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The Best Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses of 2024

Written by: Ryan Noonan | Edited by: Tracy Stewart | Reviewed by: Erica Sandberg
|

October 10, 2024

Best credit cards for sign-up bonuses of 2024

Additional Options:

  • Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card: Best for Marriott guests
BEST FOR FLAT RATE CASH BACK + SIGN-UP BONUS
Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card
Our rating:3.8 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. The score seen here reflects the card's primary category rating. For more information, you can read about how we rate our cards.

Rewards rate

1.5%
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases.

At A Glance

Intro offer
$200 $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
18.74% - 28.74% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
BEST FOR WELCOME OFFER + TRAVEL CREDITS
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Our rating:5.0 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. The score seen here reflects the card's primary category rating. For more information, you can read about how we rate our cards.

Rewards rate

10x
Earn 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠.
5x
Earn 5x total points on flights through Chase Travel℠.
3x
Earn 3x points on other travel and dining.
1x
Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

At A Glance

Intro offer
60,000 bonus points Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual fee
$550
Regular APR
21.99% - 28.99% variable
BEST FOR BONUS AIRLINE TRAVEL
United℠ Explorer Card
Our rating:3.9 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. The score seen here reflects the card's primary category rating. For more information, you can read about how we rate our cards.

Rewards rate

2X
Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays, and United® purchases
1X
1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases

At A Glance

Intro offer
Earn 50,000 bonus miles Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
Annual fee
$95, waived first year
Regular APR
21.49% - 28.49% variable
BEST FOR SIGN-UP BONUS + ANNUAL BONUS
Citi Rewards+® Card
Our rating:3.9 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. The score seen here reflects the card's primary category rating. For more information, you can read about how we rate our cards.

Rewards rate

5X
Special offer: earn 5 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com through December 31, 2025.
2X
Earn 2X ThankYou® Points at Supermarkets and Gas Stations for the first $6,000 per year and then 1X Points thereafter.
1X
Earn 1X ThankYou® Points on All Other Purchases.

At A Glance

Intro offer
20,000 points Earn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening; redeemable for $200 in gift cards at thankyou.com.
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
18.24% - 28.24% variable
BEST FOR SOUTHWEST FLYERS
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
Our rating:4.7 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. The score seen here reflects the card's primary category rating. For more information, you can read about how we rate our cards.

Rewards rate

2X
Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases.
2X
Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
2X
Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
2X
Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners.
1X
Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

At A Glance

Intro offer
Earn 50,000 points. Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual fee
$69
Regular APR
20.99% - 27.99% variable
BEST FOR ANNIVERSARY BONUS
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
Our rating:4.1 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. The score seen here reflects the card's primary category rating. For more information, you can read about how we rate our cards.

Rewards rate

3X
Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases.
2X
Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
2X
Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
2X
Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners.
1X
Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

At A Glance

Intro offer
Earn 50,000 points. Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual fee
$149
Regular APR
20.99% - 27.99% variable
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All information about the Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card, the Chase Freedom Flex, the World of Hyatt Credit Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card has been collected independently by CreditCards.com and has not been reviewed by the issuer.


Comparing the best credit card bonus offers

After looking at all of the credit cards with sign-up bonus offers, here are our selections for the top offers on the market right now:

Credit cardBest forSign-up bonusAnnual feeCreditCards.com rating
Chase Sapphire Preferred® CardWelcome offer + referral bonus60,000 bonus points, Plus, get up to $300 in statement credits on Chase Travel purchases within your first year. If you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months $954.9 / 5
Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit cardFlat rate cash back + sign-up bonus$200 online cash rewards After spending $1000 in purchases in the first 90 days $03.8 / 5
Chase Freedom Unlimited®Cash backUp to $300 Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. $05.0 / 5
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit CardMarriott guests60,000 bonus points plus 1 Free Night Award 60,000 points plus 1 Free Night Award after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Free Night valued at 50,000 points. Certain hotels have resort fees. $03.7 / 5
Chase Sapphire Reserve®Welcome offer + travel credits60,000 points If you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months
$550
5.0 / 5
United℠ Explorer CardAirline travel50,000 Miles Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. $0 Intro for First Year, then $95.3.9 / 5
Citi Rewards+® Card
Sign-up bonus + annual bonus20,000 Points For spending $1,500 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $200 in gift cards at thankyou.com $03.9 / 5
World of Hyatt Credit CardHotel guestsUp to 60,000 bonus points Earn 30,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Plus, earn up to 30,000 more bonus points with 2 bonus points per $1 spent on purchases that earn 1 point up to $15,000 in the first 6 months $954.7 / 5
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit CardSouthwest flyersEarn 50,000 bonus points Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
$69
4.3 / 5
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit CardAnniversary bonusEarn 50,000 bonus points Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. $1494.1/ 5

