The best credit playing cards, according to TPG spokesperson Clint Henderson

Points, miles and credit card bonuses are what lit the journey flame for me as soon as I entered my mid-30s and determined to prioritize journey in my life.

I’ve greater than two dozen credit card accounts on my credit report, which have fed my journey habit and enabled me to fly within the entrance of the airplane all around the world. Since I began at TPG greater than 5 years in the past, my credit card behavior has solely grown.

But the largest transformation for me has been in seeing how credit card bonuses can unlock the world of journey for everybody.

No matter in order for you to fly enterprise class to Asia or are keen to see grandma for Christmas totally free, there’s a credit card that may empower you, too.

These are my picks for the best credit playing cards that unlock wonderful journey experiences thanks to factors and miles.

The best credit playing cards

The data for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.

Comparing the best credit playing cards

Here are my prime suggestions for the best credit playing cards.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Welcome supply: Earn 60,000 factors after spending $5,000 on purchases inside the first three months from account opening.

Annual payment: $95.

Standout advantages: The Sapphire Preferred provides profitable incomes charges and invaluable perks like 2 factors per greenback spent on journey and three factors per greenback spent on eating purchases. It’s one of many best newbie credit playing cards, and I inform newbies to go along with this card first once they’re prepared to get into the world of credit card rewards.

That being mentioned, the Sapphire Preferred is not only for rookies. I contemplate myself an professional, and it is a card I take advantage of many times due to its profitable earnings and — the best half — its roster of greater than a dozen stellar Chase switch companions.

By transferring instantly to World of Hyatt and Air France-KLM Flying Blue, you may ebook resort rooms and flights that present most worth. Over the years, I’ve used Chase factors to ebook stays at a number of the nicest inns on this planet, together with the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome.

I’ve additionally used my Chase factors to switch to Air France for some wonderful redemptions in enterprise class. This permits me to get even larger worth when redeeming my factors.

Of course, leveraging switch companions is probably not for everybody. If that is you, the simplest manner to use your stash of factors could very effectively be by means of Chase Travel. The 60,000-point welcome bonus you’d earn with this card is value $750 once you redeem your factors this manner.

I like the points-earning energy of my Chase Sapphire Preferred. I additionally handle to use the $50 Chase Travel resort credit yearly, which helps offset greater than half of the $95 annual payment. If you’re in search of an excellent card with a low annual payment and many perks, the Sapphire Preferred is a superb place to begin.

For extra data, take a look at our evaluation of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

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Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

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Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Welcome supply: Earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases inside the first three months from account opening.

Annual payment: $395.

Standout advantages: If your objective, like mine, is to earn greater than 1 level or mile per greenback on on a regular basis purchases, the Capital One Venture X is usually a stable addition to your pockets. This card earns 2 miles per greenback spent on nonbonus objects like toys, garments and utilities.

Most playing cards solely supply bonus rewards in particular classes like eating, groceries and fuel. The base incomes price on the Capital One Venture X is like having a assured bonus. Plus, cardholders earn 10 miles per greenback spent on inns and automotive leases booked by way of Capital One Travel, which equates to a reasonably candy deal.

The Venture X has a $395 annual payment, however that is simply offset by a $300 annual Capital One Travel credit and an additional 10,000 bonus miles obtained every account anniversary.

Remember that Capital One additionally has 15-plus switch companions, so you may ship your miles to airways and resort companions to actually maximize your redemptions. This card additionally will get you entry to Capital One Lounges and lounges in Capital One’s associate community.

For extra data, take a look at our evaluation of the Capital One Venture X.

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Learn extra: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

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American Express Gold Card

Welcome supply: Earn 60,000 factors after spending $6,000 on purchases inside the first six months of card membership.

Annual payment: $325.

Standout advantages: This card has been on my want record for years, however Amex will not challenge it to me since I have already got over two dozen playing cards. The best factor concerning the Amex Gold (apart from the welcome bonus, in fact) is that you simply get bonus miles in two enormous classes: eating and groceries.Cardholders earn 4 factors per greenback spent at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 every calendar 12 months, then 1 level per greenback) and 4 factors per greenback spent at eating places worldwide (up to $50,000 every calendar 12 months, then 1 level per greenback). This is a beneficiant incomes bonus for these two classes, which make up an enormous chunk of my price range. I additionally love that cardholders can earn 3 factors per greenback spent on flights booked instantly with airways or on amextravel.com.

