Credit Cards

Banking

Loans

Small Business

Investing

MORE FROM VAULT

Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. We may earn a commission from partner links on Newsweek, but commissions do not affect our editors’ opinions or evaluations.
Advertiser Disclosure

Best Rewards Credit Cards of July 2024

Aaron Hurd
By
Aaron Hurd
Aaron Hurd

Aaron Hurd

Contributor

Aaron is a freelance contributor to Newsweek. He has been credit card and travel rewards enthusiast since applying for his first credit card the day he turned 18. An avid deal-hunter, he leveraged his penchant for collecting credit card rewards and stacking coupons and rebates to build a resale business that helped pay his way through engineering school at Iowa State University. After finishing a Master of Business Administration at the University of Michigan, Aaron used points and miles to travel for six months across five continents, including a month traveling overland through Russia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and China on the Trans-Siberian Railway Network.

He has written thousands of articles about credit cards, banking, travel rewards, and personal finance for other notable publications, including The Wall Street Journal, TIME, Forbes, The Points Guy, Bankrate.com, Rolling Stone, and Robb Report. He enjoys helping others optimize their wallets, build financial security, and fulfill their travel dreams.

Aaron is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Read Aaron Hurd's full bio
Kristy Snyder
Reviewed By
Kristy Snyder
Kristy Snyder

Kristy Snyder

Banking Expert

Kristy is a freelance contributor to Newsweek’s personal finance team. As an editor, Kristy has worked with sites like Bankrate, JPMorgan Chase and NextAdvisor to craft and hone content on banking, credit cards and loans. She’s also written for publications such as Forbes Advisor and U.S. News and World. In her spare time, Kristy loves traveling, hitting up rail trails and reading.

Read Kristy Snyder's full bio

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

All information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Newsweek.com. The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is no longer available through Newsweek.com.

Methodology Icon Our Methodology

Understanding the value of cash back is simple, but valuing airline miles or points redeemable for travel requires digging a bit deeper. At Newsweek, we’ve developed a common language to talk about the value of points and miles: our valuations.

Our valuations translate points into dollars and cents in a way that reflects reality. They are based on actual data across a balance of accessible redemption options, not just the aspirational first and business class redemptions that require a PhD in miles and points to book. The upshot is that our valuations help you understand the actual value you can easily get from your miles and points.

Our Picks icon, Summary Our Picks
  • Best Premium Card for Flexible Rewards: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
  • Best for Miles: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
  • Best for Top-Tier Hotel Status: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
  • Best for Travel Rewards: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
  • Best for Flat-Rate Cash Back: Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
  • Best Rotating Category Card: Chase Freedom Flex®
  • Best for U.S. Supermarket Purchases: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
  • Best for Gas Purchases: Citi Custom Cash® Card
  • Best for Entertainment Spend: Capital One SavorOne Rewards Credit Card
  • Best for Amazon Purchases: Prime Visa
  • Best for Online Shopping: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
  • Best for Earning Rewards While Building Credit: Discover it® Secured Credit Card

12 Best Rewards Credit Cards of 2024

Best Premium Card for Flexible Rewards: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Why we chose it: The Chase Sapphire Reserve provides high rewards rates on travel and dining (when booked through Chase Travel℠ and Ultimate Rewards, respectively), but that’s not the only way to maximize rewards. You can also book travel through Chase Travel for 50% more value when you redeem your points. Plus, the travel perks and protections alone can offset the annual fee.

Read our Chase Sapphire Reserve review.

plus sign

Pros

  • High rewards rates on travel and dining purchases
  • $300 annual travel credit and airport lounge access
  • Extensive travel protections
x sign logo

Cons

  • Steep $550 annual fee
  • $75/year fee per authorized user
  • No introductory APR on purchases or balance transfers

Best for Miles: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Learn More

On CreditCards.com's secure site

Annual Fee
$95
Regular APR
19.99% – 29.99% variable
Intro Bonus
75,000 miles

After spending $4,000 in first 3 months from account opening

Credit Score
Credit ranges are derived from FICO® Score 8, which is one of many different types of credit scores. If you apply for a credit card, the lender may use a different credit score when considering your application for credit.
Good – Excellent

Why we chose it: The high rewards rate on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and flexible redemption options make this card a fantastic option for travel, including flights. You earn an unlimited 2X miles on all purchases and 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, and redemption options for miles include trips through Capital One Travel, transfer partner travel or statement credits to offset travel purchases.

