The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is the best credit card for rewards because it lets you earn a generous sign-up bonus and a solid rewards rate on every purchase. Plus, you can transfer miles to 15+ travel loyalty programs.
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Rewards Rate | Welcome Offer | Annual Fee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
|
Best travel rewards card
|
2X - 5X Miles
| 75,000 miles
75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
| $95 | |
AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®*
|
Best airline rewards credit card
|
1X - 2X miles
| 50,000 miles
Earn 50,000 AAdvantage® bonus miles after making your first purchase and paying the $99 annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days.
| $99 | |
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
|
Best hotel rewards credit card
|
3X - 12X points
| 130,000 points
Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 8/13/2025.
| $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150 | |
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
 Apply Now
on Chase's secure site Rates & Fees |
Best business rewards credit card
|
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.
| $95 |
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site Rates & Fees |
Bilt World Elite Mastercard®
Apply Now
on Bilt Rewards's secure site Rates & Fees |
Best no annual fee rewards card
|
1X - 5X points
| 1,000 points
Bilt cardholders can earn double points on purchases made on the first of the month (excluding Rent) up to 1,000 bonus points. You must use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points.
| $0 |
Apply Now
on Bilt Rewards's secure site Rates & Fees |
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
|
Best cash back* rewards card
|
1% - 6% cash back
| $250 statement credit
Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
| $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. | |
Citi Custom Cash® Card*
|
Best gas rewards credit card
|
1% - 5% cash back
| $200 cash back
Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
| $0 | |
American Express® Gold Card
|
Best dining rewards card
|
1X - 4X points
| As high as 100,000 points
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
| $325 | |
Petal® 2 Cash Back, No Fees Visa® Credit Card*
|
Best rewards credit card for fair credit
|
1% - 10% cash back
| N/A | $0 | |
Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
|
Best student rewards credit card
|
1% - 8% cash back
| $100 Cash Back
Earn $100 Cash Back when you spend $300 in the first three months
| $0 |
When searching for the best credit card rewards, you should compare more than just the rewards rates. You can use plenty of other factors to determine the value of each card. Consider the following features when making a credit card rewards comparison:
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.Rewards: Earn 2X - 5X Miles
Details:
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers the best credit card rewards of any card in our survey. That’s because it lets you earn elevated rewards on every purchase that you can transfer to more than 15 travel loyalty programs. You’ll also earn 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.
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.Rewards rate: Earn 1X - 2X miles
Details:
The rewards and perks on the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® can add up to a free flight fast. Along with an easy-to-earn sign-up bonus, you’ll earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1 AAdvantage® mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. Additionally, you can earn a companion certificate for $99 (plus taxes and fees) if you spend more than $20,000 on purchases and your account remains open for 45 days after your anniversary date.
You’ll also get a first checked bag free on domestic American Airlines flights for you and up to four companions on the same reservation, which can quickly make up for the $99 annual fee each year. Other perks include a variety of travel protections, in-flight savings on purchases (given as statement credits) and preferred boarding.
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.Rewards rate: Earn 3X - 12X points
Details:
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card can help you earn your way to free night stays, thanks to its huge welcome offer and generous rewards rate. Hilton points do have a low value (around half a cent per point by our estimates*) — still, this card beats the earnings on most other travel cards.
The card also offers a slew of other valuable benefits, including complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status and a Hilton credit of up to $200 in statement credits each year (up to $50 in quarterly statement credits) that can easily justify its annual fee of $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150.
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
Rewards: Earn 1X - 3X points
Details:
One of the best features of the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is its large sign-up bonus. This card allows you to stack up valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards® points on a variety of business categories (including travel), making it one of the most rewarding cards on our list. Further, you’ll get flexible redemption options, including a 1:1 transfer to several airline and hotel 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
Rewards rate: Earn 1X - 5X points
Details:
The Bilt World Elite Mastercard® is a great value for renters and anyone else looking for a $0-annual-fee travel credit card. It’s one of the only cards you can use to pay rent without a transaction fee.
Points are flexible, and you can transfer them at a 1:1 rate to travel partners. It also offers benefits that put it on par with annual-fee travel credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates & fees).
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.Rewards rate: Earn 1% - 6% cash back*
Details:
Our top pick for cash back is the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express because of its high earnings rate on daily necessities. You can earn a high cash back rate at U.S. supermarkets, up to $6,000 per year. If you max out the $6,000 spend threshold each year – which is easy to do especially if you buy household and pet care products at the supermarket – you’ll earn $360 back annually on those purchases alone. You also earn rewards at a high rate on a variety of other categories, including U.S. gas station purchases, U.S. streaming subscriptions and transit.
