Best credit card rewards?

[MKCP5]

we have one credit card that we use when needed, but I am thinking about getting one that I can put most of our bills on then pay off each month and accrue rewards on. I don't want the Disney one, we don't go often enough for it to be worth it. We travel once or twice a year and like to explore new places. What have you used that gives you maximum benefits?

 

[amcnj]

One of the easiest cards right now is the Doublecash form citibank. You get 2% back, 1% when statement closes, and 1% when you pay the bill. There are cards that pay higher percentages for certain categories of purchases, and you might do better overall with one of these other cards depending on your spending patterns.

 

[Pooh2]

We like the Chase Sapphire for it's flexibility and the best travel benefits. We can transfer points 1 to 1 to programs like Marriott's, Hyatt and certain airlines. Or book through their Ultimate Rewards sites for other airlines.

They have primary car rental insurance (most other cards are secondary to your own auto insurance), and up to $10,000 in trip interruption/cancellation insurance. For that reason alone, it is our main travel card. If you travel out of the country, there are no foreign transaction fees.

They always seem to have a good sign up bonus going on, I think somewhere around $500+ in travel points.

We've had great customer service with Chase and often have a real person answer the phone.

 

[uncharch7]

How much are you spending each month? What are your main categories of spending? Are you wishing to use the rewards for travel or do you want flexibility? What are your major airlines that you like to use?

My #1 is the Chase Sapphire Preferred. #2 is the Chase Freedom. I transfer the points from Freedom to Sapphire to cash out for Southwest miles since the flights are cheaper when paying with points (for example, I just bought tickets that were $650 when I paid with points, over $1k had I paid with cash).

Others to consider:

Citi Double Cash Back
Southwest CC

A good resource:

http://thepointsguy.com/

 

[Shmily1]

We like the Chase Freedom card for the 5% rewards that rotate every 3 months and 1% on other purchases.

 

[Narnia_girl]

...following along.
Also looking for a new card, but it has to have 'no foreign transaction fees'.

 

[chalee94]

https://wallethub.com/credit-cards/...QbgbBaOw.0&utm_referrer=https://www.bing.com/

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

I'd highly recommend using the search button at the top of the page and searching, "credit card rewards" in "titles only". You will get several threads all about the same question, many of which have started in the last 6-12 months.

 

[amcnj]

...following along.
Also looking for a new card, but it has to have 'no foreign transaction fees'.

Before a recent trip I found that only my card issued by Capital One had no foreign transaction fees. My ones from Chase and Citi had 3% fees. Not sure if this applies to all cards from those three issuers, but that is what I found.

 

[KarenAylwood]

Before a recent trip I found that only my card issued by Capital One had no foreign transaction fees. My ones from Chase and Citi had 3% fees. Not sure if this applies to all cards from those three issuers, but that is what I found.

Ditto to this.

 

[supersnoop]

The best credit card rewards are the ones you can actually use. Many people swear by the Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards cards, but if Southwest doesn't fly anywhere near you, that won't help. Any card that earns points will be most valuable in that specific program. If you're going to redeem points for flights on American Airlines, then you should get the American Airlines card, not the generic "travel" points that apply as a credit towards your bill.

PenFed has a card that gives 5% cashback on gas
American Express has a card (with annual fee) that gives 6% back on groceries
Target's RED card gives 5% back at Target.

The "best" rewards card might not be a single card.

 

[DisneyArie]

I have a Chase freedom account and am very satisfied with the rewards.

 

[Marionnette]

How much are you spending each month? What are your main categories of spending? Are you wishing to use the rewards for travel or do you want flexibility? What are your major airlines that you like to use?

My #1 is the Chase Sapphire Preferred. #2 is the Chase Freedom. I transfer the points from Freedom to Sapphire to cash out for Southwest miles since the flights are cheaper when paying with points (for example, I just bought tickets that were $650 when I paid with points, over $1k had I paid with cash).

Others to consider:

Citi Double Cash Back
Southwest CC

A good resource:

http://thepointsguy.com/

Yes. YES! YES!!!!

Hands down, the Chase Sapphire Preferred has not only been the best sign on bonus, but also has the most flexibility without losing value when you convert to points in other frequent traveler programs. Plus booking through their UR travel portal allows you to use both points and cash in the same reservation, so there's no need to purchase points (always a poor financial pay off) to be able to book a hotel or airfare.

