After I first began out with rewards bank cards, I rapidly observed some playing cards obtained all the eye. I am taking a look at you, Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card (see charges and charges), Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card and, in fact, The Platinum Card® from American Specific.
Their reputation is comprehensible, as these playing cards include excessive welcome bonuses, stable incomes charges and a laundry record of perks. In actual fact, I’ve two of those playing cards in my pockets proper now, although my technique at the moment substitutes the also-popular American Specific® Gold Card for the Amex Platinum.
For example you have added the preferred playing cards to your pockets already. What’s a factors and miles fanatic to do?
A number of components, together with your Chase 5/24 standing, different utility restrictions from issuers and your loyalty to sure airways or lodge chains, are price contemplating.
Together with your particular person state of affairs in thoughts, enable me to introduce you to 10 of my favourite selections in your subsequent rewards card, damaged down into three classes: transferable rewards, airline and lodge.
Greatest playing cards to use for after fashionable bank cards
*TPG founder Brian Kelly is a Bilt adviser and investor.
Evaluating the perfect playing cards to use for after fashionable bank cards
This is a side-by-side comparability of the perfect playing cards to contemplate after getting the preferred bank cards.
| Card | Greatest for | Welcome bonus | Incomes charges | Annual charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bilt Mastercard | Renters | N/A. |
|
$0 (see charges and charges) |
| Citi Strata Premier Card | A number of bonus classes | Earn 60,000 bonus factors after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening. |
|
$95 |
| Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card | Versatile airline assertion credit score | Earn 60,000 bonus factors after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening. |
|
$95 |
| Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard | Admirals Membership lounge entry | Earn 100,000 miles after spending $10,000 inside the first three months of account opening. |
|
$595 |
| Delta SkyMiles Gold American Specific Card | Informal Delta Air Strains flyers | Earn 80,000 miles after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership. |
|
$0 introductory annual charge for the primary yr, then $150 (see charges and charges) |
| United Explorer Card | Informal United Airways flyers | Earn 60,000 miles after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. |
|
$0 introductory annual charge for the primary yr, then $150 |
| United Quest Card | Frequent United flyers | Earn 70,000 miles and 500 Premier qualifying factors after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. |
|
$350 |
| Hilton Honors American Specific Surpass Card | Semifrequent Hilton company | Earn 130,000 factors after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. This supply ends Aug. 13. |
|
$0 introductory annual charge for the primary yr, then $150 (see charges and charges) |
| IHG One Rewards Premier Credit score Card | IHG loyalists | Earn 5 free nights (every evening valued at as much as 60,000 factors) after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. |
|
$99 |
| Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit score Card | Semifrequent Marriott company | Earn 5 free nights (every valued at as much as 50,000 factors) after spending $5,000 on eligible purchases inside three months of account opening. Sure motels have resort charges. |
|
$95 |
Transferable rewards playing cards
Lots of the hottest playing cards earn Chase Final Rewards factors, American Specific Membership Rewards factors or Capital One miles. Nevertheless, there are different priceless currencies you’ll be able to earn — and maximize — by including considered one of these bank cards.
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Bilt Mastercard
The Bilt Mastercard (see charges and charges) is price contemplating in the event you’re a renter because it earns factors on hire with no added transaction charges (see charges and charges).
Welcome bonus: There is no such thing as a conventional welcome bonus for this card.
Annual charge: $0 (see charges and charges).
Incomes charges:
- Earn 3 factors per greenback spent on eating.
- Earn 2 factors per greenback spent on journey.
- Earn 1 level per greenback spent on hire with out the transaction charge (see charges and charges), as much as 100,000 factors in a calendar yr. It’s essential to use your card 5 occasions every assertion interval to earn factors on hire.
- Earn 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases.
- See rewards and advantages for extra data.
Standout advantages: The Bilt Mastercard’s spotlight function is the flexibility to earn Bilt Factors on hire with out incurring a transaction charge (see charges and charges; see rewards and advantages). The cardboard additionally earns in a number of fashionable bonus classes, making it a robust contender, particularly since you will not pay an annual charge.
