Lisa Gerstner
About the Kiplinger Readers’ Choice Awards 2025
The Kiplinger Readers’ Choice Awards aim to recognize and celebrate the best products and services in the personal finance arena. We asked you, our Kiplinger community, to help us name the products and services you think have delivered excellent value in the past year.
The survey results, which we’re sharing here in our second annual Readers’ Choice Awards, offer valuable insight into which providers shine when it comes to your everyday interactions and experiences with them. Our Awards recognize excellence in everything from credit cards, banks and brokers to insurers, tax software and financial apps. For each category, we’ve listed an overall winner that earned the highest score. We’ve also highlighted other products and services that earned above-average scores for various criteria we asked readers to assess.
By voting, our community has helped us form our guide to the very best financial products. These are the products and companies that you think stand out from the crowd.
Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards: Airline Card Rewards Programs
Airline credit cards reward brand loyalty. You’ll get miles or points for every flight you book with the airline, and with some programs, you can earn free airline tickets, access to airport lounges and other travel perks.
We surveyed readers in three areas: strength of customer service, whether they would recommend the credit card program to others and overall satisfaction.
OVERALL WINNER: Southwest Airlines Cards
Outstanding for:
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Be a smarter, better informed investor.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
- Customer service
- Most recommended
- Overall satisfaction
Southwest offers a trio of consumer credit cards tied to its Rapid Rewards loyalty program. And now that Southwest is charging fees for checked luggage, cardholders get a new perk: one free checked bag for you and up to eight passengers.
The credit cards, issued by Chase, come with varying annual fees and rewards, including a heap of bonus points on each yearly cardmember anniversary: 3,000 points with the Rapid Rewards Plus card ($69 annual fee), 6,000 points with Premier ($99) and 7,500 points with Priority ($149).
The Priority card also comes with four upgraded boardings per year (when available) and a $75 Southwest travel credit, among other benefits. One reader says, “The points bonus for signing up was incredibly high.” (Recently, all three cards offered a 50,000-point bonus if you spend $1,000 in the first three months.) “Plus, getting a free upgrade to Business Select was nice.”
Delta Air Lines Cards
Outstanding for:
- Customer service
- Most recommended
- Overall satisfaction
The Delta SkyMiles program features four credit cards issued by American Express: Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card , Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card.
One reader praises the program for offering “lots of features and benefits” that go beyond the miles you earn on purchases.
Benefits vary by card, with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve card providing the most perks in exchange for the high annual fee ($650). Perks include a companion certificate (which allows an additional passenger to fly with you once per year on a round-trip flight within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central America, taxes and fees apply), access to Amex’s Centurion airport lounges and 15 visits to Delta Sky Club lounges each year. Rates and fees apply.
JetBlue Cards
Outstanding for:
- Overall satisfaction
JetBlue offers a few consumer credit cards, issued by Barclays: the JetBlue Card, JetBlue Plus ($99) and JetBlue Premier ($499). All the cards provide a 50% discount on in-flight refreshments, and the Plus and Premier cards offer a 5,000-point bonus on your yearly cardmember anniversary and one free checked bag for you and up to three other passengers.
With all JetBlue cards, you can pool points you earn with friends and family to get more travel perks.
Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards Categories
- Readers' Choice Full-Service Brokers
- Readers' Choice Wealth Management
- Readers' Choice Cash Back Credit Cards
- Readers' Choice Travel Rewards Credit Cards
- Readers' Choice Hotel Credit Card Rewards Programs
- Readers' Choice National Banks
- Readers' Choice Internet Banks
- Readers' Choice Auto Insurance Companies
- Readers' Choice Homeowners Insurance Companies
- Readers' Choice Annuity Providers
- Readers' Choice Tax Software
- Readers' Choice Peer-to-Peer Payment Services
-
Don't Miss Out! A Quiz on Medicare Enrollment DeadlinesQuiz Test your basic knowledge of Medicare enrollment periods in our quick quiz.
-
A New 2026 Tax Deduction Change for People Age 65 and OlderTax Changes Adjustments to the extra standard deduction can impact the tax bills of millions of older adults. Here are some new amounts to know for 2026.
-
A 'Fast, Fair and Friendly' Fail: Farmers Irks Customers With Its Handling of a Data BreachFarmers Insurance is facing negative attention and lawsuits because of a three-month delay in notifying 1.1 million policyholders about a data breach. Here's what you can do if you're affected.
-
Retirement Road Trips with Pets: Tips for Traveling with Your Dog or CatHitting the road for a retirement adventure with your pet? Check out these tips to keep your furry friend happy and safe on the journey!
-
This Is How Much You'll Have to Pay to Share Streaming ServicesIt now costs more to share streaming services with family members who don't live with the account holder. Here's what Netflix, Amazon, Hulu and Disney+ charge.
-
Credit Cards That Actually Reward Your LoyaltyIf you have bank or investment accounts with your credit card issuer, you may qualify for extra cash back, waived fees and other benefits.
-
The 10 Most Valuable Vacation Destinations for Retirees in 2026Whether traveling within the U.S. or internationally, retirees can find a perfect blend of relaxation and excitement in these destinations, all while staying within budget.
-
My First $1 Million: Waste Hauling and Recycling Business Owner, 40, WyomingEver wonder how someone who's made a million dollars or more did it? Kiplinger's My First $1 Million series uncovers the answers.
-
I Wrote About Credit Cards for Years: Here's My Credit Card Rewards StrategyThis is how I maximize cash back and points for various purchases and leverage premium card benefits such as airport lounge access and annual fee waivers for active-duty military members.
-
Sam's Club Extends A Popular Shopping PerkSam's Club has adopted a new policy on Sundays and holidays. Learn what it is and how to save on a membership.
