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Credit Cards

9 best credit card sign-up bonuses of March 2024

We analyzed the top credit card welcome bonuses to find the best ones based on your spending habits.

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The offer mentioned below for the Southwest cards is no longer available.

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Credit card welcome bonus offers are an easy way to earn extra rewards during the first few months after you open an account. You typically need to meet spending requirements that range from $500 to $5,000, within the first three months after opening your account to earn the bonus.

Cash-back cards tend to have the lowest spending requirements with the best return rates, while travel rewards cards usually offer larger bonuses after you reach higher spending requirements. You should consider your budget before signing up for a card with a good bonus offer and only take advantage of one if you're able to pay off your balance on time and in full. You don't want to pay big interest charges on your balance just because you were hoping to earn some extra points.

The good news: There are a few cards that waive spending requirements altogether and reward you with a bonus immediately following account approval or after you make your first purchase.

CNBC Select analyzed over 100 cards that offer welcome bonuses and rounded up the best deals that can potentially earn you over $1,000 in value if you meet the requirements.

Best credit card sign-up bonuses of March 2024

Best for 0% APR

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

On Wells Fargo's secure site
  • Rewards

    Unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases

  • Welcome bonus

    Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months

  • Annual fee

    $0

  • Intro APR

    0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate

  • Regular APR

    20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers

  • Balance transfer fee

    3% intro for 120 days from account opening then BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5

  • Foreign transaction fee

    3%

  • Credit needed

    Excellent/Good

See rates and fees, terms apply.

Pros

  • Unlimited cash rewards
  • $200 cash rewards welcome bonus
  • No annual fee
  • Introductory APR period for first 15 months
  • Access to Visa Signature® Concierge
  • Get up to $600 cell phone protection (subject to a $25 deductible)

Cons

  • 3% fee charged on foreign transactions

Who's this for? The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card offers the best of both worlds, with a generous 0% intro APR offer and one of the strongest welcome bonuses you can find with a no-annual-fee credit card. Once approved, you can earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first three months from account opening. That averages out to only about $167 in spending per month to earn the bonus.

Other great perks: New Wells Fargo Active Cash Card members have the opportunity to receive an intro 0% APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for the first 15 months from account opening, then a variable 20.24%, 25.24% or 29.99% APR applies; There's an intro balance transfer fee of 3% for 120 days from account opening, then a standard balance transfer fee of up to 5% of the amount you transfer ($5 minimum). For balance transfers to qualify for the intro APR and intro transfer fee, you must make the transfer within 120 days from account opening.

Best for cash back

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

On Capital One's secure site
  • Rewards

    Earn 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024, 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases, earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; Terms apply, 3% cash back on dining and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), 3% cash back on popular streaming services and entertainment, and 1% cash back on all other purchases

  • Welcome bonus

    Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening

  • Annual fee

    $0

  • Intro APR

    0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months

  • Regular APR

    19.99% - 29.99% variable 

  • Balance transfer fee

    3% for the first 15 months; 4% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time

  • Foreign transaction fee

    None

  • Credit needed

    Excellent/Good

  • See rates and fees, terms apply.

Pros

  • 3% cash back on dining and entertainment purchases
  • Ability to redeem rewards at any amount, unlike some other cards with $25 minimums
  • Competitive special financing offer on both new purchases and balance transfers
  • No fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.

Cons

  • 3% balance transfer fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months

Who's this for? The top cash-back credit cards have some of the simplest welcome bonus offers that provide great rewards with low spending requirements. The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card offers a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. That's like earning 40% cash back.

This card's bonus spending categories are also great for foodies, entertainment gurus and frequent Uber users.

Other great perks: There is no foreign transaction fee associated with this card, and you can benefit from 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies (3% for the first 15 months; 4% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time; see rates and fees).

This card also comes with numerous added perks, such as a free Uber One membership through Nov. 14, 2024, access to exclusive entertainment events (concerts, food experiences, sporting events), extended warranty protection (automatically doubles the original manufacturer's warranty on eligible purchases made with this card) and may include travel *accident insurance.