This card also comes with a generous welcome offer, and your cash back is easy to redeem for statement credits or at Amazon.com checkout.
“The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a great card for my everyday expenses. I get a high cash back* rate on my U.S. supermarket and transportation purchases, including taxis and public transit, and I just apply those rewards directly to my bill as a statement credit. I typically prefer credit cards without an annual fee, but the Disney Bundle credit offsets most of the annual fee — so for me, it’s worth the cost.”
– Sarah Fisher, deputy editor at LendingTree
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.Rewards: Earn 1% - 5% cash back
Details:
The Citi Custom Cash® Card offers one of the highest cash back rates available on gas, if gas is your highest category of spend in a month. Its unique rewards program lets you earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Gas is included in the eligible categories.
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.Rewards rate: Earn 1X - 4X points
Details:
By our estimates, the American Express® Gold Card gives you the best return on worldwide restaurant purchases of any card. You’ll earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. Terms apply.
We estimate that Amex points are worth around 2 cents apiece when transferred strategically to a travel loyalty program — that means you may get around 8 cents per dollar (or more) in rewards on your restaurant purchases.
You’ll also earn points at a quick rate on U.S. supermarkets, flights booked directly with airlines or through AmexTravel.com and prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases made on AmexTravel.com. Further, the card provides over $400 in statement credits for food enthusiasts and frequent travelers (enrollment required).
“Because the American Express® Gold Card offers such a high rewards rate at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets, I use it to make all the dining and food purchases for my family. I also use the card to make large purchases, since it provides purchase protection1 if an item is damaged, stolen or lost, and an extended warranty1 beyond the original manufacturer’s warranty.”
– Tracy Brackman, senior editor at LendingTree
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.Rewards rate: Earn 1% - 10% cash back
Details:
The Petal® 2 Cash Back, No Fees Visa® Credit Card is the best rewards card for fair credit. Unlike most of its competitors, it charges a $0 annual fee and doesn’t require a deposit. Plus, you won’t need a credit history to apply.
You’ll earn cash back on every purchase, with the chance to boost your rate up to 1.5% after making 12 on-time monthly payments.
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.Rewards rate: Earn 1% - 8% cash back
Details:
The Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card offers some of the best rewards for a student credit card, thanks to its bonus earnings on dining, grocery stores and entertainment. It also comes with better-than-usual benefits for a starter card, including extended warranty and travel accident insurance. Plus, it’s a great card to bring on your semester abroad, since you don’t have to worry about foreign transaction fees.
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Rewards Rate | Welcome Offer | Annual Fee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card*
|
1X - 3X miles
| 60,000 miles
Buy one ticket, get one for just the taxes and fees ($0 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) and get 50,000 bonus miles with this offer. To qualify, make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.
| $95 | ||
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card
|
2X - 6X points
| 135,000 points
Earn up to 135,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points. Earn 85,000 points after you spend $5,000 and an extra 50,000 points after you spend an additional $2,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership.
| $250 | ||
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
|
1.25X - 5X Miles
| 20,000 miles
Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
| $0 | ||
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
|
1% - 8% cash back
| $200 Cash Back
$200 Cash Back after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
| $0 | ||
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site Rates & Fees |
1.5% - 5% cash back
| $200 cash back
Intro Offer: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
| $0 |
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site Rates & Fees |
|
Instacart Mastercard®*
|
1% - 5% cash back
| $50 Instacart statement credit
Get a $50 Instacart credit automatically upon approval.
| $0 | ||
U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card*
|
1X - 4X points
| 20,000 points
Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.
| $0 | ||
Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa®
Apply Now
on Upgrade's secure site Rates & Fees |
1.5% cash back
1.5% unlimited cash back on card purchases every time you make a payment
| $200 cash bonus
$200 bonus after opening a Rewards Checking Preferred account and making 3 debit card transactions*
| $0 |
Apply Now
on Upgrade's secure site Rates & Fees |
|
Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students*
|
1.5X points
Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 you spend on all purchases. | 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
| $0 |
A rewards credit card gives you cash back, points or miles as a reward for making purchases with the card. For many consumers, cash back is king. However, frequent travelers may find that a travel card’s points or miles are more valuable. Credit cards with good rewards come with flexible redemption options, sign-up bonuses and other valuable perks.
Travel rewards credit cards allow you to earn points or miles each time you use your card and offer some of the most valuable sign-up bonuses. Redeeming travel rewards can be a bit more complex, but there are opportunities to redeem your credit card travel points for higher-than-usual value, especially when paired with hotel and airline loyalty programs.
Cash back rewards credit cards allow you to earn money back with every purchase. There are three main types:
What type of rewards do you want to earn?
First, determine if you want to earn cash back, points or miles. If you prefer a simple approach to earning and redeeming rewards, you’ll likely be better off with a cash back card. But if you travel regularly, miles or points may provide the most value.
What spending are you already doing?
Find a card that offers accelerated rewards in the categories you spend the most in each month. For example, if you typically dine out or order in, look for a dining rewards credit card. But if you cook most of your meals at home, a grocery rewards credit card might be a better choice.
Which cards can you qualify for?
Knowing your credit score allows you to focus on the rewards credit cards you’re most likely to get approved for. The best rewards credit cards require good to excellent credit (a FICO Score of 670 or higher or VantageScore of 661 or higher), but there are great options for every type of credit. Even people with fair credit or those who are rebuilding their credit can qualify for cards with valuable rewards and benefits.
How much time do you want to spend managing your credit card?
Consider how much effort you’re willing to put into maximizing your credit card rewards. As mentioned, cash back cards offer the simplest redemption options. However, some cash back cards are simpler than others. For example, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card offers a flat rate of rewards on purchases. Meanwhile, the Discover it® Cash Back offers a really high rewards rate on some purchases — if you’re able to track and enroll in its categories each quarter.
If you travel and you’re willing to invest some time into getting more value out of your rewards, you should strongly consider a travel rewards card. You can get a much better value with a travel card than a cash back card by strategically redeeming your points.
Which card will earn you the most rewards?
After narrowing down your choices, compare how much you’ll likely earn from each rewards card during the first year. Factor in the sign-up bonus, rewards earned from spending and annual credits. Then, subtract the annual fee to determine your net benefit from each card.
→ Learn more: What Are Credit Card Points? What Are They Worth?
According to a LendingTree survey, more than 3 in 4 cardholders support a cap on credit card interest rates. Additionally, 66% of Americans say they’d back a cap, even if it leads to lower rewards on credit cards. This number is up from 58% in 2022 and 52% in 2019.
The best credit card for travel rewards is the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card because you’ll earn 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 5 Miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and earn 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.
Cash back is a type of credit card reward that returns a portion of your spending as money. Typically, this reward is a percentage of your purchase amount. You can redeem cash back for statement credits that are directly applied to your balance, bank account deposits, checks, gift cards and more.
Typically, the IRS doesn’t consider credit card rewards taxable income. They are instead treated as rebates or discounts, since you usually earn them as a result of your spending. That said, if the reward doesn’t require that you spend a certain amount to earn it (e.g. a sign-up bonus that you earn instantly), the IRS may consider it taxable income. If you’re unsure about a specific situation, we recommend contacting a tax professional.
The best credit card for rewards is the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card because of its generous sign-up bonus, high rewards rate on every purchase and ability to transfer miles to 15+ travel partners.
Our pick for the best cash back credit card is the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express because it offers elevated rewards in popular spending categories like U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, transit and streaming. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
Yes, there are a few ways you can sell your credit card rewards to individuals or businesses through online marketplaces, forums or brokers. But it’s not recommended. Instead, we recommend another option like redeeming for gift cards or donating your points to charity.
For most cards, rewards won’t expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing. However, depending on your credit card, your rewards may expire if you don’t redeem them or use your card within a given time period. You should always read a card’s terms and conditions before applying.
To bring you the list of best rewards credit cards, we use an objective rating and ranking system that compares features across a large set of credit cards (over 200 of them from over 50 issuers). We use calculations to estimate the value of each card for the average cardholder, based on LendingTree and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. We rank cards based on the following criteria:
Note that our ratings are a starting point for comparing and choosing the best rewards 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.
1. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
To see rates & fees for American Express cards mentioned on this page, visit the links provided below:
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 AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®, Citi Custom Cash® Card, Petal® 2 Cash Back, No Fees Visa® Credit Card, Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card, Instacart Mastercard®, U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card, Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students and Wells Fargo Active Cash® 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.
