The Best Rewards Credit Cards of 2018
We researched hundreds of credit cards to find the best ones for earning rewards--whether in points, miles or cash back. Our recommendations are tailored to specific categories and consumer needs. We also built a tool that allows you to compare the best rewards credit cards for your budget.
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Opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed here are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed or endorsed by the issuer. We may be compensated through the issuer’s Affiliate Program. For a full list of our advertisers see our disclosure page.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best Rewards Credit Card for Points and Miles
Consider this if you want to earn points that can be used as cash back or transferred to airline/hotel loyalty programs.
| Annual Fee | $0 Intro for the First Year, then $95 |
|---|---|
| Purchase APR | 17.49% - 24.49% Variable |
| Card Details |
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The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is best suited to someone who often travels and dines out, because it awards 2 points on every dollar you spend in those areas, which is a rich reward indeed. In these two categories it is the best all around credit card to have. Conversely, if most of what you tend to charge to a credit card falls outside of these two categories, you should look to other options. For one, infrequent travelers or restaurant diners won't earn enough in points with this card to justify its $95 annual fee, at least after the first year (for which the fee is waived). For those that do, this is a rewards card worth having.
The points you earn with Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card can be used to book travel directly through Chase's Ultimate Rewards portal, which is appealingly simple. But you’ll generally get the best return on this card if you instead transfer the points from Chase Ultimate Rewards to another travel rewards program. The program allows conversions to any one of six airlines and five hotel programs, on a 1:1 basis. This flexibility is what makes Ultimate Rewards the best credit card rewards points to collect.
The least lucrative option, as a rule, is to turn your rewards into cash back at a rate of a penny a point. This is the simplest option, though, and the conversion rate significantly more generous than that other big rewards programs—including Amex's Membership Rewards and Citi's ThankYou.
Currently, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers a 50,000-point bonus. To qualify, you must spend at least $4,000 on the card within the first three months of opening your account. Those 50,000 points are worth approximately $625 when used towards travel.
Highlights
- Rewards Rate: 2.5% on travel and dining, and 1.25% rewards rate on everything else.
- Signing Bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus points worth $625 in Travel Rewards when redeemed. through Chase Ultimate Rewards® when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Points can be transferred directly to a number of hotel and airline partners at a 1:1 ratio for use in their loyalty programs.
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Review.
Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card: Best All Around Travel Rewards Credit Card
Consider this if you want a credit card that provides above average rewards no matter where you shop.
| Annual Fee | $0 intro for first year; $95 after that |
|---|---|
| Purchase APR | 14.49% - 24.49% (Variable) |
| Card Details |
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| Note: The information in this box was provided by Capital One and is not part of our independent analysis. | |
The Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card is hands down the best card with which you can earn rewards every day, on everything you buy, to spend on travel. You can apply the cash back you earn to almost any travel expense. Even if you travel infrequently--once a year, say, or even once every two years--the lucrative yet simple rewards from this credit card may be too good to pass up.
The standout feature of the card is the 2% rewards rate you receive on all your spending, which becomes a statement credit you can apply against almost any travel expense. In fact, for some allowable expenses, you needn’t even leave home. You could come close to that rewards levels with many other cards, but only if you spent on specific categories, or by using the rewards at a particular chain of airlines or hotels.
Putting the Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card over the top is one of the largest welcome bonuses currently available. The card issuer offers 50,000 miles, which are worth $500 in total, to new cardholders, who must spend at least $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of opening the account.
The card does come with an annual fee of $95, which is waived for the first year. That makes this Venture worthwhile in the long run only for those who will charge more than $1,500 a month to it, and will also have sufficient travel expenses against which its rewards can be applied. This spending level allows you to fulfill the spending requirements necessary to qualify for the welcome bonus, as well as to justify choosing the card over a no annual fee alternative. The monthly spending amount also ensures that you have sufficient uses for the miles you earn with the card.
