Do credit card rewards expire?

Typically, credit card rewards don’t expire for the life of your account. That means your rewards won’t expire if you keep your account open and in good standing. However, read your rewards program’s terms and conditions carefully since this isn’t guaranteed for all cards.

Are credit card rewards taxable?

Generally, rewards are not considered taxable since the IRS considers the rewards to be a form of rebate on the purchase. Though uncommon, rewards may be taxable if they’re received under circumstances like bonus offers without a spending requirement. Make sure to look at the credit card’s terms to see the conditions of how you can receive and redeem bonus rewards.

What credit score do I need for a rewards card?

You typically need good to excellent credit (FICO score 670 and higher) to qualify for a competitive rewards card. Premium travel cards might require an excellent credit score (FICO score of 800 and above). You can also find rewards cards for people with fair credit, but the rewards and perks might be limited.

Best Rewards Credit Cards of September 2024

Compare Bankrate’s top rewards credit cards

Card name	Our pick for	Rewards highlights	Annual fee	Bankrate review score
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card	Entertainment + Best overall	8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply) 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and grocery store purchases (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®) Bankrate’s rewards value: 1.7 cents per point*	$0	5.0 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Capital One's secure site See Rates & Fees
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card	Flat-rate cash rewards	2% cash rewards on purchases Bankrate’s rewards value: 1.0 cents per point*	$0	4.3 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Wells Fargo's secure site See Rates & Fees
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card	Travel bonus	5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel 2X miles on every purchase Bankrate’s rewards value: 1.7 cents per mile*	$95	4.9 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Capital One's secure site See Rates & Fees
Discover it® Cash Back	Category variety	5% cash back on rotating bonus categories after activation (on up to $1,500 in combined purchases per quarter, then 1%)	$0	4.4 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Discover's secure site See Rates & Fees
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express	Groceries	6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions and at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year in supermarket purchases, then 1%) 3% cash back on U.S. gas station and transit purchases Bankrate’s rewards value: 2.0 cents per point*	$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.	4.4 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on American Express's secure site See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply
American Express® Gold Card	Food and travel	4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. Bankrate’s rewards value: 2.0 cents per point*	$325	4.9 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on American Express's secure site See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card	Rewards value	5X points on Chase Travel℠ and Lyft rides (Lyft offer through March 31, 2025) 3X points on dining (including eligible delivery services), select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs) 2X points on all other travel purchases 25% increased redemption value toward travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards Bankrate’s rewards value: 2.0 cents per point*	$95	4.8 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Chase's secure site
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card	Flexible credits	Earn unlimited 5X points on hotels Earn unlimited 4X points on airlines Earn unlimited 3X points on other travel and restaurants Earn 1x points on other purchases Bankrate’s rewards value: 1.0 cents per point*	$95	3.9 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Wells Fargo's secure site See Rates & Fees
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card	No-annual-fee travel card	5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel 1.25X miles on all other purchases Bankrate’s rewards value: 1.7 cents per mile*	$0	4.1 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Capital One's secure site See Rates & Fees
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card	Starter rewards card	5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel 1.5% cash back on all purchases Bankrate’s rewards value: 1.7 cents per point*	$0	3.8 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Capital One's secure site See Rates & Fees
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card	Hotel bookings	10X points on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com 3X points on air travel and other hotel purchases, at restaurants, supermarkets, and gas and EV charging stations. Bankrate’s rewards value: 1.6 cents per point*	$95	4.5 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Citi's secure site See Rates & Fees
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card	Affordable travel perks	10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel and Capital One Entertainment purchases 2X miles on all other purchases 10,000 bonus miles every year on your account anniversary Bankrate’s rewards value: 1.7 cents per mile*	$395	5.0 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Capital One's secure site See Rates & Fees
The Platinum Card® from American Express	Luxury travel	5X points on directly-booked airfare and flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 spent per calendar year) 1X points on all other purchases Bankrate’s rewards value: 2.0 cents per point*	$695	4.8 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on American Express's secure site See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card	Savers	2X points on travel and dining 1.5X points on all other purchases Bankrate’s rewards value: 1.0 cents per point* (Bank of America Preferred Rewards members can receive boosted rates of up to 3.5X points* on travel and dining, and 2.62X points on all other purchases*)	$95	4.3 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Bank of America's secure site
Bilt Mastercard®	Paying rent	3X Points on dining 2X Points on travel 1X Points on rent payments (up to a maximum 100,000 points per year) and other purchases Use the card five times each statement period to earn points. See Rewards and Benefits terms (Bilt Rent Day doubles all rewards rates* on the first day of each month for 2X points to 6X points on non-rent purchases, up to 10,000 points per the first day of the month)* Bankrate’s rewards value: 2.1 cents per point*	None	3.9 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Bilt's secure site See Rates & Fees
Chase Freedom Unlimited®	Everyday spending	5% cash back on Lyft purchases (through March 2025) and travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards 3% cash back on dining at restaurants and drugstore purchases 1.5% cash back on all other purchases Bankrate’s rewards value: 1.0 cents per point*	$0	4.8 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Chase's secure site
Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card	Everyday travel	3X points on restaurant, travel, transit, gas station, phone plan and popular streaming service purchases 1X points on all other purchases Bankrate’s rewards value: 1.0 cents per point*	$0	4.1 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Wells Fargo's secure site See Rates & Fees
Citi Custom Cash® Card	Gas	5% cash back on purchases on the top eligible spend category each billing cycle (up to the first $500 spent each cycle, 1% cash back thereafter) 1% cash back on all other purchases Bankrate’s rewards value: 1.0 cents per point*	$0	4.4 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Citi's secure site See Rates & Fees
Chase Sapphire Reserve®	Rewards value	10X points on hotels, car rentals and Chase Dining purchases via Chase Travel℠, and on Lyft rides (Lyft offer through March 31, 2025) 5X points on air travel via Chase Travel℠ 3X points on dining and other travel 50% increased redemption value toward travel through Chase Travel℠ Bankrate’s rewards value: 2.0 cents per point* (Points on travel purchases only earned after the first $300, which is covered by the annual travel credit)	$550	5.0 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Chase's secure site
Prime Visa	Online shopping	5 percent back on Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and Chase Travel purchases 2 percent back on restaurant, gas station, local transit and commuting purchases (including rideshares) Baseline rewards value: 1 cent per point	$0	4.1 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Amazon's secure site
American Express® Business Gold Card	Small-business owners	4X points on up to $150,000 per calendar year in your top two of six eligible categories (then 1X thereafter; only the top two categories each billing cycle will count toward the $150,000 cap) 3X points on hotels and flights through American Express Travel Bankrate’s rewards value: 2.0 cents per point*	$375	5.0 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on American Express's secure site See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply
American Express Green Card®	Transit	3X points on eligible dining, transit and travel purchases (including airfare, hotels, cruises, tours, car rentals, campgrounds, vacation rentals and travel purchases through third-party travel websites and the American Express Travel portal) Bankrate’s rewards value: 2.0 cents per point*	$150
My GM Rewards® Mastercard®	GM payments and leases	7X points on eligible GM purchases 4X points on all other purchases Baseline rewards value: 1 cent per point (toward eligible GM purchases)	$0

