Apply Now
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is our top pick for best credit card sign-up bonus because its Ultimate Rewards points are so valuable and flexible. You’ll receive a 25% boost in rewards value when you redeem points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Plus, you can transfer points at a rate of 1:1 to 11 airline partners and three hotel partners.
A credit card sign-up bonus is one of the best ways to get value out of your credit card. Travel credit cards offer larger sign-up bonuses in points or miles, but usually come with an annual fee and higher spending requirement. Cash back credit cards offer easy-to-earn sign-up bonuses typically valued around $200.
To decide which sign-up bonus is best for you, look at the value of the sign-up bonus, the annual fee, the spending requirement to get the sign-up bonus and what benefits and rewards the card will offer long term.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here. Apply Now
Earn 60,000 bonus points (worth around $750*)
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers one of the most valuable and flexible sign-up bonuses currently available. It’s worth at least $750 toward travel when used in the Chase travel portal, or possibly even more by transferring it to Chase’s travel partners.
Points can be redeemed for airfare, hotels, rental cars and more. The card does come with a $95 annual fee, though the value of the sign-up bonus more than makes up for the annual fee in the first year.
Who’s eligible:
Applicants who are not currently cardmembers of any Sapphire credit card and who have not received a new cardmember bonus on any Sapphire card within the last 48 months. You’ll also need to be under Chase 5/24.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here. Apply Now
Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles (worth around $750*)
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card‘s sign-up bonus runs a close second to the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. It offers a larger number of miles, but it doesn’t have quite as robust a set of airline and hotel partners, making it a little less valuable. Still, it offers valuable flexible rewards that you can redeem for Capital One miles to pay for travel, be reimbursed for past travel or transfer them to more than 15 hotel and airline and hotel loyalty programs. If you prefer this card’s benefits and rewards program, it’s a great alternative to the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
Who’s eligible:
Existing or previous accountholders from the past 48 months may not be eligible for this offer. Also, those who have applied for two or more Capital One cards within the past 30 days may not qualify.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Earn 3 Free Night Awards (worth around $1,350*)
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card offers a very large sign-up bonus for a $95-annual-fee card. You get free night certificates worth up to 150,000 points, or around $1,255 in hotel stays by our estimates. While not as flexible as a points-based offer, you can still get a long weekend at higher end Marriott properties for a reasonable annual fee.
Who’s eligible:
You’re eligible for the bonus on this card if you’re not a current cardmember of the Marriott Bonvoy® Premier, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card or Marriott Bonvoy Bold cards, and also haven’t received a new cardmember bonus on any of those cards in the past 24 months. You’ll also need to be under Chase 5/24.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors points (worth around $650*)
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card‘s welcome offer is excellent for Hilton loyalists. Its several Hilton perks and generous rewards rate and make this an excellent way to rack up free hotel nights at Hilton’s 7,399 properties around the world.
Who’s eligible:
You may be eligible for this bonus if you have not had the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in or the Hilton Honors Amex Ascend Card and previous versions in the past.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Earn a $200 bonus plus 5% cash back on grocery store purchases (worth around $459*)
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ is a great way to earn more rewards each quarter. It offers quarterly 5% rotating categories on common spending areas like Amazon, grocery stores, wholesale clubs, gas and more. Like the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, you can also use the rewards from this card as Chase Ultimate Rewards® points if you have another points-earning Chase card.
Who’s eligible:
Applicants who are not currently Chase Freedom Flex℠ card members and who have not received a new cardmember bonus on the card within the last 24 months.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here. Apply Now
Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) (worth up to $300*)
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers a unique sign-up bonus and earns elevated rewards on every purchase. It also offers a long intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for a $0 annual fee. This is an especially useful card if you have another Chase card that earns points, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®. You can opt to use your rewards as flexible points, which can help you earn a better rewards rate on general purchases.
Who’s eligible:
Applicants who are not currently Chase Freedom Unlimited® cardmembers and who have not received a new cardmember bonus on the card within the last 24 months.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Earn 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points (worth around $400*)
The Hilton Honors American Express Card is a great option if you’re looking for a valuable welcome offer without the annual fee. The value of the offer starts at around $400, earning you at least one free night.