Highlights
- Rewards Rate: 2%
- Bonus: 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card Review
Discover it® Cash Back: Best Cash Back Rewards and No Annual Fee Card
Consider this if you don't care about travel rewards and want the highest cash back rewards on everyday purchases.
| Annual Fee | $0 |
|---|---|
| Purchase APR | 13.49% - 24.49% Variable |
| Card Details |
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The Discover it® Cash Back currently offers some of the highest cash back rates of any rewards credit card, albeit not on all of your purchases or on the same spending all the time. You’ll earn 5% cash back at a different type of merchant, or specific merchants, every quarter up to $1,500 each time you activate. Examples of these limited-time categories and partners include gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, Amazon.com, and wholesale clubs. Like we said, there’s typically a quarterly maximum ($1,500) beyond which you won’t receive the elevated cash back level. You must also activate these rewards each quarter, which involves logging in to your Discover account online.
The card, which has no annual fee, offers 1% cash back on all purchases beyond those targeted seasonal specials. What pushes this card's rewards from good to great, though, is its first-year bonus. At the end of your first year, Discover matches the sum of all the cash back you earned. That ensures that, for the first 12 months, this card will earn you a minimum of 2% cash back, and the return rises to 10% on the specialized seasonal purchases, once their 5% cash back, too, is duplicated at year’s end. No other card on our list can top such a cash back return.
| 5% Cash back category | |
|---|---|
| Jan - Mar 2018 | Gas Stations & Wholesale Clubs |
| Apr - Jun 2018 | Grocery Stores |
| Jul - Sep 2018 | Restaurants |
| Oct - Dec 2018 | Amazon.com & Wholesale Clubs |
Drawbacks: The major disadvantage to this card is the network with which it’s allied. Discover isn't as widely accepted as Visa and Mastercard, so much so that it’s risky to leave home with only a Discover card, because you could be unable to use it at some merchants. That said, the number of merchants that accept Discover cards has been growing, and the card is more widely accepted in many foreign countries thanks to Discover's partnership with other networks, including Diner's Club and Union Pay. If you'd like to read more about card acceptance rates, check out our study.
Highlights
- Rewards Rate: 5% cash back at different places every quarter, up to a quarterly maximum.
- Bonus: Discover matches all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year.
- No Annual Fee.
- Discover it® Cash Back Review.
Barclays Arrival® Premier World Elite Mastercard®: Best Rewards Credit Card for High Spenders
The Barclays Arrival® Premier World Elite Mastercard® is an excellent choice for anyone who spends more than $25,000 each year on their credit card. You'll get a 25,000 mile bonus every year that you spend at least that much on this card. The bonus is worth approximately $250. That's enough to cover this card's $150 annual fee and then some. If that's not enough, know that the card also provides you with two miles per dollar on every purchase. Each mile is worth $0.01 when exchanged for travel statement credits, so the card's rewards rate is 2% (2 x $0.01). While this is one of the most expensive 2% rewards cards, this is still the best choice for anyone spending over $25K annually, because of that loyalty bonus.
For some, this card's biggest weakness is its lack of a welcome bonus. Reward-seekers are often looking for the biggest and best sign-up bonus. Many cards on this page come with sign-up bonuses that can cover the better part of a vacation. With the Barclays Arrival® Premier World Elite Mastercard®, Barclaycard is specifically looking to attract long-term customers who don't care about these types of short-term incentives. If that describes you, this will be a good match. Otherwise, consider other cards on our list.
Highlights
- Receive a 2% rewards rate on all purchases.
- Earn 25,000 loyalty bonus miles after spending $25,000 on purchases each year.
- No sign-up bonus.
- Barclays Arrival® Premier World Elite Mastercard® Review
Citi® Double Cash Credit Card: Best Cash Back for Everyday Use
Consider this if you're looking for an everyday cash back card and don't want to optimizing your rewards.
| Annual Fee | No Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| Purchase APR | 14.99% - 24.99% Variable |
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The Citi® Double Cash Credit Card is among a rare breed of rewards card that offers a high cash-back rate on all your spending, with no restrictions on how you spend that money. You get 1% cash back when you make a purchase, followed by another 1% back when that purchase is paid off—for an effective total of 2% cash back. This is what makes the Citi® Double Cash Credit Card the best credit card for everyday purchases. Most credit cards can match or beat that 2% rewards rate in one or two categories, but not across the board, for all spending. For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a 2.5% rewards rate on travel and dining, but offers just a 1.25% return on everything else. Unless you spend very heavily on travel and dining, the Citi® Double Cash Credit Card will be a more lucrative card than the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
Also, among the other handful of cards that offer users 2% cash back on all purchases, most require you to also sign up for a checking, savings or investment account with the card issuer. The Citi® Double Cash Credit Card has no such requirement.
Highlights
- Rewards Rate: 1% Cash back on all spending and another 1% back when you pay it off.
- No annual fee.
- Read Review
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Best Premium Travel Rewards Card
Consider this if you travel at least several times per year and dine out frequently.
| Annual Fee | $450 |
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| Purchase APR | 17.49% - 24.49% Variable |
| Card Details |
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The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is essentially a hybrid between a rewards card, with its focus on generous returns, and a premium credit card, with its hefty annual fee and host of travel perks. Its overall travel benefits are among the best we've seen, and include: a $300 annual travel credit, a 4.5% rewards rate on travel and dining purchases, and complimentary access to Priority Pass airport lounges. To top it all off, there's also a 50,000-point bonus that you unlock if you spend at least $4,000 on the card within the first three months of receiving it.
As its name may suggest, this card is closely related to the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. Both cards award users Ultimate Rewards points on every purchase. This is one of our favorite credit card reward programs, as it allows you to transfer your points to some great airline and hotel loyalty programs. That's good news for point optimizers--as in those willing to do the work to figure out where their points will offer the best return and to complete the needed transfer. When points with this card are used for a travel, they're always worth $0.015. When you transfer them to other miles and hotel programs, you can often receive a far higher return.
Drawbacks: This card's annual fee is a whopping $450, which is not waived for the first year. With the benefits this card offers, that fee should be a positive net investment for a serious traveler. Still, that’s a large outlay, given that any investment comes with some risk of not realizing the expected return. Don’t get this card without studying your spending so as to feel confident that its travel credits and other benefits will pay off.
Highlights
- Rewards Rate: 1.5 – 4.5%
- Signing Bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus points worth $625 in Travel Rewards when redeemed. through Chase Ultimate Rewards® when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- $300 annual travel credit.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® Review.
IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card: Best Hotel Rewards
Consider this if you want a credit card to earn free stays at hotels.
| Annual Fee | $89 |
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| Purchase APR | 17.49% - 24.49% Variable |
| Card Details |
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The IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card is an extremely rewarding hotel hotel credit card, with a generous anniversary benefit. Cardholders receive a free night certificate with each account anniversary year, which can be exchanged for a free night at eligible IHG hotels worldwide. If you're someone who stays at IHG properties at least once per year, this bonus makes the card a must-have. This hotel group has over 5,300 hotels across 100 countries.
List of IHG Hotel Brands
- Candlewood Suites
- Crowne Plaza Hotels and Resorts
- EVEN Hotels
- Holiday Inn Hotels
- Holiday Inn Club Vacations
- Holiday Inn Express Hotels
- Holiday Inn Resort
- Hotel Indigo
- HUALUXE Hotels & Resorts
- IHG Rewards Club
- Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants
- Staybridge Suites
The IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card currently charges a $89 annual fee. The card's current bonus helps to justify the fee. Users receive 80,000 bonus points after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. We value that at $512 in hotel rewards. That's enough to cover the annual fee for five years.
Highlights
- Earn 10 points per dollar spent when you stay at IHG® hotels.
- Earn 2 points per dollar spent on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants.
- 80,000 bonus points after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening.
- IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card Review
Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business: Best Business Rewards Credit Card
Consider this if your business will likely charge at least $19,000 per year on the company credit card.
| Annual Fee | $0 intro for first year; $95 after that |
|---|---|
| Purchase APR | 18.49% (Variable) |
| Card Details |
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| Note: The information in this box was provided by Capital One and is not part of our independent analysis. | |
The Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business is an ideal choice for most businesses. The card awards 2% cash back on all purchases, allowing you to get good rewards on all manner of company expenses. In that respect, it is like the business-equivalent to the Citi® Double Cash Credit Card. Most of the business credit cards we review tend to shine in a few select categories — most often on purchases made at office supply stores or travel. However, many small businesses have spending so diverse that such specialized reward structures aren’t the best option. The Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business caters to those enterprises by providing above-average rewards for buying anything and everything.
The Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business also provides low-cost solutions should you have many employees who will be using the company credit card account. You can get employee cards for free, including not having to pay additional annual fees. The employees who receive those can then make purchases on the card, and all the transactions are then billed to your main account, thus centralizing all your expenses in one spot. This arrangement simplifies accounting and the process of reimbursing employees who are expensing certain purchases to the company. Also, all the purchases your employees put on the card are awarded 2% cash back.
Drawbacks: The card has a $95 annual fee (which is waived the first year). Unless you spend at least $19,000 every year, then, your cash-back rewards will not fully compensate you for this card’s fee. If you don't meet that threshold, consider getting the Capital One® Spark® Cash Select for Business instead. That card gives just 1.5% cash back, but doesn't charge an annual fee.
Highlights
- Rewards Rate: 2%
- Early Spend Bonus: $500 cash bonus once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
- Great all-around rewards on every dollar spent.
- Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business Review.
Discover it® Student Cash Back: Best Rewards Credit Card for Students
Consider this if you can always remember to activate the quarterly 5% categories.
| Annual Fee | $0 |
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| Purchase APR | 14.49% - 23.49% Variable |
| Card Details |
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The Discover it® Student Cash Back is almost a carbon-copy of the Discover it® Cash Back, our pick for the best cash back rewards card. The major difference is that this version of the card is targeted to students. As such, the Discover it® Student Cash Back breaks the mold of most student cards, which offer subpar rewards. Indeed, the card has some of the most generous cash back rates on the market, even compared to non-student cards. Users get 5% cash back at a rotating group of different places each quarter, up to a maximum of $1,500 per quarter. You do need to activate the bonus cash back rewards every quarter in order to earn them. For all other shopping, you receive 1% in cash back. Discover also matches all the cash back you have earned at the end of the first year.
There's also a special deal that might help students stay a little more motivated during finals week. In every school year in which your GPA is 3.0 or higher, Discover will award you an additional $20 in cash back. The maximum lifetime payout for this reward is $100. While this isn't a huge bonus, it's still a nice touch that’s absent from other student cards we've seen.
Drawbacks: Discover isn't as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard. That means you may sometimes have trouble using this card, especially if you travel to countries like Mexico. However, thanks to a few key partnerships the card is available in more spots than you might think. We recommend checking out our study before taking the Discover card with you overseas.
Highlights
- 5% cash back at different places each quarter, up to a maximum of $1,500 each time you activate
- Bonus: Discover matches all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year.
- Not as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard.
- Discover it® Student Cash Back Review.
Recap of the Best Rewards Credit Cards for 2018
In case you want another look at all our picks for 2018's best rewards credit cards see the table below.
| Category | Winner | Distinguishing Features |
|---|---|---|
| Airline Miles and Travel Rewards | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | 2.5% on travel and dining, and 1.25% rewards rate on everything else. |
| All Around Travel Rewards | Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card | 2% rewards rate on all purchases. |
| Cash Back Rewards | Discover it® Cash Back | 5% cash back at different places every quarter, up to a quarterly maximum. |
| Everyday Use | Citi® Double Cash Credit Card | 1% cash back on all purchases, plus 1% when you pay those purchases off. |
| Luxury Rewards | Chase Sapphire Reserve® | 1.5 – 4.5% rewards rate. $300 annual travel credit. |
| Hotel Rewards | IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card | 10 points per dollar spent when you stay at IHG® hotels. |
| Business Rewards | Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business | 2% cash back on all purchases. |
| Students | Discover it® Student Cash Back | 5% cash back at different places each quarter, up to a maximum of $1,500. |
Compare The Best Rewards Credit Cards
If you'd like to see how the credit cards we've discussed perform for you, use our embedded tool to see what you can earn from rewards. The calculator allows you to compare multiple reward credit card offers at once. By changing your spending patterns you can see how each card performs for you.
| 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. |
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| Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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$69 | 3.43% | $731 Earn 40,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in first 3 months of opening your account |
$1,176 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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*The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value.
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| Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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$99 | 3.40% | $782 Get 40,000 points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of opening your account |
$1,167 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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*The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value.
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| United℠ Explorer Card | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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$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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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*The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value.
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| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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$0 Intro for the First Year, then $95 | 3.00% | $625 50,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening |
$1,028 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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*The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value.
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| Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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$0 intro for first year; $95 after that | 1.72% | $0 Earn a $500 bonus once you spend $4,500 on purchases in the first 3 months |
$591 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graph Card | Read Review | More Details and Value Calculation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
*The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value.
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Note: The information in this box was provided by Capital One® and is not part of our independent analysis. |
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| Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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$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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
*The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value.
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Note: The information in this box was provided by Capital One® and is not part of our independent analysis. |
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| Club Carlson Premier Rewards Visa Signature Card | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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$75 | 2.33% | $315 Earn 50,000 Gold Points after your first purchase; Earn 35,000 points once you spend $2,500 on your card within the first 90 days |
$799 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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*The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value.
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| LANPASS Visa Signature Card | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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$0 Intro Annual Fee for the first year then $75 | 2.16% | $300 Earn 20,000 Bonus Miles with your first card use |
$740 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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*The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value.
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| Chase Sapphire Reserve® | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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$450 | 1.55% | $750 50,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 in travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards® |
$530 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
*The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value.
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| BankAmericard Travel Rewards® Credit Card | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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No Annual Fee | 2.08% | $200 20,000 online bonus points if you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days - that can be a $200 statement credit towards travel purchases |
$715 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
*The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value.
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| Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® Card | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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$0 | 2.08% | $200 Earn $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months |
$715 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
*The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value.
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| LANPASS Visa Card | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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$0 Intro Annual Fee for the first year then $45 | 2.02% | $225 Earn 15,000 Bonus Miles with your first card use |
$695 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
*The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value.
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| PayPal Cashback Mastercard® | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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No Annual Fee | 2.00% | $0 |
$686 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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*The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value.
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| US Bank FlexPerks® Travel Rewards Visa Signature® Card | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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$0 Intro Annual Fee for the first year then $49 | 1.91% | $260 Earn 20,000 FlexPoints after you spend $3,500 in net purchases on your card within the first four months. |
$657 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graph Card | Read Review | More Details and Value Calculation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
*The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value.
Card Details
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| Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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$0 | 1.99% | $150 $150 once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months |
$683 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graph Card | Read Review | More Details and Value Calculation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
*The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value.
Card Details
Note: The information in this box was provided by Capital One® and is not part of our independent analysis. |
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| Chase Freedom Unlimited® | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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$0 | 1.94% | $150 Earn a $150 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening;Earn a $25 Bonus when you add your first authorized user and make a purchase within this same 3-month period |
$665 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graph Card | Read Review | More Details and Value Calculation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
*The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value.
Card Details
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| Capital One® Quicksilver® Card | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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$0 | 1.94% | $150 Get $150 bonus after spending $500 within the first 3 months |
$665 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graph Card | Read Review | More Details and Value Calculation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
*The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value.
Card Details
Note: The information in this box was provided by Capital One® and is not part of our independent analysis. |
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| TRIO℠ Credit Card | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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No Annual Fee | 1.98% | $100 Get a $100 bonus after you spend $1,000 within 90 days of opening a new account. |
$681 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graph Card | Read Review | More Details and Value Calculation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
*The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value.
Card Details
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| Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
$0 | 1.83% | $200 Receive 20,000 miles once you spend $1,000 within the first 3 months |
$629 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graph Card | Read Review | More Details and Value Calculation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
*The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value.
Card Details
Note: The information in this box was provided by Capital One® and is not part of our independent analysis. |
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| Stash Hotel Rewards® Visa® Card | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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$0 Intro Annual Fee for the first year then $85 | 1.82% | $130 Earn 10,000 Stash points towards free stays at one-of-a-kind hotels when you make $1,500 in purchases on your Stash Visa Card within 90 days of opening your account |
$625 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graph Card | Read Review | More Details and Value Calculation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
*The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value.
Card Details
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| The Choice Privileges® Visa® Card | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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No Annual Fee | 1.73% | $62 Earn 8,000 bonus points after your first purchase |
$593 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graph Card | Read Review | More Details and Value Calculation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
*The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value.
Card Details
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| Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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$89 | 1.50% | $350 Earn 35,000 bonus miles when you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days |
$515 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graph Card | Read Review | More Details and Value Calculation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
*The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value.
Card Details
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| Discover it® Cash Back | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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$0 | 1.50% | $171 Discover gives a dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year, automatically. (New cardmembers only) |
$514 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graph Card | Read Review | More Details and Value Calculation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
*The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value.
Card Details
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| Discover it® chrome | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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$0 | 1.50% | $171 Discover gives a dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year, automatically. (New cardmembers only) |
$514 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graph Card | Read Review | More Details and Value Calculation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
*The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value.
Card Details
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| Discover it® Student Cash Back | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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$0 | 1.50% | $171 Discover gives a dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year, automatically. (New cardmembers only) |
$514 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graph Card | Read Review | More Details and Value Calculation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
*The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value.
Card Details
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| USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature® | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
$0 | 1.50% | $0 |
$515 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
*The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value.
Card Details
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| AeroMexico Visa Card | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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$0 Intro Annual Fee for the first year then $45 | 1.68% | $150 15,000 First Use Bonus Miles after first purchase or payment of annual fee |
$575 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graph Card | Read Review | More Details and Value Calculation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
*The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value.
Card Details
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| AAdvantage® Aviator™ Red Mastercard® | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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$95 | 1.15% | $0 |
$393 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
*The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value.
Card Details
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| Capital One® QuicksilverOne® Credit Card | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
$39 | 1.27% | $0 |
$437 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graph Card | Read Review | More Details and Value Calculation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
*The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value.
Card Details
Note: The information in this box was provided by Capital One® and is not part of our independent analysis. |
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| Norwegian Cruise Line® World MasterCard® Credit Card | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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No Annual Fee | 1.29% | $100 Earn 10,000 Bonus WorldPoints® points if you make your first transaction in the first 60 days |
$443 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graph Card | Read Review | More Details and Value Calculation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
*The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value.
Card Details
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| BP Visa® Credit Card | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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No Annual Fee | 1.76% | $0 |
$603 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graph Card | More Details and Value Calculation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
*The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value.
Card Details
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| Avianca LifeMiles Visa Signature Card | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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$0 Intro Annual Fee for the first year then $75 | 1.24% | $184 Earn 20,000 bonus miles with your first card use |
$425 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graph Card | More Details and Value Calculation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
*The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value.
Card Details
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| Premier Miles & More® World Mastercard® | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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$79 | 1.12% | $200 Earn 20,000 award miles with first purchase |
$385 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
*The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value.
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| Barclays Arrival® Premier World Elite Mastercard® | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
$150 | 1.13% | $0 |
$386 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graph Card | Read Review | More Details and Value Calculation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
*The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value.
Card Details
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| National Geographic Platinum Edition® Visa® | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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No Annual Fee | 1.15% | $50 Receive 5,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in the first 3 billing cycles |
$393 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graph Card | Read Review | More Details and Value Calculation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
*The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value.
Card Details
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| Princess Cruises Rewards Visa Card | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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No Annual Fee | 1.15% | $50 Earn 5,000 Bonus Princess Points after your make your first purchase |
$393 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graph Card | More Details and Value Calculation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
*The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value.
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| Farmers® Rewards Visa® | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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No Annual Fee | 1.37% | $30 Earn 3,000 points, after making $500 in purchases, outside of Farmers®, within 90 days of account opening |
$469 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graph Card | Read Review | More Details and Value Calculation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
*The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value.
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| Gulf Visa® Card | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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No Annual Fee | 1.28% | $0 |
$439 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graph Card | More Details and Value Calculation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
*The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value.
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| USAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
$0 | 1.23% | $0 |
$422 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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*The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value.
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| Korean Air SKYPASS Visa Signature Credit Card | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
$80 | 0.97% | $150 15,000 SKYPASS Bonus Miles after first purchase |
$333 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graph Card | Read Review | More Details and Value Calculation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
*The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value.
Card Details
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| AAdvantage® Aviator™ Silver World Elite Mastercard® | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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$195 | 0.56% | $0 |
$193 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
*The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value.
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How to Choose the Best Rewards Credit Card
Selecting a rewards credit card involves several steps of evaluation. You need to determine which type of rewards card you want and then prioritize the key features that these cards offer. You also must consider how much you spend and on what, so you can get the card that rewards you the most for your purchases. Finally, your creditworthiness will factor into what card you can get. We outline a simple four-step process to narrow down the best rewards card for you.
- Find the Right Rewards Card Type
- Compare Key Features of Rewards Cards
- Consider How Much You Spend
- What Cards Do You Qualify For?
Find the Right Rewards Card Type
There are three types of rewards credit cards: cash-back, generic travel and co-branded airline and hotel cards. Each rewards spending in different ways and offer varying bonuses and other perks. You should familiarize yourself with these categories to help you determine which would benefit you most.
Cash-Back Credit Cards
The simplest rewards cards, they give you money back on each purchase. Cash-back cards fall into two subcategories: cards with a fixed cash-back rate and cards with rotating categories. The former are the most common and provide one cash-back rate on certain categories or on all purchases. For instance, a card could offer 1.5% back on all purchases. Rotating-category cards earn cash back at different merchants or types of merchants during the year. For instance, a card may offer 5% back on groceries from January to March and then on restaurants from April to June. The downside is that the cash-back rate on other purchases outside the rotating categories is not very generous. Chase, Discover and U.S. Bank are the only issuers that offer rotating-category cards.
Cash-back credit cards are best if you want:
- To avoid annual fees
- Easy rewards redemption
- Higher rewards rate for everyday purchases
Generic Travel Rewards Cards
These cards typically award points for all your purchases that can be redeemed for cash back, flights, hotel stays or statement credit among other items. But you typically get the best value if you use points for flights and travel-related expenses. Some rewards programs—like Chase's Ultimate Rewards and Amex's Membership Rewards—allow you to transfer your points to airline and hotel loyalty programs.
Generic travel rewards cards are best if you want:
- To maximize their rewards value
- Flexible rewards redemption
- Higher rewards rate for entertainment, travel and restaurant purchases
Co-branded Airline and Hotel Rewards Cards
The last group of rewards cards are tied to a specific airline or hotel chain. With these cards, you earn loyalty points with the card’s airline or hotel brand. These cards tend to be the least flexible, but the most generous. They reward brand loyalty by allowing you to earn extra perks such as early boarding on flights, late checkout at hotels, free companion tickets and free checked bags. These are perks you can’t get with generic travel cards or cash-back cards. Co-branded cards are best if you are:
- Avid travelers
- Loyal to a particular airline or hotel
Compare Key Features of Rewards Cards
When choosing the best rewards credit card for yourself, focus on specific features and prioritize which ones are the most important to you. Here are three major features to consider:
Rewards Rate
The main reason to get a rewards credit card is to get something back for your spending. So, it’s important to compare the rewards rates of multiple cards you’re considering. To calculate a card's rewards rate, multiply the value of the points/miles by the number of points/miles you get for a specific purchase. Say, the value of your points is $0.01 and you get 2 points for every dollar spent, the rewards rate is $0.01 x 2 = 2%. Figuring out the rewards rate for each card makes it easier to compare cash-back, co-branded and travel reward cards.
Bonuses
Many reward credit cards offer an incentive, or bonus, to sign up. These come in two varieties. The most common is an early spend bonus. To get the bonus, you must charge in the first three months a minimum amount, which varies between $500 and $5,000 depending on the card. Rewards cards with no annual fees usually require only $500 to get the bonus. Typically, the more you must spend, the higher the bonus you get. The less common bonus is awarded when you make your first purchase. These are generally low amounts between $25 and $50.
Foreign Transaction Fees
Most credit cards will charge a 3% fee when you charge outside the United States. But there are rewards cards that don't charge this fee at all. These are particularly useful if you travel often and want to earn rewards while abroad.
Consider How Much You Spend
How much you spend on a card typically determines if it’s worth paying an annual fee. Charge less than $12,000 a year on your card? Then, you should stay with a credit card with no annual fee. If you spend more, it’s time to consider an annual-fee card and its benefits. Cards with generous sign-up bonuses often offset the annual fee in the first year. Other card benefit that have dollar values can make the annual fee more affordable. The math can be tricky to do, so we recommend using our comparison tool to figure out the net rewards value per card, given how you spend.
Otherwise, try this formula: Estimate a card's total net value and compare that against the opportunity cost. First, estimate what a card is worth to you. This can be achieved by considering how much you spend, and then multiplying it by the card's rewards rate. You can also factor in other long-term benefits, such as airport lounge access, travel credits, or anything else you're likely to use. We recommend against factoring in the card's bonus as that will only give you an idea of the short-term value, and may obscure the card's long-term viability. Once you have a gross value, subtract away the annual fee to get the net worth. To determine the opportunity cost, you simply need to consider how much you could be getting with other cards. A quick shortcut is to compare a card to a no-annual fee 1.5% cash back card. Multiply your annual spending by 1.5%. If the final result is higher than the net value of your rewards card, then the no annual fee card is the better option.
Example Calculation
Consider Card A and Card B. Card A has a 2% rewards rate and charges a $50 annual fee. Card B, on the other hand, gives users just 1.5% cash back with no annual fee. How much do you have to spend each year for Card A to be the better choice? The table below shows a few scenarios.
| Annual Spending | Card A Net Rewards | Card B Net Rewards | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| $5,000 | (2% x $5,000) - $50 = $50 | (1.5% x $5,000) = $75 | Card B |
| $10,000 | (2% x $10,000) - $50 = $150 | (1.5% x $10,000) = $50 | Tie |
| $15,000 | (2% x $15,000) - $50 = $250 | (1.5% x $15,000) = $225 | Card A |
What Cards Do You Qualify For?
If you have excellent credit with a long credit history, you likely will qualify for any card we recommend. If your credit is good or you have a shorter credit history, it may be harder, but not impossible, to get these cards. It depends on each credit card issuer’s underwriting requirements. If you have a short or no credit history or bad credit, your choices are limited. We recommend Discover it Secured for people with bad credit and the Discover it Student for students. Get a free FICO score and look for offers that align with your creditworthiness.
Comments and Questions
* See the online credit card application for details about terms and conditions. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. When you click on the "Apply Now" button, you can review the credit card terms and conditions on the issuer's website.
Info about the following cards: American Express® Gold Card, Delta Reserve® Credit Card from American Express, Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card, Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express, Hilton Honors Surpass® Credit Card, American Express® Blue Sky, American Express® Green Card, The Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card from American Express, The Plenti® Credit Card from Amex, Blue from American Express®, Platinum Card® from American Express Exclusively for Mercedes-Benz, Bluebird, Centurion® Card from American Express, Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, Starwood Preferred Guest® American Express Luxury Card, and American Express Cash Magnet℠ Card has been collected independently by ValuePenguin. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy.
Disclaimer: This content is not provided or commissioned by the credit card issuer. Opinions expressed here are author's alone, not those of the credit card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer. This site may be compensated through the credit card issuer Affiliate Program.
These responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
How We Calculate Rewards: ValuePenguin calculates the value of rewards by estimating the dollar value of any points, miles or bonuses earned using the card less any associated annual fees. These estimates here are ValuePenguin's alone, not those of the card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer.