The Best Rewards Credit Cards of 2018

We researched hundreds of credit cards to find the best ones for earning rewards--whether in points, miles or other forms. Our recommendations are tailored primarily to the categories in which people tend to spend a lot, identifying a card in each that delivers unusually generous rewards. But we also considered how much flexibility the cards offer when it comes to redeeming those rewards, as well as how alluring is the introductory offer each dangles to persuade you to sign up. If you're not sure how to choose, or what to look out for, check out our guide for picking the best rewards credit card.

The Best Rewards Credit Cards in 2018

• Best for Airline Miles and Travel
• Best Cash Back Rewards
• Best Hotel Rewards
• Best for Business
• Best for Students
• Compare Rewards Credit Cards

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best Airline Miles and Travel Rewards

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The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is best suited to someone who often travels and dines out, because it awards 2 points on every dollar you spend in those areas, which is a rich reward indeed. Conversely, if most of what you tend to charge to a credit card falls outside of these two categories, you should look to other options. For one, infrequent travelers or restaurant diners won't earn enough in points with this card to justify its $95 annual fee, at least after the first year (for which the fee is waived).

The points you earn with Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card can be used to book travel directly through Chase's Ultimate Rewards portal, which is appealingly simple. But you’ll generally get the best return on this card if you instead transfer the points from Chase Ultimate Rewards to another travel rewards program. The program allows conversions to any one of six airlines and five hotel programs, on a 1:1 basis.

The least lucrative option, as a rule, is to turn your rewards into cash back at a rate of a penny a point. This is the simplest option, though, and the conversion rate significantly more generous than that other big rewards programs—including Amex's Membership Rewards and Citi's ThankYou.

Currently, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers a 50,000-point bonus. To qualify, you must spend at least $4,000 on the card within the first three months of opening your account. Those 50,000 points are worth approximately $625 when used towards travel.

Highlights

• Rewards Rate: 2.5% on travel and dining, and 1.25% rewards rate on everything else.
• Signing Bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus points worth $625 in Travel Rewards when redeemed. through Chase Ultimate Rewards® when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Points can be transferred directly to a number of hotel and airline partners at a 1:1 ratio for use in their loyalty programs.
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Review.

Barclaycard Arrival Plus: Best All Around Travel Rewards

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The Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite MasterCard is hands down the best card with which you can earn rewards every day, on everything you buy, to spend on travel. You can apply the cash back you earn to almost any travel expense. Even if you travel infrequently--once a year, say, or even once every two years--the lucrative yet simple rewards from this credit card may be too good to pass up.

The standout feature of the card is the 2.1% rewards rate you receive on all your spending, which becomes a statement credit you can apply against almost any travel expense. In fact, for some allowable expenses, you needn’t even leave home. When Barclaycard rebranded the Arrival Plus, they expanded the covered categories to include taxis, buses, and limousines, with no prohibition on charging these against your rewards even in your home city. You could come close to that rewards levels with many other cards, but only if you spent on specific categories, or by using the rewards at a particular chain of airlines or hotels.

Putting the Barclaycard Arrival Plus® World Elite Mastercard® over the top is one of the largest signing bonuses currently available. The card issuer offers 40,000 miles, which are worth $400 in total, to new cardholders, who must spend at least $3,000 on purchases within the first 90 days of opening the account.

The card does come with an annual fee of $89, which is waived for the first year. That makes this Barclaycard worthwhile in the long run only for those who will charge more than $1,500 a month to it, and will also have sufficient travel expenses against which its rewards can be applied. This spending level allows you to fulfill the spending requirements necessary to qualify for the signing bonus, as well as to justify choosing the card over a no annual fee alternative. The monthly spending amount also ensures that you have sufficient uses for the miles you earn with the card.

Highlights

• Rewards Rate: 2.1%
• Signing Bonus: 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 90 days.
• 0% introductory APR for 12 months on Balance Transfers made within 45 days of account opening.
• Barclaycard Arrival Plus® World Elite Mastercard® Review

Discover it® ­- Cashback Match™: Best Cash Back Rewards & No Annual Fee

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The Discover it® ­- Cashback Match™ currently offers some of the highest cash back rates of any rewards credit card, albeit not on all of your purchases or on the same spending all the time. You’ll earn 5% cash back at a different type of merchant, or specific merchants, every quarter. Examples of these limited-time categories and partners include gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, Amazon.com, and wholesale clubs. There’s typically a quarterly maximum beyond which you won’t receive the elevated cash back level. However, you must activate these rewards each quarter, which involves logging in to your Discover account online.

The card, which has no annual fee, offers 1% cash back on all purchases beyond those targeted seasonal specials. What pushes this card's rewards from good to great, though, is its first-year bonus. At the end of your first year, Discover matches the sum of all the cash back you earned. That ensures that, for the first 12 months, this card will earn you a minimum of 2% cash back, and the return rises to 10% on the specialized seasonal purchases, once their 5% cash back, too, is duplicated at year’s end. No other card on our list can top such a cash back return.

Drawbacks: The major disadvantage to this card is the network with which it’s allied. Discover isn't as widely accepted as Visa and Mastercard, so much so that it’s risky to leave home with only a Discover card, because you could be unable to use it at some merchants. That said, the number of merchants that accept Discover cards has been growing, and the card is more widely accepted in many foreign countries thanks to Discover's partnership with other networks, including Diner's Club and Union Pay. If you'd like to read more about card acceptance rates, check out our study.

Highlights

• Rewards Rate: 5% cash back at different places every quarter, up to a quarterly maximum.
• Bonus: Discover matches all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year.
• No Annual Fee.
• Discover it® ­- Cashback Match™ Review.

Citi® Double Cash Card - 18 month BT offer: Best Cash Back for Everyday Use

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The Citi® Double Cash Card - 18 month BT offer is among a rare breed of rewards card that offers a high cash-back rate on all your spending, with no restrictions on how you spend that money. You get 1% cash back when you make a purchase, followed by another 1% back when that purchase is paid off—for an effective total of 2% cash back. Most credit cards can match or beat that 2% rewards rate in one or two categories, but not across the board, for all spending. For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a 2.5% rewards rate on travel and dining, but offers just a 1.25% return on everything else. Unless you spend very heavily on travel and dining, the Citi® Double Cash Card - 18 month BT offer will be a more lucrative card than the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.

Also, among the other handful of cards that offer users 2% cash back on all purchases, most require you to also sign up for a checking, savings or investment account with the card issuer. The Citi® Double Cash Card - 18 month BT offer has no such requirement.

