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Welcome offers on rewards cards are constantly changing. So, each month the AwardWallet editorial team assembles the top credit card offers currently available. The bonus—adjusted for how much the points are worth—get's the most weight. To round out the list, we consider each card's long-term value, application restrictions, and take into account how much spending is required to capture the full bonus.
Here are our top rewards card offers for January 2021.
Best Rewards Credit Card Offers for January 2021
- Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year
- Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year
- Earn 1% cash back on all other card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn
- 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
- Employee cards at no additional cost
- No Annual Fee
- 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year
- 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year
- 1% cash back on all other card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn
- Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
- 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
- Employee cards at no additional cost
- No Annual Fee
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
We've paired these cards off at the top of the list thanks to the mammoth 75K point offers available on cards that carry no annual fee. The bonus on both cards is promoted as $750 cashback. However, if you also hold an Ultimate Rewards card that charges an annual fee, the bonus converts to 75,000 points which you can transfer to any of Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partners. You can view the details in our post covering the increased offers.
- Earn up to 80,000 points. Earn 50,000 points after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Earn an additional 30,000 points after you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 9 months.
- Earn 5 points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases. Earn between 12/1/2020 and 3/31/2021 on up to $2,000 spent per month.
- 7,500 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary each year.
- $75 Southwest® travel credit each year.
- 4 Upgraded Boardings per year when available.
- 20% back on inflight drinks and WiFi.
- Earn 2 points per $1 spent on all other Southwest® purchases.
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- 5X points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases. Earn between 12/1/2020 and 3/31/2021 on up to $2,000 spent per month.
- 2X points per $1 spent on all other Southwest® purchases and Rapid Rewards® Hotel and Car Rental Partner purchases
- 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Chase recently launched all-time high offers on all three of the personal Southwest cards. New cardmembers can earn up to 80,000 points after meeting a two-tiered minimum spending requirement.
We think the Southwest Priority Card is the pick of these cards. These traveler-focused benefits include an annual $75 Southwest credit and 7,500-point anniversary bonus each year. These perks alone more than account for the annual fee on this card.
- Earn 25,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Plus, 25,000 Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 total within 6 months of account opening.
- Free nights start at 5,000 points
- Receive 1 free night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort after your Cardmember anniversary
- Earn an extra free night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel if you spend $15,000 during your cardmember anniversary year
- Get automatic World of Hyatt Elite status and 5 qualifying night credits every year as long as your account is open
- Earn 2 qualifying night credits towards tier status everytime you spend $5,000 on your card
- Earn 9 points total for Hyatt stays - 4 Bonus Points per $1 spent at Hyatt hotels & 5 Base Points per $1 you can earn as a World of Hyatt member
- Earn 2 Bonus 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
- 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
Thanks to recent program and offer updates, the World of Hyatt Card is back on our application radar. Hyatt recently cut qualification requirements for 2021 in half, meaning you only need to chalk up 30 elite-qualifying nights to reach top-tier Globalist elite status. Cardholders also earn two qualifying nights each time they spend $5k on their card, so you could potentially reach Globalist with as few as 10-15 in-house nights combined with qualifying nights earned from regular spending. Featuring a top return on Hyatt spending, a free night each year you renew the card (good for category 1-4 properties), and an additional free night when you spend $15K on your card, the World of Hyatt Card is among the best for long-term value.
- New Offer! Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- 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 - with no limit to the amount you can earn
- Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Redeem points for travel, cash back, gift cards and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
- No foreign transaction fees
- Employee cards at no additional cost
- $95 Annual Fee
- 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
This card has the biggest Ultimate Rewards sign-up offer available, 3X bonus categories useful for small business owners, and an affordable annual fee. See our full card review.
- 5X points on Lyft rides through March 2022
- 2X points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
While the all-time high sign-up offer of 80,000 bonus points ended on November 8, we still see this card as a top 10 offer! Cardholders earn 2X Ultimate Rewards on travel and dining, and 2X at grocery stores now through April 30, 2021. Plus, the card offers automatic protection for travel and purchases. These well-rounded benefits mean the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card provides outstanding value to cardholders. We break down the benefits to show why this card tops the list as the best beginner's travel card.
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points on Restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
- $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Boxed, and participating Shake Shack locations. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $250.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- 4X Membership Rewards® points when you dine at restaurants worldwide.
- 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X)
- 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com
- 1X on other purchases
- Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Boxed, and participating Shake Shack locations. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
Amex recently announced an increased 60,000 point welcome offer on the Amex Gold, an all-time high offer for this card. The Amex Gold has been a longtime favorite here at AwardWallet, as it earns 4X points in useful bonus categories like U.S. supermarket spending (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X) and dining.
Check out our head-to-head comparison with the Sapphire Preferred to see which of these cards deserves a spot in your wallet.
- 60,000 point signup bonus worth $750 towards airfare through the ThankYou Travel Center, or potentially much more when transferred to airline partners
- 3X points per $1 on airfare and hotels and at gas stations, restaurants, and supermarkets
- Annual Hotel Benefit: Save $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when you book through ThankYou.com
- No foreign transaction fees
- $95 annual fee
- 3X points per $1 spent on airfare, hotels, and at gas stations
- 3X points per $1 spent on dining at restaurants, including cafes, bars and lounges
- 3X points per $1 spent at supermarkets
- 1X points per $1 spent on all other purchases
Cardmembers who opened their Citi Premier account before April 10, 2020 will also earn 2X points on entertainment and 3X points on a broader range of travel purchases through April 9, 2021.
Sporting a 60,000 point sign-up bonus and a stellar list of transfer partners, the Citi Premier offers some of the best earning-rates for a card with a sub-$100 annual fee. This card tops our list of the best cards for gas & fuel. Plus, you'll pay no foreign transaction fees.
