Cash back credit cards can be an invaluable addition to your travel points and miles strategy, providing welcome bonuses, unlimited matched cash back earnings and some of the most appealing card perks such as Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credits or airport lounge access.
Travel cards offer attractive rewards programs and premium features, but may incur higher annual fees. When selecting your ideal card, be sure to consider all costs associated with redemption as well as benefits offered.
1. Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card stands out from the pack with its simple and industry-standard rewards rate of 1.5% cash back on every purchase and an exceptional 5% rebate on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, making it a strong contender among cash back credit cards for anyone searching for all-round benefits – including zero foreign transaction fees and no annual fee. Additionally, this card also comes equipped with several advantageous benefits, including no foreign transaction fees and no annual fee.
The Quicksilver card stands out in the market due to its ease of use and no rotating bonus categories. You’ll have no difficulty keeping track of your earnings with this card, earning a decent base rate of rewards that can be redeemed for statement credits or gift cards (terms apply). Plus, earn unlimited 5% back on hotels booked directly through Capital One!
If you’re searching for something with greater earning potential, however, this card might not be for you. Other cash back credit cards offer higher base earning rates and potentially more lucrative bonuses; Citi(r) Double Cash Card provides an exceptional 2% cash back on all purchases plus offers an attractive sign-up bonus and no introductory APR rate.
There are now an increasing number of cards on the market with an earn rate comparable to this card and feature some outstanding benefits, such as no foreign transaction fees. Chase Freedom Unlimited(r) is a popular alternative that offers 1% cash back for every purchase plus additional benefits such as automatic 3% cash back within one year and an APR-free balance transfer promotion.
Only this card’s eligibility requirements prevent it from being an ideal pick; those wishing to apply may require good or excellent credit in order to qualify. WalletHub provides free credit score checks so if interested parties want this card they can see if their score qualifies them as potential applicants.
2. Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is a top choice among travel rewards enthusiasts, thanks to its lucrative sign-up bonus and flexible redemption options. Users can earn Ultimate Rewards points across numerous categories and easily transfer those into many loyalty programs at a 1:1 ratio – as well as its waiver of foreign transaction fees, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, rental car coverage, dining perks and other features that make life simpler and travel rewarding!
Though this card comes with an annual fee of $95, it’s more affordable than premium travel cards like Chase Sapphire Reserve(r) or American Express Platinum Cards(r), such as The Platinum Card(r). And if you plan to redeem rewards frequently for flights or hotel stays, its annual charge could prove worthwhile.
For beginners or anyone simply seeking something simpler when it comes to travel rewards, Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card could be an ideal solution. With its straightforward reward structure – 5 miles for travel booked through Capital One Travel plus 2 for all other purchases – consider signing up for it and see where your travel rewards take you!
However, unlike the Sapphire Preferred Card, this card does not allow users to convert Capital One MileagePlus miles into cash or other rewards – something some travelers might find disappointing as they prefer having options when it comes to spending their rewards.
Other major benefits of the card include an attractive welcome bonus and the ability to use your accumulated points towards charitable donations – redemptions currently cost 1.25 cents each, making them excellent value as fixed-value redemptions. You may also gain access to partner perks from Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart and Gopuff that include bonus points, trial offers or monthly credits.
3. American Express Blue Cash Everyday Credit Card
With the American Express Blue Cash Everyday Credit Card, you’ll earn an excellent rewards rate across many of your most frequent spending categories. While its sibling card, which boasts greater rewards rates, still makes for a compelling choice, particularly among those who value cash back rewards over other forms of credit card rewards.
Blue Cash card provides up to 3% cash back on U.S. supermarket purchases up to $6,000 annually (then 1%), making it one of the highest earning rates among no-fee cards for supermarket purchases. Furthermore, this card also earns 2% cash back at gas stations and select U.S. department stores as well as earning 1% on other general spending – an outstanding rate among no-fee cards that makes Blue Cash one of the best cards for everyday spending.
The Blue Cash card also offers an impressive welcome bonus: $200 in statement credits after spending $2,000 within six months of opening it. Unfortunately, however, unlike some other cards it does not allow users to redeem rewards directly via direct deposit or check and this may be a deal-breaker for some.
If the Blue Cash card doesn’t suit your lifestyle or you want more rewards opportunities, there are a number of other no-fee cards with higher earning rates in some of the same categories – for instance American Express’ Blue Cash Preferred Card offers 6% earnings rate on U.S. supermarkets, transit, cellular phone services and streaming services among other categories, plus an additional 2% back at gas stations, restaurants and department stores, plus another 1% on other purchases and expenses.
The Blue Cash Everyday card requires only fair credit scores to apply and apply successfully, with FICO Scores of 670 or higher required for optimal rewards rates. There have been reports of successful applications with lower FICO Scores; additionally, its 0% intro APR period means you can carry balances without incurring interest charges for up to 12 months without incurring penalties or interest payments. Check out our review of Blue Cash Everyday for more details!
4. Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card
The Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card provides an outstanding rewards rate without an annual fee, enabling cardholders to redeem points against all purchases without airline or hotel blackout dates. Existing Bank of America or Merrill banking customers may even earn additional rewards (up to 75%!) through Preferred Rewards depending on their relationship tier based on Preferred Rewards; additionally, its 0% intro APR offer makes paying off debt and making major purchases easier for cardholders.
However, this card doesn’t provide all the benefits commonly found among top travel cards, including lounge membership or insurance for lost luggage. Furthermore, point transfers between partner programs cannot be enabled, potentially diminishing its overall value when compared to cards allowing users to transfer earned miles between accounts.
Though limited, this card remains an excellent option for travelers seeking an effortless travel rewards option with no fees attached. Cardholders will earn 1.5 points for every dollar spent, an excellent rewards rate for a no-fee card. Plus, with no foreign transaction fees involved it makes for a smart choice when traveling internationally.
Redeem rewards for statement credits toward airfare, hotels, vacation packages, cruises, rental cars and baggage fees with each point redeemed this way earning one cent. Alternatively, this card also allows redemption of points toward gift cards with lower values – three-fifths of a cent for every one cent redeemed this way.
Although you can use Bank of America points directly for travel booking, for optimal value it’s wiser to go through a travel agency instead. Although the app provides concierge service which can assist in finding and booking airfare, hotels, car rental etc, so make the most out of your points rewards!
This card requires excellent credit to qualify, making it unsuitable for those starting to build or with poor scores. But existing Bank of America or Merrill customers who spend on travel may find this suitable; additionally, its 18 billing cycles of 0% intro APR on balance transfers make this an attractive solution if looking for debt consolidation or making larger purchases.