Best Credit Card Guides

Credit Card		Introductory Offer	Annual Fee	Our Thoughts
Capital One Savor		$300	No annual fee	Best cash back card and it even with an annual fee.	LEARN HOW TO APPLY >> We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Wells Fargo Cash Wise		$150	No annual fee	Best no fee cash back credit card.	LEARN HOW TO APPLY >>
Chase Freedom Flex	We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.	$200	No annual fee	Best cash back rewards with 5% rotating quarterly bonuses.	LEARN HOW TO APPLY >> We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Amex Blue Cash Everyday		$200	No annual fee	Best cash back card for groceries that also has no annual fee.	LEARN HOW TO APPLY >> We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Freedom Unlimited	We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.	Extra 1.5% Rewards	No annual fee	Simple cash back card that also has an option to transfer to primary Chase cards for travel.	LEARN HOW TO APPLY >> We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

Maybe travel rewards points seem a little bit daunting when it comes to redeeming. You may want to consider something a little simpler. Something like a cash back card, where you earn a percentage of your purchases back in cash back rewards. Then you can redeem the cash back on anything you’d like.

While we typically like to use our rewards points on travel, there are times when we like to use our points on other purchases so we don’t have to spend our actual money. This is where a cash back card can benefit you. You can use your cash back for that new TV you’ve been wanting, or those stand up paddle boards for this summer, or maybe you’d just like to have a nice dinner out. You can use your cash back rewards for anything.

Yes, at Travel Freedom we believe that travel is the most valuable redemption, but some people would rather have other things in life. Others just simply don’t enjoy traveling. If this is you, there are cash back credit cards to earn rewards that can be redeemed for anything. Just like earning points for travel, there’s no catch to it. Earning points is actually very simple. I believe if you’re going to be spending money, you might as well get some rewards back from your purchases.

Let’s go ahead and get into the list of the 5 best cash back credit cards.

1. Capital One Savor

Capital One Savor

$300 cash back rewards after spending $3,000 in 3 months

$95 Annual Fee (waived year 1)

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The first two cards we mentioned both have no annual fee and somewhat small introductory offers. The Capital One Savor card is slightly different. It does have an annual fee, but makes up for it with better overall benefits. Did I mention that the annual fee is waived in the first year, making it an even better deal? While the two Chase Freedom cards were great because they can be paired with other cards to make them more valuable, the Capital One Savor is the best stand-alone cash back credit card.

The main reason that the Capital One Savor is one of the best cash back credit cards, is its large introductory offer. That’s not all the Savor card has going for it though. It also boasts some pretty impressive rewards categories including dining, entertainment, and groceries. These three categories are where a lot of people spend the most money.

Let’s take a deeper look at what the Capital One Savor card offers.

Capital One Savor
INTRODUCTORY OFFER You’ll earn $300 cash back rewards after you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months.
REWARDS You’ll earn 4% cash back at dining and entertainment. You’ll also earn 2% at grocery stores.
BENEFITS Premium experiences in dining, entertainment and more.
FEES $95 Annual Fee. No foreign transaction fees.
TRAVEL FREEDOM THOUGHTS This is a great cash back card with a large introductory offer and a waived annual fee in year 1.
LEARN HOW TO APPLY NOW >> We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

The Pros

• A large introductory offer that we value at $500 when used as cash back.
• High earning rewards categories.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• Annual fee waived year 1.

The Potential Cons

• Has an annual fee.
• Only earns 1X on non-category bonus spend.

Our Overall Thoughts on the Capital One Savor

With such a high introductory offer and the annual fee being waived in the first year, this card should be considered as one of the best cash back credit cards. If you spend much money on dining, entertainment, and groceries you’ll also see a big benefit from using this card regularly. If you’re looking for the best introductory offer, this is the best cash back credit card for you.

At Travel Freedom, we value this cards introductory offer at $500 if redeemed as cash back. For more information on this card, you can read our full Capital One Savor review.

2. Wells Fargo Cash Wise

Wells Fargo Cash Wise

$150 cash back rewards after spending $500 in 3 months

No Annual Fee

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The Wells Fargo Cash Wise card is a no annual fee cash back credit card. On top of having a nice introductory offer for a no annual fee card, it also earns elevated rewards on all purchases and has one of the best cell phone protection plans of any credit card.

