Rewards bank cards are a good way to earn beneficial reward forex for bills you already make often. Plus, they make journey extra comfy because of transferable factors and miles.
In truth, transferable bank card factors reworked the way in which I journey as a result of this forex is a lot extra beneficial than factors earned straight via an airline or resort loyalty program.
Coupled with common switch bonuses to pick out switch companions, transferable factors’ worth turns into way more evident. I can maintain onto my bank card rewards till I am prepared to make use of them, and if one switch companion unexpectedly will increase their redemption charges, I can swap to a distinct switch companion, defending myself from disagreeable devaluations.
Whatever the beneficial rewards you earn on a bank card, prioritize utilizing it responsibly and paying your payments in full every month. In any other case, the curiosity and penalties you incur will possible be a lot larger than the worth of any rewards obtained.
Whether or not you’re a newbie traveler or an skilled one, a enterprise proprietor or a renter, listed here are my high choices for the very best rewards bank cards.
One of the best rewards bank cards
Evaluating the very best rewards bank cards
This is a deeper dive so you possibly can see how my high suggestions for the very best rewards bank cards stack up.
Card | Finest for | Welcome provide | Incomes charges | Annual charge |
---|---|---|---|---|
Chase Sapphire Reserve | Premium journey perks and credit | Earn 100,000 bonus factors plus a $500 Chase Journey℠ promo credit score after spending $5,000 on purchases inside the first three months from account opening. |
The Sapphire Reserve underwent a refresh on June 23. The incomes charges outlined above shall be obtainable to new candidates upon receipt of their new Sapphire Reserve card. Present cardholders may have entry to the up to date incomes charges proven right here on Oct. 26, 2025. |
$795 |
Chase Sapphire Most well-liked Card | Newbie vacationers | Earn 75,000 bonus factors after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. |
|
$95 |
Blue Money Most well-liked Card from American Categorical | Fuel and supermarkets | Earn a $250 assertion credit score after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership. |
Money again is obtained within the type of Reward {Dollars} that may be redeemed as a press release credit score or at Amazon.com checkout. |
$0 introductory annual charge for the primary 12 months, then $95 (see charges and costs) |
Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card | Incomes flat-rate miles | Earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases inside the first three months of account opening. |
|
$95 |
The Platinum Card from American Categorical | Lounge entry |
Discover out your provide and see in case you are eligible for as excessive as 175,000 Membership Rewards Factors after spending $8,000 on purchases inside the first six months of card membership. Welcome provides fluctuate, and also you will not be eligible for a suggestion. |
|
$695 (see charges and costs) |
Ink Enterprise Most well-liked Credit score Card | Maximizing enterprise purchases | Earn 90,000 factors after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. |
|
$95 |
Ink Enterprise Limitless Credit score Card | Freelancers | Earn $750 after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. |
|
None |
Citi Strata Premier Card | Starter journey | Earn 60,000 factors after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening. |
|
$95 |
Chase Freedom Limitless | Versatile money rewards | Earn $200 after spending $500 within the first three months from account opening. |
|
None |
American Categorical Gold Card | Eating at eating places | Discover out your provide and see in case you are eligible for as excessive as 100,000 Membership Rewards Factors after spending $6,000 on purchases inside the first six months of card membership. Welcome provides fluctuate, and also you will not be eligible for a suggestion. |
|
$325 (see charges and costs) |
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Welcome provide: Earn 100,000 factors plus a $500 Chase Journey promo credit score after spending $5,000 on purchases inside the first three months from account opening.
Annual charge: $795.
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Standout advantages: The Sapphire Reserve has not too long ago obtained a face-lift and options new reward-earning charges, credit and, sure, a large annual charge.
