If you’re not using a rewards credit card, you’re missing out on cash back, points or miles that can help lower some of your expenses. Each time you swipe, hover or insert a rewards credit card, you’ll earn rewards back for the purchase.
With so many reward credit cards out there that fit practically every lifestyle, it’s hard to pick the best one. But more often than not, you don’t have to; the best strategy for maximizing credit card rewards is to mix and match multiple cards that serve different purposes. Here’s how to find the right rewards card for you.
Best rewards credit cards
With the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card, you don’t need to worry about activating rewards categories, rotating categories or which bonus category gives you the most back. Things are kept simple via a 2% cash rewards rate on purchases -- and no annual fee. Most credit cards offer only a 1% blanket cash rewards rate if at all, so you’re in good shape with this card.
If you spend at least $500 in purchases on the card within the first three months of account opening, you earn a $200 cash rewards introductory bonus. Yet another perk is 0% introductory APR for the first 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers (20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR thereafter).
Check out our full review of the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card for more details.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening
- Regular APR
- 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR thereafter
- Balance Transfer Fee
- up to 5%; min: $5
With the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card, you don’t need to worry about activating rewards categories, rotating categories or which bonus category gives you the most back. Things are kept simple via a 2% cash rewards rate on purchases -- and no annual fee. Most credit cards offer only a 1% blanket cash rewards rate if at all, so you’re in good shape with this card.
If you spend at least $500 in purchases on the card within the first three months of account opening, you earn a $200 cash rewards introductory bonus. Yet another perk is 0% introductory APR for the first 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers (20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR thereafter).
Check out our full review of the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card for more details.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening
- Regular APR
- 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR thereafter
- Balance Transfer Fee
- up to 5%; min: $5
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers the best rewards program of travel credit cards at the $95 price point, particularly if you’re willing to redeem your rewards for travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Chase Ultimate Rewards is Chase’s online platform where you can book hotels, flights, car rentals, experiences and more. When you redeem your points for travel through this portal, you’ll get a 25% redemption boost. This means your points would be worth 1.25 cents each, versus 1 cent each if redeemed for a statement credit instead.
Effectively, you can net 6.25% on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards (5x points on travel booked through Chase), 3.75% for dining (3x points on dining), and at least 1.25% for other purchases (at least 1x points on other purchases) when redeeming for travel through the platform. You’ll also get other perks you can use for your travel like the welcome bonus, lack of foreign transaction fees and some travel insurance coverage.
For more details, see our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 21.49% – 28.49% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers the best rewards program of travel credit cards at the $95 price point, particularly if you’re willing to redeem your rewards for travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Chase Ultimate Rewards is Chase’s online platform where you can book hotels, flights, car rentals, experiences and more. When you redeem your points for travel through this portal, you’ll get a 25% redemption boost. This means your points would be worth 1.25 cents each, versus 1 cent each if redeemed for a statement credit instead.
Effectively, you can net 6.25% on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards (5x points on travel booked through Chase), 3.75% for dining (3x points on dining), and at least 1.25% for other purchases (at least 1x points on other purchases) when redeeming for travel through the platform. You’ll also get other perks you can use for your travel like the welcome bonus, lack of foreign transaction fees and some travel insurance coverage.
For more details, see our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 21.49% – 28.49% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
The Citi Premier Card is a points-earning card that encompasses boosted rewards for several popular spending categories for a $95 annual fee. You earn 3x points at gas stations, restaurants, supermarkets, air travel and other hotels, and 1x points on all other purchases. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024. When redeemed through the ThankYou Rewards portal for a statement credit, points are worth $0.01 each, essentially netting you 3% back at gas stations if redeemed properly.
But you need to be careful in redeeming these rewards, as there are other ways to redeem your rewards that may net a lesser value. Check out the details in our full review of the Citi Premier Card.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 21.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Balance transfer fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
The Citi Premier Card is a points-earning card that encompasses boosted rewards for several popular spending categories for a $95 annual fee. You earn 3x points at gas stations, restaurants, supermarkets, air travel and other hotels, and 1x points on all other purchases. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024. When redeemed through the ThankYou Rewards portal for a statement credit, points are worth $0.01 each, essentially netting you 3% back at gas stations if redeemed properly.
But you need to be careful in redeeming these rewards, as there are other ways to redeem your rewards that may net a lesser value. Check out the details in our full review of the Citi Premier Card.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 21.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Balance transfer fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
The Amex Gold Card is best for cooks and restaurant aficionados who love to travel. It does have a high $250 annual fee, however, so it should only be considered by people who can get everything out of the card.
