The world of bank cards can appear overwhelming whenever you’re simply beginning. However if you wish to transfer on out of your cash-back card (or perhaps a scholar card), you are in the best place. The fitting starter journey card can supply way more rewarding perks.
With a lot info and so many choices, how are you aware which card to decide on? Would you like transferable factors? Airline miles? Free nights with a resort chain? There are not any proper or improper solutions to those questions — it is all about what’s necessary to you.
We have assembled this listing of the very best starter bank cards so you do not find yourself with rewards that do not match your objectives. None of those playing cards are tied to sophisticated, difficult-to-understand applications, nor have they got intimidating annual charges, although all of them have the potential for outsize worth.
And all of them are price protecting in your bank card stock for the long run.
Associated: The best way to decide the best journey bank card for you
Finest starter journey rewards playing cards
The data for the American Specific Inexperienced Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
| Card | Welcome supply | Bonus classes |
|---|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Most popular Card | Earn 100,000 bonus factors after spending $5,000 within the first three months from account opening. |
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| Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card | Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 inside the first three months from account opening. Plus, obtain a $250 Capital One Journey credit score to be used within the first cardholder 12 months upon account opening. |
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| Citi Strata Premier Card | Earn 60,000 bonus factors after spending $4,000 inside the first three months of account opening. |
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| American Specific Gold Card | Earn 60,000 bonus factors after spending $6,000 inside the first six months of cardmembership. You might even see increased, focused presents within the CardMatch device (topic to alter at any time; not everybody will probably be focused for a similar presents). |
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| American Specific Inexperienced Card | Earn 40,000 bonus factors after spending $3,000 inside the first six months of cardmembership. |
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| Bilt Mastercard | None |
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| Financial institution of America Journey Rewards bank card | Earn 25,000 bonus factors after spending $1,000 within the first 90 days of account opening. |
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Chase Sapphire Most popular Card
The Chase Sapphire Most popular is one among our favourite journey playing cards for a motive. When you’ve got a ok credit score rating, this card generally is a unbelievable starter journey card.
Annual price: $95
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Welcome bonus: Earn 100,000 bonus factors after spending $5,000 within the first three months from account opening.
In response to TPG’s April 2025 valuations, these 100,000 bonus factors are price $2,050.
Why it is an incredible starter card: There is a good motive why the Chase Sapphire Most popular is our prime decide for our listing of starter playing cards. Along with the profitable welcome supply, cardholders earn 5 factors per greenback on journey booked by Chase Journey, together with the next:
- 5 factors per greenback with Lyft (by Sept. 31, 2027) and on Peloton tools and accent purchases of $150 or extra (by Dec. 31, 2027, with a restrict of 25,000 bonus factors)
- 3 factors per greenback on eating (together with takeout and supply), choose streaming providers and on-line grocery orders (excluding Walmart, Goal and wholesale golf equipment)
- 2 factors per greenback on different journey
- 1 level per greenback on all different purchases
The Final Rewards factors it earns are straightforward to make use of with 11 airline and three resort loyalty program companions, reminiscent of United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt. Your factors can be redeemed for 1.25 cents apiece to e book journey by Chase Journey.
The cardboard additionally has terrific journey advantages, together with major insurance coverage when renting a automotive and no overseas transaction charges. You will additionally get pleasure from $50 in annual assertion credit for resort stays booked by Chase Journey, and every year, in your account anniversary, you may get pleasure from a ten% factors bonus in your spending from the earlier 12 months.
Whenever you add within the welcome bonus and an annual price of solely $95, you’ve got a card that gives nice worth, particularly when you’re simply beginning out on this planet of journey rewards.
To study extra, learn 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
The Enterprise Rewards would not have sophisticated bonus classes to trace, which can make it the proper match in your pockets.
Annual price: $95
Welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 inside the first three months from account opening. Plus, obtain a $250 Capital One Journey credit score to make use of within the first cardholder 12 months upon account opening.
In response to TPG’s April 2025 valuations, this welcome supply is price $1,638 when contemplating the worth of the journey credit score.
Why it is an incredible starter card: This card’s flexibility makes it very best for vacationers getting began within the factors and miles world or those that aren’t inherently loyal to a single resort chain or airline.
First, you earn a flat 2 miles per greenback spent on all the things, which means you do not have to maintain observe of various spending classes. Nevertheless, that incomes price jumps to five miles per greenback for lodges, trip leases and automotive leases booked by Capital One Journey.
You will additionally get an up-to-$120 credit score to cowl the applying price for TSA PreCheck or International Entry.
With this card, you can make the most of Capital One’s 15-plus airline and resort companions. This card packs loads in for a $95 annual price and even makes the reduce as one among our total finest journey bank cards.
