As a small business owner, managing your cash flow properly is essential. A small business credit card can help you succeed by giving you time to pay off your purchases. Several business credit cards also offer rewards and other perks that can add value to your business every time you use them.

There are several different types of business credit cards available, including ones that offer cash-back or travel rewards, introductory 0% APR promotions, premium travel perks and accessibility for business owners with less-than-perfect credit. Take some time to shop around and consider all of your options before you apply for one.

See all the top small business credit cards here >>

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 Top Best Small Business Credit Cards

Small business credit cards don’t offer all of the same consumer protections you’ll get with a personal credit card. But they often provide business-specific rewards and benefits that can make your spending more rewarding and your life easier.

To help you find the right credit card for your business, we’ve put together a list of our top choices, focusing on different rewards programs, sign-up bonuses and accessibility. Here are our recommendations.

Best For Travel Rewards: Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card

The Ink Business Preferred Credit Card offers an excellent chance to rack up a lot of points you can use for travel. The card starts out by offering 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 in the first three months. 

You’ll also earn 3 points per dollar on various categories, including:

• Travel
• Shipping purchases
• Internet, cable and phone services
• Advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines

You’ll earn just 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. When it comes to redeeming your rewards, you can get cash back or gift cards at a rate of 1 cent per point, or you can book travel through Chase and get 25% more value. Alternatively, you can transfer your points to one of many airline and hotel partners at a 1:1 ratio.

Keep in mind, though, that the card has a $95 annual fee, though it doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee.

Compare cards here >>

Best For Flat Travel Rewards: Capital One Spark Miles for Business

If you don’t spend a lot in one of the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card’s bonus categories, consider the Capital One Spark Miles for Business. The card offers a flat 2 miles per dollar on every purchase you make, plus 50,000 bonus miles when you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months and earn 150,000 bonus miles when you spend $50,000 in the first 6 months of your account opening.

You can redeem your miles by booking travel directly through Capital One, booking through a third party and redeeming miles for a statement credit, or transferring them to an airline partner at a 2:1.5 or 2:1 ratio. Plus, 5X miles on hotel and rental car bookings through Capital One Travel℠ using a Spark Miles card.

The card doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee, and its annual fee is $0 for the first year, then $95 after that.

Compare cards here >>

Best For Flat Cash-Back Rewards: Capital One Spark Cash for Business

If you want a high flat rewards rate but prefer cash back over travel, the Capital One Spark Cash for Business should be on your radar.

The card offers unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase you make, plus a $500 cash bonus when you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months and earn $1,500 when you spend $50,000 in the first 6 months of your account opening. The card doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee, and the $95 annual fee is waived the first year.

Compare cards here >>

Best For Cash Back And No Annual Fee: American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card 

If your business doesn’t spend a lot, it may not make sense to get a card with an annual fee. If that’s the case for you, consider The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card. It offers 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

This card currently has a Welcome Offer of at $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first three months.

Compare cards here >>

Best For Flexible Rewards With No Annual Fee: The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

Similar to the card’s cash-back rewards counterpart, you’ll earn a flat 2 points per dollar on the first $50,000 spent each year, then 1 point per dollar after that. You can redeem your points for several things, including statement credits, travel, merchandise and gift cards. You can also transfer your points to a travel partner at varying rates. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Compare cards here >>

Best For a Big Sign-Up Bonus And No Annual Fee: Ink Business Unlimited℠ Credit Card

Having a high rewards rate is nice, but if you want more value upfront, consider the Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card. It offers a $750 bonus after you spend $6,000 in the first three months after account opening. You’ll also earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase you make. 

The card charges no annual fee.

Compare cards here >>

Best For Flexible Cash-Back Rewards: Bank of America® Business Advantage Cash Rewards Mastercard® Credit Card

The Bank of America Cash Rewards Mastercard credit card gives cardholders the chance to pick their bonus rewards category. You’ll earn 3% cash back on the category of your choice from a list that includes gas stations, office supply stores, travel, TV/telecom and wireless, computer services and business consulting services.

You’ll also earn 2% cash back on dining and 1% back on everything else. Note, however, that the bonus categories are limited to just the first $50,000 spent in combined purchases in those categories annually. After that, you’ll earn just 1% back on everything. That said, you could earn up to 75% more rewards if you’re a Preferred Rewards for Business client with the bank.

The card doesn’t charge an annual fee. 

Compare cards here >>

Best For Premium Perks: The Business Platinum® Card from American Express

If your company spends a lot of money, and you want access to premium credit card benefits, the Business Platinum Card from American Express may be a good fit.