That said, the Gold Card does offer a sizable welcome offer and a few annual statement credits to help partially offset that annual fee. And while it does offer a good rewards rate, Amex Membership Rewards points will be more or less valuable depending on how they’re redeemed. For example, redeeming points for statement credits will net you 0.6 cents per point while using them to book flights through American Express Travel will net 1 cent per point.
You can learn more in our American Express Gold Card review.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- See Pay Over Time APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- N/A
The Amex Gold Card is best for cooks and restaurant aficionados who love to travel. It does have a high $250 annual fee, however, so it should only be considered by people who can get everything out of the card.
That said, the Gold Card does offer a sizable welcome offer and a few annual statement credits to help partially offset that annual fee. And while it does offer a good rewards rate, Amex Membership Rewards points will be more or less valuable depending on how they’re redeemed. For example, redeeming points for statement credits will net you 0.6 cents per point while using them to book flights through American Express Travel will net 1 cent per point.
You can learn more in our American Express Gold Card review.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- See Pay Over Time APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- N/A
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card* boasts a headline rate of 4% cash back on dining and entertainment, which includes bars and restaurants, as well as tickets to movies, plays, concerts, sporting events, tourist attractions, theme parks, aquariums, zoos, dance clubs, pool halls and bowling alleys. But the rewards don’t end with dining and entertainment: You can pick up another 3% cash back on your grocery store purchases (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target), and 1% on everything else. And as long as you spend $3,000 in the first three months after opening your account, Capital One will give you a $300 welcome bonus.
Read more: Best Restaurant Credit Cards
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 20.99% – 28.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- None for balances transferred at the Transfer APR.
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card* boasts a headline rate of 4% cash back on dining and entertainment, which includes bars and restaurants, as well as tickets to movies, plays, concerts, sporting events, tourist attractions, theme parks, aquariums, zoos, dance clubs, pool halls and bowling alleys. But the rewards don’t end with dining and entertainment: You can pick up another 3% cash back on your grocery store purchases (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target), and 1% on everything else. And as long as you spend $3,000 in the first three months after opening your account, Capital One will give you a $300 welcome bonus.
Read more: Best Restaurant Credit Cards
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 20.99% – 28.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- None for balances transferred at the Transfer APR.
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express offers particularly high cash-back rates across several major spending categories, especially for a card with no annual fee. For groceries at U.S. supermarkets, clothes shopping at U.S. online retailers and gas at U.S. gas stations, the 3% cash-back rate is one of the best you’ll find regardless of annual fees (note that you’ll have a $6,000 spending cap per year for each of these rewards categories -- after which you’ll earn only 1% cash back.) Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
Besides the rewards, this card also offers a very competitive welcome offer and an introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers that can help spare you from interest charges.
For more details, see our full review of the Blue Cash Everyday card.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% on balance transfers for 15 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% on purchases for 15 months
- Regular APR
- 19.24% – 29.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express offers particularly high cash-back rates across several major spending categories, especially for a card with no annual fee. For groceries at U.S. supermarkets, clothes shopping at U.S. online retailers and gas at U.S. gas stations, the 3% cash-back rate is one of the best you’ll find regardless of annual fees (note that you’ll have a $6,000 spending cap per year for each of these rewards categories -- after which you’ll earn only 1% cash back.) Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
Besides the rewards, this card also offers a very competitive welcome offer and an introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers that can help spare you from interest charges.
For more details, see our full review of the Blue Cash Everyday card.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% on balance transfers for 15 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% on purchases for 15 months
- Regular APR
- 19.24% – 29.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card* offers travelers the opportunity to earn a solid 2x miles per dollar for their purchases, in exchange for a $95 annual fee.
You can redeem your miles for past travel expenses or use them to fund airfare with Capital One’s travel partners. However, the credit card issuer isn’t partnered with many US airlines.
Along with its solid rewards rate and welcome bonus, the card features a number of good travel perks including an application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, primary auto rental insurance** and travel accident insurance**. If you’re looking for a travel credit card to add to your wallet, the Venture Rewards is a great option.
**Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Please refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- $0 at the Transfer APR, 3% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card* offers travelers the opportunity to earn a solid 2x miles per dollar for their purchases, in exchange for a $95 annual fee.
You can redeem your miles for past travel expenses or use them to fund airfare with Capital One’s travel partners. However, the credit card issuer isn’t partnered with many US airlines.
Along with its solid rewards rate and welcome bonus, the card features a number of good travel perks including an application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, primary auto rental insurance** and travel accident insurance**. If you’re looking for a travel credit card to add to your wallet, the Venture Rewards is a great option.
**Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Please refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- $0 at the Transfer APR, 3% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
If you dine out often but don’t want to pay the Savor’s annual fee, consider the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card*. Cardholders earn 3% cash back for dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and grocery stores (excluding superstores like Target and Walmart) -- making it a strong rewards card for people who like both going out and staying in.
It also features an introductory 0% APR offer for purchases and balance transfers for 15 months before the standard APR of 19.99% to 29.99% (variable) applies. That means you can earn rewards for your purchases and then pay off the balance while it accrues no interest, or use a balance transfer to get rid of some existing credit card debt.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro on balance transfers for 15 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro on purchases for 15 months
- Regular APR
- 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% for the first 15 months or at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time. No fee for amounts transferred at the Transfer APR
If you dine out often but don’t want to pay the Savor’s annual fee, consider the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card*. Cardholders earn 3% cash back for dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and grocery stores (excluding superstores like Target and Walmart) -- making it a strong rewards card for people who like both going out and staying in.
It also features an introductory 0% APR offer for purchases and balance transfers for 15 months before the standard APR of 19.99% to 29.99% (variable) applies. That means you can earn rewards for your purchases and then pay off the balance while it accrues no interest, or use a balance transfer to get rid of some existing credit card debt.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro on balance transfers for 15 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro on purchases for 15 months
- Regular APR
- 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% for the first 15 months or at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time. No fee for amounts transferred at the Transfer APR
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is one of the best cards to choose if you’re looking to earn a good return on your necessary spending. It provides one of the highest cash back rates at U.S. supermarkets and for select U.S. streaming subscriptions, while still offering strong rewards at U.S. gas stations and on transit. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
It does carry an annual fee of $95 ($0 intro annual fee for the first year), but if you use the card for all of your grocery spending, it shouldn’t be hard at all to cover it. Just $1,600 in U.S. supermarket spending annually would net you $96 in rewards. If you take the card’s other bonus categories into account, you’ll earn even more than that.
In addition to its lucrative rewards program, it has a solid welcome offer as well as an intro APR period.
Get all the details in our Blue Cash Preferred review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% on balance transfers for 12 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% on purchases for 12 months
- Regular APR
- 19.24% – 29.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is one of the best cards to choose if you’re looking to earn a good return on your necessary spending. It provides one of the highest cash back rates at U.S. supermarkets and for select U.S. streaming subscriptions, while still offering strong rewards at U.S. gas stations and on transit. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
It does carry an annual fee of $95 ($0 intro annual fee for the first year), but if you use the card for all of your grocery spending, it shouldn’t be hard at all to cover it. Just $1,600 in U.S. supermarket spending annually would net you $96 in rewards. If you take the card’s other bonus categories into account, you’ll earn even more than that.
In addition to its lucrative rewards program, it has a solid welcome offer as well as an intro APR period.
Get all the details in our Blue Cash Preferred review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% on balance transfers for 12 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% on purchases for 12 months
- Regular APR
- 19.24% – 29.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
There are few cards on the market that offer the level of versatility of the Chase Freedom Flex*. Its rewards cover plenty of ground, featuring both bonus categories that rotate quarterly and static reward categories.
Its earning potential is hard to match by other credit cards with no annual fee. Some past rotating categories include purchases at grocery stores, Amazon and streaming services. The static categories include restaurants, drug stores and travel booked directly through Chase Ultimate Rewards. It even has an introductory APR offer to help you avoid interest charges.
It’s hard not to see the potential value in the Freedom Flex, especially for a card without an annual fee. You can learn more about it in our Chase Freedom Flex review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months
- Regular APR
- 20.49% – 29.24% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
There are few cards on the market that offer the level of versatility of the Chase Freedom Flex*. Its rewards cover plenty of ground, featuring both bonus categories that rotate quarterly and static reward categories.
Its earning potential is hard to match by other credit cards with no annual fee. Some past rotating categories include purchases at grocery stores, Amazon and streaming services. The static categories include restaurants, drug stores and travel booked directly through Chase Ultimate Rewards. It even has an introductory APR offer to help you avoid interest charges.
It’s hard not to see the potential value in the Freedom Flex, especially for a card without an annual fee. You can learn more about it in our Chase Freedom Flex review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months
- Regular APR
- 20.49% – 29.24% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
The Discover it® Cash Back* has the potential to be highly rewarding, especially during your first year with the card. It offers 5% cash back (on up to $1,500 in purchases when you activate, then 1%) for categories that rotate quarterly, but Discover will essentially double the cash back you earn for your first year at the end of your first year with the card.
There’s an introductory APR offer and no foreign transaction fees to worry about. Combined with its strong 5% cash back rate and no annual fee, it’s easy to see why this is a good card to pick.