This card also offers a great earning rate for a no-annual-fee card. You’ll earn points for hotel-related spending and on purchases made at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations.
Who’s eligible:
You’ll be eligible for this offer if you have not owned this card or other versions of this card previously.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here. Apply Now
Earn 100,000 bonus points (worth around $1,250*)
The Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card offers one of the largest sign-up bonuses available, as well as great rewards for spending in common business categories — all for a reasonable annual fee.
The points you earn from the sign-up bonus can be used in a variety of ways to suit your business’s unique spending. For example, you can use your points for travel (and increase their value) if your employees travel often. Or if you spend more on Amazon than travel, you can redeem points to cover all or part of your eligible Amazon.com order. You can also redeem points for cash back or gift cards to help incentivize employees.
Who’s eligible:
You’ll need to be under Chase 5/24 to be approved for the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. You’ll also need to have an eligible small business to apply. However, freelancers and independent contractors may qualify as small businesses.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here. Apply Now
Earn a one-time cash bonus of $1,200
The Capital One Spark Cash Plus has both a generous welcome offer and rewards rate, which can go a long way for business owners. It also has no preset spending limit, which gives you flexibility with your business spending. However, this is a charge card — which means you’re required to pay off your balance in full each month.
Who’s eligible:
You may not be eligible for the Capital One Spark Cash Plus welcome bonus if you’ve applied for a Capital One credit card two or more times in the last 30 days.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Earn 70,000 bonus miles plus Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare™ (worth around $1,326*)
With the latest offer from the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card you can get tremendous savings through a combo of valuable Alaska Airlines miles and Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare™ ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23). You’ll also get sweet perks from Alaska Airlines, including free checked bags and priority boarding. Plus, you’ll qualify for a companion fare each account anniversary after you spend $6,000 on the card in the prior year.
Who’s eligible:
The offer is only available to new accountholders and doesn’t apply to those who have changed from another Bank of America card.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here. Apply Now
Earn 50,000 bonus points (worth around $700*)
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card can be a huge asset to frequent Southwest flyers. Its valuable sign-up bonus paired with other Southwest perks like Early-Bird check-ins and 3,000 anniversary points every year can make it worth its reasonable $69 annual fee.
Who’s eligible:
You may not be eligible for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card sign-up bonus if you are a current cardmember for any Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card or if you received a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card sign-up bonus in the last 24 months.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Earn 25,000 online bonus points (worth around $250*)
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students is a simple travel rewards card with a sign-up bonus that’s more generous than many other student credit cards, not to mention $0-annual-fee cards. It comes with a long intro APR on purchases and balance transfers in case you need to finance a large purchase for college and you won’t have to worry about foreign transaction fees if you study abroad, since there are none.
Who’s eligible:
Only people who have not received a $0 sign-up bonus in the past are able to qualify.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Earn $200 online cash rewards bonus
The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students includes a cash back offer that few student credit cards can match. It also offers a unique rewards rate that lets you choose your top earning category, which include gas and EV charging stations; online shopping, including cable, internet, phone plans and streaming; dining; travel; drug stores and pharmacies and home improvement and furnishings. This is a great option if your expenses vary throughout the year.
Plus, there’s a $0 annual fee and a long intro APR on purchases and balance transfers.
Who’s eligible?
Only people who have not received a Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students sign-up bonus in the past are able to qualify.
