15 best rewards credit cards of October 2024

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Picking the best rewards credit card may feel overwhelming. There are so many options that it can be hard to know which is best for you.

You don’t have to be an aggressive points optimizer to enjoy the perks of a good rewards credit card. With the right card and good financial habits (paying your balance off on time and in full each month), you can earn hundreds of dollars in rewards each year.

To help you pick a rewards card, CNBC Select reviewed each card’s rewards structure and additional benefits, such as discounts at select retailers, travel insurance and annual statement credits. (See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best rewards cards.)

Who’s this for? The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is ideal if you’re seeking a welcome bonus with a manageable spending requirement and reasonable annual fee.

Standout rewards: This card earns bonus miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, as well as an above-average return on all other purchases. Rewards can be redeemed at a fixed value or transferred to various airline and hotel partners.

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Who’s this for? The American Express® Gold Card is ideal for earning travel rewards on everyday spending categories like dining and groceries.

Standout rewards: Whether you like to dine out or cook at home, you’ll earn bonus points on restaurant and U.S. supermarket spending. Travelers also benefit from earning bonus points on flights booked directly with airlines or Amextravel.com.

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Pro tip: You can pair this card with an Amex bank account

An American Express® Rewards Checking account comes with a 1.00% APY and no monthly maintenance fees. Plus, you’ll earn Membership Rewards points on eligible debit card purchases (one point for every $2 in eligible spending).

Who’s this for? The Citi Double Cash® Card is a solid choice if you’re looking to maximize your money without worrying about rotating rewards categories or joining a credit union.

Standout rewards: The Citi Double Cash earns at least 2% cash back on every purchase with 1% back when you buy, plus an additional 1% back when you pay for those purchases. This straightforward rewards structure allows you to earn double what most cards offer on everyday purchases.

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Who’s this for? The Chase Freedom Unlimited®, our top cash-back card, is ideal for anyone looking for a simple way to maximize cash back on everyday spending.

Standout rewards: Cardholders earn bonus cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, as well as on drugstores and dining at restaurants (including takeout), plus an above-average return on all other purchases.

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Pro tip: You can pair this card with a Chase bank account

When you open a Chase Total Checking® account, you can earn a $300 bonus after you make at least $500 in direct deposits within 90 days of opening the account. You can also waive the monthly maintenance fee with qualifying activities.

Who’s this for? The Bilt Mastercard® is ideal if you rent your home or apartment. It allows you to pay rent and earn versatile transferable points without extra fees.

Standout rewards: You can use Bilt points to book travel, pay for dining, shopping and fitness classes or redeem them toward rent or a down payment on a home. On top of all that, you can also transfer Bilt points to many valuable airline and hotel loyalty programs.

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Who’s this for? Secured credit cards provide an opportunity to grow or repair your credit score, so they typically don’t offer rewards or other benefits. However, Discover it® Secured Credit Card is an exception.

Standout rewards: Discover it Secured Credit Card cardholders earn2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Plus earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. That’s a nice return, but it’s even better for the first year because Discover will match all of the cash back you earn for the first year.

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Pro tip: You can pair this card with a Discover bank account

If you want to do all your banking in one place, the Discover® Cashback Debit Checking account offers a debit card that earns 1.00% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month. You can also earn a generous return on your cash with a Discover® Online Savings Account.

Who’s this for? If you have credit card debt and are looking to save on interest, the Citi Simplicity® Card is one of the best options for 0% intro APR balance transfer offers.

Standout rewards: The Citi Simplicity Card doesn’t provide any rewards, but its intro-APR period for balance transfers is exceptionally generous. You’ll get a 0% intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers, then a variable 18.74% – 29.49% applies. There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% ($5 minimum for balances transfer you complete within four months of account opening. After that, the balance transfer fee increases to 5% ($5 minimum).

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Who’s this for? If you’re a frequent traveler looking to make your flights and hotel stays more luxurious, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® should be on your radar.

Standout rewards: This card is geared toward frequent travelers, offering bonus points on dining and travel, plus benefits like a $300 annual travel credit, airport lounge access and no foreign transaction fees. The points you earn with this card are worth 1.5 cents apiece when redeemed through Chase Travel℠, or potentially more when taking advantage of Chase’s hotel and airline partners. 

