Updated
If you have a good credit score, it's smart to think about how to get more value from your credit cards. Credit card rewards are a popular option, as they're one of the most valuable features card issuers offer. In this guide, you'll learn everything you need to know to maximize your credit card rewards.
How do I make the most of my rewards credit card?
Maximizing your credit card rewards is achieved through using your rewards card on your spending and paying the bill in full every month
Here are a few guidelines to make the most of your rewards credit card:
- Use your rewards card for every purchase: You'll earn rewards whenever you make an eligible purchase with your card. As such, you should use it for your spending. If you pay with cash or a debit card, you're leaving potential rewards on the table.
- Don’t overspend to earn more rewards: Some consumers use rewards as a justification to spend more. This isn't a good idea. Imagine you spend an extra $100 at restaurants this month because your credit card offers 5% back on dining. After that $5 back, you're still down $95. It's better to follow your budget and not adjust your spending habits to gain credit card rewards.
- Pay your credit card bill in full: Interest charges can reduce or wipe out the value you get from credit card rewards. Rewards cards also tend to have higher interest rates than other types of credit cards, making this even more of a problem. If you pay your card off every month, you won't be charged credit card interest.
- Redeem your credit card rewards regularly: Rewards won't usually increase in value, but they can get less valuable over time. For that reason, it makes sense to use credit card rewards promptly.
- Watch for new credit card options: The best rewards credit cards change often as credit card companies add benefits and launch new cards. Check out the rewards cards that are available every six months to a year. You may find there's a card available that will work better for you.
To qualify for the rewards cards with the most benefits, you'll generally need good or excellent credit. If you need help raising your credit score, you can learn how in our credit score guide.
If you want to take advantage of the perks of a rewards credit card, take a look at a few of our favorites below. Our full list of the Best Rewards Credit Cards has a lot more options to consider too.
As of Sep. 21, 2023
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| Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card | Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | Discover it® Secured Credit Card |
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Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00 stars
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 |
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00 stars
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 |
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00 stars
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 |
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Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Good/Excellent (670-850) |
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Good/Excellent (670-850) |
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: New/Rebuilding Under(579)
New/Rebuilding Under(579) |
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Welcome Offer: $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first three months $200 cash rewards offer |
Welcome Offer: Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel 75,000 miles |
Welcome Offer: Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. Cashback Match |
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Rewards Program: 2% cash rewards |
Rewards Program: Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. 2X-5X miles |
Rewards Program: 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically 1% - 2% Cashback |
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Intro APR: 0% intro APR, 15 months from account opening on 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 |
Intro APR: Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A |
Intro APR: Purchases: n/a Balance Transfers: 10.99%, 6 months |
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Regular APR: 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR |
Regular APR: 20.99% - 28.99% (Variable) |
Regular APR: 28.24% Variable APR |
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Annual Fee: $0 |
Annual Fee: $95 |
Annual Fee: $0 |
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What issuer has the best credit card rewards program?
Chase has the best credit card rewards program because it has several quality travel partners and it offers the best rates when you use points for cash travel bookings.
Chase rewards program
Here's how you can use Chase Ultimate Rewards points to save big on travel:
- Transfer points to travel partners: Chase has a great roster of airline and hotel partners, including United Airlines, Hyatt Hotels, and Southwest Airlines. You can transfer Chase points to partners to book award airfare or an award hotel stay. Let's say you want to book a ticket with United for 30,000 miles. You could transfer 30,000 Chase points to United. Those points would become United miles you could use to book the ticket.
- Redeem points with the Ultimate Rewards travel portal: Chase also lets you use points to make cash travel bookings through the Ultimate Rewards portal. Your points are worth $0.0125 each if you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. They're worth $0.015 each if you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. For example, if you have 10,000 Chase points, you could use that to buy either $125 or $150 in travel, depending on which Chase rewards credit cards you have.
Here are some of our top-rated Chase cards that could be a good fit for you if you're looking for travel rewards.