Regardless of these modifications, the Sapphire Reserve nonetheless provides a stable worth proposition for many who can max out a lot of the credit and, in flip, offset the brand new $795 annual charge. Like its mid-tier sibling, the Sapphire Most well-liked (a card I maintain), the Sapphire Reserve earns Chase Final Rewards factors, one of the beneficial reward currencies in the marketplace — and one in every of my private favourite currencies, because of its flexibility and Chase’s switch companions.
When you’re a frequent traveler who needs entry to credit that fit your life-style, the revamped Sapphire Reserve could possibly be an excellent addition to your pockets, particularly with perks like an annual $500 The Edit credit score you need to use (for stays of two nights or extra) at 1,000+ hand-picked properties all around the world.
For extra particulars, see our full evaluate of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Chase Sapphire Most well-liked Card
Welcome provide: Earn 75,000 bonus factors after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Annual charge: $95.

Standout advantages: With a superb welcome bonus of 75,000 factors after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening, the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked Card makes it straightforward to earn a number of beneficial Final Rewards factors all for a low annual charge. You’ll be able to improve your earnings with elevated rewards charges within the (massively standard) journey and eating classes.
Why it is nice for rewards: When family and friends ask me which card I like to recommend most for starting to gather rewards, I normally suggest this one, given its wholesome welcome bonus.
Although there are such a lot of nice Final Rewards switch companions, I’ve redeemed most of mine through the years via World of Hyatt for the straightforward cause that their award charts are actually cheap, and I do know I can all the time get nice worth like at The Grayson, an Unbound Assortment property within the coronary heart of New York Metropolis (which I’ve beforehand finished for a particular birthday journey to have a good time my husband).
With no resort charges on World of Hyatt redemptions, we loved 4 nights of lodging with no out-of-pocket prices, and he gasped when he noticed the view of the Empire State Constructing from our window.
I not too long ago redeemed 100,000 Air Canada Aeroplan factors (an Final Rewards 1:1 switch companion) for a ten.5-hour Lufthansa first-class flight from Frankfurt Airport (FRA) to George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), sitting within the nostril of the long-lasting “Queen of the Skies” Boeing 747-8.
It was among the finest flights of my life, together with being pushed throughout the tarmac in Frankfurt from the Lufthansa First Class Terminal in a non-public luxurious car, having fun with caviar with all of the trimmings, loads of Champagne and an 81-inch mattress that was extra comfy than my mattress at dwelling.

That is the bank card I’ve held the longest and nonetheless love, and if you happen to’ve ever thought of a rewards-earning bank card, now could be the best time to apply for the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked Card.
For extra particulars, see our full evaluate of the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked Card.
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Most well-liked Card
Blue Money Most well-liked Card from American Categorical
Welcome provide: Earn a $250 assertion credit score after spending $3,000 in purchases on the primary six months of card membership.
Annual charge: $0 intro annual charge for the primary 12 months, then $95.

Standout advantages: This card allows you to supercharge your money again with a formidable 6% money again at U.S. supermarkets on as much as $6,000 per 12 months calendar in purchases (then 1%) and on choose U.S. streaming companies on the Blue Money Most well-liked Card.
Why it is nice for Rewards: For a card that doesn’t cost an annual charge within the first 12 months, the Blue Money Most well-liked Amex will reward you handsomely. The $250 assertion credit score places you effectively in entrance, and that is earlier than you even issue within the 6% money again for U.S. supermarkets and choose streaming companies — which is among the many highest money again you may discover supplied on any class on any card.
The three% money again supplied on transit and U.S. fuel has a generously huge definition, overlaying most floor transportation choices, together with while you park your car. Due to this, I like to recommend the Blue Money Most well-liked as a terrific cash-back card and an particularly good choice for bigger households with giant grocery payments. It is good to remember that money again is obtained within the type of Rewards {Dollars} that may be obtained within the type of a press release credit score or at Amazon.com checkout.
For extra particulars, see our full evaluate of the Blue Money Most well-liked Card from American Categorical.
Apply right here: Blue Money Most well-liked Card from American Categorical
Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card
Welcome provide: Earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases inside the first three months of account opening.
