Rewards Credit Cards

Airline Credit Cards

Airline credit cards are offered by specific airlines so that cardmembers can earn rewards from the airline, generally in the form of air miles. It can be difficult to choose between the best airline credit cards since it ultimately depends on which airline the traveler prefers. Putting aside the choice of airline, there are certainly some cards that offer more rewards than others. People who plan to stick with one airline for most of their travel will be able to accumulate the greatest amount of rewards, but will be sacrificing in terms of travel flexibility. Since many of the airlines understand this, they offer very high upfront bonus miles to new cardmembers, and one even offers this bonus without making a purchase. Airline credit cards are not to be confused with other travel credit cards that offer rewards in the form of air miles or airfare. This group of cards is focused solely on credit cards offered by airlines. View Top List

Recommended Cards:

TrueBlue by JetBlueAlaska Airlines Visa Signature CardUnited MileagePlus Explorer Card

Cash Back Credit Cards

Cash back credit cards are focused primarily on getting cash back in the form of statement credit or checks from the credit card company. Earning cash back rewards is similar to earning points, but many of the best cash back cards offer higher cash back percentages on categories that rotate throughout the year. For example, a cash back credit card might offer 5% cash back per dollar spent on entertainment for a three-month period and then the category may rotate to 5% cash back on gas over the next period. While the best cash back credit cards generally offer the highest cash rewards, it’s still important to analyze the rates and fees of each card in addition to any caps on earning cash back. The other thing to keep in mind is that some cash back cards are more versatile than others. Most cards strictly offer cash back, but some cards offer the ability to convert cash into points and redeem other types of rewards, like travel and airfare. Most cash back cards offer little to no upfront rewards bonus that many new cardmembers can find by signing up for an airline credit card or travel credit card. View Top List

Recommended Cards:

Chase Freedom® VisaDiscover it®Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Travel Credit Cards

Travel credit cards can offer rewards in a variety of ways, including airfare, points, and hotel membership points. The best travel credit card is tough to pinpoint because of the sheer variety of rewards offered by the different cards in this category. However, a top travel credit card will always offer a bonus for signing up and at least two points per dollar spent in rewards. Some of the best travel credit cards are offered by banks, which are more versatile and allow rewards to be accumulated in a variety of ways. Other travel credit cards, like those offered by hotel chains, have more targeted rewards systems. A cardholder can earn a higher amount of rewards points, but that is only possible when using the card at a specific hotel chain, like Marriott, Hilton, or Starwood hotels. Travel credit cards are even offered by online travel companies, such as Orbitz and Priceline. Ultimately, it comes down to the purchasing habits and lifestyle of the cardholder, but it’s clear that there are no shortage of options when it comes to travel credit cards. View Top List

Recommended Cards:

Barclaycard Arrival™ World MasterCard® - No Annual FeeCapital One® Venture℠ Rewards Credit CardPenFed Premium Travel Rewards American Express Card

Gas Credit Cards

Many of the best gas credit cards offer cash back as the primary means to redeem rewards. However, there are also gas credit cards that operate under a points-based rewards system that include attractive rewards for gas purchases. Points earned through these programs can be redeemed for travel, gift cards, merchandise, and multiple other options. One factor to be aware of when determining which gas credit card to select is the cap placed on bonus rewards associated with gas purchases. Some gas credit cards cap the bonus limit on a quarterly basis, while others cap on an annual basis. The best gas credit cards will place no cap on rewards associated with gasoline purchases. Potential cardholders interested in balance transfers should be attentive to the fact that not all gas credit cards permit new cardholders to transfer existing credit balances onto the new card. For the gas credit cards that do allow balance transfers, the introductory and standard interest rates can vary substantially. The top gas credit cards will include relatively low introductory and standard interest rates, will not require an annual fee, and will offer bonus rewards for buying groceries or for purchases made at popular department stores. View Top List

Recommended Cards:

Blue Cash Preferred® from American ExpressPenFed Platinum Rewards Visa CardTrueEarnings® Card from Costco and American Express