Best for no annual fee

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

On Capital One's secure site
  • Rewards

    Enjoy up to 6 months of complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024, 1.5% cash back on every purchase

  • Welcome bonus

    Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening

  • Annual fee

    $0

  • Intro APR

    0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers

  • Regular APR

    19.99% - 29.99% variable

  • Balance transfer fee

    3% for the first 15 months; 4% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time

  • Foreign transaction fee

    None

  • Credit needed

    Excellent/Good

  • See rates and fees, terms apply.

Pros

  • No annual fee
  • Low spending requirement for the welcome bonus
  • Redeem cash back for any amount at any time
  • No foreign transaction fee

Cons

  • 3% balance transfer fee during the first 15 months your account is open
  • No bonus rewards categories

Who's this for? The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is a great choice for consumers looking for a no-annual-fee credit card that has a generous welcome bonus. Its bonus provides a 40% return.

This card has a straightforward cashback program where you can earn 1.5% cash back on everything you buy. Cashback can be conveniently redeemed at any time and for any amount.

Other great perks: Cardholders can finance new purchases or transfer debt with a 0% intro APR for the first 15 months from account opening (then 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR; 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months; see rates and fees). The card also has no foreign transaction fee and may include travel *accident insurance, 24-hour travel assistance, extended warranty protection and access to premier culinary, entertainment and sports event experiences.

*Terms, conditions and exclusions apply.  Refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details.

Best for travel

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

  • Rewards

    5 Miles per dollar on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 2X miles per dollar on every other purchase

  • Welcome bonus

    Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening

  • Annual fee

    $95

  • Intro APR

    N/A for purchases and balance transfers

  • Regular APR

    19.99% - 29.99% variable

  • Balance transfer fee

    $0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you

  • Foreign transaction fee

    None

  • Credit needed

    Excellent/Good

See rates and fees, terms apply.

Pros

  • 5 miles per dollar on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit up to $100 every 4 years

Cons

  • No introductory APR
  • There’s a $95 annual fee

Who's this for? The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is for people who want luxury benefits without paying the high annual fee of a premium credit card. It also offers a generous welcome bonus worth at least $750 in travel rewards, or potentially more if you transfer your miles to one of Capital One's travel partners.

Other great perks: Benefits include a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application fee credit every four years worth up to $100 and no foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees). As an added plus, you can use your Venture Rewards card to get access to exclusive sporting and music events, plus premiere culinary experiences.

Best for flexible rewards

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

On Chase's secure site
  • Rewards

    Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.

  • Welcome bonus

    Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

  • Annual fee

    $95

  • Intro APR

    None

  • Regular APR

    21.49% - 28.49% variable on purchases and balance transfers

  • Balance transfer fee

    Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater

  • Foreign transaction fee

    None

  • Credit needed

    Excellent/Good

  • Terms apply.

Pros

  • Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel via Chase Ultimate Rewards®
  • Transfer points to leading frequent travel programs at a 1:1 rate, including: IHG® Rewards Club, Marriott Bonvoy™ and World of Hyatt®
  • Travel protections include: auto rental collision damage waiver, baggage delay insurance and trip delay reimbursement
  • No fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.

Cons

  • $95 annual fee
  • No introductory 0% APR

Who's this for? The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card has a loyal following among travelers looking for a travel-centric rewards program and a robust suite of perks. This card also has a generous welcome bonus that's worth $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards® or more when redeeming points through Chase's transfer partners.

Other great perks: Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. You can also get more value from the rewards program by taking advantage of Chase's airline and hotel transfer partners, including United Airlines, British Airways, World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy and more.

Beyond rewards, this card includes many helpful benefits, such as a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, no foreign transaction fees and baggage and trip delay insurance.

