How to Maximize Your Rewards
Looking for a credit card with a hefty sign-up bonus? Luckily, there are many cards on the market that are competing for your business. Credit card sign-up bonuses make it easy to jumpstart your reward earnings during the first few months of opening an account.
Generally, credit cards fall into two different categories: cash-back cards and travel cards. Cash-back cards, as the name suggests, give you a certain percentage of cash back based on your purchases, and they usually have lower spending requirements to achieve the bonus. On the other hand, travel cards give you points or miles based on your purchases, which can be spent on a variety of different rewards including flights, hotels and more. With travel cards, their sign-up bonuses tend to be higher, but so is the spending requirement.
When picking a credit card, you should consider your spending habits and what rewards you value the most. In this article, we’ve gathered the best bonus credit cards to help you find one right for you.
1. Wells Fargo Active Cash
The Wells Fargo Active Cash offers an easy-to-use rewards system with unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases. This card offers a sign-up bonus of $200 when you spend $500 in purchases in the first 3 months with no annual fee.
- Sign-up bonus. $200 cash bonus after spending $500 on purchases within the first 3 months.
- Rewards. Unlimited 2% cash back.
- Annual fee. $0.
- Interest rate. 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers (balance transfer fee applies), then 20.24%, 25.24% or 29.99% variable APR afterward.
2. Chase Freedom Unlimited
Chase Freedom Unlimited offers an attractive combination of simple rewards and category bonuses. You’ll earn 3% cash back on dining and drugstore purchases, 5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel and 1.5% on everything else. New cardholders can enjoy a $200 bonus after spending $500 on purchases within the first three months. On top of that, there’s no annual fee for all of these great features.
- Sign-up bonus. $200 cash bonus after spending $500 on purchases within the first 3 months.
- Rewards. 3% cash back on dining and drugstore purchases, 5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel and 1.5% on all other purchases.
- Annual fee. $0.
- Interest rate. 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers (balance transfer fee applies), then 20.49% - 29.24% variable APR after that.
3. Capital One Quicksilver
Capital One Quicksilver offers great value for everyday spenders who value simplicity with unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase. Plus, new cardholders can earn a welcome bonus of $200 cash back after spending $500 within the first 3 months. All this comes with no annual fee, making it an easy addition to your wallet.
- Sign-up bonus. $200 cash bonus after spending $500 on purchases within the first 3 months.
- Rewards. Unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase.
- Annual fee. $0.
- Interest rate. 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers (balance transfer fee applies), then 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that.
4. Bank of America Travel Rewards
The Bank of America Travel Rewards uses a straightforward points system that allows you to redeem them for statement credits to pay for travel and dining purchases. Cardholders earn unlimited 1.5 points for every dollar spent, where each point equates to $0.01 when redeemed. As a new cardholder, you can earn a bonus of 25,000 points when you spend at least $1,000 within the first 90 days.
- Sign-up bonus. 25,000 online bonus points if you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days.
- Rewards. Unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 you spend on all purchases.
- Annual fee. $0.
- Interest rate. 0% intro APR for your first 15 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers (balance transfer fee applies) made within the first 60 days of account opening, then 19.24% to 29.24% variable APR after that.
5. Chase Sapphire Preferred
For those who are looking for a more premium travel credit card with an annual fee that won’t break the bank, Chase Sapphire Preferred offers a lot of bang for your buck. With points bonuses on categories like travel, dining, online grocery and streaming services, they’ve got you covered for all things entertainment. Not to mention you’ll earn a whopping 75,000 in bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months.
- Sign-up bonus. 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months, which equals to over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel.
- Rewards. 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 2x points on other travel purchases, 3x points on dining, online grocery purchases and select streaming services and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
- Annual fee. $95.
- Interest rate. 21.49%–28.49% variable APR.
6. American Express Blue Cash Preferred
American Express Blue Cash Preferred offers exceptional benefits for everyday spending with 6% cash back on groceries and streaming subscriptions, along with 3% cash back on transportation and gas. For new cardholders, American Express is offering a welcome bonus of $250 after you spend $3,000 within the first 6 months, 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 months and a $0 annual fee for the first year.
- Sign-up bonus. $250 bonus cash back after spending $3,000 within the first 6 months.
- Rewards. 6% cash back on groceries and streaming subscriptions, 3% on transportation and gas and 1% on all other purchases.
- Annual fee. $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Interest rate. 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers (balance transfer fee applies) for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable APR, 19.24% to 29.99%.
Elevate Your Finances
Navigating personal finances, including credit cards, can feel overwhelming. In this guide, we’ve covered some of the best bonus credit cards on the market to help you kickstart your reward earnings. It’s important to keep in mind that managing your spending and debt responsibly is the key to enjoying these benefits. Whether you prefer no-frills cash back or travel fueled by points, there’s a credit card out there for everyone.