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If you want to earn lots of points, miles, or cash back quickly, the best strategy is to apply for one of the best credit cards and earn its welcome bonus offer. You’ll usually have to meet a credit card minimum spending requirement in a specified time frame (typically a few months), and it’s well worth the effort to unlock a big sign-up bonus.
Some of these offers are only available for a limited time, so you shouldn’t wait long to apply.
Current Credit Card Bonus Offers
100,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Rewards
Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
100,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Rewards
Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card offers a huge welcome bonus and solid earning and benefits for a moderate annual fee. If your small-business expenses line up with the card’s bonus categories and you like redeeming Chase Ultimate Rewards® points for travel, this is one of the best small-business credit cards to consider.
Details
Rewards
Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
Intro offer
100,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
100,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
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Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
21.24% – 26.24% Variable
Editor’s Rating
Insider’s Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
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120,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases with your card within the first three months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com. Earn 1.5X points on each eligible purchase at shipping providers, US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else (on up to $2 million per calendar year). Earn 1X points for each dollar you spend on other eligible purchases.
120,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases with your card within the first three months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com. Earn 1.5X points on each eligible purchase at shipping providers, US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else (on up to $2 million per calendar year). Earn 1X points for each dollar you spend on other eligible purchases.
On American Express’s website
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is one of the best small-business cards with an elevated bonus and top-notch benefits (and a premium annual fee to match). It’s an excellent offer if you like earning Membership Rewards points and you can maximize the bonus spending categories and perks — but be sure to assess whether the annual fee is worth it for you before you commit.
Details
Rewards
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com. Earn 1.5X points on each eligible purchase at shipping providers, US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else (on up to $2 million per calendar year). Earn 1X points for each dollar you spend on other eligible purchases.
Intro offer
120,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases with your card within the first three months of card membership
120,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases with your card within the first three months of card membership
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Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
19.49% – 27.49% Variable
Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
N/A
Editor’s Rating
Insider’s Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
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80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 per calendar year) and on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Earn 1X Points on other purchases.
80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 per calendar year) and on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Earn 1X Points on other purchases.
On American Express’s website
The Platinum Card® from American Express
If you want as many premium travel perks as possible, The Platinum Card® from American Express could be the right card for you. The annual fee is high, but you get a long list of benefits such as airport lounge access, travel statement credits, complimentary hotel elite status, and more.
Details
Rewards
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 per calendar year) and on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Earn 1X Points on other purchases.
Annual Fee
$695
See Rates and Fees
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Intro offer
80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership
80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership
Show more
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
See Pay Over Time APR
Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
N/A
Editor’s Rating
Insider’s Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
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60,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $4,000 on purchases on the card in the first six months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® points on all other purchases.
60,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $4,000 on purchases on the card in the first six months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® points on all other purchases.
On American Express’s website
American Express® Gold Card
Foodies and travelers alike will appreciate the American Express Gold’s generous welcome bonus and Membership Rewards points earning. Its Uber Cash credits are useful for rides and Uber Eats, and monthly dining credits with participating merchants like GrubHub and Seamless are easy to use.
Details
Rewards
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® points on all other purchases.
Annual Fee
$250
See Rates and Fees
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Intro offer
60,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $4,000 on purchases on the card in the first six months of card membership
60,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $4,000 on purchases on the card in the first six months of card membership
Show more
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
See Pay Over Time APR
Editor’s Rating
Insider’s Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
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Annual Fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
$250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card within the first six months from account opening
Rewards
Earn 6% cash back on purchases at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%). Earn 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions. Earn 3% cash back on transit (including taxis, rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses, and more). Earn 3% cash back on gas at U.S. gas stations. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases. Cash back is received as Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
Annual Fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
$250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card within the first six months from account opening
Rewards
Earn 6% cash back on purchases at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%). Earn 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions. Earn 3% cash back on transit (including taxis, rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses, and more). Earn 3% cash back on gas at U.S. gas stations. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases. Cash back is received as Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
On American Express’s website
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
The Amex Blue Cash Preferred is one of the best cash-back cards, particularly for consumers who spend a lot of money at U.S. supermarkets, use streaming services, or have lots of commuting and gas expenses. The annual fee is worth it if your typical spending lines up with the card’s bonus categories.
Details
Rewards
Earn 6% cash back on purchases at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%). Earn 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions. Earn 3% cash back on transit (including taxis, rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses, and more). Earn 3% cash back on gas at U.S. gas stations. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases. Cash back is received as Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
Annual Fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
Intro offer
$250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card within the first six months from account opening
$250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card within the first six months from account opening
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Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
19.24% – 29.99% Variable
Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers from the date of account opening
Editor’s Rating
Insider’s Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
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70,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 4x Membership Rewards® Points on the first $150,000 spent each calendar year in combined purchases from the top 2 business categories where your business spent the most each billing cycle. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® Points on all other purchases.
70,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 4x Membership Rewards® Points on the first $150,000 spent each calendar year in combined purchases from the top 2 business categories where your business spent the most each billing cycle. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® Points on all other purchases.
On American Express’s website
American Express® Business Gold Card
The American Express® Business Gold Card is a good choice if your business spends a lot in certain categories and you want to earn Membership Rewards points for travel or other redemptions. It’s got a high annual fee, but if you can use the card’s benefits to your advantage, it can be well worth it.
Details
Rewards
Earn 4x Membership Rewards® Points on the first $150,000 spent each calendar year in combined purchases from the top 2 business categories where your business spent the most each billing cycle. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® Points on all other purchases.
Intro offer
70,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of card membership
70,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of card membership
Show more
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
19.49% – 27.49% Variable
Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
N/A
Editor’s Rating
Insider’s Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
Show more
75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Rewards
Earn unlimited 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn 5 miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2 miles on all other purchases.
75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Rewards
Earn unlimited 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn 5 miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2 miles on all other purchases.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is one of the best credit cards for frequent travelers, with top-notch benefits and a wide range of built-in protections. It comes with a generous welcome bonus and statement credits that can help offset the annual fee — which is much lower than similar premium cards.
Details
Rewards
Earn unlimited 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn 5 miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2 miles on all other purchases.
Intro offer
75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Show more
Recommended Credit
Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
21.99% – 28.99% Variable
Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
N/A
Editor’s Rating
Insider’s Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
Show more
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Rewards
Earn 5x points on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Earn 3x points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out. Earn 3x points on select streaming services. Earn 3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs). Earn 2x points on other travel. Earn 1x point per dollar on everything else.
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Rewards
Earn 5x points on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Earn 3x points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out. Earn 3x points on select streaming services. Earn 3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs). Earn 2x points on other travel. Earn 1x point per dollar on everything else.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
If you’re new to travel rewards credit cards or just don’t want to pay hundreds in annual fees, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a smart choice. It earns bonus points on a wide variety of travel and dining purchases and offers strong travel and purchase coverage, including primary car rental insurance.
Details
Rewards
Earn 5x points on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Earn 3x points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out. Earn 3x points on select streaming services. Earn 3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs). Earn 2x points on other travel. Earn 1x point per dollar on everything else.
Intro offer
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Show more
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Recommended credit score. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application.
Show more
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
21.49% – 28.49% Variable
Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
N/A
Editor’s Rating
Insider’s Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
Show more
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Rewards
Earn 5x points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1x point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Rewards
Earn 5x points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1x point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
If you’re new to rewards credit cards you may want to start elsewhere, but if you know you want to earn Chase points and you spend a lot on travel and dining, the Sapphire Reserve is one of the most rewarding options.
Details
Rewards
Earn 5x points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1x point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Intro offer
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Show more
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Recommended credit score. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application.
Show more
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
22.49% – 29.49% Variable
Editor’s Rating
Insider’s Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
Show more
$750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Rewards
Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year. Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.
$750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Rewards
Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year. Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Between offering a big welcome bonus, extra rewards in useful categories, and ongoing benefits like primary car rental insurance and purchase protection, the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is an excellent no-annual-fee cash-back business credit card for small-business owners.
