The Top 25 Credit Cards

(If you see any errors or missing cards, please let me know. I try to keep a full list, but it’s a lot of information and I do make mistakes).

Time for the monthly edition of my Top 25 Credit Cards. Again, if you’re a newbie, make sure you read The Newbie Guide. Many of your questions will be answered there. Basic things like not applying for 3 Chase cards at the same time should be known before you continue. For people running out of cards, remember there’s often a Business card option. I listed a few here but not many, so it might be worth exploring more Business cards. Also, “churning” might be an option. The dates here were a guideline but things always tend to vary individually.

Miles and points aren’t an equal currency. 50,000 Delta Skymiles are worth less to me than 50,000 miles from American Airlines. 25,000 Hyatt points are worth a ton more than 25,000 Hilton points. And so on. These links work right now (July 10th at midnight). If you read this later, many of the offers will have changed. Things move fast in this game so read the offer details and terms before applying. Here we go! My Top 25 current credit cards in order are…
  • Various American Express Cards
    • Business Platinum
      • Spend $5,000 in 3 months. Get 75,000 points.
      • Sign in to see offer.
      • Also a 100,000-point possibility.
    • Business Gold Rewards
      • Spend $5,000 in 3 months. Get 50,000 points.
      • This offer comes and goes all the time. Back for now.
      • Possibly 75,000 points here?
    • Premier Rewards Gold
      • Spend $1,000 in 3 months. Get 50,000 points.
      • If you see a lesser offer, try in an Incognito browser a few times.
      • Some people are seeing 100,000 points.
  • Ink Plus (Chase)
    • Spend $5,000 in 3 months. Get 50,000 points.
    • The points transfer to United, Southwest, British, Hyatt, etc.
    • 5 times the points on purchases at office stores.
    • Ink Cash at the same link is also 5X at office stores.
    • Worth seeing if you can still get a 70,000-point offer in your local branch.
  • Sapphire (Chase)
    • Spend $4,000 in 3 months. Get 40,000 points.
    • Still very valuable points. See Ink cards above.
  • Starwood Preferred Guest aka SPG (American Express)
    • Spend $3,000 in 6 months. Get 25,000 points.
    • Incredible card. See Cash + Points for hotel stays.
    • I’m also a big fan of some of their 3,000-point properties.
    • Possible 30,000 points. Also here.
    • The Business version of the card is here. Lower spend here.
  • Barclay Arrival (Barclays)
    • Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 40,000 miles.
    • Temporarily unavailable for new applications.
    • One of the best cards for actual spending, as discussed here.
  • American Airlines cards (Citibank)
    • Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 50,000 miles.
    • A bunch of offers there. I’ve had so many of these cards.
    • The Executive card is back up to 75,000 miles.
  • United Airlines (Chase)
    • Log in and see if you are targeted for the 50,000-mile offer.
    • This offer is also being pushed heavily in airports.
    • No luck? You can also try this link.
    • If still not working, try this method.
    • Here’s a 50,000-mile Business link.
  • Southwest (Chase)
    • Spend $2,000 in 3 months. Get 50,000 points.
    • The Premier link is working above. Premier Business is here.
    • Pretty late in the year if you’re shooting for a companion pass.
    • 60,000-point Business Premier if you call 1-888-883-2721.
    • Personal with $100 credit is here.
  • Ritz Carlton (Chase)
    • Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 2 free nights.
    • Big $395 annual fee. But a travel credit of $300 makes that much better.
  • Mercedes Benz Platinum (American Express)
    • Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 50,000 Amex Membership Rewards points.
    • Big $475 fee but benefits like global entry credit and $200 credit.
    • A no-fee for the first year Platinum card is here.
    • Look for MUCH better targeted Amex offers in your mailbox or here.
  • Hilton Honors Reserve (Citibank)
    • Spend $2,500 in 4 months. Get 2 weekend nights. Best Hilton card.
    • Gold status while you have the card. Upgrades, breakfast, internet, etc.
    • Temporary offer with $100 credit here.
  • Wyndham (Barclays)
    • Spend $1,000 in 90 days. Get 45,000 points.
    • Offer has fluctuated between 30,000 and 45,000 for a LONG time.
    • Booking any hotel for 15,000 a night moves it up the list.
  • Prestige (Citibank)
    • Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 50,000 points.
    • Nice benefits including $250 credit, but huge $450 annual fee.
    • There is also a 60,000-point offer possible if you go into your local branch. That would put this much higher on the list.
    • A tool on Citibank’s site shows what cards you are prequalified for. You can also get a 50,000-point offer there.
    • See if you’re targeted for a 100,000-point offer.
  • British Airways (Chase)
    • Spend $2,000 in 3 months. Get 50,000 points.
    • If I were guessing, I’d say the 100,000-point offer will be back.
  • InterContinental Hotel aka IHG aka Priority Club (Chase)
    • Spend $1,000. Get 80,000 points.
    • Another method to get that bonus is here.
    • And another possible way here.
    • One of the most underrated hotel cards out there.
  • Hyatt (Chase)
    • Spend $1,000 in 3 months. Get 2 nights, $50, and maybe points.
    • Even more valuable after the point devaluation.
  • Club Carlson Premier (US Bank)
    • Spend $2,500 in 90 days. Get 85,000 points.
    • Great hotel card and not from the usual issuers.
  • Marriott (Chase)
    • Spend $2,000 in 3 months. Get 70,000 (or maybe (80,000) points.
    • Business card links are here.
