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With homes for rent and exciting experiences all over the globe, Airbnb has become a go-to option for travelers. If you're a frequent user or have a big vacation coming up, you could save money by picking up one of the best credit cards for Airbnb.
Unlike a lot of travel companies, Airbnb doesn't have its own credit card. Fortunately, you can still find plenty of credit cards that earn bonus rewards on Airbnb bookings -- and that can cover the cost of stays and experiences. We've sorted through many options to bring you our top picks.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Great for: Double miles on purchases
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Rewards Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.
2X-5X miles
Annual Fee
$95
Welcome Offer 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
75,000 Miles
This is one of our top travel credit cards overall, because of its highly lucrative, yet dead simple rewards program. Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase and use them to get reimbursed for any travel purchase — or to book a trip through Capital One Travel. TSA Pre✓® credit and the opportunity to earn a massive 75,000 Miles sign-up bonus (worth $750 in travel) make this credit card one of the best travel companions. Read Full Review
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Great for: Sign-up bonus and versatile points
On Chase's Secure Website.
On Chase's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR N/A
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
21.49%-28.49% Variable
Rewards Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases
Annual Fee N/A
$95
Welcome Offer Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
60,000 bonus points
The enormous welcome bonus (worth up to $750), bonus points for travel and dining, and $50 annual hotel credit alone make this card well worth the $95 annual fee. What really stands out are the rare travel protections such as trip delay reimbursement, lost luggage reimbursement, and trip cancellation/interruption insurance. It’s the only low annual fee card we’ve seen offer those protections. Read Full Review
Great for: Annual travel credit
On Chase's Secure Website.
On Chase's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
22.49%-29.49% Variable
Rewards Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
5x points on flights and 10x points on hotels and car rentals through Chase Travel℠.
Annual Fee N/A
$550
Welcome Offer Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
60,000 bonus points
This Chase card is your ticket to big rewards on travel spending and dining out, like up to 10x points on spending through Chase Travel, where your points are worth 50% more if you book through Chase Ultimate Rewards. You'll also score excellent perks, like a $300 travel credit, airport lounge access, and a Global Entry/TSA Precheck credit. The annual fee is hefty, but if you can use all its features, this card could be well worth the cost. Read Full Review
Great for: 2% unlimited rewards on purchases
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
Purchases: 0% intro APR, 15 months from account opening
Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 15 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers
Regular APR
20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR
Rewards Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
2% cash rewards
Annual Fee N/A
$0
Welcome Offer Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
$200 cash rewards
This card’s unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases is the highest we’ve seen for a flat-rate rewards card with no annual fee. It also has an incredibly easy-to-earn $200 welcome bonus and a generous intro APR offer. We simply haven’t come across this combination of top perks in one card before. Read Full Review
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
Great for: No annual fee travel card with a big sign-up bonus
On Bank of America's Secure Website.
On Bank of America's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. Balance transfers include a fee of 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 4%.
Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases
Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days
Regular APR
18.24% - 28.24% (Variable)
Rewards
1.5 points per dollar
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases
25,000 points
This is a good starter travel card thanks to its simplicity and no annual fee. It offers a strong welcome bonus worth $250, unlimited 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases, and no foreign transaction fee. Simply redeem points as a statement credit for travel or dining purchases. The generous 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases offer might come in handy if you want to pay-off an expensive trip over time without interest. It’s a particularly good fit for Bank of America Preferred Rewards members, who can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase (depending on your tier). Read Full Review
Great for: Unlimited 3x points on travel
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from account opening
Purchases: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR
Rewards Earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. Plus earn 1X points on other purchases.
1X-3X points
Annual Fee N/A
$0
Welcome Offer Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.
20,000 bonus points
This card offers unlimited 3X points on common things like restaurants, gas stations, travel, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans. Plus, earn 1X points on other purchases. This could be a great pick if you spend a lot in those categories. A solid welcome bonus and cell phone protection are the cherries on top. Read Full Review
Great for: 5% in top spend category (select travel is an option)
Fair to Excellent (580-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 15 months
Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months
Regular APR
19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
Rewards 5% cash back in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle (up to the first $500 spent), 1% cash back on other purchases. Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2025.
1% - 5% cash back
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer Earn $200 in cash back after you spend $1500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
20,000 ThankYou® Points
We love this card’s easy-to-use yet lucrative cash back program. Each billing cycle, cardholders earn 5% cash back in their top spend category (up to $500 spent in eligible categories). Eligible categories include grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, select travel and more. The card automatically adjusts to your spending habits, which makes it easy to maximize your rewards. Read Full Review
Here are the things to consider to choose the best Airbnb credit card:
Those are the features that matter most for saving on Airbnb. Other details, such as whether a card has a good credit card APR, aren't as important. If you pay in full every month, you won't need to worry about your card's APR.
