The Amazon Prime Visa offers great value, but you’ll need a plan to reap all the benefits.

With a $0 annual fee, you can start earning extra value for your spending right away. But it still pays off to know all the card’s features, even with no annual fee to earn back.

• Check for your Amazon Gift Card
• Learn the bonus categories
• Choose how to redeem your rewards

1. Check for your Amazon Gift Card

Depending on how and when you applied for the Amazon Prime Visa, you may have received an Amazon Gift Card up on approval. 

According to Amazon, that gift card value should have been loaded instantly to your Amazon.com account. If you missed it, it’s probably a good idea to ensure it was added correctly.

The current limited-time offer for the gift card is $150 upon approval, but your offer might have been different depending on when you applied.

2. Learn the bonus categories

The Amazon Prime Visa features many bonus rewards rates. To start building up your rewards balance, you’ll want to remember the categories and start using the card intentionally to maximize your earnings.

With your eligible Amazon Prime membership, you’ll earn …

• 5% back on Amazon.com purchases, Whole Foods Market purchases (online or in-store) and Chase Travel℠ purchases with an eligible Amazon Prime membership
• 2% back at gas stations, restaurants (dining in or taking out), and local transit and commuting (including rideshares)
• 1% back on all other eligible purchases

Amazon promises additional offers with your card, including bonuses for choosing certain shipping options on Amazon.com purchases (with an eligible Prime membership) and 10% on a set of rotating items and categories. But these offers vary by their nature, and it’s probably best to consider them a nice bonus rather than something to seek out actively.

3. Choose how to redeem your rewards

The rewards you earn with your Amazon Prime Visa can be used for all or part of your purchase at Amazon.com, with rewards available for redemption as soon as the day after you’ve earned them. 

You’ll see your rewards balance during checkout at Amazon.com, and you can choose to redeem any available amount towards your purchase, even if it doesn’t cover the whole cost.

Plus, you have more options for redemption through Chase, such as cash back, gift cards and travel bookings through Chase Travel. Better yet, these options give the same 1-cent value as for Amazon.com redemptions.

Next steps

Your Amazon Prime Visa comes with other benefits, like purchase protection and baggage delay insurance, but the perks we’ve outlined are the most likely to help you find value early in your card membership.

Once you start using your card more often, you might find it has some gaps you’d like to fill with another card. For example, if you’re looking for a higher rewards rate on gas or groceries not purchased at Whole Foods, it might be worth seeking out another card with strong rewards in those categories.

Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers great value, but you’ll need a plan to reap all the benefits.

With a $0 annual fee, you can start earning extra value for your spending right away. But it still pays off to know all of the card’s features, even with no upfront cost to earn back.

• Earn the sign-up bonus
• Learn the bonus categories
• Choose how to redeem your rewards
• Activate the DoorDash benefits
• Consider the 0% intro APR for big purchases

1. Earn the sign-up bonus

The best way to maximize the value of Chase Freedom Unlimited® is to make sure to qualify for the welcome bonus.

You can earn a $300 bonus when you spend just $500 on purchases in the first 3 months after your account opens. That’s a bonus that would take far longer to earn via the card’s ongoing rewards rates alone.

2. Learn the bonus categories

Once you earn the sign-up bonus, the quickest way to start racking up rewards is by spending in the card’s bonus categories. With Chase Freedom Unlimited®, you’ll earn …

• 3% back on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services) 
• 3% back on drugstore purchases
• 5% back on travel purchased through the Chase Travel℠ portal
• 1.5% back on all other eligible purchases

We like Chase Freedom Unlimited® for how it pairs strong bonus categories and a quality rate on all other purchases, but not everyone will find the same value in these categories.

For instance, if you already have a travel rewards card that earns points or miles, it might still be a good idea to keep using that card instead of shifting your travel spending. It all depends on how you intend to use your rewards, and the value you get from those redemptions.

3. Choose how to redeem your rewards

Chase Freedom Unlimited® is known as a cash back rewards card, but it offers several ways to redeem your rewards.

If you opt for cash back, you’ll be able to apply your rewards as a statement credit to your card balance or as an electronic deposit into an eligible checking or savings account.

You can also redeem rewards for gift cards, travel booked through Chase Travel (including a portion of the booking cost) and for eligible Amazon.com orders at checkout. But while gift cards and travel redemptions offer the same 1-cent value as cash back redemptions, Chase says that other methods may offer a lower value.

4. Activate the DoorDash benefits

Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers several DoorDash perks to help cardholders save when using the app.

First, you’ll get 6 months of complimentary access to DashPass, a subscription that features $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders. 

You’ll have the chance to activate DashPass access when you add the card as a primary payment option on DoorDash, and the activation must be done by the end of 2027. Keep in mind that you’ll be automatically enrolled in DashPass at the end of the complimentary access period at the current monthly cost.

DashPass members also get up to $10 in credits every quarter on non-restaurant DoorDash orders through the end of 2027. That’s a solid value for the complimentary access period, and a nice ongoing perk if you choose to continue your DashPass membership.

