Best Rewards Credit Cards for September 2023

All information about the American Express® Green Card and the Chase Freedom Flex has been collected independently by CreditCards.com and has not been reviewed by the issuer.

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.

Comparing the best rewards credit cards of 2023

Editor’s picks: A closer look at our top-rated rewards credit cards

Best for flat-rate cash rewards: Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

• Best features: The Active Cash Card tops the list of flat-rate rewards cards thanks to its high 2% cash rewards on purchases and its welcome bonus, which isn’t easy to find with other no-annual-fee cards that offer a 2% flat rate.
• Biggest drawbacks: People who spend a lot of money in specific areas like groceries and gas may be able to earn more cash back faster with rewards cards that have bonus categories. Or, if you need more time to take advantage of an intro APR offer on purchases and balance transfers, other cards come with longer offers.
• Alternatives: If you’re willing to put a little bit more effort into maximizing your rewards, the Citi Custom Cash® Card could be a great alternative to the Active Cash card in one category each billing cycle. If you spend modestly overall but find that either restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores or one of the Custom Cash card’s other eligible categories makes up a large portion of your budget each month, it could offer a more rewarding balance of consistency and flexibility in one of those categories.
• Bottom line: For those averse to spending categories and required enrollments, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card offers a simplified way to rack up rewards with its unlimited 2% cash rewards on eligible day-to-day purchases. Depending on how much you spend, this could quickly add up.

Read our Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details.

Best for U.S. supermarkets: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

• Best features: This card’s high-earning tiered rewards categories provide exceptional value for households looking for ways to save on everyday essentials, including a stellar cash back incentive at U.S. supermarkets. Add in a generous welcome offer, an introductory APR on new purchases and balance transfers and a number of purchase and travel protections, and you have a great all-around card for households.
• Biggest drawbacks: There’s a $95 annual fee ($0 intro annual fee for the first year). We estimate you need to spend around $3,200 a year at U.S. supermarkets to come out ahead after year one, as illustrated by our comparison between the Blue Cash Preferred and the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express.
• Alternatives: If you’re focused solely on grocery rewards, the Citi Custom Cash® Card could be a better fit for modest shoppers. It earns generous cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle (up to the first $500 spent each billing cycle) and doesn’t charge an annual fee.
• Bottom line: The Blue Cash Preferred is a top American Express card. With its rewards rates and intro APR, this card is great for household shoppers who have a few big purchases coming up.

Related: Who should get the American Express Blue Cash Preferred?

Read our full Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express review or jump back to this card’s offer details.

Best for sign-up bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

• Best features: The Sapphire Preferred packs in plenty of features to justify its moderate $95 annual fee for many travelers on a budget. Tiered bonus rewards cover travel, dining and most online grocery purchases, which make it a quick rewards earner for home shoppers or those on the go. Chase also offers a 25% bonus to point redemptions when booking travel through its Ultimate Rewards Portal. This makes the sign-up bonus (60,000 points after you spend $4,000 in the first three months) worth up to $750 when redeemed for travel through the Ultimate Rewards portal. Because of this boost to rewards redemption, the Sapphire Preferred could provide a lot more value compared to other travel cards.
• Biggest drawbacks: Like most travel cards, you’ll need to pay attention to which redemption options earn more or less than 1 cent per point. Redemptions other than travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal are worth up to 1 cent per point, meaning you can get a decent value for your points, but to truly make the most of your card, you’ll need to funnel redemptions through the issuer’s portal.
• Alternatives: Few cards can match the value of the Sapphire Preferred’s sign-up bonus, but the Citi Premier® Card has a similar offer: 60,000 bonus ThankYou Points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening. This is worth $600 in gift cards when redeemed at thankyou.com.
• Bottom line: If you’re willing to put in the work needed to get the most value, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is a great option for people looking for a low-cost, versatile travel rewards credit card.

Related: Why the CSP is a great first travel card

Read our Chase Sapphire Preferred Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details.