This is absolutely one of the best cash back credit cards that has no annual fee. Let’s take a deeper look at what the Wells Fargo Cash Wise offers.

Wells Fargo Cash Wise
INTRODUCTORY OFFER $150 cash rewards after spending $500 in the first 3 months.
REWARDS You'll earn 1.5% cash rewards on purchases. Earn 1.8% with mobile wallet purchases in the first 12 months (ie: Apple Pay, Google Pay)
BENEFITS Cell phone protection. ($25 deductible)
FEES No annual fee.
TRAVEL FREEDOM THOUGHTS This is a great cash back card. It has no annual fee and also offers great cell phone protection.
LEARN HOW TO APPLY NOW >>

The Pros

• A large introductory offer.
• No annual fee.
• Cell phone protection.
• 1.5% cash back on all purchases.

The Potential Cons

•  No rewards category bonuses.

Our Overall Thoughts on the Wells Fargo Cash Wise

For a card with no annual fee, the Wells Fargo Cash Wise is a great option as a cash back credit card. It offers a substantial introductory offer, earns 1.5% on every purchase, and also comes with cell phone protection in case your phone is broken or stolen.

At Travel Freedom, we value this cards introductory offer at $200. For more information on this card, you can read our full Wells Fargo Cash Wise review.

3. Chase Freedom

Chase Freedom Flex

$200 (20k Ultimate Rewards) after spending $500 in 3 mo.

No Annual Fee

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The Chase Freedom is our favorite cash back credit card. We love it because it has quarterly rotating categories that earn 5X rewards on up to $1,500 in purchases. That means if you spend the full $1,500 per quarter on the bonus categories, you’ll be earning 30,000 points per year. You can see the current and past 5X category bonuses on our Chase Freedom calendar.

The main reason that the Chase Freedom is the best cash back credit card, is its rotating rewards categories. They’re typically at places you’d normally shop like gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores, and department stores. It also comes with a nice chunk of points as an introductory offer. Travel Freedom values the introductory offer of the Chase Freedom to be worth $150 when used as cash back, but these points can also be transferred to a primary Chase Ultimate Rewards card account if you have one, where you can use the points for travel at a higher redemption rate.

You’ll get these card benefits without having to pay an annual fee at all. This makes it even better, as you’ll pay nothing to keep the card.

Let’s take a deeper look at what the Chase Freedom card offers.

Chase Freedom We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
INTRODUCTORY OFFER You'll earn $200 (in the form of 20,000 Ultimate Rewards points) after spending $500 in the first 3 months.
REWARDS You'll earn 5% on rotating quarterly categories. (up to $1500 in purchases per quarter)
BENEFITS Points can be transferred to primary Chase cards for better redemptions. Free credit score.
ANNUAL FEE No annual fee
TRAVEL FREEDOM THOUGHTS This is one of the best "cash back" cards for earning rewards. You can earn up to 5X per dollar and those points can be transferred to a primary Chase card for better redemptions. It's a perfect card to pair with either of the Sapphire cards or the Ink Business Preferred.
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The Pros

• 5X rotating rewards categories.
• $150 introductory offer.
• No annual fee.
• Points can be transferred to a primary Ultimate Rewards card for higher value travel redemptions.

The Potential Cons

• 5X categories are limited to $1,500 per quarter.
• Other purchases only earn 1X point per dollar.

Our Overall Thoughts on the Chase Freedom

The Chase Freedom is our overall best cash back credit card for a few reasons. It offers valuable 5X redemption bonuses on rotating categories that we actually spend money on each quarter. It also offers a decent introductory offer, especially for having no annual fee to worry about. We personally like this card because it pairs well with the primary Chase Ultimate Rewards cards to earn a lot of free travel. If you’re looking for something simpler with a set amount of points for every purchase, you’ll probably like the second card on our list better.

At Travel Freedom, we value this cards introductory offer at $150 if redeemed as cash back. The value can be doubled if you pair it with other Chase cards and use it for travel. For more information on this card, you can read our full Chase Freedom review.

