Best Credit Cards for Each Category: A Comprehensive Guide

If you're looking for a credit card that rewards you for your daily purchases, consider the Chase Freedom Unlimited. It offers 3% cash back on all purchases in your first year up to $20,000 spent, and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

The Citi Double Cash Card is another great option for cash back rewards, offering 2% cash back on all purchases. This includes 1% cash back when you make a purchase and an additional 1% cash back when you pay your bill.

For travel enthusiasts, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is a top choice. It offers 2X points on travel and dining purchases, as well as a 60,000-point bonus after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months.

The American Express Gold Card is the best card for food delivery, earning 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants worldwide, with no spending cap or rotating category. The card also provides $10 in monthly Uber credits, which can be used for Uber Eats orders, and up to $10 per month in statement credits with several dining partners.

For travel purchases, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is a great option, earning 3 points per dollar spent on all travel purchases made outside of Chase Travel (after the annual $300 travel credit is received). The card also provides Priority Pass lounge access.

If you're looking for a card to earn bonus points on flights, at restaurants, and on U.S. supermarket purchases, the American Express Gold Card is a great choice, earning 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants worldwide and 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per calendar year).

We've listed the number of points per dollar earned in each category, so "5X" means you earn 5 points per dollar. This helps you quickly compare cards within each category.

Cards are sorted by the value of the return in descending order, based on our Reasonable Redemption Values (RRVs) for points and miles-earning cards, or by their fixed redemption value with cash back cards.

Transferable points are often assigned higher redemption values, since their flexibility makes it possible to cherry pick the best value awards. This can be unintuitive, especially with cards marketed as cash back cards.

Maximizing your earning potential is easier than you think, and it all starts with the right credit card combinations.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a top pick for travel rewards, earning 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on dining, select streaming, and online grocery purchases.

A strategic pairing with the Chase Freedom Unlimited can amplify your earnings, especially on non-bonused spending.

The Freedom Unlimited earns 3% cash back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1.5% back on everything else, making it a great everyday card.

By combining your rewards from both cards, you can transfer them to any of Chase's 14 travel partners for maximum value.

The Amex Gold card is another standout option, offering up to $10 per month in statement credits with several dining partners, including Seamless and Grubhub.

This card also provides $10 in monthly Uber credits, which can be used for Uber Eats orders, and codes restaurant purchases as 8 cents worth of points.

The Amex Gold card's earning rate and perks make it the best card for food delivery, and its American Express Membership Rewards can be redeemed for valuable rewards.

A basic understanding of credit card categories is essential for maximizing rewards. A bonus category is when you earn extra points or miles on certain types of purchases with your card, such as at supermarkets.

To maximize rewards, it's a good idea to have a combination of cards that earn bonus points in different categories. For example, the Citi Strata Premier Card earns 10 points per dollar spent on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.

The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards card earns 3x at restaurants, dining, and entertainment, making it an easy win for the dining category. You can also pair cards like the Amex Gold with the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card to earn different types of rewards.

Rotating or quarterly bonus categories can also be beneficial, such as the Chase Freedom Card's 5% / 5X on up to $1,500 of purchases at gas stations, car rental agencies, movie theaters, and select live entertainment.

The American Express Credit Cards are a force to be reckoned with. They offer a range of benefits that make them stand out from the rest. The Platinum Card from American Express is a great choice for travelers, earning 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with an airline or through Amex Travel.

You can earn even more points with the American Express Gold Card, which earns 4 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets. This card also comes with credits for dining and takeout purchases, making it a foodie's dream come true.

The Amex Gold card is particularly great for food delivery, providing $10 in monthly Uber credits, which can be used for Uber Eats orders. This means you can get free food each month, courtesy of the card's benefits.

The annual fees for these cards are $695 for the Amex Platinum and $325 for the Amex Gold, which may seem steep but can be worth it for the benefits you receive. With the Amex Gold, you can earn 8 cents worth of points on restaurant purchases, making your points more valuable than ever.

By combining the Amex Platinum and Amex Gold cards, you can earn more points on flights and restaurant purchases, and take advantage of the cards' benefits and statement credits. This makes them a great combination for anyone looking to maximize their rewards.

The Citi Strata Premier Card is a great all-around travel rewards card with broad bonus categories, offering 75,000 ThankYou points after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months.

It earns 10 points per dollar spent on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com, and 3 points per dollar spent on other hotel, flight, restaurant, supermarket, gas station, and electric vehicle charging station purchases.