Drawbacks: The Citi® Double Cash Card - 18 month BT offer is the only one on our 'top list' that provides no signup bonus. For that reason, despite the card’s generous rewards, other cards on this list will deliver better returns in the short run. For example, you would need to spend a whopping $30,000 on this card before it would become more profitable than instead acquiring a card with 1.5% cash back that offered a $150 signup bonus. Some consumers may not reach that $30,000 in total spending for two or three years. In other words, this is a card for people who are prepared to play a long game.

Highlights

• Rewards Rate: 1% Cash back on all spending and another 1% back when you pay it off.
• Bonus: None.
• No annual fee.
• Read Review

Chase Sapphire Reserve℠: Best Luxury Travel Rewards Card

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The Chase Sapphire Reserve℠ is essentially a hybrid between a rewards card, with its focus on generous returns, and a premium credit card, with its hefty annual fee and host of travel perks. Its overall travel benefits are among the best we've seen, and include: a $300 annual travel credit, a 4.5% rewards rate on travel and dining purchases, and complimentary access to Priority Pass airport lounges. To top it all off, there's also a 50,000-point bonus that you unlock if you spend at least $4,000 on the card within the first three months of receiving it.

As its name may suggest, this card is closely related to the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. Both cards award users Ultimate Rewards points on every purchase. This is one of our favorite credit card reward programs, as it allows you to transfer your points to some great airline and hotel loyalty programs. That's good news for point optimizers--as in those willing to do the work to figure out where their points will offer the best return and to complete the needed transfer. When points with this card are used for a travel, they're always worth $0.015. When you transfer them to other miles and hotel programs, you can often receive a far higher return.

Drawbacks: This card's annual fee is a whopping $450, which is not waived for the first year. With the benefits this card offers, that fee should be a positive net investment for a serious traveler. Still, that’s a large outlay, given that any investment comes with some risk of not realizing the expected return. Don’t get this card without studying your spending so as to feel confident that its travel credits and other benefits will pay off.

Highlights

• Rewards Rate: 1.5 – 4.5%
• Signing Bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus points worth $625 in Travel Rewards when redeemed. through Chase Ultimate Rewards® when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• $300 annual travel credit.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve℠ Review.

Best Hotel Rewards: IHG® Rewards Club Select Credit Card

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The IHG® Rewards Club Select Credit Card is an extremely rewarding hotel hotel credit card, with a generous anniversary benefit. Cardholders receive a free night certificate with each account anniversary year, which can be exchanged for a free night at any of IHG's 5,000 hotels. Many hotel credit cards that offer this type of reward typically restrict you from using it on certain brands, or during specific days of the week. The IHG® Rewards Club Select Credit Card doesn't restrict you, making it one of the best free night perks on any credit card.

List of IHG Hotel Brands

The card has a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, and charges only $49 after that. Most hotel cards charge nearly twice that. The card's current bonus helps to justify the fee. Users receive 60,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. We value that at $360 in hotel rewards. That's enough to cover the annual fee for seven years.

Highlights

• Earn 5 points per dollar spent when you stay at IHG® hotels.
• Earn 2 points per dollar spent on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants.
• 60,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening.
• IHG® Rewards Club Select Credit Card Review

Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business: Best Business Rewards Credit Card

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The Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business is an ideal choice for most businesses. The card awards 2% cash back on all purchases, allowing you to get good rewards on all manner of company expenses. In that respect, it is like the business-equivalent to the Citi® Double Cash Card - 18 month BT offer. Most of the business credit cards we review tend to shine in a few select categories — most often on purchases made at office supply stores or travel. However, many small businesses have spending so diverse that such specialized reward structures aren’t the best option. The Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business caters to those enterprises by providing above-average rewards for buying anything and everything.

The Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business also provides low-cost solutions should you have many employees who will be using the company credit card account. You can get employee cards for free, including not having to pay additional annual fees. The employees who receive those can then make purchases on the card, and all the transactions are then billed to your main account, thus centralizing all your expenses in one spot. This arrangement simplifies accounting and the process of reimbursing employees who are expensing certain purchases to the company. Also, all the purchases your employees put on the card are awarded 2% cash back.

Drawbacks: The card has a $95 annual fee (which is waived the first year). Unless you spend at least $19,000 every year, then, your cash-back rewards will not fully compensate you for this card’s fee. If you don't meet that threshold, consider getting the Capital One® Spark® Cash Select for Business instead. That card gives just 1.5% cash back, but doesn't charge an annual fee.

Highlights

• Rewards Rate: 2%
• Early Spend Bonus: $500 cash bonus once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
• Great all-around rewards on every dollar spent.
• Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business Review.

Discover it® for Students: Best Rewards Credit Card for Students

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The Discover it® for Students is almost a carbon-copy of the Discover it® ­- Cashback Match™, our pick for the best cash back rewards card. The major difference is that this version of the card is targeted to students. As such, the Discover it® for Students breaks the mold of most student cards, which offer subpar rewards. Indeed, the card has some of the most generous cash back rates on the market, even compared to non-student cards. Users get 5% cash back at a rotating group of different places each quarter, up to a maximum of $1,500 per quarter. You do need to activate the bonus cash back rewards every quarter in order to earn them. For all other shopping, you receive 1% in cash back. Discover also matches all the cash back you have earned at the end of the first year.

There's also a special deal that might help students stay a little more motivated during finals week. In every school year in which your GPA is 3.0 or higher, Discover will award you an additional $20 in cash back. The maximum lifetime payout for this reward is $100. While this isn't a huge bonus, it's still a nice touch that’s absent from other student cards we've seen.

Drawbacks: Discover isn't as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard. That means you may sometimes have trouble using this card, especially if you travel to countries like Mexico. However, thanks to a few key partnerships the card is available in more spots than you might think. We recommend checking out our study before taking the Discover card with you overseas.

Highlights

• 5% cash back at different places each quarter, up to a maximum of $1,500
• Bonus: Discover matches all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year.
• Not as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard.
• Discover it® for Students Review.

Compare The Best Rewards Credit Cards

If you'd like to see how the credit cards we've discussed perform for you, use our embedded tool to see what you can earn from rewards. By changing your spending patterns you can see how each card performs for you.