4. Amex Blue Cash Everyday

Amex Blue Cash Everyday

$150 cash back rewards after spending $1,000 in 3 months

No Annual Fee

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The Amex Blue Cash Everyday card is another no annual fee cash back credit card. It’s known for having great rewards categories for regular spending including at grocery stores, gas stations, and department stores in the US.

Even though the Amex Blue Cash Everyday has no annual fee, it still comes with a solid introductory offer. Not only that, it earns more rewards on groceries than many cards that do have an annual fee.

Let’s take a deeper look at what the Amex Blue Cash Everyday offers.

Amex Blue Cash Everyday
INTRODUCTORY OFFER You’ll earn $150 cash back rewards after you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months.
REWARDS You’ll earn 3% cash back at US supermarkets. (up to $6000 in purchases per year) You’ll also earn 2% at US gas stations and select US department stores.
BENEFITS Cash back is earned in reward dollars that can be used for statement credits, gift cards and merchandise.
FEES No annual fee. Terms Apply
TRAVEL FREEDOM THOUGHTS This is a great no-fee card for grocery shopping. Earning 3X is one of the best without an annual fee.
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The Pros

• Good introductory offer.
• Great rewards categories.
• No annual fee.

The Potential Cons

• No benefits outside of spending.
• Normal spending only earns 1%

Our Overall Thoughts on the Amex Blue Cash Everyday

The Amex Blue Cash Everyday is one of the best credit cards for grocery purchases as it earns a high rewards bonus. There are other cards that offer higher rewards on groceries, but they also come with an annual fee of around $100. To justify paying the annual fee for a higher grocery rewards card like the Amex Blue Cash Preferred, you’d need to spend over $300 on groceries per month.

At Travel Freedom, we value this cards introductory offer at $150. For more information on this card, you can read our full Amex Blue Cash Everyday review.

5. Chase Freedom Unlimited

Chase Freedom Unlimited

Earn Additional 1.5% Cash Back in year 1. Up to $300 Cash back. (30,000 Ultimate Rewards)

No Annual Fee

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The Chase Freedom Unlimited card is similar to the Chase Freedom in many ways. Earning cash back couldn’t be simpler than with the Freedom Unlimited. It earns 1.5X Ultimate Rewards on each and every purchase, with no limits.

On top of that, the Chase Freedom Unlimited has a slightly different style introductory offer than most cards. Instead of getting a certain amount of points, you’ll earn 3X back on all purchases in the first year (up to $20,000). That enables the possibility to earn up to 30,000 extra Chase Ultimate Rewards if you spend the full amount in the first year.

Let’s take a deeper look at what the Chase Freedom Unlimited card offers.

Chase Freedom Unlimited We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
INTRODUCTORY OFFER You'll earn an additional 1.5% rewards on all purchases in the first year. (up to $20k purchases)
REWARDS You'll earn 1.5% back on all purchases. (after year 1) No limit.
BENEFITS Points can be transferred to primary Chase cards for better redemptions. Free credit score.
ANNUAL FEE No annual fee
TRAVEL FREEDOM THOUGHTS This is one of the best "cash back" cards for earning rewards. You earn 1.5% per dollar (3% year 1) and those points can be transferred to a primary Chase card for better redemptions. It's a perfect card to pair with either of the Sapphire cards or the Ink Business Preferred.
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The Pros

• 1.5% cash back on all purchases. (in the form of Ultimate Rewards)
• 3% cash back on purchases in the first year.
• No annual fee.

The Potential Cons

• No bonus rewards categories.
• No introductory offer of points.

Our Overall Thoughts on the Chase Freedom Unlimited

The Chase Freedom Unlimited is also one of our favorite cash back credit cards for a few reasons. First, it offers a great introductory offer that is unlike other cards. It also has no annual fee to pay. On top of that, it has the potential to double the points value if used for travel, by transferring points to a primary Chase card that you pair it with (Chase Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, and Ink Preferred).

At Travel Freedom, we value this cards introductory offer at up to $300 if you spend $20,000 in the first year and points are redeemed for cash back. For more information on this card, you can read our full Chase Freedom Unlimited review.

