Best overall cards

Credit card

Summary

Signup bonus

Ongoing rewards

Annual fee

Cash back value per year

(if spending $1,500 per month)

Chase Freedom Flex

$200

(after spending $500 w/in 3 months)

• Through March 2022: 5x points on Lyft rides.
• 5% cash back (on up to $1,500 spent per quarter) in categories that rotate each quarter (e.g., gas, restaurants, groceries, and Amazon).
• 5% cash back on grocery store purchases, on up to $12,000 spent in the first year. (Does not include purchases at Target or Walmart.)
• 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase.
• 3% cash back on restaurants and drugstores.
• 1% cash back on all other spending.
• Receive a $10 Lyft credit once per month for every 5 rides you take in a month.

$0

$459 per year

Credit card

Summary

Signup bonus

Ongoing rewards

Annual fee

Cash back value per year

(if spending $500/month on groceries)

American Express Blue Cash Preferred

An excellent card for cash back on groceries (6%) and gas (3%), with a $200 welcome bonus (plus 20% cash back on Amazon.com purchases for the first 6 months, for up to $200 back), which outweigh the $95 annual fee for most people.

$200

(after spending $3K in the first 6 months)

• 6% cash back on groceries and U.S. streaming services (e.g., Netflix), 3% on gas and transit (e.g., taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses), 1% everywhere else.
• Plus, 20% cash back on Amazon.com purchases on the Card within the first 6 months, for up to $200 back.

$95

($0 intro)

$284 per year

Credit card

Summary

Signup bonus

Ongoing rewards

Annual fee

Cash back value per year

(if spending $500/month on dining)

Chase Freedom Flex

$200

(after spending $500 w/in 3 months)

• Through March 2022: 5x points on Lyft rides.
• 5% cash back (on up to $1,500 spent per quarter) in categories that rotate each quarter (e.g., gas, restaurants, groceries, and Amazon).
• 5% cash back on grocery store purchases, on up to $12,000 spent in the first year. (Does not include purchases at Target or Walmart.)
• 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase.
• 3% cash back on restaurants and drugstores.
• 1% cash back on all other spending.
• Receive a $10 Lyft credit once per month for every 5 rides you take in a month.

$0

$325 per year

Credit card

Summary

Signup bonus

Ongoing rewards

Annual fee

Cash back value per year

(if spending $250/month on gas)

PNC Cash Rewards

A good card if you're looking for cash back on gas (4%), restaurants (3%), and groceries (2%), with no annual fee.

None

• 4% cash back at gas stations.
• 3% cash back on dining (also includes fast food).
• 2% cash back at grocery stores.
• 1% cash back on all other purchases.

$0

$120 per year

Credit card

Summary

Signup bonus

Ongoing rewards

Annual fee

Total value per year for heavy travelers

Total value per year for light travelers

Points and miles value per year for light travelers

American Express Platinum

A high annual fee ($695), but excellent travel perks (5x on travel, annual $200 Uber credit, and many hotel perks) and a 125K points welcome bonus.

125K points

(after spending $6K w/in 6 months)

Earning points:

• 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express travel (on up to $500,000 spent per year).
• 5x points on hotels booked on amextravel.com.
• For the first 6 months: Earn 10x points at restaurants and Shop Small® U.S. merchants, on up to $25,000 in combined spending.
• 1x points on everything else.

Elite statuses:

• American Express Global Lounge Collection benefits: Unlocks access to more than 1,200 airport lounges across 130 countries and counting.
• Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status: Includes 25% points bonus, priority late checkout, Elite phone line, complimentary enhanced internet, upgrades to enhanced rooms, and welcome gifts.
• Hilton Honors Gold status: Includes 80% points bonus on stays, milestone bonus, fifth night free on reward stays, two complimentary bottles of water per stay, room upgrades, breakfast, and bonus points or another welcome amenity.
• Uber VIP Status: Get matched with top-rated Uber drivers.

