Best Rewards Credit Cards
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Credit card rewards come in many forms, and they all exist to provide incentives to use credit rather than cash or a debit card. Here you'll find a selection of the very best reward cards that offer points for purchases, followed by a variety of other cards that serve helpful purposes along with their rewards.
Our Selection Criteria Is a Rewards Card Right for You?Credit Card Insider receives compensation from advertisers whose products may be mentioned on this page. Advertiser relationships do not affect card evaluations. Advertising partners do not edit or endorse our editorial content. Content is accurate to the best of our knowledge when it's published. Learn more in our Editorial Guidelines.
The information related to The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, Amex EveryDay® Credit Card, American Express® Business Gold Card, American Express® Green Card, Capital One Spark Miles for Business, Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business, Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card, The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card, and Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card have been collected by Credit Card Insider and have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of these products.
Our Selection Criteria
In the market for a new rewards credit card? Consider these card features and your spending habits before you apply.
- Good opportunities for use: Make sure that you’ll be using the card enough to justify having it. Take your spending habits into consideration — how often will you make purchases eligible for rewards?
- Rewards that fit your lifestyle: Normal, everyday spenders can probably get a lot out of simple cash back cards. But if you’re looking to travel, a travel rewards card that allows point transfers to various airlines or hotels could be perfect for you. And if you have a favorite airline or hotel, check out the available co-branded cards.
- High rewards compared to other cards: Not all reward cards are created equal. Don’t just look for the right card for you: Look for the best card for your situation, with the highest potential reward value compared to other options.
- A strong signup bonus: It’s not the most important feature, but getting $100–$1,000 just for buying things you were already going to buy is icing on the cake. Most intro offers require you to spend at least several hundred dollars in a few months, which can be easy if you use the card fairly frequently, or you can explore alternative spending options.
- Other perks and benefits: There’s more to credit cards than just rewards. Look for cards with valuable extra benefits you can make use of, like travel credits, airport lounge access, and free credit scores.
- A 0% introductory APR: Having a year or so to make interest-free purchases can be very helpful if you’re looking to finance some expensive items, giving you time to pay them back without accruing finance charges.
- A reasonable annual fee: Some rewards cards have annual fees, while others don’t. There’s no reason to avoid a card just because it has an annual fee; in fact, many of the better rewards cards, especially the travel credit cards, have fees. Just make sure that you’ll be getting a positive expected value every year.
- A commitment to responsible credit use: Having a rewards credit card won’t do you much good if you’re swamped with credit card debt and paying interest. Commit to paying off your full statement balance on time each month to avoid interest charges (unless you have a card with a 0% rate).
Is a Rewards Card Right for You?
It’s our opinion that using credit cards is typically more profitable than using cash or debit cards (as long as you use your credit cards responsibly).
A rewards credit card will provide cash back, points, or miles for every purchase you make. This is effectively like getting a small discount on everything you buy, and over time those rewards can really add up.
When it comes to finding a rewards card that suits your lifestyle, the first thing you should do is analyze your spending habits.
Where do you shop the most? Do you buy gas and groceries every month? Do you shop at a wide variety of retailers, or do you tend to stick with major sites like Amazon? Do you have a very high level of spending per month, or are you more frugal?
Travelers have a very wide selection of cards to choose from. They include general-use travel cards, which are good for different kinds of travel spending, and co-branded cards which are made to be used with specific airlines and hotels.
Most people will benefit from using a combination of at least two rewards cards: One or more for common, repeating purchases, like gas, groceries, or travel; and another general-use card for less common purchases that don’t easily fall into categories.
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What’s the Best Rewards Credit Card?
BEST PICK FOR
General Travel
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Review) is a much-loved travel credit card, popular for its transfer partners and benefits.
There’s a great introductory bonus, and the points you earn can be transferred at a 1:1 rate to a variety of airlines and hotels, giving you the flexibility to redeem with your favorite travel brands.
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The points you earn are typically worth 1 cent each, but you’ll get a 25% point bonus if you redeem for travel through the Ultimate Rewards portal. That would give you 1.25 cents per point.
But the more valuable way to use your points is to transfer them to a partner loyalty program, where they could be worth as much as 2 cents per point or more. That’d give you a cash back equivalent of 4% on travel and dining, and 2% for everything else.
- 25% point bonus: When redeeming for travel expenses through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Point transfer: Transfer points at a 1:1 rate to leading airline and hotel frequent travel programs, like Marriott Bonvoy and United MileagePlus.
- $60 Peloton credit: Enroll to get up to $60 back for an eligible Peloton Digital or All-Access Membership (through 2021). No fitness equipment is required.
- DoorDash membership: A free membership (DashPass) for at least a year, which provides free delivery and reduced service fees on orders over $12
- 15,000-point referral bonus: Get 15,000 points for every friend you refer who applies for the card and is approved, up to 75,000 bonus points per year.
- Luxury Hotel Collection: Book eligible rooms to get perks like daily breakfast for two, complimentary WiFi, room upgrades, early check-in or late check-out, and unique gifts.
- Shop through Chase/Chase Offers: Earn more points by shopping at participating retailers with the Shop through Chase marketplace, and find discounts in Chase Offers.
- Visa Signature Concierge: Call to speak with your Visa Signature Concierge, any time, day or night.
- Premium Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver: Get primary coverage on eligible rental cars so you don’t have to pay for rental insurance and your premiums won’t go up after an accident.
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 15.99% - 22.99% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
American Express® Gold Card
- 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
- 60,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 6 months
- Perks: $120 dining credit; The Hotel Collection; Point transfer; Amex Offers
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $250
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card
- 2X points per dollar for:
- Travel
- Restaurants
- 1.5X points per dollar on everything else
- 50,000 bonus points for spending $3,000 in the first 90 days
- Perks: $100 annual airline fee credit; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit; Visa Luxury Hotel Collection; Concierge
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
American Express® Green Card
- 3X Membership Rewards points per dollar for:
- Travel
- Restaurants
- 1X Membership Rewards point per dollar for all other purchases
- 30,000 bonus points for spending $2,000 in the first 3 months
- Perks: $100 annual CLEAR credit; $100 annual LoungeBuddy credit; Point transfer; Amex Offers
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $150
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
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- Perks: Point transfer; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit; Luxury Hotel Collection; Visa Signature Concierge
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 17.24% - 24.49% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
Citi Premier® Card
- 3X ThankYou points per dollar on:
- Air travel
- Hotels
- Gas stations
- Supermarkets
- Restaurants
- 1X ThankYou point per dollar on all other purchases
- 60,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening
- Perks: Point transfer; $100 annual hotel credit
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 15.99% - 23.99% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
BEST PICK FOR
Flat-Rate Travel Rewards
Flat-rate cards offer the same spending reward for every purchase, and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (Review) offers a hefty welcome bonus to go along with a good deal on general spending.
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Your miles are worth 1 cent each when redeeming for travel purchases, but you can also transfer them to a selection of airline partners where they might be worth more than that.
If you’re getting 1 cent per point, you’d get a cash back equivalent of 2% back on all spending. But if you get a good value by transferring your rewards, like 2 cents per point, you’d be earning the equivalent of 4% cash back on all purchases.
- Point transfer: Transfer points to a variety of airline partners at a rate of either 2:1.5 or 2:1, depending on the airline.
- 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: Get perks for eligible hotel stays, including a $25 food and beverage credit, room upgrades when available, complimentary in-room WiFi, and more.
- Visa Signature Concierge: Call any time for non-emergency assistance, like help making reservations or finding gifts.
- Shopping and travel protections: Including Extended Warranties, Travel Accident Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waivers, Lost Luggage Reimbursement, and more
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 17.24% - 24.49% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
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- Perks: Point transfer; Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection; Concierge
- Purchase APR: 0% for 12 months, then 15.49% - 25.49% Variable
- Balance Transfer APR: 15.49% - 25.49% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Discover it® Miles
- 1.5X miles per dollar for every purchase
- Discover Match: Double miles earned during the first year, awarded at the end of the first year
- Purchase APR: See Terms for See Terms, then See Terms
- Balance Transfer APR: See Terms for See Terms, then See Terms
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
- Earn 100,000 bonus miles when you spend $20,000 on purchases in the first 12 months from account opening, or still earn 50,000 miles if you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
- 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—from vacation rentals to car rentals and more. Plus transfer your miles to over 10+ travel loyalty programs
- No foreign transaction fees
BEST PICK FOR
Travel Rewards With No Annual Fee
The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card (Review) is the top no annual fee travel card because it offers a decent reward rate for every purchase you make, with the ability to transfer your miles to a variety of airline partners.
It can help you travel for free without putting an extra strain on your wallet, as long as you avoid interest and other fees.
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The miles you earn with this card are typically worth 1 cent each, unless you transfer them to an airline partner where they could be worth more.
If you’re getting the standard 1 cent per point, you’ll be earning a cash back equivalent of 1.25%, which is kind of mediocre.
If you get a good point transfer deal, and get 2 cents per point for example, you’d be getting a cash back equivalent of 2.5% everywhere you spend. That’s a much better deal, of course, so aim for high-value point redemptions through transfers.
- Point transfer: Transfer points to a variety of airline partners at a rate of either 2:1.5 or 2:1, depending on the airline.
- Luxury Hotel Collection: Get perks for eligible hotel stays, including a $25 food and beverage credit, room upgrades when available, complimentary in-room WiFi, and more.
- Visa Signature Concierge: Call any time for non-emergency assistance, like help making reservations or finding gifts.
- Shopping and travel protections: Such as Purchase Security, Roadside Dispatch, Lost Luggage Reimbursement, and more
- Purchase APR: 0% for 12 months, then 15.49% - 25.49% Variable
- Balance Transfer APR: 15.49% - 25.49% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card
- 3X points per dollar at the Bank of America Travel Center
- 1.5X points per dollar for every other purchase
- 25,000 bonus points for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days after account opening
- Bonus rewards: 10% rewards bonus if you have an active BofA checking or savings account; Preferred Rewards clients can get a 25–75% bonus.
- Purchase APR: 0% for 12 billing cycles, then 13.99%–23.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer APR: 13.99%–23.99% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card
- 3X points per dollar on:
- Dining
- Gas
- Travel
- Streaming services
- 1X point per dollar for every other purchase
- 20,000 bonus points for spending $1,000 in the first 3 months
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 12 months from account opening, then 14.49%-24.99% Variable (for transfers requested within 120 days)
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Marriott Bonvoy Bold™ Credit Card
- 3X Marriott Bonvoy Bonus points per dollar at Marriott Bonvoy hotels
- 2X Marriott Bonvoy Bonus points per dollar on Travel
- 1X Marriott Bonvoy Bonus point per dollar on all other purchases
- 30,000 Bonus points for spending $1,000 in the first 3 months
- Perks: 15 Elite Night credits, qualifying you for Silver Elite status; Visa Signature Concierge
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 15.99% - 22.99% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card
- 2X AAdvantage Miles per dollar on:
- Eligible American Airlines purchases
- Grocery Stores
- 1X AAdvantage Mile per dollar for everything else
- 10,000 AAdvantage bonus miles and a $50 statement credit for spending $500 in the first 3 months
- Perks: 25% in-flight discount
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 15.99% - 24.99% (Variable)
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
- 2X SkyMiles per eligible dollar for:
- Purchases made directly with Delta Air Lines
- Restaurants
- 1X SkyMile per eligible dollar for every other purchase
- 10,000 bonus miles for spending $500 in the first 3 months after account opening
- Perks: 20% in-flight discount; ShopRunner membership
- Purchase APR: 15.74% - 24.74% Variable (Rates & Fees)
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
- $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
- Travel when you want with no blackout dates and fly any airline, stay at any hotel, anytime
- Miles won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how many you can earn
- Transfer your miles to over 10+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; 15.49% – 25.49% variable APR after that
BEST PICK FOR
Premium Travel Rewards
Frequent travelers can get a lot out of the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Review). Cardholders enjoy an excellent rewards rate on travel and dining, valuable travel benefits that are easy to take advantage of, and diverse travel partners for point transfers.
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Take note that you’ll only begin earning points on travel after you use up the entire $300 travel credit.
Ultimate Rewards points are typically worth 1 cent each, but the Reserve provides a 50% point bonus if you redeem for travel expenses. That makes it easy to get a good value for Chase points, with a cash back equivalent of 4.5% for travel and dining and 1.5% everywhere else.
But the best point values will come from point transfers to partner airlines and hotels. These could yield 2 cents per point or more, depending on the deal you choose, which would give you a cash back equivalent of at least 6% on travel and dining and 2% everywhere else.
Wondering if you should go with the Sapphire Reserve or the less-expensive Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Review)? Read our comparison of the Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. Sapphire Preferred.
- Point transfer: Transfer your points at a 1:1 rate to a variety of airline and hotel loyalty programs, like United, JetBlue, and Marriott.
- $300 annual travel credit: A $300 travel credit every year that will be automatically applied toward a broad range of travel-related expenses charged to the card.
- $120 Peloton credit: Enroll to get up to $120 back for an eligible Peloton Digital or All-Access Membership (through 2021). No fitness equipment is required.
- Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership: Provides access to over 1,000 airport lounges worldwide plus a selection of restaurants. The cardholder and two guests can enter for free; additional guests cost $27 each.
- Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection: Provides complimentary services and benefits at participating hotels and resorts, including room upgrades, daily breakfast for two, and special gifts.
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit: Get a statement credit to offset the cost of applying for Global Entry ($100) or TSA PreCheck ($85), once every four years.
- Elite Hotel Benefits at Relais & Châteaux: Accelerated progress towards Club 5C member status with Relais & Châteaux luxury hotel and resort properties.
- Visa Infinite Concierge: Call for non-emergency help of all kinds, like making dinner reservations or finding good tickets to a show.
- Lyft Pink membership: One free year of Lyft Pink, which includes 15% off rides, relaxed cancellations, surprise offers, and priority airport pickup.
- DoorDash membership: A free membership (DashPass) for a year, which provides free delivery and reduced service fees on orders over $12.
- $60 annual DoorDash credit: Get $60 in DoorDash credits in 2020, and $60 in credits in 2021.
- Special Car Rental Privileges: Rental upgrades, discounts, and promotional offers at Avis, Silvercar, and National Car Rental.
- Shopping and travel protections: You’ll get Purchase Protection, a Primary Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Trip Delay Reimbursement, and more.
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 16.99%-23.99% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $550
Citi Prestige® Card
- 5X ThankYou points per dollar on:
- Air travel
- Restaurants
- 3X ThankYou points per dollar on:
- Hotels
- Cruise lines
- 1X ThankYou point per dollar on everything else
- 50,000 ThankYou points for spending $4,000 within 3 months of account opening
- Perks: 4th night free; Priority Pass Select membership; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit; Point transfer; $250 travel credit
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 16.99%–23.99% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $495
U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite® Card
- 3X points per dollar on:
- Travel
- Mobile Wallet purchases
- 1X point per dollar on all other purchases
- 50,000 bonus points for spending $4,500 in the first 90 days of membership
- Perks: $325 travel credit; Priority Pass Select membership; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit; Gogo in-flight WiFi credits; Relais & Châteaux hotel benefits
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 16.24% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $400
BEST PICK FOR
Premium Travel Rewards and Airport Lounge Access
The Platinum Card® from American Express (Review) is the king of travel perks. Not only will its rewards program earn you a high rate for eligible travel expenses, you’ll also get the best airport lounge access available on a card, and a variety of credits that can potentially offset the high annual fee completely.
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You’ll want to save up your points until you can get a good point transfer deal, because otherwise your points are only worth a maximum of 1 cent each (and that’s just for eligible flight redemptions). Statement credits will only provide 0.6 cents per point, so definitely avoid using that redemption option.
Point transfers could provide 2 cents per point or quite a bit more. At those rates you’d be earning a cash back equivalent of 10% or more in the 5X spending categories, which is quite a deal. You’ll also get a 4% cash back equivalent on other eligible purchases from Amex Travel, and 2% for everything else.
- Global Lounge Collection: 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.
- 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.
- $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 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).
- The Hotel Collection: A $100 hotel credit and room upgrades when available for every eligible two-night stay.
- Fine Hotels & Resorts: Daily breakfast for two, room upgrades when available, amenities valued at $100, and more at eligible properties.
- Complimentary elite hotel statuses: Hilton Honors Gold status and Marriott Bonvoy Gold status.
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $550
- Earn 75,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $5,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 10x points on eligible purchases on your new Card at U.S. Gas Stations and U.S. Supermarkets, on up to $15,000 in combined purchases, during your first 6 months of Card Membership. That’s an additional 9 points on top of the 1 point you earn for these purchases.
- 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 and Additional Centurion Cards only.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel. Starting January 1, 2021, earn 5X points on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
- Enjoy complimentary access to the Global Lounge Collection, the only credit card airport lounge access program that includes proprietary lounge locations around the world.
- Receive complimentary benefits through American Express Travel with an average total value of $550 with Fine Hotels & Resorts® program at over 1,100 properties . Learn More.
- Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue on your Platinum Card®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $550 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
American Express is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
BEST PICK FOR
No Annual Fee
There aren’t many general-use point cards without annual fees, but the Amex EveryDay® Credit Card (Review) is our pick for number one.
Not only will you get a point bonus for using the card more, you’ll also enjoy a long promotional APR period for purchases.
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This card offers a way to get Amex Membership Rewards points without paying an annual fee. It has a rare feature that rewards you more for spending more often: Make 20 or more purchases in a billing period to get a 20% bonus on the eligible points you earned.
