Cash-back cards return a percentage of your spending, while travel cards earn points for flights and hotels. Pick the best rewards card based on your spending habits!
1. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Rating: 5.0 NerdWallet rating
Annual Fee: $95
Rewards Rate: 1x-5x points
Intro Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Rewards Breakdown:
Earn 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠.
Earn 3x points on dining, select streaming services and online groceries.
Earn 2x points on all other travel purchases.
Earn 1x points on all other purchases.
Card Details:
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
Pros:
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers flexibility and value that few competitors can match, starting with a sign-up bonus worth $750 in travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. You’ll earn valuable, transferable Chase Ultimate Rewards® points at a great rate — including 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠ and 2x points on other travel purchases — plus a reasonable $95 annual fee that’s offset by perks like a $50 annual hotel credit when booked through Chase Travel℠.
Cons:
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card isn’t ideal if you want premium travel perks like airport lounge access, which you’ll find on higher-end cards like its sibling, the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. And its bonus categories might not pay off if your spending doesn’t align with dining, online groceries or travel.
2. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Rating: 4.5 NerdWallet rating
Annual Fee: $95
Rewards Rate: 2x-5x miles
Intro Offer: Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening – that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
Rewards Breakdown:
Earn unlimited 5x miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Earn unlimited 2x miles on every purchase, every day.
Card Details:
Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening – that’s equal to $1,000 in travel.
Earn unlimited 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options.
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day.
Miles won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how many you can earn.
Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®.
Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel.
Enjoy two complimentary visits per year to Capital One Lounges or to 100+ Plaza Premium Lounges through the Partner Lounge Network.
Pros:
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card keeps travel rewards simple with unlimited 2x miles on every purchase and 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel — all for a modest $95 annual fee. Plus, its hefty sign-up bonus — Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening – that’s equal to $1,000 in travel — gives your mileage balance a huge early boost.
Cons:
Unlike some competitors, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card doesn’t offer bonus rewards on common spending categories like dining or gas — it’s a flat 2x miles on everything outside of Capital One Travel bookings. And it lacks the premium travel perks — think lounge access beyond two visits or annual credits — you’d get with higher-fee cards.
3. Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Rating: 5.0 NerdWallet rating
Annual Fee: $0
Rewards Rate: 2% cash rewards
Intro Offer: Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first 3 months
Rewards Breakdown:
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
Card Details:
0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft (subject to a $25 deductible)
Pros:
You’ll earn 2% cash rewards on all purchases, among the best rates on the market for products in its class. But the card also features a generous sign-up bonus: Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. On top of that, it also offers a 0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months and 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR.
Cons:
You can find higher cash-back rates in specific, popular spending categories, if you’re OK with keeping track of tiered or rotating reward structures. And like many cash-back cards, this one’s not ideal for traveling abroad, thanks to its foreign transaction fee.
4. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Rating: 5.0 NerdWallet rating
Annual Fee: $395
Rewards Rate: 2x-10x miles
Intro Offer: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening – that’s equal to $750 in travel
Rewards Breakdown:
Earn 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Earn 5x miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel.
Earn unlimited 2x miles on all other purchases.
Card Details:
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening – that’s equal to $750 in travel.
Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel.
Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases.
Receive a $300 annual travel credit for bookings through Capital One Travel.
Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary.
Receive up to $120 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®.
Redeem your miles for any travel purchase or book through Capital One Travel.
Enjoy unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network.
Pros:
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card maximizes travel portal benefits with 10x miles on hotels and rental cars and 5x on flights booked through Capital One Travel, plus a $300 annual travel credit that offsets its $395 annual fee. Add in unlimited lounge access for you and two guests at 1,300+ locations and a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus (worth $100 in travel), and it’s a premium card that delivers serious value.
Cons:
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card’s $395 annual fee might feel steep if you don’t maximize its travel credits or lounge access, especially compared to lower-fee options. And its rewards rate drops to just 2x miles on everyday purchases outside the travel portal, trailing cards with richer bonus categories.
5. Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Rating: 5.0 NerdWallet rating
Annual Fee: $0
Rewards Rate: 1.5% – 5% cash back
Intro Offer: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) – worth up to $300 cash back!
Rewards Breakdown:
Earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠.
Earn 3% cash back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services.
Earn 3% cash back on drugstore purchases.
Earn 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
Card Details:
Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) – worth up to $300 cash back!
Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.49% – 28.24%.
No annual fee – You won’t have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card.
Pros:
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® combines valuable everyday bonus categories with a unique sign-up bonus for new cardholders: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back! Beyond the sign-up bonus period, you’ll earn an unlimited 1.5% cash back on most purchases, plus higher rates in several popular spending categories — including 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠ and 3% cash back on dining and drugstore purchases — all with no annual fee.
Cons:
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® card’s rewards lose some of their value unless paired with a premium Chase card, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®, which allow you to transfer your cash-back points to valuable airline and hotel partners. And it charges a foreign transaction fee, so it’s not great for use overseas.
6. Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Rating: 4.5 NerdWallet rating
Annual Fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95
Rewards Rate: 1% – 6% cash back
Intro Offer: Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months
Rewards Breakdown:
6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on transit.
1% cash back on other purchases.
Card Details:
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from account opening
Earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 in the first 6 months
Annual fee of $95 after the first year
Pros:
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers a market-leading cash-back rate at U.S. supermarkets: 6% cash back on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%). You’ll also earn 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions such as Netflix and Spotify — a rare perk among cash-back cards — plus 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on transit purchases such as rideshares and parking.
Cons:
After its $0 intro annual fee for the first year, this card charges a $95 annual fee — potentially a turn-off if you don’t spend enough at U.S. supermarkets to offset the cost. And its highest cash-back category — U.S. supermarkets — comes with a spending cap; you’ll earn just 1% after hitting $6,000 in purchases per year.
