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Rewards credit cards are a great way to get the most out of your everyday expenses. As you use your card, you'll get a little something in return, usually cash back or travel rewards. Some cards offer a flat rewards rate on all purchases, while others provide a boosted rate in particular spending categories, like travel or dining. Check out our expert advice and the best rewards card offers from our partners.
| Card name | Rewards highlights | Bankrate review score |
|---|---|---|
| Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card | Unlimited 1.5 percent cash back on all purchases | 3.2 / 5 (Read full card review) |
| Wells Fargo Active Cash Card | Unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases | 3.8 / 5 (Read full card review) |
| Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express | 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%) 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions 3% cash back on transit 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations |
4.0 / 5 (Read full card review) |
| Discover it Cash Back | 5% cash back on rotating bonus categories (on up to $1,500 in combined purchases per quarter, then 1%. Activation required) | 4.2 / 5 (Read full card review) |
| Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card | Unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding Walmart® and Target®) | 4.5 / 5 (Read full card review) |
| Citi Custom Cash Card | 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. | 4.3 / 5 (Read full card review) |
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card | Unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel, and unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases | 4.5 / 5 (Read full card review) |
| Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | Unlimited 2X miles on every purchase | 4.2 / 5 (Read full card review) |
| American Express Gold Card | 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar at restaurants | 4.5 / 5 (Read full card review) |
| Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card | Unlimited 1.25X miles per dollar | 3.6 / 5 (Read full card review) |
| Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card | Earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every time | 3.3 / 5 (Read full card review) |
| Citi Double Cash Card | Unlimited 2% cash back (1% as you purchase, 1% as you pay) | 3.6 / 5 (Read full card review) |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred Card | 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3X points on dining and 2X points on all other travel purchases, plus more | 4.3 / 5 (Read full card review) |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | 5X points on air travel and 10X points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. 3X points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases | 4.3 / 5 (Read full card review) |
Read our Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card review.
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Read our Wells Fargo Active Cash Card review.
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Read our full Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express review.
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Learn more: Discover it Cash Back vs. Discover it Balance Transfer
Read our full Discover it Cash Back card review.
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Read our full Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card review.
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Read our full Citi Custom Cash Card review.
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Read our full Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card review.
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Read our full Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card review.
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Read our full American Express Gold Card review.
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Read our full Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card review.
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Read our full Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card review.
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Read our full Citi Double Cash Card review.
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Read our full Chase Sapphire Preferred Card review.
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Read our full Chase Sapphire Reserve card review.
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Rewards credit cards accumulate points, miles or cash back for purchases. As the name implies, for every dollar spent, issuers credit your account with rewards. These rewards can be earned at a flat rate—like unlimited 1 percent cash back on all purchases—or offer a higher rate for certain categories, like earning 5 points for every dollar spent on travel-related purchases.
Depending on the issuer, some of the best credit cards for rewards offer distinct rewards programs and have specific rules concerning how you can redeem your rewards. However, understanding the issuer’s credit card rewards program can help you take advantage of all the perks and benefits it offers.
Navigating all the rewards card options available to you can be difficult. That’s why we broke out some of the most common types of rewards credit cards, along with more detailed recommendations from our team on the best cards in each category.
With a cash back card, you’ll be rewarded with a percentage of your purchases paid back to you. Cash back works by applying that percentage as a statement credit toward your account, but some cards can directly deposit the cash back into your checking or savings account. Here are the three main types of cash back.
With a travel rewards card, you can expect perks like discounted trips, seat upgrades, travel insurance benefits, statement credits and more. There are two main types of travel rewards credit cards: co-branded and general-purpose. The way you earn and redeem rewards depends on which type you have:
Want to learn more? Read our guide to credit card travel rewards.
Most small-business credit cards are also rewards cards, falling under the umbrella of cash back or travel rewards. But unlike rewards cards meant for consumers, you’ll need to show proof that you operate a business in order to be approved. Also, the card should only be used for business expenses.
With a business rewards card, you can earn rewards for your most common business expenses—like copier ink, advertising services or flights. For example, with the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card, you can earn 5 percent cash back at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services and 2 percent cash back at gas stations and restaurant purchases (on up to the first $25,000 in combined purchases each account anniversary year, then 1 percent).
These cards may offer perks like free employee cards, travel and car rental insurance, travel statement credits and more. If you’re interested in applying for a business credit card, read our tips on how to choose the right business credit card.
Want to learn more? Full guide to business credit card rewards.