With two of the top cash back credit cards both being the Chase Freedom branded cards, you may be wondering which is really the best for you. Well, we did a Chase Freedom vs Freedom Unlimited comparison to help you out.

The Best Cash Back Credit Cards

As you can see, there are many great cash back credit cards available. These are the Travel Freedom top 5 cash back credit cards. Any of them are great options if you’re looking to earn some cash back rewards on your purchases. We like to use our points towards travel, but you can also earn rewards to buy whatever you’d like. Good luck choosing the best cash back credit card for yourself and buy something you’ve always wanted with your rewards!

Credit Card		Introductory Offer	Annual Fee	Our Thoughts
Capital One Savor		$300	No annual fee	Best cash back card and it even with an annual fee.	LEARN HOW TO APPLY >> We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Wells Fargo Cash Wise		$150	No annual fee	Best no fee cash back credit card.	LEARN HOW TO APPLY >>
Chase Freedom Flex	We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.	$200	No annual fee	Best cash back rewards with 5% rotating quarterly bonuses.	LEARN HOW TO APPLY >> We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Amex Blue Cash Everyday		$200	No annual fee	Best cash back card for groceries that also has no annual fee.	LEARN HOW TO APPLY >> We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Freedom Unlimited	We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.	Extra 1.5% Rewards	No annual fee	Simple cash back card that also has an option to transfer to primary Chase cards for travel.	LEARN HOW TO APPLY >> We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

Credit Card		Introductory Offer	Annual Fee	Our Thoughts
Chase Sapphire Preferred	We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.	60,000 points	$95	Best first travel credit card.	LEARN HOW TO APPLY >> We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Capital One Venture		75,000 miles	$95	Great travel rewards credit card for simplicity.	LEARN HOW TO APPLY >> We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Chase Sapphire Reserve	We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.	60,000 points	$550	Best premium travel rewards credit card	LEARN HOW TO APPLY >> We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Amex Platinum		100,000 points	$695	Best ultra luxury travel rewards credit card.	LEARN HOW TO APPLY >> We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Ink Business Preferred	We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.	100,000 points	$95	Best business travel rewards credit card.	LEARN HOW TO APPLY >> We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

If you’re looking to travel more often and for less money, you should consider having travel rewards credit cards. They make it possible to earn enough travel points and miles to travel for cheap and sometimes even for free.

Since 2012, I’ve been earning thousands and thousands of points, mostly through travel rewards credit cards. I earn massive amounts of points through the credit card introductory offers and also through earning rewards on purchases I regularly make. Because I’ve always been a little bit entrepreneurial, I’ve had at least a sole proprietorship as a business which allows me to get business credit cards as well as personal cards.

In this article, we’ll mostly be discussing the best personal travel rewards credit cards. But, just know that there are also many business cards that can earn a ton of travel rewards as well.

Using travel rewards points, my wife and I have been able to visit friends all over the country, often go on “weekend-cations” (as we like to call them), and have been able to go to Hawaii at least one time each year over. The best part is we’ve rarely had to pay for flight or hotels. We use our almost endless supply of points that we earn through travel rewards credit cards. There’s no catch to it and this type of travel is widely available. You just have to be willing to learn and put in a little time to book with points.

Let’s go ahead and get into the list of the 5 best travel rewards credit cards. We’ll start off with arguably the best travel rewards credit card of them all.

1. Chase Sapphire Preferred

Chase Sapphire Preferred

60,000 points after spending $4,000 in 3 months

$95 Annual Fee

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The Chase Sapphire Preferred is often referred to by travel experts as one of the best travel rewards credit cards. It’s especially good for people who are just getting started with travel rewards, and is touted as the “best first travel credit card”.

The main reason that the Chase Sapphire Preferred is the best travel rewards credit card, is its introductory offer. The amount of points you’ll earn right off the bat is enough for a nice vacation. Travel Freedom values the introductory offer of the Chase Sapphire Preferred to be well over $1000 towards travel. The card also has a very reasonable annual fee compared to the value that the card offers. It’s always nice to be able to earn a bunch of travel points without having to pay a huge annual fee each year.

Let’s take a deeper look at what the Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers.

Chase Sapphire Preferred We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
INTRODUCTORY OFFER You'll earn 60,000 points after spending $4000 in the first 3 months.
REWARDS You'll earn 2X points on travel and 3X on dining.
BENEFITS Points are worth 25% more when used in the Chase travel portal. No foreign transaction fees. 1:1 point transfer partner hotels and airlines.
FEES $95 No foreign transaction fees.
TRAVEL FREEDOM THOUGHTS This is the best first travel credit card to get. It has a valuable signup bonus with easy to redeem points. You also get a boost to your points value in the Chase travel portal.
LEARN HOW TO APPLY NOW >> We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

The Pros

• A huge introductory offer that we value at more than $1000 for travel.
• Low annual fee compared to the benefits.
• Airline & hotel Chase transfer partners available.
• 25% bonus when spending points in the Chase travel portal.
• No foreign transaction fees.

The Potential Cons

• The only rewards category is 2X on travel.
• It has an annual fee that is not waived.

Our Overall Thoughts on the Chase Sapphire Preferred

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is our overall best travel rewards credit card for a few reasons. It offers a large introductory offer compared to a low annual fee. Plus, the Chase Ultimate Rewards points you’ll earn are the most valuable and versatile points of all. They can be used for travel in a variety of ways, including through the Chase travel portal, or by transferring points to a wide range of hotels and airlines.

At Travel Freedom, we value this cards introductory offer at well over $1000 if redeemed for travel. For more information on this card, you can read our full Chase Sapphire Preferred review.

2. Capital One Venture Rewards

Capital One Venture

50,000 points after spending $3,000 in 3 months

$95 Annual Fee (waived year 1)

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The Capital One Venture Rewards card is similar to the Chase Sapphire Preferred card in many ways. It’s also a great card to get started earning travel points with because they can be used in a variety of ways to earn free travel.

The Capital One Venture Rewards card offers a large introductory offer that Travel Freedom values at around $700 when redeemed for travel. Capital One points also have airline transfer partners, but they’re not quite as good as the Chase transfer partners. While they do offer transfers to some airlines that offer valuable redemptions, the points, unfortunately, don’t transfer to any of the US airlines.

In a couple of ways, the Capital One Venture card is actually better than the Chase Sapphire Preferred. It offers a statement credit towards either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. Both of which give you expedited airport security for a five year period. If you don’t already have either of these memberships, it’s absolutely a life-changer. You can keep your belongings all in your bag and your shoes on at security. Global Entry can also save you a ton of time re-entering the United States at customs. The Capital One Venture Rewards card offers all of this and also waives the annual fee in year one. That means in the first year of having the card, you get all these benefits without having to pay an annual fee.

Let’s take a deeper look at what the Capital One Venture Rewards card offers.

Capital One Venture
INTRODUCTORY OFFER You’ll earn 50,000 points after you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months.
REWARDS You’ll earn 2X points on every purchase.
BENEFITS Statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. Transfer points to airline and hotel travel partners.
FEES $95 annual fee. (waived year 1) No foreign transaction fees.
TRAVEL FREEDOM THOUGHTS This is a great travel credit card. It offers a large introductory offer, free TSA PreCheck for 5 years, plus the annual fee is waived the first year.
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The Pros

• A large introductory offer that we value at $700 for travel.
• Waived annual fee in the first year.
• Airline transfer partners available.
• Earn 2 points per dollar spent on every purchase.
• No foreign transaction fees.

The Potential Cons

• Airline transfer partners are limited. No US airlines.
• It has an annual fee after the first year.

Our Overall Thoughts on the Capital One Venture Rewards

The Capital One Venture Rewards is our second favorite travel rewards credit card for a few reasons. First, it offers a great introductory offer and also waives the annual fee in the first year. On top of that, it has airline transfer partners for redemption and allows you to get Global Entry or TSA PreCheck for free.

At Travel Freedom, we value this cards introductory offer at around $700 if redeemed for travel. For more information on this card, you can read our full Capital One Venture review.

