High bank cards for rewards – September 2025

Rewards bank cards are a good way to earn priceless reward foreign money for bills you already make frequently. Plus, they make journey extra snug due to transferable factors and miles.

Actually, transferable bank card factors reworked the best way I journey as a result of this foreign money is a lot extra priceless than factors earned immediately by an airline or lodge loyalty program.

Coupled with common switch bonuses to pick switch companions, the 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 special switch companion, defending myself from disagreeable devaluations.

Whatever the priceless 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 doubtless be a lot larger than the worth of any rewards acquired.

Whether or not you’re a newbie traveler or an skilled one, a enterprise proprietor or a renter, listed here are my high alternatives for one of the best rewards bank cards.

The perfect rewards bank cards

Evaluating one of the best rewards bank cards

Here is a deeper dive so you’ll be able to see how my high suggestions for one of the best rewards bank cards stack up.

Chase Sapphire Reserve

Welcome provide: Earn 125,000 factors after spending $6,000 on purchases inside the first three months from account opening.

Annual payment: $795.

Standout advantages: The Sapphire Reserve has not too long ago acquired a face-lift and options new reward-earning charges, credit and, sure, an enormous annual payment.

Regardless of these modifications, the Sapphire Reserve nonetheless affords a stable worth proposition for individuals who can max out a lot of the credit and, in flip, offset the brand new $795 annual payment.

If you happen to’re a frequent traveler who desires entry to credit that fit your way of life, the revamped Sapphire Reserve may very well be a terrific addition to your pockets, particularly with perks like an annual $500 The Edit credit score you need to use (as much as $250 biannually for stays of two nights or extra) at 1,000+ hand-picked properties all around the world.

Starting Jan. 1, 2026, this perk modifications. Cardholders will robotically get a credit score of as much as $250 for every pay as you go (two-nights or longer) reserving with The Edit (as much as $500 yearly). Cardholders may also obtain a brand new $250 credit score for choose Chase Journey resorts to make use of within the 2026 calendar yr.

For extra particulars, see our full evaluate of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

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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 payment: $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 makes it straightforward to earn a number of priceless Final Rewards factors all for a low annual payment. You’ll be able to improve your earnings with elevated rewards charges within the (massively widespread) 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.

Regardless that there are such a lot of nice Final Rewards switch companions, I’ve redeemed most of mine through the years by World of Hyatt for the easy purpose that their award charts are actually cheap, and I do know I can at all times get nice worth like at The Grayson, an Unbound Assortment property within the coronary heart of New York Metropolis (which I’ve beforehand accomplished 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 best flights of my life, together with being pushed throughout the tarmac in Frankfurt from the Lufthansa First Class Terminal in a non-public luxurious automobile, having fun with caviar with all of the trimmings, loads of Champagne and an 81-inch mattress that was extra snug than my mattress at dwelling.

That is the bank card I’ve held the longest and nonetheless love, and in the event you’ve ever thought-about 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.

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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 affords fluctuate and also you will not be eligible for a proposal.

Annual payment: $895.

Standout advantages: The Amex Platinum earns a beneficiant 5 factors per greenback spent on flights booked immediately with airways or with American Categorical Journey (as much as $500,000 on these purchases per calendar yr, then 1 level per greenback), 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 payment, together with:

• As much as $200 in assertion credit per calendar yr for incidental charges charged by one airline you choose with all main U.S. airways out there to select from
• As much as a $600 annual lodge credit score per calendar yr, within the type of a press release credit score, on pay as you go Amex High quality Motels + Resorts or The Resort Assortment bookings with Amex Journey once you pay together with your Amex Platinum (Resort Assortment stays require a two-night minimal). Distributed as two semi-annual as much as $300 credit.
• An as much as $209 Clear Plus assertion credit score to assist cardholders go by airport safety sooner at 50+ airports nationwide; rise up to $209 again per calendar yr on membership (topic to auto-renewal) when utilizing your Platinum card
• You obtain as much as $300 in assertion credit per calendar yr on eligible purchases made in your favourite streaming providers like Disney+, a Disney+ Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Occasions, Peacock, Paramount+, YouTube Premium, YouTube TV, and The Wall Avenue Journal (as much as a $25 monthly).
• This card offers as much as $200 per calendar yr in Uber Money, legitimate on Uber rides and Uber Eats orders within the U.S. (cut 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 once you add the Amex Platinum as a cost methodology and redeem with any Amex card.
• Obtain both a $120 assertion credit score each 4 years for a International Entry utility payment or a press release credit score as much as $85 each 4½ years for a TSA PreCheck (by a TSA official enrollment supplier) utility payment, when charged to the Platinum Card. Card Members accredited for International Entry may also obtain entry to TSA PreCheck at no extra value.
• As much as $100 in annual Saks Fifth Avenue credit, cut 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 offers a variety of extra credit that I do not use myself, however they could profit you in the event you frequent particular locations.