Read our Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card review.

plus sign

Pros

  • Unlimited 2X miles on all purchases
  • Global Entry or TSA Precheck credit
  • Earn 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 in the first three months
x sign logo

Cons

  • $95 annual fee
  • Few domestic transfer partners
  • Miles only worth half a cent each when redeemed for cash back

Best for Top-Tier Hotel Status: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Annual Fee
$550
Regular APR
20.99% – 29.99% variable
Intro Bonus
Earn 175,000 bonus points

Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your card within your first six months of card membership. Offer ends 4/17/2024.

Credit Score
Credit ranges are derived from FICO® Score 8, which is one of many different types of credit scores. If you apply for a credit card, the lender may use a different credit score when considering your application for credit.
Good-Excellent

Why we chose it: This hotel rewards card offers more than free nights and complimentary breakfast—having the Hilton Honors Aspire Card catapults you into Hilton Honors™ Diamond Status, the highest tier available. Plus, you earn the highest rewards rates available among Hilton Honors cards, so you can fast-track your way to more free nights.

plus sign

Pros

  • Earn the highest amount of Hilton Honors points
  • Significant welcome bonus
  • Statement credits for Hilton Resort Purchases, flight purchases and CLEAR® Plus
x sign logo

Cons

  • $550 annual fee
  • Earns only marginally more points for Hilton stays than the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

Best for Travel Rewards: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Why we chose it: The Chase Sapphire Preferred packs a major punch, whether you’re an occasional traveler or amping up your travel game. It features high rewards rates on travel, dining, online groceries and select streaming services, and you can get 25% more value for your points when booking travel through Chase Travel.

Read our Chase Sapphire Preferred Card review.

plus sign

Pros

  • High rewards on travel and everyday spending
  • Numerous travel protections
x sign logo

Cons

  • $95 annual fee
  • No introductory APR on purchases or balance transfers

Best for Flat-Rate Cash Back: Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
20.24%, 25.24% or 29.99% variable APR
Intro Bonus
$200 cash rewards

After spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months

Credit Score
Credit ranges are derived from FICO® Score 8, which is one of many different types of credit scores. If you apply for a credit card, the lender may use a different credit score when considering your application for credit.
Good – Excellent

Why we chose it: The Wells Fargo Active Cash offers a straightforward, no-nonsense approach to earning 2% cash rewards back on purchases and is refreshing compared to the complicated rewards structures of other rewards cards.

Read our Wells Fargo Active Cash Card review.

plus sign

Pros

  • No annual fee
  • Introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers
  • Cell phone protection benefit
x sign logo

Cons

  • 3% foreign transaction fee
  • Limited perks and travel protections

Best Rotating Category Card: Chase Freedom Flex®

Chase Freedom Flex℠

Chase Freedom Flex®

Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
20.49% – 29.24% variable
Intro Bonus
Earn a $200 bonus

Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.

Credit Score
Credit ranges are derived from FICO® Score 8, which is one of many different types of credit scores. If you apply for a credit card, the lender may use a different credit score when considering your application for credit.
Good – Excellent

Why we chose it: The Chase Freedom Flex®’s rotating cash back categories each quarter help you earn high rewards across various bonus categories. While the rotating categories make each quarter different, it’s a great year-round card thanks to its extensive travel and purchase protections and more accessible welcome offer.

Read our Chase Freedom Flex review.

plus sign

Pros

  • No annual fee
  • High cash back potential on popular rotating categories
  • Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers
x sign logo

Cons

  • 3% foreign transaction fee
  • Must activate rotating bonus categories to receive heightened cash back rates
  • Cap on quarterly bonus categories

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

Why we chose it: With groceries and gas purchases continuously squeezing household budgets, this card offers a way to offset some of it with its high rewards rates at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations. The Blue Cash Preferred charges a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95, but you can take advantage of an intro APR on purchases and balance transfers and a few statement credits.