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Who’s this for? Frequent shoppers of Amazon and Whole Foods will want to look into the Prime Visa. The card also offers a $100 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members.

Standout rewards: All Prime Visa purchases at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, and Whole Foods earn a generous 5% cash back. Cardholders also get bonus cash back at gas stations, restaurants, on local transit and commuting (including rideshare) and Chase Travel℠ purchases.

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Who’s this for? If you’re looking to maximize cash-back rewards, consider a rotating bonus category card like the Chase Freedom Flex®.

Standout rewards: Chase Freedom Flex cardholders earn 5% on the first $1,500 in combined purchases in different categories each quarter. You’ll need to activate the categories to earn the bonus cash back. In addition to rotating rewards, you can earn bonus cash back on travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal, dining and drug stores purchases.

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*For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.

**For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a versatile and rewarding travel card with a welcome bonus worth taking a closer look at.

Rewards

• 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One travel
• 2X miles on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

Annual fee

$95

Notable perks

Every four years, cardholders receive a credit of up to $120 to cover Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® membership. This card has no foreign transaction fees and comes with a bunch of additional travel perks, such as access to extended warranty protection*, Travel Assistance Services*, Purchase Assurance*, MasterRental Insurance*, Master RoadAssist®*, and Trip Cancellation/Interruption Coverage*.

Capital One miles can be used to book flights, hotels, rental cars and more directly through Capital One Travel, or to offset recent travel purchases at a fixed value of one cent per point. Alternatively, they can be transferred to various hotel and airline partners including Accor Live Limitless, Air Canada Aeroplan, Etihad Guest and others to get even more value from your miles.

*Benefit available to accounts approved for the World Elite Mastercard product, subject to terms, conditions, and exclusions in the World Elite Mastercard Guide to Benefits. See Account Terms or Application Terms for more details. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply.

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The American Express® Gold Card offers a stellar return for dining, grocery and travel purchases, as well as statement credits that can almost entirely offset its annual fee (see rates and fees).

Rewards

• 4X points at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X)
• 4X points on up to $25,000 in purchases at U.S. supermarkets per year, then 1X
• 3X points on flights you book directly with an airline or through Amex Travel
• 1X points on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first six months of Card Membership, up to $100 back. Offer ends 11/6/24.

Annual fee

$325 (see rates and fees)

Notable perks

You can receive an annual dining statement credit of up to $120 (up to $10 a month in statement credits) at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys (enrollment required). You can also receive up to $120 in Uber Cash per year ($10 a month) after adding the card to your Uber account (you must have downloaded the latest version of the Uber App and your eligible American Express Gold Card must be a method of payment in your Uber account. The Amex Benefit may only be used in the United States.). Terms apply.

Every year, you can also earn up to $84 in Dunkin’ credit each year when you pay with your American Express® Gold Card (up to $7 in statement credits back per month; Enrollment required), and up to $100 in Resy credit each year (up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually) for in-person dining at U.S. Resy restaurants and other eligible Resy purchases (Enrollment required).

Gold Card members can also participate in Amex Offers, which allow targeted cardholders to earn statement credits or bonus Membership Rewards® points at select retailers. These limited-time offers are location-based and additional terms apply.

You can redeem Amex points for statement credits, gift cards, and when checking out at retailers like Amazon. However, you’ll get the most value from your Membership Rewards points when redeeming for travel through transfer partners.

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The Citi Double Cash® Card is a straightforward no-annual-fee cash-back card.

Rewards

• 5% back on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked through the Citi travel site
• 2% back on all other purchases, 1% back when you buy and 1% back when you pay

Welcome bonus

Earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases within the first six months of account opening.

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

The Citi Double Cash Card offers cardholders a 0% APR for the first 18 months on balance transfers initiated within four months of opening an account. After the intro period ends, there’s a 18.74% – 28.74% variable APR. There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of the amount you transfer with a $5 minimum for transfers completed in the first four months. After that, the balance transfer fee is 5% of the amount you transfer ($5 minimum).

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The Chase Freedom Unlimited® earns a minimum of 1.5% back on every purchase, which ensures you’re earning a healthy return regardless of where you’re shopping.

Rewards

On up to $20,000 spent in the first year:

• 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through  Chase Travel℠
• 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery service)
• 3% on all other purchases

After your first year or $20,000 spent:

• 5% back on travel purchased through  Chase Travel℠
• 5% back on Lyft rides (through March 2025)
• 3% back at drugstores
• 3% back on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services)
• 1.5% on all other purchases.