Best for rotating bonus categories: Discover it® Cash Back

• Best features: For no annual fee, this card offers competitive cash back, an unlimited cash-back match at the end of your first year and a lengthy promotional APR on balance transfers and purchases. Although you’ll need to manage the rotating categories by enrolling quarterly, the rewards potential on this card outpaces a number of other options. See more of the best zero interest credit cards.
• Biggest drawbacks: You have a little bit of legwork to do to earn your bonus cash back – namely, enrolling for the rotating categories each quarter and shifting your spending habits to maximize your earnings. Plus, the bonus categories aren’t always the same year-to-year, so you may find it harder to maximize cash back in some years versus others.
• Alternatives: Similar to the Discover it® Cash Back, the Chase Freedom Flex offers generous cash back in rotating bonus categories that you must activate each quarter. On top of that, the card offers high cash back on Ultimate Rewards travel, dining and drugstore purchases.
• Bottom line: Savvy spenders who can adjust their spending quarterly can really rack up rewards with this classic cash back credit card that offers tremendous potential to earn cash back on purchases in rotating bonus categories per quarter and matches all the cash back you earn at the end of your first year.

Read our full Discover it Cash Back review or jump back to this card’s offer details.

Best for entertainment: Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

• Best features: The SavorOne offers competitive cash back on popular food and entertainment categories, including dining, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target) and an even higher cash back rate on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. That’s a great value for a no-annual-fee rewards card. Plus, the card comes with a nice sign-up bonus, if you meet the low minimum spending requirement within the first three months from account opening.
• Biggest drawbacks: If you prefer to earn rewards for essential purchases, other rewards cards earn higher rewards for grocery purchases and also offer bonus rewards in other everyday categories like gas. Plus, the exclusion of superstores decreases the card’s value for shoppers shop frequently at places like Walmart and Target.
• Alternatives: If your spending isn’t concentrated on dining, entertainment or grocery stores (or at all), you can probably earn more with a no-annual-fee, flat-rate cash back card, like the Citi® Double Cash.
• Bottom line: Casual spenders who can take advantage of as many of the food-and-entertainment rewards categories will get the most value out of the SavorOne card.

Related: Capital One SavorOne benefits guide

Read our full Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details.

Best for restaurants: American Express® Gold Card

• Best features: If you love food and travel, you’ll have a hard time finding another card that packs in such high rewards for dining, U.S. supermarkets and flights. On top of impressive rewards rates, the card also has a great welcome offer: New cardholders earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points if they spend $4,000 in the first six months. (See how we value Amex points.)
• Biggest drawbacks: You’ll pay the price for all those benefits – namely, a $250 annual fee. Getting the most bang for your buck requires a little legwork. For instance, to maximize travel points, your best bet is to transfer them to one of Amex’s partners. So, if you’re looking for simplicity, a different travel rewards card is likely a better fit.
• Alternatives: The Citi Premier® Card is an often-overlooked travel rewards credit card comparable to the Amex Gold Card. But with a lower annual fee ($95 compared to $250), an annual hotel savings credit, and a generous rewards rate at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel and hotels. The Citi Premier Card could offer more rewards at a wider range of places depending on your spending habits.
• Bottom line: The rewards program and annual credits found with the American Express Gold Card will make it easy for a lot of people to recoup the card’s annual fee.

Related: Who should get the American Express Gold card?

Read our full American Express Gold Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details.

Best for gas stations: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

• Best features: This card’s broad range of practical bonus categories – all of which earn points year-round at the same generous rate – give it terrific potential as a standalone rewards card, especially for everyday travel. And since it earns bonus rewards in nearly every major spending category other than groceries, it could pair very well with a dedicated grocery rewards card.
• Biggest drawbacks: Even though it earns travel rewards, the Autograph Card makes a better cash back rewards card than it does a travel card. Redemption options are not as versatile when it comes to travel, and your rewards can’t be transferred to an airline loyalty program. This puts it at a disadvantage to many of the best travel cards.
• Alternatives: You might have to upgrade to a card with an annual fee to match the autograph’s value as a gas and transit card. The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express comes with a $95 annual fee after an introductory $0 annual fee in the first year, but in return, you get exceptional value. On top of bonus rewards for your gas and transit purchases, you also get one of the highest rates around on U.S. supermarket purchases.
• Bottom line: The Autograph Card is a fantastic option for households looking to earn rewards on everyday essentials while avoiding an annual fee.

Read our Wells Fargo Autograph Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details.

Best for everyday spending: Citi Premier® Card

• Best features: The chance to earn 3 points per dollar in a number of travel and everyday areas, as well as a large sign-up bonus (earn 60,000 points for spending $4,000 in their first three months) make this card worth considering.
• Biggest drawbacks: There are limited transfer options for people traveling stateside. Most of Citi’s big transfer partners are international carriers, like Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, and Qatar Airways. (Learn more about the best Citi credit cards.)
• Alternatives: Travelers may prefer the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. It has a lot in common with the Citi Premier card, but for the same $95 annual fee, you get a higher sign-up bonus value (60,000 points when you spend $4,000 in the first three months) worth $750 when redeemed through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal compared to the Premier’s sign-up bonus value worth $600 and the chance to earn bonus rewards in more travel categories beyond air travel and hotels. It also has better redemption options since points are worth 25% more when redeemed through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal and the card comes with more domestic transfer partners.
• Bottom line: The Citi Premier card is a good alternative to other cards that earn at a similar rewards rate with the same annual fee, but is held back by limited transfer options and relatively lower rewards categories.

