Rewards Credit Cards
Get paid for credit card spending
Quick Answer
Rewards credit cards offer cash back, points, or airline miles on purchases. The key is paying off your balance monthly to avoid interest that would wipe out rewards.
Product Comparison
| Feature | Product | Potential Savings | Setup Time | Difficulty | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Preferred | Chase Sapphire Preferred | $500-$1,200/year | 15 min | Moderate | 4.5/5 |
| Citi Double Cash | Citi Double Cash | $400-$800/year | 15 min | Easy | 4.3/5 |
| American Express Blue Preferred | American Express Blue Preferred | $500-$1,100/year | 15 min | Moderate | 4.4/5 |
| Capital One Quicksilver | Capital One Quicksilver | $350-$700/year | 12 min | Easy | 4.2/5 |
| Discover It Cash Back | Discover It Cash Back | $400-$900/year | 12 min | Easy | 4.3/5 |
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Potential Savings
$500-$1,200/year
Setup Time
15 min
Difficulty
ModeratePremium travel rewards card earning 3% on travel/dining, 1% elsewhere. Includes travel protections and perks.
Pros
- ⢠Generous cash back on dining and travel
- ⢠Travel credits offset annual fee
- ⢠Premium perks and protections
Cons
- ⢠$95 annual fee
- ⢠Best value for travel-focused spenders
Citi Double Cash
Potential Savings
$400-$800/year
Setup Time
15 min
Difficulty
EasySimple 2% cash back on all purchases, 1% when you buy and 1% when you pay. No categories to track.
Pros
- ⢠Flat 2% everywhereâeasy to understand
- ⢠No annual fee
- ⢠Good for general spending
Cons
- ⢠Lower cash back than category-specific cards
- ⢠No bonus categories
American Express Blue Preferred
Potential Savings
$500-$1,100/year
Setup Time
15 min
Difficulty
Moderate3% on groceries (up to $6,000/year then 1%), 3% transit, 1% everything else. Includes purchase protection.
Pros
- ⢠High grocery cash back for frequent shoppers
- ⢠No foreign transaction fees
- ⢠Strong purchase protections
Cons
- ⢠$95 annual fee
- ⢠Grocery cap means reduced rate above $6,000
Capital One Quicksilver
Potential Savings
$350-$700/year
Setup Time
12 min
Difficulty
EasyFlat 1.5% cash back on all purchases with no spending categories. Simple and straightforward.
Pros
- ⢠Flat 1.5% is solid and simple
- ⢠No annual fee
- ⢠Easier to qualify for
Cons
- ⢠Lower cash back than premium cards
- ⢠Limited perks
Discover It Cash Back
Potential Savings
$400-$900/year
Setup Time
12 min
Difficulty
Easy5% rotating categories, 1% elsewhere. Discover matches all cash back earned in first year.
Pros
- ⢠High rotating category bonuses
- ⢠First-year cash back match bonus
- ⢠No annual fee
Cons
- ⢠Requires tracking rotating categories
- ⢠Limited acceptance than Visa/Mastercard
How to Maximize Savings
- 1
Match card rewards to your spendingâtravel spenders need different cards than grocers
- 2
Always pay your full balance monthly; interest charges wipe out all rewards
- 3
Combine 2-3 cards for maximum rewardsâone for dining, one for groceries, one for everything else
- 4
Sign up bonuses often exceed $200-$500 value; these are huge rewards that shouldn't be missed
Earn Cash Back While You Save
Get 2-40% cash back at 3,500+ stores plus bonus rewards every quarter.
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