The information about the My GM Rewards® Mastercard® has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

*Bankrate’s points and miles valuations are based on an average of the issuer’s five highest-value transfer partners (if available).

Expert advice for choosing the best rewards card

Navigating the wide range of rewards card options available can be difficult. Here are some tips and insights from Bankrate writer Garrett Yarbrough about his own reward card journey that can help you decide which rewards card would fit you best.

Consider effort versus rewards

Flat-rate rewards cards are the easiest to manage since they earn rewards at the same rate on almost all purchases (usually 1.5 percent or 2 percent back). This makes them a great fit if you value simplicity. However, other cards may offer even higher rates in your biggest spending categories, so they could be more valuable overall.

Tiered category cards can be great standalone cards since they earn anywhere from 2 percent to 6 percent rewards in popular bonus categories like groceries, dining and travel.

Rotating category cards often earn a chart-topping 5 percent rewards on categories that change each quarter, but these high-maintenance options may be better suited as an additional card for rewards strategists.

However, some cards have spending caps on bonus categories — dropping the rewards rate down to 1 percent after you spend a certain amount in a select category within a timeframe. This is often up to $1,500 per quarter or up to $6,000 per year, which could make a card with no rewards spending cap more valuable depending on how much you typically spend.
Figure out where you spend the most each month

You can match your spending habits with a fitting rewards card once you know your major monthly categories, where you often shop and how much you typically spend.