The plethora of assertion credit virtually totally offsets the cardboard’s annual payment. This consists of up to $120 in Uber Cash (up to $10 per 30 days, legitimate for rides and Uber Eats orders within the U.S. after utilizing any Amex card when including the Amex Gold to your Uber account) and up to $120 in eating assertion credit with eligible eating companions (up to $10 per 30 days). Enrollment is required.

Pro tip: Remember to search for switch bonuses that Amex runs with journey companions so you may flip your factors into miles and ebook airfare.

For extra data, take a look at our evaluation of the Amex Gold Card.

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Apply right here: American Express Gold Card

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Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Welcome supply: Earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases inside the first three months from account opening.

Annual payment: $95.

Standout advantages: This is one other nice card, whether or not you’re new to factors and miles or use it as a part of an even bigger technique. Just just like the Venture X, you earn 2 miles per greenback spent on all purchases. This makes the Venture Rewards a stable earner on purchases that do not in any other case fall right into a bonus class.

I like you can redeem these miles at 1 cent every towards any journey fees you placed on the cardboard, which makes for a good baseline redemption. You also can ebook flights, rental vehicles and inns by means of Capital One Travel along with your miles — additionally at a price of 1 cent apiece.

However, to get the utmost worth out of your miles, you need to switch them to certainly one of Capital One’s 15-plus resort and airline applications.

Just one instance? Transfer the miles to Air France-KLM Flying Blue and ebook fancy business-class seats from the U.S. to Europe beginning at 60,000 miles plus taxes and costs every manner.

For extra data, take a look at our evaluation of the Capital One Venture Rewards.

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Learn extra: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

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The Platinum Card from American Express

Welcome supply: Earn 80,000 factors after spending $8,000 on purchases inside the first six months of card membership.

Annual payment: $695.

Standout advantages: The Amex Platinum stays my favourite card as a result of it provides a formidable variety of advantages, perks and assertion credit, plus stellar lounge entry. While I discover the $695 annual payment outrageous, the assertion credit alone greater than make up for it, a lot in order that I wrote an entire article about why I’ll by no means shut it.These are among the many advantages that, to me, justify the annual payment:

• Complimentary Gold standing with Marriott and Hilton
• Up to $200 per calendar 12 months in airline payment assertion credit with an airline of my selecting
• Complimentary automotive rental standing: Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President’s Circle, Avis Preferred Plus and National Emerald Club Executive
• Up to $200 in Uber Cash per calendar 12 months, legitimate on Uber rides and Uber Eats orders within the U.S. (this credit is divvied into month-to-month up to $15 credit, plus an up to $20 bonus in December; Uber Cash will solely be deposited into one Uber account once you add the Amex Platinum as a fee methodology and redeem with any Amex card)
• Up to $200 assertion credit per calendar 12 months for pay as you go bookings with American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection once you pay along with your Amex Platinum (notice that Hotel Collection stays require a two-night minimal)

Enrollment is required for every profit within the bulleted record above.

I additionally put all my airfare purchases on my Amex Platinum as a result of I earn 5 factors per greenback spent on airfare (on up to $500,000 per calendar 12 months, then 1 level per greenback) once I ebook instantly with an airline or by way of Amex Travel.

I like getting entry to Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges and Delta Sky Clubs when flying Delta, too. (Enrollment is required for choose advantages.)

Additionally, I’ve had wonderful success utilizing my American Express Membership Rewards factors a number of instances previously few years to switch Amex factors to Air France-KLM’s Flying Blue program. This allowed me to fly enterprise class from New York to Paris and again for as few as 60,000 miles.

This stays my favourite card, even when I do not sometimes use it for on a regular basis spending.

For extra data, take a look at our evaluation of the Amex Platinum Card.

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Apply right here: The Platinum Card from American Express

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The Business Platinum Card from American Express

Welcome supply: Earn 150,000 factors after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases inside the first three months of card membership. Plus, earn a $500 assertion credit after spending $2,500 on qualifying flights booked instantly with airways or by means of Amex Travel inside the first three months of card membership. You can earn one or each of those provides, which finish June 30.