Editor’s picks: A closer look at our top-rated sign-up bonus credit cards

Best for welcome offer + referral bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

  • Bonus offer: Get up to $1,050 in Chase TravelSM value. Earn 60,000 bonus points after $4,000 in purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. That’s worth $750 when redeemed through Chase Travel. Plus, get up to $300 in statement credits on Chase Travel purchases within your first year.
  • Best features: You can earn the bonus after spending $4,000 within the first three months of card membership. You’ll also earn 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3X points on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2X points on other travel purchases and a $50 annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit.
  • Biggest drawbacks: The $95 annual fee may be more than some individuals are willing to pay, but frequent travelers will find that the benefits and rewards give the Chase Sapphire Preferred a strong long-term value. However, those perks are not quite on par with the sort of premium offerings you’d get with the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, such as a $300 travel credit and lounge access.
  • Alternatives: For people seeking a premium travel card with a high-end suite of perks, the Chase Sapphire Reserve could be a very rewarding option – despite its $550 annual fee.
  • Bottom line: With its extensive list of top-notch travel benefits, an excellent rewards rate and substantial welcome offer and referral bonus, it’s easy to see why the Chase Sapphire Preferred is at the top of its class.

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

Best for flat rate cash back + sign-up bonus: Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card

  • Bonus offer: $200 online cash rewards after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days.
  • Best features: In addition to the card’s generous welcome offer, cardholders earn an unlimited 1.5% cash back on eligible purchases. Cardholders can also take advantage of the intro APR on purchases and balance transfers plus there is no annual fee.
  • Biggest drawbacks: If you carry a balance beyond the introductory period you could end up paying quite a bit in interest, particularly if you fall under the higher APR range. Plus, Bank of America’s rewards boost for Preferred Rewards members requires you have at least $20,000 across Bank of America and/or Merrill accounts.
  • Alternatives: Unless you’re a Preferred Rewards member at the Platinum tier or above, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card will be a more rewarding long-term choice as it carries a 2% cash rewards rate on purchases.
  • Bottom line: This card offers a competitive sign-up bonus of $200 in online cash rewards after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. If you’re an existing Bank of America customer with assets in eligible savings, checking or investment accounts, you could benefit from this cash back credit card, which offers 1.5% back on all purchases, plus a potential 25% to 75% rewards boost for Preferred Rewards members (actual value of the boost varies, depending on how much you have across your eligible Bank of America accounts).

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

Best for cash back: Chase Freedom Unlimited®

  • Bonus offer: Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back.
  • Best features: The Chase Freedom Unlimited has a competitive base rewards program: 1.5% cash back on general purchases, plus 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 5% cash back on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025), 3% on dining (including takeout and eligible food delivery services) and 3% on drugstore purchases. Plus, there’s no annual fee.
  • Biggest drawbacks: The Freedom Unlimited is a flat-rate cash back card, so if you tend to spend a lot in one or a few specific spending categories, you could possibly earn more with a rotating or tiered cash back credit card.
  • Alternatives: Chase customers seeking bonus rewards will want to check out the Chase Freedom Flex®, as it awards cardholders 5% cash back in rotating bonus categories that they must enroll in each quarter (on up to $1,500 in purchase per quarter, then 1%).
  • Bottom line: The Chase Freedom Unlimited also offers a generous sign-up bonus. There are not too many no-annual-fee cards that exceed the value of this card.

Read our full Chase Freedom Unlimited review or jump back to this card’s offer details.

