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It's no secret that Rove is one of our favorite travel tools, especially after its latest overhaul. The opportunity to earn transferable rewards on your travel, online shopping, and dining purchases without needing to add a new credit card to your wallet is fantastic.

That said, as any points and miles enthusiast knows, stacking your rewards is the way to go. Although you don't need a credit card to use Rove, using the right credit card lets you earn even more rewards.

Here are the best credit cards to use for Rove purchases.

Not a Rove member yet? Sign up for free and earn bonus miles when you sign up through AwardWallet's link!

What Is Rove?

Rove is a travel and shopping portal that allows you to earn Rove Miles. You can then transfer those miles to a growing list of 20 airline and hotel partners. What makes Rove special isn't necessarily the opportunity to earn miles via a built-in travel portal. It's the sheer number of miles you can earn.

Let's say I want to book a long weekend in Cuenca, Ecuador. I can earn up to 30X Rove Miles per $1 spent. And unlike Rove competitors, I don't need to book a 5-star resort to unlock the best earning rates. I can pay just $69.94 per night and earn 6,294 transferable miles on a three-night stay.

Rove search results for a weekend in Cuenca, Ecuador
Screenshot of Rove

AwardWallet users typically redeem Rove Miles for 2.3¢ apiece. That means my $226.24 weekend trip to a small town with few chain hotels earns roughly $145 worth of rewards. That's an incredible return!

In addition to hotels, you can book flights and purchase gift cards directly through Rove. You can also download a browser extension to earn Rove Miles on online shopping with thousands of merchants, or link your card to Rove to earn miles on dining purchases in select cities nationwide.

Related: 5 Reasons Why Rove Miles Is My Go-To for Booking Travel

How Do Rove Bookings Code?

When you make a purchase, the merchant category code assigned to that purchase determines your earnings. For all flights booked on Rove and all Rove Rate hotels, Rove will code as 7011 – Hotels and Lodging. In other words, the best card is any card that earns bonus points on hotels or general travel purchases.

Rove also offers Loyalty Eligible hotels, which let you earn hotel program loyalty points and enjoy the benefits of your elite status during your stay. These bookings are charged by the hotel, so the best card to use is a co-branded hotel card.

Related: Rove Debuts New App — Here's How To Use It To Earn Miles on Travel, Shopping, and Dining

Best Credit Cards To Use On Rove Bookings

Best overall: Autograph Journey

The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey® Card (Rates & Fees) is often overlooked in favor of its competitors, but it does something virtually no other sub-$100 annual fee credit card can: earn unlimited 5X Wells Fargo Rewards points with hotels.

Although I'm not a cardholder, plenty of data points suggest that Rove triggers this 5X earning category, making it the best credit card to use for Rove bookings. You can then transfer your points to 10 airline and hotel partners for maximum value.

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey® Card
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey® Card
Welcome Bonus Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s $600 toward your next trip.
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey® Card
Welcome Bonus Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s $600 toward your next trip.
Annual Fee:$95
Show moreWhy We Like ItHighlightsEarning Rates
The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey® Card offers competitive rewards for travelers, including 5X points with hotels, 4X with airlines, and 3X on restaurants and other travel purchases. Cardholders can earn a $50 annual statement credit with a $50 minimum airline purchase, and get access to the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection, and various insurance protections, including cell phone protection and lost baggage reimbursement. The card has a $95 annual fee.
  • Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
  • Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's $600 toward your next trip.
  • Earn unlimited 5X points with hotels, 4X points with airlines, 3X points on restaurants and other travel, and 1X points on other purchases.
  • $95 annual fee.
  • Book your travel with the Autograph Journey Card and enjoy Travel Accident Insurance, Lost Baggage Reimbursement, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection and Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver.
  • Earn a $50 annual statement credit with $50 minimum airline purchase.
  • Up to $1,000 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
  • Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
  • 5X points per $1 spent with hotels
  • 4X points per $1 spent with airlines
  • 3X points per $1 spent on other travel and restaurants
  • 1X points per $1 spent on other purchases

It's relatively light on additional benefits, but that's the tradeoff for having a low $95 annual fee. However, you can enjoy a $50 annual statement credit with a $50 minimum airline purchase each year.

Related: Autograph Journey full review

Runner-up: Sapphire Reserve

I've booked a few hotel stays through Rove using different credit cards to confirm whether the transaction is coded as a hotel or a general travel purchase. In my testing, Rove triggers the 4X hotel category on the Chase Sapphire Reserve®:

Rove transaction in the Chase portal
Screenshot of Chase

Here's a look at Rove's earning potential, even for short weekend trips. I booked a three-night getaway for $179.79, which earned 2,003 Rove Miles (worth around $46 based on recent redemptions). I'm also earning 719 Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which are worth roughly $15. In total, I'm earning about $61 worth of rewards on a $180 stay, for a 34% return.

This isn't a guarantee that every Rove transaction for all Sapphire Reserve cardholders will always earn 4X Chase Ultimate Rewards points, but it's a good data point.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Welcome Bonus Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Welcome Bonus Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual Fee:$795
Show moreWhy We Like ItHighlightsEarning Rates
Chase's flagship Ultimate Rewards card. You get a $300 travel credit, airport lounge access courtesy of a Priority Pass membership and industry-leading travel insurance benefits. New cardholders earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Get $3,000 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
  • Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases.
  • $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
  • Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, a statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card for a Global Entry, TSA Precheck® or NEXUS application.
  • Get up to $150 in statement credits from January through June and again from July through December for a maximum of $300 annually when you dine at restaurants part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
  • Get complimentary subscriptions to Apple TV and Apple Music for a minimum of one year when activated by June 22, 2027, a value of $324 annually.
  • Member FDIC
  • 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠
  • 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly
  • 3x points on dining worldwide
  • 1x points on all other purchases

In addition, the Sapphire Reserve offers fantastic travel and purchase protection, so it's generally a great card for travel purchases. The card's $795 annual fee is a tough pill to swallow, but it's offset by statement credits and benefits ranging from a flexible $300 annual travel credit to Apple benefits.

Related: Sapphire Reserve full review

Best for low annual fee: Citi Strata Premier

The Citi Strata Premier® Card is another underdog in the points and miles community. As a cardholder, you'll earn 10X points per $1 on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com; 3X points per $1 spent on air travel and other hotel purchases; and 3X points at gas stations, EV charging stations, restaurants, and supermarkets.

I can also confirm that Rove does indeed trigger the 3X bonus category on the Citi Strata Premier, as seen from a booking I made in August:

Rove transaction appearing in a Citi account
Screenshot of Citi

Once again, this is a great example of Rove's earning potential. I booked a five-night stay in Iceland for $969.91. On that purchase, I'm earning 2,910 Citi ThankYou® Points, worth about $68 based on recent AwardWallet user redemptions. On top of that, I'm earning 10,244 Rove Miles, worth another $236.

That means I'm getting $304 in rewards on $970 in spending — a phenomenal 31% return on a purchase I was already planning to make. By combining Rove's impressive earning rates with the right credit card, you can easily use rewards earned from one trip to book your next one.

Citi Strata Premier® Card
Citi Strata Premier® Card
Welcome Offer Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
Citi Strata Premier® Card
Welcome Offer Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
Annual Fee:$95
Show moreWhy We Like ItHighlightsEarning Rates
The Citi Strata Premier® Card offers some of the best earning rates of any rewards card with an annual fee under $100. This card offers excellent rewards on an unusually generous list of earning categories, including air travel, hotels, car rentals, groceries, and dining—and it tops our list of the best cards for gas & fuel purchases.
  • Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
  • Earn 10 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
  • Earn 3 Points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations.
  • Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.
  • No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
  • 10X on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked through CitiTravel.com
  • 3X – Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases
  • 3X – Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Restaurants
  • 3X – Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Supermarkets
  • 3X – Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Gas and EV Charging Stations
  • 1X – Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on All Other Purchases

Beyond its earning potential, the Citi Strata Premier‘s main benefit is a $100 annual hotel credit for hotel stays of $500 or more booked through Citi Travel. This obviously won't apply to Rove bookings, but it's a good thing to keep in mind to help offset the $95 annual fee.

Related: Citi Strata Premier full review

Best for cash back: Bank of America Customized Cash Card

If you prefer cash back over transferable points, it's hard to beat the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card. You'll earn 6% cash back for the first year in the category of your choice (then 3%), automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases), and unlimited 1% on all other purchases. If you're a BofA Rewards™ program member, you can earn 10%–75% more cash back on every purchase.

Eligible bonus categories include gas and EV charging stations, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores and pharmacies, or home improvement and furnishings. If you want to earn 3% cash back on Rove bookings (and 6% in your first year as a cardholder), choose travel as your bonus category.

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
Welcome Bonus $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
Welcome Bonus $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
Annual Fee:$0
Show moreWhy We Like ItEarning Rates
The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card is a $0 annual fee card that offers a tiered cash back rewards system. Cardholders can earn 6% cash back for the first year in a category of their choice, including options like gas and EV charging stations, online shopping/cable/internet/phone plan/streaming, dining, travel, drug store/pharmacy or home improvement/furnishing purchases (then 3%). Additionally, the card offers 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs. However, the 6% and 2% cash back rates apply only to the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter, after which the rate drops to 1% (after the 3% first-year bonus offer ends, you will earn 3% and 2% cash back on these purchases up to the quarterly maximum).
  • 6% cash back for the first year in the category of your choice: gas and EV charging stations, online shopping/cable/internet/phone plan/streaming, dining, travel, drug store/pharmacy purchase, or home improvement/furnishing purchases, then 3% after the first year of card membership*
  • 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs*
  • 1% cash back on all other purchases
  • * You'll earn 6% and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club purchases each quarter, then earn 1%. After the 3% first-year bonus offer ends, you will earn 3% and 2% cash back on these purchases up to the quarterly maximum.

Not only is this the best cash back card for Rove bookings, but it's the only one on this list that doesn't charge an annual fee. That means you can earn Rove Miles and cash back on your hotel stays and airfare with nothing extra out of pocket.

Related: Bank of America Customized Cash Card full review

Best business card: Ink Preferred

If you travel often for work, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is a fantastic choice. You will earn 3x points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, and advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year.

Just like with the Sapphire Reserve, you'll be able to access Chase's 14 transfer partners as a cardholder.

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Welcome Offer Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Welcome Offer Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual Fee:$95
Show moreWhy We Like ItHighlightsEarning Rates
The most valuable Ultimate Rewards signup bonus on offer and our top pick for small business rewards cards. Business owners earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Plus, earn up to 450,000 points per year on a wide range of 3X bonus categories.
  • Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
  • Earn 5x total points on Lyft rides through 9/30/27.
  • With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
  • Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
  • Go further when you book with Chase Travel℠. Enjoy competitive rates, seamless booking and premium benefits.
  • Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
  • Receive complimentary access to DashPass by DoorDash.
  • Member FDIC
  • 3X 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
  • 1X point per $1 on all other purchases

If you think you aren't eligible for a business card, you'd be surprised at what counts as a business. You don't need to be a Fortune 500 CEO to apply for the Ink Preferred; freelance writing, dog walking, rideshare drivers, and more could all qualify.

Related: Ink Preferred full review

Best hotel cards for Loyalty Eligible bookings

The best hotel card for Rove bookings will ultimately depend on your favorite hotel brand. No matter how amazing the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is, if you exclusively stay at Marriott properties, it won't do you much good.

Here are our favorite cards for each major hotel loyalty program:

The World of Hyatt Credit Card
The World of Hyatt Credit Card
Welcome 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.
Annual Fee

$95Rates & Fees

Credit Score

Excellent, Good

  • Up to 9X points total per $1 spent at Hyatt - 4X points per $1 when you use your card at Hyatt hotels & 5X points per $1 you can earn as a World of Hyatt member
  • 2X points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airlines tickets purchased directly from the airlines, on local transit and commuting and on fitness club and gym memberships
  • 1X point per $1 everywhere else
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
Limited Time Launch Offer! Earn 180,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Annual Fee

$150Rates & Fees

Credit Score

Excellent, Good

  • Earn up to 24X points total per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts
  • 5X points per $1 spent on flights booked directly, car rental agencies, at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants
  • 3X points per $1 spent on all other purchases

The earning for spending at IHG hotels breaks down as follows:
  • Earn 10X points for being a IHG One Rewards Premier Card member
  • Earn up to 4X points from IHG® with Gold Elite Status, a benefit of having this card
  • Earn up to 10X points from IHG® for being an IHG® One Rewards member (Being a cardholder is not required to earn this bonus for participating in the IHG® loyalty program)
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Welcome Offer Earn 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points plus a $250 statement credit after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 09/30/2026.
Annual Fee

$650

Credit Score

Excellent, Good

  • 6X points on purchases at Marriott Properties
  • 3X points at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery
  • 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines
  • 2X points on all other eligible purchases

Related: The Best Co-Brand Credit Card for Each Hotel Loyalty Program

Bottom Line

Rove has quickly become an integral part of my travel planning process, and after some testing, I'm definitely going to use my Sapphire Reserve for Rove bookings moving forward. That is, until I finally apply for the Autograph Journey.

No matter which card you choose, keep an eye on your credit card statement to confirm the transaction codes match what you expect. If, for some reason, you don't earn bonus points on a Rove booking, you could cancel it and rebook using a different card. That's another reason I prefer to book refundable rates, even if they are a bit more expensive.

For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees), Citi Strata Premier® Card (Rates & Fees), Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (Rates & Fees), The World of Hyatt Credit Card (Rates & Fees), and IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (Rates & Fees)

Tip of The Day
Did you know you can order an AwardWallet OneCard with up to 30 of your loyalty accounts printed on it? The card is only $10 and is shipped free of charge anywhere in the world. Plus, you'll get a bonus Balance Watch credit when paying for your OneCard.
Screenshot showing how to order an AwardWallet OneCard through the AwardWallet dashboard

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