Using a rewards credit card is a way to get rebates for your purchases in the form of cash back, points or miles that you can use to book travel, buy gift cards, shop online and more. The best rewards credit cards often offer extra payouts in everyday spending categories such as groceries, gas or dining, which can help you build a stash of rewards quickly.
Rewards credit cards can also provide other valuable benefits, such as welcome bonuses, introductory 0% annual percentage rate (APR) promotions, statement credits to cover select purchases and travel perks. Read on to find out which rewards credit cards are right for you.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Regular APR
21.49% – 28.49% Variable
On Chase Bank USA, NA’s Secure Website
Methodology
Our team of experts reviewed dozens of rewards credit cards, considering various factors including fees, rewards, APRs and benefits. Using a data-based approach, we narrowed down the list to the top 10 credit cards that scored highly based on our weightings. Read our full methodology below.
Show summary
All information about Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
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Best rewards credit card
Key takeaways
2X
Earn unlimited 2x miles on every purchase, every day.
5X
Earn 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options.
5/5
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
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Best premium rewards card
Key takeaways
2X
Earn 2 miles per dollar on all eligible purchases.
2X
Earn 5 miles per dollar on flights when booking via Capital One Travel.
10X
Earn 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars when booking via Capital One Travel.
4.5/5
Best premium rewards card
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card
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Best cash back card
Key takeaways
5X
5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Center.
5X
5% cash back on your first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter on two categories of choice.
2X
2% cash back on one everyday category (like gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants).
1X
1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
3.9/5
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Best mid-tier travel rewards card
Key takeaways
5x
Earn 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
3x
Earn 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries
2x
Earn 2x on all other travel purchases
1x
Earn 1x on all other purchases, plus more
4.6/5
Best mid-tier travel rewards card
On Chase Bank USA, NA’s Secure Website
British Airways Visa Signature® Card
Key takeaways
75k
Earn 75,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. 5x Avios on up to $10k in gas, grocery stores, and dining purchases for first 12 months!
3x
Earn 3 Avios per $1 spent on purchases with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, and LEVEL.
2x
Earn 2 Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel.
1x
Earn 1 Avios per $1 spent on all other purchases.
4.1/5
On Chase Bank USA, NA’s Secure Website
IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
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Best no-annual-fee hotel card
Key takeaways
17X
Earn 5 points per dollar at IHG Hotels & Resorts.
3X
Earn 3 points per dollar on monthly bills and gas station and restaurant spending.
2X
Earn 2 points per dollar on all other purchases.
4.6/5
Best no-annual-fee hotel card
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
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Best mid-tier hotel card
Key takeaways
3X
Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining.
17X
Earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card.
5/5
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
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Best premium hotel card
Key takeaways
6X
Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®.
3X
3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines.
2X
2X points on all other eligible purchases.
4.5/5
All information about Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored.
Our picks at a glance
Types of rewards credit cards
- Cash-back credit cards: These cards typically offer straight cash back on every purchase you make. Depending on the card, you may receive a flat rewards rate on all spending, tiered rewards where the rewards rate depends on the spending category or rotating bonus rewards where rewards rates can change over time.
- General rewards credit cards: These credit cards offer points that you can redeem in a variety of ways. Options may include cash back, gift cards, travel, online shopping and even charitable donations. Some general travel rewards programs may also allow you to transfer your points to select airline and hotel loyalty programs for added flexibility.
- Co-branded airline credit cards: Co-branded airline cards allow you to earn miles or points with a single frequent flyer program. In many cases, they also offer perks when you fly with the airline, such as priority boarding, a free checked bag and savings on in-flight purchases.
- Co-branded hotel credit cards: Like airline cards, co-branded hotel credit cards offer rewards with a single hotel rewards program. Many also offer elite status in the rewards program, which can give you perks like priority for late checkout and bonus points on your stays. Some cards also offer a complimentary one-night stay each year.
What are rewards credit cards?
Rewards credit cards are cards that offer cash back, points or miles when you use them to make purchases. However, they typically don’t offer rewards on cash advances, balance transfers and other transactions that aren’t considered purchases. Using rewards credit cards can help consumers make the most of their everyday spending.
Who should consider a rewards credit card?
Whether you want to earn cash back to help offset your expenses or prefer stocking up on points and miles to use for a vacation, a rewards credit card can help. Getting something back for purchases you make anyway is a low-effort way to save money, plus rewards credit cards often come with purchase protections and other benefits that can make your life a little easier.
Consider a rewards credit card if you spend less than you earn. Carrying a balance on a credit card can result in costly interest charges, which can nullify the value you get from your rewards.
