These Credit Cards Have Some of the Biggest Welcome Bonuses Right Now
With credit card bonuses, you can make banks pay for your business. Here are a few of the top sign-up deals.
We may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened. We may not cover every available offer. Our relationship with advertisers may impact how an offer is presented on our site but our editorial selection of products is made independently. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. We calculate a typical annual reward for each card, assuming $36,000 spent annually and less any annual fee. Interest rates, fees, rewards and other terms listed in this article are subject to change. Before you apply for a credit card, check its current terms and conditions with the issuer.
Credit card welcome bonuses can be worth hundreds of dollars in cash back or potentially more than $1,000 in travel, making them one of the fastest ways to rack up credit card rewards. But the biggest advertised bonus isn't necessarily the best deal for your wallet.
Before applying, look beyond the number of points or miles being offered. Consider how much you'll need to spend to earn the bonus, the card's annual fee and how much the rewards are worth when redeemed. It's also worth asking whether the card's ongoing rewards and benefits make sense for you after the welcome offer is gone.
Most importantly, don't spend more than you normally would just to qualify for a bonus. Paying interest on a balance can quickly wipe out the value of the rewards you worked to earn. Here are three credit cards offering some of the most valuable welcome bonuses right now, plus a few more offers worth considering.
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Capital One Venture Rewards offers a strong travel bonus
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is offering new cardholders two ways to get extra travel value during the first year.
You'll get a $300 credit to use on hotel and vacation rental bookings through Capital One Travel during your first cardholder year, plus 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 within the first three months.
That combination can provide significant value if you were already planning a trip and can meet the spending requirement without stretching your budget. Capital One miles can be redeemed for flights, hotels, vacation rentals, rental cars and other travel purchases, or transferred to participating airline and hotel loyalty programs.
There's a $95 annual fee, but frequent travelers may also get value from benefits such as a credit of up to $120 for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
The card also has relatively simple ongoing rewards. You'll earn unlimited 2 miles per dollar on everyday purchases and 5 miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Annual fee: $95. See rates and fees.
Amex Platinum offers a welcome bonus as high as 175,000 points
The American Express Platinum Card® offers as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $12,000 in eligible purchases in your first six months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to find out your exact welcome offer amount.
The card has a hefty $895 annual fee, so it makes the most sense for frequent travelers who can take advantage of its premium benefits.
These include airport lounge access, up to $600 in annual statement credits on eligible hotel bookings and 5X points on eligible flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel®.
The card offers numerous other statement credits and travel benefits, but their value depends heavily on which ones you'll actually use. Review the complete benefits and terms before deciding whether the card makes sense for your wallet.
Annual fee: $895. Terms apply. See rates and fees.
Chase Sapphire Preferred offers 75,000 bonus points
New Chase Sapphire Preferred® cardholders can earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of opening the account.
Beyond the welcome bonus, the card earns 5X points on Chase Travel, 3X on dining and select other categories and 2X on other travel purchases.
Cardholders also get up to $100 in annual statement credits for hotel stays purchased through Chase Travel and can transfer points to participating airline and hotel loyalty programs.
With a $95 annual fee, the card could be a good fit for travelers who want flexible rewards without paying the higher annual fees charged by premium travel cards.
Annual fee: $95. See pricing and terms.
Other credit card welcome bonuses worth considering
A few other cards offer welcome bonuses that are worth a closer look, particularly if you're looking for cash back or rewards tied to a specific airline or hotel brand.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: You may be eligible for as high as $300 cash back after spending $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first six months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. The card earns 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95. Terms apply. See rates and fees.
Chase Freedom Flex®: This card is worth considering if you want to earn cash back without paying an annual fee.
It offers cash back on rotating quarterly categories, plus ongoing rewards on travel booked through Chase Travel, dining and drugstore purchases.
Annual fee: $0. See pricing and terms.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: You may be eligible for as high as 80,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first six months of Card Membership.
Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Frequent Delta flyers can also get their first checked bag free and save 15% when booking eligible Award Travel on Delta flights. Terms apply.
Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150. See rates and fees.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first six months of Card Membership.
Frequent Hilton guests can also earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on eligible purchases made directly with hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio. Terms apply.
Annual fee: $150. See rates and fees.
How to tell if a credit card bonus is worth it
A big welcome bonus can be tempting, but start with the spending requirement. If you can't reach it through purchases you were already planning to make, the bonus probably isn't worth chasing. Carrying a balance and paying interest can also quickly erase the value of any rewards you earn.
Next, consider what the bonus is actually worth to you. The value of points and miles can vary depending on how you redeem them, so 100,000 points from one program aren't necessarily worth more than 75,000 from another. Annual fees also matter, particularly if you won't use enough of the card's benefits to offset the cost.
Finally, think beyond the welcome offer. Look at the card's ongoing rewards and benefits and ask whether you'd still want it a year from now. And before applying, check the issuer's eligibility rules since previous cards or bonuses may affect whether you qualify for a new welcome offer.
All information about the Platinum Card from American Express and the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express has been collected independently by Kiplinger. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. As an independent publication dedicated to helping you make the most of your money, the article above is our view of the best deals and is not the opinion of any entity mentioned such as a card issuer, hotel, airline etc. Similarly, the content has not been reviewed or endorsed by any of those entities.
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