Special access:

• American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts program: Provides the following elite-like benefits at over 1,000 luxury hotel locations: Room upgrade upon arrival (subject to availability), daily breakfast for 2 people, guaranteed 4pm late checkout, noon check-in (subject to availability), complimentary wi-fi, and a unique property amenity valued at $100 (spa or food and beverage credit).
• "By Invitation Only" program: Specially-curated and customized once-in-a-lifetime events exclusively for American Express Platinum and Centurion Card Members, including Additional Centurion Cards. (RSVP is required.)

Annual credits:

• $200 for Uber: Up to $15 per month in Uber credits for U.S. rides, plus a bonus $20 in December.
• $100 for Saks: $100 voucher for Saks Fifth Avenue ($50 January-June and $50 July-December).
• $179 for CLEAR® airport security service: Up to $179 in fee credits for a CLEAR® airport security service plan. (Enrollment required; credit is a statement credit.)
• $200 for hotels: $200 Hotel Credit as statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel. (Enrollment Required.)
• $200 for airline fees: $200 in annual airline fee credits (as statement credits) for your chosen airline (Enrollment required)
• $240 for digital entertainment: $240 Digital Entertainment Credit which is good for up to $20 back each month on select digital subscriptions with Peacock, Audible, SiriusXM, and The New York Times.(Enrollment Required.)
• $300 for Equinox: $300 Equinox Credit as a $25 statement credit valid each month at Equinox, valid for Equinox All Access, Destination, or E by Equinox membership fees, or for Equinox+. (Enrollment required.)

$695

$2,995 per year

$2,056 per year

-$339 per year

Credit card

Summary

Signup bonus

Ongoing rewards

Annual fee

Total value per year for heavy air travelers

Points and miles value per year for light air travelers

American Express Platinum

A high annual fee ($695), but excellent travel perks (5x on travel, annual $200 Uber credit, and many hotel perks) and a 125K points welcome bonus.

125K points

(after spending $6K w/in 6 months)

Earning points:

• 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express travel (on up to $500,000 spent per year).
• 5x points on hotels booked on amextravel.com.
• For the first 6 months: Earn 10x points at restaurants and Shop Small® U.S. merchants, on up to $25,000 in combined spending.
• 1x points on everything else.

Elite statuses:

• American Express Global Lounge Collection benefits: Unlocks access to more than 1,200 airport lounges across 130 countries and counting.
• Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status: Includes 25% points bonus, priority late checkout, Elite phone line, complimentary enhanced internet, upgrades to enhanced rooms, and welcome gifts.
• Hilton Honors Gold status: Includes 80% points bonus on stays, milestone bonus, fifth night free on reward stays, two complimentary bottles of water per stay, room upgrades, breakfast, and bonus points or another welcome amenity.
• Uber VIP Status: Get matched with top-rated Uber drivers.

Special access:

• American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts program: Provides the following elite-like benefits at over 1,000 luxury hotel locations: Room upgrade upon arrival (subject to availability), daily breakfast for 2 people, guaranteed 4pm late checkout, noon check-in (subject to availability), complimentary wi-fi, and a unique property amenity valued at $100 (spa or food and beverage credit).
• "By Invitation Only" program: Specially-curated and customized once-in-a-lifetime events exclusively for American Express Platinum and Centurion Card Members, including Additional Centurion Cards. (RSVP is required.)

Annual credits:

• $200 for Uber: Up to $15 per month in Uber credits for U.S. rides, plus a bonus $20 in December.
• $100 for Saks: $100 voucher for Saks Fifth Avenue ($50 January-June and $50 July-December).
• $179 for CLEAR® airport security service: Up to $179 in fee credits for a CLEAR® airport security service plan. (Enrollment required; credit is a statement credit.)
• $200 for hotels: $200 Hotel Credit as statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel. (Enrollment Required.)
• $200 for airline fees: $200 in annual airline fee credits (as statement credits) for your chosen airline (Enrollment required)
• $240 for digital entertainment: $240 Digital Entertainment Credit which is good for up to $20 back each month on select digital subscriptions with Peacock, Audible, SiriusXM, and The New York Times.(Enrollment Required.)
• $300 for Equinox: $300 Equinox Credit as a $25 statement credit valid each month at Equinox, valid for Equinox All Access, Destination, or E by Equinox membership fees, or for Equinox+. (Enrollment required.)