5. Consider the 0% intro APR for big purchases

If you’re planning to make a big purchase and need time to pay it off, Chase Freedom Unlimited® could also help you save money on interest charges.

The card offers a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months after account opening. But make sure to try to pay off your purchases and transfers before the intro APR expires, or you’ll be charged a variable regular APR of 18.49% - 27.99% on any remaining purchase or transfer balances.

There’s also balance transfer fee: Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater in the first 60 days. 5% (minimum $5) thereafter.

While the balance transfer offer could be helpful for those carrying debt on other cards, we recommend that cardholders wanting to use the card for other benefits try to stick to the 0% intro purchase APR offer. In general, it’s a good idea not to use the same card for both new purchases and managing existing debt — juggling both balances can get complicated, and you could end up in more debt than when you started.

What’s next?

Your Chase Freedom Unlimited® comes with other benefits, like purchase protection and trip cancellation insurance. But the perks we’ve called out above are most likely to help you find value early in your card membership.

Once you start using the card more often, you might find it has some gaps you’d like to fill. For instance, if you want more travel perks, you may want to add another Chase card to maximize your rewards.

The Citi Double Cash® Card offers great value with its $0 annual fee, but you’ll need a plan to reap all the benefits.

• Earn the sign-up bonus
• Decide how to divide your spending
• Choose how to redeem your rewards
• Consider the 0% intro APR for managing existing debt

1. Earn the sign-up bonus

The simplest way to ensure you maximize value from the Citi Double Cash® Card is by making sure you earn the sign-up bonus.

Currently, the card offers the chance to earn $200 in cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months after your account opens. (You might have been offered a different bonus, depending on when and how you applied.)

To qualify, you’ll need to average $250 in spending each month before the bonus spending period expires.

2. Decide how to divide your spending

The Citi Double Cash® Card offers a straightforward 2% cash back on all purchases — 1% when you use the card, and another 1% when you pay your bill. (You’ll also earn 5% back when you book hotel stays, car rentals and attractions through the Citi Travel® portal.)

It’s possible you’ve already decided to simplify your spending and use your card for all purchases. But if you have other rewards cards, it’s worth considering when to use the Citi Double Cash® Card and when to use another option that earns a higher rate in certain categories.

For instance, if you have a card that earns 3% back at grocery stores, it’s likely not worth using Citi Double Cash® Card in those situations.

3. Choose how to redeem your rewards

Citi Double Cash® Card earns cash back, but your rewards are technically earned as Citi ThankYou® Points that can be redeemed in several ways.

If you want to stick with cash back, you can choose to redeem your points as a statement credit to your bill, a direct deposit into an eligible bank account, or as a check.

But you’re not limited to cash back — you can also redeem your points for gift cards, via the Shop with Points at Amazon program, or for travel. Just keep in mind that these options may offer a redemption rate below 1 cent per point.

4. Consider the 0% intro APR for managing existing debt

If you have existing debt, the Citi Double Cash® Card offers flexibility with a strong 0% intro APR on balance transfers.

You can receive a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months after the date your account opened — after that, the variable balance transfer APR rises to 17.49% - 27.49%. To receive the intro APR, you must transfer your balance within four months of opening your account. There’s an intro balance transfer fee of 3% ($5 minimum) of each transfer completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, it goes up to 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum).

While an intro balance transfer offer can be a great tool for managing debt, we recommend that cardholders don’t mix these debt repayments with new purchases. Juggling these different balances can be complicated, and you could end up in more debt than when you started. All your payments over the minimum will go towards paying off new purchases first, and you can even lose the intro APR offer if you make a late payment.

Next steps

Your Citi Double Cash® Card comes with other benefits, including access to Citi Entertainment offers and more, but these are the perks most likely to help you find value early in your card membership.

Once you start using your card more often, you might find it has some gaps you’d like to fill with another option. For example, if you’re looking for more travel perks, you may want to add another Citi card with more robust rewards rates and credits.

The American Express Platinum Card® stands out for both its high annual fee and the bevy of benefits it offers to help you justify the cost. Now, thanks to several card changes that went into effect on Sept. 18, it’s both more expensive and more loaded with credits to consider.

Read on for a guide to the new offerings and our tips on how to make them work for you.

Key takeaway: Despite the higher $895 annual fee, we think the updated American Express Platinum Card® offers enough extra value to maintain its appeal for anyone who liked the card prior to these changes. While not all of the boosted credits will appeal to all cardholders, the valuable new restaurant credits are more flexible than they appear at first glance. Plus, no key benefits were removed or made less valuable.

New annual fee takes effect in 2026

It’s understandable if the new $895 fee on the American Express Platinum Card® gives you pause. The good news is you’ll have time to assess how to maximize the value of your card’s new benefits before you start paying the higher fee.

