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Recommended Cards
The foundation to any great points travel strategy is great cards! We will always share the best card offers - whether or not we receive anything in return!
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This page includes all the cards we recommend based on current signup bonuses and benefits. To see the best card offers for ALL points and miles cards, download the (free) Travel Freely app!
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Note: we no longer receive monetary commissions from Chase card links. If you find our content helpful and would like to support our work, please consider signing up for Travel Freely with this link and applying for for cards through that platform.
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Beginner Cards
Best Beginner Cards
Capital One Venture Rewards
75,000 Capital One Miles
after $4,000 in the first 3 months
$95 annual fee
Best Features: 2x on everything, $100 TSA Pre-check or Global Entry Credit (once every 4 years)
Chase Sapphire Preferred
75,000 Ultimate Rewards Points
after $4,000 in the first 3 months
$95 annual fee
Best Features: 3x on dining, 2x on travel, 1.25 cents per point through Chase Travel, popular transfer partners, $50 annual hotel benefit
Citi Strata Premier
75,000 ThankYou Points
after $4,000 in the first 3 months
$95 annual fee
Best Features: 3x at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, EV charging stations, flights, and hotels. NEW: Comprehensive travel insurance
American Express Green
40,000 Membership Rewards Points
after $3,000 in the first 6 months
$150 annual fee
Best Features: 3x at restaurants and on travel/transit (flights, hotels, cruises, trains, taxis, rideshare, tolls, parking, etc.); $189 CLEAR Plus credit annually; $100 LoungeBuddy credit annually
American Express Gold
75,000 Membership Rewards Points
after $6,000 in the first 6 months
$250 annual fee
Best Features: 4x at restaurants and supermarkets; 3x on airfare; $10 Uber cash each month; $10 dining credit each month (at select locations - including Grubhub)
Premium
Best Premium Cards
Capital One Venture X
75,000 Capital One Miles
after $4,000 in the first 3 months
$395 annual fee
Best Features $300 annual travel credit, Airport Lounge Access, 10k bonus miles each renewal year, Hertz President's Circle Status, 2x on everything, $100 TSA Pre-check or Global Entry Credit (once every 4 years)
Chase Sapphire Reserve
75,000 Ultimate Rewards Points
after $4,000 in the first 3 months
$550 annual fee
Best Features: $300 annual travel credit, Airport Lounge Access, 1.5 cents per points through Chase Travel, $100 TSA Pre-check or Global Entry Credit (once every 4 years), popular transfer partners, excellent travel insurance
American Express Platinum
100,000 Membership Rewards Points + 10x at restaurants for 6 months
after $8,000 in the first 6 months
$695 annual fee
Best Features: Airport Lounge Access, $200 airline fee credit, $200 hotel credit, Up to $200 Uber Cash credit, Up to $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit, Automatic elite status with Marriott and Hilton, Automatic elite status with National and Hertz, $100 TSA Pre-check or Global Entry credit (once every 4 years)
Business
Best Business Cards
Chase Ink Business Cash
75,000 Ultimate Rewards Points*
after $6,000 in the first 3 months
No annual fee
Best Features: 5x on phone service, internet, cable, and office supply stores (up to $25k per year), popular transfer partners
*points from this card are only transferrable if you or a household member have the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve, or Chase Ink Preferred
Chase Ink Business Preferred
100,000 Ultimate Rewards Points
after $8,000 in the first 3 months
$95 annual fee
Best Features: 3x on travel, shipping, internet, cable, phone, and advertising with social media sites (up to $150k per year), combine points with those earned from personal Chase cards
Capital One Spark Miles for Business
50,000 Capital One Miles
after $4,500 in the first 3 months
$95 annual fee (waived first year)
Best Features: 2x on all purchases, popular transfer partners, miles can also be used a statement credits for travel purchases
American Express Business Platinum
200,000 Membership Rewards Points
after $20,000 in the first 3 months
$695 annual fee
Best Features: Airport Lounge Access, $200 airline fee credit, $200 hotel credit, Up to $400 Dell credit, Automatic elite status with Marriott and Hilton, Automatic elite status with National and Hertz, $100 TSA Pre-check or Global Entry Credit (once every 4 years), 35% points rebate through AMEX Travel
Airline
Best Airline Cards
Aviator Red
Up to 70,000 AAdvantage Miles
60k after making a purchase and paying the $99 annual fee, 10k after an authorized user makes a purchase - all within the first 90 days
$99 annual fee
Best Features: First checked bag free for cardholder and up to 8 companions on the same reservation, Preferred Boarding, Annual $25 in-flight WiFi credit, 25% back on inflight food and beverage purchases, 2x on AA purchases, Flight Cents to round up purchases and earn extra miles (1 mile per 2 cents), anniversary Companion Certificate
Delta SkyMiles Platinum
50,000 Delta SkyMiles
after $3,000 in the first 6 months
$350 annual fee
Best Features: 3x on Delta purchases and at hotels, 2x at restaurants and supermarkets, roundtrip companion certificate each renewal year, Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding, first checked bag free, 15% discount on Delta award flights, TSA PreCheck/Global Entry Credit, $10/month rideshare credit
Chase United Quest
70,000 United miles + 500 Premier Qualifying Points
after $4,000 in the first 3 months
$250 annual fee
Best Features: $125 annual credit for United purchases, two 5,000 mile anniversary award flight credits, first two checked bags free, 2x at restaurants, on travel, and select streaming
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
Earn 50,000 Rapid Rewards
after $1,000 in the first 3 months
$149 annual fee
Best Features: 3x on Southwest purchases, 2x on local transit, 2x on internet, cable, phone, and select streaming, 7,500 anniversary points each year, $75 Southwest travel credit each year, 4 upgraded boardings
Hotel
Best Hotel Cards
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless
3 Free Night Awards (up to 50k points each)
after $3,000 in the first 3 months
$95 annual fee
Best Features: 35k free night certificate each card anniversary upon renewal, 6x on Marriott purchases, 3x at supermarkets, restaurants, and gas stations (up to $6k per year), automatic Silver Elite status, 15 Elite Night Credits annually
World of Hyatt Card
Up to 60,000 World of Hyatt Points
30k after $3,000 in the first 3 months, plus up to 30k on $15,000 spend in first 6 months
$95 annual fee
Best Features: 4x on Hyatt purchases, 2x at restaurants and airlines, free Category 1-4 night each anniversary year
