Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.
ALSO CONSIDER: Best credit cards of 2023 || Best travel credit cards || Best cash back credit cards || Best airline credit cards
Rewards credit cards come in two main varieties: cash-back cards and travel cards. Cash-back cards pay you back a percentage of the amount of each transaction. Travel rewards credit cards give you points or miles for each dollar you spend; you redeem those rewards for free flights, hotel stays and more. No single rewards card is right for everyone. It's all about how you spend money and what kind of rewards you value.
Some of our selections for the best rewards credit cards can be applied for through NerdWallet, and some cannot. Below, you'll find application links for the credit cards from our partners that are available through NerdWallet, followed by the full list of our picks.
Show summary
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best for Travel rewards — bonus categories
Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Best for Cash back — bonus categories + high ongoing rate
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card: Best for Cash back — high flat rate + incentives
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best for Travel rewards — flat-rate rewards
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for Dining and groceries + no annual fee
Discover it® Cash Back: Best for Cash back — bonus categories + cash-back match
U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card: Best for Road trips
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: Best for Cash back — families (groceries, gas, commuting, streaming)
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card: Best for Cash back — maximum customization potential
Citi Custom Cash℠ Card: Best for Cash back — 5% categories tailored to your spending
U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card: Best for Flexible foodie rewards + no annual fee
Chase Freedom Flex℠: Best for Cash back — up to 5% in multiple categories + cash bonus
Citi® Double Cash Card: Best for Cash back — high flat rate
Discover it® Student chrome: Best for College students
World of Hyatt Credit Card: Best for Hotel credit card
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: Best for Airline credit card
Credit card | NerdWallet rating | Annual fee | Rewards rate | Intro offer | Learn more |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Best for Travel rewards — bonus categories | $95 | 1x-5x | 60,000 | Apply Now on Chase's website | |
Best for Cash back — bonus categories + high ongoing rate | $0 | 1.5%-6.5% | $300 | Apply Now on Chase's website | |
Best for Cash back — high flat rate + incentives | $0 | 2% | $200 | Apply Now on Wells Fargo's website | |
Best for Travel rewards — flat-rate rewards | $95 | 2x-5x | 75,000 | Apply Now on Capital One's website | |
Best for Dining and groceries + no annual fee | $0 | 1%-10% | $200 | Apply Now on Capital One's website | |
Best for Cash back — bonus categories + cash-back match | $0 | 1%-5% | Cashback Match™ | ||
Best for Road trips | $0 intro for the first year, then $95 | 1x-5x | 50,000 | Apply Now on US Bank's website | |
Best for Cash back — families (groceries, gas, commuting, streaming) | $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. | 1%-6% | $250 | Apply Now on American Express' website | |
Best for Cash back — maximum customization potential | $0 | 1%-5% | $200 | Apply Now on US Bank's website | |
Best for Cash back — 5% categories tailored to your spending | $0 | 1%-5% | $200 | Apply Now on Citibank's application | |
Best for Flexible foodie rewards + no annual fee | $0 | 1x-4x | 20,000 | Apply Now on US Bank's website | |
Best for Cash back — up to 5% in multiple categories + cash bonus | $0 | 1%-5% | $200 | Apply Now on Chase's website | |
Best for Cash back — high flat rate | $0 | 1%-2% | N/A | Apply Now on Citibank's application | |
Best for College students | $0 | 1%-2% | Cashback Match™ | ||
Best for Hotel credit card | $95 | 1x-9x | 30,000 | Apply Now on Chase's website | |
Best for Airline credit card | $0 intro for the first year, then $99 | 1x-2x | 40,000 | Apply Now on American Express' website |
Annual fee
$95
Rewards rate
1x-5x
PointsIntro offer
60,000
PointsRecommended Credit Score
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card provides outstanding value and flexibility — including the option of transferring your rewards to popular airline and hotel loyalty programs — for a reasonable annual fee.
You earn 5 points per $1 spent on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®; 3 points per $1 spent on dining (including eligible delivery services and takeout), select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (not including Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs); 2 points per $1 spent on travel not purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®; and 1 point per $1 spent on other purchases. Points are worth 1.25 cents apiece when you redeem them for travel booked through Chase, or you can transfer them to several other loyalty programs, including United, Southwest, Marriott and Hyatt. The card also comes with a superb sign-up bonus.
The rewards you earn on your spending are valuable in themselves, but if it's perks you're looking for — for example, free checked bags on flights, free hotel upgrades or automatic travel credits — look to a branded airline or hotel card or this card's premium sibling, the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card provides outstanding value and flexibility — including the option of transferring your rewards to popular airline and hotel loyalty programs — for a reasonable annual fee.
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5%-6.5%
CashbackIntro offer
$300
Recommended Credit Score
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® was already a fine card when it offered 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Now it's even better, with bonus rewards on travel booked through Chase, as well as at restaurants and drugstores. New cardholders get a great bonus offer, too.
