Rewards credit cards are great because you can earn cash, points, miles, and other benefits just from doing your regular spending. There are many different rewards credit cards out there, so be sure to keep reading to learn which one is the best option for you.
Check out our list of the best credit card bonuses here.
Types of Rewards
Some credit cards allow you to earn a certain percentage back on every purchase you make, which you can redeem later for cash back. Cards that allow you to earn cash back are great because they are more flexible than earning miles or points and the value doesn’t vary.
Transferable points can be converted for maximum value to partner loyalty programs. In general, because of its redemption versatility, this form of reward holds the most appeal.
You can earn transferable points through American Express Membership Rewards®, Capital One® Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards® and Citi ThankYou® Rewards.
A new form of compensation has gained momentum in recent years. These hybrid cards gain money back, but when combined with other cards of the same family, you can also turn their cash rewards into more valuable point currencies.
For instance, the Citi® Double Cash Card earns cash back, but you can combine it with the Citi Premier® Card to convert your cash rewards into Citi ThankYou® Rewards points.
You can earn points or miles through certain loyalty programs, usually through an airline or hotel. They also come with brand-specific advantages, such as free checked bags (airline cards) and elite status (hotel cards) for free.
The currencies of loyalty programs are not as versatile as transferable points, but can hold a lot of value. Check out a list of our favorite airline rewards credit cards. Furthermore, find a list of our best hotel credit cards.
What We Considered
These factors were taken into account when we made this list of best rewards credit cards.
- Welcome bonus
- Earning potential
- Annual fees
- Point values
- Rewards flexibility
- Rewards simplicity
- Additional benefits
- Transfer partners
- Rates & fees
The Best Rewards Credit Cards
 The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards. You'll earn: • 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards • 3X points on dining • 3X points on select streaming services and online grocery purchases • 2X points on all other travel purchases • 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases Enjoy new benefits such as a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit and when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards, you'll get 25% more value! This card carries a $95 annual fee. |
 The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers a one-time bonus of 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening. You're able to earn: • 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day. • 5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel This card does come with a $95 annual fee. Enjoy no foreign transaction fees and receive up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✔®. |
 The Platinum Card® from American Express offers 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. You'll earn: • 5X Membership Rewards Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. • 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. This card comes with an annual fee of $695 (See Rates & Fees), but you cardholders can enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member and Additional Centurion Cards only. Terms Apply. Terms apply. |
 The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It(R) to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 intro plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months from the date of account opening. Plans created after that will have a monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each eligible purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors. Low intro APR: 0% for 12 months on purchases from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 18.99% to 29.99% You'll earn • 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%). • 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions. • 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more). • 1% Cash Back on other purchases. Get $7 back each month after using your Blue Cash Preferred Card to spend $12.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription to The Disney Bundle, which includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. Enrollment required. The card does come with a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. (See Rates & Fees) Terms Apply. |
 The American Express® Gold Card offers 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months. Terms apply. You'll earn: • 4X Membership Rewards Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., • 4X Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). • 3X Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required. This card has an annual fee of $250 with no foreign transaction fees (See Rates & Fees). Terms apply. |
 With the Citi® Double Cash Card - 18 month BT offer: Earn cash back twice. Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.99% - 28.99%, based on your creditworthiness. This card comes with no annual fee. |
The Discover it Cash Back Card is the best card for bonus category cash rewards.
 With the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card, you can enjoy: Earning unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day. No rotating categories or limits to how much you can earn, and cash back doesn't expire for the life of the account. It's that simple Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply. With responsible use, you can help strengthen your credit and be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months. You'll be able to monitor your credit profile with the free CreditWise® app and enjoy $0 fraud liability if your card is ever lost or stolen. This card comes with a $39 annual fee. |
Additional Guides
- The Best Hotel Credit Cards For Travel Benefits + Rewards
- The Best Travel Credit Cards: Rewards and Benefits
- Best Credit Cards For Restaurant Purchases
- Best Credit Cards for Supermarket & Grocery Store Purchases
- No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards
Author’s Verdict
The right card for you might not be the right one for someone else. It all depends on your spending patterns and financial goals. A travel credit card is great if you want to earn free flights and hotels. On the other hand, you should opt for a cashback card if you want to save money on everyday purchases.
For more credit cards, see our latest list of the best credit card bonuses!
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