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Key takeaways
- The best credit card rewards programs offer multiple ways to earn rewards and several high-value redemption options.
- Many credit card rewards programs also feature exclusive perks like limited-time offers, dining programs and exclusive access to concerts, Broadway shows and other experiences.
- Before applying for a rewards credit card, take a look at your spending habits so you can choose a card with a rewards program that matches the spending you already do.
Choosing the right credit card for your lifestyle and goals means considering the card’s full picture. What are its rates and fees? Does it offer additional perks you can use? Can you use it every day? Can you qualify for it with the credit score you have? And, if you’re considering a rewards credit card, what does its rewards program offer and can it enhance your life?
Beyond the basic “earn rewards, redeem rewards” steps, each credit card rewards program works differently. Differing redemption options and program rules will make one program a better fit for you, while another program could work better for someone else.
Best rewards programs
To build our list of top credit card rewards programs, Bankrate considered the ease of earning and redeeming rewards, the potential value of those rewards and how a program fits into a particular lifestyle.
Let’s take a closer look at the best credit card rewards programs in 2025, including some of the best cards to consider from each program this year.
Best for beginners
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The Capital One miles program offers serious earning potential for frequent travelers, but it’s the straightforward redemption options that make this our top pick for those just starting to explore how travel rewards cards work.
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- Rewards program basics: Earn Capital One miles with one of several credit cards, ranging from no-annual-fee options to a premium card with luxury perks for the frequent traveler. If you hold multiple Capital One cards that earn miles, you can pool rewards in a single bucket to stretch your rewards even further.
- How to redeem miles: The simplest way to redeem your miles is for a statement credit to cover travel purchases made on your card. You can also transfer rewards to a variety of airline and hotel loyalty programs, or redeem them for cash back, merchandise, gift cards and more.
- Redemption options and value of rewards: The value you get from your miles depends on how you redeem them.
Redemption category Value Statement credit for travel purchases 1 cent each Purchase travel through the Capital One travel portal 1 cent each Cash back 0.5 cents each Gift cards 0.8 cents to 1 cent each Capital One Entertainment Varies, but 0.8 cents each is common Pay with points via Amazon or Paypal 0.8 cents each Transfer to high-value travel partner 1.7 cents each, according to Bankrate’s latest valuation -
- The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card comes with no annual fee, and cardholders earn 1.25X miles on everyday purchases and 5X miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars purchased through the Capital One Travel portal.
- The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card comes with a $95 annual fee and includes a statement credit of up to $120 to cover your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee. It also earns 2X miles per dollar spent on everyday purchases and 5X miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars purchased through the Capital One Travel portal.
- The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card charges a $395 annual fee but offers up to $300 in annual travel portal credit and a 10,000-mile bonus each year after your account anniversary. It also features the Global Entry/TSA Precheck credit and comes with airport lounge access at both Capital One Lounges and Priority Pass Select locations worldwide. The card earns 2X miles per dollar on everyday purchases, 10X miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars purchased through the Capital One Travel portal and 5X miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals purchased through the portal.
Best for combining multiple rewards cards
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The Chase Ultimate Rewards program offers a long list of ways to earn and redeem rewards, and some redemption options even come with a higher value base rate.
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- Rewards program basics: Chase Ultimate Rewards are easy to earn through regular spending on a number of different credit cards, including several options with no annual fee. Combine your rewards across multiple cards and with up to one person sharing your household to see your rewards bank grow more quickly.
- How to redeem points: Redeem Chase points through the Chase Travel℠ portal for travel, gift cards, merchandise, cash back and more. If you hold a premium card, you can also transfer rewards to travel loyalty partners.
- Redemption options and value of rewards: The value of your points depends on how you redeem them.
Redemption category Value Travel through Chase Travel℠ - 1 cent each base rate
- 1.25 cents each with Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
- 1.5 cents each with Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Cash back 1 cent each Gift cards Usually 1 cent each, but promotions can up the value Pay with points via Amazon.com or Paypal 0.8 cents each Pay with points at the Apple Store Varies Chase Pay Yourself Back Varies, but 1 cent each to 1.25 cents each is common Transfer to high-value travel partner 2.0 cents each, according to Bankrate’s valuation; note that you need a Sapphire card or the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card to transfer points to partners -
- The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, which comes with a $95 annual fee, includes a robust rewards structure great for both travel and everyday spending. Take advantage of various travel insurance protections and an annual $50 hotel credit for hotels booked through the Chase portal.
- The Chase Sapphire Reserve® charges a $550 annual fee, but you can enjoy up to $300 in credit annually for travel purchases as well as credits for your Global Entry/TSA Precheck application fee. Cardholders also get airport lounge access through a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership.
- The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a no-annual-fee card that’s marketed as a cash back card but earns Ultimate Rewards points. Combine your points with those earned with a Sapphire card to make your points worth more. With this card, you earn at least 1.5X points on every purchase, with substantially more earning potential in specific spending categories.
