Finder makes money from featured partners, but editorial opinions are our own. Advertiser disclosure

Best rewards credit cards of 2022

Take advantage of miles, points and perks with a card that best fits your lifestyle.

Finder’s expert credit card team analyzed over 200 rewards to find the best performing rewards cards for 2024 across 11 categories. We weighed reward categories, the average value of points upon redemption, welcome offer value, annual fees and introductory APRs. Unlike our competitors, Finder’s experts provide unbiased, trustworthy evaluations of all rewards credit cards and providers, not just those we partner with on the site.

Credit cardsBest for…Learn more
Chase Freedom Unlimited®Best for flat-rate cash back
Read review
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American ExpressBest for groceries and streaming services
Go to site
The Platinum Card® from American ExpressBest for welcome offer
Go to site
Chase Freedom Flex℠Best for rotating categories
Read review
Chase Sapphire Reserve®Best for travel
Read review
Sam's Club® Mastercard®Best for gas
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit CardBest hotel credit card
Citi Rewards+® CardBest for small purchases
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit CardBest for dining and entertainment
Go to site
Terms apply, see rates & fees

Quick look at our top picks for rewards cards

Best for flat-rate cash back

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

4.7
★★★★★

Finder score

Read review
Welcome Offer$200
RewardsUp to 5% cash back
Annual fee$0
Minimum credit score670
The information about Chase Freedom Unlimited® has been collected independently by Finder and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.

Best for groceries and streaming services

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

4.3
★★★★★

Finder score

Go to site
Terms apply, see rates & fees..
Read review
Welcome Offer$250
RewardsUp to 6% cash back
Annual fee$95 after the first year intro
Minimum credit score670
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers.
Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.

Best for luxury travel perks

The Platinum Card® from American Express

4.4
★★★★★

Finder score

Go to site
Terms apply, see rates & fees..
Welcome Offer80,000 points
RewardsUp to 5x points
Annual fee$695
Minimum credit score670
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers.

Best for rotating categories

Chase Freedom Flex℠

4.7
★★★★★

Finder score

Read review
Welcome Offer$200
RewardsUp to 5% cash back
Annual fee$0
Minimum credit score670
The information about Chase Freedom Flex℠ has been collected independently by Finder and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.

Best for travel credits

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

4.6
★★★★★

Finder score

Read review
Welcome Offer60,000 points
RewardsUp to 10x points
Annual fee$550
Minimum credit score740

Best hotel credit card

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

4.6
★★★★★

Finder score

Welcome Offer140,000 points
RewardsUp to 26x points
Annual fee$99
Minimum credit score670

Best for dining and entertainment

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

4.5
★★★★★

Finder score

Go to site
Terms apply, see rates & fees..
Read review
Welcome Offer$250
RewardsUp to 8% cash back
Annual fee$0
Minimum credit score670

Best for small purchases

Citi Rewards+® Card

4.1
★★★★★

Finder score

Welcome Offer20,000 points
RewardsUp to 2x points
Annual fee$0
Minimum credit score670

Best for unlimited everyday purchases and no annual fee

U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card

Terms apply, see rates & fees..
Welcome Offer$200 points
RewardsUp to 4x points
Annual fee$0
Minimum credit score740

Best for gas

Sam's Club® Mastercard®

4
★★★★★

Finder score

Terms apply, see rates & fees..
Welcome Offer$30
RewardsUp to 5% cash back
Annual fee$0
Minimum credit score670

Best for poor credit

Discover it® Secured

4.4
★★★★★

Finder score

Welcome OfferOther
RewardsUp to 2% cash back
Annual fee$0
Minimum credit score300
Back to top

Compare all rewards credit cards

While we’ve curated our top-choice rewards credit cards here, there are even more options to choose from. See more credit cards that can help you earn rewards on a variety of categories and compare your options to find a product that best suits your needs.

How to choose the best rewards card

In addition to the card’s rewards program, here are a few big items to review when comparing rewards cards:

  • Signup bonus. Many rewards cards offer bonus points to new customers to help you kick start your rewards cache. Depending on the card, you can earn a signup bonus worth anywhere between $100 and $4,000.
  • Transfer opportunities. Big name rewards cards allow you to transfer your points to partner airline and hotel rewards programs. This flexibility is highly valuable when used correctly.
  • Perks. Rewards cards can come with a terrific selection of additional benefits such as lounge access, statement credits, purchase protection and more. These can prove valuable provided they suit your needs.
  • Annual fee. Many cards offer decent rewards for no annual fee. Expect to pay a bit more, however, if you’re looking to get the highest rewards rate, the most generous welcome offer or a host of premium perks.
  • Intro APR. Save money on interest when you use this card for large purchases, but make sure you can pay it off within the 0% intro period. Or, choose to transfer debt to a 0% transfer card to save on interest while paying off your debt.

When choosing a credit card, Alex Claro, VPN analyst at CreditDonkey, suggests considering the specific perks a card offers and determine which perks you’ll likely use most.

“Some credit cards provide a variety of incentives, including cash back, redeemable miles or points, and discounts on future purchases,” Claro tells Finder. “You can earn rewards on some or all of your purchases, and depending on the rewards program, you can redeem them once you’ve earned a specific amount. Travel and trip cancellation insurance, rental car insurance, extended warranty, and purchase and price protection are examples of credit card benefits that differ per credit card.”