Annual charge: $95.

Standout advantages: Along with its industry-leading 2 miles per greenback spent on each buy, day-after-day, while you e-book resorts, trip leases and rental vehicles via Capital One Journey, the incomes price will increase to five miles per greenback spent.
This card additionally has rental automobile insurance coverage, journey help insurance coverage and as much as $120 software charge credit score for World Entry or TSA PreCheck each 4 years.
Why it is nice for rewards: With no international transaction charges, this can be a nice card for touring in contrast with an American Categorical card, which I’ve discovered will not be accepted in fairly as many locations overseas. When you aren’t comfy paying the $395 annual charge of the Enterprise Rewards large sister, the Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card, the Enterprise Rewards annual charge is extra palatable with a $95 annual charge.
It nonetheless earns a formidable 2 miles per greenback spent on each buy. I like the 15-plus switch companion choices, particularly transferring my Capital One miles to Air Canada’s Aeroplan program to e-book business-class flights to Europe in fancy lie-flat seats from as little as 60,000 factors or home flights on United from simply 6,000 factors in financial system.
Or, if you wish to e-book a flight or resort that isn’t obtainable via a switch companion, you may also redeem Capital One miles at a price of 1 cent every via Capital One Journey. This perk has helped me return dwelling from a number of the extra uncommon locations I’ve visited.
For extra particulars, see our full evaluate of the Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card.
Study extra: Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card
The Platinum Card from American Categorical
Welcome provide: Discover out your provide and see in case you are eligible for as excessive as 175,000 Membership Rewards Factors after spending $8,000 on purchases inside the first six months of card membership. Welcome provides fluctuate and also you will not be eligible for a suggestion.
Annual charge: $695.

Standout advantages: The Amex Platinum earns a beneficiant 5 factors per greenback spent on flights booked straight with airways or with American Categorical Journey (as much as $500,000 on these purchases per calendar 12 months, then 1 level per greenback) and 5 factors per greenback spent on pay as you go resorts booked with American Categorical Journey, and 1 level per greenback on all different purchases making it a superb journey companion.
This card is full of annual credit* which might simply cowl the price of the annual charge, together with:
- As much as $200 in assertion credit per calendar 12 months for incidental charges charged by one airline you choose with all main U.S. airways obtainable to select from
- As much as a $200 annual resort credit score per calendar 12 months, within the type of a press release credit score, on pay as you go Amex Advantageous Lodges + Resorts or The Resort Assortment bookings with Amex Journey while you pay with my Amex Platinum (Resort Assortment stays require a two-night minimal)
- An as much as $199 Clear Plus assertion credit score to assist cardholders move via airport safety quicker at 50+ airports nationwide and stand up to $199 again per calendar 12 months on their membership (topic to auto-renewal) once they use their Platinum card
- You obtain as much as $20 again in assertion credit every month on eligible purchases made in your favourite streaming companies like Disney+, a Disney+ Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Occasions, Peacock and The Wall Avenue Journal (as much as a $240 annual assertion credit score per calendar 12 months)
- This card supplies as much as $200 per calendar 12 months in Uber Money, legitimate on Uber rides and Uber Eats orders within the U.S. (break up into month-to-month as much as $15 credit plus an as much as $20 bonus in December). Uber Money will solely be deposited into one Uber account while you add the Amex Platinum as a fee technique and redeem with any Amex card.
- Obtain both a $120 assertion credit score each 4 years for a World Entry software charge or a press release credit score as much as $85 each 4½ years for a TSA PreCheck (via a TSA official enrollment supplier) software charge, when charged to the Platinum Card. Card Members authorised for World Entry will even obtain entry to TSA PreCheck at no further price.
- As much as $100 in annual Saks Fifth Avenue credit, break up into one as much as $50 assertion credit score between January and June, then one other as much as $50 assertion credit score between July and December
The Amex Plat supplies a variety of further credit that I do not use myself, however they could profit you if you happen to frequent particular locations.
