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REWARD CARDS

We think you'll love these cards from our partners.
CK Editors’ Tips††: The right rewards credit card can help you get cash back on
purchases, book a trip and gain crucial perks. Consider which rewards and perks
match up with your habits, not just which card offers the most features overall.
Read more
What to consider when choosing a rewards credit card
When shopping for a rewards credit card, keep in mind that rewards and perks
only have value when you use them. While cards may promise plenty of points on
purchases or high estimated values for their perks, you’re ultimately only going
to benefit from them if they match up with your habits and needs. Think about
where you spend your money, how much effort you’d like to put into maximizing a
rewards program, and whether you want a cash back or travel rewards card.
How we picked the best rewards credit cards
We selected the best rewards credit cards with a focus on cards that offer the
chance to earn lots of rewards for spending in specific categories — like dining
and groceries — and in straightforward ways, with cards that offer the same
rewards rate on all purchases. Also, while many of the best rewards credit cards
require good or excellent credit, we wanted to include a few options for those
who are still building credit because rewards are available to people at many
different levels of credit. Read more about our methodology for picking the best
credit cards.
Jump to editors’ picks

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Great for students building credit††
Apply now
See details, rates, & fees


DESERVE® EDU MASTERCARD

Great for students building credit††


DESERVE® EDU MASTERCARD


37 reviews

Apply now
See details, rates, & fees


 * REWARDS RATE
   
   
   1%
   Cash back


 * ANNUAL FEE
   
   $0

Rewards rate

1% Cash back

Annual fee

$0

 * Receive one year of Amazon Prime Student on Deserve after spending $500 in
   the first three billing cycles with your EDU card (Lifetime Value of $59).
 * Earn 1% Cash Back on all purchases with your Deserve EDU Mastercard. Once
   approved, you'll automatically start earning cash back on all purchases.

 * Feel secure with cell phone protection up to $600.
 * No deposit required. No annual fees.
 * No international transaction fees on purchases abroad so you can travel with
   confidence.
 * No Social Security Number required for international students to apply.
 * Refer A Friend Program: Refer anyone to Deserve using your personal referral
   code. Upon approval, card activation and use, you'll receive $30 and so will
   your referral. Referral bonuses are unlimited!
 * Manage and track your spending, set automatic payments and securely freeze
   your card all through one easy to use app.
 * See if you prequalify with no impact to your credit score in minutes.
 * Deserve Mastercards are issued by Celtic Bank, Member FDIC.
 * Enjoy Mastercard Platinum Benefits intended to make your life easier like
   Mastercard ID Theft Prevention™ and Master Rental®.

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See details, rates, & fees


CAPITAL ONE VENTURE REWARDS CREDIT CARD


CAPITAL ONE VENTURE REWARDS CREDIT CARD


328 reviews

Apply now
See details, rates, & fees


 * REWARDS RATE
   
   
   2x - 5x
   Miles per dollar


 * WELCOME BONUS
   
   
   75,000
   Miles


 * ANNUAL FEE
   
   $95

Rewards rate

2x - 5x Miles per dollar

Welcome bonus

Earn 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from
account opening

Annual fee

$95

 * Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases
   within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
 * Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day

 * Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how
   many you can earn
 * Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
 * Enjoy two complimentary visits per year to Capital One Lounges or to 100+
   Plaza Premium Lounges through our Partner Lounge Network
 * Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel,
   where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
 * Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking
   a trip through Capital One Travel
 * Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

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These offers are no longer available on our site: Chase Freedom Unlimited®,
Chase Freedom Flex℠, Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card


HEAR FROM OUR EDITORS: THE BEST REWARDS CREDIT CARDS OF AUGUST 2022

Updated August 11, 2022

This date may not reflect recent changes in individual terms.

Editorial note: Credit Karma receives compensation from third-party advertisers,
but that doesn’t affect our editors’ opinions. Our third-party advertisers don’t
review, approve or endorse our editorial content. It’s accurate to the best of
our knowledge when posted.

Written by: Ben Luthi

Finding the right rewards credit card can make it easier to maximize your
points, miles or cash back. But the best rewards credit card can help you make
the most of your everyday purchases. Here’s our take on the best rewards credit
cards to help you narrow down your options.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 * Best cash back credit card: Chase Freedom Unlimited®
 * Best travel rewards credit card: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
 * Best for rotating categories: Chase Freedom FlexSM
 * Best for dining: Savor® Rewards from Capital One® 
 * Best for grocery shopping: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
 * Best for flat-rate cash back rewards: Citi® Double Cash Card
 * Best for bad credit: Discover it® Secured Credit Card
 * Best for college students: Deserve® EDU Mastercard

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


BEST CASH BACK CREDIT CARD: CHASE FREEDOM UNLIMITED®

Here’s why: The card offers a high base rewards rate of 1.5%.