While all of the new benefits of the card are now active, anyone who had the card before the Sept. 18 updates won’t pay the new annual fee until their next renewal date after Jan. 2, 2026. Depending on your anniversary date, that could give you several months to consider all the new benefits.

No cuts to key benefits

The best news about the new American Express Platinum Card® might not be what’s been added, but what’s not changing. If you’ve come to love many of the benefits on your card, you can rest easy that none of the card’s top benefits have been taken away. In fact, you might find that many of your favorite benefits are even better.

That includes the card-defining Global Lounge Collection, which now boasts more than 1,500 airport lounges worldwide.

Boosted hotel credits: Up to $600 annually

Your card offers up to $600 annually (or up to $300 every six months) in statement credits for Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings made via American Express Travel®. That’s three times the previous annual total for credits for these bookings. The boost to these credits carries the most potential value of any of the card’s new benefits, so it’s worth considering how you might make use of them.

Keep in mind that these credits come with some restrictions. Not all hotel bookings available via American Express Travel are part of these hotel collections, and those that are might not be the best choice for your travel plans. Also, as with many of the card’s statement credits, you can’t carry over any value you don’t use within the six months the credit is available.

A final note — the $300 credit for the second half of 2025 started on Sept. 18, so you’ll still get the full value even if you used the card’s previously available credit earlier in the year.

New restaurant credits: Up to $400 annually

The American Express Platinum Card® now offers a total of up to $400 in statement credits (distributed as up to $100 every quarter) on purchases at U.S. restaurants available for reservation through Resy. You don’t have to book a reservation through Resy for your purchase to qualify, or even have a reservation at all — you just have to use your card at an eligible restaurant.

Enrollment is required to activate your credit, and the credits don’t carry over from quarter to quarter.

If you have Resy-affiliated restaurants in your area, you might be able to use the credit just by eating at some of your favorite spots. Even if you don’t frequent eligible restaurants, you can keep the credit in mind when looking for restaurants while traveling in the U.S.

Boosted digital entertainment credit: Up to $300 annually

One of the most useful credits on the American Express Platinum Card® just got better. You’ll now get up to $25 in statement credits every month (or up to $300 annually) on eligible digital entertainment purchases. That’s an extra $5 per month on what was previously offered.

Participating digital entertainment subscriptions include Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times and YouTube TV and more. You’ll need to enroll for this benefit via your Amex account to receive the credit.

New Uber One membership credit: $120 annually

If you regularly take advantage of the Uber Cash credits on your card, you’ll probably find value in the new Uber One membership statement credits. When you use your card to purchase an auto-renewing membership (annual or monthly), you’ll get up to $120 in statement credits annually.

Uber One offers $0 delivery fees on qualifying Uber Eats orders, credits on rides and orders, and various other offers and savings opportunities. The monthly cost is $9.99, so your credit will cover the full amount.

New credits: Lululemon and Oura Ring

You’ll also get statement credits for purchases with Lululemon and Oura Ring.

For Lululemon, you’ll get up to $75 in quarterly statement credits for eligible purchases at Lululemon retail stores (not including outlets) and lululemon.com when you enroll to receive the benefit. If you’re a fan of the brand, or have even just been curious to try it, these credits could come in handy.

For Oura Ring, you’ll get up to $200 in statement credits annually when you enroll to receive this benefit through Amex and purchase an Oura Ring — which tracks dozens of health and wellness metrics while you wear it — at ouraring.com.

While we see straightforward potential value in the Lululemon credit, you might want to do some more homework before taking advantage of the Oura Ring credit. The currently available Oura Ring 4 starts at $349, and Oura also requires a monthly membership for the full suite of metrics. Plus, even if you decide the Oura Ring is right for you, it might be a one-time purchase, unless you lose yours or decide to buy one as a gift.

New mirror design available to all

No matter your thoughts on these new and improved benefits, you’ll still be able to upgrade the look of your American Express Platinum Card®. If you want to change your card to the new mirror-design version, you can order a replacement via your account.

Chase Sapphire Reserve® is undergoing major changes starting on Oct. 26, 2025, and you’ll need to know all the details to decide if it’s still the right card for your wallet.

We’ve looked at the fine print and provided key tips and insights to help you assess the new features and how they fit together.

Key takeaway: With a host of new features and a higher $795 annual fee, Chase Sapphire Reserve® now requires cardholders to put in more effort to get value for their money. Committed users will be able to find plenty of value to justify the cost, but it might mean sacrificing flexibility and moving most (or all) your spending onto the card.

1. It’s more work to figure out how you’ll cover the annual fee.

For years, Chase Sapphire Reserve® has been a stand-out credit card thanks to its excellent combination of valuable benefits and clear value for your money. Chase’s revamp of this top-tier travel card has changed that profile in a major way.

Simply put, it’s now more difficult to understand how to get full value for the $795 annual fee, up from the previous $550. While Chase has added several new valuable card features, they require more consideration to use effectively.

At the same time, not everyone will have to put in that extra work just yet. If your 2025 cardholder anniversary occurred before October 26, you won’t be charged the new annual fee until your anniversary comes up again in 2026. If you’re part of this group, you’ll have a bit more time to consider how you plan to use the updated Chase Sapphire Reserve®.

2. The $300 travel credit is still the best way to find value.

Thankfully, the card’s signature perk hasn’t changed. Chase Sapphire Reserve® still offers the annual $300 travel credit that applies to a wide variety of travel purchases, so you’ll continue to receive this clear value without having to think too hard about how you’re using your card.

Chase Sapphire Reserve® also continues to offer varied airport lounge access via a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership (and the growing list of Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club locations). And you’ll still get an application fee credit of up to $120 every four years for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS.

3. New credits offer lots of potential, but you’ll need to know how they work to benefit fully.

Chase values the card’s “lifestyle” benefits at more than $1,500. And there’s no denying the Chase Sapphire Reserve® now offers considerably more potential from spending credits — unfortunately, most of these perks are tied to purchases with specific brands and businesses, and they might not all carry equal appeal for you.

Cardholders who don’t plan to use these credits might be leaving value on the table though. This guide can help you take advantage.

Exclusive Tables dining credit: Up to $300 annual value

Chase Sapphire Reserve® now boasts a combined $300 in statement credits for dining at restaurants included in the Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables program. You’ll get up to $150 in statement credits to cover eligible purchases from January through June, and another chance at up to $150 to cover July through December, with no carryover between the two periods.

Chase has partnered with OpenTable for this benefit, but, confusingly, you don’t need to book a reservation through OpenTable to take advantage. The credit applies on eligible purchases at participating restaurants, regardless of how you got your table.

If you live in one of the cities with eligible restaurants, the dining credit is attractive. But for cardholders living outside one of the program cities, you can still take advantage by searching out one of these restaurants when traveling. (Available restaurants are listed on OpenTable’s website.)

Apple TV+ and Apple Music subscriptions: $250 annual value

Cardholders receive complimentary subscriptions to both Apple TV+ and Apple Music (through June 22, 2027), when activated via Chase’s website or mobile app. These subscriptions are valued at a combined $250 annually.

If you already pay for these two subscriptions, that’s a meaningful cost now covered by your card. If you don’t currently subscribe, it won’t cost you anything to add them, and it might even allow you to save by canceling another streaming service.

DoorDash credits and benefits: Up to $420 annual value

DoorDash users will still benefit considerably from the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. When you use your card as default payment for a DashPass membership, you’ll get …

• A complimentary DashPass membership for a minimum of 12 months (when activated prior to the end of 2027). That membership is valued at $120 for 12 months.
• $5 per month in credits on DoorDash restaurant orders, for as long as you have your DashPass membership through your card. Credits don’t carry over from month to month, but that’s still a $60 annual value if you always use the credit.
• $10 in credits on two DoorDash non-restaurant orders per month, for as long as you have your DashPass membership through your card. This credit can be applied to orders from convenience stores and grocery stores and adds up to $240 in value annually if you always use the credit.

Keep in mind that these credits are likely to be most valuable if you already use DoorDash regularly.

Lyft credits: Up to $120 annual value

You’ll get up to $10 a month toward in-app credits for Lyft rides when you use your card as your payment method (available through September 2027). That’s an annual value of $120 for everyone who uses this benefit every month. And you’ll also get five points per $1 on qualifying Lyft rides (through September 2027) for extra value.

StubHub credits: Up to $300 annual value

Cardholders now receive a combined $300 in statement credits annually for purchases made with StubHub and viagogo through 2027. You’ll get up to $150 in credits to cover January through June and up to $150 for July through December. This credit requires a one-time activation via your Chase account, too.

The value of these credits depends heavily on your personal habits. If you regularly buy event tickets via StubHub, you’re likely to know how much value you’ll get from the credit every six months. If you don’t use it, you’ll need to assess several factors — your willingness to buy tickets this way every six months, the likelihood there will be an available event you want to attend, the cost of tickets relative to the amount of the credit, etc.

Peloton membership credits: $120 annual value

You card now offers a monthly $10 credit for purchases of Peloton memberships (with one-time activation via your Chase account). However, that $10 won’t cover the full cost of a monthly membership in most cases.

The usefulness of this credit is easy to judge — if you already use Peloton for workouts or plan to in the future, it will be good value. If you weren’t interested in Peloton, you’ll need to decide if you want to use Peloton or purchase any of their equipment to do so. If you do, you can also take advantage of the new rewards rate: on a minimum purchase of $150, you’ll get 10 points per $1 (on up to $5,000 in total purchases, then 1 point after) when purchasing Peloton equipment and accessories through 2027.

4. You’ll gain more from booking travel with Chase, but you’ll give up flexibility.

The card’s refreshed rewards rates make it clear why it pays to book with Chase Travel.