Read our Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express review.

plus sign

Pros

  • Cash back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and other popular spending categories
  • Introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers
  • Up to $84 Disney Bundle credit
x sign logo

Cons

  • $95 annual fee after the first year
  • U.S. supermarket spending category is capped
  • 2.7% foreign transaction fee (see rates and fees)

Best for Gas Purchases: Citi Custom Cash® Card

Citi Custom Cash® Card

Citi Custom Cash® Card

Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
19.24% – 29.24% variable
Intro Bonus
$200 cash back

After spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening

Credit Score
Credit ranges are derived from FICO® Score 8, which is one of many different types of credit scores. If you apply for a credit card, the lender may use a different credit score when considering your application for credit.
Good – Excellent

Why we chose it: If the prices at the pump have you wishing for more ways to save, the Citi Custom Cash Card may offer some relief as it automatically rewards your highest eligible spending category each billing cycle—including gas stations.

Read our Citi Custom Cash review.

plus sign

Pros

  • Automatically rewards your highest eligible spending category each billing cycle
  • Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers
  • With ThankYou points, you can pool rewards with more premium Citi cards
x sign logo

Cons

  • Cap on bonus category rewards each billing cycle
  • Low cash back rate outside of eligible categories
  • 3% foreign transaction fee

Best for Entertainment Spend: Capital One SavorOne Rewards Credit Card

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Learn More

On CreditCards.com's secure site

Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
19.99% – 29.99% variable
Intro Bonus
$200 cash bonus

Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening

Credit Score
Credit ranges are derived from FICO® Score 8, which is one of many different types of credit scores. If you apply for a credit card, the lender may use a different credit score when considering your application for credit.
Good – Excellent

Why we chose it: Earn generous rewards in popular everyday spending categories, plus complimentary Uber benefits and an intro APR on purchases and balance transfers, for no annual fee.

Read our Capital One SavorOne Rewards Credit Card review.

plus sign

Pros

  • No annual fee
  • Generous dining and entertainment rewards
  • Comes with a welcome offer and intro APR offer
x sign logo

Cons

  • Few travel benefits
  • Low cash back rate outside of eligible categories

Best for Amazon Purchases: Prime Visa

Amazon Prime Visa

Prime Visa

Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
19.49% – 27.49% variable
Intro Bonus
$200 Amazon Gift Card

Get a $200 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members.

Credit Score
Credit ranges are derived from FICO® Score 8, which is one of many different types of credit scores. If you apply for a credit card, the lender may use a different credit score when considering your application for credit.
Good-Excellent

Why we chose it: The Prime Visa card offers a high rewards rate on purchases at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and Chase Travel purchases, plus extra rewards on a few everyday categories. The card also features a multitude of redemption options and surprisingly good travel and purchase protections.

Read our Prime Visa review.

plus sign

Pros

  • No annual fee
  • High cash back reward rates in a few categories related to Amazon
  • Various purchase and travel protections
x sign logo

Cons

  • Mediocre welcome bonus
  • Lower rewards on everyday categories
  • Must be an Amazon Prime member to qualify ($139 membership per year)

Best for Online Shopping: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Why we chose it: The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express earns 3% cash back on up to $6,000 per year in eligible U.S. online retail purchases (then 1% cash back). You can also earn similar cash back rewards with a cap at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations. The cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or on Amazon.com at checkout.

Read our Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express review.

plus sign

Pros

  • Up to 3% at U.S. online retailers, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations (on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases for each of these, then 1% cash back)
  • Up to $84 Disney Bundle credit
  • No annual fee
x sign logo

Cons

  • 3% categories limited to $6,000 in spending per calendar year (then 1%)
  • No extended warranty benefit

Best for Earning Rewards While Building Credit: Discover it® Secured Credit Card

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
28.24% variable
Intro Bonus
Unlimited dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you earn at the end of your first year

Discover matches all the cash back rewards you've earned on your credit card from the day your new account is approved through your first 12 consecutive billing periods or 365 days, whichever is longer, and adds it to your rewards account within two billing periods.

