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16 Best Rewards Credit Cards of March 2024

Jae Bratton

ALSO CONSIDER:   Best credit cards of 2024 ||  Best travel credit cards ||  Best cash back credit cards ||  Best airline credit cards

Rewards credit cards come in two main varieties: cash-back cards and travel cards. Cash-back cards pay you back a percentage of the amount of each transaction. Travel rewards credit cards give you points or miles for each dollar you spend; you redeem those rewards for free flights, hotel stays and more. No single rewards credit card is right for everyone. It's all about how you spend money and what kind of rewards you value.

Some of our selections for the best rewards credit cards can be applied for through NerdWallet, and some cannot. Below, you'll find application links for the credit cards from our partners that are available through NerdWallet, followed by the full list of our picks.

250+ credit cards reviewed and rated by our team of experts

80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance

100+ categories of best credit card selections ( See our top picks )

Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics ( Methodology )

NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity .

Show summary

NerdWallet's Best Rewards Credit Cards of March 2024

Chase Freedom Unlimited® : Best for Cash back — bonus categories + high ongoing rate

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card : Best for Travel rewards — flat-rate rewards

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card : Best for Cash back — high flat rate + incentives

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card : Best for Travel rewards — bonus categories

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card : Best for Dining and groceries + no annual fee

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express : Best for Cash back — families (groceries, gas, commuting, streaming)

Discover it® Cash Back : Best for Cash back — bonus categories + cash-back match

Citi Custom Cash® Card : Best for Cash back — 5% categories tailored to your spending

Chase Freedom Flex℠ : Best for Cash back — up to 5% in multiple categories + cash bonus

Citi Double Cash® Card : Best for Cash back — high flat rate

Discover it® Student Chrome : Best for College students

U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card : Best for Flexible foodie rewards + no annual fee

U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card : Best for Cash back — maximum customization potential

World of Hyatt Credit Card : Best for Hotel credit card

Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card : Best for Rewards on rent payments

United℠ Explorer Card : Best for Airline card

Best Rewards Credit Cards From Our Partners

Find the right credit card for you..

Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.

Cash back — bonus categories + high ongoing rate

Travel rewards — flat-rate rewards, cash back — high flat rate + incentives, travel rewards — bonus categories, dining and groceries + no annual fee, cash back — families (groceries, gas, commuting, streaming), cash back — bonus categories + cash-back match, cash back — 5% categories tailored to your spending, cash back — up to 5% in multiple categories + cash bonus, cash back — high flat rate, college students, flexible foodie rewards + no annual fee, cash back — maximum customization potential, hotel credit card, rewards on rent payments, airline card, full list of editorial picks: best rewards credit cards.

Before applying, confirm details on the issuer’s website.

Citi Double Cash® Card

Our pick for: Cash back — high flat rate

Year after year, the Citi Double Cash® Card has been a top choice among flat-rate cash-back cards. You earn 2% cash back on every purchase — 1% when you buy something and 1% when you pay it off. There's no 0% intro period for purchases and no bonus categories, but the high rewards rate more than makes up for the lack of bells and whistles. Read our review.

Citi Custom Cash® Card

Our pick for: Cash back — 5% categories tailored to your spending

The Citi Custom Cash® Card offers a lot of value for a $0 annual fee: 5% back automatically in your eligible top spending category on up to $500 spent per billing cycle (1% back on other spending). The list of eligible 5% categories is varied and includes biggies like restaurants, grocery stores and more. And unlike with its competitors, there's no activation schedule or bonus calendar to keep track of. Read our review.

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Our pick for: Cash back — high flat rate + incentives

Among flat-rate cash-back cards, you'll be hard-pressed to beat the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card . It earns an unlimited 2% back on all purchases, which is excellent. But in addition, the card offers a rich sign-up bonus and a generous 0% intro APR on both purchases and balance transfers. That's an impressive, hard-to-find combination of features on a card with a $0 annual fee.  Read our review.

Chase Freedom Flex℠

Our pick for: Cash back — up to 5% in multiple categories + cash bonus

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ offers bonus cash back in quarterly categories that you activate, as well as on travel booked through Chase, at restaurants and at drugstores. Category activation can be a hassle, but if your spending matches the categories — and for a lot of people, it will — you can rack up hundreds of dollars a year. There's a fantastic bonus offer for new cardholders and an intro APR offer, too. Read our review.

Discover it® Cash Back

Our pick for: Cash back — bonus categories + cashback match

The Discover it® Cash Back earns bonus cash back in quarterly categories that you activate. In past years, those categories have included common spending areas like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and specific major retailers. Category activation can be a hassle, but if your spending aligns with those categories (and for most households, it probably will), you can rake in serious rewards. You also get the issuer's signature "cash-back match" bonus in your first year. Read our review.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Our pick for: Cash back — bonus categories + high ongoing rate

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® was already a fine card when it offered 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Now it's even better, with bonus rewards on travel booked through Chase, as well as at restaurants and drugstores. On top of all that, new cardholders get a 0% introductory APR period and the opportunity to earn a sweet bonus. Read our review.

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Our pick for: Cash back — families (groceries, gas, commuting, streaming)

If your household spends a lot on groceries, gas, transit and streaming, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is for you. The rewards it pays in those categories — particularly at U.S. supermarkets and on select U.S. streaming subscriptions — are among the richest of any card. There's a nice welcome offer for new cardholders and an introductory APR period, too. The generous benefits come at a cost, though: Unlike most cash-back cards, this one charges an annual fee. Read our review.

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Our pick for: Dining and groceries + no annual fee

Love the night life but dead-set against paying an annual fee? Consider the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card . It pays a lower cash-back rate on dining and entertainment than the regular Savor card, but the rewards are nevertheless quite good ( see rates and fees ). The sign-up bonus is smaller than on the annual-fee version, too, but it's still solid ( see rates and fees ). Read our review.

U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card

Our pick for: Cash back — customizable rewards

If you don't mind putting some work into your rewards, check out the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card . It might be the most customizable cash back card available. You pick which categories earn the most cash back — you get two 5% categories and a 2% category — and you can change those options every quarter. There's a good bonus offer for new cardholders, too. Read our review.

U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card

Our pick for: Flexible food rewards + no annual fee

The  U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card is perhaps the most cost-effective restaurant card on the market, earning a whopping 4 points per dollar on dining purchases including takeout and delivery. You can find higher rates on dining, but not on cards with no annual fee. Read our review. 

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Our pick for: Travel rewards — flat-rate rewards

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is probably the best-known general-purpose travel credit card, thanks to its ubiquitous advertising. You earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases. Miles can be redeemed at a value of 1 cent apiece for any travel purchase, without the blackout dates and other restrictions of branded hotel and airline cards. The card offers a great sign-up bonus and other worthwhile perks ( see rates and fees ). Read our review.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Our pick for: Travel rewards — bonus categories

For a reasonable annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns bonus rewards (up to 5X) on travel, dining, select streaming services, and select online grocery purchases. Points are worth 25% more when you redeem them for travel booked through Chase, or you can transfer them to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. The sign-up bonus is stellar, too. Read our review. 

Discover it® Student Chrome

Our pick for: College students

Simplicity makes the Discover it® Student Chrome a standout for students searching for their first credit card. You'll earn bonus cash back at restaurants and gas stations with no activation required and no rotating categories to keep track of. Read our review.

Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card

Our pick for: Rewards on rent payments

The Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card stands out by offering credit card rewards on rent payments without incurring an additional transaction fee. The ability to earn rewards on what for many people is their single biggest monthly expense makes this card worth a look for any renter. You also get bonus points on dining and travel when you make at least five transactions on the card each statement period, and redemption options include point transfers to partner hotel and loyalty programs. Read our review.

United℠ Explorer Card

Our pick for: Airline card

The United℠ Explorer Card earns bonus rewards not only on spending with United Airlines but also at restaurants and on eligible hotel stays. And the perks are outstanding for a basic airline card — a free checked bag, priority boarding, lounge passes and more. Read our review.

» Not a United frequent flyer? See our best airline cards for other options

World of Hyatt Credit Card

Our pick for: Hotel credit card

Hyatt isn't as big as its competitors, but World of Hyatt Credit Card is worth a look for anyone who spends a lot of time on the road. You can earn a lot of points even on non-Hyatt spending, and those points have a high value compared with rival programs. There's a great sign-up bonus, free nights, automatic elite status and more. Read our review.

Not a Hyatt customer? See our best hotel cards for other options.

U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card

Our pick for: Road trips

The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card is one of the most generous cards on the market if you're taking to the skies or the road, thanks to the quadruple points it earns on travel and purchases at gas stations and EV charging stations. It's also a solid card for everyday expenses like groceries, dining and streaming, and it comes with ongoing credits that can offset its annual fee:  $0 intro for the first year, then $95 .  Read our review .

OTHER RESOURCES

Understanding cash-back rewards cards, how cash-back rewards work.

With a cash-back credit card , you earn rewards equal to a percentage of the amount you spend. Cash-back rates range from 1% to 6% — that is, 1 cent to 6 cents per dollar spent — depending on the card you use and where you use it. Your monthly statement will show you the rewards you've earned to date; you can also track your rewards online.

Cash-back cards come in three main varieties: flat-rate, tiered and bonus-category.

Flat-rate cards

The simplest cash back cards earn the same percentage on every purchase, no matter where you use your card. Examples include:

The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card , which earns 1.5% cash back on purchases.

The Citi Double Cash® Card , which earns 2% on purchases — 1% for every dollar you spend and 1% for every dollar you pay back.

Tiered cards

These cards pay a higher rate in certain categories and 1% back on everything else. Every card has its own structure, designed to appeal to a specific type of consumer. For example:

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a good card for families. It earns 6% back on up to $6,000 in spending per year at U.S. supermarkets (1% after that); 6% back on select U.S. streaming services; 3% back at U.S. gas stations and on transit expenses like taxis, tolls, trains and buses; and 1% everywhere else (terms apply).

The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is a nice option for people who like a night out. It pays 3% cash back on dining and entertainment, as well as popular streaming services and grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target). It pays 1% on all other purchases

Cards with rotating or customizable categories

Cards with bonus categories that change from time to time require more effort from you. You have to have to "opt in" or "activate" the bonus categories online. Some cards even let you (or make you, depending on your perspective) choose your own categories. Once you've opted in, spending in the bonus categories earns a higher rate, although the amount of spending eligible for the bonus rate is typically capped. Examples:

The Discover it® Cash Back pays 5% cash back in bonus categories that change every three months, on up to $1,500 in spending per quarter. (Category activation required.) All other spending earns 1%. Common quarterly categories include grocery stores, gas stations and restaurants.

The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card lets you customize your categories. You earn 5% back on up to $2,000 in combined quarterly spending on two categories you choose from a pretty extensive list, plus 2% back in one “everyday” category you choose, such as gas stations or grocery stores. All other purchases earn 1% back. Category options are subject to change, and you must make your choices each quarter.

What determines your bonus rewards?

When a card pays bonus cash back in specific categories, you earn those higher rewards based on where you use your card , not what you buy . If the category is "grocery stores," for example, then anything you buy at a supermarket will count — not just groceries. Conversely, groceries bought somewhere else, such as at a drugstore, wouldn't qualify for grocery store rewards.

Each merchant that accepts credit cards is assigned a category code by credit card networks like Visa. The code identifies the type of merchant it is, and these codes are what trigger your bonus rewards.

How to redeem cash-back rewards

Despite the term "cash back," most people don't actually take their cash-back rewards in the form of, well, cash back. The easiest and most common thing to do is to apply your rewards to your account as a statement credit. This directly reduces the amount you owe. (If your balance is $80, for example, and you redeem $30 in cash back, your balance becomes $50.) You're not getting literal cash back from the issuer, but less cash will be coming out of your pocket to pay the bill, so the effect is the same.

Depending on the card, you could also get your rewards deposited directly into your bank account or receive them as a check in the mail. Some cards set a minimum amount to redeem, usually $20 or $25. Other cards have no minimum for redemption.

» MORE: For cash-back options beyond those featured on this page, see our best cash-back credit cards .

UNDERSTANDING TRAVEL REWARDS CARDS

How travel rewards work, by sam kemmis , nerdwallet point and miles expert.

With a travel rewards credit card , you earn points or miles every time you use the card, but you can often earn more points per dollar in select categories. For example, some travel rewards cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve® , offer bonus points on any travel spending, while others grant bonus points only when you use the card with a specific airline or hotel chain.

Not all points and miles earned on travel cards are the same:

General-purpose travel cards — including the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card , the American Express® Gold Card and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card — give you rewards that can be used like cash to pay for travel or that can be exchanged for points in airline or hotel loyalty programs.

Airline- and hotel-specific cards — such as the United℠ Explorer Card and the Hilton Honors American Express Card — give points and miles that can be used only with the brand on the card. (Although it's possible in some cases to transfer hotel points to airlines, we recommend against it because you get a poor value.)

What is a credit card point or mile worth?

How do we value points and miles? With the rewards earned on general travel cards, it's simple: They have a fixed value, usually between 1 and 1.5 cents per point, and you can spend them like cash. With airline miles and hotel points, finding the true value is more difficult. How much value you get depends on how you redeem them.

To better understand what miles are worth, NerdWallet researched the cash prices and reward-redemption values for hundreds of flights. Our results:

Keep in mind that the airline values are based on main cabin economy tickets and exclude premium cabin redemptions. See our valuations page for business class valuations and details about our methodology.

Our valuations are different from many others you may find. That’s because we looked at the average value of a point based on reasonable price searches that anyone can perform, not a maximized value that only travel rewards experts can expect to reach.

You should therefore use these values as a baseline for your own redemptions. If you can redeem your points for the values listed on our valuations page, you are doing well. Of course, if you are able to get higher value out of your miles, that’s even better.

How to redeem travel rewards

How you go about cashing in your travel rewards depends on the type of card you earned them on and what you want to do with them. In most cases, you'll be redeeming either through your card issuer or through the loyalty program tied to the card.

Redeeming rewards on general-purpose travel cards

With a general-purpose travel card, you can usually use your points to pay for travel ahead of time by going through your card issuer's booking portal, which operates much like Orbitz or Expedia. Many cards also allow you to turn your points into statement credit for travel expenses already incurred . With this option, you use your card to book travel however you want, and then wipe out the cost on your statement by applying your points to your balance. You'll also go through your issuer's rewards portal to transfer points to airline or hotel programs.

You might have other options for using your points on general travel cards, such as for cash back or gift cards, but be careful with these options. You'll often get a lower value per point for non-travel redemptions.

Redeeming airline or hotel rewards

When your rewards are airline miles or hotel points, you typically redeem them for free flights or stays by signing in to your account in the associated loyalty program, such as Delta SkyMiles, American AAdvantage, Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors. Enter your desired booking dates, then choose to see the price expressed in miles or points. Depending on the program, there may be limits and restrictions. An airline may have "blackout dates" when you can't get a free flight, for example, or a hotel may make only a certain number of rooms available for reward redemptions on a first-come, first-served basis.

DETERMINING THE RIGHT KIND OF REWARDS CARD FOR YOU

There are so many options among rewards credit cards that picking the right one for you can be daunting. Make the process easier by approaching it systematically.

Rewards cards aren't for everyone

The first step is determining whether a rewards card is right for you at all. The best rewards credit cards require good to excellent credit — generally defined as a credit score of 690 or above — although there are a handful of options for fair or even bad credit.

A rewards card makes sense if you pay your bill in full every month. If you carry a balance from month to month, the interest you'll pay can quickly wipe out the value of your rewards; you'd be better off with a low-interest credit card , or a balance-transfer credit card that would allow you to pay down your debt over a defined period of time with 0% interest.

Look at both 'earn' and 'burn'

You'll want a rewards credit card that makes sense on both the "earn" side and the "burn" side. That means a card that rewards you for the kind of spending you do (earn) and that gives you rewards you can use (burn). For example, earning 5% cash back on home improvement stores might not do much for someone who lives in a small studio apartment. And if you never travel, airline miles are pretty much worthless.

The right choice also will depend on how much effort you’re willing to put into learning a rewards program and understanding a card’s built-in perks. Annual fees and sign-up bonuses can also sway your decision.

'Best' is a personal matter

Because of those factors, there’s no single “best” rewards card for everybody. Best might be a simple, flat-rate cash-back card, a premium travel card laden with benefits, or something in between. If you’re having trouble deciding on a type of rewards card, give special consideration to cash back. A NerdWallet study has shown cash-back credit cards are better for most people than travel cards.

» MORE: Our guide to choosing a rewards credit card .

HOW TO COMPARE REWARDS CARDS

We've discussed how to evaluate a credit card's rewards structure. But rewards rates aren't the only factor to consider when choosing a rewards credit card.

The credit cards with the richest rewards often charge annual fees. This is especially the case with travel credit cards. Typical annual fees range from around $90 to more than $500. Although some people are dead-set against paying them, annual fees can be worth it (or even a bargain) if the rewards and perks you earn outweigh the cost, and some cards waive the annual fee for the first year.

Most cash-back cards don't charge an annual fee. You can find good travel cards without an annual fee , although their rewards rates and sign-up bonuses tend to be small than those offered by their full-fee siblings.

» MORE: NerdWallet's best no annual fee credit cards

Sign-up bonus

Also known as welcome offers, sign-up bonuses can give you a nice wad of cash or hundreds or thousands of points or miles for spending a certain amount in the first few months you have the card. But don't just look at the windfall you stand to receive. Pay attention also to the spending requirement. In general, the bigger the bonus, the more you'll have to spend to earn it. Avoid overspending to get a bonus.

» MORE: NerdWallet's best offers for new cardholders

0% intro APR period

You don’t normally want to carry a balance from month to month with rewards cards, but some of them offer 0% introductory APR periods on new purchases, balance transfers or both. A 0% period can be helpful if you have a big purchase coming up that you'd like a little time to pay off (which could also help you earn the sign-up bonus).

» MORE: NerdWallet's best 0% and low-interest credit cards

Foreign transaction fees

If you travel abroad, or plan to, look for a card that doesn't slap a surcharge on purchases made outside the U.S. Foreign transaction fees typically run about 3% of the purchase amount. A good travel card won't charge these fees, but many cash-back cards do.

» MORE: NerdWallet's best credit cards with no foreign transaction fee

Rewards are what you get for using a credit card. Perks are what you get simply for carrying the card — and depending on the card, perks can deliver even more value than rewards. Travel cards, in particular, are known for their perks. Examples include:

Automatic credit for travel expenses. Several general travel cards will reimburse hundreds of dollars a year in travel expenses. This might apply to any travel purchase, or to specific expenses such as airline fees or Uber rides. Learn more about travel credits .

Reimbursement for TSA Precheck and Global Entry. More and more cards are paying you back for the application fee for these trusted traveler programs, which help you get through airport security and customs more quickly. Learn more about trusted traveler programs , and see which cards offer reimbursement .

Airport lounge access. The biggest airlines (American, Delta, United) all offer high-end, high-annual-fee credit cards that get you into their airport lounges when you travel, and some lower-fee airline cards offer discounted or limited access. Several general travel cards get you into lounges in worldwide networks such as Priority Pass. American Express even has its own lounge network. Learn more about cards with lounge access .

Free checked bags and priority boarding. Exclusive to airline cards, these perks make travel a lot easier because you don't have to stuff everything into a carry-on to avoid a bag fee, and you don't have to fight for overhead-bin space because you're among the first to board the plane. The checked-bag perk alone can easily pay the annual fee on some cards. Learn more about free checked bags .

Free nights and other amenities. Credit cards issued by hotel chains offer perks that general travel cards can't match. Some of them give you one free night a year, which can make up the cost of the card immediately. Other benefits include free breakfast, free internet and early check-in or late check-out.

PROS AND CONS OF REWARDS CARDS

Rewards cards make purchases work harder for you. Earning rewards on every dollar you spend is like finding change in your couch cushions every day. Save up that change, and pretty soon you’re talking real money.

They allow you to travel more often, or more luxuriously, at a discount. Travel rewards credit cards can make it possible to sit in first class, upgrade to a suite or skip the long security line. Even if you don’t cash in points to travel like an Instagram influencer, they can help you travel for less money.

They can help protect you if your vacation falls apart. Many travel cards will compensate you if your bags get lost, your flight gets significantly delayed or canceled, or you have to cut your trip short because of a family emergency or illness. Many also offer coverage for your rental car . This all comes at no additional cost to you.

Rewards cards typically have higher APRs. That means credit card debt will cost you more over time. For a major purchase you’d like to pay back over time, look into a card with a 0% introductory APR offer . In general, use a rewards card only for purchases you’ll be able to pay in full when your statement comes.

Annual fees add up, especially if you carry multiple rewards cards.

They require a fair amount of mental energy. Some people relish the challenge of maximizing every purchase and piecing together a complicated, yet heavily subsidized, vacation itinerary. Others have zero interest in memorizing which card to use at gas stations, which to use at grocery stores, and which to use at restaurants. If you want rewards with little effort, a flat-rate cash back card or a travel card with a straightforward rewards program (no fancy transfers to airline partners or complicated redemptions) will make jumping into the pool of rewards cards warm and inviting.

MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR REWARDS CARD

Use the card for the bulk of your spending.

Put all your ordinary expenses on the card , including monthly bills, to rack up rewards more quickly. That’s the power of a rewards card: getting extra value from your regular spending. Before applying for a card, make sure you’ll be able to meet the spending minimum required to earn the sign-up bonus. Be careful to never overspend just for rewards.

Pair cards to earn even more

Consider using complementary cards to extract maximum rewards for your spending. For example, one card might offer high rewards for restaurant spending, while an airline card gives you free checked bags and a third card gives you a nice rate on all other spending. If you have a card with a sign-up bonus, consolidate spending on that card until you earn that bonus.

Redeem rewards thoughtfully

Redeem your rewards in the way that delivers maximum value. With travel cards, you usually get a better redemption rate when you redeem for travel expenses than you would if you opted for cash back. Cash-back cards, meanwhile, may give you the highest redemption rate for statement credit, but a lower rate if you redeem points for gift cards. Some rewards can be transferred to travel partners, such as airlines and hotels, at a valuable rate. Learn what the options are and what your rewards are worth.

Use the freebies

A free checked bag can save you $60 on a roundtrip domestic flight. Access to airport lounges means free snacks and a more relaxing space in which to wait for your flight. Global Entry reimbursement is worth $100, and you’ll be spared having to remove your shoes to go through a metal detector at the airport. Take advantage of all the perks you’re offered, especially if you’re paying an annual fee.

OTHER CARDS TO CONSIDER

Rewards cards come in a variety of flavors to fit different consumer preferences and spending patterns. This roundup highlights the best cards in each particular category, but there may be a better card for you. Find other great cards in our specialized roundups:

Best cash-back credit cards

Best general travel credit cards

Best airline credit cards

Best hotel credit cards

Best premium credit cards

Best cards for restaurant rewards

Best cards for grocery rewards

Best cards for gas rewards

NerdWallet's Kimberly Palmer contributed to this article.

To view rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express , see this page .

Last updated on March 7 , 2024

Methodology

NerdWallet's Credit Cards team selects the best rewards credit cards based on overall consumer value, as evidenced by star ratings, as well as their suitability for specific kinds of consumers, including both those seeking cash-back rewards and those interested in travel rewards. Factors in our evaluation include annual and other fees, rewards rates, the earning structure (for example, flat-rate rewards versus bonus categories), redemption options, bonus offers for new cardholders, introductory and ongoing APRs, and other noteworthy features such as airline or hotel perks or the ability to transfer points. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.

Frequently asked questions

There are two main types of rewards credit cards: cash-back cards and points/miles cards:

• With a cash-back credit card, the card issuer "pays you back" a certain percentage of every purchase. For example, if your card earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases and you buy something for $100, you would earn $1.50 in cash back.

• With a points or miles card, the issuer gives you a certain number of rewards points (often called “miles” on airline and travel credit cards) for each dollar you spend. How you use the points or miles depends on the card. Common redemption options include travel, gift cards and merchandise.

With most rewards cards, you can see your accumulated earnings on your monthly statement or through your online account portal, and you can decide when and how to redeem them.

What you can do with your credit card rewards depends on the type of rewards you’ve earned and the card’s rules:

• Cash-back rewards are typically redeemable for a credit on your statement, which reduces your outstanding balance. You may also be able to have your rewards deposited into a bank account or sent as a check.

• Points or miles are most commonly redeemed for travel, but you may also be able to redeem them for gift cards, merchandise or cash back. For cards that carry the name of an airline or hotel brand, you typically use your rewards for free travel or upgrades. Some bank-branded credit cards let you transfer their points into airline or hotel programs.

In most cases, there is no limit to how many points or miles or how much cash back you can earn with a credit card. Some cards do limit how much spending is eligible for bonus rewards — that is, higher rewards offered in specific categories — but after you hit that limit, you still earn rewards at the base rate. For example, a card might offer 3% rewards on up to $6,000 a year in spending and then 1% after that.

How much each point or mile is worth depends on the card that issued it and how you redeem it. As a very general rule of thumb, it’s helpful to think of points and miles as worth an average of 1 cent apiece, although you can certainly get a higher (or lower) value.

In some programs, points are worth 1 cent apiece regardless of how you redeem. In others, you might get 1 cent per point when redeeming for travel and 0.5 cents when redeeming for gift cards or cash back. Airline miles could be worth anywhere from less than 1 cent to more than 5 cents apiece depending on how many miles you need to earn a free flight and how much that flight would have cost if you were paying cash. Hotel points are similarly variable in value. See our travel loyalty roundup page for NerdWallet’s current valuations for airline miles and hotel points.

The best rewards credit cards typically require good to excellent credit for approval. Good credit is generally defined as a credit score of 690 or better. However, there are some decent rewards-bearing cards for people with fair credit and even bad credit . Keep in mind that credit scores are only one factor in your application. Every issuer has its own criteria for approval.

Typically, credit card rewards are not taxable . That's because the IRS generally considers credit card rewards as discounts or rebates, not income.

About the author

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Jae Bratton

Best Travel Credit Cards

  • Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
  • Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
  • Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card
  • Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
  • Citi Premier® Card
  • Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students
  • Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
  • American Express® Gold Card
  • Chase Sapphire Reserve®
  • The Platinum Card® from American Express

Choosing the Best Travel Credit Card for You

  • Why You Should Trust Us

Best Travel Credit Cards of March 2024

Our experts answer readers' credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews ( here's how we assess credit cards ). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners ; however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.

The information for the following product(s) has been collected independently by Business Insider: Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card, Citi Premier® Card, Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students. The details for these products have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.

Whether you're just dipping your toe into the world of rewards credit cards or you've already flown thousands of miles on points alone, we can tell you: There's a travel credit card for everyone. There's a card if you're looking for free flights, if you're hoping for free hotel stays, or if you're just doing whatever it takes to realize your dream of an overwater bungalow. There are even no-annual-fee travel credit cards that won't cost you anything to keep.

Compare the Top Travel Credit Cards

Chase Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Earn 5x points on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Earn 3x points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out. Earn 3x points on select streaming services. Earn 3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs). Earn 2x points on other travel. Earn 1x point per dollar on everything else.

21.49% - 28.49% Variable

Earn 60,000 bonus points

Good to Excellent

  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. High intro bonus offer starts you off with lots of points
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Strong travel coverage
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Doesn't offer a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit

If you're new to travel rewards credit cards or just don't want to pay hundreds in annual fees, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a smart choice. It earns bonus points on a wide variety of travel and dining purchases and offers strong travel and purchase coverage, including primary car rental insurance.

  • Earn 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®.
  • Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
  • Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
  • Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
  • Member FDIC

Capital One Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

Earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase.

0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months (3% for the first 15 months, then 4% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time)

19.99% - 29.99% Variable

Earn 20,000 miles

  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No annual fee or foreign transaction fees
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Versatile rewards
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Earn 1.25 miles per dollar on all purchases with no bonus categories to track
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Lower earning rate than some other no-annual-fee rewards cards
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Limited benefits

The VentureOne Rewards Card is a slimmed-down version of the popular Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. It's one of the few no-annual-fee cards on the market that gives you the option to redeem miles for cash back or transfer them to travel partners.

  • $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
  • Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
  • Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
  • Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
  • 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
  • Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase-or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
  • Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
  • Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies

Wells Fargo Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card

Earn unlimited 5x points per dollar on hotels. Earn 4x points on airlines. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining. Earn 1x on other purchases.

See Wells Fargo Rates and Fees

Earn 60,000 bonus rewards points

  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Trip cancellation and lost baggage protection
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Airline and hotel transfer partners available
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Welcome bonus
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Generous cellphone protection
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Low annual fee
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Transfer partner network not as diverse or robust as competitors

The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card is a true travel credit card, with benefits that rival many of the best travel rewards credit cards currently on the market. This card has a low annual fee on par with that of popular competing credit cards and Wells Fargo's newly announced Points Transfer program allows cardholders to juice maximum value from every point they earn.

Capital One Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Earn 5x miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2x miles on every purchase.

19.99% - 29.99% variable

Earn 75,000 miles

  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No bonus categories to keep track of
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Includes up to a $100 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Other credit cards offer higher rewards in certain categories of spending

If you want an easy, no-fuss travel rewards credit card, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a great fit. For a moderate annual fee, it offers plenty of value, useful benefits, and a substantial welcome bonus.

  • Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
  • Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
  • Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more

Citi Citi Premier® Card

Earn 10x ThankYou® Points per dollar on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2024. Earn 3x ThankYou® points on restaurant, supermarket, gas station, air travel, and hotel purchases. Earn 1x ThankYou® points on all other purchases.

21.24% - 29.24% Variable

Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® points

  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Strong bonus
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Generous bonus categories
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Doesn't offer much in the way of statement credits or other perks
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Citi ThankYou Rewards may not be as convenient as other points for US-based travelers

If you're looking for an all-purpose travel credit card with strong rewards, many ways to use your points, and an annual fee under $100, the Citi Premier should be on your shortlist. Beyond the welcome bonus offer, the Citi Premier® Card offers great 3x earning categories that just about anyone can take advantage of — and the rewards it earns are incredibly flexible.

Bank of America Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students

Earn unlimited 1.5 points per dollar on purchases.

  • 0% intro APR for your first 18 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made within the first 60 days of opening your account

17.99% - 27.99% Variable

25,000 online bonus points

  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Generous welcome bonus for a student credit card
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Earns flexible points you can use toward a wide variety of travel purchases
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Other travel rewards cards have higher earning rates
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Few travel-related benefits compared to other travel cards

A good student credit card should offer rewards and useful benefits to those with limited credit history and the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students hits several of those notes. However, while the card is marketed to students, those without established credit may have difficulty getting approved.

  • The information related to the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students has been collected by Business Insider and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
  • 25,000 online bonus points after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days from account opening (redeemed as a $250 statement credit toward travel and dining purchases)
  • Unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all purchases everywhere, no expiration on points
  • No annual fee or foreign transaction fees

Capital One Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Earn unlimited 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn 5 miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2 miles on all other purchases.

Earn 75,000 bonus miles

  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Excellent welcome bonus and miles earning
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Premium perks including airport lounge access and credits for certain purchases
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Visa Infinite benefits including travel and shopping protections
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. High annual fee
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Annual travel credits only apply to Capital One Travel purchases

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is one of the best credit cards for frequent travelers, with top-notch benefits and a wide range of built-in protections. It comes with a generous welcome bonus and credits that can help offset the annual fee — which is much lower than similar premium cards.

American Express American Express® Gold Card

Limited time offer: Earn 10X Membership Rewards® Points at restaurants worldwide for three months, on up to $25,000 in purchases when eligible card member refers a friend and the friend applies by May 22, 2024 and gets the card (terms apply). Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® points on all other purchases.

See Pay Over Time APR

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points

  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Great rewards for dining and for shopping at US supermarkets
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Monthly statement credit for eligible dining purchases recoups some of the annual fee
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Underwhelming welcome bonus

Foodies and travelers alike will appreciate the American Express Gold's generous welcome bonus and Membership Rewards points earning. Its Uber Cash credits are useful for rides and Uber Eats, and monthly dining credits with participating merchants like GrubHub and Seamless are easy to use.

  • Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
  • $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.
  • Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
  • Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $250.
  • Terms Apply.

Chase Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Earn 5x points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1x point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

22.49% - 29.49% Variable

  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Annual travel credit can effectively shave $300 off the annual fee if you use it
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Strong travel insurance
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Strong bonus rewards on travel and dining
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Very high annual fee

If you're new to rewards credit cards you may want to start elsewhere, but if you know you want to earn Chase points and you spend a lot on travel and dining, the Sapphire Reserve is one of the most rewarding options.

  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
  • $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
  • Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority PassTM Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more

American Express The Platinum Card® from American Express

Limited time offer: Earn 10X Membership Rewards® Points at restaurants worldwide for three months, on up to $25,000 in purchases when eligible card member refers a friend and the friend applies by May 22, 2024 and gets the card (terms apply). Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 per calendar year) and on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Earn 1X Points on other purchases.

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points

  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Long list of travel benefits, including airport lounge access and complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott (enrollment required)
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Annual statement credits with Saks and Uber
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Bonus categories leave something to be desired
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. One of the highest annual fees among premium travel cards

If you want as many premium travel perks as possible, The Platinum Card® from American Express could be the right card for you. The annual fee is high, but you get a long list of benefits such as airport lounge access, travel statement credits, complimentary hotel elite status, and more.

  • Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
  • 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 and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
  • $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
  • $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
  • $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
  • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
  • $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only.
  • $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
  • $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card®. Learn more.
  • $100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
  • Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card®. An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
  • Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
  • $695 annual fee.
  • Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best overall travel credit card
  • Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card: Best no-annual-fee card for earning travel miles ( rates and fees )
  • Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card : Best for generous rewards on hotel spend
  • Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best travel credit card for beginners
  • Citi Premier® Card : Best for travel rewards on everyday spending
  • Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students : Best travel card for students
  • Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Most affordable premium travel credit card
  • American Express® Gold Card: Best for earning travel credit on dining and groceries
  • Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Best premium card for travel bonus categories
  • The Platinum Card® from American Express: Best for luxury travel benefits and airport lounge access

Travel Credit Card Reviews

The best travel rewards credit cards offer valuable rewards, easy-to-use benefits, and helpful features like travel coverage. Make sure you can redeem rewards for the travel you want to book before you decide on a travel credit card.

Best Travel Credit Card Overall: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is our top pick for a well-rounded travel rewards credit card. Even infrequent travelers can benefit from the slew of perks on this card, which typically are found on cards with far higher annual fees. 

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card stands out for its travel protection benefits. When you pay for travel expenses with this card and meet certain requirements, you can request reimbursement for unexpected expenses that may arise when your flight is delayed or if your baggage is delayed or lost.

You'll also have primary rental car insurance, meaning you won't have to file claims through your personal car insurance plan or pay for coverage from the rental car company. This card also offers a 10% anniversary points bonus, and up to $50 in annual statement credits for hotel purchases made through the Chase Travel Portal. 

The rewards rate on the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card isn't shabby either. You'll earn 5 points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards; 2 points on all other travel purchases; and 3 points on dining, online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs), and select streaming services. You'll earn 1 point per dollar on everything else.

Chase Ultimate Rewards® points are some of the easiest points to use in a variety of ways. You can redeem them for travel directly through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal for a 25% boost in value, where 1 point will be worth 1.25 cents apiece. You can also transfer your points to Chase's airline and hotel transfer partners , which include United Airlines, Hyatt, Marriott, and many other airlines and hotel chains around the world. Cardholders can also use points for statement credits, gift cards, merchandise, and more.  

What the experts love: High welcome bonus offer, earns bonus points on travel, dining, and online grocery purchases, you can redeem points for 1.25 cents apiece for travel or through Chase for 25% value bonus

What the experts don't love: Doesn't offer some of the travel perks you'll get with competing cards, such as airport lounge access and a statement credit for Global Entry

Read our review: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card card review

Best No-Annual-Fee Card for Earning Travel Miles: Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is our top choice for a no-annual-fee travel card ( rates and fees ), and it's got many of the same perks as its bigger sibling, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.

New cardholders can earn a respectable 20,000 miles after spending $500 on purchases within three months from account opening (worth at least $340 in travel according to Business Insider's valuations). While the card only earns 1.25 miles per dollar on most purchases (plus 5x on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel), it's still a compelling choice if an annual fee isn't for you ( rates and fees ).

You'll get the same access to Capital One's airline and hotel partners as you would with annual-fee cards, and a handful of benefits including car rental insurance***, travel accident insurance***, and extended warranty***. This is also a solid pick if you're looking for a zero-interest credit card  with a 0% introductory APR offer, because new cardholders receive a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months (3% for the first 15 months, then 4% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time), then a 19.99% - 29.99% Variable APR ( rates and fees ).

What the experts love: No annual fee, access to transfer partners, generous intro 0% APR offer

What the experts don't love: Few travel benefits, lower earning rate

Read our review: Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card review

Best for Independent Hotel Purchases: Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card

The newly announced Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card earns one of the highest rates of return on hotel bookings for a credit card that isn't co-branded with a specific hotel chain. 

This card has a $95 annual fee, inviting direct comparisons to two other cards on this list: The Sapphire Preferred Card , and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card . In exchange, cardholders earn at least 3x on dining and travel purchases. Airline purchases earn 4x, and hotel purchases earn 5x.

Wells Fargo simultaneously announced brand-new airline and hotel partners: Choice Privileges, Aer Lingus AerClub, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, avianca lifemiles, and British Airways Executive Club. Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card cardholders can redeem rewards at the standard redemption rate of 1 cent per point for cash back, or transfer their rewards to any of the travel partners above for additional value.

The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card will be available for in-person applications at select Wells Fargo bank locations on March 9, 2024. Nationwide applications open online and in person on March 20, 2024. 

Read more: Wells Fargo Autograph Journey credit card review

Best Travel Credit Card for Beginners: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a great "set it and forget it" card, in the sense that you don't have to worry about various bonus categories for earning rewards. You'll earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 2x miles on all other purchases.

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card also offers one of the most straightforward ways to redeem rewards for travel: you're able to use your miles to cover recent travel purchases from your card statement, at a rate of 1 cent per mile. 

You also have the option to transfer Capital One miles *** to more than a dozen frequent flyer and hotel loyalty programs, including Air Canada Aeroplan, Etihad Guest, and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer. Capital One also added new partners including British Airways and Turkish Airlines, and improved the transfer ratio to 1:1 for most partners. 

The selection of transfer partners is best suited to someone who wants to travel internationally and who doesn't mind spending some time researching the best ways to redeem miles with the different frequent flyer program options. But the upside is that you can always use your miles to cover your travel purchases. You also get up to a $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit.

What the experts love:  The ability to use your miles to cover your recent travel expenses; it earns at least 2 miles per dollar on every purchase.

What the experts don't love: The potential value of your miles is halved when you redeem them for cash back rather than travel. Other cards also offer higher rewards on certain spending categories such as travel and dining.

Read more: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card review

Best Travel Rewards on Everyday Spending: Citi Premier® Card

The Citi Premier® Card isn't as flashy or well-known as some other travel cards, but that doesn't mean you should overlook it — especially if you spend a lot on its bonus categories. Cardholders earn an impressive 3x points on air travel, gas stations, restaurants, supermarkets, and hotels, and 1 point per dollar on everything else.

Along with a solid welcome bonus offer of 60,000 bonus ThankYou® points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first three months of account opening (worth $960 based on Business Insider's valuations), you'll receive $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) booked through thankyou.com once per calendar year.

While it isn't the best for travel protections, the Citi Premier® Card is the only card currently available to new applicants that unlocks the ability to transfer your ThankYou points to Citi's full list of airline and hotel partners , including JetBlue, Singapore Airlines, and Wyndham.

What the experts love:  Strong rewards earning in useful everyday categories, access to Citi's transfer partners

What the experts don't love: Lack of travel protections like car rental insurance, few travel perks compared to similar rewards cards

Read our review: Citi Premier® Card review

Best Travel Card for Students: Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students is a fairly unique offering, as there aren't many student credit cards specifically geared toward travel. New cardholders can earn 25,000 online bonus points after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days from account opening (redeemed as a $250 statement credit toward travel and dining purchases). That's a decent offer for a no-annual-fee card, and the earning structure is simple, too — 1.5x points per dollar on every purchase, with no bonus categories to keep track of.

There's also a 0% intro APR for your first 18 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made within the first 60 days of opening your account (then a 17.99% - 27.99% Variable APR) which can be handy if you have big purchases (like textbooks or supplies) you want to pay for over time. 

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students is a good choice if you prefer a straightforward card without having to worry about award charts or transfer partners. It's also a safe bet if you want to use it while traveling internationally — it doesn't charge pesky foreign transaction fees, so you won't be on the hook for extra charges if you use it overseas.

However, you won't find many extras — like travel benefits or purchase protections — with this card. If you're looking for better benefits, be sure to check out our guide to the best student credit cards for all the top options.

What the experts love: Impressive welcome bonus offer for a student credit card, good flat-rate rewards earning

What the experts don't love: No flashy extra perks or shopping benefits

Read more: Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students review

Most Affordable Premium Travel Credit Card: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card was unveiled in late 2021 and offers a massive welcome bonus of 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening — worth at least $1,275 in travel, based on Business Insider's valuation of Capital One miles .

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is loaded with premium benefits that can more than offset the $395 annual fee ( rates and fees ). For context, the Venture X's annual fee, while high, is significantly lower than other premium travel card competitors.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card cardholders receive $300 per year in credits toward travel booked through Capital One, Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, and Capital One airport lounge access (even for authorized users), a 10,000-mile bonus on each account anniversary (worth $100 in travel), and Visa Infinite travel and purchase benefits.

As with other cards that earn Capital One miles , you can transfer rewards to over a dozen airline and hotel partners to book award travel, or use miles to book through the Capital One Travel Portal .

What the experts love:  Between $300 a year in travel credit and a 10,000-mile bonus on each account anniversary, you can offset the annual fee entirely — and that's not even considering other benefits like lounge access.

What the experts don't love:  The $300 travel credit is more restrictive than other cards' — it only applies to travel booked through Capital One.

Read our review: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card review

Best for Earning Travel Credit from Dining and Groceries: American Express® Gold Card

The American Express® Gold Card is an ideal travel card for anyone who frequently eats out and/or shops at U.S. supermarkets. You'll earn 4x Amex Membership Rewards points on these purchases (though note the $25,000 calendar year annual cap for U.S. supermarkets; after that, you'll earn just 1 point per dollar, but that's a pretty high cap). The card also earns 3x points on flights booked directly with the airlines or through AmexTravel.com, and 1 point per dollar on everything else.

While the $250 annual fee is on the high side, you can offset it thanks to an annual statement credit. You can get up to $120 in annual dining credits**, but it's divided into up to $10 in credits each month, and the credit only applies at select restaurants and delivery services, including Grubhub, Seamless, Milk Bar, Wine.com, and Goldbelly, and participating Shake Shack locations.

You'll also get up to $120 Uber Cash ($10 per month) credit each calendar year (this is only applicable to U.S. Eats orders and rides, and the Gold Card needs to be added to the Uber app to receive the Uber Cash benefit).

What the experts love: "4x points on restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year, then 1x) is great — usually, a card favors one or the other," says Rathner. Plus, the card offers monthly dining credits.

What the experts don't love: Wilson notes that other cards offer similar benefits for a lower annual fee, and Rathner notes that the card's travel and dining credits come with some important limitations — so read the fine print. 

Read our review: American Express® Gold Card review

Best Premium Card for Travel Insurance and Bonus Categories: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® has a $550 annual fee, which means it's not for everybody, but if you're serious about maximizing your rewards and you travel frequently, it could be worth it. It offers a bonus of 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. 

Not only do you get up to $300 in statement credits toward travel each year (and Chase has a very generous definition of travel — including everything from airfare to highway tolls), but you also earn 5x total points on air travel and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards (excluding the $300 travel credit) and 3x points on all other travel and dining. You also get airport lounge access through the Priority Pass network , which has more than 1,300 locations worldwide.

New benefits also include access to Chase Sapphire lounges in JFK , LaGuardia , Boston , and Hong Kong, as well as the Chase Sapphire Terrace at Austin Airport . You'll also receive benefits with DoorDash  and Instacart that can save you money on delivery (activation required).

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is currently offering cardholders two years of complimentary Lyft Pink All Access membership (valued at $199 per year) for member-exclusive pricing, priority pickup, and more (activation required). 

When it comes to redeeming points, you can book travel through Chase and get 1.5 cents per point (a 50% bonus over the standard 1-cent-per-point rate), or you can transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards to travel partners like Hyatt, British Airways, and United.

Plus, like the less-expensive Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers some of the best credit card travel insurance around. This includes primary car rental insurance, trip delay insurance, trip cancellation protection, and lost baggage insurance.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® card was previously our pick for the best travel card overall, before the annual fee increased from $450 to $550. While the Reserve did add some additional benefits, the Reserve no longer makes as much sense for casual travelers. As a result, we now recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card as the best travel credit card for most people. 

What the experts love:  Earns 3x points on travel and dining purchases made outside of Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, annual $300 travel credit, points are worth 1.5 cents apiece for travel booked through Chase

What the experts don't love: You have to squeeze every drop of value out of this card to make that jaw-dropping $550 annual fee worth your while.

Read our review: Chase Sapphire Reserve® review

Best for Luxury Travel Benefits and Airport Lounge Access: The Platinum Card® from American Express

The Platinum Card® from American Express has one of the highest rewards card annual fees —  $695 — but it can still be well worth it if you can put all of its statement credits and generous welcome bonus offer to use.

You'll earn 5x points on flights when you book directly through the airline or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 per calendar year), which makes the card a great choice for purchasing airfare. The card offers trip cancellation and interruption insurance, plus some of the best purchase protection, so it's a good option for buying expensive items (and don't forget to see if you can take advantage of an Amex Offer ** for bonus points or cash back).

The Platinum Card® from American Express offers more airport lounge access than any other personal travel card — in addition to Priority Pass membership**, you get access to Amex Centurion Lounges , Delta Sky Clubs (when you're flying Delta), and more. 

The card's annual statement credits can go a long way toward offsetting the high annual fee. You get up to $200 in statement credits toward airline incidental fees** like checked bags and inflight purchases; up to $100 each year in credit toward Saks Fifth Avenue purchases**; and up to $200 in annual Uber credits (including Uber Eats)**. 

Just keep in mind that you're limited to one designated airline you choose each year in your Amex account for the airline incidental fee credit, and both the Saks and Uber credits are divided into portions. You'll get up to $50 in statement credits toward Saks purchases from January to June, and another credit of up to $50 for Saks purchases from July to December.

With the Uber credit, you get up to $15 each month, and a $20 bonus in December for a total of $35 that month.

What the experts love:  Lots of luxury benefits, including airport lounge access and statement credits with Uber and Saks

What the experts don't love: $695 annual fee, plus this card doesn't offer bonus points on very many types of purchases

Read our review: The Platinum Card® from American Express review

While it takes more effort to redeem points or miles compared to cash back, the upside is that you can get much more value for your points compared to simply cashing in your rewards for a statement credit or check at a rate of 1 cent per point.

In fact, it's possible to receive double, triple, or even more than that amount when you're strategic about how you redeem your rewards, particularly if you book expensive luxury hotels or first-class flights. 

In this guide, we've focused mostly on the best travel credit cards that earn transferable points. Transferable points include popular currencies such as:

  • Amex Membership Rewards
  • Chase Ultimate Rewards
  • Citi ThankYou Rewards
  • Capital One miles

You can transfer these points to both airline and hotel partner loyalty programs. You can even redeem your points to offset the cash price of your travel at a flat rate.

Travel Credit Card Frequently Asked Questions

The best travel credit card overall is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, but the best card for your particular situation will depend on what benefits you care about the most, as well as how you feel about paying a high annual fee. 

We'd recommend opening a travel card that earns Amex or Chase points, because these are among the easiest rewards to redeem and you have various travel partners to utilize. But if you've investigated your options and are confident that you can get value out of their rewards, credit cards that earn Capital One miles or Citi ThankYou points can make sense as well.

There are two main types of travel credit cards: Cards that earn transferable points, and airline/hotel co-branded credit cards. Transferable points currencies include Amex Membership Rewards points, Capital One miles, and Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

Airline credit cards and hotel credit cards earn points or miles within a respective hotel or airline program; you don't have the option to redeem your rewards with a wide variety of travel partners (or if you do, the transfer ratio usually isn't great).

To pick the right travel credit card for you, you'll want to evaluate its welcome bonus offer, ease of use, benefits, and annual fee. The best one for you will ideally have a combination of an attractive sign-up bonus , lots of options for earning and redeeming rewards, benefits that save you money, and a low or no annual fee.

Travel credit cards with annual fees are worth it if you're able to get significant value out of their benefits and rewards. Before you apply for a card , make sure you'll actually use all the features that contribute to the card's annual fee. For example, if a card offers an annual statement credit of up to $200 toward travel but you can't use it, you're probably not getting what you pay for.

Travel credit cards work by earning you points (or miles) on every purchase you make, with the goal of helping you earn enough rewards to book free travel . The best travel cards earn points that you can transfer to various airline and hotel partners — like Amex, Chase, or Citi points. 

A great way to work toward getting a free flight is by applying for a travel credit card and earning its welcome bonus offer. Domestic award flights in economy class typically require about 25,000 points, so depending on the welcome bonus offer, you could have enough rewards for a flight right out of the gate. 

Why You Should Trust Us: How We Chose the Best Travel Credit Cards

Business Insider evaluated dozens of travel credit cards currently available to new applicants and narrowed down the list to the best options based on the following factors:

  • Welcome bonus offer — Do new cardholders get a valuable incentive to sign up and meet a minimum spending requirement?
  • Ongoing rewards — How many points or miles do you earn on your purchases?
  • Benefits — Beyond rewards, does the card offer valuable perks such as statement credits for travel, primary car rental insurance, and airport lounge access?
  • Annual fee — Is there an annual fee, and if so, is it affordable or easy to offset with card perks?
  • Overall value — Does the card justify its annual fee by offering useful benefits and valuable rewards, and is it worth it?

Read Business Insider's guide to how we rate credit cards for a closer look at our methodology.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards .

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

**Enrollment required.

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Trip Delay Insurance, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance, and Cell Phone Protection Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. Global Assist Hotline Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. If approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, Card Members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. Extended Warranty, Purchase Protection, and Baggage Insurance Plan Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

***Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details. Travel Accident Insurance is not guaranteed, it depends on the level of benefits you get at application.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, please click here.

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Find the best credit card for you

The 11 best travel credit cards of march 2024, the best travel credit cards could earn over $2,000 in rewards over the next five years based on our calculations..

The best travel credit cards offer more than just great  cash-back , points or miles incentives — they also come with a range of perks that can take your next trip from basic to bougie without spending extra money.

Some travel card features are nearly standard across the board:  no foreign transaction fees ,  travel insurance  and various travel credits. More  premium cards  take things up a notch by offering  lounge access  and credits for expedited airport security.

To help you choose the best travel rewards card for your needs, CNBC Select analyzed dozens of popular travel cards using an average American's annual spending budget and dug into each card's perks and drawbacks to find the best of the best based on consumer habits. (See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best travel credit cards.)

Best travel credit cards

  • Editor's choice: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees )
  • Best for no annual fee: Discover it® Miles
  • Best for dining when traveling: American Express® Gold Card
  • Best welcome bonus:   Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
  • Best for earning points on rent: Bilt Mastercard®
  • Best for luxury travel: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
  • Best for fair credit : Discover it® Secured Credit Card
  • Best for low annual fee: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees)
  • Best for lounge access: The Platinum Card® from American Express
  • Best for students: Bank of America® Travel Rewards for Students
  • Best for low interest: First Tech Credit Union Choice Rewards World Mastercard®

Editor's Choice

Capital one venture x rewards credit card.

Unlimited 2X miles on all eligible purchases, and 5 Miles per dollar on flights and 10 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars when booked via Capital One Travel portal

Welcome bonus

Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening

Regular APR

19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

Balance transfer fee

$0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you

Foreign transaction fees

Credit needed.

See rates and fees , terms apply.

Read our Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card review.

  • Large welcome bonus
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Up to $100 statement credits for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
  • Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
  • High annual fee
  • No introductory 0% APR period

Who's this for? The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is an excellent choice for frequent travelers who want a premium credit card at a lower price point than other high-end cards with similar benefits.

Standout benefits:  This card is loaded with benefits, including a $300 Capital One Travel credit to use toward purchases made through Capital One Travel and a 10,000-mile bonus on each account anniversary (worth at least $100 for travel). Cardholders also receive an up to $100 statement credit for either  Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® , complimentary  cell phone insurance , access to Capital One and partner airport lounges and more. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details.

[ Jump to more details ]

Best for no annual fee

Discover it® miles.

Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase.

Discover will match all the Miles earned for all new cardmembers at the end of your first year.

0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases

17.24% to 28.24% Variable

3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*

Foreign transaction fee

Good / Excellent

*See rates and fees , terms apply.

Read our Discover it® Miles review.

  • Miles program
  • Generous welcome bonus
  • No blackout dates
  • No limit to the amount of miles you can earn and miles never expire
  • No Global Entry or TSA PreCheck statement credit offerings
  • Travel spending does not receive additional rewards
  • No airport lounge access

Who's this for?  The  Discover it Miles  card comes with a generous rewards program — all for zero annual fee — that makes it a standout among travel cards.

Standout benefits:  Discover has a welcome bonus that's hard to beat: It will do a mile-for-mile match of all miles earned the first year (for new card members in their first year only). If you rack up 35,000 miles within the first 12 months, Discover will match you with 35,000 miles. That's a total of 70,000 miles or $700 toward travel. (Based on our calculations, the average card user will earn around 32,777 miles in the first year.) Plus, the card has no foreign transaction fees.

Best for dining when traveling

American express® gold card.

4X Membership Rewards® points at Restaurants (plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X), 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, 1X points on all other purchases

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

Not applicable

See Pay Over Time APR

Excellent/Good

Read our American Express® Gold Card review .

  • Up to $120 dining credit annually ($10 a month) for purchases made with Grubhub, Goldbelly and other eligible restaurants (after a one-time enrollment)
  • Up to $120 Uber Cash annually ($10 a month) for U.S. Uber Eats orders and U.S. Uber rides (card must be added to Uber app to receive the Uber Cash benefit)
  • Strong rewards program with 4X points earned at restaurants and 3X points earned on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com
  • Baggage insurance plan covers up to $1,250 for carry-on baggage and up to $500 for checked baggage that is damaged, lost or stolen
  • No fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.
  • No introductory APR period
  • $250 annual fee
  • Estimated rewards earned after 1 year: $1,074
  • Estimated rewards earned after 5 years: $2,969

Rewards totals incorporate the points earned from the welcome bonus

Who's this for? The American Express® Gold Card is a smart choice for consumers who love traveling and dining out due to its generous rewards rates. While the card comes with a $250 annual fee ( see rates and fees ), it offers premium rewards that help offset the cost.

Standout benefits:  Travelers will appreciate the Amex Gold card's various statement credits. Cardholders get up to $120 in annual dining credit (up to $10 per month at Grubhub , Goldbelly, The Cheesecake Factory and other participating restaurants; enrollment is required) and up to $120 in Uber Cash ($10 per month) to put toward rides in the U.S. and dining via Uber Eats (you must add your Amex Gold Card as a payment method in the Uber app to enroll).

Best welcome bonus

Chase sapphire preferred® card.

Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.

Earn 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®.

21.49% - 28.49% variable on purchases and balance transfers

Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater

  • Terms apply.

Read our Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card review .

  • Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel via Chase Ultimate Rewards®
  • Transfer points to leading frequent travel programs at a 1:1 rate, including: IHG® Rewards Club, Marriott Bonvoy™ and World of Hyatt®
  • Travel protections include: auto rental collision damage waiver, baggage delay insurance and trip delay reimbursement
  • $95 annual fee
  • No introductory 0% APR

Who's this for? The Chase Sapphire Preferred has a loyal following among travelers looking for a travel-centric rewards program and a robust suite of perks. What makes this card shine the most is its generous welcome bonus offer.

Standout benefits:  This card comes with many helpful benefits, such as an up to $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, no foreign transaction fees, primary rental car insurance , trip cancellation and interruption insurance and baggage and trip delay insurance. Cardholders can also benefit from a 10% points boost on each card anniversary and complimentary DashPass membership for a minimum of one year through Dec. 31, 2024.

Best for earning points on rent

Bilt mastercard®.

Earn points when you make 5 transactions that post each statement period - up to 1x points on rent payments without the transaction fee (up to 100,000 points each calendar year), 3x points on dining, 2x points on travel, and 1x points on other purchases.

Introductory fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater, for 120 days from account opening. After that, up to 5% for each balance transfer ($5 minimum).

See rates/fees and rewards/benefits ; terms apply.

  • No annual fee
  • Solid rewards on broad spending categories
  • Ability to pay your rent with no transaction fees
  • Transfer points to leading frequent traveler programs at a 1:1 rate, including American Airlines, United and World of Hyatt®
  • No welcome offer

Who's this for? If you rent your home and don't have the Bilt Mastercard® , you're leaving points on the table. The Bilt Mastercard is the only card that lets you earn travel rewards on rent payments with no fees .

Standout benefits:  Bilt makes it easy for even beginners to get maximum value from their points through a unique partnership with the award search engine point.me . With the BiltProtect feature, it also protects cardholders from using up their entire credit limit or risk going into debt by charging their rent every month. Other benefits include cell phone protection; Purchase Assurance Plus, which covers your purchases for 90 days; discounts with partner brands; and access to the Mastercard Luxury Hotels & Resorts portfolio, which offers amenities like upgrades, free breakfast and property credits.

Best for luxury travel

Chase sapphire reserve®.

Earn 5X total points on flights and 10X total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3X points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases plus, 10X points on Lyft rides through March 2025

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®

22.49% - 29.49% variable

5%, minimum $5

Read our Chase Sapphire Reserve® review.

  • $300 annual travel credit for travel purchases
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit up to $100 every four years
  • Priority Pass™ Select lounge access at 1,000+ VIP lounges in over 500 cities worldwide
  • Points are worth 50% more when redeemed for travel via Chase Ultimate Rewards®
  • Special benefits at The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection
  • Complimentary year of Lyft Pink membership
  • High annual fee, but it can be offset by taking advantage of all the card’s perks
  • No introductory APR
  • Estimated rewards earned after 1 year: $1,469
  • Estimated rewards earned after 5 years: $3,346

Who's this for? The Chase Sapphire Reserve is enormously popular among frequent travelers for its luxe perks, including comprehensive travel protections, and a strong rewards program. While this card comes with a substantial annual fee of $550 , the many statement credits help to offset the costs.

Standout benefits:  This card provides an annual $300 travel credit, which can cover everything from airfare and hotels to parking and tolls. Cardholders   can also get a statement credit of up to $100 (every four years) to help cover Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS application fees as well as enroll in Priority Pass Select for airport lounge access . Other benefits include elite-like benefits when booking hotels through The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection; trip interruption/cancellation coverage; primary rental car coverage; lost luggage reimbursement; and trip delay reimbursement. 

Best for fair credit

Discover it® secured credit card.

Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Plus earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Discover will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year

N/A on purchases

28.24% Variable

New / Rebuilding

Read our Discover it® Secured Credit Card review.

  • Cash-back program
  • Starting at seven months from account opening, Discover will automatically review your credit card account to see if you can transition to an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit
  • Cash-back program limits earnings: 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, then 1%
  • Low credit line prevents cardholders from charging high-cost items or many expenses

Who's this for? For anyone who is working to build their credit , the Discover it® Secured Credit Card offers an opportunity to earn rewards along the way.

Standout benefits: The Discover It Secured card earns cash back on every purchase and offers a generous cash-back matching welcome bonus. Plus, the card charges no foreign transaction fees.

Best for low annual fee

Capital one venture rewards credit card.

5 Miles per dollar on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 2X miles per dollar on every other purchase

Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening

N/A for purchases and balance transfers

19.99% - 29.99% variable

$0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you

  • 5 miles per dollar on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit up to $100 every 4 years
  • There’s a $95 annual fee

Who's this for? The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers an abundance of travel benefits. It's especially valuable for those who want a straightforward way of earning rewards without having to juggle bonus categories.

Standout benefits:  Travelers going overseas can take advantage of  no foreign transaction fees . Cardholders also get a credit of up to $100 to cover  Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® membership .

Best for lounge access

The platinum card® from american express.

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, 1X points on all other eligible purchases

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.

Credit Needed

Read our The Platinum Card® from American Express review .

  • Up to $200 in annual airline fee credits
  • Up to $200 in annual Uber savings. Benefit renews annually.
  • Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings, which requires a minimum two-night stay, through American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®.
  • $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card®  on one or more of the following: Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
  • $155 Walmart+ Credit: Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) and receive a statement credit that covers the full cost each month. $12.95 plus applicable taxes. Plus Up Benefits not eligible.
  • $695 annual fee
  • No special financing offers on new purchases

Who's this for? The Platinum Card® from American Express is for road warriors who want to make their travels more comfortable. It grants access to more airport lounges than any other card on the market and is loaded with lots of other travel and lifestyle benefits that help justify its high annual fee (see rates and fees ).

Standout benefits:  Cardholders have an extensive list of opportunities to earn over $1,500 in statement credits each year and enjoy ongoing benefits like automatic hotel elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy and various travel and shopping protections. Even if you only take advantage of half of this card's perks, it's worth paying the annual fee (see rates and fees ).

Best for students

Bank of america® travel rewards for students credit card.

Unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all purchases

25,000 online bonus points after you spend at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening, which can be redeemed for a $250 statement credit toward qualifying travel and dining purchases

0% APR for the first 15 billing cycles on purchases, and for any balance transfers made within the first 60 days of opening your account

18.24% - 28.24% variable

3% of the amount of each transaction

Good/Excellent

  • Strong welcome bonus of 25,000 points if you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days
  • Intro 0% APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers
  • No student-centric benefits or incentives to practice responsible credit behavior
  • Estimated rewards earned after 1 year: $466
  • Estimated rewards earned after 5 years:  $1,528

Who's this for? The Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students is a great choice for students who plan on studying abroad or traveling during breaks. The rewards program is geared toward travel, and cardholders earn 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases.

Standout benefits: There are no foreign transaction fees, making it an ideal card for college students studying abroad. This card also comes with a longer-than-average special financing offer of no interest for 15 billing cycles (then 18.24% to 28.24% variable APR). A full year of no interest is a great way for you to pay off new purchases over time, without incurring interest charges, though we recommend you pay off your balance on time and in full each month.

Best for low interest

Choice rewards world mastercard®.

Earn 2X points on groceries, gas, electronics, medical, household goods and telecommunications, 1X points on all other purchases

Earn 20,000 points when you spend $3,000 in the first 60 days from account opening

13.50% - 18.00% variable

  • Good rewards program for everyday purchases
  • No balance transfer fee
  • Balance must be transferred within 90 days of account opening date
  • Estimated rewards earned after 1 year:  $344
  • Estimated rewards earned after 5 years: $1,720

Who's this for? If you're looking for a card that also offers an introductory APR, you should consider the Choice Rewards World Mastercard® from First Tech Federal Credit Union. It made our list of the top travel cards for its unique rewards program and relatively low variable APR of 13.50% - 18.00%.

Standout benefits:  The 13.50% - 18.00% variable APR rate is significantly lower than many other competitor cards (though we recommend that you pay off your card in full and on time each month). There are also no foreign transaction fees, which is a huge plus when traveling abroad.

More on our top travel credit cards

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a luxury travel credit card with a straightforward rewards structure and a myriad of benefits that easily make its annual fee worth it.

  • 10X miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel portal
  • 5X miles per dollar on flights booked via Capital One Travel portal
  • 2X miles on all other eligible purchases

Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

$395 (see rates and fees )

Notable perks

On top of the annual $300 Capital One Travel credit and 10,000 anniversary bonus miles, the Capital One Venture X card is loaded with other benefits. Cardmembers receive up to $100 statement credit for either  Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® , complimentary  cell phone insurance , special perks on hotel stays booked through the Premier Collection** and Lifestyle Collection  and unlimited access to  Capital One Lounges  as well as the extensive network of Priority Pass and Plaza Premium airport lounges worldwide. 

You can add up to four authorized users for free and each additional cardholder also gets airport lounge access. If you value rental car perks, cardholders receive complimentary Hertz President's Circle status (enrollment required)***, which grants benefits such as guaranteed upgrades.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has the same redemption options as the Venture Rewards Card. You can use miles to offset eligible travel purchases or transfer them to various airline and hotel partners.

*Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details.

***Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at upgraded status level through December 31, 2024. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply.

[ Return to card summary ]

The Discover it Miles card is an exceptionally rewarding credit card for everyday purchases , especially when you consider that it has no annual fee.

  • 1.5X miles per dollar on every purchase

Discover will match the miles you earn during the first year with no minimum spending requirement or limits on how much you can earn through the match.

The appeal of the Discover it Miles card is its simplicity of not having to worry about paying an annual fee or paying foreign transaction fees. The card also has an introductory 0% APR offer for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers , then a 17.24% to 28.24% variable APR (3% intro balance transfer fee, 5% balance transfer fee on future transfers, see terms ).

There are also no blackout dates when you pay for travel purchases using your card. And, you can easily redeem miles as a statement credit for travel,  restaurant or gas station  purchases, as well as a deposit to your bank account. The best part is, the miles you earn never expire even if your account is closed (Discover credits your account with your rewards balance if your account is closed).

The American Express Gold Card earns elevated rewards for several popular spending categories, including dining, groceries and airfare. To top it off, the Amex Membership Rewards points you earn are some of the most valuable travel points out there.

  • 4X points per dollar spent at restaurants (plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.)
  • 4X points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X)
  • 3X points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com
  • 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new card within the first 6 months of card membership.

$250 (see rates and fees )

In addition to the up to $240 in annual credits for dining and Uber Cash, the American Express Gold Card has a variety of other useful benefits. For example, cardmembers get a $100 experience credit and potential room upgrade when booking stays of at least two nights through The Hotel Collection. Experience credit varies by property.

Eligible purchases also qualify for the following insurance coverages*:

  • Baggage insurance (Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.)
  • Extended warranty (Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.)
  • Purchase protection (Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.)
  • Trip delay insurance (Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.)
  • Car rental loss and damage insurance (secondary) (Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.)

You can use the American Express Membership Rewards points you earn with this card in a variety of ways, from redeeming for gift cards and statement credits to booking travel through the  Amex Travel Portal . To get a potentially bigger bang for your buck, transfer your Membership Rewards points to a variety of airline or hotel partners, including Delta SkyMiles, JetBlue TrueBlue, Hilton Honors,  Marriott Bonvoy , Choice Privileges and more. * Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

In addition to an excellent  welcome bonus , the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers lucrative bonus categories and other useful perks like travel and purchase protections, all for a modest annual fee.

  • 5X points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
  • 5X points per dollar on Lyft rides through Mar. 31, 2025
  • 3X points per dollar on dining
  • 3X points per dollar on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs).
  • 3X points per dollar on select streaming services.
  • 2X points per dollar on all other travel purchases
  • 1X points per dollar on all other purchases
  • 10% anniversary points boost
  • $50 annual Ultimate Rewards hotel credit

Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers travelers many important protections, including  primary rental car insurance , trip cancellation and interruption insurance and baggage and trip delay insurance. Travelers can also rack up rewards faster thanks to a 10% points boost on each card anniversary. That means if you spend $50,000 on purchases, you'll get a 5,000-point bonus (worth $75 in travel booked through Chase).

Cardholders can take advantage of various statement credits for specific purchases. For starters, the card offers up to $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit. Through July 31, 2024, you can register your Sapphire Preferred to receive six months of free Instacart+ membership and up to $15 back each quarter for Instacart purchases. You'll also receive a complimentary DashPass membership for a minimum of one year through Dec. 31, 2024.

One of the best benefits of the Sapphire Preferred is that it unlocks access to Chase's 14 airline and hotel transfer partners. You can transfer points to United Airlines MileagePlus,  Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards , Air Canada Aeroplan, World of Hyatt, IHG One Rewards,  Marriott Bonvoy and more. Otherwise,  your points are worth  1.25 cents each through the  Chase Ultimate Rewards® travel portal  or one cent per point when redeemed for gift cards or cash back.

Normally it's not worth paying rent with a credit card because of the fees, but the Bilt Mastercard offers a path to earning points for paying rent without any fees.

When you make at least five transactions in a statement period, you'll earn points at the following rates:

  • Up to 1X points per dollar on rent payments without the transaction fee (up to 100,000 points each calendar year)
  • 2X points per dollar on travel
  • 1X point per dollar on all other purchases

Thanks to the BiltProtect feature, Bilt Mastercard cardholders are protected from using up their entire credit limit or risk going into debt by charging their rent to their card every month. Other benefits include a $5 monthly Lyft credit after taking three Lyft rides in a month (through March 31, 2024), as well as a free ShopRunner membership (through March 31, 2024).

For a no-annual-fee card, the Bilt Mastercard has a surprising amount of built-in insurance perks, including:

  • Trip delay reimbursement
  • Rental car collision damage waiver
  • Cell phone protection
  • Purchase protection

Bilt Rewards points can be redeemed for travel either by transferring them to airline and hotel partners or by booking through the Bilt Travel Portal at a fixed rate of 1.25 cents per point. Other redemption options include using them to shop online, book fitness classes, pay rent and even make a down payment on a home.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a standout premium credit card with plenty of luxury perks and statement credits to justify its annual fee. Its travel insurance perks can add peace of mind to any adventure and the card's airport lounge access and credits for expedited airport security can help reduce airport stress.

  • 10X total points per dollar on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®*
  • 10X points per dollar on Lyft purchases through March 2025
  • 5X total points per dollar on flights purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®*
  • 3X points per dollar on other travel*

*After the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually

Chase Sapphire Reserve card members get up to $300 in annual travel credits, which covers more than half of the card's annual fee. Additional benefits include an up to $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS fee credit (every four years), elite-like perks when booking hotels through The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection, access to Sapphire airport lounges and a Priority Pass Select membership (valued at $469), which unlocks access to more than 1,400 airport lounges worldwide.

Cardholders also have access to a wide range of limited-time benefits and credits, including:

  • Two years of complimentary Lyft Pink All Access membership (worth $199 a year) when activated by Dec. 31, 2024
  • At least 12 months of complimentary DashPass membership when activated by Dec. 31, 2024
  • $5 in DoorDash credit each month through Dec. 31, 2024
  • One year of free Instacart+ membership (activate by July 31, 2024)
  • Up to $15 in Instacart credits each month (through July 31, 2024)

Some of the easiest benefits to overlook are this card's top-notch travel and purchase protections, such as purchase protection, extended warranty protection, return protection, primary rental car collision coverage, trip delay protection, trip interruption/cancellation insurance, baggage delay protection, travel accident insurance, emergency medical and dental insurance and more. Cardmembers traveling internationally also don't need to worry about foreign transaction fees.

The value of the points you earn depends on how you use them. If you redeem points for cash and gift cards, each point is worth one cent. However, the value of points increases to 1.5 cents apiece when you redeem for travel on Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruise reservations when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. This is a great way to maximize the value of your rewards and makes this card stand out from the pack. Of course, transferring your points to Chase's airline and hotel partners is also an option.

The Discover it Secured Credit Card is ideal for anyone with no credit or poor credit because you don't need a credit score to apply. It has no annual fee and has a generous rewards structure for a secured credit card .

  • 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter
  • 1% cash back on all other purchases

Discover will match the cash back you earn during the first year with no minimum spending requirement or cap on the match.

The Discover it Secured card is designed for those who have no credit history or need to repair their credit score. You don't need a credit score to apply. Instead, you're required to make a refundable deposit of at least $200 to open the card. Whatever amount of money you deposit becomes your credit limit.

At seven months from account opening, Discover will automatically review your credit card account to see if they can transition you to an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit. The card also has no foreign transaction fees, so you won't be dinged for using it abroad.

Cashback earned with this card doesn't expire and you can redeem your rewards at any time for statement credits, gift cards, merchandise and more.

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card stands out for earning versatile rewards that can be used for just about any travel expense while having a reasonable annual fee and convenient benefits for travelers.

  • 5X miles per dollar on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • 2X miles per dollar on every other purchase

$95 (see rates and fees )

Capital One Venture Rewards cardholders receive a credit of up to $100 to cover  Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® membership and Hertz Five Star status, which unlocks car rental upgrades when available. Other perks include access to extended warranty protection*, purchase security, travel accident insurance *, roadside assistance* and car rental collision insurance*.

Travelers going overseas can take advantage of no foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees ). As an added plus, you can use your Venture Rewards card to get access to exclusive sporting and music events, plus premiere culinary experiences through Capital One Dining and Capital One Entertainment .

You can use Capital One miles to book flights, hotels, rental cars and more through  Capital One Travel , or you can use them to offset recent travel purchases at a fixed value of one cent per point. Alternatively, you can transfer them to any of Capital One's hotel and airline partners including Accor Live Limitless, Air Canada Aeroplan, Etihad Guest and others to get even more value from your miles.

The Platinum Card from American Express has a high annual fee but also packs a punch in benefits. If you're able to take advantage of its numerous annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, extensive airport lounge access and elite status perks, you'll be sure to come out ahead.

  • 5X points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year)
  • 5X points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel

Earn 80,000 points after spending $8,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership.

$695 (see rates and fees )

Cardholders can enjoy a long list of benefits, including:

  • Up to $200 annual hotel credit (Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay)
  • Up to $200 annual airline fee credit
  • Up to $300 per calendar year Equinox credit (enrollment required)
  • Up to $100 annual Saks Fifth Avenue credit (enrollment required)
  • Up to $189 credit to enroll in CLEAR® Plus (subject to auto-renewal)
  • Up to $240 annual digital entertainment credit (enrollment required)
  • Up to $155 annual Walmart+ credit. (Plus Ups are not eligible. Subject to auto renewal)
  • Worldwide airport lounge access, including Delta SkyClubs and Amex Centurion Lounges
  • Up to $200 annual Uber credit. Benefit renews annually. (Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only.)
  • $100 fee credit for Global Entry or up to $85 for TSAPreCheck
  • Automatic hotel elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy
  • Comprehensive travel insurance
  • Complimentary Amex concierge service

Membership Rewards points can also be exceptionally valuable. The best way to use Amex points is to transfer them to one of Amex's airline and hotel partners. They can also be redeemed for statement credits, gift cards and when  checking out at retailers like Amazon , though you'll usually get a lower value for your points.

Bank of America® Travel Rewards for Students

The Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students card provides a strong return for everyday purchases that competes with many of the top non-student credit cards.

  • 1.5X points per dollar on all purchases

Earn 25,000 bonus points after spending at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

In addition to having no annual fee, the Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students card charges no foreign transaction fees, which is useful when studying or traveling abroad.

You must be 18 or older and enrolled in school (college, vocational or trade school) to qualify for this card. Eligible students have access to a 0%-APR offer on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 billing cycles, then a variable 18.24%-28.24% APR applies. Only balance transfers made in the first 60 days of account opening qualify for the 0%-APR offer and there is a 3% balance transfer fee.

Rewards can be redeemed as a statement credit to cover the cost of travel and dining purchases — a simple way to reduce the cost of taking a spring break vacation or buying a plane ticket home. You can redeem rewards at any time and any amount.

First Tech Credit Union Choice Rewards World Mastercard®

Although we always recommend aiming to pay off credit card debt , if you have the debt, the Choice Rewards World Mastercard has one of the lowest interest rates you can find on a credit card.

  • 2X points per dollar on everyday purchases such as groceries, gas, electronics, household goods and telecommunications

Earn 20,000 points when you spend $3,000 in the first 60 days from account opening.

Not only does the Choice Rewards World Mastercard have a low APR, but it also has no foreign transaction fees, which is a huge plus when traveling abroad. It is a World Mastercard and as such, comes with purchase protection, Mastercard ID Theft Protection and 24-hour worldwide assistance for lost or stolen cards. It has an array of travel protections as well, including insurance for trip cancellations, travel accidents, baggage delays, lost luggage and rental cars (secondary).

Membership to First Tech Federal Credit Union is required to apply, but anyone can join through affiliation with select organizations or employers, a relationship with a current member, working or living in Lane County, Oregon, attending Cogswell Poly Technical College or by joining the Community History Museum (CHM) or Financial Fitness Association (FFA). First Tech pays the membership fee for the CHM and FFA on your behalf.

The rewards can be redeemed at a fixed rate toward cash-back, travel, merchandise, gift cards and experiences.

Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox.  Sign up here .

How to choose a travel credit card

There is a variety of travel credit cards available, from general to airline - and hotel -specific, and all the choices can make it hard to settle on one. To choose the best card for your needs, you should consider several factors. Here are some tips on how to choose a credit card.

Consider whether you're willing to pay an annual fee. Some travel cards have steep annual fees of over $500, which can be worthwhile, but not for everyone. Make sure you do the math to see if an annual fee travel card is for you.

Another key factor to consider is the type of travel you do most. If you travel within the U.S., then it doesn't matter if a card charges foreign transaction fees. But if you're off to Mexico or Spain, then it's important to have a no foreign transaction fee card.

Rewards should also play a part in your decision. Do some research to determine which card offers a rewards program more geared toward your spending habits. If you dine out a lot when you travel, consider the American Express Gold Card with 4X points on dining at restaurants. But if you want a competitive rewards rate on all sorts of purchases, the Discover it Miles has no annual fee and unlimited 1.5X miles on every dollar of every purchase.

You can compare card benefits side by side to see if one card rates better than another. The  Chase Sapphire Reserve , for example, offers complimentary lounge access, while the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers cardholders a fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck .

Find the best credit card for you by reviewing offers in our  credit card marketplace  or get personalized offers via  CardMatch™ .

Making the most of your travel card

To make the most of your travel card, you should familiarize yourself with the various credit card benefits and fees. Take note of any annual fees, foreign transaction fees and the APR associated with your account. Also, consider the rewards rates and added perks, such as annual statement credits.

Once you're familiar with the terms of your card, you can start optimizing them. That may include setting reminders to use the annual $300 travel credit provided by the Chase Sapphire Reserve or submitting a Global Entry application with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card to take advantage of the up to $100 credit.

If you have multiple credit cards , you might want to have a plan for the best time to use each card. Let's say you have the Discover it Miles and American Express Gold Card . Use the Amex Gold Card for dining expenses at restaurants to earn 4X points, then use the Discover card for all your other purchases to earn unlimited 1.5X miles.

Other types of credit cards to consider

Travel credit cards aren't for everyone. If you travel infrequently, you should consider alternative credit card options, such as cards with dining, grocery or gas rewards. Some cards provide up to 6% back in those categories, allowing foodies, meal-preppers and commuters to benefit.

Beyond rewards, you might benefit from a card that offers a 0% APR period . Some cards offer no interest for a year or more on new purchases and balance transfers, such as the Citi Simplicity® Card . The card has 0% intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers from the date of first transfer, plus 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases from date of account opening (after, 19.24% - 29.99% variable APR; balance transfers must be completed within four months of account opening.) There is an introductory balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer ($5 minimum) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your balance transfer fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5). When used responsibly, these cards can help you get out of debt without high interest charges.

Should you get a travel credit card?

If you travel often and pay for purchases with cash or a debit card , you're missing out on rewards and perks that can make travel more affordable. It can be in your best interest to get a travel credit card that awards high rewards rates on airfare, hotels, rideshares and other common travel expenses.

Who should apply for a travel card?

If you're interested in submitting a travel credit card application, keep in mind that card issuers usually require you to have good credit or excellent credit (scores above 670). Therefore, it's key to check your credit score before applying for a travel card.

Once you know your credit score and can check if you prequalify for a travel card, choose the best card for your needs and apply.

What's the difference between points and miles?

Unlike cash-back cards , travel credit cards generally earn points or miles. Traditionally, the term points referred to flexible rewards that could be redeemed directly through a bank's portal or transferred to a partner airline or hotel loyalty program. Meanwhile, the term miles has been associated with rewards earned through an airline's frequent flyer program. However, nowadays, points and miles are used interchangeably as there are flexible credit card rewards called miles and more restrictive airline rewards referred to as points.

How to compare travel credit cards

If you're having trouble narrowing down the best travel card for you, it can be helpful to compare credit cards. You should first list the benefits you're looking for and any deal breakers, such as an annual fee. Then consider cards that have those benefits.

For instance, if you want both travel and dining rewards, the Amex Gold Card is a better choice than the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card since the rewards rate is 4X versus 2X.

But if you don't want to pay a high annual fee, the Venture Card is only $95 (see rates and fees ) compared to the $250 you'll pay for a Gold Card (see rates and fees ).

Bottom line

The best travel credit cards earn rewards you can use to book flights, hotels , rental cars and much more. But the benefits of having a travel credit card go beyond the rewards you earn. Many travel cards offer additional perks, such as travel insurance that reimburses if a trip is delayed or your baggage is lost.

Before you sign up for a travel credit card, consider how you'll use it and how you can best optimize its  rewards program , especially if you're paying a steep  annual fee . It's also important to make sure you can pay off your balance on time and in full each month because many of these cards have  high interest rates .

The good news: If you choose a card from this list, you could earn over $2,000 in rewards over the next five years based on our calculations.

Why trust CNBC Select?

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best travel credit cards.

Our methodology

To determine which travel cards will put the most money back in your pocket, CNBC Select evaluated over dozens of popular travel credit cards offered by major banks, financial companies and credit unions that allow anyone to join. We compared each card on a range of features, including travel rewards (points and miles), annual fee, welcome bonus, introductory and standard APR, one-time perks, annual perks, redemption rates, as well as factors such as required credit and customer reviews when available.

CNBC Select teamed up with location intelligence firm Esri . The company's data development team provided the most up-to-date and comprehensive consumer spending data based on the 2019 Consumer Expenditure Surveys from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. You can read more about their methodology here .

Esri's data team created a sample annual budget of approximately $22,126 in retail spending. The budget includes six main categories: groceries ($5,174), gas ($2,218), dining out ($3,675), travel ($2,244), utilities ($4,862) and general purchases ($3,953). General purchases include items such as housekeeping supplies, clothing, personal care products, prescription drugs and vitamins, and other vehicle expenses.

We then estimated how much the average consumer would redeem over a year, two years and five years, assuming they would attempt to maximize their rewards potential by earning all welcome bonuses offered and using the card for all applicable purchases. All rewards total estimations are net the annual fee and assume that you are paying your credit card balance on time and in full each month so as not to incur interest charges.

It's important to note the value of a point or mile varies from card to card and based on how you redeem them. When we calculated the estimated returns, we assumed that cardholders are redeeming points/miles for a typical maximum value of 1 cent per point or mile. (Extreme optimizers might be able to achieve more value.)

Our final picks are weighted heavily toward the highest five-year returns, since it's generally wise to hold onto a credit card for years. This method also avoids giving an unfair advantage to cards with large welcome bonuses.

While the five-year estimates we've included are derived from a budget similar to the average American's spending, you may earn a higher or lower return depending on your travel habits.

The editor's choice card is independently chosen by CNBC Select's editorial team. While it may not have ranked as the number-one card in any given category, it consistently ranks highly across multiple categories and we believe offers some of the best value overall for a stand-alone card. Its rewards, welcome bonus, APR, fees, ease-of-use and ongoing benefits were all taken into consideration.

Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of  credit cards ,  banking  and  money , and follow us on  TikTok ,  Facebook ,  Instagram  and  Twitter  to stay up to date.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here .

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here .

For rates and fees of the Discover it® Miles, click  here .

For rates and fees of the Discover it® Secured Credit Card, click  here .

Information about the Bank of America® Travel Rewards for Students, has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

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comscore

Best credit cards for everyday spending in March 2024

Augusta Stone

Possibly the easiest way to earn rewards is to use one of the best credit cards for everyday spending instead of using your debit card or cash as your go-to form of payment. 

With so many options available, settling on one or two credit cards that will provide you with decent returns in the form of cash back, points or miles can be tough. Luckily, TPG’s expert editors have compiled this list of the best credit cards from our partners for everyday spending — including those with generous sign-up bonuses, simple cash-back structures and lucrative travel perks to enhance your next trip.

  • Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card : Best for airline miles
  • Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express : Best for U.S. supermarkets and gas in the U.S.
  • Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card : Best for beginners
  • Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express : Best for cash-back beginners
  • Citi Double Cash® Card : Best for no-frills cash-back rewards
  • Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card : Best for entertainment
  • The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express : Best for everyday business expenses
  • Chase Freedom Unlimited® : Best for drugstores
  • Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card : Best for flat-rate cash-back
  • Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card : Best for business cash back
  • Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card : Best for travel

Browse by card categories

  • No Annual Fee

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

When it comes to simplicity and strong rewards, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a solid choice for most travelers. You’ll earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase with no bonus categories to memorize, making it an ideal card for those with busy lives. Read our review of the  Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card .

  • Simple earning structure.
  • Multiple transfer partners.
  • Flexible redemption options.
  • Lower transfer ratios for select partners.
  • Limited bonus categories.
  • No U.S. airline transfer partner.
  • Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
  • 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
  • Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
  • Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
  • Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
  • Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
  • Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

The Blue Cash Preferred Card is one of the best cash-back credit cards on the market. You’ll get a great return across a wide range of bonus categories, a solid welcome bonus and a low annual fee. Read our review of the  Amex Blue Cash Preferred .

  • Multiple bonus categories. earning for bonus category.
  • High earning rates on bonus categories.
  • Capped earning for bonus category.
  • Annual fee.
  • Foreign transaction fees.
  • Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
  • $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
  • Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It® 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% on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 19.24% - 29.99%. Variable APRs will not exceed 29.99%.
  • 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.
  • 3% Cash Back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
  • 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
  • Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
  • Get up to $120 in statement credits annually when you pay for an auto-renewing subscription to Equinox+ at equinoxplus.com with your Blue Cash Preferred® Card. That’s $10 in statement credits each month. Enrollment required.
  • Thinking about getting the Disney Bundle which can include Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+? Your decision made easy with $7/month back in the form of a statement credit after you spend $9.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your Blue Cash Preferred® Card. Enrollment required.
  • Terms Apply.
  • See Rates & Fees

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the most popular travel rewards credit card on the market. Offering an excellent return on travel and dining purchases, the card packs a ton of value that easily offsets its $95 annual fee. Cardholders can redeem points at 1.25 cents each for travel booked through Chase or transfer points to one of Chase’s 14 valuable airline and hotel partners. Read our full  review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card .

  • Multiple bonus categories.
  • Valuable transfer partners.
  • Annual hotel statement credit.
  • Premium travel protection benefits.
  • Subject to Chase’s 5/24 policy.
  • Earn 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®.
  • Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
  • Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
  • Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
  • Member FDIC

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

The Blue Cash Everyday card is a good option for people who want a simple cash back structure with no annual fee. You’ll earn bonus cash back rewards on popular bonus categories, including U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations. Read our full review of the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express .

  • 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets
  • No annual fee.
  • 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and U.S. online retail purchases
  • Amex Offers, which earn you statement credits or extra points on purchases with a wide variety of merchants. (Enrollment required)
  • There is a $6,000 spending cap on the U.S. supermarket bonus category, which may not work for those with larger annual grocery spend.
  • You’ll have to pay a foreign transaction fee on purchases abroad, so it’s not a great choice to take with you when traveling outside of the U.S.
  • Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
  • No Annual Fee.
  • Balance Transfer is back! Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening. After that, 19.24% to 29.99% variable APR.
  • 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%.
  • 3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
  • 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
  • Thinking about getting the Disney Bundle which can include Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+? Your decision made easy with $7/month back in the form of a statement credit after you spend $9.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your Blue Cash Everyday® Card. Enrollment required.
  • Enjoy up to $15 back per month when you purchase a Home Chef meal kit subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your enrolled Blue Cash Everyday® Card.

Citi Double Cash® Card

Citi Double Cash® Card

The Citi Double Cash Card caters to beginners establishing good credit habits, since users will earn 2% cash back; 1% when they buy and 1% when they pay their statement. The Citi Double Cash is a great pick for those looking for the utmost simplicity and want cash back in their pocket. Read our full review of the  Citi Double Cash here .

  • Earning 2% back on every purchase is an industry-leading return on everyday spending for a no-annual-fee credit card.
  • Now that you have the ability to convert rewards to ThankYou points with an eligible card, your redemption options are even more flexible.
  • It’s great for those looking to consolidate debt, since it offers new cardmembers 18 months of 0% intro APR on balance transfers made. After that, the variable APR of 19.24% - 29.24% applies.
  • Those looking to make a balance transfer will have to pay 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
  • Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
  • 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. Plus, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24.
  • Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
  • Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
  • If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
  • There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One SavorOne is a great cash-back credit card for beginners looking for a solid cash back structure and no annual fee. Dining, entertainment and groceries are high-value bonus categories, and it’s rare for a card to hit all three. Read our  full review of the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card.

  • Unlimited bonus cash back.
  • Long period for introductory 0% APR. You’ll get 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months (19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after, there's a 3% balance transfer fee for the first 15 months or 4% at a promotional APR offered at any other time.).
  • Small sign-up bonus.
  • Low cash-back on non-bonus earning categories.
  • Bonus rates on travel only apply through the Capital One portal.
  • Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
  • Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), plus 1% on all other purchases
  • Earn 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
  • Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
  • 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
  • No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
  • 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
  • No foreign transaction fee
  • No annual fee

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

The Blue Business Plus is a great card for small business owners who want to earn lucrative Membership Rewards points on everyday business spending. It was created specifically for sole proprietorships and start-ups with limited revenue who would appreciate a card with an introductory interest rate and expanded buying power. Read our review of the  Amex Blue Business Plus .

  • Travel and shopping protections.
  • Cap on bonus earning.
  • Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
  • 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 18.49% - 26.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors at account opening. APR will not exceed 29.99%
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter.
  • You’ve got the power to use your Card beyond its credit limit* with Expanded Buying Power.
  • *The amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors.
  • Terms Apply

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a surprisingly powerful card that earns at least 1.5% back on everything. However, it becomes a standout card if you pair it with a card that earns transferable Ultimate Rewards points, doubling their potential value. Read our full review of the Chase Freedom Unlimited .

  • Incredible value when paired with a premium Chase card.
  • Limited card perks and benefits.
  • Intro Offer: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
  • Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
  • After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
  • No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
  • Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
  • No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
  • Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is a decent option for those in need of a straightforward cash back card. However, there are other options that offer more flexibility to redeem your rewards. Read our full review of the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card .

  • Unlimited cash back on all purchases.
  • No foreign transaction fees.
  • Lack of bonus categories can limit earning potential.
  • Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
  • $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
  • Enjoy up to 6 months of complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
  • No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus, cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

The Ink Business Unlimited’ sign-up gives you $900 cash back spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening plus unlimited 1.5% cash back on every business purchase. It fills in rewards gaps not covered by the Ink Business Cash Credit Card and the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card. You can maximize this card by pairing it with cards including the Chase Sapphire Reserve, the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Ink Business Preferred. Read our review of the  Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card .

  • Unlimited cash back.
  • High sign-up bonus.
  • No bonus categories.
  • High spend needed for sign-up bonus.
  • No travel protection.
  • Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
  • Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
  • Earn rewards faster with employee cards at no additional cost. Set individual spending limits for greater control.
  • Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
  • With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
  • 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card

The Bank of America Premium Rewards card is great for using the points earned for rewards that normal airline miles or credit card points can’t cover. Bank of America Preferred Rewards® members get a 25%-75% rewards bonus on every purchase. New cardmembers earn a 60,000-point sign-up bonus after spending $4,000 in the first 90 days of account opening. Read our review of the  Bank of America Premium Rewards card .

  • Annual airline incidental credit.
  • Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit.
  • Travel protections.
  • Few bonus categories.
  • More valuable if you are a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member.
  • Receive 60,000 online bonus points - a $600 value - after you make at least $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
  • Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases. No limit to the points you can earn and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
  • If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means you could earn 2.5-3.5 points on travel and dining purchases and 1.87-2.62 points on all other purchases, for every $1 you spend.
  • Redeem for cash back as a statement credit, deposit into eligible Bank of America® accounts, credit to eligible Merrill® accounts, or gift cards or purchases at the Bank of America Travel Center.
  • Get up to $100 in Airline Incidental Statement Credits annually and TSA PreCheck®/Global Entry Statement Credits of up to $100, every four years.
  • Travel Insurance protections to assist with trip delays, cancellations and interruptions, baggage delays and lost luggage.
  • Low $95 annual fee.
  • This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

Comparing the best credit cards for everyday spending

More details on the best credit cards.

With a simple earning structure and flexible redemption options, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is an excellent choice for anyone looking to earn rewards on everyday purchases. The card earns 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, making it an easy option for anyone looking for straightforward rewards without the need to track bonus categories.

Anyone with a busy lifestyle looking for a solid card that earns rewards on every purchase without the hassle of tracking bonus categories. Beginner and experienced travelers, newcomers to points and miles and seasoned pros alike will appreciate the multiple redemption options available with Capital One Venture miles . 

“The Capital One Venture is a great card that can add value to pretty much anyone's wallet. I use it to earn 2 miles per dollar on the purchases that fall outside of my other cards' bonus categories. The annual fee is low, Capital One miles are easy to redeem and the card does come with a few nice perks — including a TSA PreCheck/Global Entry application fee reimbursement.” – Madison Blancaflor , senior editor

If you’re looking for more perks, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card includes $300 in annual credits for bookings through Capital One Travel and a Priority Pass lounge membership. These additional benefits help offset the higher annual fee.

If you prefer earning cash back and find yourself spending more often in categories such as U.S. supermarkets, transit, U.S. gas stations and select U.S. streaming, the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express is an excellent choice. The Blue Cash Preferred offers high-value rewards for common purchases, making it a useful card for everyday spending. You’ll enjoy a $0 introductory annual fee for the card in the first year (then $95; see rates and fees ). Thanks to its decent earning structure, especially in the supermarket category, many people find that the card pays for itself – sometimes, several times over.

The Blue Cash Preferred is great for those who frequently spend on groceries, streaming services, transit and gas, offering lucrative benefits within these bonus categories. Infrequent travelers and those more interested in spending rewards in multiple ways are excellent fits for this card.

“I've been an Amex Blue Cash Preferred cardholder for nearly a decade and it's one of my favorite — and one of the most valuable — cards that I carry. I love the solid earning structure that gives me a generous 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 annually, then 1% thereafter) and an annual fee that pays for itself several times over since my yearly cash-back total is always over $500. The Blue Cash Preferred also has great offers you can redeem across several different areas, including hotels, beauty, a rotating roster of retailers and more. This is especially useful during the holiday season when I'm shopping for Christmas gifts.” — Daisy Hernandez , credit cards editor

The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express has no annual fee (see rates and fees ) and similar benefits, making it a great alternative option (especially for those who may be newer to the rewards-earning game).

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers solid returns on dining and travel and is a popular choice for those working to maximize travel rewards on everyday spending. As a midlevel rewards card, it offers impressive returns in the form of Chase Ultimate Rewards points , which hold exceptional value per TPG’s latest valuations . 

Travel rewards beginners and seasoned points and miles pros both can find value in using the Chase Sapphire Preferred for everyday purchases. The $95 annual fee is easily offset by its strong point returns, including 5 points per dollar on travel booked through the Chase travel portal and Lyft purchases, and 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services and online grocery store purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs).

“The Chase Sapphire Preferred has been in my wallet for 5-plus years and is the go-to midlevel rewards credit card that I recommend to people. It usually has a pretty solid sign-up bonus, with points that can be transferred to some of my favorite loyalty programs, like British Airways Executive Club and World of Hyatt. The strong earning rate on dining and travel, as well as streaming services, makes it a good choice for a millennial like me. Finally, I like using this card when renting cars, as it provides primary car insurance and a little more peace of mind.” – Matt Moffitt , senior editor 

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is the premium accompaniment to the mid-tier Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. The Chase Sapphire Reserve comes with a $550 annual fee, higher than that of the Chase Sapphire Preferred, but offers higher returns and luxurious benefits with Ultimate Rewards points that make it a good premium option as a card for everyday spending. 

The Blue Cash Everyday Amex offers valuable bonus categories, including 3% cash back on the first $6,000 you spend each calendar year at U.S. supermarkets (then 1% thereafter), 3% cash back on the first $6,000 you spend each calendar year at U.S. gas stations (then 1% thereafter), 3% cash back on the first $6,000 you spend each calendar year at U.S. online retailers (then 1% thereafter), and 1% on all other eligible purchases — all with no annual fee (see rates and fees ). Cash back is received in the form of reward dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.

