Best credit cards with customizable rewards
There's not just one way to go about earning credit card rewards. Are you looking for a card that provides the same earning rate, no matter the purchase? Or, would you rather have a card that offers bonus points on purchases you spend the most on (such as gas and groceries)?
Here's some food for thought: You may actually want to consider a credit card with a customizable rewards rate instead. A relatively new concept to the world of rewards credit cards, these earning rates are tailored to the consumer and their ever-changing spending habits by offering bonus points that are mostly dependent on how they spend.
In this guide, we'll go over TPG's top picks for credit cards with customizable rewards and how to maximize them.
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Best credit cards with customizable rewards
- American Express® Business Gold Card: Best for high-spending businesses.
- Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card: Best for shopping at wholesale clubs.
- Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card: Best for small businesses and freelancers.
- Citi Custom Cash℠ Card: Best for the utmost flexibility.
- Chase Freedom Flex: Best for top spending category promotion.
Comparison overview of the best cards for customizable rewards
| Card | Welcome offer | Earning rate | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Business Gold Card | Earn 70,000 bonus points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases with your card in the first three months of card membership. | Earn 4x on the two categories where your business spends the most each billing cycle, on the first $150,000 in combined purchases per calendar, plus earn 1x on other purchases. | $295 (see rates & fees) |
| Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card | Earn $200 after you spend $1,000 on eligible purchases with your card in the first 90 days of account opening. | Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice — gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drugstores or home improvement/furnishings — and 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, on the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club purchases each quarter, then earn 1%. | None |
| Bank of America Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard | Get a $300 statement credit when you make at least $3,000 in net purchases within 90 days of your account opening. | Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice — gas stations (default), office supply stores, travel, TV/telecom and wireless, computer services or business consulting services — 2% cash back on dining (for the first $50,000 in combined choice category/dining purchases each calendar year; 1% thereafter) and 1% cash back on all other purchases. | None |
| Citi Custom Cash Card | Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back. | Earn 5% on your top eligible spending category, on up to $500 spent each billing cycle (then 1%), and 1% cash back on all other purchases. | None |
| Chase Freedom Flex | Earn $200 cash back after you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. | Earn 5% on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Earn 5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% on dining and drugstores and 1% on all other eligible purchases. | None |
Card details for the best cards for customizable rewards
American Express Business Gold: Best for high-spending businesses
Annual fee: $295 (see rates and fees).
Welcome offer: Earn 70,000 bonus points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases with your card in the first three months of card membership.
Why it’s great for high-spending businesses: As the only card with an annual fee in this guide, the Amex Business Gold is intended for companies with high operating expenses. It offers 4 points per dollar on the two categories where a business spends the most each billing cycle, on up to $150,000 in combined purchases per calendar year (then 1x). The categories include:
- Airfare purchases directly from airlines.
- U.S. online, TV and radio advertising.
- U.S. computer hardware, software and cloud systems from select technology providers.
- U.S. gas stations.
- U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery.
- U.S. shipping.
If your business can maximize this $150,000 spending threshold, the rewards can be outstanding. TPG values Membership Rewards points at 2 cents each, so earning 600,000 bonus points is like earning $12,000 in value.
Related: Amex Business Gold review
Official application link: Amex Business Gold
Bank of America Customized Cash: Best for shopping at wholesale clubs
Annual fee: $0.
Sign-up bonus: Online $200 cash rewards bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening.
Why it’s great for shopping at wholesale clubs: The Bank of America Customized Cash offers a unique 3%-2%-1% earning scheme. You'll earn
- 3% in the category of your choice: gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drugstores or home improvement/furnishings.
- 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs.
- 1% cash back on all other purchases. Note that you'll only earn the 3% and 2% rates on the first $2,500 in the combined choice category, grocery and wholesale club purchases each quarter (then 1%).
Most cards that offer bonus points on groceries (and even some of the cards on this list) specifically exclude earning bonus points at wholesale clubs, so it's nice to see that the Bank of America Customized Cash still offers a solid 2% earning rate on these purchases.
Related: Bank of America Customized Cash review
Official application link: Bank of America Customized Cash
Bank of America Business Advantage Customized Cash: Best for small businesses and freelancers
Annual fee: $0.
Sign-up bonus: Get a $300 statement credit when you make at least $3,000 in net purchases within 90 days of your account opening.
Why it’s great for small businesses and freelancers: No matter if you're a one-person show or manage a small team, you'll want to keep your business and personal finances separate. That's why the Bank of America Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards is a terrific choice for those who don't want to pay an annual fee but do want to have access to a customizable rewards rate that's quite similar to the consumer version of this card — but with a higher spending limit:
- 3% cash back in the category of your choice: gas stations (default), office supply stores, travel, TV/telecom and wireless, computer services or business consulting services.
- 2% cash back on dining (for the first $50,000 in combined choice category/dining purchases each calendar year; 1% thereafter).
- 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Related: Bank of America Business Customized Cash review
Official application link: Bank of America Business Customized Cash
Citi Custom Cash: Best for the utmost flexibility
Annual fee: $0.
Sign-up bonus: Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
Why it’s great for the utmost flexibility: The Citi Custom Cash is a cash-back card that offers 5% back on your top spending category per billing cycle, on up to the first $500 spent. There are a whopping 10 eligible categories that will make it easy for most people to maximize this $500 threshold:
- Restaurants.
- Gas stations.
- Grocery stores.
- Select travel.
