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Best Rewards Credit Cards in 2026 - Top Cash Back & Travel Points
Maximize your spending with the best rewards credit cards of 2026. Compare top cash back, travel points, and premium perks to earn the most value on every purchase.
The right rewards credit card can put hundreds or even thousands of dollars back in your pocket each year. Whether you prioritize simple cash back, valuable travel points, or premium perks, the best cards offer exceptional earning potential and benefits for your spending style.
Our expert team analyzed over 200 rewards credit cards, comparing earning rates, welcome bonuses, redemption flexibility, and additional perks to find the absolute best options for maximizing your rewards in 2026.
Quick Comparison
| Card | Best For | Rewards Rate | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Chase Sapphire Preferred® | Best Overall Travel Rewards | 5x travel, 3x dining | ★4.9/5 |
| 2. Capital One Venture X Rewards | Best Premium Travel Card | 10x hotels, 5x flights | ★4.9/5 |
| 3. Citi Double Cash® Card | Best Flat-Rate Cash Back | 2% on everything | ★4.8/5 |
| 4. American Express® Gold Card | Best for Dining & Groceries | 4x dining & groceries | ★4.8/5 |
| 5. Chase Freedom Unlimited® | Best No-Fee Cash Back | 1.5% on everything | ★4.7/5 |
| 6. Discover it® Cash Back | Best Rotating Categories | 5% rotating categories | ★4.7/5 |
| 7. Blue Cash Preferred® | Best for Families | 6% groceries & streaming | ★4.7/5 |
| 8. Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card | Best Simple 2% Card | 2% on everything | ★4.6/5 |
| 9. Bank of America® Customized Cash | Best Customizable Rewards | 3% choice category | ★4.6/5 |
| 10. Chase Sapphire Reserve® | Best for Frequent Travelers | 10x hotels, 5x flights | ★4.8/5 |
Our Top Picks in Detail
Chase Sapphire Preferred®
Chase Sapphire Preferred remains the gold standard for travel rewards cards. Its generous 60,000-point welcome bonus, flexible transfer partners, and strong travel protections deliver exceptional value that easily justifies the $95 annual fee.
Pros
- ✓5x points on Chase Travel, 3x on dining and streaming
- ✓Transfer points to 14+ airline and hotel partners
- ✓25% point boost on Chase travel redemptions
- ✓No foreign transaction fees
- ✓Comprehensive trip protection and insurance
Cons
- ✗$95 annual fee
- ✗No airport lounge access
- ✗1x point on non-bonus categories
Capital One Venture X Rewards
Venture X delivers premium perks rivaling $550+ cards at a lower cost. With the $300 travel credit and anniversary bonus, the effective annual fee is minimal while you enjoy lounge access, enhanced earning, and elite travel benefits.
Pros
- ✓10x miles on hotels, 5x on flights via Capital One Travel
- ✓$300 annual travel credit
- ✓10,000 miles anniversary bonus ($100 value)
- ✓Priority Pass and Capital One lounge access
- ✓Premium travel insurance and protections
Cons
- ✗High $395 annual fee
- ✗Requires excellent credit
- ✗2x miles on non-bonus categories
Citi Double Cash® Card
Citi Double Cash offers the ultimate in simplicity with a flat 2% back on everything—no categories to track, no annual fee, no complexity. Just straightforward, reliable rewards on every purchase you make.
Pros
- ✓Simple 2% cash back on all purchases (1% buy, 1% pay)
- ✓No annual fee
- ✓No category tracking or activation needed
- ✓Can convert to ThankYou Points for transfers
- ✓Cash back never expires
Cons
- ✗Foreign transaction fee
- ✗Modest welcome bonus
- ✗No bonus categories for higher earning
American Express® Gold Card
The Amex Gold is a powerhouse for food enthusiasts. With 4x points on dining and groceries plus $240 in annual credits, heavy spenders in these categories can easily justify the $250 fee and earn exceptional value.
Pros
- ✓4x points on restaurants worldwide (up to $50k/year)
- ✓4x points on U.S. supermarkets (up to $25k/year)
- ✓$120 annual dining credit ($10/month)
- ✓$120 annual Uber Cash ($10/month)
- ✓Transfer points to 20+ airline and hotel partners
Cons
- ✗High $250 annual fee
- ✗Credits limited to specific merchants
- ✗Amex not accepted everywhere
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Chase Freedom Unlimited excels as a no-annual-fee workhorse, especially when paired with a Sapphire card for point transfers. The easy welcome bonus and enhanced dining rate make it valuable even as a standalone card.
Pros
- ✓1.5% cash back on all purchases
- ✓5% on Chase Travel, 3% on dining and drugstores
- ✓No annual fee
- ✓Easy $200 welcome bonus ($500 spend)
- ✓Pairs perfectly with Sapphire cards for point pooling
Cons
- ✗Foreign transaction fee
- ✗Best value requires pairing with premium Chase cards
- ✗Lower base rate than some competitors
Discover it® Cash Back
Discover it's first-year Cashback Match makes it unbeatable for new cardholders—effectively earning 10% in rotating categories and 2% everywhere else. Even after year one, the 5% categories remain highly competitive.