$695

$1,763 per year

-$286 per year

Credit card

Summary

Signup bonus

Ongoing rewards

Annual fee

Total value per year for heavy hotel spenders

Points and cash back value per year for light hotel spenders

American Express Platinum

A high annual fee ($695), but excellent travel perks (5x on travel, annual $200 Uber credit, and many hotel perks) and a 125K points welcome bonus.

125K points

(after spending $6K w/in 6 months)

Earning points:

• 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express travel (on up to $500,000 spent per year).
• 5x points on hotels booked on amextravel.com.
• For the first 6 months: Earn 10x points at restaurants and Shop Small® U.S. merchants, on up to $25,000 in combined spending.
• 1x points on everything else.

Elite statuses:

• American Express Global Lounge Collection benefits: Unlocks access to more than 1,200 airport lounges across 130 countries and counting.
• Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status: Includes 25% points bonus, priority late checkout, Elite phone line, complimentary enhanced internet, upgrades to enhanced rooms, and welcome gifts.
• Hilton Honors Gold status: Includes 80% points bonus on stays, milestone bonus, fifth night free on reward stays, two complimentary bottles of water per stay, room upgrades, breakfast, and bonus points or another welcome amenity.
• Uber VIP Status: Get matched with top-rated Uber drivers.

Special access:

• American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts program: Provides the following elite-like benefits at over 1,000 luxury hotel locations: Room upgrade upon arrival (subject to availability), daily breakfast for 2 people, guaranteed 4pm late checkout, noon check-in (subject to availability), complimentary wi-fi, and a unique property amenity valued at $100 (spa or food and beverage credit).
• "By Invitation Only" program: Specially-curated and customized once-in-a-lifetime events exclusively for American Express Platinum and Centurion Card Members, including Additional Centurion Cards. (RSVP is required.)

Annual credits:

• $200 for Uber: Up to $15 per month in Uber credits for U.S. rides, plus a bonus $20 in December.
• $100 for Saks: $100 voucher for Saks Fifth Avenue ($50 January-June and $50 July-December).
• $179 for CLEAR® airport security service: Up to $179 in fee credits for a CLEAR® airport security service plan. (Enrollment required; credit is a statement credit.)
• $200 for hotels: $200 Hotel Credit as statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel. (Enrollment Required.)
• $200 for airline fees: $200 in annual airline fee credits (as statement credits) for your chosen airline (Enrollment required)
• $240 for digital entertainment: $240 Digital Entertainment Credit which is good for up to $20 back each month on select digital subscriptions with Peacock, Audible, SiriusXM, and The New York Times.(Enrollment Required.)
• $300 for Equinox: $300 Equinox Credit as a $25 statement credit valid each month at Equinox, valid for Equinox All Access, Destination, or E by Equinox membership fees, or for Equinox+. (Enrollment required.)

$695

$1,688 per year

-$230 per year

Credit card

Summary

Annual fee

Signup bonus

Ongoing rewards

Total value per year for typical spenders

Chase Freedom Flex

$0

$200

(after spending $500 w/in 3 months)

• Through March 2022: 5x points on Lyft rides.
• 5% cash back (on up to $1,500 spent per quarter) in categories that rotate each quarter (e.g., gas, restaurants, groceries, and Amazon).
• 5% cash back on grocery store purchases, on up to $12,000 spent in the first year. (Does not include purchases at Target or Walmart.)
• 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase.
• 3% cash back on restaurants and drugstores.
• 1% cash back on all other spending.
• Receive a $10 Lyft credit once per month for every 5 rides you take in a month.