As of Sep. 21, 2023
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| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Chase Sapphire Reserve® | Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card |
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Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50 stars
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 |
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50 stars
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 |
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50 stars
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 |
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Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase's Secure Website. |
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Reserve®
On Chase's Secure Website. |
Apply Now for Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
On Chase's Secure Website. |
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Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Good/Excellent (670-850) |
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Good/Excellent (670-850) |
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Good/Excellent (670-850) |
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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 Ultimate Rewards®. 60,000 bonus points |
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 Ultimate Rewards® 60,000 bonus points |
Welcome Offer: New Cardmember Offer! Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. New Cardmember Offer! Earn 100,000 bonus points |
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Rewards Program: Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, and 2x on all other travel purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more. 1x - 5x points |
Rewards Program: Earn 5x total points on air travel and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® 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 1x - 10x points |
Rewards Program: Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases. Earn 3 points per $1 in select business categories |
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Intro APR: N/A Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A |
Intro APR: N/A Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A |
Intro APR: N/A Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A |
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Regular APR: 21.49%-28.49% Variable |
Regular APR: 22.49%-29.49% Variable |
Regular APR: 21.24%-26.24% Variable |
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Annual Fee: N/A $95 |
Annual Fee: N/A $550 |
Annual Fee: N/A $95 |
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Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase's Secure Website. |
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Reserve®
On Chase's Secure Website. |
Apply Now for Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
On Chase's Secure Website. |
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The Chase Ultimate Rewards program ranks at the top, but there are a couple of other great rewards programs you may want to check out.
American Express Membership Rewards
American Express also offers quite a few travel partners in its popular rewards program. You can transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to over 20 different partners. That includes domestic airlines, international airlines, and hotels. The Membership Rewards program provides so many options that American Express rewards credit cards work well if you like to shop around for the best travel rewards deals.
American Express has several credit cards with travel rewards that we love. Take a look at a few here.
As of Sep. 21, 2023
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| The Platinum Card® from American Express |
American Express® Green Card |
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card |
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Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50 stars
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 |
Rating image, 3.50 out of 5 stars.
3.50 stars
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 |
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00 stars
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 |
|
Apply Now for The Platinum Card® from American Express
On American Express' Secure Website. Terms apply |
Apply Now for Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
On American Express' Secure Website. Terms apply |
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Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Good/Excellent (670-850) |
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Good/Excellent (670-850) |
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Good/Excellent (670-850) |
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Welcome Offer: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points |
Welcome Offer: Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your American Express® Green Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. 40,000 Membership Rewards® Points |
Welcome Offer: Earn 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. 40,000 |
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Rewards Program: Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® Points on other purchases. 1X - 5X points |
Rewards Program: 3X Membership Rewards® Points on Restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery. 3X Membership Rewards® points on all eligible travel, from subway swipes and window seats to hotel stays and city tours. The 1x points on other purchases. 1x - 3x points |
Rewards Program: Earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. 1X - 2X miles |
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Intro APR: Purchases: n/a Balance Transfers: n/a |
Intro APR: Purchases: n/a Balance Transfers: n/a |
Intro APR: Purchases: n/a Balance Transfers: n/a |
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Regular APR: See Pay Over Time APR |
Regular APR: See Pay Over Time APR |
Regular APR: 20.99%-29.99% Variable |
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Annual Fee: $695 |
Annual Fee: $150 |
Annual Fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99. |
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Apply Now for The Platinum Card® from American Express
On American Express' Secure Website. Terms apply |
Apply Now for Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
On American Express' Secure Website. Terms apply |
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The information for the American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by The Ascent and not provided by the issuer. Therefore, some terms may be out of date. Visit the issuer's website for more information.
Citi ThankYou Rewards
Citi is another card issuer to consider as you shop for rewards credit cards. It has over a dozen travel partners where you can send your Citi ThankYou points. Most of these travel partners are international airlines. If there are any international frequent flyer programs you like, Citi rewards credit cards could be just what you need.
If you're interested in Citi, take a look at a few of our favorite cards that offer rewards below.
