{"id":186297,"date":"2025-08-11T23:41:05","date_gmt":"2025-08-11T23:41:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/11\/the-best-credit-cards-to-add-to-your-wallet-the-points-guy-4\/"},"modified":"2025-08-11T23:41:05","modified_gmt":"2025-08-11T23:41:05","slug":"the-best-credit-cards-to-add-to-your-wallet-the-points-guy-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/11\/the-best-credit-cards-to-add-to-your-wallet-the-points-guy-4\/","title":{"rendered":"The best credit cards to add to your wallet – The Points Guy"},"content":{"rendered":"


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As soon as people find out that I work for The Points Guy, they almost always follow up with one question: “What’s the best credit card?”<\/p>\n

My answer is usually, “It depends” \u2014 because there truly is no one-size-fits-all credit card that’s best for everyone. Several factors go into determining the best credit card for your situation, including your spending habits, your credit score and the type of rewards you want to earn.<\/p>\n

Some regular contenders frequently make the cut when I recommend new credit cards since they offer solid value for a variety of spenders and their lifestyles. I’ve had my fair share of them over my 20-plus years of collecting points and miles.<\/p>\n

Here are my top picks for the best credit cards you can add to your wallet.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The best credit cards<\/h2>\n

*TPG founder Brian Kelly is a Bilt adviser and investor.<\/i><\/p>\n

**The information for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.<\/i><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Comparing the best credit cards<\/h2>\n

Check out how my top recommendations for the best credit cards stack up against each other.<\/p>\n

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\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Card<\/strong><\/th>\nBest for<\/strong><\/th>\nWelcome offer<\/strong><\/th>\nEarning rates<\/strong><\/th>\nAnnual fee<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Chase Sapphire Preferred<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nBeginner travelers<\/td>\nEarn 75,000 points after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.<\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Earn 5 points per dollar spent on travel purchased through Chase Travel\u2120.<\/li>\n
  • Earn 3 points per dollar spent on dining, select streaming services and online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs).<\/li>\n
  • Earn 2 points per dollar spent on other travel purchases.<\/li>\n
  • Earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
$95<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card<\/a><\/td>\nPremium travel<\/td>\nEarn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.<\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Earn 10 miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.<\/li>\n
  • Earn 5 miles per dollar spent on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel.<\/li>\n
  • Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
$395<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Amex Gold<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nGroceries and dining at restaurants<\/td>\nFind out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer<\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Earn 4 points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar).<\/li>\n
  • Earn 4 points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar).<\/li>\n
  • Earn 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.<\/li>\n
  • Earn 2 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on amextravel.com.<\/li>\n
  • Earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
$325 (see rates and fees<\/a>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card<\/a><\/td>\nNonbonus spending<\/td>\nEarn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.<\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Earn 5 miles per dollar spent on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.<\/li>\n
  • Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
$95<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Amex Platinum<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nLuxury benefits<\/td>\nFind out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.<\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Earn 5 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel\u00ae (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar).<\/li>\n
  • Earn 5 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com.<\/li>\n
  • Earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
$695 (see rates and fees<\/a>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nSky Club access and Medallion status<\/td>\nEarn 70,000 miles after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership.<\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Earn 3 miles per dollar spent on Delta Air Lines purchases.<\/li>\n
  • Earn 1 mile per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
$650 (see rates and fees<\/a>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Chase Freedom Flex<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nRotating bonus categories<\/td>\nEarn $200 after spending $500 on eligible purchases within the first three months of account opening.<\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate.<\/li>\n
  • Earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel.<\/li>\n
  • Earn 3% cash back on dining and drugstores.<\/li>\n
  • Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
$0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ink Business Preferred<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nBonus-earning<\/td>\nEarn 90,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.<\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Earn 3 points per dollar spent on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year.<\/li>\n
  • Earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
$95<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bilt Mastercard<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nRenters<\/td>\nN\/A<\/td>\n\n$0 (see rates and fees<\/a>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card<\/a><\/td>\nFree nights and hotel status<\/td>\nEarn 175,000 points after spending $6,000 on purchases in your first six months of card membership.<\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Earn 14 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio.<\/li>\n
  • Earn 7 points per dollar spent on select travel, including flights booked directly with the airline or on amextravel.com and car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies.<\/li>\n
  • Earn 7 points per dollar spent on dining at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery.<\/li>\n
  • Earn 3 points per dollar spent on other eligible purchases.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
$550<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card<\/h2>\n

