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The Best Rewards Credit Cards of 2016
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We researched over 500 credit cards to find the best credit cards for rewards. With so many cards offering points, miles and other perks to choose from comparing cards can be very difficult. The best credit cards reward program will also depend upon your personal or business spending habits. To help you out we've compiled our list of the best rewards cards of 2016 as well as some tips and tools to help you compare all your rewards credit card options.
We focused on credit cards with rewards that would be best for everyday use. If you could have only one rewards card these are the cards we think you should choose from. Our picks account for bonuses that you'll earn with the cards as well as spending rewards. If you don't care about bonuses then consider one of the cash back cards which typically have smaller bonuses than the travel cards but can be very competitive otherwise.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best Airline Miles Rewards
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is best suited for cardholders that are willing to go the extra mile to get more out of their spending. If you're the type of person that enjoys figuring out how to get the most bang for your buck, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of your best options. While the cards mentioned below will have a better overall rate on general spending categories, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card performs much better if you tie yourself to their Ultimate Rewards program. In doing so, you can earn as much as 2.5% of your total spending in rewards on dining and travel. An additional benefit of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, over some of the generic travel cards, is the ability to use Ultimate Rewards points as cash back at a penny a piece. Most generic rewards cards like those in the American Express or Citi ThankYou programs force you to take a significant discount when using points for cash back rewards. Chase has recently upped the welcome bonus on the card to 50,000 UR points, making it also one of the best signup promos for 2016.
Highlights
Rewards Rate: 1.25 - 2.5%
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.
Double on travel and dining.
Points can be transferred directly to a number of hotel and airline partners at a 1:1 ratio for use in their loyalty programs
Rewards are usable as cash back as well as statement credits
Starwood Preferred Guest American Express: Best Hotel Rewards
When it comes to the best hotel credit cards, consumers should really consider the Starwood Preferred Guest first. With both the personal and business versions of this American Express offering, cardholders can enjoy one of the highest average dollar per point values of any loyalty program. Starpoints from the SPG program are worth an astounding 2.4 cents per point. On general spending alone the card rewards you with 2.4% on your spending, double that if it is used at a Starwood affiliated resort or hotel. With over 1100 properties worldwide, including familiar brands such as the Westin, Sheraton and W hotels, travelers can find a redemption option in nearly every corner of the world.
As an additional benefit, Starpoints earned through the credit card and the SPG loyalty program can be exchanged for loyalty rewards at most major airlines. With most airlines accepting these transfers at a 1:1 ratio, you can use Starpoints to top off an awards travel booking, adding just a little more flexibility in your rewards use. New cardholders also qualify for a 25,000 point signing bonus, worth nearly $500 dollars in hotel stays.
Highlights
One of the highest dollar value per reward of all credit cards we surveyed
Rewards are usable at nearly 1000 properties and 32 airlines through the points transfer program.
Signing Bonus: 25,000 bonus Starpoints® after you use your new Card to make $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months
Rewards Rate: 2.4% - 4.8%
Citi Double Cash Card: Best Flat Rate Cash Back Rewards
The Citi Double Cash is the new entrant in flat rate cash back rewards and it bests just about everything we've seen offered thus far. With an effective 2% cash back on all your spending, it's one of the best rewards offerings we've seen in a long time. The lack of a bonus makes it less worthwhile than some of the other cards in the short term, since those hundreds of dollars of extra rewards can be pretty valuable right now. With no annual fee and 1% cash back immediately when you make a purchase and another 1% back when you pay off your bill the Double Cash Card is otherwise quite hard to beat. Citi is also currently offering an introductory purchase and balance transfer APR. It's just begging you to make the switch.
Highlights
Rewards Rate: 2% Cash back on all spending
No annual fee
Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best Cash Back with Bonus
The Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card offers a little more flexibility at the cost of some overall value. All else being equal cash back is our favorite rewards mechanism, and that's just want the Quicksilver gives you. With 1.5% cash back on all spending, the Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card offers a relatively good return without many hoops to jump through. Best of all, with no annual fee it is a rewards card with nearly no financial burdens. New card members qualify for a one time $100 bonus if they spend $500 dollars on purchases within the first 3 months. The early spend promo is one of the smaller bonuses available, but also among the easiest to achieve in the cards we've surveyed.
The previously mentioned travel rewards cards are more generous overall, so if you travel at all it's a better financial decision to go with one of those. If however you're for a no hassle rewards card for your primary credit card, there is no substitute for this card. While other rewards cards, including some other cash back cards can offer you a higher rate, it will usually come at the cost of increased hassle. This may include higher percentages only if you make purchases in specific categories, or through featured categories that rotate every 3 months. If you want just one card to depend on, go with Capital One's offering.
