These are the best rewards credit cards for 2020

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Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.

The rewards available from credit cards go well beyond just points and miles. With the right credit card, you can save on shopping, get a jump-start on your vacation fund and more. With TPG’s top rewards credit cards, you can add value, along with points and miles, to your wallet.

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There are dozens of rewards credit cards to choose from, but I’ve narrowed them down to this list of the best rewards credit cards available right now. Some of these are travel rewards cards that earn transferable points currencies, some are cash-back cards and a couple are cards that earn rewards for a specific loyalty program.

Of course, travel rewards may not be high on everyone’s priority list right now. Social distancing and preventing the spread of the coronavirus has kept many of us from being able or willing to travel, which means you may be considering options outside of our best travel credit cards. Some of these rewards cards can help you save money now with cash back or non-travel redemption options — and others can help you build up a future travel fund that can be used on an incredible travel redemption once coronavirus concerns subside.

Best rewards credit cards of 2020

In This Post

Comparing the best rewards credit cards

*Bonus value is an estimated value calculated by TPG and not the card issuer.

The information for the Chase Freedom Flex, Wells Fargo Propel card, the Capital One Savor and the Chase Freedom Unlimited cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

TPG’s picks for the best rewards credit cards

American Express Gold Card: Best for supermarkets and takeout

Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first six months, although you may be targeted for up to 75,000 bonus points through the CardMatch tool (offer subject to change at any time).

Rewards rate: Earn 4x at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $25,000 spent each calendar year, then 1x); 3x on flights booked directly through airlines or on amextravel.com; 1x on all other purchases.

Annual fee: $250 (see rates and fees)

Who should apply: With the Amex Gold, you’re getting a great 8% return on restaurant and U.S. supermarket spending and a solid 6% return on airfare. The Amex Gold is a nice middle ground between the top-tier The Platinum Card® from American Express and a lower-value beginner card, such as The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express. The information for the Amex EveryDay card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

You’re getting perks, such as a dining credit of up to $120 each calendar year, plus a rewards structure that focuses on common spending categories besides just travel — all without the massive $550 annual fee (see rates and fees) that comes with the Amex Platinum card. If you want an Amex card that makes it easy to earn Membership Rewards on everyday expenses such as dining and groceries at U.S. supermarkets, this is definitely a card to consider.

Check out the full card review for the Amex Gold.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best for airline rewards

Sign-up bonus: In a limited-time offer, earn 100,000 bonus miles after you spend $20,000 on purchases within the first 12 months from account opening. Or still earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.

Rewards rate: Earn 5x on hotel stays and car rentals booked with the card through Capital One Travel; 2x miles on every purchase.

Annual fee: $95

Who should apply: The Venture has long been a crowd favorite for travel rewards because of its simplicity. You know you’re getting 2x on every purchase, which takes a lot of the guessing game out of earning rewards. The miles earned can then be used as a statement credit to “pay” for eligible travel (and temporarily some non-travel) purchases or they can be transferred to one of Capital One’s 13 airline and two hotel transfer partners. As an added perk, you’ll also get a statement credit of up to $100 every four years for your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee, which isn’t a benefit commonly found on low-fee cards.

Also, Capital One added a temporary perk: Venture and Savor cardholders will now earn an unlimited 5x/5%, respectively, on Uber Eats purchases. The good news is that this promotion will run through the end of January 2021 — with no caps on how many miles you can earn.

This card is often marketed as a beginner card, but anyone can take advantage of the card’s rewards structure and benefits. Beginners will enjoy the simplicity of using the Venture, while experts can use it for non-bonus spending. All of this landed the Venture a spot on our TPG list of best credit cards — and a special place in The Points Guy Brian Kelly’s wallet.

Check out the full card review for the Capital One Venture.

Citi® Double Cash Card: Best for everyday spending

Sign-up bonus: N/A

Rewards rate: 2% on every purchase — 1% when you buy and 1% when you pay your bill

Annual fee: $0

Who should apply: Two percent cash back on every purchase is a great offer for non-bonus spending. Although Citi did strip important purchase protections from this card in 2019, the issuer also added the ability to convert your Double Cash rewards to ThankYou points via a linked ThankYou account. ThankYou points are valued at 1.7 cents each at TPG, in part because of Citi’s solid list of transfer partners. The ability to convert points means you’re getting a 3.4% return on every purchase for no annual fee. If you’re in the market for a simple card that earns flexible rewards, it doesn’t get much better than the Citi Double Cash.