Credit Score
Credit ranges are derived from FICO® Score 8, which is one of many different types of credit scores. If you apply for a credit card, the lender may use a different credit score when considering your application for credit.
Rebuilding

Why we chose it: While many rewards cards typically require good or excellent credit to qualify, the Discover it® Secured Credit Card gives you the chance to earn cash back even if you’re still trying to build credit.

plus sign

Pros

  • Good rewards for a secured credit card
  • Can apply without a credit score
  • First year unlimited cash back match offer can double your rewards
x sign logo

Cons

  • Requires a refundable security deposit ($200 minimum)
  • Credit limit will be low if security deposit is low
  • Bonus category rewards has a cap

A Closer Look at the Best Rewards Cards

Best Premium Card for Flexible Rewards: Chase Sapphire Reserve

Why we love this card: This premium card offers high rewards rates on travel and dining, plus an extensive list of travel perks. Earn 10X points on hotels and rental cars booked through Chase Travel; 10X points on Chase Dining purchases with Ultimate Rewards; 5X points on flights booked through Chase Travel; 10X points on Lyft rides (through March 31, 2025); 3X points on dining and general travel purchases; and 1X points on everything else. (Travel purchases kick in after you earn the $300 annual travel credit.)

Notably, you can get 50% more value for your points when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel. Other perks include an annual $300 travel credit each anniversary year, Priority Pass Select lounge membership, a statement credit toward Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS and a suite of travel protections.

Who should have this in their wallet: Anyone interested in boosting their travel rewards and experiences should consider the Chase Sapphire Reserve. The complimentary Priority Pass membership and travel credits can appeal to anyone who’s a frequent flier. It’s also an ideal card if you enjoy maximizing rewards and strategically redeeming for heightened value.

Other cards to consider: For even more premium benefits and statement credits—and a higher annual fee—consider the The Platinum Card® from American Express $695. On the other side of the spectrum, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers many of the same travel perks (including Priority Pass membership with enrollment) as the Sapphire Reserve for a lower annual fee.

Best for Miles: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Why we love this card: With the Capital One Venture, you earn an unlimited 5X miles on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel and 2X miles on all other purchases. This makes it an ideal card for both travel and everyday expenses. The best redemption options include travel, statement credits to offset travel purchases and point transfers to travel partners. The Venture also offers up to a $100 credit for your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee as reimbursement every four years and a $50 experience credit when you book Lifestyle Collection hotels through Capital One Travel. A $95 annual fee applies.

Who should have this in their wallet: The sign-up bonus (earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months) and flat-rate rewards of the Capital One Venture make it a great option for those interested in earning miles without the hassle of tracking or activating bonus categories.

Other cards to consider: The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a similar mid-tier travel card that offers you most of the basic travel benefits you’ll need, but with a tiered rewards structure and different transfer partners. The Citi Premier® Card is another $95-annual-fee travel card that offers higher rewards rates on everyday spending categories and access to transfer partners but fewer travel benefits. 

Best for Top-Tier Hotel Status: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Why we love this card: The Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express offers some of the highest rewards rates on hotel purchases with Hilton: 14X points on eligible hotel and resort purchases with Hilton; 7X points on select travel (including flights booked directly with airlines or via AmexTravel.com and car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies); 7X points at U.S. restaurants; and 3X points on all other eligible purchases.

Automatic Hilton Honors™ Diamond Status means you enjoy a 100% points-earning bonus, room upgrades (if available), executive lounge privileges and more. Plus, the card comes with up to $400 of Hilton Resort credits, up to $200 of flight credits, up to a $189 CLEAR Plus® credit and an annual Free Night Reward. You can earn up to two additional Free Night Rewards after qualified spending.

Who should have this in their wallet: Hilton hotel enthusiasts will benefit the most from this hotel rewards card, especially those who travel frequently. It’s also a great card for taking your family on a big vacation each year since you can qualify for a fifth free night anytime you book four consecutive reward nights with Hilton Honors points—not to mention the hundreds of dollars in credits you have access to.

Other cards to consider: This card is meant for those who prefer a Hilton property naturally, but the $550 annual fee can feel steep if you’re unable to take advantage of all the card has to offer. If you like the idea of earning Hilton Honors benefits but don’t want the higher annual fee, consider the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, which has a $150 annual fee (see rates and fees).

Best for Travel Rewards: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Why we love this card: The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a great option thanks to its high earnings rates in various categories, including travel: 5X points on travel booked through Chase Travel; 5X points on qualifying Lyft rides (through March 31, 2025); 3X points on dining, select streaming services and online groceries (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs); 2X points on general travel; and 1X points on all other purchases.

Plus, there’s a wide variety of redemption options—including 25% more value toward Chase Travel bookings—and a suite of helpful travel insurance perks.