- Earn 75,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $5,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 10x points on eligible purchases on your new Card at U.S. Gas Stations and U.S. Supermarkets, on up to $15,000 in combined purchases, during your first 6 months of Card Membership. That's an additional 9 points on top of the 1 point you earn for these purchases.
- Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member and Additional Centurion Cards only.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel. Starting January 1, 2021, earn 5X points on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com.
- Enjoy complimentary access to the Global Lounge Collection, the only credit card airport lounge access program that includes proprietary lounge locations around the world.
- Receive complimentary benefits through American Express Travel with an average total value of $550 with Fine Hotels & Resorts® program at over 1,100 properties . Learn More.
- Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $550 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (from January 1, 2021, earn 5X points on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year), and on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com
- New Cardmembers: Earn 10X points on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations during your first 6 months of Card Membership
The Amex Platinum recently launched an increased welcome offer of 75,000 points after meeting the minimum spending requirement in six months (rather than three). New cardmembers can also earn 10X points at U.S. Gas Stations and U.S. Supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases) during the first six months of Card Membership. That combo makes the current Amex Platinum offer one the best we've ever seen.
- Free checked bags for you and up to 4 companions on domestic itineraries
- Priority boarding to help you win the race for overhead bin space
- A 25% discount on inflight food, beverage, and Wi-Fi purchases
- Reduced Mileage Awards can save you 7,500 miles on roundtrip MileSAAver Awards
- Earn 2X miles for every $1 spent on cable and satellite providers
- Earn 2X miles for every $1 spent at gas stations
- Earn 2X miles for every $1 spent on select telecommunications merchants
- Earn 2X miles for every $1 spent on car rentals
- Earn 2X miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
- Earn 1X mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases
With an offer of 65,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening, this is one of the best AA co-brand card offers currently available. The AA Business Card provides free checked first bags for the cardholder and up to four companions each flight, preferred boarding when you fly American, and you won't pay an annual fee for the first year.
If you travel more with Oneworld Alliance airlines, the British Airways Visa Signature® Card is a good alternative.
Final Thoughts
Welcome offers on rewards cards are continually changing, and it can be hard keeping tabs on the latest sign-up bonuses. We update our top offers every month. So, if you have a card you think belongs on the list, let us know why in the comments below.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: American Express® Gold Card (Rates & Fees), and The Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees)
The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
I just wish that we had the same kind of rewards for credit cards where I live, the best one available is 1% cashback in flight points from Norwegian (which looks like is going to go bankcrupt anyways) :(.
Thank you so much for this list of the top credit card offers currently available! It’s so good to be able to see at a glance the different perks. I was in the process of applying for a new card and now I can find the one that best matches my needs.
Very good article!!
Thanks for the comparative between the credit cards.
In my personal case , I am an Amex Gold member since 1995 and I think that memebership rewards program is one of the best options in the market.
I travelled several timesto Brasil by transfering my points to smiles program.
Finally snagged the 100K Amex plat plus 10x deal late last month. About to finish the spend.
Wow how did you get 100K?
For Citi AA cards, you have to wait 48 months after receiving a bonus for the same exact card. My last bonus was back in 2017. I recently received an email offer to sign up again for bonus. Wondering if I will get it since they sent the offer or if I have to wait another year before applying to meet the 4 years limit.
The 4-year wait is really long. Thanks for letting us know.
I would suggest including the World of Hyatt credit card since they are offering double elite nights for new signups (so 10 total) that when paired with the reduced elite qualification levels means a new cardholder would need only 20 more nights to reach Globalist, some of which will be earned by meeting the minimum spend bonus on the card and others can be doubled in January and February. Not to mention, there’s the 50,000 Hyatt point bonus. 🙂
Great point! I’ll circle back with the other editors and see if we can add.
I applied for, and received, the Chase Saphire Preferred through Award Wallet on September 29th. The 80,000 Sign Up Bonus, and your descriptions of the card’s many benefits were key to my enrollment. (I already have the AA, and Capital One Venture initiated by their respective bonuses two-plus years ago.) Need to learn about the Chase Travel Portal, how to locate it and use it subsequent to the $4000. spend.
I am a novice at points collection and utilization and so appreciate your work and sharing this information.
Thank you for your support! We dive into the Chase Travel Portal in this post: https://awardwallet.com/blog/chase-ultimate-rewards-travel-portal/. Also, we walk through 20 ways to use your CSP points in this post: https://awardwallet.com/blog/different-ways-to-redeem-ultimate-rewards/
I feel like the 100K bonus on the JetBlue card should have made the list for November. It is a great amount of miles for a good domestic airline. Just curious if there is a reason it didn’t?
I have most of these cards. The only ones missing are the Capital One cards (I have made my peace with the fact that they will never approve me.) and the Citi cards. It might be time to dip my toe into the Thank you points pool. Spending just doesn’t seem the same if you aren’t working on a sign up bonus.
Thank you for showing us all the available options.
My 86 year old MIL applied for the CSP yesterday. Her only other CC is a Discover that she’s held for 5 years and used 6 times or so. She wanted to do it for the bonus to give to us, so we can visit next year when there is a better chance of safe travels.
Needless to say the application was immediately declined. 😂😂😂
I´ve always trusted Citi. I think it´s a great bank with a great credit card. But United Club is tempting!
Good comparison. I’ve been happy with the Chase Sapphire and kept it over the years.
Chase freedom unlimited card grocery bonus is great.
We can never spend enough on grocery nowadays 🙂
Awesome offer on the Freedom Unlimited! That card is a keeper forever with no fee!
All cards are excellent and has lots of promotions and good bonuses. I prefer Citi cards.
I already had the citi card and used many of the promotions, allowances, discounts on purchases, it is one of the ones with the lowest rates, and at some years ago, they accumulated miles progrmas.
Most of these are chase credit cards, it is harder to qualify for credit cards now since the pandemic as the bankers have tightened their offers.
Great bonus on the Ink Preferred!
I need to get one of those Chase Sapphire cards. such good deals right now, thanks for the info
Chase usually has good welcome promotions. Sounds like an excellent starter card to me.
Lots of good bonuses out there now with spending down- good time to take advantage!
Love the Chase cards so much!
Thanks. I always enjoy this blog (and some of the comments too). I already have most of these cards but I put a few more on my list now.
Do you really need a business to get a business card?
There are lots of guides out there to show you how you are eligible and how to apply.
No. You could get a business card to separate personal expenses from expenses for such activities as work/charitable or volunteer activities/hobbies, etc.
I will make a credit card change and enjoy the rewards. Thank you for the information.
any recent DPs of getting higher bonus (or 1st year fee waived) for Ink Preferred? I heard that applying in-branch helps but the banker told me it’s not the case anymore…
Just an FYI on the AAdvantage card from Barclay… If you’re flying on American Airlines, they will offer you a higher number of bonus miles. The same is true on Southwest Airlines with an in flight application. While flying on Frontier Airlines, they offer a very generous number of bonus miles with only one purchase and a smaller fee than the Barclay AA.
Thanks for the info on those credit cards !!!!!!
Very useful info. Thanks!
Appreciate the update. The Aviator card looks like it might be a good deal, at least for the first year.
If you can travel. I’m sure there’s a huge drop in credit card applications post-coronavirus – or at least travel credit cards.
Super handy info!
Love all the helpful info I get from this site!
This is a pretty solid list but reading through the comments it looks like it’s been around awhile. Glad to see it gets updated at least.
Hi Elena, the post is updated monthly with a roundup of the best offers currently available. Some cards with high-value offers stay on the list for months at a time, others are there only for as long as a limited-time offer lasts.
thank you for the info!
Amazing blog, this is a very useful list. Thanks a lot
I think I need to get the new IHG Rewards Club Premier… Stacks benefits well with my grandfathered IHG card!
Thanks for the info. Wondering when a credit card will step up rewards to really draw in new customers? Like a 5% rebate on travel.
The Chase Freedom Flex has that, not sure why they didn’t list it as its a brand new card everyone is raving about.
This is a supper suffer list, thank you.
Going to apply for the IHG card for 140K for $89 and $3000 spend. Biggest promo I have ever seen for IHG points. Thanks for the post
My favorite one is AA Aviator, it has a nice bonus when you make a $1000 purchase.
hrmm..just might take on the United card!
Thanks for this information!
Thank you for sharing this info! Very useful!
I’ve been using the double cash card from Citi. This list makes me look at the IHG card for my travel. Thank you!
When comparing credit card sign up bonuses of different rewards programs, I think it would be helpful if you included the value of each programs points/Miles.
For example, the IHG card has 140,000 bonus, but IHG points are worth a lot less than chase or Southwest points
Google The Points Guy point valuations. It’s a great starting point. IHG points are around 0.5 cents each and SW points are around 1.5 cents each.
When comparing credit card sign up bonuses of different rewards programs, I think it would be helpful if you included the value of each programs points/Miles.
For example, the IHG card has 140,000 bonus, but IHG points are worth a lot less than chase or Southwest points
Google The Points Guy point valuations. They may not be exactly the same value for you but it’ll at least give you a starting point to compare apples to apples.
Can you have both CSR and CSP?
No, the current application rules apply to all Chase Sapphire cards and prevent you from getting a Sapphire card if you already hold one. You can find the details of the policy here
This is a great list, thanks!
It is nice to see all annual fees clearly listed on one page.
Excellent! Thanks for the information!
I love that you include biz and personal cards! I am considering the Hilton Surpass. I was surprised to be reminded that it has a few priority pass vouchers to use. Too bad it’s not at the restaurants since Amex pooped pooped and somehow got kicked off those, but still a great perk. I am hoping that I would get to use the perks on a trip this summer.
Thanks for the update. This site does a great job of monitoring mileage deals and passing on the info. Much appreciated!
Awesome list!
Pretty good offers for this month!
Thank you very much for the information. I already requested the Chase Sapphire Preferred, it seemed the best option in costs / benefits.
Is there a rule against having the same card held by multiple people in the same household? For example, if I applied for the Chase IHG card and my husband also applied for it, and say we’re both approved, are we both eligible for the signup bonus? Or is it limited to one person per household?
Not limited by household, each person can apply for a card and receive the signup bonus.
That’s what many call two player mode. One of you can get it first and then refer the other.
Since I have a lot of big spend coming up, I will probably apply for the IHG card to take advantage of its large introductory offer. I will also try once again to get the Capital One Venture card…If I am denied this time, I am going to call them to ask why! It is too good a card to give up on.
Yes, definitely call them if you get rejected again. In my experience, they will be forthright with you about the reason(s) behind your denial.
Rewards points are good, but cash is king. Beware of a company devaluing the points at a moment’s notice. Also, the points are worth less if you redeem them for cash or gift cards. I prefer using a cash back card and getting a direct deposit every month. Plus, it’s easier to spend cash than points.
Rewards points are for active and / or loyal members. A large portfolio of credit cards with different rewards is always good.
Is there a list of reward credit cards for the UK? It doesn’t seem to have as many options around here.