*Estimates based on LendingTree’s value methodology
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Welcome Offer | Annual Fee | Estimated offer value minus annual fee* | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card*
|
Best hotel credit card sign-up bonus
|
Earn 125,000 Bonus Points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from your account opening. | $95 | $1,255 | |
|
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card*
|
Best airline credit card sign-up bonus
|
50,000 bonus miles plus Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) with this offer. To qualify, make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account. | $95 | $1,326 | |
|
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
Best business credit card sign-up bonus
|
Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | $95 | $1,155 |
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
|
Capital One Spark Cash Plus
Apply Now
on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees |
Best business credit card sign-up bonus runner-up
|
$2000 Cash Back once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months. Earn an additional $2,000 cash bonus for every $500K spent during the first year | $150 | $1,050 |
Apply Now
on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees |
|
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
|
Best travel credit card sign-up bonus
|
Earn 165,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/8/2025. | $150 | $655 | |
|
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
Best travel credit card sign-up bonus runner-up
|
Get up to $1,050 in Chase Travel℠ value. Earn 60,000 bonus points after $4,000 in purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. That's worth $750 when redeemed through Chase Travel. Plus, get up to $300 in statement credits on Chase Travel purchases within your first year. | $95 | $655 |
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
|
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Apply Now
on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees |
Best airline credit card sign-up bonus runner-up
|
75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening | $95 | $631 |
Apply Now
on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees |
|
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
Best hotel credit card welcome offer runner-up
|
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | $69 | $500 |
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
|
Chase Freedom Flex℠*
|
Best cash back credit card sign-up bonus
|
Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | $0 | $459 | |
|
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
Best cash back credit card sign-up bonus runner-up
|
Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases. | $0 | $420 |
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
|
Hilton Honors American Express Card
|
Best welcome offer credit card no annual fee
|
Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/8/2025. | $0 | $400 | |
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
Apply Now
on Bank Of America's secure site |
Best student credit card sign-up bonus
|
25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases | $0 | $250 |
Apply Now
on Bank Of America's secure site |
|
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students*
|
Best student credit card sign-up bonus runner-up
|
$200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening | $0 | $200 |
A sign-up bonus is an incentive offered by credit card issuers to persuade consumers to apply for a credit card. It may also be called a welcome offer or welcome bonus. When you are approved for a credit card, you will often see a welcome offer connected to a minimum spending requirement. Typically, you must hit this spending threshold in the first few months of card ownership to earn the sign-up bonus. Sign-up bonuses usually come in the form of cash, points or miles depending on the credit card.
Learn more about how to decide whether cash back, points, or miles are best for you.
Despite their name, sign-up bonuses are not earned when you sign-up for the card. After you are approved for the card, you will usually have around three to six months — depending on the card issuer — to earn your sign-up bonus. The higher the bonus, the more you typically have to spend to earn the sign-up bonus. If you do not hit the spending requirement, you will not earn the bonus.
Discover is an exception with its sign-up bonuses. They offer a cash back match program where you’ll earn an unlimited dollar-for-dollar match on all cash back at the end of your first year.
Learn more about your options to be part of the Discover cash back match program.
Here are a few features to consider as you look to find the best credit card sign-up bonuses.
While it is easy to value cash back rewards, the value of hotel points or airline miles can vary based on how they are redeemed. Because of that, you should think about how you would redeem these rewards. Investigating some sample redemption options and comparing the dollar value to the number of points required should give you a better idea of how far a card’s sign-up bonus can take you.
Most credit cards require you to make a certain amount of purchases on the card within the first few months of having the card to get the sign-up bonus. For cards with high welcome offers, the spending threshold is also often quite high. Make sure that you can meet the spending requirement before you apply for a new card.
Depending on the type of rewards that your credit card earns, it may be easier or more difficult to redeem your points. Cash back rewards are always the easiest to redeem, and most bank points like Chase Ultimate Rewards® or American Express Membership Rewards points allow you to redeem in a variety of different ways. But if your card earns hotel points or airline miles, make sure you understand the different redemption options and how easy or difficult it is to get value for your points and miles.
While many credit cards have no annual fee, others do come with a fee that you have to pay each year. While most credit cards with annual fees are worth getting for at least the first year (due to the outsized value of the welcome bonus), make sure that you account for the annual fee when considering the value of a credit card’s sign-up bonus.
Most credit cards offer rewards or cash back with each purchase. Some credit cards give the same rewards rate for all purchases, while others offer different rewards rates depending on where you’re making the purchase. Consider your spending habits and look for a credit card that offers bonus rewards in the categories where you spend the most.