Related: Citi Premier vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred

Read our full Citi Premier Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details.

Best for renters: Bilt Mastercard

• Best features: No other cards help you avoid fees on rent payments or offer such flexible and valuable travel rewards without charging an annual fee. Thanks to its long​​ list of airline and hotel partners and the high redemption value of its points, this card should be an almost perfect fit for long-term renters who want to score free trips.
• Biggest drawbacks: You can only redeem rewards toward rent payments, a future home down payment or — if you want the best value — for travel. And though earning rewards and avoiding fees on rent payments is a terrific feature, the rewards rate on that spending is low, limiting this card’s standalone value.
• Alternatives: This is your best option if you want to earn rewards and avoid fees on rent payments, but other cards may offer better short-term value. The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card also offers transferable points but lets you take advantage of an intro APR offer on purchases and balance transfers and has a sign-up bonus.
• Bottom line: If you see yourself renting long term and don’t mind redeeming rewards toward living expenses or travel, this card should offer a ton of value.

Jump back to this card’s offer details.

Best for flexible travel: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

• Best features: This easy-to-use travel card stands apart from many other travel rewards cards that come with complicated rewards programs. Plus, the big sign-up bonus, high-earning rewards and flexible redemption options add to the appeal.
• Biggest drawbacks: It doesn’t offer bonus rewards on everyday purchases. So you could be missing out on the chance to quickly rack up rewards, especially if you spend a lot in areas like groceries, gas or dining.
• Alternatives: For maximum travel rewards in a card with a modest annual fee, try the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. The annual fee is the same as the Venture card, but you can earn bonus rewards in more areas, and your points have 25% more value when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
• Bottom line: This popular Capital One credit card checks all the boxes in terms of what people should look for in a travel rewards card: a competitive 2X miles back on all purchases, a generous sign-up bonus, no foreign transaction fees and up to a $100 credit to put toward the application fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

Related: How to maximize your Venture rewards card

Read our full Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details.

Best for financing travel: Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

• Best features: This entry-level travel card makes it easy to earn unlimited miles without worrying about an annual fee. It’s also one of the only travel cards that comes with an intro APR on purchases, making it a great option if you want to chip away at the cost of a trip over time.
• Biggest drawbacks: The rewards rate is not the best out there. Travelers can find other cards that come with no annual fee and a rewards rate that’s higher than 1.25 miles per dollar.
• Alternatives: The Bilt Mastercard has similar features but goes further, offering rewards for rent purchases without the transaction fees, bonus rewards in multiple categories, and a chance to earn double points on all non-rent purchases on the first of every month.
• Bottom line: The VentureOne will bring some value to the wallets of occasional travelers who want to earn travel rewards for everyday purchases without having to pay an annual fee. Cardmembers earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rentals booked through Capital One Travel and 1.25 miles per dollar on every other purchase.

Read our Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details.

Best for luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

• Best features: The Platinum Card from American Express comes fully-loaded with travel benefits and credits, making it easy for cardholders looking for luxury benefits to recoup the card’s hefty annual fee. These perks include airport lounge access, multiple travel and consumer credits and automatic elite status with Hilton Honors (enrollment required) and Marriott Bonvoy. The card also offers one of the biggest welcome bonuses in the rewards industry.
• Biggest drawbacks: Its $695 annual fee makes it one of the most expensive cards on the market. While the perks are plentiful, they’re not exactly straightforward. Bonus categories are subject to a cap, for instance, redemption options are a bit rigid and some of the credits come with caveats you’ll have to familiarize yourself with. Case in point: The card comes with up to $200 in Uber Cash annually, which you receive in $15 monthly increments (U.S. rides and eats) in your Uber app, along with a $20 bonus in December.
• Alternatives: The Venture X card is one of our most popular luxury travel cards, thanks to a smaller annual fee of $395, its generous sign-up bonus, anniversary credit and bonus miles, free cards for additional cardholders (the Platinum Card charges $195 for additional authorized users) and a flexible $300 annual travel credit which can be applied to any travel purchase booked through Capital One Travel. Like the Platinum card, the Venture X offers Priority Pass lounge access and a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck.
• Bottom line: If you can take advantage of all it has to offer, the Platinum Card is worth its weighty annual fee.

