Best Rewards Credit Cards

A lot of people assume that rewards credit cards with no annual fee are the best offers on the market (some of these cards are issued by WalletHub partners). They feature the best of both worlds, as they give but do not take. That might seem logical, but with credit cards, you have to pay for admission to the best deals. In other words, the best rewards cards on the market tend to charge annual fees but offer more than enough in rewards to make up for it. This promotes card use, which in turn allows issuers to make money off interchange fees. What can we learn from this environment? Well, it would seem that no annual fee rewards cards are best when your planned annual spending on your new card (and corresponding rewards earning potential) is not high enough to justify paying for better earning rates. They’re also good for people who don’t want to have to worry about racking up annual fees if they ever stop using their account. So, if you have such a need, compare the cards listed below in order to find the suite of rewards that best complement your spending habits. If you’re shopping for your primary everyday credit card, on the other hand, we recommend comparing all rewards credit cards, regardless of whether or not they charge a membership fee.

View entire answer

Business rewards credit cards give small business owners cash back, miles or points for every dollar they (or employee authorized users) spend. Some business rewards credit cards yield the same amount on all purchases (some offers are from WalletHub partners). Others give you more rewards in designated bonus categories, which often include things like office supplies and telecommunication services. You could also nab an initial bonus worth hundreds of dollars for spending a certain amount during the first few months your account is open with many business rewards credit cards.

To help you find the best small business rewards credit card for your company’s needs, WalletHub’s editors compared more than 1,000 offers. You can check out their top business credit cards with rewards picks in popular categories below.
 

Best Business Credit Cards with Rewards

Points, miles and cash back aren’t the only perks that business rewards credit cards provide.They also help small business owners track company expenses, manage employee spending privileges, and earn rewards on everything employees buy. So it’s definitely a good idea to get one for everyday business expenses.

At the end of the day, the best business credit cards with rewards are actually the best business credit cards overall. That’s because it’s dangerous to carry a balance from month to month with most business cards. They don’t have the same user protections as consumer cards. So credit card companies can increase the interest rate applicable to a business credit card balance at any time. That’s why business cards are best for everyday company spending that you’ll be able to pay off by the due date each month. And if you’re not going to carry a balance, you’ll want to compare cards mainly based on their rewards and annual fees.

View entire answer

There are three types of travel credit cards commonly available: those offering points redeemable only with particular hotel chains, those with miles tied to particular airlines, and those offering generic points or miles that can be redeemed for most types of travel expenses. With that being said, one of the biggest mistakes that consumers make is becoming too hung up on colorful marketing copy, even if that means applying for a card tied to a hotel or airline with which it would be very difficult to ultimately redeem. Instead, we recommend applying for a travel rewards card that complements your current spending habits, enabling you to maximize your earnings and redeem on a regular basis. Compare the following rewards card offers (which include products from WalletHub sponsors) or check out our editor’s picks for the Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards on the market.

View entire answer

The best rewards credit card for fair credit is the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card, thanks to its generous earning rate and the simple fact that people with fair credit can get it. The truth is that rewards credit cards for fair credit are few and far between. And while some credit cards for people with fair credit do offer rewards, rewards should not be your focus at this point in your credit career. Your main objective should be to find a credit card with no annual fee that you can get approved for.

Once you've narrowed down your options, you can use rewards or low interest rates as the tiebreaker for the remaining offers. Rewards are best for people who pay their monthly credit card bills in full, while a low rate will likely offer more savings to those who foresee carrying a balance from month to month.

The best rewards programs are Delta SkyMiles for free flights, Wyndham Rewards for free hotel nights, Capital One Rewards for credit cards with a lot of cash back or miles, and apps like Swagbucks and Shopkick for online shopping rewards and discounts. There are roughly 4 billion U.S. consumers enrolled in customer rewards programs. But you can't just join them all. It would be too difficult to manage.

The best approach is to find a select number of standout options that suit your spending habits, shopping preferences, travel plans, etc. Fortunately, WalletHub has done a lot of research to help identify the top options in the most popular categories.

For example, WalletHub's latest Frequent Flyer Program Report concluded that Delta SkyMiles is the best airline rewards program because of notable features like 5 SkyMiles per $1 spent on Delta flights, flexible redemption options and miles that never expire. It's also free to join, as is the case with all major frequent flyer programs. The main downside is that the value of SkyMiles changes frequently.