Highlights
Rewards Rate: 1.5% Cash Back on all spending
Early spend Bonus: $100 bonus after you spend $500 in the first 3 months
For rewards credit cards that you can use everyday, the Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite MasterCard is hands down the best. If you travel just once a year, or even once every two years, the lucrative yet simple rewards from this credit card are too good to pass up. The standout feature of the card is the 2.1% rewards rate you'll receive on all your spending, when used as a statement credit on any travel expense. With many other cards you could only come close to these rewards if you spent on specific categories, or used the awards at a single chain of airlines or hotels. With the Arrival, you can spend your money anywhere and redeem the rewards for any travel purchase.
Putting the card over the top is also one of the largest signing bonuses available. At 40,000 miles, worth $400 dollars, new cardholders are offered a fantastic promotion for getting the Barclaycard. When Barclaycard rebranded the Arrival Plus earlier this year, they expanded the categories of expenses that fall under travel. This added Taxis, Buses, Limousines, Tourist Attractions, Timeshares and Campgrounds to the mix. This vastly increases the number of day to day expenses that the miles could be used for.
The Barclaycard Arrival Plus is our best rewards card for someone that spends more than $1000 a month, and has sufficient travel expenses each year. This will allow you to satisfy all the spending requirements necessary to qualify for the signing bonus, as well as make the cards rewards more worthwhile when compared to a no annual fee option. It also ensures that you have actual uses for the miles earned with the card.
Chase Sapphire Reserve℠: Best Rewards-Luxury Card Hybrid
The Chase Sapphire Reserve℠ is a hybrid between a rewards card and a premium credit card. For a hefty annual fee of $450, cardholders get access to some of the best rewards rates of any credit card, the highest credit card welcome bonus, and a slew of ancinilary travel benefits. The Chase Sapphire Reserve℠ gives a 4.5% rewards rate on travel and dining out, and 1.5% on everything else. Those who spend at least $4,000 on the card within the first 3 months of account opening can qualify for 100,000 bonus points. That works out to a $1,500 value when redeemed for travel through the Ultimate Rewards portal.
Like many $450 credit cards, the Chase Sapphire Reserve℠ comes with Priority Pass Select. This gives access to over 900 airport lounges worldwide – a good benefit to anyone who calls an airport their second home. Additionally, frequent travelers are sure to benefit from the $300 annual travel credit. Once you make a purchase on the Chase Sapphire Reserve℠ that is coded as ‘travel’ you’ll be reimbursed, up to $300 each year. That alone makes up for most of the annual fee.
Highlights
Rewards Rate: 1.5 – 4.5%
Signing Bonus: Earn 100,000 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
Priority Pass Select membership grants access to airport lounges
Barclaycard Arrival World MasterCard: Best No Annual Fee Travel Rewards
If you're looking for to choose among the best rewards credit cards for travel but don't want an annual fee, begin with the Barclaycard Arrival World MasterCard. It has nearly all the travel rewards benefits of its premium counterpart the Barclaycard Arrival Plus, but without the annual membership cost. With double miles on travel expenses and dining and the miles accrued still work 1 cent each, it still offers top tier results for travel expenses. Where it's a little weaker is in only providing 1 mile per dollar spent on all other expenses. So if you're looking for a hassle free travel miles card with no fee to concern yourself with, this card is our pick.
Highlights
Double rewards on travel expenses and dining
No Annual Fee
25,000 mile signing bonus if you spend $1000 in the first 3 months
Summary Of Best Rewards Credit Cards
For those of you who want a quick answer to which cards made our 'Top Rewards' list and why, the table below summarizes the key facts.
Best For...
Card
Rewards Earn Rate
Annual Fee
Hotel Rewards
Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express
2x points on Starwood Purchases, 1x on everything else
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95
All Around Travel Rewards
Barclaycard Arrival Plus™ World Elite MasterCard®
2x miles on all purchases
$89 - Waived first year
Earning Airline Miles
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
2X points on travel and dining at restaurants & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
$0 Intro for the First Year. Then $95
Flat Rate Cash Back
Citi Double Cash Card
2% rewards rate on all purchases
$0
Rewards-Luxury Card Hybrid
Chase Sapphire Reserve℠
3X points on travel and dining at restaurants & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
$450
No Annual Fee Travel Rewards
Barclaycard Arrival™ World MasterCard®
2X miles on travel & dining and 1X miles on all other purchases
$0
Cash Back with Bonus
Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card
Unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase
$0
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. By changing your spending patterns you can see how each card performs for you.
Name
Savings Through (Through 24 Months)
Rewards
Dollars
Card
Annual Fee
Net Rewards Rate
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.
The 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.
Bonus
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.
The 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.
Rewards Value
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.
The 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.
Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 90 days - that's enough to redeem for a $500 travel statement credit
Earn 2X miles on all purchases
Redeem for travel or cash back statement credits, gift cards and merchandise. Redemption values vary
Get 5% miles back to use toward your next redemption, every time you redeem
Miles don't expire as long as your account is open, active and in good standing
No foreign transaction fees on anything you buy while in another country
0% introductory APR for 12 months on Balance Transfers made within 45 days of account opening. After that, a variable APR will apply, 16.24%, 20.24% or 23.24%, based on your creditworthiness. Please note, there is a fee for balance transfers
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®
Named a 'Best Credit Card' for Travel Rewards by MONEY Magazine
2X points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Earn 5,000 bonus points after you add the first authorized user and make a purchase in the first 3 months from account opening
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
Earn 80,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Plus, earn 7,500 bonus points when you add the first authorized user and make a purchase in the first 3 months from account opening.