If you find yourself often spending on gas, groceries or online retailers, the Blue Cash Everyday Card’s 3% cash-back return on the first $6,000 spent each calendar year makes the card a sensible option as a card for everyday purchases. With no annual fee, it’s a strong option to maximize cash back in these categories.

Using the Blue Cash Everyday card is a great way to ensure you’re earning rewards in two categories that are necessities for so many of us — groceries and gas — with no annual fee. The simple earning structure is bolstered by the fact that Amex Reward Dollars are easy to redeem.

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a premium version of the Blue Cash Everyday Card. The Blue Cash Preferred offers higher earning rates with a similar structure for a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year (then $95; see rates and fees ). 

With no annual fee, the Citi Double Cash Card (see rates and fees ) is a simple and rewarding cash-back card to use on everyday purchases. The card comes with a simple rewards structure, earning up to 2% cash back on all purchases – 1% when you make a purchase and another 1% when you pay it off – making it an easy option for anyone looking to earn rewards without worrying about bonus categories. 

Anyone looking for ways to maximize their rewards on all everyday spending outside of bonus categories would benefit from the no-annual-fee Citi Double Cash Card. Those who hold other Citi cards, such as a Citi Premier® Card (see rates and fees ), can also unlock higher-value redemption options when you convert your rewards from your Citi Double Cash to fully transferable ThankYou Rewards points .

“The Citi Double Cash Card is a simple yet valuable cash-back rewards card that I find myself frequently recommending to family and friends. It's a great everyday spending card with its 2% cash back, offered as 1% when you buy and 1% when you pay. And since it has no annual fee, it's earned a long-term place in my wallet.” – Katie Genter , senior writer

If you already have a Chase Ultimate Rewards card, the Chase Freedom Unlimited is worth considering. Similar to the Citi Double Cash Card but in the Chase family, the Chase Freedom Unlimited offers a generous cash-back value and has rewards that can be converted into Ultimate Rewards points.

The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is a solid choice for anyone looking to earn cash back on everyday purchases with a simple but decent earning structure. The card earns unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment and groceries with no annual fee (see rates and fees ). 

The Capital One SavorOne is a good fit for anyone who regularly spends on dining and entertainment, offering 3% cash back in these two categories plus 3% cash back on streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases, and 1% on all other purchases. If those categories align with your regular spending habits, it makes sense to opt for this card as your go-to for everyday purchases. 

If you’re looking to maximize earning cash back and often spend on dining, groceries and entertainment, the Capital One SavorOne should be in strong consideration for everyday purchases. While spending outside of its bonus categories isn’t as lucrative, it pays off to have this card for making purchases in the areas with high rewards.

If you’re looking for a higher-end version with better rewards in some of the same bonus categories (dining, entertainment and popular streaming services), the Capital One Savor Rewards Credit Card could be a better fit for you. The card comes with a $95 annual fee but offers 4% cash back on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, 3% cash back at grocery stores, and 1% cash back on all other purchases, along with 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases and 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. 

The information for the Capital One Savor card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express is a valuable option for small businesses looking to earn Amex Membership Rewards points on everyday purchases, with a flat rate of 2 points per dollar on the first $50,000 in purchases each calendar year (then 1 point per dollar). The card does not charge an annual fee (see rates and fees ) and pairs well with other Amex cards, such as The Business Platinum Card® from American Express or the American Express® Gold Card. 

Those who are looking to earn rewards on everyday spending without having to keep track of bonus categories will enjoy the Blue Business Plus’ straightforward rate of 2 points per dollar on up to $50,000 spent annually (then 1 point per dollar). Anyone who already has Amex cards in their wallet will want to opt for the Blue Business Plus, as it earns American Express Membership Rewards points that can be transferred to several loyalty program partners. 

“There are very few no-annual-fee cards that award fully transferable points, but the Amex Blue Business Plus is one of them. Not only that, you'll earn 2 Membership Rewards points for every dollar you spend (on up to $50,000 each year). That's a fantastic return of 4% back based on TPG's valuations , making this a great option for your small-business needs.” – Nick Ewen , director of content

If you prefer a Capital One card for everyday spending and may exceed the Blue Business Plus card’s annual spending cap, the Capital One Spark Miles for Business (see rates and fees ) earns 2 miles per dollar on all purchases, like the Blue Business Plus, but it carries a $95 annual fee (waived the first year) and doesn’t have the $50,000 cap for double earnings like the Blue Business Plus.

The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a versatile cash-back card with multiple bonus categories, a 1.5% cash-back rate on all other purchases and no annual fee, making it a strong option for everyday spending. The card earns 5% back on travel booked through the Chase Travel portal Ultimate Rewards , 3% back on dining (including takeout and eligible delivery services) and 3% at drugstores. However, when paired with a higher-end Chase card (such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve), its cash-back earnings can be converted into Ultimate Rewards points, which hold substantial value per TPG’s valuations .

Points and miles beginners and travel rewards experts will enjoy the perks of the Chase Freedom Unlimited, which provides substantial value as a card for everyday purchases with valuable cash-back returns that can be converted into Ultimate Rewards points. 

“The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a great option, especially for anyone with a card like the Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserve. It has solid bonus categories but also gives 1.5% back on all other purchases. And, if you have a higher-end Chase card, you can effectively convert these cash-back earnings into fully transferable Ultimate Rewards points.” – Nick Ewen , director of content

If you’re interested in earning more back on everyday purchases by capitalizing on rotating categories, the Chase Freedom Flex earns 5% back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in quarterly bonus categories after you activate. These points can also be converted into Ultimate Rewards points and transferred to Chase’s partners with the right card pairing, like the Chase Freedom Unlimited.

If you’re looking for simplicity in a cash-back card for everyday purchases and don’t want to worry about bonus categories, the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is a strong option. With no annual fee, the Quicksilver earns a flat 1.5% cash back on purchases with no limit on how much you can earn, no rotating categories and a respectable sign-up bonus (see rates and fees ). 

Anyone looking for an everyday spending card that doesn’t require paying attention to bonus categories and earns cash back on every purchase. The Quicksilver Cash Rewards credit card is also good for those looking for a sign-up bonus that’s easy to achieve, as you’ll earn $200 after spending $500 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

The Quicksilver is a simple option for anyone looking to earn cash back without thinking too much about maximizing certain bonus categories or spending a lot to earn a welcome bonus. For everyday purchases, the card rewards those who often spend outside of typical bonus categories or aren’t looking to swap out multiple cards. 

If you’re interested in trying out bonus categories within the Capital One family, the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and grocery stores (excluding stores like Walmart® and Target®), which could offer more rewards on everyday spending if you find yourself making purchases in those categories. 

The Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card is a solid option for small businesses as it earns 1.5% cash back on every purchase with no annual fee. With a generous introductory bonus ($900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening) and a simple rewards structure, this card offers solid value. Its value can be maximized in the form of Chase Ultimate Rewards points when paired with other Chase cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.

Business owners looking to earn cash back on everyday spending with a simple rewards structure would be pleased with this card. The Ink Business Unlimited is an excellent choice for those with other Chase cards in their wallet, as it can also add value in the form of Chase Ultimate Rewards points. Its 1.5% cash-back perk is optimal for those not interested in managing bonus categories. 

This card is great for filling in any gaps in your earning strategy thanks to its 1.5% back on all purchases. It’s also a good way to accrue transferable points you can use within Chase portals.

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express is a similar fixed-rate card that offers 2 points per dollar on all eligible business purchases, on up to $50,000 per calendar year (then 1 point per dollar). It also carries no annual fee (see rates and fees ). 

With a simple earning structure and a $95 annual fee, the Bank of America Premium Rewards card is a solid option for anyone who is a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member. It also offers a strong sign-up bonus, solid bonus categories and a few value-added perks. 

If you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, this card is an excellent option for you. Preferred Rewards members earn a 25%-75% rewards bonus on every purchase, making it a strong option for an everyday spending card. It’s also a solid option for those looking for simplicity, as you won’t have to worry about spending within bonus categories since you’ll earn a flat rate on every purchase.

Points and miles novices and experts who utilize Preferred Rewards will find value in this card’s rewards currency and simplistic structure. You can redeem points as a statement credit against big purchases that aren’t covered by points, making the card a versatile option that mimics cash-back rewards. 

If you’re looking for stronger earning rates on a cash-back card or don’t participate in Bank of America’s Preferred Rewards program, consider the Citi Double Cash® Card . It earns 2% cash back on everyday purchases (1% when you buy and 1% when you pay your statement) and has a simple rewards structure with no annual fee (see rates and fees ).

Credit pointers with Brian Kelly

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Maximizing credit cards for everyday spending

Choose the best card for your regular spending habits.

When thinking about the best credit card to choose for everyday use, it makes sense to consider how you’re regularly spending money. For instance, if you often find yourself picking up groceries or refilling your gas tank , a card that offers generous perks at supermarkets or gas stations would be a smart choice. 

If you find that your regular purchases don’t fit into specific bonus categories, a card with a simpler earnings structure could be a better option. There’s no one-size-fits-all card for every person and spending pattern, so thinking about where you regularly find yourself spending money will help you make the most of a card used for everyday purchases.

Related: The best rewards credit cards for each bonus category

Consider the rewards you want to earn

On top of considering your regular spending habits, it’s also a good idea to think about what card offers the type of rewards you want to earn. The best card for everyday spending for you could be one that offers lucrative cash back , or it could be a card that earns a generous number of points and miles for travel . Whichever strategy you choose should align with the card you select for everyday purchases.

Related : Cash back vs. travel rewards: How to choose a credit card 

Pay your balance off every month

Regardless of your reward goal or financial strategy, we at TPG always recommend that you avoid carrying a balance from month to month. Rapidly compounding interest charges you accrue when carrying a balance on everyday purchases will likely wipe away any gains you earn toward valuable rewards. It’s best to keep your everyday spending on a credit card within your personal budgeting strategy to truly maximize your rewards. 

Related: Common credit card mistakes and how to avoid them

How we rate cards

What is an everyday spending credit card.

An everyday spending credit card is the card that you’d find yourself swiping for the type of purchases you make with regular frequency — not just groceries, gas and dining but also those categories that don’t fall into a common bonus category. This can include utility services, insurance renewals or even healthcare bills. 

Using a credit card instead of cash or a debit card for go-to purchases is advantageous for those looking to earn rewards on the purchases they regularly make.

Should you use a credit card for everyday purchases?

If you want to maximize rewards and earn from your spending, using a credit card for everyday purchases is the way to go. You won’t earn rewards on purchases made with cash or debit cards, so deciding to make a credit card your go-to option for transactions you’d be making anyway is a smart decision. 

Remember to avoid carrying a balance so that you don’t accrue interest and fall into credit card debt. TPG recommends paying off balances in full every month to maximize the value of rewards. 

How to choose the best everyday spending credit card

  • 1 Annual fee Select cards feature an annual fee but often feature an elevated earning rate. If you spending will earn more from the elevated rate than the card’s annual fee, then the card may be worth its annual fee for you.
  • 2 Welcome bonus Welcome bonuses are a major contributor to a card’s value but larger bonuses typically require larger spending. Choose a credit card that you can meet the spending limit for to earn the card’s welcome bonus.
  • 3 Bonus categories For an everyday credit card, you want to look for cards that feature bonus categories that best align with your spending. Whether it is travel or groceries, choosing an everyday credit card that offers elevated earnings on your main spending category will help you reap the most rewards out of your spending.

Ask our experts

What’s your favorite everyday credit card — and why.

Katie Genter

Pros + cons of everyday spending credit cards

  • When used responsibly, credit cards can improve your credit score.
  • Many everyday credit cards offer a solid return on your spending — whether it’s a flat earning rate on all purchases or bonus rewards in key categories.
  • Some everyday spending cards feature additional travel perks or statement credits.
  • Spending beyond your means just to earn rewards can impact your credit score and cost you hundreds of dollars in interest.
  • Some everyday credit cards only earn cash-back rewards, limiting your ability to use them for maximum value.
  • If you select a broad everyday spending card, you may miss out on brand-specific perks — like free checked bags with your preferred airline or automatic hotel elite status.

Frequently asked questions

There is no single best card for everyday spending — just the best one for your situation.

The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a great starter card to begin accruing valuable Ultimate Rewards points. Meanwhile, the Blue Business Plus offers an impressive return on general spending. In comparison, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers a valuable sign-up bonus paired with a return of more than 2 miles per dollar on everyday spending long-term.

The Citi Double Cash Card (see rates and fees ) earns 2% cash back (1% when you buy, plus 1% as you pay), which can be converted to ThankYou points via a linked ThankYou Rewards account. And the Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card is a superb option if you have a high-balance relationship with Bank of America’s Preferred Rewards program.

Ultimately, all the cards on this list are valuable for everyday spending. Which one you choose will be determined by your spending habits and goals.

Using your credit card for everyday purchases is a great way to earn rewards and build your credit . With responsible usage, having a credit card for everyday spending can help you save money by earning cash back or reward points on money you already spend. 

Credit cards do not have to be reserved for an emergency or an unexpected expense. Using a credit card for the spending you already do and paying it off every month — at TPG, we always recommend that you avoid carrying a balance whenever possible — is a great way to increase your credit score and improve your financial health. 

The answer depends on your spending habits, financial goals and how many cards you’re comfortable managing at once for everyday spending. Some TPG staffers have over 20 credit cards, while others only hold a few. Many beginners start with just a single credit card , but if you’re considering more, be sure you’re comfortable juggling them all — especially when it comes to making on-time payments on everyday and recurring purchases.

A goal for many experts is to never earn just 1% on any given purchase. Generally, this means having cards that earn bonus rewards in the categories you spend the most in each month and at least one card that earns a decent reward rate on non-bonus spending. 

If a slim wallet of two or three cards helps you hit your goals, then that’s the number of cards you should have. If a wallet filled with 20 or more helps you maximize spending and travel plans, then that’s valid, too. It’s all about your specific needs, wants and spending habits.

Money.com

16 Best Travel Credit Cards of March 2024

A travel credit card can be a valuable tool to help you save on travel expenses. If you use it strategically, you could snag free flights, hotel stays and more.

Our team evaluates the top travel credit cards in the market every month, comparing their fees, welcome offers, travel insurance policies and more. Based on our extensive research, we’ve picked some of the best travel credit cards around, including Chase Sapphire Preferred®, The Platinum Card® from American Express and Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.

Read on for our complete list of the best travel credit cards, how they work and how to pick the best one for you.

Money’s Main Takeaways

  • Travel credit cards offer high rewards on travel purchases, which can be redeemed for airfare, hotel nights, cash back, statement credits or more.
  • Many travel credit cards also offer bonus points or miles on everyday spending categories, like dining and gas.
  • The best travel credit cards often include perks such as travel insurance and annual statement credits.

Why Trust Us?

Our editorial team has spent well over a thousand hours analyzing, evaluating and comparing the top credit card offers in the market. We carefully vet each card’s fine print in order to understand their features, limitations and potential benefits for consumers. We review cards independently, ensuring our content is accurate and guided by editorial integrity. Read our full methodology to learn more.

  • 46 travel credit cards evaluated
  • 10+ data points used, including ongoing fees, reward programs and welcome offers
  • 100+ sources reviewed

Our Top Picks for Best Travel Credit Cards

Best no-annual-fee travel credit cards.

  • Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card – High rewards on dining and entertainment
  • Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card – High flat-rate rewards and travel partners
  • Chase Freedom Flex® – Rotating cash back categories
  • Chase Freedom Unlimited® – High flat-rate rewards and popular bonus categories
  • Bilt World Elite Mastercard® – Earn rewards for rent payments and more
  • Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card – High rewards on popular everyday categories
  • Discover it® Miles – Simple travel rewards structure
  • Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card – Ideal for Bank of America customers

Best low-fee-annual-fee travel credit cards

  • Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card – High rewards earning potential with flexible redemption options
  • Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card – High flat-rate rewards
  • Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card – Ideal for Bank of America customers

Best premium travel credit cards

  • Chase Sapphire Reserve® – High reward earning potential and premium travel perks
  • Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card – Low cost premium travel card with high-end perks
  • The Platinum Card® from American Express – Airport lounge access and luxury perks
  • American Express® Gold Card – High rewards for foodies

Best business travel credit cards

  • The Business Platinum Card® from American Express – Airport lounge access and luxury perks

Best Travel Credit Cards Reviews

Best no-annual-fee travel credit cards.

  • Unlimited 3% back on dining, entertainment, grocery stores (excluding Target(R) and Walmart(R)) and select streaming services
  • No annual or foreign transaction fees
  • Includes travel accident insurance
  • Complimentary concierge service available 24/7 to offer personalized assistance in dining, entertainment and travel
  • 5% cash-back rate for travel only applies to hotels and rental cars, not flights
  • 10% back on Uber and Uber Eats purchases plus statement credits to cover the costs of an Uber One membership through November 14, 2024
  • 8% back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
  • 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • 3% back on dining, eligible streaming services, entertainment and grocery stores (excluding Target® and Walmart®)
  • 1% back on all other eligible purchases

Why we chose it: The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is the ideal card to take when you’re sightseeing or on nights out since it offers high rewards on dining, entertainment and more.

With this no-annual-fee travel card, you can earn cash back at restaurants, tourist attractions, concerts, theme parks and more while traveling — all without worrying about the foreign transaction fees many competitors charge.

Note that the card’s travel bonus only applies to hotel and rental car bookings made through the Capital One Travel portal. This means you won’t get any cash back for flights, which other travel credit cards do offer.

However, you can earn cash back at restaurants and other establishments worldwide, giving you excellent reward-earning potential while traveling abroad.

  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Can transfer your miles to 16 travel partners
  • Earns 5x miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • Doesn't earn bonus points on airfare
  • No domestic travel partners
  • Limited redemption options
  • 1.25x miles per dollar on eligible purchases
  • 5x miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel

Why we chose it: The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is a great option if you’re looking for a no-annual fee travel credit card with a simple rewards structure.

You can use your miles to book travel through the Capital One Travel portal or as a statement credit to cover travel purchases made from airlines, hotels, rail lines, car rental agencies and more.

You can also transfer your points to one of Capital One’s 16 travel partners, which include international airlines such as Avianca and British Airways. This option is notable since travel credit cards with no annual fee don’t typically offer the option to transfer your reward to airline and hotel partners.

However, the card’s list of bonus categories is limited compared to some other no-annual-fee credit cards, and Capital One doesn’t offer bonus points on airfare booked through Capital One Travel.

  • No annual fee
  • Includes trip cancellation/interruption and car rental insurance
  • Includes cell phone protection when you pay your monthly bill with the card
  • Earn 5% cash back in quarterly categories, on up to the first $1,500 spent
  • 3% foreign transaction fee
  • 5% back on flights, hotels, car rentals and more on purchases made through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
  • 5% back on up to $1,500 spent per quarter in rotating categories
  • 5% cash back on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025
  • 3% back on dining at restaurants (including eligible delivery services and takeout)
  • 3% back on drugstore purchase

Why we chose it: The Chase Freedom Flex® offers popular rotating bonus categories and a high reward rate on certain travel purchases.

The card’s rotating categories change each quarter and usually feature popular options, like Amazon, grocery stores and gas stations.

The Chase Freedom Flex® offers several noteworthy benefits, including rental car coverage and trip cancellation/interruption insurance. You also get cell phone protection for theft or damages when you pay your phone’s bill using the card.