Who should have this in their wallet: Any traveler can appreciate how easy it is to earn rewards on everyday purchases with the Sapphire Preferred. Plus, you can take advantage of a welcome offer: Earn 60,000 points when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months.

Other cards to consider: If you like the idea of earning flexible travel rewards, consider the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. Its earning structure is more straightforward, earning you a flat rate of miles on every purchase.

Best for Flat-Rate Cash Back: Wells Fargo Active Cash Card

Why we love this card: It doesn’t get much easier than earning 2% cash rewards back on purchases, which is one of the higher flat-rate cash back rewards rates around. The Wells Fargo Active Cash not only delivers this but also includes a $200 cash rewards bonus when you spend $500 in purchases in the first three months, an intro APR offer on purchases and balance transfers and a cell phone protection benefit.

Who should have this in their wallet: If you’re a rewards card minimalist—meaning you don’t have time to keep track of rotating categories or would prefer to hold only one card—the Wells Fargo Active Cash may be exactly what you’re looking for.

Other cards to consider: If you prefer cash back and would like to earn a little more rewards than a flat-rate card provides, consider the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. You earn heightened rewards in a few everyday bonus categories, plus 1.5% cash back on all other purchases. If you’re a member of Alliant Credit Union or willing to join, the Alliant Cashback Visa® Signature Credit Card offers up to 2.5% flat cash back if you have an Alliant high-rate checking account and meet certain monthly requirements.

Best Rotating Category Card: Chase Freedom Flex

Why we love this card: Freedom and flexibility combine with this card by offering high rewards on activated bonus categories each quarter, plus dining and drugstore purchases. With the Chase Freedom Flex, you earn 5% cash back on activated, rotating bonus categories (up to $1,500 in quarterly spending, then 1%); 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel; 5% back on Lyft rides (through March 31, 2025); 3% back on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services); 3% back on drugstore purchases; and 1% back on everything else.

The card also offers plenty of travel and purchase protection benefits that you don’t often find with no-annual-fee cards, including trip cancellation and interruption insurance, an auto rental collision damage waiver, purchase and extended warranty protection and cell phone protection.

Who should have this in their wallet: If you’re looking to earn cash back in rotating bonus categories while still earning rewards on everyday purchases, the Chase Freedom Flex is a great choice.

Other cards to consider: If you don’t like being at the mercy of a rotating bonus category calendar, consider the Citi Custom Cash. It automatically earns heightened cash back in your top eligible spending category each billing cycle.

Best for U.S. Supermarket Purchases: Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express

Why we love this card: The Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express offers serious rewards potential on U.S. supermarket purchases—but the rewards don’t stop there. Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 in purchases per year, then 1%); 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions; 3% cash back on transit and at U.S. gas stations; and 1% cash back on all other purchases. The cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or on Amazon.com at checkout.

Plus, the card offers a decent intro APR on purchases and balance transfers and a statement credit opportunity: up to $84 in credits annually toward the Disney Bundle with your enrolled card through $7 in statement credits monthly. This comes into play when you spend $9.99 or more on an auto-renewing monthly subscription and is valid only at Disney Plus.com, Hulu.com or Plus.espn.com in the United States.

Who should have this in their wallet: If you’re someone who spends around $6,000 per year at U.S. supermarkets, you’ll be hard-pressed to beat the rewards offered by the Blue Cash Preferred.

Other cards to consider: If you do spend more than $6,000 per year at U.S. supermarkets and don’t want to feel confined by a spending cap, consider an alternative like the Capital One SavorOne Rewards Credit Card.

Best for Gas Purchases: Citi Custom Cash Card

Why we love this card: The Citi Custom Cash offers a unique approach for earning the highest cash back in a single category possible—it automatically rewards you with 5% cash back (up to $500 each billing cycle, then 1%) on your highest eligible spending category each billing cycle. Eligible categories include restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs and live entertainment.

You can do more with this card besides using it at the gas station, though. It includes a decent welcome offer ($200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first six months), an intro APR offer on purchases and balance transfers and World Elite Mastercard benefits to further boost the card’s potential.

Who should have this in their wallet: The Citi Custom Cash is an ideal rewards card for anyone who wants to maximize a single category. And if your needs change throughout the year, you can still use the card for maximum cash back on other spending categories, like groceries or select transit.

