Dozens of credit cards offer lucrative sign-up bonuses, but the best ones tend to be tied to cards that offer points or miles rather than cash back. Points offer more utility than miles, as they can be redeemed for many things, including flights and hotels. Therefore, the best currency of sign-up bonus rewards are as follows: points, miles and cash back, in that order. That said, miles can be a great option if you're just interested in free or discounted flights, and cash back bonuses tend to be offered by cards that don't charge annual fees.

Best Sign-Up Bonus For Points

To receive an estimate of how much each card's sign-up bonus is worth, and whether you'll be able to meet the card's sign-up bonus spending requirements, simply click “edit” and input your estimated monthly expenses. The "Bonus Value" column will then reflect our estimate of how much each card can earn you through its sign-up bonus based on your expenses.

2-yr Rewards Value Net Rewards Rate APR Annual Fee Bonus Value Rewards By Month Rewards Rate By Month

Name

Savings Through (Through 24 Months)	Rewards	Dollars

Assumptions Based On Monthly Spend of: $1,430 Edit

General:

U.S. Gas Stations:

U.S. Supermarkets:

Airlines:

Hotel:

U.S. Restaurants:

Office:

Utilities:

Computing:

Card	Annual Fee	2-yr Net Rewards Rate The Net Rewards Rate is equal to the Rewards Value over two years divided by the total spending. The total spending is equal to the values entered into the tool and multiplied by 24 months. See the rewards Value note to see details on how it is calculated. The estimates here are ValuePenguin's alone. They are not those of the card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer. All estimates are based on the spend assumptions entered above (which you can edit).	Bonus Value The bonus field shows our estimate for the value of the card’s welcome bonus. If the bonus is point or mile based, we multiply the total bonus points/miles by our estimate for their value to arrive at a dollar equivalent. We display $0 if there is no bonus or if the user doesn’t qualify for the bonus based on the current spending entered into the tool. All estimates are based on the spend assumptions entered above (which you can edit). The estimates here are ValuePenguin's alone. They are not those of the card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer.	2-yr Rewards Value The Rewards value is calculated by adding together the rewards earned from charging purchases to the card over two years and any welcome bonuses (if applicable). They are then multiplied by our estimated point/mile value, with any annual fees (if applicable) subtracted. All values are based on our own estimates for the dollar value of any points, miles or bonuses earned using a card and on the spend assumptions entered above (which you can edit). The estimates here are ValuePenguin's alone. They are not those of the card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
	$450	3.29%	$1,350 $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year; 50,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem for travel.	$1,130
Apply Now	Graph Card	Read Review	More Details and Value Calculation
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 45,360 x $0.015 = $680 Bonuses 0 x $0.015 = $600 50,000 x $0.015 = $750 Less Annual Fees -$900 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 1,130 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee $450 APR 17.74% - 24.74% Variable Card Details Earn 50K bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards® $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year Named a ‘Best Travel Credit Card for 2017’ by MONEY® Magazine 3X points on travel immediately after earning your $300 travel credit. 3X points on dining at restaurants & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. $0 foreign transaction fees. Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. For example, 50,000 points are worth $750 toward travel 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs Access to 1,000+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select Up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
	$0 Intro for the First Year, then $95	3.00%	$625 50,000 Ultimate Rewards when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.	$1,028
Apply Now	Graph Card	Read Review	More Details and Value Calculation
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 39,840 x $0.013 = $498 Bonuses 50,000 x $0.013 = $625 Less Annual Fees -$95 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 1,028 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee $0 Intro for the First Year, then $95 APR 17.74% - 24.74% Variable Card Details Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $625 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards® Chase Sapphire Preferred® named a 'Best Travel Credit Card' by MONEY® Magazine, 2016-2017 2X points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. No foreign transaction fees 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards. For example, 50,000 points are worth $625 toward travel No blackout dates or travel restrictions - as long as there's a seat on the flight, you can book it through Chase Ultimate Rewards
Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card
	$0 intro for first year; $95 after that	3.18%	$500 Receive 50,000 miles once you spend $3,000 within the first 3 months	$1,091
Apply Now	Graph Card	Read Review	More Details and Value Calculation
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 68,640 x $0.01 = $686 Bonuses 50,000 x $0.01 = $500 Less Annual Fees -$95 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 1,091 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee $0 intro for first year; $95 after that APR 14.74% - 24.74% (Variable) Card Details Enjoy a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $500 in travel Earn 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Plus earn 10X miles on thousands of hotels; learn more at hotels.com/venture Named ‘The Best Travel Card' by CNBC, 2018 Receive up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓® Fly any airline, stay at any hotel, anytime; no blackout dates Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn No foreign transaction fees $0 intro annual fee for the first year; $95 after that Note: The information in this box was provided by Capital One® and is not part of our independent analysis.
Barclaycard Arrival® Plus World Elite Mastercard®
	$89 (waived first year)	1.84%	$0 60,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 90 days (a $600 value)	$632
Apply Now	Graph Card	Read Review	More Details and Value Calculation
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 68,640 x $0.01 = $721 Less Annual Fees -$89 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 632 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee $89 (waived first year) APR 17.99%, 21.99% or 24.99% variable based on your creditworthiness Card Details Enjoy 60,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 90 days Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase Book travel your way—no airline, seat or hotel restrictions—and redeem your miles for travel statement credits Get 5% miles back to use toward your next redemption, every time you redeem No foreign transaction fees International Chip and PIN for use at self-service chip terminals around the world Miles don't expire as long as your account is open, active and in good standing See Rates & Fees