Many credit cards, especially hotel and airline credit cards, offer other credits and benefits. These might include free luggage, travel credits, free hotel night certificates or elite status. Look at the card’s ancillary benefits to see how much value they would provide to your specific situation.
In order to earn a sign-up bonus, you typically need to spend a certain amount over a specific period of time using that credit card. The details of the sign-up bonus can be found with the terms of the card.
Some cards require you to spend more than others to earn the sign-up bonus. When opening a new credit card, it is important to consider how the spending fits within your budget.
Sign-up bonuses may come with colossal spending requirements, which can tempt you to spend past your budget. There are many strategies to help you avoid putting yourself into debt:
Learn more about the best way to use a credit card to build your credit score and save money.
With so many credit cards out there, it can be challenging to find the card that is the best option for you. Here are a few things that you’ll want to keep in mind when choosing the best credit card sign-up bonus:
First of all, look at the eligibility requirements of the cards that you are considering. Most credit cards will consider your income, credit score and overall financial situation when deciding whether to approve your application.
Don’t know your credit score? Sign up for LendingTree Spring to get your free credit score and recommendations to boost your score.| FICO Score | Vantage Score |
|---|---|
|
|
Deciding what kind of rewards you want to earn is another step toward choosing the best credit card sign-up bonus. Different cards offer different types of rewards, like cash back, airline miles, hotel points or bank points.
| What do you want? | Choose … |
|---|---|
| You want simple, straightforward rewards | Cash back |
| You want rewards you can use in a variety of ways to get the best value (including for travel) | Flexible points (ex.: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Freedom Unlimited®) |
| You want to earn rewards for a free flight | Airline miles (ex.: United℠ Explorer Card) or flexible points |
| You want to earn rewards for a free hotel stay | Hotel points (ex.: Hilton Honors American Express Card) or flexible points |
Tip: Make sure the card redemption options offer what you want.
Learn more about our picks for the best airline credit cards.
Many issuers have additional restrictions besides just your credit score, income and financial situation. Even someone with perfect credit might open a card and meet a spending threshold just to learn that they weren’t qualified for the bonus. Major issuers typically put restrictions on earning sign-up bonuses to avoid credit card churning — the practice of repeatedly opening and closing credit cards with the intention of earning sign-up bonus rewards. Make sure that you always read the fine print of the offer before you apply.
What is the Chase 5/24 rule?Chase’s 5/24 rule prevents cardholders from earning a sign-up bonus on a Chase credit card if they have opened more than four accounts with any issuer in the past 24 months. The rule is in place to deter cardholders from opening new cards just to earn sign-up bonuses. It’s an unwritten rule, which means, it’s not included in Chase’s fine print anywhere. Users have reported it in online forums after being turned down for a credit card.
Interested in a Chase card? See our picks for the best Chase credit cards today.
| Issuer | Restrictions |
|---|---|
| Chase | Chase has an unwritten “5/24 rule” that prevents you from being approved for a new Chase card if you have opened five personal credit cards (from any issuer) within the past 24 months. In addition, if you’ve received a new cardmember bonus for a particular card (or card in the same family) within the past 24 months, you won’t be eligible to receive the current sign-up bonus for that card. |
| American Express | American Express has a once-per-lifetime card bonus policy. This rule means that each customer can only get a welcome offer for a specific card once in the customer’s lifetime. |
| Capital One | If you are an existing or previous account holder for a Capital One card, you may not be eligible for that particular card’s one-time sign-up bonus. You also may not be eligible if you’ve applied for a Capital One credit card two or more times in the past 30 days, or if you have five or more open Capital One credit card accounts. |
| Citibank | With Citi, a card’s bonus is not available if you received a bonus for the same card within the past 48 months. |
| Bank of America | Bank of America offers a one-time sign-up bonus to customers opening a new account. You may not be eligible for a card if you currently have or have had the card in the past 24 months. |
| Wells Fargo | Wells Fargo limits sign-up bonuses to cardholders who have opened the same card and earned the bonus already within the last 15 months. Also, you may not qualify for an additional Wells Fargo credit card if you have opened a Wells Fargo credit card in the past six months. |
It’s crucial to understand the value of an offer before you apply. While cash back bonuses are fairly straightforward, the value of points and miles can vary dramatically depending on how you redeem them. For example, with Delta, 50,000 miles is worth around $550 in airfare because Delta miles are worth around 1.1 cents. It’s therefore important to estimate the point value and the overall value of the bonus based on how you intend to redeem the rewards in order to properly compare.
