The American Express® Green Card is our top pick for Airbnb because it gets you the most bang for your buck. It offers one of the highest rewards rates on travel (including Airbnb) spending along with generous rewards on transit and dining .
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Airbnb Rewards | Rewards Rate | Welcome Offer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
American Express® Green Card*
|
Winner
|
3X Membership Rewards on travel purchases, including Airbnb | 1X - 3X points
| 40,000 points
Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
| |
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
 Apply Now
on Chase's secure site Rates & Fees |
Runner-up for rewards on travel purchases
|
2X points on general travel purchases, including Airbnb | 1X - 5X points
| 75,000 points
Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
|
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site Rates & Fees |
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
|
Best flat-rate
|
2X miles on general purchases, including Airbnb | 2X - 5X Miles
| 75,000 miles
75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
| |
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
Apply Now
on Bank Of America's secure site |
Best for easy points redemption
|
1.5X points | 1.5X - 3X points
| 25,000 points
25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases
|
Apply Now
on Bank Of America's secure site |
Prime Visa
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site Rates & Fees |
Travel rewards for online shopping
|
5% back on Airbnb gift cards purchased on Amazon | 1% - 5% cash back
| $150 Amazon gift card
Get a $150 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members
|
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site Rates & Fees |
Target Circle™ Card*
|
Best store card for Airbnb
|
5% on specialty gift cards, including Airbnb | 5% off at Target + 1% - 2% cash back outside of target
| $50 cash credit
Get $50 in Circle Rewards when you spend $50 on your Circle Credit Card within the first 60 days following approval.
| |
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site Rates & Fees |
Best business card for Airbnb
|
3X points on travel, including Airbnb stays | 1X - 3X points
| 90,000 points
Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
|
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site Rates & Fees |
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site Rates & Fees |
Best business card for Airbnb gift cards
|
5% cash back at office supply stores, where you can buy Airbnb gift cards | 1% - 5% cash back
| $750 cash back
Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening.
|
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site Rates & Fees |
When looking for the best credit cards for Airbnb, we compared features across a large set of credit cards (over 200 of them from over 50 issuers). We then chose our top picks based on a variety of factors, including rewards value for Airbnb purchases, the sign-up bonus, the annual fee and more. We also looked at the benefits offered by each card, such as travel credits, purchase protection, travel insurance and complimentary lounge access.
Note that our ratings are a starting point for comparing and choosing the best Airbnb credit card. However, your needs may be different from the average cardholder. You should consider the amount you’re likely to spend in a card’s bonus categories and which benefits you value to choose the best card for you. Learn more about our ranking and rating method here.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Airbnb Rewards: Earn 3X Membership Rewards on travel purchases, including Airbnb
Full rewards rate details:
The American Express® Green Card is the best card for Airbnb because it offers premium rewards and perks at a reasonable annual fee. You’ll collect points quickly with one of the highest earn rates on travel, transit and dining worldwide. It’s one of only two cards on the list offering bonus rewards on transit spending, giving it broader travel coverage than most.
This card also comes with a CLEAR Plus credit that’s worth more than the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® credit typically offered by travel credit cards. Plus, Amex points can be transferred to a multitude of travel loyalty programs.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here. Apply Now
Airbnb Rewards: Earn 2X points on general travel purchases, including Airbnb
Full rewards rate details:
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a great starter travel card that boasts a nice welcome bonus and has a high rewards earning rate on dining, online grocery purchases and select streaming services. And it earns valuable, flexible Ultimate Rewards points that can be transferred to a long list of airline and hotel partners.
But you should know you can’t earn the high travel bonus rate on Airbnb bookings, as that bonus category is limited to travel purchased through the Ultimate Rewards portal. And the hotel credit can’t be applied to Airbnb bookings for the same reason. So, consider these drawbacks when comparing Airbnb credit card offers.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Airbnb Rewards: Earn 2X miles on general purchases, including Airbnb
Full rewards rate details:
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers some premium travel perks for a reasonable $95 annual fee, including a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application fee credit and robust travel insurance.
The card also has a simple rewards structure, and you can redeem miles for past travel purchases — like Airbnb stays — or transfer miles to over 15 Capital One airline and hotel partners. Just keep in mind that the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card lacks some of the premium perks (such as an annual travel credit and lounge access) when compared to more expensive travel cards.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here. Apply Now
Airbnb Rewards: Earn 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases. 3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases booked through the Bank of America Travel Center.
If you’re looking for an easy way to earn and redeem rewards for a $0 annual fee, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card takes the top prize. With a simple earning rate, there aren’t a lot of bonus categories or restrictions to memorize. Plus, you get 3X points on travel purchases booked through the Bank of America Travel Center. And though there are no travel partners, a downside compared with some other credit cards for Airbnb, this does make redemption easier: Just wipe out some or all of the cost of past travel purchases with a statement credit.
You should know that you can’t tap the card’s highest potential unless you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member. In that case, you can access a 25% to 75% boost on your earning rate, or as high as 2.625% — an excellent rate for everyday purchases — if you meet the bank balance requirements.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here. Apply Now
Airbnb Rewards: Earn 5% back on Airbnb gift cards purchased on Amazon
Full rewards rate details:
While it isn’t a travel card, the Prime Visa can help you pay for your Airbnb stays — in an unconventional way. Instead of paying directly, you can purchase Airbnb gift cards through Amazon and get them delivered by email. Then use them to book a stay. If you’re a Prime member, this workaround will allow you to earn a rewards rate on Airbnb purchases that outshines most other cards on our list. This makes the Prime Visa as close as you’re going to get to having an Airbnb credit card.
You should keep in mind that, as exciting as this sounds, the points you’ll earn are not as valuable as the flexible, transferable points on some general travel cards.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Airbnb Rewards: Save 5% on specialty gift cards, including Airbnb
Full rewards rate details:
While you won’t earn extra rewards on travel spending, the 5% Target Circle™ Card discount applies to eligible specialty gift cards, including Airbnb gift cards. You can even buy e-gift cards online. This effectively gets you one of the highest rewards rates on Airbnb purchases.
The card’s modest welcome bonus can be spent on an Airbnb gift card. You’ll also earn 2% on dining and gas purchases, which isn’t bad for a $0-annual-fee card. That said, the rewards you earn aren’t as flexible and high value as the points you’d earn with some travel cards.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here. Apply Now
Airbnb Rewards: Earn 3X points on travel, including Airbnb stays
Full rewards rate details:
If you’re self-employed or own a small business, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is an excellent card for racking up points — on Airbnb stays and elsewhere. You earn a high rate of rewards on travel, including short-term rentals, as well as expenses in a variety of business categories. Even better, you earn Chase’s valuable, flexible points that can be transferred to airline and hotel partners for maximum value. Unfortunately, that prevents you from cashing them in for Airbnb bookings.
You also should keep in mind that you’ll need to own a business in order to qualify for this card, though even a one-person enterprise can count. And if your business has high expenses, the annual limit on bonus earnings is worth keeping in mind.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here. Apply Now
Airbnb Rewards: Earn 5% cash back at office supply stores, where you can buy Airbnb gift cards
Full rewards rate details:
If you’re okay with going through the hassle of using gift cards, the Chase Ink Business Cash® Credit Card could be one of the most lucrative Airbnb credit cards. You earn 5% back at office supply stores, where you can purchase Airbnb gift cards. If you pair this card with an Ultimate Rewards-earning card, like the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card or one of the Chase Sapphire cards, you can boost the value of your rewards by transferring them to one of those accounts.
If you transfer your rewards from this card to a Chase Sapphire Reserve® account, your points are worth up to 100% more if you’re willing to redeem them through Chase TravelSM. It is possible that you could earn up to 10% back on Airbnb purchases — a rate practically unheard of for a $0-annual-fee card.
The earning potential of any given card will depend on your spending habits and redemption preferences. Transferring your points can squeeze even more value out of them. For example, American Express Membership Rewards points and Chase Ultimate Rewards® points can be worth 2 cents or more when transferred to an airline partner.
| Card | Airbnb earning potential | Rewards value* |
|---|---|---|
| American Express® Green Card | 3 points per dollar | 0.5-1 cents per point (or more if transferred) |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | 2 points per dollar | 1-1.75 cents per point (or more if transferred) |
| Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | 2 miles per dollar | 0.5-1.8 cents per mile (or more if transferred) |
| Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card | 1.5 points per dollar | 1 cent per point |
| Prime Visa | 1% cash back or up to 5% cash back if you buy Airbnb gift cards on Amazon | Cash back |
| Target Circle™ Card | 1% cash back or 5% discount on Airbnb gift cards bought at Target | Cash back redeemed for Target gift cards |
| Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card | 3 points per dollar | 1-1.25 cents per point (or more if transferred) |
| Ink Business Cash® Credit Card | 1% cash back or 5% cash back if you buy Airbnb gift cards at office supply stores | Cash back |
Choosing the best Airbnb credit card means looking at a variety of travel credit cards and considering which will benefit you most. You may be focused solely on maximizing your earnings on Airbnb spending, or you may want a more well-rounded card.
The cost of an Airbnb stay can really add up, easily totaling $1,000 or more for a stay of several days or longer when you tack on cleaning fees, pet fees and taxes. So, booking an Airbnb stay can be a great way to reach the minimum spending requirement for a credit card sign-up bonus. When choosing the best credit card for Airbnb, consider the size of the sign-up bonus and its cash value, and whether you’ll spend enough on travel for it to make sense.
Flexible travel credits are valuable for Airbnb loyalists because they give you a statement credit to offset the cost of travel, which can include an Airbnb booking.
Some cards offer specific travel credits, which generally means they won’t cover the cost of an Airbnb. For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card hotel credit applies only to hotels booked on the Chase Ultimate Rewards® travel portal.
Consider which type of rewards you’d rather earn: cash back, points or miles. You’ll have to decide which redemption option best fits your budget and lifestyle.
Frequent travelers might prefer flexible credit card points or miles from popular programs like Amex Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards®, which can be transferred to airline and hotel programs to maximize redemption value. On the other hand, cash back credit cards are best for cardholders who value straightforward rewards and don’t like to spend time crunching numbers and scanning award charts.
Chances are, you don’t spend enough money on Airbnb to dedicate an entire card to Airbnb purchases. So, consider each card’s bonus earning categories to figure out which card fits best with your everyday spending.
For example, if you’re an Amazon Prime subscriber and frequent Amazon shopper, the Amazon Prime Visa may be a good fit for your everyday purchases. However, others might prefer a simpler card that offers a 2X earning rate on all categories.
Some credit cards with high annual fees also offer valuable benefits. These premium travel cards may also come with high-end travel perks, such as travel insurance and high-value travel credits.
But you don’t have to pay a high annual fee to earn rewards on Airbnb stays. You can get 5% back by buying Airbnb gift cards at office supply stores with the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card, then use the gift cards. And there are some other great no-annual-fee travel cards that can help you earn a lot of points on travel purchases.
Another valuable perk to consider when comparing Airbnb credit card offers is travel insurance. Many rewards cards offer protections such as trip delay or cancellation insurance, which could be a good feature to have on an Airbnb credit card.
With Airbnb, different hosts have different cancellation policies and timelines. In some cases, you can’t get a full refund if you cancel after a certain date. Good coverage on a card may protect you in certain cases, such as if you get sick right before a trip.
An Airbnb chargeback involves disputing an Airbnb charge with your bank or credit card company to try and get it reversed. If you’re having difficulty getting refunded for an Airbnb charge, you should attempt to resolve your dispute directly through Airbnb support first. You can call the Airbnb contact number at 844-234-2500.
If that doesn’t work, you can file a chargeback on an Airbnb charge with your bank. Your bank may take up to 90 days to resolve the dispute. If your Airbnb chargeback is approved, the charge will be refunded to your account. According to a recent LendingTree study, 96% of credit cardholders who have filed a dispute achieved a successful resolution.
It’s worth noting that once you file a chargeback, Airbnb will no longer work to refund the charge or resolve any disputes you’ve filed with them. In addition, some users have reported that filing an Airbnb chargeback caused the company to ban their account from its platform. Therefore, if you do an Airbnb chargeback before or during a stay, this could interrupt your stay and force you to book accommodations outside of Airbnb.
You don’t need a travel credit card to earn extra points on Airbnb spending. Many credit cards, like the ones listed below, reward spending at stores that sell Airbnb gift cards.
| Credit card | Bonus earnings on gift cards | Rewards redeemed for… |
|---|---|---|
| Prime Visa | 5% cash back at Amazon | Amazon purchases |
| Target Circle™ Card | 5% discount at Target | Target purchases |
| Ink Business Cash® Credit Card | 5% cash back at office supply stores (on up to $25,000 in annual spending) | Cash back |
This can yield more than using a travel credit card that earns 2X or 3X points on travel spending. If the points you earn are worth 1 cent each, that’s a 2% to 3% return, compared to the 5% return earned with the cards above.
However, credit card points can be worth well over 1 cent each, especially those that can be transferred to hotel and airline partners. The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is particularly lucrative for Airbnb gift cards if you hold a Chase Ultimate Rewards®-earning card because you can convert that 5% cash back into high-value Ultimate Rewards points.
That said, buying Airbnb gift cards every time you want to book an Airbnb may not be worth the hassle unless you spend a lot on Airbnbs.
With inflation high, half of Americans think using loyalty programs to save money is more important than ever, according to a LendingTree survey. If you’re looking to save even more on travel, Airbnb partners with a couple of rewards programs to help you earn airline miles on your stays.
Delta SkyMiles® Airbnb partnership program
Delta SkyMiles members can earn one mile per dollar spent on qualifying Airbnb bookings, excluding taxes and fees. You must visit deltaairbnb.com and sign up for the program using your SkyMiles information. After that, you’ll need to enter your SkyMiles number each time you book an Airbnb to keep earning.
Collecting Avios points with Airbnb
British Airways loyalists can earn 2 Avios points for every dollar spent on Airbnb. All you need to do is enable cookies and follow the booking links from this page and enter your British Airways membership number. From there, you can complete your booking, and the points should show up in your account within 60 days of your stay.
The best hotel credit cards can help you earn hotel rewards and free stays. Depending on your spending habits and travel preferences, hotel rewards may or may not be a better option than Airbnb rewards.
| Rewards program | Average value per point | Credit card rewards earning rate | Cash value per dollar* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton Honors | $0.005 | 3X-14X | $0.015-$0.07 |
| World of Hyatt | $0.02 | 2X-9X | $0.04-$0.18 |
| Choice Privileges | $0.008 | 1X-10X | $0.008-$0.08 |
| Marriott Bonvoy | $0.009 | 1X-17X | $0.009-$0.15 |
| IHG | $0.005 | 2X-26X | $0.01-$0.13 |
| Airbnb | $0.005-$0.02 | 1X-5X | $0.005-$0.10 |
You don’t need a credit card for Airbnb. While Airbnb accepts credit cards — including Amex, Visa and Mastercard — they also take Apple Pay, Google Pay and PayPal. So, for example, you could pay using a debit card or prepaid card you’ve added to your Apple Pay or pay with funds from a bank account using PayPal’s Instant Transfer feature.
You can dispute any charge on your credit card including Airbnb charges. This is called a chargeback, and your bank typically will temporarily refund you the money, request details and investigate the issue to decide if you get to keep the refund. Once you file a chargeback, Airbnb will no longer refund you directly. If you were unhappy with your stay or had a problem, it may be best to try to resolve the issue with Airbnb first before involving your credit card company.
It depends on the credit card, but Airbnb is generally considered a travel purchase for the purpose of rewards card travel categories and travel credits. Most card issuers with a travel bonus rewards category use a fairly broad definition of travel that includes hotels, motels, timeshares, vacation rentals and more. But read the fine print and check with your issuer if you’re unsure if a particular purchase counts as towards a travel credit.
No, you generally can’t change your credit card on Airbnb after booking, but it depends on the situation. If you made a reservation and your card was charged, you can’t change the payment method after the fact. But if you made a request to book and are waiting on the host to confirm, you can cancel and make a new request with a different payment method. If you are using a payment plan or doing a long-term stay, you can change your credit card for future payments.
You can’t use Chase points to book an Airbnb directly, but there are some indirect ways to use Chase points for Airbnb. You can redeem your points for an Airbnb gift card, or you can use the “Pay Yourself Back” feature to redeem points for a statement credit toward Airbnb purchases. In both cases, you won’t be getting as much value out of your points as you could with other redemptions.
No, Airbnb does not have a rewards program. However, you can earn points, miles or cash back on Airbnb stays through other rewards programs. Travel credit cards can help you earn travel rewards on Airbnb purchases, and partnerships with Delta and British Airways can help you earn airline miles on your Airbnb stays.
You can’t use Amex points to book Airbnbs directly, but you can redeem them for a statement credit to cover an Airbnb purchase or for an Airbnb gift card. However, both of these options will decrease the value of your points compared to other redemptions.
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
The information related to the American Express® Green Card and Target Circle™ Card has been independently collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.
