• 5% back on travel booked through Chase
• 3% back at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services
• 3% back on drugstore purchases
• 5% back on qualifying Lyft services purchased through the Lyft app (through March 31, 2025)
• 1.5% cash back on everything else

• Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

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The Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers a solid rewards structure with no annual fee, including a welcome bonus worth up to $300, 5% cash back on travel through Chase, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1.5% on all other purchases. It also features a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers. However, it charges a 3% fee on foreign transactions, has a base rate lower than some competitors, and doesn't offer any travel benefits.

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• 5x Membership Rewards® points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year)
• 5x Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel
• 1x Membership Rewards® point on other purchases

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• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through Amex Travel using your Platinum Card® (minimum 2-night stay for The Hotel Collection).
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Receive up to $20 monthly in statement credits for eligible subscriptions like Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• Global Lounge Access: Complimentary access to 1,400+ airport lounges in 140+ countries — more than any other credit card issuer (as of 03/2023).
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Get up to $12.95/month back for a Walmart+ membership (excludes Plus Ups) when paid with your Platinum Card®.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select an airline and get up to $200 in statement credits annually for incidental fees charged to your Platinum Card®.
• $200 Uber Cash: Get $15/month in Uber Cash ($35 in December) for U.S. Uber rides, up to $200 annually. Must add Platinum Card® to your Uber account. Starting 11/8/2024, an Amex card must be the payment method for Uber/Uber Eats.
• $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Get up to $199 back annually for a CLEAR® Plus Membership at 50+ airports, stadiums, and venues.
• TSA PreCheck/Global Entry Credit: Receive up to $120 every 4 years for Global Entry or $85 every 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck® when charged to your Platinum Card®.
• $100 Saks Credit: Get up to $100 annually ($50 semi-annually) in statement credits for Saks Fifth Avenue purchases with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required.
• Global Dining Access by Resy: Unlock exclusive dining reservations and experiences by adding your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.

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The American Express Platinum Card, with its $695 annual fee, offers premium travel and lifestyle benefits including up to $1,500 in annual statement credits like $200 for airline fees, $200 for Uber, and $240 for digital entertainment subscriptions. It provides extensive airport lounge access and 5X points on flights and hotels booked through Amex Travel. However, its high annual fee can be a significant drawback unless you maximize its perks, and the rewards structure on everyday spending is less generous, with only 1X points on purchases outside of its bonus categories. Additionally, it's primarily targeted at frequent travelers, potentially limiting its appeal for those who don't travel often.

• 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel
• 5 miles per dollar on flights booked via Capital One Travel
• 2 miles per dollar spent on other purchases

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• Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
• Up to $300 annual credit on Capital One Travel bookings
• 10,000 bonus miles annually ($100 toward travel)
• Unlimited access to Capital One Lounges & 1,300+ partner lounges
• Access to exclusive events via Capital One Experiences
• Complimentary Hertz President’s Circle status (upgrades, expedited pickup)
• Up to $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
• Perks for Premier Collection hotel stays: $100 credit, daily breakfast for 2, free WiFi
• Cell phone insurance
• Shopping protections: price tracking, price match, extended warranty
• Travel protections

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Card, with a $395 annual fee, offers a compelling package for frequent travelers, including a 75,000 mile welcome bonus after spending $4,000 in the first three months, worth $750 in travel. Key benefits include a $300 annual travel credit, 10,000 anniversary bonus miles, and access to Capital One and Priority Pass lounges without additional fees for authorized users. Its rewards rate is strong at 2X miles on all purchases, with boosted rates on travel through Capital One Travel. However, the card's value is closely tied to using the Capital One Travel portal for bookings, which might not suit everyone's travel booking preferences, and its annual fee might not justify for those who travel infrequently.