*Choose advantages require enrollment.

Why it is nice for rewards: I can not consider one other private card that gives extra perks than the almighty Amex Platinum. There is not any denying that the annual payment is a severe funding, however even in the event you journey occasionally, the variety of journey advantages cannot be overwhelmed.

I really like accessing the Centurion Lounges with my Amex Platinum, already open at 15 U.S. airports, with new lounges opening quickly. These areas function meals and drinks from award-winning cooks and high mixologists and are price arriving early to get pleasure from earlier than your subsequent flight.

Do you know that in the event you fly Delta on a same-day flight and present your Amex Platinum you’ll be able to get pleasure from 10 Sky Membership visits yearly? Plus, in the event you’re flying out of or by an airport with no Centurion Lounge or Delta Sky Membership, eligible cardmembers can nonetheless entry greater than 1,400 lounges throughout 140 nations due to American Categorical’ International Lounges Assortment.

For extra particulars, see our full evaluate of The Platinum Card from American Categorical.

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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 payment: $95.

Standout advantages: Along with its industry-leading 2 miles per greenback spent on each buy, on daily basis, once you guide resorts, trip leases and rental automobiles by Capital One Journey, the incomes fee will increase to five miles per greenback spent.

This card additionally has rental automotive insurance coverage, journey help insurance coverage and as much as $120 utility payment credit score for International Entry or TSA PreCheck each 4 years.

Why it is nice for rewards: With no international transaction charges, it is 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. If you happen to aren’t snug paying the $395 annual payment of the Enterprise Rewards massive sister, the Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card, the Enterprise Rewards annual payment is extra palatable with a $95 annual payment.

It nonetheless earns a formidable 2 miles per greenback spent on each buy. I really like the 15-plus switch companion choices, particularly transferring my Capital One miles to Air Canada’s Aeroplan program to guide 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 economic system.

Or, if you wish to guide a flight or lodge that’s not out there by a switch companion, you can even redeem Capital One miles at a fee of 1 cent every by Capital One Journey. This perk has helped me return dwelling from among the extra uncommon locations I’ve visited.

For extra particulars, see our full evaluate of the Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card.

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Citi Strata Premier Card

Welcome provide: Earn 60,000 factors after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening.

Annual payment: $95.

Standout advantages: The Citi Strata Premier affords $100 off a single lodge keep of $500 or extra, excluding taxes and charges, as soon as per calendar yr once you guide by Citi Journey. That is a straightforward approach to cowl the price of the annual payment 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 probably the most priceless playing cards I’ve ever held as a result of it options an incomes fee of three factors per greenback spent in widespread classes together with air journey, different lodge purchases, eating places, supermarkets, gasoline and EV charging stations.

I can not consider one other card that earns 3 factors per greenback throughout so many classes the place I spend frequently. 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 guide flights to London for as little as 6,000 Virgin factors (transferred from Citi at a 1:1 fee) 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 all their cute Delft homes.

After I guide journey by the Citi Journey portal, I earn an unimaginable 10 factors per greenback spent on resorts, automotive rental and points of interest, which I worth as incomes 19% again as factors based on TPG’s August 2025 valuation of ThankYou Rewards. This card is so rewarding for all of the journey I guide; the Citi Strata Card has been among the best playing cards I’ve added to my pockets.

For extra particulars, see our full evaluate of the Citi Strata Premier Card.

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Chase Freedom Limitless

Welcome provide: Earn $200 after spending $500 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

Annual payment: $0.

Standout advantages: Earn at the very least 1.5% money again on each buy you make on the cardboard, rising to three% money again on drugstore purchases and eating at eating places (together with takeout and eligible supply providers), and 5% again on journey booked by Chase Journey.

Why it is nice for rewards: I can recognize not everyone seems to be as obsessive about loyalty applications as I’m, and also you may 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 a terrific possibility in the event you’re in search of a card that earns greater than 1% money again on all purchases with out paying an annual payment, and the welcome provide additionally sweetens the quantity you’ll be able to earn again within the first yr.

If you happen to like to journey, then contemplate the comfort of reserving flights, resorts, automobiles, cruises and extra by Chase Journey. Not solely can this be a one-stop store to your subsequent trip, however you will earn a beneficiant and rewarding 5% money again on all journey booked by way of Chase Journey.

It’s also possible to 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.

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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 affords fluctuate and also you will not be eligible for a proposal.

Annual payment: $325.

Standout advantages: This card provides you some ways to earn multiple level per greenback, particularly if groceries and eating out (or ordering takeout) take up a whole lot of your price range.