This card earns 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase; 3% cash back at restaurants and drugstores; and 1.5% on other purchases. New cardholders who apply through NerdWallet can snag this sign-up bonus: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back! If you're a maximizer, you can transfer your rewards to one of Chase's Sapphire cards to boost their value by 25% or 50%.
While you can earn big rewards on travel bookings with this card, it also charges a 3% foreign transaction fee, so it's not a good companion abroad.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® was already a fine card when it offered 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Now it's even better, with bonus rewards on travel booked through Chase, as well as at restaurants and drugstores. New cardholders get a great bonus offer, too.
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
2%
CashbackIntro offer
$200
Recommended Credit Score
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card offers a combination of features that few other flat-rate cards can match, starting out with a rich and unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase.
Aside from the excellent flat cash-back rewards rate, new cardholders also are eligible for a generous sign-up bonus: Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. There's also an intro APR period.
There's a foreign transaction fee, common among cash-back credit cards. And you can find cards with richer rates on popular spending categories, if you're willing to put up with their more complex reward structures.
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card offers a combination of features that few other flat-rate cards can match, starting out with a rich and unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase.
You earn 5 points per dollar spent on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases. Miles can be redeemed for credit on your statement against most travel expenses. You’re not restricted to any particular airline or hotel, and there’s no minimum amount required to redeem. Just book your own travel, then pay for it with rewards. The great sign-up bonus starts you off right, too.
If you're loyal to a particular airline or hotel chain, you may get more value from one of that brand's own cards. This card allows you to transfer miles to several airline frequent-flyer programs, but the options aren't very strong.
Easy-to-earn, easy-to-redeem rewards have rightly made the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card one of the best-loved travel credit cards on the market.
The card earns 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases and 3% cash back on dining, grocery stores, eligible streaming services and entertainment. (1% back on other purchases.) That's an impressive and hard-to-find combination of rewards categories. Plus, there's a rich sign-up bonus and an intro APR offer.
If your spending is more focused specifically on either dining OR groceries, then other cards with higher rewards rates in one of those categories may be a better fit.
The $0-annual-fee Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is a powerhouse card for foodies — whether they prefer to dine out or cook at home.
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-5%
CashbackIntro offer
Cashback Match™
Recommended Credit Score
The bonus categories, $0 annual fee and new-cardmember bonus make this card an all-around winner. There's also a solid 0% intro APR offer: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 16.99%-27.99% Variable APR.
This card has broad bonus categories that you activate each quarter, allowing you to earn 5% cash back at such places as restaurants, grocery stores and gas stations. (The 5% rewards are capped at $1,500 in spending per quarter; after that, you get 1%. There’s also a distinctive sign-up bonus: INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
Keeping track of the changing bonus categories, and remembering to opt in to them every three months, can be a hassle.
The bonus categories, $0 annual fee and new-cardmember bonus make this card an all-around winner. There's also a solid 0% intro APR offer: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 16.99%-27.99% Variable APR.
Annual fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
Rewards rate
1x-5x
PointsIntro offer
50,000
PointsRecommended Credit Score
The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card is an excellent choice for travelers, especially those who hit the open road frequently. It also earns solid rewards in a variety of other everyday categories, and its recurring credits can make the annual fee more palatable.
Earn a whopping 4X back on travel and purchases at gas stations and EV charging stations, plus 5X back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked through the Altitude Rewards Center and 2X per $1 spent at grocery stores, on dining and on eligible streaming services. There is an annual fee: $0 intro for the first year, then $95. But there's also a generous sign-up bonus and other perks.
If you spend a lot on groceries, dining and streaming, you can find cards with richer rates. You also won't be able to move points earned with this card over to its more premium sibling — the U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card — to take advantage of that card's higher point values for eligible travel redemption through U.S. Bank.
The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card is an excellent choice for travelers, especially those who hit the open road frequently. It also earns solid rewards in a variety of other everyday categories, and its recurring credits can make the annual fee more palatable.
Annual fee
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
Rewards rate
1%-6%
CashbackIntro offer
$250
Recommended Credit Score
If groceries, gas and/or commuting are among your most common expenses, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a winner.
This card offers industry-leading rewards at U.S. supermarkets — 6% cash back on up to $6,000 in spending per year (then 1%) — supplemented by 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including such things as taxis, rideshares, buses, trains, tolls and parking). You also get 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions. All other purchases earn 1% back. A welcome offer adds to the appeal.
This card has a high annual fee, although if you spend at least $31 a week at U.S. supermarkets, the cash back will offset it. Because it’s from American Express, you might have trouble using it in some places.
If groceries, gas and/or commuting are among your most common expenses, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a winner.
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-5%
CashbackIntro offer
$200
Recommended Credit Score
The unique rewards system on the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card makes it a potentially lucrative option for people who don't mind (or who even enjoy) actively managing their credit card accounts.