“My biggest expenses tend to be everyday purchases like groceries, gas and dining. I love to cook, too, so I’d probably lean on a grocery rewards card more than one with a restaurant category,” explains Yarbrough. “On paper, my spending habits meant a card with a high rewards rate at grocery stores would be helpful. But in practice, I’d likely rack up more rewards with a flat-rate card since grocery store categories usually don’t include wholesale clubs and superstores like Walmart.”

Learn more: How to choose a credit card for everyday spending
Determine how you’d like to redeem your rewards

Cash back cards are generally easiest if you want to put your rewards back into your everyday spending. If you don’t mind strategizing, you could earn more than the standard 1 cent per point or mile with a travel rewards card with redemption options like transfer partners.

Learn more: How to maximize your credit card rewards
Look at the card's fees

Foreign transaction fees and APR are worth keeping an eye on in case you may need to use your card abroad or carry a balance in a pinch, but the annual fee is the most important. You'll need to decide whether the card’s benefits and potential rewards can help offset the yearly cost. This was less an issue for Garrett: “APRs weren’t a huge concern since I already had a low-interest card from my credit union and I avoid carrying a balance, so I focused on rewards.”
Consider intro APR offers or sign-up bonuses

A solid no-annual-fee rewards card carries a sign-up bonus worth around $200 (usually after spending $500 to $1,000 in the first three months), plus a 12 - 15-month 0 percent intro APR on balance transfers and new purchases. Although premium rewards cards typically don’t carry intro APR offers, they often pack stronger sign-up bonuses worth $600 to $750+ (usually after spending $4,000 in the first three to six months).
Factor in valuable perks

Perks that come with a card can play a key role in determining its overall value — ideally recouping the annual fee with valuable benefits without dipping into your hard-earned rewards. Although some premium cards carry flashy perks like annual travel credits, airport lounge access and automatic loyalty status, it’s vital to read the fine print and calculate whether you’ll actually get enough value to consistently offset the yearly cost.

“Knowing I wanted a future-proof, flat-rate rewards card with diverse redemption options and plenty of pairing opportunities helped me quickly narrow my search to the Chase Freedom Unlimited®,” Yarbrough notes. “The Freedom Unlimited card’s trip cancellation and interruption insurance plus limited-time rideshare and delivery service benefits added enough extra personal value to give it a leg up over similar cards for me.”

Learn more: Top credit card perks for 2024
Consider future pairing opportunities

If you’re planning on expanding your card roster eventually, knowing how to best pair your cards can help make your decision.

Garrett kept his rewards card endgame in mind when choosing the Freedom Unlimited: “I can eventually boost the value of the Freedom Unlimited card’s rewards by adding the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to my wallet and redeeming points for travel. Until then, the Freedom Unlimited gives me a stellar foundation to build my rewards strategy.”

Weigh the pros and cons of rewards cards

Are rewards credit cards worth it?

Staff Picks: Our experts' favorite rewards programs

Ana Staples

Lead Writer, Credit Cards

“I have the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, which earns incredibly flexible travel rewards. I'm not big on rewards transfers, so I appreciate that Capital One miles hold consistent value whether I book travel through the issuer's portal or use miles to cover recent travel purchases. Plus, I convert my Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card’s cash back into miles to earn free travel faster. It's really simple and convenient!"

Our data: Low approval rates in spring, summer 2024

A 2024 Bankrate survey found that credit card applicants are still experiencing stiff approval odds since issuers tightened approvals in 2023. Although a rate cut is predicted for September, it may be a while before cardholders feel the effects of it.

We dug into our proprietary data to identify the approval rates of Bankrate’s top rewards cards that people applied for on our site. Our data shows that the average approval rate for rewards credit cards peaked in February 2024 at just under 61 percent. However, the approval rate dropped sharply to 51 percent in March, and by July 2024, it had gone down to 45 percent. This is for both flat-rate and category rewards cards.

Even cards like the Citi Strata Premier Card and Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card experienced sharp drops in approvals. Both launched in May 2024, with the Citi Strata approving 60 percent of Bankrate users and the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey approving almost 55 percent of users. However, in July, the approvals were down to 34 percent and 46 percent, respectively.

Spring and summer can bring heavy spending on expenses like vacations, and the holiday season is only a few months away. When considering both of these circumstances, it may be better to wait until next year to apply for a new card.

In the meantime, you can focus on paying down debts and building your credit score to give yourself better approval odds. You can also use tools like CardMatch™ to see which cards you may be approved for.

Ask the experts: What's your go-to method for maximizing credit card rewards?