Details
Rewards
Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year. Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Intro offer
$750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
$750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Show more
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
18.49% – 24.49% Variable
Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months
Editor’s Rating
Insider’s Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
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$750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Rewards
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on purchases.
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is a great option for small business owners who prefer a straightforward earning rate and no annual fee. You’ll earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase, and there’s no limit to what you can earn.
Details
Rewards
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on purchases.
Intro offer
$750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
$750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Show more
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
18.49% – 24.49% Variable
Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months
Editor’s Rating
Insider’s Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
Show more
Best Credit Card Bonus Offers
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Chose the Best Credit Card Welcome Offers
Personal Finance Insider looks carefully at the potential value of welcome bonuses and categorizes them according to which profile each will best serve. We also look at the ongoing benefits and earning rates of these cards, but our chief goal is to uncover the biggest, juiciest intro offers.
The Insider credit cards team is primarily concerned about one thing: that you open the right credit card for your lifestyle. There are lots of excellent credit cards out there (and just as many bad ones) — but even a credit card with an enormous value proposition isn’t necessarily for you. Our job is to help you find the perfect product for your unique situation.
See the full methodology for how Insider rates credit cards
Find the right credit card bonus for you
Earn unlimited 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn 5 miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2 miles on all other purchases.
Earn 5x points on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Earn 3x points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out. Earn 3x points on select streaming services. Earn 3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs). Earn 2x points on other travel. Earn 1x point per dollar on everything else.
Earn 5x points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1x point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year. Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on purchases.
Best Credit Card Offers Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
A sign-up bonus, also known as a welcome bonus or intro offer, is a reward of points, miles, or cash back for new cardholders who meet designated requirements. Usually, these requirements involve meeting a minimum spending threshold within the first few months after you open your new credit card account.
Yes, credit card sign-up bonuses change frequently. If you’re considering opening a new rewards credit card, do your research to see whether the card you want has previously offered a higher bonus. If it has, it could be worth waiting until that elevated offer returns, or you may even be able to find that higher offer through the credit card issuer’s website.
The best credit card sign-up bonus depends on the person. Even if one card offers more points, not all points and miles are valued equally. There are also different types of credit card rewards — points, miles, and cash back — so the best welcome bonus for you depends on the rewards you value most.
Typically, you can use a credit card sign-up bonus in a variety of ways. If you earn a cash-back welcome bonus, you could be able to use it toward a statement credit to reduce your credit card bill, or you could receive the money in check form. With a travel rewards card, you could use your points or miles to book an award trip, or cash them out for gift cards, money back, or merchandise.The exact options depend on the credit card you have and its specific rewards program.
Yes, a credit card without a sign-up bonus is still worth it. Intro offers can be a great incentive to apply, especially if you’re looking at a card that has an annual fee, but not every good credit card offers an intro bonus. For example, the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card is one of the best balance transfer credit cards, but it doesn’t offer a welcome bonus or earn rewards. It could be worth forgoing an intro bonus if that card’s 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers made within 120 days (then a 18.24%, 24.74%, 29.99% variable APR) appeals to you.
Yes, you should earn credit card rewards even if you don’t have upcoming travel planned. Earning a welcome bonus now can put you in a great position to use points and miles for your next vacation, whenever that may be. But before you apply for a new credit card, make sure you understand how credit card applications affect your credit score.
Best welcome bonus overall
Chase Ink Business Preferred
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card offers the highest welcome bonus among Chase cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points: 100,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Plus, it has generous bonus categories — you’ll earn 3 points per dollar in the first $150,000 in combined purchases you make on categories including travel, shipping, and advertising (and 1 point per dollar on everything else). This card has a $95 annual fee, and it offers benefits like primary rental car insurance when you’re renting a car for business purposes and cell phone protection.
Best welcome bonus for earning Amex Membership Rewards points
Amex Business Platinum
Small-business owners have a big opportunity to earn a massive amount of points with the limited-time welcome bonus offer on The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. Like the personal Amex Platinum Card, there’s a hefty annual fee — $695 — but it’s more than worth it if you can maximize the card’s perks.