Best for everyday spending

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

On Chase's Secure site
  • Rewards

    Enjoy 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; and 3% cash back on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

  • Welcome bonus

    INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

  • Annual fee

    $0

  • Intro APR

    0% for the first 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers

  • Regular APR

    20.49% - 29.24% variable

  • Balance transfer fee

    Intro fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, on transfers made within 60 days of account opening. After that, either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

  • Foreign transaction fee

    3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars

  • Credit needed

    Excellent/Good

  • Member FDIC. Terms apply.

Pros

  • No annual fee
  • Rewards can be transferred to a Chase Ultimate Rewards card
  • Generous welcome bonus

Cons

  • 3% fee charged on foreign transactions

Who's this for? The Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers a unique limited-time welcome bonus without a specific spending requirement. New cardholders will earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back! It also has a straightforward cash-back program that doesn't require activating bonus categories, making it a good choice for those seeking simplicity.

Other great perks: Cardholders have access to travel benefits and protections such as auto rental collision damage waivers, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, travel and emergency assistance, purchase protection and extended warranty protection, as well as discounts with DoorDash and Instacart+.

Best for premium perks

The Platinum Card® from American Express

On the American Express secure site
  • Rewards

    Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel, 1X points on all other eligible purchases

  • Welcome bonus

    Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.

  • Annual fee

    $695

  • Intro APR

    None

  • Regular APR

    See Pay Over Time APR

  • Balance transfer fee

    N/A

  • Foreign transaction fee

    None

  • Credit Needed

    Excellent/Good

  • See rates and fees, terms apply.

Pros

  • Up to $200 in annual airline fee credits
  • $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
  • Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings, which requires a minimum two-night stay, through American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®.
  • $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
  • $155 Walmart+ Credit: Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) and receive a statement credit that covers the full cost each month. $12.95 plus applicable taxes. Plus Up Benefits not eligible.

Cons

  • $695 annual fee
  • No special financing offers on new purchases

Who's this for? The Platinum Card® from American Express is for those looking to travel in luxury and benefit from high rewards on eligible airfare and hotel expenses. It is currently offering a phenomenal welcome bonus of 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $8,000 within six months of card membership. Many rewards experts value Amex points at 2 cents each when transferred to travel partners, making this offer worth a whopping $1,600.

The card comes with a steep annual fee but many perks help offset it.

Other great perks:

  • Up to $200 annual hotel credit on prepaid hotel bookings through Amex Travel
  • Up to $200 annual airline fee credit charged by your selected qualifying airline
  • Up to $300 per calendar year Equinox credit (subject to auto-renewal)
  • Up to $100 annual Saks Fifth Avenue credit
  • Up to $189 credit to enroll in CLEAR® Plus (subject to auto-renewal)
  • Up to $240 annual digital entertainment credit (enrollment required)
  • Up to $155 annual Walmart+ credit. Plus Ups not eligible. Subject to auto-renewal.
  • Worldwide airport lounge access, including Delta SkyClubs and Amex Centurion Lounges
  • Up to $200 annual Uber credit. Benefit renews annually.
  • $100 fee credit for Global Entry(every 4 years) or up to $85 for TSAPreCheck (every 4.5 years)
  • Automatic hotel elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy
  • Comprehensive travel insurance
  • Complimentary Amex concierge service
  • Terms apply

Best for rotating bonus categories

Chase Freedom Flex℠

  • Rewards

    5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate (then 1%), 5% cash back on travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3% on drugstore purchases and on dining (including takeout and eligible delivery services), 1% cash back on all other purchases

  • Welcome bonus

    Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Plus, earn 5% cash back on combined gas station and grocery store purchases (excluding Target and Walmart) on up to $12,000 spent in the first year.

  • Annual fee

    $0

  • Intro APR

    0% for the first 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers

  • Regular APR

    20.49% - 29.24% variable

  • Balance transfer fee

    Intro fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, on transfers made within 60 days of account opening. After that, either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

  • Foreign transaction fee

    3%

  • Credit needed

    Excellent/Good

  • Member FDIC. Terms apply. Information about the Chase Freedom Flex℠ has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.