Enjoy 1 Free Night Stay at a Category 1-5 location every year after your account anniversary date!
Earn unlimited Marriott Rewards points and get free stays faster
Earn 5 points for every $1 spent at 4,000 Marriott locations, 2 points for every $1 spent on airline tickets purchased directly with the airlines, at car rental agencies & restaurants and 1 point everywhere else
The fastest way to earn Marriott Rewards points towards free nights
The fastest way to earn Marriott Rewards Elite Status. Receive 15 Elite Credits guaranteeing Silver Elite Status or better. Plus, Earn 1 Elite Credit for every $3,000 spent on purchases
Earn 50,000 Hilton HHonors™ Bonus Points after you spend $750 in purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
Get 7X Hilton HHonors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a participating hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio.
Get 5X Hilton HHonors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases on your Card at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations.
Get 3X Hilton HHonors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card. Terms and limitations apply.
Enjoy complimentary Silver status with your Hilton HHonors™ Card.
Spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn HHonors Gold status through the end of the next calendar year.
Earn 35,000 points once you spend $2,500 on your card within the first 90 days
10 points per $1 spent at Carlson Rezidor hotels
5 points per $1 spent everywhere else
Automatic upgrade to Gold Elite Status
Cardmembers who've already reached Concierge Elite Status will receive 15 qualifying nights toward obtaining or maintaining Concierge Elite status
Redeem Gold Points towards free nights at Carlson Rezidor hotels, gift cards, prepaid cards, charitable initiatives, vacation savings, and exchanges for airline miles
Visa Signature concierge privileges
Travel & Emergency Assistance Services, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, and Travel Accident Insurance for card purchases
Subject to credit approval
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
Card
Rewards
Dollars*
Spending Rewards
171,600
635
Bonuses
50,000
185
35,000
130
Less Annual Fees
150
Total
256,600
799
Marriott Rewards® Credit Card
$0 Intro Annual Fee for the first year then $45
2.25%
$580
$810
Graph Card
More Details
Annual Fee
$0 Intro Annual Fee for the first year then $45
APR
15.99%
Card Details
Earn 30,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 in your first 3 months
2 free nights (at category 1 - 4 hotels)
3 points for every $1 spent at Marriott locations
1 point for every $1 spent otherwise
One free Elite Night for every $3,000 spent on Marriott card
Unlimited points accumulation
Several types of purchase and travel protection features
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95.
APR
15.49%-19.49% Variable
Card Details
Earn 30,000 bonus miles after you make $1,000 in purchases on your new Card within your first 3 months and a $50 statement credit after you make a Delta purchase with your new Card within your first 3 months.
Earn 2 Miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1 mile for every dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Check your first bag free on every Delta flight - that's a savings of up to $200 per round trip for a family of four.
Settle in sooner with Priority Boarding.
Enjoy a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95.
Earn 30,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days
Earn 6 points per $1 on JetBlue purchases, 2 points per $1 at restaurants and grocery stores and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
No blackout dates on JetBlue-operated flights & redeem for any seat, any time on JetBlue-operated flights. Points required for an Award Flight will vary based on the published base fare at the time of booking.
Points awarded in your TrueBlue account don't expire. Earn and share points together with Family Pooling
Earn 5,000 bonus points every year after your account anniversary
50% savings on eligible inflight purchases including cocktails, food and movies & your first checked bag is free on JetBlue-operated flights.
Enjoy TrueBlue Mosaic benefits for one year after you spend $50,000 or more on purchases annually with your card
Get 10% of your points back every time you redeem to use toward your next redemption & a $100 statement credit after you purchase a Getaways vacation package of $100 or more with your JetBlue Plus Card
50,000 bonus Avios after you spend $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
Plus earn an additional 25,000 bonus Avios when you spend $10,000 on purchases for a total of 75,000 bonus Avios.
Plus earn another 25,000 bonus Avios when you spend a total of $20,000 on purchases within your first year for a total of 100,000 bonus Avios.
Every calendar year you make $30,000 in purchases on your British Airways Visa card, you'll earn a Travel Together Ticket good for two years.
In addition to the bonus Avios, you will also get 3 Avios for every $1 spent on British Airways purchases and 1 Avios for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
Pay no foreign transaction fees when you travel abroad.
Chip Technology allows you to use your card for chip based purchases in Europe & beyond, while still giving you the ability to use your card as you do today at home.
Earn 20,000 FlexPoints after you spend $3,500 in net purchases on your card within the first four months.