How do rewards credit cards work?

With a rewards credit card, you get a percentage back of what you spend, typically in the form of cash back, points or miles. You can redeem this earned currency through your card provider’s rewards portal. These points and miles represent a certain value in cash which can range depending on the rewards program.

For cashback cards, rewards are usually expressed as a percentage. If a card offers 2% cash back on all purchases, for example, you’ll receive $2 back for every $100 you spend.

For other cards, rewards are usually expressed as a point or mile multiple. A card might offer 2x points on all purchases, for example, which means you’ll receive 2 points for every dollar you spend. To learn more about how rewards credit cards work, you can read our guides on how to compare rewards cards and how to earn and redeem rewards.

  1. Compare and apply for a card
    Compare various rewards cards on the market to find a card that best suits your credit score, finances, spending and rewards preferences.
  2. Earn rewards
    Purchases you make with your rewards card are automatically posted as points or cash back to your account. Depending on the type of rewards card, you might earn more rewards for spending in a certain category.
  3. Redeem rewards
    Earn enough points and you can redeem them on products, gift cards and more. Depending on your card, you might be able to simply redeem your points as a statement credit. Learn more about various ways to redeem your credit card rewards.

Pros and cons of using a rewards credit card

Pros

  • Rewards. Choose a card that fits your lifestyle and earn rewards on purchases you would have made anyway.
  • Redeeming rewards. Redemption options vary from card to card. You could earn cash back, travel benefits, merchandise, gift cards and more.
  • Global acceptance. Most rewards cards are affiliated with Visa or Mastercard, accepted in over 200 countries and territories worldwide. While American Express and Discover credit cards aren’t as widely accepted internationally, they’re accepted in many locations around the world.
  • Extra perks. Many rewards cards offer extra perks, such as complimentary travel and rental car insurance. Compare your options to see which features work best with your lifestyle and spending habits.

Cons

  • Cost. You may have to pay an ongoing annual fee, or your card may have a higher APR than your basic, no-frills product.
  • Limitations. Your card provider might not let you earn more than a certain number of points in a calendar year, and your points may expire after a set time.
  • Temptation to spend. Rewards are always enticing. But if you aren’t careful, you could find yourself in snowballing debt. If you consistently carry a balance on your card, the interest could offset any rewards you earn.

When is a rewards credit card worth it?

A rewards credit card is worth it when you earn an appreciable amount of points or cash back through your spending such that it exceeds the annual fee of the card (if it has one). Even the simplest of rewards credit cards can offer value if you use it properly. To make a rewards card worthwhile, consider where you spend the most and get a card that offers more points in those areas.

A rewards card’s annual fee is the primary concern when evaluating whether the card is worth it. Some of the more luxurious rewards cards come with steep annual fees, so you’ll need to use enough perks and earn enough rewards to overcome that.

Case study: Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve® worth it?

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® sports an annual fee of $550. To make this card worth it, you’d have to take advantage of enough of the card’s perks and features to outweigh this $550 fee in value. Here are a few ways to create that value.

PerksValue
Annual travel statement credit$300
Two Priority Pass stays$160
TSA PreCheck and Global Entry credit (every 4 years)$100
One year of Lyft Pink membership (one time)$240
Total$800

Here you can see you can get $800 of value out of the card perks in one year before you even factor in the rewards you can earn with the card on your everyday spending. This outweighs the cost of the annual fee, so the rewards card is worth it if you take advantage of the perks.

You asked, we listened: Top five common questions

With so many airline credit cards to choose from, it’s only natural to have some questions. Here are the 5 most common questions we receive on the subject.

  1. How much are credit card rewards points worth? The most common value of a rewards point is 1 cent per 1 point. However, this can vary greatly depending on the specific loyalty program and how you redeem your points.
  2. Can I redeem my rewards points for cash back? In many cases, yes. Many rewards cards offer cash back statements as a redemption option for points.
  3. What types of rewards cards are there? There are three kinds of rewards cards: cards that earn cashback, miles or points. Cashback cards are typically the easiest type of card to use, but cards that earn miles or points give you the opportunity to redeem for higher value.
  4. Which type of rewards card should I get? This depends on how you use your card, and we have a full guide on how to pick a rewards card type. In general, pick a card that rewards you for your regular everyday spending.
  5. How many rewards cards should I have? Many consumers find it useful to have a few rewards cards, usually one with strong earnings for each type of major purchase category. By pairing up rewards cards, you can create a strong earning strategy that boosts your rewards even further.

Bottom line

The best rewards card depends on your finances and the rewards you’re looking for. If none of our top picks are the right fit for you, compare more rewards cards to find one that is.

Credit card ratings

★★★★★ — Excellent

★★★★★ — Good

★★★★★ — Average

★★★★★ — Subpar

★★★★★ — Poor

Our team evaluates credit cards to determine their value against similar cards on the market.

We rank card types — travel, cash back, business — on a set of factors that are most relevant to that type of card. We create these rankings to help you narrow down a credit card that best suits your spending and budget.

Learn the details of our methodology and scoring.

Kevin Joey Chen's headshot
Writer

Kevin Chen is a personal finance expert and a former writer at Finder. His expertise has been featured in CNN, U.S. News and World Report, Lifehacker and CreditCards.com, among other top media. See full bio

More guides on Finder

Go to site