The Citi Rewards+ Card is a good option for small purchases that can rack up ThankYou rewards, as purchases on this card automatically round up to the nearest 10 points.

Holding the Citi Strata Premier and Citi Rewards+ Cards together can be a great combination, as the Strata Premier earns bonus points in many categories, while the Rewards+ excels at earning points on small purchases that don't fall under the Strata Premier's bonus categories.

The Citi Rewards+ Card also has limited redemption options on its own, but pairing it with the Citi Strata Premier allows you to transfer the points you earn to any of Citi's hotel and airline partners, increasing their redemption value.

The Capital One Credit Cards are a great option for everyday spending and travel. The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card has no annual fee and earns 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

It's also a good choice for dining, entertainment, grocery stores, and popular streaming services, earning 3% cash back in these categories. The card earns 1% back on all other purchases.

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has a $95 annual fee, but it's a good option for spending that doesn't fall in other cards' bonus categories. It earns 5 miles per dollar spent on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars.

You can also earn 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases with this card. With the Capital One Savor and Venture Rewards, you can convert your Savor rewards to Capital One miles and transfer them to any of Capital One's 15-plus hotel and airline partners.

Pairing a card that earns rewards with one of its travel partners is a great option. This way, you can earn transferable rewards and maximize your earning with both cards' bonus categories.

For example, if you have a card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, you can get a co-branded card like the World of Hyatt Credit Card to earn Hyatt-specific benefits and a free night each year.

Having a co-branded card can also give you elite status with its travel partner, making your travel experiences more rewarding.

Adding a co-branded card for one of your card's travel partners can be a great way to maximize your earning potential and benefits. This is especially true if you already have a card that earns transferable rewards.

For instance, the Citi Strata Premier Card earns bonus points in a broad range of categories, but the Citi Rewards+ Card excels at earning points on small purchases that round up to the nearest 10. This makes it a great option for adding to your wallet.

Pairing a card that earns rewards for one of its travel partners can also be a smart move. For example, if you earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points with your Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, getting the World of Hyatt Credit Card can give you Hyatt-specific benefits like elite status and a free night each year.

The Citi Rewards+ Card is a great example of a co-branded card that can be paired with another card to maximize earning. It has limited redemption options on its own, but holding the Citi Strata Premier Card allows you to transfer the points you earn to any of Citi's hotel and airline partners, increasing their redemption value.

The Ink Business Preferred Credit Card is a great choice for business owners with a lot of expenses. It earns 3 points per dollar spent on the first $150,000 in combined spending on shipping, internet, cable, travel, phone services, and advertising on social media sites and search engines.

One of the benefits of the Ink Business Preferred is its flexibility - you can use it for a wide range of business expenses. This makes it a great option for freelancers or small business owners with varying expenses.

Cardholders will also earn 5 points per dollar spent on Lyft purchases through March 2025, which is a great perk for those who frequently use ride-sharing services.

Diversify your rewards by pairing cards that earn different types of rewards. For example, you could pair the Amex Gold with the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.

You'd use your Amex Gold to earn bonus points on flights, at restaurants and on U.S. supermarket purchases. The Amex Gold earns bonus points on flights, at restaurants and on U.S. supermarket purchases (up to $50,000 per calendar year for restaurants and up to $25,000 per calendar year for U.S. supermarkets, then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter).

Using your Venture X for other purchases earns 2 miles per dollar spent. With this option, you can take advantage of both American Express and Capital One's transfer partners, giving you even more flexibility in your reward redemptions.

Pairing cards that earn different rewards can help you maximize your earning potential. By using the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card for purchases in the 3% cash-back bonus categories and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card for all other purchases, you can earn 2 miles per dollar on them.

You can convert your Savor rewards to Capital One miles and transfer them to any of Capital One's 15-plus hotel and airline partners. This combination allows you to earn different types of rewards and still have flexibility in your reward redemptions.

If you're looking for credit cards with no annual fee, you have options. The Capital One Savor and Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card combination is a great choice, as it allows you to earn transferable rewards without paying an annual fee.

The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card earns 1.25 miles per dollar spent on all purchases. This can add up quickly, especially if you use your card for daily expenses.

Pairing the VentureOne with the Capital One Savor can also allow you to turn your Savor rewards into transferable Capital One miles.

If you want to earn transferable rewards without paying an annual fee, pair the Capital One Savor and the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card, which earns 1.25 miles per dollar spent on all purchases.

