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8 Best Rewards Credit Cards [August 2025]

The best rewards credit cards offer valuable points, miles, and cash back. Which is the right one for your wallet?

Updated Aug. 22, 2025
Fact check checkmark icon Fact checked

The right rewards credit card for you might not be the right one for me, and vice versa. This is because no card can do it all, though many of them try their best. You won't find a credit card that earns the best rewards rate for points, miles, and cash back, for example, or with a teetering rate that puts its competitors to shame on everything without exception. What you will find is a long, long list of available rewards credit cards, with issuers like Wells Fargo, Citi, Chase, and Bank of America offering many of the very best.

To help you out in your search for the best rewards card for you, we've included options that are best for travel rewards and cash back rewards, as well as cards that stand out for perks like long 0% intro APR periods, rewards earning flexibility, and more.

Here are 8 credit cards with the best rewards rates and who each one is best for.

How we evaluate products

Best rewards credit cards


Financebuzz awards badge

2025 award winner Best Overall Cash Back Credit Card

5.0
info

on Wells Fargo’s website

Welcome Bonus
$200 info
Cash rewards
Rewards Rate
2% info
Cash rewards
Annual Fee
$0
Why We Like It
  • Flat-rate unlimited cash rewards on eligible purchases

  • Intro APR offers on purchases and qualifying balance transfers to help avoid interest

  • Redemption perks for eligible Wells Fargo accounts, including loan or mortgage credits or cash via an ATM

on Wells Fargo’s website

Recommended Credit info
Good to Excellent (670 - 850)
Card Details

Excellent for easy travel rewards redemption
4.4
info

on Bank of America’s website

Welcome Bonus
25,000 info
Points
Rewards Rate
1.5X - 3X info
Points
Annual Fee
$0
Why We Like It
  • Simple, flat-rate rewards with up to 75% Bank of America Preferred Rewards® bonus potential.

  • Lengthy intro APR offer for purchases and qualifying balance transfers, helpful for covering large purchases or paying down high-interest debt.

  • No annual or foreign transaction fee.

on Bank of America’s website

Recommended Credit info
Good to Excellent (670 - 850)
Card Details

Excellent for high flat-rate cash back rewards
5.0
info

on Citi’s website

Welcome Bonus
$200 info
Rewards Rate
2% - 5% info
Cash back
Annual Fee
$0
Why We Like It
  • Simple unlimited cash back rewards on every purchase with no annual fee

  • Lengthy intro APR offer on balance transfers, great for tackling high-interest debt

  • Includes access to Citi Entertainment, which offers exclusive presales to thousands of events

on Citi’s website

Recommended Credit info
Good to Excellent (670 - 850)
Card Details

Financebuzz awards badge

2025 award winner Best for Dining Out

4.7
info

on Chase’s website

Welcome Bonus
$200 info
Bonus
Rewards Rate
1.5% - 5% info
Cash Back
Annual Fee
$0
Why We Like It
  • Solid flat-rate rewards on most purchases, with elevated rates on select travel, drugstore, and dining purchases

  • Impressive intro APR offer on purchases and balance transfers, great for covering large purchases or paying down debt

  • Good purchase protections and coverage, all for no annual fee

on Chase’s website

Recommended Credit info
Good to Excellent (670 - 850)
Card Details

Financebuzz awards badge

2025 award winner Best No-Annual-Fee Travel Credit Card

4.4
info

on Wells Fargo’s website

Welcome Bonus
20,000 info
Bonus Points
Rewards Rate
1X - 3X info
Points
Annual Fee
$0
Why We Like It
  • High unlimited reward rate on common spending categories with no cap

  • Flexible reward redemption, including statement credits, gift cards, and transfers to select travel partners

  • No annual or foreign transaction fee

on Wells Fargo’s website

Recommended Credit info
Good to Excellent (670 - 850)
Card Details

New Offer
Financebuzz awards badge

2025 award winner Best Overall Travel Credit Card

4.9
info

on Chase’s website

Welcome Bonus
75,000 info
Points
Rewards Rate
1X - 5X info
Points
Annual Fee
$95
Why We Like It
  • Popular travel card with perks like up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary for hotel stays booked through Chase Travel℠ , bonus points each account anniversary equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year, and valuable travel protections

  • Amazing welcome offer valued at up to $1,125 when redeemed via Chase Travel℠, where points are worth up to 1.5x more

  • Solid rewards rate on travel, dining, select streaming services, and online groceries

on Chase’s website

Recommended Credit info
Good to Excellent (670 - 850)
Card Details

Excellent for high-rate cash back categories
4.7
info

on Discover’s website

Welcome Bonus
Cashback Match™ info
Rewards Rate
1% - 5% info
Cash back
Annual Fee
$0
Why We Like It
  • Earn 5% cash back on rotating bonus categories up to the quarterly maximum when you activate, along with 1% cash back on all purchases. Categories may include places like gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, and more.