Check out the full card review for the Citi Double Cash.

Chase Sapphire Preferred: Best for beginner travelers

Sign-up bonus: 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months.

Rewards rate: Earn 2x points total on up to $1,000 in grocery store purchases per month from Nov. 1, 2020 to April 30, 2021, 2x on dining and travel, 1x on everything else

Annual fee: $95

Who should apply: The Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of the best beginner travel cards available. You’re getting an excellent sign-up bonus worth $1,200, according to TPG valuations. Its rewards structure is simple, but broad enough to earn points on a large number of purchases.

The points currency you’re earning is among the highest-value transferable currencies out there. You can redeem points for 1.25 cents each through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal or you can transfer points to one of Chase’s airline and hotel partners. Plus, you’re only paying a $95 annual fee.

Check out the full card review for the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

Chase Sapphire Reserve: Best for frequent travelers

Sign-up bonus: 50,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months

Rewards rate: Earn 10x points on Lyft; 3x points on travel (after using $300 travel credit) and dining; 1x on everything else

Annual fee: $550

Who should apply: The Chase Sapphire Reserve card is one of the top premium travel cards available. Although changes to the card unveiled in January 2020 were met with mixed reactions, this card remains a favorite among many TPGers. You’re earning Chase Ultimate Rewards points on a wide range of travel and dining purchases (because Chase defines both categories quite broadly), while also getting access to luxury perks such as an annual $300 travel credit, Priority Pass lounge access, TSA PreCheck/Global Entry application fee credit, a $60 annual DoorDash credit (for 2020 and 2021)

You’ll get at least one year of DashPass membership through DoorDash, a Lyft Pink membership and an impressive array of travel protections. The Chase Sapphire Reserve also just dropped a few new perks to help maximize benefits during the pandemic.

When it comes time to redeem your rewards, you can transfer points at a 1:1 ratio to any of Chase’s 10 airline and three hotel transfer partners, or you can redeem them for certain travel (and now also non-travel) purchases at 1.5 cents each. If you’re a regular traveler who can take advantage of all of the card’s perks, this is an excellent rewards card to have in your wallet.

Check out the Chase Sapphire Reserve Review.

Ink Business Preferred Credit Card: Best for small businesses

Sign-up bonus: 100,000 points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first three months

Rewards rate: Earn 3x on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services and on advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year.

Annual fee: $95

Who should apply: The Ink Business Preferred is one of the best all-around business credit cards on the market. You’ll earn 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points when you spend $15,000 in the first three months. TPG values Ultimate Rewards points at 2 cents each, which puts this bonus at $2,000 in value when you maximize Chase’s transfer partners. Or you can redeem points through the Chase Travel portal for 1.25 cents each, giving you $1,250 in value.

The Ink Business Preferred offers 3x (a 6% return) across a wide range of business expenses, giving business owners ample opportunities to earn rewards. Plus, you’ll also get access to some solid benefits, including travel protections and cell phone insurance.

Check out the full card review for the Ink Business Preferred.

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: Best for commuters

Welcome offer: A $300 statement credit after spending $3,000 in purchases within the first six months. Offer expires on Dec. 10, 2020

Rewards rate: Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1%) and select U.S. streaming services; 3% on transit and at U.S. gas stations; 1% on everything else.

Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year; then $95 (see rates and fees) Offer ends Dec. 10, 2020.

Who should apply: The Blue Cash Preferred got a much-needed facelift in 2019, adding valuable bonus categories to keep up with changing consumer habits. With a new streaming service being launched every other day, earning 6% on streaming is a great bonus category that only a few cards recognize.

This card is also a commuter’s dream, with unlimited 3% cash back on gas and transit (including taxis, ride-shares, tolls, trains, buses and more). Although the card does not earn Membership Rewards points, it remains a simple way to earn rewards on common everyday spending categories.

Gallery: 60 Money Moves That Could Set You Up for Life (GOBankingRates)

Check out the full card review for the Blue Cash Preferred.

Chase Freedom Flex: Best for rotating rewards

Sign-up bonus: $200 after you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months, plus earn 5% back on groceries (excluding Target and Walmart) on the first $12,000 spent in your first year.