The Capital One VentureOne allows you to turn your Savor rewards into transferable Capital One miles, giving you flexibility and value.

You can also consider the Capital One VentureOne's feature of allowing you to turn your rewards into transferable Capital One miles, which is a valuable perk for those who want to maximize their rewards earnings.

The Chase Freedom Unlimited card offers a solid 1.5% cash-back on purchases outside of its bonus categories.

This means you'll earn 1.5% of your purchase amount back as cash, which can add up over time.

You can redeem these rewards as cash, but if you hold another Chase card, you can consolidate your rewards and redeem them as points through the Ultimate Rewards program.

Maximizing rewards is all about getting the most out of your credit card spending. You can earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supplies stores with the Chase Ink business cash.

To maximize your rewards, consider pairing cards that earn different types of rewards. For example, you can pair the Amex Gold with the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card to earn bonus points on flights, at restaurants, and on U.S. supermarket purchases, and then transfer them to various airline and hotel partners.

With the right combination of cards, you can earn a 3.7% to 6.15% return on all your spending, making the most of your credit card benefits.

The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card offers 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, and 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, grocery stores, and popular streaming services.

If you spend a lot on office supplies, the Chase Ink business cash card is a great option, earning 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supplies stores, and on internet, cable and phone services.

The Chase Freedom Flex card offers 5% cash back on various quarterly spending categories, with a low minimum spend of $500, and the potential to earn up to $75 if you max out the categories.

With the Capital One Savor and Venture Rewards card combination, you can earn 5% cash back on certain purchases and 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases.

The Chase Ink business cash card has a unique benefit of not being affected by 5/24 status, making it a good option for those who are over the limit or want to save that last slot for something else.

Earning 2x points is a game-changer for maximizing rewards. You can get this benefit by pairing a card that earns cash back rewards with a card that earns ThankYou points, allowing you to convert cash back rewards straight into ThankYou points.

The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card combination is a great example of this. This duo lets you earn 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, grocery stores, and popular streaming services, and 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases.

With the right combination of cards, you can earn a 3.7% to 6.15% return on all your spending, according to TPG's October 2024 valuations. This is a significant boost to your rewards earnings.

To set up your ideal credit card structure, start by identifying your goals, such as minimizing annual fees while earning travel rewards.

Different card combinations work well for different goals, so think about what you want to achieve with your credit cards.

If you want to earn travel rewards, consider pairing a card with a high rewards rate, like the Chase Freedom Unlimited, with a card that offers travel benefits, such as the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card.

This combination allows you to earn rewards and benefits while only paying one annual fee of $95.

Ultimately, your ideal credit card structure will depend on your individual needs and goals, but having a plan in place will help you maximize your rewards and benefits.

Bonus categories are a great way to earn extra points or cash back on your daily spending. By using the right credit card for the right category, you can maximize your earnings.

For example, if you spend a lot on gas, consider using a card like the Citi Strata Premier Card, which earns 3 points per dollar spent on gas station and supermarket purchases. This can translate to a 3.7% to 6.15% return on your spending, according to TPG's October 2024 valuations.

If you're looking for a card that earns bonus points on travel purchases, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is a great option, earning 3 points per dollar spent on travel purchases made outside of Chase Travel.

Some cards also offer rotating or quarterly bonus categories, such as the Chase Freedom Card, which earns 5% back on up to $1,500 of purchases at gas stations, car rental agencies, movie theaters, and select live entertainment.

Here are some of the best cards for specific categories:

By choosing the right card for your spending habits, you can earn a significant amount of points or cash back on your daily purchases.

If you're looking to maximize your credit card rewards, it's essential to choose the right card for your specific spending habits. With various bonus categories available, you can earn extra points or miles on daily purchases.

Paying your cell phone bill with the right card can earn you significant rewards. For example, the Chase Ink Business Cash card offers 5X / 5% cash back on phone services, while the U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa card provides 5% cash back on the first $2,000 of spend in your 2 preferred categories.

Paying your utilities and bills can also earn you rewards. Cards like the U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa and the Wyndham Rewards Earner Business Card offer 5% cash back on the first $2,000 of spend in your 2 preferred categories, including utilities and bills.

Using the right card for your food delivery purchases can also earn you significant rewards. Cards like the Citi Prestige Card offer 5X ThankYou Points, while the American Express Gold Card provides 4X Membership Rewards on U.S. deliveries.