$510 per year

Credit card

Summary

Type of card

Signup bonus

Ongoing rewards

Annual fee

APR

Bank of America Cash Rewards Secured

A great choice for people who have a poor credit rating, which has no annual fee and comes with 3% cash back on a category of your choice, 2% on groceries and wholesale clubs, and 1% on everything else.

Secured card

None

• 3% cash back on a category of your choice
• 2% on groceries and wholesale clubs
• 1% on everything else

$0

23.99%

Credit card

Summary

Type of card

Signup bonus

Ongoing rewards

Annual fee

APR

Discover it Student Cash Back

A good no annual fee cash back card for students, with 5% cash back in rotating categories (1% for everything else).

Credit card

Double cash back

(for the first year)

• 5% cash back (on up to $1,500 spent per quarter) in categories that rotate each quarter (e.g., gas, restaurants, groceries, and Amazon).
• 1% cash back on all other purchases.
• Cash Back for Good Grades: Get $20 cash back each school year your GPA is 3.0 or higher for up to the next 5 years.

$0

12.99-21.99%

(0% intro)

Credit card

Summary

Signup bonus

Value of signup bonus

Ongoing rewards

Annual fee

American Express Platinum

A high annual fee ($695), but excellent travel perks (5x on travel, annual $200 Uber credit, and many hotel perks) and a 125K points welcome bonus.

125K points

(after spending $6K w/in 6 months)

$1,936 (1.55 cents per point)

Earning points:

• 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express travel (on up to $500,000 spent per year).
• 5x points on hotels booked on amextravel.com.
• For the first 6 months: Earn 10x points at restaurants and Shop Small® U.S. merchants, on up to $25,000 in combined spending.
• 1x points on everything else.

Elite statuses:

• American Express Global Lounge Collection benefits: Unlocks access to more than 1,200 airport lounges across 130 countries and counting.
• Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status: Includes 25% points bonus, priority late checkout, Elite phone line, complimentary enhanced internet, upgrades to enhanced rooms, and welcome gifts.
• Hilton Honors Gold status: Includes 80% points bonus on stays, milestone bonus, fifth night free on reward stays, two complimentary bottles of water per stay, room upgrades, breakfast, and bonus points or another welcome amenity.
• Uber VIP Status: Get matched with top-rated Uber drivers.

Special access:

• American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts program: Provides the following elite-like benefits at over 1,000 luxury hotel locations: Room upgrade upon arrival (subject to availability), daily breakfast for 2 people, guaranteed 4pm late checkout, noon check-in (subject to availability), complimentary wi-fi, and a unique property amenity valued at $100 (spa or food and beverage credit).
• "By Invitation Only" program: Specially-curated and customized once-in-a-lifetime events exclusively for American Express Platinum and Centurion Card Members, including Additional Centurion Cards. (RSVP is required.)

Annual credits:

• $200 for Uber: Up to $15 per month in Uber credits for U.S. rides, plus a bonus $20 in December.
• $100 for Saks: $100 voucher for Saks Fifth Avenue ($50 January-June and $50 July-December).
• $179 for CLEAR® airport security service: Up to $179 in fee credits for a CLEAR® airport security service plan. (Enrollment required; credit is a statement credit.)
• $200 for hotels: $200 Hotel Credit as statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel. (Enrollment Required.)
• $200 for airline fees: $200 in annual airline fee credits (as statement credits) for your chosen airline (Enrollment required)
• $240 for digital entertainment: $240 Digital Entertainment Credit which is good for up to $20 back each month on select digital subscriptions with Peacock, Audible, SiriusXM, and The New York Times.(Enrollment Required.)
• $300 for Equinox: $300 Equinox Credit as a $25 statement credit valid each month at Equinox, valid for Equinox All Access, Destination, or E by Equinox membership fees, or for Equinox+. (Enrollment required.)

$695

Credit card

Summary

Signup bonus

Value of signup bonus

Ongoing rewards

Annual fee

Barclays Choice Privileges Visa Signature

A surprisingly good card for travel and general spending, with a good signup bonus (75K points) and no annual fee.

