Rewards Credit Cards

Rewards credit cards are great for people who don't carry a monthly credit card balance. When used as your primary card, a rewards credit card can quickly help you get that flat panel TV or trip to Hawaii.

A word of caution, however, if you carry a monthly balance: since rewards credit cards often have a higher interest rate, you will pay for any rewards you accumulate many times over in interest. If you can avoid that, below are some of our favorite credit cards with rewards.

Recommmended just for you

Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express

Best Rewards Card

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  • Earn up to 25,000 Starpoints® - enough for up to 6 free nights at a category 1 or 2 hotel.
  • Use Starpoints® for free nights and upgrades at participating Starwood hotels and resorts in 95 countries including Sheraton, W Hotels, Westin and more with no blackout dates
  • No annual fee for the first year and $45 thereafter
  • Transfer Starpoints® - almost always on a 1:1 basis - to the frequent flyer programs of over 30 major airlines
  • Earn one Starpoint® for every dollar you spend and double Starpoints® at participating Starwood properties and retail partners
  • Express Approval. Get a decision in less than 60 seconds.

Why we recommend it...

For savvy travelers and frequent flyers, the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express helps you travel farther and stay away longer with the least restrictive award redemption policy and one of the best hotel loyalty and airline miles program on our radar. With your rewards card, earn free nights and upgrades with no blackout dates at over 860 participating Starwood hotels including the Sheraton, W Hotels, Westin, and more. You can also convert your Starpoints to a frequent flyer program of your choice with over 30 airlines.

Pros:

  • Signing bonus of 10,000 points after first purchase
  • No blackout dates on SPG redemptions

Cons:

  • $45 annual fee after first year
  • Earn a maximum of 25,000 Starpoints annually
Credit Score Approval Data †

755

Average Credit Score Approved for this Card

685

Lowest Credit Score Approved for this Card

Capital One® VentureSM Rewards Credit Card

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  • 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day
  • 10,000 bonus miles when you spend $1,000 in your first 3 months
  • No limit on the miles you can earn and miles won't expire
  • Fly free on any airline, any time with no blackout dates
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Exclusive award-winning customer service
  • Visa Signature® benefits like complimentary concierge and travel upgrades
  • First year's annual fee is on us

Why we recommend it...

This card offers an excellent, easy-to-navigate airline miles reward program for good credit cardholders looking to seriously bulk up on their travel time. Aptly named the Venture Rewards card, it takes all the fuss out of complicated reward-earning terms and gives optimal flexibility and options when managing and redeeming points. Earn miles faster with a simple and generous 2 miles for every dollar spent, and you never have to worry about blackout dates, seat restrictions, or being limited to specific carriers to redeem your miles. To get you that much closer travel rewards this card delivers 10,000 bonus miles when you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months.

The Venture Rewards card Cap One also provides improved customer service benefits with new exclusive award-winning customer service and Visa Signature benefits like complimentary concierge and travel upgrades.

Pros:

  • 10,000 bonus miles when you spend $1,000 in your first 3 months
  • 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day

Cons:

  • Need Excellent Credit to qualify
  • Annual Fee
Credit Score Approval Data †

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Average Credit Score Approved for this Card

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Lowest Credit Score Approved for this Card

Additional rewards credit cards

Blue Sky from American Express®

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  • 0% Intro APR for 6 months on purchases
  • Earn 1 point for every dollar you spend
  • Points good on any airline, hotel, car rental and more.
  • No blackout dates or travel restrictions
  • Express Approval. Get a decision in less than 60 seconds.

Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express

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  • Earn up to 25,000 bonus miles -- enough for a total of $250 off Delta flights
  • Use miles to pay for any Delta seat, anytime - - no black out dates and no seat restrictions
  • 25,000 miles may also be redeemed for a domestic economy award ticket
  • Earn SkyMiles for every eligible dollar you spend
  • No annual fee for the first year, then $95: $45 if you are a qualified American Express Cardmember
  • Express Approval. Get a decision in less than 60 seconds.

FREE SPIRIT(TM) Onyx World MasterCard®

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  • Get 15,000 bonus miles after your first purchase - which is enough for 3 FREE roundtrip off-peak award tickets
  • Get up to 10,000 additional miles for balance transfers made in the first 60 days after account opening
  • Annual fee waived for the first year
  • Get complimentary $9 Fare Club membership (a $39.95 value!)
  • Priority boarding and domestic priority check-in
  • Earn 3 miles for every $1 spent on Spirit and 1 mile for every $1 spent anywhere else
  • Your miles never expire and more

* See the online Provider's credit card application for details about terms and conditions. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. When you click on the "Apply Now" button, you can review the credit card terms and conditions on Provider's website.

† Credit Karma members have received approvals with these credit scores. These approval metrics are only guidelines and approval is not guaranteed. You can learn more about credit card approval through our in-depth article.

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