September 2023: Top Credit Cards Immediately Proud Cash, Below is a list of the finest credit cards currently available, with a focus on cash back and travel rewards cards:
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is perhaps the finest rewards credit card for grocery store purchases, with no annual fee and a rare 3% cash back on all online purchases. Earn 3% cash back on groceries at U.S. supermarkets on purchases up to $6,000 per year (then 1%), 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases on purchases up to $6,000 per year (then 1%), 3% cash back on gas at U.S. gas stations on purchases up to $6,000 per year (then 1%), and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Reward Dollars are received as cash back and can be redeemed for a statement credit. BRAND-NEW CARDHOLDER FRIENDSHIP BONUS OPPORTUNITY: Spend $2,000 on purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months,, and you’ll receive a $200 statement credit. See Rates and Fees for applicable terms. American Express is one of the advertisers.
Credit cards with the highest cash-back rewards
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is perhaps the finest rewards credit card for grocery store purchases, with no annual fee and a rare 3% cash back on all online purchases. Earn 3% cash back on groceries at U.S. supermarkets on purchases up to $6,000 per year (then 1%), 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases on purchases up to $6,000 per year (then 1%), 3% cash back on gas at U.S. gas stations on purchases up to $6,000 per year (then 1%), and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Reward Dollars are received as cash back and can be redeemed for a statement credit. BRAND-NEW CARDHOLDER FRIENDSHIP BONUS OPPORTUNITY: Spend $2,000 on purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months, and you’ll receive a $200 statement credit. See Rates and Fees for applicable terms. American Express is a sponsor.
Why We Like the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: Offers generous cash back in everyday purchasing categories where you’re likely to make substantial purchases with no annual fee! Plus 1% on all other purchases. Early Spend Bonus: $200 Cash Back after spending $500 within three months of account opening.
Best Credit Cards for Travel
It is challenging to rank travel credit cards because travellers have varying requirements in terms of budget, frequency of travel, desired benefits, etc. Consider your requirements and desires as you consider these cards:
We like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card for the following reasons: a HUGE new cardholder incentive opportunity, excellent commonplace rewards, a 10% annual points bonus, and being a pillar of the “Chase Trifecta.”
5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards (excluding hotel purchases that qualify for the card’s $50 Annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit), 2 points per dollar on all other travel purchases, 3 points per dollar on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out, 3 points per dollar on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs), and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
Chase Trifecta: Use the Chase Sapphire Preferred as the cornerstone of a larger strategy to obtain multiple Chase cards and combine points to redeem at a 25% premium through Chase’s travel booking site or to gain access to Chase travel transfer partners such as United, Southwest, Hyatt, Marriott, and more.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. When you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, you will receive $750.
(Also, on your account’s anniversary, you’ll receive additional points equal to 10% of your previous year’s purchases. For example, if you make purchases totalling $20,000, you will receive 2,000 bonus points.) Annual Cost is $95.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card – Why We Like It: Offers the desirable features of more expensive travel cards but with a reasonable annual charge by eliminating unnecessary perks. This card’s annual fee is $395, but it offers up to $300 in travel credits when booked through Capital One Travel and an Early Spend Bonus. Spend $4,000 within three months after account opening to earn 75,000 bonus miles. Beginning on your first anniversary, you will receive 10,000 incentive miles (equivalent to $100 towards travel).
Earn an unlimited 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental vehicles booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel, and 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases. Not to mention airport lounge access via the Priority Pass network, the new Capital One Lounges, and a great deal more.
American Express® Gold Card – This card is a hybrid because its commonplace rewards are not heavily concentrated on travel. Still, it offers Membership Rewards® points, which most cardholders redeem for travel rewards. Numerous opportunities exist to earn points and benefits/credits. You must do the math to determine if it suits your spending habits. The annual fee is $250. New Cardholder Bonus Opportunity: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. See Rates and Fees for applicable terms. American Express is one of the advertisers.
The American Express Platinum Card® – Platinum Card 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel (up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year), 5X points on prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com, arguably the best, most extensive airport lounge network of all the luxury travel cards, substantial travel insurances/protections, and numerous potential credits on specific airline and hotel purchases as well as certain assets from Uber, Clear, and Lyft annual cost of $695. Please see Rates and Fees for details. American Express is an advertiser.
Best Commercial Credit Cards
We like the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card for the following reasons: No annual fee, a substantial new cardholder incentive opportunity, and significant reward opportunities (up to 5%) on popular small business categories.
Get 5% cash back on the first $25,000 you spend on office supply stores, internet, cable, and phone services each account anniversary year. Each year, on your account’s anniversary, you may receive 2% cash back on the first $25,000 you spend at filling stations and restaurants combined. On all other purchases, you will receive 1% cash back.
Earn $750 in bonus currency after spending $6,000 on purchases within three months of opening your account due to a new cardholder incentive opportunity.
Why We Like the American Express Blue Business CashTM Card: Generous, straightforward CASH BACK formula with no annual fee, choose this option if you want excellent rewards without focusing too much on them while conducting business.
Your business receives 2% Cash Back on eligible business purchases up to $50,000 per calendar year, credited automatically to your statement. (Eligible purchases exclude returns and other credits.) After spending the initial $50,000 on your Card, your business will receive 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases, automatically credited to your statement.
Opportunity for a New Cardholder Welcome Bonus: n/a See Rates and Fees for applicable terms. American Express is one of the advertisers.
Why We Like the Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express: Generous and straightforward rewards with no annual fee. If you’re already accumulating Membership Rewards® points with other American Express credit cards, this card is an excellent choice.
Your business earns 2X Points on eligible business purchases, up to a maximum annual expenditure of $50,000. (Eligible purchases exclude returns and other credits.) After the first $50,000 in investments, your company will earn 1X Points on all other eligible purchases. Within the renowned Membership Rewards program, points can be redeemed for various travel-related and other rewards.