Annual payment: $695.

Standout advantages: While I haven’t got this card (but), the best profit by far is Pay with Points. Cardholders obtain a 35% bonus once they Pay with Points on first- or business-class tickets by means of Amex Travel (up to 1 million factors per calendar 12 months). That means you basically get to fly within the entrance of the airplane on a steep low cost once you pay with factors.

The Amex Business Platinum comes with premium journey perks and enterprise assertion credit comparable to the buyer Platinum Card, together with Centurion Lounge entry, a Priority Pass membership, an airline credit payment of up to $200 yearly and Gold elite standing with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy (as outlined above for the buyer Platinum Card; enrollment could also be required).

Several perks are additionally distinctive to the Business Platinum Card (enrollment required for choose advantages; phrases apply):

• Dell: An up to $400 assertion credit per calendar 12 months (damaged down as up to $200 semiannually)†
• Indeed: An up to $360 assertion credit per calendar 12 months (up to $90 per quarter)
• Adobe: An up to $150 assertion credit per calendar 12 months (topic to auto-renewal)†
• Up to $200 in Hilton credit per calendar 12 months (up to $50 per quarter; Hilton for Business membership required)
• Up to $120 in assertion credit per calendar 12 months for U.S. wi-fi phone suppliers (up to $10 per 30 days)

†The Dell and Adobe credit are set to change July 1.

While I have not gotten the Business Platinum Card myself, it is excessive on my want record. I’ll attempt my luck at making use of once I know I’ve some huge purchases within the pipeline and might earn its huge welcome bonus.

For extra data, take a look at our evaluation of the Amex Business Platinum.

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Apply right here: The Business Platinum Card from American Express

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Ink Business Preferred Credit Card

Welcome supply: Earn 90,000 factors after spending $8,000 on purchases inside the first three months from account opening.

Annual payment: $95.

Standout advantages: I like my Ink Business Preferred card and its bonus classes — particularly the net web promoting class, which earns 3 factors per greenback spent on up to $150,000 a 12 months (then 1 level after that).

If you max out this annual bonus, these 450,000 factors you earn can be utilized for journey bookings by way of Chase Travel for 1.25 cents every — however probably extra if you happen to leverage Chase’s community of airline and resort switch companions and switch bonuses (when accessible).

Chase factors are very versatile, and I take advantage of mine as rapidly as I earn them. If you personal a small enterprise or actually have a enterprise concept, you may apply utilizing your Social Security quantity. If you are in search of a stable enterprise card, the Ink Business Preferred is a heavyweight, particularly for the low annual payment of $95.

For extra data, take a look at our evaluation of the Ink Business Preferred.

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Apply right here: Ink Business Preferred Credit Card

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Bilt Mastercard

Welcome supply: None.

Annual payment: $0 (see charges and costs).

Standout advantages: The best good thing about the Bilt card is the flexibility to earn factors on paying hire with no transaction payment (see charges and costs).

As lengthy as you make at the very least 5 purchases with the cardboard every assertion interval, you may earn reward factors in your hire funds — an unimaginable proposition for renters (since hire is often an individual’s largest month-to-month invoice).

As a renter in New York City, the Bilt card is a must have in my pockets. What’s even higher is that this card provides the flexibility to make transaction fee-free hire funds with out charging cardholders an annual payment (see charges and costs). Even in case your landlord solely takes checks, Bilt can ship checks and automatic clearing home direct deposits so you may earn factors on the transactions (up to 100,000 factors per 12 months).

But that is not the cardboard’s solely promoting level. I additionally earn numerous factors on eating and pharmacy purchases each month. I take advantage of my Bilt card at Walgreens, the place Bilt Rewards members can earn additional Bilt Points on purchases, it doesn’t matter what credit card they use.

I earn 1 level per greenback spent on all Walgreens purchases, 2 factors per greenback spent on Walgreens-branded objects and 100 factors per prescription refill (topic to sure exclusions). This particular perk alone has netted me hundreds of factors.

Dining is one other stable Bilt reward-earning class. I earn 3 factors per greenback spent on eating and a couple of factors per greenback spent on journey purchases. But on the primary day of each month (aka “Rent Day”), these earnings double (excluding hire, up to 1,000 factors).