*Choose advantages require enrollment; phrases apply.
Why it is nice for rewards: I am unable to consider one other private card that provides extra perks than the almighty Amex Platinum. There is not any denying that the annual charge is a severe funding, however even if you happen to journey occasionally, the variety of journey advantages cannot be overwhelmed.
I like accessing the Centurion Lounges with my Amex Platinum, already open at 15 U.S. airports, with new lounges opening quickly. These areas characteristic meals and drinks from award-winning cooks and high mixologists and are value arriving early to get pleasure from earlier than your subsequent flight.
Do you know that if you happen to fly Delta on a same-day flight and present your Amex Platinum you possibly can get pleasure from 10 Sky Membership visits yearly? Plus, if you happen to’re flying out of or via an airport with no Centurion Lounge or Delta Sky Membership, eligible cardmembers can nonetheless entry greater than 1,400 lounges throughout 140 nations because of American Categorical’ World Lounges Assortment.
I additionally worth the complimentary Gold standing with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy. The Hilton standing for stays exterior america is very nice because it supplies complimentary breakfast for myself and any registered company (a meals and beverage credit score is obtainable at properties in america). Enrollment is required; phrases apply.
I do not use each credit score supplied by the Amex Platinum yearly, however World Entry is such a time-saver to beat lengthy strains at TSA safety screening and immigration on arrival. Plus, via common journey and buying every year, I do know I will simply use a number of of the credit that include this card (particularly the airline, resort, Saks Fifth Avenue and Uber Money credit talked about above).Collectively, these present a number of hundred {dollars} in advantages every year, serving to to offset the price of holding the Amex Platinum card.
For extra particulars, see our full evaluate of The Platinum Card from American Categorical.
Apply now: The Platinum Card from American Categorical
Ink Enterprise Most well-liked Credit score Card
Welcome provide: Earn 90,000 factors after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Annual charge: $95.

Standout advantages: This card provides each a beneficiant welcome bonus and the power to earn beneficial Final Rewards factors, all for a low annual charge.
You will earn 3 factors per greenback spent on the primary $150,000 spent in mixed purchases every year on journey, delivery purchases, web, cable and telephone companies, and promoting purchases made with social media websites and engines like google. In different classes (and after you attain that $150,000 mixed restrict), the cardboard nonetheless earns a decent 1 level per greenback on all different purchases.
A number of journey and buy protections are additionally obtainable, together with cellphone safety, major automobile rental protection, journey delay reimbursement, journey cancellation/interruption insurance coverage, buy safety and prolonged guarantee safety.
Why it is nice for rewards: Final Rewards are a number of the greatest bank card factors you possibly can earn. Over time, I’ve discovered so many nice makes use of for them, particularly the power to switch them to World of Hyatt at a 1:1 price for great-value resort stays like Crossbasket Fortress in Scotland, although this property as a part of SLH has now moved from World of Hyatt to Hilton Honors.
I am additionally a giant fan of KLM’s new premium financial system product which I price as one of many world’s greatest and might switch my Final Rewards to Air France-KLM’s Flying Blue program at a 1:1 price to e-book flights to Europe from 40,000 Flying Blue factors.
The welcome bonus for this card is big, and the three factors per greenback incomes price on so many classes wherein the common enterprise proprietor spends often makes it straightforward to rack up Final Rewards factors.
For extra particulars, see our full evaluate of the Ink Enterprise Most well-liked Credit score Card.
Apply right here: Ink Enterprise Most well-liked Credit score Card
Ink Enterprise Limitless Credit score Card
Welcome provide: Earn $750 after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Annual charge: $0.

Standout advantages: Although we suggest paying your card off in full each month, the Ink Enterprise Limitless has an introductory 0% annual share price (APR) for 12 months from account opening on purchases (growing to a 17.49% – 23.49% variable APR after that).