Cardholders will also earn …

 * 5% back on travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® platform
 * 5% cash back on gas station purchases on up to $6,000 spent during your first
   year with the card
 * 3% cash back on dining, including takeout and eligible delivery services
 * 3% cash back at drugstores

After getting the card, you’ll earn a $200 bonus when you spend $500 on
purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

And the card doesn’t charge an annual fee.

Check out our review of the Chase Freedom Unlimited® for more information.


BEST TRAVEL REWARDS CREDIT CARD: CAPITAL ONE VENTURE REWARDS CREDIT CARD

Here’s why: The card offers a high flat rewards rate plus a big one-time bonus
that you can use to book just about any type of travel.

You’ll earn two miles per $1 spent on every purchase you make, plus five miles
per $1 spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and
five miles per $1 on bookings made through Turo. Also, when you first get the
card, you can earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the
first 3 months your account is open.

When you’re ready to redeem your rewards, you can book travel through Capital
One, book travel elsewhere and use your points to get a statement credit, or
transfer your miles to one of the bank’s airline and hotel partners.

As a benefit, the card offers an application fee credit of up to $100 for TSA
PreCheck or Global Entry, which can help you get through airport security and
customs faster. Just keep in mind that the card charges a $95 annual fee.

Learn more about the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.


BEST FOR ROTATING CATEGORIES: CHASE FREEDOM FLEX℠

Here’s why: The Chase Freedom Flex℠ offers a super high cash back rate on
rotating everyday spending categories each quarter you activate, plus bonus
rewards on travel, dining and drugstores.

Similar to the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, this card offers 5% cash back on travel
purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards; 5% cash back on gas station purchases
on up to $6,000 spent during your first year with the card; 3% back at
drugstores; and 3% on dining, including takeout and eligible delivery services.
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ offers just 1% back on all other purchases.

But what makes the card stand out is its 5% rotating bonus. Each quarter you
activate, you’ll earn that rate on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus
categories. In the past, the Chase Freedom bonus categories have included gas
stations, select streaming services, major retailers like Amazon.com and
Walmart, and more.

You’ll also earn a $200 bonus when you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3
months your account is open. The card has no annual fee. Read member reviews
about the Chase Freedom Flex℠ to learn more.


BEST FOR DINING: SAVOR® REWARDS FROM CAPITAL ONE®

Here’s why: You’ll earn a whopping 4% cash back on dining, entertainment and
popular streaming services as well as 3% back at grocery stores (excluding
superstores like Target and Walmart).

All other purchases will net you just 1% back. But when you first sign up for
the card, you’ll earn a $300 cash bonus after you spend $3,000 on purchases in
the first 3 months after account opening.

Just keep in mind that the card comes with a $95 annual fee, so you’ll have to
spend a fair amount in the bonus categories to get value.

Read our Savor® Rewards from Capital One® review for more details.


BEST FOR GROCERY SHOPPING: BLUE CASH PREFERRED® CARD FROM AMERICAN EXPRESS

Here’s why: You’ll be hard-pressed to find a higher cash back rate on purchases
made at U.S. supermarkets.

The card offers 6% back on up to $6,000 spent each year at U.S. supermarkets
(then 1%), 6% back on select U.S. streaming services, 3% back on transit and at
U.S. gas stations, and 1% back on everything else.

The card also has a $350 welcome bonus (which you’ll receive as a statement
credit) when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 6 months after opening
your account.

The card has an annual fee of $95. Though an annual fee is uncommon for a cash
back card, you could easily make up for that cost if you spend about $1,600 a
year on groceries.

Check out our review of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express to
learn more.


BEST FOR FLAT-RATE CASH BACK REWARDS: CITI® DOUBLE CASH CARD

Here’s why: You’ll earn a solid 2% cash back on every purchase — 1% back when
you make a purchase and another 1% back as you pay it off.

Beyond that, the card doesn’t offer a ton of benefits. But if you’re looking for
a great rewards card for the long haul, there aren’t many that can beat 2% back
on everything, with a $0 annual fee.

Keep reading about the Citi® Double Cash Card to learn more.


BEST FOR BAD CREDIT: DISCOVER IT® SECURED CREDIT CARD

Here’s why: It’s one of the few secured credit cards on the market that offers
rewards.

You’ll earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants (on up to $1,000 in
combined purchases each quarter, then 1%) and 1% back on everything else. What’s
more, the Discover it Cashback Match means Discover will match all the cash back
that new cardholders earn after their first year with the card.

You’ll have to make a security deposit of at least $200. Starting at seven
months, Discover will review your account to determine if you can get your
deposit back. The card doesn’t charge an annual fee, which is another huge plus
for someone hoping to build credit.