Amex Business Platinum Card members get some of the same perks as personal cardholders, including airline fee credits, hotel elite status, and airport lounge access. You can also receive statement credits for Dell Technologies, Indeed, Adobe, and U.S. wireless service providers***, and get a 35% points rebate when you redeem points for first- or business-class tickets, or for any fare with your selected airline, through Amex Travel (up to 500,000 points back per calendar year).
If you’re not sure which version of the card is best for you, our comparison of the Amex Platinum and Business Platinum can help narrow down your choice.
Best personal Amex card bonus
Amex Platinum
The Platinum Card® from American Express is offering an excellent welcome bonus: 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership.
You can get hundreds of dollars in value from perks like up to $200 in Uber credits (including Uber Eats)** per year and up to $100 in annual Saks Fifth Avenue credits**. The Amex Platinum Card also comes with excellent shopping and purchase benefits, including return protection, extended warranty, and targeted discounts and bonuses through Amex Offers**.
Travelers can take advantage of up to $200 in airline incidental fee credits** each calendar year, airport lounge access, complimentary hotel elite status with Hilton and Marriott**, travel insurance, and Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts. You can use the Amex Membership Rewards points you’ll earn with the card to book flights, hotels, and more through American Express Travel, or transfer points to airline and hotel partners like Delta, British Airways, and Marriott.
The annual fee is $695. However, if you can put these new perks to use, you can get thousands of dollars worth of value from the Amex Platinum Card.
Best mid-tier Amex card bonus
Amex Gold Card
The Amex Gold Card is sometimes overlooked as the “kid brother” to its Platinum siblings, but it’s actually one of our favorite rewards cards, especially for dining. You’ll earn 4x points at restaurants up to $25,000 per year (then 1x) and up to $120 in annual dining credits** that you can use at select restaurants and on Grubhub and Seamless. It also offers up to $120 Uber Cash ($10 per month credit) each calendar year (this is only applicable to U.S. Eats orders and Rides, and the Gold Card needs to be added to the Uber app to receive the Uber Cash benefit).
The card didn’t always come with an attention-grabbing welcome bonus offer, but it’s now increased its intro offer to 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $4,000 on purchases on the card in the first six months of card membership. Considering you can transfer your Amex points to nearly two dozen travel partners, these points can unlock lots of options for flights or hotel stays.
Best pure cash back bonus
Amex Blue Cash Preferred
If you like earning cash back and spend a lot on groceries and streaming services, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is tough to beat. It’s now offering a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card within the first six months from account opening, and earns 6% back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 in spending per calendar year (then 1%).
You’ll also earn 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis, rideshares, parking, tolls, trains, and buses), and 1% cash back on everything else (cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as statement credits). If you max out the $6,000 limit at U.S. supermarkets, you could earn $360 in cash back each year just from that category alone — that’s more than enough to offset the annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $95.
Best mid-tier Amex card bonus
Amex Business Gold Card
The Amex Business Gold Card normally offers 35,000 points after meeting minimum spending requirements, so this limited-time bonus is double the usual points. If you can maximize the credits you’ll do even better, because they can more than offset the card’s $295 annual fee.
One reason the Amex Business Gold card has remained popular with small-business owners is the ability to earn 4x Amex Membership Rewards points in the top two categories you spend the most in each month, on up to $150,000 in combined purchases each year (then 1x).
These categories include airfare purchased directly from airlines, US gas stations, US restaurants, US shipping providers, US computer hardware, software, and cloud systems from select technology providers, and US purchases for advertising in select media (online, TV, radio).
Best welcome bonus for earning Capital One miles
Capital One Venture X
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card was launched last year, and it offers a massive welcome bonus of 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening — worth at least $1,275 in travel, based on Insider’s valuation of Capital One miles.
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is packed with upscale benefits that can more than offset the $395 annual fee — which is lower than other premium travel cards.
