I love credit cards and how aggressively they compete with one another for our business. If you aren’t carrying any credit card debt and have a pretty good credit score, you can be taking advantage of the cut-throat competition and researching a credit card that will reward you for your business.
Even with travel coming to a standstill because of the Coronavirus, some credit card companies are still offering aggressive bonuses but extending the time in which you can meet those minimum spends. Some companies, like Chase, are adding tools to help you know how much you need to spend to reach a bonus – a nice addition that helps you avoid missing out on a bonus.
Your mix of optimal credit cards will vary from ours. If you routinely fly a certain airline, that airline’s card should be higher on your list because you are more likely to use those points or miles. We don’t list every loyalty program’s credit card but we tried to list the most generous offers with the broadest appeal.
If you always fly with an airline or have status with a hotel, you should always check those first and compare it with a card that offers a broader rewards structure, like Chase Ultimate Rewards, to see which is best.
Finally, remember Chase has a 5/24 rule. If you’ve been approved for 5 cards in the last 24 months, they will decline you automatically.
Below is a list of the best credit card bonus offers, updated for September 2023:
Table of Contents
- What’s New?
- 1. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
- 2. Chase Sapphire Preferred Card – 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points 💰
- 3. Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card – 50,000 bonus points
- 4. Capital One Venture X Rewards Card – 75,000 miles
- 5. Chase Sapphire Reserve – 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points
- 6. Chase Freedom Unlimited – up to $300 cash back
- 7. Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express – $250 statement credit
- 8. Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card – $200 Cash Back
- 9. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card – 75,000 miles
- Business Credit Cards
What’s New?
As we put the pandemic into the rear view (officially “over” on May 11th, 2023!) and travel comes roaring back, we’re seeing bigger bonuses as companies compete for your wallet.
We will have to see how the fears of a recession play out but for now, it seems competition is getting stronger. Even if there is a recession, it doesn’t look like it’ll be hitting credit card offers.
🔥 The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is a premium travel credit card with a $650 annual fee but the welcome offer is bananas – two 85K Free Night Awards after you spend $6,000 in purchases in the first 6 months of Card Membership, Each award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Card Members could enjoy a value of up to $1,200 when redeeming each reward. Certain hotels have resort fees. Offer ends 11/1/2023. If you stay at Marriott properties, this card is worth a closer look.
⬆️ The Chase Sapphire Preferred gets a little boost in the rankings with an upgraded bonus – 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first three months. This is more than what is typical on the card and I’m not sure how long it’s good for.
✅ The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card takes the bronze spot with their offer – you can earn the 50,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 in purchases in the first 3 months. This is great if you live near an airport serviced Southwest (which we do, so we’re biased)… less good if you don’t. 😂
💰 The Capital One® Venture® X Rewards Card takes fourth with their welcome bonus – 75,000 miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months. There is a $395 annual fee but the card comes with a travel credit to help offset it.
⚖️ The Chase Sapphire Preferred card stands pat with a bonus of 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first three months. This is the standard offer, which is good on its own but lower than previous highs. With an annual fee of just $95, I still like the card. If you aren’t subject to the Chase 5/24 rule then this card can be attractive.
1. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card tops our list because of the massive welcome offer – two 85K Free Night Awards after you spend $6,000 in purchases in the first 6 months of Card Membership, Each award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Card Members could enjoy a value of up to $1,200 when redeeming each reward. Certain hotels have resort fees. Offer ends 11/1/2023. If you stay at Marriott properties often, it’s a great added “secondary” welcome bonus.
It does have a $650 annual fee, along with plenty of additional card benefits so you have to do the math to see if it’s worth it for you.
Why We Love It: The bonus offer is simply astounding – if you can meet the conditions then you are setting yourself up for a nice little vacation!
👉 Learn more about the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
2. Chase Sapphire Preferred Card – 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points 💰
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card has a good bonus right now – get 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first three months.
This is for a card where you also earn 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3x points on dining, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on everything else (plus a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit) and with a very reasonable annual fee of $95.
The points are Chase Ultimate Rewards, which is one of the best reward programs out there with a ton of transfer partners, and that versatility makes it a more valuable point to have.
Why We Love It: Chase Sapphire Preferred has a solid welcome bonus offer that is hard to pass up, plus the annual fee is low for a bonus of this size.
3. Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card – 50,000 bonus points
If you fly a lot of Southwest Airlines, you should look at this card. You can get 50,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 in purchases in the first 3 months.
It’s not often they offer Companion Pass plus points as the bonus, so it’s something you should consider if you can take advantage of it!
You also earn 2X points on Southwest purchases; 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; and 2X points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming.
There is a $69 annual fee and you get 3,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary, which helps defray the cost.
Why We Love It: This one is personal because we live near Baltimore Washington International, a major airport for Southwest, so we fly them a lot. If you do too, this is a crucial step in getting Companion Pass.
4. Capital One Venture X Rewards Card – 75,000 miles
If you don’t want to be tied to an airline or a hotel chain, but you want a strong general travel card – consider the Capital One Venture X Rewards Card offering a 75,000 miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months.
As for cashback, you earn 2X miles per dollar on all other purchases plus 10X miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5X miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel.
This is a premium travel credit card because you also get up to a $300 annual travel credit when booking through Capital One Travel. This card also offers up to a $100 credit towards TSA PreCheck and Global Entry’s application fee. These perks offset the $395 annual fee.
Why We Love It: If you travel a lot, premium travel cards offer great perks and The Capital One® Venture® X Rewards Card delivers with its benefits.
5. Chase Sapphire Reserve – 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points
Chase often leads the pack because of their generous Chase Ultimate Rewards program. With this card, you will get 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first three months. You also earn 5x points on air travel and 10x on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3x points on other travel, 1x on everything else.
For reference, 50,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth approximately $750 on the Chase Ultimate Rewards platform.
This card is for travelers because you also get $300 in travel credit, 50% more value when you redeem points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards, and you get up to $100 application reimbursement for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. There’s a sizable $550 annual fee – offset by all the bonuses. It’s a direct competitor to the Platinum Card from American Express.
Why We Love It: Chase Sapphire Reserve has a great welcome bonus offer with a reasonable spend requirement plus a generous travel credit and the best rewards program in Chase Ultimate Rewards.
6. Chase Freedom Unlimited – up to $300 cash back
The Chase Freedom Unlimited card will give you up to $300 cash back with an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). You can also earn 6.5% on travel purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 4.5% at drug stores and dining in restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, plus 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
It also offers
All this is available to you with annual fee.
Why We Love It: A low spend required to get a up to $300 cash back welcome bonus.
7. Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express – $250 statement credit
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases in the first 6 months. Terms Apply.
It’s cashback rewards are solid – 6% on U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more). Finally, 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
There is a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
Why We Love It: If you want an American Express, this one offers one of the easiest welcome offers to get. When you consider that the cashback rates are good and that American Express has some solid credit card perks out there (especially for travelers), it makes this card very appealing.
8. Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card – $200 Cash Back
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card will give you a $200 Cash Back after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening. This is on top of an unlimited 1.5% cashback on every purchase, which are great perks for a cashback card with no annual fee. There are no rotating categories to worry about, no juggling cards, just a simple high rate for everything.
$0 annual fee.
Why We Love It: A low spend is required to get the welcome bonus of $200 Cash Back and a simple 1.5% cash reward on all purchases. For simplicity, you really can’t beat it. Plus $0 annual fee!
9. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card – 75,000 miles
The Capital One Venture Rewards card will give you 75,000 miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of opening the account, equal to $750 in travel. You can transfer those miles to 15+ travel loyalty programs.
One of the nice perks about this card is that you can get a $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
The annual fee is $95.
Business Credit Cards
I listed these cards last because they’re business credit cards and not everyone owns a business, but the rewards for these cards are incredible.
There are actually two Chase Ink cards I want to highlight – the Ink Business Cash and the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card. The big difference is that the Ink Business Cash Credit Card has no annual fee and a small bonus.
Chase Ink Business Cash Credit Card – $900
With the Ink Business Cash Card, you can get $900 after you spend $6,000 in the first 3 months from account opening.
You also earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent at office supply stores, internet, cable, and phone services; 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent at gas stations and restaurants; 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Best of all, the annual fee is $0.
👉 Learn more about Ink Business Cash
Chase Ink Business Preferred Credit Card – 100,000 bonus points
The Ink Business Preferred Credit Card gives you 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening in the .. You also earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories plus 1 point per $1 on all other purchases with no limit.
There’s just a $95 annual fee.
👉 Learn more about Ink Business Preferred
Capital One Spark Cash Select – $500
The Capital One Spark Cash Select card has a bonus of $500 after you spend $4,500 in the first 3 months from account opening. It’s a business card with unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase but the welcome offer is solid.
This is on top of the great perks of the card which include free employee cards, convenient year-end summary reports, no foreign transaction fees and the ability to download transactions into Quicken, Quickbooks, and Excel.
The annual fee is .
👉 Learn more about the Capital One Spark Cash Select Card
Capital One Spark Miles Business Card – 50,000 miles
The Capital One Spark Miles is the miles version of the Capital One Spark Cash card. For a limited time, you can get 50,000 miles after you spend $4,500 in the first 3 months from account opening.
This card also features a lot of useful options for business owners including free employee cards, summary reports, no foreign transaction fees, and the ability to download transactions into Quicken, Quickbooks, and Excel.
The annual fee is $0 intro for the first year and then $95 after that.
