The Top 25 Credit Cards

Time for the monthly edition of my Top 25 Credit Cards. I call it “Top 25” out of tradition, but you get a lot more links than that below. Again, if you’re a rookie, make sure you read The Newbie Guide. It’s a little outdated but many of your questions can still be answered there.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.

• Sapphire Reserve (Chase)
  • Spend $4,000 in 3 months. Get 100,000 points.
  • Big $450 fee.
  • $300 annual travel credit used cleverly and collected twice helps.
• Ink Plus (Chase)
  • Spend $5,000 in 3 months. Get 60,000 points.
  • 70,000 point offer in-branch.
  • 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 Preferred (Chase)
  • Spend $4,000 in 3 months. Get 50,000 points.
  • Add an authorized user for 5,000 more.
  • These Ultimate Rewards points are valuable. See Ink Plus.
  • Bonus is up from 40,000.
  • Don’t bother with Sapphire or Ink if you’ve applied for more than 5 cards in the last 24 months.
• Starwood Preferred Guest aka SPG (American Express)
  • Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 2 free nights. Limited categories.
  • Great currency to have. See Cash + Points for hotel stays.
  • I’m also a big fan of some of their 3,000-point properties.
  • The Business version of the card is here.
  • This “temporary” offer isn’t as good as points.
• British Airways (Chase)
  • Spend $2,000 in 3 months. Get 50,000 points.
  • Spend $10,000 for 75,000 points.
  • Spend $20,000 total in the first year for a total of 100,000 points.
  • Big spending, but nice to have these options.

• Barclay Arrival (Barclays)
  • Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 50,000 miles.
  • Some of the most flexible, easy-to-use miles around.
  • Increased from 40,000.
• American Airlines (Citibank)
  • Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 50,000 miles.
  • Business card is here.
  • Targeted offers for 60,000 miles have been around. Call Citibank and try.
  • 60,000 miles with big annual fee for Executive card here.

• United Airlines (Chase)
  • Spend $3,000 in 3 months and add a user. Get 55,000 miles.
  • Some people being targeted for 70,000-mile offers.
  • Here’s a 50,000-mile Business link.
• Southwest (Chase)
  • Spend $2,000 in 3 months. Get 50,000 points.
  • Premier, Plus, and Business cards all back up to 50,000.
  • A possible 70,000-point offer?
  • Might want to wait and go after your companion pass early next year.
• Hilton Honors Reserve (Citibank)
  • Spend $2,500 in 4 months. Get 2 weekend nights.
  • This is the best Hilton card.
  • Gold status while you have the card. Upgrades, breakfast, internet, etc.
  • Here’s a link with $100.
• Prestige (Citibank)
  • Spend $4,000 in 4 months. Get 40,000 points.
  • Nice benefits including $250 annual airline credit help with big $450 annual fee.
  • People are getting a lower $350 annual fee applying in local branches.
  • Bonus lowered from 50,000.
  • The benefits like lounge access and golf are going away next year.
  • A tool on Citibank’s site shows 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.
• Marriott (Chase)
  • Spend $3,000 in 3 months and add a user. Get 87,500 points.
  • Business version worth 100,000 points is here.
  • The regular 70,000-point Business link still works.
• Hyatt (Chase)
  • Spend $1,000 in 3 months. Get 2 nights and 5,000 points for adding a user.
  • Because of the annual anniversary free night, it’s one of the few cards I keep open.
• Ritz Carlton (Chase)
  • Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 2 free nights.
  • Try this link when the other one dies. Slightly higher spend.
  • Big $395 annual fee. But a travel credit of $300 makes that much less of a pain.
  • New offer here worth 3 nights with a $450 fee.
• Delta (American Express)
  • Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 70,000 miles from Platinum card.
  • Or 50,000 miles with no first-year fee from Gold card.
• InterContinental Hotel aka IHG aka Priority Club (Chase)
  • Spend $1,000 in 3 months. Get 80,000 points.
  • Many of you seeing 60,000 when you click to apply but are getting Chase to match.
  • Even when it’s 60,000 points, this is probably the most underrated hotel card.
• Club Carlson Premier (US Bank)
  • Spend $2,500 in 90 days. Get 85,000 points.
  • Great hotel card and not from the usual issuers.
• Fairmont Hotel (Chase)
  • Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 2 nights and breakfast at any Fairmont.
  • Many of these hotels are very expensive (see: Maui).
• Hilton Honors (Citibank)
  • Spend $2,000 in 4 months. Get 75,000 points.
  • Or 60,000 here.
  • Up from the normal 40,000.
• Asiana (Bank of America)
  • Spend $3,000 in 90 days. Get 30,000 miles.
  • Some good uses with partners like First Class on Lufthansa.
• FlexPerks (US Bank)
  • Spend $3,500. Get 20,000 points.
  • Many different card options for FlexPerks. Gold is 30,000 points.
  • Very useful points for paid flights.
• Thank You Premier (Citibank)
  • Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 40,000 points.
  • If you’re looking for the old 50,000-point offer, you can try this.
  • Bonuses on this card go up/down often.
• Lufthansa (Barclays)
  • Spend $5,000 in 90 days. Get 50,000 miles.
  • Bonus up from 35,000 miles again.
• 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.
  • Book any Wyndham hotel for 15,000 points a night.
• JetBlue (Barclays)
  • Spend $1000 in 90 days. Get 30,000 points.
  • Business version is here.
• Hilton Honors (American Express)
  • Spend $1,000 in 3 months. Get 75,000 points.
  • Another temporary, unusually high offer.
• Hilton Honors Surpass (American Express)
  • Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 100,000 points.
  • That bonus is way up from 60,000.
  • Currently, a working 85,000 point link is here.
  • Get the previous card on the list and you’ll get offers to upgrade to this one.
• Alaska Airlines (Bank of America)
  • Spend $1,000 in 90 days. Get 30,000 miles.
  • Offer with $100 credit here.
  • Lesser offer with $100 credit here.
  • Business version is here.
  • Bank of America cards can be MUCH more “churnable” than most.
  • Reader Ashok says now limited to only one every 90 days.
• Virgin Atlantic (Bank of America)
  • The 75,000 to 90,000 mile offer is back (again).
  • Again, Bank of America is more churnable than most.
• Premier Traveler (PNC)
  • Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 30,000 points.
  • 2% back card if used for travel.
  • Limited states.
• Korean (US Bank)
  • Spend $2,000 in 90 days. Get 30,000 miles.
  • Business and Personal. Back up from 15,000.
• 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 few Business cards from Wells Fargo.

• Spark (Capital One)
  • Spend $4,500 in 3 months. Get 50,000 miles.
  • Redeem the miles for $500 in travel purchases.
  • No annual fee version of this card being advertised in-branch.
• Venture (Capital One)
  • Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Get 40,000 miles.
  • Has been up from 20,000 miles for a while.
• Gold Charge Card and/or Green Charge Card (American Express)
  • Spend $1,000 in 3 months. Get 25,000 points.
  • Not the greatest, but nice to have different Amex options.
• Hawaiian Airlines (Barclays)
  • Spend $1,000 in 3 months. Get 35,000 miles.
  • Better 50,000 until it dies if you log in and click View My Account. Or try this.
  • 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.
  • Application links have been down lately.
• Aeroplan (TD Bank)
  • Spend $1,000 in 3 billing statements. Get 25,000 miles.
  • Unspectacular, 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 glorious Hawaii now!
• Freedom (Chase)
  • Worth having in your collection for the 5% quarterly bonuses.
  • Extra 2,500 points for adding an authorized user.
  • No reason to close this one.
  • Maybe a better bonus here?
  • Another version is Freedom Unlimited.
• Bank Americard Travel Rewards (Bank of America)
  • Spend $1,000 in 90 days. Get 20,000 points.
  • This is double the normal offer. Worth $200.
• Lifemiles (US Bank)
  • Spend $1. Get 20,000 miles.
  • Down (again) from 35,000 miles.
• LAN (US Bank)
  • Spend $1. Get 20,000 miles.
  • Decreased recently. The bonus goes up and down often.
• 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.
• LaQuinta (First Bank of Omaha)
  • 20,000 to 40,000 points.
  • Big spending to get the higher of that range.
• Amtrak (Bank of America)
  • Two versions – 20,000 and 12,000 points.
  • Big limitations on the point transfers that made this card great.
• Expedia (Citibank)
  • Spend $2,000 in 3 months. Get 20,000 points.
  • Also a 10,000-point version with no annual fee.
• Everyday (Amex)
  • 30,000 and 25,000-point offers are dead so it moves down the list for now.
  • Always try an incognito browser to open the link with Amex.
  • No annual fee. Preferred has a 15,000-point bonus with a $95 fee.
• 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. Sorry Omaha.
• Best Western (First Bank of Omaha)
  • Multiple card options. Up to 70,000 points on one.
  • Up to 80,000 points on Business version.
  • 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.
• ANA (FNBO)
  • Spend $3,000 by the end of November. Get 10,000 miles.
  • Not the usual issuer but also not a great offer.
• Choice Hotel (Barclays)
  • I keep this as the last card mostly out of tradition.
  • Maybe a version with a $25 credit here.
  • If you’ve been reading this far, I salute you!

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

• Blue Cash Preferred – 6% back at gas stations. Thanks to reader Jean – “I received an approval this morning (8/2/2016) for a BCP with the old $250 bonus! Did it by going through CardMatch.com (used Chrome w-incognito, and a VPN)”
• Discover IT – Double cashback for a year makes this very, very attractive.
• Amex SimplyCash – 3% in chosen category. 5% at office stores. Plus version is here.
• JCB Marukai – 3% cashback after $3,000 spending/year. Limited states.
• TD Easy Rewards – 5% cashback select categories for 6 months.
• Wells Fargo – 5% cashback select categories for 6 months.
• Fidelity – 2% cashback.
• Citi Double Cash – 2% cashback.
• BB&T Spectrum – 3% cashback for 90 days, plus bonuses. Limited states.
• B of A Americard Cash Rewards – 2% grocery and 3% gas.
• Capital One Quicksilver – 1.5% cashback.
• Capital One Spark Business – 2% cashback. Big bonus right now.
• Costco Anywhere – 4% gas, 3% restaurant and travel.
• Sam’s Club – 5% gas, 3% restaurant and travel.
• NBA – 5x twice a year.
• AARP – Thanks Dale. $200 bonus and 3% categories.