Reward Credit Cards
Below, we've listed the very best reward credit card offers available from top to bottom.
Editor’s Pick
United MileagePlus® Explorer Card
- Earn up to 40,000 bonus miles & first year free, a $95 value*
- First checked bag is free for you and a companion when you fly United flights, up to a $50 value
- Board your flight before general boarding with priority boarding privileges
- Visit the United Club with two complimentary day passes every year, up to a $100 value
- Earn 2 miles for each $1 spent on airline tickets purchased from United and 1 mile per $1 for everything else
- Your miles don't expire and there is no limit to the number of miles you can earn
Intro Rate
Intro Period
Reg. Rate
Annual Fee
Balance
Transfers
Transfers
Credit Needed
N/A*
N/A*
15.24% (Variable)
$95, waived the first year*
Yes*
Excellent*
Editor's Review: The ALL-NEW United MileagePlus® Explorer Card from Chase gives cardholders the opportunity to earn airline miles on any United flight with every purchase. Cardholders and earn up to 40,000 bonus miles on top of all the other perks and benefits offered. ...more info
Citi ThankYou® Preferred Rewards Card - $250 in Gift Cards
- $250 in gift cards - When you redeem the 25,000 bonus ThankYou® Points received after $2,000 in purchases within 4 months of account opening.
- Earn 1 point for every $1 you spend on all purchases
- Receive an anniversary bonus every year you’re a cardmember
- No expiration and no limit on the points you can earn
- Redeem ThankYou Points for merchandise, travel rewards, gift cards, cash and more
- No annual fee*
Intro Rate
Intro Period
Reg. Rate
Annual Fee
Balance
Transfers
Transfers
Credit Needed
NA*
NA*
12.99%-22.99%* (Variable)
$0*
Yes*
Excellent*
Editor's Review: For those who are looking for a rewards credit card that offers plenty of opportunities to earn bonus points, the Citi ThankYou(® Preferred Rewards Card - $250 in Gift Cards credit card may be just what you are looking for. ...more info
Capital One® VentureOne(SM) Rewards Credit Card
- 1.25 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day
- One-time bonus of 10,000 miles once you spend $1,000 dollars in the first 3 months, equal to $100 on travel.
- Redeem miles for airline tickets, hotel rooms, car rentals and more
- No limit on the miles you can earn and miles won't expire
- Fly free on any airline, any time with no blackout dates
- 0% intro APR on purchases until June 2013
- No foreign transaction fees
Intro Rate
Intro Period
Reg. Rate
Annual Fee
Balance
Transfers
Transfers
Credit Needed
0% on Purchases*
Until June 2013*
11.9% - 19.9% (V)*
None*
Yes*
Excellent Credit
Editor's Review: The Capital One® VentureOne(SM) Rewards Credit Card sets you free to travel wherever you want with no blackout dates or seat restrictions, no annual or foreign transaction fees, either. ...more info
Capital One® Venture(SM) Rewards Credit Card
- 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day
- Money® Magazine's "Most Rewarding Card if you crave free airline flights" – Money Magazine, May 2011
- Earn 10,000 bonus miles when you spend $1,000 within the first 3 months, equal to $100 in travel
- Redeem your miles for ANY travel expense
- No limit on the miles you can earn and miles won't expire
- Fly free on any airline, any time with no blackout dates
- No foreign transaction fees
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year; $59 after that
Intro Rate
Intro Period
Reg. Rate
Annual Fee
Balance
Transfers
Transfers
Credit Needed
N/A*
N/A*
13.9% - 20.9% (V)*
$0 intro for first year; $59 after that
Yes
Excellent Credit
Editor's Review: The Capital One® Venture(SM) Rewards Credit Card is a travel rewards card that earns you Double Miles on every purchase and more. With premium travel benefits as well as everyday protections, you can take the road less traveled by and not worry along the way! ...more info
Capital One® Cash Rewards for Newcomers
- A card designed to help those new to the U.S. establish credit and earn cash back
- Build credit with automatic reporting to the three major credit bureaus
- Get 2% cash back on travel purchases
- Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
- No annual fee
Intro Rate
Intro Period
Reg. Rate
Annual Fee
Balance
Transfers
Transfers
Credit Needed
N/A*
N/A*
24.9% (V)*
None*
Yes*
Fair Credit*
Editor's Review: The Capital One® Cash Rewards for Newcomers credit card is specially designed for consumers newly arrived to the United States who want to earn cash rewards, build their credit, and more. ...more info
Capital One® Cash Rewards - $100 Cash Back Bonus
- $100 Bonus after you spend $500 in the first 3 months
- 50% bonus on the cash back you earn every year
- 1% cash back on all purchases
- No annual fee
- Earn unlimited cash rewards that don't expire
- Redeem cash rewards anytime for any amount, even set up automatic redemption
- Personalize your card with an image of your choice
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers until June 2013
Intro Rate
Intro Period
Reg. Rate
Annual Fee
Balance
Transfers
Transfers
Credit Needed
0% Intro on Purchases and Balance Transfers*
Until June 2013*
12.9% - 20.9% (V)*
$0*
Yes*
Excellent Credit*
Editor's Review: Capital One® Cash Rewards - $100 Cash Back Bonus is a great card for individuals with excellent credit who are looking to earn unlimited cash back on their purchases. ...more info
Starwood Preferred Guest(R) Credit Card from American Express
- Starpoints® Bonus: 10K with your first purchase and another 15K when you spend $5k within 6 months - enough for up to 6 free nights at a Category 1 or 2 hotel
- Free nights, free flights: Redeem Starpoints with over 350 airlines through SPG Flights and more than 1,000 hotels and resorts worldwide. No blackout dates .