Bilt factors are price 2.05 cents apiece, per TPG’s June 2025 valuations, and switch to greater than 20 loyalty packages. These embrace Alaska Airways Mileage Plan, United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt.
As a renter, I maintain the Bilt Mastercard and use the factors I earn to ebook home American Airways flights by Alaska Airways Mileage Plan because the two are Oneworld alliance members. I additionally sometimes switch to World of Hyatt to ebook low cost award nights.
It is price noting that you do not have to have the Bilt Mastercard to leverage Bilt Rewards, so this program could possibly be price trying out, even in the event you aren’t within the card.
To study extra, see our full evaluation of the Bilt Mastercard.
Apply right here: Bilt Mastercard
Citi Strata Premier Card
The Citi Strata Premier Card supplies stable incomes charges in a number of fashionable bonus classes for a modest annual charge.
Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus factors after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening. In keeping with TPG’s June 2025 valuations, this bonus is price $1,080.
Annual charge: $95.
Incomes charges:
- Earn 10 factors per greenback spent on motels, automotive leases and points of interest booked on cititravel.com.
- Earn 3 factors per greenback spent on air journey and different lodge purchases and at eating places, supermarkets, gasoline stations and EV charging stations.
- Earn 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases.
Standout advantages: The Strata Premier makes incomes Citi ThankYou Rewards simple, so if you have not explored Citi’s journey foreign money, this card is a superb place to begin.
TPG’s June 2025 valuations deem Citi ThankYou Rewards factors as price 1.8 cents every while you switch to one of many issuer’s journey companions, similar to Air France-KLM Flying Blue, JetBlue TrueBlue, Singapore KrisFlyer and Wyndham Rewards.
The cardboard additionally comes with a $100 lodge profit as soon as per calendar yr while you ebook a lodge keep of no less than $500 by cititravel.com. This credit score alone successfully justifies the $95 annual charge.
The Strata Premier is TPG bank cards author Danyal Ahmed’s “go-to card” for groceries and gasoline; he famous that the cardboard helps him “really feel the sting of sky-high grocery costs much less.”
To study extra, see our full evaluation of the Citi Strata Premier.
Apply right here: Citi Strata Premier Card
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card
The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card is a stable journey rewards card because it earns bonus factors on travel-related purchases similar to motels and airways.
Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus factors after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening. In keeping with TPG’s June 2025 valuations, this bonus is price $960.
Annual charge: $95.
Incomes charges:
- Earn 5 factors per greenback spent on motels.
- Earn 4 factors per greenback spent on airways.
- Earn 3 factors per greenback spent on different journey and eating places.
- Earn 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases.
Standout advantages: Wells Fargo jumped into the transferable factors world with the Autograph Journey, which earns bonus factors in classes usually utilized by frequent vacationers.
TPG’s June 2025 valuations set the worth of Wells Fargo Rewards factors at 1.6 cents per level, however the issuer’s present record of companions is shorter than its counterparts. Nevertheless, it nonetheless options Air France-KLM Flying Blue, British Airways Membership and Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership.
The cardboard comes with a set of journey and buy protections, similar to misplaced baggage reimbursement, journey cancellation and interruption safety, mobile phone safety and an auto rental collision harm waiver.
You may additionally obtain a $50 annual assertion credit score with a $50 minimal airline buy, which is an easy-to-use credit score that helps offset this card’s $95 annual charge.
To study extra, see our full evaluation of the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey.
Apply right here: Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card
Airline bank cards
Should you’ve collected your share of transferable rewards playing cards, it could be time to contemplate a cobranded choice. Try considered one of these playing cards in the event you’re a frequent traveler.
Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard
Welcome bonus: Earn 100,000 miles after spending $10,000 inside the first three months of account opening. In keeping with TPG’s June 2025 valuations, this bonus is price $1,500.
Annual charge: $595.
Incomes charges:
- Earn 4 miles per greenback spent on eligible American Airways purchases.