A rotating category card with a twist: You pick your bonus categories. You earn 5% cash back in two categories you choose, on up to $2,000 per quarter in combined spending (then 1%); unlimited 2% cash back in an "everyday" category of your choice; and 1% on all other non-bonus-category spending. There's a good sign-up bonus, and the annual fee is $0.
Rotating category cards involve work, and this one adds an extra layer of effort because you have to pick your categories each quarter. Forget to do so, and you'll earn only 1%. Further, the 5% categories tend to be more specialized than on comparable cards, so you might have trouble maxing out bonus rewards.
The unique rewards system on the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card makes it a potentially lucrative option for people who don't mind (or who even enjoy) actively managing their credit card accounts.
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-5%
CashbackIntro offer
$200
Recommended Credit Score
The Citi Custom Cash℠ Card offers a twist on existing 5%-back credit cards: You'll earn 5% back automatically based on your spending habits, not based on rotating quarterly bonus calendars. Terms apply. That makes it a low-maintenance — and potentially valuable — option.
This card earns 5% cash back on up to $500 spent in your highest-spend category per billing cycle (from a list of eligible options). And those options happen to be popular spending categories like restaurants, grocery stores, streaming services, select travel expenses and more. There's also a sign-up bonus and an intro APR period, all for an annual fee of $0.
The monthly spending cap on your 5% rate will limit the amount of cash back you can accrue. And all other spending beyond your one eligible bonus category will earn just 1% back.
The Citi Custom Cash℠ Card offers a twist on existing 5%-back credit cards: You'll earn 5% back automatically based on your spending habits, not based on rotating quarterly bonus calendars. Terms apply. That makes it a low-maintenance — and potentially valuable — option.
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1x-4x
PointsIntro offer
20,000
PointsRecommended Credit Score
The U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card gives you hard-to-beat rewards at restaurants and pretty-good rewards at grocery stores, gas stations and EV charging stations for an unbeatable $0 annual fee. Other cards rival its rate at restaurants, but they have annual fees of $95 to nearly $500.
Earn 4 points per $1 spent on dining purchases, which includes takeout and delivery; 2X points at grocery stores (including grocery delivery), gas stations, EV charging stations and streaming services; and 1X points on other eligible purchases. There's also a bonus, an intro APR period and an annual credit on eligible streaming services. Plus, points are worth 1 cent apiece regardless of how you redeem them, even for cash back.
Unlike some other dining cards, there are no bonus rewards for "entertainment" spending like movies, sporting events, live music, theme parks, etc. Also, you cannot pool this card's rewards with other U.S. Bank Altitude cards.
The U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card gives you hard-to-beat rewards at restaurants and pretty-good rewards at grocery stores, gas stations and EV charging stations for an unbeatable $0 annual fee. Other cards rival its rate at restaurants, but they have annual fees of $95 to nearly $500.
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-5%
CashbackIntro offer
$200
Recommended Credit Score
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ offers rewards as high as 5% in specific categories (some that change quarterly and some that don't), plus a generous bonus offer for new cardholders. If you're willing to put in a little work, it's one rich card.
This card earns 5% cash back in bonus categories that change every three months (on up to $1,500 per quarter in spending, then 1%); 5% on travel booked through Chase; 3% cash back at restaurants and drugstores; and 1% on other purchases. New cardholders can snag this sign-up bonus: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Finally, if you have one of Chase's Sapphire cards, you can transfer your rewards to it for greater value and flexibility.
Activating and tracking the bonus categories can be a hassle. For an option that does away with the 5% categories in exchange for a higher ongoing rate on "everything else," check the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. And it charges a foreign transaction fee, so it's not the best choice for international travel.
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ offers rewards as high as 5% in specific categories (some that change quarterly and some that don't), plus a generous bonus offer for new cardholders. If you're willing to put in a little work, it's one rich card.
The value in this card is pretty much all in its stellar rewards rate: 2% cash back on purchases — 1% when you buy something, and 1% when you pay it off.
Other cards offer higher cash back percentages in specific categories, and it does not have a sign-up bonus.
With the Citi® Double Cash Card, earning cash back is simple and lucrative. If you're looking for a low-hassle cash back card to use daily, this is it.
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1%-2%
CashbackIntro offer
Cashback Match™
Recommended Credit Score
Discover offers two fine cards for college students. The Discover it® Student chrome shines with its no-maintenance rewards structure and student-friendly bonus categories. You also get a free FICO score, low fees, and forgiveness for your first late payment. Plus, Discover says there's no FICO history requirement for this card.
You earn 2% cash back at restaurants and gas stations, on up to $1,000 in combined purchases per quarter, and 1% cash back on all other purchases. (Unlike with Discover's other student card, you don't have to "activate" your bonus rewards.) The annual fee is $0. There's also Discover's signature bonus for new cardholders.