Pros

  • No annual fee
  • Generous welcome bonus
  • Opportunity to earn up to 5% cash back in select categories upon activation
  • Rewards can be transferred to a Chase Ultimate Rewards card

Cons

  • Bonus categories must be activated each quarter
  • 3% fee charged on foreign transactions

Who's this for? The Chase Freedom Flex℠ has one of the best welcome bonuses around: Earn $200 cash back after you spend $500 on purchases in your first three months from account opening. That's like earning 40% back. Plus, earn 5% cash back on combined gas station and grocery store purchases (excluding Target and Walmart) on up to $12,000 spent in the first year.

This card can help you maximize cashback in a variety of rotating categories. The 5% cash-back calendar changes every quarter and can include useful categories such as grocery stores. (Learn more about how Chase classifies bonus category purchases.)

Other great perks: Cardholders can take advantage of a competitive no-interest intro period for the first 15 months from account opening on new purchases and balance transfers (after, 20.49% - 29.24% variable APR). The Freedom card also provides cell phone protection and select partner benefits, such as 5% cash back on Lyft purchases through March 2025 and up to $10 back each quarter in statement credits for using Instacart, plus three free months of delivery through Instacart+ when activated by July 31, 2024.

Best for no spending required

Prime Visa

  • Rewards

    Earn unlimited 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership, unlimited 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare), 10% back or more on a rotating selection of products and categories at Amazon.com, unlimited 1% back on all other purchases

  • Welcome bonus

    Get a $100 Amazon Gift Card (or more) instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members

  • Annual fee

    $0 (but Prime membership is required)

  • Intro APR

    None

  • Regular APR

    19.49% - 27.49% variable

  • Balance transfer fee

    Either $5 or 4% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

  • Foreign transaction fee

    None

  • Credit needed

    Excellent/Good

Terms apply.

Pros

  • No annual fee
  • $100 Amazon.com gift card upon approval, with no spending requirements
  • 5% back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market
  • No fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.

Cons

  • Prime membership is required
  • The 5% back on groceries only applies to groceries bought on Amazon.com or at Whole Foods Market
  • Estimated rewards earned after 1 year: $792
  • Estimated rewards earned after 5 years: $2,960

Rewards totals incorporate the points earned from the welcome bonus

Who's this for? The Prime Visa, issued by Chase, is one of few cards that automatically award a welcome bonus after account approval. If approved for this card, you'll get a $100 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members. This welcome bonus is a great way to fund an Amazon purchase or offset the cost of your Prime membership, which is required to open this card and currently costs $139 annually or $14.99 a month.

Other great perks: This card doesn't have an annual fee (except for the Prime membership requirement) and also has no foreign transaction fees. As a Visa Signature card, cardholders also enjoy perks like travel and emergency assistance, lost Luggage reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, purchase protection and extended warranty protection.

Best for airline and hotel loyalists

Right now, there are also some impressive, elevated welcome bonuses being offered by the top airline and hotel credit cards. In fact, there are several co-branded credit cards currently offering welcome bonus offers of 100,000 points or more. If you favor a particular airline or hotel group, this might be a good option for you.

Air Canada fans

  • Aeroplan® Credit Card: Earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

Read more about Aeroplan's new welcome offer.

Delta fans

For consumers:

For business travelers:

Read more about these Delta welcome bonus offers.

Hilton fans

Read more about these Hilton welcome bonus offers.

IHG fans

Read more about this IHG welcome bonus offer.

Marriott fans

  • Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card: Earn five Free Night Awards after you use your new Card to make $8,000 in eligible purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Redemption level up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points for each bonus Free Night Award, at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees. Offer Ends 3/20/24.
  • Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. 
  • Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: Earn 5 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $5,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card.
  • Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card: Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Read more about the best way to use Marriott Bonvoy rewards points.

Southwest fans

  • Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card: Limited-time offer: earn Companion Pass® good through 2/28/25 plus 30,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Offer Ends 3/11/24.
  • Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card: Limited-time offer: earn Companion Pass® good through 2/28/25 plus 30,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Offer Ends 3/11/24.
  • Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: Limited-time offer: earn Companion Pass® good through 2/28/25 plus 30,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Offer Ends 3/11/24.

