Since the 2016 launch of the Sapphire Reserve
credit card by J.P. Morgan Chase, rewards credit cards have exploded into a mainstream
obsession. This was particularly evident among Millennials
and Gen X-ers, as they jumped into the once-obscure world of credit card rewards and bonuses,
drawn by the lure of high sign-up bonuses, special perks, and the opportunity to use
points for free flights, hotel stays, and even first class tickets.
Before we get started with our video detailing
the best rewards credit cards on the market, we have included links in the description
for each product mentioned, so make sure you check those out to see which is in your budget
range. Starting off with the best overall rewards
credit card we have the Chase Sapphire Reserve. The huge introductory bonus might have made
way for a smaller incentive, but the Chase Sapphire Reserve card is still a great card
to keep in your wallet. Earning 3x Ultimate Rewards points per dollar
spent on dining and any travel, and 1x point per dollar on everything else, the Sapphire
Reserve earns points quickly through your everyday spending, and it comes with a slew
of perks. While there are a few different ways to use
Chase points, there are usually two options to get the best value: Points are worth 1.5¢
each towards travel booked through Chase, but can also be transferred to a number of
frequent flyer and hotel loyalty programs — typically, this gets you the most value
for your points. Benefits include access to airport lounges
through the Priority Pass network, trip delay coverage, purchase protection, a Global Entry
or TSA PreCheck credit, and car rental primary coverage.
However, while the airport lounge access can
be great, most Priority Pass lounges are in international terminals, which isn't helpful
when you're flying domestically. If you find lounge access crucial, you should
consider the Amex Platinum, which offers superior lounge access within the US. The Sapphire Reserve's annual fee is a hefty
$450, but that's offset by a $300 travel credit each year, good for things like taxis, subway
fare, parking, tolls, and flights. There aren't many downsides to this card — besides
the up front annual fee. Chase has invested heavily in making the Ultimate
Rewards program competitive. Booking flights by transferring points to
frequent flyer partners is generally more lucrative— that's usually how people use
points to fly in first and business class— but it can be complicated because you have
to decipher award charts, find availability, and work around complicated airline rules.
However, because the Sapphire Reserve allows
you to get 1.5¢ for each point, if you use them to book travel through Chase's online
or phone travel agent, there's a simpler and still-valuable option. Next up at number 2 we have the American Express
Gold Card. This fall, American Express refreshed its
old Premier Rewards Gold Card, rebranding it simply as the American Express Gold Card. It also totally overhauled the rewards and
benefits on the new Gold Card, making it one of the most exciting — and valuable — cards
of 2018. The new Gold Card earns a massive 4x points
at US restaurants and on up to $25,000 per year at US supermarkets (and 1x point after
that), 3x points on flights booked directly through the airline, 2x points on hotels booked
and prepaid through AmEx Travel, and 1x point on everything else.
Based on the fact that you can easily redeem
Membership Rewards points for more than 1¢ of value each when you transfer them to frequent
flyer partners, that makes this one of the highest-earning available cards for everything
food-related. The Gold Card also offers up to $120 of dining
credits per year, broken into chunks of $10 each month. Credits are good for purchases through food
delivery services Seamless and GrubHub, and at The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth's Steak House,
or participating Shake Shack locations. Additionally, the card offers a $100 airline
fee credit each calendar year, which is good for things like checked bags, on-board food
and drinks, seat reservations, seat upgrades, lounge day passes, and more. The two credits — together worth $220 — are
almost enough to offset the card's $250 annual fee even before factoring in the value of
the rewards you'll earn. While it's difficult to assign an exact value
to Membership Rewards points, since the value can vary significantly based on how you redeem
them, travel website The Points Guy subjectively estimates each point as worth 1.9¢.
That makes the welcome bonus worth $575 — $475
for the points, and up to $100 back from restaurants. Keep in mind some people may be targeted for
a higher welcome offer. The new card comes in a chic metal design,
and until January 9th, you can request a limited-edition Rose Gold version. Up next we have the Chase Sapphire Preferred. The Reserve's older sibling, the Sapphire
Preferred offers a number of similar features and a higher sign-up bonus for a lower annual
fee. The card earns 2x Ultimate Rewards points
instead of the Reserve's 3x points on dining and travel, and 1x point on everything else.