Although there's no foreign transaction fee, Discover isn’t as widely accepted abroad as other cards. If you plan to travel internationally, make sure you have a backup plan.
Discover offers two fine cards for college students. The Discover it® Student chrome shines with its no-maintenance rewards structure and student-friendly bonus categories. You also get a free FICO score, low fees, and forgiveness for your first late payment. Plus, Discover says there's no FICO history requirement for this card.
Annual fee
$95
Rewards rate
1x-9x
PointsIntro offer
30,000
PointsRecommended Credit Score
Although Hyatt isn't as big as its competitors, the outstanding value delivered by World of Hyatt Credit Card makes it worth considering for anyone who spends a lot of time in hotels.
You earn 4 points per dollar spent with Hyatt, 2 points per dollar on an array of common spending categories (see the product details tab), and 1 point per dollar on other spending. Hyatt points are also worth significantly more than most other hotel points. You get a free night each anniversary year and can earn another with $15,000 a year in spending. There's a decent sign-up bonus, automatic elite status and more.
Hyatt's relatively small footprint — about 850 properties compared with 5,000 or more for other chains — means you won't have as many locations to choose from as you'd get with other hotel cards.
Although Hyatt isn't as big as its competitors, the outstanding value delivered by World of Hyatt Credit Card makes it worth considering for anyone who spends a lot of time in hotels.
Annual fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $99
Rewards rate
1x-2x
MilesIntro offer
40,000
MilesRecommended Credit Score
With double miles not just on Delta purchases but also everyday spending categories, you can pile up rewards fast with the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card. And the top-notch checked-bag benefit can save hundreds of dollars a year if you travel often and not necessarily light.
You'll earn 2 miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases, at restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets, and 1 mile per dollar on everything else. Terms apply. There's a great welcome offer for new cardholders, too. And if you like to travel as a group, this card provides a free checked bag for yourself and up to eight other people traveling on your reservation. You also get priority boarding.
As with other co-branded airline cards, if you’re redeeming miles for flights, your options are limited. You won’t pay foreign transaction fees, but it’s an American Express card, and AmEx isn't as widely accepted outside the U.S. as Visa and Mastercard.
With double miles not just on Delta purchases but also everyday spending categories, you can pile up rewards fast with the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card. And the top-notch checked-bag benefit can save hundreds of dollars a year if you travel often and not necessarily light.
Click the card name to read our review. Before applying, confirm details on the issuer’s website.
Our pick for: Cash back — high flat rate
Year after year, the Citi® Double Cash Card has been a top choice among flat-rate cash-back cards. You earn 2% cash back on every purchase — 1% when you buy something and 1% when you pay it off. There's no 0% intro period for purchases and no bonus categories, but the high rewards rate more than makes up for the lack of bells and whistles. Read our review.
Our pick for: Cash back — 5% categories tailored to your spending
The Citi Custom Cash℠ Card offers a lot of value for a $0 annual fee: 5% back automatically in your eligible top spending category on up to $500 spent per billing cycle (1% back on other spending). The list of eligible 5% categories is varied and includes biggies like restaurants, grocery stores and more. And unlike with its competitors, there's no activation schedule or bonus calendar to keep track of. Read our review.
Our pick for: Cash back — high flat rate + incentives
Among flat-rate cash-back cards, you'll be hard-pressed to beat the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card. It earns an unlimited 2% back on all purchases, which is excellent. But in addition, the card offers a rich sign-up bonus and a generous 0% intro APR on both purchases and balance transfers. That's an impressive, hard-to-find combination of features on a card with a $0 annual fee. Read our review.
Our pick for: Cash back — up to 5% in multiple categories + cash bonus
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ offers bonus cash back in quarterly categories that you activate, as well as on travel booked through Chase, at restaurants and at drugstores. Category activation can be a hassle, but if your spending matches the categories — and for a lot of people, it will — you can rack up hundreds of dollars a year. There's a fantastic bonus offer for new cardholders and a 0% intro APR period, too. Read our review.
Our pick for: Cash back — bonus categories + cashback match
The Discover it® Cash Back earns bonus cash back in quarterly categories that you activate. In past years, those categories have included common spending areas like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and Amazon.com. Category activation can be a hassle, but if your spending aligns with those categories (and for most households, it probably will), you can rake in serious rewards. You also get the issuer's signature "cash-back match" bonus in your first year. Read our review.
Our pick for: Cash back — bonus categories + high ongoing rate
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® was already a fine card when it offered 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Now it's even better, with bonus rewards on travel booked through Chase, as well as at restaurants and drugstores. On top of all that, new cardholders get a 0% introductory APR period and the opportunity to earn a sweet cash bonus. Read our review.