Best for Marriott guests: Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card

  • Bonus offer: 60,000 points plus 1 Free Night Award after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first three months (Free Night valued at 50,000 points).
  • Best features: This card rewards Marriott guests with incredibly generous rewards rates for Marriott hotel stays. You can earn up to 14X Bonvoy points (up to 10X from being a Marriott Bonvoy Member, 3X on participating hotels and 1X from Marriott along with Silver Elite status, which comes as a benefit of being a cardmember) at more than 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy and receive 5 Elite Night Credits annually and complimentary Silver Elite Status. (Restrictions apply.)
  • Biggest drawbacks: This card’s rewards are tailored to loyal Marriott customers, so if you don’t frequent the hotel chain, a different credit card (and sign-up bonus) is likely warranted.
  • Alternatives: If you want to earn points toward travel, you may be best off skipping a hotel card altogether and going with a flexible points card, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred. In addition to a sign-up bonus, the Sapphire Preferred card offers a higher earning rate than the Bonvoy Bold card: 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through the Chase Travel portal, 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2 points per dollar on other travel and 1 point per dollar on everything else.
  • Bottom line: We estimate the value of the total current welcome offer is worth up to $480 (not including the 1 Free Night) in Marriott stays, given Marriott points are worth about 0.8 cent each. That welcome offer is on par with other no annual fee hotel credit cards.

Read our full Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details.

Best for welcome offer + travel credits: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

  • Bonus offer: Earn 60,000 points after spending $4,000 within your first three months. You’ll also get a free one-year membership to Lyft Pink (through March 31, 2025) and DoorDash’s DashPass (activate by December 31, 2027).
  • Best features: As part of the card’s base rewards program, you earn 10X total points on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel℠, 5X total points on air travel through Chase Travel℠ and 3X points on all other travel purchases (after you earn the card’s annual $300 travel credit). You can also earn 3X points on dining at restaurants and receive up to a $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit every four years.
  • Biggest drawbacks: The travel benefits come at a price, specifically the card’s $550 annual fee, so make sure you travel enough to justify that cost before applying.
  • Alternatives: The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a strong alternative to the Chase Sapphire Reserve because it has a much more reasonable $95 annual fee but still earns lucrative rewards: 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3X points on dining and 2X points on all other travel expenses.
  • Bottom line: That sign-up bonus has a $900 value when booking travel through Chase Travel, where you get a 50% redemption boost.

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

Best for airline travel: United℠ Explorer Card

  • Bonus offer: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
  • Best features: The card’s base travel rewards are competitive: You earn 2X miles when spending on hotel stays, dining and United purchases and 1X miles on other purchases. You also get a statement credit of up to $100 on Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, priority boarding privileges and two one-time passes to United Club℠ each anniversary.
  • Biggest drawbacks: If you don’t frequently fly United, you might be better served by a different airline credit card, a rewards card with more nuanced rewards categories or one with no annual fee. Although this card’s $95 annual fee is waived the first year, it can eat into your long-term rewards value.
  • Alternatives: If you aren’t loyal to a particular airline, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is a great option. While it charges a steep annual fee, it offers generous travel credits and perks that easily offset the cost (including Priority Pass lounge access and credits for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry).
  • Bottom line: If you meet the required spend and redeem your miles for Saver Awards, that bonus amounts to about $912 in airfare, (assuming an average United mile value of 1.52 cents each).

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

Best for sign-up bonus + annual bonus: Citi Rewards+® Card

  • Bonus offer: Earn 20,000 ThankYou points if you spend $1,500 in your first three months of account opening, redeemable for $200 in gift cards at thankyou.com.
  • Best features: The card’s base rewards program lets you earn 2X ThankYou points at supermarkets and gas stations for the first $6,000 spent annually (then 1X points) and 1X points on all other purchases. Plus, the card carries a unique feature in that it automatically rounds up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase. You’ll also get 10% points back on the ThankYou points you redeem, up to 100,000 points redeemed per year. There is no annual fee.
  • Biggest drawbacks: There are higher cash back sign-up bonuses out there. There are also a few cards that offer a higher return on similar bonus categories without spending limits. For instance, a flat rate cash back card that earns up to 2% back on all purchases potentially offers more rewards value than the Citi Rewards+.
  • Alternatives: For cardholders who prefer a flat rate cash back card, the Citi Double Cash® Card might be a perfect fit for you. It earns 1% cash back on all purchases, then another 1% as you pay off those purchases.
  • Bottom line: This card features a decent sign-up bonus and an annual bonus for redeeming rewards: Cardholders receive 10% points back on the ThankYou points they redeem (up to 100,000 points redeemed per year).