- Earn 1 mile per greenback spent on all different purchases.
Standout advantages: A spotlight perk of this premium card is its Admirals Membership membership that comes with entry for quick household, children beneath 18 or two company. This lounge membership alone helps offset the excessive annual charge.
Frequent American Airways flyers will recognize having the ability to test their first bag free of charge on home American Airways flights. This profit is prolonged to as much as eight touring companions on the identical reservation.
Should you’re chasing American Airways AAdvantage elite standing, this card will assist you earn 1 Loyalty Level for each AAdvantage mile you acquire while you swipe the cardboard. Plus, you may get a bonus of 10,000 Loyalty Factors after reaching 50,000 Loyalty Factors in a standing qualification yr. You possibly can add on one other 10,000 Loyalty Factors after you attain the 90,000-point threshold in the identical standing qualification yr.
To study extra, see our full evaluation of the Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard.
Apply right here: Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard
Delta SkyMiles Gold American Specific Card
Should you’re a Delta flyer prepared to use for a cobranded card, the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Specific Card is an effective place to begin.
Welcome bonus: Earn 80,000 miles after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership. This supply ends July 16. In keeping with TPG’s June 2025 valuations, this bonus is price $1,000.
Annual charge: $0 introductory annual charge for the primary yr, then $150.
Incomes charges:
- Earn 2 miles per greenback spent on Delta purchases and at U.S. supermarkets and eating places worldwide (together with takeout and supply within the U.S.).
- Earn 1 mile per greenback spent on all different eligible purchases.
Standout advantages: The Delta Gold Amex supplies baseline perks for an off-the-cuff Delta flyer, together with a free first checked bag with Delta, 20% again on inflight purchases and 15% off award flights while you ebook with Delta miles.
Should you spend $10,000 on purchases in a calendar yr, you may obtain a $200 Delta flight credit score. This card additionally gives a $100 credit score while you use the cardboard to ebook pay as you go motels or trip leases with Delta Stays.
Moreover, the cardboard options a number of journey and buy protections, together with baggage insurance coverage*, automotive rental loss and harm insurance coverage** and prolonged guarantee* and buy protections*.
To study extra, see our full evaluation of the Delta Gold Amex.
*Eligibility and profit stage varies by card. Phrases, circumstances and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm.
**Eligibility and profit stage varies by card. Not all car sorts or leases are coated, and geographic restrictions apply. Phrases, circumstances and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm. Protection is obtainable by American Specific Journey Associated Providers Firm, Inc.
Apply right here: Delta SkyMiles Gold American Specific Card
United Explorer Card
The United Explorer Card is an effective selection in the event you’re a semifrequent United flyer who sometimes seeks out United Membership lounge entry.
Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 miles after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. In keeping with TPG’s June 2025 valuations, this bonus is price $810.
Annual charge: $0 introductory annual charge for the primary yr, then $150.
Incomes charges:
- Earn 2 miles per greenback spent on United purchases, eating and lodge stays booked instantly with the lodge.
- Earn 1 mile per greenback spent on all different purchases.
Standout advantages: The United Explorer options a number of advantages for a modest annual charge. For one, you may obtain your first checked bag free for your self and one companion on the identical reservation while you fly a United-operated flight.
A high perk of this card is 2 one-time United Membership passes earned after account opening and on every account anniversary. Olivia Mittak, a bank cards editor at TPG, loves utilizing her United Explorer to entry United Golf equipment when she’s flying any Star Alliance airline.
Plus, you’ll be able to obtain a number of assertion credit for Instacart, JSX and ride-hailing purchases. Yearly activation is required to obtain ride-hailing assertion credit.
You may additionally obtain as much as $100 in United Accommodations credit, granted in two $50 assertion credit on pay as you go motels booked instantly with United Accommodations. Lastly, you’ll be able to earn $100 in United TravelBank money after spending $10,000 on purchases inside a calendar yr.
To study extra, see our full evaluation of the United Explorer.
