Is a 100,000-point sign-up bonus worth it?

When the Chase Sapphire Reserve card debuted a few years ago with a 100,000-point introductory offer, it caught a lot of attention. This was an incredibly generous bonus, even if it was only available for the first few months the card was open for applications (this offer is no longer available).

Since the limited-time offer on the Sapphire Reserve, many other cards have followed suit – offering an inflated sign-up bonus with a card launch (or relaunch). Cards regularly offer promotions advertising welcome offers up to 100,000 points and higher.

Now, even more of these offers are available. But are they actually worth it? Point values can shift drastically depending on the rewards program, so they might not be quite as valuable as they seem.

Which cards are currently offering 100,000-point introductory bonuses?

The following credit cards all include welcome bonuses of 100,000 points or more.

Card	Introductory offer
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card	100,000 points if you spend $15,000 in first 3 months
The Platinum Card® from American Express	100,000 points if you spend $6,000 in first 6 months
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card	130,000 points if you spend $2,000 in first 3 months of card membership
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card*	150,000 points if you spend $4,000 in first 3 months
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card	130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $3,000 in purchases in the first three months of card membership
IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card	140,000 points and 1 Free Night if you spend $3,000 in first 3 months
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card	100,000 bonus miles when you spend $10,000 in first 6 months
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card	Earn 3 Free Nights (each night valued up to 50,000 points) when you spend $3,000 on purchases in first 3 months

Point value of current introductory bonuses

Unfortunately, not all 100,000-point sign-up bonuses are created equal. Point values can vary drastically by rewards program, affecting just how far your introductory offer will stretch. Like many hotel rewards programs, Hilton Honors’ points are inflated, meaning none of the bonuses are quite as valuable as they sound.

On the flip side, Chase Ultimate Rewards have a high value, meaning you can actually get a lot out of your bonus – if you can meet the higher spend threshold.

Here’s our estimated value of current bonuses based on our valuations of rewards program points.

In the case of some of the Hilton Honors and IHG cards, the seemingly generous bonuses aren’t worth more than other cards’ less eye-catching offers.

Since this card gets up to 1.5 cents per point of value, a smaller-sounding bonus is actually worth a similar amount. If the Reserve has a rewards rate that better suits your spending patterns, you actually might be better off bypassing a 100,000-point bonus for a card with a better point value.

Redemption options for a 100,000-point introductory bonus

Before jumping at a 100,000-point introductory offer, you should also consider point flexibility. Points might be harder to redeem or even worth much less when redeemed for certain options. If using points is harder than earning them, a 100,000-point bonus might not be worth it.

Hilton Honors redemption options

As you can see, Hilton Honors does not have a good cash redemption option. However, frequent travelers who often stay at Hilton hotels will enjoy simple free night redemptions.

IHG Rewards Club redemption options

IHG points are slightly more valuable than Hilton Honors points when redeemed for reward stays, but the program offers less redemption variety.

Chase Ultimate Rewards redemption options

The Ink Business Preferred offers a 25% higher point value when you redeem your reward for travel through the Ultimate Rewards portal, so that is the best way to stretch the introductory bonus.

Capital One Miles redemption options

Capital One miles are incredibly flexible, allowing cardholders to redeem their rewards for any travel purchase without sacrificing value. This is a big plus for deal hunters who like to scope out third-party booking sites for the best rates. Plus, you can also transfer Capital One miles to more than 15 transfer partners.

Marriott redemption options

The best use of Marriott points is redeeming them for standard and upgraded rooms – that’s where your Marriott rewards will have the most value. While there are plenty of other redemption options, your points will lose a lot of value if you decide to take advantage of them.

The rewards program updates its sign-up bonus offers frequently, so if you stay at Marriott hotels often, it’s a good idea to check back every once in a while. As mentioned above, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless currently offers a bonus worth up to 150,000 points (earn 3 Free Nights, each night valued up to 50,000 points, after spending $3,000 on purchases in your first three months).

Who is eligible to earn these sign-up bonuses?

Introductory offers are often only available to certain applicants, so make sure you qualify for the bonus before you apply for the card. For example, all of the offers mentioned in this article are restricted to new cardholders.

Should you sign up for a 100,000-point bonus offer?

If you frequent Hilton hotels, now is the best time to sign up for one of their co-branded cards. These offers are only available for a limited time and provide great value for frequent travelers. Just make sure the card makes sense for your spending habits in the long-term, beyond the flashy introductory bonus.

The sign-up bonus offer on the new Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is also rather appealing, especially considering how flexible Capital One redemptions are. However, the spend requirement can be steep for many cardholders.

As other 100,000-point or higher bonuses pop up in the future, be sure to consider the true value of the offer. While 100,000 points might sound like a lot, the rewards program’s point value and redemption options can significantly impact the overall value. If another card with a smaller bonus has a better reward rate, point value and redemption flexibility, it might be a better choice.

*All information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by CreditCards.com. The issuer did not provide the content, nor is it responsible for its accuracy.