The card offers several value perks, including:

• Unlock over $1,000 in statement credits on select purchases, including tech, recruiting and wireless in the first year of membership with the Business Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. See how you can unlock over $1,000 annually in credits on select purchases with the Business Platinum Card®, here.
• Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more, on up to $2 million per Card Account per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to the Card. (Enrollment Required)
• Complimentary access to multiple airport lounge networks
• Application fee credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry
• $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use the Business Platinum Card®.
• Hilton Honors Gold status and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
• Premium car-rental program memberships
• Special benefits with select luxury hotel brands

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

You’ll also can earn a welcome offer of 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases with the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.

Get 5x Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases. You can also earn 1.5X points (that's an extra half point per dollar) on eligible purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year. The card has a $695 annual fee. See rates and fees.

Compare cards here >>

Best For Fair Credit: Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business

If you don’t have good or excellent credit — typically a score of 670 or higher, according to FICO — you may have a tough time finding a good business credit card. That said, there are cards available for people with fair or even bad credit.

If your credit is considered fair — a score between 580 and 669 — consider the Capital One Spark Classic for Business. It offers 1% cash back and no annual or foreign transaction fees. It doesn’t offer much beyond that, but it can be extremely helpful as you work to improve your credit. 

Compare cards here >>

Best For Bad Credit: Wells Fargo Business Secured Credit Card

If you have bad credit, you’ll have a hard time getting approved for most business credit cards. If you can afford to put up a cash deposit, consider the Wells Fargo Business Secured Credit Card.

The card gives you a credit limit based on how much you deposit upfront, ranging from $500 to $25,000. You’ll also have the chance to choose from two rewards options:

• Earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase you make
• Earn 1 point per dollar on every purchase plus 1,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 or more in a month

The card doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee, but there’s a $25 annual fee per card, including cards you give your employees.

Compare cards here >>

Frequently Asked Small Business Credit Card Questions

Cash-back credit cards can add a lot of value to your shopping experience, effectively giving you a discount in the form of cash-back rewards on every purchase.

With so many cash-back options available, though, it can be tough to know which one is the right fit for you.

There’s no single best credit card out there for everyone, so it’s essential that you know what to look for in a card. Whether you want a card that offers bonus rewards on your biggest spending category, a 0% APR promotion or something else, our list of the top 10 best cash-back credit cards may help you find the best option for you.

If you want to skip this guide, check out the Best Cash Back Credit Cards right here >>

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 Top 10 Best Cash Back Credit Cards

Cash-back rewards offer a level of flexibility that you can’t get with travel rewards. Instead of being restricted to using your rewards for travel-related expenses, you can use your cash back for that or anything else.

We picked our top 10 best cash-back credit cards by focusing on various features, including rewards rates, annual fees and accessibility for people with less-than-stellar credit. Here are our recommendations.

Best For Groceries and Gas: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

The average U.S. household spent $4,942 on groceries and $1,568 on gas, fuel and motor oil in 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. If a significant amount of your budget goes toward these two categories, the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express is worth considering.

The card offers 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 at U.S. gas stations, 3% Cash Back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more), and 1% back on everything else. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.

Thinking about getting the Disney Bundle which can include Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+? $84 Disney Bundle Credit: With your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred Card, spend $9.99 or more each month on an auto-renewing Disney Bundle subscription, to receive a monthly statement credit of $7. Valid only at Disney Plus.com, Hulu.com or Plus.espn.com in the U.S.

As a new cardholder, you’ll also earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.

The main drawback to the card is its $95 annual fee, but you get a $0 intro annual fee for the first year (see rates and fees). Also, you can only redeem your rewards in the form of a statement credit or gift cards — many other cash-back cards also allow you to choose direct deposit or even a paper check.

If you spend a lot on groceries and gas, though, the card’s annual fee can be easy to stomach.

Compare cards here >>

Best For Dining: Capital One® Savor® Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Savor Rewards Credit Card offers 4% cash back on dining and entertainment, making it a solid choice for people who frequently eat out. You’ll also earn 2% cash back at grocery stores and 1% back on everything else.

As a new cardholder, you’ll earn a one-time cash bonus of $300 after you spend $3,000 in the first three months.

The card charges a $95 annual fee, but it’s waived the first year, giving you some time to test it out and determine whether it’s right for you.

Compare cards here >>

Best For Flexible Rewards: Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card

If your spending habits change throughout the year or you just want a little more flexibility with your bonus rewards, the Bank of America Cash Rewards credit card might be a good fit.

The card offers 3% cash back on a category of your choice from a list that includes gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores and home improvement and furnishings. You can change your category once a month. You’ll also earn 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs and 1% back on everything else.

The only thing to keep in mind is that your bonus rewards earned from the 3% and 2% categories are capped at $2,500 spent each quarter.

On the flip side, if you’re a Preferred Rewards client with Bank of America, you can earn between 25% and 75% more rewards, which can make up for the bonus cap.