Earn 1 FlexPoint for every $1 of eligible net purchases charged to your Card
Earn 2 FlexPoints for every $1 spent on gas, grocery or airline net purchases - whichever you spend most on each monthly billing cycle - and on most cell phone expenses
3 FlexPoints per $1 on qualifying charitable donations
Redeem FlexPoints on airline tickets, statement credits, gift cards and more
No foreign transaction fee
EVM chip technology for added security abroad
Receive an airline allowance of up to $25 with every award travel ticket to use toward baggage fees, in-flight food or drinks and more
Unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase - it's automatic
Earn a $150 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 14.24-23.24%. Balance transfer fee is 5% of the amount transferred, $5 minimum
Redeem for cash - any amount, anytime
Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open
Get a $100 cash rewards bonus after you spend $500 in purchases in the first 90 days after account opening
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash rewards on every purchase
Every time you redeem, get a 5% cash rewards redemption bonus to use toward your next redemption
Redeem your cash rewards for a deposit into your bank account, a statement credit or gift cards. Redemptions start at $50
Cash rewards do not expire as long as your account is open, active and in good standing
0% introductory APR for 15 months on Balance Transfers made within 45 days of account opening. After that a variable APR will apply, 14.99%, 19.99% or 24.99%, based on your creditworthiness.Please note, there is a fee for balance transfers
Earn 5,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days.
Earn 3 points per $1 on JetBlue purchases, 2 points per $1 at restaurants and grocery stores and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
No blackout dates on JetBlue-operated flights & redeem for any seat, any time on JetBlue-operated flights. Points required for an Award Flight will vary based on the published base fare at the time of booking.
Points awarded in your TrueBlue account don't expire. Earn and share points together with Family Pooling.
50% savings on eligible inflight purchases including cocktails, food and movies.
0% introductory APR for first 12 billing cycles on balance transfers made within 45 days of account opening. After that a variable APR will apply, 12.24%, 20.24% or 25.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
Earn 7,500 bonus points after you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months
1 point for every $1 spent
Points can be redeemed in the form of statement credit, gift cards, merchandise and used toward travel: flights, hotel stays, car rentals, cruises, and for any travel package
Global Assistance hotline, roadside assistance, travel accident protection, and car rental loss and damage protection
Exclusive access to ticket presales and American Express cardmember-only events
Extended warranty and protection for purchases made on the card
Earn 35,000 bonus miles when you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days
Earn 2 miles for every $1 spent on Haiwaiian Airlines
Earn $1 for every $1 spent on all other purchases
Primary cardholder is eligible to earn a $100 discount off one coach companion ticket for roundtrip travel between Hawaii and North America on Hawaiian Airlines on each account anniversary upon payment of annual fee
Receive a one-time 50% Off companion discount for roundtrip coach travel between Hawaii and North America on Hawaiian Airlines
As a primary cardholder, receive a complimentary first checked bag every time you use your card to purchase eligible tickets directly from Hawaiian Airlines
Earn two complimentary nights at any participating Tier 1-4 Ritz-Carlton Hotel, after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
5 points for every $1 spent on Ritz-Carlton or partner hotels
2 points for every $1 on airline tickets purchased directly with the airline
1 point per $1 otherwise
Complimentary upgrades to the Ritz-Carlton Club Level three times annually on paid stays of up to 7 nights
$300 annual airline incidentals credit
$100 hotel credit on stays of two nights or longer
Worldwide Airport Lounge Access
Automatic gold elite status your first year
No foreign transaction fees
Personal service assistance to cardmembers
Automatic Gold Elite Status your first year
Maintain Gold Elite thereafter by spending 10,000 each year
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
Card
Rewards
Dollars*
Spending Rewards
34,320
364
Bonuses
0
930
Less Annual Fees
790
Total
34,320
504
Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® Credit Card
$0
1.43%
$0
$515
Graph Card
More Details
Annual Fee
$0
APR
13.24%-25.24% (Variable)
Card Details
NEW: Unlimited 1.5% cash rewards on everyday net purchases
0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
No category restrictions or quarterly sign ups and cash rewards don't expire as your account remains open
Enjoy 1.8% cash rewards on Android Pay™ or Apple Pay™ mobile wallet net purchases during the first 12 months from account opening
Flexible cash back redemption options at Wells Fargo ATMs or direct deposit into your checking or savings account when you are a Wells Fargo customer
Account protections such as 24/7 fraud monitoring, rapid alerts & zero liability protection
We'll match all the Miles you've earned at the end of your first year. So if you've earned 20,000 Miles, we'll match it- so you get 40,000 Miles - automatically. Only for new cardmembers.*
No annual fee* & unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar you spend on purchases. 0% intro APR* on purchases for 12 months--then a variable purchase APR applies, currently 11.24% - 23.24%.
Discover pays you back for your in-flight Wi-Fi fees--up to $30 a year--with an automatic statement credit.*
100 Miles = $1 value. Redeem Miles in any amount toward travel purchases on your statement. Or get cash as a direct deposit to your bank account.*
Freeze ItSM on/off switch lets you prevent new purchases, cash advances & balance transfers on misplaced cards in seconds by mobile app & online.* Plus get 100% U.S. based customer service.