Now, let's take a closer look at each of these factors.
If Airbnb is your platform of choice for vacation bookings, it's nice to have a credit card that offers a high rewards rate on those purchases.
We haven't found a credit card that earns bonus points specifically on Airbnb purchases. However, there are quite a few credit cards that list travel as one of their bonus categories. Most of them are travel credit cards, but there are also some cash back cards that earn bonus cash rewards on travel spending.
There are also credit cards that offer a competitive rate, such as 2 points/miles per $1, across all types of purchases. A card like this can also be a good choice, as well. Even without any bonus points, it will earn a reasonable amount on your spending.
Most travel cards offer a sign-up bonus, which is also called a welcome bonus. New cardholders who complete the terms (usually just reaching a spending minimum) earn bonus travel rewards points.
It's always worth comparing sign-up bonuses when choosing a new credit card. The biggest sign-up bonuses can be worth $500 or more, making this one of the most valuable perks a credit card company offers. Your card's sign-up bonus could easily pay for an Airbnb booking in full.
Every travel card has its own reward redemption options. Here are the most common ways to use travel rewards:
What's most important here is that you find a card with rewards points you can use. If you want rewards that you can use specifically for Airbnb purchases, look for credit cards that let you redeem points directly for travel purchases. Another potential option with some cards is to redeem rewards for an Airbnb gift card.
Annual fees are common among travel credit cards, and they usually range from about $90 to $450 or more.
That doesn't mean a card with an annual fee is your only option. There are some excellent travel credit cards with no annual fee if that's what you're after. These are an especially good choice if you plan to add authorized users on your credit card and you don't want to pay extra for them.
For frequent travelers, it's worth being open to every option. Travel cards with an annual fee often make up for their cost with the extra benefits they offer. You may find that even after accounting for a card's annual fee, it still saves you more money than an alternative that has no annual fee.
Certain travel cards offer travel credits, particularly high-end cards that cost more. A travel credit is an automatic statement credit that applies to eligible purchases. For example, if a card offers a $300 annual travel credit, you'll get automatic statement credits for your first $300 in yearly travel purchases.
Credits like these go a long way toward balancing out a card's annual fee. And if your card has a credit toward any type of travel purchase, it will most likely apply to an Airbnb reservation.
If you travel outside the U.S. at all, a credit card with no foreign transaction fee is practically a necessity. There's no reason to pay an extra 3% on purchases abroad.
This can also help you save money on international Airbnb bookings. Rentals sometimes cost less if you change your Airbnb settings to the local currency. To avoid extra fees when switching to a foreign currency, you need a card with no foreign transaction fees.
Almost every travel card lets you make international purchases without charging you extra. But if you go abroad often, it's also smart to look specifically at credit cards for international travel.
The key to maximizing your credit card rewards with Airbnb is to pay with a credit card that earns bonus rewards on travel purchases.
If a credit card offers bonus travel rewards, Airbnb purchases should qualify. This is typically the only bonus category that includes Airbnb, so it's the best way to earn more rewards on your Airbnb spending. If you don't have a card that earns extra on travel, consider shopping around and applying for a credit card that does.
There are also a few airlines that have Airbnb portals where you can earn miles on your bookings. Here are the airlines with links to their respective Airbnb portals:
All you need to do is go through the airline's portal to book your stay. You'll be prompted to enter your frequent flyer number, and then you'll earn miles on your booking. You can also pay using a travel credit card, so this is an easy way to double up by earning credit card points and airline miles at the same time.
Yes, you can earn a free night with a credit card for Airbnb. To do this, you'll need a credit card that lets you redeem points as a statement credit toward previous travel purchases. After you book the Airbnb on your travel card, you can apply your rewards to the purchase.
Here's an example of how this would work. Let's say you have a credit card with rewards that are worth $0.01 per point toward travel purchases. You book a $200 Airbnb stay with that credit card. Then, you would go to the rewards page and redeem 20,000 points to cover the cost of that Airbnb stay.
Card | Rating | Great For |
---|---|---|
2024 Award Winner
|
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Double miles on purchases |
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Sign-up bonus and versatile points |
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Annual travel credit |
|
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: 2% unlimited rewards on purchases |
|
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Competitive rewards and travel perks |
|
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: No annual fee travel card with a big sign-up bonus |
|
2024 Award Winner
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Unlimited 3x points on travel |
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: 5% in top spend category (select travel is an option) |
No, Airbnb doesn't have a credit card.
No, Airbnb doesn't count as a hotel for earning credit card rewards. To earn bonus credit card rewards on Airbnb, you can pay using a credit card that earns bonus rewards on travel purchases.
Yes, you can pay for an Airbnb with credit card rewards, but it depends on the card you have. If your credit card lets you redeem rewards toward any type of travel purchase, then you can use them to pay for an Airbnb.
Our Credit Cards Experts
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.
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