Sadly for you, the US is the primetime of credit card rewards and it’s fairly slim pickings in the rest of the world.
Thank you for the summary. Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is an amazing .
Very useful information. A great summary. Thanks for the post.
Very useful, thank you! Certainly useful information. Always good to get the current offers!
Thanks for posting this list. I’ve been looking for some new CC sign up bonuses to take advantage of. The AAdvantage in particular looks good.
Wow I read it yesterday! Now I am waiting confirmation from IHG. Thanks for this great info!
I am so happy the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard offer is extended.
Thanks for the reminder on these cards. I wish we had some of them available to us in Canada.
Hyatt card is overrated. Better pick IHG with more benefits abd less spend req.
The IHG card doesn’t have the benefit I care about most: free breakfast. Hilton has a huge step up on that and Hyatt makes it a lot easier to get to status with free breakfast.
always appreciate the tips. I’m about to come off of 5/24 purgatory and I can’t wait to take advantage!
Choose wisely!
Very useful summary. Thanks!
Too bad all of them have annual fees
Don’t let annual fees scare you. It’s like shopping at Walmart or Sam’s Club. If you do your research, Sam’s Club could be WAY better for you.
I am counting down the days until I’m back under 5/24.
There is definate value with the HHonours card. 2 nights for $95. Absolute Bargain!
2 nights? If you’re talking about the points bonus exclusively, it could be 2 nights a mid-tier property, but 125k only equates to ~1.33 nights at a top tier property (or 1 night at the Waldorf Astoria Maldives). If you’re counting the FWN Cert as part of the 2 nights, then I would generally agree, but it’s important to note that earning that Cert would require an additional $13k in spend beyond the hurdle for the sign-up bonus, which is not as easily achievable. Either way though, still a great value at card, and one of the top 3 on the list, IMO.
I have the Capital One Venture One rewards card (not the Venture card, there are 2…) and there is no annual fee. The points you can earn make it worth it, especially since you get bonus points on travel expenses (for example, you can receive 7 points per dollar spent booking a hotel through Hotels.com and paying with the Venture One card). I’d like to see some no-annual-fee cards on these lists like the Venture One card since annual fees are just throwing away money when there are often equivalent fee-free options out there.
Great list to bring back. Some of these spend requirements are getting quite steep though.
Good list. Unfortunately I’m well above 5/24, but the AMEX Green and other offers were too good to pass up waiting out the clock on Chase.
I think the WOH card might be in my future, despite the recent devaluation of their program.
What devaluation? Peak pricing?
On the list, to me the best values (spend vs. bonus) are the Ink Biz Pref, Hilton, or Hyatt cards.
Honorable mention should also go to the BoA Virgin Atlantic MC that is offering 80k at the moment, but in reality the offer is a guaranteed 65k for $2,000 spend and adding 2 AUs to the new account (the last 15k point require $25k total spend). Anyone interested should more quickly on the VA card, however, as I understand the offer ends tomorrow 12/12/19.
Amex gold for dining and Hilton Ascend for Gold status and PP. These are my favorites!
The Ascend (now Surpass) is a really good $95 card, possibly the best. It gives really good status and free breakfast.
I have been looking at the Citi double cash card. I agree with several others that it might be the easiest since you don’t have to have anything code to use the points. I have been flip flopping on this card. Still haven’t gotten the card since I’ve been needing other points and miles for other trips. It’s still in the back of my mind though. It’s difficult since I do love my Chase cards but that 2% is mighty tempting with Citi.
The AAdvantage card featured sounds like the best deal to me.
Great choice of point earners here, really comprehensive overview.
very informative post. thank you!
I probably have too many credit cards. My favorite it the CSR, it has a $450 AF, however I always max out the $300 travel credit so the real cost is $150 per year.
I think the highest offer need to be added/considered to know if the offer is a good offer. For example, I think hyatt 50k is not a good offer as there was 60k or 70k offer before.
Thanks for the feedback. We do try to reference whether offers are at a relative high on our card review pages, but it makes sense to put that info here too when it applies. You can see that we did reference that higher offers have been seen on the Southwest Biz card. That said, I don’t recall a public offer on the Hyatt card at 70K points. If we try to include targeted offers, I think that creates more confusion than value.
Erik, could there be a dedicated page that has a history of the highest known public offers?
Hey Robert, that is a great idea. We’ve actually been working on the research for that. It’s a big project, but I hope to have a resource like that in the future.
That would be really cool!
nice summary. Thanks!
Always good to review the current offers! Thanks
I wish Chase would offer a legitimate upgrade offer from the Hyatt card to the WOH card. Offering 5,000 points to upgrade when one can cancel and get up to 50,000 by opening a new card is frustrating. Anything I might be missing with this line of thinking? Other than the chance of not being accepted, of course – but 5/24 is not a concern for me at this time.
I think the current sign up bonus on the Hyatt card is a little too low.
Waiting for a higher one…
Same here. 50,000 is good, but I’m hoping for a 60k or even higher. We’ll see. It does me no good at the moment so I’m in rush.
The Capitol One Venture also has a feature that was new for me:
Pay using virtual numbers with Eno® from Capital One®.
This is an extension for Chrome that detects when I’m purchasing something and am at the point of entering credit card information for payment. This Eno feature will provide the seller with a virtual number that accomplishes the payment with my card, but the vendor doesn’t receive the information about my actual card. I guess if that virtual card number fell into the wrong hands and that virtual card information is used with any other vendor it would be flagged and not allowed.
I like that feature and it is very convenient to use.