Thomas Nitzsche

Financial Educator, Debt and Credit

As someone who travels a lot, I focus on travel rewards, mostly hotel accommodations, with no hotel brand affinity. I use an online discount travel site’s branded card, using promo codes at the point of sale. I earn the most points on travel booked through the site, and I also get a bonus on points I’ve redeemed toward past travel purchases. The points can also be used to purchase trips on the site, and points are earned on those purchases as well. I also use the Upromise.com browser extension that lets you know when you can earn an additional 5 percent cash back shopping online that goes automatically into a 529 college savings account.

Frequently asked questions about rewards credit cards

Typically, credit card rewards don’t expire for the life of your account. That means your rewards won’t expire if you keep your account open and in good standing. However, read your rewards program’s terms and conditions carefully since this isn’t guaranteed for all cards.
Generally, rewards are not considered taxable since the IRS considers the rewards to be a form of rebate on the purchase. Though uncommon, rewards may be taxable if they’re received under circumstances like bonus offers without a spending requirement. Make sure to look at the credit card’s terms to see the conditions of how you can receive and redeem bonus rewards.
You typically need good to excellent credit (FICO score 670 and higher) to qualify for a competitive rewards card. Premium travel cards might require an excellent credit score (FICO score of 800 and above). You can also find rewards cards for people with fair credit, but the rewards and perks might be limited.

Learn more about rewards credit cards

A man inserting his payment card into a card reader at a point-of-sale terminal. He is using the card reader to make a payment transaction.

How to score a rewards card without good credit

A woman holding a phone in one hand and a credit card in the other hand. She appears to be ready to make an online payment or complete a mobile transaction.

Should I get a travel credit card that earns points, miles or both

A couple sitting on a deck in lounge chairs, enjoying a relaxing moment together outdoors.

The pros and cons of travel credit cards

design element including some graphic drawn hands holding a cellphone and a card with a graphic number 5 to the left hand side

Underrated ways to earn credit card rewards

Traveler’s guide to the best frequent flyer programs

How we assess the best rewards credit cards

150+

cards rated

50+

rewards programs valued

1800

data points analyzed

40+

perks evaluated

When evaluating the best rewards cards, we consider a mix of factors, including how cards score in our proprietary card rating system and whether cards offer features that fit the priorities of a diverse group of cardholders, from earning rewards in popular categories to scoring a large sign-up bonus or high-value perks. Whenever possible, we also feature cards that are available at various credit levels and price points.

We analyzed over 150 of the most popular cards and scored each based on its rewards rate, estimated annual earnings, welcome bonus value, APR, fees, perks and more to determine whether it belonged in this month’s roundup of the best rewards cards.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the key factors in our rewards card scoring methodology and details we considered when putting together our list of the best rewards cards.

Overall Score

Value 65%
Flexibility 15%
Perks 15%
Customer experience 5%

The primary criteria for a rewards-earning card’s rating is its rewards value. This includes the card’s average rewards rate, estimated annual rewards earnings, sign-up bonus value and reward redemption value.

To estimate a card’s average annual rewards earnings, we first calculate its average rewards rate based on how much it earns in different bonus categories and how closely its categories align with the average person’s spending habits.

The most recent BLS data estimates average total spending in 2022 was $72,967 per consumer. We then narrow our focus to which purchases are likely to be put on a credit card and earn rewards, subtracting expenditures like housing, vehicle purchases and education. This gives us a total “chargeable” annual spend of around $22,500.

Some of the major spending categories that contribute towards the annual spend include:
- Groceries: $5,700
- Dining out: $3,600
- Entertainment: $2,400
- Gas: $3,100
- Apparel and services: $1,900
Using this data, we assign a weighting to each of a card’s bonus categories. For example, a card’s grocery rewards rate receives a 22 percent weighting based on how much of the average person’s budget is spent on groceries. We also estimate the redemption value of points or miles from various issuer, airline and hotel rewards programs.

This weighting and rewards valuation allows us to estimate a card’s average annual rewards earnings — how many points or miles you’d earn with a given card if your spending was about average and you used the card for all of your purchases — as well as what those points are worth. We also use point valuations to determine a card’s sign-up bonus value

With these calculations complete, we assign each card a score based on how its average rewards earnings, sign-up bonus value, rewards rate and redemption value stack up against other rewards cards.

The better these values, the higher its score will be, making it more worthy of inclusion in our list and increasing its potential ranking.