Welcome bonus

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!

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

Cardholders can benefit from a 0% intro APR for the first 15 months from account opening on new purchases and balance transfers (after, 20.49% – 29.24% variable APR). There’s an intro balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, on transfers made within 60 days of account opening. After that, it’s either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

Freedom Unlimited cardholders receive three free months of DoorDash DashPass, which comes with reduced fees (activate by Dec. 31, 2024).

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The Bilt Mastercard provides a path to paying rent with a credit card without extra fees. But it’s also much more than just a good credit card for renters.

Rewards

• 1X points on rent payments without no transaction fee (up to 100,000 points each calendar year)
• 3X points on dining
• 2X points on travel
• 1X point on all other purchases

To earn points with the Bilt card, you need to make at least five transactions per billing cycle.

Welcome bonus

None

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

When you consider that the Bilt Mastercard has no annual fee, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the insurance benefits it has. You’re covered by trip delay reimbursement, trip interruption/cancellation protection, rental car collision insurance (primary), cell phone protection and purchase protection.

You can also earn a $5 Lyft credit when you take three Lyft rides in a month (through Sept. 30, 2025) and take advantage of a range of Mastercard perks. You have access to Mastercard ID Theft Protection, Mastercard Airport Concierge, Mastercard Travel and Lifestyle Services and more.

With Bilt, you can also earn bonus points at Walgreens and link your HSA/FSA to simplify reimbursements. You can earn 2X Bilt points on Walgreens branded items and 1X Bilt points on all other eligible Walgreens purchases. On top of that, you can earn 100 bonus Bilt points on prescription refills (subject to exclusions; activation required).

The value of a Bilt Rewards point depends on how you use it. The best options for redeeming points include booking travel through the Bilt Travel Portal for 1.25 cents per point or receiving 1.5 cents per point toward a down payment on a home. To get even more value, consider taking advantage of Bilt’s transfer partners which include World of Hyatt, United MileagePlus, Emirates Skywards and many more.

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The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is an incredibly flexible travel rewards credit card that comes with useful travel and shopping protections, plus a modest annual fee.

Rewards

• 5X on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
• 5X points on Lyft rides (through Mar. 31, 2025)
• 5X points on eligible Peloton purchases over $150 (earn a max of 25,000 points through Mar. 31, 2025)
• 3X points on dining
• 3X points on online grocery purchases
• 3X points on select streaming services
• 2X points on all other travel
• 1X points on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

Get up to $1,050 in Chase Travel^SM value. Earn 60,000 bonus points after $4,000 in purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. That’s worth $750 when redeemed through Chase Travel. Plus, get up to $300 in statement credits on Chase Travel purchases within your first year.

Annual fee

$95

Notable perks

On every account anniversary, card members receive a 10% bonus based on the total purchases from the previous year. If you spent $50,000 on the card, at the end of that year you’d receive a 5,000-point bonus. You can also earn up to a $50 Annual Chase Hotel Credit each year for hotel stays you purchase through Chase Travel℠.

This card has no foreign transaction fees and offers insurance such as trip delay reimbursement, trip cancellation/interruption coverage and primary rental car insurance. Cardholders can also enroll to receive one year of free DashPass membership (activate by Dec. 31, 2027).

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The Discover it® Secured Credit Card requires an upfront deposit. Plus, it has a generous rewards structure for a secured credit card.

Rewards

• 2% back on the first $1,000 in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each quarter
• 1% back on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

Discover will match the cash back you earn in the first year of card membership.

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

You’ll need to make a minimum deposit of $200 to qualify for this card. However, after seven months, Discover will automatically review your account to see if you qualify for an upgrade to an unsecured credit card. This card has no foreign transaction fees.

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The Discover it® Student Cash Back card is an unusually rewarding credit card for students.

Rewards

• 5% back on up to $1,500 in purchases in rotating quarterly categories (then 1%) (activation required)
• 1% back on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

Discover will match the cash back you earn in the first year of card membership.

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

You’ll need to be an eligible student to qualify for this card, but it is available even if you have poor credit or a limited credit history. Students traveling overseas can take advantage of no foreign transaction fees.