3. Chase Sapphire Reserve

Chase Sapphire Reserve

60,000 points after spending $4,000 in 3 months

$550 Annual Fee

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The Chase Sapphire Reserve is the best of the premium travel rewards credit cards. If you want to start traveling in more luxury, the Chase Sapphire Reserve can help get you there. It’s like the Chase Sapphire Preferred on travel benefit enhancing steroids.

The main reason that the Chase Sapphire Reserve is the best premium travel rewards credit card, is its extraordinary travel benefits. While you’ll get a lower introductory offer and a higher annual fee than the Preferred card, it offers amazing benefits that more than offset the negative differences. The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a travel rewards credit card that is aimed at people who travel often and can frequently take advantage of its benefits.

Let’s take a deeper look at what the Chase Sapphire Reserve card offers.

Chase Sapphire Reserve We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
INTRODUCTORY OFFER You'll earn 60,000 points after spending $4000 in the first 3 months.
REWARDS You'll earn 3X points on travel and dining. Also Earn a total of 10X points on Lyft rides.
BENEFITS $300 annual travel credit. Priority Pass Select airport lounge access. TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. Points are worth 50% more when used in the Chase travel portal. No foreign transaction fees. 1:1 point transfers to partner hotels and airlines. 1 year of Lyft Pink.
FEES $550 No foreign transaction fees.
TRAVEL FREEDOM THOUGHTS This is one of the best premium travel credit cards if you want some luxury. It has a valuable signup bonus with easy to redeem points. You also get a boost to your points value in the Chase travel portal. The biggest key to this card is the airport lounge access. If you travel a lot, it's extremely valuable.
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The Pros

• A large introductory offer that we value at around $1000 for travel.
• Tons of luxurious travel benefits.
• Airline & hotel Chase transfer partners available.
• 50% bonus when spending points in the Chase travel portal.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• Primary car rental insurance.

The Potential Cons

• The only rewards categories are 3X on travel and dining.
• The annual fee is very high.

Our Overall Thoughts on the Chase Sapphire Reserve

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is the best premium travel rewards credit card in our opinion. For someone who travels often, it offers benefits that far outweigh the high annual fee. Having expedited security, airport lounge access, primary rental car insurance, a $300 annual travel statement credit, and a 50% bonus when redeeming in the Chase travel portal, make this card one of our favorites. We originally thought that we’d end up converting this card to a no-fee credit card, but the benefits are so valuable that we continue to keep this card in our wallet.

At Travel Freedom, we value this cards introductory offer at around $1000 if redeemed for travel. For more information on this card, you can read our full Chase Sapphire Reserve review.

4. Amex Platinum Card

Amex Platinum Card

60,000 points after spending $5,000 in 3 months

$550 Annual Fee

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The American Express Platinum Card is another premium travel rewards credit card. It has benefits similar to the Chase Sapphire Reserve and is another card that adds a ton of value for those who travel often. Due to its rewards, the Amex Platinum Card allows you to travel in luxury without paying the big bucks.

The Amex Platinum offers a very good introductory offer that Travel Freedom values at over $1000 when redeemed for travel. It also comes with a very high annual fee. Fortunately, the annual fee is offset by the vast travel benefits that the card offers. With the best airport lounge access of any credit card, expedited airport security, multiple types of travel statement credits, hotel elite status, and huge discounts on luxury hotels and premium seats on flights, the Platinum card is the most luxurious travel rewards credit card of all. Even more so than the Chase Sapphire Reserve. This card is meant for people who like to travel often and luxuriously.

Let’s take a deeper look at what the Amex Platinum Card offers.