Get more information about Discover it® Secured Credit Card in our editorial
review.


BEST FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS: DESERVE® EDU MASTERCARD

Here’s why: The card offers a flat 1% cash back on every purchase, plus an
Amazon Prime Student membership for a year after you’ve spent $500 on purchases
in the first three billing cycles.

Where the card really shines, though, is with international students. You may
need a Social Security number or individual taxpayer identification number to
get a credit card in the U.S. With this credit card, though, no Social Security
number is required, paving the way for international students to build credit.

In addition to the Amazon Prime Student benefit, cardholders will also get up to
$600 worth of cellphone protection when they use their card to pay their phone
bill. The card’s annual fee is $0.

Read more about the Deserve® EDU Mastercard.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


HOW DO REWARDS CARDS WORK?

Credit card rewards allow you to get some form of value back on every purchase
you make with your cards. When you buy something, you’ll receive a certain
amount of rewards based on the card’s rewards program and the type of purchase
you made.

Depending on the card, you may have a number of redemption options. Also, some
cards require you to have a certain amount of cash back, points or miles before
you can redeem, but that’s not the case with all of them.

As a result, it’s crucial that you take the time to find the card that’s best
suited for your spending habits and other preferences. Then use the card as
often as possible — with the goals to avoid overspending and to pay your bill on
time and in full every month — to make sure you’re not leaving value on the
table.


HOW WE PICKED THESE CARDS

We considered a lot of factors to determine the best rewards credit cards.
First, we looked at the cards that offer the chance to earn a lot of cash back,
points or miles. Second, we considered that most rewards credit cards require
good or excellent credit, which can make things tough for someone trying to
build a credit history. So we made sure to add a couple of options for folks
with less-than-stellar credit.

Finally, we understand that readers may prefer cash back, travel rewards or
general points, including some with or without annual fees, so we added a mix of
each to make it easier for you to find the right card for your needs.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About the author: Ben Luthi is a personal finance freelance writer and credit
cards expert. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and finance
from Brigham Young University. In addition to Credit Karma, you can find his wo…
Read more.



FAQ: EDITORS’ ANSWERS

Editorial Note: Credit Karma receives compensation from third-party advertisers,
but that doesn’t affect our editors' opinions. Our marketing partners don’t
review, approve or endorse our editorial content. It’s accurate to the best of
our knowledge when posted. Read our Editorial Guidelines to learn more about our
team.
Are credit card rewards worth it?
Credit card rewards can be worth it if you get enough value from them to
outweigh an annual fee, interest charges or any other cost associated with
maintaining your account. That extra value could come from a variety of sources,
such as a welcome bonus, cash back earned on purchases or travel rewards points
you then redeem to help cover the cost of airfare. In each case, the most
important thing to remember is that rewards on their own aren’t worth much — you
have to be able to use and redeem them to get value out of the card.
Is it better to get cash back or travel rewards?
Neither cash back nor travel rewards points are always better than the other —
it all depends on what best fits your habits and what you want out of a card.
For instance, a travel rewards card with plenty of bonus categories and a high
standard earning rate could offer more potential value than a cash back card
that earns 1.5% back on all purchases, but the cash back card might still be
better for you if you’re only likely to travel once every year or two.
Similarly, someone who travels often and doesn’t mind searching for the best
deals might want to go for a travel rewards card because they’re more likely to
be able to stretch their points.
Ultimately, it comes down to how easily you’re able take advantage of your
card’s rewards program when it comes to both earning and redeeming.
How do you redeem credit card rewards?
Your options for redeeming your credit card rewards will depend on your
particular card and rewards program. In general, though, rewards cards will
allow you to redeem for things like travel (like airfare and hotel stays), cash
back, gift cards or merchandise. But how these redemptions are applied get even
more specific. For example, travel redemptions may be applied as statement
credits, or maybe you could use your points and miles directly for bookings. And
the quality of a cash back card can even depend on how you’re able to receive
that cash back, especially if there are limits on how often you can redeem or
how many steps you have to take to get it.
If you’re not sure how you might want to redeem your rewards, try to choose a
card that provides the best mix of flexibility and simplicity.
Do credit card rewards expire?
There’s a decent chance your credit card rewards have the potential to expire,
although the exact rules depend on the card and the rewards program. Some
rewards will expire on a specific timeline, like a certain number of months
after they’re earned or after a long period of card inactivity. But others may
only expire after your account falls out of good standing, like if you miss a
payment or have your account closed. On the other hand, some rewards programs
will actually allow you to keep and use your rewards for a set period of time
after you close the credit card you used to earn them.
This means it’s probably a good idea to check your expiration rules even if a
card is advertised as earning rewards that never expire. In some cases, the
terms and conditions for these cards explain that you’ll lose your rewards if
your account falls out of good standing.


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