When you first get the card, you’ll earn $200 cash back when you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days. The card has no annual fee.

Best For Rotating Bonus Categories: Chase Freedom® Card

The Chase Freedom Card is great if you’re smart about managing what categories you spend in. With the card, you can earn you can earn 5% on up to $1,500 spent each quarter on everyday spending categories. The only catch is that these categories change every few months, requiring a little extra legwork to activate them. The only catch is that these categories change every few months, requiring a little extra legwork to activate them.

You’ll also earn just 1% cash back on non-bonus spending.

There is no annual fee.

Get the card if you’re looking for ways to maximize your rewards, and don’t forget to check your bonus rewards categories every quarter.

Compare cards here >>

Best For an Introductory 0% APR: Chase Freedom Unlimited®

If you’re looking for a great 0% APR promotion without missing out on other valuable benefits, the Chase Freedom Unlimited should be on your radar.

Like most other cards on our list, there is no annual fee. The card is a good option if you need a long 0% APR promotion and great rewards on top of it.

Compare cards here >>

Best For Fair Credit: Capital One® QuicksilverOne® Rewards Credit Card

If your credit is in the low- to mid-600s, you may have a hard time getting approved for most of the best cash-back credit cards. With the Capital One QuicksilverOne Rewards Credit Card, however, you can still get approved if you have a limited credit history or you’ve defaulted on a loan in the past five years.

The card offers 1.5% cash back on every purchase you make but does not come with a sign-up bonus. There’s also a $39 annual fee, but that can be worth it for a solid rewards program.

Compare cards here >>

Best For No Credit: Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card

Petal 2 is Petal’s most advanced card. It has no fees of any kind, is designed to help you build credit, and with cash back on every swipe, competes with other prime rewards cards. With the Petal 2, you can get impressive rewards, no fees and a decent credit limit without any prior experience using credit.

The card uses alternative data to determine your spending habits and financial responsibility. And if you do have a credit history, Petal will check that too in order to make a decision.

If you’re approved, you’ll earn 1% cash back right away, then up to 1.5% cash back on eligible purchases after making 12 on-time monthly payments. The card also doesn’t charge any fees whatsoever, and your credit limit can be as high as $10,000, which can be tough to get elsewhere with no credit history. Petal® 2 Visa® Card is issued by WebBank, Member FDIC.

Open a Petal Card here >>

Best For College Students: Journey® Student Rewards from Capital One®

If you’re a college student, you’ll have a tough time finding a card that will give you more cash back potential than the Journey® Student Rewards from Capital One®. You can earn 1% cash back on all your purchases. If you pay on time, you can boost your cash back to a total of 1.25% for that month.

What’s more, this card helps you build your credit as it will allow for a higher credit line after you make 5 monthly payments on time.

You can also earn $5 per month for 12 months on Select Streaming Subscriptions when you pay on time (Exclusions Apply). And you can also monitor your credit profile with the CreditWise app for free.

The card has no annual fee.

Compare cards here >>

Best For Small Business Owners: American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

If you own a small business, the American Express Blue Business Cash Card can be a reliable option to provide working capital. You’ll earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1% cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

This card can provide incredible savings as you work to build your business.

The card charges no annual fee (see rates and fees) and offers the chance to spend above your credit limit when you need it.

Compare cards here >>

Best For a Flat Rewards Rate: 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.

The Citi Double Cash Card doesn’t offer a sign-up bonus, but it makes up for it by offering one of the best rewards rates on the market. You’ll earn 2% cash back on every purchase you make — that’s 1% cash back for every purchase then another 1% back when you pay your balance.

Like many cash-back credit cards, this one has no annual fee.

The Citi Double Cash Card is an excellent choice if you want a simple rewards program or you don’t spend a lot in any one area. It’s also worth considering as a companion card with another card that offers bonus rewards in some areas but a low rewards rate in others.

Compare cards here >>

Frequent Asked Cash-Back Credit Card Questions

How Does a Cash-Back Credit Card Work?

Cash-back credit cards work similarly to other rewards credit cards, with the only distinction being that you earn rewards in the form of cash rather than points or miles. There are some exceptions to this rule, such as the Chase Freedom cards, but you’ll typically see the rewards you earn represented in dollars.

As you use a cash-back credit card, you’ll typically earn rewards on every purchase you make. Then when those rewards are available to you, you can redeem them and use the money however you want.

What Credit Card Gives the Most Cash Back?

There’s no single card that gives the most cash back for everyone because how much you earn depends on how you spend. While a 2% cash back credit card may offer more rewards on every purchase, you may be able to get more value from a card that offers bonus rewards, especially if you spend a lot in its bonus categories.

As you compare different credit cards, take a look at your spending habits to determine which card will give you the most bang for your buck.

