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: Hotel Credit Card Rewards Programs
As with airline card programs, hotel credit card programs reward you for being loyal to a particular hotel chain. The more you stay, the more perks you can receive, such as free nights, upgraded rooms, late checkouts and more.
These hotel credit card programs earned top marks from our readers, who rated the programs on the strength of customer service, the likelihood they’d recommend the program to others, and overall satisfaction.
OVERALL WINNER: Marriott Bonvoy cards
Outstanding for:
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-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
Marriott’s program features four credit cards. Two are issued by Chase Bank and two by American Express.
- The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card ($95, see rates and fees)
- The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card ($0, see rates and fees)
- The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express® Card ($250, see rates and fees )
- The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card($695 fee, see rates and fees)
One reader commends the program for offering quick and easy point redemptions. “The points are usable at any hotel almost immediately for an available room on the same day. Very, very flexible.” You can also transfer points to the frequent flier programs of 39 airlines, including American, Delta, Southwest and United.
The cards offer extra points when you stay at Marriott properties. And all but the Bold card come with a free night award each year, either after your account anniversary or after you spend a certain amount on the card.
World of Hyatt Credit Card
Outstanding for:
- Most recommended
Issued by Chase, the World of Hyatt card ($95) provides nine points per dollar spent on Hyatt stays, two points per dollar on travel and dining purchases, and one point per dollar on other spending.
Each year on your cardmember anniversary, you get a free night at an eligible Hyatt hotel or resort, and you can earn an extra free night by charging at least $15,000 annually on the card. Plus, cardholders get complimentary Wi-Fi and late checkout of 2 p.m. (when available) during Hyatt stays.
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 Airline 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
-
Summer Backyard Ideas With Added Tax Benefits for 2025Tax Tips Find out how these summer 2025 home projects can help you save on taxes next year.
-
From Broadway to Broadview: Jane Alexander's Unique Retirement ChoiceInside Broadview at SUNY Purchase: The retirement community where you can audit classes and attend concerts.
-
My First $1 Million: Retired International Finance Director, 68, AtlantaEver wonder how someone who's made a million dollars or more did it? Kiplinger's My First $1 Million series uncovers the answers.
-
Student Loan Delinquencies Are Hurting Credit Scores — Even for Parents and GrandparentsMillions of borrowers are falling behind on student loan payments, triggering steep credit score drops. If you or your family carry student debt, here's what you need to know now.
-
Costco Offers Executive Members A New Shopping PerkCostco executive members can shop in store one hour earlier, starting on June 30.
-
Is Your Home Disaster-Ready? An Insurance Expert's Guide to Preparing for Storms and FiresHomeowners can take these steps to protect their properties from hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires and hail, while also potentially reducing their insurance costs.
-
Beyond 401(k)s: How Millennials Are Ditching Gen X Retirement Strategies. Will It Pay Off?Sorry, Gen X, when it comes to saving for retirement, the younger generation views it differently.
-
A Financial Adviser's Defense of Annuities: They're Just MisunderstoodAnnuities can offer retirement income stability and security against market volatility, though some do have drawbacks. The key is to understand their features before buying.
-
How My Dad Taught Me the Compounding Returns of FatherhoodAs Father's Day approaches, I remember how my father's small acts of love and generosity added up over time and influenced my relationships with my own children, proving that the best investments can grow across generations.
-
Stood Up by a Radio Show: But Was It a Breach of Contract?A conscientious financial planner reschedules his clients after being invited onto a talk show and ends up losing one of them at a cost of $5,000. What does the radio show owe him, if anything?
