When talking about reward credit cards, it is important to comprehend that reward comes in different forms . Although its bit challenging to compare the reward rate of multiple cards but fret not we are here to ease this process. . The reward rate for the airline credit card may be different from the reward rate of the grocery credit card. If you are considering one of the best reward credit cards of 2024 you could potentially earn more points and can avail more redemption flexibility. And failing to choose one of the best reward credit cards means that you are not ready to leverage the benefits on multiple everyday spending.
The long list of the best reward credit cards of 2024 generally pay back in two major categories that include cash back and travel cards . cashback credit cards are usually regarded as more powerful with the option to redeem the cashback through statement credit , gift cards and more. While the travel reward credit cards gives you miles for the travel and are geared towards the business class who spend extravagantly on travel. No single reward credit card in the list can fit well with the needs of everyone. The benefits of the reward cards are majorly dependent on the kind of rewards you value more.
Table of Contents
Quick Summary– Best Reward Credit Cards of 2024
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® – Best Premium Chase card with flexible rewards
- Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card – Best high-rate cash back with no annual fee
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® – Best mid-tier flexible reward card
- Discover it® Cash Back – Best rotating categories for the bonus rewards
- Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card – Best reward card for groceries with no annual fee
- The Platinum Card® From American Express – Premium travel reward card for greater Membership points
- Citi Custom Cash® Card – Best cash back card that is tailored as per your spending
- Aeroplan Credit® Card – Great airline credit card with rewards
- World of Hyatt Credit Card – Best hotel reward credit card
- Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card – Best cashback reward credit card with 0 APR
Charting the Best Reward Credit Cards of 2024
Best Reward Credit Cards of 2024 | Annual Fee | Reward Ratio | Best For |
Chase Sapphire Reserve® | $550 | 3 points per $1 on travel and dining worldwide, and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases | Travel rewards |
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card | None | 2% cash back on all purchases | Everyday cash back |
Chase Sapphire Preferred® | $95 | 2 points per $1 on travel and dining worldwide, and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases | Travel rewards |
Discover it® Cash Back | None | 5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories, up to $1,500 in spending per quarter (then 1%), and 1% cash back on all other purchases | Cash back rewards |
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card | None | 3% cash back on restaurants and entertainment, 2% cash back on groceries, and 1% cash back on all other purchases | Cash back rewards |
The Platinum Card® From American Express | $695 | 5 points per $1 on airfare booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel on prepaid hotels, 5 points per $1 on eligible travel booked through American Express Travel, 3 points per $1 on eligible dining worldwide, and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases | Travel rewards |
Citi Custom Cash® Card | None | 5% cash back on your top spending category each quarter (activation required), 1% cash back on all other purchases | Cash back rewards |
Aeroplan Credit® Card | None | 3 miles per $1 spent on eligible travel purchases charged directly with the airline or through Air Canada Vacations®, 1.5 miles per $1 spent on dining and groceries worldwide, and 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases | Travel rewards |
World of Hyatt Credit Card | $95 | 9 points per $1 spent at Hyatt hotels, 2 points per $1 spent on fitness club and gym memberships, local transit and commuting, and dining at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery, and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases | Travel rewards |
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card | None | 3% cash back on your top spending category each quarter (activation required), 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $1,000 in combined quarterly purchases, then 1%), 1% cash back on all other purchases | Cash back rewards |
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Annual Fee | $550 |
Welcome Bonus | 60,000 bonus points |
Regular APR | 22.49%- 29.49% |
The top position among the best reward credit cards of 2024 is earned by the high annual fee credit card Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Thee rewards are greater than its total annual fee, so it can be a good choice for all the heavy spenders . Starting off with its welcome bonus, it can earn 60,000 points after a spending limit of 4,000 in the first 3 months. The signup bonus for the Chase Sapphire Reserve® when redeemed through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® provides $900 for travel purchases.
Chase Sapphire Reserve® is regarded as the best reward credit card for high spenders particularly in travel. This card can earn you 5x points on travel, 10x points of hotels and rental that are booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Moreover, you can also earn 3x points on other travel and dining. The greatest reward of this card is its $300 annual travel credit on each account anniversary. Through this card you gain greater value of up to 50% when you redeem for travel through the CHASE Ultimate Rewards®.
Being at the top rank of best reward credit cards of 2024, it provides access to 1300+ airport lounges across the world along with insurance in case of trip cancellation and interruption.
Pros | Cons |
Generous welcome bonus | High annual cost |
Additional cardholder benefits provide greater value | |
Easily transfer the points to various airline and hotel programs |
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Annual Fee | $0 |
Welcome Bonus | $200 cash reward |
Regular APR | 20.24%, 25.24%, 29.99% |
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card offers a good mix of features along with the flat rate cash back that makes it a viable choice for various type of spenders. The flat rate cash back card in the list of the best reward credit cards of 2024 can provide you huge bonus of $200 with a minimum spending limit of $500 in the first 3 months of the account opening. The best reward credit card with 0 APR for the duration of 15 months on qualifying balance transfers and purchases and then variable APR is applicable.