• 8 points per $1 on on all Chase Travel purchases (after earning your $300 travel credit)
• 4 points per $1 on flights and hotels booked direct (after earning your $300 travel credit)
• 3 points per $1 on dining (including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out)
• 1 point per $1 on all other purchases

The standout here is that you’re getting twice as many points for booking flights and hotels with Chase Travel compared to directly with airlines and hotels.

When you book hotel stays with Chase, it might be smart to start with properties included in Chase’s The Edit collection. Chase Travel offers up to $250 in statement credits twice per year (one from January through June and again from July through December) on prepaid bookings made with The Edit hotels and resorts (for a minimum of two nights).

The Edit bookings also come with a $100 property credit that includes dining, spa treatments and other on-site activities. Not every bookable hotel is included in The Edit, but these credits could help you decide between options when you see them pop up in your search.

You’ll get additional value when you book with IHG hotels, too. Your card membership comes with complimentary IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status through 2027 (with enrollment in the IHG One program and account-linking via Chase). This status comes with numerous benefits, including complimentary room upgrades (when available) and a welcome amenity at check-in.

While these perks can be valuable, you’ll need to decide if it’s worth sacrificing flexibility to get them. If you always book with Chase, seek out The Edit locations, and stay loyal to IHG, you’re limiting your options and allowing your card perks to decide your behavior. That’s not necessarily a bad idea, but it’s a choice you’ll want to make with eyes open.

5. The 50% travel redemption bonus is gone, but you can still get extra value for your points.

Chase Sapphire Reserve® stood out from many other premium travel cards by offering a 50% boost to points redeemed through the Chase Travel portal. Unfortunately, that standard bonus rate is now gone, and any points you earn starting October 26 will now be worth 1 cent each when redeemed for travel with Chase. (Points earned before October 26 will still be redeemable at 1.5 cents each until Oct. 26, 2027.)

To compensate for this removed feature, Chase has introduced Points Boost, which allows Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders to redeem for select flights and hotel stays at a value of up to 2 cents each. At launch, those higher-value bookings are available from a selection of Chase travel partners, and the value fluctuates depending on what kind of booking you make. In other words, Points Boost is a potentially valuable but unpredictable feature.

If you’re looking for more control over the value of your points, it might be worth considering transferring your points to one of Chase’s travel partners. While the value you get with these partners won’t be consistent, you’ll gain lots of flexibility and the ability to seek out especially good value for your points. It takes a little more effort, but it can pay off in the long run.

6. Spending $75,000 in a year unlocks a new level of benefits, but it takes commitment.

Cardholders who spend at least $75,000 a year on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® stand to unlock a new level of perks for the remainder of that calendar year and the following calendar year:

• $500 credit for Southwest Airlines bookings on Chase Travel
• Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards A-List status
• IHG One Rewards Diamond Elite status (one level above the Platinum Elite status available to all cardholders)
• $250 in statement credits for purchases at The Shops at Chase (an e-commerce platform)

Realistically, you might need to shift all your credit card activity to your Chase Sapphire Reserve® to hit the $75,000 requirement and see the benefits. And in that case, you’d be giving up benefits from other cards in your wallet that might not be available from this card. You’ll need to decide if that’s worth the tradeoff.

Thanks to mobile wallets and virtual account numbers, you no longer have to wait for your new credit card to arrive in the mail to start using it. While not all cards offer instant access, it’s become an increasingly popular way to start earning rewards and using benefits shortly after approval.

Here are a few of the best cards that offer instant access to cardholders.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Spend instantly for cash back

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One of our favorite cash back cards allows you to start earning rewards instantly.

Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers cash back in several useful categories, including 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% back on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services), 3% back at drug stores and 1.5% back on all other purchases.

Better yet, it has a $0 annual fee.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Get a head start on your sign-up bonus

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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

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The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers excellent rewards-earning rates, but perhaps the best reason to use it right after approval is to start qualifying for the valuable sign-up bonus.

Not bad for the $95 annual fee.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn miles after approval

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Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

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The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card features straightforward, valuable travel rewards for its $95 annual fee. It offers two miles per $1 spent on all eligible purchases and several useful perks.

While Capital One doesn’t offer the ability to add your card to a mobile wallet right after approval, the issuer allows cardholders to create numerous virtual cards for online shopping via its Eno browser extension.

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express from American Express: Start earning on everyday spending

This card offers some of the best rewards on groceries anywhere, and plenty more to return value for the $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.

You’ll earn 6% cash back on up to $6,000 in eligible purchases at U.S. supermarkets (then 1%), 6% back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% back on eligible transit, 3% back on gas at eligible U.S. gas stations and 1% back on all other purchases.

American Express doesn’t guarantee a card number will be given to all approved applicants instantly, but the feature is available on the majority of the issuer’s cards. If eligible, you’ll receive your card number immediately following approval or via a link in your introductory email.

See your American Express credit card offers on Credit Karma.

Apple Card: Maximize your value with Apple Pay

If you like the idea of using Apple Pay, you could maximize your value with Apple Card.

The card offers 2% Daily Cash back on all purchases made with the card via Apple Pay, plus 3% back on Apple Pay purchases with Apple and other select merchants. All other non-Apple Pay purchases earn 1% back. There’s also a $0 annual fee.

Using Apple Card instantly requires little work from you. The card exists primarily in the Wallet app on iPhone, so you can use it as soon as your approval is processed.

See if you have an offer for Apple Card on the Credit Karma app on iOS.

More cards with instant-use features

While all the cards on our list offer a mix of strong rewards and the potential for instant use, there are other options available if you’re looking for a card you can use right after approval.

Instant-use cards are available from several notable issuers we haven’t mentioned, like Citi and Bank of America, but they typically make the availability of this feature less clear to applicants or available only via select methods of application.

If you prefer cards from these issuers, not knowing if you’ll be able to use them instantly doesn’t have to stop you from applying. Even if you can’t use your card right away, it’ll likely be worth the wait to get the card that best fits your needs.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers several opportunities to earn value in your first few months of card membership, but it takes a little work to maximize all of them.

From the sign-up bonus to some useful credits, this card offers a few ways to start earning back the $95 annual fee (and then some). But you’ll need to know how to qualify for and activate all the benefits to take full advantage.

1. Earn the sign-up bonus
2. Use the $50 hotel credit
3. Add your card to a DoorDash account
4. Learn the bonus spending categories

1. Earn the sign-up bonus

The best way to maximize the value of your new Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is to earn the sign-up bonus. Currently, the bonus offer includes 75,000 points when you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months of card ownership.

Your bonus could be worth even more if you transfer your points to one of Chase’s airline or hotel partners — just make sure to research your points’ value and find a valuable redemption before transferring.

2. Use the $50 hotel credit

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card’s annual $50 hotel credit offers enough value to offset more than half the card’s $95 annual fee.

To earn the credit, book a qualifying hotel stay through the Chase Travel portal. Given that many hotel stays cost more than $50 per night, you shouldn’t have much trouble earning the full credit with a one-night stay.

Just keep in mind that you won’t earn rewards points on this purchase — qualifying hotel bookings don’t earn the card’s typical 5 points per $1 on Chase Travel purchases until after you earn the full $50 credit.

3. Add your card to a DoorDash account

If you order delivery often, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card provides the potential for considerable value with a complimentary membership to DoorDash’s DashPass service.

DashPass provides $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders with DoorDash and Caviar, and you’ll get it for a minimum of one year when you activate by Dec. 31, 2027. Chase lists the value of this perk as worth $120 over 12 months. Plus, you’ll also receive a credit up to $10 once a month that can be used for non-restaurant DoorDash orders.

To earn these perks, you’ll need to add your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card as your default payment method on both DoorDash and Caviar, and then click the activation button. You’ll also need to continue to use the card as your payment method on DashPass-eligible orders.

Even if you don’t use delivery services regularly, these DoorDash benefits could prove useful enough to save you a bit of money here and there.

4. Learn the bonus spending categories

While taking advantage of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card’s perks and credits are great ways to maximize value right after getting the card, your first few months of card membership are also a great time to start building your rewards balance.

Apart from the sign-up bonus, the best way to earn points is to spend in the card’s bonus categories. You’ll earn:

• 5 points per $1 on travel purchased through Chase Travel
• 3 points per $1 on restaurants (including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out), online grocery purchases and select streaming services
• 2 points per $1 on other travel purchases
• 1 point per $1 on all other purchases

It’s possible that you have another card that gets you more value in one of these categories, and it won’t be right for everyone to shift all their spending to the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.

But if you’re looking to maximize this card’s value over time, you’ll need to spend enough to keep a high rewards balance that you regularly redeem for travel.

Next steps

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has other perks that can earn value, like bonus points on eligible Peloton purchases.

But the benefits we’ve called out above are most likely to help you find value early in your card membership. As you continue to use your card and build a rewards balance, you’ll likely want to consider other great ways to redeem your points with Chase.

Once you start using your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card more often, you might find that it has some gaps you’d like to fill. For instance, if you do a lot of driving, you can save big on fill-ups with a gas credit card. Or if you’re looking to relax before boarding your next flight, you might want to check out the top credit cards for airport lounge access.

Cards with 0% introductory APR offers can help you finance expensive purchases, pay off existing debt and save on interest payments overall. Read on for our picks for the best 0% intro APR credit cards.

BankAmericard® credit card: Best for a long intro period

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BankAmericard® credit card

BankAmericard® credit card

2.4 out of 5

235 reviews

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Here’s why: You’ll get ample time to pay down debt and avoid interest on both new purchases and balance transfers. The card gives you a 0% introductory APR for 18 billing cycles for both purchases and balance transfers made in the first 60 days after your account opens. Both APRs then rise to a variable 14.74% to 24.74%.

Heads up: There’s a 3% intro balance transfer fee for any transactions in the first 60 days your account is open, which then rises to 4%.

