Credit Cards with high point rewards

[thatsright]

Looking for a Credit Card that offers high point rewards. So far I have a AMEX card from USAA with 2pts for Gas and Groceries and 1 point for all else. I have ok+ credit. There are soooo many cards out there, all I care is about points. I saw some card point rewards as much as 10 pts on select purchases.



Did a Google search and vast majority of sites is for you to apply. Looking for a consumer reports type site that is unbiased. Thoughts?

 

[Vdubchaos]

Just remember, rewards are irrelevant unless you pay off your entire balance at the end of the month.

Recent good one was Chase Saphire, I got 50000 points ($500) after $5000 spent. Thats 10%

 

[SlitheryDee]

Sometimes Amazon runs promotions for their cards for 5 or 10 points on certain things. I know last year they had 10 points/dollar for digital purchases. The Amazon card also offers 2 points on gas and 1 point on everything else in addition to 3 points on Amazon purchases all the time. Pretty good card if you do a lot of shopping on Amazon.

 

[rcpratt]

I use my Chase Freedom card for everything. When I opened the card, I got $500 cash back (after $1000 spent, or something similarly meaningless). 1% on all purchases and 5% on quarterly categories.

 

[vshah]

i use chase freedom as well, its great when they do 5% on department stores, which includes amazon. my other credit union card has a flat 1.25%

 

[thatsright]

I'd rather go for high points, vs. cash back. Unless the cash back is more than 5% on purchases.

Btw, on my Amex I pay my balance in full each month.

 

[RearAdmiral]

Penfed gas card is 5% cash back for gas. Although they may make new members get 5% towards points instead of actual cash back.

Amazon card for 3% at amazon.

 

[Texashiker]

Posting in a credit card thread, and that is all I have to say.

 

[rcpratt]

Posting in a credit card thread, and that is all I have to say.

Praise Jesus.

 

[olds]

http://www.bettercreditcard.com
http://www.bettercreditcard.com/

 

[NoCreativity]

Chase Ink (business card, but you don't need a business to get one).

3% gas, restuarants, office supply, home improvement
1% everything else

Also offer up to 5% or more if you link to certain sites through their rewards site. Highest I think I've seen is about 8%.

 

[kranky]

Not sure how looking only at points tells you anything. It would be more useful to evaluate what you can get with the points. If a particular card requires 40,000 points to get a $25 gas card, what good is that?

 

[JimKiler]

Not sure how looking only at points tells you anything. It would be more useful to evaluate what you can get with the points. If a particular card requires 40,000 points to get a $25 gas card, what good is that?

That is good for the credit card companies.

 

[gorcorps]

Not sure how looking only at points tells you anything. It would be more useful to evaluate what you can get with the points. If a particular card requires 40,000 points to get a $25 gas card, what good is that?

Yup. Plus that value changes depending on what you buy. With my CitiBank card, 3600 gets me a $25 gift card but 6000 gets me $50. So it's very hard to reach a comparison with these point systems.

 

[SlitheryDee]

Not sure how looking only at points tells you anything. It would be more useful to evaluate what you can get with the points. If a particular card requires 40,000 points to get a $25 gas card, what good is that?

In my experience, points are cents. You can usually get a discount on gift cards and such as well. For instance, a $50 applebees gift card might only cost 4500 points ($45) from the credit card's member site.

 

[Train]

http://www.bettercreditcard.com
http://www.bettercreditcard.com/

Yes. Read the reviews.

If you really want to maximize your rewards, get 2 or 3 cards that complement eachother. (I have the Amex Blue Cash Preferred, Chase Freedom, and Discover More)

Add in the Target card (5% off at target, all the time) me and the wife average 3% back on all the money we spend each year. 3% of everything (the only exception being mortgage and water bill) adds up to quite a nice chunk of change, I'm hoping to break $1200 this year in cash back. That's basically $100 a month back in our pocket just by getting in the habit of using the right card for everything.

 

[kranky]

In my experience, points are cents. You can usually get a discount on gift cards and such as well. For instance, a $50 applebees gift card might only cost 4500 points ($45) from the credit card's member site.

You have to check. Bank of America Worldpoints has redemption values that range from a high of one cent per point, down to a half-cent per point. And if points are only worth a maximum of one cent, and you accumulate one point per dollar of purchases, then I would be looking for a card like the Fidelity Investment Rewards AmEx that gives a flat 2% cashback on everything.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I've got the Chase Freedom and the Amazon VISA, and I prefer the Amazon VISA. I've been able to buy lots of toys with my reward points.

 

[Triumph]

I went through this hunt a few months ago, and now have $750 in visa cards to use anywhere, just for spending money I would have spent anyway.

Forget anything with roving 3 month perks. I found it impossible to keep on top of what was in season and on what card.

Penfed for 5% back on gas, 3% back on groceries, 1% on everything else
Citi Forward for 5% back on restaurants

That's where I spend the bulk of my money (except mortgage), and that works for me.

 

[alkemyst]

Just remember, rewards are irrelevant unless you pay off your entire balance at the end of the month.

Not always the case...

Also for those that have to float a balance, getting points is better than no points.

 

[kranky]

Also for those that have to float a balance, getting points is better than no points.

In most cases you are better off using a no-rewards card if you are going to carry a balance. Those cards typically have lower APRs than rewards cards.

 

[alkemyst]

In most cases you are better off using a no-rewards card if you are going to carry a balance. Those cards typically have lower APRs than rewards cards.

Still depends. Sometimes even carrying a balance with a higher APR works to an advantage on a points card.

It's always best to pay off each month definitely though as then interest usually will not matter.

 

[Dulanic]

I alternate between chase freedom, citi dividend, and bankamericard depending who has the highest quarterly reward.

 

[Doppel]

Like mentioned above penfed for 5% in perpetuity (or until they stop it) on gas it's about as good as you'll get.

 

[HendrixFan]

Penfed for 5% back on gas, 3% back on groceries, 1% on everything else
Citi Forward for 5% back on restaurants

These are two of my heaviest usage cards too.

I do use Discover for the rotating 5% categories and their ShopDiscover links to save 10% for alot of my online shopping. The Chase Freedom usually has the same categories as Discover, but whenever they veer a different direction I use them for 5% CB.