Track your recent FICO® Credit Scores for free in one easy-to-read chart on monthly statements & online.*
Free overnight shipping of replacement cards to any U.S. street address at your request.* And you're never responsible for unauthorized purchases on your Discover card.
Earn a $150 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate
Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - it's automatic
0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 14.24-23.24%. Balance transfer fee is 5% of the amount transferred, $5 minimum
Enjoy new 5% categories every 3 months like gas stations, restaurants, and wholesale clubs
Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open
5 points for every $1 spent on priceline.com purchases
1 point for every $1 spent otherwise
Redeem points for statement credits against purchases made on the Priceline credit card: can be used to pay for flights, hotel stays, car rentals, gift cards, or any other purchase on the card
Reward redemptions begin at $25
Get 10% points back every time you redeem points for statement credits toward eligible priceline.com or travel purchases of $25 or more made in the last 120 days
Earn 5,000 Plenti® points after you spend $250 in purchases on your Plenti® Credit Card from Amex within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
No annual fee and no annual fee for Additional cards.
3 Plenti points at US supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases), 2 points at US restaurants and 1 point on other purchases for each eligible dollar spent. Terms apply.
Earn points in addition to what you can with the Plenti® rewards program. Learn More.
Use Plenti® points for things you already buy at AT&T company-owned stores, Macy's and more! Terms and limitations apply.
Introductory annual fee of $0 for the first year, then $195.
APR
N/A
Card Details
Receive 25,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $2,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Card Membership.
3X points for flights booked directly with airlines. 2X points at US restaurants, US gas stations, and US supermarkets. 1X points on other purchases. Terms and limitations apply.
No matter where you're traveling, when you use your Premier Rewards Gold Card there are no foreign transaction fees from American Express.
$100 Airline Fee Credit. Up to $100 a year in baggage fees and more at one airline.
Get a $75 hotel credit on qualifying charges, plus a room upgrade upon arrival, if available with The Hotel Collection at americanexpress.com/hc. Terms apply.
There is a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $195.
Terms and limitations apply.
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
Card
Rewards
Dollars*
Spending Rewards
47,040
470
Bonuses
25,000
250
0
0
Less Annual Fees
195
Total
72,040
525
Capital One® QuicksilverOne® Credit Card
$39
1.21%
$0
$437
Graph Card
More Details
Annual Fee
$39
APR
23.24% (Variable)
Card Details
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
Every 10th Uber ride is free up to $15 when you pay with your QuicksilverOne card through March 31, 2017
No rotating categories or sign ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus, cash back doesn't expire and there's no limit to how much you can earn
0% intro APR on purchases for 9 months; 23.24% variable APR after that
Get access to a higher credit line after making your first 5 monthly payments on time
Fraud coverage if your card is ever lost or stolen
Note: The information in this box was provided by
Capital One® and is not part of our independent analysis.
Earn 10,000 Membership Rewards® points after you use your new Card to make $1,000 in purchases in your first 3 months.
Use your Card 20 or more times on purchases in a billing period and earn 20% more points on those purchases less returns and credits. Terms and limitations apply.
2x points at US supermarkets, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1x); 1x points on other purchases. Terms and limitations apply.
You can use Membership Rewards® Pay with Points to pay for all or part of your flight, hotel booked and paid in advance, vacation or cruise booking.
No annual fee. Plus, 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months, then a variable rate, currently 13.24% to 23.24%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors.
Special Offer - Earn 5% cash back on eligible travel purchases in the first 6 months, up to $200.
Plus, earn $100 back after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months.
You will receive cash back in the form of statement credits.
Everyday Cash Back: 3% at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%); 2% at U.S. gas stations; 1% on other purchases. Terms and limitations apply.
No rotating reward categories. No enrollment required.
Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit. You can only earn cash back on eligible purchases.
No annual fee. Plus, 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months, then a variable rate, currently 13.24% to 23.24%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors.
13.24% - 23.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
Card Details
$100 online cash rewards bonus after you spend at least $500 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
From June 2015 through December 2020, Bank of America is guaranteeing to Susan G. Komen® $3 million in conjunction with its Pink Ribbon Banking credit card and checking program.
Susan G. Komen ® has received more than $7 million from Bank of America from this program since 2009.
Earn 1% cash back on every purchase, 2% at grocery stores and now at wholesale clubs, and 3% on gas up to the first $2,500 in combined grocery/wholesale club/gas purchases each quarter.
No annual fee
No changing categories and no expiration on rewards
Get a 10% customer bonus every time you redeem your cash back into a Bank of America® checking or savings account
0% Introductory APR for 12 billing cycles for purchases and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days, then, 13.24% - 23.24% Variable APR. 3% fee (min $10) applies to balance transfers.