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

Best for hotel guests: The World of Hyatt Credit Card

  • Bonus offer: Earn up to 60,000 bonus points with a tiered sign-up offer that gives you 30,000 points after you spend $3,000 in your first three months and up to 30,000 more points by earning 2X points on purchases that usually earn 1 point on up to $15,000 in your first six months.
  • Best features: You earn 2X points on a variety of spending, including at restaurants and on airline tickets purchased directly from airlines. You also receive a free night at a category 1 to 4 Hyatt hotel each year after your cardmember anniversary and can earn a second free night at the same type of hotel each year you spend $15,000.
  • Biggest drawbacks: The $95 annual fee isn’t waived the first year. If you don’t frequent Hyatt hotels, you may be better served by a different hotel credit card.
  • Alternatives: Since the Chase Sapphire Preferred is not tied to any hotel loyalty program, you can redeem your points for stays at thousands of properties around the world, under many different brands. While you won’t enjoy the elite status benefits that come with sticking to one loyalty program, you’ll have the added flexibility of redeeming your points for all kinds of travel purchases without sacrificing their value.
  • Bottom line: If you can meet that high required spend associated with the second tier of the bonus ($15,000 in your first six months), your earned points could be worth up to $1,300 in hotel nights, depending on how you spend them. (We estimate World of Hyatt points, on average, are worth around 2-cents each.)

Read our full World of Hyatt Credit Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details.

Best for Southwest flyers: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

  • Bonus offer: Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Best features: As base rewards, you’ll earn 2X points on Southwest purchases, Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partner purchases, and 1 point per $1 spent on other purchases. Plus, you’ll receive 3,000 bonus points each year on your account anniversary.
  • Biggest drawbacks: The card carries a $69 annual fee, which isn’t quite covered by the anniversary bonus. We estimate the anniversary bonus of 3,000 points is worth around $45, using the 1.5-cent per point value projected by Bankrate. If you don’t fly Southwest, this card isn’t for you.
  • Alternatives: Even if Southwest Airlines is your airline of choice, the Chase Sapphire Preferred could still be a rewards card worth considering. Although it charges a higher annual fee, the Sapphire Preferred offers a few benefits that might outweigh the added costs.
  • Bottom line: We’ve estimated the points portion of the intro bonus to be worth around $750 in Southwest travel, given that Bankrate currently values Southwest Rapid Rewards points at around 1.5 cents apiece.

Read our full Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details.

Best for anniversary bonus: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

  • Bonus offer: Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Best features: For base rewards, you earn 3X points on Southwest purchases, 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partner purchases and 1X points on other purchases. You also receive a $75 Southwest travel credit each year, a unique feature among Southwest cards. Plus, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority’s anniversary bonus is the highest of the Southwest cards: You earn 7,500 bonus points after each card anniversary.
  • Biggest drawbacks: The card has a $149 annual fee, not waived the first year, so you’ll need to carefully consider whether you patronize Southwest enough to truly reap this card’s benefits.
  • Alternatives: If you are a fan of United Airlines, the United Explorer Card offers a bevy of perks. Unlike the Southwest Priority card, this card offers bonus miles on restaurant purchases, making it much easier to rack up plenty of rewards. While United MileagePlus miles have a slightly lower average value than Rapid Rewards points, United Airlines has a much larger flight network and plenty of international options – making it a potentially better loyalty program for frequent international travelers.
  • Bottom line: This bonus, which mirrors the one attached to the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card, offers a lot of value for frequent Southwest flyers, especially when you factor in the card’s base rewards and additional benefits.

Read our full Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details.


What is a credit card sign-up bonus and how do they work?

A sign-up bonus is a limited-time offer that many rewards credit cards feature (including travel credit cards and cash back credit cards). These promotions, also sometimes called “welcome offers,” give new cardholders a chance to earn extra rewards in the form of cash back, miles, points, free hotel nights or more. To get these rewards, cardholders are generally required to spend a certain amount in a specified period. Although, some offers stipulate a certain number of purchases or activate after just one swipe of the card. Typically, the higher the required spend, the more lucrative the bonus. In recent years, sign-up bonuses have become an increasingly popular way to entice new cardholders.

