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The signup bonus — one of the most valuable and coveted credit card features, with the potential to put a huge dent in your spending or help you score free flights and hotel stays. Many rewards cards come with signup bonuses, also known as introductory bonuses or welcome bonuses. These bonus offers can provide a surprising amount of value, with returns on spending ranging from around 20% on average to more than 50% in some cases.
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The information related to Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card, Capital One Spark Miles for Business, Capital One Spark Cash for Business, and The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card have been collected by Credit Card Insider and have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of these products.
Signup bonuses are pretty easy to evaluate. Spend some money, get some rewards. But not all bonuses are created equal.
What kind of rewards are being offered? The most common bonus reward types are cash back, points, and statement credits:
Cash back is usually just what it seems to be, although there may be several redemption options like statement credits, direct bank deposits, gift cards, etc.
Points may have different values depending on how you redeem them, and they can be the most valuable reward type if you’re willing to put in the effort to find good deals.
Statement credits are the easiest to grok, because their values are simply deducted from your card balance.
Can I make good use of the rewards? Cash back and statement credit bonuses are simple, basically like big discounts on your spending, and these may be perfect for some people. But if you care more about maximizing rewards, particularly for travel, you may want bonus points that you can transfer for frequent flyer miles or hotel points (look at Chase, Amex, Capital One, and Citi for that).
What’s the return on spend? Calculate how much value you get for the required spending (we’ve done this for you in many cases). Is the spending requirement reasonable? 75,000 points may sound like a lot, for example, but if they take $7,500 in purchases to get, you might not be getting a lot for your spending.
Will I have enough time to meet the spending requirement? Most card issuers give you three months or 90 days to reach a spending requirement (“three months” translates to about 90 days in most cases, too). You may see 4-, 6-, or even 12-month offers. Some rare cards might only give two months. Be sure to keep track of how much time you have, starting as soon as your card account was approved and opened.
Does it make sense for me to have this credit card? Consider all the card features except the intro bonus. Would you use the card without the bonus? Does it fit into your spending habits, or have benefits you’ll find useful over time? Don’t let a great bonus blind you to an otherwise lackluster credit card.
Signup bonuses can make any card offer look more attractive, but there’s more to credit cards than bonuses. See our favorite cards for a variety of categories in the Best Credit Cards.
Is a Signup Bonus Card Right for You?
Do you like money for free? If so, a signup bonus credit card might be right for you.
It’s not really free money, because you need to spend with credit cards in the first place, and if you’re not responsible you could wind up with fees. But it’s about as close to free money (or travel) as you can get.
A signup bonus is a reward that usually takes the form of bonus points or cash back, which you receive for reaching a certain spending threshold in a certain amount of time — think 40,000 bonus points for spending $3,000 in 3 months, for example.
You should never spend money just to get a signup bonus, of course. You should only use credit cards to buy things you would normally buy. Pay off the statement balance by the due date or you’ll be charged interest, cutting into your rewards (unless you have a 0% intro APR). And we don’t recommend opening new cards purely for the bonuses.
But if a card fits in with your spending habits and offers a great bonus too, why not go for it? Follow the simple rules above and credit card bonuses can be effectively free. You won’t need excellent credit scores to nab a sweet bonus, but cards for better credit tend to have better bonuses.
Here are some situations where welcome bonuses can make big differences.
Everyday spending: Many cards with bonus categories for everyday purchases, like groceries and gas, have intro bonus offers; you may be able to hit spending requirements with nothing more than a few months of your usual errands.
Travel: If you’re going on a trip you could use a bonus to get a flight or two for free, or stay an extra night at a nice hotel. Planning ahead will be crucial here to make sure you have the card you need in time.
Large expenses on the horizon: When you know there’s a big purchase or two coming up, like furniture, a TV, or even a car, you could use a credit card bonus to help lighten the load on your bank account. Or you could use that as an opportunity to bank points for a vacation.
Rent: Rent is a fairly large monthly expense, making it a good target for intro bonus spending — if you can pay with a credit card, that is. If your landlord doesn’t accept credit card payments, you can look into a payment service like Plastiq or RadPad.
Tax season: Depending on how much you owe, you may be able to reach spending requirements by paying your taxes. There’s a fee to pay by credit card, but the bonus should offset that by far.
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ (Review) pairs a great intro bonus with even greater rewards. You’ll get a surprising number of high-value cash back categories, including a set of rotating 5% categories that covers a lot of ground each year.