Good list. Even though the Bonvoy card is a good offer- many of us with boatloads of points have been ‘bonvoyed’- then ‘unbonvoyed’- only to be ‘bonyoved’ again. Seems at the moment they don’t have it together. It’s a good offer, and for a beginner they may not notice all the problems that continue to manifest in the new system- but care should be taken to recommend it as a ‘top 10’ card until Marriott gets their crap together. Just my 2 cents.
This offer is wonderful if your AAdvantage mileage is expiring, and want to extend the expiration date!
I feel so lucky to have subscribed their emails!
I hope they have the same/ similar offerings in the future again!
i like that Fidelity 2% Back Visa, Citi Double Cash Back (2%) and Chase Freedom Unlimited (3% the first year, then 1.5%) are terrific
I think Chase is leading the pack with a great number of products. Good article!
Make sure you see what the conversion rate is Bonvoy to airline miles . I found the SPG rates far superior
Converting one program’s currency to any other program’s currency isn’t ever a good exchange to begin with, of course not counting UR and MR points that are designed for that.
Before the end of the first year, it might be worthwhile for some people (like me) to downgrade the World Of Hyatt card to the $75 annual fee Hyatt card, which still gives you a free night certificate each credit card renewal year.
May I suggest…
How about posting this list consistently on the first day of every month, like a regular feature? It would help us poor readers anticipate what is coming. There are other regular features you could on certain days every month, like:
– Reader susses story
– Best redemption deals
– Best shopping deals (to earn points/discounts)
– Airline service news you can use.
Some can check for targeted offers by logging into Chase under the “Selected for You” section. The offers in this section also bypass the 5/24 rule, so this could be a good option for those that are over 5/24!
Thanks for breaking it down; I love comparing all the cards great information.
Bonvoy…. let’s give everyone 10-50k points to upgrade…. hey since you upgraded no new card bonuses for you….. even business bonuses.
Makes sense to me Marriott.
I hate that I signed up for the CSP a day before the increase in bonus =(
Thanks for the info. I’ll keep this in mind
I love my chase trifecta, CSR, Freedom and Freedom Unlimited. Chase Ultimate Rewards are hard to beat. I also love my AmEx Hilton Honors Aspire card. Sure, like the CSR, it comes with a hefty $450 AF but I have already used $500 worth of credits and the Diamond level gets us some great perks. I try to make the most out of all of my cards.
The increased minimum spend requirements to get the full sign-up bonus is a concerning trend, sadly.
I am pretty sure I signed up for a Starwood’s account about 10 years ago when I stayed at one for 4 nights in Chicago.
I do not Have any info on my membership anymore but can Marriott Bonvoy access that with my name and address to consolidate points?
If you contact them before you apply, they could probably locate it. But honestly, you’ll have no points so you may as well just let them make a new account for you.
I favored Barclays AA cards over Citi for many positive reasons and advantages (pun intended). Sadly I had both and they were closed off with no warning nor explanation a few years back. With perfect scores and credit history I’m not sure what I did. Anyone had this experience and is there a chance to get approved again?
Great site! Keep feeding us the info.
Thanks for this post! Helpful!
Thanks for the info. The Chase Ink card is definitely my preferred card at Office supply stores due to the 5% UR points benefit.
Decisions, decisions!! It’s time for a new card, and I still can’t decide which!! This helps narrow it down tho!
Ink cards are great. I have 3 for my business.
There are some decent airline offers as well. You could combine two SouthWest card offers (personal and business) for not only miles but also earn a free companion pass good through the end of 2020.
Chase Ink for 80K sign up for the win!! Plus 3x bonus. Can’t beat it!!
Chase Ink for 80K for the win!! Plus 3x bonus!!
Fantastic layout of really easy to follow information and tips for my next credit card. Just received some nice signup bonuses from AA and UA!
Have Capital One cc, thanks for info
Great to have all the best card info in one location!
All these sign-on bonuses are very attractive. At what point does it become detrimental to have a large number of cards, and need to close some of them?
Contrary to what many believe, having a lot of available credit and low utilization ratio (positively affected by a large credit limit) show that you can manage debt responsibly and will raise your score. As each account ages, your score will also rise.
I incorrectly heard growing up that a large line of credit is a bad thing as you could theoretically run out tomorrow and rack up as much debt as your credit line allows. This is simply incorrect logic in terms of the formula for your credit score.
This is an excellent list of possibilities to choose from. Thanks!
Looks like I have five of ten of these cards.
Nice. Law of diminishing returns though says that getting (m)any more won’t be beneficial to you.
Thanks for the information. Yours is one of the couple of travel blogs I read.
Great matrix. I can see which ones are worth comparing
Flew American DCA to MCO round trip last week. Very nice flight attendants
There are some good ones out there!
Thank you Award Wallet for the valuable information!
TMI about Chase. Their restrictions are too much to deal with! I don’t even consider their offers anymore.
Thanks!
Restrictions are too much to deal with? Don’t open more than 5 cards in two years. That’s pretty simple. If you’re churning through more cards that, you’re not someone that Chase wants to do business with.
Any cards which do not follow 24 mon rule and ones you can reapply after a time period and get bonus again?
I’ve never heard of a card with less than a 24 month rule (from the bonus not from the signup).
Thanks for the great overview. Very useful for deciding my card strategy.
Even with all the problems, I’m still a big fan on Marriott. Thanks for the info on those credit cards.
A very good summary. Thanks for all the info.
Great post. Do you think Marriott will relax the rules in the next year wrt old cards. Have a Chase card and it sucks that I can’t get an Amex card.
So ditch the Chase card and get the AmEx.
Thanks for the updates and newest opportunities to get rewards.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers a great sign on bonus for sure but after that, it’s hard to justify the $95 annual fee. I’m I missing something? 2x returns is not great compared to other cards out there. Please let me know what else there is.