Related: Is The Platinum Card® from American Express worth the annual fee?

Read our full Platinum Card from American Express review or jump back to this card’s offer details.

Best for GM payments and leases: My GM Rewards Card™

• Best features: The high rewards rate you earn on all of your purchases outshine the rate you’ll find on many other rewards cards and will go a long way to helping you save money at the GM dealership.
• Biggest drawbacks: This card is only a good fit for loyal GM car drivers who want to rack up points to help bring down the cost of eligible GM-related products and services.
• Alternatives: A general-purpose cash back card with rewards in high-earning bonus categories that fit your spending habits. Try the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express if you want to earn an impressive amount of rewards on everyday spending.
• Bottom line: This card could be a nice addition to the wallets of GM loyalists.

Read our My GM Rewards Card™ review or jump back to this card’s offer details.

Best for online shopping: Prime Visa

• Best features: This card’s rewards rate not only covers a wide array of online purchases, but also several key everyday spending categories. This makes it a terrific standalone rewards option for Amazon Prime members. You’ll also unlock exclusive pay-over-time financing options (terms apply) and Prime member deals, saving you even more.
• Biggest drawbacks: The card’s top rewards rate only applies to purchases with Amazon and affiliated brands, so it may not be the best fit if you like to shop around for the best deal. It’s also missing a traditional intro APR offer, so it won’t be very helpful if you need to pay off non-Amazon purchases over time.
• Alternatives: The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is a terrific alternative if you’re looking for a bit more flexibility. You can earn rewards on eligible U.S. online retail purchases (not just Amazon purchases) and at most U.S. supermarkets (not just Whole Foods).
• Bottom line: Amazon Prime members really can’t  go wrong with this card, but occasional Amazon shoppers may be better off with a more flexible option.

Read our full Prime Visa review or jump back to this card’s offer details.

Best for customizable bonus categories: Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

• Best features: Unlike most credit cards, the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card lets you choose your bonus rewards category. The base rewards are good for a no-annual-fee credit card and include wholesale clubs, which is a rare find for a general-purpose rewards card.
• Biggest drawbacks: There is a spending cap combined among the card’s  bonus categories, which puts a definite damper on this rewards card. While spending caps on boosted rewards are common, combining that cap between multiple categories stunts rewards across more than one area of your spending.
• Alternatives: If you’re looking for a low-maintenance alternative to the Customized Cash Rewards card, the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card could be a better fit. The unlimited flat rate of 2% cash rewards gives most people more chances to earn bonus rewards, and there is no spending cap to worry about.
• Bottom line: This card’s flexibility makes it worth a look even if you’re not a regular Bank of America customer. The customizable features, along with a chance to earn rewards at wholesale clubs, pair up nicely with short-term perks, including a sign-up bonus and intro APR offer on purchases and balance transfers.

Related: Is the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card worth it?

Read our full Bank of America Cash Rewards credit card review or jump back to this card’s offer details.

Best for annual credits: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

• Best features: The Venture X gives travelers a taste of luxury at a lower cost compared to other premium travel cards. On top of complimentary lounge access, annual credits, bonus miles and a competitive rewards program, Capital One is offering 75,000 bonus miles as the card’s sign-up bonus when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel. This is substantial enough to help offset the card’s annual fee of $395 in the first year and give you enough excess to make travel redemptions.
• Biggest drawbacks: Since this is a general-purpose travel card, you won’t get specific perks found with premium co-branded airline or hotel cards, like priority boarding, free first checked bag or a free hotel night at your favorite destination.
• Alternatives: If you’re on the fence about whether you’re willing to commit to the Venture X card’s steep annual fee, the original Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is well worth a look, especially if you want to earn travel rewards but don’t typically spend much on travel.
• Bottom line: The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a great travel card for those who want a premium card without the large annual fees found with other cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Reserve card.

Related: Is the Venture X worth it?

Read our Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details.