Here’s an instance of how these earnings can add up. On May 1, I spent $7.65 on the Chicago Athletic Association, $24.31 at Shake Shack and $20 at Starbucks. Because it was a Bilt Rent Day, I earned 22 factors for eating on that $7 buy, plus one other 22 factors for Rent Day. Shake Shack earned me 144 factors, and Starbucks acquired me 60 factors. That’s 248 factors on simply $51 in purchases.

With Bilt Rewards, the factors actually add up. The best characteristic, I feel, is that Bilt usually runs switch bonuses to a number of of its 19 switch companions. For instance, again in January 2024, Bilt ran a 100% switch bonus to Air France-KLM Flying Blue. I transferred 32,000 Bilt factors to Air France, and, thanks to that switch bonus, 32,000 factors turned 64,000 miles in my Flying Blue account — a really stellar deal.

For extra data, take a look at our evaluation of the Bilt Mastercard.

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Apply right here: Bilt Mastercard

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Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card

Welcome supply: Earn 70,000 miles after spending $5,000 on purchases inside the first six months from account opening.

Annual payment: $650.

Standout advantages: I’ve written extensively concerning the Delta SkyMiles Reserve over time, and whereas the advantages have modified, it continues to maintain a spot in my pockets regardless of a excessive $650 annual payment.

The card provides some invaluable assertion credit (a number of of which require enrollment), together with an up to $20 month-to-month Resy credit (up to $240 every calendar 12 months) to dine at U.S. Resy eating places. I’ve been ready to use this credit at native Upper West Side neighborhood eating places.

I’ve additionally been ready to maximize the up to $10 per 30 days credit for ride-hailing providers (up to $120 every calendar 12 months) with eligible suppliers inside the U.S. I often use it to get a Revel automotive service trip at the very least as soon as a month.

The card additionally comes with an up to $200 annual Delta Stays assertion credit. Last 12 months, I used to be ready to use it to avoid wasting money on an Atlanta resort reservation.

I just like the annual companion certificates profit as effectively. It allows you to convey a companion with you on a round-trip ticket inside the continental U.S. or to Mexico, the Caribbean or Central America for the price of taxes and costs. This may even be used for home first-class tickets.

Then there’s the TakeOff 15 profit, which I feel is among the Delta Reserve’s standout options, because it provides you a 15% low cost on all Delta award tickets.

For extra data, take a look at our evaluation of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve.

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Apply right here: Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card

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Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Welcome supply: Earn 150,000 bonus factors after spending $6,000 on purchases inside the first six months from account opening.

Annual payment: $550.

Standout advantages: The Hilton Aspire is one other of my favourite credit playing cards. It comes with computerized top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond standing, which has come in useful throughout a number of stays over time of holding the cardboard.

That standing means you are eligible for suite upgrades and get computerized government lounge entry (the place there is a lounge). You’ll additionally typically be granted early check-in or late checkout. No different resort chain provides top-tier standing only for maintaining its branded card.

I just lately acquired entry to the swanky lounge on the Conrad Seoul in South Korea only for having Diamond standing, saving me a whole bunch of {dollars} on meals.

The card additionally has invaluable bonus classes the place you may actually rack up the Hilton Honors factors. Among the bonus classes are 14 factors per greenback spent at inns inside the Hilton portfolio, 7 factors per greenback spent on flights booked instantly with airways or by means of amextravel.com, 7 factors per greenback spent on choose eating at U.S. eating places and three factors per greenback spent on all different purchases.

As a Hilton Diamond, you additionally get a 100% factors bonus at most Hilton properties.

You’ll get a bunch of assertion credit to boot as effectively. These embody up to $200 a 12 months in airline incidental credit (damaged up as up to $50 per quarter assertion credit for eligible flights made instantly with an airline or by means of amextravel.com) and one other up to $400 in Hilton resort credit (damaged up as up to $200 semiannually).

Finally, and doubtlessly most lucratively, the cardboard will get you a free night time award that can be utilized at virtually any Hilton property on this planet. I’ve used mine over time on the Niepce Paris Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton; the Waldorf Astoria Chicago; and the unimaginable Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

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Learn extra: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

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What to contemplate when selecting the best card

There is not a one-size-fits-all technique for selecting the best credit playing cards. There are a number of components you need to analyze earlier than deciding on which of them deserve a spot in your pockets.