Other cards to consider: If gas is one of your higher spending categories, the Blue Cash Preferred offers 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations throughout the year. It also comes with greater travel and purchase protection* through American Express, so it may offer you more everyday value.

Best for Entertainment Spend: Capital One SavorOne Rewards Credit Card

Why we love this card: As if an unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores isn’t enough, you can earn 10% cash back on Uber and Uber Eats purchases, plus complimentary Uber One statement credits each month toward membership (offers valid through November 14, 2024). You also earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases, which can include tickets for sporting events, concerts and more, and 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

The card’s rewards rates, introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers and lack of an annual fee make it a well-rounded option for your social life and wallet.

Who should have this in their wallet: The SavorOne makes a great companion for anyone who spends a significant amount on dining out, at grocery stores or other entertainment throughout the year.

Other cards to consider: If you want slightly higher rewards rates on dining, entertainment and streaming, consider the $95 annual fee Capital One Savor Rewards Credit Card. That card has most of the same rewards rates and benefits as the SavorOne and but earns 4% cash back on dining, eligible streaming services and entertainment compared to the SavorOne’s 3%. If you spend more than $9,500 in those categories combined each year, the extra rewards will outweigh the annual fee. 

Best for Amazon Purchases: Prime Visa

Why we love this card: For those who love online shopping, the Amazon Prime Visa offers an unlimited 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership; 2% back at gas stations, restaurants and on local transit and commuting; and 1% on all other purchases. There’s no annual fee, but you’ll need a Prime membership to qualify for the card.

To make sure your love for Amazon sticks around, you receive a $200 Amazon gift card instantly upon approval and can redeem your rewards daily (as early as the next day) for purchases at Amazon.com, cash back, gift cards, travel and more.

Who should have this in their wallet: Naturally, if you’re an Amazon shopper, you’ll likely benefit from all the Amazon Prime Visa has to offer. Plus, if you travel occasionally, know that the card offers a few Chase travel protections, including baggage delay insurance, travel accident insurance, lost luggage reimbursement and an auto rental collision damage waiver—perks not often found on no-annual-fee cards.

Other cards to consider: If you prefer that your rewards aren’t limited to a single website, consider the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card. You can choose your highest rewards category each month, including online shopping (with Amazon.com, Walmart.com and more as eligible retailers).

Best for Online Shopping: Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express

Why we love this card: With the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express, you can get a good rewards rate on U.S. online retail purchases, at U.S. supermarkets and at U.S. gas stations.

Who should have this card in their wallet: Anyone who doesn’t already have a card that offers increased rewards for eligible online shopping, groceries or gas can increase the amount of rewards they earn by picking up the Blue Cash Everyday. Alternatively, if you subscribe to Disney+, the card’s $84 in credits for the Disney Bundle will provide a valuable rebate on a purchase you’re making anyway.

Other cards to consider: If your online spending is more seasonal, the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card might be better for you. That card offers 3% cash back on a limited amount of spending in your selected eligible category. Since you can change your selected category monthly, you can pick another category that will benefit you more.

Best for Earning Rewards While Building Credit: Discover it® Secured Credit Card

Why we love this card: If you don’t have established credit or a good credit score, it can be hard to qualify for top rewards cards. But the Discover it® Secured Credit Card distinguishes itself by offering good rewards at gas stations and restaurants despite being geared toward people who are still building their credit.

Who should have this card in their wallet: Anyone who doesn’t have a credit history or has bad credit can benefit as long as you’re able to put up at least $200 upfront for the security deposit. 

Other cards to consider: The Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card offers unlimited 1.5% back on all purchases, making it a better option than the Discover it Secured if you don’t spend much on gas stations and restaurants.

What Is a Rewards Credit Card?

A rewards credit card is a credit card that earns cash back, points or miles for each dollar spent on purchases. These cards offer rewards with either a flat-rate structure, where you earn the same rate per dollar no matter what you’re spending on, or bonus categories where you earn higher rewards on certain spending.

Each card has its own rules for earning and redeeming rewards, which can make it more challenging to understand all the ins and outs of each rewards program. However, rewards cards do offer the opportunity to earn meaningful benefits, such as bonus rewards when booking through an issuer’s travel portal, so digging into the details can be worth the extra effort.

How Do Rewards Credit Cards Work?

