Elaine Luther
Meeghan Rogers
Prasad Vana
Hieu P. Nguyen
Ioannis Kareklas
Shelle M. Santana
Peter Lazlos @peter_lazlos
I'm not really sure what to choose, can someone please tell me what is the best rewards credit card of 2018?
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Best Rewards Credit Card
Selected by WalletHub Editors from 1,000+ credit cards — Nov 13, 2018
The best rewards credit card for your needs can be hard to find. Hundreds of rewards cards are available, for one thing (some offers are from WalletHub partners). They also have different types of rewards, plus unique rules regarding how much you’ll earn, when you’ll earn it and what those earnings will… show more
show less The best rewards credit card for your needs can be hard to find. Hundreds of rewards cards are available, for one thing (some offers are from WalletHub partners). They also have different types of rewards, plus unique rules regarding how much you’ll earn, when you’ll earn it and what those earnings will ultimately be worth. Don’t worry, though. WalletHub has done the work for you. Each week, our editors compare 1,000+ credit card offers based on their rewards, fees and credit-score requirements. This enables us to identify the best credit card rewards for the biggest consumer needs as the available offers change.
The best reward credit cards are eye-catching for different reasons, from huge initial bonuses to excellent ongoing earning rates and other assorted amenities. But they all have at least one thing in common. Each offers significantly more value than the average rewards card, which gives you just over 1% back on all purchases. WalletHub’s best rewards credit cards do not, however, all require excellent credit for approval. Yes, you need good or excellent credit to get the best overall rewards cards. But we also picked the top credit cards with rewards for each credit category. Advertising status played no role in the selections.
You can check out WalletHub’s top rewards credit card picks below. And if you’re not sure where your credit currently stands, you can check your latest credit score for free right here on WalletHub.
show less The best rewards credit card for your needs can be hard to find. Hundreds of rewards cards are available, for one thing (some offers are from WalletHub partners). They also have different types of rewards, plus unique rules regarding how much you’ll earn, when you’ll earn it and what those earnings will ultimately be worth. Don’t worry, though. WalletHub has done the work for you. Each week, our editors compare 1,000+ credit card offers based on their rewards, fees and credit-score requirements. This enables us to identify the best credit card rewards for the biggest consumer needs as the available offers change.
The best reward credit cards are eye-catching for different reasons, from huge initial bonuses to excellent ongoing earning rates and other assorted amenities. But they all have at least one thing in common. Each offers significantly more value than the average rewards card, which gives you just over 1% back on all purchases. WalletHub’s best rewards credit cards do not, however, all require excellent credit for approval. Yes, you need good or excellent credit to get the best overall rewards cards. But we also picked the top credit cards with rewards for each credit category. Advertising status played no role in the selections.
You can check out WalletHub’s top rewards credit card picks below. And if you’re not sure where your credit currently stands, you can check your latest credit score for free right here on WalletHub.
Summary
show more
HERE ARE THE BEST REWARDS CREDIT CARDS IN 2018:
- Initial Bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Travel Rewards: Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card
- Cash Back: Alliant CU Visa® Signature Card
- Gas Rewards: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
- Frequent Flyers: U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite® Card
- Fair Credit: Capital One® QuicksilverOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Bad Credit: Discover it® Secured
- Business Owners: Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business
Select Your Credit History
excellent Credit
Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card
2430 Reviews
Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card
Apply Now- Purchase intro APR N/A
- Regular APR 14.74% - 24.74% (V)
- Annual Fee $0 for 1st yr, $95 after
- Rewards Rate 2 miles / $1
- Rewards Bonus 50,000 miles
- Rewards Bonus 50,000 miles
- Earn Rate 2 miles / $1
Best for Travel Rewards. The Capital One Venture Card is travel rewards royalty. The 50,000 bonus miles you get after spending $3,000 during the first three months can be redeemed for a $500 statement credit applicable to any travel-related charges that post to your account. And the 2 points per $1 spent that you will earn on a recurring basis equates to 2% cash back on all purchases, provided that you redeem for travel statement credits. That might be all you need to know before adding Venture to your wallet, but if not, check out our full-length review. For full disclosure, Capital One is one of our advertising partners.
Minimum Credit Required
Editors Notes
Best for Travel Rewards. The Capital One Venture Card is travel rewards royalty. The 50,000 bonus miles you get after spending $3,000 during the first three months can be redeemed for a $500 statement credit applicable to any travel-related charges that post to your account. And the 2 points per $1 spent that you will earn on a recurring basis equates to 2% cash back on all purchases, provided that you redeem for travel statement credits. That might be all you need to know before adding Venture to your wallet, but if not, check out our full-length review. For full disclosure, Capital One is one of our advertising partners.
Rewards Details
Enjoy a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $500 in travel
Earn 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Plus earn 10X miles on thousands of hotels; learn more at hotels.com/venture
Named ‘The Best Travel Card' by CNBC, 2018
Receive up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®
Fly any airline, stay at any hotel, anytime; no blackout dates
Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
Additional Info Details
No foreign transaction fees
$0 intro annual fee for the first year; $95 after that
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
3170 Reviews
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Apply Now- Purchase intro APR N/A
- Regular APR 17.99% - 24.99% (V)
- Annual Fee $0 Intro for the First Year, $95 after
- Rewards Rate 1 - 2 points / $1
- Rewards Bonus 50,000 points
- Rewards Bonus 50,000 points
- Earn Rate 1 - 2 points / $1
While you might be able to find an initial bonus that offers more points/miles than the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, it’s hard to argue against this card being the best given the ultimate value and versatility of its rewards. The 50,000 bonus points you get after spending $4,000 during the first three months can be redeemed for a $500 statement credit, which is clearly more useful to the average consumer than a free flight or a couple of complimentary hotel nights. However, it’s important to note that you should only apply for this card if you would ordinarily spend $4,000 within a three-month period. Note: Chase is one of our advertising partners.
Minimum Credit Required
Editors Notes
While you might be able to find an initial bonus that offers more points/miles than the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, it’s hard to argue against this card being the best given the ultimate value and versatility of its rewards. The 50,000 bonus points you get after spending $4,000 during the first three months can be redeemed for a $500 statement credit, which is clearly more useful to the average consumer than a free flight or a couple of complimentary hotel nights. However, it’s important to note that you should only apply for this card if you would ordinarily spend $4,000 within a three-month period. Note: Chase is one of our advertising partners.