How to choose the right rewards credit card
Before choosing any credit card, you should understand your financial position and the card’s application requirements. If you are considering rewards credit cards, you should aim to have good or excellent credit, with your best bet being a credit score of 700 or higher.
Consumers with higher scores are more likely to be approved for the best rewards credit cards. Additionally, card issuers may have restrictions based on how many credit cards you already have with the issuer or how many credit cards you’ve opened recently overall.
Some issuers let consumers see offers they may qualify for via online pre-qualification or preapproval. Checking offers in this way won’t affect your credit and can help you avoid rejection.
With all that in mind, here are some factors to consider as you research rewards credit cards.
Points vs. miles vs. cash back rewards
Think about how you want to use the rewards you earn on your everyday spending. If you prefer simplicity and flexibility, for instance, a cash-back credit card may be the right choice.
If you regularly fly with a particular airline or use a certain hotel chain, you may want to consider a points- or miles-earning co-branded airline or hotel rewards card.
With airline or hotel loyalty programs and general rewards cards you may be able to get more value out of your rewards based on how you redeem them, including by transferring your rewards to other loyalty programs.
Welcome bonus offers
When you open a new credit card, you may qualify for a welcome bonus — some amount of money or points in exchange for spending a certain amount in a set period. Many cash-back credit cards offer welcome bonuses totaling between $100 and $250, with minimum spending thresholds ranging from $500 to $3,000.
Rewards cards with annual fees tend to have higher sign-up bonuses and spending requirements. Credit card issuers also run limited-time promotions, where you can earn a higher bonus. With time and patience, you may be able to snag a standout offer.
Before you apply for a card, get an idea of how much you typically spend on a credit card each month to determine if you can meet the requirement to earn the card’s welcome offer.
Earning rates and spending habits
Knowing how much you spend each month, and what you buy, will also help you choose the best rewards credit card. Categorize your expenses over the past few months to understand where your money is going.
If you spend a lot on groceries, for instance, focus on cards that offer bonus rewards on grocery store purchases. The same goes for other everyday spending categories, such as gas, dining, travel, streaming subscriptions, online shopping and more. If you don’t spend a lot in any one area or you don’t want to keep track of different rewards rates and spending categories, opt for a card that offers the same rewards rate on everything.
Fees
The first fee to watch out for with a rewards credit card is the annual fee. While annual fees aren’t inherently bad, make sure you can get enough value from the card’s benefits and rewards program to offset the yearly cost.
If you want to transfer a balance from another card, consider the balance transfer fee, which typically ranges from 3% to 5% of the transfer amount. And if you plan to travel abroad, consider a card that doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee, which can be as much as 3% of each international purchase.
How do I redeem my credit card reward points?
Rewards redemption options can also vary depending on which card you choose. You may be able to redeem for a statement credit, direct deposit or paper check. Some cards also allow you to use your rewards to buy gift cards, shop online or book travel.
With co-branded airline and hotel credit cards, you’re generally limited to redeeming your points or miles through the airline or hotel loyalty program.
Benefits of a rewards credit card
Beyond the rewards programs, make sure you understand the benefits and perks each card offers. Focus on perks that you’ll use.
For example, if you have a large purchase coming up or need to pay down a high-interest credit card balance, a 0% APR promotion could save you a lot of money. If you’re a frequent traveler, you may gravitate toward rewards cards with travel perks, such as statement credits to cover select travel expenses, complimentary airport lounge access or special perks with an airline or hotel chain.
You’ll often see built-in protections on rewards credit cards as well, such as cell phone insurance, trip delay coverage or extended warranty.
Limitations of a rewards credit card
Rewards credit cards often involve trade-offs. For example, a high rewards rate on certain purchases might sound appealing, but if you don’t spend enough in a card’s bonus categories to justify the annual fee, the card might not be worth it. Similarly, cards that advertise upscale benefits such as airport lounge access and travel credits almost always have an annual fee. Again, you’ll want to consider whether these perks are worth it.
And it bears repeating — if you carry a balance on your credit cards, the value of the rewards you earn can get wiped out by interest charges. Don’t spend beyond your means just to earn rewards.
How to maximize your credit card rewards
Once you start earning rewards with your credit card, it’s important to stay on top of your account and rewards balance.
- Make a plan to track your rewards. You’ll typically be able to keep track of your benefits and rewards balance in your online account or mobile app. If you have multiple rewards credit cards, however, it can help to maintain a spreadsheet or use an online tool to track everything. If you’re earning rewards for a specific purpose, keep in mind that it can take several weeks for your cash back, points or miles to post to your account — often after your statement closes each month.