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
Card
Rewards
Dollars*
Spending Rewards
518
518
Bonuses
0
100
Total
518
618
MLB® Credit Card
No Annual Fee
1.72%
$100
$618
Graph Card
More Details
Annual Fee
No Annual Fee
APR
13.24% - 23.24% Variable
Card Details
$100 online cash rewards bonus after you spend at least $500 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
3% cash back on gas, and 2% cash back at grocery stores for the first $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter
1% cash back elsewhere.
0% APR for the first 12 billing cycles and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days, then, 13.24% - 23.24% Variable APR. 3% fee (min $10) applies to balance transfers.
13.24% - 23.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
Card Details
No annual fee
$100 online cash rewards bonus after you spend at least $500 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
Earn 1% cash back on every purchase, 2% at grocery stores and now at wholesale clubs, and 3% on gas up to the first $2,500 in combined grocery/wholesale club/gas purchases each quarter.
No changing categories and no expiration on rewards
0% Introductory APR for 12 billing cycles for purchases AND for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days, then, 13.24% - 23.24% Variable APR. 3% fee (min $10) applies to balance transfers.
Get a 10% customer bonus every time you redeem your cash back into a Bank of America® checking or savings account
If you're a Preferred Rewards client, you can increase that bonus to 25% - 75%. Click "Apply Now" to learn more about Preferred Rewards.
Earn 10,000 Bonus WorldPoints® points if you make your first transaction in the first 60 days
2x points per $1 on Norwegian purchases
1 point per $1 on everything else
No annual fee
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
Card
Rewards
Dollars*
Spending Rewards
34,320
343
Bonuses
10,000
100
Total
44,320
443
U.S. Pride® Credit Card
No Annual Fee
1.72%
$100
$618
Graph Card
More Details
Annual Fee
No Annual Fee
APR
13.24% - 23.24% Variable
Card Details
$100 online cash rewards bonus after you spend at least $500 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
3% cash back on gas, and 2% cash back at grocery stores for the first $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter
1% cash back elsewhere.
0% APR for the first 12 billing cycles and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days, then, 13.24% - 23.24% Variable APR. 3% fee (min $10) applies to balance transfers.
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
Card
Rewards
Dollars*
Spending Rewards
518
518
Bonuses
0
100
Total
518
618
BankAmericard Cash Rewards™ for Students
No Annual Fee
1.23%
$100
$443
Graph Card
More Details
Annual Fee
No Annual Fee
APR
13.24% - 23.24% Variable
Card Details
$100 online cash rewards bonus after you spend at least $500 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
3% cash back on gas, and 2% cash back at grocery stores for the first $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter
1% cash back elsewhere.
0% APR for the first 12 billing cycles and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days, then, 13.24% - 23.24% Variable APR. 3% fee (min $10) applies to balance transfers.
All 32 team cards are available, customized with your favorite team's colors and logo
Earn 10,000 bonus points after $500 in purchases in the first 90 days, enough to redeem for $100 cash back
20% off purchases at NFLShop.com - that's $20 off every $100 you spend
0% Promotional APR for 6 months on eligible NFL ticket purchases. After that a variable APR will apply, 15.24%, 20.24% or 25.24%, based on your creditworthiness
Earn 2 points per $1 on NFL or Team purchases - eligible game tickets, in-stadium and team pro shop purchases - and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
Redeem points for NFL game tickets, VIP experiences, or 1% cash back beginning at 2,500 points for $25
0% Introductory APR for 15 months on Balance Transfers made within 45 days of account opening. After that a variable APR will apply, 15.24%, 20.24% or 25.24%, based on your creditworthiness. Please note, there is a fee for balance transfers.
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
Card
Rewards
Dollars*
Spending Rewards
34,320
343
Bonuses
10,000
100
Total
44,320
443
World Wildlife Fund Credit Card
No Annual Fee
1.72%
$100
$618
Graph Card
More Details
Annual Fee
No Annual Fee
APR
13.24% - 23.24% Variable
Card Details
$100 online cash rewards bonus after you spend at least $500 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
3% cash back on gas, and 2% cash back at grocery stores for the first $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter
1% cash back elsewhere.
0% APR for the first 12 billing cycles and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days, then, 13.24% - 23.24% Variable APR. 3% fee (min $10) applies to balance transfers.
