NerdWallet’s Best Rewards Credit Cards, Spring 2013

Whether you’re looking for a cash back credit card with no annual fee, an airline credit card meant for jetsetting glory, or simply rewards on the purchases you make every day, we’ve got you covered. Oh – and did we mention signup bonuses? Read on for the best cards to earn money while spending money.

Best no-fee, cash back rewards card: The Chase Freedom

Want great rewards without the commitment of fees and hassle of annoying rewards programs? Enter the Chase Freedom, which offers a great rewards rate as well as no annual fee. It earns 5% cash back on bonus categories that change every quarter, such as gas, groceries, restaurants and Amazon.com, up to $1,500 spent per quarter. You’ll earn 1% cash back on all other purchases. Plus, the card comes with a $100 signup bonus – free money! No matter which way you slice it – rewards, fees, ease of use – the card is a valuable companion.

Chase Freedom® Visa
	This offer is for people with a good to excellent credit history which means, among other things, that your credit history is clear of bankruptcy and seriously delinquent accounts Earn $100 Bonus Cash Back after you make $500 in purchases in your first 3 months from account opening 0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers 5% Cash Back on up to $1,500 spent between July 1 and September 30, 2013 at gas stations, theme parks, and Kohl's® You'll enjoy new 5% categories every 3 months like gas stations, restaurants and Amazon.com. It's free and easy to activate your bonus each quarter! Unlimited 1% Cash Back on all other purchases No annual fee and rewards never expire		Pros Bonus cash back categories No annual fee 0% for 15 mos on transfers

Best airline miles credit card: The Capital One® Venture^℠ Rewards Credit Card

Forget best rewards card – the Capital One® Venture^℠ Rewards Credit Card is probably our favorite card out there. With a stellar rewards rate, easy-to-redeem miles and travel-friendly perks, what’s not to love? It earns a solid 2 No Hassle Miles per $1 spent anywhere – no caps, no thresholds, no fuss. And the miles are actually not a hassle, because you redeem them as a statement credit to offset any travel expense, be it airfare or gas or hotel rooms. There’s a $59 annual fee, waived the first year, and offset by a bonus of 10,000 Capital One No Hassle Miles℠. Plus, it’s a Visa, so it’s accepted anywhere, and it has no foreign transaction fee, which often sets you back 3% of whatever you pay overseas. If you travel – or if you simply put money on your card – the Capital One® Venture^℠ Rewards Credit Card is the card for you.

Capital One® VentureSM Rewards Credit Card
	2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day As seen in Money® Magazine's "Best" issue three years in a row. - Money® Magazine May 2010, 2011, 2012 Earn 10,000 bonus miles when you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first 3 months, equal to $100 in travel Redeem your miles for any travel expense No limit on the miles you can earn and miles don't expire Fly on any airline, any time with no blackout dates No foreign transaction fees $0 intro annual fee for the first year; $59 after that		Pros High rewards rate No foreign transaction fee Cons Has annual fee

Best signup bonus: The Chase Sapphire Preferred

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is another top-notch card, but whereas the Venture has long-lasting value but less short-term gain, the Sapphire hits the ground running. The Chase Sapphire Preferred has a signup bonus of 40,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards when you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months.. The points are worth 25% more if you redeem for travel booked through Chase’s tool. That’s a pretty amazing signup bonus, and given that the $95 annual fee is waived the first year, it’s an amazing deal.

As for ongoing rewards, the Sapphire can’t quite compete with the Venture. It gives 2 Ultimate Rewards Points per $1 spent on travel and restaurants, and 1 point per $1 spent elsewhere. It then gives a 7% points bonus at the end of the year, and the 25% points boost is ongoing. Your effective rewards rate, then, can be as high as 1.34% base and 2.68% bonus. It, too, has no foreign transaction fee, making it a great choice for a traveler. The Sapphire may not be the ideal card for the long run, but it’s a great opportunity to take a spectacular bonus and run.

Chase Sapphire Preferred®
	40,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months - that's $500 toward travel rewards! 2 points per dollar spent on travel and dining at restaurants & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases Get 20% off airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises when you redeem through Ultimate RewardsSM No foreign transaction fees Receive a 7% Annual Points Dividend on all new points earned on purchases - even on points already redeemed 1:1 point transfer to leading frequent travel programs - that means 1,000 Ultimate Rewards points equal 1,000 partner miles/points Direct access to expert service advisors anytime Introductory Annual Fee of $0 the first year, then $95		Pros No foreign transaction fee Cons Has annual fee

Best 0% APR + rewards credit card: the Discover it

The Discover it has it all (get it? It?): 5% cash back on categories that change quarterly, up to $1,500 spent each quarter. These categories are nice and broad, including restaurants, online shopping and gas. You’ll also get 18 months of 0% interest on balance transfers and 6 months on purchases; high-end perks like purchase, warranty and return protection; and no annual or foreign transaction fee as well as a waived first late payment fee. The Discover it is a great way to get debt-free and earn rewards while you’re at it.

Discover it®
	The new Discover it card is out to change the way people think about credit cards. Fair...No annual fee. No overlimit fee. No foreign transaction fee & no pay-by-phone fee. No late fee on your first late payment. And we won't increase your APR for paying late.* Generous…5% Cashback Bonus on up to $1,500 in purchases at Home Improvement Stores now through June with free and easy sign-up. And 1% cash back on all other purchases.* Plus a Cashback ConciergeSM who guides a free, personalized online tour to help you get the most rewards for how you use your card. Flexible…Choose your own due date and pay up to midnight ET online or by phone. Human…talk to a real person any time with 100% U.S.-based service. 0% Intro APR* on balance transfers for 18 months. Then the variable purchase APR applies, currently 10.99% - 22.99%. 0% Intro APR* on purchases for 6 months. Then the variable purchase APR applies, currently 10.99% - 22.99%. *Click apply for Terms & Conditions.		Pros No annual fee 0% for 18 mos on transfers No foreign transaction fee