Rewards Details
Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $625 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
Chase Sapphire Preferred® named a 'Best Travel Credit Card' by MONEY® Magazine, 2016-2017
2X points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards. For example, 50,000 points are worth $625 toward travel
No blackout dates or travel restrictions - as long as there's a seat on the flight, you can book it through Chase Ultimate Rewards
Additional Info Details
No foreign transaction fees
Alliant CU Visa® Signature Card
2 Reviews
Alliant CU Visa® Signature Card
- Purchase intro APR N/A
- Regular APR 11.99% - 14.99% (V)
- Annual Fee None 1st yr, $59 after
- Rewards Rate 2.5 - 3% Cash Back
- Rewards Bonus None
- Rewards Bonus None
- Earn Rate 2.5 - 3% Cash Back
Minimum Credit Required
Rewards Details
Earn 3% cash back on all eligible purchases in your first year of account opening, and then 2.5% thereafter.
No limit to the cash back awards you can earn.
You may redeem accrued cashback in the form of cash into an Alliant Credit Union checking or savings account, or in the form of a statement credit starting at $25.
Additional Info Details
Works with Google Pay™, Apple Pay™ and Samsung Pay™.
Travel Benefits: $250,000 Travel accident coverage, Rental car collision coverage and Roadside assistance.
Up to $5,000 of Personal Identity Theft Protection for covered expenses to restore your identity.
Purchase Security coverage protects your purchases for the first 90 days after purchase, and Double Warranty Coverage effectively doubles manufacturer warranties.
$0 fraud liability guarantee from Visa.
U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite® Card
2 Reviews
U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite® Card
- Purchase intro APR N/A
- Regular APR 17.74% (V)
- Annual Fee $400
- Rewards Rate 1 - 3 points / $1
- Rewards Bonus 50,000 points
- Rewards Bonus 50,000 points
- Earn Rate 1 - 3 points / $1
Minimum Credit Required
Rewards Details
Earn 50,000 bonus points (worth $750 on travel) by spending $4,500 in the first 90 days.
Get reimbursed up to $325 Annual Statement Credits for eligible net travel purchases.
Earn 3 points for every $1 on eligible net travel purchases and mobile wallet spending and 1 point for every $1 in qualifying Net Purchases.
Use your mobile device to instantly redeem points for almost any purchase.
Complimentary 12-month Priority Pass™ Select membership to more than 1,200 VIP lounges worldwide, and 12 complimentary Gogo® Inflight Wi-Fi passes per year.
Up to $100 statement credit to reimburse your TSA Precheck or Global Entry application fee once every four years.
Additional Info Details
Elevated service levels 24/7 with dedicated service advisors and Visa Infinite Concierge.
Peace of mind 24/7 with fraud monitoring, ID Theft Protection, Emergency Evacuation and Transportation Coverage and more.
GroundLink® Black Car Service: Receive chauffeured black car service at a discount in more than 110 countries.
Enjoy special privileges at more than 500 luxury Relais & Châteaux properties around the world.
$75 annual fee for each additional card issued.
good Credit
Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card
4718 Reviews
Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card
Apply Now- Purchase intro APR 0% for 12 months
- Regular APR 13.74% - 23.74% (V)
- Annual Fee $0
- Rewards Rate 1.25 miles / $1
- Rewards Bonus 20,000 miles
- Rewards Bonus 20,000 miles
- Earn Rate 1.25 miles / $1
While the VentureOne Rewards Card isn't quite as rewarding as Capital One's flagship Venture Card -- offering 20k bonus miles and 1.25 miles/$1 -- it's not quite as expensive either, having no annual fee compared to the Venture Card. This card also provides an extended 0% introductory term for purchases, enabling cardholders to leave their would-be payments in the bank for longer. It is a very solid option for people with good credit. For full disclosure, Capital One is one of our advertising partners.
Minimum Credit Required
Editors Notes
While the VentureOne Rewards Card isn't quite as rewarding as Capital One's flagship Venture Card -- offering 20k bonus miles and 1.25 miles/$1 -- it's not quite as expensive either, having no annual fee compared to the Venture Card. This card also provides an extended 0% introductory term for purchases, enabling cardholders to leave their would-be payments in the bank for longer. It is a very solid option for people with good credit. For full disclosure, Capital One is one of our advertising partners.
Rewards Details
Enjoy a one-time bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $1,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
Earn 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day and pay no annual fee. Plus earn 10X miles on thousands of hotels; learn more at hotels.com/venture
Fly any airline, stay at any hotel, anytime
Travel when you want with no blackout dates
Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
Additional Info Details
Enjoy a low intro APR on purchases for 12 months; 13.74%-23.74% variable APR after that
No foreign transaction fees
Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card
2430 Reviews
Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card
Apply Now- Purchase intro APR N/A
- Regular APR 14.74% - 24.74% (V)
- Annual Fee $0 for 1st yr, $95 after
- Rewards Rate 2 miles / $1
- Rewards Bonus 50,000 miles
- Rewards Bonus 50,000 miles
- Earn Rate 2 miles / $1
Best for Travel Rewards. The Capital One Venture Card is travel rewards royalty. The 50,000 bonus miles you get after spending $3,000 during the first three months can be redeemed for a $500 statement credit applicable to any travel-related charges that post to your account. And the 2 points per $1 spent that you will earn on a recurring basis equates to 2% cash back on all purchases, provided that you redeem for travel statement credits. That might be all you need to know before adding Venture to your wallet, but if not, check out our full-length review. For full disclosure, Capital One is one of our advertising partners.
Minimum Credit Required
Editors Notes
Best for Travel Rewards. The Capital One Venture Card is travel rewards royalty. The 50,000 bonus miles you get after spending $3,000 during the first three months can be redeemed for a $500 statement credit applicable to any travel-related charges that post to your account. And the 2 points per $1 spent that you will earn on a recurring basis equates to 2% cash back on all purchases, provided that you redeem for travel statement credits. That might be all you need to know before adding Venture to your wallet, but if not, check out our full-length review. For full disclosure, Capital One is one of our advertising partners.
Rewards Details
Enjoy a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $500 in travel
Earn 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Plus earn 10X miles on thousands of hotels; learn more at hotels.com/venture
Named ‘The Best Travel Card' by CNBC, 2018
Receive up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®
Fly any airline, stay at any hotel, anytime; no blackout dates
Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
Additional Info Details
No foreign transaction fees
$0 intro annual fee for the first year; $95 after that
fair Credit
Capital One® QuicksilverOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card
5431 Reviews
Capital One® QuicksilverOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card
Apply Now- Purchase intro APR N/A
- Regular APR 24.99% (V)
- Annual Fee $39
- Rewards Rate 1.5% Cash Back
- Rewards Bonus None
- Rewards Bonus None
- Earn Rate 1.5% Cash Back
Best for Rewards. The QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Card from Capital One (one of our advertising partners) represents the absolute best rewards-earning option available to people with fair or limited credit. It boasts a straightforward rewards program, offering 1.5% cash back across all purchases, which will easily overcome its $39 annual fee for users who make most of their purchases with plastic. 1.5% cash back across the board is equivalent to what people with excellent credit get from the best rewards cards on the market.