To study extra, learn our full evaluate of the Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card.
Be taught extra: Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card
Citi Strata Premier Card
If you need a single card to cowl a variety of bonus classes, the Strata Premier is precisely what you are on the lookout for.
Annual price: $95
Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus factors after spending $4,000 inside the first three months of account opening.
In response to TPG’s April 2025 valuations, this welcome supply is price $1,080.
Why it is an incredible starter card: The fantastic thing about the Citi Strata Premier Card is its breadth of bonus classes. The cardboard earns 3 ThankYou factors per greenback on air journey, different resort purchases, eating places, gasoline stations, EV charging stations and supermarkets, serving to you rack up numerous factors very quickly.
In the event you e book lodges, points of interest and automotive leases by CitiTravel.com, you may get pleasure from a unbelievable 10 factors per greenback in your spending.
In the case of spending these factors, you possibly can switch them to any of Citi’s 21 journey companions.
You may also obtain $100 off one resort keep of $500 or extra (excluding taxes and charges) per 12 months whenever you e book by CitiTravel.com. The cardboard has no overseas transaction charges and a $95 annual price.
To study extra, see our full evaluate of the Citi Strata Premier.
Apply right here: Citi Strata Premier Card
American Specific Gold Card
The Amex Gold is a superb selection for anybody who spends some huge cash on meals. With this card, you may rack up tons of factors on a lot of your meals purchases.
Annual price: $325 (see charges and charges)
Welcome supply: Earn 60,000 bonus factors after spending $6,000 inside the first six months of cardmembership. Nevertheless, make sure you test the CardMatch device to see when you’re focused for an even increased bonus (presents are topic to alter at any time; not everybody will probably be focused for a similar presents).
In response to TPG’s April 2025 valuations, this welcome supply is price $1,200.
Why it is an incredible starter card: The Amex Gold Card is unbelievable for anybody trying to leverage their on a regular basis spending for wonderful rewards — whereas additionally having fun with helpful assertion credit for issues like eating and ride-hailing providers.
You will earn 4 factors per greenback at eating places worldwide (on as much as $50,000 in purchases per calendar 12 months, then 1 level per greenback) and on as much as $25,000 in purchases per calendar 12 months at U.S. supermarkets (then 1 level per greenback), 3 factors per greenback on flights booked straight with airways or on amextravel.com, 2 factors per greenback spent on pay as you go lodges and different eligible purchases booked on amextravel.com and 1 level per greenback on all the things else.
Cardmembers additionally obtain as much as $120 in assertion credit every calendar 12 months (as much as $10 per 30 days) towards eating purchases at choose retailers and as much as $120 per calendar 12 months ($10 per 30 days) in Uber Money towards U.S. Uber rides and U.S. Uber Eats orders after downloading and enrolling your Amex Gold card in your Uber account. You may redeem it with any Amex card. Enrollment is required for choose advantages; phrases apply.
Different perks embrace entry to The Lodge Assortment*, the International Help Hotline^ and a number of other procuring and journey protections on the cardboard.
*Minimal two night time keep required; eligible costs differ by property.
^Eligibility and Profit stage varies by Card. Phrases, Situations and Limitations Apply. Please go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for extra particulars. Card Members are accountable for the prices charged by third-party service suppliers.
To study extra, learn our full evaluate of the Amex Gold Card.
Apply right here: American Specific Gold Card
American Specific Inexperienced Card
The Amex Inexperienced is commonly neglected, but it surely’s positively a card younger professionals and newbie vacationers alike ought to take into account.
Annual price: $150
Welcome supply: Earn 40,000 bonus factors after spending $3,000 inside the first six months of cardmembership.
In response to TPG’s valuations, this welcome supply is price $800.
Why it is an incredible starter card: The Amex Inexperienced Card’s broad bonus-earning classes and comparatively low annual price make it nice for newbie vacationers. With it, you may earn 3 factors per greenback on journey, transit and eating at eating places worldwide (together with takeout and supply within the U.S.), permitting you to rack up factors each at dwelling and whereas touring.
The Membership Rewards you may earn with this card are extraordinarily versatile, and you can e book your subsequent journey very quickly by transferring your factors to one among Amex’s 21 switch companions, together with Delta Air Strains SkyMiles and Marriott Bonvoy.
You will additionally get journey advantages like an as much as $199 Clear Plus credit score every calendar 12 months, journey insurance coverage and procuring protections. Enrollment is required for choose advantages; phrases apply.
Be taught extra: American Specific Inexperienced
Bilt Mastercard
In the event you pay lease, having the Bilt Mastercard in your pockets is a great selection.