Rewards rate: Earn 5% cash back on the first $1,500 in purchases spent on quarterly rotating categories (activation required); 5% on travel booked through the Ultimate Rewards portal; 3% on dining and drugstores; 1% on everything else.

Annual fee: $0

Who should apply: If you’re willing to keep up with spending categories that change every three months, you can get a lot out of a rewards card like the Chase Freedom Flex. The categories are often easy to maximize. For example, the fourth-quarter 2020 categories are PayPal and Walmart. If you maximize the bonus categories each quarter, you’ll earn $300 in bonus category rewards each year. This new card also comes with cell phone protection.

You can also pair this card with one of the Chase credit cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards and earn valuable Chase points rather than just cash back. With TPG’s valuation of Chase points at 2 cents each, you’ll be earning up to 10% back on bonus category spending.

Check out more details on the Chase Freedom Flex.

Wells Fargo Propel American Express card: Best for gas rewards

Sign-up bonus: 20,000 points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first three months

Rewards rate: Earn 3x on dining (eating out and ordering in), gas stations, transit, travel and popular streaming services; 1x on everything else

Annual fee: $0

Who should apply: The Wells Fargo Propel offers a low-cost way to earn fixed-value points on everyday spending categories. Earning 3x on such a wide array of categories is unique for a no-annual-fee card, making this a great option for beginners in the rewards game. If you also have the Wells Fargo Visa Signature® card (another no-annual-fee card), your points could be worth 1.5 cents each. Although this isn’t a great rewards card for travel experts because of its lack of transfer partners, beginners can get a lot out of the Propel.

The information for the Wells Fargo Visa Signature has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Check out the full card review for Wells Fargo Propel.

Capital One Savor Card: Best for entertainment rewards

Sign-up bonus: $300 after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months

Rewards rate: Earn 4% cash back on dining and entertainment; 2% cash back at grocery stores; 1% on all other purchases.

Annual fee: $95

Who should apply: Anyone who spends a lot on dining and entertainment should consider this card. Capital One defines both of those categories broadly, meaning you’ll earn 4% back for sit-down restaurants, take-out, coffee shops and bakeries, concert tickets, movies, sporting events and even tourist attractions.

This is a great tiered earning structure for rewards-card beginners because you don’t have to pay attention to changing categories. Plus, it offers excellent value for veterans of the rewards game. With no foreign transaction fees, this is the perfect card to use on entertainment purchases, both at home and when traveling. Keep in mind that Capital One also recently added streaming services as a 4% category through Dec. 31, 2020, and the Savor will also earn an unlimited 5% on Uber Eats through Jan. 31, 2021.

Check out the full card review for the Capital One Savor.

Chase Freedom Unlimited: Best for flexible rewards

Sign-up bonus: $200 after you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months, plus earn 5% back on groceries (excluding Target and Walmart) on the first $12,000 spent in your first year.

Rewards rate: Earn 5% on travel booked through the Ultimate Rewards portal; 3% on dining and drugstores; unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Annual fee: $0

Who should apply: Everyone needs a card that earns rewards on those purchases that don’t fall under any other bonus categories. That’s where a card like the Chase Freedom Unlimited shines — especially for existing Chase Ultimate Rewards cardholders.

If you also have the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve or Ink Business Preferred Credit Card, you can transfer your cash back rewards from the Chase Freedom Unlimited to your Ultimate Rewards account. You can then redeem those points at an elevated rate through the Chase portal or transfer them to travel partners. TPG values Ultimate Rewards points at 2 cents each, which doubles the value of your rewards.

Chase also recently announced changes to this card, making it one of the most valuable no-annual-fee credit cards out there.

Check out the full card review for the Chase Freedom Unlimited.

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: Best for beginner cash back

Welcome offer: Earn up to $300 cash back: Earn 20% back on eligible purchases at Amazon.com on the card in the first 6 months, up to $200 back. Plus, earn $100 back after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new card within the first 6 months of account opening.

Rewards rate: Earn 3% back on the first $6,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets (then 1%), 2% at U.S. gas stations and department stores, 1% on everything else

Annual fee: $0 (see rates and fees)

Who should apply: If you’re looking for a no-annual-fee credit card to start your cash back earning with, the Amex Blue Cash Everyday is a potential option for you. You’ll be earning a solid 3% back on U.S. supermarkets, as well as 2% on gas and department store purchases. While supermarkets and gas stations aren’t uncommon categories, department stores is a rare bonus cateogry to find on rewards credit cards. As we head into the holiday season, having a card that earns 2% at department stores such as Macy’s could be a game changer during holiday shopping.

