Card Rewards

The Best Credit Card Rewards of 2021

by Cleora Reber June 27, 2021

Get the most out of every dollar you spend by using credit cards to maximize your rewards. Receive airline miles, cash back, and all sorts of other bonuses when using credit cards instead of cash. There are few feelings better than receiving money back, on purchases you are already making.

 

Few things have influenced the way people spend money over the centuries like credit cards have. For the fiscally responsible, credit cards have revolutionized spending for the better. Cashback rewards, frequent flyer miles, and hotel status are all things spenders can gain simply by spending money they were already spending. You can also strategize your credit card usage to help raise your credit score. 

Below are a few of the credit cards with the highest rewards for an assortment of different spenders.

Hot tip: Ask for a credit limit increase every six months on your credit cards, but don’t spend more than you’re already spending. This will bring your credit usage percentage down and will help your credit score.

 

 

If Amazon Is Your Favorite Store, This Card Is For You: Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card

 

If you shop at Amazon or Whole Foods frequently, this card will reward you with 5% cashback. The card has no annual fee if you are a prime member either. This also means that Prime members will receive discounts at Whole Foods, for being prime members that can be combined with the cashback offerings of the Amazon Card- meaning maximum savings.

-$150 Amazon Gift Card Welcome Bonus, with no spending requirement

-Annual Fee is $0 with Prime Membership

-Earn 5% cash back at Whole Foods Market and Amazon Prime.

-Earn 2% Back at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores.

-Redeemed points can be reapplied to Amazon purchases.

 


 

For The Restaurant Lover: US Bank Go Visa Signature Card

 

A simple trip to, or order from, your favorite restaurant can get you one step closer to redeeming bonuses. Get money back on things you are already buying, like gas and groceries, with the US Bank Go Visa Signature Card.

-Earn 4x points for every $1 spent on dining. 

-Earn 2x points at grocery stores, grocery delivery, gas stations, and streaming services.

-No annual fee

-Earn 20,000 points by spending $1000 in the first three months of having the card. Redeem the 20,000 points for merchandise, gift cards, travel, or cash back.

 

 

Fee Free: Capital OneSavor One Cash Rewards Credit Card

 

Receive $200 cash back after only spending $167 per month for the first 3 months. Then receive cash back at places like Taco Bell, Netflix, or even Kroegers.

-Earn a $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

-Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores.

-No foreign transaction fee

 

 

Fee Free: Citi Double Cash Card

If you are only interested in cash back, the Citi Double Cash Card is the card for you.

-Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.

-No limit on the amount of cashback that can be earned.

 

 

Travel Vouchers: The World of Hyatt Credit Card

 

Receive free hotel stays just by going about your normal spending habits. Stay at Hyatt properties all over the world, and gain a preferred membership at Hyatt Resorts.

-Annual free night certificate to be used at a Hyatt on cardmember anniversary

-Complimentary World of Hyatt Discovery Status

-High Points Redemption Value

-Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 More Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent

-Receive 5 tier qualifying night credits towards status after account opening, and each year after that for as long as your account is open.

 

 

For Hotel Fans: Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express

 

Spend at the Hilton, Car Rentals, and Restaurants and get huge point rewards. Redeem your rewards for near restriction-free Hilton nights. Hilton has hotels all over the world making this card an excellent addition to your travel plans. 

-Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership

-Earn 14X Hilton Honors Bonus Points when you make eligible purchases on your Card at participating hotels or resorts within the Hilton Portfolio

-Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on eligible purchases on your Card for: Flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, Car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies, and U.S. restaurants

-Earn 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on all other eligible purchases

-$250 Hilton Honors Bonus Card rewards: With your Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, enjoy up to $250 in statement credits each year of Card Membership for eligible purchases at participating Hilton Resorts

 

 

If You Want Cashback: Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card

 

Choose your own reward structure with the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card. Do you eat out often, redeem your 3% back at restaurants. Is your biggest spending category online shopping?- Redeem your 3% on retail purchases. Get cashback for the places you frequent.

-Bank of America lets you choose which category you can redeem 3% back on, restaurants are amongst the rewards.

-$200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening

-If you're a Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25% - 75% more cash back on every purchase

 

 

If You’re Looking For Flexibility: Chase Freedom Flex

 

Get a bonus on everything you’re spending with rotating reward categories. These categories vary by month, just like your spending. The best part is that you can choose your categories to make sure you are receiving the best rewards for your lifestyle.

-Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.

-Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Receive new 5% categories each quarter!

-The Chase Freedom Flex Card offers an assortment of bonus categories — some rotating and some permanent — including an option for 3% cash back at restaurants. 

 

 

For Frequent Flyers & Take Out Lovers: American Express Gold Card

 

Are you a frequent flyer? You won’t want to miss the frequent flyer rewards on this card. Get massive bonuses bank on all travel-related purchases- book flights, hotels, and rental cars for the whole family with the American Express Gold Card. Get consistent credits on platforms you use all the time like Uber, UberEats GrubHub, and Seamless. 

-Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards Points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months.

-Earn 4X Membership RewardsPoints at Restaurants, including takeout and delivery, and earn 4X Membership Rewards points at supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X.)

-Earn 3X Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.

-$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.

-$120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Boxed, and participating Shake Shack locations. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.

-Get up to 12 complimentary months of an UberEats Pass subscription when you enroll with your Gold Card by 12/31/21.

-Annual Fee $250

 

 

For Travelers: Chase Sapphire Reserve Card

 

Go about your daily spending and earn nearly $1000 in rewards. Get Travel credits on travel you are already doing. Transfer your points and redeem them for airline credits, hotel points, or anything travel related. Don’t worry about adding travel insurance to your next trip because the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card has got you covered with their included travel insurance.

-Users can earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of opening your account. Equating to $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards

-$300 Annual Travel Credit offered as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year. Through December 31, 2021, gas station & grocery store purchases will also count towards earning your travel credit.

-3X points on travel immediately after earning your $300 travel credit. 3X points on dining at restaurants including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases

-Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel

-With Pay Yourself Back,, your points are worth 50% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories

-1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs

-Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓

-Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance, and more