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Best Sign-Up Bonus for Airline Miles

To see which credit card can get you the most airline miles through its sign-up bonus just click “edit” and enter your monthly spending estimates. The estimated value of each sign-up bonus based on your spending habits will then be located under the "Bonus Value" column.

2-yr Rewards Value Net Rewards Rate APR Annual Fee Bonus Value Rewards By Month Rewards Rate By Month

Name

Savings Through (Through 24 Months)	Rewards	Dollars

Assumptions Based On Monthly Spend of: $1,430 Edit

General:

U.S. Gas Stations:

U.S. Supermarkets:

Airlines:

Hotel:

U.S. Restaurants:

Office:

Utilities:

Computing:

Card	Annual Fee	2-yr Net Rewards Rate The Net Rewards Rate is equal to the Rewards Value over two years divided by the total spending. The total spending is equal to the values entered into the tool and multiplied by 24 months. See the rewards Value note to see details on how it is calculated. The estimates here are ValuePenguin's alone. They are not those of the card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer. All estimates are based on the spend assumptions entered above (which you can edit).	Bonus Value The bonus field shows our estimate for the value of the card’s welcome bonus. If the bonus is point or mile based, we multiply the total bonus points/miles by our estimate for their value to arrive at a dollar equivalent. We display $0 if there is no bonus or if the user doesn’t qualify for the bonus based on the current spending entered into the tool. All estimates are based on the spend assumptions entered above (which you can edit). The estimates here are ValuePenguin's alone. They are not those of the card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer.	2-yr Rewards Value The Rewards value is calculated by adding together the rewards earned from charging purchases to the card over two years and any welcome bonuses (if applicable). They are then multiplied by our estimated point/mile value, with any annual fees (if applicable) subtracted. All values are based on our own estimates for the dollar value of any points, miles or bonuses earned using a card and on the spend assumptions entered above (which you can edit). The estimates here are ValuePenguin's alone. They are not those of the card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
	$149	3.18%	$808 7,500 anniversary points each year.; Earn 40,000 points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.	$1,093
Apply Now	Graph Card	Read Review	More Details and Value Calculation
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 34,320 x $0.017 = $583 Bonuses 7,500 x $0.017 = $128 40,000 x $0.017 = $680 Less Annual Fees -$298 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 1,093 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee $149 APR 17.74% - 24.74% Variable Card Details Earn 40,000 points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. 7,500 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary. $75 Southwest® travel credit each year. 4 upgraded boardings per year when available. 20% back on inflight purchases made with your Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card. 2 points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases and Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partner purchases. 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. No foreign transaction fees.
United℠ Explorer Card
	$0 Intro for First Year, then $95	2.98%	$560 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open	$1,023
Apply Now	Graph Card	Read Review	More Details and Value Calculation
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 39,840 x $0.014 = $558 Bonuses 40,000 x $0.014 = $560 Less Annual Fees -$95 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 1,023 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee $0 Intro for First Year, then $95 APR 17.74% - 24.74% Variable Card Details 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95. New! Earn 2 miles per $1 spent at restaurants and on hotel stays New! Up to $100 Global Entry or TSA Pre✓® Fee Credit New! 25% back on United inflight purchases Check your first bag for free (a savings of up to $100 per roundtrip) when you use your Card to purchase your ticket Enjoy priority boarding privileges and visit the United Club℠ with 2 one-time passes each year for your anniversary Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on purchases from United, and 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases

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Best Sign-Up Bonus for Cash Back

Click "edit" on our tool and enter your estimated monthly expenses. Then, look under the "Bonus Value" column to see our estimate for the value of each sign-up bonus. If the value says “zero,” it means that your spending won't meet the card's minimum spending threshold.