That would give you a total of 2.4X points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, and 1.2X points everywhere else.
Normal redemptions will get you a maximum of 1 cent per point, but you can do better with point transfers. If you get 2 cents per point through a transfer, for example, you’ll be earning a cash back equivalent of 4.8% at U.S. supermarkets when earning at the 2.4X rate, and 2.4% cash back on all other purchases at the 1.2X rate.
- Amex Offers: Discounts or extra points at specific retailers, like (at the time of publication) Shutterfly.com, Harry’s Razors, Contacts Direct, and many more.
- Complimentary ShopRunner membership: Register with ShopRunner for free two-day shipping and returns at select online retailers.
- Entertainment Access: Exclusive discounts to events, concerts, sporting events, and shows.
- Shopping and travel protections: Like Extended Warranties, Return Protection, Global Assist Hotline, and others.
- Purchase APR: 0% for 15 months, then 12.99%–23.99% Variable
- Annual fee: $0
Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card
- 3X points per dollar on:
- Dining
- Gas
- Travel
- Streaming services
- 1X point per dollar on all other purchases
- 20,000 bonus points for spending $1,000 in the first 3 months
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 12 months from account opening (for transfers made in the first 60 days), then 14.49%-24.99% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Citi Rewards+® Card
- 2X ThankYou points per dollar on up to $6,000 spent per year at:
- Supermarkets
- Gas stations
- 1X ThankYou point per dollar for all other purchases
- Earn 15,000 bonus points for spending $1,000 in the first 3 months
- Point Round Up: Every purchase will round up to the nearest 10 points.
- 10% Points Back for the first 100,000 ThankYou points redeemed per year.
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 15 months (for transfers made in the first 4 months), then 13.49% - 23.49% (Variable)
- Annual fee: $0
ABOC Platinum Rewards Mastercard® Credit Card
- 5X points per dollar in rotating categories, up to $1,500 spent per quarter
- 1X point per dollar on all other purchases
- $150 statement credit after you spend $1,200 on purchases within the first 90 days
- Purchase APR: 0% for 12 months after that the variable APR will be 12.90% - 22.90% , based on your creditworthiness
- Balance transfer APR: 0% for None
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Amalgamated Bank of Chicago Union Strong Card
- 5X points per dollar in rotating categories, up to $1,500 spent per quarter
- 1X point per dollar on all other purchases
- $150 statement credit after you spend $1,200 on purchases within the first 90 days
- Purchase APR: 0% for 12 months, then 9.25% Variable
- Balance transfer APR: 0% for 18 months, then 9.25% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
- Earn 10,000 Membership Rewards® points after you use your new Card to make $1,000 in purchases in your first 3 months.
- Low intro APR: 0% for 15 months on purchases, then a variable rate, currently 12.99%–23.99% Variable.
- 2x points at US supermarkets, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1x); 1x points on other purchases.
- Use your Card 20 or more times on purchases in a billing period and earn 20% more points on those purchases less returns and credits.
- Over 1.5 million more places in the U.S. started accepting American Express® Cards in 2017.
- No annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
The information related to Amex EveryDay® Credit Card has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
BEST PICK FOR
Business Travel Rewards
You can’t beat The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (Review) when it comes to business rewards cards. Amex raised the annual fee recently, but you’ll still have all the same benefits, plus two more that could be very useful for some businesses.
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Amex Membership Rewards points are best used for point transfers to partner airlines and hotels, where the value you get will depend on how you redeem them.
If you get 2 cents per point, a pretty good rate, you’d be earning a cash back equivalent of 10% in the 5X categories, which is quite good. And you’d be earning a 3% cash back equivalent on purchases of $5,000 or more, but you may want to use a different card that earns more rewards for those purchases.
- Global Lounge Collection: Complimentary access to Priority Pass, Centurion, American Express International, Delta Sky Club, Escape, Airspace, Lufthansa, and Plaza Premium Lounges.
- Up to $200 annually in airline fee statement credits: Good for incidental costs like checked bags and inflight food, not tickets, at your selected airline.
- 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.
- $200 Dell statement credit: Enroll to get an annual $200 statement credit for U.S. purchases with Dell: $100 from January through June, and $100 from July through December.
- The Hotel Collection: A $100 hotel credit and room upgrades when available for every eligible two-night stay.
- Fine Hotels & Resorts: Daily breakfast for two, room upgrades when available, amenities valued at $100, and more at eligible properties.
- Point transfer: To a selection of airline and hotel partners.
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $595
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
- 5X Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on Lyft rides
- 3X Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on the first $150,000 spent per year (then 1X) on:
- Travel
- Shipping
- Internet, cable, and phone services
- Advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines
- 1X Ultimate Rewards point per dollar on all other purchases
- 100,000 bonus points for spending $15,000 in the first 3 months after account opening
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
Capital One Spark Miles for Business
- 5X miles per dollar for:
- Hotels booked through Capital One Travel
- Rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2X miles per dollar on all other purchases
- 50,000 bonus miles for spending $4,500 in the first 3 months
- Perks: Point transfer; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 20.99% (Variable)
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0 intro for first year; $95 after that
Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business
- 5X miles per dollar for:
- Hotels booked through Capital One Travel
- Rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 1.5X miles per dollar for every other purchase
- 20,000 miles for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months after account opening
- Purchase APR: 0% for 9 months, then 14.49% - 22.49% Variable
- Balance Transfer APR: 14.49% - 22.49% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card
- 3X points per dollar on travel (airline, hotel, car) booked through the Bank of America Travel Center
- 1.5X points per dollar for every other purchase
- 30,000 bonus points for spending $3,000 within 90 days of account opening
- Purchase APR: 0% for 9 billing cycles, then 12.24% - 22.24%
- Balance Transfer APR: 12.24% - 22.24%
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0.00
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
- 3X SkyMiles per eligible dollar spent for purchases made directly with Delta Air Lines
- 1.5X SkyMiles per eligible dollar spent on all purchases for the rest of the year after spending $150,000 in a calendar year
- 1X SkyMile per eligible dollar spent on all other purchases
- 80,000 bonus miles, 20,000 MQMs, and a $200 statement credit for spending $5,000 in the first 3 months
- Perks: Delta Sky Club and Centurion Lounge access; Anniversary Companion Certificate; Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding; First checked bag free; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
- Purchase APR: 15.74% - 24.74% Variable (Rates & Fees)
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $550
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
- 12X Hilton Honors Bonus points per dollar for eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio
- 6X Hilton Honors Bonus points per dollar for:
- U.S. Gas stations
- U.S. Wireless telephone services
- U.S. Restaurants
- U.S. Shipping purchases
- Flights booked directly with airlines or Amex Travel
- Car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies
- 3X Hilton Honors Bonus points per dollar on all other eligible purchases
- 130,000 bonus points for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
- Perks: Hilton Honors Gold status; Weekend Night Awards; Priority Pass Select membership (10 free visits)
- Purchase APR: 15.74% - 24.74% Variable (Rates & Fees)
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card
- 6X Marriott Bonvoy Bonus points per dollar for eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Marriott Bonvoy Portfolio
- 4X Marriott Bonvoy Bonus points per dollar spent on:
- U.S. restaurants
- U.S. gas stations
- Wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. providers
- U.S. purchases of shipping
- 2X Marriott Bonvoy Bonus points per dollar spent on all other purchases
- 100,000 bonus points for spending $5,000 in the first 3 months; $150 in statement credits for eligible purchases made in the first 3 months
- Perks: Silver Elite hotel status; Free Night Award after your anniversary
- Purchase APR: 15.74% - 24.74% Variable (Rates & Fees)
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $125
United Club℠ Business Card
- 2X miles per dollar spent on United Airlines purchases
- 1.5X miles per dollar spent on all other purchases
- 100,000 bonus miles for spending $10,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
- Perks: United Club membership; Premier Access travel services; 25% in-flight discount; First and second checked bags free
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 18.24%–25.24% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $450
Brex Daily Card
- Choose Tech Rewards, Life Science Rewards, or Remote Workforce Rewards
- Perks: Thousands of dollars in statement credits, plus discounts and more, for services like Amazon Web Services, WeWork, Google Ads, SendGrid, and Twilio (explained here)
- Expense management and receipt reconciliation tools
- Point transfer: At a 1:1 rate to select airline loyalty programs
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
- Not available to sole proprietors, unregistered businesses, and other non-individual liability companies
Brex 30 Card
- Choose Tech Rewards, Life Science Rewards, or Remote Workforce Rewards
- Perks: Thousands of dollars in credits and discounts, like $5,000 in AWS credits, $150 in Google Ads credits, 50% discount on Dropbox plans, and a 20% Zoom subscription discount
- Point transfer: At a 1:1 rate to select airline loyalty programs
- Expense management and receipt reconciliation tools
- Annual fee: $0
- Not available to sole proprietors, unregistered businesses, and other non-individual liability companies
- $50,000 minimum bank account balance required for venture-backed companies; $100,000 otherwise
The information related to The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
BEST PICK FOR
Varied Business Spending
If you expect your business expenses to change from month to month or you’re never quite sure what they’ll be, the American Express® Business Gold Card (Review) could be the perfect card for you.
It provides 4X points in the two categories (out of six) your business spends the most in each month, letting you earn points at a high rate even with unpredictable spending patterns.
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The value of your Amex Membership Rewards points will depend on how you redeem them. Point transfers can provide the highest rate per point, but you’ll typically need to do a bit of searching to find good deals.
You may get 2 cents per point or more through transfers; at that rate you’d be earning a cash back equivalent of at least 8% in the 4X categories, and 4% in the 2X categories. That’s a solid return on your purchases, and the fact that this card adjusts for your spending as it changes makes it all the better.
- 25% airline bonus: Get 25% of your points back when booking eligible airfare through American Express Travel using Membership Rewards Pay with Points.
- The Hotel Collection: A $100 hotel credit and room upgrades when available for every eligible two-night stay
- Amex Offers: A changing selection of merchants where you can earn extra points or find discounts
- Point transfer: To a selection of airline and hotel partners
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $295
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
- 2X Membership Rewards points per dollar on the first $50,000 in purchases each year
- 1X Membership Rewards point per dollar on all purchases after that
- Perks: Amex Offers; Point transfer
- Purchase APR: 0% for 12 months from date of account opening, then 13.24% - 19.24% Variable
- Annual fee: No annual fee
Capital One Spark Miles for Business
- 5X miles per dollar for:
- Hotels booked through Capital One Travel
- Rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2X miles per dollar on all other purchases
- 50,000 bonus miles for spending $4,500 in the first 3 months
- Perks: Point transfer; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 20.99% (Variable)
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0 intro for first year; $95 after that
Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business
- 5X miles per dollar for:
- Hotels booked through Capital One Travel
- Rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 1.5X miles per dollar for every other purchase
- 20,000 miles for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months after account opening
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 14.49% - 22.49% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Brex Daily Card
- Choose Tech Rewards, Life Science Rewards, or Remote Workforce Rewards
- Perks: Thousands of dollars in statement credits, plus discounts and more, for services like Amazon Web Services, WeWork, Google Ads, SendGrid, and Twilio (explained here)
- Expense management and receipt reconciliation tools
- Point transfer: At a 1:1 rate to select airline loyalty programs
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
- Not available to sole proprietors, unregistered businesses, and other non-individual liability companies
Brex 30 Card
- Choose Tech Rewards, Life Science Rewards, or Remote Workforce Rewards
- Perks: Thousands of dollars in credits and discounts, like $5,000 in AWS credits, $150 in Google Ads credits, 50% discount on Dropbox plans, and a 20% Zoom subscription discount
- Point transfer: At a 1:1 rate to select airline loyalty programs
- Expense management and receipt reconciliation tools
- Annual fee: $0
- Not available to sole proprietors, unregistered businesses, and other non-individual liability companies
- $50,000 minimum bank account balance required for venture-backed companies; $100,000 otherwise
The information related to American Express® Business Gold Card has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
BEST PICK FOR
Dining Out and Groceries
If food is your thing, the American Express® Gold Card (Review) might be your card.
You’ll earn points at a high rate at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets, which is rare (you usually only see one of these categories at a time, or one is significantly better than the other). And there are also some cost-saving benefits you can use each year to help offset the annual fee.
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This might not seem like a travel card from the spending rewards, but it has a few benefits that make it suited for that purpose. In particular, the best way to redeem your Amex Membership Rewards points is through point transfers to partner airlines and hotels.
Depending on how you redeem, you can get upwards of 2 cents per point. That would give you a cash back equivalent of 8% at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. restaurants, which is probably the best you’ll currently find on any card.
- $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 Airlines, 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.
- Amex Offers: Find significant discounts at a changing selection of merchants and websites, like (at the time of publication) TurboTax, SamsClub.com, Etsy, and many more (offers are limited; enrollment required).
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $250
Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card
- 3X Membership Rewards points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets; up to $6,000 per year, then 1X
- 2X Membership Rewards points per dollar spent at U.S. gas stations
- 1X Membership Rewards point per dollar everywhere else
- 15,000 points if you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months
- Earn 50% more points on eligible purchases by making 30 or more purchases per billing period
- Purchase APR: 0% for 12 months, then 13.99%–23.99% Variable
- Annual fee: $95
Amex EveryDay® Credit Card
- 2X Membership Rewards points per dollar spent:
- At U.S. supermarkets, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1X)
- On eligible travel purchases from Amex Travel
- 1X Membership Rewards point per dollar spent on all other purchases
- 10,000 Membership Rewards points for spending $1,000 on purchases within the first 3 months
- Earn 20% more points on eligible purchases by making 20 or more purchases per billing period
- Purchase APR: 0% for 15 months, then 12.99%–23.99% Variable
- Annual fee: $95
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
- 12X Hilton Honors Bonus points per dollar for eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio
- 6X Hilton Honors Bonus points per dollar at:
- U.S. Restaurants
- U.S. Supermarkets
- U.S. Gas stations
- 3X Hilton Honors Bonus points per dollar on all other eligible purchases
- 130,000 bonus points for spending $2,000 in the first 3 months
- Perks: Annual Weekend Night Award; Hilton Honors Gold status; Priority Pass Select membership (10 free visits)
- Purchase APR: 15.74% - 24.74% Variable (Rates & Fees)
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
- 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 on Restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery, plus, earn 4X points for Uber Eats purchases too.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
- $120 Uber Cash: 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.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $250.
- Terms Apply.
American Express is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
BEST PICK FOR
Gas
If you’re looking for a solid, no-fee card that earns points on gas, the Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card (Review) might be right for you.
In addition to gas stations you’ll also get a few other useful bonus categories — including streaming services, which is rare — a nice welcome bonus, and a pretty long introductory APR.
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Every point is worth 1 cent when redeemed, so you’ll be earning a 3% cash back equivalent when spending in the 3X categories.
- Entertainment Access: Get access to special offers and ticket presales for events in big U.S. cities.
- Free FICO credit score: Check your FICO Score 9 whenever you’d like, based on your Experian credit report.
- Cell Phone Protection: Pay your cell phone bill with this card to get coverage against damage and theft, up to $600 with a $25 deductible.
- Shopping and travel protections: Including Purchase Protection, Travel Accident Insurance, Travel Inconvenience Insurance, and more
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening (for transfers made in the first 120 days), then 14.49%-24.99% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card
- 5X points per dollar spent on Gas purchases at the pump
- 3X points per dollar spent at Supermarkets
- 1X point per dollar spent everywhere else
- $100 statement credit after spending $1,500 in the first 90 days
- Purchase APR: 11.74% to 17.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 12 months (for transfers made in the first 60 days), then 11.74% to 17.99% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card
- 3X Membership Rewards points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets; up to $6,000 per year, then 1X
- 2X Membership Rewards points per dollar at U.S. gas stations
- 1X Membership Rewards point per dollar everywhere else
- 15,000 points if you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months
- Earn 50% more points on eligible purchases by making 30 or more purchases per billing period.
- Purchase APR: 0% for 12 months, then 13.99%–23.99% Variable
- Annual fee: $95
Citi Premier® Card
- 3X ThankYou points per dollar on:
- Air travel
- Hotels
- Gas stations
- Supermarkets
- Restaurants
- 1X ThankYou point per dollar for all other purchases
- 60,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening
- $100 annual hotel credit: Valid when you book a hotel stay of $500 or more through thankyou.com, once per calendar year
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 15.99% - 23.99% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
- 12X Hilton Honors Bonus points per dollar for eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio
- 6X Hilton Honors Bonus points per dollar at:
- U.S. restaurants
- U.S. supermarkets
- U.S. gas stations
- 3X Hilton Honors Bonus points on all other eligible purchases
- 130,000 bonus points for spending $2,000 in the first 3 months
- Purchase APR: 15.74% - 24.74% Variable (Rates & Fees)
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
Citi Rewards+® Card
- 2X ThankYou points per dollar (on the first $6,000 per year, then 1X) at:
- Supermarkets
- Gas stations
- 1X ThankYou point per dollar for all other purchases
- Earn 15,000 bonus points for spending $1,000 in the first 3 months
- Point Round Up: Every purchase will round up to the nearest 10 points.
- 10% Points Back for the first 100,000 ThankYou points redeemed per year.