However, this card charges a 3% foreign transaction fee so it’s best to use it while traveling within the U.S., not internationally.

All information about the Chase Freedom Flex® has been collected independently by Money.com.

  • Features a high flat cash back rate combined and popular bonus categories
  • 5% back on travel booked through Chase Travel℠
  • 3% back on dining purchases, including delivery and takeout
  • 3% back at drugstores
  • 1.5% back on all other eligible purchases

Why we chose it: The Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers a high flat cash back rate on most purchases plus several appealing bonus categories, including travel and dining.

And keep in mind that, during the first year of card membership (or up to the first $20,000 spent), you’ll earn an additional 1.5% on each category.

It’s also worth noting that this card is one of the few no-annual-fee credit cards with both trip cancellation/interruption and rental car insurance. You can also redeem your rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and or even transfer them to other cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® points.

However, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® Credit Card charges a 3% fee on foreign transactions, making it a poor option for international travel.

  • No annual or foreign currency conversion fee (Click herehttps://www.wellsfargo.com/credit-cards/bilt/terms/">here; for rates and fees)
  • Use it to pay your rent and earn rewards without incurring any processing fees
  • You can earn double points on all purchase categories (except rent payments) on the first of every month (up to 10,000 points)
  • Earn 2x points on travel (when booked directly through an airline, hotels, car rental agencies and cruise lines)
  • No welcome bonus or introductory APR period
  • Points redeemed for statement credits are worth 0.55 cents each
  • You must make at least five transactions in a statement period to earn points
  • Rent payments can only be made to one rental property per month

With the Bilt World Elite Mastercard®, you’ll earn 1x Bilt Points on rent payments (up to 100,000 points in a calendar year). Additionally, you’ll get:

  • 5x points on Lyft rideshare (when you link your Bilt and Lyft accounts, set Bilt as the active loyalty partner and pay with your card)
  • 3x points on dining
  • 2x points on travel (when booked directly through an airline, hotels, car rental
  • agencies and cruise lines)
  • 1x points on other purchases

You must use the card at least five times each statement period to earn points. (See Rewards & Benefits Terms )

Why we chose it: The Bilt World Elite Mastercard® lets you earn travel rewards on rent payments without incurring any processing fees — unlike most credit cards that typically charge around 2.5% to 2.9% per rent payment.

You can use the card to pay rent without worrying about surcharges. Once you get approved for the card, all you have to do is set up an account through the Bilt app or website and use your assigned routing and account number to pay rent through your usual payment portal. You can also use your card even if your landlord only accepts checks, and Bilt will send a check on your behalf.

Additionally, Bilt doubles the card’s rewards rates on the first of every month, which means you can earn 6x points on dining, 4x points on travel and 2x points on other purchases (up to 10,000 points per month). However, this bonus doesn’t apply to rent rewards.

On the downside, the Bilt World Elite Mastercard® doesn’t offer a welcome bonus, and points redeemed for statement credits are only worth 0.55 cents each.

All information about the Bilt World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by Money.com.

  • Earn 3x points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, select streaming services and cell phone plans
  • Includes cell phone protection plan
  • No airline or hotel transfer partners
  • Doesn't include travel insurance
  • Netflix and HBO are not eligible for streaming bonus
  • 3x points on travel (flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises and more)
  • 3x points on transit, including subways, parkings, tolls, ridesharing services and more
  • 3x points on dining, gas, select streaming services and cell phone and
  • landline providers
  • 1X points on other eligible purchases

Why we chose it: The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card has no annual or foreign transaction fees and earns high rewards for popular spending categories, including travel, dining, gas, streaming services and cell phone plans.

Its travel bonus category is particularly noteworthy because you can earn points regardless of where you make your reservations, whether it’s directly with an airline or through a third-party travel site like Booking.com. (Most travel credit cards limit travel rewards to bookings made exclusively through the card issuer’s travel portal.)

The card also includes rental car insurance and a cell phone protection plan when you use it to pay your monthly bill.

All information about the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card has been collected independently by Money.com.

  • Discover matches the total miles you earned at the end of the first year
  • Earns 1.5x miles on all purchases
  • See your FICO score on the Discover mobile app, online and on statements
  • Few benefits compared to other travel cards
  • No bonus category for travel
  • Doesn't include extended warranty or purchase protection
  • 1.5x miles on all eligible purchases

Why we chose it: The Discover it® Miles is a no-frills card ideal for travelers who don’t want to keep track of bonus categories, earning caps or redemption values.

You can redeem your miles for statement credits and account deposits at a rate of 1 cent per mile. You can also use your rewards through Amazon and PayPal checkout with the same value.

Also, the card’s welcome bonus is easily one of the best in the market: Discover matches every mile you’ve earned at the end of your first membership year — without any spending requirements.

However, while the Discover it® Miles is a great starter travel card, its lack of bonus categories could hinder your reward-earning potential in the long run. Additionally, Discover cards aren’t as widely accepted internationally as Visa Signature and World Mastercard, for example.

All information about the Discover it® Miles has been collected independently by Money.com.

  • Earns 1.5x points on all purchases
  • Few benefits compared to other cards

Why we chose it: The Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card is an easy-to-use card best suited for travel reward beginners or those who are already Bank of America customers.

Some cardholders can earn up to 75% more points if they are Bank of America Preferred Rewards members — that’s up to 2.62 points for every dollar spent.

However, the card doesn’t offer hotel and airline point transfer partners, travel insurance or extended warranty and purchase protection. Additionally, you can only redeem your points as statement credit to cover travel and dining purchases.

All information about Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card has been collected independently by Money.com

Best Low-Annual-Fee Travel Credit Cards

  • Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards(R)
  • Receive a point bonus each account anniversary
  • Includes primary rental car insurance
  • Earn 3x per $1 on dining, including eligible delivery and takeout meals, select streaming services and grocery purchases
  • $95 annual fee
  • Doesn't offer a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck(R) application fee credit
  • 5x points for travel bookings made through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
  • 2x on all other travel purchases
  • 3x on dining, including eligible delivery and takeout
  • 3x on select streaming services
  • 3x on online grocery purchases (excluding Target®, Walmart® and wholesale clubs)
  • 1x on all other eligible purchases

Why we chose this card: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is an excellent option for frequent travelers who want to earn valuable rewards while paying a low annual fee.

The card features six reward categories that offer outstanding rewards on flights, hotels, restaurants and more. You can redeem your points for statement credits, account deposits, gift cards and more. But you can get the most bang for your buck by redeeming them for travel purchases through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal, which increases your point’s usual one-cent value by 25%.

You can redeem your points for statement credits, account deposits, gift cards and more. But you can get the most bang for your buck by redeeming them for travel purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, which increases your point’s usual one-cent value by 25%.

You can also transfer your points to one of Chase’s 14 travel partners at a 1:1 ratio (one Chase point equals one hotel point or airline mile). These include popular airlines and hotels like JetBlue, Southwest, United, Marriott and Hyatt.

  • Earn 2x miles per dollar on most purchases
  • Up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck(R)
  • Includes travel accident and car rental insurance
  • Fewer bonus categories than other cards with a similar annual fee ($95)
  • Doesn't offer travel rewards for flights
  • Car rental insurance is secondary
  • 5x miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One’s travel portal
  • 2x miles per dollar on all eligible purchases

Why we chose it: The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is an excellent card for everyday spending, offering a higher base reward than most travel credit cards.

The Capital One Venture Rewards is ideal for those who want to get the most out of their spending without worrying about tracking bonus categories and spending caps.

You can redeem your miles on the Capital One travel portal and as statement credits to cover travel purchases at a value of one cent per mile. Additionally, you may transfer your miles to more than 15 airline and hotel partners. However, keep in mind that Capital One doesn’t have domestic travel partners, which can be a drawback if you mainly travel within the U.S.

  • Earn 2x points on travel and dining
  • Earn 1.5x points on all other purchases
  • Up to $100 credit for airline incidental fees
  • Up to $100 for Global Entry or TSA Precheck(R) every four years
  • Lower travel bonus rate than other cards
  • Doesn't provide car rental insurance
  • 2x points on travel and dining
  • 1.5x points on all other eligible purchases.

Why we chose it: The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card has a simple earning structure and can offer substantial rewards for Bank of America customers.

Bank of America customers who are Preferred Rewards members can earn up to 75% more points on every purchase — that’s up to 3.5 points on travel and dining purchases and 2.62 points on all other purchases for every dollar you spend.

The card includes some worthwhile travel perks, such as up to $100 for incidental airline fees to cover seat upgrades, baggage fees and more. You also get a $100 statement credit every four years to cover Global Entry or TSA Precheck® fees and insurance for lost luggage, baggage delays and trip delays, interruptions, and cancellations.

However, note that other similarly priced cards feature a higher reward rate (sometimes of up to 5x points) for some travel purchases.

All information about the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card has been collected independently by Money.com.

Best Premium Travel Credit Cards

  • Up to $300 in statement credits each anniversary year to cover travel purchases
  • Transfer your points to 14 travel partners (including United, Southwest, JetBlue and Marriott)
  • Points worth 50% more when redeemed for travel expenses through Chase Ultimate Rewards(R)
  • Comprehensive travel insurance coverage, including emergency dental insurance
  • High annual fee ($550)
  • Doesn't include a cell phone protection plan
  • 10x points on hotels and rental cars purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
  • 10x through the Chase Dining program
  • 5x points on air travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
  • 3x points for all other travel-related purchases
  • 3x points on restaurants, including takeout and delivery

Why we chose it: The Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers a high reward rate on travel and dining and additional benefits like comprehensive travel insurance and airport lounge access worldwide.

Your points are worth 50% more when you redeem them for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal. This means each point is worth 1.5 cents per point instead of one cent, like most travel cards. Also, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® provides several high-end benefits such as:

  • $300 annual travel credit to cover travel-related purchases like airfare, hotels, car rentals, rideshares, buses, trains, tolls and/or parking
  • Access for you and two guests to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide (after a one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select)
  • Statement credit of up to $100 every four years for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or Nexus

The Sapphire Reserve does have a $550 annual fee. But if you take advantage of the $300 annual credit and other perks, the benefits can definitely outweigh its cost.

  • 10,000 bonus miles every year
  • Statement credit of up to $300 for bookings made through Capital One Travel
  • Up to a $100 credit on Global Entry or TSA PreCheck(R)
  • Skip the line and get car upgrades when renting a car with Hertz
  • High annual fee ($395)
  • Fewer bonus categories than other premium cards
  • No domestic airline transfer partners
  • 10x miles per dollar on hotels & rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • 5x miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel
  • 2x miles per dollar on all other eligible purchases

Why we chose it: The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card features premium benefits like an annual travel credit and airport lounge access for a lower annual fee ($395) than other premium travel cards.

The Capital One Venture X also includes noteworthy perks such as:

  • 10,000 bonus miles every year (starting on your first anniversary)
  • $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel
  • Up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
  • Access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges worldwide with Priority Pass™ and Plaza Premium Group
  • Authorized users at no extra cost (many cards have an annual fee of $75 or more for each additional user)

All in all, the Venture X is a solid option that can easily compete with other premium travel cards, especially considering its more affordable annual fee.

  • Access to the widest network of airport lounges of any card
  • Complimentary elite status in the Marriott and Hilton hotel loyalty programs
  • Hundreds of dollars in annual statement credits for travel, dining and more
  • High annual fee ($695)
  • Doesn't include baggage delay, travel accident and primary rental car insurance
  • Limited bonus categories

Terms apply. Click here for rates and fees.

  • 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 per calendar year)
  • 5x points on prepaid hotels booked on the American Express travel portal
  • One point per $1 on other eligible purchases
  • Terms apply

Why we chose this card: The Platinum Card® from American Express offers a list of premium benefits that no other travel card offers, including the widest network of airport lounges and room upgrades at Hilton and Marriott hotels. (Terms apply.)

The Platinum Card® from American Express features an impressive list of high-end travel benefits, including:

  • Complimentary access to over 1,400 airport lounges, including Priority Pass, Delta SkyClub and Amex’s own Centurion lounges (enrollment required)
  • Gold status in the Marriott and Hilton loyalty programs, which makes you eligible for room upgrades, free breakfast and late checkouts (enrollment required)
  • $200 back each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings made through American Express Travel and paid with your Platinum Card® (Hotel Collection bookings require a minimum two-night stay)
  • Up to $200 per year when incidental fees, such as checked bags, are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card® (with one selected qualifying airline)
  • Complimentary premium status in Avis Preferred®, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards®, and/or National Car Rental® Emerald Club (must enroll through your Amex online account using your card)

The Platinum Card® from American Express does have a hefty $695 annual fee. However, for people who travel often and will take advantage of its annual credits and travel perks, it might almost pay for itself.

  • Earns 4x points on restaurants worldwide, takeout and food delivery within the U.S.
  • Up to $120 in annual dining credits, issued as a $10 statement credit per month for select restaurants (enrollment required)
  • Up to $120 as Uber Cash annually ($10 per month) for food delivery orders and rides in the U.S. after you add the American Express(R) Gold Card to your Uber account
  • Earn 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x)
  • High annual fee ($250)
  • Includes few travel perks and insurance policies compared to similarly priced cards

Terms apply. Please click here for applicable rates and fees.

With the American Express® Gold Card, you can earn:

  • 4x points at restaurants worldwide
  • 4x points on takeout and delivery in the U.S.
  • 4x points at supermarkets within the U.S. (on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x)
  • 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or Amextravel.com
  • 1x on other eligible purchases

Why we chose it: The American Express® Gold Card is ideal for foodies, offering a high reward rate at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets, takeout and food delivery. (Terms apply.)

The American Express® Gold Card also offers statement credits worth up to $240 combined — almost enough to offset the card’s $250 annual fee. These include:

  • Up to $120 every year in dining credits ($10 per month) for select restaurants and food delivery services. The list includes Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and Shake Shack (Enrollment required)
  • Automatically get $10 monthly in Uber Cash to use on Uber Eats or Uber rides in the U.S. (after you add the American Express® Gold Card to your account)
  • $100 credit for dining, spa services and other activities when you book a two-night minimum stay at a hotel from The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel

However, note that the American Express® Gold Card offers fewer travel perks than some other premium cards — for instance, it doesn’t offer trip cancellation and interruption insurance or TSA PreCheck® or CLEAR® Plus fee credits.

Best Business Travel Credit Cards

  • 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com
  • Around $1,000 in yearly statement credits for select business purchases
  • Access to a wide network of airport lounges (terms apply)
  • Around $600 in perks in Fine Hotels + Resorts(R) locations booked through American Express Travel (for stays of two nights)
  • Secondary rental car coverage**
  • 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through amextravel.com
  • 1.5x points (up to $2 million per year) at U.S. construction material and hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, software and cloud system providers and shipping providers
  • 1.5x points (up to $2 million per year) on purchases of $5,000 or more, regardless of the category

Why we chose it: The Business Platinum Card® from American Express features an extensive list of benefits that make it an ideal travel and business credit card.

With this card, you can access over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide, comprehensive travel insurance and extra amenities at hundreds of hotels, like daily breakfast and free internet access. Additionally, you get a $200 credit to cover baggage fees, in-flight refreshments and more and up to $100 for Global Entry or $85 for TSA PreCheck® every four or 4.5 years respectively. (Terms apply.) (Enrollment required.)

The card also offers several yearly statement credits for business-related purchases that include up to $400 per year ($200 between January and June and $200 between July and December) for U.S. purchases with Dell.

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express does have one of the steepest annual fees ($695) among travel credit cards, but its extensive list of benefits makes it a no-brainer for business owners who travel frequently.

Compare The Best Travel Credit Cards

Travel credit cards guide.

The best credit cards for travel do more than offer high reward rates on flights and hotel stays. They also provide rewards for everyday spending and perks such as travel insurance , airport lounge access and annual statement credits.

Bear in mind, however, that premium travel credit cards often also feature high annual fees. And their rewards are often worth the most when redeemed through a card issuer’s travel portal.

Here’s a rundown of how these cards work:

What is a travel credit card?

Travel credit cards (or travel rewards credit cards) typically provide generous rewards for travel purchases and let cardmembers redeem points (or miles) for travel bookings. They may also let you redeem points for statement credits, cash back, gift cards and more.

Besides travel, these cards usually also offer other bonus reward categories, such dining, gas and drugstores. Many also include additional benefits, like airport lounge access, hotel discounts, travel accident insurance, no foreign transaction fees and more.

Bonus categories, redemption options and benefits vary widely across card issuers. However, you can generally expect cards with higher annual fees to offer more perks. For example, premium cards with annual fees over $400 often feature hundreds of dollars in statement credits (money credited to your card’s outstanding balance) to cover travel or food purchases.

How do travel credit cards work?

Like other reward cards, travel credit cards give you a certain number of points (or miles) per dollar on eligible purchases. However, what makes these cards different from others is their high reward rate for travel-related purchases.

Travel credit cards often offer around 5x points or more for airfare, hotel rooms, rental cars and more. Some cards may also count parking, bus fares, taxis, tolls and ferries as travel purchases.

Besides travel, you’ll typically get bonus points on specific spending categories, like 3x per dollar on dining, groceries, drugstores or streaming services. All other eligible purchases get at least one point (1x) per dollar.

You can then redeem your points for flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises and more. Card issuers also usually let you redeem your points for non-travel options like statement credits, cash back or gift cards.

How much are credit card points worth?

In most cases, credit card points are worth one cent each. However, some issuers increase their value if you redeem them for travel. For example, points earned with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card have a 1.25-cent value when you book flights through the Chase Travel portal.

But point values may also decrease depending on how you choose to redeem them. For example, some cards let cardholders use points when shopping through Amazon or Paypal. While this might sound convenient, this option may bring down the value of points to around 0.8 cents.

How to use credit card points for travel

Travel credit cards have rewards programs through which members earn and redeem their points for travel, cash back, gift cards and more. Well-known point programs include Chase Travel, American Express Membership Rewards® and Citi ThankYou® Rewards.

Once you’re ready to redeem your points, head to your travel card’s reward program portal. The process may differ across credit card issuers, but you’ll usually be able to access it through your online account on the website or app.

Most reward programs will let you book flights and hotel rooms. Some will also allow you to redeem your points for car rentals, cruises, tourist attractions and more.

Sometimes, you’ll have the option to transfer your points to airline or hotel loyalty programs. Not all reward programs allow this, but if they do, it’s usually at a 1:1 ratio — meaning 1,000 credit card points are worth 1,000 points in the travel partner program.

Note that, if you’re missing some points to cover your trip, you’ll often have the chance to pay the remainder with cash.

Difference between points and miles

Travel credit cards usually earn rewards as points. But some card issuers, like Capital One, call their rewards “miles” instead of “points” — even though they can be redeemed the same way as points.

Cards that earn miles are often (but not always) tied to a specific airline. Additionally, bear in mind that the term “mile” doesn’t refer to miles traveled with the airline. One airline mile is usually the equivalent of one reward point, which you can redeem for free flights, seat upgrades and more.

Pros and cons of travel credit cards

  • Some cards offer up to 10x points per dollar on travel purchases.
  • Many have additional bonus categories for dining, grocery shopping and more.
  • They may include travel benefits like priority boarding, airport lounge access and late hotel checkouts.
  • Points or miles can also be redeemed for cash back, statement credits, gift cards and more.
  • Highest reward rates are usually limited to purchases made through the card issuer's travel portal.
  • They might not offer high rewards on spending outside of the travel category.
  • Some of the best ones can have steep annual fees and require good to excellent credit
  • Redeeming points or miles for anything other than travel can reduce their value to less than one cent per dollar.

Types of travel credit cards

Here’s a rundown of the differences between the three main types of travel credit cards:

Airline credit cards

Airline credit cards are ideal for people who fly with the same airline regularly. These cards earn miles that you can use with one specific airline, and their rewards (called frequent flyer miles) are redeemable for airfare. Some of the best airline travel credit cards include benefits like free checked bags, priority boarding and discounts on in-flight purchases.

Hotel credit cards

Hotel credit cards are similar to airline cards. Points earned can only be used with one particular hotel chain.

For example, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card earns points for Hilton’s loyalty program. Points can be redeemed for free nights in the company’s properties, including Hilton Garden Inn and Waldorf Astoria hotels. The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, on the other hand, includes room upgrades and late checkouts on select locations.

Other benefits may include discount rates, late checkouts or free in-room Wi-Fi.

Hotel credit cards may also offer complimentary breakfasts, room upgrades, late checkouts and bonus points for purchases made during your stay.

General travel credit card

General travel credit cards are much more flexible and convenient than airline or hotel cards. Since they aren’t affiliated with a single airline or hotel chain, general travel card points can be redeemed for a wide variety of travel-related expenses.

These cards allow cardholders to book flights, hotel stays, rental cars and more from different companies using your card issuer’s online travel portal. Other ways to use card points include statement credits, cash back or gift cards. Some issuers also let you transfer points to airline and hotel partners.

These cards may offer handy perks for frequent travelers, like airport lounge access. They can also cover the cost of a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® membership, which allows you to skip the long lines at airport security or customs.

How to choose a travel credit card

Picking the best travel rewards card boils down to how often you travel, which cardmember perks you’d benefit the most from and the categories you spend the most on.

Here are some factors to keep in mind when choosing the best card for you:

Do you travel often? A travel rewards credit card offers high reward rates on most travel-related spending, and you’ll get the most bang for your buck when you use their points on flights, hotels and car rentals. If you don’t take trips often but want to pile up rewards, a cash-back credit card might be a better fit.

Assess your everyday spending. Many travel cards have additional bonus categories other than travel, like dining, supermarkets, streaming services and drugstores. Consider your day-to-day spending habits and pick a card with bonus categories that fit your lifestyle.

Consider the card’s annual fees. There are several no-annual-fee travel cards available, but they usually have few bonus categories and benefits. The best travel credit cards charge annual fees of at least $90 and can go as high as $700. However, these are often best for those that travel enough to take advantage of their benefits.

General travel card vs co-branded cards. General travel cards have more flexible redemption options, allowing you to redeem your rewards for bookings with multiple travel companies. On the other hand, co-branded cards are often tied to a specific airline or hotel, which can limit your options. However, they do provide valuable perks like free checked bags, in-flight discounts and hotel upgrades.

Compare extra travel perks. Some cards offer extras like annual statement credits for flights and hotels or upgrades when renting cars. Take the time to compare each card’s roster of add-ons and pick one that will best suit your travel plans.

Compare insurance policies. Some cards offer insurance policies that cover travel accidents, rental cars, trip cancellations and more. They also include purchase protection and extended warranties for items bought using the card. These policies can vary widely based on the issuer and the card’s annual-fee tier.

Beware foreign transaction fees. Most travel credit cards don’t charge foreign transaction fees. Some cash-back cards may offer outstanding rewards for travel purchases but charge around 3% fees on purchases outside the U.S.

A welcome bonus shouldn’t be the end-all, be-all perk. A 100,000-point welcome bonus can be enticing. However, it shouldn’t be your deciding factor, especially if you’ll end up paying a high annual fee without getting your money’s worth.

How get the most out of your travel credit card

To get the most out of your travel credit card, you need to use it as often and strategically as possible. This way, you can earn points or miles with each purchase, which you can then redeem for free or discounted flights, hotels and more.

Use your travel card to pay most of your purchases and bills and then pay your card off in full each month. This will help you earn points while avoiding interest charges and high credit card debt , which can impact your credit score.

Here are some other tips to maximize your rewards and benefits:

Consider adding an authorized user to your account. They’ll earn points with every purchase they make, and those will get added to your overall total. However, make sure to pick someone who will use the card responsibly since you’ll be legally liable if they ever fail to pay their monthly bills.

Redeem your rewards for travel through the card issuer’s website. This redemption option usually offers the highest value compared to gift cards or merchandise, for example.

If your card offers travel protections (like travel accident or luggage insurance), use it to pay for your passenger fares. This way, you could be reimbursed in the event of an accident or lost luggage, for example.

Use your airline or hotel card to sign up for the company’s frequent flyer or frequent guest loyalty program. You’ll often earn extra points or miles when you’re a member and use your co-branded card to pay for flights, hotel stays and more.

If your travel card lets you combine points from multiple cards under one account, take advantage of the feature. For example, if you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred®, you can transfer points to it from other cards (if they also earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® points). This way, you can accumulate extra points and increase their value to 1.25 cents apiece if you make travel reservations through the Chase Travel portal.

Best Travel Credit Cards FAQs

What is the best travel credit card, what is the best credit card for international travel, how to travel for free with credit cards, how many miles do you need for a free flight, what is a welcome bonus on a credit card, how we chose the best travel credit cards.

We ranked the best credit cards for travel based on their annual fees, benefits, reward rates and redemption flexibility.

Fees: We compared interest rates and foreign, cash advance and balance transfer fees for more than 50 credit cards. We also considered their annual fee, looking for those that offered the most for the money.

Ongoing benefits: Intro APR and bonus offers are attractive, but they can only get you so far. We focused on cards with year-round benefits such as travel insurance or cell phone protection plans.

Reward rates: We preferred cards that allow you to earn extra points from travel expenses, as well as those that provide significant bonus rewards in popular spending categories, like dining, supermarkets or streaming services.

Redemption flexibility: Our picks don’t limit your redemption options to just travel. Some let you use your points for Amazon purchases, for example. We also preferred issuers that allowed cardholders to transfer their points to airline and hotel partners.

Summary of Money’s Best Travel Credit Cards of March 2024

Money.com has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Money.com and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

To see rates and fees for the American Express® Gold Card, visit this link . Terms apply.

To see rates and fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express, visit this link . Terms apply.

To see rates and fees for The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, visit this link . Terms apply.

* Insurance disclosures for American Express Cards on this page:

Trip Delay Insurance: Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance: Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

Baggage Insurance Plan: Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Global Assist Hotline: Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.

Extended Warranty, Purchase Protection, Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance: Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

** Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $75,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

*** Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

© Copyright 2024 Money Group, LLC . All Rights Reserved.

This article originally appeared on Money.com and may contain affiliate links for which Money receives compensation. Opinions expressed in this article are the author's alone, not those of a third-party entity, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed. Offers may be subject to change without notice. For more information, read Money’s full disclaimer .

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Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card — Full Review [2024]

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Jarrod West

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We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa ®  Card

A powerful point earning card with a low annual fee and access to transfer partners.

The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card is an excellent option for those looking for a great all-around travel rewards card that offers bonus categories on hotels, airfare, travel, and dining, giving you the opportunity to earn points on all of these purchases quickly.

Plus the card offers flexible redemption options including access to transfer partners, an annual credit towards airfare, travel protections, and no foreign transaction fees, all at a low annual fee.

Card Snapshot

Welcome bonus & info.

  • 5x points on hotels
  • 4x points on airfare
  • 3x points on travel and dining
  • 1x point on all other purchases
  • $50 annual airfare credit
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Cell phone insurance
  • Travel protections
  • Access to Wells Fargo transfer partners
  • $95 annual fee
  • List of transfer partners is smaller than competing programs

Great Card If

  • You travel often and want a card that rewards you for these purchases
  • You value flexible redemption options and access to transfer partners

Don’t Get If

  • You don’t travel much
  • You prefer a card with simple bonus categories

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card — Is It Worth It?

The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card is well worth it for those seeking a solid all-around travel rewards credit card.

It’s an excellent option for earning rewards on hotels and airfare purchases. Unlike many competing cards, earning bonus points for travel on the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card doesn’t require making travel purchases through the Wells Fargo travel portal. Plus, you’ll earn rewards on other travel and dining purchases.

Previously, rewards earned from the Wells Fargo Autograph cards were limited to redemptions with the Wells Fargo travel portal, cash-back, or gift cards. Soon, you’ll be able to transfer your rewards to a variety of transfer partners — significantly increasing the potential value of your rewards.

Additionally, the card offers perks, including a $50 annual airfare credit, cell phone insurance, various travel protections, no foreign transaction fees, and exclusive access to live entertainment events.

What Benefits Do You Get With the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card?

Annual airfare credit.

To help offset the card’s annual fee, each year, you’ll receive a $50 statement credit toward airfare purchased with the card.

This credit can be used on your ticket, not just airline incidentals like some other travel cards with airline credits. You can book directly with the airline and still receive your $50 credit. This is great because booking directly with the airline preserves flexibility for rebooking or refunds if your flight is canceled or significantly delayed, which can be a bit of a hassle when you book through a third-party platform.

Travel Protections

  • Rental Car Insurance — Primary rental car insurance that provides up to $50,000 in coverage toward accidental damage or theft of your rental car.
  • Lost Luggage Insurance — The costs you incur to repair or replace checked or carry-on baggage due to physical loss, theft, or damage are covered up to a maximum of $3,000 per person.
  • Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance — If you need to cancel a trip due to illness, severe weather, or any other covered circumstance, you’ll receive a reimbursement of up to $15,000 per person. You’ll get reimbursed for up to $20,000 per trip in non-refundable travel expenses if you need to end your trip early.
  • Travel Accident Insurance  — In the case of accidental death or loss of speech, sight, or hearing during your travels, you can receive up to $1,000,000 when the incident happens on a common carrier, such as an airline or cruise ship.

Cell Phone Protection

The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card provides up to $1,000 worth of coverage toward accidental damage or theft to your cell phone, provided that you pay your monthly cell phone bill with your card.

There is a $25 deductible per claim and a maximum of 2 claims, totaling up to $2,000 in coverage, per rolling 12-months.

Autograph Card Exclusives

Cardholders have exclusive access to select live entertainment events featuring big-name artists in small venues that are only available to Wells Fargo Autograph credit cardholders.

Who Is the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card For?

The ideal cardholder for the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card is a frequent traveler who wants to earn as many points as possible on their travel expenses.

With 5x points on hotels, 4x points on airfare, and 3x points on all other travel and dining purchases, it’s easy to see how you can earn points rather quickly using the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card compared to many other travel rewards cards.

Additionally, the card is a great option for those who value elite status within certain airline and/or hotel programs, as the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card does not require you to book through the bank’s own travel portal to earn bonus rewards on these purchases.

In addition to earning points, when you factor in the card’s other benefits like cell phone protection, an annual airfare credit, and soon, access to airline and hotel transfer partners, it’s easy to see why the card can be valuable to travelers.

Best Ways To Earn and Redeem Your Wells Fargo Rewards

To earn as many points as possible with your Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card, you’ll want to make it your go-to card for purchases that fall within all of the card’s bonus categories, which are hotels, airfare, travel, and dining.

Once you’ve built up a large stash of points and are ready to redeem your Wells Fargo Rewards, you can redeem them at a rate of 1 cent per point for travel purchases through the Wells Fargo travel portal or cash-back and gift cards at a rate of 1 cent per point. Soon, you’ll be able to transfer your Wells Fargo Rewards to select airline and hotel transfer partners, which will likely offer the highest redemption values for award travelers.

Alternative Cards to the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card

One of the most popular starter travel rewards cards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, is another card option that those with their eye on the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card should consider.

With it, you’ll earn 5x points on travel purchases made through Chase Travel , 3x points on dining, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services, and 2x points on all other travel purchases.

Plus, the card offers a $50 annual hotel credit , great travel protections , flexible redemption options , and an impressive list of Chase transfer partners .

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Another worthwhile option to consider is the Capital One Venture Rewards card. The card earns 5x miles on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel, plus an unlimited 2x miles on all other purchases.

Additionally, the card offers perks like a Global Entry / TSA PreCheck credit, Hertz Five Star status, and access to Capital One transfer partners .

The information regarding the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa ® Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the wells fargo autograph journey card worth it.

The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card can be worth it if you’re looking for a great all-around travel rewards card with rewarding bonus categories such as airfare, hotels, travel, and dining. Plus, with perks including cell phone insurance, rental car insurance, and access to transfer partners, all for a low annual fee, the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card can offer a lot of value.

What credit score is needed for the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card?

There is no set credit score that will guarantee approval for the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card, but you should have reasonably strong approval odds if you have a credit score of 670 or higher.

Does the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card have an annual fee?

Yes, the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card has a $95 annual fee.

Does the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card have transfer partners?

Yes, though transfers aren’t available just yet, the first round of Wells Fargo Rewards transfer partners will be Aer Lingus AerClub, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways Executive Club, Choice Privileges, and Iberia Plus.

Does the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card have foreign transaction fees?

No, the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card does not charge foreign transaction fees.

About Jarrod West

Boasting a portfolio of over 20 cards, Jarrod has been an expert in the points and miles space for over 6 years. He earns and redeems over 1 million points per year and his work has been featured in outlets like The New York Times.

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UP's Bonus Valuation

This bonus value is an estimated valuation calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.

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COMMENTS

  1. Best travel cards suggestions 2023 : r/CreditCards

    If it already does, then the Amex Gold card could be good. After the credits, it's a $10 effective annual fee. But, I'll stress, that's only if you already do those things. It's not technically a travel card, but it gets 3x on flights and it earns Membership Rewards, which can be used for travel (transferring to Delta or international partners).

  2. Recommendations for Travel Card : r/CreditCards

    There's a $400 annual fee, but there's a $325 travel/dining credit each year that's easy to use, so it's effectively $75. If you use Apple Pay or Google Pay most places, you'll earn 3x points, which redeems for 4.5% back on travel.

  3. What is the best travel Card? : r/CreditCards

    Chase - Chase Reserve/Preferred + Hyatt card. Amex - Any MR earning card + Amex Hilton Aspire or Marriot. Again at least if you go with Amex Platinum + Fine Hotels and Resorts you get some benefits for losing your loyalty points. In fact, there may be a chance you can get loyalty points from the brand.

  4. Best Credit Card for Travel? : r/CreditCards

    If that's not an option, the next simplest option is probably the AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard could be useful. It gives 3% back on most travel (though perhaps not Airbnb,) 2% on dining, and has no foreign transaction fee. It also has a very easy sign-up bonus of $100 after $500 in spend in 90 days. You don't need to be an AARP member to get ...

  5. Best Travel Credit Cards : r/TravelHacks

    The AmexP is best for serious travelers as it has the highest fees associated with it. (almost $1k per year) Amex plays best with Delta (JFK) but does play with them all. They both come with priority pass membership (airport lounges) travel insurance, uber/lyft credits, and a lot more similar stuff. AMEX has the centurion lounges, but if you ...

  6. Need help with choosing travel rewards card : r/CreditCards

    Basically like the title says. Really wanting to get a travel card with good rewards and trying to see what rewards are best. I don't really have brand loyalty for any airlines/ hotels. We travel a few times a year but looking to increase our traveling in the years coming. Planning to take about 4 flights between now and the end of the year.

  7. Credit cards with best travel perks. : r/travel

    53. valeyard89. • 2 yr. ago. Chase Sapphire Reserve.. expensive annual fee, but you get $300 travel funds reimbursed, plus Priority Pass access so that works out about the same price. Plus TSA Precheck/Global Entry reimbursement, 1.5X points for travel spend, 15% off Lyft, etc.

  8. 5 Best Travel Credit Cards Reddit Users Love (March 2024)

    19.99% - 29.99% (Variable) $395. Excellent. The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is Capital One's premier travel credit card, offering the largest signup bonus among all Capital One cards. Cardholders also receive a free membership to TSA PreCheck or Global Entry and access to more than 1,000 airport lounges.

  9. What's the best travel credit card for all spend, if I only ...

    For a 1 card set up it comes down between CSR and Amex Plat for reasons that most people fail to realize when recommending a travel portal based card. Chase Sapphire Reserve - $550. Easy to use $300 Travel Credit. TSA Precheck/Global Entry.

  10. Best Travel Credit Cards of March 2024

    The Chase Sapphire Reserve is one of our top premium travel cards. With a $300 travel credit, bonus points on dining and travel purchases and other benefits, you can get excellent value that far exceeds the annual fee on the card. Read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve card. Pros & Cons.

  11. 19 Best Travel Credit Cards Of March 2024

    The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card ( rates & fees) is among the best travel cards on the market in any category. The points are easy to earn and simple to redeem, plus the card comes ...

  12. Best travel credit cards of April 2021

    Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Best for hotel perks. Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: Best for airline rewards. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card: Best midrange hotel card. Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card: Best for Alaska Airlines miles.

  13. Best Travel Credit Cards of March 2024

    NerdWallet's . Best Travel Credit Cards of March 2024. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best for Flexibility + point transfers + big sign-up bonus. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best ...

  14. The best starter travel credit cards

    Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked and paid for in the Capital One Travel portal. 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases. Citi Premier Card.

  15. Best Travel Credit Cards of March 2024

    Bankrate's Best Travel Credit Cards of March 2024. Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card: Best for intro APR; Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best starter travel card; The Platinum Card ...

  16. 17 Best Rewards Credit Cards of March 2024

    21.49% - 28.49% Variable. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the most popular travel rewards credit cards on the market. Offering an excellent return on travel and dining purchases, the card packs a ton of value that easily offsets its $95 annual fee.

  17. Best Rewards Credit Cards of March 2024

    The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is a nice option for people who like a night out. It pays 3% cash back on dining and entertainment, as well as popular streaming services and ...

  18. Best Travel Credit Cards of March 2024

    Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students : Best travel card for students. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Best premium travel credit card. American Express® Gold Card ...

  19. Best Travel Credit Cards for Fair Credit of 2024

    Annual fee: $95. Other benefits and drawbacks: The Credit One Bank Wander® Card earns 5% to 10% back on travel purchases with no maximum rewards limit. You can also automatically earn bonus ...

  20. 11 Best Travel Credit Cards of March 2024

    Best for dining: American Express® Gold Card. Best for no annual fee: Discover it® Miles. Best for paying rent: Bilt Mastercard®. Best for low interest: First Tech Credit Union Choice Rewards ...

  21. Best credit cards for everyday spending in March 2024

    20.24% - 27.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers. The Bank of America Premium Rewards card is great for using the points earned for rewards that normal airline miles or credit card points can't cover. Bank of America Preferred Rewards® members get a 25%-75% rewards bonus on every purchase.

  22. Best No-Annual-Fee Travel Credit Cards Of March 2024

    If you're looking for a card to boost your travel funds but prefer a cash-back card, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card may be the way to go. Welcome bonus: Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after ...

  23. Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Amex Platinum 2024

    The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, for example, charges a lower $395 annual fee but includes airport lounge access and a $300 annual travel credit. Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Amex ...

  24. 16 Best Travel Credit Cards of March 2024

    The best credit cards for international travel are those that don't charge foreign transactions fees, offer high reward on travel spending and include benefits that can improve your travel ...

  25. Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card --- Full Review [2024]

    One of the most popular starter travel rewards cards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, is another card option that those with their eye on the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card should consider. With it, you'll earn 5x points on travel purchases made through Chase Travel , 3x points on dining, online grocery purchases, and select streaming ...

  26. Best 0% APR Credit Cards Of March 2024

    Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore ...