If you’re looking for a new rewards credit card, there are countless options to choose from. As a result, it can be tough to figure out which card is best for you. While there’s no single credit card out there that’s objectively better than the rest, there are some important features to look for in a card that can help you compare different offers. And depending on the type of card you’re looking for, our list of the top 10 best rewards credit cards may help you narrow down your selection. Just want to see the best rewards card? Click here and get started >>

Note: The credit card offers that appear on this site are from companies from which The College Investor receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). The College Investor does not include all credit card companies or all credit card offers available in the marketplace.

Our Picks For The Best Rewards Credit Cards There are a lot of different types of credit card rewards, and some features appeal more to some credit card users than others.



With that in mind, we researched some of the most important features in a rewards card — including rewards rates, sign-up bonus, annual fees, perks and more — and picked credit cards that stand out of the crowd. Here are our recommendations.

Best For Groceries and Gas: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express If you spend a lot on these two everyday spending categories, the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express should earn a spot in your wallet.



The card offers a whopping 6% cash back on the first $6,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets each year (then 1%), plus 6% back on select U.S. streaming services, 3% back on transit and at U.S. gas stations, and 1% back on everything else.



In addition to those lucrative rewards rates, you’ll also receive a $250 statement credit after you spend $1,000 in the first three months.



Just keep in mind that the card’s valuable rewards program is offset by its $95 annual fee. Also, you can only redeem your rewards in the form of a statement credit or gift cards. Many other cash-back credit cards allow you to get your rewards in the form of a direct deposit or even a paper check. Compare the best rewards cards here >>

Best For Dining: American Express® Gold Card Despite its $250 annual fee, the American Express® Gold Card’s dining rewards and perks make it tough to beat.



For starters, you’ll earn unlimited 4 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, as well as on the first $25,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets each year (then 1 point after that). You’ll also receive 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through amextravel.com and then 1 point per dollar on everything else.



In addition to the high rewards rate on dining, the card also offers up to $120 in dining credits each year. You can qualify for a total of $10 in monthly credits when you use your card at Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Boxed, and participating Shake Shack locations.



The card also offers a $100 annual airline fee credit, which helps boost the card’s net value. And as a new cardholder, you’ll get a welcome offer of 35,000 bonus points after you spend $2,000 in the first three months.



One thing to watch out for with this one is that it’s a charge card, which means that your balance is due in full each month — carrying a balance is only available for eligible purchases. There’s no foreign transaction fee. Compare the best rewards cards here >>

Best For an Introductory 0% APR Promotion: Chase Freedom Unlimited® If you need to make a large purchase and pay it off over time, the Chase Freedom Unlimited may be worth considering.



What’s more, you’ll earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases. The card has no annual fee, which helps maximize your savings and overall value. Compare the best rewards cards here >>

Best For a Big Sign-Up Bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card If you have a trip coming up and need help paying for it, look no further than the Chase Sapphire Preferred. The card offers 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 in the first three months.



That’s worth $750 in travel booked through Chase or potentially even more if you transfer your rewards to one of the bank’s airline or hotel partners.



The card also offers 2 points per dollar on travel and dining, 1 point per dollar on all other purchases and various trip protections. While it doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee, you’ll pay a $95 annual fee. Compare the best rewards cards here >>

Best For Flat Travel Rewards: Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card

If you prefer simplicity but want travel rewards instead of cash back, the Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card fits the bill. The card offers a flat 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, and 10 miles per dollar at hotels.com/venture through January 2020. You’ll also receive 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in the first three months.



You can redeem your miles for travel directly through Capital One or book travel on your own and use your rewards to get a statement credit. Alternatively, you can transfer your miles to one of the bank’s airline partners.



The card also offers an application fee credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, which can cost up to $100. There is a $95 annual fee, but it’s waived the first year to give you some time to decide if it’s right for you. There’s no foreign transaction fee.

Best For Flexible Travel Points: Chase Sapphire Reserve® The Chase Sapphire Reserve has a steep $550 annual fee, but even a casual traveler can get enough value to make up for it.



The card offers 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 in the first three months. You’ll also receive 3 points per dollar on travel after using the full travel credit and dining worldwide and 1 point per dollar on everything else.



You can redeem those points for cash back or gift cards at 1 cent per point, travel through Chase at 1.5 cents per point, or you can transfer them to an airline or hotel partner for potentially even more value. Other perks include:

A $300 annual travel credit

An application fee credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry

Complimentary airport lounge access through the Priority Pass network

Special hotel benefits with select hotel brands

Premium rental car benefits

No foreign transaction fee

If you want a perfect mix of rewards and credit card perks, you’ll be hard-pressed to find something better. Compare the best rewards cards here >>

Best For Premium Travel Perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express If you regularly travel and prefer perks over rewards, The Platinum Card from American Express is about as good as it gets. The card offers a suite of luxury benefits, including:

A $200 annual airline fee credit

Up to $200 in annual Uber credits

An application fee credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry

Complimentary airport lounge access with multiple lounge networks

Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors

Complimentary membership in premium car rental programs

Complimentary benefits with select hotel brands

No foreign transaction fee

You’ll also earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 in the first three months, plus 5 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel, 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel and 1 point per dollar on everything else.



Just keep in mind that the card charges a $550 annual fee, though frequent travelers should get enough value to make up for that cost. Compare the best rewards cards here >>

Best For Travel With No Annual Fee: Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card If you want to earn travel rewards without an annual fee, the Wells Fargo Propel American Express Card is tough to beat. The card offers 3 points per dollar on:

Eating out and ordering in

Gas, rideshares and transit

Flights, hotels, homestays and car rentals

Popular streaming services

You’ll earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases, plus 30,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 in the first three months. You can redeem your points for travel, cash back, gift cards and more. Compare the best rewards cards here >>

Best For Small Business Owners: Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card If you’re running a small business, you can use any credit card you want for your expenses. But if you want great rewards on business-specific categories, consider the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card.



The card offers 80,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 in the first three months. You’ll earn 1 point per dollar on non-bonus spending, but 3 points per dollar on the first $150,000 on:

Travel

Shipping purchases

Internet, cable and phone services

Advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines

Points are worth 25% more if you use them to redeem travel through Chase, or potentially even more if you transfer them to an airline or hotel partner. Compare the best rewards cards here >>

Best For Flat Cash Back: Citi® Double Cash Card

The information about the Citi® Double Cash Card has been collected independently by The College Investor. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer. If your top priority is getting a card that’s as simple as possible without giving up value, the Citi Double Cash Card should be on your radar. It offers a flat 2% cash back on every purchase you make — that’s 1% cash back when you make a purchase then another 1% back when you pay it off.



The card also has no annual fee, so you don’t have to worry about needing to spend a certain amount just to break even.



The only drawbacks are that it doesn’t offer a sign-up bonus, and there’s no 0% APR promotion on purchases. But if you use the card long enough, the higher rewards rate can make up for those omissions. Compare the best rewards cards here >>

Frequently Asked Rewards Credit Card Questions