Amex Platinum Card
INTRODUCTORY OFFER You’ll earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months.
REWARDS You’ll earn 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel. You’ll earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com.
BENEFITS Enjoy Uber VIP status and free rides in the U.S. up to $15 each month (bonus $20 in December). Enjoy access to the exclusive Global Airport Lounge Collection. $200 Airline Fee Credit, up to $200 every calendar year with one qualifying airline. Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue on your card. Enrollment required. Fine Hotels & Resorts Access. Hilton & Marriott Gold Status. Discounts on First/Business/Premium Economy tickets.
FEES $550 annual fee. No foreign transaction fees. Terms Apply
TRAVEL FREEDOM THOUGHTS With a large introductory offer, statement credits, and airport lounge access, this is an excellent premium travel credit card.
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The Pros

• A large introductory offer that we value over $1000 for travel.
• Luxurious travel benefits at airports, on flights, and at hotels.
• Multiple statement credits each year (Uber, airline, Saks 5th Ave).
• Airline and hotel transfer partners available.
• Earn 5X rewards on certain travel.
• No foreign transaction fees.

The Potential Cons

• Very high annual fee.
• Only earns bonus rewards on travel categories.
• Not as useful for non-frequent travelers.

Our Overall Thoughts on the Amex Platinum Card

While we grade the Chase Sapphire Reserve as the best premium travel rewards credit card, the Amex Platinum isn’t far behind. The only reason we don’t like it quite as much is the travel credit is not as broad and the annual fee is higher. Other than those two features, the Amex Platinum is superior. It’s especially valuable to people who like to travel luxuriously, as there are no other cards that match the premium benefits of the Amex Platinum.

At Travel Freedom, we value this cards introductory offer at over $1000 if redeemed for travel. For more information on this card, you can read our full Amex Platinum Card review.

5. Chase Ink Preferred (this one’s a business card)

Chase Ink Business Preferred

100,000 points after spending $15,000 in 3 months

$95 Annual Fee

LEARN HOW TO APPLY >>

The Chase Ink Business Preferred card is by far the best business travel rewards credit card. In fact, we consider it to have the best introductory offer of ANY rewards card. It also has some benefits worth mentioning.

The Chase Ink Preferred card offers the best introductory offer of any credit card on the market. Travel Freedom values the introductory offer at a whopping $1600 when redeemed for travel. That’s more than double the value of many other popular travel rewards cards. Like the Sapphire cards, it earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points that are extremely valuable.

With the Chase Ink Preferred, you have access to the Chase airline and hotel transfer partners, as well as a 25% bonus in the Chase travel portal (like the Sapphire Preferred). This isn’t the only benefit of the Ink Preferred though. It also offers insurance on your cell phone in case you lose or break it, and primary insurance on rental cars. With a reasonable annual fee, this business card is quite possibly, pound for pound, the most value-packed credit cards of all.

Let’s take a deeper look at what the Chase Ink Preferred card offers.

Ink Business Preferred We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
INTRODUCTORY OFFER You'll earn 100,000 points after spending $15000 in the first 3 months.
REWARDS You'll earn 3X points on travel and select business expenses (including online social media ads). *Limited to first $150k per year.
BENEFITS Points are worth 25% more when used in the Chase travel portal. No foreign transaction fees. Employee cards at no additional cost.
FEES $95 No foreign transaction fees.
TRAVEL FREEDOM THOUGHTS The signup bonus alone for this card is amazing. Pair that with some great rewards earning for your business and this card is great. If you have a business, we find the Ink Preferred to be the best offer available.
LEARN HOW TO APPLY NOW >> We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

The Pros

• The best introductory offer of any card. Valued at around $1600.
• Low annual fee compared to the benefits.
• Airline & hotel Chase transfer partners available.
• 25% bonus when spending points in the Chase travel portal.
• Cell phone protection.
• Earns bonus rewards on many popular business expenses.
• Primary car rental insurance. (during business trips)
• No foreign transaction fees.
• Employee cards at no additional cost.

The Potential Cons

• It’s only available to business owners (including sole proprietors).
• The annual fee is not waived.

Our Overall Thoughts on the Chase Ink Preferred

The Chase Ink Preferred is our favorite overall card. While it’s a business card, it also earns travel rewards points and can be used to get a lot of free travel. We love this card for its enormous introductory offer (valued at $1600), but also find it great for its other benefits and rewards. If you have any type of business (even a sole proprietorship such as a reseller, garage sale host, eBay seller, or offer a local service) you should consider adding this card to your wallet. It pays off big time!