→ It can be challenging to determine the value of a card’s points or miles. See our section below for steps on how to make this calculation.
First, take the cash value of your target redemption option and divide it by the number of points or miles — be sure to subtract any taxes and fees that you have to pay in cash. This will give you the value per point or mile.
Point value = $ value of target redemption option (minus taxes/fees that you still have to pay) ÷ Number of points
Example: $500 plane ticket – $11.20 taxes ÷ 50,000 points = ~$0.01
Then, take the point value and multiply it by the number of points in the sign-up bonus. That will give you an approximate cash value for that card’s welcome bonus.
Bonus value = $ value of points or miles x Number of points or miles
Example: 80,000 miles x $0.01 (1 cent per point) = $800
Some hotel credit cards offer free night certificates that you can use at a variety of different hotels. These certificates often come with a lot of restrictions, so you should generally assume they’re worth less than their maximum point value. You might value them at 80% or 90% of their listed point value due to the restrictions.
See our picks for the best hotel credit cards.
Besides the sign-up bonus, you should also consider a card’s ongoing rewards — especially if you want to keep it. This includes benefits like travel credits, elite status perks or other benefits. Weigh these ongoing benefits against the annual fee to see if the card is worth keeping. Note that cards with annual fees often are more valuable than those without annual fees, especially in the first year.
Travel card comparison:
| Chase Sapphire Preferred Card | Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome offer | Get up to $1,050 in Chase Travel℠ value. Earn 60,000 bonus points after $4,000 in purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. That's worth $750 when redeemed through Chase Travel. Plus, get up to $300 in statement credits on Chase Travel purchases within your first year. | Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. |
| Earning rate | Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more. | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
| Point value | $0.0125 | $0.011 |
| Value of bonus | $750 | $550 |
| Points earned on $20,000 in travel purchases | $500 | $660 |
| Value of rewards | $1,250 | $1,210 |
| Annual fee | $95 | $350 |
| Value minus annual fee | $1,155 | $960 |
| Other benefits | Hotel credit, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, baggage delay insurance, trip delay reimbursement, travel and emergency assistance services, purchase protection, extended warranty protection | In-flight discount, annual companion certificate, discounted Delta Sky Club lounge rate, free checked bag for up to eight people in the same reservation, priority zone 1 boarding, baggage insurance, car rental loss and damage insurance, extended warranty, purchase protection |
Learn more about our picks for the best travel credit cards.
Cash back card comparison:
| Wells Fargo Active Cash Card | Chase Freedom Unlimited | |
|---|---|---|
| Sign-up bonus | Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months | Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases. |
| Earning rate | Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases | Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases |
| Value of sign-up bonus | $200 | $420 |
| Cash back earned on $3,000 dining | $60 | $90 |
| Cash back earned on $2,000 travel | $40 | $100 (Ultimate Rewards travel) |
| Cash back earned on $15,000 other purchases | $300 | $225 |
| Total cash back earned in first year | $600 | $835 |
| Other benefits | Cellphone protection, 24/7 concierge service, access to the Visa Signature Hotel Collection, zero liability protection | Auto rental collision damage waiver (secondary coverage), trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance, travel and emergency assistance services, extended warranty, purchase protection |
Learn more about our picks for the best cash back credit cards.