Cardholders also get 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months from the account opening date (carriable APR of 13.99% to 23.99% based on your creditworthiness and other factors after — see rates and fees). If you’re looking for a way to finance an upcoming large purchase, 15 months without interest is one way to spread out your payments. Just make sure you’re able to pay off the balance by the time the intro APR period ends.

Check out the full card review for the Blue Cash Everyday Card.

Research Methodology

When choosing our top rewards cards, I looked at multiple factors — with sign-up bonuses/welcome offers, rewards rates, and annual fees topping the list. I also assessed each rewards card’s flexibility, the type of rewards each card earned, the simplicity of the redemption process, and any perks that come with each card.

These are my top picks, but that doesn’t mean every card on this list is the perfect choice for everyone. At the end of the day, the cards that fill your wallet should allow you to earn more than 1% or 1x points on every purchase you make. Hopefully, this guide will help take care of the bulk of researching and comparing your card options, but make sure you’re choosing a card that will work for you in both the short and long term.

Related: Why there’s no such thing as the ‘best’ credit card

How rewards credit cards work

Rewards credit cards offer cardholders redeemable rewards on everyday purchases as an incentive for using the card. These rewards differ from issuer to issuer and even card to card. Some earn cash back while others offer points or miles that can be redeemed for travel. At TPG, we are partial to travel credit cards that offer additional perks and benefits to enhance our travel experiences. There are also incredible rewards structures available on top cash-back cards.

In fact, based on results from a TPG survey commissioned earlier in 2020, the number one goal of most cardholders when they choose a credit card is earning cash back.

Typically, top rewards credit cards charge an annual fee as the tradeoff for the rewards, perks and other benefits cardholders receive. However, cardholders who take advantage of what their cards have to offer in rewards or other benefits will find it easy to offset the cost of any annual fee.

Related: The complete history of credit cards, from antiquity to today

Pros and cons of rewards credit cards

While rewards credit cards are an excellent tool to help you save money and hit financial goals, they aren’t a great fit for everyone.

Pros

• You’ll earn rewards on expenses you make every day. If you’re going to spend that money anyway, why not earn rewards while you’re at it?
• They can help you hit financial goals. Whether you want to pad your savings or travel more luxuriously on a budget, rewards credit cards can help you do so when used responsibly.
• Rewards credit cards can offer peace of mind. Many cards come with travel protections or purchase protections covering worst-case-scenarios while abroad or shopping for large-ticket items.

Cons

• Rewards credit cards have higher APRs than other types of credit cards. If you aren’t paying off your bills in full each month, the interest you’ll rack up will actually end up costing you money — even if you’re earning rewards.
• They aren’t accessible to everyone. Credit card issuers are choosy when it comes to approving rewards credit cards, which means you typically have to have good credit to get one. Those who are new to building credit or who have a less-than-stellar score may not be able to get the best rewards credit cards.

Related: What is a good credit score?

Types of credit card rewards

All of these cards earn some type of rewards, but the kind of rewards differs from card to card:

Transferable points — These are the issuers’ currencies that can be transferred to certain partners to maximize value. For example, several Chase cards earn Ultimate Rewards points, which can be redeemed for several different things through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal but can also be transferred to one of Chase’s partners, including United or Marriott. Generally speaking, this type of rewards card is the most valuable because of its redemption flexibility.

Cash back — This is the most straightforward type of reward. You’re earning a percentage of each purchase that you can redeem for cash at a later date. Although cash back is always redeemed at a fixed value, it can be highly useful for both beginners and seasoned travelers. Points and miles are best redeemed for airfare or hotel bookings, but cash back has more flexibility without compromising its value. You can use cash back to save up for the day-to-day expenses of your travel or you can simply use it to save money on your statements each month.

Hybrid — Hybrid cards have popped up in recent years. These cards earn cash back on their own but can be paired with other cards to convert that cash to more valuable points currencies. A prime example of this type of card is the Chase Freedom Unlimited. You’re earning cash back on purchases, but those rewards can be converted to Ultimate Rewards points when you pair the Unlimited with another eligible Chase card. The Citi Double Cash also recently joined the ranks of hybrid cash-back cards.