Standout benefits:<\/strong> The Chase Sapphire Preferred was one of the first cards I opened that carried an annual fee. Initially, I got the card because it didn’t charge foreign transaction fees, but I quickly fell in love with the rewards I was earning \u2014 both abroad and back in the U.S.<\/p>\n

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\"Chase<\/div>
THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Chase Ultimate Rewards points are among the most valuable currencies out there, pegged at 2.05 cents each per TPG’s August 2025 valuations<\/a>. As a Sapphire Preferred cardholder, you can redeem your points through Chase Travel at a rate of 1.25 cents apiece, but my favorite way to use Chase points is by transferring them to travel partners<\/a> like Air Canada Aeroplan and World of Hyatt.<\/p>\n

Hyatt is my go-to redemption option here, as I almost always get well over 2 cents per point in value from my award stays. For example, I splurged for four nights at the Hyatt Centric Park City earlier this year, and even though it set me back 180,000 points, the paid rate would’ve been nearly $6,000. I was even able to apply a suite upgrade as a Hyatt Globalist.<\/p>\n

Related: Why the Chase Sapphire Preferred should be your first card out of college<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Beyond that, the card offers an incredible set of travel protections if things go wrong on your trip, including primary car rental coverage. You’ll also enjoy a $50 annual hotel credit for reservations made through Chase Travel.<\/p>\n

I eventually upgraded to the card’s more premium sibling \u2014 the Chase Sapphire Reserve\u00ae<\/a><\/span> (see rates and fees<\/a>) \u2014 a few years ago, but my wife continues to hold her Sapphire Preferred and still gets incredible value from it.<\/p>\n

New applicants can earn 75,000 points after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. The Sapphire Preferred features a $95 annual fee.<\/p>\n

For more information, check out our review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Apply here:<\/b> Chase Sapphire Preferred Card<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card<\/h2>\n

Standout benefits<\/b>: I picked up the Capital One Venture X shortly after it launched in November 2021, and it quickly became a workhorse in my wallet because it earns at least 2 miles per dollar spent on every purchase. I charge my utility bills and most of my online shopping to it, since those purchases generally aren’t eligible for bonuses on other cards.<\/p>\n

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\"Capital<\/div>
THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The card also offers a ton of premium perks without a premium price tag. You’ll enjoy access to Capital One Lounges and a Priority Pass Select membership, along with the ability to enjoy value-added benefits on luxury hotel stays via the Premier Collection and Lifestyle Collection. All of this comes with an annual fee of just $395.<\/p>\n

However, even that is super easy to offset with other perks on the card. You’ll get an annual $300 credit for purchases via Capital One Travel \u2014 including flights, hotels and rental cars. You can also use the card for up to $120 in statement credits to cover the cost of a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership every four years.<\/p>\n

Related: Capital One Venture Rewards vs. Capital One Venture X<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Finally, when you renew your card, you’ll receive 10,000 bonus miles on your account anniversary. Those are worth at least $100 if used for travel, but they have the potential for even more value when you redeem them with Capital One’s 15-plus transfer partners.<\/p>\n

I recently transferred 70,000 Capital One miles to Air Canada Aeroplan to book a one-way business-class flight to Europe for Thanksgiving \u2014 a trip that would’ve otherwise set me back over $3,000. And that’s just one method of maximizing your Capital One miles.<\/p>\n

New applicants can earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. This card features a $395 annual fee.<\/p>\n

For more information, check out our review of the Capital One Venture X<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Learn more:<\/b> Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

American Express Gold Card<\/h2>\n

Standout benefits<\/b>: Believe it or not, I first added the Amex Gold to my wallet without earning a welcome bonus. I held an earlier version of the card, so I wasn’t eligible. However, I still earn tens of thousands of points on the card every year \u2014 and last year’s refresh made me love it even more<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\"American<\/div>
THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I love dining out and cooking in, and the Amex Gold rewards you in both categories. You’ll earn 4 points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases each year, then 1 point per dollar) and 4 points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases each year, then 1 point per dollar). Membership Rewards points are super valuable \u2014 with partners like ANA Mileage Club and Air France-KLM Flying Blue.<\/p>\n

Related: How to maximize the Amex Gold’s benefits<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

However, the card can also save you money on everyday purchases as well, thanks to the following benefits (enrollment required):<\/p>\n