| Issuer | Credit card | Welcome offer | Estimated offer value minus annual fee* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best American Express welcome offer | Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card | Earn 165,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/8/2025. | $500 |
| Best Bank of America sign-up bonus | Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card | 50,000 bonus miles plus Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) with this offer. To qualify, make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account. | $1,166 |
| Best Capital One sign-up bonus | Capital One Spark Cash Plus | $2000 Cash Back once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months. Earn an additional $2,000 cash bonus for every $500K spent during the first year | $1,050 |
| Best Chase sign-up bonus | Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card | Earn 125,000 Bonus Points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from your account opening. | $1,255 |
| Best Citi sign-up bonus | Citi Strata Premier℠ Card | Earn 70,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $700 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com | $505 |
| Best Discover sign-up bonus | Discover it® Cash Back | Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300. | $340 |
| Best Wells Fargo sign-up bonus | Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card | Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value. | $300 |
Deciding if you should choose a card with a large sign-up bonus depends on how you plan to use the card long term. There is no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to sign-up bonuses. Large sign-up bonuses may feel enticing, but it’s important to consider how the benefits and rewards the card offers would fit into your spending habits after the sign-up bonus.
Also consider how much you would have to spend to get to a large sign-up bonus. Cards with larger sign-up bonuses often require higher spending, and you won’t want to start your new credit card off with a balance you can’t pay and avoid interest.
You should keep your credit card open after earning the sign-up bonus. It’s important to choose a card that fits best for your individual needs and spending habits so that you can keep it open after you have cashed out the sign-up bonus.
If you redeem the sign-up bonus and determine the card you have chosen is not right for you, many banks allow you to switch to another card. You may be able to switch — or downgrade — to a card without an annual fee, one with a lower annual fee or another card the issuer offers that better fits your spending habits.
It is also a red flag to issuers if you frequently open and close accounts. This could decrease approval odds when trying to open new cards down the line. You also may not receive a sign-up bonus at all if you have carried the card in the past or open and close cards within a short period of time.
Tip: A new credit card will boost your credit score over time.
If you are worried that opening a new credit card will affect your credit score, know that in the short term, your credit score will go down a little bit. But in the long term, a new credit card will have positive benefits for building your credit.
Opening a new credit card puts a hard inquiry on your credit and decreases the average age of accounts which makes up 15% of your FICO score. However, a new credit card will significantly increase your credit score over time by improving your credit utilization ratio — your debt in relation to your total available credit — while reporting your account and payment history to the three major credit bureaus.
Generally, the following purchases and transactions won’t count toward the minimum spend amount required to earn a sign-up bonus: balance transfers, cash advances, ATM transactions, travelers checks, foreign currency, money orders, wire transfers or similar cash-like transactions, lottery tickets, casino gaming chips, race track wagers or similar betting transactions, interest, unauthorized or fraudulent charges and fees of any kind, including annual fees, returned payment fees, late fees and monthly fees.
Once you qualify for the sign-up bonus, the amount of time it takes to post to your account may vary depending on the issuer. For example, Chase states that cardholders should allow six to eight weeks for the bonus to post to your account, while Bank of America may take eight to 10 weeks.
Note, your account must be open and not in default at the time of fulfillment.
In most cases, you cannot earn more than one sign-up bonus offer from the same card. Plus, depending on the issuer, you may not be able to earn a sign-up bonus from more than one card in the same card family. However, if you close the card account and re-apply after a set amount of time, you may be able to receive a sign-up bonus from the new card.
For example, if you are a current cardholder of a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or a Chase Sapphire Reserve®, or if you are a previous cardholder of either card who received a new cardmember bonus within the past 48 months, you wouldn’t be eligible to receive the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card’s current new cardmember bonus.
Sign-up bonuses that require you to spend a certain amount to earn the bonus are considered rebates instead of income. Therefore, they are not taxable.
But if you receive a bonus without a spend requirement, it may be taxable. If this is the case, you will need to submit a Form 1099-INT or Form 1099-MISC to the IRS.
To select the best card for each of these categories, our credit card experts compared a broad range of credit cards on LendingTree.com and major issuer sites, including cash back cards, travel cards, business cards and more.
We chose our top picks based on a variety of factors:
Other factors that come into play when making our selection include the variety of benefits the card offers, including insurance protections and travel perks.
To see rates & fees for American Express cards mentioned on this page, visit the links provided below:
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by third parties such as Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as certain terms, conditions, and exclusions apply.
The information related to the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, Chase Freedom Flex℠, Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card, Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students, Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students, Discover it® Cash Back and Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.