A bonus category is when you earn extra points or miles on certain types of purchases with your card, such as at supermarkets.

Bonus categories can vary greatly from one card to another, which means you need to check your card's terms to see what categories are included.

You earn bonus points or miles when you use your credit card within these designated categories, making them a great way to rack up rewards quickly.

Every card has a list of bonus categories, but some cards offer more generous rewards in these categories than others.

To maximize your rewards, it's essential to understand what your bonus categories are and use your card accordingly.

The opposite of a bonus category is everyday spending, which you earn when using your credit card outside the bonus categories.

Bonus categories are a great way to earn extra points or miles on your daily spending. You can set up your card portfolio with cards that earn bonus points in the categories you spend the most in.

For example, you might opt for the Chase Sapphire Reserve to earn 3 points per dollar spent on travel purchases made outside of Chase Travel and dining purchases. This card also offers a $300 annual travel credit.

Some popular cards have rotating or quarterly bonus categories. For instance, the Chase Freedom Card and Chase Freedom Flex offer 5% cash back on up to $1,500 of purchases at gas stations, car rental agencies, movie theaters, and select live entertainment.

You can also earn extra points and miles on online shopping. Cards like the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Card offer 5% cash back on all Amazon purchases. Other cards, such as the U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa, offer 5% cash back on the first $2,000 of spend in your 2 preferred categories.

Paying your electricity bill, internet, and other utilities can also earn extra points and miles. Cards like the U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa offer 5% cash back on the first $2,000 of spend in your 2 preferred categories, which can include utilities.

Here are some of the top cards for specific bonus categories:

The Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Freedom Unlimited cards are a great combination for earning points on dining purchases. The Sapphire Preferred earns 3 points per dollar spent on dining, while the Freedom Unlimited earns 3% cash back per dollar spent on dining and drugstore purchases.

The Ink Business Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve cards are also a great combination for earning points on business expenses and travel. The Ink Business Preferred earns 3 points per dollar spent on shipping, internet, cable, travel, phone services, and advertising on social media sites and search engines, while the Sapphire Reserve earns 3 points per dollar spent on all travel purchases made outside of Chase Travel and dining purchases.

If you pay your cell phone bill with a credit card, you can earn extra points or cash back. Some cards offer free cell phone insurance, which can be a great perk.

The Chase Ink Business Cash card earns 5X / 5% cash back on phone services, while the U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa card earns 5% cash back on the first $2,000 of spend in your 2 preferred categories. The Wyndham Rewards Earner Business Card also earns 5X points.

The Chase Ink Business Preferred card earns 3X Ultimate Rewards on phone services, and the U.S. Bank Triple Cash card earns 3% cash back on phone expenses.

Here are some top cards for cell phone bills, listed with their cell phone bill category bonus, value of the points, total earned per dollar spent, and annual fee:

If you're a foodie, you'll love earning rewards on your dining purchases. The American Express Gold Card gives you 4X Membership Rewards on U.S. deliveries, making it one of the best cards for earning maximum points on food delivery purchases.

Some cards offer monthly credits that can be applied to food delivery purchases. For example, the American Express Platinum Card provides $10 in monthly Uber credits, which can be used for Uber Eats orders. The Citi Prestige Card offers $5 in credits for all Postmates orders greater than $25.

The Citi Prestige Card is a top choice for earning 5X ThankYou Points on food delivery purchases. The Chase Sapphire Reserve also offers a DashPass membership, which gives you free delivery on DoorDash orders.

Here are some of the best cards for earning rewards on food delivery purchases:

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is also a top choice for dining and restaurants, earning 10 points per dollar if prepaid through Chase Dining, or 3 points per dollar otherwise.

If you're a regular gym-goer, you're in luck because there are several credit cards that offer bonus rewards for paying your gym membership fees. The Citi Custom Cash card earns 5X ThankYou Points in your top spend category each month, up to $500 of spend, which can be a great benefit for those who regularly visit the gym.

You can also consider the U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa, which offers 5% cash back on the first $2,000 of spend in your 2 preferred categories, including gyms/fitness centers. This means you can earn 5% cash back on your gym membership fees up to $2,000 per year.

Alternatively, the Chase World of Hyatt Card offers 2x points on fitness club and gym memberships, which can be a good option for those who also value hotel rewards.

Here are some specific cards that offer bonus rewards for gym memberships and fitness equipment: