Best Rewards Cards – Get More From Your Credit Card
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Whether they help you earn cashback on groceries or collect points to travel to your dream destination, rewards credit cards can enable you to do more with your money than you thought possible. Yet with so many rewards cards on the market, it’s important to choose one that helps you best leverage your spending. Here’s how to determine which rewards credit card is best for you.
Jump To
Overview of the best rewards cards
Issuer | Best for |
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card | Enjoying a night out |
Discover it Miles | Miles matching in first year |
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express | Cash back rewards at grocery stores |
Bank of America Premium Rewards | Introductory bonus points |
Chase Sapphire Reserve® | Luxury travel |
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards for Good Credit | Cash back afor dining and entertainment |
Chase Freedom Flex℠ | Cash back in rotating bonus categories |
Citi Rewards+® Card | Balance transfers |
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Travel rewards |
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card | No travel blackout dates |
American Express® Gold Card | Dining credit |
Raise Your Credit 80 points*
- 5 star service trusted by over 450,000 members
- Have processed over $11,000,000 in bill payments for members
- No deposit, no credit check, no interest
- New member promotions available
*Potential increase based on StellarFi member data. StellarFi numbers observed an average of 80 points VantageScore® 3.0 increase during a member’s lifetime. Score increase based on members with an incoming score range of 300-499 pts, who made regular on-time payments, with regular on-time payments. Results may vary.
Our top rewards credit card picks
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Card Name
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
APR
19.99% - 29.99%
Recommended Credit Score
Excellent, Good
Annual Fee
$0
Special Offer
$200 Cash Back
Special Offer Terms
after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
Rewards Rate
3 % Cash Back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®). 5 % Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply). 8 % Cash Back on Capital One Entertainment purchases. 1 % Cash Back on all other purchases.
Terms
Why We Like It
- Unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
- No rotating categories or sign-ups are needed to earn cash rewards.
- No annual fees or foreign transaction fees.
Discover it Miles
Discover it Miles
Card Name
Discover it Miles
APR
18.24% - 27.24%
Annual Fee
$0
Intro Offer
- Discover Match will automatically match all the Miles you earn at the end of your first year.
- No annual fee
Rewards Rate
- 1.5x miles on every dollar of every purchase
- 2x miles your first year with Discover Match
Why We Like It
- 0% into APR for 15 months from date of account opening
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Card Name
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
APR
19.24% - 29.99%
Recommended Credit Score
Good, Excellent
Annual Fee
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
Special Offer
Earn a $250 statement credit
Special Offer Terms
after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
Rewards Rate
6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%). 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions. 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations. 3% Cash Back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more). 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
Why We Like It
- Buy Now, Pay Later options.
Bank of America Premium Rewards
Bank of America Premium Rewards
Card Name
Bank of America Premium Rewards
APR
21.24% - 29.24%
Annual Fee
$95
Intro Offer
60,000 online bonus points, a $600 value, after making at least $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
Rewards Rate
Earn unlimited points – 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and 1.5 points per $1 on all other purchases.
Why We Like It
- Great bonus offer
- Points don't expire
- No foreign transaction fees
- $200 in travel statement credits
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Card Name
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
APR
22.49%-29.49%
Recommended Credit Score
Excellent
Annual Fee
$550
Special Offer
Earn 60,000 bonus points
Special Offer Terms
after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
Rewards Rate
Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Terms
Why We Like It
- Generous bonus points offer.
- Annual travel credit on your account anniversary.
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs.
- Access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide.
- Up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®.
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards for Good Credit
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards for Good Credit
Card Name
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards for Good Credit
APR
29.99%
Recommended Credit Score
Good
Annual Fee
$0
Special Offer
Earn unlimited 3% cash back
Special Offer Terms
on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), plus 1% on all other purchases
Rewards Rate
3 % Cash Back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®). 5 % Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply). 8 % Cash Back on Capital One Entertainment purchases. 1 % Cash Back on all other purchases.
