Best 10 credit card rewards programs
When it comes to credit card rewards programs, the best ones typically offer a combination of high rewards rates, flexible redemption options, and valuable perks. The top 10 credit card rewards programs often include standout options like Chase Sapphire Preferred, American Express Gold Card, and Citi Double Cash, each catering to different spending habits and preferences. These cards provide opportunities to earn points, miles, or cashback on everyday purchases, travel, dining, and more.
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Diving deeper, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is renowned for its generous travel and dining rewards, along with a substantial sign-up bonus and travel protections. The American Express Gold Card excels in offering high rewards rates at restaurants and supermarkets, alongside valuable dining credits. Citi Double Cash stands out for its straightforward 2% cashback on all purchases. Other notable mentions include the Capital One Venture Rewards for its travel perks and flexible redemption, and the Discover it Cash Back which rotates categories quarterly for 5% cashback. The Blue Cash Preferred from American Express offers excellent rewards on U.S. supermarket purchases, while the Wells Fargo Active Cash provides a flat 2% cashback. The Bank of America Premium Rewards card is ideal for Bank of America customers, offering boosted rewards. Lastly, the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite offers impressive travel rewards and mobile wallet spending bonuses. Each of these cards caters to different needs, making it essential to choose one that aligns with your spending patterns and reward preferences.
Chase Sapphire PreferredView AllChase Sapphire Preferred - Travel rewards card with valuable points and benefits.
Capital One VentureView AllCapital One Venture - Capital One Venture: Travel rewards card with flexible redemption options.
American Express GoldView AllAmerican Express Gold - American Express Gold: premium rewards, dining, travel benefits.
Bank of America Travel RewardsView AllBank of America Travel Rewards - No-fee card; unlimited 1.5 points per dollar on purchases.
Hilton Honors American ExpressView AllHilton Honors American Express - Rewards card for Hilton stays and travel perks.
Discover It Cash BackView AllDiscover It Cash Back - Discover It Cash Back: 5% rotating categories, no annual fee.
Citi PremierView AllCiti Premier - Versatile reward card with travel and dining benefits.
Wells Fargo PropelView AllWells Fargo Propel - Rewards credit card with no annual fee.
Marriott Bonvoy BoundlessView AllMarriott Bonvoy Boundless - Marriott Bonvoy Boundless: Travel rewards credit card with hotel perks.
Blue Cash Preferred AmexView AllBlue Cash Preferred Amex - High cashback on groceries, streaming, transit, and gas.
Best 10 credit card rewards programs
1.
Chase Sapphire Preferred
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a popular travel rewards credit card known for its generous point system and flexible redemption options. Cardholders earn 2x points on travel and dining and 1x on all other purchases. Points can be redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards for travel, cash back, or transferred to various airline and hotel partners. The card offers a substantial sign-up bonus, comprehensive travel insurance, and no foreign transaction fees, making it an excellent choice for frequent travelers. An annual fee applies.
Pros
Generous rewards- flexible points
- valuable travel perks
- no foreign transaction fees
- comprehensive travel insurance.
Cons
High annual fee- limited airport lounge access
- and fewer luxury perks compared to premium cards.
2.
Capital One Venture
The Capital One Venture card is a popular travel rewards credit card that offers a straightforward and flexible way to earn and redeem miles. Cardholders earn 2x miles per dollar on every purchase, with no categories or restrictions. Miles can be redeemed for travel expenses, including flights, hotels, and rental cars, or transferred to various travel loyalty programs. The card also provides valuable benefits like travel insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and a generous sign-up bonus. Ideal for frequent travelers, the Venture card combines simplicity with robust rewards.
Pros
- Capital One Venture offers unlimited 2x miles
- flexible redemption
- no foreign transaction fees
- and a generous sign-up bonus.
Cons
- High annual fee
- limited travel transfer partners
- no intro APR
- and suboptimal rewards for non-travel purchases.
3.
American Express Gold
The American Express Gold Card is a premium rewards credit card designed for avid diners and travelers. It features generous reward points, offering 4X Membership Rewards points at restaurants, including takeout and delivery, and 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or via Amex Travel. Cardholders also enjoy benefits like dining credits and travel protections. With a distinctive metal design, the Gold Card carries a $250 annual fee but offers substantial perks and rewards for those who maximize its benefits. Ideal for those seeking value from everyday spending and travel.
Pros
- High rewards on dining and groceries
- flexible points
- travel perks
- no foreign transaction fees
- and excellent customer service.
Cons
- High annual fee
- limited acceptance
- and fewer premium travel benefits compared to other cards.
4.