Introductory Bonus Offer
$200 bonus for spending $500 in the first 3 months
Spending Rewards
5% cash back in rotating categories (up to $1,500 spent per quarter, then 1%)
DoorDash membership: A free membership (DashPass) for three months, and a 50% discount for the next nine months; a DashPass provides free delivery and reduced service fees on orders over $12.
The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card (Review) is a solid choice if you eat out or order in from restaurants often, and don’t want to pay an annual fee. You’ll get a good rate at restaurants, along with a bit extra at grocery stores.
There aren’t many other big features, but you’ll have a pretty long 0% introductory rate for purchases.
Spending Rewards
3% cash back on:
Dining
Entertainment
2% cash back at Grocery Stores
1% cash back on all other purchases
Introductory Bonus
$200 cash back for spending $500 in the first 3 months
Premium Access with OpenTable: Get exclusive OpenTable reservations to certain hot restaurants, in a limited selection of cities.
Concierge service: Call any time to talk to a personal assistant, who can help you in all sorts of non-emergency tasks.
World Elite Hotels & Resorts Portfolio: Get complimentary discounts and benefits at over 900 hotel properties, including Marriott Bonvoy, Hyatt, InterContinental, and more.
Car rental perks: Provides a discount of 15%–25% at select car rental services, including National, Avis, and Sixt. Elite membership status is also provided with each provider.
Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining and entertainment, 2% at grocery stores and 1% on all other purchases
No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus cash back won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how much you can earn
0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months; 15.49% – 25.49% variable APR after that
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Review) comes with a great intro bonus for travelers. It’s made even better because you can transfer those Chase Ultimate Rewards points to a variety of partner programs, turning them into airline miles or hotel points that could be worth 2 cents each or more.
Introductory Bonus Offer
60,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months, plus up to $50 in statement credits toward grocery purchases
Spending Rewards
5X Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on:
Lyft rides (through 3/31/22)
2X Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on:
Travel
Dining
1X Ultimate Rewards point per dollar on all other purchases
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
Luxury Hotel Collection: Book eligible rooms to get perks like daily breakfast for two, complimentary WiFi, room upgrades, early check-in, late checkout, and unique gifts.
Visa Signature Concierge: Call to speak with your personal concierge any time, day or night.
Premium Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver: Get primary coverage on eligible car rentals so you don’t have to pay for insurance and your premiums won’t go up after an accident.
Shop through Chase/Chase Offers: Earn more points by shopping at participating retailers in the Shop through Chase and Chase Offers marketplaces.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Plus earn up to $50 in statement credits towards grocery store purchases.
2X points on dining at restaurants including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out and travel & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
With Pay Yourself Back℠, your points are worth 25% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories.
Get unlimited deliveries with a $0 delivery fee and reduced service fees on eligible orders over $12 for a minimum of one year with DashPass, DoorDash’s subscription service. Activate by 12/31/21.
Earn 2x total points on up to $1,000 in grocery store purchases per month from November 1, 2020 to April 30, 2021. Includes eligible pick-up and delivery services.
For a top-notch travel card, look no further than the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Review). With solid rates for travel and dining to fuel your adventures, along with a comprehensive suite of travel perks, the Sapphire Reserve is a favorite among regular travelers.
Introductory Bonus Offer
50,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months after account opening
Spending Rewards
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
Point transfer: Transfer your points at a 1:1 rate to a variety of airline and hotel loyalty programs, like United, JetBlue, and Marriott Bonvoy
$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: Enjoy 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.
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.
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.