Preferred rewards

First, contemplate the kind of rewards you need to earn on your purchases. If you need simplicity, a cash-back card could also be an excellent choice because you typically have few limitations on how these rewards can be utilized. On the opposite hand, if you happen to’re after free journey or need to actually maximize your spending, it’s possible you’ll be higher off with a transferable rewards forex like American Express Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Welcome bonus

Earning an enormous haul of factors or miles as a welcome bonus is often the best manner to rapidly enhance your rewards steadiness. This is especially profitable if one of many playing cards you are contemplating has a limited-time supply. Just ensure to evaluation every issuer’s eligibility necessities, and contemplate checking your credit rating upfront of your utility so you’ve an concept of whether or not you may be authorized.

Spending habits

Before opening any credit card (or opening a brand new one), take a while to analyze your spending habits over the past 12 months, together with the way you’re incomes rewards on any playing cards at present in your pockets.

If you spend a ton at eating places, ensure you’ve a card that rewards you when making eating purchases. If you’ve a major commute, decide up a card that rewards you for fuel or transit bills. It’s straightforward to double and even triple your incomes charges for a lot of purchases with the appropriate mixture of playing cards.

Annual payment

Finally, you need to contemplate the out-of-pocket price of any new card in your radar. While some haven’t any annual payment (or skip the annual payment for the primary 12 months), others have hefty ones, as you noticed within the record above.

In the primary 12 months, virtually each card with a stable welcome supply can pay for itself (after which some), however you need to take a while earlier than you apply to be sure you can actually benefit from that card’s advantages, each now and sooner or later.

How we selected the best credit playing cards

Many components go into our collection of the best credit playing cards, together with incomes charges, welcome provides, advantages and perks. The playing cards I record above have personally allowed me to earn tens of hundreds of {dollars} value of rewards over time.

You can be taught extra about how we analyze playing cards right here at TPG on our methodology web page.

Redemption choices for the best credit playing cards

Most of the playing cards I record above have one thing in frequent: Several of them earn transferable factors or miles … and that is no coincidence. These rewards are extremely invaluable due to the pliability they provide.

In most instances, you are not locked into one airline and its companions or one resort program and its taking part manufacturers. You are within the driver’s seat when it comes time to redeem.

For instance, I would like to fly enterprise class on Virgin Atlantic from London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) dwelling to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) within the service’s Upper Class on July 28.

The one-way flight I would like is $10,185. I may use greater than one million American Express Membership Rewards factors to ebook it by means of American Express Travel. However, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club has costs as little as 66,000 factors (plus $898 in taxes and costs), and it, too, companions with Amex.

That means I can switch 66,000 factors from Amex to Virgin to ebook a seat that may have price greater than $10,000 in money. That’s the ability of factors and miles.

Bottom line

My journey by means of the world of journey has been fueled by credit card bonuses and rewards. I all the time inform those who since they’re going to be spending cash anyway, they may as effectively earn factors and miles on each cost and get one thing again.

Sometimes, the issues we get again is usually a complete lot higher than simply getting 1% to 2% money again.

While there is not one excellent card, those I’ve mentioned listed here are a number of the best that work for my earn-and-redeem reward technique. I maintain a number of of the playing cards on this record and use them regularly, even paying exorbitant annual charges 12 months after 12 months after 12 months, merely due to all the advantages these playing cards present.

Weigh the professionals and cons of every card earlier than deciding which of them would possibly work best on your distinctive spending patterns. And keep in mind, if you happen to’re unable to repay your card balances each month, then opening a brand new card with the next spending requirement to earn a welcome bonus is probably not the best name. Instead, contemplate beginning with a product that encompasses a manageable spending threshold — and that you will use responsibly. The worth of your credit card rewards considerably decreases if you happen to accrue high-interest debt to earn them.

Apply the appropriate technique so that you come out forward. Happy purchasing!

For charges and costs of the Amex Gold, click on right here.
For the charges and costs of the Amex Platinum, click on right here.
For charges and costs of the Amex Business Platinum, click on right here.
For charges and costs of the Dealt SkyMiles Reserve Amex, click on right here.
For charges and costs of the Bilt Mastercard, click on right here.
For rewards and advantages of the Bilt Mastercard, click on right here.