Bank of America Travel Rewards
Bank of America Travel Rewards is a credit card that offers unlimited 1.5 points per dollar spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. Points can be redeemed for travel-related expenses like flights, hotels, vacation packages, and more. New cardholders can earn a substantial bonus if they meet the minimum spending requirement within the first 90 days. The card is ideal for frequent travelers seeking flexibility and simplicity in earning and redeeming rewards without worrying about category restrictions.
Pros
- No annual fee
- unlimited 1.5x points per dollar
- flexible redemption options
- and no foreign transaction fees.
Cons
- Limited travel benefits
- no airline or hotel transfer partners
- high foreign transaction fees
- and lower rewards rate compared to competitors.
5.
Hilton Honors American Express
The Hilton Honors American Express Card is a rewards credit card tailored for frequent travelers and Hilton hotel enthusiasts. Cardholders earn Hilton Honors points on every purchase, with accelerated points for spending at Hilton properties. Benefits include complimentary Silver status in the Hilton Honors program, no foreign transaction fees, and a range of travel and shopping protections. With no annual fee, this card is ideal for those looking to maximize their hotel stays and enjoy exclusive perks and discounts across Hilton's extensive portfolio of hotels and resorts.
Pros
- Earn points quickly
- enjoy free nights
- complimentary Silver status
- no foreign transaction fees
- valuable travel perks.
Cons
- High annual fees
- limited point redemption options
- and potential high interest rates are cons of Hilton Honors American Express.
6.
Discover It Cash Back
The Discover It Cash Back is a popular credit card known for its rotating 5% cash back categories which change quarterly, requiring activation, with all other purchases earning 1% cash back. It features no annual fee and offers an introductory 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for a specified period. Additionally, Discover matches all the cash back earned in the first year for new cardholders. Cardmembers also benefit from free FICO credit score access, robust fraud protection, and U.S.-based customer service.
Pros
- No annual fee
- 5% cash back in rotating categories
- dollar-for-dollar first-year cash back match.
Cons
- Limited 5% cashback categories
- requires activation each quarter
- international acceptance issues
- potential foreign transaction fees.
7.
Citi Premier
The Citi Premier® Card is a travel rewards credit card that offers versatile points earning and redemption options. Cardholders earn 3X points on air travel, hotels, and restaurants, and 3X points at supermarkets and gas stations. All other purchases earn 1X points. Points can be redeemed for travel, gift cards, and other rewards through Citi ThankYou® Rewards. The card also includes travel protections and purchase benefits, with an annual fee of $95. It’s ideal for frequent travelers seeking flexible reward opportunities.
Pros
- Citi Premier offers high rewards on travel
- dining
- and groceries
- plus valuable transfer partners and no foreign transaction fees.
Cons
- High annual fee
- limited lounge access
- complicated rewards system
- and foreign transaction fees are notable drawbacks.
8.
Wells Fargo Propel
The Wells Fargo Propel American Express® Card is a versatile, no-annual-fee credit card designed for those seeking rewards on everyday spending. It offers 3x points on dining, travel, gas stations, rideshares, and popular streaming services, and 1x points on all other purchases. Cardholders benefit from a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months, followed by a variable APR. Additional perks include no foreign transaction fees, cell phone protection, and access to exclusive American Express offers, making it a well-rounded choice for rewards seekers.
Pros
- No annual fee
- 3x points on dining
- travel
- and streaming
- flexible redemption options
- and cell phone protection.
Cons
- Limited acceptance for Amex
- no intro APR on balance transfers
- and potential for high credit score requirements.
9.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless is a premium travel credit card from Chase, designed for frequent travelers who favor Marriott properties. It offers generous rewards, including 6X points on Marriott purchases and 2X points on other eligible spending. Cardholders enjoy an annual free night award, automatic Silver Elite status, and a path to higher elite tiers. Additional perks include travel and purchase protections, no foreign transaction fees, and access to exclusive experiences. The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card is ideal for those looking to maximize their Marriott stays and earn valuable travel rewards.
Pros
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless offers generous rewards
- free night stays
- elite status
- travel insurance
- and no foreign transaction fees.
Cons
- High annual fee
- limited free nights
- restricted point transfers
- and occasional blackout dates for award bookings.
10.
Blue Cash Preferred Amex
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a popular rewards credit card known for its high cash back rates on everyday purchases. Cardholders earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%), 6% on select U.S. streaming services, 3% at U.S. gas stations and on transit, and 1% on other purchases. The card comes with a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95 thereafter. Additional perks include purchase protection, extended warranty, and access to Amex Offers. Terms apply.
Pros
- High cashback on groceries
- streaming services
- gas
- and transit; valuable welcome offer; no foreign transaction fees.
Cons
- High annual fee
- limited acceptance
- requires excellent credit
- cashback capped on certain categories
- foreign transaction fees.