Best for students: Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

• Best features: The SavorOne Student card earns unlimited cash back and even has bonus categories that cover student-friendly spending areas like dining, popular streaming services and grocery stores. It’s also one of the few student cards to offer a sign-up bonus, which could come in handy for students preparing to head back to school in the fall.
• Biggest drawbacks: This card won’t be much help if you need to pay off a large purchase over time because it lacks an introductory APR offer. Plus, if you already have good credit or better, you may be better off applying for the non-student version of the card to benefit from its intro APR offer and sign-up bonus.
• Alternatives: Though the SavorOne Student card offers several lucrative cash back categories, it’s hard to match the level of variety you’ll get with the Discover it® Student Cash Back card’s rotating bonus categories. Plus, Discover will match all the cash back you earn at the end of your first year, which could make for an impressive cash rewards payday.
• Bottom line: The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is worth a look if you’re a student looking for a chance to build credit with responsible use while enjoying terrific cash back variety.

Read our full Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card Review or jump back to this card’s offer details.

Best for starter travel perks American Express® Green Card

• Best features: If you’re looking for a taste of luxury travel without paying a huge annual fee, this card could strike a nice balance. Along with earning valuable, flexible Amex points, you’ll enjoy credits for Loungebuddy lounge access and expedited security screening that can offset the card’s cost on their own.
• Biggest drawbacks: The annual fee may be hard to offset if you only travel occasionally or can’t take advantage of the card’s travel perks. Frequent travelers may also be disappointed by the limited lounge access privileges: Loungebuddy isn’t accepted at all airports and the credit may only cover a few lounge visits.
• Alternatives: If lounge access isn’t a big priority for you, you may get more value out of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. The Venture card only charges a $95 annual fee, still offers a credit for expedited security screening and carries a flat rewards rate that makes it easier to earn bonus miles wherever you spend.
• Bottom line: This card carries a reasonable annual fee and solid mid-level perks, so it could be a great fit for occasional travelers interested in earning Amex points.

Read our Amex Green Card review.

Best second credit card: Citi Custom Cash® Card

• Best features: This no-annual-fee card keeps things simple by automatically earning a top-of-the-line cash back rate in one eligible spending category each billing cycle (subject to a cap each billing cycle). That long-term flexibility pairs nicely with other features of the card that provide great short-term value. Citi is also offering an attractive sign-up bonus and introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers.
• Biggest drawbacks: You’ll pay a pricey 5% balance transfer fee (or $5, whichever is greater) if you take Citi up on its balance transfer offer. This is on the high end because many cards charge a 3% balance transfer fee and a few skip the charge entirely. Additionally, the $500-per-billing-cycle cap eats into the card’s value if you spend more than that each month.
• Alternatives: With one of the best flat cash back rates available, the Citi® Double Cash Card is a great no-frills, all-purpose rewards card. You earn a flat cash back rate on all purchases with no spending caps or select categories, unlike the Citi Custom Cash Card.
• Bottom line: The Citi card’s eligible spend categories cover a wide range of options, including travel, groceries and home improvement stores, making it a great option that’s versatile enough to fit into any card strategy.

Related: Is the Citi Custom Cash worth it?

Read our Citi Custom Cash Card review.

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

• Best features: For food lovers on a budget, it won’t be easy to beat a no-annual-fee credit card that offers 4X points for your dining purchases. The card also comes with additional benefits like a welcome bonus for new cardholders and a decent annual credit for streaming services.
• Biggest drawbacks: The dining rewards are this card’s top feature. But for your other everyday purchases, including gas and grocery stores, you’ll get greater value pairing this with another no-annual-fee card or even one that charges a modest annual fee.
• Alternative: The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express charges an annual fee after the first year, but is loaded with value. Cardmembers earn substantial cash back at U.S. supermarkets, which makes it a great choice for cardholders who eat at home more often than at restaurants.
• Bottom line: Anyone who eats out or orders food delivery should take advantage of the U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card.

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

What is a rewards credit card?

A rewards credit card is a credit card that lets you earn points, miles or cash back on your spending. You might get rewards for specific types of purchases, like buying fuel at gas stations or groceries at supermarkets, or you might get a flat rate for all charges. Typically, you’ll need at least good credit to get a rewards credit card, though there are exceptions. If you’re interested in exploring some card options, our CardMatch tool can show you what rewards credit cards you may qualify for without hurting your credit score.

How do rewards credit cards work?

Rewards credit cards create an exciting opportunity to earn something in exchange for using this type of credit card. What you may not realize is there are multiple ways of earning and redeeming those rewards. Different rewards cards offer different types of rewards you can earn and a few different redemption options. The two most common are travel points and miles or cash back.

