December 27, 2022
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This article was last updated December 27, 2022 . Terms and conditions may have changed. For the most accurate information, please consult the issuer website.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers the best overall sign-up bonus, because Ultimate Rewards points are so valuable and flexible.
A credit card sign-up bonus can give you a large influx of rewards in a short period of time, which can be redeemed for cash back, travel, merchandise and more.
According to our own research, the average credit card sign-up bonus is $157.23 for a cash back credit card and 51,027 points for a points or miles card. The best credit card sign-up bonuses can easily surpass these averages — but you’ll generally need a high credit score and the ability to meet a spending threshold to qualify. (See our guide below for tips on qualifying and choosing the best offer.)
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Sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Earning rate: 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases
Who’s eligible: Applicants who are not currently cardmembers of any Sapphire credit card and who have not received a new cardmember bonus on any Sapphire card within the last 48 months. You’ll also need to be under Chase 5/24
Why we picked this card: This is one of the most valuable and flexible sign-up bonuses currently available. It’s worth at least $750 toward travel when used in the Chase travel portal, or possibly even more by transferring it to Chase’s travel partners.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is ideal for those wanting a travel rewards card that isn’t tied to a specific airline or hotel brand. Points can be redeemed for a variety of travel needs, including airfare, hotels, rental cars and more. The card does come with a $95 annual fee, though the value of the sign-up bonus more than makes up for the annual fee in the first year.
Sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Earning rate: 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases
Who’s eligible: Applicants who are not currently cardmembers of any Sapphire credit card and who have not received a new cardmember bonus on any Sapphire card within the last 48 months. You’ll also need to be under Chase 5/24
Why we picked this card: This is one of the most valuable and flexible sign-up bonuses currently available. It’s worth at least $750 toward travel when used in the Chase travel portal, or possibly even more by transferring it to Chase’s travel partners.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is ideal for those wanting a travel rewards card that isn’t tied to a specific airline or hotel brand. Points can be redeemed for a variety of travel needs, including airfare, hotels, rental cars and more. The card does come with a $95 annual fee, though the value of the sign-up bonus more than makes up for the annual fee in the first year.
Sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
Earning rate: Earn 3X points per $1 spent at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel and hotels and 1X per $1 spent on all other purchases
Who’s eligible: Applicants who have not closed or received a new cardmember bonus for Citi Rewards+®, Citi ThankYou® Preferred Card, Citi ThankYou® Premier/Citi Premier® or Citi Prestige® in the past 24 months.
Why we picked this card: The Citi Premier® Card also offers a very valuable and flexible sign-up bonus. You can use Citi ThankYou points for travel, gift cards or transfer them to Citi’s hotel and airline transfer partners.
The Citi Premier® Card offers outstanding value for frequent travelers who spend a lot on gas stations, restaurants, supermarkets, hotels and on air travel.
Sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
Earning rate: Earn 3X points per $1 spent at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel and hotels and 1X per $1 spent on all other purchases
Who’s eligible: Applicants who have not closed or received a new cardmember bonus for Citi Rewards+®, Citi ThankYou® Preferred Card, Citi ThankYou® Premier/Citi Premier® or Citi Prestige® in the past 24 months.
Why we picked this card: The Citi Premier® Card also offers a very valuable and flexible sign-up bonus. You can use Citi ThankYou points for travel, gift cards or transfer them to Citi’s hotel and airline transfer partners.
The Citi Premier® Card offers outstanding value for frequent travelers who spend a lot on gas stations, restaurants, supermarkets, hotels and on air travel.
Sign-up bonus: Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Earning rate: 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 5 Miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
Who’s eligible: Existing or previous accountholders may not be eligible for this offer. Also, those who have applied for two or more Capital One cards within the past 30 days may not qualify.
Why we picked this card: Capital One miles are some of the most flexible travel rewards out there, and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card gives you a great way to earn them. You can use Capital One miles to pay for travel, be reimbursed for past travel or transfer them to Capital One’s hotel and airline travel partners
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is best for someone looking for a good sign-up bonus with flexible rewards. The ability to use your miles in several different ways is key to maximizing your rewards.
Sign-up bonus: Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Earning rate: 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 5 Miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
Who’s eligible: Existing or previous accountholders may not be eligible for this offer. Also, those who have applied for two or more Capital One cards within the past 30 days may not qualify.