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 yr; enrollment required), plus $10 monthly in Uber Money, which can be utilized on Uber Eats orders or Uber rides within the U.S. Uber Money will solely be deposited into one Uber account once you add the Amex Gold Card as a cost methodology and redeem with any Amex card.

Why it is nice for rewards: I dine out frequently, particularly when touring and away from my dwelling kitchen, so it is a nice approach to eat my approach to extra Membership Rewards factors.

For group dinners the place splitting the invoice on the restaurant will be awkward, I typically provide to pay on my card after which have my eating companions ship me their share of the verify. I can earn the factors for your complete verify — which might simply be hundreds of Membership Rewards factors for an enormous group dinner (enrollment required).

I really like transferring this reward foreign money 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 yr for eating places and as much as $25,000 every calendar yr on groceries at U.S. supermarkets, then 1 level per greenback on different purchases), the month-to-month credit can shortly add as much as cowl the annual payment 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 yr (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.

If you happen to 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.

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What to contemplate when selecting a rewards bank card

Step one in selecting a rewards card is figuring out how you propose to make use of a card and its accompanying rewards.

Keep in mind: you are not locked into one card for all times. I apply for, downgrade and cancel my playing cards comparatively frequently as my spending and journey habits evolve.

Most well-liked rewards

Take into consideration the way you wish to earn rewards — whether or not it is easy money again or factors and miles you’ll be able to redeem by a journey portal or switch to companions.

Your alternative depends upon your preferences and journey habits. If switch choices, award charts, and bonuses really feel overwhelming, contemplate beginning with a cash-back card and shifting as much as a factors or miles card later.

Welcome bonus

It is easy to gravitate towards the cardboard with the largest welcome bonus — I’ve accomplished it myself. However evaluating a $750 cash-back bonus to 75,000 factors is not at all times simple. When you may assume factors are price one cent every, they’ll usually be price extra, relying on the way you redeem them.

Whereas a big welcome bonus of factors and miles can definitely sweeten the deal of making use of for a brand new rewards bank card, I would 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 inclined to spend probably the most in? Do the locations you store at settle for American Categorical? If you happen to can decide this earlier than making use of for something, deciding which card will earn you probably the most rewards is less complicated.

If you happen to plan to take the cardboard touring with you, guarantee it doesn’t cost a international transaction payment. In any other case, this payment will doubtless be greater than the worth of the rewards you’ll earn.

Annual payment

Although no one likes paying an annual payment, it could be justified if the advantages of being a cardholder and the accompanying credit present worth that outweighs the payment.

rule of thumb that’s to attempt to discover a welcome bonus that’s valued larger than the annual payment for the primary yr. I then take 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 payment value within the second and subsequent years when the welcome bonus wouldn’t be relevant.

When unsure, you could possibly begin with a card with no annual payment to make certain you’re getting actual worth from it earlier than contemplating a card with an annual payment.

How we selected one of the best rewards bank cards

We rated one of the best rewards bank cards based mostly on a number of elements, together with however not restricted to the welcome affords these playing cards present, reward incomes charges — particularly in widespread bonus classes, switch companions and their charges and different perks related to every card.

Take a look at our methodology right here to learn the way TPG evaluates and chooses playing cards for our roundups.

Redemption choices for rewards bank cards

For cash-back bank cards, think about using your rewards to cut back your assertion steadiness. If you happen to’d desire to make use of the money elsewhere, most issuers allow you to redeem it in different methods, resembling making use of it to Amazon.com purchases, changing it to factors or transferring it to your checking account.

For factors and miles playing cards, you’ll be able to normally redeem rewards by the issuer’s journey portal at round one cent per level, relying on the cardboard. Nevertheless, you will usually get higher worth by transferring factors to airline or lodge loyalty applications.

Associated: Bank card switch companions: Information to transferring factors and miles to airways and resorts

Backside line

Rewards bank cards have fully modified how I spend and journey. I take advantage of them for every part — from a pack of gum to a cup of espresso — to maximise factors by elevated incomes charges.

Even with low or no annual charges, these playing cards have earned me lots of of hundreds of factors and miles, together with perks like lounge entry and lodge elite standing.

Whether or not you are new to factors or a seasoned collector, the following pointers might help you discover the suitable rewards card to your objectives.

For Capital One merchandise listed on this web page, among the advantages could also be offered by Visa® or Mastercard® and will fluctuate by product. See the respective Information to Advantages for particulars, as phrases and exclusions apply.

For charges and charges of the Amex Gold card, click on right here.
For charges and charges of the Amex Platinum card, click on right here.

Associated: The perfect bank card welcome bonuses of August 2025