Similarly, Wyndham Rewards is the best hotel rewards program because it enables members to quickly earn free nights at more than 9,000 properties in over 80 countries. After joining for free, members earn either 10 points per $1 spent directly on room costs or 1,000 points per hotel stay, whichever is higher. In addition, points redeemed for hotel stays cover taxes and fees. The main downside of Wyndham Rewards is that points expire four years after they post to your account.

There are lots of different types of rewards programs, though. You can check out some of the best, most popular options listed by category below. All of these rewards programs are free to join.

Best Airline Rewards Programs:

• Delta SkyMiles
• United MileagePlus
• JetBlue TrueBlue
• Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
• Hawaiian Miles
• Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
• American Airlines AAdvantage
• Frontier Airlines
• Sun Country Airlines
• Spirit Airlines

Best Hotel Rewards Programs:

• Wyndham Rewards
• Radisson Rewards
• Best Western Rewards
• Choice Privileges
• Marriott Bonvoy
• Hilton Honors
• World of Hyatt
• Drury Rewards
• IHG Rewards Club

Best Credit Card Rewards Programs:

• Capital One Rewards
• Barclays Rewards
• U.S. Bank Rewards
• Citi ThankYou Points
• Navy Federal Credit Union
• Chase Ultimate Rewards
• Pentagon Federal Credit Union
• Bank of America Preferred Rewards
• PNC Bank Rewards
• Discover Cash Back Rewards
• Wells Fargo Go Far Rewards
• American Express Membership Rewards

Retailer Rewards Programs:

• Barnes & Noble Membership
• CVS ExtraCare
• Office Depot Rewards
• Target Circle
• My Best Buy Rewards
• Starbucks Rewards

Rewards Apps:

• MyPoints
• SwagBucks
• Belly
• Fronto
• Shopkick
• Checkout 51

Rewards Programs for Online Shopping:

• Rakuten Rewards (formerly Ebates)
• Mr. Rebates
• Coupon Cactus
• Drop

We clearly have a long list of free rewards programs available to us these days. But it's important to remember that not all rewards programs are equal. In some cases, you'll earn points with every dollar spent and redeem those points for future purchases. Other businesses may offer free or discounted items when you make purchases either in-store or from their website. Be aware also that not all rewards programs are free. A handful of rewards programs such as Amazon Prime change with a membership fee.

You should always read the fine print before you sign up for any rewards program. Familiarize yourself with earning rates, redemption rates and costs, if any, to make sure the program you're signing up for is worth it. You don't want to find a surprise membership fee or other hidden charges among your bills.

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 $200 for spending $500 in the first 3 months, plus 1.5 - 5% cash back in ongoing rewards on purchases.

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.

Popular Visa Rewards Cards

• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

• Chase Freedom Unlimited®

• Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students

• Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business

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.

The best Chase sign-up bonus is offered by IHG Premier, which gives 150,000 points for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. Chase credit card bonuses range from $200 to 150,000 points, depending on the card.

Best Chase Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses

• IHG Premier: 150,000 points for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless: 3 Free Nights for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
• Chase Sapphire Preferred: 100,000 points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months.

To explore other options, check out 2021's best credit card sign-up bonuses from all issuers.

The best Bank of America credit card for rewards is the Bank of America Premium Rewards card. It has a signup bonus of 50,000 points for spending $3,000 in the first 90 days, and it gives 2 points for every dollar spent on travel and dining as well as 1.5 points on all other purchases. The Premium Rewards card also gives cardholders a $100 credit for TSA Precheck or Global Entry every four years, and an annual $100 credit to cover air travel incidentals. All of those rewards come at the price of a $95 annual fee.

There are less expensive options too. The best Bank of America credit card for rewards and no annual fee is the Bank of America Cash Rewards credit card. It gives cardholders 3% cash back on gas or their choice of one of five popular categories and 2% back on groceries and wholesale club purchases. The 3% and 2% cash back is capped at the first $2,500 spent in those categories each quarter. All other purchases earn unlimited 1% cash back. The BofA Cash Rewards card's signup bonus is $200 for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days.

Best Bank of America Credit Cards for Rewards:

- Bank of America Premium Rewards Credit Card: 1.5-2 points for every dollar spent. Signup bonus of 50,000 points for spending $3,000 in the first 90 days. $95 annual fee.

- Bank of America Cash Rewards Credit Card: 1-3% cash back on all purchases. Signup bonus of $200 for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days. $0 annual fee.

- Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card: 1.5 points for every dollar spent. Signup bonus of 25,000 points for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days. $0 annual fee.

- Bank of America Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students: 1-3% cash back on all purchases. Signup bonus of $200 for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days. $0 annual fee.

- Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students: 3 points for every dollar spent at the Bank of America Travel Center and 1.5 points on all other purchases. Signup bonus of 25,000 points for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days. $0 annual fee.

All of these Bank of America rewards credit cards require good-to-excellent credit, except the student cards. Individuals with limited credit can be approved for the two Bank of America student credit cards, but they'll also need to be students.

If you don't have good credit and aren't a student but want a Bank of America card, your best option is the BankAmericard Secured credit card. It doesn't give any rewards, but applicants with bad credit can be approved.

The best 2% rewards credit cards are the Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. They each give 2 rewards per $1 spent, but cover all the different types of credit card rewards. Citi Double Cash Card gives you 2% cash back. Capital One Venture gives you 2 miles per $1 on all purchases.

In other words, Citi Double Cash Card is the best 2% cash back credit card. Capital One Venture is the best double miles credit card. And the best double points credit card would have to be the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.

2% rewards credit cards that give the 2% rate on everything, like Citi Double Cash Card and Capital One Venture, are hard to find. Most of the time, the higher rate will be in a bonus category, like with Chase Sapphire Preferred. But if you make frequent purchases in that category, these cards can be well worth your time.

Here are the best 2% rewards credit cards:

• 2% cash back: Citi Double Cash Card.

  $0 annual fee. Good credit needed.

• 2 miles per $1: Capital One Venture.

  100,000 miles bonus after spending $20,000 within the first 12 months or 50,000 miles bonus for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. $95 annual fee. Good credit needed.

• 2 points / $1 on travel and dining: Chase Sapphire Preferred.

  1 point / $1 on all other purchases. 100,000 points bonus for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. $95 annual fee. Good credit needed.

• 2% cash back on all purchases: Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business.

  $500 bonus for spending $4,500 in the first 3 months. $95 annual fee, waived the first year. Good credit needed.

• 2% cash back at restaurants and gas stations: Discover it® Secured Credit Card.

  2% cash back rate applies to first $1,000 spent per quarter in those categories combined. 1% cash back on other purchases. Cash rewards earned the first year get doubled. $0 annual fee. For rebuilding credit.

• 2 points / $1 at U.S. supermarkets: The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express.

  2 points / $1 on first $6,000 spent per year at U.S. supermarkets. 1 point / $1 on other purchases. 10,000 points bonus for spending $1,000 in the first 3 months. $0 annual fee. Good credit needed.

• 2 miles / $1 on Delta purchases, at restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets: Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card.

  1 mile / $1 on other purchases. $99 annual fee, waived the first year. Good credit needed.

• 2% cash back at restaurants and gas stations: Discover it® Student chrome.

  2% cash back rate applies to first $1,000 spent per quarter in those categories combined. 1% cash back on other purchases. Cash rewards earned the first year get doubled. $0 annual fee. For students with limited.

As you can see, there are even 2% rewards credit cards for people with bad or limited credit. But most cards will only give you the higher rate on certain categories.

There are also many credit cards that will give you higher than 2% rewards rates on some purchases, such as Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Discover it® Cash Back and the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express. But you'll need good or excellent credit to get them. And most come with fairly high annual fees.

Plenty of credit cards give bonus cash back rewards in certain purchase categories. Cardholders may receive extra value on gas, groceries, dining, entertainment, wholesale clubs and more. Other cards have bonus categories that change every quarter and may require activation, giving you the chance to earn big on different types of purchases every few months.

Best Credit Cards with Cash Back Bonus Rewards

• Best Overall: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
• Best for Dining and Entertainment: Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card
• Best for No Annual Fee: Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
• Best for Gas Stations and Restaurants: Discover it® chrome
• Best for Cashback Match: Discover it® Cash Back
• Best for Travel: Chase Freedom Flex℠
• Best for a Category of Your Choice: Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
• Best for U.S. Supermarkets: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
• Best for Flat-Rate Rewards: Alliant Cashback Visa® Signature Credit Card
• Best for Business: Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

Lots of credit cards with cash back bonus rewards on purchases also offer an initial cash rewards bonus for spending a certain amount in the first few months. Plus, it's good to remember that many credit cards without cash back bonus rates still give a solid cash back rate on all purchases.