Pros
- ✓5% on rotating quarterly categories (up to $1,500)
- ✓Cashback Match doubles all first-year rewards
- ✓No annual or foreign transaction fees
- ✓1% back on all other purchases
- ✓Free FICO score monitoring
Cons
- ✗Requires quarterly category activation
- ✗5% capped at $1,500 per quarter
- ✗Discover less accepted internationally
Blue Cash Preferred®
Blue Cash Preferred is perfect for families with high grocery and streaming expenses. The 6% grocery rate alone can earn $360 annually (on $6k spend), easily offsetting the $95 fee before counting streaming and gas rewards.
Pros
- ✓6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6k/year)
- ✓6% cash back on select streaming subscriptions
- ✓3% back on transit and U.S. gas stations
- ✓$84 Disney Bundle credit available
- ✓Excellent purchase protections
Cons
- ✗$95 annual fee
- ✗Grocery cap of $6,000/year (then 1%)
- ✗Amex acceptance limitations
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Wells Fargo Active Cash delivers straightforward value with 2% back on everything and no annual fee. The included cell phone protection is a nice perk that most flat-rate cash back cards don't offer.
Pros
- ✓Flat 2% cash back on all purchases
- ✓No annual fee
- ✓Easy $200 welcome bonus
- ✓Cell phone protection (up to $600)
- ✓No category restrictions or caps
Cons
- ✗Foreign transaction fee
- ✗No bonus categories
- ✗Best perks for Wells Fargo customers
Bank of America® Customized Cash
Customized Cash lets you pick your top 3% category each month—gas, online shopping, dining, travel, and more. Bank of America Preferred Rewards members can boost earnings to 5.25% in their chosen category.
Pros
- ✓Choose your own 3% category monthly
- ✓2% back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs
- ✓No annual fee
- ✓Preferred Rewards can boost to 5.25%
- ✓Easy $200 welcome bonus
Cons
- ✗3% category capped at $2,500/quarter
- ✗Foreign transaction fee
- ✗Best rates require Preferred Rewards status
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Sapphire Reserve is Chase's flagship for serious travelers. With Priority Pass lounge access, a $300 travel credit, and 50% point boost on Chase Travel redemptions, it delivers premium value for those who travel often.
Pros
- ✓Priority Pass lounge access
- ✓$300 annual travel credit
- ✓Points worth 50% more on Chase Travel
- ✓$100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
- ✓Premium travel and purchase protections
Cons
- ✗Very high $550 annual fee
- ✗Requires frequent travel to justify
- ✗Requires excellent credit
How We Evaluate Rewards Credit Cards
Our expert team uses a rigorous methodology to evaluate and compare rewards credit cards. Here’s our process:
Earning Potential
We analyze complete earning structures:
- Base earning rates: Cash back or points on everyday purchases
- Bonus categories: Enhanced rates on dining, travel, groceries, etc.
- Category caps and limits: Maximum earning potential
- Point valuations: Real-world redemption value of rewards currencies
- Annual earning potential: Projected rewards based on typical spending
Welcome Bonuses
We calculate the true value of sign-up offers:
- Bonus amount in cash or points
- Spending requirements and time frames
- How achievable requirements are for average consumers
- Total value compared to annual fee
Redemption Flexibility
We evaluate how you can use your rewards:
- Cash back redemption options and minimums
- Travel redemption value and flexibility
- Transfer partners for points programs
- Statement credits and other options
- Point expiration policies
Fees and Costs
We assess the complete cost picture:
- Annual fees vs. benefits received
- Foreign transaction fees
- Other fees (late payment, balance transfer, etc.)
- Effective value after accounting for fees
Additional Benefits
We identify perks that add real value:
- Travel protections (trip cancellation, delay insurance)
- Purchase protections (extended warranty, return protection)
- Lifestyle perks (lounge access, credits, concierge)
- Insurance benefits (rental car, cell phone)
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between cash back and points?
Cash back is straightforward—you earn a percentage back in dollars that can be redeemed for statement credits or deposited to your bank. Points require more strategy but can offer higher value when transferred to airline/hotel partners or redeemed through travel portals.
Are rewards credit cards worth the annual fee?
It depends on your spending. Calculate expected annual rewards and subtract the fee. For example, if a $95-fee card earns 3x on $6,000 dining spending (vs. 1% elsewhere), you’d earn an extra $120, netting $25 value. Premium cards with travel credits often offset fees easily.
Should I get a travel card or cash back card?
Choose travel cards if you fly regularly and value perks like lounge access and point transfers. Cash back cards are simpler and better if you prefer straightforward rewards without managing points or booking through specific portals.
What credit score do I need for rewards cards?
Most premium rewards cards require good to excellent credit (FICO 670+). Cards like Chase Sapphire and Amex Gold typically want scores of 700+. No-fee cash back cards may accept scores in the fair range (580-669).
How many rewards cards should I have?
There’s no perfect number, but 2-4 cards covering different spending categories can maximize earnings. For example: a travel card for dining/travel, a grocery card, and a flat-rate card for everything else. More cards become hard to manage.
Do rewards expire?
It varies by issuer. Cash back typically doesn’t expire as long as your account is open. Chase Ultimate Rewards and Amex Membership Rewards don’t expire while you have an eligible card. Some airline miles expire after 12-24 months of inactivity.
Can I combine points from multiple cards?
Within the same issuer, often yes. Chase Ultimate Rewards points from Freedom Unlimited can combine with Sapphire Preferred points. Amex Membership Rewards pool across all Amex cards. You can’t combine points between different issuers (Chase + Citi).