    • 80,000 points until the end of August.
    • Another offer here for 40,000 points and $100.
    • Targeted 80,000-point offers around if you want to call/message Chase.
  • Fairmont Hotel (Chase)
    • Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 2 nights and breakfast at any Fairmont.
    • Again, many of these hotels are very expensive.
  • Hilton Honors (Citibank)
    • Spend $1,000 in 4 months. Get 40,000 points.
    • Increased to 75,000 points right now.
    • 60,000 points if that dies.
    • Also a 50,000-point offer.
  • Alaska Airlines (Bank of America)
    • Spend $1. Get 25,000 miles.
    • Offer with $100 credit here.
    • When links die, use one of these methods:
      • Call 1.800.932.2775 and give priority code VACFQ7.
      • Shop for a flight and see the offer on the payment page.
    • Bank of America cards can be MUCH more “churnable” than most.
    • Here’s a great trick to get the most out of this.
  • Propel (Wells Fargo)
    • Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 40,000 points.
    • It’s always good to see cards from different banks.
    • A note on this one from reader Adam.
    • Here’s a decent Business card from Wells Fargo.
  • Spark (Capital One)
    • Spend $4,500 in 3 months. Get 50,000 miles.
    • Redeem the miles for $500 in travel purchases.
  • FlexPerks (US Bank)
    • Spend $3,500. Get 20,000 points.
    • Many different card options for FlexPerks.
  • Venture (Capital One)
    • Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 40,000 miles.
    • Up from 20,000 miles.
  • Thank You (Citibank)
    • Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 50,000 points.
    • Bonuses on this card go up/down often.
    • Another version is here.
  • Lufthansa (Barclays)
    • Spend $5,000 in 90 days. Get 50,000 miles.
    • This offer comes and goes often.
    • Make sure you have a use for these miles…no extending expiration.
  • JetBlue (American Express)
    • Spend $1,000 in 3 months. Get 20,000 points.
    • Get the points before it switches to Barclays. Then get them again.
    • Thanks to reader Adam.
  • Korean (US Bank)
    • Spend $2,000 in 90 days. Get 30,000 miles.
    • Back up from 15,000.
  • Hilton Honors (American Express)
    • Spend $750 in 3 months. Get 40,000 points (60,000 temporarily).
    • Go to Hilton.com, begin making a reservation, and you can also see a 50,000-point offer on the payment page.
    • Hilton points are definitely not what they used to be.
  • Hilton Honors Surpass (American Express)
    • Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 60,000 points.
    • Get the previous card, and you’ll get tons of offers to upgrade to this one.
    • 85,000 points for now.
  • Hawaiian Airlines (Barclays)
    • Spend $1,000 in 3 months. Get 35,000 miles.
    • Business version is here.
  • Diners Club Elite (BMO Harris Bank)
    • 3x points at gas station, grocery stores, and pharmacies.
    • Killer way to pick up Starwood points.
    • Big annual fee.
  • Aeroplan (TD Bank)
    • Spend $1,000 in 3 billing statements. Get 25,000 miles.
    • Not spectacular, but low spend and not the usual issuer.
  • Virgin America (Comenity)
    • 2 different card offers I discussed here.
    • Issued by Comenity Bank, which is the best thing about these cards.
    • Oh, and flights to Hawaii now!
    • Double bonuses here.
  • Freedom (Chase)
    • Worth having in your collection for the 5% quarterly bonuses.
    • No reason to close this one.
    • Maybe a $200 bonus here?
    • Another semi-decent quarterly bonus cards is Discover It.
    • Here’s the old Amazon link for the Discover.
  • Navy Federal (Military Only)
    • Spend $3,000 in 90 days. Get 30,000 points.
    • Offer fluctuates and is available only with armed services affiliation.
  • LAN (US Bank)
    • 20,000 miles after first use. Was 25,000 before March 1.
    • 30,000 temporarily here.
    • Down from a 40,000-mile offer.
  • Frontier Airlines (Barclays)
    • Spend $500 in 3 months. Get 40,000 miles.
    • Moved way down. These miles suck. Expire after 6 months of no activity.
    • Interesting use for the miles here.
  • Expedia (Citibank)
    • Spend $2,000 in 3 months. Get 25,000 points.
    • Also a 15,000-point version with no annual fee.
  • Virgin Atlantic (Bank of America)
    • Skip this 25,000-mile offer and wait for 50,000 to return.
    • Again, Bank of America is more churnable than most.
    • Global Entry credit might still be working if you’re looking to save the TSA PreCheck fee.
    • Big 90,000 miles available here but a huge amount of spending needed.
  • Everyday (Amex)
    • Spend $1,000 in 3 months. Get 10,000 Membership Rewards points.
    • No annual fee. Preferred has a 15,000-point bonus with a $95 fee.
    • Free Amazon Prime for a year.
  • Sun Country (First National Bank of Omaha)
    • Spend $500 in 3 billing cycles. Get 40,000 points.
    • Not the most popular airline in the world.
  • Best Western (First Bank of Omaha)
    • 4 different card options. Up to 70,000 points one one.
    • Better than the old Barclays Best Western card.
  • NFL (Barclays)
    • Spend $500 in 90 days. Get $100 credit.
    • Offer has been higher in the past.
  • Choice Hotel (Barclays)
    • Get the card and stay a night. Earn 4 free stays.
    • I keep this as the last card mostly out of tradition.

Recently Dropped:

  • Delta (American Express) – Big offers just ended July 1. Will be back soon.
  • Amtrak (Chase) – Great flexible currency. Card should be back soon.
  • Asiana (B of A) – Down from 25,000.
  • LifeMiles (US Bank) – Dropped from 40,000 to 20,000 miles.
  • AirTran (Chase) – This one is gone for good.

Beyond this mile/point list, the following are some great cashback cards:

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