A reward credit card typically offers the cardholder a percentage of the purchase price in either cash back, points or miles per dollar spent. You can then redeem your rewards for use toward travel, cash back, gift cards or other redemption options. Credit card issuers may further incentivize the cardholder by offering a first-year welcome bonus, where you earn additional rewards for meeting a certain spending threshold in a defined period.

A rewards card works like any other credit card would for a purchase, and credit card companies offer these rewards to encourage your loyalty as a cardholder.

Types of Travel Credit Cards

As you decide on a travel credit card for your wallet, you should know about the types of cards that are out there. This can help you figure out which travel credit card is best for you based on the type of rewards you want to earn and the benefits you desire.

  • General travel credit cards: Some cards are considered general travel credit cards because they earn bonus points or miles in multiple categories and let you redeem rewards for travel without offering a lot of travel-specific perks or benefits. Cards in this category do not let you transfer points to airline and hotel programs like flexible travel credit cards do.
  • Flexible travel credit cards: Flexible travel credit cards fall within programs like Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards and Citi ThankYou Rewards, and they let you redeem rewards for travel through a portal or rewards transfers to airlines and hotels affiliated with the program. Premium cards in this category may also come with benefits like airport lounge access, annual travel credits and robust travel insurance protections.
  • Co-branded airline cards: Co-branded airline credit cards are offered by card issuers alongside frequent flyer programs like American Airlines AAdvantage and Delta SkyMiles. Cards in this category earn miles that are redeemable for flights with the airline itself or its partners, and they can come with perks like free checked bags, priority boarding, airport lounge access and more.
  • Co-branded hotel cards: Hotel brands like Hilton Honors and World of Hyatt also offer co-branded credit cards alongside major card issuers. Hotel credit cards earn hotel points that can be used for free award stays, suite upgrades and other on-site benefits, and they tend to come with perks like automatic elite status, early check-in and late checkout. Some premium hotel credit cards also come with annual travel credits and airport lounge membership.

Types of Rewards Credit Cards

To help navigate the wide world of rewards cards, it’s easier if you break them down into the most popular categories.

Cash Back Cards

If you have a cash back card, you can expect to earn a percentage of each dollar spent on the card paid back to you. You’ll typically earn cash back as a statement credit, but many credit card issuers offer direct deposit into checking or savings accounts or will mail you a paper check. Cash back cards are typically set up in one of three ways:

  • Flat rate: Earn the same percentage of cash back across all spending, no matter the category
  • Tiered: Earn a higher cash back rate for bonus categories, selected either by the credit card company or by you (followed by a lower cash back rate on non-bonus categories)
  • Rotating bonus categories: Earn a higher percentage of cash back on categories that change throughout the year (typically each quarter)

Travel Rewards Cards

Travel credit cards offer points or miles per dollar spent. The points or miles can be redeemed for travel, including flights or hotel stays, and come in two main varieties:

  • Co-branded travel: Earn points or miles related to a specific airline or hotel brand
  • General purpose travel: Earn points or miles for every dollar spent, regardless of the airline or hotel brand

Business Rewards Cards

Business credit cards offer either cash back or travel rewards, but qualifying for a business card requires proof you own or operate a business. These credit cards often include business-related perks like free employee cards, travel insurance, purchase protections and statement credits.

How To Choose the Best Rewards Credit Card for You

With so many rewards cards available, you can easily find yourself overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices. To find the best rewards card for you, it will help if you focus on the most important factors for consideration.

Annual Fee

An annual fee is how much you have to pay each year simply for having the credit card, and it can range from $0 to several hundred dollars. Although your first instinct may be to avoid an annual fee at all costs, keep in mind that cards with an annual fee typically include a much more robust rewards program, plus time- and money-saving benefits you might not receive with a no-annual-fee card.

Intro bonus

An intro bonus, also referred to as a welcome bonus or welcome offer, includes an additional opportunity to earn points, miles or cash back by spending a certain amount within a defined period after you open your account. For example, you may earn $200 cash back if you spend $500 in the first three months of account opening.

Foreign Transaction Fees

Credit card companies charge foreign transaction fees to cover the cost of converting a foreign currency into another currency. Not all cards have foreign transaction fees, but those that do typically charge around 3% on each purchase made abroad. If you plan on using your card internationally or purchasing from online stores based in other countries, it can be worth it to find a card that doesn’t charge these fees.