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The Platinum Card® from American Express is a premium credit card loaded with annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, extensive airport lounge access, elite status perks and more.

Rewards

• 5X points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year)
• 5X points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel
• 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn 80,000 points after spending $8,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership.

Annual fee

$695 (see rates and fees)

Notable perks

The American Express Platinum card has an incredible list of statement credit offers that can be worth over $1,500 when maximized, including:

• Up to $300 in Equinox credit (enrollment required)
• Up to $200 in airline fee credits (enrollment required)
• $200 in Uber Cash each year (enrollment required)
• Up to $155 in Walmart+ credits (subject to auto-renewal). Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• Up to $240 in digital entertainment credits (enrollment required)
• Up to $100 in Saks 5th Avenue credits each year (enrollment required)
• $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
• Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.

On top of excellent airport lounge access, cardholders can enroll for Marriott Bonvoy Gold status (enrollment required), Hilton Honors Gold status (enrollment required) and rental car perks with National, Avis and Hertz. It also has all of the built-in protections you’d want from a premium travel card, including trip delay reimbursement*, trip cancellation/interruption coverage*, return protection, purchase protection** and extended warranty coverage**. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

*Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

**Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

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The Citi Simplicity® Card doesn’t offer any rewards but can help you pass less credit card interest.

Rewards

None

Welcome bonus

None

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

In addition to this card’s balance transfer intro APR, it also offers a 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases, after that a 18.74% – 29.49% variable APR applies.

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Anyone who prefers to earn cash-back rewards will want to consider the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express.

Rewards

• 6% back on up to $6,000 per year in purchases at U.S. supermarkets (then 1%)
• 6% back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
• 3% back on transit
• 3% back at U.S. gas stations
• 1% back on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of account opening.

Annual fee

$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 (see rates and fees)

Notable perks

Statement credit offers that cardholders can take advantage of:

• Up to $84 in Disney bundle credit (spend $9.99 or more a month on a auto renewing Disney Bundle subscription to receive a $7 statement credit a month, enrollment required. Valid only at Disney Plus.com, Hulu.com or Plus.espn.com in the U.S.)

Cardholders can also potentially save money on their purchases by taking advantage of Amex Offers.

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The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is loaded with luxury perks and valuable ongoing benefits that can easily make the annual fee worth it.

Rewards

• 10X points on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel℠
• 10X points on Lyft rides (through Mar. 31, 2025)
• 10X points on Chase Dining purchases
• 10X points on eligible Peloton purchases ( up to 50,000 points through Mar. 31, 2025)
• 5X points on flights purchased through Chase Travel℠
• 3X points on travel
• 3X points on dining
• 1X points on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn 60,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.

Annual fee

$550

Notable perks

Every card anniversary year, cardholders get a $300 travel credit, which automatically applies to eligible purchases. Plus, cardholders can get a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee credit worth up to $120 every four years. Both of those credits are on top of the complimentary Priority Pass Select membership (valued at roughly $469 a year), which grants you unlimited visits to over 1,500 airport lounges worldwide.

This card also comes with a host of top-notch travel and purchase protections, including:

Having this card also increases the value of your points by 50% when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruise reservations when you redeem through Chase Travel℠. This is a good way to boost the value of your Chase points.

On top of earning bonus points for Lyft rides, you can enroll to receive two years of free Lyft Pink All Access, which is worth $199 a year (activate by Dec. 31, 2024). You can also take advantage of 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.

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The Prime Visa is only available to Amazon Prime members ($139 for an annual membership and $14.99 for a monthly membership) but is especially rewarding for Amazon purchases. If you’re not a member, you can get the Amazon Visa, which offers 3% cash back at Amazon and Whole Foods.

Rewards

• 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods and on travel purchased through Chase
• 2% back at gas stations, restaurants and on local transit
• 1% back on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

Receive an instant $100 Amazon gift card upon approval.

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

The Prime Visa has no foreign transaction fees, purchase protection and extended warranty protection. It also has valuable travel insurance including, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement and rental car coverage.

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The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is one of the most rewarding options for earning cash back in categories such as entertainment and dining.

Rewards

• 10% back on Uber and Uber Eats purchases
• 3% back on dining
• 3% back on entertainment
• 2% back on eligible streaming services
• 3% back at grocery stores
• 1% back on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn $300 cash after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

Through Nov. 14, 2024, cardholders can receive a monthly statement credit to cover an Uber One membership. This card also has no foreign transaction fees and grants you access to exclusive events and experiences through Capital One Entertainment and Capital One Dining.