A rewards card can be a great way to earn lucrative points, miles or cash back for the purchases you’re already making. However, there are some downsides to be aware of before applying. If you’re wondering whether rewards credit cards are worth it, here are a few pros and cons to keep in mind when shopping for your next rewards card:
The world of rewards credit cards can be confusing to newcomers. If you’re deciding when to take the plunge and acquire a rewards card, aligning your new card with some of your goals is a great way to determine if the card is right for you. Here are a few people who can benefit the most from rewards credit cards:
When choosing a rewards card, it pays to do some research and reflection. In general, you should ask yourself:
Whether it’s groceries, travel, dining out or something else, it’s important to select a card that fits with your highest spending categories. If your spending isn’t focused on one specific purchase category, consider applying for a flat-rate card that earns rewards on all eligible purchases. If you spend primarily on specific categories, a tiered card or one with rotating categories will offer higher rates on that category, thus maximizing your rewards earning potential.
Deciding between cash back or points and miles ultimately comes down to your personal preference on the type of rewards you want to earn the most. If you’re a frequent traveler and want to enhance your air travel experience by earning rewards towards flights and hotel room upgrades, a travel credit card that earns points would be a good fit. If you prefer to passively earn rewards on everyday purchases or don’t spend a lot on your credit card, a cash back credit card would be a better fit.
Many rewards cards are relatively low-effort, as they provide rewards on all everyday eligible purchases or may encompass a broad category, such as dining or travel. However, it’s important to read the issuer’s fine print, as there may be some exceptions. Figuring out how much effort you’re willing to put in to get the most out of your rewards will be instrumental in deciding between a flat-rate cash back card or a bonus category cash back card.
Developing a thorough credit card strategy doesn’t happen overnight. Here are a few ways you can maximize your rewards at every stage of card ownership.
Want to learn more? Read our full guide on maximizing your rewards.
As premium rewards cards rise in popularity, card issuers are working to provide rewards for exciting live entertainment events. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic put a stop to live events for much of 2020 and 2021. In fact, it’s estimated that the live entertainment industry posted a $30 billion loss in 2020 alone due to the pandemic. However, as vaccination rates increase and the number of COVID cases, hospitalizations and deaths decline, events are slowly coming back. An October 2021 Bankrate poll found that 61 percent of Americans planned to attend a live event in the fourth quarter of 2021 versus 51 percent for the first three quarters combined.
That doesn’t necessarily mean the industry will see a complete return to normal, however. Entertainers and artists are still canceling, postponing and reimagining live events. Plus, event-goers may be subject to new restrictions as well. On Oct. 4, 2021, Live Nation began requiring all artists, crew and event attendees to show proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID test from no more than 72 hours before the event. When dealing with uncertainty about your future plans, it’s imperative that you plan ahead and prepare financially.
Even with live entertainment returning, there are no guarantees that further postponements or cancellations won’t happen. So before you purchase tickets, it’s a good idea to read the fine print and check the event or venue’s refund and cancellation policy. Live Nation, for example, automatically issues refunds if an event is canceled. If an event is postponed, rescheduled or moved, your tickets are still valid, and if an event is postponed for more than 60 days with no reschedule dates, you’ll have a 30-day window to request a refund. Plus, you’ll want to be aware of any refund policies if you or a member of your party tests positive for COVID close to the date of the event.
If cancellations or the potential for a refund are cause for concern, you may want to charge ticket purchases to your credit card. If an event refuses to issue a refund in the event of a cancellation, you may be able to dispute the charge with your credit card issuer. Another benefit of purchasing your tickets with a credit card is the rewards you’ll receive. If you redeem your rewards as a statement credit, you’ll effectively be receiving a discount on that purchase. Plus, many rewards cards feature boosted rewards rates on dining, two major categories that typically accompany live entertainment.
Read more about the results of this poll here.
Bankrate uses a 5-star system to assign scores to credit cards available from our partners. With rewards credit cards, we focus on factors including:
The cards on our list feature some of the industry’s finest rewards programs, with generous earning rates and consistently high value of points or miles.
Is the card a good deal, money-wise? Do the benefits and rewards outweigh annual fees and other costs? With the best rewards credit cards, the answer to both questions needs to be yes.
The best rewards cards make it easy for you to redeem your cash back, travel miles or rewards points. Top cards that earn travel miles offer flexible options for using them, including transfers to travel partners.
Benefits such as discounts, purchase protection and travel insurance add value to your credit card even when you're not using it to earn rewards.
For more information on all things rewards cards, continue reading content from our credit card experts:
Have more questions for our credit card editors? Feel free to send us an email, find us on Facebook, or Tweet us @Bankrate.
* 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.