2-yr Rewards Value Net Rewards Rate APR Annual Fee Bonus Value Rewards By Month Rewards Rate By Month

Name

Savings Through (Through 24 Months)	Rewards	Dollars

Assumptions Based On Monthly Spend of: $1,430 Edit

General:

U.S. Gas Stations:

U.S. Supermarkets:

Airlines:

Hotel:

U.S. Restaurants:

Office:

Utilities:

Computing:

Card	Annual Fee	2-yr Net Rewards Rate The Net Rewards Rate is equal to the Rewards Value over two years divided by the total spending. The total spending is equal to the values entered into the tool and multiplied by 24 months. See the rewards Value note to see details on how it is calculated. The estimates here are ValuePenguin's alone. They are not those of the card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer. All estimates are based on the spend assumptions entered above (which you can edit).	Bonus Value The bonus field shows our estimate for the value of the card’s welcome bonus. If the bonus is point or mile based, we multiply the total bonus points/miles by our estimate for their value to arrive at a dollar equivalent. We display $0 if there is no bonus or if the user doesn’t qualify for the bonus based on the current spending entered into the tool. All estimates are based on the spend assumptions entered above (which you can edit). The estimates here are ValuePenguin's alone. They are not those of the card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer.	2-yr Rewards Value The Rewards value is calculated by adding together the rewards earned from charging purchases to the card over two years and any welcome bonuses (if applicable). They are then multiplied by our estimated point/mile value, with any annual fees (if applicable) subtracted. All values are based on our own estimates for the dollar value of any points, miles or bonuses earned using a card and on the spend assumptions entered above (which you can edit). The estimates here are ValuePenguin's alone. They are not those of the card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer.
Wells Fargo Propel American Express® Card
	$0	2.48%	$300 30K bonus points after you spend $3,000 in purchases in the first 3 months	$850
Apply Now	Graph Card		More Details and Value Calculation
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 54,960 x $0.01 = $550 Bonuses 30,000 x $0.01 = $300 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 850 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee $0 APR 14.49%-26.99% (Variable) Card Details New! Earn 30K bonus points when you spend $3,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that's a $300 cash redemption value Earn 3X points for eating out and ordering in Earn 3X points for gas stations, rideshares and transit Earn 3X points for travel including flights, hotels, homestays and car rentals Earn 1X points on other purchases $0 Annual Fee 0% Intro APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers (fees apply), then a 14.49%-26.99% variable APR; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rates and fees Select "Apply Now" to learn more about the product features, terms, and conditions
Discover it® Miles
	$0	2.25%	$257 INTRO OFFER: Discover will match ALL the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year, automatically. For example, if you earn 30,000 Miles, you get 60,000 Miles.	$772
Apply Now	Graph Card	Read Review	More Details and Value Calculation
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 51,480 x $0.01 = $515 Bonuses 257 x $0.01 = $257 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 772 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee $0 APR 13.99% - 24.99% Variable Card Details INTRO OFFER: Discover will match ALL the Miles you've earned at the end of your first year, automatically. For example, if you earn 30,000 Miles, you get 60,000 Miles. That's $600 towards travel! Earn unlimited 1.5x Miles for every dollar spent on all purchases all with no annual fee. No Blackout Dates - fly any airline, stay at any hotel. Redeem your Miles as a statement credit towards travel purchases. Freeze your account in seconds with an on/off switch either on the mobile app or website to prevent new purchases, cash advances, and balance transfers. Get your free Credit Scorecard with your FICO® Credit Score, number of recent inquiries and more. Receive FREE Social Security number alerts-Discover will monitor thousands of risky websites when you sign up. No Annual Fee. Click "APPLY NOW" to see rates, rewards, FICO® Credit Score terms, Discover Match™ details & other information.
Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® Card
	$0	2.08%	$200 Earn $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months	$715
Apply Now	Graph Card	Read Review	More Details and Value Calculation
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 51,480 x $0.01 = $515 Bonuses 0 x $0.01 = $200 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 715 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee $0 APR 15.99%-26.99% (Variable) Card Details Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months Earn unlimited 1.5% cash rewards on purchases Enjoy 1.8% cash rewards on qualified mobile wallet purchases, like Apple Pay® or Google Pay™, during the first 12 months from account opening No category restrictions or sign ups and cash rewards don't expire as long as your account remains open Get up to $600 protection on your cell phone (subject to $25 deductible) against covered damage or theft when you pay your monthly cellular telephone bill with your Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® Card 0% Intro APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers (fees apply), then a 15.99%-26.99% variable APR; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rates and fees $0 Annual Fee Select "Apply Now" to learn more about the product features, terms, and conditions
Discover it® Cash Back
	$0	1.50%	$171 Discover will match ALL the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year, automatically.	$514
Apply Now	Graph Card	Read Review	More Details and Value Calculation
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 343 x $1 = $343 Bonuses 171 x $1 = $171 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 514 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee $0 APR 13.99% - 24.99% Variable Card Details INTRO OFFER: Discover will match ALL the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year, automatically. There's no signing up. And no limit to how much is matched. Earn 5% cash back at different places each quarter like gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, Amazon.com, or wholesale clubs up to the quarterly maximum each time you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically. Redeem cash back any amount, any time. Rewards never expire. Use your rewards at Amazon.com checkout. Receive FREE Social Security number alerts-Discover will monitor thousands of risky websites when you sign up. No annual fee. Click "APPLY NOW" to see rates, rewards, FICO® Credit Score terms, Cashback Match™ details & other information.