I think the value is in the transfer partners and you get some level of travel insurance too.
AwardWallet is amazing to track all of my many miles and points – over 8 million! I don’t often update my credit card collection, though, so I leave many bonuses untouched. Thanks for the info.
Patiently waiting 2 more months to be below 5/24 so I can apply for the WOH card. Thanks Awardwallet for keeping me current on all the offers!
Have to try the Venture card for easy miles.
Thank you for this. I’d appreciate the info on the “business” requirements to open the CIP card. Thanks!
I know where to check when I am in the market for an airline card because your site provides a great summary and all the research is done for me.
Thanks for the summary!
Good article, though I do not want more than the two cards I already have.
Great run down on the cards. I love my Ink Business Preferred Card!
This is very helpful. Keep the recommendations coming.
Sorry for my ignorance, but what do people mean by “5/24”?
Chase’s unofficial official policy is that to be approved for a card, you can’t have opened more than 5 cards in the last 24 months. So you may see some people say “I’m 3/24 right now” meaning they’ve opened three cards in the last 24 months.
Thanks for the updated information!
My husband signed up for Chase Sapphire Reserve, and we LOVE it! Although he has to pay $450 annual fee, you can get $300 of travel bonus every year, and it’s worth paying the rest of the annual fee. We both are your website’s fans now! Thank you!
I just applied for the Chase Sapphire Reserve last night, but have also been eyeing the Capital One Venture card that is on this list…. Helpful info. Thanks, AwardWallet!
Thanks for the info!
Thanks for the information.
interesting top 10 list as always
Thanks for the update about the INK card, checking it out! Presently AMEX Delta
Just got the Hilton Ascend card. 150k points and Gold status for $95 sounds good to me. Not sure about the Aspire yet; do not typically stay at Hiltons but now will give the chain a try.
BLUF: Don’t let your miles and points gather dust! Posting to keep my AA miles alive, which were collected during the days of 2-3 browser applications with Citi. I used 200k to take family to Hawaii after initially earned, which was great. However, the other 200k miles have been in my AA account since then just gathering dust. So remember, the points and especially the miles aren’t worth the fair market value blogs quote until you use them. Otherwise, miles are generally being consistently devalued.az they gather dust.
Yep. Inflation is one threat. Devaluation is the other.
We have sapphire card and love it
Thanks for always being there and making sure I have a safe place for my Boarding Pass! You make traveling easier for me and I’m sure many more people like me.
Thanks again Dan
Don’t expect anything from Chase sapphire travel protection. I had a flight delay which caused me to miss my connecting flight. They refused to do anything about it and I had to pony up another $250 out of pocket to buy a new connecting flight ticket.
Thanks for all the great info. Even with all the digs at Bonvoy, I got the card with 15 nights and 80k points.
Thank you! New-ish to the game and looking for my next card, so this is super helpful, timely info.
Wonderful summary. Thank you
I love the award wallet! Great information.
Great Info here!
I am considering the Chase Freedom Card 3% Cash Back is appealing but the turn off is that it is only for one year (then goes to 1.5%). I know that I could keep using my Citi Double Cash (2% cash back and no annual fees) afterward but it still irritates me a little. Thanks!
It’s been quite a while since I’ve seen AMEX Premier Rewards or even AMEX Business Gold cards offers. Do these cards still exist and ever offer large “membership rewards” sign up bonuses?
thanks for sharing the offers
These updates are great! Appreciate it very much
Where has this sight been? I wish I had discovered it years ago. Thanks for all the GREAT info.
Almost overwhelming–
Can I apply for all of these immediately? I WANT THEM ALL!!
Haha, we know how you feel. It’s a good idea to keep your new applications spaced out. New requests for credit is 10% of your credit score, so opening a lot of cards all at once can have a negative impact. You can learn more here. https://awardwallet.com/blog/tips-managing-credit-score/
Just make sure you’re aware of 5/24 and each bank’s restrictions.
Waiting to drop below 5/24.
I will get the Ink Business Preferred as soon as I am under 5/24!
I have looked at many, many cards and frankly I find that the chase sapphire reserve card offers the best value even without the 100,000. One of the best decisions I have made and recommend to others. Please strongly consider it and take a look at the alternatives, but I believe you will find it to be great choice.
Thanks for the info, always clear and understandable.
Thank you for the information–I love the format which presents information in a concise easy-to-use way.
This is a very useful list of cards. Thank you!
Keep up the good work.
I love my Sapphire Reserve card!
Thanks for the valuable information. A wonderful job of synthesizing the best reward cards.
Great!
I am really leaning toward getting the Hyatt card. I know the chain has a limited footprint, but they have some of the best hotels in Europe. And the annual free night is a great benefit.
5 miles
✈️💺
I own at Marriott. Getting 6 points per $, gets me a ton when I pay my maintenance fees.
The IHG and Marriott Bonvoy cards are good deals, with their free night every year, although they do limit the level of points made available so the top chain hotels are not eligible for the free night deal.
Very good information about benefits and features of credit cards. Just waiting to get under 5/24
Lots of great Chase cards. Too bad I’m not eligible due to 5/24 rule.
Well, the silver lining is Amex’s once a lifetime rule. It’ll be a little easier to stay under 5/24 if you can only get an AmEx card once.
Thanks for making it easy to compare the top cards. Great info
Thanks for keeping the information current. Saves me from wasting time looking through outdated offers and terms.
Great resource for finding information on what credit cards would best meet my travel needs.
Great info! Loving the AwardWallet app!
Any thoughts on getting a business card without having a large business. I have one as a sole proprietorship, so I can use my social security number, but the revenue is only abbot $15,000. Do you think I would be eligible for a business card with that low revenue? My personal credit score is 820.
Hey Joe, absolutely! We’ve heard from lots of folks in a similar situation that were able to open a business account. If you don’t have a business tax ID (i.e. you’re applying as a sole proprietor) just make sure you list your name as the business name, since it needs to match the tax ID.
This is an extremely useful and timely list. I am so pleased with my decision to sign up for the Chase Sapphire Reserve card back at a time when the bonus was 100,000 points.
Completely agree, that 100k bonus was very nice.
I currently run the Reserve and Freedom Unlimited. Do you use any other Chase cards along with that?
Just missing the regular Freedom for 5X the points
I got in about two days before the deadline, then nearly missed the minimum spend due to a snafu with Marriott. I went in to charge my card and prepay a stay but it turned out all they did was put it on file. I called back on the very last day of the signup period and made them run the charge. I just barely got it in but I did. 🙂
Really appreciate Award Wallet!
Nice review, but I favor the Chase Sapphire reserve.
FYI, I signed up for Chase Sapphire Preferred when they had 50,000 points offer. I asked them if they can match the current 60,000 points offer and they declined.
Thanks for sharing John, never hurts to try. We appreciate you sharing the data point.
Thanks for the comparisons…definitely save me time to find the best deal.
Hilton Honors is the best. I’ve racked up so many points with HH I’m always looking for chances to earn more.
Love this site and especially the good news emails telling me when I have earned more miles.
This is great information, I have learned a lot from this.
a great blog! the chase sapphire is such a deal!
Thanks for compiling these offers!
Great summary, thanks!
Love this listing. will help me determine which card i will sign up for.
Great site to learn which cards to go with. I’m in the process of changing and trying to decide which card is best for me & there’s a lot of good information available here. Thanks!
Thanks for your website and all the information we can glean from it. Cash back cards are more flexible for anyone and great for those who don’t travel as much as others. Fidelity 2% Back Visa, Citi Double Cash Back (2%) and Chase Freedom Unlimited (3% the first year, then 1.5%) are my favorites that are available. The very best is USAA Limitless Cashback, which offers a flat 2.5% cash back on all purchases with direct deposit to USAA checking. Unfortunately, it is no longer open to new applicants…but who knows if/when it might open up again.
I will take the chase for the 80000 points – it is a very attractive offer and I love to accumulate points or miles.
Thank you for your email , very informative !
Thanks for all the content.
really attracted to Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card but it’s unlike my lol/24 status will allow me to get approved.
I want 5 miles
Happy to help 🙂
Thanks for the credit card summary
This is a great concise list, thanks for posting. I plan on sharing with others too!
Appreciate the advice! So easy to compare all CC ad make an educated choice quickly!
good consolidated list, thanks
Wish I could earn miles faster than I spend them! 😉
Excellent program
This is helpful for travel hackers.
I appreciat e the tips
Great site! One stop place to analyze what the current credit cards perks are doing. Thanks for the email notifications as well!
I am curious why the Sapphire Reserve isn’t included? Why does Sapphire win out over SR?
Thanks.
Hey Deb, thanks for the feedback. We love the CSR. Since some people aren’t eligible for Chase cards, we wanted to keep the list as diverse as possible while still covering some of the best offers. The Sapphire Reserve just missed the cut, but we’ve covered the benefits in detail here
Too many offers in the pile. Just need to evaluate your own goals and keep focused and not be lured by other offers…it only dilutes your plans!
Thank you for sharing this information! It is always helpful to know what bonuses are available for different cards that I might want to sign up for.
Do you think the personal Freedom Unlimited is preferable to the business version? Given the signup bonus, I’m torn.
It’s hard to say. In terms of total long-term benefit, you really want to get the card for the place where you spend the most on things that don’t get category bonues. For example, if a lot of your personal spending is on airfare, restaurants and groceries, and you have the Amex Gold, you’re getting 3-4X on a lot of personal spending. So maybe the biz card is the place to get 1.5X. For other folks, the opposite might be true. The good news is that you can eventually get both 🙂
Thanks for all the great info. Why does the Sapphire win out ahead of the Sapphire Reserve?
There’s a breakeven point which will be different for everyone. The CSP will generally be the better card for the casual traveler.
I have Marriott and Capital One cards. My brain can’t handle any more.
Always good info.
Given the recent devaluation of Delta and United FF programs (no more published award charts!!) + AA & UA EQD threshold increases, wondering if airline and hotel loyalty cards are going to still be worth the high interest rates vs. Amex points or 2% back credit cards? Am only keeping AA Citi Mastercard to continue being able to access Admirals Club, but flying less and less so this benefit not really as valuable as it used to be.
I hope you’re not paying interest. Rule number one in the rewards game is to pay your card in full every month.
The chase family of personal and business cards are the best ,combine all the points into 1 account. They add up quickly!
Some great options, thanks
Love the Chase cards. Hate the restrictions,
award wallet is a great place to keep track of miles/programs-not just a list of miles but updates on expiration,. etc. i have a question: does chase consider business cards?
Hey Leo, business cards don’t count towards the Chase application restrictions. You can learn more here.
Does anyone know if opening a business card affects your taxes or tax reporting in anyway?
There is no impact to taxes from opening a business card.
Thank you for reviewing the attractive credit cards, with comparisons and recommendations. This helped me reach a decision more quickly, and start receiving the benefits!
5 miles
✈️💺
I love the tips. Would like more info on the new Marriott Bonvoy. I am Lifetime Titanium and did not know it until I checked in a month ago at a location. No idea what Titanium gets me. Planning a vacation at Marriott Royal Hawaiian in Honolulu on May 11th and it sounds like I get nothing. Extra charge for club level and extra charge for internet and extra charge for bottled water. Does loyalty have value or is it that the Starwood merger needs work?
Hey Robert, I think these two posts might help.
https://awardwallet.com/blog/everything-about-the-marriott-rewards-program/
https://awardwallet.com/blog/the-complete-guide-to-marriott-bonvoy-elite-status/
Thanks for the tips
Great summary. Good to see this all in one place. Notice CSR isn’t on the list.
I FIND AWARD WALLET NOT JUST A CONVENIENT WAY TO ORGANIZE MY MILES, BUT A SOURCE OF GREAT DEALS.
This is a great synopsis of the best current offers and will help in my selection.
Ink preferred is my favorite! Should open before they lower the signup bonus. Missed it when it used to be 100k bonus…
It’s helpful to see all the best credit card offers.
I had some good luck recently with Marriott cat 3 redemption, usually hard to find a good use for the annual free night, but got $400/night value at Aloft Scottsdale.
5 miles wooo!
Love Award Wallet and appreciate the service. It would be great if Award Wallet could more easily distinguish between point…for example 1 mile with AA requires 3 miles from Marriott!
Thanks for the feedback Bill! We know not all points have the same value, so we are working on incorporating expected savings and point conversion rates to give you access to all the detail you need to optimize your points strategy.
The Points Guy does this regularly so you could Google that. It’s a great reference point but it’s not to be taken as absolute truth.
There are deals abound. However, none of them are in the same category as the chase sapphire reserve card for 100,000 + points which were the icing on the cake. Hotel reward points are not worth the same as airline reward miles. So 100,000 in hotel points is not a big incentive.
Definitely agree. We’re always on the lookout for those exceptional offers. We usually dedicate a whole post to breaking it down when there is an offer that is much better than normal.
This is a great web site to learn about the different credit cards.
This is a good list, though I’m surprised the Citi Double Cash Card isn’t included: 2% cash back on any purchase — 1% on purchase and an additional 1% as you pay for the purchase.
Great cards!!
While the signup bonus is not as great, the Chase Sapphire Reserve (50K bonus), might also be a good option for some folks based on their utilization. Although it has a hefty annual fee ($450), the annual $300 travel credit drops it to the equivalent of $150. It also earns 3x points on dining and travel, instead of 2x for the Sapphire Preferred, and also points are worth 25% more than the Sapphire Preferred when using the Chase travel portal. But the main benefit that I see is for those whose home airport has a restaurant that participates in the Priority Pass Program. It enables you to bring up to two guests and each of you get a $28 dining credit for each visit. I generally use this benefit before every trip and travel a couple times each month with my wife which makes it an tremendous savings given the minimal effective fee difference between the Preferred and the Reserve Cards. It might not be the right card for everyone, but if it fits your circumstances it can have incredible value. I have heard that the credit approval requirements are somewhat tougher, so that might be something that needs to be considered.
Thanks for the detailed comment on how you get value from the CSR. It got strong consideration for the list, but we wanted to keep the options diverse for folks who can’t get a Chase card due to 5/24, and the Sapphire Preferred 60k bonus seemed like too good a deal to leave off the list. We appreciate the feedback. We have a detailed review covering the benefits of the Reserve here for those who are curious.
Bill, you said it! I just opened a Chase account with the Reserve card this month, and the benefits are fabulous, completely negating the annual fee in the first year by using the travel credit and paying for Global Entry.
I’m glad the card was considered for inclusion – it’s a great one!
It really depends on where you live. Some may EASILY be able to justify the (new) $550 annual fee while others may not. It just goes to show there is no one size fits all for everyone.
I applied for an IHG credit card last week, application is pending. I’m wondering how long the process usually takes.
I love how the AwardWallet app helps me to keep essential information at my fingertips
I am also waiting on a reply from IHG card. Glad to know I wasn’t only one not immediately approved.
You can try their reconsideration line. In the past, I’ve gotten good results getting approved that way when my application is pending. Usually they just asked me to move around some of my overall credit limit. Good luck!
Is there a dedicated phone number for the “reconsideration / review” department?
I need to double check my 5/24 and see if I am eligible to grab one of the Chase ones.
I love these blog posts. AA is actually where I store all my oneworld points.
I really like the Amex Hilton Ascend card. Gold status has been great on overseas travel.
Just waiting to get under 5/24.
Me too. I wish AMEX didn’t have the “once in a lifetime” rule.
I know. That’s the the constant annoyance.
Very good information about benefits and features of credit cards
Nice job putting these all together to- make it clearer to understand.
thanks!
Provide excellent information in order to make decisions on credit cards
I appreciate the work you all do, it really helps me keep everything going with a minimum of time!
This is a very useful list. I’m glad I signed up for the Chase Saphire Reserve card back when the bonus was 100,000 bonus points.
You’re glad… and we’re envious. 🙂 Congrats!
Nice blog! The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is an amazing product and must have for the serious business traveler.
Chase Ink Buisness is a great card with 80k Ultimate Rewards points plus I get a referral bonus of 20k. That is a great bonus plus 2x rewards on many purchase. Fits well for my business.
I applied today for the Barclays Business AAdvantage card with the offer of 60,000 miles after $1000 in purchases. I would suggest adding that to the list.
Thanks for the feedback, Kevin, the Aviator is a great bonus. Especially for those who don’t have a ton of business spend.
wow. that Barclay’s off is tempting! I agree, it should be on the list.
It is interesting that AA is the only US airline in the USA with two credit card partners.
What about the personal one: 60,000 for your first purchase.
Thank you for the information.
Thanks for the info!