As of Sep. 21, 2023
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| Citi Premier® Card |
Citi Prestige® Card |
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® |
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Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50 stars
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 |
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00 stars
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 |
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00 stars
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 |
|
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Good/Excellent (670-850) |
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Excellent (740-850)
Excellent (740-850) |
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Good/Excellent (670-850) |
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Welcome Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024. 60,000 ThankYou® Points |
Welcome Offer: 50,000 points after spending $4,000 within 3 months 50,000 ThankYou Points |
Welcome Offer: Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. 50,000 miles |
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Rewards Program: 3x points at restaurants, supermarkets, at gas stations, for air travel, and on hotels, 1x points on other purchases 1x - 3x points |
Rewards Program: 5x points for air travel and restaurants, 3x points for hotels and cruises, 1x point on other purchases 1x - 5x points |
Rewards Program: 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations, restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases, 1 mile per dollar on other purchases 1x - 2x miles |
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Intro APR: Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A |
Intro APR: Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A |
Intro APR: Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A |
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Regular APR: 21.24% - 29.24% (Variable) |
Regular APR: 16.99% - 23.99%, variable |
Regular APR: 21.24% - 29.99% (Variable) |
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Annual Fee: $95 |
Annual Fee: $495 |
Annual Fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first 12 months, $99 thereafter $0 intro fee |
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This offer is no longer available for new applicants. The information for the Citi Prestige® Card has been collected independently by The Ascent. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Bank of America Preferred Rewards
Bank of America rewards credit cards are ideal if you already use its banking or investment services. Through the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program, you can get bonuses of 25% to 75% on all your credit card rewards. To qualify, you need to meet minimum balance requirements that start at $20,000.
Unlike the card issuers above, Bank of America doesn't offer transfers to travel partners. Instead, it offers cash back rewards and fixed-rate travel redemptions depending on which of its cards you have.
Which is a better option: Cash back or credit card rewards programs?
Credit card rewards programs are generally the better option if you travel multiple times per year. The top rewards programs give you ways to redeem points for a high value when you use them to book travel. Transferring points to travel partners, in particular, is one of the smartest ways to maximize credit card rewards.
Cash back is the better choice if you aren't a frequent traveler. It's also the way to go if you want the simpler credit card rewards option. There can be a learning curve to credit card rewards programs as you figure out how to best use your points. With cash back, you don't need to deal with that. Cash back credit cards are easy to use and can work for anyone.
Still have questions?
Some other questions we've answered:
FAQs
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The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers the best rewards. It earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which you can transfer to airline and hotel partners or use to book travel in cash. This Chase credit card also has a big sign-up bonus and a reasonable $95 annual fee.
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Points are typically the best type of credit card rewards, because they have the most potential value. This is especially true with Chase, American Express, and Citi points. All three credit card companies allow you to transfer points to travel partners, which can get you more value than any other type of redemption.
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To make the most of your rewards credit card, use it for every purchase so you earn as many credit card rewards as you can. Make sure you follow a budget so that you don't overspend, and pay off your credit card bill in full every month to avoid interest charges.
Our Credit Cards Expert
Lyle Daly is a personal finance writer who specializes in credit cards, travel rewards programs, and banking. He writes for The Ascent and The Motley Fool, and his work has appeared in USA Today and Yahoo! Finance. He was born in California but currently lives as a digital nomad with a home base in Colombia.
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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.
Citigroup is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Discover Financial Services is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Wells Fargo is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Bank of America is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. American Express is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Lyle Daly has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Mastercard, PayPal, Target, Uber Technologies, Visa, and Walmart. The Motley Fool recommends Discover Financial Services, Hyatt Hotels, and Southwest Airlines and recommends the following options: long January 2025 $370 calls on Mastercard, short January 2025 $380 calls on Mastercard, and short September 2023 $67.50 puts on PayPal. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
For rates and fees for the American Express® Green Card, click here
For rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, click here
For rates and fees for the The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here