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 15 months (for transfers made in the first 4 months), then 13.49% - 23.49% (Variable)
- Annual fee: $0
- Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s a $200 cash redemption value
- $0 annual fee and no foreign currency conversion fee
- Earn 3X points on eating out and ordering in
- Earn 3X points on popular streaming services
- Earn 3X points on gas stations, rideshares and transit
- Earn 3X points on travel including flights, hotels, homestays and car rentals
- Earn 1X points on other purchases
- Select “Apply Now” to learn more about the product features, terms and conditions
BEST PICK FOR
Students
College students could do worse than the Bank of America Travel Rewards® Credit Card for Students, a solid travel card with no annual fee.
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- Purchase APR: 0% for 12 months, then 14.99%–22.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer APR: 14.99%–22.99% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
- 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
- 25,000 online bonus points if you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days – that can be a $250 statement credit towards travel purchases
- Use your card to book your trip how and where you want – no blackout dates and restrictions
- Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for flights, hotels, vacation packages, cruises, rental cars, or baggage fees
- Now with chip technology for enhanced security and protection at chip-enabled terminals
- 0% Introductory APR for 12 billing cycles for purchases, then 17.24%–25.24% Variable APR
- Get an additional 10% customer points bonus on every purchase when you have an active Bank of America® checking or savings account
- Access your FICO® Score, updated monthly, for free from TransUnion
- If you’re a Preferred Rewards client, you can increase that bonus to 25%-75%. Click “Apply Now” to learn more about Preferred Rewards
BEST PICK FOR
Introductory Bonus
Getting a lot of points fast can be exciting. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Review) can give you a wealth of Ultimate Rewards points in your first few months, enough for a trip or two (or even three) depending on how you use them.
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Redemptions for travel expenses through Ultimate Rewards will give you 1.25 cents per point. But to get the most of your bonus, transfer your points to a partner airline or hotel you plan to book.
That could give you 2 cents per point or more, leading to a much bigger bang for your buck.
- 25% point bonus: When redeeming for travel expenses through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Point transfer: Transfer points at a 1:1 rate to leading airline and hotel frequent travel programs, like Marriott Bonvoy and United MileagePlus.
- $60 Peloton credit: Enroll to get up to $60 back for an eligible Peloton Digital or All-Access Membership (through 2021). No fitness equipment is required.
- DoorDash membership: A free membership (DashPass) for at least a year, which provides free delivery and reduced service fees on orders over $12
- 15,000-point referral bonus: Get 15,000 points for every friend you refer who applies for the card and is approved, up to 75,000 bonus points per year.
- Luxury Hotel Collection: Book eligible rooms to get perks like daily breakfast for two, complimentary WiFi, room upgrades, early check-in or late check-out, and unique gifts.
- Shop through Chase/Chase Offers: Earn more points by shopping at participating retailers with the Shop through Chase marketplace, and find discounts in Chase Offers.
- Visa Signature Concierge: Call to speak with your Visa Signature Concierge, any time, day or night.
- Premium Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver: Get primary coverage on eligible rental cars so you don’t have to pay for rental insurance and your premiums won’t go up after an accident.
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 15.99% - 22.99% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- 10X Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on Lyft rides (through 3/31/22)
- 3X Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on:
- Travel (after the full travel credit is used)
- Dining
- 1X Ultimate Rewards point per dollar on all other purchases
- 60,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months after account opening
- 20,000 bonus miles for spending $500 in the first 3 months after account opening
- Perks: $300 travel credit; Priority Pass Select membership; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit; Lyft Pink membership; DoorDash membership; Point transfer; Visa Infinite Concierge
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 16.99%-23.99% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $550
The Platinum Card® from American Express
- 5X Membership Rewards points (starting 1/1/21, on up to $500,000 spent per calendar year) on:
- Flights booked directly through airlines or through American Express Travel
- Prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel
- 2X Membership Rewards points on other eligible travel expenses booked through Amex Travel
- 1X Membership Rewards point on all other purchases
- 75,000 bonus points for spending $5,000 in the first 6 months; 10X points on eligible purchases at U.S. Gas Stations and U.S. Supermarkets, on up to $15,000 in combined purchases, in the first 6 months
- Perks: Global Lounge Collection; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit; $200 Uber credit; $100 Saks credit; Hilton Honors Gold status; Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $550
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
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- Perks: Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit; Point transfer; Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection; Concierge
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 17.24% - 24.49% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
Hilton Honors American Express Card
- 7X Hilton Honors Bonus points per dollar for eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio
- 5X Hilton Honors Bonus points per dollar at:
- U.S. supermarkets
- U.S. restaurants
- U.S. gas stations
- 5X Hilton Honors Bonus points per dollar for all other purchases
- 80,000 bonus points for spending $1,000 in the first 3 months
- Perks: Hilton Honors Silver status
- Purchase APR: 15.74% - 24.74% Variable (Rates & Fees)
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card
- 17X Marriott Rewards points per dollar at Marriott Bonvoy hotels
- 6X Bonus points per dollar from the card
- 11X Base points per dollar for Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status
- 2X Marriott Bonvoy Bonus points on all other purchases
- 75,000 bonus points for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
- Perks: Annual free night stay; Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status; 15 Elite Night credits; Visa Signature Concierge
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 15.99% - 22.99% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card
- 25X points per dollar at IHG hotels:
- 10X points from the IHG credit card
- 15X points for IHG Platinum Elite status
- 2X points per dollar at:
- Gas stations
- Grocery stores
- Restaurants
- 1X point per dollar for all other purchases
- 125,000 bonus points plus a Reward Night for spending $3,000 in the first three months of account opening
- Perks: Annual free night stay; IHG Platinum Elite status; Fourth night free on award stays
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 15.99% - 22.99% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $89
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
- 5X Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on Lyft rides (through March 2022)
- 3X Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on the first $150,000 spent per year on:
- Travel
- Shipping
- Internet, cable, and phone services
- Advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines
- 1X Ultimate Rewards point per dollar on all other purchases
- 75,000 bonus points for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
- Perks: Annual free night stay; Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status; 15 Elite Night credits; Visa Signature Concierge
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 15.99% - 22.99% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
BEST PICK FOR
Airline Miles
Airline credit cards typically offer the same kinds of perks: free checked bags, priority boarding, in-flight discounts, and maybe even lounge access.
You’ll get all that with the United Club℠ Infinite Card (Review), plus more. You’ll get quite a few more miles than United flyers who aren’t cardholders, and enjoy access to perks that typically take a lot of flights or spending to earn.
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- United Club membership: Complimentary membership to the United Club airport lounge, with free access for you and two guests
- Premier Access airport travel services: Includes priority check-in and security screening, and boarding/baggage handling privileges
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit: Get a $100 credit for the application fee of Global Entry, or $85 for TSA PreCheck, once every four years.
- Free first and second checked bags: For you and one traveling companion on United flights
- 25% in-flight discount: For purchases like food, beverages, and Wi-Fi on United flights
- Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection: Hotel perks like daily breakfast for two, complimentary WiFi, and room upgrades when available
- World of Hyatt Discoverist status: A 10% point bonus, room upgrades, and other benefits at Hyatt properties
- Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President’s Circle Elite Status: Get a 25% point bonus, upgrades, and exclusive offers at Hertz.
- Complimentary Premier Upgrades on United award flights: MileagePlus Premier members can get award ticket upgrades when available
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 16.49% - 23.49% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $525
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- 3X SkyMiles per eligible dollar spent for purchases made directly with Delta Air Lines
- 1X SkyMile per eligible dollar spent on all other purchases
- 80,000 bonus miles and 20,000 MQMs for spending $5,000 in the first 3 months
- Perks: Delta Sky Club and Centurion Lounge membership; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit; Annual companion certificate; First checked bag free; Main Cabin Priority 1 boarding
- Purchase APR: 15.74% - 24.74% Variable (Rates & Fees)
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual Fee: $550
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
- 7X miles per dollar for American Airlines purchases
- 5X miles per dollar or more as an AAdvantage member
- 2X miles per dollar from the card
- 1X mile per dollar spent everywhere else
- 50,000 AAdvantage bonus miles for spending $5,000 in the first 3 months of account opening
- Perks: Admirals Club membership; Priority check-in, screening, and boarding privileges; 25% in-flight discount; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 15.99% - 24.99% (Variable)
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $450
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® Credit Card
- 3X miles per dollar spent on Alaska Airlines & Virgin America purchases
- 1X mile per dollar spent on all other purchases
- 40,000 bonus miles and a Companion Fare for spending $2,000 in the first 90 days
- Perks: Annual Companion Fare; Free checked bag; 20% in-flight discount; 50% off Alaska Lounge day pass
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 15.99%–23.99% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $75
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
- 2X points per dollar at:
- Southwest Airlines
- Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners
- 1X point per dollar for all other purchases
- 40,000 bonus points for spending $1,000 in the first 3 months; 3X points on dining for the first year
- Perks: $75 annual credit; 7,500 anniversary bonus points; 20% in-flight discount; Four upgraded boardings per year
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 15.99% - 22.99% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $149
BEST PICK FOR
Hotel Rewards
Looking for a way to upgrade your next trip? A hotel credit card can do just that, by bumping up your member status and providing free nights, among other perks.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card (Review) is one of the best, featuring a big boost to the points you’ll earn for every stay, a free night every year after your cardmember anniversary, and solid airport lounge access.
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- $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)
- Marriott Bonvoy 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.
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $450 (Rates & Fees)
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
- 14X Hilton Honors Bonus points per dollar for eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio
- 7X Hilton Honors Bonus points per dollar at:
- U.S. restaurants
- Select car rentals
- Flights booked directly with airlines
- 3X Hilton Honors Bonus points per dollar for all other purchases
- 150,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening
- Perks: Hilton Honors Diamond status; annual Weekend Night Award; $250 airline fee credit; Priority Pass Select membership
- $250 annual Hilton resort credit: Good for charges from Hilton resorts.
- Purchase APR: 15.74%-24.74% (Variable) (Rates & Fees)
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $450
IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card
- 25X points per dollar at IHG properties
- 10X Bonus points per dollar from the card
- 15X Base points per dollar for IHG Platinum Elite status
- 2X Bonus points per dollar at:
- Gas stations
- Grocery stores
- Restaurants
- 1X Bonus point per dollar for all other purchases
- 125,000 bonus points plus a Reward Night for spending $3,000 in the first three months of account opening
- Perks: Annual Free Night Stay; Fourth reward night free; IHG Rewards Club Platinum Elite status
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 15.99% - 22.99% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $89
World of Hyatt Credit Card
- 9X points per dollar on eligible purchases from Hyatt
- 4X points per dollar from the card
- 5X points per dollar for your Hyatt Discoverist status
- 2X points per dollar for:
- Restaurants
- Local transit and commuting
- Flights purchased directly from airlines
- Fitness club and gym memberships
- 1X point per dollar on all other purchases
- 30,000 bonus points for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months; 2 bonus points per $1 on purchases that earn 1 bonus point, up to $15,000 spent in the first 6 months
- Perks: Discoverist status; Annual free night stay after your anniversary; Visa Signature Concierge
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 15.99% - 22.99% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
- Earn 125,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 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. Offer Expires 5/12/2021.
- Enjoy up to $300 in statement credits each year of Card Membership for eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
- Earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy Hotels. 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™ Select membership.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $450 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
American Express is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
BEST PICK FOR
Flat-Rate Cash Back
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The Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer (Review) is your best cash back option if you want a card for all-around, general spending. The rewards are the main attraction, but you’ll also get a nice introductory APR for balance transfers before its variable APR kicks in.
The Double Cash is a fairly simple card, but a strong offer nevertheless. A general-use, flat-rate cash back card like this can be paired with a different rewards card that has bonus categories, like the others on this page. You can use that other card whenever you spend in the bonus categories, and pay with the Double Cash for all other purchases.
The rewards you earn here can be converted to ThankYou points, rather than redeemed as typical cash back. ThankYou points can be converted to airline miles for a better value, though your transfer partners will be limited to JetBlue unless you also have the Citi Prestige® Card or Citi Premier® Card.
- Citi Concierge: Call for non-emergency help whenever you need it, like assistance making travel reservations.
- ShopRunner membership: Use ShopRunner to get free two-day shipping and returns at participating retailers.
- Free credit score: Check your FICO Bankcard Score 8 for free, based on your Equifax credit report.
- Purchase APR: 13.99% – 23.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 18 months on Balance Transfers, then 13.99% – 23.99% (Variable) (for transfers made during the first four months)
PayPal Cashback Mastercard®
- 2% cash back on all purchases
- Purchase APR: 22.24%, 26.24% or 29.24% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
- 5% cash back on:
- Travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Lyft rides (through March 2022)
- 3% cash back at:
- Restaurants
- Drugstores
- 1.5% cash back for all other purchases
- $200 bonus for spending $500 in the first 3 months
- Purchase APR: 0% for 15 months, then 14.99% - 23.74% Variable
- Balance Transfer APR: 14.99% - 23.74% Variable
- Annual fee: $0
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
- 1.5% cash back for all purchases
- $200 for spending $500 in the first 3 months after account opening
- Purchase: 0% 15 months, then 15.49% - 25.49% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
American Express Cash Magnet® Card
- 1.5% cash back for all purchases
- $150 cash back for spending $1,000 in the first 3 months
- Purchase APR: 0% on purchases for 15 months, then 13.99% - 23.99% Variable (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $0
PenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card
- 1.5% cash back on all purchases made with your card
- 2% cash back on all purchases for PenFed Honors Advantage Members
- $100 statement credit after spending $1,500 in the first 90 days
- Purchase APR: 11.74% to 17.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 12 months, then 11.74% to 17.99% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Alliant Cashback Visa® Signature Credit Card
- 3% cash back for all purchases in the first year
- 2.5% cash back for all purchases after the first year
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 11.99%–14.99% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $99, $0 first year
HSBC Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
- 3% cash back on purchases in the first 12 months, up to $10,000 spent
- 1.5% cash back on all other purchases
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 12 months, then 14.99–24.99% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® card
- 1.8% cash rewards on Google Pay or Apple Pay mobile wallet purchases during the first 12 months after account opening
- 1.5% cash rewards on every other purchase
- $150 cash back for spending $500 in the first 3 months
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 15 months from account opening, then 14.49%-24.99% Variable (for transfers requested in the first 120 days)
- Annual fee: $0
- 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 Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 13.99% – 23.99%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Balance Transfers do not earn cash back.
- 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 a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
- The standard variable APR for Citi Flex Plan is 13.99% – 23.99% based on your creditworthiness. Citi Flex Plan offers are made available at Citi’s discretion.
Citi is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
BEST PICK FOR
Gas
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The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express (Review) is one of your best options for cash back on gas, with a solid rate for no annual fee. If you’re willing to pay an annual fee or don’t mind rotating bonus categories, you’ll find some interesting options in the runners up.
The Blue Cash Everyday is a rewarding card for everyday purchases, and if you need a handy card for gas this is a real contender.
American Express offers a host of other features along with the gas category, including Amex Offers, where you can earn extra cash back at all sorts of retailers.
- Amex Offers: Discounts or extra points at a variety of merchants
- Complimentary ShopRunner membership: Register with ShopRunner for free two-day shipping and returns at select online retailers.
- Entertainment Access: Exclusive tickets to events, concerts, sports, and shows
- Shopping and travel protections: Car Rental Insurance, Global Assist Hotline
- Purchase APR: 0% on purchases for 15 months, then 13.99% - 23.99% Variable
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
- 6% cash back for:
- U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 spent annually)
- Select U.S. streaming services
- 3% cash back for:
- U.S. gas stations
- Transit
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- $300 statement credit for spending $3,000 in the first 6 months
- Purchase APR: 0% on purchases for 12 months, then 13.99% - 23.99% Variable (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95
Discover it® Cash Back
- 5% cash back in rotating categories (usually including gas), up to $1,500 spent per quarter (then 1%; activation required)
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Cashback Match: Get double cash back for the first year, provided at the end of the first year
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: See Terms for See Terms, then See Terms (for transfers requested in the first 90 days)
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Chase Freedom Flex℠
- 5% cash back on:
- Lyft rides (through March 2022)
- Travel purchase through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 5% cash back in rotating reward categories (usually including gas), up to $1,500 spent per quarter (then 1%)
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- $200 bonus for spending $500 in the first 3 months
- Purchase APR: 0% for 15 months, then 14.99% - 23.74% Variable
- Balance Transfer APR: 14.99% - 23.74% Variable
- Annual fee: $0
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
- 4% cash back on Gas, including gas at Costco (up to $7,000 per year, then 1%)
- 3% cash back for:
- Restaurants
- Travel
- 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 15.24% (Variable)
- Annual fee: $0 (Costco membership required)
Sam’s Club® Mastercard®
- 5% cash back on eligible gas, including at Sam’s Club; up to $6,000 per year (then 1%)
- 3% cash back on:
- Dining
- Travel
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- $45 statement credit when you spend $45 or more at samsclub.com, the same day you open your account online
- Purchase APR: 16.65%–24.65% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Discover it® chrome
- 2% cash back, up to $1,000 spent per quarter (then 1%), at:
- Gas stations
- Restaurants
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Cashback Match: Get double cash back for the first year, provided at the end of the first year
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: See Terms for See Terms, then See Terms
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
- Earn $200 back after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months.
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%).
- 2% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and at select U.S. department stores.
- 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
- Low intro APR: 0% for 15 months on purchases from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 13.99% to 23.99%.
- Plan It® gives the option to select purchases of $100 or more to split up into monthly payments with a fixed fee.
- Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be easily redeemed for statement credits.