Minimum Credit Required
Editors Notes
Best for Rewards. The QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Card from Capital One (one of our advertising partners) represents the absolute best rewards-earning option available to people with fair or limited credit. It boasts a straightforward rewards program, offering 1.5% cash back across all purchases, which will easily overcome its $39 annual fee for users who make most of their purchases with plastic. 1.5% cash back across the board is equivalent to what people with excellent credit get from the best rewards cards on the market.
Rewards Details
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
Earn cash rewards without signing up for rotating categories
No limit to how much cash back you can earn, and cash back doesn't expire for the life of the account
Additional Info Details
Get access to a higher credit line after making your first 5 monthly payments on time
Monitor your credit profile with the CreditWise® app, free for everyone
$0 fraud liability if your card is ever lost or stolen
Help strengthen your credit for the future with responsible card use
Get customized alerts and manage your account with the Capital One mobile app
limited Credit
Capital One® QuicksilverOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card
5431 Reviews
Capital One® QuicksilverOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card
Apply Now- Purchase intro APR N/A
- Regular APR 24.99% (V)
- Annual Fee $39
- Rewards Rate 1.5% Cash Back
- Rewards Bonus None
- Rewards Bonus None
- Earn Rate 1.5% Cash Back
Best for Rewards. The QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Card from Capital One (one of our advertising partners) represents the absolute best rewards-earning option available to people with fair or limited credit. It boasts a straightforward rewards program, offering 1.5% cash back across all purchases, which will easily overcome its $39 annual fee for users who make most of their purchases with plastic. 1.5% cash back across the board is equivalent to what people with excellent credit get from the best rewards cards on the market.
Minimum Credit Required
Editors Notes
Best for Rewards. The QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Card from Capital One (one of our advertising partners) represents the absolute best rewards-earning option available to people with fair or limited credit. It boasts a straightforward rewards program, offering 1.5% cash back across all purchases, which will easily overcome its $39 annual fee for users who make most of their purchases with plastic. 1.5% cash back across the board is equivalent to what people with excellent credit get from the best rewards cards on the market.
Rewards Details
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
Earn cash rewards without signing up for rotating categories
No limit to how much cash back you can earn, and cash back doesn't expire for the life of the account
Additional Info Details
Get access to a higher credit line after making your first 5 monthly payments on time
Monitor your credit profile with the CreditWise® app, free for everyone
$0 fraud liability if your card is ever lost or stolen
Help strengthen your credit for the future with responsible card use
Get customized alerts and manage your account with the Capital One mobile app
For College Students
Citi ThankYou® Preferred Card for College Students
718 Reviews
Citi ThankYou® Preferred Card for College Students
Apply NowFor College Students
- Purchase intro APR 0% for 7 months
- Regular APR 16.49% - 26.49%* (V)
- Annual Fee $0*
- Rewards Rate 1 - 2 points / $1
- Rewards Bonus 2,500 points
- Rewards Bonus 2,500 points
- Earn Rate 1 - 2 points / $1
This card brings a lot to the table, offering a relatively hefty initial bonus as well as solid ongoing rewards in spending categories popular among young people and 0% financing for the first seven months. Plus, Citi (one of our advertisers) doesn’t even charge an annual fee.
Minimum Credit Required
Editors Notes
This card brings a lot to the table, offering a relatively hefty initial bonus as well as solid ongoing rewards in spending categories popular among young people and 0% financing for the first seven months. Plus, Citi (one of our advertisers) doesn’t even charge an annual fee.
Rewards Details
Earn 2,500 bonus points after spending $500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
2,500 ThankYou® Points are redeemable for $25 in gift cards, electronics and other great rewards when redeemed at thankyou.com
Earn 2X Points on Dining Out & Entertainment
Earn 1X Points on All Other Purchases
No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
Additional Info Details
Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 7 months on purchases from date of account opening; after that the variable APR will be 16.49% - 26.49% based upon your creditworthiness*
No annual fee*
bad Credit
Discover it® Secured
2275 Reviews
Discover it® Secured
Apply NowSecured Card
- Min Deposit Secured Card Min Deposit of $200
- Annual Fee $0
- Monthly Fee None
- One-Time Fees None
- Regular APR 24.99% (V)
- Rates & Fees
Best Rewards Secured Card. Not only does the Discover it Secured card lack an annual fee, but it actually offers rewards – a rare combination for the bad-credit crowd. You will earn 2% cash back on the first $1,000 you spend at restaurants or gas stations each quarter as well as 1% on everything else. And everything you earn the first year will be doubled. Plus, Discover it’s $200 minimum deposit is lower than what many competing offers require. For full disclosure, Discover is one of our advertising partners.
Minimum Credit Required
Editors Notes
Best Rewards Secured Card. Not only does the Discover it Secured card lack an annual fee, but it actually offers rewards – a rare combination for the bad-credit crowd. You will earn 2% cash back on the first $1,000 you spend at restaurants or gas stations each quarter as well as 1% on everything else. And everything you earn the first year will be doubled. Plus, Discover it’s $200 minimum deposit is lower than what many competing offers require. For full disclosure, Discover is one of our advertising partners.
Rewards Details
2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases every quarter, automatically. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
We automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
Additional Info Details
No Annual Fee, earn cash back, and build your credit with responsible use.
It’s a real credit card. You can build a credit history with the three major credit bureaus. Generally, debit and prepaid cards can't help you build a credit history.
Establish your credit line by providing a refundable security deposit from $200-$2500 after being approved. Bank information must be provided when submitting your deposit.
Automatic reviews starting at 8 months to see if we can transition you to an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit.
Get 100% U.S. based customer service & get your free Credit Scorecard with your FICO® Credit Score
Receive FREE Social Security number alerts-Discover will monitor thousands of risky websites when you sign up.
Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit
7690 Reviews
Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit
Apply Now- Annual Fee $0 - $99
- Monthly Fee None
- One-Time Fees None
- Regular APR 19.99% - 25.99% (V)
Best Unsecured Card for Bad Credit. We tend not to recommend unsecured credit cards for bad credit given the prohibitive costs and low credit lines typical of the genre. If you truly need an emergency loan, however, this Credit One Bank Visa Card is your best bet. It charges a relatively modest annual fee of $0 - $75 the first year, depending on your credit standing, and $0 to $99 each year thereafter. And it even offers 1% cash back on eligible purchases. For full disclosure, Credit One Bank is one of our advertising partners.
Minimum Credit Required
Editors Notes
Best Unsecured Card for Bad Credit. We tend not to recommend unsecured credit cards for bad credit given the prohibitive costs and low credit lines typical of the genre. If you truly need an emergency loan, however, this Credit One Bank Visa Card is your best bet. It charges a relatively modest annual fee of $0 - $75 the first year, depending on your credit standing, and $0 to $99 each year thereafter. And it even offers 1% cash back on eligible purchases. For full disclosure, Credit One Bank is one of our advertising partners.