You can learn more in our Discover it Cash Back review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% for 15 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% for 15 months
- Regular APR
- 17.24% – 28.24% Variable APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*
The Discover it® Cash Back* has the potential to be highly rewarding, especially during your first year with the card. It offers 5% cash back (on up to $1,500 in purchases when you activate, then 1%) for categories that rotate quarterly, but Discover will essentially double the cash back you earn for your first year at the end of your first year with the card.
There’s an introductory APR offer and no foreign transaction fees to worry about. Combined with its strong 5% cash back rate and no annual fee, it’s easy to see why this is a good card to pick.
You can learn more in our Discover it Cash Back review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% for 15 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% for 15 months
- Regular APR
- 17.24% – 28.24% Variable APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*
If you’re looking for a general rewards cards with a $0 annual fee, consider the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card. It offers rewards for an impressive spread of purchases, including restaurants, travel, popular streaming services, gas stations and phone plans.
3x points per dollar is a hard rate to beat for a no annual fee card. It doesn’t offer the flexibility of a flat-rate credit card that earns rewards for every purchase, but if you spend a lot within its categories you’ll rake in the rewards. Cardholders can avoid interest charges thanks to its introductory APR offer on purchases, and there’s a few additional perks like auto rental collision damage waiver and cell phone protection.
Read more about it in our Wells Fargo Autograph review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening
- Regular APR
- 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR thereafter
- Balance Transfer Fee
- up to 5%; min: $5
If you’re looking for a general rewards cards with a $0 annual fee, consider the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card. It offers rewards for an impressive spread of purchases, including restaurants, travel, popular streaming services, gas stations and phone plans.
3x points per dollar is a hard rate to beat for a no annual fee card. It doesn’t offer the flexibility of a flat-rate credit card that earns rewards for every purchase, but if you spend a lot within its categories you’ll rake in the rewards. Cardholders can avoid interest charges thanks to its introductory APR offer on purchases, and there’s a few additional perks like auto rental collision damage waiver and cell phone protection.
Read more about it in our Wells Fargo Autograph review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening
- Regular APR
- 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR thereafter
- Balance Transfer Fee
- up to 5%; min: $5
The Citi Custom Cash card offers more rewards flexibility than most credit cards, combined with one of the best cash-back rates for a credit card with no annual fee.
Cardholders can earn 5% cash back on up to the first $500 spent (then 1%) each billing cycle in your top eligible spend category. Eligible categories include restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs and live entertainment. That means if your spending changes from month to month, you’ll still earn the most rewards.
Because of the spending cap, you can only earn $25 each month before the rewards rate drops to 1%. Consider combining it with another rewards card, like the Wells Fargo Active Cash, which earns 2% cash rewards for your purchases.
You can learn more in our Citi Custom Cash Card review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% for 15 months on balance transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% for 15 months on purchases
- Regular APR
- 19.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Balance transfer fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
The Citi Custom Cash card offers more rewards flexibility than most credit cards, combined with one of the best cash-back rates for a credit card with no annual fee.
Cardholders can earn 5% cash back on up to the first $500 spent (then 1%) each billing cycle in your top eligible spend category. Eligible categories include restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs and live entertainment. That means if your spending changes from month to month, you’ll still earn the most rewards.
Because of the spending cap, you can only earn $25 each month before the rewards rate drops to 1%. Consider combining it with another rewards card, like the Wells Fargo Active Cash, which earns 2% cash rewards for your purchases.
You can learn more in our Citi Custom Cash Card review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% for 15 months on balance transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% for 15 months on purchases
- Regular APR
- 19.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Balance transfer fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card
The Bank of America® Premium Rewards credit card* offers more amenities than most travel cards at its $95 annual fee level.
You get up to a $100 annual credit for qualifying incidental airline fees -- like baggage fees or change fees -- and an application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. However, its rewards rate isn’t too impressive compared to other travel cards.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 20.24% – 27.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% of the amount of each transaction
The Bank of America® Premium Rewards credit card* offers more amenities than most travel cards at its $95 annual fee level.
You get up to a $100 annual credit for qualifying incidental airline fees -- like baggage fees or change fees -- and an application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. However, its rewards rate isn’t too impressive compared to other travel cards.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 20.24% – 27.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% of the amount of each transaction
The Quicksilver Cash Rewards* card offers mediocre rewards compared to its top competitors but a combination of other benefits make it stand out.
There’s no annual fee, an introductory APR offer and a welcome bonus that shouldn’t be difficult to qualify for. You could even use it as a travel card thanks to its lack of foreign transaction fees.
