Best Spending Cards

Card Name Upfront Bonuses Spending Benefits Other Key Benefits Annual Fee How to Use
Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card 50k points (UA, BA, SW, Hyatt, etc. or $750 Cash) after spending $4k in 3 mos. 1 point/$3x for Travel and Dining(directly book travel at 1.5c/pt)
  • Priority Pass lounges
  • $300 tvl credit
  • Global Entry
  • Global Evac.
  • Pur. protection
  • No FTF's
$450 General, Travel, Dining
Barclaycard Arrival Plus™ World Elite MasterCard® 50k ($500 toward travel) after spending $3k in 90 days 2 Points + 5% rebate / $ (in effect 2.1% toward any travel)
  • No FTF''s
  • Chip
$0 1st Yr.,then $89 General spending only
The Business Gold Rewards Card 25k points after spending $5k in 3 mos. (look for higher offers) 1 point /$3x on ONE OF air,advertising, gas, shipping, tech (certain vendors)2x on the categories you don't pick N/A $0 1st Yr.,then $175 Keep in desk for advertising, shipping & short-list of tech firms (e.g., Apple, Dell, MSFT)
Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express 35k after spending $5k in 3mos (until 4/5/2017) 1 (valuable) point / $
  • SPG Gold after $30k/yr
  • 5 nights toward elite
  • no FTF(new)
  • Premium Internet
$0 1st Yr.,then $95 General Spend
Capital One Venture Rewards 40k points after spending $3k in 3mos 2 Points / $ (basically 2% Cash)
  • No FTF's
$0 1st Yr.,then $59 General spending only
Blue Cash Preferred® Credit Card $150 after spending $1k in 3 mos. 1% cash6% at supermarkets (up to $6k spend)3% at stand alone gas stations and some department stores
  • None
$75 Supermarket spend for families, Gas
Spark Cash From Capital One (Business) $500 after spending $4,500 in 3 months 2% cash
  • No FTF
$0 1st Yr.,then $59 General spending only
Chase Ink Cash Credit Card $300 after spending $3k in 3 mos. 1% cash2% on gas & dine5% on Office Supply & Telecom(2/5% - max $25k); convert to UR if also have Ink+ or Sapphire
  • 0% interest on purchases for 12 mos
$0 General, Gas & Dine only if you have a Plus or Sapphire too; Office Supply & Telecom
Blue Cash Everyday® from American Express $100 after spending $1k in 3 mos. 1% cash3% at supermarkets (up to $6k spend)2% at stand alone gas stations and some department stores
  • 0% interest on purchases for up to 12 mos.
$0
Chase Freedom $100 after spending $500 in 3mos + $25 for an additional cardholder 1% Cash5% (up to $75) of rotating categories; convert to UR if also have Ink+ or Sapphire
  • 0% interest on purchases for 15 mos
$0 General only if you have a Plus or Sapphire too; rotating bonus