Rewards Details
Receive 1% cash back rewards on eligible purchases, terms apply
Additional Info Details
See if you Pre-Qualify without harming your credit score
Track your progress with free online access to your Experian credit score, terms apply
Looking to rebuild credit? We report to the major credit bureaus monthly
Accounts are automatically reviewed for credit line increase opportunities
Make paying your bill easier with the ability to choose your payment due date, terms apply
Stay in-the-know with customizable account alerts via email and text
Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability
Ask our Experts
Whether your credit is excellent, bad or somewhere in between, you may be able to find a rewards credit card that will approve you. But the better your credit standing is, the more options you’ll have and the more attractive their terms will be. For example, the market’s best overall rewards cards are generally available only to people with good or excellent credit.
On the flip side, the lower your credit score is, the more important low fees will become relative to rewards. You’ll be unlikely to get approved for a high spending limit, after all, making it difficult to earn enough rewards to offset any annual fee your card may charge. And rewards cards for people with fair or bad credit do tend to charge annual fees. As a result, if you don’t yet have good credit, your top priority should be finding a no annual fee credit card that will approve you, rather than worrying about rewards.
If you don’t know where your credit currently stands, you can find out by checking your latest credit score for free on WalletHub.
Rewards credit cards come in all shapes and sizes. They offer different rewards currencies (i.e. points, miles or cash back) at different earning rates. And those rates often vary based on what you buy and how much you spend.
Plus, even the best credit card rewards won’t do you much good if they’re difficult to earn and redeem. For example, a particular airline credit card might offer great rewards, but if you never leave town or don’t always fly with that airline, you will neither earn very much nor be able to redeem often enough to actually enjoy any perks that you do receive. So you’ll need to consider how well each offer complements your lifestyle and personal-finance preferences.
More specifically, here’s how to proceed if you want to find the best rewards card for your needs:
There is no rule against having more than one rewards credit card. It’s actually one of the best ways to maximize your earnings. No credit card is perfect, after all. So you won’t find a single rewards credit card that offers the highest possible earning rate on every purchase that you’ll make. But you can assemble a perfect collection of cards, each of which excels for a certain type of transaction.
For example, you could have a gas rewards card for filling up your tank, a cash back card for groceries and other everyday expenses, and a travel rewards card for airfare and hotel reservations. You could even throw in a store card or two for purchases at your favorite retailers.
This strategy is called the Island Approach, and it can be applied to financing as well as rewards. For instance, you could have a card offering 0% on new purchases for big-ticket buys that will take a while to repay, in addition to a 0% balance transfer card for reducing the cost of existing debt.
The Island Approach isn’t for everyone, though. If you don’t feel comfortable managing more than one credit card account at a time, or you’ve found yourself missing payments and making other mistakes with just a single card, you’re probably better off not adding more plastic to the mix.
Points on a credit card are a rewards currency, like miles and cash back. Points credit cards, many of which are affiliated with hotel chains and airlines, reward you with a certain number of points for each dollar that you spend, usually depending on the types of purchases you make. For example, you might get 1 point per $1 spent on most purchases, except for airfare or hotel reservations, which could yield at least twice as many points.
These points are then redeemable for airfare, hotel reservations, gift cards, statement credits and more. Credit card points are generally worth about a penny apiece, but the value varies from card to card.
Cash back credit cards reward you for every purchase that you make. So if you have a Visa or a Mastercard, you can get cash back at any merchant that accepts Visa or Mastercard. And if you have a store credit card, you can get cash back at whichever retailer your card is affiliated with. If your card’s rewards come in the form of points or miles, you can also redeem them for cash – whether in the form of a check or a statement credit – though you might sacrifice some value by doing so.
The only other way to get cash back on a credit card is by performing a cash advance. But doing so is a bad idea, as you will have to pay a hefty fee and interest will immediately begin to accrue at a high rate.
If you’re interested in earning cash rewards, you can check out WalletHub’s editors’ picks for the best cash back credit cards, here: https://wallethub.com/best-cash-back-credit-card/.
The key to finding the best rewards credit card for your needs is to convert everything into dollar terms. Calculate how much you are likely to earn per year with each card, based on your actual spending and payment habits, and pick whichever figures to be most lucrative. Or you can just sign up for a free WalletHub account to get a personalized recommendation based on your credit standing and financial priorities.
Popular Questions
- What are the best rewards credit cards? And how are they selected?
- What is the connection between credit standing and rewards credit cards?
- How do I know what kind of rewards to get?
- Can I have more than one rewards credit card?
- What are points on a credit card?
What are the best rewards credit cards? And how are they selected?
The best rewards credit card right now is probably the Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card. It offers a massive 50,000-mile initial bonus, worth $500 in travel, for spending $3,000 within three months of account opening. It gives you the equivalent of 2% cash back on all purchases, when you redeem your miles for travel. And that’s the best part: You can use Venture miles to pay for any travel-related purchase made with your card, from airfare and hotel reservations to taxi rides.
But you have to understand that the best credit cards for rewards are not one-size-fits-all. A lot depends on your credit standing and spending habits. Not everyone travels enough for Venture to be worthwhile or has the good or excellent credit needed to qualify. With that in mind, WalletHub’s editors regularly compare 1,000+ offers to identify the market’s best rewards credit cards for different types of users. These cards are picked because they provide the most overall value (rewards minus fees) in the most popular usage categories.
WalletHub’s editors regularly compare 1,000+ offers to identify the market’s best rewards credit cards. These cards are picked because they provide the most overall value (rewards minus fees) in the most popular usage categories. We estimate value by calculating how much the average person would get from each card over the first two years of use. We consider two years to level the playing field. For example, some cards offer a big initial bonus but little ongoing value, while others have an annual fee that’s waived for the first year.
This approach led us from 1,000+ offers to the eight best credit cards for rewards right now.
The best credit card rewards come in all shapes and sizes. The offers on this page are the best overall. But you can find more great options by checking out WalletHub’s picks for the best cash back credit cards and the best travel rewards cards. And if you’re mainly in the market for a hefty initial rewards bonus, make sure to review our up-to-date list of the best credit card deals.
But you have to understand that the best credit cards for rewards are not one-size-fits-all. A lot depends on your credit standing and spending habits. Not everyone travels enough for Venture to be worthwhile or has the good or excellent credit needed to qualify. With that in mind, WalletHub’s editors regularly compare 1,000+ offers to identify the market’s best rewards credit cards for different types of users. These cards are picked because they provide the most overall value (rewards minus fees) in the most popular usage categories.
WalletHub’s editors regularly compare 1,000+ offers to identify the market’s best rewards credit cards. These cards are picked because they provide the most overall value (rewards minus fees) in the most popular usage categories. We estimate value by calculating how much the average person would get from each card over the first two years of use. We consider two years to level the playing field. For example, some cards offer a big initial bonus but little ongoing value, while others have an annual fee that’s waived for the first year.
