Which credit card is best for rewards points?

The best Visa rewards card is Chase Freedom Unlimited® because it has a $0 annual fee, offers great rewards and is on the Visa card network. Chase Freedom Unlimited rewards cardholders with 5% cash back on travel through Chase, 3% back at restaurants and drugstores, and 1.5% back on all other purchases (plus an additional 1.5% cash back on everything, up to $20,000 spent the first year).

That said, choosing the right Visa rewards card for you depends on how you plan to use the card and redeem your rewards. People who travel a lot will want different cards than people who mainly charge gas and groceries, for example. Similarly, students will want cards that cater to their specific needs, as will business owners. Your choice of cards is limited by your creditworthiness, too. Luckily, there are options for everyone.... read full answer

Popular Visa Rewards Cards

The best Visa rewards cards provide the most value if you pay your monthly bill in full. If you carry a balance from month to month, interest charges could negate, if not wipe out completely, any rewards earned.

Yes, rewards credit cards are worth it as long as you don’t overspend just to earn the rewards. The best rewards credit cards are worth more than $2,000 in savings for the average person over the first two years of use, after annual fees.

You need good or excellent credit to get the most worthwhile rewards cards, however. Things aren’t as clear-cut for people with lower scores. In addition, rewards credit cards are only worth it for purchases that you can afford to pay off fully by the due date each month. Credit card interest rates are much higher than credit card rewards rates, so it’s best to use a ... read full answerlow interest card for balances that you’ll carry from month to month.

How to Choose a Worthwhile Rewards Credit Card

When determining if a rewards credit card is worth it or not, you have to weigh the worth of the rewards against the cost of the card. If the rewards card has no annual fee and you plan to pay the bill in full every month, it’s pretty easy to decide the card is worth it.

However, you’ll often get the best rewards and biggest signup bonuses from cards that do have annual fees. In that case, you just have to crunch the numbers to make sure you’ll get your money’s worth.

Popular Rewards Credit Cards to Consider

How to Get the Most Value From Your Rewards Card

Regardless of which rewards card you choose, be sure to understand how you can earn rewards most efficiently. Some cards have higher rewards rates for specific categories, and some give a flat rewards rate that you earn on all purchases. The fastest way to earn credit card rewards is through signup bonuses.

Many of the top rewards cards come with signup bonuses that you can get for meeting a minimum spending requirement in the first three months. The signup bonuses are usually worth several hundred dollars, enough to cover the cards’ annual fees for years. And you can get them for spending money you were already planning on spending.

The best airline credit card bonus is 90,000 miles after spending $6,000 in the first 6 months, offered by the Delta Reserve Credit Card. In addition, this card offers 1 - 3 miles per $1 spent on purchases. The card’s annual fee is $550.

Here are some of the best airline credit card bonuses:

With the Delta Reserve Credit Card, you can earn 90,000 miles after spending $6,000 in the first 6 months. The card’s annual fee is $550, and it requires at least good credit for approval.... read full answer

The Citi AAdvantage Executive Card offers 50,000 miles for spending $5,000 in the first 3 months. The annual fee is $450, and you need at least good credit to get approved for this card.

The United Club Infinite Credit Card bonus is 80,000 miles after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months. The card charges a $525 annual fee, and you need at least good credit to get approved.

Capital One Venture X offers 75,000 miles for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. The card’s annual fee is $395, and it requires excellent credit for approval.

It is worth noting that some of the best airline credit card bonuses are affiliated with a specific airline. But you should only apply for such a card if you frequently fly with that specific airline. That’s because you need to book flights directly through that company to get the full value from the miles you’ve earned.

If you’re not loyal to any particular airline, consider a travel credit card that you can redeem for any travel-related expenses.