Our pick for: Cash back — families (groceries, gas, commuting, streaming)
If your household spends a lot on groceries, gas, transit and streaming services, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is for you. The rewards it pays in those categories — particularly at U.S. supermarkets and on select streaming services — are among the richest of any card. There's a nice welcome offer for new cardholders and an introductory 0% APR period, too. The generous benefits come at a cost, though: Unlike most cash-back cards, this one charges an annual fee. Read our review.
Our pick for: Dining and groceries + no annual fee
Love the night life but dead-set against paying an annual fee? Consider the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card. It pays a lower cash-back rate on dining and entertainment than the regular Savor card, but the rewards are nevertheless quite good. The sign-up bonus is smaller than on the annual-fee version, too, but it's still solid. Read our review.
Our pick for: Cash back — customizable rewards
If you don't mind putting some work into your rewards, check out the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card. It might be the most customizable cash back card available. You pick which categories earn the most cash back — you get two 5% categories and a 2% category — and you can change those options every quarter. There's a good bonus offer for new cardholders, too. Read our review.
Our pick for: Flexible food rewards + no annual fee
The U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card is perhaps the most cost-effective restaurant card on the market, earning a whopping 4 points per dollar on dining purchases including takeout and delivery. You can find higher rates on dining, but not on cards with no annual fee. Read our review.
Our pick for: Travel rewards — flat-rate rewards
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is probably the best-known general-purpose travel credit card, thanks to its ubiquitous advertising. You earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases. Miles can be redeemed at a value of 1 cent apiece for any travel purchase, without the blackout dates and other restrictions of branded hotel and airline cards. The card offers a great sign-up bonus and other worthwhile perks. Read our review.
Our pick for: Travel rewards — bonus categories
For a reasonable annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns bonus rewards (up to 5X) on travel, dining, select streaming services, and select online grocery purchases. Points are worth 25% more when you redeem them for travel booked through Chase, or you can transfer them to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. The sign-up bonus is stellar, too. Read our review.
Our pick for: College students
Simplicity makes the Discover it® Student chrome a standout for students searching for their first credit card. You'll earn bonus cash back at restaurants and gas stations with no activation required and no rotating categories to keep track of. Read our review.
Our pick for: Airline credit card
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card pays bonus rewards not only on Delta flights but also at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets, making it the rare airline card that's great for everyday spending. A best-in-class checked-bag benefit (first bag free for you and up to eight others on your reservation), priority boarding and the opportunity to earn a flight credit each year make this card a bargain for Delta stalwarts. Read our review.
Not a Delta flyer? See our best airline cards for other options.
Our pick for: Hotel credit card
Hyatt isn't as big as its competitors, but World of Hyatt Credit Card is worth a look for anyone who spends a lot of time on the road. You can earn a lot of points even on non-Hyatt spending, and those points have a high value compared with rival programs. There's a great sign-up bonus, free nights, automatic elite status and more. Read our review.
Not a Hyatt customer? See our best hotel cards for other options.
Our pick for: Road trips
The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card is one of the most generous cards on the market if you're taking to the skies or the road, thanks to the quadruple points it earns on travel and purchases at gas stations and EV charging stations. It's also a solid card for everyday expenses like groceries, dining and streaming, and it comes with ongoing credits that can offset its annual fee: $0 intro for the first year, then $95. Read our review.
By Kimberly Palmer, NerdWallet
With a cash-back credit card, you earn rewards equal to a percentage of the amount you spend. Cash-back rates range from 1% to 6% — that is, 1 cent to 6 cents per dollar spent — depending on the card you use and where you use it. Your monthly statement will show you the rewards you've earned to date; you can also track your rewards online.
Cash-back cards come in three main varieties: flat-rate, tiered and bonus-category.
The simplest cash back cards earn the same percentage on every purchase, no matter where you use your card. Examples include:
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card, which earns 1.5% cash back on purchases.
The Citi® Double Cash Card, which earns 2% on purchases — 1% for every dollar you spend and 1% for every dollar you pay back.
These cards pay a higher rate in certain categories and 1% back on everything else. Every card has its own structure, designed to appeal to a specific type of consumer. For example:
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a good card for families. It earns 6% back on up to $6,000 in spending per year at U.S. supermarkets (1% after that); 6% back on select U.S. streaming services; 3% back at U.S. gas stations and on transit expenses like taxis, tolls, trains and buses; and 1% everywhere else (terms apply).
The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is a nice option for people who like a night out. It pays 3% cash back on dining and entertainment, as well as popular streaming services and grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target). It pays 1% on all other purchases
Cards with bonus categories that change from time to time require more effort from you. You have to have to "opt in" or "activate" the bonus categories online. Some cards even let you (or make you, depending on your perspective) choose your own categories. Once you've opted in, spending in the bonus categories earns a higher rate, although the amount of spending eligible for the bonus rate is typically capped. Examples:
The Discover it® Cash Back pays 5% cash back in bonus categories that change every three months, on up to $1,500 in spending per quarter. (Category activation required.) All other spending earns 1%. Common quarterly categories include grocery stores, gas stations and restaurants.
