How do I get the most reward points?

Each credit card company has its own rewards program. And each credit card rewards program has a unique reputation. Some are known for good customer service. Others are notable for offering rewards cards to people with less-than-good credit. You can find the latest rankings in WalletHub’s annual Credit Card Rewards Study... read full answer, which reviews major credit card rewards programs based on earning potential, eligibility, transparency and more. The study also includes scores and rankings for individual cards.

Given that your ultimate goal should be to find the single best rewards card for your needs, your focus should be more at the card level than the issuer or rewards program level. The quality of a rewards program matters in the sense that it impacts what you can redeem your earnings for and how much they’re worth when you do. But a credit card’s core terms – annual fee, rewards earning rates, etc. – are what matter most.

With that being said, the first step in choosing the right rewards program is asking yourself this question: Do I rack up 30,000+ airline miles or 20+ hotel nights per year?

If your answer is “yes,” get one of WalletHub’s best travel rewards credit cards. Most people will be better off with a card that’s equally rewarding no matter where you book travel accommodations. But if you always fly with the same airline or stay at the same hotel chain, it’s worth at least considering that company’s credit card.

If you answered “no,” we recommend getting the best cash back credit card for your spending habits. Credit card companies can easily devalue points/miles by increasing the number that you need to redeem for certain items. That makes saving them up for infrequent redemption a bit risky. But issuers can’t play the same games with cash. Cash back rewards also give you versatility in that you can redeem earnings for any type of expense by getting a statement credit.

Credit card points are worth an average of 1 cent apiece, though credit card point values usually range from 0.5 cents to 1.5 cents per point, depending on the card and the redemption method. For example, you might spend 2,500 points on a $25 gift card, but the same number of points might only get you $15 when redeemed for merchandise.... read full answer

More credit cards reward users with points than you might think, too. For instance, some so-called “cash back” cards actually give points, which cardholders can redeem at a rate of 1 cent per 1 point.

Average Credit Card Point Values by Issuer:

High Credit Card Point Values:

• U.S. Bank FlexPerks Gold: 1.5 cents per point when redeemed for plane tickets, hotels, and rental cars.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve: 1.5 cents per point when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards; 1 cent per point for other redemption methods.
• J.P. Morgan Reserve: 1.5 cents per point when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards; 1 cent per point for other redemption methods.
• Chase Sapphire Preferred: 1.25 cents per point when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards; 1 cent per point for other redemption methods.
• Citi Premier: 1.25 cents per point when redeemed for travel through Citi ThankYou; 1 cent per point for gift card redemptions; 0.5 cent per point for cash back redemptions.

It’s important to note that credit card points can get devalued at any time by the card issuer. That means the point values listed above can change. Usually, card issuers will reserve the right to change rewards programs - including point values - in the card’s terms and conditions.

For example, a card issuer can decide that a $300 plane ticket should cost 1,000 more points than it does currently, which in turn lowers the redemption value of the reward point. That’s why cash back is usually a better value than points - $1 in cash back will always be worth $1.

The difference between cash back and points is that the former is the most versatile type of credit card rewards, as it can be redeemed for anything, and there’s never any doubt about how much it’s worth. Points, on the other hand, have a value set by the credit card company and tend to be worth the most when redeemed for travel. Credit card companies won’t always clearly disclose points values, and those values can change over time. It’s possible that points could be worth 1 cent apiece one day and 0.8 cents each the next.... read full answer

You can spend points for many different things. Usually, you can trade them for travel, gift cards, unique experiences, charitable donations or even cash. There are no restrictions on what you can use cash for. You can typically redeem cash back for a statement credit, paper check, or direct deposit to a bank account. One thing credit card shoppers should watch out for are cards advertised as offering cash back that really provide points. For example, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ offers “5% cash back” in certain bonus categories. But what it actually gives is 5 Chase Ultimate Rewards points per $1, which cardholders can then trade for cash back at a rate of 1 cent each.

Cash Back vs Points:

• Good cards overall: Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer for cash back. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card for points.
• Initial bonus: Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card - $200 for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days. IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card for points - 175,000 points for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months.
• Earning rate: Usually at least 1% cash back or 1 point per $1 spent.
• Devaluation: Points can be devalued by the issuer, while cash back can’t.
• Redemption options: Statement credit, check or deposit for cash. Travel, merchandise, gift cards, cash and more for points.
• When it’s the best choice: Points for frequent travelers. Cash back for everyone else.

Let’s take a look at two high-profile cards in a battle of cash back vs. points.

Citi Double Cash Card tops the cash back offerings with 2% cash back on all purchases and an introductory APR of 0% for 18 months on balance transfers, with a balance transfer fee of 3% intro fee ($5 min) for each transfer in first 4 months, after that 5% ($5 min) for each transfer. It also chases a $0 annual fee and requires good credit to get.

But if you’re a frequent traveler, Chase Sapphire Preferred is a more attractive option. It gives 5 points per $1 spent on travel purchased through Chase, 2 points per $1 on all other travel purchases, 3 points per $1 on dining and online grocery purchases, 3 points per $1 on select streaming services, and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases. It has an initial bonus of 60,000 points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. This card’s points are worth 1 cent each toward cash back or gift cards or 1.25 cents each toward travel. There’s a $95 annual fee and the card requires good credit.

For both cash back and points cards, you can expect to lose your rewards if your account closes for any reason. Most cards don’t let your rewards expire over time. But Citi Double Cash Card’s cash back expires if you don’t use your card for 12 months. And on points cards alone, your points can be devalued if the issuer decides to charge more points for its rewards. So, frequent redemption is essential.

So, the bottom line is that frequent travelers should check out points cards. Otherwise, cash is king.