Sign up bonus credit cards

These offers are no longer available on our site: Chase Freedom Unlimited®, Chase Freedom Flex℠, Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, United℠ Explorer Card, Target RedCard™, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Journey® Student Rewards from Capital One®, Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

Hear from our editors: The 7 best credit card sign-up bonuses of March 2023

Updated February 27, 2023

This date may not reflect recent changes in individual terms.

Editorial note: Credit Karma receives compensation from third-party advertisers, but that doesn’t affect our editors’ opinions. Our third-party advertisers don’t review, approve or endorse our editorial content. It’s accurate to the best of our knowledge when posted.

Written by: Tim Devaney

Here are our picks for the best credit card sign-up bonuses and welcome offers, which can be worth thousands of dollars.

We found the best bonuses by calculating a dollar value for card offers using our estimated value of what those points and miles are really worth.

Here are Credit Karma’s picks for the best credit card bonuses.

• United Club℠ Infinite Card: $1,744 estimated value
• Platinum Card® from American Express: $1,656 estimated value
• United Quest℠ Card: $1,308 estimated value
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: $1,308 estimated value
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: $1,297 estimated value
• AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®: $1,266 estimated value
• American Express® Gold Card: $1,242 estimated value

United Club℠ Infinite Card: $1,744 estimated value

Here’s why: The United Club℠ Infinite Card features a sign-up bonus that could be worth $1,744 when redeemed for flights, based on our estimated value of 2.18 cents per mile.

• Sign-up bonus: 80,000 bonus miles
• Spending requirement: $5,000 on purchases
• How long you have to earn it: 3 months

The United Club℠ Infinite Card also comes with a complimentary United Club membership and a $525 annual fee.

Check out our review of the United Club℠ Infinite Card to learn more.

Platinum Card® from American Express: $1,656 estimated value

Here’s why: The Platinum Card® from American Express features a welcome bonus that could be worth $1,656, depending on how you redeem the points.

• Welcome bonus: 80,000 Membership Rewards® points
• Spending requirement: $6,000 on purchases
• How long you have to earn it: 6 months from account opening

When redeemed for flights through American Express Membership Rewards, this welcome bonus is worth only $800. But you could get a much better value by redeeming your points through a transfer partner (instead of the Membership Rewards program). For example, if you transfer your points to Delta SkyMiles®, we estimate your welcome bonus could be worth about $1,656.

Of course, you’ll have to weigh the one-time welcome bonus against the recurring $695 annual fee.

Check out our review of the Platinum Card® from American Express to learn more.

United Quest℠ Card: $1,308 estimated value

Here’s why: The United Quest℠ Card features a sign-up bonus that could be worth $1,308 when redeemed for flights, based on our estimated value of 2.18 cents per mile.

• Sign-up bonus: 60,000 bonus miles (plus 500 Premier qualifying points)
• Spending requirement: $4,000 on purchases
• How long you have to earn it: 3 months

The United Quest℠ Card also comes with an annual United credit of up to $125 and two annual 5,000-mile flight credits, which could help make up for the $250 annual fee.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: $1,308 estimated value

Here’s why: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card features a sign-up bonus that could be worth more than $1,308, depending on how you redeem the points.

• Sign-up bonus: 60,000 bonus points
• Spending requirement: $4,000 on purchases
• How long you have to earn it: 3 months from account opening

When redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, this bonus is worth $750.

But here’s the trick: You could get a better value for your points if you redeem them through a transfer partner (instead of through Chase’s own rewards program). According to our estimated point valuations, some transfer partners offer better redemption rates than Chase does. So if you can take advantage of a better redemption rate, the sign-up bonus becomes more valuable.

For example, if you redeem the points through United MileagePlus®, we estimate a value of $1,308 for your sign-up bonus.

That’s pretty good for a relatively affordable $95 annual fee. Take a look at our review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to learn more.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: $1,297 estimated value

Here’s why: The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card features a sign-up bonus that could be worth $1,297, depending on how you redeem the miles.

• Sign-up bonus: 75,000 miles
• Spending requirement: $4,000 on purchases
• How long you have to earn it: 3 months from account opening

When redeemed through Capital One Travel, this bonus is worth only $750. But you could get a much better value by redeeming your points through a transfer partner (instead of Capital One Travel). For example, if you transfer your points to Air Canada Aeroplan®, we estimate your bonus could be worth $1,297.

The card has a $395 annual fee, which is partially offset by a $300 annual travel credit.

Check out our review of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card to learn more.

AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®: $1,266 estimated value

Here’s why: The AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® features a sign-up bonus that could be worth about $1,266 when redeemed for flights, based on our estimated value of 2.11 cents per mile.

• Sign-up bonus: 60,000 AAdvantage® bonus miles
• Spending requirement: One purchase, plus paying the $99 annual fee
• How long you have to earn it: 90 days from account opening

In addition to the sign-up bonus, you could also earn an Anniversary Companion Certificate after spending at least $20,000 on eligible purchases during your card membership year and keeping your account open for 45 days after your anniversary date. This allows you to take one guest along on a round-trip domestic flight for only $99, plus no more than $43.20 in taxes and fees.

See our picks for the best American Airlines credit cards to learn more about the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®.

American Express® Gold Card: $1,242 estimated value

Here’s why: The American Express® Gold Card features a welcome bonus that could be worth $1,242, depending on how you redeem the points.

• Welcome bonus: 60,000 Membership Rewards® points
• Spending requirement: $4,000 on purchases
• How long you have to earn it: 6 months from account opening

If you redeem your points for travel through American Express Membership Rewards, the bonus will only be worth up to $600. But you could get a better value by transferring your points to Delta SkyMiles®, where we estimate the bonus is worth $1,242.

Keep in mind, the card comes with a $250 annual fee.

Check out our review of the American Express® Gold Card to learn more.

How to make the most of your credit card sign-up bonus or welcome offer

Ultimately, how much your points are worth depends on how you redeem the points. For example, you could theoretically get a higher point value if you use your hotel program points to redeem for hotel nights than for, say, cash back. But we can help you with an idea about how much you could earn from each bonus, based on a specified redemption option.

To take advantage of a credit card’s sign-up bonus or welcome offer, it’s important that you have a plan for how to earn it before you apply for the card.

Here are a few things to keep in mind.

Don’t spend more than you can comfortably afford to pay back. If earning bonus points is important to you, make sure you apply only for credit cards that offer a sign-up bonus or welcome offer with a spending requirement you can afford as part of your regular spending habits.

Plan big purchases. If you have a big purchase coming up — one that you’d planned to make anyway — you may want to put it on your new credit card, so it can help you meet the requirements of the bonus-points offer.

Keep track of time. Be mindful of the time frame in which you have to earn the sign-up bonus or welcome offer. Most credit cards on this list give you about three months to hit the spending requirement.

Remember, a credit card’s sign-up bonus or welcome offer is often a one-time thing, so before you apply, make sure there are other features that make the card worth using afterward.