This approach led us from 1,000+ offers to the eight best credit cards for rewards right now.
Here are 2018’s best rewards credit cards
| Best Rewards Credit Card For... | Card Name | Annual Fee | Best Feature(s) |
| Initial Bonus | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | $0 Intro for the First Year, $95 after | 50,000 points |
| Travel Rewards | Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card | $0 for 1st yr, $95 after | 2 miles / $1 + 50,000 miles |
| Cash Back | Alliant CU Visa® Signature Card | None 1st yr, $59 after | 3% cash back for 12 months (2.5% after) |
| Gas Rewards | Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express | $95 | 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations + bonus cash |
| Frequent Flyers | U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite® Card | $400 | 50,000 points (worth $750 in travel) |
| Fair Credit | Capital One® QuicksilverOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card | $39 | 1.5% Cash Back |
| Bad Credit | Discover it® Secured | $0 | First-year earnings doubled |
| Business Owners | Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business | $0 for 1st yr, $95 after | $2,000 bonus + 2% Cash Back |
The best credit card rewards come in all shapes and sizes. The offers on this page are the best overall. But you can find more great options by checking out WalletHub’s picks for the best cash back credit cards and the best travel rewards cards. And if you’re mainly in the market for a hefty initial rewards bonus, make sure to review our up-to-date list of the best credit card deals.
What is the connection between credit standing and rewards credit cards?
Whether your credit is excellent, bad or somewhere in between, you may be able to find a rewards credit card that will approve you. But the better your credit standing is, the more options you’ll have and the more attractive their terms will be. For example, the market’s best overall rewards cards are generally available only to people with good or excellent credit.
On the flip side, the lower your credit score is, the more important low fees will become relative to rewards. You’ll be unlikely to get approved for a high spending limit, after all, making it difficult to earn enough rewards to offset any annual fee your card may charge. And rewards cards for people with fair or bad credit do tend to charge annual fees. As a result, if you don’t yet have good credit, your top priority should be finding a no annual fee credit card that will approve you, rather than worrying about rewards.
If you don’t know where your credit currently stands, you can find out by checking your latest credit score for free on WalletHub.
How do I know what kind of rewards to get?
Rewards credit cards come in all shapes and sizes. They offer different rewards currencies (i.e. points, miles or cash back) at different earning rates. And those rates often vary based on what you buy and how much you spend.
Plus, even the best credit card rewards won’t do you much good if they’re difficult to earn and redeem. For example, a particular airline credit card might offer great rewards, but if you never leave town or don’t always fly with that airline, you will neither earn very much nor be able to redeem often enough to actually enjoy any perks that you do receive. So you’ll need to consider how well each offer complements your lifestyle and personal-finance preferences.
More specifically, here’s how to proceed if you want to find the best rewards card for your needs:
- Check your latest credit score. You don’t want to waste time comparing cards you can’t get. And credit scores can change by up to 100 points over the course of just a month.
- Pinpoint your biggest monthly spending expenses (e.g. travel, gas and groceries).
- Decide whether you’re going to use the card for everyday shopping or just for earning rewards on certain types of purchases. This will help narrow down your options. A high base earning rate is best for everyday use, while bonus rewards in your biggest spending categories may be preferable if you only plan to buy certain things.
- Calculate the dollar value of each card’s rewards. This will make it easier to do an apples-to-apples comparison of each offer.
You can check old bills to estimate how much you will spend – by category, if necessary. And you can determine the value of a card’s points or miles by comparing the number needed for a particular redemption item to that item’s price when purchased without rewards. - Ask yourself how much hassle the most rewarding offer will add to your daily life. Jumping through hoops just to earn a few extra dollars in rewards might not be worthwhile, after all.
Can I have more than one rewards credit card?
There is no rule against having more than one rewards credit card. It’s actually one of the best ways to maximize your earnings. No credit card is perfect, after all. So you won’t find a single rewards credit card that offers the highest possible earning rate on every purchase that you’ll make. But you can assemble a perfect collection of cards, each of which excels for a certain type of transaction.
For example, you could have a gas rewards card for filling up your tank, a cash back card for groceries and other everyday expenses, and a travel rewards card for airfare and hotel reservations. You could even throw in a store card or two for purchases at your favorite retailers.
This strategy is called the Island Approach, and it can be applied to financing as well as rewards. For instance, you could have a card offering 0% on new purchases for big-ticket buys that will take a while to repay, in addition to a 0% balance transfer card for reducing the cost of existing debt.
The Island Approach isn’t for everyone, though. If you don’t feel comfortable managing more than one credit card account at a time, or you’ve found yourself missing payments and making other mistakes with just a single card, you’re probably better off not adding more plastic to the mix.
What are points on a credit card?
Points on a credit card are a rewards currency, like miles and cash back. Points credit cards, many of which are affiliated with hotel chains and airlines, reward you with a certain number of points for each dollar that you spend, usually depending on the types of purchases you make. For example, you might get 1 point per $1 spent on most purchases, except for airfare or hotel reservations, which could yield at least twice as many points.
These points are then redeemable for airfare, hotel reservations, gift cards, statement credits and more. Credit card points are generally worth about a penny apiece, but the value varies from card to card.
Where can I get cash back on a credit card?
Cash back credit cards reward you for every purchase that you make. So if you have a Visa or a Mastercard, you can get cash back at any merchant that accepts Visa or Mastercard. And if you have a store credit card, you can get cash back at whichever retailer your card is affiliated with. If your card’s rewards come in the form of points or miles, you can also redeem them for cash – whether in the form of a check or a statement credit – though you might sacrifice some value by doing so.
The only other way to get cash back on a credit card is by performing a cash advance. But doing so is a bad idea, as you will have to pay a hefty fee and interest will immediately begin to accrue at a high rate.
If you’re interested in earning cash rewards, you can check out WalletHub’s editors’ picks for the best cash back credit cards, here: https://wallethub.com/best-cash-back-credit-card/.
How do I find the best credit card for me?
The key to finding the best rewards credit card for your needs is to convert everything into dollar terms. Calculate how much you are likely to earn per year with each card, based on your actual spending and payment habits, and pick whichever figures to be most lucrative. Or you can just sign up for a free WalletHub account to get a personalized recommendation based on your credit standing and financial priorities.
What is the best credit card rewards program?
The best credit card rewards programs are Discover Cashback Bonus and Capital One Rewards, according to WalletHub’s latest comparison of the largest credit card companies’ policies. Discover Cashback Bonus covers the Discover it® Cash Back and Discover it® chrome credit cards, along with the student version of each. It’s notable for doubling all the cash back that you earn your first year as a cardholder, after your first anniversary, and for rewards that don’t expire. Capital One Rewards, governs all of Capital One’s rewards credit cards, including cash back cards such as Quicksilver and travel cards such as Venture. It’s known for very flexible travel redemption and rewards that don’t expire.
Every major credit card company has its own rewards program. Many airlines, hotels, other travel providers, and retailers also have credit card rewards programs for their co-branded cards. For example, American Express issues the Hilton Honors American Express Card, which provides points for the Hilton Honors rewards program rather than Amex rewards. On that note, the best frequent flyer program is Delta SkyMiles. And the best hotel loyalty program is Wyndham Rewards.
In general, a credit card rewards program works by giving you points, miles or cash back with every purchase you make. Most cards offer 1 point/mile per $1 spent or 1% cash back, but some give you extra rewards for certain types of purchases. Some also offer a rewards bonus for spending a certain amount within the first few months your account is open or each year.
Credit card rewards programs also provide options for what you can redeem your rewards for. Cash back credit cards usually allow you to redeem for a statement credit, gift card, merchandise or sometimes a bank account deposit. Travel rewards credit cards let you redeem your points or miles for airfare, hotel reservations and more. But you might get a good deal only if you book through the credit card company or a specific travel provider.
The value of a credit card rewards program’s points or miles depends on what you can redeem them for. If you need 40,000 miles for a flight that would cost $400 in cash, for example, each mile would be worth 1 cent. It’s always clear how much cash back is worth, which is one advantage such cards have.
Every credit card rewards program also has restrictions to watch out for. For example, some credit card companies’ rewards expire after a certain period of time. Some issuers also require you to have a certain minimum amount of rewards before redeeming. So you need to do your homework before getting a rewards credit card.
At the end of the day, the best approach is to focus on finding the single best rewards card for your needs and then confirm there are no issues with the credit card company’s overall rewards program. Doing things the other way around might cause you to miss a stand-out deal.
Every major credit card company has its own rewards program. Many airlines, hotels, other travel providers, and retailers also have credit card rewards programs for their co-branded cards. For example, American Express issues the Hilton Honors American Express Card, which provides points for the Hilton Honors rewards program rather than Amex rewards. On that note, the best frequent flyer program is Delta SkyMiles. And the best hotel loyalty program is Wyndham Rewards.
How Credit Card Rewards Programs Work
In general, a credit card rewards program works by giving you points, miles or cash back with every purchase you make. Most cards offer 1 point/mile per $1 spent or 1% cash back, but some give you extra rewards for certain types of purchases. Some also offer a rewards bonus for spending a certain amount within the first few months your account is open or each year.Credit card rewards programs also provide options for what you can redeem your rewards for. Cash back credit cards usually allow you to redeem for a statement credit, gift card, merchandise or sometimes a bank account deposit. Travel rewards credit cards let you redeem your points or miles for airfare, hotel reservations and more. But you might get a good deal only if you book through the credit card company or a specific travel provider.
The value of a credit card rewards program’s points or miles depends on what you can redeem them for. If you need 40,000 miles for a flight that would cost $400 in cash, for example, each mile would be worth 1 cent. It’s always clear how much cash back is worth, which is one advantage such cards have.
Every credit card rewards program also has restrictions to watch out for. For example, some credit card companies’ rewards expire after a certain period of time. Some issuers also require you to have a certain minimum amount of rewards before redeeming. So you need to do your homework before getting a rewards credit card.
Bottom Line
At the end of the day, the best approach is to focus on finding the single best rewards card for your needs and then confirm there are no issues with the credit card company’s overall rewards program. Doing things the other way around might cause you to miss a stand-out deal. Ask the Experts: Bright Minds on the Best Rewards
To help consumers better understand the rewards credit card market, get the best deals and ultimately save more money, we posed the following questions to a panel of leading experts in the fields of personal finance, consumer studies and marketing. You can check out their bios and responses below.- How often would you recommend applying for one of the best credit cards on the market?
- What, if anything, do the terms offered by the market’s best credit cards say about the economy?
- Is it sustainable for the best rewards credit cards to offer initial bonuses worth $400+?
- Given that merchants don’t charge more for credit card payments, would you say that people who pay in cash subsidize credit card rewards programs? And does that, in turn, mean people with the best rewards credit cards receive the biggest subsidy?
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Elaine Luther
Professor of Business Management in the Rowland School of Business at Point Park University
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Meeghan Rogers
Assistant Professor of Finance, Business Management, Farmingdale State College - School of Business
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Prasad Vana
Assistant Professor at Tuck School of Business, Dartmouth College
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Hieu P. Nguyen
Associate Professor of Marketing at College of Business Administration, California State University Long Beach
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Ioannis Kareklas
Assistant Professor of Marketing at University at Albany, State University of New York
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Shelle M. Santana
Assistant Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School
More Experts
Community Discussion
Finding Best Rewards Credit Card can be tough. But you’ve got the knowledgeable WalletHub community on your side. We encourage everyone to share their knowledge while respecting our content guidelines. Please keep in mind that editorial and user-generated content on this page is not reviewed or otherwise endorsed by any financial institution. In addition, it is not a financial institution’s responsibility to ensure that all posts and questions are answered....show moreshow less
Nicholas Jones @nick_jones5
Are the top rewards credit cards worth it?
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@WalletHub
They are, if chosen and used wisely. Rewards credit card offer great perks, either through big initial bonuses or by providing ongoing earnings on every purchase. Still, it is important to pay attention to the terms in order to make the best out of your rewards credit card. Each offer provides different types of rewards, with unique rules regarding how much you’ll earn, when you’ll earn it and what those earnings will ultimately be worth. WalletHub’s best rewards credit cards require good or excellent credit from applicants. Check your credit score for free on WalletHub to see which offers you are eligible for. Best of luck!
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Francis Blakeley @fblakeley53
What is the best credit card for rewards in US?
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Pam W @pamela_wrought
Is the Amazon Rewards card a good deal?
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Billy Miller @billyk
How do I find the best credit card for me?
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@WalletHub
The key to finding the best rewards credit card for your needs is to convert everything into dollar terms. Calculate how much you are likely to earn per year with each card, based on your actual spending and payment habits, and pick whichever figures to be most lucrative. Or you can just sign up for a free WalletHub account to get a personalized recommendation based on your credit standing and financial priorities.
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@aweames
What's the best card for groceries and drugstores? Amex is canceling their 5% return on groceries and drugstores. Need to find another.
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@WalletHub
The credit cards that give you the highest percentage back on these categories are the following: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express Citi® Double Cash Card You can also get other personalized suggestions from our free CardAdvisor tool: https://wallethub.com/cardadvisor/.