The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card lets you customize your categories. You earn 5% back on up to $2,000 in combined quarterly spending on two categories you choose from a pretty extensive list, plus 2% back in one “everyday” category you choose, such as gas stations or grocery stores. All other purchases earn 1% back. Category options are subject to change, and you must make your choices each quarter.
When a card pays bonus cash back in specific categories, you earn those higher rewards based on where you use your card, not what you buy. If the category is "grocery stores," for example, then anything you buy at a supermarket will count — not just groceries. Conversely, groceries bought somewhere else, such as at a drugstore, wouldn't qualify for grocery store rewards.
Each merchant that accepts credit cards is assigned a category code by credit card networks like Visa. The code identifies the type of merchant it is, and these codes are what trigger your bonus rewards.
Despite the term "cash back," most people don't actually take their cash-back rewards in the form of, well, cash back. The easiest and most common thing to do is to apply your rewards to your account as a statement credit. This directly reduces the amount you owe. (If your balance is $80, for example, and you redeem $30 in cash back, your balance becomes $50.) You're not getting literal cash back from the issuer, but less cash will be coming out of your pocket to pay the bill, so the effect is the same.
Depending on the card, you could also get your rewards deposited directly into your bank account or receive them as a check in the mail. Some cards set a minimum amount to redeem, usually $20 or $25. Other cards have no minimum for redemption.
» MORE: For cash-back options beyond those featured on this page, see our best cash-back credit cards.
With a travel rewards credit card, you earn points or miles every time you use the card, but you can often earn more points per dollar in select categories. For example, some travel rewards cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, offer bonus points on any travel spending, while others grant bonus points only when you use the card with a specific airline or hotel chain.
Not all points and miles earned on travel cards are the same:
General-purpose travel cards — including the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, the American Express® Gold Card and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card — give you rewards that can be used like cash to pay for travel or that can be exchanged for points in airline or hotel loyalty programs.
Airline- and hotel-specific cards — such as the United℠ Explorer Card and the Hilton Honors American Express Card — give points and miles that can be used only with the brand on the card. (Although it's possible in some cases to transfer hotel points to airlines, we recommend against it because you get a poor value.)
How do we value points and miles? With the rewards earned on general travel cards, it's simple: They have a fixed value, usually between 1 and 1.5 cents per point, and you can spend them like cash. With airline miles and hotel points, finding the true value is more difficult. How much value you get depends on how you redeem them.
To better understand what miles are worth, NerdWallet researched the cash prices and reward-redemption values for hundreds of flights. Our results:
Keep in mind that the airline values are based on main cabin economy tickets and exclude premium cabin redemptions. See our valuations page for business class valuations and details about our methodology.
Our valuations are different from many others you may find. That’s because we looked at the average value of a point based on reasonable price searches that anyone can perform, not a maximized value that only travel rewards experts can expect to reach.
You should therefore use these values as a baseline for your own redemptions. If you can redeem your points for the values listed on our valuations page, you are doing well. Of course, if you are able to get higher value out of your miles, that’s even better.
How you go about cashing in your travel rewards depends on the type of card you earned them on and what you want to do with them. In most cases, you'll be redeeming either through your card issuer or through the loyalty program tied to the card.
With a general-purpose travel card, you can usually use your points to pay for travel ahead of time by going through your card issuer's booking portal, which operates much like Orbitz or Expedia. Many cards also allow you to turn your points into statement credit for travel expenses already incurred. With this option, you use your card to book travel however you want, and then wipe out the cost on your statement by applying your points to your balance. You'll also go through your issuer's rewards portal to transfer points to airline or hotel programs.
You might have other options for using your points on general travel cards, such as for cash back or gift cards, but be careful with these options. You'll often get a lower value per point for non-travel redemptions.
When your rewards are airline miles or hotel points, you typically redeem them for free flights or stays by signing in to your account in the associated loyalty program, such as Delta SkyMiles, American AAdvantage, Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors. Enter your desired booking dates, then choose to see the price expressed in miles or points. Depending on the program, there may be limits and restrictions. An airline may have "blackout dates" when you can't get a free flight, for example, or a hotel may make only a certain number of rooms available for reward redemptions on a first-come, first-served basis.
There are so many options among rewards credit cards that picking the right one for you can be daunting. Make the process easier by approaching it systematically.
The first step is determining whether a rewards card is right for you at all. The best rewards credit cards require good to excellent credit — generally defined as a credit score of 690 or above — although there are a handful of options for fair or even bad credit.
A rewards card makes sense if you pay your bill in full every month. If you carry a balance from month to month, the interest you'll pay can quickly wipe out the value of your rewards; you'd be better off with a low-interest credit card, or a balance-transfer credit card that would allow you to pay down your debt over a defined period of time with 0% interest.