- No annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
American Express is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
BEST PICK FOR
Groceries
- Min. credit levelGood
- Annual Fee$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95
- Regular APR13.99% - 23.99% Variable
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Groceries and gas are common expenses for many people, and it’s convenient to have one card you can use for both. The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (Review) is an excellent choice to fill that need, with the best cash back rate for U.S. supermarkets you’ll find.
The 6% back you can earn at U.S. supermarkets with this card is the best base rate we’ve seen for that category. You can get better than that (10%) with the Discover it® Cash Back, but only for a few months during the first year with the card.
You’ll be limited to $6,000 in spending per year at that 6% rate, but that’s still $360 in cash back, which is not bad at all. To hit that limit in a year you’d need to spend about $115 on groceries per week.
Purchases at U.S. gas stations will get 3% cash back, with no limit. That’s competitive with most other rewards cards, which don’t usually offer any more than that at gas stations.
- Amex Offers: Find significant discounts at a changing selection of merchants and websites, like TurboTax, SamsClub.com, Etsy, and many more.
- ShopRunner membership: ShopRunner provides free two-day shipping and returns at participating online retailers.
- Shopping and travel protections: Return Protection, Car Rental Loss and Damage Protection
- Purchase APR: 0% on purchases for 12 months, then 13.99% - 23.99% Variable
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
- 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, up to $6,000 spent per year (then 1%)
- 2% cash back at:
- U.S. gas stations
- Select U.S. department stores
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- $200 cash back for spending $1,000 in the first 3 months
- Purchase APR: 0% on purchases for 15 months, then 13.99% - 23.99% Variable (for transfers made during the first 60 days) (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $0
Bank of America® Cash Rewards Credit Card
- 3% cash back in your choice of one category every month:
- Gas
- Online shopping
- Dining
- Travel
- Drugstores
- Home improvement/furnishings stores
- 2% cash back at:
- Grocery stores
- Wholesale clubs
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- $200 cash rewards bonus for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days
- Spending limit: 3% and 2% categories are limited to the first $2,500 in combined spending per quarter (then 1%).
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 15 billing cycles, then 13.99%–23.99% Variable (for transfers made during the first 60 days)
- Annual fee: $0
Discover it® Cash Back
- 5% cash back in rotating categories (usually including groceries and gas), up to $1,500 spent per quarter (then 1%; activation required)
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Cashback Match: Get double cash back for the first year, provided at the end of the first year
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: See Terms for See Terms, then See Terms (for transfers requested in the first 90 days)
- Annual fee: $0
Chase Freedom Flex℠
- 5% cash back on:
- Lyft rides (through March 2022)
- Travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 5% cash back in rotating reward categories (usually including groceries and gas), up to $1,500 spent per quarter (then 1%)
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- $200 bonus for spending $500 in the first 3 months
- Purchase APR: 0% for 15 months, then 14.99% - 23.74% Variable
- Balance Transfer APR: 14.99% - 23.74% Variable
- Annual fee: $0
- Earn a $300 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
- $0 introductory annual fee for one year, then $95.
- 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 and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
- 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
- Plan It® gives the option to select purchases of $100 or more to split up into monthly payments with a fixed fee.
- Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
- Terms Apply.
American Express is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
BEST PICK FOR
Dining at Restaurants
Spending Rewards
Introductory Bonus
Going out to eat is a bit more fun when you can hand over a shiny metal credit card. The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card (Review) can fit that bill and offers an excellent cash back rate at restaurants, along with some useful bonus categories that complement the foodie aura this card exudes.
If you’re always going out to eat or ordering in, how does saving 4% on all that spending sound? Just don’t fight over who gets to pay the bill.
The Savor’s categories cover dining, entertainment, and grocery shopping. That’s quite a nice variety to have on just one card — if dinner and a movie is your kind of thing, this card would fit quite well. And if you don’t have a better card for groceries, like one of the options above, the Savor will let you get a bit more than the standard 1%.
- Capital One 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
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 15.99% - 24.99% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
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- Purchase APR: 0% for 15 months, then 15.49% - 25.49% Variable
- Annual fee: $0
U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card
- 5% cash back in your choice of two categories per quarter (including Fast food), up to $2,000 per quarter (then 1%)
- 2% cash back in one category of your choice (including Restaurants)
- 1% cash back for every other purchase
- $150 cash bonus for spending $500 in the first 90 days after account opening
- Purchase APR: 13.99% - 23.99%* Variable
- Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 12 billing cycles on Balance Transfers*, then 13.99% - 23.99%* Variable
- Annual fee: $0*
Bank of America® Cash Rewards Credit Card
- 3% cash back in your choice of one category every month:
- Gas
- Online shopping
- Dining
- Travel
- Drugstores
- Home improvement/furnishings stores
- 2% cash back at:
- Grocery stores
- Wholesale clubs
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- $200 cash rewards bonus for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days
- Spending limit: 3% and 2% categories are limited to the first $2,500 in combined spending per quarter (then 1%).
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 15 billing cycles, then 13.99%–23.99% Variable (for transfers made during the first 60 days)
- Annual fee: $0
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
- 4% cash back on gas, including gas at Costco (up to $7,000 per year, then 1%)
- 3% cash back for:
- Restaurants
- Travel
- 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 15.24% (Variable)
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0 (Costco membership required)
Sam’s Club® Mastercard®
- 5% cash back on eligible gas, including at Sam’s Club; up to $6,000 per year (then 1%)
- 3% cash back on:
- Dining
- Travel
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- $45 statement credit when you spend $45 or more at samsclub.com, the same day you open your account online
- Purchase APR: 16.65%–24.65% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
BEST PICK FOR
Rotating Reward Categories
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Your 5% cash back rotating reward categories will switch every three months. They often include popular expenses like gas, groceries, rideshares like Uber and Lyft, and Amazon.com.
The Discover it® Cash Back (Review) is one of the best cash back credit cards available, thanks in large part to Discover’s unique Cashback Match.
Here are the 5% categories for 2021, along with last year’s for comparison.
| Quarter | 2020 Categories | 2021 Categories |
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- Free Credit Score: Track your FICO Score 8 over time, based on your TransUnion credit report.
- Social Security Number Alerts: Get notified if your SSN is found on any thousands of risky websites.
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: See Terms for See Terms, then See Terms (for transfers requested in the first 90 days)
- No foreign transaction fee
Chase Freedom Flex℠
- 5% cash back on:
- Lyft rides (through March 2022)
- Travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 5% cash back in rotating reward categories, up to $1,500 spent per quarter (then 1%)
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- $200 bonus for spending $500 in the first 3 months
- Purchase APR: 0% for 15 months, then 14.99% - 23.74% Variable
- Balance Transfer APR: 14.99% - 23.74% Variable
- Annual fee: $0
U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card
- 5% cash back in your choice of two categories per quarter, up to $2,000 per quarter (then 1%)
- 2% cash back in one category of your choice per quarter
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- $150 cash bonus for spending $500 in the first 90 days after account opening
- Purchase APR: 13.99% - 23.99%* Variable
- Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 12 billing cycles on Balance Transfers*, then 13.99% - 23.99%* Variable
- Annual fee: $0*
ABOC Platinum Rewards Mastercard® Credit Card
- 5X points per dollar in rotating categories, up to $1,500 spent per quarter
- 1X point per dollar on all other purchases
- $150 statement credit after you spend $1,200 on purchases within the first 90 days
- Purchase APR: 0% for 12 months after that the variable APR will be 12.90% - 22.90% , based on your creditworthiness
- Balance Transfer APR: 12.90% - 22.90% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Amalgamated Bank of Chicago Union Strong Card
- 5X points per dollar in rotating categories, up to $1,500 spent per quarter
- 1X point per dollar on all other purchases
- $150 statement credit after you spend $1,200 on purchases within the first 90 days
- Purchase APR: 0% for 12 months, then 9.25% Variable
- Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 18 months, then 9.25% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
BEST PICK FOR
Choosing Your Own Categories
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So you’ll get two 5% categories and one 2% category, and you can pick each one. You’ll need to sign up for the categories each quarter before you’ll start earning cash back at the 5% or 2% rates.
A fairly unique entry in the U.S. Bank family of credit cards, the U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card is one of very few cards that let you choose your own bonus cash back categories. It’s a good deal too, offering quite a bit of cash back and a wide variety of categories to choose from (some of which are rarely seen on credit cards).
You can pick from any two of these:
| 5% Cash Back Categories | ||
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| TV, Internet, Streaming Services | Cell Phone Providers | Department Stores |
| Electronics Stores | Fast Food | Furniture Stores |
| Gyms/Fitness Centers | Ground Transportation | Home Utilities |
| Movie Theaters | Select Clothing Stores | Sporting Goods Stores |
And one of these:
| 2% Cash Back Categories | ||
|---|---|---|
| Gas Stations | Grocery Stores | Restaurants |
- Free credit score: See your VantageScore 3.0 based on your TransUnion credit report.
- Visa Signature Concierge: Call for personal assistance with travel bookings, dining reservations, business services, and more.
- Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection: Get perks at select hotels like a $25 food and beverage credit and room upgrades when available.
- Shopping and travel protections: Purchase Security, Extended Warranty, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Roadside Dispatch
- Purchase APR: 13.99% - 23.99%* Variable
- Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 12 billing cycles on Balance Transfers*, then 13.99% - 23.99%* Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
Bank of America® Cash Rewards Credit Card
- 3% cash back in your choice of one category every month:
- Gas
- Online shopping
- Dining
- Travel
- Drugstores
- Home improvement/furnishings stores
- 2% cash back at:
- Grocery stores
- Wholesale clubs
- 1% cash back for every other purchase
- $200 cash rewards bonus for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days
- Spending limit: 3% and 2% categories are limited to the first $2,500 in combined spending per quarter (then 1%)
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 15 billing cycles, then 13.99%–23.99% Variable (for transfers made during the first 60 days)
- Annual fee: $0
Bank of America® Business Advantage Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
- 3% cash back in your choice of one category each month:
- Gas
- Travel
- Office supply stores
- TV/telecom & wireless services
- Computer services
- Business consulting services
- 2% cash back on Dining
- 1% cash back for every other purchase
- $300 statement credit when you make at least $3,000 in net purchases within 90 days of your account opening
- Spending limit: 3% and 2% categories are limited to the first $50,000 in combined spending per year (then 1%)
- Purchase APR: 0% for 9 billing cycles, then 12.24% - 22.24% Variable APR
- Annual fee: $0.00
- Earn up to $550 cash back in the first year.
- $150 bonus after spending $500 in eligible net purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.
- 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in combined eligible net purchases ($100 per quarter) on two categories you choose. That adds up to $400 cash back!
- 2% cash back on your choice of one everyday category, like gas stations or grocery stores.
- 1% cash back on all other eligible net purchases.
- No limit on total cash back earned.
- 0% Intro APR* on balance transfers for 12 billing cycles. After that, a variable APR currently 13.99% – 23.99%
- No annual fee*
- Great Offer from U.S. Bank, a 2020 World’s Most Ethical Company® – Ethisphere Institute, February 2020
BEST PICK FOR
Shopping at Amazon.com
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A lot of people are spending a lot of money at Amazon, and the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card (Review) gives you a way to save on every purchase you make from the online superstore.
Frequent Amazon shoppers can use this 5% cash back rate to save a tidy sum. A study from Consumer Intelligence Resource Partners reported that the average Prime member is spending $1,400 per year at Amazon in 2018. If you spent that much you’d get $70 in cash back, enough for a nice gift. The gift card offer is a nice bonus too, and you won’t even need to meet a spending threshold to earn it.
The Prime card is made with metal, an unusual feature to find outside of premium credit cards (there are other metal credit cards with no annual fee, but not many).
To be eligible for this card you’ll need to have an Amazon Prime membership. If you’re not a Prime member you can apply for the Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Card, which is less rewarding (3% back at Amazon) but there’s no fee involved (learn more about Amazon’s other credit cards).
If you don’t think you need Prime, you could always start with the regular Amazon Rewards card. Then, if you ever decide to get a Prime membership, you’ll automatically be upgraded to the Amazon Prime Rewards card. And likewise, if you ever cancel your Prime membership, you’ll be downgraded to the regular Amazon Rewards card.
- Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection: Perks at eligible hotels, including complimentary WiFi, room upgrades when available, a $25 food and beverage credit, and more
- Visa Signature Concierge: Call any time for non-emergency assistance.
- Shopping and travel protections: Including Purchase Protection, Extended Warranties, Baggage Delay Insurance, and more
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 14.24% to 22.24% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Card
- 3% cash back (up to $120,000 spent per year) at:
- Amazon
- Whole Foods
- 2% cash back at:
- Restaurants
- Gas stations
- Drugstores
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- $50 Amazon.com gift card instantly upon account approval
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 15.74%–23.74% Variable
- Annual fee: $0 (Amazon Prime membership not required)
Amazon.com Store Card
- 5% back at Amazon for Prime members; no reward for non-Prime members
- $10 Amazon.com gift card upon approval
- Special financing options available for large purchases
- Purchase APR: 28.24% Variable
- Annual fee: $0
- Closed-loop card: This card can only be used at Amazon.
Discover it® Cash Back
- 5% cash back in rotating categories (usually including Amazon), up to $1,500 spent per quarter (then 1%; activation required)
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Cashback Match: Get double cash back for the first year, provided at the end of the first year
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: See Terms for See Terms, then See Terms (for transfers made in the first 90 days)
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Bank of America® Cash Rewards Credit Card
- 3% cash back in your choice of one category every month:
- Gas
- Online shopping
- Dining
- Travel
- Drugstores
- Home improvement/furnishings stores
- 2% cash back at:
- Grocery stores
- Wholesale clubs
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- $200 cash rewards bonus for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days
- Spending limit: 3% and 2% categories are limited to the first $2,500 in combined spending per quarter (then 1%)
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 15 billing cycles, then 13.99%–23.99% Variable (for transfers made during the first 60 days)
- Annual fee: $0
Amazon Business Prime American Express Card
- 5% cash back at:
- Amazon.com
- Amazon Business
- Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- Whole Foods Market
- 2% cash back at:
- U.S. restaurants
- U.S. gas stations
- U.S. wireless telephone services
- 1% cash back for all other purchases
- $125 Amazon.com gift card upon account approval
- Purchase APR: 15.24%–23.24% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Amazon Business American Express Card
- 3% cash back at:
- Amazon.com
- Amazon Business
- Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- Whole Foods Market
- 2% cash back at:
- U.S. restaurants
- U.S. gas stations
- U.S. wireless telephone services
- 1% cash back for all other purchases
- $100 Amazon.com gift card upon account approval
- Purchase APR: 15.24%–23.24% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
- Requires active Prime membership
- Cash back can be redeemed for statement credits or at Amazon.com checkout
- Earn 5% back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market
- Earn 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and drugstores
- Earn 1% back on all other purchases
- Get a $70 Amazon.com Gift Card instantly upon credit card approval
BEST PICK FOR
Students
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Student credit cards typically don’t offer the best rewards because they’re designed for people who are new to credit. But the Discover it® Student Cash Back (Review) has an excellent 5% cash back rate in rotating categories, just like the regular Discover it® Cash Back (Review).
Along with that 5% cash back you’ll also get a $20 statement credit award for every year that you get a GPA of 3.0 or higher, a nice little bonus.
The 5% cash back calendar for 2021 is:
| Quarter | 5% Cash Back Categories |
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| January – March | Grocery Stores, Walgreens, CVS |
| April – June | Gas Stations, Wholesale Clubs, Select Streaming Services |
| July – September | Restaurants, PayPal |
| October – December | Amazon.com, Target.com, Walmart.com |
- Good Grade Reward: Discover will give you a $20 statement credit reward for every year that you get a 3.0 GPA or higher, for up to five years.
- Free credit score: Track your FICO Score 8 over time, based on your TransUnion credit report.
- Social Security number alerts: Get notified if your SSN is found on any thousands of risky websites.
- New account alerts: Get notified of any new accounts or inquiries on your Experian credit report.
- Purchase APR: See Terms
- Balance Transfer APR: See Terms for See Terms, then See Terms
- No foreign transaction fee
Bank of America Cash Rewards™ Credit Card for Students
- 3% cash back in one category of your choice:
- Gas
- Online shopping
- Dining
- Travel
- Drugstores
- Home improvement/furnishings stores
- 2% cash back at:
- Grocery stores
- Wholesale clubs
- 1% cash back on all purchases
- $200 cash rewards bonus for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days
- Spending limit: 3% and 2% rewards only up to $2,500 per quarter, then 1% cash back
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 15 billing cycles, then 13.99%–23.99% Variable
- Annual fee: $0
Discover it® Student chrome
- 2% cash back, up to $1,000 spent per quarter (then 1%), at:
- Gas stations
- Restaurants
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Cashback Match: Double all cash back rewards earned in the first year
- Purchase APR: See Terms
- Balance Transfer APR: See Terms for See Terms, then See Terms
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Journey Student Rewards from Capital One
- 1% cash back on every purchase
- 1.25% cash back when you pay on time
- $60 streaming credit: $5 per month for 12 months on select streaming services, when you pay on time
- Access a higher credit line: You may be automatically considered for a higher credit line after six months.