This card can let you earn unlimited 2% cash back on all the purchases. As it is the best reward credit card with no annual fee, you don’t have to keep an eye on the spending habit to earn rewards. Along with this you can also enjoy the premium benefits with Visa Signature Concierge to access the elite hotel properties.
Pros | Cons |
Flat 2%cashback on all the spending | No travel transfer partners to benefit from |
Comes with no annual fee | Charges foreign transaction fee |
Offers cellphone protection benefit |
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Annual Fee | $95 |
Welcome Bonus | 60,000 bonus points |
Regular APR | 21.49% – 28.49% |
This card offers great mix of rewards and redemption flexibility for the users, With moderate annual fee among the best reward credit cards of 2024, the sign up bonus is 60,000 points with purchases of upto $4,000 in the first 90 days . this holds an approximate value of $750 when redeemed through the Chase Ultimate Rewards. Furthermore this card offers 5x on travel purchases through Chase ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, 2x on all other travel purchases.
The best reward credit card for travel provides $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit. In a mediocre annual fee, you can gain 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, rental cars from the Chase Ultimate Rewards. Being the preferred Chase card in the list of best reward credit cards of 2024, it provides trip cancellation and interruption insurance, lost luggage insurance , auto rental collision damage waiver and much more.
Pros | Cons |
High reward earnings across a wide swath of categories | Best travel earning rates are limited to Chase |
Offers point transfer ratio of 1:1 | Offers no introductory APR offer |
Offers multiple travel and shopping protections |
Best Chase Credit Cards for 2024
The list of the best Chase cards are compiled after consideration on the reward rate, annual fee , sign up bonus and much more . Choose the viable Chase card for travel rewards and other everyday spending rewards.
Discover it® Cash Back
Annual Fee | $0 |
Welcome Bonus | Unlimited cashback match |
Regular APR | 17.24% – 28.24% |
Not all the reward cards are made for the high spenders some also offers generous rewards for the moderate spenders too. Although moderate spenders have to keep an eye on the bonus categories to fetch higher rewards. The introductory offer of unlimited cash-back match at the end of the first year is what makes this card stands out from the rest . Being one of the best reward credit cards of 2024, there is no minimum spending limit to year welcome bonus at the end of the first year.
Through this card you can easily earn 5% cashback on multiple everyday spending like gas stations, restaurants , groceries and much more. But to earn this cashback the categories should be activated quarterly. In addition, you can earn 1% cashback on all the other purchases. Also, Discover will reduce the exposure of your sensitive data to malicious sites. This service is free to activate using the mobile banking application. This one is also the Best reward credit card with 0 APR on purchases for the tenure of 15 months. Afterwards this period you have to pay variable APR based on your credit worthiness.
Pros | Cons |
5% rotating cashback on the bonus categories that are activated in each quarter | Activation of bonus categories in each quarter |
Automatically match cashback at the end of the year | Low 1% cash back on all other purchases |
Offers multiple travel and shopping protections |
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Annual Fee | $0 |
Welcome Bonus | $200 cashback bonus |
Regular APR | 19.99% – 29.99% |
This cash-back reward credit card is the powerhouse for all the gourmets as it lets you earn 3% cash back on dining, grocery and all the major streaming service subscriptions. Being one of the best reward credit cards of 2024, it is perfect for all those who spend a considerable amount of money on groceries and entertainment purchases. The sign -up cash back bonus is $200 with a spending cap of $500 in the first 3 months of the account opening. This card can let you earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases, 5% on hotels and rental cars that are booked through Capital One .
There is no particular category to keep tabs on so you can spend on grocery items and food as per your convenience. Through this card, you can earn 10% cashback on purchases made through Uber & and UberEats . Furthermore, being the best reward credit card with 0 APR, the introductory period for purchases and balance transfers is for the duration of 15 months.
Pros | Cons |
Greater reward rate for everyday spending | No bonus spending categories |
Charges no annual or foreign transaction fee | Charges balance transfer fee |
Great card option for beginners |
Best U.S Credit Cards for Entertainment Purchases
The best credit cards for entertainment will let you save huge sum of money on streaming subscriptions, concert tickets, and much more. To watch the latest Netflix and Disney show grab the top card for entertainment purchases.
The Platinum Card® From American Express
Annual Fee | $695 |
Welcome Bonus | 80,000Membership Reward points |
Regular APR | 21.24% – 28.24% |
With hefty fees, one of the best reward credit cards of 2024 earns you a welcome bonus of 80,000 Membership points with high spending of $8,00 I the first 6 months. The best reward credit card for high spenders provides access to the world-class lounges with premium perks. The annual fee of the card can be compensated if you make use of the card sensibly for various spending. This card lets you earn 5 points on the flights that are booked through the airline or with American Express. In addition, you get 5 points on hotels that are booked through the American Express.