Read more about Southwest bonus offers.

United fans

  • United Club℠ Infinite Card: Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
  • United Quest℠ Card: Earn 60,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

Find the best credit card for you by reviewing offers in our credit card marketplace or get personalized offers via CardMatch™.

FAQs

A credit card sign-up bonus is an incentive to entice consumers to open a new credit card and make purchases with the card. You typically need to spend a certain amount within a specified period of time to earn the bonus.

Credit card sign-up bonuses are typically one-time offers you can qualify for when you open a new card. These rewards often come in the form of cashback, points or miles, and generally require spending a certain amount of money with that card within the first few months of account opening. The spending thresholds vary but generally range from $500 to $5,000.

Credit card sign-up bonuses can be worth it as they can add hundreds of dollars (or sometimes even over a thousand dollars) back to your wallet and are generally non-taxable since you had to spend money to earn them. However, you should only pursue a welcome bonus if you can meet the spending requirement without overspending or stretching yourself too thin. You don't want to carry a balance just to earn a bonus since the interest charges could outweigh the value of any rewards you earn.

Some card issuers like American Express limit the number of sign-up bonuses you can earn for a card to once per lifetime, while others may allow you to earn a sign-up bonus multiple times, but may make you wait a certain period of time before being eligible again.

Cashback cards like the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card and the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card generally have sign-up bonuses that are easier to earn.

While the best credit card sign-up bonus will depend on the individual, travel rewards cards like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express currently offer some of the largest welcome bonuses.

Bottom line

There is no shortage of great welcome bonuses out there. American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Discover and Wells Fargo are all offering new cardholders competitive bonus offers that can provide you with over $1,000 in value, depending on the card.

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Why trust CNBC Select?

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card productsWhile CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best credit card sign-up bonuses.

Our methodology

To determine which cards offer the best value, CNBC Select analyzed over 100 of the most popular credit cards available in the U.S. that are open to anyone and offer welcome bonuses. We compared each card on a range of features, including cash-back rewards, annual fees, welcome bonuses, introductory and standard APR, balance transfer fees and foreign transaction fees, as well as factors such as required credit and customer reviews when available.

CNBC Select teamed up with location intelligence firm Esri. The company's data development team provided the most up-to-date and comprehensive consumer spending data based on the 2019 Consumer Expenditure Surveys from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. You can read more about their methodology here.

Esri's data team created a sample annual budget of approximately $22,126 in retail spending. The budget includes six main categories: groceries ($5,174), gas ($2,218), dining out ($3,675), travel ($2,244), utilities ($4,862) and general purchases ($3,953). General purchases include items such as housekeeping supplies, clothing, personal care products, prescription drugs and vitamins, and other vehicle expenses.

CNBC Select used this budget to estimate how much the average consumer would save over the course of a year, two years and five years, assuming they would attempt to maximize their rewards potential by earning all welcome bonuses offered and using the card for all applicable purchases. All rewards total estimations are net the annual fee.

It's important to note the value of a point or mile varies from card to card and is based on how you redeem them. When we calculated the estimated returns, we assumed that cardholders are redeeming cash back for a typical maximum value of 1 cent per point or mile. (Extreme optimizers might be able to achieve more value.)

Our final picks are weighted heavily toward the highest five-year returns since it's generally wise to hold onto a credit card for years. This method also avoids giving an unfair advantage to cards with large welcome bonuses.

While the five-year estimates we've included are derived from a budget similar to the average American's spending, you may earn a higher or lower return depending on your shopping habits.

Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of credit cardsbanking and money, and follow us on TikTokFacebookInstagram and Twitter to stay up to date.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.

For rates and fees of Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, click here.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, click here.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, click here.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card, click here.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, click here.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, click here.

For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, click here.

For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, click here.

For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, click here.

For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, click here.

For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, click here.

Information about the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card, Prime Visa Card and Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.

*For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply

Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
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