13 Best Rewards Credit Cards (2020)

With a travel rewards credit card, you can earn points on most purchases that can be redeemed for travel-related goodies, like hotel stays and plane tickets. These cards are often equipped with some of the best travel insurance programs, such as lost luggage and rental car coverage. Once you earn enough points, you can unlock great deals on qualified travel purchases through the card’s website.

Be mindful of annual fees, as these types of cards often carry one due to the many perks offered. Our favorite travel rewards card has no foreign transaction fees (important for overseas travel), a generous sign-up bonus, and a competitive APR:

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Cash back, which returns a percentage of each purchase amount to you, remains one of the more straightforward and popular rewards programs. You have a few options for redeeming this type of reward, including receiving the cash back you’ve earned as a statement credit, in the form of a check, or applying it toward merchandise or travel purchases in the issuer’s online portal.

The most you can typically expect to earn on everyday purchases is around 2%. However, there are many cash back cards that can earn far more in rotating categories, such as our top pick below:

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Airline reward cards allow you to rack up air miles with most purchases, making it a great choice for frequent fliers. Cardholders can often earn even more miles when using the card to purchase travel related items, such as plane tickets. Miles can then be redeemed for a discounted or free flight, depending on how many miles are accrued.

While many of these cards charge an annual fee or make you join a frequent flyer program, we consider this Discover card the best airline rewards credit card because it doesn’t tie you to a specific airline — this means no blackout dates or travel restrictions! Simply redeem rewards for purchases you make with the card in the form of a statement credit.

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Whether you have a long commute to work or just like to take frequent road trips, you may find a gas rewards card beneficial to you. These cards reward you, generally in the form of cash back, on all of your gas station purchases. Oftentimes you can earn up to 3% back, but you can earn a larger percentage on gas purchases on cards that offer fuel as a rotating category.

The Chase Freedom® offers gas as a rotating 5% category for at least one quarter each year, making it one of our favorite gas rewards cards:

Chase Freedom®

at Chase'ssecure website

GAS REBATE RATING

★★★★★

4.9

OVERALL RATING

5.0/5.0

Our Review »

• Earn a $150 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
• Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
• Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - it's automatic
• 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 14.99 - 23.74%.
• 3% intro balance transfer fee when you transfer a balance during the first 60 days your account is open, with a minimum of $5.
• No annual fee

• See application, terms and details.

Intro (Purchases)	Intro (Transfers)	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Credit Needed
0% Intro APR on Purchases 15 months	0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers 15 months	14.99% - 23.74% Variable	$0	Good/Excellent

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If you’ve been looking into this type of card, you’ve likely seen many offers touting the best hotel rewards credit card as a branded option with one of the large hotel chains. Those deals may seem hard to beat, but they also have drawbacks, such as tying you specifically to that chain. What if the city you’re visiting doesn’t have that brand of hotel?

You can actually earn excellent hotel rewards through general travel cards too, which allows you to redeem the points toward many hotels, not just one chain. Once you’ve racked up enough points, simply book your hotel through the credit card website to ensure the purchase is made with your rewards. We love the following card because it allows you to redeem points at any hotel with no blackout dates, and always offers a generous sign-up bonus:

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If you’re looking for a great balance transfer credit card that comes with a rewards program, you have several great options. Most people seek balance transfer cards to avoid paying a high interest rate on their current card by transferring its balance to a new card offering a 0% APR period, which can last anywhere from six to 18 months.

Always check the fine print for balance transfer fees and the APR after the introductory period ends, but once you find the card that best suits you, you’ll be ready to earn rewards on each new purchase with the card. Our top balance transfer pick has a great rewards program and a lengthy 0% interest time frame:

Citi Simplicity® Card

at Citi'ssecure website

0% BALANCE TRANSFER RATING

★★★★★

4.9

OVERALL RATING

4.7/5.0

• No Late Fees, No Penalty Rate, and No Annual Fee... Ever
• 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months from date of first transfer. All transfers must be completed in first 4 months. After that, the variable APR will be 14.74% - 24.74%, based on your creditworthiness.
• 0% Intro APR on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening. After that, the variable APR will be 14.74% - 24.74%, based on your creditworthiness.
• If you transfer a balance with this offer, after your 0% Intro purchase APR expires, both new purchases and unpaid purchase balances will automatically accrue interest until all balances, including your transferred balances, are paid in full
• There is a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
• The standard variable APR for Citi Flex Plan is 14.74% - 24.74%, based on your creditworthiness. Citi Flex Plan offers are made available at Citi's discretion.

• See application, terms and details.

Intro (Purchases)	Intro (Transfers)	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Credit Needed
0% for 12 months	0% for 21 months	14.74% - 24.74% (Variable)	$0	Excellent/Good

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Points-based credit cards allow you to earn rewards by offering multiple points per dollar spent on most purchases, with additional points in rotating categories like entertainment and dining. If restaurant purchases fetch two points per $1 spent, it’s easy to see how quickly the rewards can add up.

Points can be redeemed toward purchases through the card’s online storefront, and you can often find deals by going through the rewards program to make a purchase rather than redeeming your rewards for a statement credit. The card below provides one of the best credit card rewards programs for earning points, however you decide to use them:

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

at Chase'ssecure website

POINTS & GIFTS RATING

★★★★★

4.9

OVERALL RATING

4.8/5.0

Our Review »

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
• 2X points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel
• Get unlimited deliveries with a $0 delivery fee and reduced service fees on orders over $12 for a minimum of one year on qualifying food purchases with DashPass, DoorDash's subscription service. Activate by 12/31/21.
• Earn 5X points on Lyft rides through March 2022. That's 3X points in addition to the 2X points you already earn on travel.

• See application, terms and details.

Intro (Purchases)	Intro (Transfers)	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Credit Needed
N/A	N/A	15.99% - 22.99% Variable	$95	Good/Excellent

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If you run your own business, there are rewards cards tailored to your needs, too. For these types of cards, you can earn bigger bonuses for business purchases, such as regular office expenses or shopping at office supply stores. Most of these cards offer a hefty signing bonus if you spend enough during the first three to six months of owning the card.

Take note that the spending requirement to earn the sign-up bonus is typically higher than a personal credit card because the expectation is that businesses cost more to run and will spend more than an individual. Our best business rewards credit card includes a nice signing bonus on top of everyday cash back rewards:

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

at Chase'ssecure website

BUSINESS CARD RATING

★★★★★

4.9

OVERALL RATING

4.8/5.0

Our Review »

• New Offer! Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
• Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year
• Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases - with no limit to the amount you can earn
• Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards
• Redeem points for travel, cash back, gift cards and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
• No foreign transaction fees

• See application, terms and details.

Intro (Purchases)	Intro (Transfers)	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Credit Needed
N/A	N/A	15.99% - 20.99% Variable	$95	Good/Excellent

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Traditional student credit cards often serve up the memory of a “starter card” with limited functionality, but today’s student credit cards are powerful tools for students to build their credit and earn rewards.

Annual statement credits for good grades, no annual fees, rewards programs, and competitive APRs make the notion of a starter card for students obsolete. Our top choice for students is below, and it offers some great perks, including rewards:

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If you’ve paid your bills on time, had your lines of credit for a while, and kept your credit utilization under 30%, you’ve likely earned yourself pretty good credit, which is typically considered to be a FICO score above 700. With good credit, there are quite a few options for a rewards card that provides a competitive cash back or points program.

The following reward card offers an outstanding cash back percentage on every purchase with no limits, no restrictions, and no expiration to the rewards:

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

at Chase'ssecure website

GOOD CREDIT RATING

★★★★★

5.0

OVERALL RATING

5.0/5.0

Our Review »

• Earn a $150 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
• Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
• 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases, then a variable APR of 14.99 - 23.74%.
• No annual fee
• No minimum to redeem for cash back
• Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open

• See application, terms and details.

Intro (Purchases)	Intro (Transfers)	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Credit Needed
0% 15 Months	N/A	14.99%–23.74% Variable	$0	Good/Excellent

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Even if you may have missed a few payments or have a high credit utilization ratio, there are several rewards credit cards for fair credit, or those with a FICO score between 630 and 700. If you can get your credit utilization to 30% or less, prioritize your monthly payments, and have a healthy mix of credit accounts open, then using your credit card responsibly can help you build your score.

Our best fair credit rewards credit card does not charge an annual fee and offers some great benefits through its rewards program, including cash back:

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A FICO score below 630 generally indicates poor credit, but you may still be eligible for a rewards credit card. It can be helpful to earn rewards, particularly if the rewards can be applied as a statement credit to pay down a portion of your bill.

As long as you use the card responsibly, you’ll be able to help improve your score by always making the monthly payments on time and utilizing 30% or less of your total available credit. The following offer is a very popular choice for those with less-than-stellar credit:

Surge Mastercard®

at Celtic Bank'ssecure website

BAD CREDIT RATING

★★★★★

4.8

OVERALL RATING

4.1/5.0

Our Review »

• All credit types welcome to apply!
• Free access to your Vantage 3.0 score From TransUnion* (When you sign up for e-statements)
• Monthly reporting to the three major credit bureaus
• See if you’re Pre-Qualified without impacting your credit score
• Fast and easy application process; results in seconds
• Free online account access 24/7

• See application, terms and details.

Intro (Purchases)	Intro (Transfers)	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Credit Needed
See website for Details	N/A	25.90% - 29.99%	See website for Details	Bad, Poor Credit

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Just because you have limited credit history doesn’t mean you can’t get approved for a decent rewards credit card, and with responsible use, you can begin to build your credit history and score. There are a few factors that go into a FICO score, so make sure you understand what can help and hurt your credit.

Below is our top credit card with an impressive rewards program for those with a limited credit history:

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Since the best rewards credit cards offer multiple ways to redeem your rewards, keep in mind what you’ll be purchasing and how you’ll want to cash in your rewards. From gifts bought with points to free nights at certain hotels, there are many ways to enjoy your credit card rewards.

Once you decide what you can qualify for based on your credit score — and determine what kind of rewards credit card you want — you can get excited about all the perks you’ll soon earn thanks to your new card!