- The Chase Freedom Flex® is another “cash back” card that earns Ultimate Rewards points. Cardholders earn 5 percent back (that’s 5X Ultimate Rewards points per dollar) on up to $1,500 spent in categories that rotate quarterly (then 1 percent, activation required). That high earning rate makes it an excellent addition to an Ultimate Rewards earning strategy.
Best for a wide variety of redemption options
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The American Express Membership Rewards program has an impressive variety of redemption options, which include booking travel through the Amex portal, statement credits, gift cards, select merchandise or transferring Amex points to hotel and airline partners.
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- Rewards program basics: American Express features a number of high-value transfer partner options, making Membership Rewards one of the best card rewards programs for travel card aficionados. American Express is also transparent about the value of points for various redemption options, which simplifies how you spend your points.
- How to redeem points: Membership Rewards points open the door to a wide range of redemption options, including travel, transfers to partners, gift cards, paying with points and more.
- Redemption options and value of rewards: Your points value depends on how you redeem your points, but travel redemptions and transfers to travel partners generally net the most value.
Redemption category Value Travel through the Membership Rewards travel portal - Flights: 1 cent each
- Other travel: Usually 0.7 cents each
Statement credit 0.5 to 0.6 cents each depending on the card Gift cards Varies, but up to 1 cent each Pay with points via Amazon.com, Paypal and several other merchants 0.7 cents each Pay for a New York City taxi 1 cent each Transfer to high-value travel partner 2.0 cents each, according to Bankrate’s valuation -
- The American Express® Gold Card is a top credit card for groceries thanks to its 4X points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 spent annually, then 1X points). It also features impressive earning potential at restaurants and on flights. All those rewards make it possible to offset the $325 annual fee.
- The Platinum Card® from American Express includes an impressive welcome offer of 80,000 points after spending $8,000 within the first 6 months of card membership. Beyond that, this luxury card offers airport lounge access and a slew of potential credits that can help offset its high $695 annual fee.
- The American Express Green Card® comes with elevated earning potential on purchases in categories like travel, restaurants and transit. You can also earn 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 within the first 6 months of membership, helping to offset the card’s $150 annual fee.
- The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card* is a no-annual-fee option for earning Membership Rewards points. The rewards potential isn’t spectacular, but this is a nice card to keep around to house your Membership Rewards points without paying an annual fee. Unfortunately, this card has been discontinued and is unavailable to new applicants.
Best for base rate earning
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The Citi ThankYou Rewards program is a standout because you can increase your earning potential substantially by using more than one Citi credit card and pooling your Citi ThankYou points together. Several of the cards offer stellar intro 0 percent APR options as well as top base-rate earnings.
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- Rewards program basics: Citi ThankYou points can accumulate quickly thanks to high earnings on everyday purchases across several card options. With a premium Citi card, you can transfer points to travel partners for top value.
- How to redeem: You can typically redeem Citi ThankYou points for cash back, travel through the Citi portal, gift cards, merchandise or charitable donations. You can also pay with points when shopping with select merchants, and your points may be transferable to Citi travel partners, depending on the card you have.
- Redemption options and value of rewards: Once again, the value of your rewards depends on how you redeem them as well as which Citi cards you have.
Redemption category Value Travel through the Citi ThankYou portal 1 cent each Cash back 1 cent each Gift cards Usually 1 cent each, but promotions can up the value Shop with points at various online and in-store merchants 0.8 cents each Pay with points to cover recent purchases in qualifying categories 0.8 cents each Transfer to high-value travel partner 1.6 cents each, according to Bankrate’s valuation (Citi Strata Permier℠ Card or Citi Prestige® Card* (no longer available to new applicants) needed to transfer points to most partners) -
- The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card opens the door to transferring points to Citi travel loyalty partners for a $95 annual fee. The card also offers excellent earning in everyday categories: 3X points per dollar at gas and EV charging stations, supermarkets and restaurants as well as on air travel and hotels. It also earns 10X points on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked through the Citi travel portal while offering 1X point per dollar on all other purchases.
- The Citi Rewards+® Card is a no-annual-fee card for everyday spending that earns you 5X points on hotel, rental car and attraction purchases through the Citi travel portal (offer ends December 31, 2025), 2X points at supermarkets and gas stations (on up to $6,000 in purchases per year, then 1X points) and 1X points on all other purchases. Plus, this card rounds your earning up to the nearest 10 points for every purchase. That means your $4.15 cup of coffee will earn you 10 points instead of 4. You’ll also earn a 10 percent bonus on the first 100,000 points earned each year.
- The Citi Double Cash® Card is another no-annual-fee card that earns cash back to the tune of 2 percent back on every purchase — 1 percent when you buy and another 1 percent when you pay for your purchases. As long as you also carry a Citi premium card, you can convert your rewards earned into full-fledged ThankYou points, rather than the “basic” points you earn with this card on its own.
Best for loyalty bonus
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The Bank of America travel rewards program offers a simplistic approach to credit card rewards. But for people with an established Bank of America relationship and balances that qualify for the Preferred Rewards program, earnings can be impressive.
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- Rewards program basics: The program offers access to the Bank of America Travel Center. Some cards also feature Visa Signature benefits, which may include such perks as extended warranty protection, baggage delay reimbursement, trip cancellation and interruption insurance and concierge services, among others.