Loyalty program — These are cards that earn points or miles for a specific loyalty program, typically for an airline or hotel. Most of the time, these cards also come with brand-specific benefits like complimentary elite status (for hotel cards) or priority boarding (for airline cards). These currencies aren’t as flexible as transferable currencies but they can still be highly valuable.

Popular credit card rewards programs

There are more than a dozen credit card rewards programs out there, from airline and hotel loyalty programs to issuer programs. Each month, TPG publishes our monthly rewards valuations that outline how much each point or mile currency is worth in our eyes, but each program has its advantages and disadvantages. The three largest (and most valuable) issuer rewards programs offer flexible points, a wide range of credit card options to earn points and a solid list of transfer partners.

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase Ultimate Rewards is one of the top rewards programs for a good reason. TPG values points at 2 cents each, and you can redeem points through Chase’s portal (with a redemption bonus depending on which Chase cards you hold) and transfer points to partners like United and Hyatt.

Top cards that earn Ultimate Rewards: 

Amex Membership Rewards

The other top rewards program is Amex Membership Rewards, where points are also valued at 2 cents each. Amex has the most extensive network of airline and hotel transfer partners — 22 — of the top issuer programs, and you can often find transfer bonuses. Of course, you can also redeem points through Amex’s travel portal.

Top cards that earn Membership Rewards: 

Citi ThankYou

Citi ThankYou Points aren’t quite as valuable in the eyes of TPG (we value the points at 1.7 cents each), but there is still a lot to like about this program. There are some great transfer partners available through Citi ThankYou Points, including Avianca LifeMiles, Etihad Guest and Virgin Atlantic. Just keep in mind that Citi stripped most of its travel and purchase protections across its cards in 2019, which devalues this program slightly.

Top cards that earn ThankYou Points:

The information for the Citi Prestige card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

How TPG values Amex, Chase and Citi rewards points

At TPG, we publish our own point valuations that evaluate the cash value of each reward currency. These valuations are updated regularly and based on a wide range of factors (such as the average value you can get from a point, how flexible the redemption options are and more) to give our readers a picture of how much dollar value you’ll get on average from a specific rewards currency. Here is a quick breakdown of the current TPG valuations of each of the points currencies (not including cash-back rewards cards) included on our list of top rewards credit cards.

*TPG valuations are calculated by TPG and are not reviewed by the card issuer.

How to compare rewards credit cards

There is no one-size-fits-all credit card. Choosing the right card for you is all about your individual spending habits and financial goals.

First, pick a card that earns rewards in the categories you spend in most frequently. If you spend a lot on entertainment each month, get a card (such as the Capital One Savor) that caters to that. If you typically fly the same airline multiple times a month, grab a cobranded airline card that earns bonus rewards and offers perks for those flights.

Also, look at your goals for your rewards. Are you looking to save for airfare or hotel stays? A travel credit card that earns points and miles should be at the top of your list. Do you want to save money on everyday purchases? A cash-back credit card might be a better fit. Need to build credit before applying for a top-tier card? Look at flat-rate cards that are easy to get approved for.

At the end of the day, you should be looking at the rewards rate, annual fee and benefits to decide which cards will give you the most long-term value. From there, you can choose which card within those parameters offers the best welcome bonus to strategize which card is best for you to apply for right now.

There isn’t one singular “best rewards card.” You can’t go wrong with any of the options on this list. Find the card (or cards) that make your life easier and your travel experiences better.

How much can you save with a rewards credit card?

Rewards credit cards have the potential to open up a lot of earning opportunities when you pick the right card for your specific spending habits. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average U.S. household spent $4,643 on groceries, $3,526 on dining, $2,094 on gas and $3,050 on entertainment in 2019. Using those figures, let’s compare how much you could earn with three popular rewards credit cards:

Regardless which card you choose from that list, the earning potential is solid — especially since all three cards charge only $95 in annual fees. And this doesn’t include any earnings you could get from travel expenses (which the Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn’t have as a definitive expense category. You could earn even more once you factor in those purchases, as well as any miscellaneous spending that fit into other bonus categories (such as transit, which earns 3% on the Blue Cash Preferred).

Bottom line? Rewards credit cards are well worth the annual fees that come with them when you utilize bonus categories and avoid interest payments by paying your bill in full each month.

Featured image by Getty Images

For rates and fees of the Amex Gold Card, please click here.

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum Card, please click here.

Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.