How Can I Redeem My Cash-Back Rewards?

How you redeem your cash back can vary by card. In general, though, options include direct deposit, a statement credit or a paper check. Some cards may even allow you to use your cash-back rewards to buy gift cards or merchandise, shop online or even book travel.

As you shop around, check each card’s terms and conditions to make sure you have the redemption options you want.

Is Cash Back Better Than Points?

While cash-back rewards and points work a little differently, neither is inherently better. Credit card points, typically offered through travel credit cards, may be more restrictive with redemption options than cash-back rewards. But depending on the card, you might be able to get more value out of points than straight cash back.

As you compare different credit cards, consider what you want out of your next card and which type of rewards program is the best fit for what you need.

Why Do Credit Cards Offer Cash Back?

Credit card issuers offer cash back as an incentive to encourage you to use your credit card regularly. While this can work in your favor if you pay your balance in full each month and avoid interest, it can work against you if you overspend and carry a balance from month to month.

In general, it’s best to use a cash-back rewards credit card only if you’re a disciplined spender and can pay off what you spend every month.

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 at U.S. gas stations, 3% cash back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls. trains, buses, and more), and 1% back on everything else. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

You can also get up to $120 in statement credits annually when you pay for an auto-renewing subscription to Equinox+ at equinoxplus.com with your Blue Cash Preferred® Card. That's $10 in statement credits each month. Enrollment required.

Thinking about getting the Disney Bundle which can include Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+? $84 Disney Bundle Credit: With your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred Card, spend $9.99 or more each month on an auto-renewing Disney Bundle subscription, to receive a monthly statement credit of $7. Valid only at Disney Plus.com, Hulu.com or Plus.espn.com in the U.S.

In addition to those lucrative rewards rates, you can earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.

Just keep in mind that the card’s valuable rewards program is offset by its $95 annual fee, but you get a $0 intro annual fee for the first year (see rates and fees). 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 (see rates and fees), the American Express® Gold Card’s dining rewards and perks make it tough to beat.

For starters, you'll earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

In addition to the high rewards rate on dining, the card also offers up to $120 in dining credits each year. You can earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.

You can also get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.

The card just provides $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.

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 on purchases in the first 3 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 3 points per dollar on dining, 2 points per dollar on travel, 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. You’ll also receive 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 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, and 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 60,000 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:

• $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can get out and about and explore their local area with $15 in Uber Cash for US rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December. That can be up to $200 in annual Uber savings. Simply download the Uber app and add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to get started. Available to Basic Card Member only. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
  
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
• $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
• $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
• Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• Complimentary airport lounge access with multiple lounge networks
• Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors (enrollment required)
• Complimentary membership in premium car rental programs
• Complimentary benefits with select hotel brands

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. 

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 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 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.

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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.

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Frequently Asked Rewards Credit Card Questions

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.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Still one of the most popular travel rewards cards available. It does carry a fee but offers a number of features and rewards. One such feature is the ability to transfer airline miles and hotel points at a 1:1 ratio.

Compare cards here >>.

Annual Fee: $95 (fee is no longer waived in the first year)

Rewards:
5x on travel (purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®), 3x on dining, and 1x on all other purchases.

Signup Rewards: 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Get 25% more value when redeeming points through Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Additional Feature: 1:1 point transfer, no foreign transaction fee, travel and purchase coverage.

Credit Level: Good to Excellent

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Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

This Venture card is not to be confused with the VentureOne card. The Venture card offers more rewards and perks than the VentureOne card. Check out the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.

Annual Fee: $95

Rewards: 2X miles per dollar on every purchase.

Signup Rewards: 75k miles after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months.

Additional Feature: Receive up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre fee.

Credit Level: Excellent. Excellent credit is stated as, "I've never declared bankruptcy or defaulted on a loan; I haven't been more than 60 days late on any credit card, medical bill, or loan in the last year; I've had a loan or credit card for 3 years or more with a credit limit above $5,000.”

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Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

You can think of the VentureOne card as the little brother or sister to the Venture card. It does not have an annual fee but also doesn’t have as many features and rewards. One thing it has that the Venture card doesn’t is a generous 0% APR promotional offer.

Annual Fee: $0.

Rewards: Earn 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day.

Signup Rewards: 40,000 miles once you spend $1,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.

Credit Level: Good to Excellent

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Conclusion

While many absolutely abhor credit cards due to the trouble one may get into with them, if you use them like your debit card you won’t have any problems with taking on debt. 

There are many perks and benefits to using travel credit cards that can drastically reduce your overall costs on your trip. Working towards being financially independent and retiring early doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy the journey while getting there. You can travel while working towards your goal without getting off course. So pack your bags because you’re closer to your next trip than you think!

What's your favorite travel rewards credit card?