You'll want a rewards credit card that makes sense on both the "earn" side and the "burn" side. That means a card that rewards you for the kind of spending you do (earn) and that gives you rewards you can use (burn). For example, earning 5% cash back on home improvement stores might not do much for someone who lives in a small studio apartment. And if you never travel, airline miles are pretty much worthless.
The right choice also will depend on how much effort you’re willing to put into learning a rewards program and understanding a card’s built-in perks. Annual fees and sign-up bonuses can also sway your decision.
Because of those factors, there’s no single “best” rewards card for everybody. Best might be a simple, flat-rate cash-back card, a premium travel card laden with benefits, or something in between. If you’re having trouble deciding on a type of rewards card, give special consideration to cash back. A NerdWallet study has shown cash-back credit cards are better for most people than travel cards.
We've discussed how to evaluate a credit card's rewards structure. But rewards rates aren't the only factor to consider when choosing a rewards credit card.
The credit cards with the richest rewards often charge annual fees. This is especially the case with travel credit cards. Typical annual fees range from around $90 to more than $500. Although some people are dead-set against paying them, annual fees can be worth it (or even a bargain) if the rewards and perks you earn outweigh the cost, and some cards waive the annual fee for the first year.
Most cash-back cards don't charge an annual fee. You can find good travel cards without an annual fee, although their rewards rates and sign-up bonuses tend to be small than those offered by their full-fee siblings.
Also known as welcome offers, sign-up bonuses can give you a nice wad of cash or hundreds or thousands of points or miles for spending a certain amount in the first few months you have the card. But don't just look at the windfall you stand to receive. Pay attention also to the spending requirement. In general, the bigger the bonus, the more you'll have to spend to earn it. Avoid overspending to get a bonus.
You don’t normally want to carry a balance from month to month with rewards cards, but some of them offer 0% introductory APR periods on new purchases, balance transfers or both. A 0% period can be helpful if you have a big purchase coming up that you'd like a little time to pay off (which could also help you earn the sign-up bonus).
If you travel abroad, or plan to, look for a card that doesn't slap a surcharge on purchases made outside the U.S. Foreign transaction fees typically run about 3% of the purchase amount. A good travel card won't charge these fees, but many cash-back cards do.
Rewards are what you get for using a credit card. Perks are what you get simply for carrying the card — and depending on the card, perks can deliver even more value than rewards. Travel cards, in particular, are known for their perks. Examples include:
Automatic credit for travel expenses. Several general travel cards will reimburse hundreds of dollars a year in travel expenses. This might apply to any travel purchase, or to specific expenses such as airline fees or Uber rides. Learn more about travel credits.
Reimbursement for TSA Precheck and Global Entry. More and more cards are paying you back for the application fee for these trusted traveler programs, which help you get through airport security and customs more quickly. Learn more about trusted traveler programs, and see which cards offer reimbursement.
Airport lounge access. The biggest airlines (American, Delta, United) all offer high-end, high-annual-fee credit cards that get you into their airport lounges when you travel, and some lower-fee airline cards offer discounted or limited access. Several general travel cards get you into lounges in worldwide networks such as Priority Pass. American Express even has its own lounge network. Learn more about cards with lounge access.
Free checked bags and priority boarding. Exclusive to airline cards, these perks make travel a lot easier because you don't have to stuff everything into a carry-on to avoid a bag fee, and you don't have to fight for overhead-bin space because you're among the first to board the plane. The checked-bag perk alone can easily pay the annual fee on some cards. Learn more about free checked bags.
Free nights and other amenities. Credit cards issued by hotel chains offer perks that general travel cards can't match. Some of them give you one free night a year, which can make up the cost of the card immediately. Other benefits include free breakfast, free internet and early check-in or late check-out.
Rewards cards make purchases work harder for you. Earning rewards on every dollar you spend is like finding change in your couch cushions every day. Save up that change, and pretty soon you’re talking real money.
They allow you to travel more often, or more luxuriously, at a discount. Travel rewards credit cards can make it possible to sit in first class, upgrade to a suite or skip the long security line. Even if you don’t cash in points to travel like an Instagram influencer, they can help you travel for less money.
They can help protect you if your vacation falls apart. Many travel cards will compensate you if your bags get lost, your flight gets significantly delayed or canceled, or you have to cut your trip short because of a family emergency or illness. Many also offer coverage for your rental car. This all comes at no additional cost to you.
Rewards cards typically have higher APRs. That means credit card debt will cost you more over time. For a major purchase you’d like to pay back over time, look into a card with a 0% introductory APR offer. In general, use a rewards card only for purchases you’ll be able to pay in full when your statement comes.
Annual fees add up, especially if you carry multiple rewards cards.