75K points

(after spending $2K w/in 180 days)

$510

(0.68 cents per point)

• Earn 8,000 anniversary bonus points every year you spend $10,000 or more on purchases with your card by your account anniversary date.
• 15 points per dollar spent at eligible Choice Privileges locations with your Choice Privileges Visa Signature Card and Choice Privileges membership.
• 5 points per dollar spent on the purchase of Choice Privileges points or Choice Hotels gift card purchases.
• 2 points per dollar spent on everyday purchases.
• Barclays Elite Gold status: Earn 10% in bonus points on qualifying stays, and get access to dedicated reservations, customer serivce numbers, and exclusive offers.

$0

Credit card

Summary

Signup bonus

Ongoing rewards

Annual fee

Total value per year for typical business spenders

American Express Business Platinum

A great card for business owners who love travel perks (5x on flights and hotels, $200 airline fee credit, 100K points welcome bonus, and many other travel perks) and are ok with the $595 annual fee.

100K points

(after spending $15K w/in 3 months)

• For the first 3 months: 5x points on gas, office supplies, shipping, wireless phone service, and certain kinds of advertising. (Up to 80,000 bonus points per category.)
• 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels when you book on the American Express Travel website.
• 1.5x points per dollar on qualifying purchases of $5,000 of more.
• 1 point per dollar you spend on all other purchases.

• American Express Global Lounge Collection benefits: Unlocks access to more than 1,200 airport lounges across 130 countries and counting.
• Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status: Includes 25% points bonus, priority late checkout, Elite phone line, complimentary enhanced internet, upgrades to enhanced rooms, and welcome gifts.
• Hilton Honors Gold status: Includes 80% points bonus on stays, milestone bonus, fifth night free on reward stays, two complimentary bottles of water per stay, room upgrades, breakfast, and bonus points or another welcome amenity.
• American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts program: Provides the following elite-like benefits at over 1,000 luxury hotel locations: Room upgrade upon arrival (subject to availability), daily breakfast for 2 people, guaranteed 4pm late checkout, noon check-in (subject to availability), complimentary wi-fi, and a unique property amenity valued at $100 (spa or food and beverage credit).

$595

$1,217 per year

Credit card

Summary

Signup bonus

Ongoing rewards

Annual fee

Total value per year for typical business spenders

American Express Blue Business Plus

A decent card for business owners, with 2x points on spending and no annual fee, but no welcome bonus.

None

• 2x points on the first $50,000 in purchases each year.
• 1x points on purchases thereafter.

$0

$580 per year

Credit card

Summary

Intro APR

Ongoing APR

Signup bonus

Ongoing rewards

Annual fee

Total value per year for typical spenders

TD First Class Visa Signature

A sub-par travel rewards credit card, with a moderate 25K miles signup bonus and 3x miles on travel and dining, but an $89 annual fee and a value per mile of only 1 cent.

13.24% (same as ongoing APR)

13.24%

25K miles

(after spending $3K w/in 6 months)

• 3x miles on travel and dining.
• 1 mile per dollar on everything else.

$89

($0 intro)

$398 per year

Credit card

Summary

Intro APR

Ongoing APR

Signup bonus

Ongoing rewards

Annual fee

Total value per year for typical spenders

Citi Simplicity

An extremely basic credit card with no annual fee and a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance purchases, but also no rewards.

0% for 18 months

14.74-24.74%

None

None

$0

$0 per year

Credit card

Summary

Intro BT APR

Ongoing BT APR

Ongoing BT APR: Midpoint of range

BT fee

Signup bonus

Ongoing rewards

Annual fee

Total value per year for typical spenders

Citi Double Cash

A good card for cash back on general spending (2% cash back -- 1% on purchases, plus another 1% when you pay in full), with no annual fee, but also with no signup bonus.

0% for 18 months

13.99% - 23.99%

18.99%

3%

None

• 2% cash back on every purchase. (1% when you buy, plus an additional 1% when you pay your credit card statement.)

$0

$371 per year