You can read all the details in our Quicksilver Cash Rewards card review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro on balance transfers for 15 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro on purchases for 15 months
- Regular APR
- 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% for the first 15 months or at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time. No fee for amounts transferred at the Transfer APR
The Quicksilver Cash Rewards* card offers mediocre rewards compared to its top competitors but a combination of other benefits make it stand out.
There’s no annual fee, an introductory APR offer and a welcome bonus that shouldn’t be difficult to qualify for. You could even use it as a travel card thanks to its lack of foreign transaction fees.
You can read all the details in our Quicksilver Cash Rewards card review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro on balance transfers for 15 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro on purchases for 15 months
- Regular APR
- 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% for the first 15 months or at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time. No fee for amounts transferred at the Transfer APR
As the cheapest of premium travel cards at a $395 annual fee, the Venture X* offers cardholders a suite of rewards, annual travel credits and airport lounge access.
If you’re willing to book your travel through the Capital One Travel booking platform, you’ll best be able to capitalize on the card features. You can earn an annual $300 travel credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, as well as flagship rewards rates on travel booked through Capital One Travel. The Venture X* also provides access to over 1,300 airport lounges and an application fee statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. All in all, there is plenty of value to be had here for travelers who can use everything the card has to offer.
You can learn more about it in our Capital One Venture X card review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- $0 at the Transfer APR, 3% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
As the cheapest of premium travel cards at a $395 annual fee, the Venture X* offers cardholders a suite of rewards, annual travel credits and airport lounge access.
If you’re willing to book your travel through the Capital One Travel booking platform, you’ll best be able to capitalize on the card features. You can earn an annual $300 travel credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, as well as flagship rewards rates on travel booked through Capital One Travel. The Venture X* also provides access to over 1,300 airport lounges and an application fee statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. All in all, there is plenty of value to be had here for travelers who can use everything the card has to offer.
You can learn more about it in our Capital One Venture X card review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- $0 at the Transfer APR, 3% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Another high-end travel credit card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve offers versatile rewards redemption options and annual statement credits in exchange for a $550 annual fee.
Two of its best features are its 1:1 point transfer rate (1 point:1 partner mile/point) to Chase’s airline and hotel partners and its 50% redemption bonus for redeeming your rewards points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Both paths could yield more than your average rewards redemption rate.
The Sapphire Reserve also includes access to over 1,300 airport lounges across the country, up to $300 in statement credits each account anniversary year for travel purchases and an application fee statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. But because of the high cost, this card should only be considered by travelers who can use everything it has to offer.
Learn more in our Chase Sapphire Reserve review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 22.49% – 29.49% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater
Another high-end travel credit card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve offers versatile rewards redemption options and annual statement credits in exchange for a $550 annual fee.
Two of its best features are its 1:1 point transfer rate (1 point:1 partner mile/point) to Chase’s airline and hotel partners and its 50% redemption bonus for redeeming your rewards points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Both paths could yield more than your average rewards redemption rate.
The Sapphire Reserve also includes access to over 1,300 airport lounges across the country, up to $300 in statement credits each account anniversary year for travel purchases and an application fee statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. But because of the high cost, this card should only be considered by travelers who can use everything it has to offer.
Learn more in our Chase Sapphire Reserve review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 22.49% – 29.49% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater
The VentureOne Rewards* card suits the infrequent traveler as one of the best travel cards without an annual fee. It provides good rewards and even a handful of perks.
When you use your card, you’ll be covered by travel accident insurance** and auto rental collision damage waiver**. The lack of foreign transaction fees will save you money while abroad, but you’ll earn rewards whether you’re at home or away.
You can find out more information in our Capital One VentureOne Rewards review.
**Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Please refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro on balance transfers for 15 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro on purchases for 15 months
- Regular APR
- 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% for the first 15 months or at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time. No fee for amounts transferred at the Transfer APR
The VentureOne Rewards* card suits the infrequent traveler as one of the best travel cards without an annual fee. It provides good rewards and even a handful of perks.
When you use your card, you’ll be covered by travel accident insurance** and auto rental collision damage waiver**. The lack of foreign transaction fees will save you money while abroad, but you’ll earn rewards whether you’re at home or away.
You can find out more information in our Capital One VentureOne Rewards review.
**Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Please refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro on balance transfers for 15 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro on purchases for 15 months
- Regular APR
- 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% for the first 15 months or at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time. No fee for amounts transferred at the Transfer APR
The Chase Freedom Unlimited* offers a variety of reward categories plus no annual fee, a lucrative welcome bonus and an introductory APR offer.
