Rewards bank cards are an effective way to earn useful reward foreign money for bills you already make recurrently. Plus, they make journey extra comfy due to transferable factors and miles.
Earlier in my bank card journey, I believed I needed to be tied to 1 airline or lodge loyalty program to maximise bank card rewards, however that is not essentially the case.
The world of transferable bank card factors modified the sport for me since this foreign money is a lot extra useful than factors that earn straight into an airline or lodge loyalty program.
Coupled with common switch bonuses to pick switch companions, transferable factors’ worth turns into far 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 change to a special switch companion, defending myself from disagreeable devaluations.
Whatever the useful rewards you obtain 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, right here is our number of the most effective rewards bank cards.
The very best rewards bank cards
Evaluating the most effective rewards bank cards
Listed here are my prime suggestions for the most effective rewards bank cards.
| Card | Greatest for | Welcome supply | Incomes charges | Annual charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | Premium journey perks and credit | Earn 100,000 factors plus a $500 Chase Journey℠ promo credit score after spending $5,000 on purchases throughout the first three months from account opening. |
The Sapphire Reserve has just lately undergone a refresh. The incomes charges outlined above can be accessible to new candidates upon receipt of their new Sapphire Reserve card. Current cardholders can have entry to the up to date incomes charges proven right here on Oct. 26, 2025. |
$795 |
| Chase Sapphire Most popular Card | Newbie vacationers | Earn 75,000 bonus factors after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. |
|
$95 |
| Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card | Incomes miles | Earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases throughout the first three months of account opening. |
|
$95 |
| The Platinum Card from American Specific | Lounge entry |
Discover out your supply and see if you’re eligible to earn as excessive as 175,000 Membership Rewards Factors after spending $8,000 on purchases throughout the first six months of card membership. Welcome presents fluctuate and also you might not be eligible for a proposal. |
|
$695 (see charges and costs) |
| Ink Enterprise Most popular 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 |
| Blue Money Most popular Card from American Specific | 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 acquired within the type of Reward {Dollars} that may be redeemed as an announcement credit score or at Amazon.com checkout. |
$0 introductory annual charge for the primary 12 months, then $95 thereafter (see charges and costs) |
| American Specific Gold Card | Eating at eating places | Earn 60,000 factors after spending $6,000 within the first six months of card membership. |
|
$325 (see charges and costs) |
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Welcome supply: Earn 100,000 factors plus a $500 Chase Journey promo credit score after spending $5,000 on purchases throughout the first three months from account opening.
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Annual charge: $795.
Standout advantages: The Sapphire Reserve has just lately acquired a face-lift and options new reward-earning charges, credit and, sure, a large annual charge.
Regardless of these adjustments, the Sapphire Reserve nonetheless presents a stable worth proposition for individuals who can max out many of the credit and, in flip, offset the brand new $795 annual charge. Like its mid-tier sibling, the Sapphire Most popular (a card I maintain), the Sapphire Reserve earns Chase Final Rewards factors, one of the useful reward currencies in the marketplace — and one in every of my private favourite currencies, due to its flexibility and Chase’s switch companions.
In case you’re a frequent traveler who needs entry to credit that fit your life-style, the revamped Sapphire Reserve may very well be an awesome addition to your pockets, particularly with perks like an annual $500 The Edit credit score you should utilize 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 popular Card
Welcome supply: 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 wonderful welcome bonus of 75,000 factors after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening, the Chase Sapphire Most popular Card makes it simple to earn a number of useful Final Rewards factors all for a low annual charge. You’ll be able to enhance 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 often 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 over time by way of World of Hyatt for the straightforward purpose that their award charts are actually affordable, 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 carried out 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 just lately 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 enduring “Queen of the Skies” Boeing 747-8.
It was probably the greatest 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 comfy than my mattress at residence.
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 popular Card with its highest-ever welcome bonus.
For extra particulars, see our full evaluate of the Chase Sapphire Most popular Card.
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Most popular Card
Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card
Welcome supply: Earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases throughout the first three months of account opening.
Annual charge: $95.