Annual price: No annual price (see charges and charges)
Welcome supply: None
Why it is an incredible starter card: Many novices on this passion additionally pay month-to-month lease. In the event you pay by financial institution deposit, money or test, your landlord should not cost you a price. Paying your lease by bank card typically includes transaction charges, however that is not true with the Bilt Mastercard.
The Bilt card even works with landlords who do not settle for bank card funds, so you possibly can earn Bilt Factors with out paying a transaction price (see charges and charges). Cardholders can earn as much as 100,000 factors on lease every calendar 12 months.
Nevertheless, you could make a minimum of 5 transactions in your card every month to earn rewards, which come on the price of 1 level per greenback on lease, 2 factors per greenback on journey and three factors per greenback on eating bought outdoors of Bilt Eating. Cardholders may earn 5 factors per greenback on Lyft after connecting their Bilt and Lyft accounts.
Moreover, the cardboard presents a number of perks like Journey Cancellation and Interruption Safety, Journey Delay Reimbursement and No International Transaction Charges (see charges and charges). The cardboard additionally presents World Elite Mastercard advantages, together with Mobile Phone Safety (topic to a $25 deductible; see rewards and advantages) and Lyft credit each month you employ your card to pay for 3 or extra Lyft rides.
The factors earned on this card may be transferred to 13 airways and 5 resort companions.
To study extra, learn our full evaluate of the Bilt Mastercard.
Apply right here: Bilt Mastercard
Financial institution of America Journey Rewards Credit score Card
If you need a card that gives simplicity or when you’re a Financial institution of America Most popular Rewards® member, we advocate trying out the Financial institution of America Journey Rewards.
Annual price: No annual price
Welcome supply: Earn 25,000 bonus factors after spending $1,000 inside 90 days of account opening.
Why it is an incredible starter card: For novices, factors and miles can appear daunting, so it is good to have a card with a easy incomes construction. The Financial institution of America Journey Rewards presents 3 factors per greenback on journey purchases within the Financial institution of America Journey Heart and a vast 1.5 factors per greenback spent on all different purchases.
What’s extra, in case you are a Financial institution of America banking buyer, you possibly can earn extra factors underneath the Most popular Rewards program. Financial institution of America Most popular Rewards members earn a factors increase between 25% and 75% (relying in your tier) on each buy.
Simply word that you will want a three-month common of a minimum of $20,000 throughout your Financial institution of America and Merrill accounts to qualify.
The factors earned on this card may be redeemed as an announcement credit score for journey or eating purchases at a flat price of 1 cent per level. This card would not cost a overseas transaction price.
To study extra, learn our full evaluate of the Financial institution of America Journey Rewards card.
Apply right here: Financial institution of America Journey Rewards
What credit score rating do you want for a journey bank card?
Most journey bank cards require good-to-excellent credit score, which means you may desire a rating over 650. That is to not say that you just will not be accredited in case your rating is not that top, however it’s a good rule of thumb when contemplating making use of for a bank card.
In the event you do not presently have credit score rating or lack credit score historical past, you may need to construct credit score with a newbie or secured card or by turning into a certified person on another person’s card.
Associated: What credit score rating do I want for the Chase Sapphire Most popular?
Remember about Chase’s 5/24 rule
In the event you’re nonetheless torn about which card to get, it is price desirous about Chase’s 5/24 rule, as it will probably affect your determination. In response to this rule, Chase will seemingly reject your utility when you’ve opened 5 or extra private playing cards throughout all issuers within the final 24 months (most enterprise playing cards do not depend towards your whole).
Due to this restriction, typical knowledge is to start out by utilizing up your 5 slots with Chase earlier than shifting on to different issuers. Whenever you’re simply beginning with journey rewards, it may be straightforward to underestimate the significance of this rule, however Chase presents among the most worthwhile journey rewards playing cards in the marketplace. If you aren’t getting them first, you won’t be capable to get them for some time.
Typically, it is sensible to disregard the 5/24 rule and set off in a special path, but it surely’s not a call you must make frivolously. Except you’ve got motive for trying elsewhere, you must begin with a Chase card first.
For extra on this rule and the principles the banks use for bank card functions, see our information to bank card utility restrictions.
Backside line
With so many journey rewards playing cards on the market, selecting which one to use for might sound overwhelming. However you possibly can’t go improper with any of the alternatives on this listing, as all of the choices supply nice rewards charges and an introduction to the world of factors and miles. So, resolve what your journey objectives are, then use this information to select the best card.
Associated: Are journey bank cards price it?
For charges and charges of the Amex Gold Card, click on right here.
For charges and charges of the Bilt Mastercard, click on right here.
For rewards and advantages of the Bilt Mastercard, click on right here.