With a handful of rewards categories, this card can net you a good yield across your spending. Its welcome bonus has a great payout compared to its spending requirement, too.
You can read more about it in our Chase Freedom Unlimited review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months
- Regular APR
- 20.49% – 29.24% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited* offers a variety of reward categories plus no annual fee, a lucrative welcome bonus and an introductory APR offer.
With a handful of rewards categories, this card can net you a good yield across your spending. Its welcome bonus has a great payout compared to its spending requirement, too.
You can read more about it in our Chase Freedom Unlimited review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months
- Regular APR
- 20.49% – 29.24% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
The Citi Double Cash offers one of the best rewards rates for a credit card without an annual fee.
In addition to its strong rewards, it provides a good amount of time to pay down a transferred balance from another credit card. A balance transfer is a good way to pay down credit card debt if you’re struggling under high interest charges.
It also features a welcome offer and, for a limited time, rewards for booking some aspects of your travel (hotel, car rentals and attractions) on the Citi Travel℠ portal through Dec. 31, 2024. However, the spending threshold for its welcome bonus is higher than many of its top competitors.
Learn more in our Citi Double Cash Card review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro for 18 months on Balance Transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 19.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. A balance transfer fee of 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies if completed after 4 months of account opening.
The Citi Double Cash offers one of the best rewards rates for a credit card without an annual fee.
In addition to its strong rewards, it provides a good amount of time to pay down a transferred balance from another credit card. A balance transfer is a good way to pay down credit card debt if you’re struggling under high interest charges.
It also features a welcome offer and, for a limited time, rewards for booking some aspects of your travel (hotel, car rentals and attractions) on the Citi Travel℠ portal through Dec. 31, 2024. However, the spending threshold for its welcome bonus is higher than many of its top competitors.
Learn more in our Citi Double Cash Card review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro for 18 months on Balance Transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 19.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. A balance transfer fee of 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies if completed after 4 months of account opening.
Best suited to Delta flyers who travel at least a few times a year, the Delta SkyMiles Gold offers dining rewards and flight amenities.
It includes an annual $100 Delta flight statement credit every year you spend $10,000 or more with the card, a free checked bag and a 20% in-flight savings, but its strongest features are its competitive rewards rate and lucrative welcome offer. However, the value of your miles will vary depending on how they’re redeemed. Their primary use is to book airfare, so other forms of redemption may not provide the best return.
See if it’s the right card for you by reading our Delta SkyMiles Gold review.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 20.99%-29.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- N/A
Best suited to Delta flyers who travel at least a few times a year, the Delta SkyMiles Gold offers dining rewards and flight amenities.
It includes an annual $100 Delta flight statement credit every year you spend $10,000 or more with the card, a free checked bag and a 20% in-flight savings, but its strongest features are its competitive rewards rate and lucrative welcome offer. However, the value of your miles will vary depending on how they’re redeemed. Their primary use is to book airfare, so other forms of redemption may not provide the best return.
See if it’s the right card for you by reading our Delta SkyMiles Gold review.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 20.99%-29.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- N/A
What is a rewards credit card?
A rewards credit card offers a return on the purchases you make, either in points, cash back or miles. You can then turn those rewards into statement credits, which will lower the overall balance of your credit account, or as direct deposits which will increase your bank account balance.
There are other ways to redeem rewards, such as for travel or toward future purchases, depending on the card. Points generally have more valuable redemption options than cash back, and how you redeem them could affect how much they’re worth.
That’s the primary use for a rewards card, to provide a return for purchases you make regularly. There are rewards cards with and without annual fees, so you’re able to choose whichever one fits best into your budget.
Pros
Earn rewards for all types of spending
Build credit with on-time payments
Gain purchase protections to insure purchases
Finance a large, planned purchase with an introductory APR offer
Cons
Rewards could tempt you into overspending
Could add another yearly cost with an annual fee
Interest charges could wipe away your rewards if you carry a balance
How to choose the best rewards credit card
You’ll first want to look at your spending habits to determine which type of card will offer the best rewards. If you dine out often, for instance, a restaurant card that earns higher rewards for dining purchases might suit you best, like the American Express® Gold Card.
If your spending is less predictable, or if you don’t want to strategize to maximize your rewards, a flat-rate rewards card might work better for your lifestyle, like the Wells Fargo Active Cash.
Next, compare a card’s rewards rate and perks to its annual fee. You’ll want to make sure the benefits you use each year outweigh the card’s annual fee. A card’s welcome bonus, introductory APR and other features may factor into its total value as well.
If there is a welcome bonus, make sure you can qualify for it through your regular spending, and that you won’t need to stretch your budget to meet the minimum spending requirement.