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 26.99% (Variable)
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Deserve Edu Mastercard
- 1% cash back on all purchases
- One year of Amazon Prime Student for spending $500 in the first 3 billing cycles
- Perks: Potential limited Priority Pass Select membership, insurance and furniture rental rebates
- Purchase APR: 18.74% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Wells Fargo Cash Back College Card
- 3% cash back for the first 6 months, up to $2,500 spent, on:
- Gas stations
- Grocery stores
- Drugstores
- 1% cash back for every other purchase
- Purchase APR: 0% for 6 months, then 12.15%–22.15% Variable
- Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 6 months, for transfers made within 120 days, then 12.15%–22.15% Variable
- Annual fee: $0
BEST PICK FOR
Bad Credit
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So not only can you earn cash back, you’ll actually get to choose your own 3% category. That makes the Bank of America® Cash Rewards Secured Card stand out among secured cards, providing cardholders with a way to build credit and earn rewards at the same time.
If you have bad credit (a FICO score of 579 or less) you’ll have trouble qualifying for most credit cards, especially those with rewards programs. You will have some options, however.
Secured credit cards are designed for people with poor or limited credit. They require a refundable security deposit when you apply for them, which will fund the credit limit.
You can use a secured card to improve your credit, building up a history of positive activity and on-time payments. When your credit is good enough you can close the card, get your deposit back, and apply for a better unsecured card.
The Bank of America Cash Rewards Secured is one of the best secured cards available, in our estimation. Secured cards usually have no rewards and few benefits, and sometimes come with high fees. But not only does this card have generally favorable terms, it also comes with a solid cash back program — the kind you might expect to find on an unsecured rewards card.
Bank of America will also review your card account and overall credit every now and then. If you’ve been a responsible credit user, always making on-time payments, they may consider returning your security deposit and allowing you to continue using the card. BofA will be checking your overall credit with the credit bureaus, including how you use other credit cards, not just your usage of this card.
This is a great feature to have, and you won’t find it on every secured card. As long as you continue using it responsibly and maintain good credit habits in general, you can expect to probably get your deposit back eventually and later on work your way up to an unsecured rewards card.
- Free credit score: Check your FICO Score 8 for free, based on your TransUnion credit report.
- Security deposit: $300–$4,900
Discover it® Secured
- 2% cash back on the first $1,000 spent per quarter (then 1%) at:
- Restaurants
- Gas stations
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Cashback Match: Double all cash back earned in the first year; awarded at the end of the first year
- Free FICO credit score: Keep tabs on your FICO Score 8, based on your TransUnion report, and get tips to improve your credit scores.
- Social Security number alerts: Get notified if your SSN is found on any of thousands of risky dark web sites.
- Balance Transfer APR: See Terms for See Terms, then See Terms
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
- Security deposit: $200–$2,500
- 3% cash back in the category of your choice: gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, home improvement/furnishings
- 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs
- After you spend $2,500 in the 3% and 2% categories, you’ll earn 1% cash back until the quarter ends
- Security deposit between $300-$4,900 is required to open your account upon approval
- Bank of America will periodically review your account and return your security deposit if you qualify
- 3% foreign transaction fee
- No annual fee
BEST PICK FOR
Fair or Average Credit
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It’s pretty simple, but not bad for a flat-rate card — especially one made for fair or average credit. You’ll get the same amount of cash back wherever you shop, with no limit, and with no worrying about bonus categories.
If you don’t have good credit, you may not be approved for some of the cards on this page. But the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card (Review) is one of the few rewards credit cards that are designed specifically for fair or average credit (a FICO credit score of around 580–669).
Use this card responsibly, always paying your credit card bills on time. We recommend paying your entire statement balance each billing period, to help your credit utilization. It will also help you stave off credit card debt because you won’t accrue interest charges on purchases with this strategy.
- Access a higher credit line: You may be automatically considered for a higher credit line after six months.
- CreditWise: Use the CreditWise tool to monitor your TransUnion credit report, and your VantageScore 3.0 based on that report.
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 26.99% (Variable)
- No foreign transaction fee
Petal® 2 Cash Back, No Fees Visa® Card
- 1% cash back for every purchase initially
- 1.25% cash back on purchases after 6 on-time payments
- 1.5% cash back on purchases after 12 on-time payments
- Petal Offers: Get 2% – 10% cash back from select merchants, with no activation necessary.
- Visa Local Offers: Earn Uber Cash when making purchases at select merchants by adding your Petal card to the Uber app.
- Free credit score: Check your VantageScore 3.0 credit score from your Experian credit report, whenever you’d like.
- Purchase APR: 12.99 - 26.99% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Journey Student Rewards from Capital One
- 1% cash back for every purchase
- 1.25% cash back if you pay on time
- $60 streaming credit: $5 per month for 12 months on select streaming services, when you pay on time
- Access a higher credit line: You may be automatically considered for a higher credit line after six months
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 26.99% (Variable)
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Capital One Spark Classic for Business
- 1% cash back on all purchases
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 24.49% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
- Earn cash rewards without signing up for rotating categories
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
- Monitor your credit profile with the CreditWise® app, free for everyone
- $0 fraud liability if your card is ever lost or stolen
- No limit to how much cash back you can earn, and cash back doesn’t expire for the life of the account
- Help strengthen your credit for the future with responsible card use
- Get customized alerts and manage your account with the Capital One mobile app
BEST PICK FOR
Limited or No Credit
The Petal® 2 Cash Back, No Fees Visa® Card (Review) is one of very few cards designed for limited credit that also provides some cash back. And it’s not just 1%, either; you can earn up to 1.5% simply by paying on time.
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With limited or no credit it can be hard to get approved for that first credit card, but Petal gives you a way in. Petal will look at your “full financial picture” to determine your creditworthiness, which includes connecting to your bank account to check your transaction activity. If you do have some credit established, Petal will check it and may not need to connect to your bank account.
- Petal Offers: Get 2% – 10% cash back from select merchants, with no activation necessary.
- Visa Local Offers: Earn Uber Cash when making purchases at select merchants by adding your Petal card to the Uber app.
- Free credit score: Check one of your credit scores from your Experian credit report, whenever you’d like.
- Purchase APR: 12.99 - 26.99% Variable
- Credit limit: $500–$10,000
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Petal® 1 No Annual Fee Visa® Card
- Petal’s cash flow technology: Looks at bank account records to help you qualify
- Petal Offers: Get 2% – 10% back from select merchants, with no activation necessary.
- Visa Local Offers: Earn Uber Cash when making purchases at select merchants by adding your Petal card to the Uber app.
- Free credit score: Check one of your credit scores from your Experian credit report, whenever you’d like.
- Purchase APR: 19.99%–29.49% Variable
- Credit limit: $500–$10,000
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
- Issued by WebBank, Member FDIC
Jasper Mastercard®
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- No credit history required for relocating professionals
- No SSN required to apply for relocating professionals (an SSN must be provided to Jasper within 60 days after card activation)
- Shopping and travel protections: Extended Warranty, Price Protection, Satisfaction Guarantee, Purchase Assurance, Cellular Wireless Telephone Protection, MasterRental Collision Damage Waiver, and more
- Purchase APR: 15.49%–24.99% Variable
- Credit limit: Up to $5,000
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
- No fees whatsoever. No late fee, international fee, annual fee, or any-other-kind-of-fee, fee.
- Up to 1.5% cash back after making 12 on-time monthly payments
- 1% cash back on eligible purchases right away
- 2% – 10% cash back from select merchants
- $500 – $10,000 credit limits
- Variable APRs 12.99% – 26.99%
- Build credit alongside tens of thousands of Petal Card members
- Cash flow technology may help applicants without credit history get approved
- Petal’s mobile app makes it easy to manage your money, track your spending, and automate payments
- See if you’re pre-approved within minutes without impacting your credit score
- Petal reports to all 3 major credit bureaus
- No deposits required
- Card issued by WebBank, Member FDIC
BEST PICK FOR
Business Flat-Rate Cash Back
- Min. credit levelExcellent
- Annual Fee$0 intro for first year; $95 after that
- Regular APR20.99% (Variable)
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Looking for an easy way to earn some rewards for your business spending? Look no further.
The Capital One Spark Cash for Business (Review) offers a simple, flat reward rate, with no worrying about which card to use for which purchases.
There’s no limit to the cash back you can earn, making this a good choice for businesses that spend a lot. Consider pairing this card with other business credit cards that do have bonus categories, and which typically come with spending limits; you can use those other cards when spending in their categories, and the Spark Cash for everything else.
- Shopping protections: Purchase Security, Extended Warranty Protection, Price Protection
- Travel protections: Rental Insurance Coverage, Roadside Dispatch, Lost Luggage Reimbursement, Travel Accident Insurance
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 20.99% (Variable)
- No foreign transaction fee
American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
- 2% cash back for every purchase, up to $50,000 spent annually
- 1% cash back for every purchase after that
- Purchase APR: 0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening, then 13.24% - 19.24% Variable (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: No annual fee
Capital One Spark Cash Select for Business
- 1.5% cash back for all purchases
- $200 cash bonus for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months after account opening
- Purchase APR:0% on purchases for for 9 months, then 13.99% - 23.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer APR: 13.99% - 23.99% (Variable)
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
- 1.5% cash back for all purchases
- $750 cash bonus for spending $7,500 in the first 3 months after account opening
- Purchase APR:0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 months, then 13.24% - 19.24% Variable
- Balance Transfer APR: 13.24% - 19.24% Variable
- Annual fee: $0
Discover it® Business Card
- 1.5% cash back for all purchases
- Cashback Match: Get double the cash back in your first year (awarded after your first year)
- Purchase APR: See Terms for See Terms, then See Terms
- Balance Transfer APR: See Terms
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Capital One Spark Classic for Business
- 1% cash back on all purchases
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 24.49% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
- Earn a one-time $500 cash bonus once you spend $4,500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 2% cash back for your business on every purchase, everywhere, no limits or category restrictions
- Purchase above your credit limit with no hassle and no over-limit fees
- $0 annual fee for the first year; $95 after that
- Free employee cards, which also earn unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases
- $0 Fraud Liability if your card is lost or stolen
- Rewards won’t expire for the life of the account, and you can redeem your cash back for any amount
- No foreign transaction fees
The information related to Capital One Spark Cash for Business has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
BEST PICK FOR
Business Bonus Categories
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A variety of useful business categories makes the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card (Review) handy for businesses with typical office and local travel expenses.
Business owners have a nice variety of credit cards to choose from, and some — like this one — can be quite valuable.
Your 5% and 2% cash back categories have some spending limits (except for Lyft), so this card might not be suitable for bigger companies. Or you could always pair the Ink Business Cash with other business cards (like the runners up, or flat-rate cards below) and split up your spending.
- Chase Offers and Shop through Chase: Earn extra cash back with Shop through Chase or find discounts with Chase Offers.
- Free employee cards
- Shopping and travel protections: Including Purchase Protection, Extended Warranty Protection, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, and more
- Purchase APR: 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 months, then 13.24% - 19.24% Variable
- Balance Transfer APR: 13.24% - 19.24% Variable
Bank of America® Business Advantage Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
- 3% cash back in your choice of one category each month:
- Gas
- Travel
- Office supply stores
- TV/telecom & wireless services
- Computer services
- Business consulting services
- 2% cash back on Dining
- 1% cash back for every other purchase
- $300 statement credit when you make at least $3,000 in net purchases within 90 days of your account opening
- Spending limit: 3% and 2% categories are limited to the first $50,000 in combined spending per year (then 1%)
- Purchase APR: 0% for 9 billing cycles, then 12.24% - 22.24% Variable APR
- Annual fee: $0.00
U.S. Bank Business Cash Rewards World Elite™ Mastercard®
- 3% cash back on:
- Gas
- Office supply stores
- Cellular service providers
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- $500 cash back for spending $4,500 in the first 150 days
- Purchase APR: 0%* for 15 billing cycles, then 11.99%-22.99%* Variable
- Balance Transfer APR: 11.99%-22.99%* Variable
- Annual fee: $0*
Amazon Business Prime American Express Card
- 5% cash back (up to $120,000 spent per year) at:
- Amazon.com
- Amazon Business
- Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- Whole Foods Market
- 2% cash back at:
- U.S. restaurants
- U.S. gas stations
- U.S. wireless telephone services
- 1% cash back for all other purchases
- $125 Amazon.com gift card upon account approval
- Purchase APR: 15.24%–23.24% Variable
- Balance Transfer APR: None
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Amazon Business American Express Card
- 3% cash back (up to $120,000 spent per year) at:
- Amazon.com
- Amazon Business
- Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- Whole Foods Market
- 2% cash back at:
- U.S. restaurants
- U.S. gas stations
- U.S. wireless telephone services
- 1% cash back for all other purchases
- $100 Amazon.com gift card upon account approval
- Purchase APR: 15.24%–23.24% Variable
- Balance Transfer APR: None
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi
- 4% cash back on eligible Gas, including gas at Costco; up to $7,000 per year, then 1% back
- 3% cash back:
- At Restaurants
- On Travel
- 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Purchase APR: 15.24% (Variable)
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0 (Costco membership required)
BEST PICK FOR
Professional Immigrants to the U.S.
Moving to the U.S.? The Jasper Mastercard® (Review) might be designed for you.
It’s made for relocating professionals who don’t yet have an established credit history in the U.S., giving you the leg up you need to start building credit (along with a handy payment option).
You can apply for this card up to 60 days before you arrive in the States, or check to see if you’re prequalified before then. You won’t need a credit history to be approved, and there’s no SSN needed to apply. But you will need to get an SSN and provide it to Jasper within 60 days of card activation.
If you’ve been living here for at least a year, you’ll need to undergo a credit check and provide an SSN when you apply.
This card is available to anyone, not just immigrants to the U.S., and it could be a good option for anyone just getting into the world of credit.
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- No credit history required for relocating professionals
- No SSN required to apply for relocating professionals (an SSN must be provided to Jasper within 60 days after card activation)
- Shopping and travel protections: Extended Warranty, Price Protection, Satisfaction Guarantee, Purchase Assurance, Cellular Wireless Telephone Protection, MasterRental Collision Damage Waiver, and more
- Purchase APR: 15.49%–24.99% Variable
- Credit limit: Up to $5,000
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Petal® 2 Cash Back, No Fees Visa® Card
- 1% cash back on purchases initially
- 1.25% cash back on purchases after 6 on-time payments
- 1.5% cash back on purchases after 12 on-time payments
- Petal Offers: Get up to 10% back with select merchants, with no activation necessary.
- Visa Local Offers: Earn Uber Cash when making purchases at select merchants by adding your Petal card to the Uber app.
- Free credit score: Check one of your credit scores from your Experian credit report, whenever you’d like.
- Purchase APR: 12.99 - 26.99% Variable
- Credit limit: $500–$10,000
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Petal® 1 No Annual Fee Visa® Card
- Petal’s cash flow technology: Looks at bank account records to help you qualify
- Petal Offers: Get up to 10% back with select merchants, with no activation necessary.
- Visa Local Offers: Earn Uber Cash when making purchases at select merchants by adding your Petal card to the Uber app.
- Free credit score: Check one of your credit scores from your Experian credit report, whenever you’d like.
- Purchase APR: 19.99%–29.49% Variable
- Credit limit: $500–$10,000
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
- Issued by WebBank, Member FDIC
Discover it® Secured
- FICO Credit Scorecard: Keep tabs on your FICO Score 8, based on your TransUnion report, and get tips to improve your credit scores.
- Social Security number alerts: Notifications if your SSN is found on any thousands of risky websites
- New account and inquiry alerts: Get alerts if any new accounts or credit inquiries show up on your Experian credit report.
- Purchase APR: See Terms
- Balance Transfer APR: See Terms for See Terms, then See Terms
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
- Get up to 6% cash back by referring friends!
- Start with 1% and get extra 0.5% for a full year for every friend you bring on board
- Up to $5,000 credit limit
- No annual fee, no security deposit, no foreign transaction fees
- Simple, intuitive app to manage your account
- Unique auto payment options that help you build and maintain your credit score
- Receive cash back automatically every month as a statement credit after three on time payments
- Earn cash back as long as your account is in good standing. If your account is past due, cash back will be locked.
- Your cash back maximum varies based on your credit limit.
- Cash back not limited to certain categories, earn on almost all everyday purchases
- See Jasper’s terms and fees
- Issued by WebBank, Member FDIC
BEST PICK FOR
General Travel
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Review) makes a great first travel card.
It’s popular as an inexpensive and flexible way to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which can be transferred to a variety of travel loyalty programs. It has an excellent signup bonus which could be worth enough for a few trips, and it’s also known for being made out of metal.
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You can get a 25% point bonus by redeeming for travel expenses through Chase’s Ultimate Rewards portal, which would give you a value of 1.25 cents per point. At that rate you’d be earning a cash back equivalent of 2.5% on travel purchases and dining.
But to really maximize your point value you’ll need to transfer them to a partner airline or hotel. That could give you upwards of 2 cents per point, which comes to a cash back equivalent of 4% on travel and dining.
With travel cards like these it generally pays to hold your points until you can redeem them at a good rate; otherwise you should just pay with your card as normal to earn more points.
- Point transfer: Transfer points at a 1:1 rate to leading airline and hotel frequent travel programs, like Marriott Bonvoy or United MileagePlus.
- 15,000-point referral bonus: Get 15,000 points for every friend you refer who applies for the card and is approved, up to 75,000 bonus points per year.
- $60 Peloton credit: Enroll to get up to $60 back for an eligible Peloton Digital or All-Access Membership (through 2021). No fitness equipment is required.