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• 10 points per dollar spent on Chase Dining purchases
• 10 points per dollar spent on hotel stays and car rentals purchased through Ultimate Rewards®
• 10 points per dollar spent on Lyft (through March 2025)
• 5 points per dollar spent on air travel booked through Chase
• 3 points per dollar spent on travel and dining not booked with Chase
• 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases

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• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Up to $300 a year in statement credit automatically applied to travel purchases
• Complimentary Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership
• Primary rental car coverage of up to $75,000 for theft and collision damage
• TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or NEXUS credit, worth up to $100
• “Reserved by Sapphire” restaurant-booking feature, with access to reservations at popular restaurants
• Trip delay reimbursement
• Trip cancellation or interruption insurance
• Lyft Pink All Access membership free for 2 years, 50% off 3rd year (activate by Dec. 31, 2024)
• Get 50% more value when redeeming points for travel through Chase Travel℠ (e.g., 60,000 points = $900)
• Complimentary access to DashPass, unlocking $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for 1+ year (activate by Dec. 31, 2027)
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges after one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select
• Up to $100 application fee credit every 4 years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
• Count on travel protections: Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance, and more
• Member FDIC

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® card, with a $550 annual fee, is tailored for avid travelers, offering a 60,000-point sign-up bonus after spending $4,000 in the first three months, valued at $900 towards travel through Chase. It includes a $300 annual travel credit, Priority Pass lounge access, and comprehensive travel insurance. Rewards are lucrative, with 10X points on hotels and car rentals through Chase, 5X on flights, and 3X on dining and travel. However, its high annual fee and the requirement to book through Chase for highest rewards rates might not be advantageous for less frequent travelers or those who prefer direct bookings. Additionally, the $75 fee per authorized user can add to the cost.

• 5 points per $1 spent on all travel purchased through Chase
• 5 points per $1 spent on eligible Peloton purchases (up to 25,000 points) and on Lyft (through March 2025)
• 3 points per $1 spent on dining (including eligible delivery services and takeout)
• 3 points per $1 spent on select streaming services
• 3 points per $1 spent on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
• 2 points per $1 spent on travel not purchased through Chase
• 1 point per $1 spent on other purchases

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• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals, and cruises through Chase Travel℠ (e.g., 60,000 points = $750)
• Count on travel protections: Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance, and more
• Complimentary access to DashPass, unlocking $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for 1+ year (activate by Dec. 31, 2027)
• Member FDIC
• $50 annual credit on hotel stays purchased through Chase
• 10% bonus points each account anniversary, based on total purchases made the previous year
• Hotel and airline transfer partners
• Primary rental car coverage

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® card offers a $95 annual fee with a 60,000-point bonus after spending $4,000 in 3 months, worth $750 in Chase travel. It provides 5X points on travel via Chase, 3X on dining, select streaming, and online groceries, and 2X on other travel. Benefits include a $50 hotel credit and travel protections. However, it misses out on luxury perks like lounge access, has no intro APR, and its rewards are less valuable outside of travel through Chase or point transfers, where they're only worth 1 cent each for cash back or gift cards.

• Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 per year, then 1X)
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, then 1X)
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com
• Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar on prepaid hotels and eligible purchases on AmexTravel.com
• Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar on all other eligible purchases

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• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases in the first 6 months of Card Membership
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Get $10 in Uber Cash each month for Uber Eats or Uber rides in the U.S. (up to $120/year). Amex Card must be selected as the payment method to redeem this benefit.
• $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits when you enroll and pay with the Amex® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations (up to $84/year).
• $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually ($50 semi-annually) when you dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make eligible Resy purchases with the Amex® Gold Card (enrollment required).
• $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys (up to $120/year, enrollment required).
• $100 Hotel Collection Credit: Receive a $100 credit toward eligible charges at upscale hotels worldwide when booking 2+ nights through AmexTravel.com (charges vary by property).

In my opinion, the American Express Gold Card strikes a nice balance for those who love dining out and grocery shopping, offering high rewards in these areas, along with travel perks. It's got some sweet annual credits for Uber, dining, and hotels that can really help offset the pretty hefty annual fee. You won't pay extra for foreign transactions, which is a plus for travelers, and there are protections for both travel and purchases. The welcome bonus is a nice kick-start too. However, be aware that there are spending caps on how many bonus points you can earn, which might not suit everyone. If you're not going to max out those credits and rewards, the card's fee could feel like a bit of a burden. So, it's a fantastic card if your spending matches its strengths, but less so if you're outside those sweet spots.