- How to redeem: Earn rewards points for every dollar spent with eligible cards in this program. Many cards in this program offer a higher, flat rewards rate on all purchases, but some also offer higher rewards rates on dining and travel-related purchases. Plus, if you’re a member of the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program, you can earn 25 percent to 75 percent more rewards in each spending category, depending on your membership tier.
- Redemption options and value of rewards: Your points value depends on how you redeem your points, but travel redemptions and transfers to travel partners generally net the most value.
Redemption category Value Statement credit to cover eligible travel or dining purchases 1 cent each Deposit into eligible BofA or Merrill Lynch account 0.6 cents each Check 0.6 cents each Gift cards Varies, but less than 1 cent each -
- The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card, which comes with no annual fee, awards cardholders 1.5X points per dollar spent on all purchases. It’s a simple, inexpensive card to carry.
- The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card charges a $95 annual fee and offers 2X points on travel and dining purchases and 1X points on other purchases. It also offers a $100 incidental airline credit and up to $100 in credits toward your Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee, making the annual fee easy to offset.
Information about the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card and Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card was last updated on December 12, 2024.
Best for frequent Amazon shoppers
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If you’re on a first-name basis with your Amazon delivery driver, the rewards program available through Amazon’s credit cards are hard to beat. There are no caps on what you can earn, and redemption options extend beyond Amazon credit.
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- Rewards program basics: Earn top rewards on your Amazon purchases and on purchases with Amazon partners. Those rewards maintain their value whether you redeem directly for purchases with Amazon or for cash back.
- How to redeem: Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel or to pay for qualifying purchases on Amazon.
- Redemption options and value of rewards: Your points value is a consistent 1 cent, making this a simple program to understand.
Redemption category Value Cash back 1 cent each Pay with points for qualifying Amazon purchases 1 cent each Chase.com for travel, gift cards and more 1 cent each -
- The Prime Visa offers a no-annual-fee way to earn 5 percent back on Amazon, Whole Foods and Chase Travel purchases as well as 2 percent back at gas stations and restaurants and on local transit. You can also earn 10 percent back (or more) on categories and items that rotate at Amazon.com. You must have an Amazon Prime membership to maximize this card’s value.
How to choose a credit card rewards program
With so many credit card rewards programs available, choosing the right one for your own financial needs may feel overwhelming. The first step to choosing the right rewards program is to understand how you spend your money each month. Then, narrow down the rewards programs that best match your spending habits so you’re rewarded for the type of spending you’re already planning. Once you’ve done that, simply find a rewards credit card that matches those needs.
Once you find a credit card rewards program that aligns with your spending habits, confirm the program offers:
- The type of rewards you’re interested in earning
- Program partners you’re interested in, such as airline and hotel partners
- High-value redemption options or flexible redemption options
- Additional perks that fit your lifestyle, like access to dining rewards programs or exclusive experiences
How to maximize value through your credit card rewards program
To maximize the value of your credit card rewards, start with our four tips:
- Get a credit card that rewards your existing spending habits. If you spend a lot on gas, groceries or business expenses, get a card that rewards you for these types of purchases.
- Activate program offers and rotating categories (if applicable). Some offers or categories need to be activated before you can earn rewards. This typically applies to cash back cards that offer rotating categories which change each quarter.
- Take advantage of any welcome offers. You can earn additional rewards as a new cardholder by earning a welcome bonus, which usually involves meeting a specific spending threshold within a specific time period — typically three to six months.
- Redeem rewards with transfer partners, when possible. You’ll often get the most value for your points or miles when you transfer them to eligible airline partners.
FAQs about credit card reward programs
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To earn credit card rewards, first find a rewards program and a card that suits your goals and spending habits. The best credit card rewards programs include a variety of ways to earn and redeem your rewards. Once you’ve chosen a program, simply make purchases with a participating credit card to begin earning your rewards.
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The ways in which you can redeem credit card rewards differ by the rewards program and the specific card you have. The top credit card rewards programs typically allow you to redeem rewards for travel, cash back, gift cards and more.
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The best way to use a rewards card is to use it for purchases that you already make, especially if those purchases earn a boosted rewards rate. To ensure you’re making the most of your spending, compare rewards programs and rewards credit cards before you apply.
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In most cases, the best credit card rewards programs offer a baseline value of 1 cent per point. However, the value of those points can vary based on how you redeem your points. For example, redeeming points for gift cards or cash back may only net you 0.8 cents per point. However, paying with points through the company’s travel portal or transferring points to a travel partner may increase the value of your points to 1.5 or 2 cents per point.
The bottom line
Credit cards can be a fantastic tool for earning rewards on purchases you’re likely to make anyway. The key is to use a credit card responsibly, which includes only borrowing what you can comfortably afford to pay back and paying the balance in full each month to avoid interest charges. With responsible behavior and a great credit card rewards program, you can get a lot of value from your credit card.
*Information about the Chase Freedom Flex℠, Citi Prestige® Card, Citi Premier® Card and Amex EveryDay® Credit Card has been collected independently by Bankrate. The card details has not been reviewed or approved by the issuer.
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