Also consider how you can redeem your rewards. Most rewards cards offer statement credits but there could be other ways to redeem your rewards that will be more lucrative.
For example, you can often get more value from each point by leveraging different travel partners. Consider Capital One cards -- rather than cashing out your Capital One points as a statement credit, you could transfer 35K Capital One points to Avianca LifeMiles and book a business class flight from New York City to Portugal with those points!
Types of rewards credit cards
Here’s a breakdown of some of the most common types of rewards cards:
Travel
Travel rewards credit cards provide a way to turn your rewards -- usually earned as points or miles -- into trips. They also tend to offer a number of travel-centric perks ranging from expedited airport security, airport lounge access or waiving checked bag fees. The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is an example of a travel credit card.
Cash back
Cash-back credit cards offer a straightforward return on your spending. They usually have fewer redemption options and lower welcome bonuses, but offer a simple approach to credit card rewards. The cash back can be transferred to your bank account or applied to your credit card balance. The Citi Double Cash® Card is one example.
What experts are saying about rewards credit cards
With the sheer number of credit cards available, it may be intimidating for people to get into. According to credit expert Julia Menez, it doesn’t need to be.
“A lot of people look at the internet and think, they have to dive super deep, super fast and get 20 cards in order to get any type of meaningful rewards, which isn’t true,” she said. “You just need to know how to strategically time everything.”
If you can reach a card’s welcome bonus via a large, planned purchase, you can get a good value right away from a single card, Menez said. Another way to ensure you get a good value from your card is to use your rewards correctly.
“A lot of it comes down to knowing how to spend your points,” Menez said. “For anybody looking to get into the points game, I would recommend against using your points in the Chase or American Express portals, and instead studying the different transfer partners, airline partners and hotel partners that you have access to with these different types of cards.”
Another tip from credit expert Shonda Martin: Avoid retail credit cards -- or store credit cards -- like the plague.
“They’re not [like standard credit cards] at all. It’s very rare that whatever rate on your retail card or four out of 10 [things] you can do with that retail card, I guarantee you can find a major open bank card that [does it better],” she said.
It’s also wise to pick a card that matches how you spend, Martin said. “If you’re constantly door dashing and or ordering groceries online and things of that nature, then you should look for a card [that matches that],” she said.
Cards like the Citi Premier and American Express Gold Card can reward you for those purchase types. It’s important to make the card work for you, rather than trying to mold your spending habits to the card.
“Making sure that you’re not applying for credit cards just because someone else has, [and] that it makes sense and naturally flows with how you spend money so that you will not feel pressured to spend a certain amount [on purchases you normally wouldn’t have],” Martin said.
Credit card expert Gerri Detweiler agrees. “If, for example, you travel a lot then you may want a travel rewards card. If you’re loyal to a particular brand, whether it’s an airline or a hotel chain, consider a card with rewards specific to that particular brand.”
While getting the highest value from rewards may take a little bit of work and time. you can also keep it simple, said Detweiler. “A card with a good flat reward way rate might be a better bet,” she added. Flat-rate rewards cards offer a set amount back on every purchase, so you don’t have to strategize your spending in different categories with different cards.
Just be wary of the annual percentage rate on your rewards credit card, said credit expert Beverly Harzog. “Because your credit card issuer is giving you rewards, you’re going to have a higher APR,” she said. That means it’s imperative that you don’t carry a balance on your rewards credit card.
“If you use cards strategically, you can save a lot of money. But you have to be organized. And you have to pay that bill every month when it comes,” Harzog added.
How to get the most out of your credit card rewards
The best way to maximize your rewards is to use your card to earn points on everyday expenses, and then redeem your rewards in the way that provides the greatest per-point value.
In the case of travel credit cards, you could find the highest redemption value for past travel expenses or by transferring rewards to loyalty programs.
For example, if you were to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Hyatt’s World of Hyatt program to get free hotel rooms, your points might go further versus redeeming your points for the exact same Hyatt room in the Chase portal.
Ultimately, you’ll need to pay attention to your card terms to figure out the best way to redeem your rewards, and pay your credit card bill on time and in full so that interest charges don’t eat away at your profit.Some cash-back rewards cards have rotating spending categories where you can earn a higher rewards rate -- as high as 5% -- but they often have spending limits before rewards fall to 1%. For example, one quarter may include gas stations in the higher reward category and another quarter might include grocery stores.
Is a rewards credit card right for you?
Rewards credit cards can be great for earning a return on your spending. If you don’t have a credit card that offers rewards, you could be losing out on cash back or travel points every time you swipe. Similarly, a travel rewards credit card can be a great way to save time and money if you travel frequently. Decide what it is you’re trying to do with reward points, such as using them for a particular trip. From there, you can determine what type of points you’ll need.