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
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
Perks: Global Lounge Collection; Streaming/wireless phone credit; $200 in annual Uber credits; $100 annual Saks credit; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit; Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
No foreign transaction fee
Annual fee: $550
The Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees)
50,000 ThankYou points for spending $4,000 within 3 months of account opening
5X ThankYou points on:
Air travel
Restaurants
3X ThankYou points on:
Hotels
Cruise lines
1X ThankYou point on everything else
Perks: $250 travel credit; Fourth hotel night free, up to twice per year; Priority Pass Select membership; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit; Concierge; Cell Phone Protection
75,000 bonus points for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
6X Marriott Bonvoy Bonus pointsperdollar for eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
3X Marriott Bonvoy points for:
U.S. restaurants
Flights booked directly with airlines
2X Marriott Bonvoy points on all other purchases
Perks: $300 annual Marriott Bonvoy credit; annual Free Night Award; Gold Elite hotel status; Priority Pass Select membership; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit; 15 Elite Night Credits; $100 Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis property credit
No foreign transaction fee
Annual fee: $450
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card (Rates & Fees)
Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
$300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year. From 6/1/20 through 6/30/21, gas station & grocery store purchases will also count towards earning your Travel Credit
3X points on travel immediately after earning your $300 travel credit. 3X points on dining at restaurants including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. For example, 50,000 points are worth $750 toward travel
With Pay Yourself Back℠, your points are worth 50% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories
1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
Access to 1,000+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✔®
Earn 3x total points on up to $1,000 in grocery store purchases per month from November 1, 2020 to April 30, 2021. Includes eligible pick-up and delivery services
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
Spending Rewards
5X Membership Rewards points per dollar on (starting 1/1/21, on up to $500,000 spent per calendar year):
Global Lounge Collection: Complimentary access to Priority Pass, Centurion, American Express International, Delta Sky Club, Escape, Airspace, Lufthansa, and Plaza Premium Lounges.
$200 annual Uber credits: $15 in statement credits for Uber rides each month, except for December which gets $35.
$100 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.
One-year Eats Pass: Enroll to get a complimentary Uber Eats membership for one year, which provides free delivery and 5% off restaurant orders over $15, and free delivery on grocery orders over $30 (through 2021).
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.
No foreign transaction fee
Annual fee: $550
The Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees)
50,000 ThankYou points for spending $4,000 within 3 months of account opening
5X ThankYou points on:
Air travel
Restaurants
3X ThankYou points on:
Hotels
Cruise lines
1X ThankYou point on everything else
Perks: $250 travel credit; Fourth hotel night free, up to twice per year; Priority Pass Select membership; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit; Concierge; Cell Phone Protection
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 on amextravel.com.
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.
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (Review) is an excellent pick for grocery shopping and buying gas, and it has a great introductory bonus too. Most people should be able to earn it with two or three months of normal shopping.
Introductory Bonus Offer
$300 statement credit for spending $3,000 in the first 6 months
Spending Rewards
6% cash back:
U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 spent annually, then 1%)
Amex Offers: Find significant discounts at a changing selection of merchants and websites, like (at the time of publication) Best Buy, Pandora, and select meal kits.
ShopRunner membership:ShopRunner provides free two-day shipping and returns at participating online retailers.
Entertainment Access: Get exclusive discounts to concerts, sporting events, and more.
Lowest Hotel Rates Guarantee: If you book an eligible prepaid hotel room through American Express Travel and then find the same room being advertised online for a lower price, you can be refunded for the difference.
Shopping protections: Extended Warranty, Purchase Protection, and Return Protection
Travel protections: Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance and Global Assist Hotline
Purchase APR: 0% for 12 months, then 13.99% - 23.99% Variable
Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (Rates & Fees)
$200 cash back for spending $1,000 in the first 3 months
3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%)
2% cash back at U.S. gas stations and select U.S. department stores
1% cash back on all other purchases
Perks: Amex Offers; ShopRunner membership; Lowest Hotel Rates Guarantee
Shopping and travel protections: Extended Warranty; Purchase Protection; Return Protection; Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance; Global Assist Hotline
Purchase APR: 0% for 15 months, then 13.99% - 23.99% Variable
Annual fee: $0
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express (Rates & Fees)
You can use the American Express® Gold Card (Review) to earn quite a few Amex Membership Rewards points quickly, with a fairly low spending requirement that most people should have no trouble reaching.
There’s a sizable annual fee (Rates & Fees) with this card, however, so only get it if you’ll make good use of the rewards (focused on food and airfare) and benefits (focused on food and travel).
Spending Rewards
4X Membership Rewards points per dollar at:
Restaurants worldwide
Uber Eats
U.S. Supermarkets (up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X)
$120 annual dining credit: Earn up to $10 in statement credits per month for purchases at eligible restaurants and food delivery services.
Point transfer: To airline and hotel loyalty programs, like JetBlue, Southwest, Marriott, and Hyatt
Up to $120 in Uber Cash: Add the Gold Card to the Uber App to get up to $10 in Uber Cash per month; U.S. Eats orders and rides only.
Uber Eats Pass: Get unlimited $0 delivery fees and 5% off orders at eligible restaurants for 12 months; must enroll by 12/31/21. Taxes and service fees may apply and do not count toward the order minimum. Eats Pass will start auto-billing 12 months from enrollment, at then-current monthly rate. Learn more.
The Hotel Collection: Provides up to $100 in credits for every eligible hotel stay of two nights or more, along with other perks.
Amex Offers: Find discounts and extra point opportunities at a changing selection of merchants (offers are limited; enrollment required).
ShopRunner membership: ShopRunner provides free two-day shipping and returns at participating online retailers.
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.
75,000 bonus points for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
6X Marriott Bonvoy Bonus pointsperdollar for eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
3X Marriott Bonvoy points for:
U.S. restaurants
Flights booked directly with airlines
2X Marriott Bonvoy points on all other purchases
Perks: $300 annual Marriott Bonvoy credit; annual Free Night Award; Gold Elite hotel status; Priority Pass Select membership; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit; 15 Elite Night Credits; $100 Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis property credit
No foreign transaction fee
Annual fee: $450
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card (Rates & Fees)
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
9X points on eligible net purchases at participating Hyatt hotels and resorts:
4X Bonus points from the card
5X Base points from Discoverist member status
2X Bonus points on:
Restaurants
Airline tickets purchased directly from the airline
Local transit/commuting
Fitness clubs and gym memberships
1X Bonus point on all other purchases
Perks: Free Night Stay; World of Hyatt Discoverist status; Visa Signature Concierge
50,000 points after first purchase; 35,000 points after spending $2,500 in the first 90 days
10X points at participating Radisson Family of Hotels
5X points for every other purchase
Perks: 40,000 anniversary bonus points; Earn up to 3 Free Night E-Certs per year; Gold Status Radisson Rewards; Concierge
Foreign transaction fee: 2% of each foreign purchase or foreign ATM advance in USD; 3% of each foreign purchase or foreign ATM advance in a foreign currency
The AAdvantage® Aviator™ Red World Elite Mastercard® has (in our view) the best credit card intro offer for an airline, with bonus miles along with a companion fare credit — all for simply paying the annual fee and making a purchase, with no spending requirement.
That could cost you as little as $99.01! (But let’s call it $100 for simplicity here.) Most intro bonuses return a portion of what you spend, but in this case you can actually get many times more out of it than you put in.
Introductory Bonus Offer
60,000 AAdvantage bonus miles and a Companion Certificate for 1 guest at $99 (plus taxes and fees) after making a purchase in the first 90 days and paying the annual fee
Spending Rewards
7X AAdvantage miles per dollar for American Airlines purchases
2X AAdvantage miles per dollar from the card
5X AAdvantage miles per dollar from AA member status
1X AAdvantage mile per dollar spent everywhere else
The Companion Certificate is good for one guest at $99, plus taxes and fees. That’s hard to beat; you’ll find a similar offer for Alaska Airlines, which has a spending requirement but is still a great deal.
40,000 bonus miles and a Companion Fare for spending $2,000 in the first 90 days
3X miles per dollar spent on Alaska Airlines & Virgin America purchases
1X mile per dollar spent on all other purchases
Perks: Annual Companion Fare credit; First checked bag free on Alaska Airlines flights; 20% in-flight discount; Shopping portal; Alaska Lounge 50% discount on day passes
60,000 bonus miles after making a purchase in the first 90 days and paying the annual fee
Introductory Companion Certificate good for 1 guest at $99 (plus taxes and fees) after your first card purchase in the first 90 days, and paying the annual fee
Anniversary Companion Certificate for spending $20,000 on purchases in a year, and keeping your account open for 45 days after your anniversary date
Double miles on eligible American Airlines purchases
One mile per dollar spent elsewhere
There is no limit to the amount of rewards you can earn
First eligible checked bag free for you and up to 4 traveling companions on American Airlines
10% back on redeemed miles, up to 10,000 miles each year
25% savings on eligible in-flight purchases
Preferred boarding lets you and up to 4 companions board after Priority boarding but before economy, in group 5 for American Airlines
0% introductory APR on balance transfers for 15 months, then 18.24%, 22.24% or 27.24% variable
$99 annual fee
No foreign transaction fees
Chip-enabled technology to increase security and convenience
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (Review) has perhaps the best welcome bonus currently available when it comes to cards that aren’t co-branded with airlines and hotels. It’s made all the better because you can transfer those points to airline and hotel loyalty programs, where they could be worth 2 cents each or more.