“A trend I’ve observed is that issuers are competing for consumers’ business based mostly on sign-up bonuses and rewards for ongoing spending,” says Ted Rossman, CreditCards.com industry analyst. “Whether you’re interested in travel or cash back, you can take advantage of offers that can put $500, $750 or even more into your wallet.”

Pros and cons of credit cards with sign-up bonuses

While sign-up bonus offers can be truly valuable, it’s important to evaluate your situation before going after one.

Pros

  • Usually worth hundreds of dollars in cash back or travel purchases
  • Sign-up bonuses offer quick gratification and can come as a large sum of rewards shortly after opening your account
  • Limited-time offers from the issuer can yield even more rewards

Cons

  • The sign-up bonus on cards for fair credit and secured cards are either lackluster or absent
  • Some cards offer hefty sign-up bonuses but have high spending requirements
  • Sign-up bonuses can encourage overspending as they require you to spend a certain amount within a specific timeframe to qualify

Types of sign-up bonuses

Anything a credit card issuer offers that serves to incentivize new cardholders to sign up can be considered a sign-up bonus, but the most common types of sign-up bonus come in these forms:

  • Cash back: Cash back is one of the more common forms of sign-up bonuses and will usually fall between $100 and $500, depending on the credit card. Cash back sign-up bonuses frequently show up as a statement credit on the card account.
  • Travel miles: When signing up for a general travel card or a co-branded airline credit card, the best cards typically offer airline miles or travel points redeemable for flights, hotels and more.
  • Rewards points: Points are likely the most flexible sign-up bonus option, as they can be redeemed for travel purchases, cash back or statement credits. However, keep in mind that points may not translate to miles or cash back at a 1:1 ratio.

How to choose a sign-up bonus card

Sign-up bonuses are alluring, but not every credit card’s welcome offer may be the right one for you. Here’s how you can choose the best sign-up bonus credit card to add to your wallet.

Choose a card that aligns with your realistic spending habits

Stay away from cards with demanding spending limits and requirements if you don’t spend near the amount that’s asked. If you’re in a position to spend more than you do normally and strain your budget, you risk falling into debt.

If you’re prone to overspending, a sign-up bonus that has a weighty spending requirement might put you in the red just so you can earn a couple hundred dollars back. This puts you at risk to run up a large balance with accrued interest. In the worst case, interest can completely offset your sign-up bonus earnings. This is especially the case on cards with large sign-up bonuses and high APRs.

Double check eligibility with the card issuer

Some issuers won’t allow you to earn more than one sign-up bonus from their card offerings in a set period, so you should be wary of opening a card account for a card with a sign-up bonus you’re ineligible for.

When do choose a card with an annual fee

While no one ever wants to pay annual fees, you shouldn’t automatically nix a card with one. If you do the math, you’ll often find that annual fee cards – due to larger sign-up bonuses and higher rewards redemption rates – offer the best value, even with a fee. Plus, some annual fee cards waive the charge in their first year. Still, you need to be sure you can afford to pay a fee and that you’ll redeem the rewards in a timely manner to make the fee worth it. Ideally, you want to look at ongoing rewards and other perks, such as airport lounge access, extended warranties or cellphone insurance.

“Figure out how you spend your money and what you value most,” says CreditCards.com Industry Analyst Ted Rossman. “Card issuers have grown tired of the sign-up bonus arms race and customers who churn through bonuses,” says Rossman. “They’d rather keep you spending with incentives on dining, transportation and streaming. Sign-up bonuses are great, but don’t lose sight of the big picture. Constantly opening and closing cards can hurt your credit score, too. The best credit card rewards strategies mix introductory bonuses with long-term value.”

