One of the trickiest parts of playing the points and miles game with credit cards is deciding whether or not the perks of the card are worth the annual fee. The cards with the most perks, like lounge access and tons of statement credits, can cost upward of $500 a year. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t great cards with lower annual fees.
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card carries an annual fee of only $95 and currently has a limited-time sign-up bonus of 120,000 Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $8,000 in the first three months from account opening. That bonus is worth $2,460, based on TPG’s July 2024 valuations, and is the best welcome offer we’ve ever seen on this card. And, beyond that, you can earn 3 points per dollar on the first $150,000 in combined spending each account anniversary year on business purchases like travel, shipping, internet, advertising and more.
In the world of personal cards, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card also has a $95 annual fee and a limited-time welcome offer of 75,000 miles after you spend $4,000 in the first three months after account opening, which TPG values at $1,388. You’ll also receive a one-time $250 credit to use in the Capital One Travel portal with this offer, adding even more value. Combined, these far outweigh the annual fee in the first year. But it’s the card’s 2 miles per dollar spent on purchases and perks like a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck that make it well worth the low annual fee.
I carry the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, which comes with a $95 annual fee, and I love it for its comprehensive travel benefits and great earning rates on the things I love most: travel, eating out and grocery orders.
Here are some handy resources for even more cards that come with an easy-to-swallow annual fee:
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