Best Rewards Credit Cards

As high inflation rears its head, consumers are looking for ways to offset painful increases in the price of groceries, gas and other budget staples. One strategy is to use a rewards credit card that pays you cash back, points or miles on every purchase you make. In our annual review of the best rewards cards, we’ve found rebates as high as 6% on supermarket spending and 5% on gas. For leisure spending, we’ve uncovered rewards of up to 5% on dining out, travel and shopping. If you want a no-fuss card that pays a solid rate on every purchase, you’ll find options here that offer 2%. 

Fortunately, qualifying for a great rewards card is easier than it was a year or two ago, when issuers tightened lending standards in response to the economic disruptions the coronavirus pandemic caused. In the third quarter of 2021, new-card issuance hit a record 20.1 million, a 63% increase from the same period a year earlier, according to credit bureau TransUnion. A credit score of about 670 or higher should put you in the ballpark for card approval, says Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst for CreditCards.com. 

Interest rates will be on the rise throughout the year, so it’s as important as ever to avoid carrying a balance from month to month on your credit card—interest payments will stamp out any benefit that you get from rewards. Extended 0% interest introductory windows on balance transfers are making a comeback after dwindling in the pandemic’s aftermath, and issuers are even offering such deals to existing customers, not just new applicants, says Sara Rathner, credit cards expert for NerdWallet.

Read on to see our 51 credit card picks in 17 categories.

1 of 19

Best Cash-Back Credit Cards: Flat-Rate Cash Back

Getty Images

These cards provide simple and strong rewards on all purchases.

GOLD: Wells Fargo Active Cash Visa

• Website: www.wellsfargo.com
• Interest rate: 0% for 15 months, then 15.24% to 25.24%
• Annual fee: None
• Sign-up bonus: $200 back if you spend $1,000 in the first three months
• Typical annual rebate: $500

This newcomer provides 2% cash back on all purchases, making it a great card to slip into your wallet if you prefer simple, straightforward rewards. Ways to redeem your cash back include as a statement credit, cash at the ATM with a Wells Fargo debit or ATM card (in $20 increments), gift cards ($25 increments), or a credit to a qualifying Wells Fargo credit card, checking account or mortgage. A nice side benefit: You get up to $600 of protection (with a $25 deductible) for your cell phone against damage or theft if you pay your monthly wireless bill with the card.

SILVER: Farmers Insurance Federal Credit Union Crystal Visa

• Website: www.figfcu.org
• Interest rate: 12.99% to 18%
• Annual fee: $99, waived the first year
• Sign-up bonus: $100 back if you spend $5,000 in the first three months
• Typical annual rebate: $750 the first year; $526 from the second year on

The first year you have this card, you’ll rake in cash back at a rate of 3% on every purchase, with no annual fee. After that, you’ll get 2.5% back—still an outstanding offer—and an annual fee of $99 kicks in. (The amount of spending that exceeds $10,000 each month does not earn rewards.) You collect rewards in the form of points, and they’re worth a penny each for a bank account deposit or statement credit ($50 minimum redemption). Anyone can become a member of Farmers Insurance FCU by joining the American Consumer Council and depositing $5 into a savings account.

BRONZE: Citi Double Cash Mastercard

• Website: www.citi.com
• Interest rate: 14.24% to 24.24%
• Annual fee: None
• Typical annual rebate:  $500

Get 1% cash back when you make a purchase and an additional 1% back when you pay the bill, for a total of 2% on everything you buy. This card’s rewards scheme recently converted to Citi’s ThankYou Points program, and cardholders can exchange points earned (a total two points for each dollar spent) at a rate of a penny each for a statement credit, check or direct deposit into a bank account,. You can also exchange points for gift cards, travel and other options through the ThankYou program, but point values vary for those redemptions.

2 of 19

Best Cash-Back Credit Cards: Rotating Categories

Getty Images

GOLD: U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa

• Website: www.usbank.com
• Interest rate: 0% for 15 months, then 14.24% to 24.24%
• Annual fee: None
• Sign-up bonus: $200 back if you spend $1,000 in the first 120 days
• Typical annual rebate: $530

This card may prove lucrative if you spend significant bucks on your wireless plan, utilities, or TV and internet services. Each calendar quarter, pick two categories that earn 5% cash back on up to $2,000 in combined purchases; among the 12 choices are cell phone service providers, home utilities, department stores, fast food, and TV, internet and streaming services. You also get 5% back on prepaid travel reservations made through U.S. Bank’s Rewards Travel Center and 2% back in one category of choice among three options: grocery stores, restaurants, or gas stations and electric-vehicle charging stations. All other spending earns 1% back. Redeem cash back as a statement credit, a deposit into a U.S. Bank checking or savings account, or a U.S. Bank prepaid debit card ($25 minimum redemption). Cash back expires after three years.

SILVER: Chase Freedom Flex Mastercard

• Website: www.chase.com
• Interest rate: 0% for 15 months, then 15.24% to 23.99%
• Annual fee: None
• Sign-up bonus: $200 back if you spend $500 in the first three months; 5% back on gas station purchases on the first $6,000 spent in the first year
• Typical annual rebate: $468

Earn 5% back on up to $1,500 spent each quarter in rotating categories. In 2022, first-quarter categories included grocery stores and eBay; second-quarter categories are Amazon.com and select video- and music-streaming services, including Disney+, HBO Max, Netflix and Spotify. (At press time, third- and fourth-quarter categories had not been announced.) Plus, all year you get 5% back on travel purchases made through Chase’s Ultimate Rewards program, 3% back on restaurant and drugstore purchases, and 1% back on all other spending. Rewards are tracked as Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which you can redeem at a rate of 1 cent each for cash back, travel bookings or gift cards. The card comes with a few extra perks, too, including a $5 Lyft credit when you take three rides in a calendar month, 5% back to use toward future HelloFresh deliveries when you a purchase the company’s meal kits, and a $5 Fandango reward if you spend $20 on Fandango movie tickets or Fandango’s streaming service.