If you have a small business, I would also add the Chase Ink card. It also pays in Ultimate Rewards points and you can transfer those points to your personal (Chase Sapphire) account with no penalty. We pay almost all of our overhead with the Ink card. The points add up so quickly!

Another blogger that I like to read is millionmilesecrets.

 

[Anthony1971]

we like Chase we use Freedom for the 5% and unlimited for everything else which 1.5%. The reason we stick with Chase is their program is very easy to use which is also another consideration. Some will put restrictions on cash back such as 25.00 min and intervals of 25.00 in other words if you have 49.00 you can only cash out 25.00... There are a lot blogs to read to find what is best for you. I have always found all the Chase cards, while not always the highest paying, get great ratings because of the easy to use rewards. There are also a lot of ways to maximize points.. Chase Sapphire prefferd being the best it does have an annual fee but has a lot of rewards potential if you travel a lot.
Other things to consider... Chase unlimited is a Visa signature which gives you the better car rental insurance and also extends warranties and a lot of other benefits regula Visa cards do not offer. Amex has one of the worst reward programs as very few options are 1 to 1... in other words a 25.00 Starbucks card may be 2,500 points with Chase and 33,500 with Amex. Another reason Chase is always ranked well... as there are others and Chase also runs specials on gift cards but cash is always 1 to 1... there are a lot of tips and hacks on the blogs if you are willing to put the time in.... again time is the key... most people find they do not have the time (and credit rating) to do them and in the end the payoff for time is not that much.... but for others it is a living....

 

[Narnia_girl]

Before a recent trip I found that only my card issued by Capital One had no foreign transaction fees. My ones from Chase and Citi had 3% fees. Not sure if this applies to all cards from those three issuers, but that is what I found.

Thanks. I was easily able to find lots of blog posts and recommendations on cards that had no foreign fees but after a while my eyes were glazed over.

In the end I chose the Chase Sapphire Preferred and was immediately approved.

We like the Chase Sapphire for it's flexibility and the best travel benefits. We can transfer points 1 to 1 to programs like Marriott's, Hyatt and certain airlines. Or book through their Ultimate Rewards sites for other airlines.

They have primary car rental insurance (most other cards are secondary to your own auto insurance), and up to $10,000 in trip interruption/cancellation insurance. For that reason alone, it is our main travel card. If you travel out of the country, there are no foreign transaction fees.

They always seem to have a good sign up bonus going on, I think somewhere around $500+ in travel points.

We've had great customer service with Chase and often have a real person answer the phone.

My #1 is the Chase Sapphire Preferred. #2 is the Chase Freedom. I transfer the points from Freedom to Sapphire to cash out for Southwest miles since the flights are cheaper when paying with points (for example, I just bought tickets that were $650 when I paid with points, over $1k had I paid with cash).

Yes. YES! YES!!!!

Hands down, the Chase Sapphire Preferred has not only been the best sign on bonus, but also has the most flexibility without losing value when you convert to points in other frequent traveler programs. Plus booking through their UR travel portal allows you to use both points and cash in the same reservation, so there's no need to purchase points (always a poor financial pay off) to be able to book a hotel or airfare.

I was literally just approved for this card--like 10 minutes ago--but I've been researching for days. Now I have to get busy meeting the spending requirement (4K)

One of my favorite blogs had this to say about the Chase Sapphire Preferred, "Best when paired with no-fee Chase Freedom card and/or no-fee Chase Ink Cash"

So what does it mean to pair them? I don't have either of those cards.

(And OP, sorry if this is off-topic for your research)

 

[havaneselover]

Thanks. I was easily able to find lots of blog posts and recommendations on cards that had no foreign fees but after a while my eyes were glazed over.

In the end I chose the Chase Sapphire Preferred and was immediately approved.




I was literally just approved for this card--like 10 minutes ago--but I've been researching for days. Now I have to get busy meeting the spending requirement (4K)

One of my favorite blogs had this to say about the Chase Sapphire Preferred, "Best when paired with no-fee Chase Freedom card and/or no-fee Chase Ink Cash"

So what does it mean to pair them? I don't have either of those cards.

(And OP, sorry if this is off-topic for your research)

I believe it's that you can transfer points. So when Chase Freedom has 5x rewards on groceries, max that out and redeem through Ultimate Rewards and you get the 20% bonus on travel.

