Best Sign-Up Bonus Cards – Rewards for Being New
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We’re not going to sugarcoat it: Many credit card companies compete for your attention. And when you think you’ve seen one amazing credit card sign-up bonus offer, another one comes along to top that one.
This, of course, is great news for the consumer. If you’re in the market for a new credit card, a welcome offer can be the cherry on top needed to seal the deal for you. But on the other hand, don’t be fooled by the intriguing sign-up bonus if it means you’re getting a sub-par credit card with lackluster features.
The best sign-up bonus credit cards not only reward you for opening a new account, but your reward-earning potential continues long after the allure of the welcome offer has disappeared. Today we’re comparing the top credit cards offering a bonus for new cardholders to determine which one deserves a spot in your wallet.
Jump To
Overview of the best sign-up bonus credit cards
Card issuer | Best for |
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Ongoing rewards program |
Chase Sapphire Reserve® | Travelers |
Discover It® Cash Back | Cash back |
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express | Supermarkets |
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | Simple rewards structure |
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card | Business Owners |
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card | Marriott Bonvoy property enthusiasts |
Bank of America® Cash Rewards credit card | No annual fee |
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card | Everyday purchases |
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 best sign-up bonus credit cards
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.
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®.
Discover it Cash Back
Discover it® Cash Back Card
Card Name
Discover it® Cash Back Card
APR
18.24% - 27.24%
Recommended Credit Score
670 to 850
Annual Fee
$0
Special Offer Terms
0% intro APR for 15 months from date of account opening.
Intro Offer
0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers and 3% Intro Balance Transfer Fee until November 10, 2023.
Rewards Rate
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically. Unlimited Cashback Match.
Why We Like It
- No annual fee.
- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com,4 grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.
- Get an unlimited dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year, automatically.
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.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Card Name
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
APR
19.99% - 29.99%
Recommended Credit Score
Excellent, Good
Annual Fee
$95
Special Offer
Limited-time offer: For a limited time, earn 75,000 Miles
Special Offer Terms
once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening, plus receive a one-time $250 Capital One Travel credit in your first cardholder year – that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
Rewards Rate
2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day. 5 Miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Terms
Why We Like It
- 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, which is equivalent to $750 in travel
- You can earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase
- $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Two complimentary visits per year to Capital One Lounges
- 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Card Name
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
APR
18.49% - 24.49%
Recommended Credit Score
Excellent, Good
Annual Fee
$0
Special Offer
Earn $750 bonus cash back
Special Offer Terms
after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Rewards Rate
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
Why We Like It
- Earn unlimited cash back on every purchase.
- No annual fee.
- Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel, and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
Card Name
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
APR
20.24% - 27.24%
Recommended Credit Score
Excellent, Good
Annual Fee
$0
Special Offer
Limited Time Offer! Earn 60,000 Bonus Points
Special Offer Terms
after spending $2,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card!
Rewards Rate
Earn up to 14X total points for every $1 spent at 7,000+ hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® and 2X points on other travel purchases (from airfare to taxis and trains).
Why We Like It
- Silver Elite Status.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Earn unlimited Marriott Bonvoy® points.
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
Card Name
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
APR
19.24% to 29.24%
Annual Fee
$0
Special Offer Terms
Online $200 cash rewards bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening
Intro Offer
- $200 Online Bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
- Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice — with newly expanded options
Rewards Rate
- 3% cash back in the category of your choice: gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement/furnishings Learn more cash back categories
- 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- You'll earn 3% and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club purchases each quarter, then earn 1%
- There's no annual fee and your cash rewards don't expire. Each month, as you plan for future purchases, to change your 3% choice category you must go to Online Banking or use the Mobile Banking app. You can change it once each calendar month, or make no change and it stays the same.
Why We Like It
- No annual fee
- Up to 3% cash back
- 0% APR for first 18 months
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
Card Name
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
APR
21.24% - 29.24%
Recommended Credit Score
Excellent, Good
Annual Fee
$95
Special Offer
Earn 70,000 bonus ThankYou® Points
Special Offer Terms
after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $700 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com
Rewards Rate
10x on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked through CitiTravel.com. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations. Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on All Other Purchases
Terms
Why We Like It
- Annual Hotel Savings benefit.
- No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn.
- 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.
Summary of the best sign-up bonus credit cards
Issuer | Rewards | APR | Annual fee |
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | 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. | 21.49%-28.49% | $95 |
Chase Sapphire Reserve® | 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. | 22.49%-29.49% | $550 |
Discover it® Cash Back | 5% cash back rotating, 1% all others | 16.74% to 27.74% | $0 |
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express | 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. | 19.24% - 29.99% | $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. |
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day. 5 Miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. | 19.99% - 29.99% | $95 |
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card | Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business | 18.49% - 24.49% | $0 |
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card | Earn up to 14X total points for every $1 spent at 7,000+ hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® and 2X points on other travel purchases (from airfare to taxis and trains). | 20.24% - 27.24% | $0 |
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards | 3% your category, 2% grocery stores, 1% all others | 17.74% to 27.74% | $0 |
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card | 10x on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked through CitiTravel.com. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations. Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on All Other Purchases | 21.24% - 29.24% | $95 |
FAQs
How do I know the best sign-up offer for a credit card?
Not only should the sign-up offer entice you, but ideally, it’s for something you would purchase anyway. For instance, if you know you spend $3,000 during the holidays, you could put the purchases on a sign-up credit card and earn the bonus for the purchases you would have already budgeted for.
Other important credit card considerations include:
- Cash back or rewards points potential
- Ease of redemption - how often do points or rewards expire?
- Annual fee (and other fees)
- Introductory rates, balance transfer fees, and foreign transaction fees
How can I maximize my sign-up bonus credit card?
Make sure you choose a card with low annual fees and other low transaction fees. If you’re getting dinged every time you need your card, then it’s not worth it. The best way to maximize your bonus is when you receive it for purchases you plan to make.
Make sure you compare cards head-to-head. It’s good to see the features side by side to see where the card has a distinct advantage. And choose a card that fits your lifestyle. If you never travel, then it’s wise to stick with a cash back or rewards points you can use towards gift cards and merchandise.
Who should use a signup bonus credit card?
Credit card issuers offer sign-up bonuses to tempt card members into charging as many purchases as possible to earn additional rewards or a cash bonus. Credit card companies make money when you don’t pay your monthly balance and charge you interest.
The best credit card offers are ones where you can maximize your earning potential and pay as little interest as possible. If you remain disciplined, these credit card rewards can become useful in your finances.
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
Should you open a new credit card only for the sign-up bonus? That may be a question only you can answer. But if you need a new credit card, why not choose one that maximizes your earning potential simply because you’re a new customer? The best sign-up bonus credit cards are the ones that not only offer you a great welcome bonus but reward you for your loyalty throughout the year.
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Writer
Sara Coleman is a former corporate gal turned creative entrepreneur. She began writing professionally several years ago and now contributes to multiple websites, blogs, and magazines. She’s also an avid reader and can’t resist a great historical fiction novel. Sara holds a BA in journalism from the University of Georgia and can be found supporting her Bulldogs every chance she has. She resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her wonderfully supportive husband and three children. When she’s not ushering her kids to sports and dance lessons, she can be found creating content for her own website, TheProperPen.com.
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