BRONZE: Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Visa

• Website:  www.bankofamerica.com
• Interest rate: 0% for 15 months, then 14.24% to 24.24%
• Annual fee: None
• Sign-up bonus: $200 back if you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days
• Typical annual rebate: $391

You choose one category that earns 3% cash back, and you can change your selection each calendar month. The six options are gas, online shopping, restaurants, travel, drugstores, and home improvement and furnishings. Get 2% back on spending at grocery stores and wholesale clubs. Each quarter, a combined $2,500 spending limit applies to the 3% and 2% categories—after that, purchases in those categories earn 1% back, and all other spending gets 1% back, too. There’s no minimum rewards balance required to redeem your cash back as a statement credit, deposit into a Bank of America checking or savings account, or credit to an eligible Merrill cash management account. A $25 minimum applies to redemptions in the form of a check, automatic deposit into a Bank of America checking or savings account, or contribution to a qualifying Merrill 529 account.

3 of 19

Best Cash-Back Credit Cards for Savers

Getty Images

GOLD: Fidelity Rewards Visa

• Website: www.fidelityrewards.com
• Interest rate: 13.99%
• Annual fee: None
• Typical annual rebate: $500

This card is a perennial winner for the 2% rewards rate that Fidelity Investments customers can earn on every dollar spent. You get two points per dollar for each purchase, and points are worth a penny each when you redeem them as a cash deposit into an eligible Fidelity account (2,500-point minimum). You can divide rewards among up to five accounts—including a brokerage account, cash management account, 529 college-savings plan, retirement account, donor-advised fund, Fidelity Go robo-adviser account and health savings account—and even direct cash back into the account of a family member or friend (donor-advised funds are excluded). For Fidelity Wealth Management clients who use the card, cash-back rates for such redemptions are higher: 2.25% for those with $250,000 to $1 million in eligible assets, 2.5% for those with $1 million to $2 million, and 3% for those with $2 million or more. You can also exchange points for travel, merchandise, gift cards or statement credits, but the points are not worth as much for such redemptions.

SILVER: TD Double Up Visa

• Website: www.td.com
• Interest rate: 14.99% to 24.99%
• Annual fee: None
• Sign-up bonus: $100 back if you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days
• Typical annual rebate: $500

If you’re a TD Bank customer, consider signing up for its Double Up card, which provides a total of 2% cash back on all spending when you redeem rewards into an eligible TD deposit account. Here’s how it works: Each purchase you make earns one point per dollar. When you redeem points into your TD account, they are worth a penny each, and TD deposits an additional 1 cent into your account for each point redeemed, producing a 2% return on card spending. You can also trade points at a value of a penny apiece as a statement credit, a deposit into a checking or savings account with another financial institution, gift cards, or travel, but you don’t get a match from TD, reducing your rewards rate to 1%.

BRONZE: Upromise Mastercard

• Website: www.upromisemastercard.com
• Interest rate: 15.24% to 25.24%
• Annual fee: None
• Sign-up Bonus: $100 back if you spend $500 in the first 90 days
• Typical annual rebate: $382

Each purchase you make earns 1.529% cash back if you link your Upromise Program account to a 529 college-savings plan. (If your account is not linked to a college-savings plan, you get 1.25% back.) Upromise automatically transfers cash back to your 529 plan monthly if your rewards balance is at least $50. You can choose to have each purchase you make with the card rounded up to the nearest dollar and have the difference converted to cash back rewards, too.

4 of 19

Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards (No Annual Fee)

Getty Images

GOLD: Chase Freedom Unlimited Visa

• Website: www.chase.com 
• Interest rate: 0% for 15 months, then 15.24% to 23.99%
• Annual fee: None
• Sign-up bonus: $200 back if you spend $500 in the first three months; 5% back on gas station purchases for the first $6,000 spent in the first year
• Typical annual rebate: 45,277 points, worth $453

Freedom Unlimited is a compelling no-fee option for domestic travelers who are willing to book trips through Chase’s Ultimate Rewards program. It provides five points per dollar spent on travel purchases through Chase, three points on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1.5 points per dollar on other spending—a higher rate than the one point per dollar or 1% that most cards offer on purchases outside their maximum-rebate categories. Redeem points at a rate of a penny each for cash back, gift cards or travel. The card charges a 3% fee on foreign transactions, so for trips abroad, look to our other winners that charge no such fee.

SILVER: Bank of America Travel Rewards Visa

• Website: www.bankofamerica.com
• Interest rate: 0% for 15 months, then 14.24% to 24.24%
• Annual fee: None
• Sign-up bonus: 25,000 points if you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days
• Typical annual rebate: 39,000 points, worth $390 in statement credits for travel or dining purchases

Get three points per dollar for each purchase you make through Bank of America’s Travel Center and 1.5 points per dollar on all other spending. You can use points at a rate of a penny apiece for statement credits to offset travel and dining purchases. If you redeem points for a check or deposit into an eligible Bank of America or Merrill account, they are worth 0.6 cent each. All of those redemptions require a 2,500-point minimum; gift-card redemptions, for which point values vary, require 3,125 points.

BRONZE: Capital One VentureOne Rewards Visa

• Website: www.capitalone.com
• Interest rate: 0% for 15 months, then 15.24% to 25.24%
• Annual fee: None
• Sign-up bonus: 20,000 miles if you spend $500 in the first three months
• Typical annual rebate: 35,000 miles, worth $350 in travel rebates

With this card, get five miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 1.25 miles per dollar on all other spending. Miles are worth a penny each when you redeem them for statement credits on travel purchases or to book a new travel reservation through Capital One. Or transfer miles to any of more than 15 travel loyalty programs (mostly at a rate of one Capital One mile to one loyalty-program point or mile), including British Airways Executive Club and the Choice Privileges hotel program. The value of miles varies if you use them to get cash back or gift cards.

5 of 19

Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards (Annual Fee)

Getty Images

GOLD: Capital One Venture Rewards Visa

• Website: www.capitalone.com
• Interest rate: 16.24% to 24.24%
• Annual fee: $95
• Sign-up bonus: 60,000 miles if you spend $3,000 in the first three months
• Typical annual rebate: 56,000 points, worth $465 after subtracting the annual fee

Travel rewards are easy to earn and redeem with Capital One Venture. You get five miles per dollar spent on hotel stays and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and two miles per dollar on all other spending. Redeem miles at a rate of a penny each for statement credits on travel purchases or to book a new travel reservation through Capital One. Or transfer miles to any of more than 15 travel loyalty programs (mostly at a rate of one Capital One mile to one loyalty-program point or mile), including British Airways Executive Club and the Choice Privileges hotel program. The value of miles varies if you use them to get cash back or gift cards. Cardholders get two free yearly visits to Capital One’s own airport lounges (one is at Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport, and two more are scheduled to open at Denver and Dulles international airports in 2022); a credit of up to $100 every four years to reimburse the application fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck expedited airport security screening; and Five Star status with rental-car company Hertz.

SILVER: U.S. Bank FlexPerks Gold American Express

• Website: www.usbank.com
• Interest rate: 14.74% to 24.74%
• Annual fee: $85
• Sign-up bonus: 30,000 points if you spend $2,000 in the first four months
• Typical annual rebate: 41,318 points, worth $535 in travel redemptions after subtracting the annual fee

Points that you earn with this card are worth an impressive 1.5 cents each when you use them to book travel through U.S. Bank’s Rewards Center, and you earn them at a rate of five points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked through the rewards center; three points per dollar on restaurant spending; two points per dollar on purchases with airlines, gas stations and electric-vehicle charging stations; and one point per dollar on other spending. If you’d rather redeem points for cash back, they hold a respectable value of 1 cent each. Points expire five years from the end of the calendar quarter in which they were earned. Other benefits include a credit of up to $100 to reimburse a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee and free Boingo Wi-Fi.

BRONZE: Citi Premier Mastercard

• Website: www.citi.com
• Interest rate: 16.24% to 24.24%
• Annual fee: $95
• Sign-up bonus: 60,000 points if you spend $4,000 in the first three months
• Typical annual rebate: 50,770 points, worth $413 in gift card and travel redemptions after subtracting the annual fee

Get three points per dollar spent in a range of categories: restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets, air travel and hotels. All other spending earns one point per dollar. Points are worth a penny each if you redeem them for gift cards or travel bookings through the Citi ThankYou program. You can also transfer points to partner airline and hotel loyalty programs, including Choice Privileges (at a ratio of one Citi point to two Choice Privileges points), JetBlue TrueBlue (1:1) and Wyndham Rewards (1:1). Each year, get $100 off a prepaid hotel stay of $500 or more that you book through the ThankYou program. stay of $500 or more.

6 of 19

Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards (Flexible Travel Redemptions)

VISIT FLORIDA

GOLD: Chase Sapphire Preferred Visa

• Website: www.chase.com
• Interest rate: 16.24% to 23.24%
• Annual fee: $95
• Sign-up bonus: 60,000 points if you spend $4,000 in the first three months
• Typical annual rebate: 43,291 points, worth $446 in travel redemptions after subtracting the annual fee

Sapphire Preferred is the longtime victor in this category for strong point values and the ability to transfer points at a 1:1 ratio to a solid list of airline and hotel loyalty programs, including Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, United Mileage-Plus, Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt. And the card has boosted the number of points earned on spending. Cardholders now get five points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards and two points per dollar on other travel spending; three points per dollar on dining, online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs) and select streaming services; and one point on other spending. Plus, you get up to $50 in statement credits each year for hotel stays booked through Ultimate Rewards (purchases that qualify for the credit do not earn points). On each account anniversary, you get a 10% points bonus on your total purchases made the previous year. Points are redeemable at a rate of 1.25 cents each for travel booked through Ultimate Rewards as well as statement credits on purchases in rotating categories through the Pay Yourself Back program; recently, eligible spending included Airbnb bookings and donations to select charities. Or exchange points at a reasonable rate of a penny each for cash back or gift cards.

SILVER: American Express EveryDay

• Website: www.americanexpress.com
• Interest rate: 0% for 15 months, then 12.99% to 23.99%
• Annual fee: None
• Sign-up bonus: 10,000 points if you spend $2,000 in the first six months
• Typical annual rebate: 38,330 points, worth $383 for certain travel redemptions

Amex’s Membership Rewards points are transferable to several partner airline and hotel loyalty programs, and this card provides an avenue to earn the points without paying an annual fee. You get two points per dollar on up to $6,000 spent at supermarkets per year and on certain prepaid travel purchases through Amex Travel. Other spending gets one point per dollar. Each month that you make at least 20 purchases with the card, you get a 20% points bonus on those purchases. Point values vary depending on how you redeem them. Your best bets include booking flights through Amex Travel at a rate of a penny per point or transferring points to loyalty programs including Delta SkyMiles (at a ratio of one Amex point to one SkyMile), Hilton Honors (1:2 ratio) and Marriott Bonvoy (1:1). The card charges a 2.7% foreign-transaction fee.

BRONZE: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Visa

• Website: www.chase.com
• Interest rate: 16.24% to 23.24%
• Annual fee: $95
• Sign-up bonus: Three free-night awards if you spend $3,000 in the first three months
• Typical annual rebate: 64,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, worth about $350 after subtracting the annual fee

Frequent guests of Marriott hotels can get good value of out of this card, which allows you rack up points that are redeemable for Marriott stays or transferable to the frequent-flier programs of more than 40 airlines, including those of American, Delta, Southwest and United. Most transfers are at a ratio of three Marriott points to one frequent-flier mile, and for each 60,000 points transferred, you get a 5,000-mile bonus. The card offers six Marriott points per dollar spent at Marriott properties, three points per dollar on up to $6,000 spent yearly at grocery stores, gas stations and restaurants, and two points per dollar on all other spending. Each year after your account anniversary, you get a free one-night Marriott stay (with a value of up to 35,000 points), and cardmembers have automatic Silver Elite loyalty status. Points expire if your account is inactive for 24 months. If you prefer to pay no annual fee, check out the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Visa.

7 of 19

Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards (Premium Travel Rewards)

Getty Images

(Note that we do not include a typical annual rebate for premium cards because they also provide considerable value outside of the points they award for everyday spending.)

GOLD: Capital One Venture X Rewards Visa

• Website: www.capitalone.com
• Interest rate: 17.24% to 24.24%
• Annual fee: $395
• Sign-up bonus: 75,000 miles if you spend $4,000 in the first three months

This card’s attractive features combined with an annual fee that’s lower than the fees of some of its competitors pushes it to the top of our ranking. Plus, unlike some other premium cards, Venture X doesn’t charge an additional annual fee for authorized users. Cardholders earn 10 miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, five miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel, and two miles per dollar on all other purchases. You can redeem miles at a rate of a penny apiece for statement credits on travel purchases or travel bookings through Capital One, or transfer them to partner airline and hotel loyalty programs. Perks include 10,000 bonus miles on your account anniversary each year, an annual statement credit of up to $300 for bookings that you make through Capital One Travel, a Priority Pass membership for free entry to more than 1,300 airport lounges, complimentary access for you and two guests to Capital One’s airport lounges, a credit of up to $100 every four years to reimburse the application fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, and President’s Circle status with Hertz.  

SILVER: Chase Sapphire Reserve Visa

• Website: www.chase.com
• Interest rate: 17.24% to 24.24%
• Annual fee: $550; $75 for each authorized user
• Sign-up bonus: 50,000 points if you spend $4,000 in the first three months

Reserve provides 10 points per dollar on spending at participating restaurants through the Chase Dining program as well as on hotel and car rentals booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards and five points per dollar on flights booked through Chase. You also get three points per dollar on other restaurant and travel spending and one point per dollar on the rest of your purchases. Points are transferable to partner airline and hotel loyalty programs. Or you can trade points at a healthy rate of 1.5 cents each when you redeem them for travel bookings through Ultimate Rewards or for statement credits against purchases in rotating categories through Pay Yourself Back (recently, eligible spending included Airbnb bookings, dining, donations to select charities and the card’s annual fee). Among Reserve’s other benefits are an annual statement credit of up to $300 for travel purchases (purchases that qualify for the credit do not earn points), a Priority Pass Select membership for airport lounge access and a fee credit of up to $100 every four years for the Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS airport-screening programs.

BRONZE: American Express Platinum

• Website: www.americanexpress.com
• Interest rate: 16.24% to 23.24%
• Annual fee: $695, plus $175 for up to three authorized users and $175 per card for each user beyond three
• Sign-up bonus: 100,000 points if you spend $6,000 in the first six months

At nearly $700, Amex Platinum’s annual fee has climbed to a level that may seem to place it out of reach for the typical card user. But the card packs in a laundry list of perks to overcome the fee. They include annual statement credits of up to $200 on select hotel bookings through American Express, yearly credits of up to $200 for incidental fees (such as for checked baggage or in-flight entertainment) charged by one airline of your choice, up to $179 in yearly credits to reimburse the membership fee for the CLEAR airport-security program, up to $100 in reimbursement for Global Entry (every four years) or TSA PreCheck (every 4.5 years) application fees, $15 monthly in Uber Cash ($35 in December) for rides or food deliveries from Uber, and elevated loyalty status with Marriott and Hilton. Frequent fliers will appreciate free access to many airport lounges, including Amex’s own Centurion lounges as well as Airspace, Delta Sky Club, Escape, Plaza Premium, Priority Pass and select Lufthansa lounges.

Amex Platinum has been increasing non-travel benefits, too. Cardholders get statement credits to cover the $12.95 monthly fee of a Walmart+ membership, which provides free shipping and other benefits from the superstore; up to $300 yearly in statement credits for a membership with fitness club Equinox; up to $300 in statement credits to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike; up to $20 monthly in statement credits for subscription fees to Audible, Disney+, the New York Times, Peacock and SiriusXM; and up to $50 in semi-annual statement credits for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue. 

You’ll earn five points per dollar spent on prepaid hotel bookings through AmexTravel.com and on flights purchased directly from airlines or through Amex Travel (up to $500,000 spent per year on flights), plus two points per dollar on other Amex Travel bookings and one point per dollar on all other spending.

8 of 19

Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards (Dedicated Airline Cards)

Getty Images

GOLD: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Visa

• Website: www.chase.com
• Interest rate: 16.24% to 23.24%
• Annual fee: $149
• Sign-up bonus: 40,000 Rapid Rewards points if you spend $1,000 in the first three months
• Typical annual rebate: 33,315 points, worth about $320 after subtracting the annual fee

This card charges an annual fee that’s higher than many competitors charge, but frequent fliers on Southwest Airlines should be able to offset the fee with the card’s $75 annual credit for Southwest purchases and its bonus of 7,500 Rapid Rewards points on each account anniversary. Plus, the card has added new categories in which users can earn extra points on spending: You get three points per dollar on purchases with Southwest Airlines and two points per dollar on purchases with Rapid Rewards hotel and car-rental partners. You also get two points per dollar spent on local transit and commuting (including ride-sharing services), on internet, cable and phone services, and on select streaming services; all other spending earns one point per dollar. Additional features include reimbursement for up to four upgraded airline boardings per year; 1,500 tier-qualifying points toward A-List status for each $10,000 spent on the card; and 25% back on in-flight purchases.

SILVER: Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard

• Website: www.citi.com
• Interest rate: 16.24% to 25.24%
• Annual fee: $99, waived the first year
• Sign-up bonus: 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles if you spend $2,500 in the first three months
• Typical annual rebate: 31,943 miles, worth about $380

Cardholders get two American Airlines AAdvantage miles per dollar spent at gas stations and restaurants and on American Airlines purchases; all other spending earns one mile per dollar. Other benefits include a $125 flight discount each year that you spend $20,000 on the card; a free checked bag on domestic flights for you and up to four companions on the same reservation; preferred boarding; and 25% off in-flight food and beverage purchases. For every mile you earn on Platinum Select card purchases, you get one Loyalty point toward heightened AAdvantage status. If you prefer a no-fee card that earns AAdvantage miles, check out the AAdvantage MileUp Mastercard. 

BRONZE: JetBlue Plus Mastercard

• Website: www.barclaycardus.com
• Interest rate: 16.24% to 25.24%
• Annual fee: $99
• Sign-up bonus: 60,000 JetBlue TrueBlue points if you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days
• Typical annual rebate: 47,317 points, worth about $510 after subtracting the annual fee

Regular JetBlue fliers can build up a lot of TrueBlue points with this card, which provides six points per dollar spent on JetBlue purchases, two points per dollar at restaurants and grocery stores, and one point per dollar on other spending. Each year after your account anniversary, you get 5,000 bonus points, and if you spend $50,000 on the card in a calendar year, you get high-level Mosaic status with JetBlue. The card also comes with a 10% point bonus when you redeem points for a JetBlue Award Flight, a free checked bag for you and up to three traveling companions on the same reservation, an annual statement credit of $100 if you purchase a JetBlue Vacations package of at least $100, and a 50% discount on eligible in-flight food and drink purchases. Rather use a no-fee card to earn TrueBlue points? Check out the JetBlue Mastercard.

9 of 19

Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards (Dedicated Hotel Cards)

Getty Images

GOLD: World of Hyatt Visa

• Website: www.chase.com
• Interest rate: 16.24% to 23.24%
• Annual fee: $95
• Sign-up bonus: 30,000 World of Hyatt Bonus points if you spend $3,000 in the first three months; two points per dollar on up to $15,000 spent on purchases that typically earn one point for the first six months
• Typical annual rebate: 36,262 points, worth about $520 after subtracting the annual fee

High point values paired with the ability for cardholders to stack points in a few useful categories help the Hyatt card rise to the top. You get four World of Hyatt Bonus points per dollar on Hyatt purchases; two points per dollar at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from airlines, on local transit, and on fitness club and gym memberships; and one point per dollar on other spending. Each year after your cardmember anniversary, you get a free night at a Hyatt hotel or resort (in hotel categories one through four), plus an extra free night if you spend $15,000 on the card in a calendar year. Cardholders also get automatic Discoverist loyalty status, five qualifying nights toward the next loyalty tier each year, and two more qualifying night credits each time you spend $5,000 on the card.

SILVER: Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Visa

• Website: www.barclaycardus.com
• Interest rate: 15.99% to 25.24%
• Annual fee: $75
• Sign-up bonus: 45,000 Wyndham Rewards points if you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days
• Typical annual rebate: 64,791 points, worth about $510 after subtracting the annual fee

Cardholders collect six Wyndham Rewards points per dollar spent on purchases with Hotels by Wynd-ham, as well as on gas; four points per dollar on restaurant and grocery-store purchases; and one point per dollar on all other spending. Each anniversary year, cardholders get a 7,500-point bonus. You’ll also enjoy an additional discount on the best available rate when making reservations at participating properties and automatic Platinum loyalty status. Points expire if your Wyndham Rewards account is inactive for 18 months. For a no-fee option, look to the Wyndham Rewards Earner Visa.

BRONZE: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass

• Website: www.americanexpress.com
• Interest rate: 15.99% to 24.99%
• Annual fee: $95
• Sign-up bonus: 130,000 Hilton Honors points if you spend $2,000 in the first three months
• Typical annual rebate: 119,655 points worth about $500 after subtracting the annual fee

Although the value of Hilton Honors points is lower than that of some other brands, cardholders can make up for it by amassing a high number of points in everyday spending categories. You earn 12 points per dollar spent at Hilton hotels and resorts, six points per dollar on restaurant, supermarket and gas purchases, and three points per dollar on other spending. Extra benefits include a Priority Pass Select membership that provides 10 free yearly visits to participating airport lounges, a free weekend night stay if you spend $15,000 on the card in a calendar year, and complimentary Gold loyalty status. If you spend $40,000 on the card in a calendar year, you’re bumped up to Diamond status. Points typically expire if you are inactive in the Hilton Honors program for 24 months, and earning points with the credit card counts as activity; however, as a pandemic-related relief measure, no points will expire until December 31, 2022. If you prefer to skip the annual fee, try the Hilton Honors Amex card instead.

10 of 19

Best Fuel Rewards Cards

Getty Images

GOLD: Abound Credit Union Platinum Visa

• Website: www.aboundcu.org
• Interest rate: 9.25% to 18%
• Annual fee: None
• Typical annual rebate: $406

This card offers 5% cash back on fuel purchases paid at the pump plus 5% back in quarterly rotating categories. In 2022, the categories are health and fitness (such as fitness clubs and sporting-goods stores) in the first quarter; travel in the second quarter; streaming, phone, cable and internet services in the third quarter; and Amazon purchases in the fourth quarter. Cash back is limited to $100 a month in the rotating categories. After that, you earn 1%, and all other spending on the card gets 1% back. Cash back is automatically credited to your monthly statement. Anyone nationwide can become a member of Abound CU by joining nonprofit organization USA Cares (no fee), paying a one-time, $10 membership fee to the credit union and depositing $5 into a savings account.

SILVER: Sam’s Club Mastercard

• Website: www.samsclub.com
• Interest rate: 15.65% or 23.65%
• Annual fee: None, but you must have a Sam’s Club membership ($45 annually for Club or $100 annually for Plus)
• Sign-up bonus: $30 back if you make $30 in Sam’s Club purchases within 30 days of opening your card account
• Typical annual rebate: $360 for those with Club memberships; $384 for those with Plus memberships

If you belong to wholesale retailer Sam’s Club, this card is a worthy contender for the 5% back it offers on up to $6,000 spent yearly at gas stations. You also get 3% back at restaurants and, if you have a Plus membership, on Sam’s Club purchases. All other spending—including Sam’s Club purchases, for those who are not Plus members—gets 1% back. Cash-back earnings are limited to $5,000 per calendar year, and the previous year’s rewards are issued to your membership account each February. You can use cash back to make purchases at Sam’s Club stores and SamsClub.com.  

BRONZE: PNC Cash Rewards Visa

• Website: www.pnc.com
• Interest rate: 14.24% to 25.24%
• Annual fee: None
• Sign-up bonus: $200 back if you spend $1,000 or more in the first three months
• Typical annual rebate: $385

With this card from PNC, you get 4% cash back on gas-station purchases, 3% at restaurants and 2% at grocery stores on the first $8,000 of combined spending in those categories each year. All other spending earns 1% back. When you have at least $25 in cash back, you can redeem it as a statement credit or deposit into a qualifying PNC deposit or investment account.

11 of 19

Best Grocery Rewards Cards

Getty Images

GOLD: American Express Blue Cash Preferred

• Website: www.americanexpress.com
• Interest rate: 0% for 12 months, then 14.24% to 24.24%
• Annual fee: $95, waived the first year
• Sign-up bonus: $300 back if you spend $3,000 in the first six months
• Typical annual rebate: $566

This card offers an unrivaled 6% cash back on up to $6,000 in supermarket spending each year. (Grocery purchases at superstores such as Target and Walmart and at wholesale clubs don’t qualify.) Cardholders also get 6% back on a list of more than 30 streaming services, 3% back at gas stations and on transit (including taxi and ride-sharing services, train and bus fares, and parking fees), and 1% back on other spending. Redeem cash back as a statement credit when your rewards balance reaches at least $25. Cardholders also get a monthly statement credit of up to $10 for membership fees for the Equinox+ health and fitness app.

SILVER: Citi Custom Cash Mastercard

• Website: www.citi.com
• Interest rate: 0% for 15 months, then 14.24% to 24.24%
• Annual fee: None
• Sign-up bonus: $200 back if you spend $750 in the first three months
• Typical annual rebate: $448

Citi Custom Cash provides 5% cash back automatically in whichever of 10 categories you spend the most each month, and grocery-store spending is one of the qualifying categories. (The others are restaurants, gas stations, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home-improvement stores, fitness clubs and live entertainment. The 5% rebate is limited to $500 in monthly spending.) If you dedicate the card primarily to grocery spending, the 5% rate you’ll earn on grocery purchases all year is outstanding for a card that carries no annual fee. All other purchases earn 1%. You earn rewards as Citi Thank-You points, which you can trade at a rate of a penny each for a statement credit, direct deposit or check.

BRONZE: Verizon Visa

• Website: www.verizon.com
• Interest rate: 18.74% to 25.74%
• Annual fee: None
• Sign-up bonus: A credit totaling $100 ($4.17 per month) is applied to your Verizon wireless bill if you use the card (or Verizon Dollars) to pay your Verizon wireless or Fios bill for the first 24 months
• Typical annual rebate: $505

Customers of Verizon’s wireless services are eligible to apply for this card, which offers 4% on gas and grocery purchases, 3% at restaurants, 2% on Verizon purchases, and 1% on other spending. Rewards are earned as Verizon Dollars, which you can use to pay your Verizon wireless bill, purchase devices and accessories from Verizon, or to book travel or buy gift cards through Verizon’s app and website. If your account is inactive for 24 months, you forfeit any unused Verizon Dollars.

12 of 19

Best Dining Rewards Cards

istockphoto

GOLD: U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa

• Website: www.usbank.com
• Interest rate: 0% for 12 months, then 15.24% to 24.24%
• Annual fee: None
• Sign-up bonus: 20,000 points if you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days
• Typical annual rebate: 39,295 points, worth $393

The Altitude Go Visa provides an effective 4% back on dining purchases (four points per dollar spent at restaurants)—an excellent rate for a no-fee card. You also earn two points per dollar you spend at grocery stores and on grocery delivery, on streaming services, and at gas and EV charging stations. All other spending earns one point per dollar. Points are worth a penny each, and they’re redeemable for cash back as a statement credit or deposit into a U.S. Bank deposit account, travel, gift cards, and merchandise. Cardholders get a $15 credit each year that they have 11 consecutive months of eligible streaming service purchases (including Netflix, Hulu and Apple Music).

SILVER: Capital One SavorOne Mastercard

• Website: www.capitalone.com
• Interest rate: 0% for 15 months, then 15.24% to 25.24%
• Annual fee: None
• Sign-up bonus:$200 back if you spend $500 in the first three months
• Typical annual rebate: $418

SavorOne rewards your spending with 3% cash back on restaurants, entertainment (including movie tickets, amusement parks, professional sporting events, bowling alleys and more), certain streaming services and grocery stores. Redeem cash back in any amount as a statement credit or check. Cardholders also get 8% cash back on event tickets purchased with Vivid Seats and benefits with Capital One Dining, such as special events with chefs.

BRONZE: American Express Gold

• Website: www.americanexpress.com
• Interest rate: 16.24% to 23.24%
• Annual fee: $250
• Sign-up bonus: 60,000 points if you spend $4,000 in the first six months
• Typical annual rebate: 51,951 points, worth $270 in certain travel redemptions after subtracting the annual fee

If you have an appetite for strong rewards on both restaurant and grocery purchases, Amex Gold may be worth the annual fee. Cardholders get four points per dollar spent on supermarket (up to $25,000 spent per year) and restaurant purchases, three points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or at AmexTravel.com, and one point per dollar on other spending. Points are redeemable through Amex’s Membership Rewards program. You also get $10 monthly in Uber Cash to use for Uber rides or Uber Eats orders and up to $10 monthly in statement credits for purchases with certain restaurants and delivery services, including Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, and participating Shake Shack locations. 

13 of 19

Best Shopping Rewards Cards

Getty Images

GOLD: Capital One Walmart Rewards Mastercard

• Website: www.capitalone.com
• Interest rate: 17.99% to 26.99%
• Annual fee: None
• Sign-up bonus: 5% cash back on in-store purchases the first 12 months if you use the card through Walmart Pay (Walmart’s mobile-payment app)
• Typical annual rebate: 37,803 points, worth $378

Walmart shoppers pick up five points per dollar on purchases through the Walmart website and app (including grocery delivery or pickup); two points per dollar on purchases at Walmart stores, at Walmart and Murphy USA gas stations, at restaurants, and on travel; and one point per dollar on other spending. Redeem points at a value of a penny apiece for checks, statement credits, travel bookings or gift cards.

SILVER: Amazon Rewards Visa

• Website: www.chase.com
• Interest rate: 14.49% to 22.49%
• Annual fee: None
• Sign-up bonus: $50 Amazon gift card upon card approval, or a $100 Amazon gift card for Amazon Prime members
• Typical annual rebate: 34,358 points, worth $344; or 39,297 points, worth $393, for Amazon Prime members

Amazon’s credit card is especially valuable for members of Amazon Prime ($139 yearly membership fee), who get a version of the card that offers five points per dollar spent on Amazon and Whole Foods Market purchases. Otherwise, you get three points per dollar on Amazon and Whole Foods spending, and both versions of the card provide two points per dollar at restaurants, gas stations and drugstores, and one point per dollar on other spending. Exchange points at a rate of 1 cent each for cash back, Amazon purchases, gift cards or travel.

BRONZE: Costco Anywhere Visa

• Website: www.citi.com
• Interest rate: 15.49%
• Annual fee: None, but you must have a Costco membership ($60 annually for a Gold Star membership or $120 annually for an Executive membership
• Typical annual rebate: $436

Costco Wholesale members can take advantage of the club’s credit card, which provides 4% cash back on up to $7,000 annually on gas purchases—including gas at Costco but excluding gas purchased at superstores, supermarkets, convenience stores or other wholesale clubs. Cardholders also get 3% back on restaurant and travel purchases, 2% on other purchases at Costco and Costco.com, and 1% on other spending. After your February billing statement closes each year, you receive cash back earned the previous year as a reward certificate, which you can redeem for cash or merchandise in a single transaction at Costco. You have until December 31 of the year the certificate is issued to use it.

14 of 19

Best Shopping Rewards Cards (Store-Restricted)

Getty Images

GOLD: Target RedCard

• Website: www.target.com
• Interest rate: 22.9%
• Annual fee: None
• Typical annual rebate: $50 (assuming $1,000 spent annually)

Target devotees can knock 5% off of their store purchases with this card, which is usable only at Target and Target.com. If you buy groceries at Target, RedCard is a good option because many cards that offer a rebate on general supermarket spending exclude superstores such as Target and Walmart. The 5% discount is applicable to clearance prices, specialty gift cards that you purchase at Target and at in-store Starbucks locations but not on prescriptions, Target Optical eye exams, Target gift cards and certain other items. Cardholders also enjoy an extra 30 days to return purchased items, free two-day shipping on Target.com for some eligible items and free standard shipping on most other purchases.

SILVER: Lowe’s Advantage

• Website: www.lowes.com
• Interest rate: 26.99%
• Annual fee: None
• Sign-up bonus: 20% off a purchase upon opening and using the card ($100 maximum discount)
• Typical annual rebate: $50 (assuming $1,000 spent annually)

If you have a home-renovation project on the horizon or regularly tinker around the house, consider applying for the credit card from Lowe’s, which provides a 5% discount on every purchase. Alternatively, rather than a 5% discount you can choose to pay no interest on a purchase of $299 or more if you pay it off in full within six months (a 26.99% standard rate is charged retroactively if you fail to pay the full balance in six months) or finance a purchase of $2,000 or more over 84 fixed monthly payments with a 7.99% interest rate.

BRONZE: TJX Rewards Credit Card

• Website: www.tjmaxx.com
• Interest rate: 26.99%
• Annual fee: None
• Sign-up bonus: 10% off your first purchase when you open an account
• Typical annual rebate: 5,000 points, worth $50 (assuming $1,000 spent annually)

Get five points per dollar spent at TJX stores, including T.J.Maxx, HomeGoods, Homesense, Marshalls and Sierra. For every 1,000 points you earn, you get a $10 rewards certificate, which you can redeem for purchases at TJX stores. Rewards certificates expire two years after their issue date. TJX offers a Mastercard version of its credit card that is usable at other merchants, but it provides only one point per dollar spent on non-TJX purchases.

15 of 19

Best Rewards Credit Cards for Students

Getty Images

GOLD: Capital One SavorOne Rewards for Students Mastercard

• Website: www.capitalone.com
• Interest rate: 27.24%
• Annual fee: None
• Typical annual rebate: $70 (assuming $3,000 spent annually)

Capital One offers a student version of its dining card, and the maximum-rebate categories may fit well into a typical college student’s budget. Cardholders get 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, certain streaming services and at grocery stores and 1% on other spending. Redeem cash back in any amount as a check or statement credit. Like the standard version of the card, students also get an 8% discount on Vivid Seats ticket purchases and access to special dining events. If you plan to study abroad, take this card with you—it charges no foreign transaction fee. One caveat: The interest rate was recently a stiff 27.24%, so be sure that you’re prepared to pay the balance in full each month.

SILVER: Discover It Student Chrome

• Website: www.discover.com
• Interest rate: 0% for six months, then 13.24% to 22.24%
• Annual fee: None 
• Sign-up bonus: A match of cash back earned after one year, doubling your rewards
• Typical annual rebate: $44 (assuming $3,000 spent annually)

This card from Discover provides clear-cut rewards in categories that make sense for students: 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants (on up to $1,000 in combined quarterly spending) and 1% on other purchases. Cash back is redeemable in any amount as an account credit, bank-account deposit or charitable gift. You can also apply cash back to make purchases with select merchants, such as Amazon, or to buy gift cards. The structure of the initial bonus is a nice touch for students, who get a match of cash back they’ve earned after a year—most other cards require you to spend a certain amount within the first few months to capture a bonus, which may be a steep hill to climb for low spenders. The card is also forgiving to young folks who are getting the hang of managing a credit card: It never charges a penalty interest rate after a late payment, and it waives the late fee for the first missed payment.