They require a fair amount of mental energy. Some people relish the challenge of maximizing every purchase and piecing together a complicated, yet heavily subsidized, vacation itinerary. Others have zero interest in memorizing which card to use at gas stations, which to use at grocery stores, and which to use at restaurants. If you want rewards with little effort, a flat-rate cash back card or a travel card with a straightforward rewards program (no fancy transfers to airline partners or complicated redemptions) will make jumping into the pool of rewards cards warm and inviting.
Put all your ordinary expenses on the card, including monthly bills, to rack up rewards more quickly. That’s the power of a rewards card: getting extra value from your regular spending. Before applying for a card, make sure you’ll be able to meet the spending minimum required to earn the sign-up bonus. Be careful to never overspend just for rewards.
Consider using complementary cards to extract maximum rewards for your spending. For example, one card might offer high rewards for restaurant spending, while an airline card gives you free checked bags and a third card gives you a nice rate on all other spending. If you have a card with a sign-up bonus, consolidate spending on that card until you earn that bonus.
Redeem your rewards in the way that delivers maximum value. With travel cards, you usually get a better redemption rate when you redeem for travel expenses than you would if you opted for cash back. Cash-back cards, meanwhile, may give you the highest redemption rate for statement credit, but a lower rate if you redeem points for gift cards. Some rewards can be transferred to travel partners, such as airlines and hotels, at a valuable rate. Learn what the options are and what your rewards are worth.
A free checked bag can save you $60 on a roundtrip domestic flight. Access to airport lounges means free snacks and a more relaxing space in which to wait for your flight. Global Entry reimbursement is worth $100, and you’ll be spared having to remove your shoes to go through a metal detector at the airport. Take advantage of all the perks you’re offered, especially if you’re paying an annual fee.
Rewards cards come in a variety of flavors to fit different consumer preferences and spending patterns. This roundup highlights the best cards in each particular category, but there may be a better card for you. Find other great cards in our specialized roundups:
Last updated on June 6, 2023
NerdWallet's Credit Cards team selects the best rewards credit cards based on overall consumer value, as evidenced by star ratings, as well as their suitability for specific kinds of consumers, including both those seeking cash-back rewards and those interested in travel rewards. Factors in our evaluation include annual and other fees, rewards rates, the earning structure (for example, flat-rate rewards versus bonus categories), redemption options, bonus offers for new cardholders, introductory and ongoing APRs, and other noteworthy features such as airline or hotel perks or the ability to transfer points. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.
There are two main types of rewards credit cards: cash-back cards and points/miles cards:
• With a cash-back credit card, the card issuer "pays you back" a certain percentage of every purchase. For example, if your card earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases and you buy something for $100, you would earn $1.50 in cash back.
• With a points or miles card, the issuer gives you a certain number of rewards points (often called “miles” on airline and travel credit cards) for each dollar you spend. How you use the points or miles depends on the card. Common redemption options include travel, gift cards and merchandise.
With most rewards cards, you can see your accumulated earnings on your monthly statement or through your online account portal, and you can decide when and how to redeem them.
What you can do with your credit card rewards depends on the type of rewards you’ve earned and the card’s rules:
• Cash-back rewards are typically redeemable for a credit on your statement, which reduces your outstanding balance. You may also be able to have your rewards deposited into a bank account or sent as a check.
• Points or miles are most commonly redeemed for travel, but you may also be able to redeem them for gift cards, merchandise or cash back. For cards that carry the name of an airline or hotel brand, you typically use your rewards for free travel or upgrades. Some bank-branded credit cards let you transfer their points into airline or hotel programs.
In most cases, there is no limit to how many points or miles or how much cash back you can earn with a credit card. Some cards do limit how much spending is eligible for bonus rewards — that is, higher rewards offered in specific categories — but after you hit that limit, you still earn rewards at the base rate. For example, a card might offer 3% rewards on up to $6,000 a year in spending and then 1% after that.
How much each point or mile is worth depends on the card that issued it and how you redeem it. As a very general rule of thumb, it’s helpful to think of points and miles as worth an average of 1 cent apiece, although you can certainly get a higher (or lower) value.
In some programs, points are worth 1 cent apiece regardless of how you redeem. In others, you might get 1 cent per point when redeeming for travel and 0.5 cents when redeeming for gift cards or cash back. Airline miles could be worth anywhere from less than 1 cent to more than 5 cents apiece depending on how many miles you need to earn a free flight and how much that flight would have cost if you were paying cash. Hotel points are similarly variable in value. See our travel loyalty roundup page for NerdWallet’s current valuations for airline miles and hotel points.
The best rewards credit cards typically require good to excellent credit for approval. Good credit is generally defined as a credit score of 690 or better. However, there are some decent rewards-bearing cards for people with fair credit and even bad credit. Keep in mind that credit scores are only one factor in your application. Every issuer has its own criteria for approval.
Typically, credit card rewards are not taxable. That's because the IRS generally considers credit card rewards as discounts or rebates, not income.