- DoorDash membership: A free membership (DashPass) for at least a year, which provides free delivery and reduced service fees on orders over $12
- Luxury Hotel Collection: Book eligible rooms to get perks like daily breakfast for two, complimentary WiFi, room upgrades, early check-in, late check-out, and unique gifts.
- Shop through Chase/Chase Offers: Earn more points by shopping at participating retailers with the Shop through Chase and Chase Offers marketplaces.
- Visa Signature Concierge: Call to speak with your Visa Signature Concierge, any time, day or night.
- Premium Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver: Get primary coverage on eligible rental vehicles so your premiums won’t go up after an accident.
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card
- 2X points on:
- Travel
- Dining
- 1.5X points on everything else
- 50,000 bonus points for spending $3,000 in the first 90 days
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
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- Perks: Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit; mile transfer
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
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- Perks: Mile transfer; shopping and travel protections
- Purchase APR: 0% 12 months, then 15.49% - 25.49% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
American Express® Green Card
- 3X Membership Rewards points for:
- Travel
- Restaurants
- 1X Membership Rewards point for all other purchases
- 30,000 bonus points for spending $2,000 in the first 3 months
- Perks: $100 annual CLEAR credit; $100 annual LoungeBuddy credit
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $150
PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card
- 4X points per dollar on Travel for PenFed Honors Advantage members
- 3X points per dollar on Travel otherwise
- 1.5X points per dollar on all other purchases
- 50,000 bonus points for spending $3,000 in the first 90 days
- Perks: $100 annual air ancillary credit; Priority Pass Select membership; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
BEST PICK FOR
Premium Travel Rewards
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Review) is the better (and more expensive) cousin of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Review).
It earns points at higher multiples for dining and travel, has a better redemption bonus, and comes with a variety of perks and services that can help you save money and access interesting experiences.
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You’ll get a 50% point bonus when redeeming for travel expenses through the Ultimate Rewards portal, which would make your points worth 1.5 cents each. That’d give you a cash back equivalent of 4.5% on travel and dining purchases, which isn’t too bad.
But the best way to use Ultimate Rewards points is to transfer them to a partner airline or hotel loyalty program. That could give you 2 cents per point or potentially quite a bit more, depending on how you use them.
At 2 cents per point you’d be earning a cash back equivalent of 6% on travel and dining, which is pretty competitive with the best credit cards.
- Point transfer: Transfer your points at a 1:1 rate to a variety of airline and hotel loyalty programs, like United, JetBlue, and Marriott.
- $300 annual travel credit: A $300 travel credit every year that will be automatically applied toward a broad range of travel-related expenses charged to the card
- $120 Peloton credit: Enroll to get up to $120 back for an eligible Peloton Digital or All-Access Membership (through 2021). No fitness equipment is required.
- Priority Pass Select membership: Provides access to over 1,000 airport lounges worldwide plus a selection of restaurants. The cardholder and two guests can enter for free; additional guests cost $32 each
- Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection: Provides complimentary services and benefits at participating hotels and resorts, including room upgrades, daily breakfast for two, and special gifts
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit: Get a statement credit to offset the cost of applying for Global Entry ($100) or TSA PreCheck ($85), once every four years.
- Elite Hotel Benefits at Relais & Châteaux: Accelerated progress toward Club 5C member status with Relais & Châteaux luxury hotel and resort properties
- Visa Infinite Concierge: Call for non-emergency help of all kinds, like making dinner reservations or finding good tickets to a show.
- Special car rental privileges: Rental upgrades, discounts, and promotional offers at Avis, Silvercar, and National Car Rental
- Lyft Pink membership: One free year of Lyft Pink, which includes 15% off rides, relaxed cancellations, surprise offers, and priority airport pickup
- DoorDash membership: A free membership (DashPass) for a year, which provides free delivery and reduced service fees on orders over $12
- $60 annual DoorDash credit: Get $60 in DoorDash credits in 2020, and $60 in credits in 2021.
- Shopping and travel protections: Purchase Protection, a Primary Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Trip Delay Reimbursement, and more
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $550
The Platinum Card® from American Express
- 5X Membership Rewards points (starting 1/1/21, on up to $500,000 spent per calendar year) on:
- Flights booked directly through airlines or through American Express Travel
- Prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel
- 2X Membership Rewards points on other eligible travel expenses booked through American Express Travel
- 1X Membership Rewards point on all other purchases
- 75,000 bonus points for spending $5,000 in the first 6 months; 10X points on eligible purchases at U.S. Gas Stations and U.S. Supermarkets, on up to $15,000 in combined purchases, in the first 6 months
- Perks: Global Lounge Collection; $200 in Uber credits; Elite hotel statuses; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $550
Want to see how these two premium travel cards compare? Check out The Chase Sapphire Reserve vs Amex Platinum: Which One Is Better for You?
Citi Prestige® Card
- 5X ThankYou points for:
- Air travel
- Restaurants
- 3X ThankYou points for:
- Hotels
- Cruise lines
- 1X ThankYou point for every other purchase
- 50,000 ThankYou points for spending $4,000 within 3 months of account opening
- Perks: Fourth night free for eligible hotel rooms; $250 travel credit; Priority Pass Select membership; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $495
U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite® Card
- 3X points for:
- Travel
- Mobile wallet purchases
- 1X point for all other purchases
- Perks: $325 travel credit; Priority Pass Select membership; Global Entry application fee credit
- 50,000 bonus points for spending $4,500 in the first 90 days of membership
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $400
BEST PICK FOR
No Annual Fee
The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card (Review) is an excellent no-fee choice for general travel expenses, although hotels are its strong suit.
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The Venture miles you earn with this card are typically worth 1 cent each, but Capital One recently introduced the ability to transfer your miles to a variety of airline partners.
Transfers could provide 2 cents per mile or more, which would give you a cash back equivalent of 2.5% for everything you buy.
Although this card’s base rewards are fairly small, it has valuable airline and hotel-related features that some travelers could find very useful.
- Mile transfer: Transfer mile to a variety of airline partners at a rate of either 2:1.5 or 2:1, depending on the airline.
- Luxury Hotel Collection: Get perks for eligible hotel stays, including a $25 food and beverage credit, room upgrades when available, complimentary in-room WiFi, and more.
- Visa Signature Concierge: Call any time for non-emergency assistance, like help making reservations or finding gifts.
- Shopping and travel protections: Purchase Security, Extended Warranty, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Travel and Emergency Assistance Services, Travel Accident Insurance
- Purchase APR: 0% 12 months, then 15.49% - 25.49% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card
- 3X points at the Bank of America Travel Center
- 1.5X points for every other purchase
- 25,000 bonus points for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days after account opening
- Purchase APR: 0% for 12 billing cycles, then 13.99%–23.99% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card
- 3X points on:
- Dining
- Gas
- Travel
- Streaming services
- 1X point for every other purchase
- 20,000 bonus points for spending $1,000 in the first 3 months
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 12 months from account opening, then 14.49%-24.99% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Bank of America® Cash Rewards Credit Card
- 3% cash back in your choice of one category every month:
- Gas
- Online shopping
- Dining
- Travel
- Drugstores
- Home improvement/furnishings stores
- 2% cash back at Grocery stores and Wholesale clubs
- 1% cash back for all other purchases
- Spending limit: 3% and 2% categories are limited to the first $2,500 in combined spending per quarter (then 1%)
- $200 cash rewards bonus for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 15 billing cycles, then 13.99%–23.99% Variable
- Foreign transaction fee: 3%
- Annual fee: $0
Discover it® Miles
- 1.5X miles for every purchase
- Discover Match: Double miles earned during the first year, awarded at the end of the first year
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
- $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
- Travel when you want with no blackout dates and fly any airline, stay at any hotel, anytime
- Miles won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how many you can earn
- Transfer your miles to over 10+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; 15.49% – 25.49% variable APR after that
BEST PICK FOR
Airport Lounge Access
When it comes to lounge access, there’s really no beating The Platinum Card® from American Express (Review) and its Global Lounge Collection.
There are quite a few cards offering the popular Priority Pass Select membership, but the Platinum card grants access to that along with a host of other lounge brands, including Delta Sky Clubs and Amex’s own exclusive Centurion lounges.
It’s worth noting that the Platinum card’s Priority Pass Select membership excludes non-lounge experiences, though they’re still offered through competing premium cards, like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Review).
The business version of this card provides the same excellent lounge access, though some other card features are different: The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (Review).
Premium credit cards aren’t your only options for lounge access; check out the full marketplace of credit cards that provide airport lounge access.
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Normal redemptions for flights will yield 1 cent per point, which is a poor way to use your rewards. It would be better to save up for point transfers, which could provide upwards of 2 cents per point.
At 2 cents per point you’d earn a cash back equivalent of 10% in the 5X categories. But those bonus categories are a bit limited compared to what you’ll get from some other premium travel cards, like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Review) or Citi Prestige® Card (Review).
- 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.
- 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.
- $100 in annual Saks credits: Up to $100 in statement credits each year for Saks Fifth Avenue: $50 from January through June, and $50 from July through December.
- 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).
- The Hotel Collection: A $100 hotel credit and room upgrades when available for every eligible two-night stay.
- Fine Hotels & Resorts: Daily breakfast for two, room upgrades when available, amenities valued at $100, and more at eligible properties.
- Elite hotel statuses: Hilton Honors Gold status and Marriott Bonvoy Gold status.
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $550
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Authorized users of the Sapphire Reserve cost $75 each per year, and they get their own Priority Pass Select memberships.
- Priority Pass Select membership: Provides access to over 1,200 airport lounges worldwide plus a selection of restaurants; the cardholder and two guests can enter for free; additional guests cost $32 each
- 10X Ultimate Rewards points on Lyft rides (through 3/31/22)
- 3X Ultimate Rewards points on:
- Travel (after using the full $300 travel credit)
- Dining
- 1X Ultimate Rewards point on all other purchases
- 60,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months after account opening
- Perks: $300 travel credit; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit; Lyft Pink membership; DoorDash membership, $60 annual credits; primary auto rental collision damage waiver
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $550
Citi Prestige® Card
Authorized users of the Citi Prestige cost $75 each, and they get their own Priority Pass Select memberships.
- Priority Pass Select membership: Access to over 1,200 Priority Pass airport lounges and restaurants around the world. Free access for you and two guests; additional guests cost $32 each.
- 5X ThankYou points for:
- Air travel
- Restaurants
- 3X ThankYou points for:
- Hotels
- Cruise lines
- 1X ThankYou point for every other purchase
- 50,000 ThankYou points for spending $4,000 within 3 months of account opening
- Perks: Fourth night free for eligible hotel rooms; $250 travel credit; Priority Pass Select membership; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $495
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Authorized users of this card do not get their own Priority Pass Select memberships.
- Priority Pass Select membership: Complimentary airport lounge access for you and up to two guests (additional guests cost $32); excludes non-lounge experiences
- 14X Bonus points for eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio
- 7X Bonus points for:
- Flights booked on Amex Travel or directly with airlines
- Car rentals from select companies
- U.S. restaurants
- 3X Bonus points on all other purchases
- 150,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening
- Perks: Diamond status; annual free weekend night award; $100 on-property credit; $250 resort credit; $250 airline fee credit
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $450
PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card
- Priority Pass Select membership
- 4X points per dollar on Travel for PenFed Honors Advantage members
- 3X points per dollar on Travel otherwise
- 1.5X points per dollar on all other purchases
- 50,000 bonus points for spending $3,000 in the first 90 days
- Perks: $100 annual air ancillary credit; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $450
UNFCU® Elite Visa® Card
Authorized users of this card do not get additional free visits.
- Priority Pass Select membership: Five free lounge/restaurant visits per year; additional visits cost $27 per person
- 2X points for:
- Grocery stores
- Restaurants
- Online food delivery
- 1X point on all other purchases
- Purchase APR: 0% for 6 months, then 9.90% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $50
- Earn 75,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $5,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 10x points on eligible purchases on your new Card at U.S. Gas Stations and U.S. Supermarkets, on up to $15,000 in combined purchases, during your first 6 months of Card Membership. That’s an additional 9 points on top of the 1 point you earn for these purchases.
- 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 and Additional Centurion Cards only.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel. Starting January 1, 2021, earn 5X points on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
- Enjoy complimentary access to the Global Lounge Collection, the only credit card airport lounge access program that includes proprietary lounge locations around the world.
- Receive complimentary benefits through American Express Travel with an average total value of $550 with Fine Hotels & Resorts® program at over 1,100 properties . Learn More.
- Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue on your Platinum Card®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $550 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
American Express is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
BEST PICK FOR
Long Hotel Stays
Frequent travelers have had a long-lasting love affair with the Citi Prestige® Card (Review).
This card offer is unique for giving your fourth night free on hotel stays, a valuable perk that could help you save hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year, if you stay at high-end properties.
The Prestige used to be a powerhouse because you could use that benefit as often as you wanted, but now it’s capped at two uses per year.
This new limitation is a bit of a downer, but most people hopefully won’t mind too much as Citi stated that the average cardholder didn’t use that perk more than twice per year anyway.
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ThankYou points are only worth 1 cent each when redeeming for past travel expenses, and so, like with many travel cards, the best way to use your rewards is a point transfer.
Citi has a variety of airline travel partners, but unfortunately there are no hotel partners. You’ll find some popular and some less-popular airlines, and point values could reach 2 cents per point or higher.
At 2 cents per point, you’d be earning a cash back equivalent of 10% in the 5X categories, and 6% in the 3X categories. That’s as good or better than what you’ll get from other top travel cards, like The Platinum Card® from American Express (Review) and Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Review).
- Point transfer: To a variety of frequent flyer programs, including Etihad Guest, JetBlue TrueBlue, and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- Annual $250 travel credit: Good for airline tickets, hotel rooms, car rentals, and other travel expenses
- Complimentary 4th 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.
- Priority Pass Select membership: Access to a vast array of 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
The Platinum Card® from American Express
- 5X Membership Rewards points (starting 1/1/21, on up to $500,000 spent per calendar year) on:
- Flights booked directly through airlines or through American Express Travel
- Prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel
- 2X Membership Rewards points on other eligible travel expenses booked through American Express Travel
- 1X Membership Rewards point on all other purchases
- 75,000 bonus points for spending $5,000 in the first 6 months; 10X points on eligible purchases at U.S. Gas Stations and U.S. Supermarkets, on up to $15,000 in combined purchases, in the first 6 months
- Perks: Global Lounge Collection; $200 in Uber credits; Elite hotel statuses; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $550
Want to see how these two premium travel cards compare? Check out The Chase Sapphire Reserve vs Amex Platinum: Which One Is Better for You?
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card
- 6X Bonus points for eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with participating Marriott Bonvoy properties
- 3X Bonus points for:
- Flights booked directly from airlines
- U.S. restaurants
- 2X Bonus points for all other purchases
- 125,000 bonus points for spending $5,000 in the first 3 months; up to $200 in statement credits for eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants in the first 6 months
- Perks: $300 hotel credit; annual Free Night Award; Priority Pass Select membership; Gold Elite hotel status; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $450 (Rates & Fees)
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
- 14X Hilton Honors Bonus points per dollar for eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio
- 7X Hilton Honors points on:
- Flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com
- Car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies
- U.S. restaurants
- 3X Hilton Honors points on all other purchases
- 125,000 bonus points for spending $5,000 in the first 3 months; up to $200 in statement credits for eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants in the first 6 months
- Perks: $300 hotel credit; annual Free Night Award; Priority Pass Select membership; Gold Elite hotel status; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $450 (Rates & Fees)
- 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 4th 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
Citi is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
BEST PICK FOR
Business Travel Rewards
Frequent business travelers need to know about The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.
Some may find the rewards a bit wanting, but the travel perks can’t be beat. You’ll get the best airport lounge access possible on a credit card, elite status at Marriott and Hilton to up your hotel game, and all the valuable protections and services you’d expect with a premier business travel card.
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The annual fee may seem a bit high at first glance (Rates & Fees), but consider everything you’ll get from the benefits, plus any rewards you earn: With enough travel each year you should be able to justify this card without much problem.
- Global Lounge Collection: Complimentary access to Priority Pass, Centurion, American Express International, Delta Sky Club, Escape, Airspace, Lufthansa, and Plaza Premium Lounges.
- Up to $200 in airline fee statement credits annually: Good for incidental costs like checked bags and in-flight food, not tickets, at your selected airline
- 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
- $200 Dell statement credit: Enroll to get an annual $200 statement credit for U.S. purchases with Dell: $100 from January through June, and $100 from July through December.
- 35% airline bonus: Get 35% of your points back when booking eligible airfare through Amex Travel using Membership Rewards Pay with Points.