  • Generous welcome offer that effectively doubles all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year

on Discover’s website

Recommended Credit info
Good to Excellent (670 - 850)
Card Details

Financebuzz awards badge

2025 award winner Best Business Credit Card for Solopreneurs

4.8
info

on Chase’s website

Welcome Bonus
Up to $750 info
Cash back
Rewards Rate
1% - 5% info
Cash back
Annual Fee
$0
Why We Like It
  • Great for earning cash back on business purchases with no annual fee

  • Intro APR offer on purchases, helpful for new or growing businesses to finance large purchases

  • Ability to earn up to $750 thanks to a unique welcome offer

on Chase’s website

Recommended Credit info
Good to Excellent (670 - 850)
Card Details

How to choose a rewards card

Which rewards credit card is right for you? Follow these five steps to compare options from our list and make sure you're feeling good about whichever card you choose.

1. Choose from rewards types

Rewards cards typically earn points, miles, or cash back. Points and miles are often associated with travel credit cards, such as the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card, and can generally be used for travel-related redemptions, such as flights and hotel stays.

Cash back credit cards earn cash back, and the redemptions can vary. You'll often see statement credits and bank account deposits as options for redeeming your cash back. 

Earning points and/or miles makes sense if you want to redeem rewards for travel. But if you're just looking for a daily driver at home, cashback rewards may be the way to go.

2. Compare earnings potential with your spending habits

Rewards cards earn rewards on eligible purchases at your card's rewards rates.

For example, a card might earn 2X miles on every eligible purchase you make, or it could earn higher rewards in certain categories, such as on dining, gas, or grocery spending. In some cases, you might be able to earn more rewards on purchases from specific retailers. For example, the Discover it® Cash Back offers elevated rewards in rotating categories.

3. Check out perks and benefits

Will the benefits of a rewards card realistically be valuable to you (not just appealing or nice on paper)? For instance, would you use an annual credit for travel, or a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit? Would something like cell phone protection or saving money on food delivery services be helpful to you? 

As you compare credit cards, read over their non-rewards benefits to make sure they make sense and are a good fit for your spending and needs. Note that some card perks require activation, so we strongly recommend getting acquainted with your card's benefits so you're ready to use them when you need to. 

4. Pay attention to fees and interest rates

In general, credit cards tend to have fees and high interest rates. Foreign transaction fees, balance transfer fees, and annual percentage rates (APRs) are just a few charges you can pay.

It's likely not worth using a credit card if you plan to carry a balance all the time, rather than paying it off in full each statement period, because you can pay a hefty sum of interest this way. But some credit cards provide introductory APR offers on balance transfers and/or purchases. This could be useful if you're trying to pay down debt without racking up more interest or have a big purchase coming up. 

Tip from the editor
A no-annual-fee credit card can mean less stress but fewer benefits, so make sure you take a card's potential value into account. We provide a framework for doing this in our FinanceBuzz Credit Card Rewards Valuation Model, which you can follow when comparing cards.

5. Take note of welcome offers (but don't give them too much weight)

Many rewards cards provide a welcome offer or sign-up bonus to new cardmembers. The terms of each bonus can vary, but the format is often the same. Spend a specific amount on your new credit card within a certain number of months and earn a heap of rewards.

This can be an easy way to earn loads of cash back, miles, or points soon after opening a new rewards card. And as you compare cards, you might discover that an elevated or limited-time welcome offer might make one card more appealing than another it's otherwise tied with. However, welcome offers can also encourage overspending or make you feel pressured to run up a balance on your card, so don't choose a card solely based on these offers.

The 3 types of rewards credit cards

Although the best rewards cards listed are bucketed together, the type of rewards you earn will vary based on the credit card issuer and type of card you choose. Here are three types of rewards credit cards and how they add value in different ways. The best card for you will be the one that best suits your needs.