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The Chase Freedom Flex® is an excellent cash-back card for maximizing your spending in a variety of categories.

Rewards

• 5% back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in rotating quarterly categories
• 5% back on travel purchases through the Chase Ultimate Rewards site
• 5% back on Lyft rides (through Mar. 31, 2025)
• 3% back on dining
• 3% back at drugstores
• 1% back on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn a $100 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Plus, earn 5% cash back on grocery store purchases (excluding Target® and Walmart®) on up to $12,000 spent in the first year.

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

The Freedom Flex offers a competitive 0% intro APR for the first 15 months on new purchases and balance transfers (after, 20.49% – 29.24% variable APR). There’s an intro balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, on transfers made within 60 days of account opening. After that, it’s either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

Cardholders can also enroll for three complimentary months of (activate by Dec. 31, 2027).

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Whether a rewards credit card would be a good addition to your wallet depends on whether it fits your spending habits and how you’ll use it.

For example, if you’re going to carry a balance, even the best rewards credit cards won’t be worth it for you. High interest rates will negate the value of any rewards that you earn.

Secondly, think about how complex you want your credit card strategy to be. If you find chasing the best value exciting and don’t mind putting some thought into managing your cards, a rewards card with bonus rewards or rotating categories may be a good fit. If that sounds too complicated, you might do better with a flat-rate rewards card earning the same cash-back rate on everything you buy.

Finally, ensure that the card’s bonus categories match your everyday spending. If groceries are a big part of your family’s budget, you might want to get a card that earns an elevated rewards rate at grocery stores. If you have a long daily commute, it may be a good idea to apply for a credit card that offers bonus rewards at gas stations. Consider perks and benefits as well since they may increase the card’s value. This may be an especially important factor if you’re looking into cards with annual fees.

All in all, if a rewards credit card matches your spending habits and offers perks you can easily take advantage of to offset the annual fee, that card may be worth it for you. At the very least, if you don’t ever carry a balance and treat spending on a credit card as you would a debit card, using a no-annual-fee cash-back card would give you rewards for the spending you were already going to do anyway.

Rewards credit cards come in all shapes and sizes, so it’s important to take some time to choose the card that best matches your spending habits. You want a card that will reward you for your everyday purchases without having to adjust your spending to maximize card rewards.

You should decide if you’re willing to pay an annual fee for a card since this can help narrow down choices. Rewards cards can have annual fees of up to $550, which can be worthwhile, but not for everyone. Do the math to see if an annual fee is within your budget and if it can be outweighed by the card’s benefits.

Next, you should figure out what type of rewards you want to earn and if you want a simple rewards program or one that may require some work. If you want a straightforward card, some generic rewards cards offer the same rewards on all purchases, which require little planning. But if you want to maximize rewards in common spending categories, such as travel, dining and gas, consider bonus rewards cards that offer over 5% back on purchases and may require activation.

It’s also a good idea to consider the card’s welcome offer. Some of the best rewards credit cards come with large welcome bonuses for new cardholders worth hundreds of dollars. And if you’re planning a big purchase, look for cards with a 0% APR offer — this way, you can still earn rewards but will have more than a year without interest charges to pay off the purchase.

Rewards aside, consider the added card perks, such as annual statement credits, lounge access and 0% APR periods, that can provide enhanced value.

There are several different kinds of reward cards. Rewards credit cards typically provide one of three reward structures: cash back, points or miles. How you earn and redeem rewards varies based on the type of credit card you open.

• Cash back: Receive a percentage of spending back, directly related to how much you spent. Spend $100 on a 1% cash-back card and earn $1 in cash-back.
• Points and miles: Earn points or miles on purchases. The value of one point or one mile doesn’t always equal one cent. They might be worth more or less than a penny depending on the credit card you have and the way you redeem rewards. Typically, you can earn points and miles on travel rewards credit cards.