- Point transfer: To a selection of airline and hotel partners
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $595
- Employee cards: Get up to 99 employee cards, at various annual fees depending on the card type ($0–$300 annually)
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
- 5X Ultimate Rewards points on Lyft rides
- 3X Ultimate Rewards points on up to $150,000 spent per year for:
- Travel
- Shipping purchases
- Internet, cable, and phone services
- Advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines
- 1X Ultimate Rewards point on all other purchases
- 100,000 bonus points for spending $15,000 in the first 3 months after account opening
- Perks: 25% point bonus for travel redemptions via Ultimate Rewards; point transfer; shopping and travel protections; primary auto rental collision damage waiver
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
American Express® Business Gold Card
- 4X Membership Rewards points in the two categories you spend the most in each month, up to $150,000 per year (then 1X):
- Airfare purchased directly from airlines
- U.S. purchases for advertising in select media
- U.S. computer hardware, software, and cloud computing purchases made directly from select providers
- U.S. shipping
- U.S. gas stations
- U.S. restaurants
- 2X Membership Rewards points on eligible travel expenses booked through Amex Travel
- 1X Membership Rewards point for all other purchases
- 70,000 bonus points for spending $10,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership
- Perks: 25% airline redemption bonus; The Hotel Collection; point transfer
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $295
- Employee cards: Get up to 99 employee cards; the first card costs $50 per year, and all subsequent cards are free
Capital One Spark Miles for Business
- 5X miles per dollar for hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2X miles per dollar for every other purchase
- 50,000 bonus miles for spending $4,500 in the first 3 months
- Perks: Mile transfer; Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit; Visa Signature Business benefits
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0 intro for first year; $95 after that
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
- 2X Membership Rewards points on the first $50,000 in purchases each year (then 1X)
- Perks: Point transfer; Amex Offers; ShopRunner membership; shopping and travel protections
- Purchase APR: 0% for 12 months from date of account opening, then 13.24% - 19.24% Variable (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: No annual fee (Rates & Fees)
The information related to The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
BEST PICK FOR
Co-Branded Hotel Rewards
You can get a lot out of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card if you’ll stay at Hilton properties several times per year. You’ll earn lots of points, and there are a variety of hotel credits and perks to make your stays less expensive and more enjoyable.
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As you can see, there’s no shortage of points with this card. But Hilton points aren’t usually valued as highly as points with other hotel reward programs.
At a value of 0.4–1 cent per point, you’ll be earning a cash back equivalent of 13.6%–34% at Hilton properties, and 2.8%–7% in the three 7X categories.
See the best hotel credit cards here for more great options for different hotel brands.
- Hilton Honors Diamond status: With a 100% bonus on Base points, digital check-in, gym access, and more
- $250 annual Hilton resort statement credit: Good for charges from Hilton resorts
- $100 Hilton on-property credit: Good for incidental charges at participating Hilton properties, for every eligible stay of two-nights or more
- $250 annual airline fee credit: Good for incidental airline fees, not ticket prices
- Two annual Weekend Night Rewards: One free weekend night per year, and you can earn an additional night by spending $60,000 in a given year
- Priority Pass Select membership: Complimentary airport lounge access for you and up to two guests. Additional guests cost $32 per person. Excludes non-lounge experiences.
- Personal Concierge: Call for assistance with a variety of tasks, like making reservations at restaurants or for travel.
- Shopping and travel protections: Baggage Delay Insurance, Trip Delay Insurance, Premium Roadside Assistance, Travel Accident Insurance, Purchase Protection, Return Protection, and more
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $450 (Rates & Fees)
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card
- 6X Bonus points for eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with participating Marriott Bonvoy properties
- 3X Bonus points for:
- Flights booked directly from airlines
- U.S. restaurants
- 2X Bonus points for all other purchases
- 125,000 bonus points for spending $5,000 in the first 3 months; up to $200 in statement credits for eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants in the first 6 months
- Perks: $300 hotel credit; annual Free Night Award; Priority Pass Select membership; Gold Elite hotel status; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $450 (Rates & Fees)
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
- 12X Hilton Honors Bonus points per dollar for eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio
- 6X Bonus points at:
- U.S. restaurants
- U.S. supermarkets
- U.S. gas stations
- 3X Bonus points for all other purchases
- 130,000 bonus points for spending $2,000 in the first 3 months
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $95
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card
- 6X Marriott Bonvoy Bonus points per dollar for eligible purchases charged on your Card directly at participating Marriott Bonvoy properties
- 2X Bonus points for all other purchases
- 75,000 bonus points for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
- Perks: Annual free night stay; Silver Elite status; 15 annual Elite Night credits
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card
- 25X points at IHG properties
- 10X Bonus points from the card
- 15X Base points for IHG Platinum Elite status
- 2X Bonus points at:
- Gas stations
- Restaurants
- 1X Bonus point for all other purchases
- 125,000 bonus points plus a Reward Night for spending $3,000 in the first three months of account opening
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $89
Radisson Rewards™ Premier Visa Signature® Card
- 35X points per dollar at Radisson properties
- 10X Bonus points per dollar from the card
- 25X Base points per dollar on eligible purchases for being a Radisson Gold member
- 5X Bonus points per dollar on all other purchases
- 50,000 points after first purchase; 35,000 points after spending $2,500 in the first 90 days
- 40,000 Bonus points each year after renewing your card
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $75
- Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card after you use your new Card to make $4,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Plus, enjoy a free Weekend Night Reward within your first year and every year after renewal.
- Earn 14X Hilton Bonus Points when you make eligible purchases on your Card at participating hotels or resorts within the Hilton Portfolio.
- Earn 7X Bonus Points for eligible purchases: on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, on car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies & at U.S. restaurants.
- Earn 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
- Enjoy up to $250 in Hilton Resort Credits on your Card each anniversary year, when you stay at participating resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
- Enjoy complimentary Diamond status with your Hilton Honors Aspire Card.
- $450 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
American Express is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
The information related to Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
BEST PICK FOR
Co-Branded Airline Rewards
The United Club℠ Infinite Card (Review) is the premier card for flying United, with perks like access to the United Club lounge, free first and second checked bags, and priority treatment at the airport.
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See the best airline credit cards for more airline cards for different travel brands, or learn more about the other co-branded cards available from United.
- United Club membership: Complimentary membership to the United Club airport lounge, with free access for you and two guests
- Premier Access airport travel services: Includes priority check-in and security screening, and boarding/baggage handling privileges
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit: Get a $100 credit for the application fee of Global Entry, or $85 for TSA PreCheck, once every four years.
- Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection: Hotel perks like daily breakfast for two, complimentary WiFi, and room upgrades when available
- World of Hyatt Discoverist status: A 10% point bonus, room upgrades, and other benefits at Hyatt properties
- Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President’s Circle Elite Status: Get a 25% point bonus, upgrades, and exclusive offers at Hertz.
- Complimentary Premier Upgrades on United award flights: MileagePlus Premier members can get award ticket upgrades when available.
- Free first and second checked bags: For you and one traveling companion on United flights
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $525
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- 3X SkyMiles for purchases made directly with Delta Air Lines
- 1X SkyMile on all other purchases
- 80,000 bonus miles and 20,000 MQMs for spending $5,000 in the first 3 months
- Perks: Delta Sky Club and Centurion Lounge access; annual companion certificate; first checked bag free; Main Cabin 1 priority boarding; complimentary upgrades; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- Annual Fee: $550
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
- 7X AAdvantage miles for American Airlines purchases
- 5X miles as an AAdvantage member
- 2X miles from the card
- 1X AAdvantage mile for every other purchase
- 50,000 AAdvantage bonus miles for spending $5,000 in the first 3 months of account opening
- Perks: Admirals Club lounge access; enhanced airport experience; first checked bag free; 25% in-flight discount; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $450
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® Credit Card
- 3X miles on Alaska Airlines & Virgin America purchases
- 1X mile on all other purchases
- 40,000 bonus miles and a Companion Fare for spending $2,000 in the first 90 days
- Perks: Annual Companion Fare credit; first checked bag free; 20% in-flight discount; Alaska Lounge discount
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $75
United℠ Explorer Card
- 2X United miles for:
- With United Airlines
- On hotel accommodations made directly with the hotel
- At restaurants
- 1X United mile on other purchases
- 40,000 bonus miles for spending $2,000 in the first 3 months; 25,000 bonus miles for spending a total of $10,000 in the first 6 months
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
- 2X points at:
- Southwest Airlines
- Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners
- 1X point for every other purchase
- 40,000 bonus points for spending $1,000 in the first 3 months; 3X points on dining for the first year
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $149
JetBlue Plus Card
- 6X points for JetBlue purchases
- 2X points at:
- Restaurants
- Grocery stores
- 1X point everywhere else
- 40,000 bonus points for paying the annual fee and spending $1,000 on purchases in 90 days
- Perks: 10% redemption bonus; first checked bag free; 50% discount on in-flight purchases
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $99
BEST PICK FOR
Chip-and-PIN Card
If you’ll be traveling outside the U.S., you’ll probably want a credit card or two with chip-and-PIN capability.
Most cards in the U.S. are only chip-and-Signature, and, although many checkout terminals in foreign countries accept both signature and PIN cards, some terminals only accept PIN cards (like some automated kiosks in Europe and other regions). So if you’re looking for the best credit cards for international travel it’s useful to have some chip-and-PIN cards in the mix.
A few U.S. credit card issuers offer chip-and-PIN cards (see a full list here), and out of those options it’d be tough to beat the Citi Prestige® Card (Review). Although this premium credit card is known for its fourth night free perk on hotel stays, its PIN capability will come in handy while traveling abroad.
If these bonus categories and benefits aren’t very appealing, check out the runners up for some other PIN cards with different features, including some cards without annual fees.
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Your ThankYou points will be worth from 1 cent to potentially over 2 cents each, depending on how you redeem them. Point transfers will be your best option.
At a rate of 1–2 cents per point, you’d be earning a cash back equivalent of 5%–10% in the 5X categories, and 3%–6% in the 3X categories.
- Point transfer: To a variety of airline loyalty programs, including Etihad Guest, JetBlue TrueBlue, and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- Annual $250 travel credit: Good for airline tickets, hotel rooms, car rentals, and other travel expenses
- Complimentary 4th 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 a vast array of 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
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card
- 2X points on:
- Travel
- Dining
- 1.5X points on everything else
- 50,000 bonus points for spending $3,000 in the first 90 days
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card
- 3X points at the Bank of America Travel Center
- 1.5X points for every other purchase
- 25,000 bonus points for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days after account opening
- Purchase APR: 0% for 12 billing cycles, then 13.99%–23.99% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Citi Premier® Card
- 3X ThankYou points at:
- Air travel
- Hotels
- Gas stations
- Supermarkets
- Restaurants
- 1X ThankYou point on all other purchases
- 60,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening
- Perks: $100 annual hotel credit; point transfer
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer
- 2% cash back on every purchase (must pay at least the minimum due on time)
- Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 18 months on Balance Transfers, then None
- Annual fee: $0
- 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 4th 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
Citi is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
BEST PICK FOR
Student Travelers
Student travelers actually have several good options here, of travel cards designed for people with limited credit histories.
The Bank of America Cash Rewards™ Credit Card for Students (Review) may be the best all-around student card for travel, but you’ll need to plan your travel spending a bit in advance to get the most out of it. That’s because this card allows you to choose your 3% bonus category each month, and you’ll need to set it to Travel for the appropriate time frame before making purchases.
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With this flexible card you can adjust your bonus category each month to fit your expected spending. So if you’re going on a trip beginning at the end of a month, for example, you could use the Travel category to get 3% back on your airfare and hotels, and even a car rental. Then, when the new month begins, you can switch your category to Gas to help fuel your adventure.
- Bank of America Preferred Rewards: Eligible bank account holders get a 25%–75% bonus on rewards earned, depending on how much money is held in BofA bank accounts.
- Free credit score: Check your FICO Score 8 for free, based on your TransUnion credit report.
- Visa Platinum or Signature benefits: Depending on creditworthiness
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 15 billing cycles, then 13.99%–23.99% Variable
- Foreign transaction fee: 3%
- Annual fee: $0
Bank of America Travel Rewards® Credit Card for Students
- 3X points on purchases from the Bank of America travel center
- 1.5X points for all other purchases
- 25,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months
- Purchase APR: 0% for 12 months, then 14.99%–22.99% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Deserve Edu Mastercard
Applicants of Deserve credit cards have a better chance of approval because Deserve checks factors like education and income potential, in addition to the typical credit scoring criteria.
- 1% cash back for all purchases
- One year of Amazon Prime Student for spending $500 in the first 3 billing cycles
- Limited one-year Priority Pass Select membership for spending $1,000 in 120 or 155 days; $27 fee per visit, per person (not all cardholders will receive this offer).
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Take note that Deserve will need to connect to your bank account to verify your balance. If you have privacy or security concerns this might worry you, but it seems logical because Deserve bases its decision on more than the typical credit approval criteria.
- $200 cash rewards bonus for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days
- New Offer: Maximize your cash back in the category of your choice: gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement /furnishings
- Now earn 3% cash back in your choice category and 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
- You can update your choice category for future purchases once each calendar month using the Mobile banking app or Online banking, or do nothing and it stays the same.
- No changing categories and no expiration on rewards
- 0% Introductory APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days, then, 13.99%–23.99% Variable APR. 3% fee (min $10) applies to balance transfers.
- If you’re a Preferred Rewards client, you can increase that bonus to 25% – 75%. Click “Apply Now” to learn more about Preferred Rewards.
- Now with chip technology for enhanced security and protection at chip-enabled terminals
- No annual fee
BEST PICK FOR
Flat-Rate Rewards
- Min. credit levelExcellent
- Annual Fee$0 intro for first year; $95 after that
- Regular APR20.99% (Variable)
Some people just want to earn cash back without bothering with bonus reward categories and complicated redemption options. If that sounds like you, you could do a lot worse than the Capital One Spark Cash for Business (Review).
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Unlike other cards, which reward you more for certain types of purchases, the Spark Cash offers a flat rate for everything you buy. This can be good for businesses that spend a lot on a variety of purchases, rather than particular spending categories. And there’s no limit to the cash back you can earn, unlike many other rewards cards.
This means that it’s a great option to pair with other rewards cards that do have bonus categories, like any of the others on our list.
You can use that other card for its bonus categories, earning cash back or points at a high rate. Then use the Spark Cash for every other expense, where you would typically only earn 1% back (or 1X point per dollar).
- Free employee cards
- Shopping protections: Purchase Security, Extended Warranty Protection, Price Protection
- Travel protections: Rental Insurance Coverage, Roadside Dispatch, Lost Luggage Reimbursement, Travel Accident Insurance
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0 intro for first year; $95 after that
Capital One Spark Cash Select for Business
- 1.5% cash back for every purchase you make
- $200 cash bonus for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months after account opening
- Purchase APR: 0% on purchases for for 9 months, then 13.99% - 23.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer APR: 13.99% - 23.99% (Variable)
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Capital One Spark Miles for Business
- 5X miles per dollar for:
- Hotels booked through Capital One Travel
- Rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2X miles per dollar for all other purchases
- 50,000 bonus miles for spending $4,500 in the first 3 months
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit: Once every four years
- Point transfer: To a variety of airline loyalty programs
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0 intro for first year; $95 after that
Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business
- 5X miles per dollar for:
- Hotels booked through Capital One Travel
- Rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 1.5X miles per dollar for all other purchases
- 20,000 miles for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months after account opening
- Point transfer: To a variety of airline loyalty programs
- Purchase APR: 0% intro on purchases for 9 months, then 14.49% - 22.49% Variable
- Balance Transfer APR: 14.49% - 22.49% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
- 2X Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on the first $50,000 in purchases each year (then 1X)
- Point transfer: To a variety of airline and hotel partners
- Purchase APR: 0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening, then 13.24% - 19.24% Variable (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: No annual fee
American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
- 2% cash back on the first $50,000 in purchases each year (then 1%)
- Purchase APR: 0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening, then 13.24% - 19.24% Variable (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: No annual fee
- Earn a one-time $500 cash bonus once you spend $4,500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 2% cash back for your business on every purchase, everywhere, no limits or category restrictions
- Purchase above your credit limit with no hassle and no over-limit fees
- $0 annual fee for the first year; $95 after that
- Free employee cards, which also earn unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases
- $0 Fraud Liability if your card is lost or stolen
- Rewards won’t expire for the life of the account, and you can redeem your cash back for any amount
- No foreign transaction fees
The information related to Capital One Spark Cash for Business has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
BEST PICK FOR
Business Travel Rewards
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (Review) is a premium travel rewards card, intended for small business owners who’ll travel and use the benefits enough to make it worth the annual fee.
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This card is a great way to earn Membership Rewards, and can provide a wealth of points through welcome bonuses.
You’ll have quite a few redemption options, including flights and gift cards. But the most rewarding method will be for point transfers, because you may find deals that provide 2 cents per point or more. That would give you a cash back equivalent of 10% when earning at the 5X rate, which isn’t bad at all.
These travel rewards are a bit limited compared to some other premium cards, like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Review). But if you can spend enough on eligible travel purchases and make good use of the benefits each year, you’ll probably get your money’s worth with this card.
- Global Lounge Collection: Complimentary access to Priority Pass, Centurion, American Express International, Delta Sky Club, Escape, Airspace, Lufthansa, and Plaza Premium Lounges
- Up to $200 in airline fee statement credits annually: Good for incidental costs like checked bags and inflight food, not tickets, at your selected airline
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit: A statement credit for the application fee of either Global Entry ($100 once 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
- $200 Dell statement credit: Enroll to get an annual $200 statement credit for U.S. purchases with Dell: $100 from January through June, and $100 from July through December
- 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
- Point transfer: To a selection of airline and hotel partners
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $595
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
- 5X Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on Lyft rides
- 3X Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on the first $150,000 spent per year (then 1X) on:
- Travel
- Shipping
- Internet, cable, and phone services
- Advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines
- 1X Ultimate Rewards point per dollar on all other purchases
- 100,000 bonus points for spending $15,000 in the first 3 months after account opening
- 25% point bonus: When redeeming for travel expenses through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Point transfer: At a 1:1 rate to a variety of airline and hotel loyalty programs, including British Airways, United, Marriott, and Hyatt
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
Capital One Spark Miles for Business
- 5X miles per dollar for:
- Hotels booked through Capital One Travel
- Rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2X miles per dollar for all other purchases
- 50,000 bonus miles for spending $4,500 in the first 3 months
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit: Once every four years
- Point transfer: To a variety of airline loyalty programs
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0 intro for first year; $95 after that
Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business
- 5X miles per dollar for:
- Hotels booked through Capital One Travel
- Rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 1.5X miles per dollar for all other purchases
- 20,000 miles for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months after account opening
- Point transfer: To a variety of airline loyalty programs
- Purchase APR: 0% intro on purchases for 9 months, then 14.49% - 22.49% Variable
- Balance Transfer APR: 14.49% - 22.49% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
The information related to The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
BEST PICK FOR
Varied Business Spending
Sometimes you may not know what your business expenses will be from month to month. If that’s your situation, you may like a card with many different bonus categories, or categories that are flexible in some way.