Introductory Bonus Offer
100,000 bonus points for spending $15,000 in the first 3 months after account opening
Spending Rewards
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 in combined purchases 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
The downside is a fairly high spending requirement, but many businesses probably won’t have too much trouble reaching it.
You could also opt for a more modest redemption bonus of 25%, for 1.25 cents per point, by redeeming through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
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 traveler programs, like World of Hyatt or JetBlue TrueBlue.
Luxury Hotel Collection: Book eligible rooms to get perks like daily breakfast for two, complimentary WiFi, room upgrades, early check-in, late checkout, 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.
Free employee cards: Get up to 70 free employee cards to help track spending and earn more rewards.
75,000 bonus points for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months; $150 in statement credits on eligible purchases in the first 3 months
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 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 on all other purchases
Perks: Free Night Award; Silver Elite status; Free premium WiFi; 15 Elite Night Credits annually
No foreign transaction fee
Annual fee: $125
Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card (Rates & Fees)
For the two Chase Ink cards without annual fees, if you have another Chase card that allows point transfers (like the Ink Business Preferred) you can move your rewards to the card with the better redemption options to get more value. A $500 bonus could be worth $1,000 or more with a savvy point transfer.
$750 cash bonus for spending $7,500 in the first 3 months after account opening
5% cash back on Lyft rides
1.5% cash back for every other purchase
Perks: Chase Offers; Shop through Chase
Shopping and travel protections: Purchase Protection; Extended Warranty; Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver; Baggage Delay Insurance
100,000 bonus miles for spending $10,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
2X miles per dollar spent on United Airlines purchases
1.5X miles per dollar spent on all other purchases
Perks: United Club membership; Premier Access airport services; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit; Free first and second checked bags; Premier Upgrades; 25% in-flight discount
Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
With Fraud Protection your card transactions will be monitored for possible signs of fraudulent activity using real-time fraud monitoring.
With Zero Liability you won’t be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more – your points don’t expire as long as your account is open
Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Review): 60,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months, plus up to $50 in statement credits toward grocery purchases
The Platinum Card® from American Express (Review): 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
AAdvantage® Aviator™ Red World Elite Mastercard®: 60,000 AAdvantage bonus miles and a Companion Certificate for 1 guest at $99 (plus taxes and fees) after making a purchase in the first 90 days and paying the annual fee
A signup bonus, often known as an introductory bonus, an intro bonus, or a welcome bonus, is a special offer created to spur credit card spending.
Signup bonuses are usually awarded in the form of points, cash back, or a statement credit after the cardholder spends a set amount of money within a given timeframe after the account is opened. The intro bonus for a given card may change quite frequently.
Here’s an example of a typical signup bonus: Spend $1,000 in the first three months to earn $250 in cash back.
To give you an idea of how these offers look, here’s the bonus that was available for the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Review) on November 16, 2020 (the current offer may be different):
Less commonly, credit card issuers will change it up. Other types of signup bonuses include travel rewards like free hotel stays, or offers like Discover’s Cashback Match, which doubles the cash back earned during your first year as a cardholder.
All spending to secure your signup bonus must be done within the allotted time, and in most cases only purchases count — your annual fee won’t help you earn a welcome bonus, nor will balances transferred from another account.
How Long Do I Have to Earn the Signup Bonus?
In most cases, you’ll get either three months or 90 days to meet the spending requirement to earn the bonus. The countdown begins the moment you’re approved for your credit card and the account is opened — not when you get the card in the mail or activate it.
Some offers are different, however. You may only get two months in some cases, while other introductory bonuses give you six months or even a year.
Be sure to take note of your specific offer when you apply for a card — signup bonus offers change fairly often, so if you check the issuer’s website later on, you may see a different offer. If you lost track of your offer details, contact your card issuer to ask.
Private offers are typically better than public, perhaps offering $250 or $300 cash back instead of $200. The spending requirement may remain the same or it could change.
You may get private credit card offers online, by email, or by postal mail. Consider checking if you’re pre-approved for any credit cards, which may show you private offers that you’re eligible for (although it won’t always show you every available private offer).
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold 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 Delta SkyMiles® Platinum 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 Blue Cash Preferred® 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 Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, please click here.
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