Wells Fargo Reflect® Card: Best for a long intro period

Here’s why: You’ll get a long intro period on both purchases and balance transfers to help you avoid or pay down interest. This card offers a 0% introductory APR for 21 months on purchases and balance transfers made in the first 120 days after your account opens. After the 0% APR periods are up, you’ll see a variable APR for both purchases and balance transfers of 17.49%, 23.99%, 28.24%. This card has a balance transfer fee of 5% (minimum $5).

Citi Simplicity® Card: Best for paying off debt

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Citi Simplicity® Card

Citi Simplicity® Card

2.1 out of 5

539 reviews

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Here’s why: You’ll get a lot of time to pay off your balance transfer debt at the introductory rate. Within the first four months after your account opens, you’ll get a 0% introductory APR on balance transfers for 21 months, though you only get 12 months of the intro APR for purchases from the date of account opening (you may see different offers on Credit Karma). After the introductory periods end for both purchases and balance transfers, you’ll see a variable APR of 17.49% - 28.24%.

The card also has a balance transfer fee: Intro fee 3% of each transfer ($5 minimum) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum).

Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Best for ongoing cash back

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Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

3.6 out of 5

2038 reviews

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Here’s why: This card offers an intro APR as well as cash back rewards. You’ll get a 0% intro APR on both purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months your account is open. After that, the APR for both rises to a variable 18.49% - 27.99% for each. There’s also a balance transfer fee: Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater in the first 60 days. 5% (minimum $5) thereafter.

For cash back, you’ll earn 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel^℠, 3% at restaurants (including takeout and delivery), 3% back on drugstore purchases and 1.5% back on all other purchases.

Citi Double Cash® Card: Best for simple cash back

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Citi Double Cash® Card

Citi Double Cash® Card

2.8 out of 5

1460 reviews

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Here’s why: If you want straightforward cash back with solid intro APR offers, this card has what you’re looking for. You’ll get a 0% APR for 18 months after the date of your first transfer on balance transfers made in the first four months your account is open. After the intro APR period ends, you’ll have a variable APR of 17.49% - 27.49%. There’s also a balance transfer fee: Intro fee 3% of each transfer ($5 minimum) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum).

And you’ll earn 2% cash back on all purchases (1% when you buy, and 1% when you pay your bill).

When you’re paying an annual fee, it helps to know if you’re getting your money’s worth.

While rewards credit cards can carry a lot of potential, it’s not always easy to figure out exactly how much value they provide.

Some card perks come with an exact dollar figure attached, but not everything is so clear. Plus, even when a statement credit carries an exact value, there’s no guarantee the perk will be easy to use.

To help with that confusion, our credit card editors developed an annual benefit value metric that provides a quick snapshot of how much an average consumer might earn from a card’s recurring perks and benefits.

Let’s take a closer look at how we calculate this value, what it captures, and how you can use these figures to help choose the best credit card for you.

How our editors’ estimated annual benefit value works

Editors’ estimated annual benefit value is our attempt to capture how much an average cardholder can expect to earn from a card’s recurring perks and benefits.

It is not a full valuation of every benefit a card provides, and it does not include any value you might earn from a welcome bonus or from spending in rewards categories.

Rather, it represents an attainable, reasonable value that cardholders might earn from their benefits on an annual basis. Instead of assessing the total potential value held by each card, we sought to provide a quick look at what it brings to the table.

How to use editors’ estimated annual benefit value

The estimated annual benefit value is meant to demonstrate how a credit card provides value over the long haul. While welcome bonuses and high rewards rates can help you earn serious value, they’re either temporary offers or dependent on how much you spend. On the other hand, many recurring perks and benefits can provide ongoing value even if you change your daily spending habits.

That doesn’t mean our numbers will always match up with your experience. Because we’re looking to find a middle ground value that can be attained by many cardholders, the annual benefit value may not align with everyone’s sense of how much they’re likely to earn from each valued card. Hardcore optimizers may far exceed our estimated annual benefit value, and others might not match our numbers. It all depends on what you find useful and the amount of effort you’re willing to put in.

Ultimately, the estimated annual benefit value is only a starting point to help guide your decision, and the true value of a card can vary from person to person.

For that reason, we always recommend digging deeper into what a card offers to see what potential value it can provide to you. In some cases, we may have valued benefits that hold no value for you, or we may not have valued a benefit that you would find especially useful.

What’s included in the Editors’ estimated annual benefit value calculation

Determining the editors’ estimated annual benefit value depends on numerous factors that can vary from card to card.

Consumers look for different things out of their credit cards, so we didn’t assume that a benefit that’s useful on one card must be valued on another. To put it another way, we’re not assessing the value any credit card user would get from a benefit, but the value for an average cardholder of that specific card.

For instance, if a co-branded airline credit card offers a free checked bag on flights with that airline, then it’s an important benefit of the card. However, if a flexible travel card were to offer the same checked-bag benefit only with that airline, we couldn’t be sure that the average cardholder would use that benefit.