Additionally, rewards cards can be broken down into three groups based on how you earn rewards:

• Flat-rate rewards: This type of rewards credit card comes with a single rewards rate that applies to all purchases. For example, the Citi Double Cash® Card earns 2% cash back on everything you buy (earn 1% cash back on all purchases and 1% when you pay off your bill)
• Bonus categories: These credit cards offer an elevated rewards rate in certain spending categories. For instance, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® from our list of the best travel rewards credit cards offers 10X points on hotels and car rentals and 5X points on flights booked through Chase Travel℠, plus 3X points on dining and all other travel purchases. Any purchases outside of these categories only earn 1X points.
• Rotating categories: This type of card offers a higher rewards rate in specific bonus categories that change every quarter. The Chase Freedom Flex® is a great example. This cash rewards credit card earns 5% back in rotating categories on up to $1,500 in purchases made each quarter (then 1%). You need to activate the categories every quarter to earn bonus cash back.

In addition to the value of cash back, points and miles varying, redemption options also fluctuate. You may be able to redeem for a statement credit, travel, gift card, merchandise or more, depending on your card.

Travel rewards are the type of credit card reward, typically either points or miles, that travel cards earn. With a travel card, you’ll also usually earn more points or miles for travel purchases and be protected by different types of credit card travel insurance.

Travel rewards can be the most valuable type of credit card rewards to earn, but how you redeem them will determine the value you receive. Most travel rewards programs offer flat-rate redemptions, such as for cash back, gift cards or booking travel. You’ll typically get around one cent per point in value for these redemptions.

The most lucrative travel programs offer flexible (or transferable) points or miles. These programs allow you to convert your travel rewards to airline miles or hotel points. While this type of redemption can be more complicated, it provides an opportunity to dramatically boost the value of your rewards. Some of the best airline loyalty programs allow you to book international business class flights that normally cost thousands of dollars for 70,000 miles, so you can easily receive two to four cents per mile or more in value.

To maximize your rewards card, familiarize yourself with the benefits and fees. Take note of any annual fees and the APR associated with your account, as well as the rewards rates and added perks, such as annual statement credits.

Once you’re familiar with the terms of your card, you can start to take full advantage of them. That may include setting reminders to use the $120 dining statement credit provided by the American Express® Gold Card or submitting a Global Entry application with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card to receive up to $100 credit.

If you have multiple credit cards, consider the rewards offered by each card before deciding which to use. Say you have the Citi Double Cash® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Use the Chase Sapphire Reserve® for all your travel and dining expenses to earn 3X points, then use the Citi Double Cash® Card for everything else to earn an effective 2% cash back: 1% when you buy and 1% after you pay your bill.

Finally, pay attention to reward values when choosing redemption options. While rewards on cash-back credit cards maintain consistent value no matter how you spend them, that’s rarely the case with travel rewards credit cards. Often, travel rewards are worth less if redeemed on non-travel purchases. On the other hand, if you transfer your rewards points or miles to one of the eligible loyalty programs your card issuer partners with, you can sometimes increase the value of your points.

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best rewards credit cards.

To determine which cards are the most rewarding, CNBC Select analyzed over 250 major credit cards issued through FDIC-insured banks and NCUA-insured credit unions that are widely available in the U.S.  

We compared each card on a range of features, including rewards (e.g., cash back, points and miles), annual fees, welcome bonuses, introductory and standard APR and balance transfer fees and foreign transaction fees. We also considered additional perks (e.g., ongoing travel or merchant statement credits), cardholder protections (e.g., purchase protection, $0 liability protection and travel insurance), the application process when available (e.g., is there a credit pull or required credit score) and how easy it is to redeem points (e.g., are rewards are tied to a specific brand; if transferable, to how many/which partners, can you redeem for straight cash back). 
 
We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.  

For the cards that offered a rewards program, we considered consumer spending data forecasts from location intelligence firm Esri to determine where U.S. consumers are spending the most money, like on dining and travel. We used this to help determine what bonus categories are most useful for consumers. Since the value of a point or mile varies based on what they can be redeemed for, we also considered things like transferability and the ability to redeem for cash-back. 

When choosing the best rewards credit cards, we focused on cards that offer some type of return for your spending, including cash-back, travel points and other types of rewards.

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For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, please click here.

For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, please click here.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card from American Express®, please click here.

For rates and fees of the Discover it® Student Cash Back, click here.  

For rates and fees of the Discover it® Secured Credit Card, click here.  

Information about Amazon credit cards has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer prior to publication; if you purchase something through Select links, we may earn a commission.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.