Cash back rewards cards

Cash back credit cards let you earn a certain percentage of cash back based on your purchases. Certain cards may offer flat-rate cash back, and others may offer bonus rewards in rotating categories. When you're ready to redeem your cashback rewards, you can typically do so in the form of statement credit on your account, a direct deposit or check, or a gift card or donation. We recommend you pick from among the best cash back credit cards.

Travel rewards cards

Some of the best travel credit cards are issued by financial institutions and may be co-branded with an airline or hotel. These rewards credit cards typically have travel benefits and perks that help you save money and enjoy a better travel experience. They might also have credit card travel insurance benefits, such as travel accident, travel interruption, or lost luggage insurance.

Some travel rewards offer the biggest value when you redeem them for airfare or hotel stays, but many also offer flexible redemption options that let you transfer rewards to your preferred airline or hotel.

Store rewards cards

You can also find rewards credit cards for your favorite retail stores. These cards offer store-specific rewards that can help you save on future online or in-store purchases. Some store cards also offer tiered status, depending on how much you spend with the brand. In exchange for a higher spend, the store might offer a bigger percentage off of your next purchase or other perks.

How to maximize credit card rewards

Consider these five tips to help maximize how you earn and redeem credit card rewards.

1. Get a rewards credit card

The first step in maximizing credit card rewards is making sure you have a rewards credit card. Not every credit card earns rewards, and not all rewards are the same. For beginners to rewards credit cards, it's often easy to start with a credit card that earns flexible rewards.

These types of rewards can be used for a wide variety of travel redemptions. Chase Ultimate Rewards, for example, are known for being more flexible to redeem than most, offering many redemption options at varying values. You can use them to book travel, redeem them for cash or cash equivalents, and find a number of other uses.

2. Use your credit card

A basic rule of thumb for rewards cards is to use them as much as you can and you'll earn more rewards. This doesn't mean buying as much stuff as possible, but using your credit card on anything you were already planning on purchasing.

Groceries, gas, internet, phone bills, online shopping, eating out, and plenty of other everyday expenses can typically be put on a credit card. As long as you plan on making on-time and full credit card payments each billing cycle, there's often no downside to using rewards cards to make common purchases.

3. Align spending habits with bonus categories

Many rewards credit cards have different bonus categories where you earn more rewards than the base rewards rate. For example, the base rewards rate might be 1% cash back for most purchases, but on dining purchases, you might earn 3% cash back.

You can maximize your earning potential if you know the categories where you spend the most money. So if you spend a lot on dining and groceries, it makes sense to apply for a credit card with dining and grocery bonus categories. In some cases, you might want a separate credit card for each bonus category, so one card for dining and another card for groceries. This type of strategy could help you maximize your earning potential with bonus miles, points, or cash back.

4. Take advantage of bonus offers

Welcome bonuses are an easy way for you, as a new cardholder, to earn loads of rewards soon after qualifying for a new credit card. 

For example, you might be able to earn 60,000 or more points for spending $4,000 in the first three months. Compare that to everyday earning potential, where you might spend $4,000 and you could earn between 4,000 to 20,000 points depending on your cards' earning rates.

Sign-up bonuses are typically much more valuable than simply earning rewards from buying groceries or dining out. But you might have to time earning a welcome bonus with an upcoming large purchase to meet the spending requirement of the bonus. 

Remember that terms apply to bonus offers. Specifically, you typically have to meet a spending requirement for the one-time bonus within a few months of card membership.

5. Make valuable redemptions

Rewards credit cards can have loads of different redemption options, but they might not all provide the same value.

For example, 10,000 points might be worth $100 if redeemed for a flight, but only worth $80 if used for online purchases. In this case, you get more value by redeeming rewards for flights rather than online purchases.

It's common for different redemption options to have different redemption values, so it's important to see what those values are before you use your rewards. You might also place your own values on redemptions depending on the situation.

This could be the case if you have no need for travel redemptions. So the best cash-related redemption option on your card could be your top choice even if it technically might have a lower redemption value compared to something else.

Making the most of your rewards card

Make purchases on everything that makes sense

One of the primary benefits of a rewards card is being able to earn valuable cash back, points, or miles on all eligible purchases. This means you should use your card as much as it makes sense if you want to earn as many rewards as possible.

For example, you can put all your everyday purchases on your rewards card. This can include grocery store purchases, gas, food, entertainment, utilities, and more.

Keep in mind that it typically doesn't make sense to spend more than you normally would just to earn credit card rewards. In most cases, your spending should be on things you were planning to buy anyway.

Increase your earning potential with multiple cards

Some rewards cards have bonus categories, which means you'll earn more rewards on certain purchases. For example, a 3X bonus category on dining means you get 3X points for dining purchases. But the same credit card might only earn 1X at U.S. gas stations or grocery stores.

Depending on your spending habits, you might consider using multiple rewards cards to earn more rewards in multiple categories. This could mean having a card for travel, a card for dining, a card for groceries, and so on. In some cases, one rewards card might be enough for multiple categories at the same time.

Note that if you don't want the potential headache of juggling multiple cards and keeping track of which card to use for what purchase, consider a flat-rate rewards card instead. This is a type of card that earns an elevated base rate on all eligible purchases. For example, 2% cash back on all purchases.

Use your perks and benefits

Rewards credit cards often provide different types of perks and benefits. This could include car rental benefits, airline credits or upgrades, streaming subscription credits, and more.

It makes sense to take advantage of any available card benefits if you want to get the most value out of your rewards card. For instance, a frequent traveler might use their airport lounge access to get free food and drinks and save money by not having to pay for overpriced airport food.

Maximize your redemption value

Rewards credit cards typically provide many different types of redemptions. This could include statement credits, travel, gift cards, and other options.

Make sure you check your card's rewards program details to see whether all the redemptions provide the same value. For example, you might get one redemption rate for receiving a statement credit and a different rate for receiving a gift card. If you want to stretch your rewards, it makes sense to use redemptions that provide the most value.

In general, travel credit cards get more value from travel-related redemptions. Similarly, cash back credit cards often receive more value from cash-related redemptions.

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase Ultimate Rewards is the rewards program for Chase's suite of rewards credit cards.

You can redeem Ultimate Rewards points in a number of ways, which makes this program very flexible. For example, points can be redeemed for cash back or a statement credit, gift cards, merchandise, or toward Amazon or Apple purchases. When you redeem points for travel through Chase Travel℠, they are worth 25% more.

Chase also partners with many airlines and hotels. Rewards transfers are typically offered at a 1:1 ratio, which ensures your points don't lose their value.

Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partners include:

  • Aer Lingus AerClub
  • Air Canada Aeroplan
  • Air France KLM
  • British Airways Executive Club
  • Emirates Skywards
  • Iberia Plus
  • IHG Rewards Club
  • JetBlue TrueBlue
  • Marriott Bonvoy
  • Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
  • Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
  • United MileagePlus
  • Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
  • World of Hyatt

Citi ThankYou Points

Multiple rewards cards use the Citi ThankYou Points rewards program, including cash back cards (which earn cash back in the form of ThankYou Points in much the same way Chase cash back cards earn Ultimate Rewards points). The idea is that you can redeem your cash back through the portal, which you access via ThankYou.com, at a base rate of 1 cent per point.

Through the Citi ThankYou.com portal, you can redeem points for statement credits, gift cards, direct deposits, checks, shopping purchases, charitable donations, and travel. If you use your points to book travel, you'll do so through the Citi Travel℠ portal. With some cards, you can also transfer points to Citi's partners.

Citi transfer partners include:

  • Aeromexico
  •  Air France Flying Blue
  • ALL Accor Live Limitless 
  • Avianca 
  • Cathay Pacific
  • Choice Privileges 
  • Emirates 
  • Etihad 
  • Eva Air 
  • Hotel Leaders Club
  •  JetBlue
  • Qantas 
  • Qatar Airways 
  • Singapore Airlines
  • Thai Airways
  • Turkish Airlines
  • Virgin Atlantic  
  • Wyndham Rewards 

American Express Membership Rewards

The American Express Membership Rewards program lets you use earned points that can be redeemed for statement credits, gift cards, or merchandise. You can also use them to book on Amex Travel — which typically provides the most value — or donate to charity.

When shopping on store websites that partner with American Express Membership Rewards, you can easily redeem points at checkout. Some popular retailers that participate are Best Buy, Amazon, and Walmart.