I'm trying to figure this out too. I plan to get the Sapphire card next year to help pay for airfare to Vancouver in 2018 (I'm a long term thinker

 

[Marionnette]

One of my favorite blogs had this to say about the Chase Sapphire Preferred, "Best when paired with no-fee Chase Freedom card and/or no-fee Chase Ink Cash"

So what does it mean to pair them? I don't have either of those cards.

(And OP, sorry if this is off-topic for your research)

It means that it's an even better deal when you also have the Chase Freedom and//or the Chase Ink cards in your wallet. They all award in Ultimate Rewards points and you can combine those points with those on another account that earns UR points as long as the account is either in the card holder's name or is owned by a member of the card holder's household.

So, you can use those 3 cards for earning points where you can get the most from each. For instance, the Chase Sapphire is a great travel card and you get 2X points for travel-related purchases like highway tolls, parking, hotels, car rentals and airfare. Ink is a business card and it gives bonuses for office supply stores, gasoline, internet/phone/cable, and cell phone. But they're lousy cards for everyday purchases like groceries. The Freedom often give bonus points in categories that the Sapphire and Ink don't cover.

 

[Albort]

It means that it's an even better deal when you also have the Chase Freedom and//or the Chase Ink cards in your wallet. They all award in Ultimate Rewards points and you can combine those points with those on another account that earns UR points as long as the account is either in the card holder's name or is owned by a member of the card holder's household.

So, you can use those 3 cards for earning points where you can get the most from each. For instance, the Chase Sapphire is a great travel card and you get 2X points for travel-related purchases like highway tolls, parking, hotels, car rentals and airfare. Ink is a business card and it gives bonuses for office supply stores, gasoline, internet/phone/cable, and cell phone. But they're lousy cards for everyday purchases like groceries. The Freedom often give bonus points in categories that the Sapphire and Ink don't cover.

To add to this, Freedom card will give u 5% on rotating cat, currently it is 5% on groceries, 5% on restaurants in 3rd quarter, 5%(maybe 10% again?) amazon in 4th quarter.
Last card to add to this collection is the Freedom Unlimited which gives you 1.5% on all purchases.

All these cards earn 1 certain reward point, so its easier to acquire and redeem. i have had the freedom card starting with around 20k pt, got the CSP last august, Ink Plus last April, ive acquired almost 200k pts. Its a great set of card to have that covers quite a wide variety of categories. Also want to note that the Ink Plus and CSP both carry an annual fee though, but CSP is free for the first year.

 

[havaneselover]

To add to this, Freedom card will give u 5% on rotating cat, currently it is 5% on groceries, 5% on restaurants in 3rd quarter, 5%(maybe 10% again?) amazon in 4th quarter.
Last card to add to this collection is the Freedom Unlimited which gives you 1.5% on all purchases.

All these cards earn 1 certain reward point, so its easier to acquire and redeem. i have had the freedom card starting with around 20k pt, got the CSP last august, Ink Plus last April, ive acquired almost 200k pts. Its a great set of card to have that covers quite a wide variety of categories. Also want to note that the Ink Plus and CSP both carry an annual fee though, but CSP is free for the first year.

The main drawback of the regular freedom card, though, is the bonus points max out every quarter at $1,500 in spending.

 

[Ngwira]

we like Chase we use Freedom for the 5% and unlimited for everything else which 1.5%. The reason we stick with Chase is their program is very easy to use which is also another consideration. Some will put restrictions on cash back such as 25.00 min and intervals of 25.00 in other words if you have 49.00 you can only cash out 25.00... There are a lot blogs to read to find what is best for you. I have always found all the Chase cards, while not always the highest paying, get great ratings because of the easy to use rewards. There are also a lot of ways to maximize points.. Chase Sapphire prefferd being the best it does have an annual fee but has a lot of rewards potential if you travel a lot.
Other things to consider... Chase unlimited is a Visa signature which gives you the better car rental insurance and also extends warranties and a lot of other benefits regula Visa cards do not offer. Amex has one of the worst reward programs as very few options are 1 to 1... in other words a 25.00 Starbucks card may be 2,500 points with Chase and 33,500 with Amex. Another reason Chase is always ranked well... as there are others and Chase also runs specials on gift cards but cash is always 1 to 1... there are a lot of tips and hacks on the blogs if you are willing to put the time in.... again time is the key... most people find they do not have the time (and credit rating) to do them and in the end the payoff for time is not that much.... but for others it is a living....

My AMEX blue cash is 1 to 1 so 50 MR dollars is a $50 starbucks gift card. I LOVE AMEX.