2-yr Rewards ValueNet Rewards RateAPRAnnual FeeBonus ValueRewards By MonthRewards Rate By Month

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Savings Through (Through 24 Months)	Rewards	Dollars

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Card	Annual Fee	2-yr Net Rewards Rate The Net Rewards Rate is equal to the Rewards Value over two years divided by the total spending. The total spending is equal to the values entered into the tool and multiplied by 24 months. See the rewards Value note to see details on how it is calculated. The estimates here are ValuePenguin's alone. They are not those of the card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer. All estimates are based on the spend assumptions entered above (which you can edit).	Bonus Value The bonus field shows our estimate for the value of the card’s welcome bonus. If the bonus is point or mile based, we multiply the total bonus points/miles by our estimate for their value to arrive at a dollar equivalent. We display $0 if there is no bonus or if the user doesn’t qualify for the bonus based on the current spending entered into the tool. All estimates are based on the spend assumptions entered above (which you can edit). The estimates here are ValuePenguin's alone. They are not those of the card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer.	2-yr Rewards Value The Rewards value is calculated by adding together the rewards earned from charging purchases to the card over two years and any welcome bonuses (if applicable). They are then multiplied by our estimated point/mile value, with any annual fees (if applicable) subtracted. All values are based on our own estimates for the dollar value of any points, miles or bonuses earned using a card and on the spend assumptions entered above (which you can edit). The estimates here are ValuePenguin's alone. They are not those of the card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Card
	$69	3.92%	$901 Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 in first 3 months of opening your account	$1,346
Apply Now	Graph Card	Read Review	More Details and Value Calculation
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 34,320 x $0.017 = $583 Bonuses 50,000 x $0.017 = $850 3,000 x $0.017 = $51 Less Annual Fees -$138 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 1,346 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee $69 APR 17.24% - 24.24% Variable Card Details Earn 50,000 points after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. 3,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary 2 points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases and Rapid Rewards® Hotel and Car Rental Partner purchases 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases Earn unlimited points that don't expire as long as your card account is open No blackout dates or seat restrictions Bags fly free® and no change fees Redeem your points for flights, hotel stays, gift cards, access to events and more
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
	$99	3.90%	$952 Get 50,000 points after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of opening your account	$1,337
Apply Now	Graph Card	Read Review	More Details and Value Calculation
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 34,320 x $0.017 = $583 Bonuses 50,000 x $0.017 = $850 6,000 x $0.017 = $102 Less Annual Fees -$198 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 1,337 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee $99 APR 17.24% - 24.24% Variable Card Details Earn 50,000 points after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. 6,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary 2 points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases and Rapid Rewards® Hotel and Car Rental Partner purchases 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases Earn unlimited points that don't expire as long as your card account is open No foreign transaction fees No blackout dates or seat restrictions, Bags fly free® and no change fees Redeem your points for flights, hotel stays, gift cards, access to events and more
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
	$0 Intro for the First Year, then $95	3.00%	$625 50,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening	$1,028
Apply Now	Graph Card	Read Review	More Details and Value Calculation
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 39,840 x $0.013 = $498 Bonuses 50,000 x $0.013 = $625 Less Annual Fees -$95 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 1,028 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee $0 Intro for the First Year, then $95 APR 17.24% - 24.24% Variable Card Details Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $625 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards® 2X points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. Earn 5,000 bonus points after you add the first authorized user and make a purchase in the first 3 months from account opening No foreign transaction fees 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards. For example, 50,000 points are worth $625 toward travel No blackout dates or travel restrictions - as long as there's a seat on the flight, you can book it through Chase Ultimate Rewards
Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business
	$0 intro for first year; $95 after that	1.72%	$0 Earn a $500 bonus once you spend $4,500 on purchases in the first 3 months	$591
Apply Now	Graph Card	Read Review	More Details and Value Calculation
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 686 x $1 = $686 Less Annual Fees -$95 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 591 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee $0 intro for first year; $95 after that APR 18.24% (Variable) Card Details Earning unlimited 2% cash back could mean thousands of dollars each year going back into your business Plus, a one-time $500 cash bonus once you spend $4,500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening Use Spark Cash across all your business spend, with no categories to limit your purchasing $0 intro annual fee for the first year; $95 after that Rewards won't expire for the life of the account, and you can redeem your cash back for any amount Get employee cards at no additional cost, and earn rewards from their business spend Note: The information in this box was provided by Capital One® and is not part of our independent analysis.
Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card
	$0 intro for first year; $95 after that	3.18%	$500 Receive 50,000 miles once you spend $3,000 within the first 3 months	$1,091
Apply Now	Graph Card	Read Review	More Details and Value Calculation
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 68,640 x $0.01 = $686 Bonuses 50,000 x $0.01 = $500 Less Annual Fees -$95 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 1,091 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee $0 intro for first year; $95 after that APR 14.24% - 24.24% (Variable) Card Details Enjoy a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $500 in travel Earn unlimited 2X miles per dollar on every purchase, every day New! Earn unlimited 10x miles on hotels when you pay with your Venture card at hotels.com/venture Fly any airline, stay at any hotel, anytime Travel when you want with no blackout dates Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn No foreign transaction fees $0 intro annual fee for the first year; $95 after that Note: The information in this box was provided by Capital One® and is not part of our independent analysis.
Barclaycard Arrival Plus® World Elite Mastercard®
	$89 - Waived first year	3.06%	$420 Earn 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 90 days - that's enough to redeem for a $400 travel statement credit	$1,052
Apply Now	Graph Card	Read Review	More Details and Value Calculation
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 68,640 x $0.011 = $721 Bonuses 40,000 x $0.011 = $420 Less Annual Fees -$89 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 1,052 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee $89 - Waived first year APR 17.24%, 21.24% or 24.24% Variable Card Details Enjoy 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 90 days - that's enough to redeem for a $400 travel statement credit toward an eligible travel purchase Earn 2X miles on all purchases Get 5% miles back to use toward your next redemption, every time you redeem Miles don't expire as long as your account is open, active and in good standing No foreign transaction fees on purchases made while traveling abroad 0% introductory APR for 12 months on Balance Transfers made within 45 days of account opening. After that, a variable APR will apply, 17.24%, 21.24% or 24.24%, based on your creditworthiness. There is a fee for balance transfers.
United MileagePlus® Explorer Card
	$0 Intro for First Year, then $95	2.75%	$560 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open	$945
Apply Now	Graph Card	Read Review	More Details and Value Calculation
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 34,320 x $0.014 = $480 Bonuses 40,000 x $0.014 = $560 Less Annual Fees -$95 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 945 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee $0 Intro for First Year, then $95 APR 17.24% - 24.24% Variable Card Details 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95. Check your first bag for free (a savings of up to $100 per roundtrip) when you use your Card to purchase your ticket Enjoy priority boarding privileges and visit the United Club℠ with 2 one-time passes each year for your anniversary No foreign transaction fees Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on tickets purchased from United, and 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases Your miles don't expire as long as your credit card account is open, with no limit to the number of miles you can earn
Club Carlson Premier Rewards Visa Signature Card
	$75	2.33%	$315 Earn 50,000 Gold Points after your first purchase; Earn 35,000 points once you spend $2,500 on your card within the first 90 days	$799
Apply Now	Graph Card	Read Review	More Details and Value Calculation
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 171,600 x $0.004 = $635 Bonuses 50,000 x $0.004 = $185 35,000 x $0.004 = $130 Less Annual Fees -$150 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 799 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee $75 APR 13.99% - 22.99% Variable Card Details Earn 50,000 Gold Points after your first purchase Earn 35,000 points once you spend $2,500 on your card within the first 90 days 10 points per $1 spent at Carlson Rezidor hotels 5 points per $1 spent everywhere else Automatic upgrade to Gold Elite Status Cardmembers who've already reached Concierge Elite Status will receive 15 qualifying nights toward obtaining or maintaining Concierge Elite status Redeem Gold Points towards free nights at Carlson Rezidor hotels, gift cards, prepaid cards, charitable initiatives, vacation savings, and exchanges for airline miles Visa Signature concierge privileges Travel & Emergency Assistance Services, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, and Travel Accident Insurance for card purchases Subject to credit approval
LANPASS Visa Signature Card
	$0 Intro Annual Fee for the first year then $75	2.16%	$300 Earn 20,000 Bonus Miles with your first card use	$740
Apply Now	Graph Card		More Details and Value Calculation
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 34,320 x $0.015 = $515 Bonuses 20,000 x $0.015 = $300 Less Annual Fees -$75 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 740 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee $0 Intro Annual Fee for the first year then $75 APR 12.99% - 22.99% Variable Card Details Earn 20,000 Bonus Miles with your first card use 2 miles per $1 spent on LAN ticket purchases 1 LANPASS mile for every $1 you spend Get 3 one-way upgrade coupons for free each year 20% discount on their first LAN purchase (up to $1,000) each year Receive flight mileage bonus of 25% on top of actual miles accrued on every LAN or Affiliate carriers' flight Redeem LANPASS miles or kilometers for flights on LAN or OneWorld partners Free Annual Account Summary Access to Visa Signature concierge privileges for shopping, entertainment, travel, and sports Travel & Emergency Assistance Services, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, and Travel Accident Insurance for card purchases No Preset Spending Limit
Chase Sapphire Reserve℠
	$450	1.55%	$750 50,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 in travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®	$530
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Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 45,360 x $0.015 = $680 Bonuses 50,000 x $0.015 = $750 Less Annual Fees -$900 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 530 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee $450 APR 17.24% - 24.24% Variable Card Details Earn 50K bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards® $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year 3X points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. Plus, no foreign transaction fees Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. For example, 50,000 points are worth $750 toward travel 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs Access to 1,000+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select Up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓® No blackout dates or travel restrictions - as long as there's a seat on the flight, you can book it through Chase Ultimate Rewards
BankAmericard Travel Rewards® Credit Card
	No Annual Fee	2.08%	$200 20,000 online bonus points if you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days - that can be a $200 statement credit towards travel purchases	$715
Apply Now	Graph Card	Read Review	More Details and Value Calculation
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 51,480 x $0.01 = $515 Bonuses 20,000 x $0.01 = $200 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 715 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee No Annual Fee APR 14.99% - 22.99% Variable Card Details 20,000 online bonus points if you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days - that can be a $200 statement credit towards travel purchases Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases Get an additional 10% customer points bonus on every purchase when you have an active Bank of America® checking or savings account Redeem points to pay for flights, hotels, vacation packages, cruises, rental cars, or baggage fees with no restrictions or blackouts No foreign transaction fees Smart chip technology provides greater acceptance and added security No limits or expiration dates on points earned
Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® Card
	$0	2.08%	$200 Earn $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months	$715
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Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 51,480 x $0.01 = $515 Bonuses 0 x $0.01 = $200 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 715 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee $0 APR 14.24%-26.24% (Variable) Card Details Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months Earn unlimited 1.5% cash rewards on purchases Enjoy 1.8% cash rewards on qualified mobile wallet purchases, like Apple Pay® or Android Pay™, during the first 12 months from account opening No category restrictions or sign ups and cash rewards don't expire as long as your account remains open Get up to $600 protection on your cell phone (subject to $25 deductible) against covered damage or theft when you pay your monthly cellular telephone bill with your Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® Card 0% Intro APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a 14.24%-26.24% variable APR; balance transfer fees apply $0 Annual Fee Select "Apply Now" to learn more about the product features, terms, and conditions
LANPASS Visa Card
	$0 Intro Annual Fee for the first year then $45	2.02%	$225 Earn 15,000 Bonus Miles with your first card use	$695
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Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 34,320 x $0.015 = $515 Bonuses 15,000 x $0.015 = $225 Less Annual Fees -$45 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 695 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee $0 Intro Annual Fee for the first year then $45 APR 12.99% - 22.99% Variable Card Details Earn 15,000 Bonus Miles with your first card use 1 LANPASS mile for every $1 you spend Receive a 10% discount on LAN purchase (up to $500) once per year Redeem LANPASS miles or kilometers for flights on LAN or OneWorld partners Travel & Emergency Assistance Services, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, and Travel Accident Insurance for card purchases
PayPal Cashback Mastercard®
	No Annual Fee	2.00%	$0	$686
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Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 686 x $1 = $686 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 686 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee No Annual Fee APR 16.99%, 24.99% or 27.99% Variable Card Details No annual fee No restrictions on the type of purchases you can make to earn cash back No rotating categories to keep track of, just 2% cash back on every purchase, every day Redeem your Cash Rewards directly into your PayPal balance Requires PayPal account No redemption threshold
US Bank FlexPerks® Travel Rewards Visa Signature® Card
	$0 Intro Annual Fee for the first year then $49	1.91%	$260 Earn 20,000 FlexPoints after you spend $3,500 in net purchases on your card within the first four months.	$657