Travel credit cards reward cardholders with points or miles instead of cash. You can redeem points or miles to book travel, and with some travel rewards cards, you’ll gain access to luxurious perks like airport lounge access. Among the best travel credit cards, you’ll also find perks like free companion passes, free checked bags, TSA PreCheck credits and more. If you’re new to all of this, check out our beginner’s guide to points and miles before reading about the three main types of travel credit cards.

Pros and cons of rewards cards

Offers of discounted travel, complimentary hotel stays, rewards and other frills can be hard to pass up, but rewards cards aren’t a good fit for everyone. As you search for a card that best aligns with your budget and lifestyle, consider both the pros and cons of rewards credit cards.

Who should get a rewards credit card?

Choosing the right rewards card depends on a number of factors, but they’re not for everyone. Before applying, make sure a rewards credit card is a good fit for you.

How to compare rewards cards

The right rewards card for you will vary depending on your financial goals and habits. So before you start comparing cards, carefully consider how you tend to spend your money.

“Credit card companies offer all types of reward options these days, from points to miles to cash back, and each card provides incentives based on certain purchases or stores/retailers, so it’s important to find the card that rewards you for the purchases you make the most,” says money-saving expert Andrea Woroch, whose advice has been featured in media such as Time’s Next Advisor, Huffington Post and The New York Times.

For example, a rewards rate of 3X points on travel purchases is great – but only if you regularly spend a significant amount of money on travel. The best rewards card for you will match the way you already spend. Once you know what you want – say, a card that earns travel rewards on every purchase – you’ll be able to compare rewards cards in that category. Start by considering these card features or visiting our compare credit cards tool.

• Annual fee. There are plenty of solid rewards cards, often cash back cards, that charge no annual fee. But travel rewards cards and cards with exceptionally high rewards rates or sign-up bonuses typically do charge an annual fee. If the card you’re eyeing comes with an annual fee, you should do some quick math to make sure that your yearly rewards earnings will be greater than the cost of the fee.
• Foreign transaction fees. Many travel credit cards let you skip this charge, which is otherwise imposed when you use the card overseas. Standard foreign transaction fees run between 2% and 3% of each purchase. See the best credit cards for no foreign transaction fees.
• Additional benefits. Rewards cards often offer perks just for having the card. For example, many travel cards offer benefits like credits for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, airport lounge access and free checked bags. If you’re torn between two cards or on the fence about whether an annual fee is worth it, perks like these can tip the scale in one direction.
• Sign-up/welcome bonus. Most rewards cards offer some kind of incentive to new cardholders who spend a certain amount on their card within a specified time frame. You might get a few hundred dollars in cash back or a chunk of points you can redeem for a free flight. Though valuable, a sign-up bonus is a one-time perk. Make sure the long-term value checks out, too.
• Ongoing APR. If you’ll be carrying a balance from month to month, you’re probably better off forgoing rewards and getting a low-interest credit card. That said, accidents and emergencies happen, even to those who usually pay their balance in full. Choosing a rewards card with a lower interest rate can save you money if you need to carry a balance someday. If you’re curious about how your card’s APR might affect your bottom line, read our guide to credit card interest.
• Introductory APR. Some rewards cards offer new cardholders an introductory 0% interest rate on purchases or balance transfers for a certain number of months. These offers can be a boon, particularly if you’re planning on making a one-time large purchase or have an existing high-interest balance you’re trying to pay down. Just be sure to pay off your purchase or your balances before you focus on racking up rewards.
• First-year vs. ongoing value. Rewards credit cards with annual fees and sign-up bonuses may carry more value in the first year than in the following years as a result of welcome offers or other one-off perks. When comparing cards, consider the weight of each card’s first-year value and ongoing value. Depending on rewards rates, a card that carries a sign-up bonus in the first year may not sustain as high of a value for you as an alternative card might.

Still stuck? Check out our step-by-step guide to choosing the right credit card.

How to choose the best rewards credit card

The best rewards card depends on your specific needs. Choosing the best rewards card will come down to considering a few key questions and using the answers to lead you to the best card for you. As you look at various rewards cards, consider the following;

What type of rewards do you want?

The first step in choosing a rewards credit card is deciding what type of rewards you want most. Not all rewards cards earn in the same categories or at the same rates, and some may be more valuable than others depending on your lifestyle. For example, you shouldn’t pick a travel rewards card co-branded with an airline you never fly with, since you often won’t get the highest return on your spending. Whether you value the flexibility of cash back or want to stack up points and miles toward a trip, note the type of rewards you want most and start from there.

What are your spending habits?

