Many of the best rewards credit cards earn valuable points, miles, or cash back on your purchases.
Opening a rewards credit card is a great way to maximize your spending and work toward an award flight or hotel stay, or put some cash back in your pocket. Just remember to pay your statement balance in full each month to avoid incurring interest.
Business Insider's experts constantly monitor the credit card landscape to update this list of the best rewards credit cards. We compare annual fees, earning rates, complimentary benefits, and potential drawbacks to help you understand which option is best for your lifestyle.
These are the top rewards credit cards you can get right now.
Best Rewards Credit Cards of April 2025
| What It's For | Card | Annual Fee |
| Best for travelers | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | $95 |
| Best for cash back | Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | $95 |
| Best for families | Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card | $395 |
| Best for foodies | American Express® Gold Card | $325 |
| Best for travel insurance | Chase Sapphire Reserve® | $550 |
| Best for luxury lovers | The Platinum Card® from American Express | $695 |
Check for Rewards Credit Card Offers
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best Rewards Credit Card for Travelers
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is Business Insider's top-choice travel rewards credit card for travelers. It comes with generous benefits and flexible rewards on common expenses in exchange for a reasonable $95 annual fee. This is more than enough coverage for most people unless you can make use of premium benefits like airport lounge access on a regular basis.
This card comes with an annual statement credit of up to $50 for hotels booked through Chase. And each year on your account anniversary, you'll receive a points bonus equal to 10% of all purchases made in the previous year.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns 5 points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3 points on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2 points on all other travel purchases, and 1 point on all other purchases. New cardholders can also earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth 1.25 cents apiece on travel booked through Chase Travel℠, or you can transfer them to Chase airline and hotel partner loyalty programs for greater value.
You'll also get some of the best travel insurance coverage in the industry: primary car rental coverage, trip delay coverage, and purchase protection.
$95
N/A
20.49% - 27.49% Variable
Earn 60,000 bonus points
Good to Excellent
- High intro bonus offer starts you off with lots of points
- Strong travel coverage
- Doesn't offer a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit
If you're new to travel rewards credit cards or just don't want to pay hundreds in annual fees, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a smart choice. It earns bonus points on a wide variety of travel and dining purchases and offers strong travel and purchase coverage, including primary car rental insurance.
Chase Sapphire PreferredCapital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best Rewards Credit Card for Cash Back
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is an excellent card for travelers because it earns cash-like rewards.
Capital One miles are very easy to use and redeem. Cardholders earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through the Capital One Travel Portal, and 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases.
When it's time to use your rewards, you can use miles to offset travel purchases made with your card at a rate of 1 cent per mile. Alternatively, you can transfer your miles to airlines and hotels among Capital One transfer partners to book award travel at even better rates. Of course, you can also redeem miles as statement credits to pay down your outstanding balance.
Cardholders also get an impressive range of perks including up to $120 in credit every four years toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application fees, car rental insurance, travel accident insurance, and more.
New cardholders can earn 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening, plus $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year. This bonus is worth $1,275 based on Business Insider's assessment of what points and miles are worth.
$95
N/A
19.99% - 29.24% variable
Get $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year and earn 75,000 bonus miles
Good to Excellent
- $50 experience credit and free upgrades on Capital One Lifestyle Collection bookings
- Includes a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
- Other credit cards offer higher rewards in certain categories of spending
If you want an easy, no-fuss travel rewards credit card, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a great fit. For a moderate annual fee, it offers plenty of value, useful benefits, and a substantial welcome bonus.
Capital One Venture Rewards card- Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Best Rewards Credit Card for Families
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a great fit for families who like to travel, whether by road trip or by plane.
It has an annual fee of $395, but comes with an annual credit of up to $300 a year toward travel booked through Capital One Travel. If you can maximize this benefit each year, the annual fee feels more like paying $95 out of pocket.
The Capital One Venture X's other standout benefit is Priority Pass and Capital One lounge access — even for authorized users, who you can add to your account without an additional fee.
Cardholders also earn generous rewards on most purchases: 10 miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel, and 2 miles on all other purchases. You'll also get a 10,000-mile bonus on each account anniversary that's worth $100 in travel, plus Visa Infinite travel and purchase benefits.
New cardholders can earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
$395
N/A
19.99% - 29.24% variable
Earn 75,000 bonus miles
Excellent
- Excellent welcome bonus and miles earning
- Premium perks including airport lounge access and credits for certain purchases
- Visa Infinite benefits including travel and shopping protections
- High annual fee
- Annual travel credits only apply to Capital One Travel purchases
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is one of the best credit cards for frequent travelers, with top-notch benefits and a wide range of built-in protections. It comes with a generous welcome bonus and credits that can help offset the annual fee — which is much lower than similar premium cards.
Capital One Venture X- Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Enjoy complimentary access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and the Partner Lounge Network
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
American Express® Gold Card: Best Rewards Card for Foodies
The Amex Gold Card is one of the best cards for foodies because it earns generous rewards on groceries, restaurants, and flights. And since it doesn't charge foreign transaction fees, it's great for international dining.