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Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 34,320 x $0.013 = $446 Bonuses 20,000 x $0.013 = $260 Less Annual Fees -$49 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 657 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee $0 Intro Annual Fee for the first year then $49 APR 13.99% - 23.99% Variable Card Details Earn 20,000 FlexPoints after you spend $3,500 in net purchases on your card within the first four months. Earn 1 FlexPoint for every $1 of eligible net purchases charged to your Card Earn 2 FlexPoints for every $1 spent on gas, grocery or airline net purchases - whichever you spend most on each monthly billing cycle - and on most cell phone expenses 3 FlexPoints per $1 on qualifying charitable donations Redeem FlexPoints on airline tickets, statement credits, gift cards and more No foreign transaction fee EVM chip technology for added security abroad Receive an airline allowance of up to $25 with every award travel ticket to use toward baggage fees, in-flight food or drinks and more Subject to credit approval
Capital One® Savor℠ Cash Rewards Credit Card
	$0	1.99%	$150 $150 once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months	$683
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Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 53,280 x $0.01 = $533 Bonuses 0 x $0.01 = $150 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 683 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee $0 APR 15.74% - 24.49% (Variable) Card Details Earn a one-time $150 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, 2% on groceries and 1% on all other purchases No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus, cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn 0% intro APR on purchases for 9 months; 15.74%-24.49% variable APR after that 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 9 months; 15.74%-24.49% variable APR after that; 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 9 months No annual fee No foreign transaction fees Note: The information in this box was provided by Capital One® and is not part of our independent analysis.
Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card
	$0	1.94%	$150 Get $150 bonus after spending $500 within the first 3 months	$665
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Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 515 x $1 = $515 Bonuses 0 x $1 = $150 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 665 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee $0 APR 14.24% - 24.24% (Variable) Card Details One-time $150 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day Use your Quicksilver card and get 50% back as a statement credit on your monthly Spotify Premium subscription, now through April 2018 No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus, cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn 0% intro APR on purchases for 9 months; 14.24%-24.24% variable APR after that Balance transfers also have a 0% intro APR for 9 months; 14.24%-24.24% variable APR after that; a 3% fee applies to each balance transferred Pay no annual fee or foreign transaction fees Note: The information in this box was provided by Capital One® and is not part of our independent analysis.
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
	$0	1.94%	$150 Earn a $150 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening;Earn a $25 Bonus when you add your first authorized user and make a purchase within this same 3-month period	$665
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Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 51,480 x $0.01 = $515 Bonuses 0 x $0.01 = $150 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 665 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee $0 APR 16.24% - 24.99% Variable Card Details Unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase — it's automatic Earn a $150 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 16.24-24.99%. Balance transfer fee is 5% of the amount transferred, $5 minimum No minimum to redeem for cash back Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open No annual fee
HSBC Cash Rewards Mastercard®
	$0 *Rates and Fees	1.94%	$150 $150 Cash Back For new HSBC Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card customers who spend $500 or more in new, net card purchases during the first 3 months from account opening	$665
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Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 515 x $1 = $515 Bonuses 0 x $1 = $150 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 665 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee $0 APR Variable APR of 14.24%, 18.24% or 24.24% *Rates and Fees Card Details Earn unlimited 1.5% cash rewards on all purchases. Earn a $150 cash rewards intro bonus after spending $500 in the first 3 months. 10% Anniversary Bonus on all Cash Rewards earned once a year. No Annual Fee. 0% Intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers, then a 14.24%, 18.24% or 24.24% variable APR. No Foreign Transaction Fees. $0 liability for unauthorized purchases. Terms Apply.
Wells Fargo Propel American Express® Card
	$0	2.02%	$200 Earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months	$694
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Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 49,440 x $0.01 = $494 Bonuses 20,000 x $0.01 = $200 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 694 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee $0 APR 14.24%-26.24% (Variable) Card Details Earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months Earn 3X points at U.S. gas stations, 2X points at U.S. restaurants, 1X point on other purchases Redeem points for travel, gift cards, cash redemption options or merchandise through Go Far® Rewards Get up to $600 protection on your cell phone (subject to $25 deductible) against covered damage or theft when you pay your monthly cellular telephone bill with your Wells Fargo Propel American Express® Card Earn an annual relationship bonus of 10% on non-bonus rewards points if you maintain a qualifying Wells Fargo account 0% Intro APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a 14.24%-26.24% variable APR; balance transfer fees apply $0 Annual Fee Select "Apply Now" to learn more about the product features, terms, and conditions
TRIO℠ Credit Card
	No Annual Fee	1.98%	$100 Get a $100 bonus after you spend $1,000 within 90 days of opening a new account.	$681
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Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 58,080 x $0.01 = $581 Bonuses 10,000 x $0.01 = $100 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 681 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee No Annual Fee APR 14.24% to 23.24% Variable Card Details 3% cash back rewards at restaurants and 2% cash back rewards on gas and at grocery and drug stores, up to $1,500 spend per quarter in these combined purchase categories 1% unlimited cash back rewards on all other purchases
Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card
	$0	1.83%	$200 Receive 20,000 miles once you spend $1,000 within the first 3 months	$629
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Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 42,900 x $0.01 = $429 Bonuses 20,000 x $0.01 = $200 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 629 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee $0 APR 13.24% - 23.24% (Variable) Card Details Enjoy a one-time bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $1,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel Earn unlimited 1.25 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day and pay no annual fee New! Earn unlimited 10x miles on hotels when you pay with your VentureOne card at hotels.com/venture Fly any airline, stay at any hotel, anytime Enjoy a low intro APR on purchases for 12 months; 13.24%-23.24% variable APR after that Travel when you want with no blackout dates No foreign transaction fees Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn Note: The information in this box was provided by Capital One® and is not part of our independent analysis.
Stash Hotel Rewards® Visa® Card
	$0 Intro Annual Fee for the first year then $85	1.82%	$130 Earn 10,000 Stash points towards free stays at one-of-a-kind hotels when you make $1,500 in purchases on your Stash Visa Card within 90 days of opening your account	$625
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Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 44,640 x $0.013 = $580 Bonuses 10,000 x $0.013 = $130 Less Annual Fees -$85 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 625 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee $0 Intro Annual Fee for the first year then $85 APR 16.24% Card Details 3 points per dollar at Stash Hotels 2 points per dollar all other hotels, dining and gas 1 point per dollar on all other purchases
The Choice Privileges® Visa® Card
	No Annual Fee	1.73%	$62 Earn 8,000 bonus points after your first purchase	$593
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Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 68,640 x $0.008 = $531 Bonuses 8,000 x $0.008 = $62 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 593 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee No Annual Fee APR 16.24%, 20.99% or 25.99% Variable Card Details Earn 8,000 bonus points after your first purchase Earn 24,000 bonus points after your first paid stay at any Choice Privileges location 15 points for every $1 spent at Choice Privileges locations 5 points for every $1 spent on additional Choice Privileges points or Choice Hotel gift card purchases 2 points for every $1 spent otherwise Cardmembers automatically get Elite Gold status Book award and free nights twenty days before other members 10% point bonus on points earned for eligible stays at Choice Privileges locations Redeem points for reward nights at over 1,500 hotel locations, gift cards for a variety of merchants, donations, and memberships
Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®
	$89	1.50%	$350 Earn 35,000 bonus miles when you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days	$515
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Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 34,320 x $0.01 = $343 Bonuses 35,000 x $0.01 = $350 Less Annual Fees -$178 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 515 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee $89 APR 16.99%, 20.99% or 25.99% Variable Card Details Earn 35,000 bonus miles when you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days Earn 2 miles for every $1 spent on Haiwaiian Airlines Earn $1 for every $1 spent on all other purchases Primary cardholder is eligible to earn a $100 discount off one coach companion ticket for roundtrip travel between Hawaii and North America on Hawaiian Airlines on each account anniversary upon payment of annual fee Receive a one-time 50% Off companion discount for roundtrip coach travel between Hawaii and North America on Hawaiian Airlines As a primary cardholder, receive a complimentary first checked bag every time you use your card to purchase eligible tickets directly from Hawaiian Airlines No foreign transaction fees
Discover it® ­- Cashback Match™
	$0	1.50%	$171 Discover gives a dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year, automatically. (New cardmembers only)	$514
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Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 343 x $1 = $343 Bonuses 171 x $1 = $171 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 514 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee $0 APR 12.24% - 24.24% Variable Card Details Earn 5% cash back at different places each quarter like gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, Amazon.com, or wholesale clubs up to the quarterly maximum each time you activate. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases. INTRO OFFER: Discover will match ALL the cash back earned at the end of your first year, automatically. Redeem your cash back for any amount, any time. Cash rewards never expire. Use your rewards instantly at Amazon.com checkout. No annual fee. Click "APPLY NOW" to see rates, rewards, FICO® Credit Score terms, Cashback Match™ details & other information.
Discover it® chrome
	$0	1.50%	$171 Discover gives a dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year, automatically. (New cardmembers only)	$514
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Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 343 x $1 = $343 Bonuses 171 x $1 = $171 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 514 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee $0 APR 12.24% - 24.24% Variable Card Details INTRO OFFER: Discover will match ALL the cash back earned at the end of your first year, automatically. 2% cash back at restaurants and gas stations on up to $1,000 in combined purchases every quarter - no sign-ups needed. Plus, 1% cash back on all other purchases. Redeem your cash back for any amount, any time. Cash rewards never expire. 100% U.S. based customer service. Get your free Credit Scorecard with your FICO® Credit Score, number of recent inquiries and more. New! Receive FREE Social Security number alerts-Discover will monitor thousands of risky websites when you sign up. No annual fee. Click "APPLY NOW" to see rates, rewards, FICO® Credit Score terms, Cashback Match™ details & other information.
Discover it® for Students
	$0	1.50%	$171 Discover gives a dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year, automatically. (New cardmembers only)	$514
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Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 343 x $1 = $343 Bonuses 171 x $1 = $171 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 514 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee $0 APR 14.24% - 23.24% Variable Card Details Get a dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year, automatically. Earn 5% cash back at different places each quarter like gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants or Amazon.com up to the quarterly maximum each time you activate. Plus, 1% cash back on all other purchases. Good Grades Rewards: $20 cash back each school year your GPA is 3.0 or higher for up to the next 5 years. No annual fee. No late fee on first late payment. No APR change for paying late. Get 100% U.S. based customer service & get your free Credit Scorecard with your FICO® Credit Score, number of recent inquiries and more. Freeze It® on/off switch for your account that prevents new purchases, cash advances & balance transfers in seconds. New! Receive FREE Social Security number alerts-Discover will monitor thousands of risky websites when you sign up. 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 14.24% - 23.24%. Click "APPLY NOW" to see rates, rewards, FICO® Credit Score terms, Cashback Match™ details & other information.
USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature®
	No Annual Fee	1.50%	$0	$515
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Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 51,480 x $0.01 = $515 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 515 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee No Annual Fee APR 13.15% - 27.15% Variable Card Details Earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase There's no limit on the amount you can earn Redeem your rewards anytime online or with the USAA Mobile App. USAA membership is available to active and former military and their eligible family members
AeroMexico Visa Card
	$0 Intro Annual Fee for the first year then $45	1.68%	$150 15,000 First Use Bonus Miles after first purchase or payment of annual fee	$575
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Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 47,040 x $0.01 = $470 Bonuses 15,000 x $0.01 = $150 Less Annual Fees -$45 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 575 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee $0 Intro Annual Fee for the first year then $45 APR 12.99% - 22.99% Variable Card Details 15,000 First Use Bonus Miles after first purchase or payment of annual fee Complimentary Companion Ticket 1 Club Premier Mile per $1 spent 2 miles per $1 spent on Gas & Groceries 2 miles per $1 spent on Aeromexico airfare purchases Redeem miles (or Premier Kilometers) for award tickets, upgrades, and salon / SkyTeam VIP lounge access Travel & Emergency Assistance Services, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, and Travel Accident Insurance for card purchases
AAdvantage® Aviator™ Red Mastercard®
	$95	1.15%	$0	$393
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Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 34,320 x $0.017 = $583 Less Annual Fees -$190 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 393 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee $95 APR 15.99%, 19.99% or 24.99% Variable Card Details 2X miles for every dollar spent on eligible US Airways and American Airlines purchases. 1x mile for every 1 dollar spent on all other purchases. 1 Free Checked Bag Whenever you redeem, you’ll receive 10% of your redeemed miles back Priority boarding No Foreign Transaction Fees 25% in-flight savings on food, beverages, and headsets on US Airways and AA operated flights
Capital One® QuicksilverOne® Credit Card
	$39	1.27%	$0	$437
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Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 515 x $1 = $515 Less Annual Fees -$78 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 437 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee $39 APR 24.99% (Variable) Card Details Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day Use your QuicksilverOne card and get 50% back as a statement credit on your monthly Spotify Premium subscription, now through April 2018 No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus, cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn Get access to a higher credit line after making your first 5 monthly payments on time Fraud coverage if your card is ever lost or stolen Use online banking to access your account, even from your smartphone, with our mobile app Help strengthen your credit for the future with responsible card use Note: The information in this box was provided by Capital One® and is not part of our independent analysis.
Norwegian Cruise Line® World MasterCard® Credit Card
	No Annual Fee	1.29%	$100 Earn 10,000 Bonus WorldPoints® points if you make your first transaction in the first 60 days	$443
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Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 34,320 x $0.01 = $343 Bonuses 10,000 x $0.01 = $100 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 443 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee No Annual Fee APR 12.99% - 22.99% Variable Card Details Earn 10,000 Bonus WorldPoints® points if you make your first transaction in the first 60 days 2x points per $1 on Norwegian purchases 1 point per $1 on everything else No annual fee
BP Visa® Credit Card
	No Annual Fee	1.76%	$0	$603
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Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 60,300 x $0.01 = $603 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 603 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee No Annual Fee APR 27.24% Card Details Introductory Offer: Earn 25¢ off** per gallon For every $100 you spend with your BP Visa® Credit Card or BP Credit Card for the first 90 days your account is open (excluding non-BP gas stations) 25¢ off per gallon for every $100 you spend at BP 15¢ off per gallon for every $100 you spend for eligible groceries, dining and travel 5¢ off** per gallon for every $100 you spend everywhere Visa® credit cards are accepted (excluding non-BP gas stations) No annual fee
Avianca LifeMiles Visa Signature Card
	$0 Intro Annual Fee for the first year then $75	1.24%	$184 Earn 20,000 bonus miles with your first card use	$425
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Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 34,320 x $0.009 = $316 Bonuses 20,000 x $0.009 = $184 Less Annual Fees -$75 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 425 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee $0 Intro Annual Fee for the first year then $75 APR 12.99% - 22.99% Variable Card Details Earn 20,000 bonus miles with your first card use 1 LifeMile for every net $1 you spend 2x LifeMiles on Avianca ticket purchases 50% Excess Baggage Redemption Discount on Avianca flights Redeem Avianca miles on flights and cabin upgrades Access to Visa Signature concierge privileges for shopping, entertainment, travel, and sports Travel & Emergency Assistance Services, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, and Travel Accident Insurance for card purchases No Preset Spending Limit
Premier Miles & More® World Mastercard®
	$79	1.12%	$200 Earn 20,000 award miles with first purchase	$385
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Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 34,320 x $0.01 = $343 Bonuses 20,000 x $0.01 = $200 Less Annual Fees -$158 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 385 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee $79 APR 15.99% or 24.99% Variable Card Details Earn 20,000 award miles with first purchase or balance transfer Annual Companion Ticket after first purchase, and annually thereafter 2 miles for every $1 spent on Miles and More integrated airlines 1 mile for every $1 spent otherwise Redeem miles for flight awards and upgrades on Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, SWISS, and Star Alliance airlines and other partners Complimentary Companion ticket after first purchase, then every year after $79 Annual Fee waived for Senator and HON Circle Members No foreign transaction fee
National Geographic Platinum Edition® Visa®
	No Annual Fee	1.15%	$50 Receive 5,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in the first 3 billing cycles	$393
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Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 34,320 x $0.01 = $343 Bonuses 5,000 x $0.01 = $50 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 393 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee No Annual Fee APR 15.99% - 22.99% Variable Card Details Receive 5,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in the first 3 billing cycles 2 points per $1 spent on purchases made through National Geographic 1 point per $1 spent eveywhere else 12 digital issues of National Geographic magazine plus online archive 20% off qualifying purchases through the National Geographic catalog and online store $250 off Nat Geo Expeditions and Adventure trips
Princess Cruises Rewards Visa Card
	No Annual Fee	1.15%	$50 Earn 5,000 Bonus Princess Points after your make your first purchase	$393
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Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 34,320 x $0.01 = $343 Bonuses 5,000 x $0.01 = $50 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 393 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee No Annual Fee APR 13.99%, 16.99% or 20.99% Variable Card Details Earn 5,000 Bonus Princess Points after your make your first purchase 2 points for every $1 spent on Princess Cruises purchases 1 point for every $1 spent otherwise Redeem rewards towards discounted, reduced, and even free cruise redemptions Points can also be redeemed for special occasions, spa experiences, onboard credits, Princess merchandise, and airfare discounts
Farmers® Rewards Visa®
	No Annual Fee	1.37%	$30 Earn 3,000 points, after making $500 in purchases, outside of Farmers®, within 90 days of account opening	$469
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Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 43,920 x $0.01 = $439 Bonuses 3,000 x $0.01 = $30 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 469 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee No Annual Fee APR 13.24%, 17.24% or 20.24% Variable Card Details Earn 3,000 points, after making $500 in purchases, outside of Farmers®, within 90 days of account opening Earn 3x points on Farmers Products, plus 3x points for gas purchases, 3x points for home improvement purchases, and 1x point everywhere else Visa is accepted 0% introductory APR on all purchases in the first 12 months. After that the APR is 13.24% to 20.24% based on Prime Rate and creditworthiness No annual fee Points never expire
Gulf Visa® Card
	No Annual Fee	1.28%	$0	$439
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Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 43,920 x $0.01 = $439 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 439 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee No Annual Fee APR 15.99% to 22.99% Variable Card Details 3 points for every $1 spent on all purchases at a Gulf Station 1 point per $1 everywhere else No annual fee
USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card
	No Annual Fee	1.23%	$0	$422
	Graph Card		More Details and Value Calculation
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 42,240 x $0.01 = $422 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 422 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee No Annual Fee APR 13.15% - 27.15% Variable Card Details Earn 5% cash back on your first $3,000 in gas and military purchases annually on these categories combined. Earn 2% cash back on your first $3,000 on supermarket purchases per year. Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. USAA membership is available to active and former military and their eligible family members
Korean Air SKYPASS Visa Signature Credit Card
	$80	0.97%	$150 15,000 SKYPASS Bonus Miles after first purchase	$333
Apply Now	Graph Card	Read Review	More Details and Value Calculation
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 34,320 x $0.01 = $343 Bonuses 15,000 x $0.01 = $150 Less Annual Fees -$160 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 333 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee $80 APR 12.99% - 19.99% Variable Card Details 15,000 SKYPASS Bonus Miles after first purchase 1 mile for every $1 spent in purchases Double Miles on Korean Air ticket purchases Redeem miles for reward travel and upgrades on Korean Air and SkyTeam partners SKYPASS Visa card purchases help you reach and maintain Morning Calm Club Membership No foreign transaction fee Travel & Emergency Assistance Services $1,000,000 in Travel Accident Insurance EVM chip technology for added security abroad Free monthly credit score reporting
AAdvantage® Aviator™ Silver World Elite Mastercard®
	$195	0.56%	$0	$193
Apply Now	Graph Card	Read Review	More Details and Value Calculation
Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months Card Rewards Estimated Rewards Value Dollars* Spending Rewards 34,320 x $0.017 = $583 Less Annual Fees -$390 Total Net Estimated Rewards Through 24 Months 193 *The value estimate is calculated using ValuePenguin.com rewards point value. Annual Fee $195 APR 15.99%, 19.99% or 124.99% Variable Card Details 3X miles for every dollar spent on eligible US Airways and American Airlines purchases. Earn 2X miles for every dollar spent on eligible hotels and car rentals. 1x mile for every 1 dollar spent on all other purchases. Apply for Global Entry with TSA Pre_™ and, upon approval, experience expedited, more efficient security screenings, moving you smoothly through U.S. customs when returning from traveling abroad. Pay for the $100 Global Entry application fee with your card and you’ll automatically receive a $100 statement credit 2-3 weeks after your transaction.

How to Choose the Best Rewards Credit Card

Selecting a rewards credit card involves several steps of evaluation. You need to determine which type of rewards card you want and then prioritize the key features that these cards offer. You also must consider how much you spend and on what, so you can get the card that rewards you the most for your purchases. Finally, your creditworthiness will factor into what card you can get. We outline a simple four-step process to narrow down the best rewards card for you.

• Find the Right Rewards Card Type
• Compare Key Features of Rewards Cards
• Consider How Much You Spend
• What Cards Do You Qualify For?

Find the Right Rewards Card Type

There are three types of rewards credit cards: cash-back, generic travel and co-branded airline and hotel cards. Each rewards spending in different ways and offer varying bonuses and other perks. You should familiarize yourself with these categories to help you determine which would benefit you most.

Cash-Back Credit Cards

The simplest rewards cards, they give you money back on each purchase. Cash-back cards fall into two subcategories: cards with a fixed cash-back rate and cards with rotating categories. The former are the most common and provide one cash-back rate on certain categories or on all purchases. For instance, a card could offer 1.5% back on all purchases. Rotating-category cards earn cash back at different merchants or types of merchants during the year. For instance, a card may offer 5% back on groceries from January to March and then on restaurants from April to June. The downside is that the cash-back rate on other purchases outside the rotating categories is not very generous. Chase, Discover and U.S. Bank are the only issuers that offer rotating-category cards.

Cash-back credit cards are best if you want:

• To avoid annual fees
• Easy rewards redemption
• Higher rewards rate for everyday purchases

Generic Travel Rewards Cards

These cards typically award points for all your purchases that can be redeemed for cash back, flights, hotel stays or statement credit among other items. But you typically get the best value if you use points for flights and travel-related expenses. Some rewards programs— like Chase's Ultimate Rewards and Amex's Membership Rewards—allow you to transfer your points to airline and hotel loyalty programs.

Generic travel rewards cards are best if you want:

• To maximize their rewards value
• Flexible rewards redemption
• Higher rewards rate for entertainment, travel and restaurant purchases

Co-branded Airline and Hotel Rewards Cards

The last group of rewards cards are tied to a specific airline or hotel chain. With these cards, you earn loyalty points with the card’s airline or hotel brand. These cards tend to be the least flexible, but the most generous. They reward brand loyalty by allowing you to earn extra perks such as early boarding on flights, late checkout at hotels, free companion tickets and free checked bags. These are perks you can’t get with generic travel cards or cash-back cards. Co-branded cards are best if you are:

• Avid travelers
• Loyal to a particular airline or hotel

Compare Key Features of Rewards Cards

When choosing the best rewards credit card for yourself, focus on specific features and prioritize which ones are the most important to you. Here are three major features to consider:

Rewards Rate

The main reason to get a rewards credit card is to get something back for your spending. So, it’s important to compare the rewards rates of multiple cards you’re considering. To calculate a card's rewards rate, multiply the value of the points/miles by the number of points/miles you get for a specific purchase. Say, the value of your points is $0.01 and you get 2 points for every dollar spent, the rewards rate is $0.01 x 2 = 2%. Figuring out the rewards rate for each card makes it easier to compare cash-back, co-branded and travel reward cards.

Bonuses

Many reward credit cards offer an incentive, or bonus, to sign up. These come in two varieties. The most common is an early spend bonus. To get the bonus, you must charge in the first three months a minimum amount, which varies between $500 and $5,000 depending on the card. Rewards cards with no annual fees usually require only $500 to get the bonus. Typically, the more you must spend, the higher the bonus you get. The less common bonus is awarded when you make your first purchase. These are generally low amounts between $25 and $50.

Foreign Transaction Fees

Most credit cards will charge a 3% fee when you charge outside the United States. But there are rewards cards that don't charge this fee at all. These are particularly useful if you travel often and want to earn rewards while abroad.

Consider How Much You Spend

How much you spend on a card typically determines if it’s worth paying an annual fee. Charge less than $12,000 a year on your card? Then, you should stay with a credit card with no annual fee. If you spend more, it’s time to consider an annual-fee card and its benefits. Cards with generous sign-up bonuses often offset the annual fee in the first year. Other card benefit that have dollar values can make the annual fee more affordable. The math can be tricky to do, so we recommend using our comparison tool to figure out the net rewards value per card, given how you spend.

Otherwise, try this formula: Estimate a card's total net value and compare that against the opportunity cost. First, estimate what a card is worth to you. This can be achieved by considering how much you spend, and then multiplying it by the card's rewards rate. You can also factor in other long-term benefits, such as airport lounge access, travel credits, or anything else you're likely to use. We recommend against factoring in the card's bonus as that will only give you an idea of the short-term value, and may obscure the card's long-term viability. Once you have a gross value, subtract away the annual fee to get the net worth. To determine the opportunity cost, you simply need to consider how much you could be getting with other cards. A quick shortcut is to compare a card to a no-annual fee 1.5% cash back card. Multiply your annual spending by 1.5%. If the final result is higher than the net value of your rewards card, then the no annual fee card is the better option.

Example Calculation

Consider Card A and Card B. Card A has a 2% rewards rewards rate and charges a $50 annual fee. Card B, on the other hand, gives users just 1.5% cash back with no annual fee. How much do you have to spend each year for Card A to be the better choice? The table below shows a few scenarios.

What Cards Do You Qualify For?

If you have excellent credit with a long credit history, you likely will qualify for any card we recommend. If your credit is good or you have a shorter credit history, it may be harder, but not impossible, to get these cards. It depends on each credit card issuer’s underwriting requirements. If you have a short or no credit history or bad credit, your choices are limited. We recommend Discover it Secured for people with bad credit and the Discover it Student for students. Get a free FICO score and look for offers that align with your creditworthiness.

Last updated January 29, 2018