Standout advantages: This uniquely rewarding welcome supply contains incomes each miles and a Capital One Journey credit score. Along with its industry-leading 2 miles per greenback spent on each buy, day-after-day, once you ebook lodges, trip leases and rental vehicles by way of 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 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 Specific card, which I’ve discovered might not be accepted in fairly as many locations overseas. In case 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 powerful 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 ebook 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 ebook a flight or lodge that’s not accessible by way of a switch companion, you too can redeem Capital One miles at a price of 1 cent every by way of Capital One Journey. This perk has helped me return residence 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.
Be taught extra: Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card
The Platinum Card from American Specific
Welcome supply: Discover out your supply and see if you’re eligible to earn as excessive as 175,000 Membership Rewards Factors after spending $8,000 on purchases throughout the first six months of card membership. Welcome presents fluctuate and also you might not be eligible for a proposal.
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 Specific 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 lodges booked with American Specific Journey, and 1 level per greenback on all different purchases making it a wonderful 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 accessible to select from*
- As much as a $200 annual lodge credit score per calendar 12 months, within the type of an announcement credit score, on pay as you go Amex High quality Lodges + Resorts or The Lodge Assortment bookings with Amex Journey once you pay with my Amex Platinum (Lodge Assortment stays require a two-night minimal)
- An as much as $199 Clear Plus assertion credit score to assist cardholders move by way of airport safety quicker at 50+ airports nationwide and rise up to $199 again per calendar 12 months on their membership (topic to auto-renewal) after 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 Instances, Peacock and The Wall Road Journal (as much as a $240 annual assertion credit score per calendar 12 months)*
- This card gives 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 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 software charge or an announcement credit score as much as $85 each 4½ years for a TSA PreCheck (by way of a TSA official enrollment supplier) software charge, when charged to the Platinum Card. Card Members accepted for International Entry can even obtain entry to TSA PreCheck at no extra 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 gives a lot of extra credit that I do not use myself, however they might profit you if you happen to frequent particular locations.
*Enrollment is required; phrases apply.
Why it is nice for rewards: I can not consider one other private card that provides extra perks than the almighty Amex Platinum. There isn’t any denying that the annual charge is a critical 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 function meals and drinks from award-winning cooks and prime 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 by way of an airport with out a Centurion Lounge or Delta Sky Membership, you possibly can nonetheless entry greater than 1,400 lounges throughout 140 nations due to American Specific’ International Lounges Assortment.
I additionally worth the complimentary Gold standing with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy. The Hilton standing for stays outdoors the US is very nice because it gives complimentary breakfast for myself and any registered company (a meals and beverage credit score is obtainable at properties in the US). Enrollment is required; phrases apply.
I do not use each credit score supplied by the Amex Platinum yearly, however International Entry is such a time-saver to beat lengthy traces at TSA safety screening and immigration on arrival. Plus, by way of common journey and buying annually, I do know I will simply use a number of of the credit that include this card (particularly the airline, lodge, Saks Fifth Avenue and Uber Money credit talked about above).Collectively, these present a number of hundred {dollars} in advantages annually, 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 Specific.
Apply now: The Platinum Card from American Specific
Ink Enterprise Most popular Credit score Card
Welcome supply: 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 presents each a beneficiant welcome bonus and the flexibility to earn useful Final Rewards factors, all for a low annual charge.
You may earn 3 factors per greenback spent on the primary $150,000 spent in mixed purchases annually on journey, delivery purchases, web, cable and telephone companies, and promoting purchases made with social media websites and search engines like google. In different classes (and after you attain that $150,000 mixed restrict), the cardboard nonetheless earns a good 1 level per greenback on all different purchases.
A number of journey and buy protections are additionally accessible, together with cellphone safety, major automobile rental protection, journey delay reimbursement, journey cancellation/interruption insurance coverage, journey delay reimbursement, buy safety and prolonged guarantee safety.
Why it is nice for rewards: Final Rewards are among the finest bank card factors you possibly can earn. Through the years, I’ve discovered so many nice makes use of for them, particularly the flexibility to switch them to World of Hyatt at a 1:1 price for great-value lodge stays like Crossbasket Fort in Scotland, although this property as a part of SLH has now moved from World of Hyatt to Hilton Honors.
