purchases.

You’ll earn extra rewards for paying with a mobile wallet, and there are a number of features to help cardholders stay on top of their spending and budgeting.

Spending Rewards
3% cash back at: Apple in store or online iTunes App Store Uber/Uber Eats (when using Apple Pay)
2% cash back every time you use Apple Pay
1% cash back on everything else