This card additionally provides:
- Buy safety: For as much as 120 days towards harm or theft, as much as $10,000 per declare and $50,000 per account.
- Auto rental collision harm waiver: If you hire a automobile for enterprise functions, you possibly can decline the rental automobile firm’s collision insurance coverage and be coated by the cardboard as much as the car’s money worth within the case of theft or collision harm on most leases each at dwelling and overseas.
- Prolonged guarantee: Even if you buy one thing on the cardboard with a U.S. producer guarantee of three years or much less, the guarantee shall be prolonged by an extra 12 months.
Why it is nice for rewards: If operating what you are promoting is sophisticated sufficient, this card provides a easy approach to save 1.5% on each enterprise expense charged to the cardboard via its easy money again provide. The welcome provide places much more a refund in your pocket, and with no annual charge, you could be manner out forward.
You probably have staff with enterprise bills, you possibly can subject them with playing cards as approved customers at no additional price and acquire the cashback they spend on the cardboard. Simply bear in mind you may be chargeable for all prices, although.
There’s additionally a neat approach to flip all that money again into Final Rewards factors that may be transferred to a spread of beneficial airline and resort loyalty applications by pairing the Ink Enterprise Limitless Credit score Card with any of the next playing cards:
For extra particulars, see our full evaluate of the Ink Enterprise Limitless Credit score Card.
Apply right here: Ink Enterprise Limitless Credit score Card
Citi Strata Premier Card
Welcome provide: Earn 60,000 factors after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening.
Annual charge: $95.

Standout advantages: The Citi Strata Premier provides $100 off a single resort keep of $500 or extra, excluding taxes and costs, as soon as per calendar 12 months while you e-book via Citi Journey. That is a straightforward approach to cowl the price of the annual charge every year.
Why it is nice for rewards: This card tends to fly beneath the radar, and whereas another rewards playing cards provide bonus factors in a single or two main classes, the Strata Premier has been one of the beneficial playing cards I’ve ever held as a result of it options an incomes price of three factors per greenback spent in standard classes together with air journey, different resort purchases, eating places, supermarkets, fuel and EV charging stations.
I am unable to consider one other card that earns 3 factors per greenback throughout so many classes the place I spend often. This has helped me to earn tons of Citi ThankYou Rewards, which I switch to applications like JetBlue TrueBlue, Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership and Singapore Airways KrisFlyer.
Virgin Atlantic’s incredible new Saver fares enable me to e-book flights to London for as little as 6,000 Virgin factors (transferred from Citi at a 1:1 price) plus charges, taxes and carrier-imposed surcharges, in addition to to fly again from Tanzania following a particular birthday safari in KLM enterprise class not too long ago, additionally with Virgin factors the place I collected one in every of their cute Delft homes.
After I e-book journey via the Citi Journey portal, I earn an unbelievable 10 factors per greenback spent on resorts, automobile rental and sights, which I worth as incomes 18.5% again as factors in response to TPG’s July 2025 valuation of ThankYou Rewards. This card is so rewarding for all of the journey I e-book; the Citi Strata Card has been among the finest playing cards I’ve added to my pockets.
For extra particulars, see our full evaluate of the Citi Strata Premier Card.
Apply right here: Citi Strata Premier Card
Chase Freedom Limitless
Welcome provide: Earn $200 after spending $500 within the first three months from account opening.
Annual charge: $0.

Standout advantages: Earn no less than 1.5% money again on each buy you make on the cardboard, growing to three% money again on drugstore purchases and eating at eating places (together with takeout and eligible supply companies), and 5% again on journey booked via Chase Journey.
Why it is nice for rewards: I can admire not everyone seems to be as obsessive about loyalty applications as I’m, and also you would possibly simply wish to be rewarded with uncomplicated money again. The Chase Freedom Limitless retains issues easy whereas nonetheless generously rewarding you.