- Evaluate your redemption options. You’ll also want to know the value of each of your redemption options. While some cards offer a lot of flexibility in how you can use your rewards, you may get less value for things like online shopping, gift cards and even cash back than travel, for example.
- Prioritize paying your balance in full. Finally, while unexpected events can make it difficult to pay your balance in full every month, make this a priority. If you carry a balance, the interest charges can quickly negate the value of the rewards you earn.
- Consider opening multiple cards. To make the most of your credit card rewards, be strategic about when to use each card. Consider having multiple cards to take advantage of bonus rewards on different spending categories. For purchases that don’t fall within bonus rewards categories, you may consider a card that earns more than 1% cash back or 1 point per dollar on everything. Also, you may benefit from having credit cards in different rewards programs to diversify your redemption options, or you may want to pair cards from the same program to accelerate your earning power with that program. Remember that you are responsible for making on-time payments on all of your accounts, which will require planning and organization.
Methodology
Our money and data analytics teams evaluated over 200 rewards credit cards. From there, we narrowed down our list of the best rewards credit cards by giving them a star rating out of five, based on the following factors and our editorial judgment:
Rewards value (30%)
Not all credit card points and miles have the same value. We used spending data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and estimates of rewards values from The Points Guy to determine which cards dole out the best rewards value.
Fees (25%)
Cards with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fee received a boost compared to cards with higher fees.
Welcome bonus value (20%)
Many rewards cards offer bonus cash back, points or miles to consumers who spend a certain amount in their first months with the card. We calculated how much those bonuses are worth using points valuations from The Points Guy, and boosted cards that offer more value.
Benefits (20%)
Cards that offer benefits such as cell phone protection, purchase protection, extended warranty and a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers received a boost.
Annual credits and bonuses (5%)
Credit cards that come with credits and bonuses for spending in categories including groceries, dining, entertainment and gas received a boost.
What didn’t make the cut
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®: The premium travel credit card offers valuable travel credits and complimentary airport lounge access, but makes it a little harder to recoup the annual fee compared to the Venture X.
- Chase Freedom Flex℠
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The information for the Chase Freedom Flex℠ has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
: The card offers 5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent each quarter in rotating spending categories (requires activation), which offers less potential than the U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card and its $2,000 quarterly limit. - Discover it® Cash Back
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The information for the Discover it® Cash Back has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
: The card also offers 5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent quarterly in rotating categories, similar to the Chase Freedom Flex℠
*
The information for the Chase Freedom Flex℠ has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
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Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Many rewards credit cards charge annual fees, but not all of them do. In particular, many cash-back credit cards don’t have an annual fee, while many travel credit cards do. If you’re considering a rewards credit card that charges an annual fee, evaluate the card’s benefits and rewards program to determine whether you can get enough value each year to offset the cost.
In many cases, yes, though it depends on the issuer and the specific cards you have. With Chase cards, for example, you can transfer rewards earned from one card to another card within the same rewards program. American Express, on the other hand, typically pools all the points you earn with its flagship rewards program automatically, so you don’t have to take the extra step.
Many rewards credit cards allow you to redeem your rewards for travel expenses. Depending on the card and the rewards program, however, your redemption options can vary. Some rewards programs have their own booking platform where you can book various types of travel, while others let you get a statement credit for previous travel purchases you’ve made with your card. If you have a general travel rewards program, you may also be able to transfer your points or miles to partner airline and hotel rewards programs.
There is no single best rewards program for everyone, so it’s important to consider your spending habits and preferences to determine the right fit for you. If you’re comparing general points and travel rewards programs, make sure you understand how flexible your redemption options are and whether you can get more value with certain redemptions.
Yes, most rewards credit cards allow balance transfers and cash advances. Some even offer an introductory 0% APR promotion to new cardholders who transfer a balance from another credit card, allowing you to pay off the debt interest-free during the promotional period. Keep in mind, though, that balance transfers and cash advances don’t earn rewards. Additionally, you’ll usually have an upfront fee for both transactions, and cash advances also typically carry a higher interest rate than purchases. Finally, unlike with purchases, you will normally begin accruing interest on balance transfers and cash advances immediately.
*The information for the following card(s) has been collected independently by CNN Underscored Money: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
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The information for the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
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The information for the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
, U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card
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The information for the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
, IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
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The information for the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
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The information for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
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The information for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
, Chase Freedom Flex℠
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The information for the Chase Freedom Flex℠ has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
, and Discover it® Cash Back
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The information for the Discover it® Cash Back has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
All information about Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored.
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*
The information for the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
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The information for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
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To view rates and fees for The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
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The information for the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
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