- Select transit.
- Select streaming services.
- Drugstores.
- Home improvement stores.
- Fitness clubs.
- Live entertainment.
There's little to no legwork involved for cardholders since the card will automatically offer the 5% earning rate on where they spend the most each month. Whether you decide to take a road trip one month (and spend abnormally a lot on gas) or decide to stay put one month and purchase more groceries than usual, the 5% rewards rate is truly tailored to how you spend each billing cycle. Be wary that groceries don't include wholesale clubs, so this isn't the best card to maximize those purchases if you're a frequent shopper at a Costco or Sam's Club.
Related: Citi Custom Cash review
Official application link: Citi Custom Cash
Chase Freedom Flex: Best for top spending category promotion
Annual fee: $0.
Sign-up bonus: Earn $200 cash back after you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Why it’s great for holiday shopping: The Chase Freedom Flex takes a similar approach to the Citi Custom Cash but with a few noteworthy caveats. First, you'll earn 5% back on rotating quarterly categories (up to the first $1,500 spent) that are designated by Chase. You can check out the rotating category calendar here, but it's Walmart and PayPal for Q4 of this year (from now until Dec. 31, 2021). This makes the card slightly less flexible than the Citi Custom Cash, and you'll have to be diligent about activating each quarter on your Chase account — otherwise, you won't earn the 5% rewards rate.
Quirks aside, the Chase Freedom Flex is an especially prized card due to a limited-time promotion going on this quarter. Freedom Flex cardholders can earn 5% on their top spend category this quarter, in addition to the 5% rotating quarterly earning rate. The categories include:
- Travel, including transit.
- Dining.
- Home improvement stores.
- Grocery stores, not including Target or Walmart.
- Drugstores.
- Gas stations.
- Live entertainment
- Select streaming services.
- Fitness clubs.
When stacked with the 5% back on PayPal and Walmart, you could double dip to earn even more rewards this quarter. Read this guide on how to maximize this promotion, but you could earn up to 13% on groceries, 11% on drugstores and 9% on home improvement stores if you're strategic about this top spending category promotion this holiday season.
Related: Chase Freedom Flex review
Official application link: Chase Freedom Flex
Bottom line
Whether this is your first or fifth credit card, a credit card with customizable rewards can offer many benefits for those looking to maximize their everyday purchases. Sometimes, the points you earn can combine with other travel credit cards you have in your wallet (for example, the Chase Freedom Flex and Chase Sapphire Preferred Card). But if you're looking for ease, you may want to earn cash back instead. No matter the case, there are many compelling reasons to open a credit card with a customizable rewards rate, especially when your life expenses can be unpredictable.
Official application link: Amex Business Gold
Official application link: Bank of America Customized Cash
Official application link: Bank of America Business Advantage Customized Cash
Official application link: Citi Custom Cash
Official application link: Chase Freedom Flex
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Gold, please click here.
Top offers from our partners
How we chose these cards
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 6X | 6x Marriott Bonvoy Points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program. |
| 4X | 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping. |
| 2X | 2x points on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
The Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex is a stacked card with a rewards rate that will help you earn bonus points on everyday and business-related purchases. You'll earn 15 elite night credits each calendar year, and receive automatic Gold elite status. Finally, the free night award certificate with a redemption level of 35,000 points or less can get you hundreds of dollars in potential value each year.Pros
- 6 points per dollar on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program
- 4 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, U.S. gas stations, wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and U.S. shipping
- 2 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases
- Earn a free-night award each card renewal month (up to 35,000 points)
- Receive 15 elite night credits to jump-start status
- Transfer Marriott points to 40+ airlines
Cons
- Airline points transfer ratios are poor
- Must spend $60,000 in a year for second free-night award
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 125,000 Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 5/3/23.
- Receive a 7% discount off standard rates for reservations of standard guest rooms at hotels that participate in the Marriott Bonvoy program when you book directly. Terms and Conditions Apply.
- 6x Marriott Bonvoy Points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program.
- 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping.
- 2x points on all other eligible purchases.
- Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Enjoy Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status with your Card.
- Terms apply.
Rewards Rate
| 6X | 6x Marriott Bonvoy Points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program. |
| 4X | 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping. |
| 2X | 2x points on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
Limited Time Offer: Earn 125,000 Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 5/3/23.Earn 125,000 points75,000 pointsAnnual Fee
$125Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.670-850Excellent/Good
Why We Chose It
The Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex is a stacked card with a rewards rate that will help you earn bonus points on everyday and business-related purchases. You'll earn 15 elite night credits each calendar year, and receive automatic Gold elite status. Finally, the free night award certificate with a redemption level of 35,000 points or less can get you hundreds of dollars in potential value each year.Pros
- 6 points per dollar on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program
- 4 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, U.S. gas stations, wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and U.S. shipping
- 2 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases
- Earn a free-night award each card renewal month (up to 35,000 points)
- Receive 15 elite night credits to jump-start status
- Transfer Marriott points to 40+ airlines
Cons
- Airline points transfer ratios are poor
- Must spend $60,000 in a year for second free-night award
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 125,000 Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 5/3/23.
- Receive a 7% discount off standard rates for reservations of standard guest rooms at hotels that participate in the Marriott Bonvoy program when you book directly. Terms and Conditions Apply.
- 6x Marriott Bonvoy Points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program.
- 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping.
- 2x points on all other eligible purchases.
- Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Enjoy Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status with your Card.
- Terms apply.