Let’s take a look at the value of a no annual fee card versus an annual fee competitor to determine the impact of each over two years. We’ll compare the travel and dining rewards value available from the United Explorer Card ($95 annual fee – waived the first year) and the Wells Fargo Active Cash card, a flat-rate cash back card that earns 2% cash rewards on purchases. The United Explorer Card’s miles are worth 1.1 cents per mile, according to Bankrate’s points valuation. This evaluation looks at each card’s returns based on someone who annually spends $2,000 on travel expenses, $1,800 on dining and $5,000 on other purchases, while hitting their sign-up bonus along the way.

CardWelcome bonusRewards rateRewardsAnnual feeTotal minus annual fee
United Explorer Card – Year 150,000 miles* x .011 = $5502X miles on travel (hotel stays and United purchases) and dining, 1X elsewhere($2,000 x 2) + ($1,800 x 2) + ($5,000 x 1) = 12,600 miles x .011 = $138.60$95 waived first year$688.60
United Explorer Card – Year 22X miles on travel (hotel stays and United purchases) and dining, 1X elsewhere($2,000 x 2) + ($1,800 x 2) + ($5,000 x 1) = 12,600 miles x .011 = $138.60$95$43.60
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card – Year 1$200 cash rewards2% cash rewards on purchases$8,800 x .02 = $176$0$376
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card – Year 22% cash rewards on purchases$8,800 x .02 = $176$0$176

*United Explorer Card earns 50,000 miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months

**Wells Fargo Active Cash earns a $200 cash rewards bonus after you spend $500 in the first 3 months

At first glance, the two-year rewards are lopsided. This large gap is thanks to the United Explorer Card’s sign-up bonus in the first year. As such, when looking at ongoing rewards, the Active Cash card may be the better choice in the long-term. Although the first-year rewards are slightly one-sided, the Active Cash card’s consistent cash rewards at a flat rate and lack of annual fee will bring you more year-to-year value in the future. It may be hard to deny the upfront rewards available with annual fee cards, but consumers hunting for a card for the foreseeable future might want to look towards the best no annual fee options.

Who should get a sign-up bonus card

  • People with good to excellent credit: Sign-up bonuses are one of the premium perks that come with a credit card if you have a higher credit score. Make sure your credit fits the requirements of the card you sign up for as your credit score might take a small hit in the process.
  • Solid budgeters: If you regularly spend within your means and have a history of paying your balance in full each month, a lucrative sign-up bonus can be quite rewarding.
  • People who need a tie-breaker: If you’re hunting for the right card that fits your needs and it ticks all your other boxes, a sign-up bonus can be exactly that, a bonus.

Who should skip a sign-up bonus card

  • People still building credit: Responsible credit card use is a key strategy for building your credit score and you will likely have a higher APR on a new credit card. In this case, it’s important to focus on securing a card with a lower APR and a smaller or no annual fee.
  • Overspenders: If you have a remaining balance at the end of the month you will face interest payments. Instead, go for a card with a lower interest rate instead of focusing on the sign-up bonus, which often comes with a high spend requirement.
  • The sign-up bonus is your only incentive: When evaluating whether a new credit card is right for your situation, take a holistic approach and ask yourself whether it provides long-term value besides the initial bonus.

How to maximize sign-up bonuses

Signing up for the right bonus at the right time can help you take your sign-up bonus the extra mile. Here are some tips to squeeze more value out of your sign-up bonus:

  • Look for special offers: Sometimes issuers offer sign-up bonuses to targeted groups of cardholders that are larger than the offers advertised on their sites. Visit the issuer’s site often, check your mail or call the issuer directly to find out if you qualify for a special offer.
  • Keep an eye on the bonus after you sign up: Some issuers will award you the larger bonus amount if the offer increases after you sign up for the card. If the bonus goes up before the promotional period expires, call your issuer to see if you can qualify for the larger bonus.
  • Sign your spouse up for the same card: Many issuers will allow couples (married or otherwise) to sign up for the same card separately. Yes, even if your spouse is already an authorized user on your account, you can earn twice the number of bonus points.
  • Time your applications carefully: You’ll need to keep issuers’ policies – such as Chase’s 5/24 rule and American Express’s once-in-a-lifetime limit on welcome bonuses – in mind when deciding which cards to apply for. For instance, if you know that an issuer puts a limit on the number of new accounts you can have in a certain time frame, you might want to apply for those cards first.
  • Watch out for hidden convenience fees: Avoid using your card to pay for products or services that charge a fee to use credit cards. For example, some utility companies and providers, such as contractors or plumbers, may charge you a convenience fee of 2-4% to pay by card. See if you can meet the minimum spending requirement without paying fees.
  • Know what counts toward the minimum spend: If you read the sign-up bonus terms and conditions, you’ll likely find that the annual fee, your balance transfers, and the purchase of travelers checks or other “cash-like” items, don’t count toward your minimum spending total.
  • Be careful about returning items: If you return an item that you purchased with your card, be sure to subtract the amount from your total spending. Otherwise, you could accidentally fall short of the spending threshold and miss out on your card’s bonus.
  • Don’t get sucked into debt: What good is a few hundred dollars’ worth of bonus points if you also end up thousands of dollars in debt? Before you spring for a sign-up bonus, make sure you can afford the spending threshold. Aim to pay your monthly balances off in full, lest you lose lucrative points, miles or cash back to interest.

