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Credit Cards

12 Best Rewards Credit Cards of October 2026

UpdatedSeptember 21, 2026

At The Points Guy, our goal is to help you maximize your travel experiences while minimizing spending. While we do receive compensation through our credit card application links, ads and clearly indicated sponsored content, our editorial content, points valuations and card analyses are entirely our own. Learn more about our advertising policy and product review methodology.

Limited Time: Earn 75k bonus miles + $300 stays credit
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

  • Intro offerEarn more than $1,000 in Travel Bonuses
  • Annual fee$95
  • You'll earn5X miles
  • Regular APR19.49% - 28.49% (Variable)
at Capital One's secure site.
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
Go to card details

If you’re looking to optimize your spending and make the most of every purchase, we recommend these top picks for the best rewards credit cards. Each card on this list was carefully selected by our team of experts to help our readers get the most out of their spending. Whether you’re looking to earn the most cash back or to pay for your next vacation with points and miles, we’ve got you covered.

At The Points Guy, we aim to provide comprehensive insights and expert analysis on the best rewards credit cards to help our readers make the right choice for their wallets. Check out our curated selection and comprehensive guide below to find the best rewards card for you from our partners.

Comparing the best rewards credit cards

Credit pointers with Brian Kelly

What to look for when choosing your first — or next — rewards credit card

1 min video

How we rate cards

Our best rewards credit cards were handpicked by our editorial team and their wide breadth of knowledge. We placed heavy emphasis on earning rates and redemption options to ensure the picks were reflective of optimized reward earnings. Other factors such as welcome bonus and annual fees were also taken into consideration. We chose cards that would be a great addition to any person’s reward-earning strategy — whether it's points and miles or cash back. To learn more about how TPG evaluates and chooses cards for our roundups, check out our methodology here.
  • Welcome bonus

    Our best rewards cards offer some of the highest welcome bonuses available.

  • Annual fee

    Many rewards cards feature an annual fee and accompanying perks and benefits that justify it.

  • Earning rates

    We chose cards with elevated rewards earnings.

  • Redemption options

    Our best rewards card offers various redemption options, primarily transferable rewards.

  • Added benefits

    Our best rewards cards offer solid earning potential and vast redemption options.

Is an annual fee worth it?

Our recent survey shows that 8 out of 10 TPG users agree that a card is worth paying for if the sum of its benefits and perks offsets its annual fee.

We also discovered that 54% of TPG cardholders pay an annual fee of $350 or more. This indicates that several TPG readers get the maximum value from their credit cards — even those with higher annual fees by taking advantage of credits and offers that come with various cards. 

This begs the question: are you getting the most out of the credit cards in your wallet? To decide, review the annual fees of the cards you currently hold and their accompanying perks to ensure you’re using their benefits and getting the maximum value year after year.

This information was collected via opt-in surveys of TPG’s roughly 900,000 daily newsletter subscribers in May-June 2024. All data is anonymous and aggregated; you can view our full methodology for collecting and utilizing data here.

How to choose the best rewards credit card

There is no perfect answer for what is the “best” rewards credit card for everyone, but there are things to look for in finding the best card for you. When determining which rewards credit card is right for you, consider how applicable the rewards type, earning rates, annual fee and benefits are to your lifestyle. Ideally, you want to choose a card that will provide both a great welcome bonus and long-term value.

Here are some of the main points to consider when choosing a rewards credit card:

  • 1
    Sign-up bonus

    Choose the best rewards card for your wallet by opting for a card that offers a welcome bonus that you can transfer to certain rewards like free night certificates at hotels. This plays a large part in the card’s value.

  • 2
    Annual fee

    Many of the cards on this list feature an annual fee. To determine if an annual fee is worth it, you should consider if the card’s benefits and perks outweigh the fee.

  • 3
    Bonus categories

    The best rewards cards on this list feature various bonus categories to match anyone’s spending.

Background Wave Pattern

Maximizing credit cards to become points-rich without spending a ton

Strategies for racking up rewards

    Pros + cons of rewards credit rards

    • Pros

      • Rewards credit cards make the most of your spending, earning cash back, points or miles on every dollar
      • Some rewards credit cards provide useful perks like travel insurance, theft and fraud protection and cellphone protection
      • There are multiple types of rewards credit cards to select that offer various perks and earnings
      • Some rewards credit cards offer unique perks such as airport lounge access or credits to use with various merchants
    • Cons

      • Carrying a balance and using your rewards card irresponsibly can damage your credit score
      • The cost of borrowing on rewards credit cards is higher than traditional loans
      • Having too many rewards card applications can negatively affect your credit score
      • Some rewards credit cards have high spending requirements to meet welcome bonuses and may be difficult to earn
      • Rewards credit cards come with multiple annual fee levels, so some cards may be expensive to hold

    Frequently asked questions

    • What can I do with credit card rewards?

      Reward redemption options vary based on the type of rewards credit card you have. Cash-back rewards can be redeemed via options such as a statement credit, direct deposit to your account, check, etc.

      Points and miles rewards are typically redeemed for flights or hotels. Other redemption options, such as gift cards and merchandise, also exist but redeeming for travel is often the way to get maximum value out of travel-focused rewards cards.

    • What is the best credit card for rewards?

      The best credit card for rewards will depend on you, your spending habits and rewards strategy. Some cards offer great cash back on grocery store purchases, while others offer bonuses for travel. There is no rewards credit card that will be the best fit for everything. The one that will result in the best value for your goals and your spending patterns is the best rewards credit card for your wallet.

    • Are credit card rewards taxable?

      Typically, the answer is no. You should consult an accountant for more information, but if you are using your purchases to earn a welcome bonus and/or rewards, it is generally considered a rebate on spending and not taxable income. However, bonuses you may earn outside of your own spending (such as referring friends to the card) may be considered taxable.

    • Are credit card rewards worth it?

      Yes, for most people. If you have a good credit score and pay off your balance every month, a rewards credit card is a great addition to your wallet. You can earn points and miles or cash back on everyday purchases you were going to make anyway.

    • Do credit card rewards expire?

      Generally, credit card rewards do not expire as long as your card is open and in good standing. It is still good practice to check the terms and conditions of your specific rewards credit card to see if your rewards can expire. And if you ever plan to close an account, make sure to utilize all of your rewards before closing the card.

    • What are fixed-rate rewards credit cards?

      The rewards credit card world can be confusing with rotating rewards, bonus categories and points and miles transfers. Which is what makes fixed-rate rewards credit cards so valuable. 

      With a fixed-rate rewards credit card, you can earn flat rewards rates on all purchases without the need to track rotating categories or activate certain offers on a monthly or quarterly basis. With this streamlined method, you can earn rewards on every purchase while maintaining an easy and straightforward reward-earning process. 

    • What is a bonus category for credit cards?

      Many credit cards offer a  bonus category, which is a spending category that earns elevated reward rates. For example, the Amex Platinum has airfare as a bonus category and earns 5 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with an airline or via Amex Travel. All other purchases, like dining or online shopping, earn just 1 point per dollar.