Best Rewards Credit Cards of 2017
If you use credit cards often, take advantage of credit cards that offer attractive rewards. You can choose a card that will enable you to earn everything from free flights, hotel rewards, or even cash back you can put in your pocket. Whatever you choose for your rewards, you’ll be reaping benefits for purchases you were going to make anyway.
For help choosing the best rewards credit card for you, review the chart of GOBankingRates’ top picks. With so many great rewards cards on the market, it’s easier than ever to make sure your credit card is best for you.
Best Rewards Credit Cards of 2017 | |||||
Credit Card | Annual Fee | APR | Rewards and Features | Where to Apply | |
Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express | $0 intro for first year, then $195 | Must pay balance in full each month | 1-3 points per $1 on purchases, 25,000 bonus miles for spending $2,000 in first 3 months, $100 airline credit per year | ||
Comerica Cash Rewards American Express Card | $0 | 13.24% – 24.24% | 1%-3% cash back on gas, groceries and other eligible purchases; $25 cash back after first purchase | ||
Bank of America WorldPoints Travel Rewards for Business Visa | $0 | 12.24% – 22.24% | 3 points per dollar on travel purchases, 1.5 points per dollar on other purchases, $250,000 in travel accident insurance | ||
Discover it Cash Back Card | $0 | 11.99% – 23.99% | 5% cash back up to quarterly maximum, 1% cash back on other purchases, dollar-for-dollar match on first-year cash-back rewards | ||
NHL Discover it Card | $0 | 11.99% – 23.99% | 5% cash back up to quarterly maximum, 1% cash back on other purchases, 10% on purchases from Shop.NHL.com, 10% off NHL.TV subscription | ||
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express | $0 | 14.24% – 25.24% | 3% cash back at supermarkets, 2% cash back at gas stations and select department stores, 1% cash back on all other purchases, $150 cash back after spending $1,000 in first 3 months | ||
Bank of America Cash Rewards Credit Card | $0 | 13.99% – 23.99% | 3% cash back on gas, 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, 1% cash back on all other purchases, $150 online cash rewards bonus for making $500 in purchases in first 90 days | ||
Chase Ink Business Cash Credit Card | $0 | 14.24% – 20.24% | 5% cash back on the first $25,000 in combined office supply and business purchases each anniversary year, 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent on gas and dining out each anniversary year, 1% cash back on all other purchases with no limits | ||
Discover it Chrome Card | $0 | 11.99% – 23.99% | Dollar-for-dollar match of first-year cash-back earnings, 2% cash back in certain categories, 1% cash back on everything else | ||
TD Cash Visa Credit Card | $0 | 13.99%, 18.99% or 23.99% | 3% cash back on dining, 2% cash back on groceries, 1% cash back on all other purchases, new customers eligible to earn $200 cash back by spending $50 in first 90 days | ||
Disclaimer: All rates current as of Dec. 24, 2017.
Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express
The best rewards credit card of 2017, the Premier Rewards Gold Card welcomes new cardholders with a bonus of 25,000 miles after you spend $2,000 within the first three months. You can redeem your points for gift cards, merchandise, or dining and entertainment.
Annual fee: $0 first year, then $195
APR: Must pay balance in full each month
Rewards:
3 points for every dollar spent on flights
2 points for every dollar spent at U.S. gas stations, supermarkets and restaurants
1 point for every dollar spent on other purchases
$100 airline fee credit per calendar year
Pros: No foreign transaction fees, purchase protection, premium roadside assistance
Cons: High annual fee after the first year, late payment fees of up to $38
Learn About: Choosing the Right Rewards Card for Your Lifestyle
Comerica Cash Rewards American Express Card
When it comes to cash-back credit cards, this one is hard to beat. In addition to a $25 cash back bonus after you make your first purchase, you’ll get fraud protection, auto rental collision and theft coverage, and more. You can add overdraft protection if you link your credit card to your Comerica checking account.
Annual fee: $0
APR: 0.00 percent introductory offer for six months, then 13.24 percent to 24.24
Rewards:
3 percent cash back on gas
2 percent cash back at supermarkets
1 percent cash back on other purchases
$25 cash back after your first purchase
Pros: Accrue unlimited points
Cons: Late payment fee of up to $38 and returned payment fee of up to $35
Bank of America WorldPoints Travel Rewards for Business Visa
If you’re searching for the best travel credit cards, consider Bank of America WorldPoints Travel Rewards for Business Visa. Sign up online and get 25,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 within the first two months. You can convert those points into a $250 credit toward travel purchases.
Annual fee: $0
APR: 0.00 percent introductory offer for nine months, then 12.24 percent to 22.24 percent
Rewards:
3 points per dollar for rental cars, hotel stays, or airline tickets booked through the Bank of America Travel Center
1.5 points per dollar on all other purchases
$250,000 in travel insurance
No rewards blackout dates or travel restrictions
Pros: No limit on the number of points you can earn and points never expire
Cons: High, 25.24% APR on cash advances
Discover it Cash Back Card
One of the top rewards credit cards, the Discover it offers 5 percent cash back grocery, gas and Amazon.com purchases, plus a dollar-for-dollar match on your cash-back rewards for the first year. If you lose your card, you can instantly freeze your account.