Terms
Why We Like It
- No need to adjust spending to rotating categories as rewards are on all spending
- No expiration or limits on cash back
- No annual fee
Chase Freedom Flex℠
Chase Freedom Flex℠
Card Name
Chase Freedom Flex℠
APR
19.24% - 27.99%
Recommended Credit Score
Excellent, Good
Annual Fee
$0
Special Offer
Earn a $200 Bonus
Special Offer Terms
after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening!
Rewards Rate
5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter! Plus, earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases.
Terms
Why We Like It
- No minimum to redeem for cash back.
- No annual fee.
- Free access to your credit score and real-time alerts through Chase Credit Journey.
Citi Rewards+® Card
Citi Rewards+® Card
Card Name
Citi Rewards+® Card
APR
18.74% - 28.74%
Recommended Credit Score
Excellent, Good
Annual Fee
$0
Special Offer
Earn 20,000 bonus points
Special Offer Terms
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. Special offer: earn 5 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com through December 31, 2025.
Rewards Rate
Earn 2X ThankYou® Points at Supermarkets and Gas Stations for the first $6,000 per year and then 1X Points thereafter. Plus, earn 1X ThankYou® Points on All Other Purchases. Plus, as a special offer, earn a total of 5 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com through December 31, 2025.
Terms
Why We Like It
- Automatically rounds up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase.
- No cap on rewards earnings.
- Bonus points that are redeemable for a gift card.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Card Name
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
APR
21.49%-28.49%
Recommended Credit Score
Excellent, Good
Annual Fee
$95
Special Offer
Earn 60,000 bonus points
Special Offer Terms
after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
Rewards Rate
Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
Terms
Why We Like It
- Generous bonus points offered.
- High points for travel and dining purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards® and points on all purchases.
- Complimentary one-year access to DashPass.
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
Card Name
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
APR
19.99% - 29.99%
Recommended Credit Score
Excellent, Good
Annual Fee
$0
Special Offer
20,000 Miles
Special Offer Terms
once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
Rewards Rate
1.25 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day. 5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Terms
Why We Like It
- No annual fee.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Miles never expire and there is no limit to miles earned.
- Over 15 travel loyalty programs where you can transfer your miles.
American Express® Gold Card
American Express® Gold Card
Card Name
American Express® Gold Card
APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Recommended Credit Score
Good, Excellent
Annual Fee
$325
Special Offer
60,000 points + earn up to $100 back
Special Offer Terms
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $100 back. Limited time offer. Offer ends 11/6/24.
Rewards Rate
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Why We Like It
- Generous introductory bonus offer.
- Uber Cash and dining credits.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Raise Your Credit 80 points*
- 5 star service trusted by over 450,000 members
- Have processed over $11,000,000 in bill payments for members
- No deposit, no credit check, no interest
- New member promotions available
*Potential increase based on StellarFi member data. StellarFi numbers observed an average of 80 points VantageScore® 3.0 increase during a member’s lifetime. Score increase based on members with an incoming score range of 300-499 pts, who made regular on-time payments, with regular on-time payments. Results may vary.
Best rewards cards summary
Not sure which rewards card is the best option for your specific circumstances? Here’s how each card looks when you compare them against each other.
Issuer | Annual Fee | Regular APR | Special Rewards |
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card | $0 | 19.99% - 29.99% | 3 % Cash Back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®). |
Discover it Miles | $0 | 17.24%-28.24% | Unlimited 1.5x miles for every dollar spent on all purchases |
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express | $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. | 19.24% - 29.99% | 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%). 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions. 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations. 3% Cash Back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more). 1% Cash Back on other purchases. |
Bank of America Premium Rewards | $95 | 20.24% - 27.24% | Earn 2 points for every $1 on travel and dining, and 1.5 points per $1 spent on all other purchases |
Chase Sapphire Reserve® | $550 | 22.49%-29.49% | Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. |
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards for Good Credit | $0 | 29.99% | 3 % Cash Back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®). 5 % Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply). 8 % Cash Back on Capital One Entertainment purchases. 1 % Cash Back on all other purchases. |
Chase Freedom Flex℠ | $0 | 19.24% - 27.99% | 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter! Plus, earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases. |
Citi Rewards+® Card | $0 | 18.74% - 28.74% | Earn 2X ThankYou® Points at Supermarkets and Gas Stations for the first $6,000 per year and then 1X Points thereafter. Plus, earn 1X ThankYou® Points on All Other Purchases. Plus, as a special offer, earn a total of 5 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com through December 31, 2025. |
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | $95 | 21.49%-28.49% | Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more. |
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card | $0 | 19.99% - 29.99% | 1.25 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day. 5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. |
American Express® Gold Card | $325 | See Pay Over Time APR | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
FAQs
Learning the ins and outs of maximizing rewards cards can get complicated. Here are answers to the questions people commonly ask when it comes to using rewards cards.