Points are worth a lower 1.25¢ on travel
booked through Chase, but can still be transferred to frequent flyer and hotel loyalty programs. There's no annual travel credit, but there's
still car rental primary coverage, as well as slightly less-generous trip delay coverage
and purchase protection. The annual fee is a more manageable $95. While the Sapphire Preferred was the all-around
best card for a long time, the Sapphire Reserve has made it a harder choice. Although the Preferred has a lower annual
fee and higher initial bonus, it earns fewer points on bonus spending categories than the
Reserve, and the value of the points on travel booked through Chase is less. The no-hassle travel credit on the Sapphire
Reserve makes the annual fee on that card effectively $150 (accounting for the $300
you get back through the credit), so — depending on your spending habits — it can be worth
paying more up front for the Sapphire Reserve. Next we have the Chase Freedom Unlimited. If you already have the Sapphire Reserve or
Preferred and are saving your points for something, the Freedom Unlimited can give your balance
a nice boost. While Chase markets the card as "cash back,"
it actually earns Ultimate Rewards points that you can redeem for cash (1 point = 1¢).
When you have a premium card like one of the
Sapphires or an Ink Business card, you can pool your points from the two cards. The Freedom Unlimited earns 1.5x points per
dollar spent, so paired with a Sapphire Reserve, it's a great card to use for purchases that
aren't made on travel expenses or dining. Best of all, the card has no annual fee and
often has an introductory 0% APR for the first 15 months on purchases and balance transfers.
After that, there's a 16.74%-25.49% variable
APR. If you have a major purchase ahead of you,
that introductory offer can be useful. The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a fantastic
all-around card. However, to get the most value when it's time
to spend your points, you need the Sapphire Reserve or Preferred card, too, so you can
pool your points. Otherwise, points are only worth 1¢ each
no matter how you use them and they can't be transferred to airline or hotel partners. And for our last pick we have the Platinum
Card from American Express.
American Express has made some big moves recently
in the credit cards rewards war, starting with a refresh of the venerable Platinum Card
to strike against the Sapphire Reserve. AmEx upped the Platinum Card's standard welcome
offer. Previously, it was only 40,000 points, and
now it's 60,000. AmEx is also offering 5x Membership Rewards
points per dollar spent on airfare directly with airlines and up to $200 in credits with
Uber each year, broken into a monthly credit of $15 which rises to $35 in December.
Like Chase Ultimate Rewards points, American
Express Membership Rewards points can be used to purchase travel, gift cards, or products
directly through from the issuer, or they can be transferred to certain airline and
hotel loyalty programs. The best value comes from that latter use. If you redeem points by using them to book
travel through AmEx, you'll get around 1¢ per point. The Platinum Card includes access to the same
lounges as the Sapphire Reserve, plus Delta Sky Clubs and the proprietary American Express
Centurion Lounges— the additions make the card more useful overall.
AmEx has also announced a number of new Centurion
Lounges set to open next year, as well as improvements and expansions of current locations. It carries a number of perks similar to its
rival from Chase, including purchase protections and a $200 annual credit on incidental airline
fees — think checked bags, drinks, and upgrades. Cardholders also earn elite status with major
hotels before staying a single night, including Hilton, Starwood, and Marriott. That can help you stomach the $550 annual
fee. AmEx Platinum cardholders also get exclusive
access to major events and experiences, including once-in-a-lifetime "By Invitation Only" events. Of course, $550 is a lot to pay out each year. The $200 airline fee credit and $200 Uber
credit certainly help, but the airline credit can be difficult to use if you aren't checking
bags or buying drinks on flights. Some people have found that buying gift cards
from the airline of your choice counts as a qualifying purchase. The bonus spending categories on this card
are less generous than on the Sapphire Reserve or the AmEx Gold, meaning it can take longer
to earn points unless you book a lot of flights. The spending requirement in the first three
months is higher than most other cards, and Membership Reward points are worth less than
Chase's Ultimate Rewards points when used to book travel through the card issuer — only
1¢ per point.
Even so, the card remains extremely valuable
if you can make good use of the benefits. For example: In my first year with the card,
I've gotten more than $2,000 worth of value, which is obviously more than enough to make
up for the fee. So that sums up our top rewards credit cards
on the market. We hope you enjoyed. If you did please leave a like on the video
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Until next time have a great day..