This card can also let you earn Uber Cash of $200 annual that can redeemed as $15 per month on Uber rides and UberEats. As the market-leading luxury travel card it provides $300 Equinox Credit after you pay the fee for the Equinix Club. Moreover, Global Entry and TSA precheck statement credit of $100 can also be gained through this card. For the luxurious stays in hotel you also get $100 as hotel credit to use for room upgrades.
Pros | Cons |
Greater rewarding potential in the travel category | Comes with high annual cost |
Sizable welcome offer for the users | Reward rate outside the travel category is not so high |
Provides access to fine lounges such as Centurion lounges |
Citi Custom Cash® Card
Annual Fee | $0 |
Welcome Bonus | Not Applicable |
Regular APR | 19.24% – 29.24% |
With one of the best reward credit cards of 2024, the earning of cash back and other bonuses is easy. This one is also regarded as best reward credit card for everyday use as it provides 2% flat-rate cash back on every purchase. The only mandatory condition to earn cashback through this card is that you have to pay the balance before the due time. The 0% Intro offer for this card is only applicable on balance transfers for 18 months and after that you are eligible to pay variable APR in the range of 19.24% – 29.24%.
Unfortunately, the 0% APR is not available for the purchases and for all the big purchases interest will be charged. The Citi Custom Cash® Card also offers easy redemption options and the ThankYou points can be redeemed as direct deposit, statement credit . But for this, the minimum no of points should hold at least the value of $5.
Pros | Cons |
Valuable perks such as DoorDash and Lyft | Other cards offer high cashback rewards across a wide swath of categories |
A good reward card with no annual fee | Bonus category rewards are limited |
Flexible redemption options |
Best Credit Cards for Groceries for 2024
Comparing and contrasting the best credit cards for U.S supermarkets is an arduous task. Grab one of the best credit cards for groceries and get the best return on purchases.
Aeroplan Credit® Card
Annual Fee | $95 |
Welcome Bonus | 75,000 points |
Regular APR | 21.74% – 28.24% |
Being one of the solid options in the list of the best reward credit cards of 2024, it can let you earn 100,000 bonus points. As a signup bonus with this card you get 75,000 points with spending of $4,000 in the first 90 days of the card membership. In addition, you have a chance to earn 25,000 points if you spend $20,000 on purchases in a year. With this airline credit card, you can easily redeem points for both domestic and international flights.
The best reward credit card for high spenders lets you earn 3x points on grocery stores, dining, and restaurants. While 1x points can be easily earned on all the other purchases. In addition, you can earn 500 bonus points on $2,000 you spend on purchases each month.
Pros | Cons |
Good reward earning potential | Big incentives only for the big spenders |
Charges no foreign transaction fee | Lacks non- travel related benefits |
Valuable travel related benefits for the users |
World of Hyatt Credit Card
Annual Fee | $95 |
Welcome Bonus | 60,000 bonus points |
Regular APR | 21.49% – 28.49% |
To all the Hyatt loyalists, this card deserves your special attention. With this hotel rewards credit card you can earn 30,000 bonus points with a spending cap of $3,000 in first 3 months . Additionally, this card also provides 2 bonus points on each dollar you spend in the first 6 months. eing the best reward credit cards of 2024, it can let you enjoy the World of Hyatt Discoverist Status until you have your account opened.
World of Hyatt Credit Card lets you enjoy a free night on each account anniversary in the hotel and Resorts that fall in 1-4 category. Along with this, if you have a spending limit of $15,000 you get extra free night at Hyatt hotels and Resorts. With this card, you get 5 tier qualifying night credits each year until you have the bank account. Overall the Hyatt card lets you earn 4 bonus points on each dollar spent on Hyatt properties and get 5 base points as a World of Hyatt Member. Moreover you can also earn 2 bonus points on each dollar you spent on airline tickets, restaurants and gym memberships.
Pros | Cons |
Generous signup bonus for the users | Does not offer introductory 0% APR |
Gives complimentary World of Hyatt Discoverist Status | Limited number of properties |
Annual free night certificate on each account anniversary |
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card
Annual Fee | $0 |
Welcome Bonus | $200 |
Regular APR | 18.24% – 28.24% |
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card is a contactless card that comes with the security of the chip and works with a convenience of a tap . Being the no annual fee card in the list of best reward credit cards of 2024 the spending cap is $1,000 for the sign-up reward of $200. You can easily choose the bonus categories from the list and earn 3% cash back on them. Moreover automatic 5% cashback is applied to grocery stores and whole sale clubs.