Which stores have rewards cards?
Many big box retailers such as Macy’s, Target, JCPenney, Nordstrom’s and even Walgreens have their own rewards cards. Its worth comparing the rewards from these stores to see if they’re more beneficial in specific circumstances than the top rewards cards covered above.
Which credit card is best for rewards?
This list of the best rewards cards covers top cards for every type of reward you could be interested in, including travel rewards, cash back rewards and rewards for dining or entertainment.
Are rewards cards worth it?
Tallying up the monetary value of your rewards points or membership rewards can be confusing. A good rule of thumb is that rewards cards are worth it if you’re not spending more to use them, and if you’re paying them off completely each month. Remember, you can always reward yourself by purchasing the rewards you want with cash — which could end up cheaper in the long run, especially if you end up paying interest on purchases made with your credit card.
Is cash back better than points?
Many people prefer cash back to points because it’s simple to redeem, whereas points often have many rules, blackout dates or stipulations. However, sometimes points equate to a higher reward value than cash back.
Why you should (or shouldn’t) use rewards cards
Still unsure if you want to jump into the waters of rewards cards? Here are the advantages and disadvantages of incorporating rewards cards into your personal finance strategy.
Use rewards cards if…
There are some cases where rewards cards can provide a nice boost to your finances. Here’s when you should consider using rewards cards.
- You’re not paying extra: Stick to rewards cards with no annual fees or annual fees that balance out with statement credits or rewards you will actually use.
- You’re not changing your shopping habits just to get rewards: Rewards cards should complement your current spending, not entice you to buy things you don’t need. This is why many prefer rewards that focus on cash back at grocery stores or transportation.
- You’re not carrying a balance: If you carry a balance on your card each month, you’re likely paying more in interest than you’re earning in rewards.
Don’t use rewards cards if…
Not everyone is ready to jump into the world of rewards cards. Sometimes, simplicity is the best policy when it comes to your finances. Here’s when you should stay away from rewards cards.
- You struggle with overspending: If you have a history of overspending, it might be best to stay away from credit cards altogether or to use a very simple credit card that doesn’t encourage you to spend more to “get the reward.”
- You want to transfer a balance: Some rewards cards are good for a balance transfer, but not all. If you’re aiming to do a balance transfer, make sure you prioritize cards that charge the lowest fee for balance transfers. Also, look for cards that have a 0% introductory APR.
Raise Your Credit 80 points*
- 5 star service trusted by over 450,000 members
- Have processed over $11,000,000 in bill payments for members
- No deposit, no credit check, no interest
- New member promotions available
*Potential increase based on StellarFi member data. StellarFi numbers observed an average of 80 points VantageScore® 3.0 increase during a member’s lifetime. Score increase based on members with an incoming score range of 300-499 pts, who made regular on-time payments, with regular on-time payments. Results may vary.
The bottom line
Rewards cards can bring benefits that boost your personal finances and help you attain some fun freebies like travel or entertainment benefits. However, it’s important to remember that these benefits are only worth it if you’re not carrying a balance on your card from month to month, otherwise, they could easily become more costly than you anticipate. Remember to compare the best rewards cards to determine which card meets your needs.
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Writer
Jolene Latimer has her Master's in Specialized Journalism from the University of Southern California. She writes about personal finance, entertainment, sports, and more.
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