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
Card
Rewards
Dollars*
Spending Rewards
518
518
Bonuses
0
100
Total
518
618
Wells Fargo Propel American Express® Card
$0
1.37%
$0
$494
Graph Card
More Details
Annual Fee
$0
APR
13.24%-25.24% (Variable)
Card Details
Earn 3X points at U.S. gas stations, 2X points at U.S. restaurants, 1X point on all other net purchases every day
No Annual Fee
0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
Earn an annual bonus of 10% Go Far™ Rewards points on non-bonus rewards points if you maintain a qualifying Consumer Wells Fargo Checking or Savings Account
Enjoy exclusive offers on airline tickets, hotels, car rentals, and cruises
Redeem points for travel, gift cards, cash back or merchandise through Go Far™ Rewards
2 points for every $1 spent on all Holland American purchases
1 point for every $1 spent otherwise
Redeem rewards towards discounted, reduced, and free cruise redemptions
Visa Signature rewards include access to exclusive events and special offers, travel and emergency assistance, travel accident insurance, roadside dispatch, lost luggage reimbursements, and auto rental collision damage waiver
Earn 3,000 points, after making $500 in purchases, outside of Farmers®, within 90 days of account opening
Earn 3x points on Farmers Products, plus 3x points for gas purchases, 3x points for home improvement purchases, and 1x point everywhere else Visa is accepted
0% introductory APR on all purchases in the first 12 months. After that the APR is 13.24% to 20.24% based on Prime Rate and creditworthiness
15,000 bonus miles after you make a purchase with the World MasterCard® credit card - enough for up to 3 roundtrip off-peak tickets, with taxes and fees from $11.20 per award
Earn 5,000 anniversary bonus FREE SPIRIT™ miles when you spend at least $10,000 in purchases annually and pay your annual fee
Enjoy a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year
a $59 fee will apply to World Mastercard® accounts thereafter
Discover matches all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year - automatically. Only for new cardmembers.*
5% cash back in categories that change each quarter like gas, restaurants, home improvement stores and more -up to the quarterly maximum when you sign up.* 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Good Grades Rewards: $20 cash back each school year your GPA is 3.0 or higher for up to the next 5 years.*
No annual fee.* No overlimit fee. No foreign transaction fee. No late fee on first late payment & paying late won't raise your APR.*
Track your recent FICO® Credit Scores for free in one easy-to-read chart on monthly statements & online.*
Freeze ItSM on/off switch lets you prevent new purchases, cash advances & balance transfers on misplaced cards in seconds by mobile app & online.* Plus get 100% U.S. based customer service.
0% intro APR* on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 13.24% - 22.24%.
Discover matches all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year - automatically. Only for new cardmembers.*
2% cash back at restaurants and gas stations on up to $1,000 in combined purchases every quarter--no sign-ups needed.* 1% cash back on all your other purchases.
0% intro APR* on purchases & balance transfers for 12 months--then a variable purchase APR applies, currently 11.24% - 23.24%. A 3% fee applies to each transferred balance.
Freeze ItSM on/off switch lets you prevent new purchases, cash advances & balance transfers on misplaced cards in seconds by mobile app & online.* Plus get 100% U.S. based customer service.
Track your recent FICO® Credit Scores for free in one easy-to-read chart on monthly statements & online.*
No annual fee.* No overlimit fee. No foreign transaction fee. No late fee on first late payment & paying late won't raise your APR.*
Each Discover purchase is monitored. If it's unusual, you're alerted by e-mail, phone or text and you're never responsible for unauthorized purchases on your Discover card.
Choose your favorite team & show your pride! Plus get 10% off at Shop.NHL.com and NHL.TV™.*
Discover matches all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year - automatically. Only for new cardmembers.*
5% cash back in categories that change each quarter like gas, restaurants, home improvement stores and more -up to the quarterly maximum when you sign up* 1% cash back on all other purchases.
0% intro APR* on purchases & balance transfers for 12 months--then a variable purchase APR applies, currently 11.24% - 23.24%. A 3% fee applies to each transferred balance.
Freeze ItSM on/off switch lets you prevent new purchases, cash advances & balance transfers on misplaced cards in seconds by mobile app & online.* Plus get 100% U.S. based customer service.
Track your recent FICO® Credit Scores for free in one easy-to-read chart on monthly statements & online.*
No annual fee.* No overlimit fee. No foreign transaction fee. No late fee on first late payment & paying late won't raise your APR.*
Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you use your new Card to make $1,000 in purchases in your first 3 months.
Use your Card 30 or more times on purchases in a billing period and earn 50% more points on those purchases less returns and credits. Terms and limitations apply.
3x points at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1x); 2x points at US gas stations; 1x points on other purchases. Terms and limitations apply.
You can use Membership Rewards® Pay with Points to pay for all or part of your flight, hotel booked and paid in advance, vacation or cruise booking through amextravel.com.
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months, then a variable rate, currently 13.24% to 23.24%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors.
Special Offer - Earn 5% cash back on eligible travel purchases in the first 6 months, up to $200.
Plus, earn $150 back after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months.
You will receive cash back in the form of statement credits.
Everyday Cash Back: 6% at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%); 3% at U.S. gas stations; 1% other purchases. Terms and limitations apply.
No rotating reward categories. No enrollment required.
Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit. You can only earn cash back on eligible purchases.
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months, then a variable rate, currently 13.24% to 23.24%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors.
3X miles for every dollar spent on eligible US Airways and American Airlines purchases. Earn 2X miles for every dollar spent on eligible hotels and car rentals. 1x mile for every 1 dollar spent on all other purchases.
Apply for Global Entry with TSA Pre_™ and, upon approval, experience expedited, more efficient security screenings, moving you smoothly through U.S. customs when returning from traveling abroad.
Pay for the $100 Global Entry application fee with your card and you’ll automatically receive a $100 statement credit 2-3 weeks after your transaction.