Dynamic Currency Conversion

When traveling abroad, you might encounter the option to pay for a charge in your home currency. For example, in Europe, a restaurant may give you the option to process a charge in Euros or U.S. dollars. This practice is known as Dynamic Currency Conversion. Paying in U.S. dollars won’t help you avoid a foreign transaction fee if you’re abroad. And worse, when you choose to pay in USD, you’re often getting a very poor exchange rate—often equivalent to 5-7% of the amount of the charge. If you’re traveling abroad, it’s probably best to get a card that processes all charges in local currency.

Introductory APR Offers

An introductory APR offer for a credit card is a specific period during which you receive low or 0% interest on purchases, balance transfers or both. You’ll find introductory offers range from a few months to almost two years and can offer a major break on interest charges prior to the ongoing APR taking effect after.

Credit Card Rewards Programs

If you’re interested in collecting a few rewards cards with the same issuer to pool rewards and earn heightened value over time, look into top rewards programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards and more. These programs offer unique card offerings and portal benefits that can help increase the amount of rewards you earn.

How To Maximize Your Credit Card Rewards

Using rewards credit cards does take a bit of planning if you want to get as much out of them as possible. Here are a few tactics to focus on to help you develop your own strategy.

Align the Rewards to Your Spending Habits

Choose a card where you’re rewarded for the category you spend the most on. While your needs may change over time, stick with cards that offer categories you’ll spend in most often, such as gas, groceries or travel.

Pay Your Balance Each Month

Carrying a balance means you’re paying interest charges, and with today’s interest rates, carrying a balance can wipe out a significant portion of whatever rewards you earn. If possible, pay off your balance in full each month to avoid costly interest charges.

Take Advantage of a Welcome Bonus

Welcome bonuses, or welcome offers, are a fantastic way to boost your earnings in a shorter amount of time. Make a plan in advance for how you’ll earn the bonus since they require meeting a certain spending threshold.

Use As Many Benefits As Possible

Rewards cards often come with benefits above and beyond ongoing rewards rates. Each of these benefits, such as cell phone protection or access to airport lounges, increase the overall value of your card each time you use them. Regularly review your card’s benefits so you know how to leverage them as much as possible.

Combine With Other Cards for More Earnings

Another method for maximizing earnings is by strategically pairing rewards cards with different earning rates, such as a bonus category card for spending you do most often and a flat-rate rewards card for all non-category purchases.

*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Credit Score Do I Need To Get a Rewards Travel Card?

You’ll find the best rewards credit cards generally recommend a good to excellent credit score for the highest odds of approval. Good credit typically means a FICO Score of 670 and up. However, there are rewards cards geared toward those with fair or bad credit, so it’s not impossible to get approved when you’ve had credit challenges. It also depends on the individual credit card issuer and its criteria.

Do Credit Card Rewards Expire?

The good news is most credit card rewards don’t expire as long as you maintain an active account, meaning it remains open and in good standing. However, this may not apply to every rewards card, so be sure to check your card’s terms and conditions.

Are Credit Card Rewards Taxable?

Most of the time, credit card rewards aren’t taxable. That’s because the IRS considers most credit card rewards to be a rebate, not gross income. However, if you’re unsure if a particular reward falls under a taxable category, refer to your credit card issuer’s terms and conditions.

Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. We may earn a commission from partner links on Newsweek, but commissions do not affect our editors’ opinions or evaluations.

Aaron Hurd

Aaron Hurd

Contributor

Aaron is a freelance contributor to Newsweek. He has been credit card and travel rewards enthusiast since applying for his first credit card the day he turned 18. An avid deal-hunter, he leveraged his penchant for collecting credit card rewards and stacking coupons and rebates to build a resale business that helped pay his way through engineering school at Iowa State University. After finishing a Master of Business Administration at the University of Michigan, Aaron used points and miles to travel for six months across five continents, including a month traveling overland through Russia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and China on the Trans-Siberian Railway Network.

He has written thousands of articles about credit cards, banking, travel rewards, and personal finance for other notable publications, including The Wall Street Journal, TIME, Forbes, The Points Guy, Bankrate.com, Rolling Stone, and Robb Report. He enjoys helping others optimize their wallets, build financial security, and fulfill their travel dreams.

Aaron is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Read more articles by Aaron Hurd