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Things to know about credit card sign-up bonuses

Things to know about credit card sign-up bonuses

It's no secret that credit card sign-up bonuses can be very lucrative. In fact, it's not uncommon to see their values rise to as much as $1,000. However, there are a few things you should keep in mind before applying for a card solely based on a high sign-up bonus. We outline a few things we recommend you consider, below.

1. Be cautious of minimum spend requirements for sign-up bonuses

Most credit cards have a minimum spending requirement that you must reach before you're able to get the sign-up bonus. As an example, a card may require you to spend $4,000 in three months before it awards you with 50,000 airline miles. If you're not able to meet the $4,000 spending requirement, you won't be awarded the sign-up bonus. Therefore, as you research credit card sign-up bonus offers you'll want to note the spending requirements and the time restriction as well. The credit cards with the best sign-up bonuses typically require cardholders to spend thousands of dollars over a period of three to four months.

We don't recommend adjusting your spending to meet sign-up bonus requirements. That's because by adjusting your spending you run the risk of overspending simply to meet the requirements. This is counterintuitive, since overspending will chip away at any of the value you stand to gain from the sign-up bonus.

2. Consider the long-term value of each card

Another thing to consider is whether the card you're applying for has good long-term value. Sign-up bonuses are great, but if a card has few perks, or a low ongoing rewards rate, then you could find yourself in a scenario where you never use the card past the point of meeting minimum spend requirements. While there's nothing wrong with underutilizing a credit card, you put yourself at risk for having your card canceled for inactivity. As a result, your credit score may suffer, depending on how long you held the card before it was canceled and other factors. The easiest way to avoid these potential problems is to only apply to cards you'll actually use in the long term.

3. Be wary of annual fees

A high annual fee has the ability to offset the value of a sign-up bonus. That's because you'll earn the sign-up bonus once, but you'll be on the hook for the annual fee every year. This is yet another reason why we stress that a card should have solid perks and benefits you can see yourself using in the long-term. Furthermore, even cards without annual fees can have lucrative sign-up bonuses.

If you do have a credit card with a high annual fee that you no longer use, consider calling your credit card company and asking for a card downgrade. Often times, the credit card company will work with you and offer you a no-annual-fee replacement. As an added plus, some credit card companies will offer you retention offers to keep your existing card. For instance, you may be offered to have the fee waived for the current year or another, typically smaller, bonus.

4. Don't forget about referrals and authorized users

Aside from sign-up bonuses, many credit cards offer bonuses for referring users or for adding authorized users to a cardholder's account. These types of bonuses aren't available through all credit cards, but it's worth checking in with your card company and asking if they are offering them, since they can be an easy way to earn additional bonuses. Just keep in mind that some cards will charge fees for adding authorized users, so we only recommend you go after this type of bonus if you would actually benefit from adding another user to your account. For instance, if you recently got married, the convenience of adding your spouse an authorized user might outweigh any associated costs.

5. Consider your eligibility

For most people, this won't be an issue, but credit card companies have started putting certain restrictions in place to limit the number of sign-up bonuses people can receive. For instance, American Express will only allow you to earn a sign-up bonus for a particular card once per lifetime. As a general rule, you should avoid applying for multiple credit cards in rapid succession.

6. Do mind any refunds

As you're working toward meeting the minimum spending requirement for a sign-up bonus, you'll want to be aware that any refunds count against your spending. For instance, if the spending requirement is $1,000 and you've made $1,200 in purchases, but then receive a refund of $500, then you wouldn't qualify for the bonus since your spending would only total $700.

So what if you receive a refund that put you below the spending requirement after you've already received a sign-up bonus? In this instance, your credit card company could reclaim the sign-up bonus it has awarded you. That's why we only recommend applying for cards with spending requirements that would be easy for you to clear. This leaves you with more wiggle room should you need to initiate a refund for any reason.