I like to recommend this as an excellent choice if you happen to’re in search of a card that earns greater than 1% money again on all purchases with out paying an annual charge, and the welcome provide additionally sweetens the quantity you possibly can earn again within the first 12 months.
When you like to journey, then take into account the comfort of reserving flights, resorts, vehicles, cruises and extra via Chase Journey. Not solely can this be a one-stop store in your subsequent trip, however you may earn a beneficiant and rewarding 5% money again on all journey booked through Chase Journey.
You can even convert the money again you earn from this card into transferable factors by pairing it with a card that earns Final Rewards factors, just like the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked Card.
For extra particulars, see our full evaluate of the Chase Freedom Limitless.
Apply right here: Chase Freedom Limitless
American Categorical Gold Card
Welcome provide: Discover out your provide and see in case you are eligible for as excessive as 100,000 Membership Rewards Factors after spending $6,000 on purchases inside the first six months of card membership. Welcome provides fluctuate and also you will not be eligible for a suggestion.
Annual charge: $325.

Standout advantages: This card provides you some ways to earn a couple of level per greenback, particularly if groceries and eating out (or ordering takeout) take up plenty of your funds.
There’s additionally a single $10 month-to-month eating credit score you need to use at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Manufacturing facility, Goldbelly, Wine.com and 5 Guys (as much as a $120 annual assertion credit score per calendar 12 months; enrollment required), plus $10 per 30 days in Uber Money, which can be utilized on Uber Eats orders or Uber rides within the U.S. (as much as a $120 annual assertion credit score per calendar 12 months). Uber Money will solely be deposited into one Uber account while you add the Amex Gold Card as a fee technique and redeem with any Amex card.
Why it is nice for rewards: I dine out often, particularly when touring and away from my dwelling kitchen, so this can be a nice approach to eat my approach to extra Membership Rewards factors.
For group dinners the place splitting the invoice on the restaurant could be awkward, I generally provide to pay on my card after which have my eating companions ship me their share of the examine. I can earn the factors for the whole examine — which might simply be hundreds of Membership Rewards factors for a giant group dinner (enrollment required).
I like transferring this reward forex to British Airways Membership and Singapore Airways KrisFlyer.
Even past incomes 4 factors per greenback spent at eating places worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (as much as $50,000 every calendar 12 months for eating places and as much as $25,000 every calendar 12 months on groceries at U.S. supermarkets, then 1 level per greenback on different purchases), the month-to-month credit can rapidly add as much as cowl the annual charge every year. Even when I solely order from Grubhub, Uber Eats, and 5 Guys as soon as a month, the credit are significantly rewarding. And that is earlier than I’ve factored within the as much as $100 annual Resy assertion credit each calendar 12 months (damaged down as two as much as $50 credit biannually; for purchases at U.S. Resy-affiliated eating places and different eligible purchases). Enrollment is required.
When you love consuming out at locations that settle for American Categorical, this card needs to be in your pocket.
For extra particulars, see our full evaluate of the American Categorical Gold Card.
Apply right here: American Categorical Gold Card
What to think about when selecting a rewards bank card
It may be dizzying having so many various playing cards, every with completely different welcome bonuses, annual charges, incomes charges, assertion credit and different perks. It helps to set some parameters round how you intend to make use of a card and its accompanying rewards.
And bear in mind, you are not locked into one card for all times. I apply for, downgrade and cancel my playing cards comparatively often as my spending and journey habits evolve.

Most well-liked rewards
Think about whether or not you worth incomes money again or factors and miles you could possibly switch to a companion program or redeem via a bank card journey portal.
There is not any excellent reply for this and it might rely in your private choice and journey kinds. If the thought of a number of switch choices, award charts and switch bonuses feels too advanced, maybe begin with a card that earns money again after which work as much as a product that earns factors or miles when you’re extra accustomed to the bank card rewards sport.