Why we picked this card: Capital One miles are some of the most flexible travel rewards out there, and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card gives you a great way to earn them. You can use Capital One miles to pay for travel, be reimbursed for past travel or transfer them to Capital One’s hotel and airline travel partners
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is best for someone looking for a good sign-up bonus with flexible rewards. The ability to use your miles in several different ways is key to maximizing your rewards.
Sign-up bonus: Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That’s 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.
Earning rate: Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases
Who’s eligible: Applicants who are not current cardholders of the Chase Freedom Unlimited® and who have not received a new cardmember bonus for the card within the last 24 months
Why we picked this card: The Chase Freedom Unlimited® gives a solid cash back offer with no annual fee. And if you have other cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards®, you can combine the rewards you earn from the Chase Freedom Unlimited® with those cards to get even more value out of this offer.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is best for cardholders who don’t want to mess with rotating categories and want to earn a lot of cash back on all their spending, including on restaurants.
Sign-up bonus: Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That’s 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.
Earning rate: Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases
Who’s eligible: Applicants who are not current cardholders of the Chase Freedom Unlimited® and who have not received a new cardmember bonus for the card within the last 24 months
Why we picked this card: The Chase Freedom Unlimited® gives a solid cash back offer with no annual fee. And if you have other cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards®, you can combine the rewards you earn from the Chase Freedom Unlimited® with those cards to get even more value out of this offer.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is best for cardholders who don’t want to mess with rotating categories and want to earn a lot of cash back on all their spending, including on restaurants.
Sign-up bonus: Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value
Earning rate: Earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. Plus earn 1X points on other purchases
Who’s eligible: Wells Fargo does not list any restrictions for eligibility for the sign-up bonus on this card.
Why we picked this card: The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card offers an outstanding bonus for a no-annual-fee card, as well as excellent earning categories .
The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card is a great option for applicants looking for generous rewards and $0 annual fee. You’ll get a great sign-up bonus and 3X points in several different categories, all without having to pay a fee each year.
Sign-up bonus: Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value
Earning rate: Earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. Plus earn 1X points on other purchases
Who’s eligible: Wells Fargo does not list any restrictions for eligibility for the sign-up bonus on this card.
Why we picked this card: The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card offers an outstanding bonus for a no-annual-fee card, as well as excellent earning categories .
The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card is a great option for applicants looking for generous rewards and $0 annual fee. You’ll get a great sign-up bonus and 3X points in several different categories, all without having to pay a fee each year.
Sign-up bonus: Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Earning rate: Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases—with no limit to the amount you can earn.
Who’s eligible: You’ll need to be under Chase 5/24 to be approved for the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. You’ll also need to have an eligible small business to apply. However, note that freelancers and independent contractors may qualify as a small business.
Why we picked this card: The Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card offers one of the largest sign-up bonuses around as well as great rewards in common business categories, for a reasonable annual fee. You’ll also get a 25% bonus when redeeming your Ultimate Rewards for travel through the Chase travel portal.
If you’re a small business owner looking to earn a huge influx of rewards on company expenses that can be redeemed for travel and more, you should look at the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card points you earn from the sign-up bonus can be used in a variety of ways to suit your business’s unique spending. For example, if you and your employees travel often, you can increase the value of your points by 25% by redeeming them for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. That means points are worth 1.25 cents each instead of 1 cent each. Or, if you often make purchases from Amazon.com, points can conveniently be redeemed to cover all or part of your eligible Amazon.com order — including tax and shipping. You can also redeem points for cash back or gift cards to help incentivize employees.
The travel category includes airlines, hotels, motels, timeshares, car rental agencies, cruise lines, travel agencies, discount travel sites, taxis, toll bridges, parking lots and more.
The shipping category is defined as merchants that specialize in mailing packages, hauling freight and transporting goods or documents, such as couriers, postal and freight shipping companies, express shipping services and mailbox stores.
The internet, cable and phone services category includes internet, cable, satellite television and radio, cellular, wireless data and landline services purchases.
Social media and search engine advertising covers social media websites (such as Facebook and Twitter) and search engines (such as Google AdWords and Microsoft Bing Ads) that advertise a business, brand, products or services.
Sign-up bonus: Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Earning rate: Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases—with no limit to the amount you can earn.
Who’s eligible: You’ll need to be under Chase 5/24 to be approved for the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. You’ll also need to have an eligible small business to apply. However, note that freelancers and independent contractors may qualify as a small business.
Why we picked this card: The Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card offers one of the largest sign-up bonuses around as well as great rewards in common business categories, for a reasonable annual fee. You’ll also get a 25% bonus when redeeming your Ultimate Rewards for travel through the Chase travel portal.
If you’re a small business owner looking to earn a huge influx of rewards on company expenses that can be redeemed for travel and more, you should look at the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card points you earn from the sign-up bonus can be used in a variety of ways to suit your business’s unique spending. For example, if you and your employees travel often, you can increase the value of your points by 25% by redeeming them for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. That means points are worth 1.25 cents each instead of 1 cent each. Or, if you often make purchases from Amazon.com, points can conveniently be redeemed to cover all or part of your eligible Amazon.com order — including tax and shipping. You can also redeem points for cash back or gift cards to help incentivize employees.
The travel category includes airlines, hotels, motels, timeshares, car rental agencies, cruise lines, travel agencies, discount travel sites, taxis, toll bridges, parking lots and more.
The shipping category is defined as merchants that specialize in mailing packages, hauling freight and transporting goods or documents, such as couriers, postal and freight shipping companies, express shipping services and mailbox stores.
The internet, cable and phone services category includes internet, cable, satellite television and radio, cellular, wireless data and landline services purchases.
Social media and search engine advertising covers social media websites (such as Facebook and Twitter) and search engines (such as Google AdWords and Microsoft Bing Ads) that advertise a business, brand, products or services.
Sign-up bonus: Earn up to a $1,000 cash bonus; $500 once you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months, and $500 once you spend $50,000 in the first 6 months of account opening
Earning rate: 2% Cash Back on every purchase; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
Who’s eligible: Anyone who hasn’t applied for two or more Capital One cards within the past 30 days and that has an eligible and qualifying business
Why we picked this card: The Capital One Spark Cash Plus has one of the largest cash back sign-up bonuses in existence – even once you subtract its $150 annual fee. It’s also a great all-around business credit card that offers a high rate of cash back on all your spending, and a $200 annual cash bonus each year you spend $200,000.
The Capital One Spark Cash Plus is a great option for business owners looking for cash back rewards. You’ll get an outstanding sign-up bonus and unlimited 2% cash rewards on all purchases.
Sign-up bonus: Earn up to a $1,000 cash bonus; $500 once you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months, and $500 once you spend $50,000 in the first 6 months of account opening
Earning rate: 2% Cash Back on every purchase; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
Who’s eligible: Anyone who hasn’t applied for two or more Capital One cards within the past 30 days and that has an eligible and qualifying business
Why we picked this card: The Capital One Spark Cash Plus has one of the largest cash back sign-up bonuses in existence – even once you subtract its $150 annual fee. It’s also a great all-around business credit card that offers a high rate of cash back on all your spending, and a $200 annual cash bonus each year you spend $200,000.
The Capital One Spark Cash Plus is a great option for business owners looking for cash back rewards. You’ll get an outstanding sign-up bonus and unlimited 2% cash rewards on all purchases.
Sign-up bonus: Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Earning rate: Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
Who’s eligible: You’ll need to be under Chase 5/24 to be approved for the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card. You’ll also need to have an eligible small business to apply.
Why we picked this card: The sign-up bonus on the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is one of the highest ever seen for a card with no annual fee. Plus, if you have a premium Chase card, you can combine your rewards to increase their value.
The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is best for business owners who want to earn a simple flat rate of cash back on every purchase.
Sign-up bonus: Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Earning rate: Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
Who’s eligible: You’ll need to be under Chase 5/24 to be approved for the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card. You’ll also need to have an eligible small business to apply.
Why we picked this card: The sign-up bonus on the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is one of the highest ever seen for a card with no annual fee. Plus, if you have a premium Chase card, you can combine your rewards to increase their value.
The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is best for business owners who want to earn a simple flat rate of cash back on every purchase.
Sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus miles + 500 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
Earning rate: 3 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases. 2 miles per $1 spent at restaurants, on select streaming services & on all other travel. 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. Plus, each year, receive a $125 credit on United® purchases and two 5k-mile anniversary award flight credits. Terms apply.
Who’s eligible: Applicants are eligible if they are not current cardmembers and have not received a welcome bonus on this card in the past 24 months. You’ll also need to be under Chase 5/24.
Why we picked this card: If you’re a frequent United Airlines traveler, you’ll want to consider the United Quest℠ Card . You’ll get a solid sign-up bonus of MileagePlus miles, along with United benefits like purchase credits, award flight credits, priority boarding and free first and second checked bags.
The United Quest℠ Card is a mid-tier United card, as its $250 annual fee is less than that of the United Club℠ Infinite Card ($525 annual fee), but more than the United℠ Explorer Card ($0 intro for the first year, then $95 annual fee).
It’s ideal for frequent United flyers who are also seeking a way to work toward earning Silver status through spending on the card by awarding 500 PQPs (Premier Qualifying Points) for every $12,000 spent on the card up to 3,000 PQPs. To qualify for Silver Elite, United MileagePlus members have to earn 3,000 PQPs plus 8 PQFs (Premier Qualifying Flights) or 3,500 PQPs.
Sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus miles + 500 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
Earning rate: 3 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases. 2 miles per $1 spent at restaurants, on select streaming services & on all other travel. 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. Plus, each year, receive a $125 credit on United® purchases and two 5k-mile anniversary award flight credits. Terms apply.
Who’s eligible: Applicants are eligible if they are not current cardmembers and have not received a welcome bonus on this card in the past 24 months. You’ll also need to be under Chase 5/24.
Why we picked this card: If you’re a frequent United Airlines traveler, you’ll want to consider the United Quest℠ Card . You’ll get a solid sign-up bonus of MileagePlus miles, along with United benefits like purchase credits, award flight credits, priority boarding and free first and second checked bags.
The United Quest℠ Card is a mid-tier United card, as its $250 annual fee is less than that of the United Club℠ Infinite Card ($525 annual fee), but more than the United℠ Explorer Card ($0 intro for the first year, then $95 annual fee).
It’s ideal for frequent United flyers who are also seeking a way to work toward earning Silver status through spending on the card by awarding 500 PQPs (Premier Qualifying Points) for every $12,000 spent on the card up to 3,000 PQPs. To qualify for Silver Elite, United MileagePlus members have to earn 3,000 PQPs plus 8 PQFs (Premier Qualifying Flights) or 3,500 PQPs.
Welcome offer: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
Earning rate: Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
Who’s eligible: You’re eligible if you have never had this or previous versions of this card. American Express may also consider the total number of American Express cards that you have opened or closed.
Why we picked this card: The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card offers one of the most valuable welcome offers in the airline category. It also comes with a bevy of benefits for frequent Delta travelers. This includes a free checked bag, a companion certificate and the ability to earn MQMs toward Delta elite status.
To see rates & fees for Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card please click here.
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is a great option for business owners that are frequent Delta travelers. You’ll get bonus rewards on Delta purchases, along with free checked bags on Delta flights and an annual companion certificate.
Welcome offer: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
Earning rate: Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
Who’s eligible: You’re eligible if you have never had this or previous versions of this card. American Express may also consider the total number of American Express cards that you have opened or closed.
Why we picked this card: The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card offers one of the most valuable welcome offers in the airline category. It also comes with a bevy of benefits for frequent Delta travelers. This includes a free checked bag, a companion certificate and the ability to earn MQMs toward Delta elite status.
To see rates & fees for Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card please click here.
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is a great option for business owners that are frequent Delta travelers. You’ll get bonus rewards on Delta purchases, along with free checked bags on Delta flights and an annual companion certificate.
Sign-up bonus: Earn up to 60,000 Bonus Points - Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 More Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.
Earning rate: Earn up to 9 points total per $1 spent at Hyatt - 4 Bonus Points per $1 when you use your card at Hyatt hotels & 5 Base Points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member
Who’s eligible: You are eligible if you are not a current cardmember and have not received a welcome bonus on this card in the past 24 months. You’ll also need to be under Chase 5/24.
Why we picked this card: The sign-up bonus on the Chase World of Hyatt Credit Card is a tiered bonus. World of Hyatt points are one of the most valuable types of hotel points out there, with award nights starting as low as 3,500 points per night.
The Chase World of Hyatt Credit Card is a solid option for frequent travelers who prefer to stay at Hyatt hotels. It’s especially attractive if you’re looking to earn Hyatt elite status, since you can earn qualifying nights for spending on your card.
Sign-up bonus: Earn up to 60,000 Bonus Points - Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 More Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.
Earning rate: Earn up to 9 points total per $1 spent at Hyatt - 4 Bonus Points per $1 when you use your card at Hyatt hotels & 5 Base Points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member
Who’s eligible: You are eligible if you are not a current cardmember and have not received a welcome bonus on this card in the past 24 months. You’ll also need to be under Chase 5/24.
Why we picked this card: The sign-up bonus on the Chase World of Hyatt Credit Card is a tiered bonus. World of Hyatt points are one of the most valuable types of hotel points out there, with award nights starting as low as 3,500 points per night.
The Chase World of Hyatt Credit Card is a solid option for frequent travelers who prefer to stay at Hyatt hotels. It’s especially attractive if you’re looking to earn Hyatt elite status, since you can earn qualifying nights for spending on your card.
Sign-up bonus: Limited Time Offer! Earn 100,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card!
Earning rate: Earn up to 17X total points for every $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® and 2X points on all other purchases.
Who’s eligible: You’re eligible for the bonus on this card if you’re not a current cardmember of the Marriott Bonvoy® Premier, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card or Marriott Bonvoy Bold cards, and also haven’t received a new cardmember bonus on any of those cards in the past 24 months. You’ll also need to be under Chase 5/24.
Why we picked this card: This is a very large sign-up bonus for a $95-annual-fee card. Though Marriott points are somewhat inflated in value, 100,000 points can still score you many standard room nights, especially if you take advantage of Marriott’s fifth-night-free benefit.
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is a great option for travelers who are frequent Marriott travelers. Earning Marriott Bonvoy points, getting extra elite nights and free night certificates can supercharge your next vacation.
Sign-up bonus: Limited Time Offer! Earn 100,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card!
Earning rate: Earn up to 17X total points for every $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® and 2X points on all other purchases.
Who’s eligible: You’re eligible for the bonus on this card if you’re not a current cardmember of the Marriott Bonvoy® Premier, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card or Marriott Bonvoy Bold cards, and also haven’t received a new cardmember bonus on any of those cards in the past 24 months. You’ll also need to be under Chase 5/24.
Why we picked this card: This is a very large sign-up bonus for a $95-annual-fee card. Though Marriott points are somewhat inflated in value, 100,000 points can still score you many standard room nights, especially if you take advantage of Marriott’s fifth-night-free benefit.
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is a great option for travelers who are frequent Marriott travelers. Earning Marriott Bonvoy points, getting extra elite nights and free night certificates can supercharge your next vacation.
Sign-up bonus: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
Earning rate: Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically
Who’s eligible: You don’t need a credit score to apply, but you do need to be a student enrolled at a two- or four-year university.
Why we picked this card: The Discover it® Student Cash Back has a unique sign-up sign-up bonus that not many student credit cards offer. It can be especially valuable if you’re a big spender.
The Discover it® Student Cash Back is a good option for students that are looking for card with quarterly rotating categories at a bonus cash back rate. The Discover it® Student chrome might be a better choice if you don’t want to keep track of rotating categories.
Sign-up bonus: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
Earning rate: Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically
Who’s eligible: You don’t need a credit score to apply, but you do need to be a student enrolled at a two- or four-year university.
Why we picked this card: The Discover it® Student Cash Back has a unique sign-up sign-up bonus that not many student credit cards offer. It can be especially valuable if you’re a big spender.
The Discover it® Student Cash Back is a good option for students that are looking for card with quarterly rotating categories at a bonus cash back rate. The Discover it® Student chrome might be a better choice if you don’t want to keep track of rotating categories.
| Credit Card | Welcome Offer | Rewards Rate | Annual Fee | Recommended Credit | Card Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
|
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. | 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases | $95 | Excellent | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Review |
|
Citi Premier® Card
|
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening | Earn 3X points per $1 spent at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel and hotels and 1X per $1 spent on all other purchases | $95 | Excellent/Good | Citi Premier® Card Review |
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Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
|
Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel | 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 5 Miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel | $95 | Excellent/Good | Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Review |
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Chase Freedom Unlimited®
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Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That’s 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases. | Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases | $0 | Excellent/Good | Chase Freedom Unlimited® Review |
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Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card
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Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value | Earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. Plus earn 1X points on other purchases | $0 | Excellent/Good | Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card Review |
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Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
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Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases—with no limit to the amount you can earn. | $95 | Excellent | Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card Review |
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Capital One Spark Cash Plus
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Earn up to a $1,000 cash bonus; $500 once you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months, and $500 once you spend $50,000 in the first 6 months of account opening | 2% Cash Back on every purchase; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel | $150 | Excellent | Capital One Spark Cash Plus Review |
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Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
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Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business | $0 | Excellent/Good | Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card Review |
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United Quest℠ Card
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Earn 60,000 bonus miles + 500 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. | 3 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases. 2 miles per $1 spent at restaurants, on select streaming services & on all other travel. 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. Plus, each year, receive a $125 credit on United® purchases and two 5k-mile anniversary award flight credits. Terms apply. | $250 | Excellent/Good | United Quest℠ Card Review |
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Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
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Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. | $250 | Excellent/Good | Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Review |
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World of Hyatt Credit Card
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Earn up to 60,000 Bonus Points - Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 More Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent. | Earn up to 9 points total per $1 spent at Hyatt - 4 Bonus Points per $1 when you use your card at Hyatt hotels & 5 Base Points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member | $95 | Excellent/Good | World of Hyatt Credit Card Review |
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Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
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Limited Time Offer! Earn 100,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card! | Earn up to 17X total points for every $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® and 2X points on all other purchases. | $95 | Excellent/Good | Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card Review |
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Discover it® Student Cash Back
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Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match. | 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically | $0 | Fair/Limited | Discover it® Student Cash Back Review |
With so many credit cards out there, it can be challenging to find the card that is the best option for you. Here are a few things that you’ll want to keep in mind when choosing the best credit card sign-up bonus:
First of all, look at the eligibility requirements of the cards that you are considering. Most credit cards will consider your income, credit score and overall financial situation when deciding whether to approve your application.
| FICO Score | Vantage Score |
|---|---|
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Another step toward choosing the best credit card sign-up bonus is deciding what kind of rewards you want to earn. Different cards offer different types of rewards, like cash back, airline miles, hotel points or bank points.
| What kind of rewards do you want? | Choose … |
|---|---|
| You want simple, straightforward rewards | Cash back |
| You want rewards you can use in a variety of ways to get the best value (including for travel) | Flexible points (ex.: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Freedom Unlimited®) |
| You want to earn rewards for a free flight | Airline miles (ex.: United℠ Explorer Card or Hilton Honors American Express Card) or flexible points |
| You want to earn rewards for a free hotel stay | Hotel points (ex.: Hilton Honors American Express) or flexible points |
Tip: You should also check the redemption options in the program to make sure you can redeem points/miles for your intended redemption option. Also check how many points or miles it will require. That will make sure you understand how close the card’s sign-up bonus will get you to where you want to go.Many issuers have additional restrictions besides just your credit score, income and financial situation. Even someone with perfect credit might open a card and meet a spending threshold just to learn that they weren’t qualified for the bonus. Make sure that you always read the fine print of the offer before you apply.
It’s crucial to understand the value of an offer before you apply. While cash back bonuses are fairly straightforward, the value of points and miles can vary dramatically depending on how you redeem them. For example, 100,000 hotel points may be worth much less than 100,000 airline miles. It’s therefore important to estimate the point value and the overall value of the bonus based on how YOU intend to redeem the rewards in order to properly compare.
Tip: It can be challenging to determine the value of a card’s points or miles. See our section below for steps on how to make this calculation.Besides the sign-up bonus, you should also consider a card’s ongoing rewards — especially if you want to keep it. This includes benefits like travel credits, elite status perks or other benefits. Weigh these ongoing benefits against the annual fee to see if the card is worth keeping. Note that cards with annual fees often are more valuable than those without annual fees, especially in the first year.
| Card A (annual fee card) | Card B (no-annual-fee card) | |
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| Sign-up bonus | 50,000 points | 25,000 points |
| Point value | $0.01 | $0.01 |
| Value of bonus | $500 | $250 |
| Earning rate | 2X points on every purchase | 1.25X points on every purchase |
| Points earned on $20,000 in purchases | $400 | $313 |
| Other benefits | $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit | None |
| Value of rewards and benefits | $1,000 | $563 |
| Annual fee | $95 | $0 |
| Value minus annual fee | $905 | $563 |
Chase’s 5/24 rule prevents cardholders from earning a sign-up bonus on a Chase credit card if they have opened more than four accounts with any issuer in the past 24 months. The rule is in place to deter cardholders from opening new cards just to earn sign-up bonuses. It’s an unwritten rule, which means, it’s not included in Chase’s fine print anywhere. Users have reported it in online forums after being turned down for a credit card.
Here are a few features to consider as you look to find the best credit card signup bonuses.
While it is easy to value cash back rewards, the value of hotel points or airline miles can vary on how they are redeemed. Because of that, you should think about how you would redeem these rewards. Investigating some sample redemption options and comparing the dollar value to the number of points required should give you a better idea of how far a card’s sign-up bonus can take you. (See our steps for calculating the value below.)
Most credit cards require you to make a certain amount of purchases on the card within the first few months of having the card to get the sign-up bonus. For cards with high welcome offers, the spending threshold is also often quite high. Make sure that you can meet the spending requirement before you apply for a new card.
Depending on the type of rewards that your credit card earns, it may be easy or more difficult to redeem your points. Of course cash back rewards are always the easiest to redeem, and most bank points like Chase Ultimate Rewards® or American Express Membership Rewards points allow you to redeem in a variety of different ways. But if your card earns hotel points or airline miles, make sure you understand the different redemption options and how easy or difficult it is to get value for your miles.
While many credit cards have no annual fee, others do come with a fee that you have to pay each year. While most credit cards with annual fees are worth getting for at least the first year (due to the outsized value of the welcome bonus), make sure that you are accounting for the annual fee when considering the value of a credit card’s sign-up bonus.
Most credit cards offer rewards or cash back with each purchase. Some credit cards give the same rewards rate for all purchases, while others offer different rewards rates depending on where you’re making the purchase. Consider your spending habits and look for a credit card that offers bonus rewards in the categories where you spend the most.
Many credit cards, especially hotel and airline credit cards, offer other credits and benefits. These might include free luggage, travel credits, free hotel night certificates or elite status. Look at the card’s ancillary benefits to see how much value they would provide to your specific situation.
We analyzed all of the current credit card sign-up bonuses for 11 of the nation’s largest credit card issuers to determine the average credit card sign-up bonus. As you can see from the table below, the average bonus varies depending on the type of rewards offered. Hotel points have the highest signup bonus, but generally one hotel point is worth less than one airline mile (or 1 cent cash). Using this data can help you figure out if the bonus on the card you’re considering is below or above average.
| Card type | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Cash back | $157.23 | $200 |
| Points and miles | 51,027 | 45,000 |
| Airline miles | 55,867 | 50,000 |
| Hotel points | 87,000 | 100,000 |
| General-purpose points and miles | 41,304 | 45,000 |
Take the cash value of your target redemption option and divide it by the number of points or miles — be sure to subtract any taxes and fees that you have to pay in cash. This will give you the value per point or mile.
Point value = $ value of target redemption option (minus taxes/fees that you still have to pay) ÷ Number of pointsExample: $500 plane ticket – $11.20 taxes ÷ 50,000 points = ~$0.01
Take the point value and multiply it by the number of points in the sign-up bonus. That will give you an approximate cash value for that card’s welcome bonus.
Bonus value = $ value of points or miles x Number of points or milesExample: 80,000 miles x $0.01 (1 cent per point) = $800
Some hotel credit cards offer free night certificates that you can use at a variety of different hotels. These certificates often come with a lot of restrictions, so you should generally assume they’re worth less than their maximum point value. You might value them at 80% or 90% of their listed point value due to the restrictions.
Sign-up bonuses frequently come with colossal spending requirements, which can tempt you to spend past your budget. There are many strategies to help you avoid putting yourself into debt:
A sign-up bonus — also referred to as a welcome bonus or introductory bonus — is a promotion offered by credit card issuers to entice consumers to apply for a credit card.
Sign-up bonuses allow new cardmembers to earn a lump sum of cash back, points or miles once they are approved for a card and spend a specified amount within a given time period.
For example, a credit card may offer a sign-up bonus of $500 after you make $3,000 in qualifying purchases (minus returns and credits) within three months of opening your account.
Note, the bonus period usually begins the day you are approved for the card, and not when you actually receive the physical card in the mail.
Generally, the following purchases and transactions won’t count toward the minimum spend amount required to earn a sign-up bonus: balance transfers, cash advances, ATM transactions, travelers checks, foreign currency, money orders, wire transfers or similar cash-like transactions, lottery tickets, casino gaming chips, race track wagers or similar betting transactions, interest, unauthorized or fraudulent charges and fees of any kind, including annual fees, returned payment fees, late fees and monthly fees.
Once you qualify for the sign-up bonus, the amount of time it takes to post to your account may vary depending on the issuer. For example, Chase states that cardholders should allow six to eight weeks for the bonus to post to your account, while Bank of America may take eight to 10 weeks.
Note, your account must be open and not in default at the time of fulfillment.
In most cases, you cannot earn more than one sign-up bonus offer from the same card. Plus, depending on the issuer, you may not be able to earn a sign-up bonus from more than one card in the same card family. However, if you close the card account and re-apply after a set amount of time, you may be able to receive a sign-up bonus from the new card.
For example, if you are a current cardholder of a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or a Chase Sapphire Reserve®, or if you are a previous cardholder of either card who received a new cardmember bonus within the past 48 months, you wouldn’t be eligible to receive the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card’s current new cardmember bonus.
Sign-up bonuses that require you to spend a certain amount to earn the bonus are considered rebates instead of income. Therefore, they are not taxable.
But if you receive a bonus without a spend requirement, it may be taxable. If this is the case, you will need to submit a Form 1099-INT or Form 1099-MISC to the IRS.
Major issuers typically put restrictions on earning sign-up bonuses to avoid credit card churning — the practice of repeatedly opening and closing credit cards with the intention of earning sign-up bonus rewards.
American Express has a once-per-lifetime card bonus policy. This rule means that each customer can only get a welcome offer for a specific card once in the customer’s lifetime.
Chase has an unwritten “5/24 rule” that prevents you from being approved for a new Chase card if you have opened five personal credit cards (from any issuer) within the past 24 months. In addition, if you’ve received a new cardmember bonus for a particular card (or card in the same family) within the past 24 months, you won’t be eligible to receive the current sign-up bonus for that card.
With Citi, a card’s bonus is not available if you received a bonus for the same card within the past 48 months.
If you are an existing or previous account holder for a Capital One card, you may not be eligible for that particular card’s one-time sign-up bonus. You also may not be eligible if you’ve applied for a Capital One credit card two or more times in the past 30 days, or if you have five or more open Capital One credit card accounts.
You may not be eligible for the sign-up bonus if you opened a Wells Fargo card within the past 15 months and received a bonus offer for the card. Also, you may not qualify for an additional Wells Fargo credit card if you have opened a Wells Fargo credit card in the past six months.
Bank of America offers a one-time sign-up bonus to customers opening a new account. You may not be eligible for a card if you currently have or have had the card in the past 24 months.
To select the best card for each of these categories, our credit card experts compared a broad range of credit cards on LendingTree.com and major issuer sites, including cash back cards, travel cards, business cards and more.
We chose our top picks based on a variety of factors, such as the value of the card’s sign-up bonus, the type of rewards offered, the spending threshold required to earn the bonus and the card’s annual fee, as well as the ongoing value of the card once the bonus has been earned.
Other factors that come into play when making our selection can include the variety of benefits the card offers, including insurance protections and travel perks.
To see rates & fees for Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card please click here.
The information related to the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Freedom Unlimited®, Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card, United Quest℠ Card, World of Hyatt Credit Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
The above offers and/or promotions may have since changed, expired, or is no longer available. Check the Issuers’ website for more details.