Apply right here: United Explorer Card
United Quest Card
The United Quest Card is an effective selection in the event you fly United extra often and would recognize extra perks while you fly with the airline.
Welcome bonus: Earn 70,000 miles and 500 PQPs after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. In keeping with TPG’s June 2025 valuations, this bonus is price $945, not together with the worth of the PQPs.
Annual charge: $350.
Incomes charges:
- Earn 3 miles per greenback spent on United purchases.
- Earn 2 miles per greenback spent on eating, choose streaming providers and all different journey.
- Earn 1 mile per greenback spent on all different purchases.
Standout advantages: The United Quest supplies as much as 20,000 miles in award flight reductions every anniversary yr, beginning with a ten,000-mile low cost earned in your first anniversary and every anniversary thereafter. You possibly can earn one other 10,000-mile low cost in the event you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases every calendar yr.
The cardboard additionally supplies $200 in United TravelBank money after account opening and every year in your account anniversary, offsetting greater than half of its $350 annual charge every anniversary yr.
Should you’re chasing United elite standing, you may obtain 1 PQP for each $20 spent on the cardboard, as much as 18,000 PQPs in a calendar yr.
The cardboard additionally means that you can test a primary and second bag free for the first cardholder and one companion. You may obtain precedence boarding, 25% again on United inflight and Membership premium drink purchases and an as much as $120 credit score in your World Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus utility charge.
Should you spend $40,000 on the cardboard in a calendar yr, you may earn two international Financial system Plus seat upgrades. Do notice that this card does not present United Membership entry, so it is not the best choice for these trying to maximize lounge entry.
To study extra, see our full evaluation of the United Quest.
Apply right here: United Quest Card
Resort bank cards
Resort bank cards include every thing from elite standing to excessive incomes potential inside their loyalty packages. Try considered one of these playing cards if you have not added one to your pockets.
Hilton Honors American Specific Surpass Card
Welcome bonus: Earn 130,000 factors after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. This supply ends Aug. 13. In keeping with TPG’s June 2025 valuations, this bonus is price $650.
Annual charge: $0 introductory annual charge for the primary yr, then $150.
Incomes charges:
- Earn 12 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases made instantly with a lodge or resort inside the Hilton portfolio.
- Earn 6 factors per greenback spent on purchases at U.S. eating places, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gasoline stations.
- Earn 4 factors per greenback spent on U.S. on-line retail purchases.
- Earn 3 factors per greenback spent on all different eligible purchases.
Standout advantages: The Hilton Surpass was my first cobranded bank card, and it supplies a superb entry level to anybody who stays with Hilton however does not need to pay an costly annual charge.
The cardboard comes with complimentary Hilton Gold standing, which supplies perks like a fifth evening free while you ebook on factors and an 80% bonus on base factors earned inside the program. You may additionally obtain 4 $50 quarterly assertion credit for Hilton purchases, totaling $200 in a calendar yr.
Personally, I am a giant fan of the Hilton Surpass, which supplied me with a free improve once I traveled to Europe and stayed on the Hilton Backyard Inn Birmingham Brindleyplace within the U.Ok. I’ve used the $50 quarterly credit score twice in 2025, each occasions towards paid lodge stays to go to pals.
My first $50 went towards reserving a three-night keep on the Tempo by Hilton Louisville Downtown NuLu in March. My second $50 credit score went towards reserving a one-night keep at a Tru by Hilton in Columbia, South Carolina.
The cardboard additionally confers Nationwide Emerald Membership Govt standing, which is beneficial if you end up renting automobiles usually (enrollment required).
Should you spend $15,000 on the cardboard in a calendar yr, you may earn a free evening reward.
To study extra, see our full evaluation of the Hilton Honors Surpass Amex.
Apply right here: Hilton Honors American Specific Surpass Card
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit score Card
The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit score Card is a stable choice for IHG loyalists because it supplies a variety of advantages while you stick with the chain.
Welcome bonus: Earn 5 free nights (every evening valued at as much as 60,000 factors) after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. In keeping with TPG’s June 2025 valuations, this bonus is price $1,500.
Annual charge: $99.
Incomes charges:
- Earn as much as 26 factors per greenback spent while you keep at IHG Accommodations & Resorts properties.
- Earn 5 factors per greenback spent on journey and at gasoline stations and eating places.
- Earn 3 factors per greenback spent on all different purchases.
Standout advantages: On high of the exceptionally excessive incomes charges at IHG properties, the cardboard comes with computerized IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite standing, a fourth-night-free profit while you ebook with factors and an anniversary free evening price as much as 40,000 factors earned every account anniversary yr. That is an distinctive record of perks for a card with a $99 annual charge.
The cardboard additionally supplies as much as $120 each 4 years for World Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus utility charges and as much as $50 in United TravelBank money (earned after you hyperlink your card together with your MileagePlus account).
Katie Genter, a lead author at TPG, loves the IHG Premier card due to the continuing worth it supplies every year.
“Even when I do not totally maximize it, the account anniversary evening certificates nonetheless simply supplies extra worth than the cardboard’s annual charge every year,” she stated. “However the place the cardboard actually shines for frequent IHG award vacationers like myself is the profit that provides me a fourth reward evening free when redeeming IHG factors.”
To study extra, see our full evaluation of the IHG One Rewards Premier.
Apply right here: IHG One Rewards Premier Credit score Card
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit score Card
Should you choose Marriott properties, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit score Card is an effective choice to begin incomes extra factors inside Marriott Bonvoy.
Welcome bonus: Earn 5 free nights (every valued at as much as 50,000 factors) after spending $5,000 on eligible purchases inside three months of account opening. Sure motels have resort charges. In keeping with TPG’s June 2025 valuations, this bonus is price as much as $1,750.
Annual charge: $95.
Incomes charges:
- Earn as much as 17 factors per greenback spent at motels within the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio.
- Earn 3 factors per greenback spent on the primary $6,000 spent in mixed grocery retailer, gasoline station and eating purchases every year.
- Earn 2 factors per greenback spent on all different purchases.
Standout advantages: For a modest annual charge, you may earn computerized Silver Elite standing inside Marriott Bonvoy, which lets you earn 10% extra factors on stays, entry precedence late checkout and obtain complimentary Wi-Fi.
You possibly can proceed to work towards greater Bonvoy standing by receiving 15 elite evening credit every calendar yr towards standing, in addition to incomes one elite evening credit score for each $5,000 you spend on the cardboard. Meaning you may make it to Gold Elite standing after spending $35,000 on the cardboard in a calendar yr.
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless additionally supplies one free evening award every year in your account anniversary, price as much as 35,000 factors. The cardboard options a number of journey and buy protections, together with baggage delay insurance coverage, misplaced baggage reimbursement, buy safety and journey delay reimbursement.
You possibly can convert the Marriott Boundless to the premium Ritz-Carlton™ Credit score Card after 12 months of holding the cardboard. It has a steep $450 annual charge however supplies a number of perks, similar to an annual journey credit score, computerized Gold Elite standing, annual club-level improve certificates and airport entry. If that sounds fascinating to you, opening the Boundless is a good way to get began on the trail to the Ritz-Carlton card.
The knowledge for the Ritz-Carlton Credit score Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
To study extra, see our full evaluation of the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless.
Apply right here: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit score Card
Backside line
An important consider deciding in your subsequent bank card relies on your journey objectives and the state of your pockets.
If you have not gone in on a cobranded card, it could be price contemplating to choose up some elitelike perks together with your favourite chain. Should you’re missing in a much less fashionable transferable foreign money, this could possibly be the right time to dip your toes into its program.
Both method, contemplate your distinctive state of affairs and present pockets earlier than you apply.
Associated: Why there is not any such factor because the ‘greatest’ bank card
For charges and charges of the Bilt Mastercard, click on right here.
For rewards and advantages of the Bilt Mastercard, click on right here.
For charges and charges of the Amex Delta Gold, click on right here.
For charges and charges of the Amex Hilton Honors Surpass, click on right here.
