Cheese and crackers, shoes and socks and credit cards with rewards all go better together than separately – that is especially true of pairing cards to boost earning potential.
Today’s top credit cards offer various sibling cards with even stronger rewards, perks and benefits; but which should you select?
Blue Cash Everyday
American Express recently refreshed their Blue Cash Everyday card with new rewards, perks and a modern design, making it one of the best credit cards available to grocery shoppers with generous rewards rates and no annual fee – in fact it earns more than some premium rewards cards which charge annual fees!
This card provides up to $6,000 of spending at US supermarkets, gas stations and online retail each year in cash back of 3% cash back and pays an annual 1% rebate rate on everything else spent – an impressive earnings structure for an annual fee free card given that many other reward cards require double the spending volume in order to unlock initial bonuses.
Notably, however, is that the Blue Cash Everyday card does not earn cash back for purchases made at US restaurants or travel-related categories – potentially limiting its utility for people who regularly make these types of purchases. Furthermore, no bonus cash back was paid out when using it at US department stores or paying with it for ridesharing or transit services.
This card does offer some attractive cardmember perks, including purchase protection and an exclusive 24/7 global assistance hotline. Unfortunately, most of these benefits aren’t unique to this card or hard to come by; many other credit cards also provide similar services like purchase protection and concierge service.
Blue Cash Everyday differs from other cash back cards in that its rewards take the form of “Rewards Dollars”, which can only be redeemed to reduce your monthly credit card bill and cannot be exchanged for merchandise, gift cards or travel.
Due to these factors, the Blue Cash Everyday card might not be ideal for people looking to earn significant cash back in specific categories like groceries and online shopping; such individuals might benefit more from cards like Chase Freedom Unlimited or Capital One Savor that provide elevated rewards in these areas.
To obtain the Blue Cash Everyday card, it requires having both an excellent FICO score and income. Although people with lower FICO scores have applied, ideally aim for at least 700s when applying. Achieving such an outcome could also allow you to qualify for other top card offers such as generous 0% APR promotions on purchases as well as lower balance-carryover interest rates as it indicates you will likely pay your bills on time without carrying over an outstanding balance.
Capital One Savor
Capital One Savor card rewards are impressive: up to 4% back on dining, entertainment and streaming services as well as 3% at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart(r) and Target(r), with an extra 1% back for other purchases – quite an attractive deal considering there’s no annual fee attached!
Earned cash back can be redeemed with statement credits, checks, gift cards or charitable donations. Automatic redemption can also be set to occur when hitting user-selected thresholds or at an individual time each year.
As part of our analysis, we determined the average American can potentially earn approximately $98 annually from qualifying entertainment spending using the Savor card – not bad at all! That can help offset its initial $95 annual fee in its first year.
As an added perk, this rewards credit card features no foreign transaction fees and offers a 0% introductory APR period on balance transfers for 15 months – not quite the longest we’ve seen on rewards credit cards, but certainly worthy of consideration.
The Savor card also offers an unrivaled benefit in the form of a complimentary 12-month subscription to Postmates Unlimited – making this card one of the few with this benefit!
One major drawback of the card, however, is that it doesn’t offer a 0% intro APR on new purchases. If you plan on making a significant purchase and require such an introductory APR option for any reason, another option might be best suited.
To be approved for the Capital One Savor card, applicants will require both good credit and income stability. To complete an application successfully, personal information including your name, Social Security number and date of birth as well as employment history details as well as current and past addresses is needed for processing. Once your application is accepted you’ll receive an email with a link that activates your account so you can start earning rewards immediately!
Capital One Savor card can be an ideal option for consumers who regularly spend on restaurants, entertainment and streaming services. The card’s 4% back in these categories helps offset its $95 annual fee while adding cash back earnings to your other credit card earnings. Furthermore, its 3% cash back at grocery stores might sway some users to pick it over some other options available to them; however if an introductory APR or more extensive rewards appeal to you more strongly there may be other cards which better meet your needs.
Chase Sapphire
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is an ideal option for consumers interested in travel. This card provides an impressive array of rewards and benefits, such as 5X points on travel, dining and online grocery purchases; 3X points for select streaming services and gaming; 2X points for other purchases – easily offsetting its $95 annual fee with rewards earned; plus when booking travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards you may gain 25% extra redemption value which further offsets card costs.
Other features of the card include primary rental car coverage, trip cancellation/interruption coverage and lost luggage reimbursement. Cardholders can use Ultimate Rewards points to transfer them into various airline and hotel loyalty programs like British Airways LifeMiles; purchase protection extends manufacturer warranties by one year for eligible items purchased with this card; as well as consumer protections like extended manufacturer warranties on items bought with it.
Chase Sapphire Preferred cards provide an additional reason to consider them, with their generous sign-up bonus offering 60,000 points after spending $4,000 within three months of account opening – which equates to nearly $600 worth of gift cards or cash back! Plus, premium travel perks such as two complimentary Capital One airport lounge visits annually, an entry into Global Entry/TSA PreCheck every four years, no foreign transaction fees and no foreign transaction fees make this card stand out among its competition.
If you’re just getting started in travel rewards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card may be an ideal place to begin. But for more luxurious amenities like complimentary airport lounge access or Trusted Traveler credits, consider upgrading to its older sibling – the Chase Sapphire Reserve with its more robust travel experience and $550 annual fee.
Partner the Chase Sapphire Preferred with any one of the Chase Freedom Unlimited or Flex cards to maximize the value of your rewards. Both cards enable you to transfer Ultimate Rewards points over to the Sapphire Preferred, where they can then be redeemed for travel or statement credits.
One caveat with this pairing is meeting the Chase Sapphire Preferred’s minimum income and 5/24 rule in order to open it. If you already have high income or credit, this shouldn’t be an issue, while those starting out may choose to wait for better offers before applying. Once your ideal credit card pair has been chosen, travel rewards await! Enjoy!