Best Cards Tools About

My picks

Best Credit Cards

Cards I personally carry, chosen for their signup bonuses, earning rates, and real world value.

Best for beginners

Chase Sapphire Preferred card
⭐ My #1 Pick Best Starter Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred®

$95 Annual Fee · Personal Travel Card

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months from account opening.

This is the card I recommend to everyone starting out. Flexible Chase Ultimate Rewards points, solid earning on dining and travel, and a signup bonus that can fund a round trip flight. The best bang for your buck at $95 a year.
75,000 ptsSignup bonus
$95Annual fee
3xDining, gas & vacations
2xTravel
Apply now

Best for: First time travel card holders, dining and travel spenders

Capital One Venture Rewards card
Elevated Bonus
Great for Beginners

Capital One Venture Rewards

$95 Annual Fee · Personal Travel Card

Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months, plus a $300 Capital One Travel credit for hotel and vacation rental stays in your first year. Limited time.

The simplest travel card out there. Earn 2x miles on everything, no categories to track. Miles can erase travel purchases or transfer to airline partners. Perfect if you want rewards without the complexity.
75,000 milesSignup bonus
$300Stays credit
$95Annual fee
2xEverything
Apply now

Best for: People who want simple flat rate rewards with no fuss

Best for earning big

Chase Freedom Unlimited card
No Annual Fee

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

$0 Annual Fee · Personal Cash Back Card

Earn a $200 bonus after spending $500 in the first 3 months. Plus 1.5% cash back on everything.

A must have companion card if you already have a Sapphire. The 1.5x on everything converts to Chase Ultimate Rewards points, meaning you're earning transferable points on every single purchase. $0 annual fee makes it a no brainer.
$200Signup bonus
$0Annual fee
1.5%Everything
3%Dining
Apply now

Best for: Pairing with a Sapphire card to maximize Chase points

Chase Freedom Flex card
Elevated Bonus
Power Earner No Annual Fee

Chase Freedom Flex®

$0 Annual Fee · Personal Cash Back Card

Earn a $250 bonus after spending $500 in the first 3 months. Plus 5% on rotating quarterly categories.

5% on rotating categories like grocery stores and gas stations is massive, especially when paired with a Sapphire card to convert cash back into transferable points. This duo is one of the best earning combos in the points world.
$250Signup bonus
$0Annual fee
5%Rotating categories
3%Dining
Apply now

Best for: Maximizing everyday spending categories with a Sapphire card

Best premium benefits

Capital One Venture X card
Premium Travel

Capital One Venture X

$395 Annual Fee · Personal Travel Card

Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months.

The best value premium travel card on the market right now. A $300 annual travel credit plus 10,000 bonus miles each anniversary year effectively brings the real cost down to under $100. Add Priority Pass lounge access and Capital One Lounge entry and this card is a steal compared to competitors.
75,000 milesSignup bonus
$395Annual fee
$300Travel credit
2xEverything
Apply now

Best for: Travelers who want premium perks without the Amex Platinum price tag

Chase Sapphire Reserve card
Premium Travel

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

$795 Annual Fee · Personal Travel Card

Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months from account opening.

The $300 annual travel credit offsets a big chunk of the fee right away. Add Priority Pass lounge access, Chase Sapphire Lounges, and strong earning on dining and travel and this card pays for itself quickly if you fly frequently.
100,000 ptsSignup bonus
$795Annual fee
$300Travel credit
3xDining & travel
Apply now

Best for: Frequent travelers who want lounge access and top tier perks

American Express Platinum card
Elevated Bonus
Top Tier Perks

American Express® Platinum Card

$895 Annual Fee · Personal Travel Card

Earn up to 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $12,000 in the first 6 months. Offers vary by applicant, so check yours before you apply.

The gold standard for airport lounge access, with 1,550+ lounges worldwide including Centurion Lounges. The annual credits for airline fees, hotels, and digital entertainment can offset much of the fee. Best for heavy travelers who want the full VIP experience.
Up to 175,000 ptsSignup bonus
$895Annual fee
1,550+Airport lounges
5xFlights & hotels

Best for: Heavy travelers who fly frequently and want lounge access everywhere

Best sleeper cards

United Explorer card
United Miles

United℠ Explorer Card

$150 Annual Fee, waived first year · Personal Airline Card

Earn up to 60,000 bonus miles: 50,000 after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months, plus 10,000 more for adding an authorized user.

If you fly United at all, this card is an easy win. A free first checked bag for you and a companion can cover the annual fee on your first trip. The miles transfer well and United has solid award availability to destinations worldwide.
Up to 60,000 milesSignup bonus
$150Annual fee (waived yr 1)
3xUnited purchases
1st bagFree for you + 1
Apply now

Best for: United flyers who want free bags and bonus miles

Hilton Honors Amex Business card
Elevated Bonus
Hilton Points

Hilton Honors Amex Business Card

$195 Annual Fee · Business Hotel Card

Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors bonus points plus a Free Night Reward after spending $8,000 in the first 6 months. Limited time, ends January 13, 2027.

Hilton points can go a long way, especially at properties where cash rates are sky high. This card gets you automatic Gold status and solid earning on Hilton stays. A great pick if you stay at Hilton properties regularly for work or travel.
150,000 ptsSignup bonus
Free NightReward included
$195Annual fee
12xHilton stays
Gold statusAutomatic
Apply now

Best for: Hilton loyalists and business travelers who stay at hotels often

Best business cards

Ink Business Cash card
No Annual Fee

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

$0 Annual Fee · Business Credit Card

Earn $750 cash back after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening.

An underrated no annual fee business card that quietly earns a ton of points when paired with a Sapphire or Ink Preferred. Those cash back rewards convert to transferable Chase points if you hold a Sapphire.
$750Signup bonus
$0Annual fee
5%Office supplies & internet
2%Gas & dining
Apply now

Best for: Small business owners who want big rewards with no annual fee

Ink Business Preferred card
Elevated Bonus

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

$95 Annual Fee · Business Credit Card

Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

I call this the business version of the Sapphire Preferred. 100k points is a massive bonus and it earns well on shipping, travel, and advertising, categories most business owners spend heavily on. Those points transfer to airlines and hotels just like personal Chase cards.
100,000 ptsSignup bonus
$95Annual fee
3xTravel, shipping & ads
Apply now

Best for: Business owners who spend on travel, advertising, or shipping

Some links on this page are referral links. I may earn a bonus if you apply through them, at no cost to you. This is not financial advice.