The Citi Premier® Card is no longer available for new applicants. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offer below is no longer be available. Please visit our list of the best Chase cards for the most current offers.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
A credit card welcome bonus is an incentive offered by banks to entice new customers to begin spending on their cards. These typically come in the form of a lump sum of travel rewards or cash back. For consumers, it's an excellent opportunity to jumpstart their credit card rewards journey.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card card recently offered a record-breaking welcome bonus for new cardholders. However, that deal has now ended — but that doesn't mean that there aren't other amazing bonuses available.
However, before you select a card on a whim, it's critical to reflect on your own financial needs, your budget and what type of rewards you desire to ensure you select the right card.
Select analyzed current welcome bonuses available to consumers in each credit card category, and found several with excellent value and features. Keep in mind that if you're a small business owner you can find some excellent offers on small business credit cards that may be higher than the bonuses listed on personal cards below.
Our best selections in your inbox. Shopping recommendations that help upgrade your life, delivered weekly. Sign-up here.
Top credit card bonuses available now
Travel card with transferable points: American Express Platinum Card®
Current welcome bonus: You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership*.
The American Express Platinum Card® is one of the most sought-after travel cards because of its points-earning potential and long list of benefits and credits. And with an excellent welcome offer of as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards points, it delivers a lot of upfront value to cardholders. However, it comes with a steep $895 annual fee (see rates and fees). But as with many annual fees, by using the benefits, you can quickly offset the cost.
And the points you can earn in this welcome bonus are extremely valuable. At the bare minimum, you will have 183,000 Membership Rewards points after you meet the minimum spend threshold. Membership Rewards are generally valued at two cents per point, giving you $3,500 in rewards that can be transferred to Amex's travel partners.
The American Express Platinum Card® is a premium card loaded with annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, extensive airport lounge access, elite status perks and more. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- Access to 1,550+ airport lounges, including Priority Pass™ lounges (enrollment required) and Amex Centurion lounges
- Statement credit offers worth up to twice what the annual fee costs
- Elite status perks for hotels and rental cars (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- High annual fee
- Many statement credit offers are complicated and are earned in increments or limited to specific purchases
- Not as rewarding for purchases as other lower-fee travel cards
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 Delta Sky Club visits (subject to visit limitations) when flying on an eligible Delta flight, Priority Pass™ membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. *As of 01/2026
- $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
- $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights™ by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. As a Platinum Card® Member you have special access to reservations on select nights at participating sought after Resy restaurants in select cities through Platinum Nights™ by Resy. Simply add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile to book your reservation.
- $219 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $219 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM late check-out.
- $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That's up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Get up to a $12.95* statement credit back each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Platinum Card®. *Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
Honorable mention: Citi Premier® Card has a welcome offer of 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first three months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.
Cash back: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Current welcome bonus: Earn as high as $300 cash back after spending $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in the first 6 months. Apply to find out your offer. If approved, you'll: 1. Find out your offer amount, 2. Accept the Card with your offer, 3. Spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 6 months 4. Receive the cash back. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is an excellent choice for a cash back credit card, especially with the broad spending categories and valuable welcome offer it comes with. As you spend on the card, you will earn: 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases, then 1%) and with select U.S. streaming services, 3% cash back on transit (i.e. taxis and rideshare) and at eligible U.S. gas stations and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
Additionally, the card comes with a 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable APR, 19.49% - 28.49% (see rates and fees). This is a great strategy to finance a large purchase like an iPhone, or possibly for your upcoming holiday shopping.
After meeting the minimum spend threshold of $3,000 within the first six months, you will have at least $430 back in your pocket — a net return of more than 14% on your spending.
Select calculated how much the average American can earn in a year using the Blue Cash Preferred. We worked with the location intelligence firm Esri, who provided us with a sample annual spending budget of $22,126. 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).
With these numbers in mind, the average American would earn $524 in cash back per year with the Blue Cash Preferred, and that doesn't even include the welcome bonus offer.
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a low-fee card with generous cash-back rewards and useful ongoing benefits, such as a monthly Disney Bundle credit. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- High cash-back earnings for U.S. supermarkets and streaming services
- Intro-APR offer for purchases and balance transfers
- No annual fee for the first year
- It's less rewarding after the first year because of the annual fee
- Bonus rewards for U.S. supermarkets are capped
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Apply and find out your welcome offer. As High As $300 cash back* after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply, and if approved: 1. Find out your offer amount 2. Accept the Card with your offer 3. Spend $3,000 in 6 months 4. Receive the cash back. *Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 19.49%-28.49%.
- Plan It®: Buy now, pay later with Plan It. Split purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee so you don't have the pressure of paying all at once. Simply select the purchase in your online account or the American Express® App to see your plan options. Plus, you'll still earn rewards on purchases the way you usually do.
- Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases (then 1%), 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back at eligible U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more) purchases and 1% cash back on other purchases. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.
- Get up to a $10 monthly statement credit after using your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred® Card for a subscription purchase, including a bundle subscription purchase, at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com, or Stream.ESPN.com U.S. websites. Subject to auto-renewal.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee
2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars
Intro APR: Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Current welcome bonus: $100 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
A 0% intro APR credit card doesn't have to simply be about interest-free financing on your purchases. You can also earn rewards at the same time. The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is a perfect example of this.
With this card, you will earn 2% cash-rewards on purchases, in addition to having a 0% introductory period for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers (after, 18.49%, 24.49%, or 28.49% variable APR; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5).
And using the same annual spending budget number above ($22,126), the average American would earn $442 in cash back using the Active Cash Card. And once you add in the $100 welcome offer, that is a cumulative $542 in the first year of spending.
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is great if you want simplicity thanks to its flat-rate 2% unlimited cash rewards on purchases and $0 annual fee.
- High, unlimited flat-rate return on purchases
- Intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
- Lower introductory balance transfer fee
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft (subject to a $25 deductible)
- Charges a 3% foreign transaction fee
- Balance transfer fee increases to 5% of each transfer (minimum $5) after 120 days
- Limited redemption options unless you pair it with a Wells Fargo card that allows point transfers
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn a $100 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 18.49%, 24.49%, or 28.49% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
- $0 annual fee.
- No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don't expire as long as your account remains open.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
Balance Transfer Fee
3% intro for 120 days from account opening, then up to 5%, min: $5
Foreign Transaction Fee
3%
*No annual fee: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Current welcome offer: Earn as high as $200 cash back* after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply, and if approved: 1. Find out your offer amount 2. Accept the Card with your offer 3. Spend $2,000 in 6 months 4. Receive the cash back.
A *no-annual-fee credit card can be a great spending solution for someone looking for a no-frills card. And the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express is a great card for that *(see rates and fees). And you can still be eligible to earn a solid welcome bonus along the way.
With this card, you will earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, on eligible purchases for each category on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), and 1% cash back on all other purchases.
*Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express has no annual fee and bonus rewards on a wide range of common expenditures. On top of that, you also have access to an intro-APR offer for purchases and balance transfers. So this card can help you save in a variety of ways.
- Up to $264 in streaming service and meal kit credits every year (subject to auto renewal)
- High cash-back rates in popular spending categories
- No annual fee
- The best bonus cash-back categories are capped
- Has a foreign transaction fee
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Apply and find out your welcome offer. As High As $200 cash back* after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply, and if approved: 1. Find out your offer amount 2. Accept the Card with your offer 3. Spend $2,000 in 6 months 4. Receive the cash back. *Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
- No Annual Fee.
- Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 19.49%-28.49%.
- Earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, on eligible purchases for each category on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%). Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.
- Get up to a $7 monthly statement credit after using your enrolled Blue Cash Everyday® Card for a subscription purchase, including a bundle subscription purchase, at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com, or Stream.ESPN.com U.S. websites. Subject to auto-renewal.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee
2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars
How to pick the best credit card for you
There is a very similar question among consumers who are new to credit card rewards: "What's the best credit card?" Well, there is no best credit card. The best credit card is the one that fits your goals and spending patterns.
To find the right credit card for you, try to "reverse engineer" your needs. In other words, don't get a credit card and make it work for you. Ask yourself these questions, and then find a card that fits how you spend:
- Am I more interested in travel rewards or cash back?
- Am I open to paying an annual fee? If so, what's my limit?
- Where do I make the majority of purchases?
- What benefits would I find most useful?
But most importantly, be sure to ask yourself if you're financially responsible enough for a credit card. Millions of Americans end up in credit card debt each year for a multitude of reasons, with one of them being overspending. If you fear you may not be ready for a credit card, there is nothing wrong sticking with a debit card or paying with cash.
Bottom line
Earning a credit card sign-up bonus is the best way to earn a ton of rewards quickly. Once you decide cash back or travel rewards are your preference, ask yourself if you can earn the applicable welcome bonus in a responsible way. It isn't advisable to overspend or make purchases you don't need in order to attain a welcome bonus.
Catch up on Select's in-depth coverage of personal finance, tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.
Read more
For rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, click here.
For rates and fees of Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, click here.
*The American Express Platinum Card® Welcome Offer: To view your personalized offer, you must first submit an application. If approved, you will: (1) receive your Welcome Offer details, (2) have the option to accept the Card with that offer, (3) be required to spend $12,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership, and (4) earn Membership Rewards® points. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Terms apply.