Knowing where you spend the majority of your money can be helpful when choosing a rewards credit card. To get the most out of a card, you should spend highly in the categories the card rewards most generously. Take time to track your spending and get a pulse on where the money in your budget goes. Doing so will help you narrow down what rewards categories are most valuable to you, and then you can pick a rewards card that’s especially lucrative in those categories.

What are you willing to pay for?

Oftentimes, the most premier rewards cards with the best perks and benefits will charge an annual fee. You’ll need to decide how much you’re willing to pay, if anything, to hold one of these cards. Something that could help you in deciding if an annual fee is worth it is to calculate if the rewards you’d earn would easily offset the annual fee. You can find plenty of generous rewards cards that don’t charge annual fees, so this extra charge doesn’t have to push a good card out of reach.

How to maximize your rewards credit card

Once you’ve picked the best card for you, here are some strategies you can use to unlock your card’s full potential and maximize the value of your rewards.

• Match your spending patterns with your rewards strategy. Doing so is one of the best ways to ensure you earn the most with your rewards card. For example, if you spend a lot on dining out, you’ll likely get more out of a cash back rewards card that earns highly on dining purchases than with a travel card that only earns on hotel stays or rental cars. To supercharge your earnings even more, designate your rewards card to only purchases that earn in your highest spending category. This way, you’ll ensure you’re getting maximum rewards every time.
• Snag a sign-up/welcome bonus. A sign-up bonus is an ideal way to supercharge rewards, and numerous credit cards offer this incentive if you reach a certain spending threshold during the early stages of card ownership. The key is to choose one where the required spend and time frame fit within your budget. “Make sure that it’s feasible to reach the cash sign-up bonus” says Woroch, “and that you aren’t chasing the reward by making extra, unnecessary purchases.”
• Know your rewards program. It pays to read the terms and conditions of the rewards program, which could save you from missing out on rewards opportunities. For example, the rewards program may spell out how to enroll in a quarterly bonus category or may detail the spending limit within certain categories, both of which could impact how much you are earning in rewards.
• Pool points. Some issuers let you combine rewards across multiple credit cards, while others allow you to share points with family members or even friends. These options usually come with a few caveats, but they can help you reach redemption thresholds or earn big rewards, like first-class airfare, more quickly.
• Take advantage of as many additional benefits as possible. Your rewards card may offer additional benefits beyond cash back and miles. Some cards offer valuable consumer protections, such as additional cellphone insurance and expanded purchase protection. Travel reward cards might include complimentary lounge access or free checked bags. Taking advantage of as many benefits as possible could save you money or make traveling easier.
• Redeem for maximum value. When it’s time to redeem rewards, make sure to compare your card’s redemption options to ensure you get the best value. Credit cards typically offer several choices for redeeming rewards, but not all rewards are equal in value. For example, a reward may have a higher value when redeemed for a statement credit versus a gift card or the travel reward may be worth more if you book it through a transfer partner. Reviewing all your options before you redeem will help you select the most valuable redemption option.
• Pay your bills in full. If you don’t, you’ll lose your points, miles or cash back to interest – and rather quickly, given that rewards credit cards tend to carry slightly higher interest rates than some of their counterparts. To earn rewards while minimizing the odds of overspending, consider paying your bills every week, instead of the end of every month.

The best rewards credit card programs

You can compare individual credit cards, but knowing a little bit about each issuer’s rewards program can help you narrow your search. Credit card rewards programs come in any number of flavors, and one of them is bound to work well for you. Just remember that not every credit card from an issuer will qualify for their rewards program. Here is an overview of some popular rewards programs and how they work. You can learn more about each one by reading our full reviews.

What are points and miles worth?

The value of your points and miles can vary, depending on the card and how you redeem them. If you like to redeem your points for statement credits or gift cards, a card where your points are worth at least 1 cent is a safe bet. When redeeming for travel, your points could swing lower, but they can also go a lot higher, especially if you’re using a card with transferable points.

Transferable points gives you the flexibility to move your points over to a transfer partner’s loyalty program. This can give you more options when booking travel and give you a chance to redeem your points or miles for greater value. In some cases, the right transfer partner could bump the value of your points or miles to over 2 cents.

For example, with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, your points are worth 1.25 cents when you redeem through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. But with the right high-value transfer partner, we estimate your points could be worth an average of 2 cents.

Here are some of the best credit card rewards programs that offer travel cards with transferable points:

• American Express transfer partners
• Capital One transfer partners
• Chase transfer partners
• Citi transfer partners

Before you apply for a new card, check to see if your points or miles can be transferred and that you’re able to transfer your rewards to your favorite airline or hotel. And to make sure you’re getting the best value, make sure you know how to do the math to see how much your rewards are worth.

How to calculate the value of your travel points or miles

When booking travel with airlines or hotels, you can see how much it will cost if you were to pay in cash or use your rewards. To find the value of your points or miles, divide the cash cost of a flight or hotel stay by the cost in points or miles. This will give you the cash value of your points or miles.

You can then take a look at Bankrate’s latest points and miles valuations, where you’ll find an estimate of what your points or miles should be worth. If the value you calculated matches or is greater than our valuation, you’ve found a good deal. But if your calculated value is less than what we estimate your points or miles should be worth, you may want to pay in cash or look for a better deal.

For example, if you’re planning travel, and you see that the cost of a business class seat on a Southwest Airlines flight is $333 in cash or 23,888 points, your miles are worth 1.4 cents ($333 / 23,888 = $0.014). That’s close to our estimated value of 1.5 cents, but you may be able to do better.

If you find a Southwest Wanna Get Away Plus fare for $104 or 5,743 points, your points for that flight would be worth an impressive 1.81 cents ($104 / 5,743 = $0.018). That beats our estimate and gives you some peace of mind that you’re getting a great deal on your flight.

Alternatives to getting a rewards card

Rewards credit cards are a great way to earn free travel, cash back and more, but if you don’t have any credit history or don’t meet the requirements for most rewards cards, there are other options for you.

• If you qualify, get a student credit card. Student cards are specifically designed for college students, although some may allow anyone under 21 to apply (typically with no minimum income). Student credit cards tend to offer better terms and higher limits than typical starter cards (such as secured cards), so they can be helpful for building credit history early on. The Discover it® Student Cash Back Card is a great option to start with.
• Try for a secured credit card. These cards require a security deposit, which can be as low as $200 in some cases. The amount of the deposit is usually equal to your credit limit. In exchange for the deposit, you get an account that reports positive payment history to major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion). If you want to earn rewards on everyday purchases, the Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card is ideal.
• Consider a retail credit card. You can get store-branded cards from major retailers like Target and Walmart. These cards offer rewards on all purchases made at the issuing store. If they are used responsibly, they can be a convenient way to build or rebuild credit.
• Apply for an alternative credit card. Cards like the Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card are also a good option if you don’t have any previous credit history, as they are designed for people who don’t qualify for traditional credit cards or those who may not have access to mainstream banking products.

How we picked the best rewards credit cards

We analyzed over 300 credit cards to identify the best rewards credit cards currently on the market. These factors and more inform our decisions on which cards can work the best for you.

• Rewards rate: We took into account rewards categories and rates, earning caps and other fine print that may affect total earnings potential.
• Interest rate: Though you shouldn’t have to worry about interest rates if you’re paying your bill in full each month, we excluded rewards cards with exorbitant interest rates.
• Fees: We compared each card’s fees to its rewards rate and sign-up bonus to determine whether the average consumer could earn enough rewards to justify the annual fee within the first year and years to come.
• Travel benefits: For the travel cards, we’ve assessed point values and transfer partners to help you weigh your options based on your lifestyle and goals.

All criteria used: Credit needed, rates & fees, transfer partners, travel benefits, point values, redemption options and flexibility, customer service, sign-up bonus, rewards rate.

More information on rewards cards

For more information on all things rewards cards, continue reading content from our credit card experts:

• Do all purchases count when racking up rewards?
• Best credit cards for large purchases
• How to choose a rewards credit card

About the Author

Ryan Noonan

Ryan Noonan Ryan Noonan is a former writer for Bankrate and CreditCards.com and is a graduate of the School of Journalism at Ohio State University. 

About the Editor

Robert Thorpe

Robert Thorpe is an editor for CreditCards.com

About the Reviewer

Jason Steele

Jason Steele is a professional journalist and credit card expert who has been contributing to online publications since 2008. He was one of the original contributors to The Points Guy, and his work has been appearing there since 2011. He has also contributed to over 100 of the leading personal finance and travel outlets. He’s frequently interviewed and quoted by mainstream outlets on the subjects of credit cards and travel. Jason is passionate about travel rewards credit cards, which he uses to earn rewards that he can redeem for him and his family to travel around the world. Jason is also the founder and producer of CardCon, a conference for credit and credit card journalists that’s held annually.