Welcome bonus
It is tempting to scan a abstract desk and select the cardboard with the very best welcome bonus — I’ve actually been responsible of doing that.
However in case you are making an attempt to match a cash-back bonus of, say, $750, with a welcome bonus of 75,000 factors, it is not so simple as making use of a one-cent-per-point worth and assuming the 75,000 factors are value $750, as bank card factors are normally value greater than that, relying on the way you spend them.
Whereas a big welcome bonus of factors and miles can actually sweeten the deal of making use of for a brand new rewards bank card, I might suggest checking the worth of any factors towards TPG’s present month-to-month valuations to place an approximate money worth on the welcome bonus.
Spending habits
Which classes do you are likely to spend probably the most in? Do the locations you store at settle for American Categorical? When you can decide this earlier than making use of for something, deciding which card will earn you probably the most rewards is less complicated.
When you plan to take the cardboard touring with you, guarantee it doesn’t cost a international transaction charge. In any other case, this charge will possible be greater than the worth of the rewards you’d earn.
Annual charge
Some playing cards I’ve advisable carry annual charges of their first and subsequent years. Although no one likes paying an annual charge, it could be justified if the advantages of being a cardholder and the accompanying credit present worth that outweighs the charge.
A superb rule of thumb that I exploit to resolve if and the way a lot of an annual charge I ought to pay on a rewards bank card is to attempt to discover a welcome bonus that’s valued larger than the annual charge for the primary 12 months. I then have a look at the worth of the advantages like assertion credit, bonus miles and journey protections and advantages to estimate whether or not they can be larger than the annual charge price within the second and subsequent years when the welcome bonus wouldn’t be relevant.
If doubtful, you could possibly begin with a card with no annual charge to make certain you’re getting actual worth from it earlier than contemplating a card with an annual charge.
How we selected the very best rewards bank cards
We rated the very best rewards bank cards based mostly on a number of components, together with however not restricted to the welcome provides these playing cards present, reward incomes charges — particularly in standard bonus classes, switch companions and their charges and different perks related to every card.
Try our methodology right here to learn the way TPG evaluates and chooses playing cards for our roundups.
Redemption choices for rewards bank cards
For a cash-back bank card, I might suggest decreasing your bank card invoice by making use of the money again earned from the cardboard.
When you’d quite internet that more money or put it towards different bills, most issuers mean you can redeem money again in varied methods — whether or not it is placing money again towards an Amazon.com buy, changing money again to factors relying on what different playing cards inside the identical issuer household you have got that mean you can do that or just placing money again into your checking account.
For factors and miles incomes bank cards, you possibly can normally redeem the rewards via the cardboard issuer’s journey portal, normally at a price of round one cent every (relying on the cardboard issuer). Keep in mind, although, that you’re going to get much better worth by transferring them to an airline or resort companion program.
Associated: Bank card switch companions: Information to transferring factors and miles to airways and resorts
Backside line
Rewards bank cards have utterly modified the way in which I spend and, subsequently, journey. I put each buy — even a pack of gum or a cup of espresso — on particular playing cards to maximise my spending and make the most of elevated incomes charges.
Whether or not you are a professional on the money again, factors and miles sport or a newbie, use this information that can assist you work out which rewards bank card is greatest suited to your spending patterns, funds and life-style.
With low or no annual charges, my rewards bank cards have earned me a whole bunch of hundreds of factors and miles through the years. I’ve additionally loved advantages like airport lounge entry, elite resort standing, limitless assertion credit and bucket-list journeys.
For Capital One merchandise listed on this web page, a number of the advantages could also be supplied by Visa® or Mastercard® and should fluctuate by product. See the respective Information to Advantages for particulars, as phrases and exclusions apply.
For charges and costs of the Amex Gold card, click on right here.
For charges and costs of the Amex Platinum card, click on right here.
For the charges and costs of the Blue Money Most well-liked Card, click on right here.
Associated: One of the best bank card welcome bonuses of March 2025