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Josh Turner @umirinbrah
In my experience the Capital One Venture One Rewards card has been the best in the category for me. I chose this card as I have experience with Capital One since I've been young. They always have the best customer service and redeeming the rewards is always easy from my experience. I like not having an annual fee and from the research that I've done, they seem to have the best rewards in the category of "rewards" cards. You can see everything online on your account, with categories for rewards. I'm very satisfied and will continue being a Capital One Customer
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Fatima Randolp @fatimar1
I would choose the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. If you are someone who pays off their credit cards, this is the card for you. I find the rewards points bonus the most appealing as you can spend it on any reward that Chase offers as opposed to cards that offer 40,000 miles rewards. I tend to choose to receive the bonus as credit to my bill or as a mailed check. I could then use that money to get anything I want especially at a discount. It is also preferable for me as someone who doesn’t travel much and can often find discounts better than what credit cards can offer.
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Shayne Formoso @shaynef_1
I personally like the Capital One Venture card because it provides a great APR along with a big rewards bonus and reward rate. I think it would be great for those who travel a lot as those reward points could really rack up quickly. The $59 annual fee is not the best, but I think it would be worth it for those who take advantage of the reward system.
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Marilyn Coleman @marilync_7
I would have to say that all time favorite card has to be my Capital One card. They allowed me to get a secured credit card with my less than perfect credit score. While everyone else turned me down I love the fact that they believed in me and gave me the chance that I needed to improve my credit ranking. I have been using the card over a year now and I love the cash back rewards benefits. After building my credit I was able to upgrade to the QuickSilver card where I earn money back on every single purchase. Although it is not a lot of money back it is still free money that adds up when you make as many purchases as I do. I never had a problem with the card since I have been using it. I would honestly recommend the card to anyone who wants a low annual fee that pays of itself just by shopping every single day with the rewards program.
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Michel Corlay @michelc_2
I had a Citi ThankYou® Preferred Card for the past two years and I am very happy with it. Not only it is easy to check on the balance online, but also making payments. When I was late on my payments I called the customer service and they arranged a payment plan right away. They also call back to remind me I needed to make payments. The credit limit went up steadily under I reached my maximum allowed. Redeeming points is easy and those points can also be applied to the balance as well. It really did help build my credit over time.
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Chris Gaines @myrone.gaines
The best reward card that I've used so far is the Citi Double Cash card. I was instantly approved with a pretty decent limit. I get 1% cash back on every purchase and another 1% when I pay off my balance. It might not offer larger rewards than some other cards but this card is much more flexible and is perfect for everyday shopping. There is also no annual fee and the customer service has been relatively decent so far. A couple of drawbacks is that you can only cash out at the end of every month and you need to have at least a $25 balance.
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Casey Scheld @caseys_7
I personally like the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. The fact that you get a bonus of 40,000 points already puts you ahead of the game. In addition, the base earn of one point per $1 makes things real easy.
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Max Lamb @max.lamb.96
According to me, Chase Sapphire is the best rewards card. I travel a lot and I receive a lot of benefits and rewards from using my Chase Sapphire, it's very nice! For instance, I received 40,000 reward miles when I was first approved. Moreover, every time I spend money with my card; I now earn miles and cash back. I'm secretly hoping, I will have enough points by the end of the year to fly my wife and I to NYC to visit her family. I haven't tried many other cards but I don't think it gets much better than Chase Sapphire.
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Tina Bramasco @tinab_11
In my eyes the best reward card out there is the Citi Double Cash card. I got 2% cash back on every purchase. I know some cards give 5% cash back in certain categories, but most of the time it's not for purchases I make on a regular basis. The double cash card helps me on every single purchase, which earns me more rewards per year. Additionally, when I signed up I got 18 months with 0% APR. This means I could rack up the rewards without having to pay any interest for a year and a half. This is clearly the best reward card out there since there are few cards that offer 2% cash back on every single purchase. I highly recommend you get this card too.
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Tova Haines @tova.haines
Capital One credit card is the very best in my opinion. Great customer service, lots of card options, they raise your limit when you make 6 months of on-time payments. Actually, the best thing is they have real people at the other end of the phone, and it doesn't take 10 minutes and multiple layers of options on the phone to get to the human. Other companies could learn from them. A good quality credit card and service.
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Chi Weazy @chiw
The best rewards credit card I ever owned was the Chase Sapphire Preferred. I think they have one of the most generous bonus systems around. The only caveat being the need to place at least $5000 on the card before you start seeing the best from the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. Most folks wo'nt be making the amount of purchasing on the card required to get the best out of it. I like the fact you get cash rewards back instead of miles or hotel stays.
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Isaac Bachicha @isaac_bachicha_9
The Capital One Venture Rewards card is my favorite card I have used by far. I am not a fan of fees and usually to get a good card, it comes along with a monthly fee. This card gives you the first year free so it is easy to work through that year and see if the card is for you. Additionally, the amount received per each mile is a top reason why this card get high marks from myself. I am an avid traveler and this adds up quickly.
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Nika Turnbull @nika_turnbull
The best rewards credit card in my opinion is the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. As an avid traveler, the benefits that I received from this card were almost immediate. Upon applying and being approved for the card, I received 40,000 reward miles.In addition, for every dollar that I spent, I would be earning miles, talk about excited. Currently, I am hoping to have enough points by the end of the year, to pay for my vacation to Hawaii. In addition, while I am on my vacation to Hawaii, I will have the ability to not encounter any transaction fees by utilizing any Chase ATM. This is extremely helpful, as those ATM fees can certainly add up.
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Ray Josephson @ray.josephson.5
The rewards card i turn to the most is my Chase Sapphire Preferred card. I was immediately attracted by the 40,000 bonus miles that were offered to me at the time i filled out my application. The lack of the first year annual fee pleased me a great deal. The ability to earn miles for every dollar spent is something that I have taken a great deal of advantage of. I travel alot, when I do, I know that I will be able to find a Chase ATM that will allow me to withdraw funds without dealing with transaction fees.
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Louise Libertini @louise.libertini
My Chase Sapphire Preferred card is my FAVORITE card! I have had many cards in my days and I like this one the best because I earn and redeem rewards with ease. I use this card for all of my "big" purchases. Although I do sometimes redeem my points for rewards, this card will also give you statement credits which has been another way to help me save money and have more money in the long run. Kudos Chase Sapphire!
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Mathew Harny @mathewh2
I never considered to get a rewards card before I applied for my Capital One Rewards Venture card. It is an amazing card. The interest rate is nothing to complain about, and I am earning double cash back on most of my purchases. The customer service answered all my concerns about it pretty easily!
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Don Pie @april.murray.3956
Years ago I applied started using the Citi Thank You Preferred Card for College Students. It was the first card I ever had to myself and I thought it was great. I liked it because it had a very generous rewards program, that was also very easy to redeem. I also like it because it was very easy to apply and get approved for. I used it until I graduated college. I would highly recommend this reward card for college students.