Here’s a deeper look at the factors considered as part of a rewards card’s “Value” rating:
5
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Overall Score
- Ongoing rewards value 30%
- Sign-up bonus value 25%
- Annual fee & average APR 20%
- Rewards rate 15%
- Annual bonus value 10%
We also score cards based on how much it costs to keep them in your wallet or carry a balance.

To start, each card is scored based on whether it offers an intro APR and how its ongoing APR compares to the rates available on other rewards cards. However, the latter rating only has a slight influence on the card’s score and whether the card is included in our list, since rewards card users generally try to avoid carrying a balance.

More important to both a card’s score and its inclusion in our list is how its annual fee influences its overall value. We consider a card’s annual fee in two ways — how it ranks relative to the fees you’ll find on other cards in the category and how it impacts a card’s overall rewards value.

Cards with an annual fee will always be at a slight disadvantage in our scoring system since annual fees inherently cut into your rewards value. However, if a card offers terrific value via its ongoing rewards and perks, it can earn a high score and a spot in our list even if it carries a high annual fee. After all, the highest rewards rates and most valuable perks are often found on cards with annual fees.

With this in mind, we rate a card based primarily on how its ongoing rewards value and ongoing perk value (such as annual credits or bonuses) stack up against those of other cards in the category when you subtract annual fees.

That said, we strive to include as many no-annual-fee options in our list as possible since many people would rather not worry about offsetting fees, even if a card carries impressive rewards and perks.
Rewards cards may make it easy to earn a lot of points, miles or cash back, but how easy is it to use those rewards? After all, if it takes a ton of effort to redeem rewards or you can only redeem rewards in a couple of ways, a card may be more trouble than it’s worth.

As such, we rate each card’s flexibility based on the restrictions it imposes on earning and redeeming rewards. We factor this rating into a card’s overall score and consider it when deciding on a card’s inclusion in our list.

Flexibility factors include whether a card only allows you to earn a high rewards rate on only a small amount of spending or requires you to meet a certain earning threshold before you can redeem rewards. We also examine whether your points are worth less when you opt for some redemption options over others and whether a card gives you the flexibility to transfer rewards to travel partners.
We also score each card’s set of features – its perks and benefits — against five tiers of features to provide a rating.

We break down these tiers as follows:

Tier 1 includes fewer features than even standard credit cards (for example, an ultra-streamlined card that offers basic utility and next to nothing in the way of ancillary benefits).

Tier 2 includes the benefits you’d expect on standard Visa or Mastercard credit cards, such as free access to your credit score, car rental insurance and $0 liability for fraudulent charges.

Tier 3 includes “prime card” or better-than-average card features like cellphone insurance, lost luggage insurance, concierge services and purchase protection.

Tier 4 includes luxury features such as airport lounge access, elite status with an airline or hotel and credits for expedited security screening membership programs.

Tier 5 includes the sort of exemplary benefits you’ll find on top-tier luxury cards, such as high-value travel credits, cardholder memberships and other unique and valuable perks.

In evaluating the best cards, we tend to favor cards that offer at least Tier 3 benefits, unless they include other unique features that could make up for less-impressive perks.

Have more questions for our credit card editors? Feel free to send us an email, find us on Facebook, or Tweet us @Bankrate.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

Garrett Yarbrough Writer, Credit Cards

Bankrate expert Garrett Yarbrough strives to make navigating credit cards and credit building smooth sailing for his readers. After regularly featuring his credit card,…

Nouri Zarrugh Senior Editor, Credit Cards

Nouri Zarrugh is a writer and editor for CreditCards.com and Bankrate, focusing on product news, guides and reviews. His areas of expertise include credit card strategy, rewards…

* See the online application for details about terms and conditions for these offers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. After you click on the offer you desire you will be directed to the credit card issuer's web site where you can review the terms and conditions for your selected offer.

Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including card rates and fees, is accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information.

Best rewards credit cards of September 2024

+ Show Summary

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Discover it® Cash Back

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

American Express® Gold Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card

Bilt Mastercard®

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Citi Custom Cash® Card

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Prime Visa

American Express® Business Gold Card

Compare Bankrate’s top rewards credit cards

Expert advice for choosing the best rewards card

Consider effort versus rewards

Figure out where you spend the most each month

Determine how you’d like to redeem your rewards

Look at the card's fees

Consider intro APR offers or sign-up bonuses

Factor in valuable perks

Consider future pairing opportunities