Cardholders receive up to $300 per year in statement credits toward Capital One Travel purchases, Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, and Capital One airport lounge access (even for authorized users), a 10,000-mile bonus on each account anniversary (worth $100 in travel), access to the Capital One Premier Collection (a luxury hotel booking program), and Visa Infinite travel and purchase benefits.
Like other cards that earn Capital One miles, you can transfer rewards to over a dozen airline and hotel partners to book award travel.
Best welcome bonus for earning Citi ThankYou points
Citi Premier Card
The Citi Premier® Card is another card that doesn’t always get the attention it deserves. It earns Citi ThankYou Rewards points that you can redeem for travel booked through the Citi Travel Portal (which recently got a refresh), transfer to airline and hotel partners, or cash in for statement credits, gift cards, or merchandise.
In addition to offering a bonus of 60,000 bonus ThankYou® points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first three months of account opening, plus earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per dollar on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2024, the Citi Premier card stands out for its wide range of bonus categories. Outside of the welcome bonus earning, cardholders earn 3 points per dollar at restaurants and supermarkets. This makes the card a great option for maximizing your everyday purchases — because everyone has to eat.
The Citi Premier® Card also comes with a hotel savings benefit that can offset its entire $95 annual fee. This perk will save you $100 once per calendar year when you book a hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) through ThankYou.com. Here’s our Citi Premier card review for all the details.
Best beginner travel credit card bonus
Chase Sapphire Preferred
You can’t go wrong with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card — it’s one of the best to start with if you’re new to credit card rewards (or if you don’t want to pay the $550 annual fee on its premium sibling, the Chase Sapphire Reserve®).
The card currently offers a welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. You can find out more about the card in our full Chase Sapphire Preferred card review.
The great thing about Chase Ultimate Rewards® points is their flexibility — redemption options include booking travel directly through the Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel Portal, transferring points to travel partners like United and Marriott, or cashing in rewards for statement credits, gift cards, and merchandise.
Best credit card bonus for booking travel through the Chase Travel Portal
Chase Sapphire Reserve
The more premium sibling of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is offering a welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
It also earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, allows transfers to Chase airline and hotel partners, and offers the same variety of options for points redemption as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® has a $550 annual fee — substantially higher than the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. However, if you can make use of the card’s additional benefits — especially if you’re traveling — the annual fee is certainly worth it.
Like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® got a refresh, with improved or new bonus categories and benefits like access to the new Chase Sapphire Lounges, the first two of which are open at Hong Kong Airport (HKG) and Boston Airport (BOS). In 2023, other locations will open at New York-LaGuardia (LGA), San Diego (SAN), Phoenix (PHX), Las Vegas (LAS), Philadelphia (PHL), and Washington Dulles (IAD).
Cardholders can also access Chase’s new Sapphire Terrace at the Austin airport (AUS), an indoor-outdoor space offering free drinks, grab-and-go bites, and Wi-Fi.
Best no annual fee credit card bonus
Chase Ink Business Cash
If you’re looking for Chase small-business card but don’t want to meet the hefty spending requirement on the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, the no-annual-fee Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is a great alternative.
It’s offering a welcome bonus of $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening — awarded as 75,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is a good pick if you spend a lot in the card’s bonus categories: 5% cash back (5x points) on the first $25,000 spent (then 1x) in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services each account anniversary year, 2% back (2x points) on the first $25,000 spent (then 1x) in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year, and 1% back (1x points) on all other purchases with no cap. Find out more in our Chase Ink Business Cash credit card review.
Best no annual fee small business credit card bonus
Chase Ink Business Unlimited
Some small-business owners don’t want to fuss with bonus categories or spending limits. If that’s your style, the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is an easy pick — it earns 1.5% cash back (1.5x points) on all eligible purchases with no caps.
It’s also offering a bonus of $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening (worth 75,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points) and has no annual fee. Although you won’t have the opportunity to earn bonus points in popular business categories, the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is a good fit if you value simplicity and straightforward earning. Read our Chase Ink Business Unlimited credit card review for a closer look.