Cardholders earn 4 Membership Rewards® points on purchases at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point), 4 points at US supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point), 3 points on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com, 2 points on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com, and 1 point on all other eligible purchases. Terms apply.
The Amex Gold Card has an annual fee of $325 (rates and fees), but offers more than $300 in annual dining credits. However, most credits are restricted to specific restaurant chains in monthly allotments. Terms apply.
Amex Gold Cardholders also receive up to $120 a year in Uber Cash, broken into increments of up to $10 each month. This perk is only applicable to U.S. rides and Uber Eats orders, and your Amex Gold Card must be added to your Uber account to receive the Uber Cash benefit. Terms apply.
$325
N/A
See Pay Over Time APR
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of Card Membership
Good to Excellent
- Great rewards for dining and for shopping at U.S. supermarkets
- Monthly statement credit for eligible dining purchases recoups some of the annual fee
- Underwhelming welcome bonus
Foodies and travelers alike will appreciate the American Express Gold's generous welcome bonus and Membership Rewards points earning. Its Uber Cash credits are useful for rides and Uber Eats, and monthly dining credits with participating merchants like GrubHub and Seamless are easy to use.
Amex Gold Card- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made at restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Best Rewards Credit Card for Travel Insurance
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a wonderful option for adventure travelers or people who need a little extra protection on the road, because it offers some of the best complimentary travel insurance coverage from a credit card.
Its $550 annual fee is steep, but becomes much more reasonable when you consider it as an alternative to an annual travel insurance policy, especially after factoring in premium benefits like Priority Pass and Chase Sapphire Lounge access. Cardholders also get an annual travel credit of up to $300, which is extremely easy to use since it applies to almost any form of transportation including cabs, subway fares, parking, tolls, and flights.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® earns 5 points on flights and 10 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, 3 points on other travel and dining, and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. It also earns 10 points per dollar on Lyft rides.
Cardholders also get benefits like $5 a month in DoorDash in-app credit and complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership through December 31, 2027, plus Lyft benefits through 2027.
$550
N/A
21.49% - 28.49% Variable
Earn 60,000 bonus points
Good to Excellent
- Annual travel credit can effectively shave $300 off the annual fee if you use it
- Strong travel insurance
- Strong bonus rewards on travel and dining
- Very high annual fee
If you're new to rewards credit cards you may want to start elsewhere, but if you know you want to earn Chase points and you spend a lot on travel and dining, the Sapphire Reserve is one of the most rewarding options.
Chase Sapphire ReserveThe Platinum Card® from American Express: Best Rewards Card for Luxury Lovers
The Platinum Card® from American Express is best for people who fly a lot. It has a high $695 annual fee (rates and fees), but luxury travelers will come out well ahead on this expense in benefits alone.
The Amex Platinum Card comes with complimentary access to Priority Pass™ airport lounges (enrollment required); up to 10 annual visits to Delta Sky Clubs when you fly Delta (or unlimited visits after spending $75,000 or more in a calendar year); and unlimited access to Amex Centurion Lounges. Terms apply.
This card is also one of the best options for earning rewards from flights since it earns 5 Amex points per dollar on airfare purchased directly with airlines and through American Express Travel. Terms apply.
Like Chase Ultimate Rewards points, you can use Amex Membership Rewards points to purchase travel, gift cards, or products directly from the issuer — or you can get significantly more value by transferring points to American Express transfer partners.
Of course, $695 is a lot to shell out each year, but you can lessen that sting with up to $200 in annual airline fee credits when you enroll and select a qualifying airline and up to $200 in Uber Cash credits each year (including Uber Eats) when you add the card to your Uber account. However, this airline credit can be difficult to use if you aren't checking bags or buying drinks on flights. Terms apply.
There are plenty of additional benefits worth hundreds each year, a handful of which are highlighted below. Terms apply, and some benefits require enrollment:
- Up to $300 annually in Equinox credits
- Up to $199 a year in credits for CLEAR® Plus membership
- Up to $200 a year in credits toward eligible prepaid hotel bookings
- Up to $240 in annual credits toward eligible digital subscriptions
- A monthly credit for Walmart+ membership
$695
N/A
See Pay Over Time APR
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points
Good to Excellent
- Long list of travel benefits, including airport lounge access and complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott (enrollment required)
- Statement credits with Saks and Uber (enrollment required)
- Bonus categories leave something to be desired
- One of the highest annual fees among premium travel cards
If you want as many premium travel perks as possible, The Platinum Card® from American Express could be the right card for you. The annual fee is high, but you get a long list of benefits such as airport lounge access, travel statement credits, and more.
Amex Platinum Card- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- 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.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- With American Express Global Lounge Collection® you can enjoy access to over 1,400 airport lounges globally, including The Centurion® Lounge, Unlimited Delta Sky Club® Access when flying an eligible Delta flight, Escape Lounges, Lufthansa Lounges when flying Lufthansa Group, Plaza Premium, Priority Pass™ Select Lounges, & Additional Global Lounge Collection Partner Lounges subject to visit limitations. Lounges may have their own rules, like additional access rules and guest fees, and for Priority Pass Select, you need to enroll and there are unlimited airport lounge visits for Card Members. With Delta Sky Club Access, Card Members will receive 10 Visits to the Delta Sky Club to be used from February 1 until January 31 of the next calendar year and can unlock Unlimited Delta Sky Club Access by spending $75,000 in eligible purchases on their Card in a calendar year. To find a lounge, visit the membership section in the American Express® App or visit http://www.americanexpress.com/findalounge#/loungefinder.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
- $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can ride or dine in style with $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December after adding their Card to their Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
- Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
- $695 annual fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
Choosing the Best Rewards Credit Card
Rewards credit cards give you something back for every dollar you spend — whether that's points or miles for travel, or cash back that you can use to lower your monthly bill or to treat yourself to a splurge.
How to Get the Credit Card You Want
To get the credit card you want, you'll need to have a good credit score at least, and ideally, an excellent credit score. You are most likely to be approved for a credit card if your credit profile shows a low credit utilization ratio.
If you currently carry a balance on an existing credit card, prioritize paying off that debt as soon as possible before getting a new card to bring your credit score back up. Always pay off your balance in full, since any rewards you could earn will be wiped out by high interest rates from your existing card debt.
Rewards Credit Card Structures and Benefits
Credit card rewards typically fall into a few categories. You can choose from flat-rate rewards, tiered bonus categories, cards that reward you for additional banking relationships, and rotating category cards. You can also choose between earning cash back or points and miles.
In addition, many cards offer high welcome bonuses to new cardholders who meet a spending requirement in the first few months after opening a card. Some cards also include benefits like travel and purchase protection.
Choosing the Right Card(s) for Maximizing Rewards
The best way to optimize rewards card benefits is by making sure each dollar you spend earns at least 1.5 cents or more in value. You can do this by combining several credit cards in your wallet for different expenses — the American Express® Gold Card for groceries and restaurants, for example, plus the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card for flights and hotels.
Know How Much Your Rewards Are Worth
Wondering what your rewards can buy? Some cards offer as many as 14 points per dollar on certain categories, but the points multiplier is only half of the equation. You also need to know how much each point is worth.
Check out Business Insider's guide to what points and miles are worth to understand how many cents you'll get in value with different loyalty currencies. These valuations are based on all the different ways you can use a given type of points or miles, from redeeming them as statement credits to transferring them to a travel partner to book a flight.
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Chose the Best Rewards Credit Cards
The best rewards credit card for you should offer benefits you can use that are worth the annual fee (if there is one). Look for perks such as statement credits that cover travel purchases and travel protection benefits such as trip delay and trip cancellation insurance.
When evaluating your next rewards credit card, consider the following factors:
- Does this card earn bonus points or miles where I spend the most?
- Can those points or miles be applied to rewards I'd actually want, such as airlines I typically fly or hotels I want to book?
- Is it easy to redeem my rewards, or will I get lost in a maze of draconian rules, restrictions, and blackout dates?
With these guidelines in mind, our editorial team of experts purposely left out many rewards credit cards currently available to new applicants to narrow down our list to the very best options.
We define "the very best options" as offering concrete value through benefits like annual statement credits and airport lounge access and through rewards such as bonus points on your everyday spending.
This list doesn't include any of our best airline credit cards or best hotel credit cards since those rewards are tied directly to a single brand. If you're specifically interested in travel rewards rather than cash back, check out our full list of the best travel rewards credit cards.
Read Business Insider's guide to how we rate and review credit cards for more information on our methodology.
FAQs
Can I use rewards credit cards for all types of purchases?
Yes, rewards credit cards can typically be used for a wide range of purchases, including groceries, dining, travel, and online shopping. However, some cards may offer higher reward rates for specific categories, so it's beneficial to choose a card that aligns with your spending habits.
What should I look for in a rewards credit card?
Look for a rewards program that offers high earning rates in categories you frequently spend in. You should also evaluate how you redeem your rewards, whether the card offers a valuable welcome bonus, and additional perks like travel insurance or purchase protection. Finally, consider the card's annual fee and whether the rewards and benefits justify the cost.
Which credit card has the best rewards program?
Chase Ultimate Rewards is one of the best reward programs because it's incredibly flexible and easy for most people to use. Many of the best Chase cards earn Ultimate Rewards points, including two of our recommendations for the best rewards credit card: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
Are reward credit cards really worth it?
Yes, the best rewards credit cards are absolutely worth keeping in your wallet. The right card for you will reward you on everyday purchases, either in the form of cash back or travel rewards. Many credit cards do not charge an annual fee, so you won't have any additional costs to consider.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Trip Delay Insurance, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance, and Cell Phone Protection Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. Global Assist Hotline Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. If approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, Card Members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. Extended Warranty, Purchase Protection, and Baggage Insurance Plan Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
***Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details. Travel Accident Insurance is not guaranteed, it depends on the level of benefits you get at application.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, please click here.