- 2011 SmarterTravel® Award for "Best Travel Rewards Card"
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $65
Intro Rate
Intro Period
Reg. Rate
Annual Fee
Balance
Transfers
Transfers
Credit Needed
N/A*
N/A*
15.24% - 19.24% variable
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $65*
Yes*
Excellent
Editor's Review: Travelers who spend a fair amount of time on the road and staying in hotels will certainly appreciate the benefits and rewards from the Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express. This is not just another credit card, but a ticket to rewards and advantages all frequent travelers want access to on the road ...more info
Marriott Rewards® Credit Card
- Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after your first use, redeemable for up to 4 free nights; plus receive 2 free night stay e-certificates upon account approval, that's enough up to 6 free nights at a category 1 hotel
- No Annual fee for your first year that's a $45 value*
- Earn 3 points for every $1 spent at Marriott® locations
- Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on other purchases
- Cardmembers achieve Silver elite status with 10 nights credit toward Elite status
- Redeem Marriott Rewards® points at Marriott properties including Renaissance Hotels, Courtyard, Residence Inn, and Fairfield Inn & Suites
Intro Rate
Intro Period
Reg. Rate
Annual Fee
Balance
Transfers
Transfers
Credit Needed
N/A*
N/A*
14.24% (Variable)*
$0 First Year, then $45*
Yes*
Excellent Credit*
Editor's Review: For those who travel frequently and who have a preference for staying in Marriott Hotels, the Marriott Rewards® Credit Card could be a wise choice. Card holders earn rewards for every purchase made with the card but also enjoy additional non-reward points benefits as well ...more info
Citi Forward® Card
- $100 in gift cards - When you redeem the 10,000 bonus ThankYou® Points received after you make $650 in purchases and sign up for paperless statements within the first 3 months
- 0% intro APR for 12 months on balance transfers and for 7 months on purchases. After that, 12.99% - 22.99% variable
- 5 points for every $1 spent at restaurants and on books, movies and music. 1 point for every $1 you spend on all other purchases
- APR reduction on purchases when using credit wisely
- No Annual Fee
Intro Rate
Intro Period
Reg. Rate
Annual Fee
Balance
Transfers
Transfers
Credit Needed
0%*
12 Months on Balance Transfers, 7 Months on Purchases*
12.99% - 22.99%* (Variable)
$0*
Yes
Excellent*
Editor's Review: The Citi Forward® Card is a new generation of rewards card that rewards people for simply doing the right thing. If cardholders simply stay within their credit limit and pay on time, they stand to be rewarded with bonus points and rate reductions. ...more info
Featured Blog Content
Consumers Simply Won't Give Up Their Rewards Cards
Although they are notorious for having higher interest rates, rewards credit cards are still incredibly popular with consumers. According to a study by Cardbeat, rewards cards are as popular today as they have ever been. Rewards programs increased 6% between February 2011 and February 2012. The study shows that 76% of responders state that the
...read moreReward credit cards that offer the best rewards programs provide cardholders with the opportunity to earn cash back, gasoline rebates, frequent flyer points and entertainment and store discounts based on their purchase activities with these cards. When making a decision about which card offer to choose, you first need to properly qualify yourself for this type of card.
A rewards card is most suitable for individuals who pay off their monthly card balances every month. If you typically carry a monthly credit card balance, the interest charges that you'll likely incur on that balance will, more than likely, offset the rewards that you can earn with the credit card, negating any net benefit.
However, these cards can actually be very costly for those carrying monthly card balances, depending on the size of the balance that you carry. This is the "house bet" that the card issuers are typically making with cards of this sort. So if you're planning on carrying a monthly balance, you'll probably be better off financially finding a low interest credit card instead.
Cardholders that do pay off their monthly card balances can really benefit though. Rewards cards can provide cash rebates, frequent flyer points, rebates on automobiles, groceries, movie tickets, video rentals, home appliances, theme parks or just about anything else you can think of.
There are a wide variety of affinity cards with similar rewards programs, such as the Hilton HHonors® Platinum Rewards card and the American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Card, to name just a few. But these credit card rewards programs tend to be pretty costly for the credit card issuers. Some of these rewards cards might require an annual fee, varying roughly $50 to $100. Be sure to check the grids on the offers above for any annual fees that might be required.