Like Chase Ultimate Rewards, travelers can also transfer points to Amex partners. Amex travel partners include:

  • Aer Lingus AerClub
  • AeroMexico Club Premier
  • Air Canada Aeroplan
  • Air France KLM
  • All Nippon Airways (ANA) Mileage Club
  • Avianca LifeMiles
  • British Airways Executive Club
  • Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
  • Choice Privileges
  • Delta Air Lines SkyMiles
  • Emirates Skywards
  • Etihad Guest
  • Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles
  • Hilton Honors
  • Iberia Plus
  • JetBlue TrueBlue
  • Marriott Bonvoy
  • Qantas Frequent Flyer
  • Qatar Airways Privilege Club
  • Singapore Airlines, KrisFlyer
  • Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Capital One Venture Rewards

Depending on the kind of Capital One card you have, you can choose to participate in the Capital One Venture Rewards loyalty program to earn points or miles. Your Capital One Venture rewards never expire as long as the account is active.

You can redeem your rewards as cash back, for travel, on Amazon, and more. Capital One transfer partners include:

  • Accor Live Limitless
  • AeroMexico Club Premier
  • Air Canada Aeroplan
  • Air France KLM
  • Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
  • Avianca LifeMiles
  • British Airways Executive Club
  • Choice Privileges
  • Emirates Skywards
  • Etihad Guest
  • EVA Air Infinity MileageLands
  • Finnair Plus
  • JetBlue TrueBlue
  • Qantas Frequent Flyer
  • Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
  • TAP Air Portugal
  • Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
  • Virgin Red
  • Wyndham Rewards

Are rewards credit cards worth it?

Though you'll likely need a good or excellent credit score to get approved for a rewards card, they can offer incredible value on purchases you would have otherwise made with cash or conventional credit cards. There are many scenarios in which a rewards card can be useful, whether you opt for a cashback card or a travel card.

For example, if you're planning a wedding and already have savings set aside for expenses, like the venue or catering. Instead of paying vendors with cash, opt to use one of the best credit cards for weddings, and repay the credit card statement in full using the savings you've set aside. By doing so, you'll accumulate rewards from the wedding expenses that you can use to offset the cost of a honeymoon.

Using a rewards card is also valuable if your timing is strategic. If you need a new laptop, for example, and are planning to purchase one soon, you might try to find a rewards card that offers a lucrative welcome offer. When you make the purchase within the welcome promotion window and hit the minimum spend, you can earn rewards to offset the cost of the laptop. Just make sure you have enough saved to repay the charge.

When used responsibly, rewards credit cards can help you save. Many also offer valuable perks that can help make your travel experiences more enjoyable.

FAQs

Are rewards credit cards worth it?

Rewards credit cards typically offer rewards for every purchase you make, which increases their value over using cash or most debit cards. These rewards could come in the form of cash back, points, or miles. In addition, many rewards cards provide helpful benefits, such as earning bonus rewards in common spending categories, like groceries or gas.

Which credit card pays the most cash back?

Cash back credit cards like the Citi Double Cash and Chase Freedom Unlimited offer some of the best cashback rates available for everyday spending. But many of the best cash back credit cards also offer higher cashback rates in specific categories. For example, the Discover it® Cash Back lets you earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

How much are credit card rewards points worth?

The value of your credit card rewards depends on which credit cards you're using, though each point being worth 1 cent is a good rule of thumb. For example, on the Chase Freedom Unlimited, 10,000 Ultimate Rewards points would be worth $100 toward travel redemptions. But on the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, 10,000 points would be worth up to $200 toward travel redemptions made through Chase Travel℠. Be sure to check your credit card's rewards program to see how much your rewards are worth for different types of redemptions.

What credit score do I need to get a rewards credit card?

Credit card issuers will check your credit history before they approve you for a new account. Many rewards credit cards typically require good credit or even excellent credit scores to qualify because of their increased earning potential and benefits. A good credit score starts at 670 according to the FICO scoring model.

You can use a tool like Chase Credit Journey to check your credit score and credit health for free, even if you don't have a Chase credit card. Chase Credit Journey helps you track your credit-building progress with free features and updates.

Bottom line

If you're in the market for a new card, chances are you'll find a rewards card that aligns with your needs and personal finances. Whether you've just figured out how to start a business or are making a large purchase, the best rewards credit card can earn you extra savings on the purchases you're already making.

Lucrative, Flat-Rate Cash Rewards
5.0
info

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Current Offer

$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Rate

Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks
Card Details