I am additionally a large fan of KLM’s new premium economic system product which I price as one of many world’s finest and may switch my Final Rewards to Air France-KLM’s Flying Blue program at a 1:1 price to ebook 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 by which the typical enterprise proprietor spends recurrently makes it simple to rack up Final Rewards factors.
For extra particulars, see our full evaluate of the Ink Enterprise Most popular Credit score Card.
Apply right here: Ink Enterprise Most popular Credit score Card
Ink Enterprise Limitless Credit score Card
Welcome supply: 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 proportion price (APR) for 12 months from account opening on purchases (growing to a 17.49% – 23.49% variable APR after that).
This card additionally presents:
- Buy safety: For as much as 120 days in opposition to harm or theft, as much as $10,000 per declare and $50,000 per account.
- Auto rental collision harm waiver: If you lease 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 automobile’s money worth within the case of theft or collision harm on most leases each at residence and overseas.
- Prolonged guarantee: Even if you are going to buy one thing on the cardboard with a U.S. producer guarantee of three years or much less, the guarantee can be prolonged by a further 12 months.
Why it is nice for rewards: If operating your enterprise is sophisticated sufficient, this card presents a easy method to save 1.5% on each enterprise expense charged to the cardboard by way of its simple money again supply. The welcome supply places much more a reimbursement in your pocket, and with no annual charge, you could be approach out forward.
You probably have staff with enterprise bills, you possibly can concern them with playing cards as approved customers at no additional price and acquire the cashback they spend on the cardboard. Simply remember you will be accountable for all fees, although.
There’s additionally a neat approach to show all that money again into Final Rewards factors that may be transferred to a variety of useful airline and lodge 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 supply: 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 presents $100 off a single lodge keep of $500 or extra, excluding taxes and costs, as soon as per calendar 12 months once you ebook by way of Citi Journey. That is a straightforward method to cowl the price of the annual charge annually.
Why it is nice for rewards: This card tends to fly beneath the radar, and whereas another rewards playing cards supply bonus factors in a single or two main classes, the Strata Premier has been one of the useful 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 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 recurrently. 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 unbelievable new Saver fares enable me to ebook 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 just lately, additionally with Virgin factors the place I collected one in every of their cute Delft homes.
After I ebook journey by way of the Citi Journey portal, I earn an unbelievable 10 factors per greenback spent on lodges, automobile rental and sights, which I worth as incomes 18% again as factors based on TPG’s newest month-to-month valuation of ThankYou Rewards. This card is so rewarding for all of the journey I ebook; the Citi Strata Card has been probably the greatest 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 supply: Earn $200 after spending $500 within the first three months from account opening.
Annual charge: $0.
Standout advantages: Earn at the least 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 by way of 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 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 an awesome possibility if you happen to’re searching for a card that earns greater than 1% money again on all purchases with out paying an annual charge, and the welcome supply additionally sweetens the quantity you possibly can earn again within the first 12 months.
In case you like to journey, then contemplate the comfort of reserving flights, lodges, vehicles, cruises and extra by way of Chase Journey. Not solely can this be a one-stop store in 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 popular Card.
For extra particulars, see our full evaluate of the Chase Freedom Limitless.
Apply right here: Chase Freedom Limitless
Blue Money Most popular Card from American Specific
Welcome supply: 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 powerful 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 popular 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 popular 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 will discover supplied on any class on any card.
The three% money again supplied on transit and U.S. gasoline has a generously vast definition, masking most floor transportation choices, together with once you park your automobile. Due to this, I like to recommend the Blue Money Most popular as a terrific cash-back card and an particularly good possibility for bigger households with massive grocery payments. It is good to remember the fact that money again is acquired within the type of Rewards {Dollars} that may be acquired within the type of an announcement credit score or at Amazon.com checkout.
For extra particulars, see our full evaluate of the Blue Money Most popular Card from American Specific.
Apply right here: Blue Money Most popular Card from American Specific
American Specific Gold Card
Welcome supply: Earn 60,000 factors after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership.