• 2 miles per dollar spent on purchases
• 5 miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals, and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel

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• Bonus of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within 3 months of account opening (equal to $750 in travel)
• Credit of up to $120 for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees when you pay with the card
• Travel accidental insurance at no extra charge when you pay for travel bookings with the card (terms apply)
• Rental car coverage for added protection during trips
• Extended warranty on eligible items purchased with the card
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for travel purchases or book trips through Capital One Travel
• $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
• Transfer your miles to 15+ travel loyalty programs for added flexibility

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I believe the Capital One Venture Rewards Card is a solid choice for travelers who value simplicity and flexibility in their rewards. It gives you a flat rate of 2X miles on every purchase, which is straightforward, and an impressive sign-up bonus if you can meet the spending threshold. The card's annual fee is reasonable, and you can redeem miles for any travel purchase, making it versatile. There's also the perk of no foreign transaction fees. However, it lacks some of the luxury benefits found in higher-end cards, and the rewards could be more lucrative with cards that have bonus categories. So, if you're after an easy-to-use travel card without too many bells and whistles, this one's a good pick.

• Unlimited 1.25 miles per dollar spent on all purchases
• 5 miles per dollar spent on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel

• Earn 20,000 bonus miles once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening

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The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card, with no annual fee, provides a 20,000-mile welcome bonus after spending $500 in the first three months, worth $200 in travel. It earns 1.25X miles on all purchases and 5X on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. While it offers an intro APR on purchases and balance transfers, its rewards rate is relatively low compared to other no-annual-fee cards, and it lacks the premium travel benefits like lounge access or travel credits. Additionally, its value is maximized when miles are transferred to Capital One's partners, but the transfer options are somewhat limited, particularly for domestic travel within the U.S.

• 8 miles per $1 on United flights (5 miles as a MileagePlus member, 3 with the United Quest card; Premier members earn more)
• 4 miles per $1 on United hotels (2 miles as a MileagePlus member, 2 with the United Quest card)
• 3 miles per $1 spent on United purchases
• 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel, dining, and select streaming services
• 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases

• Limited-time offer: Earn 70,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
• $125 United purchase credit per year (good on airfare)
• Two 5,000-mile award flight credits per anniversary year
• Two free checked bags for the cardholder and a companion
• Priority boarding
• Up to $120 credit on TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS
• 25% back on United in-flight purchases, including Wi-Fi, food, and beverages
• Travel protections
• One-year complimentary DashPass membership for DoorDash and Caviar (terms apply)
• Earn up to 6,000 Premier qualifying points per calendar year (25 PQP for every $500 spent)
• Member FDIC

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The United Quest℠ Card has a $250 annual fee but comes with a 70,000-mile welcome bonus plus 500 Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) after spending $4,000 in three months. It offers 3X miles on United purchases, 2X on dining, select streaming, and other travel, and 1X on other purchases. Benefits include up to a $125 United purchase credit, up to 10,000 miles in award flight credits annually, and free first and second checked bags for the cardholder and one companion. However, it lacks lounge access, has a high annual fee which might not be offset by benefits for those not flying United frequently, and its rewards are airline-specific, limiting flexibility compared to cards with transferable points.

• 5 points per $1 on hotels booked directly with the hotel
• 4 points per $1 on airfare booked directly with the airline
• 3 points per $1 on other travel and dining purchases
• 1 point per $1 on all other qualifying purchases

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• Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months – that’s $600 toward your next trip
• Book your travel with the Autograph Journey Card and enjoy Travel Accident Insurance, Lost Baggage Reimbursement, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection, and Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
• Earn a $50 annual statement credit with a $50 minimum airline purchase
• Up to $1,000 of cell phone protection against damage or theft (subject to a $25 deductible)
• Find tickets to top events and book travel, make dinner reservations, and more with complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge
• Trip cancellation/interruption protection with up to $15,000 reimbursement for a covered reason when you pay for travel with the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card
• Autograph Card Exclusives: Get access to special concert/entertainment events

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The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card, with a $95 annual fee, offers a 60,000-point welcome bonus after spending $4,000 in the first three months, potentially worth $600 in travel. It earns 5X points on hotels, 4X on airlines, 3X on other travel and dining, and 1X on other purchases. Key perks include a $50 annual airline credit and travel protections. However, it has a limited list of transfer partners compared to competitors, no introductory APR period, and its value is reduced if you don't utilize its travel benefits or transfer options, as points are generally worth 1 cent each for non-travel redemptions.