The good aspect of this card is the addition of bonus categories after customer feedback. The new added categories in the list are EV charging, online shopping, streaming services, and much more. If you are a Preferred reward Member you can gain 25-75% more value through this card. Moreover a cherry on the top is its 0% APR on purchases and balance transfer for 15 billing cycles and afterwards variable APR is applicable.
Pros | Cons |
Generous signup bonus for the users | Bonus rewards have quarterly spending limits |
Bank of America Preferred clients can earn 25%-75% more value | Comes with high balance transfer and foreign transaction fee |
Bonus categories can also be changed on monthly basis |
What are the different types of reward credit cards?
The reward credit cards comes in three types of credit card that includes cash back , miles and points . Each reward card is tailored to the specific needs of individuals For the ease of users to select a particular type of credit card here’s an explanation of different types of best reward credit cards of 2024.
Cashback Reward Credit Card
A cashback credit card gives you a certain amount of money back on multiple spending. Depending upon the type of credit card you have opted from the flat rate and bonus category cashback credit cards, you can gain cashback on the money you have spend on purchases . For some cashback reward credit cards, the bonus categories can either be fixed or rotating. The rotating categories can be changed in each quarter but they have to activate these in each quarter .
Reward points credit cards
Many of the premium travel credit cards are also regarded as reward point credit cards. Instead of cashback, the rewards are in the form of points on your various spending. The value of points re dependent on the credit card issuer you choose and the points redemption options. In case you choose the American Express card to gain Membership points then being the premium and best reward credit cards of 2024 the redemption flexibility for travel and merchandise is greater.
Miles credit cards
The airline credit cards offer rewards in the form of airline miles. The best ones are usually those that offer the miles transfer option to various airline and hotel loyalty programs. Most of the airline credit cards are solely dedicated to a single airline rewards program. If you travel in luxury and want to have a diverse experience go for the co-branded airline credit cards. Moreover, with the airline credit cards you get a maximum 3 airline miles on each dollar you spend on airline tickets.
How to compare the reward cards and select the best one?
To choose the best reward card , there are four important factors to keep in consideration
- Specify your goals
Is the primary goal to earn cash back, miles or points? question yourself and think about it according to our spending behavior. If you find the appropriate answer to this query you can get all the benefits from the card that is tailored to your needs.
- Thoroughly assess your spending behavior
You will be amazed to see all the rewards you can rack up buy correctly assessing your spending behavior. If major expenses in your household is grocery, go for the best reward credit cards of 2024 that are good in terms of grocery stores. But if your spending is all over the place , then opt for the flat rate cash back credit cards.
- Weigh the annual cost
Even if your earning potential is high, look for credit cards that fit well with your budget . As annual fee is the long term expense and if you are opening a card with higher annual fee than make sure that you get the most out of it .
The premium travel cards can get you greater rewards but they come with higher annual fee. High annual fee means that it’s a long-term expense and you have to fulfill it every year.
- Submit the application seeing your credit score
If you have an average credit score and want to gain reward card then unfortunately it’s not possible. First with credit score of 500, try to build credit score and then apply for the credit card application. Otherwise a hard inquiry on the credit application would result in lowering your credit score
When should you apply for the best reward credit cards of 2024?
To apply for the reward credit card the credit score should be greater than 700. The credit score that come sin the bracket of good to excellent can be considered suitable due to following reasons :
- With this credit score the application rejection chances are relatively lesser and after approval it would not impact your credit score.
- If you have credit score lower than 700, you would be charged a high interest rate . With high interest rates the rewards are of little use.
What are the pros and cons of the reward credit cards?
The pros and cons of the rewards credit cards are stated below
Pros of reward credit cards
- Many of the best reward credit cards include generous welcome bonus
- The reward program of the credit cards lets you earn cashback, miles and points on everyday spending
- The best reward credit cards hold additional cardholder benefits
Cons of reward credit cards
- The premium reward credit cards for miles and points usually come with high annual cost
- The rewards may sometimes expire or get devalued within the specific duration of time
- It may take some effort at user end to learn about redemption of rewards
In what ways you can maximize the reward credit cards?
The ideal way to maximize the rewards is to know about which types of reward programs you are interested in . Once you choose the right reward program and start to use the card strategically you can get most of the benefits . If you spend generously on households then cashback reward credit cards hold greater value for you. But if some individuals spend on travel than the airline credit cards with miles rewards can serve better rewards. Overall to maximize the rewards you need to combine multiple cards from the same credit card issuer to boost your earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions
 Which reward card gives you the most benefits?
Chase Sapphire Reserve® provides the highest set of rewards in an annual fee of $550.
 What are three major perks of reward credit cards?
The major perks of the best reward credit cards are
1. Increased reward in form on cashback, miles , points
2. Building credit history
3. Lower interest rate and higher rewards for individuals with great credit history