In practice, that means calculating an estimated annual benefit value is more art than science. Still, we ask ourselves several key questions whenever we value a card’s benefits.

Can you put a value on the benefit at all?

Some credit card benefits are useful, but their value can’t be assigned a clear value. For instance, hotel chains don’t make their elite status available for purchase, but a credit card may come with that automatic elite status.

We chose not to value these benefits, because it’s not simple to approximate their dollar value. The benefits may be meaningful and important to you — they’re just not a good fit for this metric.

Does the benefit match the reasons someone would apply for this card?

The likelihood of a cardholder using a benefit can depend on context, and what looks like a crucial benefit for one card might not be for another.

For instance, people already seeking out travel cards are more likely to be interested in airport lounge access than chances to save on purchases at an expensive department store.

That doesn’t mean a benefit that’s not central to the card’s valuable proposition won’t be part of the estimated annual benefit value, but it can be a determining factor in choosing to include or exclude it.

Is the benefit easy to use? Is the cardholder likely to use it regularly?

We believe cardholders are more likely to use benefits that don’t require them to jump through hoops. Automatic statement credits and easy-to-activate perks are more likely to be included in the estimated annual benefit value than those that make you go through an application process.

Similarly, other benefits may be easy-to-use for those with access, but not widely available even in major cities. There are also recurring benefits that are unlikely to be used on an annual basis, like statement credits for exercise equipment purchases.

We also treat complimentary airport lounge access a little differently than other benefits that might not be widely available. While we value a card’s most important full lounge membership at its stated value, we assign a flat-rate amount to all other airport lounge offers, no matter if they include full access or individual visits. Because you’re only likely to use one lounge per airport visit, fully valuing all lounge offers tends to overrate their usefulness. At the same time, we understand the flexibility offered by card with considerable lounge access and want to capture that value.

Does the benefit cover the full cost of the expense?

Some benefits offer apparent value without much work, but they will likely require you to spend more than the cost of the full credit to use them. We often include these kinds of perks if they seem like they cover common purchases, but we use our discretion. In some cases, these credits can serve as enticements to make purchases you otherwise wouldn’t consider.

Does the card have few enough benefits that each one takes on added importance?

If a credit card has only a few notable benefits, we think those features are more likely to prove valuable to cardholders even if they fail to meet some of the standards discussed above. It’s easier for consumers to assess the usefulness of two benefits than of 15 benefits, and those who decide to apply have likely determined they can get value from these features.

This offer is no longer available on our site: American Express® Green Card

The American Express® Green Card’s greatest value comes in its rewards spending categories, but its top travel benefits are worth a closer look.

While the card doesn’t feature widely applicable travel credits, its more targeted perks hold real value.

Is the American Express® Gold Card worth the annual fee?

Other cards may offer more potential value from their benefits, but the American Express® Gold Card’s combo of credits and rewards makes it a strong choice for those who aren’t ready to shell out for a card with a pricier annual fee.

This card doesn’t feature as many notable perks as other premium rewards cards, but its monthly credits make it simple to determine if you’ll get enough value to make the $325 annual fee worth it.

With a potential total of $240 in annual credits via Uber Cash and the monthly dining credit’s restaurant partners, you can get fairly close to the cost of the annual fee just by taking advantage of those two $10 credits every month.

The most valuable American Express® Gold Card benefits

Uber Cash credits

The American Express® Gold Card offers $10 in Uber Cash each month to be used on Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. To earn the credit, cardholders need to add their card to their Uber account and select it as the payment method.

If you already use Uber on a regular basis, you’ll see a straightforward $120 in value every year. If you don’t use the service, though, keep in mind that Uber Eats orders and Uber rides could often cost more than $10 apiece.

Dining credits

The American Express® Gold Card features another $10 per month in dining statement credits on specific purchases (with enrollment in the program also required). Currently, the monthly credit applies to purchases with Grubhub (including Seamless), and at restaurants like The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, and Wine.com.

But keep in mind that the credits don’t carry over if you fail to use them in a particular month. That means you’re able to get $10 in credits in January and a separate $10 in February, not $20 in February if you skip January.

More American Express® Gold Card benefits

The American Express® Gold Card also offers a handful of other benefits that might interest you.

• The Hotel Collection — When you book a stay of at least two nights through American Express Travel® at properties included in The Hotel Collection, you’ll get a $100 experience credit for use on qualifying purchases, like dinners or spa bookings.
• Travel insurance and protections — When you book trips with your card, you’ll get trip delay insurance and coverage for lost, damaged or stolen luggage. You’ll also get primary coverage for theft or damage to rental cars when you book with your card.
• No foreign transaction fees — Like most quality travel cards, this one comes with no foreign transaction fees.

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card won’t wow you with its benefits, but they’re strong enough to help justify the annual fee.

Unlike with some premium travel credit cards, you won’t be overwhelmed by the benefits on offer. But if you’re a frequent traveler looking for a smoother airport experience, you can find real value to add to the card’s user-friendly rewards program.