What to know about sign-up bonus offers

Issuer restrictions

Sign-up bonus restrictions are often the most confusing parts of a welcome offer. It’s important to dig into the fine print and identify any limits set in place by the issuer. For example, credit card churning is when consumers frequently open new credit cards to gain a sign-up bonus and do not intend to use the card long-term. To prevent this, many of the major credit card issuers set limits on how often people can sign up for cards and earn sign-up bonuses. Chase does so with their 5/24 rule, which states that cardholders can’t get a new Chase credit card if there are five or more credit card inquiries on their credit report in the past 24 months, and one can only earn a sign-up bonus once every 24 to 48 months.

Some purchases don’t count towards sign-up bonuses

While most everyday purchases can bring you closer to meeting the spending requirement for a sign-up bonus, credit card issuers do have exceptions for certain transactions that don’t qualify. These types of transactions are typically considered ineligible:

  • Cash advances
  • Balance transfers
  • Refunded purchases
  • Lottery tickets
  • Wire transfers
  • Fees, including annual fees

It’s important to consider that in many cases, these purchases don’t allow you to earn rewards either. To get a better understanding of what counts as an eligible purchase in relation to a sign-up bonus as well as other key information about the card, be sure to check the terms and conditions provided by the issuer.

Huge sign-up bonuses aren’t always worth it

A big sign-up bonus, like those that are upwards of 100,000 points, are always tempting. However, a sign-up bonus of this volume should be analyzed a little more closely because a bonus isn’t always worth as much as it seems. You’ll want to determine the value of those points before you get too excited about it. Convert points to cash value is a great way to standardize how you’re comparing cards. This way you won’t get trapped with a 100,000-point offer that is worth as much as some 50,000-point offers.

How we picked the best credit card bonus offers

We evaluated credit cards with welcome offers to identify the top bonuses currently on the market. The major factors we considered include:

  • Value of bonus: We looked at the amount of rewards associated with specific welcome offers, how much that amount might be worth within that card’s rewards program and whether the amount stood out among competitors.
  • Required spend: Welcome bonuses aren’t usually automatic; In most cases, you’ll need to spend a certain amount of money on the card to get your extra points, miles or cash back. We considered whether the required spend was reasonable for the card’s target audience and whether it was comparable to or better than other cards in its category.
  • Base rewards: We considered the amount of points, miles or cash back you could earn beyond a credit card’s welcome offer and whether the base rewards return rate was equally lucrative. In other words, we considered a card’s long-term value.
  • Fees: You’ll want to minimize costs, so we evaluated any sign-up bonus against common card fees, including the annual fee, penalty fees and foreign transaction fees. Note: An annual fee isn’t always a deal-breaker. We have more details below on how to calculate whether to opt for an annual fee credit card with a good sign-up bonus.
  • Annual percentage rates: You generally want to avoid carrying a balance on a rewards credit card, given they tend to carry higher APRs than, say, a low-interest credit card. However, we still considered where a card’s APR range fell relative to the current credit card industry standard.

Not sure what welcome offers you might qualify for? Our CardMatch tool can show you what credit cards you may qualify for without hurting your credit score.

Additional information on sign-up bonus cards

For more information on sign-up bonus offers, continue reading content from our credit card experts:


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