Annual fee: $0
APR: 0.00 percent introductory offer for 14 months, then 11.99 percent to 23.99 percent
Rewards:
5 percent cash back up to quarterly maximum
1 percent cash back on all other purchases
Dollar-for-dollar match on your first year’s cash back rewards, no limit
Pros: Free FICO score, protection from unauthorized purchases
Cons: 3 percent fee for balance transfers
NHL Discover it Card
Another pick for best rewards credit card, the NHL Discover it matches your cash-back earnings for the first year. Hockey fans will appreciate the 10 percent discount on merchandise, plus 5 percent cash back on everything from gas to groceries to Amazon.com purchases. You can also freeze your account if you lose or misplace your card.
Annual fee: $0
APR: 0.00 introductory offer for 14 months, then 11.99 percent to 23.99 percent
Rewards:
5 percent cash back up to quarterly maximum
1 percent cash back on all other purchases
10 percent off on purchases from Shop.NHL.com
10 percent off on an NHL.TV subscription
Pros: Free FICO score, protection from unauthorized purchases
Cons: 3 percent charge for balance transfers
Find: Surprising Uses for Your Credit Card Rewards
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
The Blue Cash Everyday Card provides the best credit card bonus: Spend $1,000 during the first three months and you’ll get $150 cash back. You can also accelerate your cash back earnings by adding cards for friends and family members. Fraud protection, online access to account information and year-end summaries add to the card’s value.
Annual fee: $0
APR: 0 percent introductory offer for 15 months, then 14.24 percent to 24.24 percent
Rewards:
3 percent cash back at supermarkets
2 percent cash back at gas stations and select department stores
1 percent cash back on other purchases
$150 cash back after spending $1,000 within the first three months
Pros: Extended warranties on purchases, roadside assistance with emergency towing
Cons: $6,000 cap on grocery purchases for the 3 percent cash-back offer
Bank of America Cash Rewards Credit Card
If you have a Bank of America savings or checking account you’ll get a 10 percent bonus when you redeem your cash back into one of them, and Bank of America Preferred Rewards clients will get a bonus increase of 25 percent or more. All cardholders are eligible to earn a cash rewards bonus of $150 after spending at least $500 within the first 90 days.
Annual fee: $0
APR: 0 percent introductory offer for 12 months, then 13.99 percent to 23.99 percent
Rewards:
Cash back on the first $2,500 in grocery, wholesale club and gas purchases each quarter
3 percent cash back on gas
2 percent cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs
1 percent cash back on other purchases
Pros: Bank of America checking or savings account holders with Preferred Rewards status eligible for a 25 percent to 75 percent rewards bonus
Cons: 3 percent fee for balance transfers.
Chase Ink Business Cash Credit Card
Business owners will love this card because it offers up to 5 percent cash back on office supplies and business-related expenses. Send $3,000 within the first three months and you’ll get $300 cash back. You can redeem your rewards for gift cards, travel or products and services.
Annual fee: $0
APR: 0 percent introductory offer for 12 months, then 14.24 percent to 20.24 percent
Rewards:
5 percent cash back on the first $25,000 in combined office supply and business purchases each anniversary year
2 percent cash back on the first $25,000 you spend on gas and dining out each anniversary year
1 percent cash back on all other purchases, with no limits
Pros: Zero liability protection, additional cards for employees at no extra cost
Cons: High, 25.99 percent cash advance APR and 29.99 percent default APR
Discover it Chrome Card
The Discover it Chrome Card lets you redeem your cash-back rewards for any amount at any time. You’ll never be held liable for unauthorized purchases and you can freeze your account if you lose your card or it’s stolen. One of the biggest perks is Discover’s dollar-for-dollar match on all your cash reward earnings during your first year.
Annual fee: $0
APR: 0.00 percent introductory offer for 14 months, then 11.99 percent to 23.99 percent
Rewards:
Dollar-for-dollar match on all cash back you earn for a year
2 percent cash back in certain categories
1 percent cash back for other purchases
Pros: Free FICO score, protection from unauthorized purchases
Cons: 3 percent fee for balance transfers
TD Cash Visa Credit Card
You can earn 20,000 bonus credit card points with this card, redeemable for $200 if you spend $500 in total purchases within 90 days. You can easily keep track of your spending and accrued points with TD’s online banking system, and your card will come with built-in chip technology and Visa’s Zero Liability policy.
Annual fee: $0
APR: 13.99 percent to 23.99 percent, based on creditworthiness
Rewards:
3 percent cash back on dining
2 percent cash back on groceries
1 percent cash back on other purchases
Pros: No foreign transaction fees, 0 percent introductory balance transfer APR for first 12 months
Cons: Balance transfer fee is the greater of $5 or 3 percent of transfer
Up Next: 10 Best Airline Credit Cards
Methodology: GOBankingRates.com identified the best rewards credit cards by analyzing annual fees, APRs, sign-up bonuses, rewards and features. All fees and rates are subject to change at the credit card issuers’ discretion. Some bonus offers may or might no longer be available on the credit card issuers’ websites, depending on how one accesses the web page.
GOBankingRates is a personal finance and consumer interest rate website owned by ConsumerTrack, Inc., an online marketing company serving top-tier banks, credit unions, and other financial services organizations. Some companies mentioned in this article might be clients of ConsumerTrack, Inc., which serves more than 100 national, local and online financial institutions. Rankings and roundups are completely objective, and no institution, client or otherwise, paid for inclusion or specific placement. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by the companies included in the article.
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Best Rewards Credit Cards of 2017