No Balance Transfer Fees - start saving immediately!
A low variable APR on balance transfers and purchases
No Annual Fee
Choose your card benefits and features
Get rewarded through the new Giveback™ program, where Barclaycard Ring members get money back for good performance
Get exclusive access to our online community and vote on the card features you like and view the financials of the Barclaycard Ring MasterCard online
Learn more about personal finance from Barclaycard and other members
Complimentary FICO® Credit Scores as a benefit to active cardmembers. Opt-in to have instant and convenient access to FICO® Scores from your Barclaycard online account.
Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles after $5,000 in purchases the first 3 months
2 AAdvantage miles for every $1 spent on American Airlines
1 mile for every $1 spent otherwise
Admirals Club membership for you and your immediate family
No foreign transaction fees
First checked bag is free for you and your companions
Priority check-in, screening, and boarding
Receive a 25% savings on eligible in-flight purchases
No annual mileage cap
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
Card
Rewards
Dollars*
Spending Rewards
34,320
463
Less Annual Fees
900
Total
34,320
-437
MasterCard® Black Card™
$495
-1.32%
$0
$-475
Graph Card
More Details
Annual Fee
$495
APR
15.24% Variable
Card Details
1x points for every $1 you spend
Membership to Lounge Club, which gives access to airport lounges worldwide
Luxury gift items
Stainless steel construction
Members-Only Luxury Magazine
$100 Annual Airline Credit Toward Qualifying Airline Purchases
Luxury Card Concierge
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months
Card
Rewards
Dollars*
Spending Rewards
34,320
515
Less Annual Fees
990
Total
34,320
-475
How To Find The Best Rewards Credit Card
If you want to look at more options than the ones we've listed, here are some considerations we think you should make in your quest to find the best rewards card. Use this guide as a framework for evaluating any credit card offers you come across to help you compare how each card might fit into your personal spending decisions.
Take a look at your spending habits
Consumers shopping for a rewards credit card often just want a single answer to "What is the best rewards card?" Unfortunately the answer is "It depends." Which rewards card will be the best for you will depend entirely on your personal spending, travel and credit habits. Before researching cards take a moment to consider your personal preferences, it will go a long way in helping you find the best rewards card.
Do You Keep A Balance On Your Credit Card? In exchange for giving you bonuses and rewards, rewards credit cards will generally have a significantly higher interest rate. If you're unable to pay off the entirety of your monthly charges, you'll easily pay more in additional interest than you could earn from rewards. Rewards card are only a good option for consumers that keep very low to no credit card debt on a monthly basis. If you are having difficulty zeroing out your balance, consider a low interest credit card first. You're much better off reducing your interest payments than trying to get a percentage point or two in rewards.
Be Honest To Yourself About How You Use Rewards: Cards that give you a large amount of rewards are great, if you use them. Americans rack up millions of dollars of frequent flyer miles, hotel loyalty points and credit card rewards that are never used. For those consumers these rewards might as well be worth 0. Take inventory of how much you travel or how much you spend in different categories since it will make a large impact in what rewards can make sense.
You might also consider whether you're the type to save up towards one big redemption or want to be able to benefit from rewards as frequently as possible. Many loyalty program affiliated cards can require you to rack up thousands in points and miles before you can actually use them. Lastly, think about how much do you value flexibility. Aggressive consumers can get a much better dollar value out of their rewards, but it will usually limit their choices for rewards redemption.
How Much Are You Going To Spend On A New Card: Cards with the highest rewards rates often come with an annual fee. With many no-fee rewards credit card options available, the decision to pay an annual fee will depend on the amount you will spend on the card. As a rule of thumb, you should plan to spend at least $1,000 a month for a fee-based rewards card to be viable.
Understand how different cards work
In examining the different rewards credit cards we looked at different factors that come into play when choosing the best. Understanding all these different aspects can help you figure out just how good a card really is.
Take A Look At How The Rewards Work: While most cards use the same set of terms (points, miles, cash back), the ways these rewards work will vary tremendously. Look to see if rewards can be applied as statement credits, cash back or solely through an award redemption. Statement credits and cash back are our favorite options when available. Some cards allow you to transfer your rewards to other loyalty programs giving you another way to use what you've earned.
Rewards Rate: If your rewards card is going to be your primary card then the rewards rate for general spending is very important. For everyday spending you can expect to earn to 2% of what you spend as rewards. The more flexible the type of reward you get from the card, the lower the rewards rate you can expect. Travel rewards cards will generally have among the highest rewards rates.
Signing Bonuses Matter: The promotions offered to new card holders are a major portion of the value you can get from a new rewards card. Earning these bonuses will require you to either make a purchase on the card or spend a certain amount within a set time limit. With the value of signing bonuses ranging from $50 - $500 making sure you can fulfill the qualifications can change the value of a card tremendously. Be sure to make sure you are eligible. You may not qualify for the signing bonus if you already have a similar credit card with the same issuer.
* 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.
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.
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