Annual charge: $325.
Standout advantages: This card offers you some ways to earn a couple of 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 should utilize at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Manufacturing unit, 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 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 recurrently, particularly when touring and away from my residence kitchen, so it is a nice method to eat my method to extra Membership Rewards factors.
For group dinners the place splitting the invoice on the restaurant could be awkward, I typically supply to pay on my card after which have my eating companions ship me their share of the verify. I can earn the factors for the whole verify — which might simply be hundreds of Membership Rewards factors for a giant group dinner.
I 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 12 months for eating places and as much as $25,000 every calendar 12 months on groceries at U.S. supermarkets, respectively, then 1 level per greenback on different purchases), the month-to-month credit can shortly add up to cowl the annual charge annually. Even when I solely order from Grubhub, Uber Eats, and 5 Guys as soon as a month, the credit are severely 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.
In case you love consuming out at locations that settle for American Specific, this card ought to be in your pocket.
For extra particulars, see our full evaluate of the American Specific Gold Card.
Apply right here: American Specific Gold Card
What to contemplate when selecting a rewards bank card
It may be dizzying having so many alternative playing cards, every with totally 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 recurrently as my spending and journey habits evolve.
Most popular rewards
Think about whether or not you worth incomes money again or factors and miles you can switch to a companion program or redeem by way of a bank card journey portal.
There isn’t any good reply for this and it will rely in your private desire and journey kinds. If the concept 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 conversant in 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 definitely been responsible of doing that.
However if you’re making an attempt to check 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 often value greater than that, relying on the way you spend 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 might suggest checking the worth of any factors in opposition to 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 Specific? In case you can decide this earlier than making use of for something, deciding which card will earn you probably the most rewards is less complicated.
In case 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 doubtless be greater than the worth of the rewards you’d earn.
Annual charge
Some playing cards I’ve really useful 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 very good 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 try to discover a welcome bonus that’s valued larger than the annual charge for the primary 12 months. 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 could be larger than the annual charge price within the second and subsequent years when the welcome bonus wouldn’t be relevant.
If unsure, you can begin with a card with no annual charge to make sure you might be getting actual worth from it earlier than contemplating a card with an annual charge.
How we selected the most effective rewards bank cards
We rated the most effective rewards bank cards primarily based on a number of components, together with however not restricted to the welcome presents these playing cards present, reward incomes charges — particularly in standard 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 a money again bank card, I might suggest decreasing your bank card invoice by making use of the money again earned from the cardboard.
In case you’d fairly web that more money or put it towards different bills, most issuers can help you redeem money again in numerous 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 throughout the similar issuer household you’ve got that can help you do that or just placing money again into your checking account.
For factors and miles incomes bank cards, you possibly can often redeem the rewards by way of the cardboard issuer’s journey portal, often at a price of round one cent every (relying on the cardboard issuer).
Whereas this may be handy, you will often get higher worth by transferring them to an airline or lodge companion program. These applications differ from card issuer to card issuer, and you may often preserve factors and miles rewards in your account till you discover a respectable switch possibility that is sensible in your journey wants. Plus, many factors switch at a 1:1 ratio, which retains issues easy.
Associated: Bank card switch companions: Information to transferring factors and miles to airways and lodges
Backside line
Rewards bank cards have fully modified the way in which I spend and journey. I put each buy on the proper bank card, even a pack of gum or espresso. I take into consideration the most effective card to make use of for every kind of buy primarily based on the incomes charges and what I love to do with the rewards. Nonetheless, you do not must be as obsessed as I’m about this. By performing some homework now to pick the most effective rewards card in your circumstances and journey targets, you will quickly be in your method to nice rewards and that much-needed trip.
With low or no annual charges, my rewards bank cards have earned me a whole lot of hundreds of factors and miles over time. I’ve additionally loved advantages like airport lounge entry, elite lodge standing, infinite assertion credit and bucket-list journeys.
For Capital One merchandise listed on this web page, among the advantages could also be offered 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 popular Card, click on right here.
Associated: The very best bank card welcome bonuses of March 2025
