The most effective rewards bank cards of November 2025

Contents

Evaluating my prime picks for the most effective rewards bank cards Chase Freedom Flex Chase Sapphire Most popular Citi Strata Premier American Categorical Platinum How I selected my prime rewards playing cards Backside line

Anybody who is aware of me is aware of that I get pleasure from singing the praises of rewards bank cards each time I get the prospect.

However the bank card business affords so many choices that even an knowledgeable like me can wrestle to maintain observe. That is why I really like serving to my family and friends sift by the alternatives to seek out playing cards that match their life and journey targets.

With that in thoughts, let’s go over my prime picks for the most effective rewards bank cards.

Evaluating my prime picks for the most effective rewards bank cards

This is a fast overview of what every of my favourite rewards playing cards has to supply.

Card	Welcome provide	Incomes charges	Annual price
Chase Freedom Flex® (see charges and costs)	Earn a $200 bonus after spending $500 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.	5% money again on rotating quarterly classes every quarter you activate (on as much as $1,500 in spending every quarter, then 1% again) 5% money again on journey booked by Chase Journey℠ 3% money again on eating and at drugstores 2% money again on Lyft (by Sept. 30, 2027) 1% money again on all different purchases	None
Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card (see charges and costs)	Earn 75,000 bonus factors after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.	5 factors per greenback spent on journey booked by Chase Journey 5 factors per greenback spent on Lyft (by Sept. 30, 2027) 3 factors per greenback spent on eating, choose streaming companies and on-line grocery orders (excluding Goal, Walmart and wholesale golf equipment) 2 factors per greenback spent on all different journey 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases	$95
Citi Strata Premier® Card (see charges and costs)	Earn 60,000 bonus factors after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.	10 factors per greenback spent on lodges, automobile leases and points of interest booked by CitiTravel.com 3 factors per greenback spent on air journey, different resort purchases, eating, supermarkets, gasoline and electrical car charging stations 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases	$95
American Categorical Platinum Card®	New Amex Platinum cardmembers can discover out their provide and see in the event that they’re eligible for as excessive as 175,000 bonus factors after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Welcome affords differ, and also you is probably not eligible for a suggestion.	5 factors per greenback spent on airfare booked straight or by American Categorical Journey® (on as much as $500,000 in spending per calendar yr, then 1 level per greenback spent) 5 factors per greenback spent on pay as you go lodges booked by Amex Journey 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases	$895 annual price (see charges and costs)

Chase Freedom Flex

Standout advantages: This card’s finest profit is its rotating quarterly bonus classes. You will earn 5% money again on as much as $1,500 of spending every quarter in these classes (then 1% again; activation required). Plus, cardholders can get pleasure from a complimentary six-month DoorDash DashPass membership (activate by Dec. 31, 2027).

THE POINTS GUY

The Freedom Flex is, for my part, one among Chase’s most underrated playing cards. It typically will get overshadowed by its huge siblings, the Chase Sapphire Most popular and Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see charges and costs).

This card is finest for inexperienced persons and people searching for an reasonably priced, versatile product. It was my first correct rewards card, and it was the one that actually obtained me hooked on this pastime.

To study extra, take a look at our full overview of the Freedom Flex.

Apply right here: Chase Freedom Flex

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Chase Sapphire Most popular

Standout advantages: This card affords entry to Chase’s switch companions, a important part of maximizing your rewards. In case you have an eligible no-annual-fee Chase card, just like the Freedom Flex, you may flip that card’s rewards into transferable Final Rewards factors with the Sapphire Most popular.

Chase Sapphire Preferred_April 2024 Update — THE POINTS GUY

The Sapphire Most popular will get placed on a pedestal right here at TPG, and for good cause. It is an reasonably priced card that earns precious, transferable Final Rewards factors. Plus, it is simple to get your a reimbursement (after which some) with the Sapphire Most popular’s annual price, due to its DoorDash DashPass membership (activate by Dec. 31, 2027).

Cardholders additionally get a $50 credit score for an eligible resort reserving by Chase Journey every year, along with a ten% anniversary factors enhance. These approachable perks make this card an incredible introduction to the world of factors and miles — it was even my very first transferable rewards card.

To study extra, take a look at our full overview of the Sapphire Most popular.

Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Most popular Card

Citi Strata Premier

Standout advantages: This card covers all kinds of on a regular basis spending classes, making it an incredible match for a one-card pockets. If you happen to like utilizing issuer journey portals to your bookings, you will respect this card’s annual $100 resort profit on a single resort reserving of $500 or extra (excluding taxes and costs) made by Citi Journey.

Ask round sufficient at TPG, and you may quickly discover a couple of individuals who’d agree with me that the Strata Premier is a darkish horse within the mid-tier bank card area. With this card, you can earn bonus rewards on nearly all of your on a regular basis spending, together with groceries, gasoline, EV charging and eating. You will additionally acquire entry to Citi’s 22 switch companions, together with award fanatic favorites like American Airways and Air France-KLM Flying Blue.

I haven’t got the Strata Premier myself, however I might completely select it if I had the need (and willpower) to carry myself to only one card.

To study extra, take a look at our full overview of the Strata Premier.

Apply right here: Citi Strata Premier Card

American Categorical Platinum

Standout advantages: Making an attempt to condense this card’s standout advantages into a couple of sentences is almost not possible. It boasts an extended checklist of assertion credit, elite statuses and lounges you may entry, amongst different advantages. It could characteristic the very best annual price of any card available on the market, nevertheless it’s nicely price it for the suitable cardmember.

The Amex Platinum is my costliest card, however I will justify it due to its varied advantages. I simply used my assertion credit for Resy*, which is as much as $400 yearly (as much as $100 per quarter) and for Lululemon** which is as much as $300 yearly (as much as $75 per quarter). This implies I am already roughly $175 towards breaking even on this card’s annual price.

I additionally worth this card’s lounge entry, which is the furthest-reaching of any card at present out there. If you happen to can afford to pay $895 in a single billing cycle for a card, the Amex Platinum is unquestionably price contemplating.

To study extra, take a look at our full overview of the Amex Platinum.

*U.S. eating places solely; enrollment required
**U.S. shops and on-line solely; retailers excluded; enrollment required

Apply right here: American Categorical Platinum Card

How I selected my prime rewards playing cards

The most effective rewards playing cards provide flexibility and lots of worth. Some carry annual charges, some do not, however every has at the least a couple of tried-and-true methods to justify their place in your pockets. All of them provide bonus classes tied to frequent spending, stable way of life credit, model perks or some mixture.

I like to recommend these playing cards again and again as a result of I consider they’re the most effective match for many vacationers. You do not want all 4 of those playing cards to have a well-rounded pockets, however your travels can actually be elevated when you do.

Backside line

Ask me for my finest rewards card suggestions, and these are those you will hear about. I’ve three out of 4 of them in my pockets, and I do not remorse opening any of them. The Strata Premier, whereas not match for my private card technique, continues to be on the identical enjoying subject as its companions on this checklist.

Be intrigued, not intimidated, by rewards bank cards. These choices can all unlock journey alternatives you would possibly by no means have thought attainable.

Associated: Finest bank cards: These 4 maintain me on the go about 180 days a yr

For charges and costs of the Amex Platinum, click on right here.