The important thing when it comes to rewards cards is finding the right card to maximize rewards on your everyday essential purchases, not changing your spending habits or buying things you don’t need or can’t afford just for the sake of earning rewards. Remember, if you carry a balance from month to month or miss payments, fees and interest charges could quickly wipe out any rewards you may earn.
Alternatives to rewards credit cards
If you’re wary of spending on a credit card, whether you’re afraid of getting enticed into overspending or you’d rather avoid credit card debt altogether, you could look into a debit card that earns rewards. You aren’t able to spend more than what’s in your account so you won’t have to worry about interest charges. Debit cards won’t charge you an annual fee, either.
However, they also won’t offer as high a reward rate as credit cards. You can expect to only earn about 1% cash back on your purchases in most cases. Debit cards also won’t feature things like travel accident insurance or other protections.
The best strategy is to treat your credit card as a debit card. That means not spending money you don’t have, and paying off the purchases you make right away. Set up up autopay for the full statement balance each month to make sure you never miss a credit card payment and that you won’t have to deal with interest charges eating into your rewards.
How to apply for a rewards card
Follow these steps to apply for a rewards credit card.
- Choose a card with rewards that align with your budget, travel goals and lifestyle.
- Follow the appropriate link above to be taken to the credit card issuer’s secure site.
- Fill out the appropriate financial and personal information.
- Use the card responsibly and pay on time.
FAQs
Credit card rewards earned from spending -- whether the cash back you earn from regular purchases or a sign-up bonus you receive for meeting a spending threshold -- are generally not taxable income, as the IRS considers such rewards to be a rebate of your own money.
However, if you receive credit card rewards without having to spend money -- such as a referral bonus for referring a friend -- those rewards may be taxable. Always check with a tax expert if you’re unsure about what to report on your taxes.
Some credit card rewards do expire -- whether after a certain amount of time has elapsed since earning the points, after a period of account inactivity, or when you close your account. You can find out if yours will by reading the terms and conditions that come with your card.
Some issuers let you combine points across multiple credit cards in the same family, or brand, of credit cards. An example of this is Chase’s Ultimate Rewards® cards -- because the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and the Chase Sapphire Preferred both earn Ultimate Rewards points, you can transfer your points from your Freedom Flex to your Sapphire Preferred to take advantage of the Sapphire Preferred’s 25% redemption bonus on the Ultimate Rewards travel portal. Amex, Citi and Capital One have similar systems.
Not every credit card will let you combine points across cards, however, even if the issuer has other cards with transferable points. Be sure to check the terms and conditions of your specific card’s rewards program.
When redeeming points as cash back, statement credits, pay with points or other cash-like transactions directly from the issuer, it’s usually simple to calculate the value. Divide the cash value of your rewards by the number of points it costs to get the cents/point value. Most issuers let you redeem cash back at 1 cent per point.
If you’re redeeming your points through an issuer’s own travel portal -- such as Chase’s Ultimate Rewards portal or the Capital One Travel portal -- your points will typically follow the standard redemption rate set by the issuer. These rates may vary depending on the card, so check your card’s terms and conditions.
It’s a bit more complicated to calculate the cash value of your points or miles when booking travel through an airline or hotel’s loyalty program, whether you’re transferring points from a general travel credit card or earning points directly through the hotel or airline’s co-branded card. You can calculate the value of a specific redemption by dividing the point cost by the cash price you otherwise would’ve paid for the same booking. For example, if you spend 10,000 miles on a Delta flight that would’ve otherwise cost $200, you’d be getting a value of 2 cents per point.
While cash back is a more accessible concept, cash back and points both have their strengths and weaknesses. While cash back can be more universally applicable, points are often worth more in value than their cash-back equivalents. Depending on your shopping preferences and plans, you may find points or cash back to be more valuable to you.
Other credit cards we tested
- U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card
- U.S. Bank Altitude®️ Go Visa Signature®️ Card
- Discover it® Chrome
- Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
- Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
- Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Our methodology
CNET reviews credit cards by exhaustively comparing them across set criteria developed for each major category, including cash-back, welcome bonus, travel rewards and balance transfer. We take into consideration the typical spending behavior of a range of consumer profiles -- with the understanding that everyone’s financial situation is different -- and the designated function of a card.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card, click here.
*All information about the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card, Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card, Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card, Capital One Venture X Credit Card, Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card, Chase Freedom Unlimited, Chase Freedom Flex, Bank of America Premium Rewards and Discover it Cash Back has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
The editorial content on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by our partners.