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James St Claire @james.stclaire.1
The best rewards credit card is the Amazon Chase Visa. I love this card because I often shop at Amazon. It gives you 3 times as many points if you use it at the Amazon website. You can directly use these points at Amazon if you want or you can also just get cash back through a check or a deposit into your account. There's also no annual fee so that's definitely a plus for this card.
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Jay see @jayseehey
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is the best reward card if you enjoy traveling. The initial bonus is amazing, add on no black out dates and no limits on the miles you could earn and the rewards add up. The card pays for itself with every use.
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Al Gapultos @al.gapultos.1
The best rewards card out there is easily the Discover IT card. 1% cash back on all purchases and 5% cash back on rotating categories. And they usually have pretty good categories, such as gas, restaurants, movie tickets, etc. What's more, you can then use that cash back to purchase gift cards with which you can get additional value for your rewards. For example, you can spend $20 of your cash back and get a $25 gift card to your favorite store. It's an amazing value that everyone should try to take advantage of if you qualify.
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Amanda Fischer-Duncan @amanda.fischerduncan
In my honest opinion the best rewards card on the market at the moment is actually the US Bank Cash + card. You are able to choose your own categories to earn cash back on. Two categories at 5% one at 2% and everything else at 1%. I like it because you are in control of what you earn your rewards on, plus you can get annual bonus rewards. Not to mention if you have a credit card with US bank you can also get a Gold Checking account package for free. With this package you can enroll in a START savings program to earn up to $100 in visa gift cards just for saving money.
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Sophie Ogasawara-Neko @kinder.trinstein
The CapitalOne VentureOne card is great, both for rewards and for what it wants out of you. Even with my relatively-sparse use of the card, I rack up enough miles to fly at least once every other year. The fact that there is no annual fee and it has a decent APR is just icing on the credit cake.
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Ana Maria Carstea @ana_sw33t_no1
Just curious: how did you end up choosing the VentureOne over the Venture?
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David @davidmtml
The best rewards credit card for me is the Chase Amazon Visa. I make a large amount of purchases off of Amazon.com, and with this card I am able to get a consistent 3% back on my purchases. There are other cards that offer up to 5% cash back, but it is almost always on rotating categories, and you usually only get 1% back on other purchases. Another nice bonus of this card is that you get 2% cash back on all gas station and restaurant purchases, which are my other 2 biggest expenses!
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Angie aluminua @angie
The best rewards credit card on the market is going to be the one that you use. My honest opinion is that most people who get a rewards card will most likely not use it to its full potential. With that said, I really like the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card. I find that the terms and rewards are reasonable and competitive with other credit cards on the market. Overall I have been very pleased with this card and find the rewards a benefit too.
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James LeGrand @zedetco
In my opinion, the best rewards credit card you can get would have to be the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card. It has an acceptably low annual fee. The Base payment of %1.5 is a tad bit low but it adds up quick! The more you use the more you earn. The best part is your credit doesn't even have to be perfect to be accepted. Capital One has really gone above and beyond with this card. I won't be switching for a long time.
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Sarah @Switcherbear
I'm personally in love with the Capital One Quicksilver One Cash Rewards card. If you don't have awesome credit, you should definitely look into getting this bad boy. The annual fee is a drop in the bucket compared to the cash back you get by using this, because you can get rewards for EVERYTHING, not just select purchases at special stores. If you have awesome credit, you might be able to find a card that offers a higher base payment- 1.5 percent is a little bit low. But if you've ever had any kind of financial hiccup that keeps you from having the best credit score in the world, this card is perfect for you.
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Kevin @hollandfg
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is one of the best cards I have ever used from Chase. The annual fee is nothing compared to the money I get from the points. When you use the card to pay for things that you usually pay for, you get points, which can be traded for actual money instead of gifts or a hotel stay that other cards offer. It is really one of the best, and most used cards that I own.
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David @Chocotaco39
One of the best and my most favorite rewards card is the Citi Forward card for college students. When I was younger, I thought I wouldn't have the opportunity to start earning rewards and using my money efficiently. I was told about this card and signed up, and was elated when I was accepted. Although they don't offer the best rewards, they are one of my favorite cards because they were one of the few cards that would offer rewards to someone who had a limited credit history at the time. I received great use out of the card was amazed with the opportunity I was given with this card.
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Quinn Carter @quinn_carter_94
The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is definitely the best rewards card out there right now. They have a high rate of miles earned per dollar spent, 1.25, which is a lot higher than the other cards at 1 mile per dollar. The lack of yearly fee sweetens the deal, and the interest rate is manageable. This is the perfect rewards card for anyone who likes to travel.
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Bambi Jo @surrealdissonance
For me, the best rewards card on the market right now is the Capital One GM Card. This card allows you to earn up to 5% cash back which you can then apply toward the purchase of a new or certified pre-owned GM vehicle. If you are in the market for a new vehicle from one of the GM brands and plan on buying within a year or two, it is very easy to use this card to earn rewards. Your balance can be paid off within 25 days without interest penalty and if you choose to carry a balance, the interest rates are fair, starting at 11.9%. The rewards dollars rack up pretty quickly if you use the card regularly and they don't expire for 8 years. If you are considering a new GM vehicle and looking for a great credit card, look into the Capital One GM Card, I highly recommend it.
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Andrea Leonard Targonski @andrea_leonardtargonski
For those who love going to Disney parks or shopping at Disney stores, the Chase Disney Rewards Visa is awesome! We've had it for at least five years now and we've used the rewards to pay for park tickets and meal plans. We use the card for everything and pay it off each month to optimize the rewards we receive. You get 1 point for every $100, which isn't the best conversion rate for a rewards card, but for us, it works. I highly recommend it to anyone who goes to Disney.
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Jacoby Greene @jacoby.greene.39
The Capital One Venture One Rewards credit card was my first "prime" level credit card after graduating from college, and I must say that it is one of the best rewards credit cards out there. The Venture One Rewards card has a great rewards system that doesn't make it difficult to actually accumulate enough points to cash in at 1.25 miles per dollar. Aside from the great rewards system, another thing I love about this card is its relatively low interest rate which has made carry small balances less of a hassle.
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Derrik Adam @derrik_adam_9
Been using the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card for a while now. Used to use a different card but switched to this when I begun my small business three months ago. It has been very rewarding and have had no problems. What is better than getting rewards for things I have to buy for the office anyways. Since I travel a lot the miles have been great and I am able to combine with my airlines rewards program which is even better.
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Constantina Hauser @radio4by4fan
Credit One Bank Credit Card was one viable option for me. I have suffered some credit issues in the past which stemmed from unpaid medical bills. Therefore my credit is not as good as I would like it to be. Credit One was one of the first banks that would approve me for a card. Unfortunately this card has high interest rate but it does provide rewards towards gasoline purchases. Credit Card was my savior when I could not get approved by other banks, I am working towards rebuilding my credit and making payment monthly.
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