Bronze: Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards for Students Visa

• Website: www.bankofamerica.com
• Interest rate: 0% for 15 months, then 14.24% to 24.24%
• Annual fee: None
• Sign-up bonus: $200 back if you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days
• Typical annual rebate: $45 (assuming $3,000 spent annually)

This card is well-suited to students who want a simple flat rate of cash back on all spending. It provides 1.5% back on purchases, redeemable in any amount as a statement credit, a one-time deposit into a Bank of America checking or savings account, or a one-time credit to a qualifying Merrill cash management account (automatic redemptions into such accounts come with a $25 minimum).

16 of 19

Best Rewards Credit Cards for Small Businesses

Getty Images

GOLD: American Express Blue Business Cash

• Website: www.americanexpress.com
• Interest rate: 0% for 12 months, then 13.49% to 21.49%
• Annual fee: None
• Sign-up bonus: $250 back if you spend $3,000 in the first three months
• Typical annual rebate: $640 (assuming $32,000 spent annually)

If you’re self-employed—whether through ownership of a full-fledged business with employees, freelancing or a side hustle—you may qualify for a business credit card. However, in the wake of the pandemic, card issuers have been scrutinizing sole proprietors (for example, a freelancer who uses his or her own first and last name as the business name) more closely, says Brooklyn Lowery, of CardRatings.com. Such applicants may face delays in being approved or lower credit limits than larger businesses might receive. 

With Amex Blue Business Cash, you can earn 2% cash back on up to $50,000 spent each year, then 1%. Cash back is automatically added to your account as a statement credit. When needed, you can spend beyond your card’s credit limit—the amount adjusts based on your card usage, credit record and other factors. You can also add employee cards to your account, designate an account manager who has access to the account, and receive a year-end summary that charts your annual spending.

SILVER: Spark Cash from Capital One

• Website: www.capitalone.com
• Interest rate: 21.24%
• Annual fee: $95, waived the first year
• Sign-up bonus: 50,000 miles if you spend $4,500 in the first three months
• Typical annual rebate: 71,680 miles, worth $717 in travel bookings (assuming $32,000 spent annually)

If you travel regularly for your business, this card can help you accumulate plenty of miles to put toward trips. It offers five miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and two miles per dollar on all other purchases. Exchange miles at a rate of a penny each for account credits on travel purchases or for travel bookings through Capital One. Or transfer them to any of Capital One’s partner airline and hotel loyalty programs. Cardholders also get a credit of up to $100 every four years to reimburse a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee and two free yearly visits to Capital One’s airport lounges. Benefits for business owners include free employee cards and controls to set spending limits on them, plus the ability to download purchase records into various formats (such as Excel or Quicken) and assign an account manager.

BRONZE: U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa Business Card

• Website: www.usbank.com
• Interest rate: 0% for 15 months, then 14.24% to 23.24%
• Annual fee: None
• Sign-up bonus: $500 back if you spend $4,500 in the first 150 days
• Typical annual rebate: $569 (assuming $32,000 spent annually)

Prepaid hotel and car rentals booked through U.S. Bank’s Travel Rewards Center get 5% cash back, and purchases at gas and EV charging stations, office-supply stores, cell-phone service providers, and restaurants get 3% cash back. Other spending earns 1%. Redeem rewards as a statement credit, deposit into a U.S. Bank deposit account or a U.S. Bank prepaid debit card. Each year that you have 11 consecutive months of subscription fees to eligible software services (such as FreshBooks or QuickBooks) charged to the card, you get a statement credit of $100.

17 of 19

Best Low-Rate Credit Cards

Getty Images

As interest rates tick up, carrying a balance on a credit card becomes more burdensome. Consider these cards if you want to refinance current credit card debt or take advantage of a 0% rate on purchases for a limited period. 

The Wells Fargo Reflect Visa (www.wellsfargo.com) offers a 0% rate for 18 months on purchases and balance transfers, plus up to three additional months interest-free if you pay at least the minimum due on time during the introductory and extension periods, for a total 21 months of 0% interest. After that, you’ll pay the standard variable rate—recently, it was 13.24% to 25.24%. The balance-transfer fee is 3% ($5 minimum) of the amount transferred within 120 days of opening the account; after that, it’s 5% with a $5 minimum. 

With the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum (www.usbank.com) card, get a 0% rate on purchases and balance transfers for 20 months, followed by a variable rate that was recently 14.74% to 24.74%. The balance-transfer fee is 3% of the amount transferred ($5 minimum). 

For a low ongoing rate, check out the Lake Michigan Credit Union Prime Platinum Visa (www.lmcu.org). Qualifying cardholders pay as little as the prime rate plus three percentage points; recently, that gave the card a minimum rate of 6.5%. It charges no balance-transfer fee. Anyone nationwide can join the credit union by donating $5 to the ALS Foundation and depositing $5 into a member savings account.

18 of 19

Bypass Gas-Station Cards

Getty Images

When you see ads for a gas station’s credit card as you fill your tank, you may be drawn in by the promise of a discount on every gallon you buy. But when gas prices are high, a flat rate of a few cents off becomes less valuable. Credit cards from BP and ExxonMobil, for example, offer a standard rate of 10 cents off per gallon—higher than that of many competing station cards. With gas recently running at a national average of $4.15 a gallon, according to AAA, the return with those cards is 2.4%. That compares with rebates as high as 5% on our top-rated cards for fuel purchases at a broad range of gas stations.

19 of 19

About Our Methodology

Getty Images

For each card, we’ve calculated a typical annual rebate based on spending patterns in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey and assuming $25,000 spent on the card annually (unless otherwise noted). For cards that do not waive their annual fee the first year, we’ve subtracted the annual fee from the cash value of the annual rebate. We have also considered factors such as ease and flexibility of earning and redeeming rewards and whether you must be a member of a club or financial institution to apply for a card. Except where noted, rewards do not have expiration dates or caps, and the travel-oriented cards do not charge foreign-transaction fees.