The American Express® Business Gold Card (Review) is a rewarding card with bonus categories that will match the two types of spending your business has the most of each month.
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This flexibility is a handy feature because you don’t have to bother changing the categories manually each month, like with some cards, and you don’t need to try to predict your upcoming business spending. You’ll just automatically get 4X points in the two categories you spent the most in, without any extra effort on your part.
But of course, the bonus categories should fit your business spending. So if this card doesn’t work for you, check out the runners up and their different categories.
- 25% airline bonus: Get 25% of your points back when booking eligible airfare through American Express Travel using Membership Rewards Pay with Points.
- The Hotel Collection: A $100 hotel credit and room upgrades when available for every eligible two-night stay.
- Point transfer: To a selection of airline and hotel partners.
- Amex Offers: Access to discounts and extra points at a wide variety of merchants.
- Tier One Program: Some businesses will be eligible for the Tier One Program from American Express. This comes with benefits that are “designed to streamline and enhance the business’s experience with American Express.”
- No foreign transaction fee (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: $295
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
- 5X Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on Lyft rides
- 3X Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on the first $150,000 spent per year (then 1X) on:
- Travel
- Shipping
- Internet, cable, and phone services
- Advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines
- 1X Ultimate Rewards point per dollar on all other purchases
- 100,000 bonus points for spending $15,000 in the first 3 months after account opening
- 25% point bonus: When redeeming for travel expenses through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Point transfer: At a 1:1 rate to a variety of airline and hotel loyalty programs, including British Airways, United, Marriott, and Hyatt
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
Bank of America® Business Advantage Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
- 3% cash back in your choice of one category each month:
- Gas
- Travel
- Office supply stores
- TV/telecom & wireless services
- Computer services
- Business consulting services
- 2% cash back on Dining
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Spending limit: 3% and 2% categories are limited to the first $50,000 in combined spending per calendar year (then 1% thereafter).
- $300 statement credit when you make at least $3,000 in net purchases within 90 days of your account opening
- Purchase APR: 0% for 9 billing cycles, then 12.24% - 22.24% Variable APR
- Annual fee: $0.00
The information related to American Express® Business Gold Card has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
BEST PICK FOR
Signup Bonus
Want to earn a lot of points fast? Signup bonuses are a great way to get there.
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (Review) has an excellent offer, which could be enough for quite a few flights or hotel stays.
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If you’re worried about not hitting the signup bonus threshold, check out some creative ways to meet minimum spend requirements.
The other Chase Ink Business cards have very good offers as well (they’re runners up below), but those offers get even better if you can move the points you earn to a different Chase card that allows point transfers. If you got a bonus of 50,000 UR points with one of those other Ink cards, it would normally only be worth $500 at most — 1 cent per point. But if you move those points to another Chase card that allows point transfers, you could then transfer the points to a partner program to get a better value — at 2 cents per point, that same bonus would be worth $1,000.
The Chase cards that allow point transfers are:
- 25% point bonus: When redeeming for travel expenses through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Point transfer: At a 1:1 rate to a variety of airline and hotel loyalty programs, including British Airways, United, Marriott, and Hyatt
- Shop through Chase/Chase Offers: Earn more points by shopping at participating retailers with the Shop through Chase and Chase Offers marketplaces.
- Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection: Daily breakfast for two, free WiFi, room upgrades, early check-in, late checkout, and more at eligible hotels
- Visa Signature Business benefits: Purchase Protection, Cell Phone Protection, Primary Auto Rental Coverage, Roadside Dispatch, and more
- Employee cards: Get up to 70 employee cards, all for free.
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 15.99%-20.99% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
- 5% cash back on Lyft rides
- 1.5% cash back for all other purchases
- $750 cash bonus for spending $7,500 in the first 3 months after account opening
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 12 months, then 13.24% - 19.24% Variable
- Annual fee: $0
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
- 5% cash back on Lyft rides
- 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent each year (then 1%) for:
- Office supply stores
- Internet, cable, and phone services
- 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent each year (then 1%) at:
- Gas stations
- Restaurants
- 1% cash back for all other purchases
- $750 cash bonus for spending $7,500 in the first 3 months after account opening
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 12 months, then 13.24% - 19.24% Variable
- Annual fee: $0
Bank of America® Business Advantage Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
- 3% cash back in your choice of one category each month:
- Gas
- Travel
- Office supply stores
- TV/telecom & wireless services
- Computer services
- Business consulting services
- 2% cash back on Dining
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Spending limit: 3% and 2% categories are limited to the first $50,000 in combined spending per calendar year (then 1% thereafter).
- $300 statement credit when you make at least $3,000 in net purchases within 90 days of your account opening
- Purchase APR: 0% for 9 billing cycles, then 12.24% - 22.24% Variable APR
- Annual fee: $0.00
Capital One Spark Cash for Business
- 2% cash back for all purchases
- $500 cash bonus for spending $4,500 in the first 3 months
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0 intro for first year; $95 after that
Capital One Spark Miles for Business
- 5X miles per dollar for:
- Hotels booked through Capital One Travel
- Rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2X miles per dollar for all other purchases
- 50,000 bonus miles for spending $4,500 in the first 3 months
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit: Once every four years
- Point transfer: To a variety of airline loyalty programs
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0 intro for first year; $95 after that
BEST PICK FOR
No Annual Fee
There are several business cards without annual fees, but the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card (Review) is likely to be the most rewarding for the most small businesses.
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If your company spends a lot on office supplies and the other services listed, you’ll have few other options if you want to earn 5% cash back on them. That’s a pretty good deal but it’s limited to the first $25,000 you spend, and so is the 2% rate. So if you’ll spend much more than that every year you may want to consider getting multiple versions of this card, or adding in other cards to the mix.
Combining the Ink Business Cash with other cards wouldn’t be an overly-expensive strategy because it has no annual fee, so any rewards you earn are all profit as long as you don’t incur interest or fees. And you can avoid interest on purchases by simply paying your statement balance in full each month.
- Shop through Chase/Chase Offers: Earn more cash back by shopping at participating retailers with the Shop through Chase and Chase Offers marketplaces.
- Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection: Daily breakfast for two, free WiFi, room upgrades, early check-in, late checkout, and more at eligible hotels
- Visa Signature Business benefits: Purchase Protection, Cell Phone Protection, Primary Auto Rental Coverage, Roadside Dispatch, and more
- Purchase APR: 0% for 12 months, then 13.24% - 19.24% Variable
- Balance Transfer APR: 13.24% - 19.24% Variable
- Annual fee: $0
Capital One Spark Cash Select for Business
- 1.5% cash back for every purchase you make
- $200 cash bonus for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months after account opening
- Purchase APR: 0% on purchases for for 9 months, then 13.99% - 23.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer APR: 13.99% - 23.99% (Variable)
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business
- 5X miles per dollar for:
- Hotels booked through Capital One Travel
- Rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 1.5X miles per dollar for all other purchases
- 20,000 miles for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months after account opening
- Point transfer: To a variety of airline loyalty programs, including Cathay Pacific, Etihad Guest, and Qantas Frequent Flyer
- Purchase APR: 0% for 9 months, then 14.49% - 22.49% Variable
- Balance Transfer APR: 14.49% - 22.49% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
- 2X Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on the first $50,000 in purchases each year (then 1X)
- Purchase APR: 0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening, then 13.24% - 19.24% Variable (Rates & Fees)
- Annual fee: No annual fee
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
- 5% cash back on Lyft rides
- 1.5% cash back for every other purchase
- $750 cash bonus for spending $7,500 in the first 3 months after account opening
- Purchase APR: 0% for 12 months, then 13.24% - 19.24% Variable
- Annual fee: $0
Bank of America® Business Advantage Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
- 3% cash back in your choice of one category each month:
- Gas
- Travel
- Office supply stores
- TV/telecom & wireless services
- Computer services
- Business consulting services
- 2% cash back on Dining
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Spending limit: 3% and 2% categories are limited to the first $50,000 in combined spending per calendar year (then 1% thereafter).
- $300 statement credit when you make at least $3,000 in net purchases within 90 days of your account opening
- Purchase APR: 0% for 9 billing cycles, then 12.24% - 22.24% Variable APR
- Annual fee: $0.00
BEST PICK FOR
Fair or Average Credit
If your credit is in the fair or average range, which is a FICO score of about 580–669, you may have a hard time being approved for the more rewarding business cards out there. But your credit isn’t bad enough to warrant a secured business card either, so you need a middle option.
The Capital One Spark Classic for Business (Review) fills that gap, one of the few unsecured business cards designed for average credit.
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It’s not a very strong rewards program, but this is the trade-off for not having credit in the “good” range. You can actually get a slightly better cash back rate than that on some secured cards. But you won’t need to pay a security deposit to fund the credit limit of the Spark Classic, and you’ll need to do that with secured cards.
Although you could get a better rate by going for a secured card you wouldn’t earn much more than 1% cash back, and you may need to pay an annual fee, so it might not be worth it.
- Shopping and travel protections: Purchase Security, Extended Warranty, Travel and Emergency Assistance Services, and more
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
The information related to Capital One Spark Classic for Business has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
BEST PICK FOR
Bad Credit
Secured cards are designed for people with poor credit (a FICO score below 579) or no credit, providing a way to build a positive credit history. They require a refundable security deposit when you’re approved, which will be used to fund the credit limit.
There are only a few secured business credit cards, and the Wells Fargo® Business Secured Credit Card is probably the most useful.
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It’s not very rewarding, but this is typical for secured cards. Many don’t offer any rewards at all, so this is actually pretty good considering the competition, and the ability to choose the program that’s best for you is an interesting feature.
Use your expected business spending to figure out how much reward value you’d earn with each program, using a value of 1 cent per point. The answer will depend on how much you’ll spend, and your ability to redeem online (which should be easy to do).
Take note that this rewards program is the current offer from Wells Fargo, and it’s subject to change.
If approved for this card, you’ll need to deposit $500 to $25,000 to fund the credit line. Your credit limit will be equal to the amount you deposit.
After spending some time improving your credit, you’ll able to qualify for cards with better terms and rewards programs. Wells Fargo will periodically review your card account and your recent credit history, and, if you’ve been improving, you may be offered an upgrade to an unsecured card.
- Earn More Mall: Earn extra points and find discounts at select merchants (point rewards only)
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
- Up to 10 cards for you & employees
- Your choice of a cash back rewards program or a point rewards program
- More Bonus Points: When you shop online or in person at the Earn More Mall.
- Card Design Studio: Design your own card.
- No annual fee
BEST PICK FOR
No Personal Guarantee
- Min. credit levelEligibility determined by business financials
- Annual Fee$0
- Regular APRNot Applicable - Paid in Full Daily
Unlike most business cards, the Brex Daily Card (Review) doesn’t require a personal guarantee, and you won’t need an SSN to apply. You can apply using only your business EIN, and there’s no hard inquiry on your personal credit.
The Brex Daily card must be paired with a Brex Cash money management account. Each day, your card balance will be paid in full from the funds in your Brex Cash account.
Brex charge cards are designed for companies big and small, especially tech-forward corporations and other non-personal liability companies. They’re not available to sole proprietors.
You can choose a reward program that best fits your business:
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- Perks: Thousands of dollars in statement credits, plus discounts and more, for services like Amazon Web Services, WeWork, Google Ads, SendGrid, and Twilio (explained here)
- Expense management and receipt reconciliation tools
- Point transfer: At a 1:1 rate to select airline loyalty programs
- Employee card fee: First 4 for free; $5 per month after that
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
- Not available to sole proprietors, unregistered businesses, and other non-individual liability companies
Brex 30 Card
- Choose Tech Rewards, Life Science Rewards, or Remote Workforce Rewards
- Perks: Thousands of dollars in credits and discounts, like $5,000 in AWS credits, $150 in Google Ads credits, 50% discount on Dropbox plans, and a 20% Zoom subscription discount
- Point transfer: At a 1:1 rate to select airline loyalty programs
- Expense management and receipt reconciliation tools
- Annual fee: $0
- Not available to sole proprietors, unregistered businesses, and other non-individual liability companies
- $50,000 minimum bank account balance required for venture-backed companies; $100,000 otherwise
Stripe Corporate Card
- 2% cash back in your top two spending categories per month, from several options
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Perks: $5,000 in Amazon Web Services credits, three months of Basic Shopify for free, $436 in Zendesk credits per month for the first year, and more
- Annual fee: $0
- Choose either Tech Rewards, Life Science Rewards, or Remote Workforce Rewards
- $5,000 in Amazon Web Services credit over a year
- $150 in Google Ads credit
- 5% rebate on Microsoft ad products
- 40% off your first 12 months of QuickBooks
- 25% off an annual Monday.com subscription
- No foreign transaction fee
- No annual fee
- Not available to consumers, sole proprietors, unregistered businesses, and other non-individual liability companies
BEST PICK FOR
Ecommerce Companies
- Min. credit levelEligibility determined by business financials
- Annual Fee$0
- Regular APRNot Applicable - Paid in Full Monthly
Available to venture-backed companies (not sole proprietors) with at least $50,000 in the bank, the Brex 30 Card (Review) is designed for big spenders. If you’re not venture-backed, the requirement is $100,000.
But the perks are pretty big, too. You’ll get to choose one of three valuable rewards programs, and there’s a giant list of credits and discounts to take advantage of. They include $5,000 in AWS credits, 40% off your first year of QuickBooks, a 5% rebate on Microsoft ad purchases, 25% off eligible Slack plans, and many more.
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This is a charge card, meaning you must pay the full statement balance by the due date.
- Perks: Thousands of dollars in statement credits, plus discounts and more, for services like Amazon Web Services, WeWork, Google Ads, SendGrid, and Twilio (explained here)
- Point transfer: At a 1:1 rate to select airline loyalty programs
- Expense management and receipt reconciliation tools
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
- Employee card fee: First 4 for free; $5 per month after that
- Not available to sole proprietors, unregistered businesses, and other non-individual liability companies
- $50,000 minimum bank account balance required for venture-backed companies; $100,000 otherwise
- Choose either Tech Rewards, Life Science Rewards, or Remote Workforce Rewards
- $5,000 in Amazon Web Services credit over a year
- $150 in Google Ads credit
- 5% rebate on Microsoft ad products
- 50% discount on all Dropbox Standard, Business, and Advanced plans
- 20% discount on annual Zoom subscription
- No foreign transaction fee
- No annual fee
- Minimum of $50,000 required in bank account for venture-backed companies; $100,000 otherwise
- Not available to consumers, sole proprietors, unregistered businesses, and other non-individual liability companies
What’s the Best Rewards Credit Card?
Reward credit cards come in a few different types, so there’s more than one “best” reward card. Some of our favorites are:
- Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card (Review), if you want travel rewards for no annual fee
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Review), for high-end travel rewards and luxury perks
- American Express® Gold Card (Review), for great reward rates at restaurants and on groceries
- United Club℠ Infinite Card (Review), to earn more miles and access valuable benefits with United
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card (Review), for enhanced membership and cost-saving benefits at Marriott Bonvoy
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (Review), for small business owners who travel
How Do Reward Credit Cards Work?
The basic process is:
- You make purchases and earn rewards, usually in the form of points or cash back
- You redeem those rewards, usually for statement credits, travel expenses, or gift cards
This effectively gives you a small discount on pretty much everything you buy with a credit card. You can typically log in to your account online to check your rewards balance; in some cases you can see it on your credit card statement too.
Some travel rewards cards also let you transfer your points to airline and hotel loyalty programs. This can be a great way to get even more out of your credit card, because you can shop around for the most cost-effective travel bookings (in terms of point value).
Insider tip
Looking for simple ways to enhance your credit card rewards strategy? Try a cash back app, like Dosh. It lets you earn cash back at certain retailers, even if your card wouldn’t normally earn rewards.
What Types of Reward Credit Cards Are There?
Reward credit cards provide their spending rewards in several different ways:
- Points that can be redeemed for statement credits, merchandise, gift cards, etc., or transferred to partner loyalty programs.
- Cash back, which is a certain percentage of each purchase.
- Store-specific points that can only be redeemed with the retailer that provides the card.
- Airline miles that can be redeemed for free flights and discounts.
- Hotel-specific points that can be redeemed for free stays at hotels and other discounts.
There are reward cards for a variety of purposes, too: Some for everyday spending, some for general travel, some for specific airlines or hotels, some for business owners, and many more.
Chances are, there’s a rewards card out there with your name on it (or at least it’s ready to get your name printed on it).
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, please click here.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Business Gold Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card, please click here.
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