At Travel Freedom, we value this cards introductory offer at around $1600 if redeemed for travel. For more information on this card, you can read our full Chase Ink Preferred review.

The Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards

As you can see, there are many great travel rewards credit cards available. These are the Travel Freedom top 5 travel rewards credit cards. Any of them are great options if you’re looking to travel more and hopefully travel for free. We earn enough points through travel rewards credit cards to travel for free most of the time. You can do it too! Good luck choosing the best travel rewards credit card for yourself and have fun traveling!

Credit Card		Introductory Offer	Annual Fee	Our Thoughts
Chase Sapphire Preferred	We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.	60,000 points	$95	Best first travel credit card.	LEARN HOW TO APPLY >> We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Capital One Venture		75,000 miles	$95	Great travel rewards credit card for simplicity.	LEARN HOW TO APPLY >> We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Chase Sapphire Reserve	We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.	60,000 points	$550	Best premium travel rewards credit card	LEARN HOW TO APPLY >> We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Amex Platinum		100,000 points	$695	Best ultra luxury travel rewards credit card.	LEARN HOW TO APPLY >> We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Ink Business Preferred	We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.	100,000 points	$95	Best business travel rewards credit card.	LEARN HOW TO APPLY >> We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

Do you have excellent credit and want to take advantage of the benefits that come with being smart financially? Having an excellent credit score isn’t just great for securing the best loans and rates. If you want to take advantage of being responsible and building an excellent credit score, you can earn rewards through credit cards. With an excellent credit score, you have access to the very best credit cards in the market.

Credit cards reward customers in two main ways, with travel rewards or cash back rewards. There are a number of credit cards that are aimed at people with excellent credit scores and have amazing benefits and rewards. Many of them even come with introductory offers that are valued at more than $1000!

How My Excellent Credit has Earned Me Free Travel

In 2012, I decided to start using my own excellent credit to my advantage. I started strategically opening credit cards to earn millions of travel rewards in total. I had never traveled much because it was just too darned expensive! Or, I thought it was anyway… Come to find out, because I had excellent credit I could get approved for travel credit cards that would allow me to travel for free or very close to it.

Ever since then, I’ve been traveling as much as I want, and essentially wherever I want. I’ve been to Hawaii every single year. I traveled back and forth across the country when my now wife and I lived long-distance. I’ve visited friends who live in other parts of the country. And, I’ve also traveled outside the country on vacations abroad! As of late, my wife and I (who is a teacher) enjoy taking what we call “weekend-cations” when she has a long weekend from school.

Won’t that Hurt My Credit Score? ABSOLUTELY NOT!

What most people are afraid of when it comes to credit cards is the myth that having them will hurt your credit score. It’s absolutely false IF you are responsible with your credit cards. Earning points for travel or cash back is worthless if you’re paying more interest to the bank than the points are worth. For this reason, it ONLY makes sense to open credit cards if you pay them off in full, every single month. This way you will never inquire interest or unwanted fees of any sort. It’s rule number one when it comes to travel credit cards.

I’ve found that each time I apply for a credit card my credit score will drop 4-5 points, but then will rise even more than that in the following year that I have the credit card open. As an example, I’ve opened 27 new credit cards since 2012 and my credit score has only improved. It is currently sitting at 812, which is high enough to always get loans I may need, the best interest rates for those loans, and of course the best credit cards.

What is Considered an Excellent Credit Score?

An excellent credit score is one that falls between 750-850. A perfect credit score is 850. Even though 850 is the pinnacle score, it’s not very important what the number is after you’ve reached 800.  Anyone with a credit score over 800 will have an optimal chance of being approved for any and all credit cards. With an excellent credit score, you’ll also be given the best interest rates for both credit cards and loans.

Having an excellent credit score of at least 750 puts you in an exclusive club of only about 20% of all credit scores in the United States. Having an excellent credit score is only possible if you’ve been responsibly using credit cards and loans for multiple years. With a score of 750-799 you should qualify for all credit cards and loans, but may not always get the best terms. Having an excellent credit score of over 800 will ensure you get the best cards and the best terms.

By having an excellent credit score, you’ll be able to get approved for basically any credit cards you want. The great news about being able to choose from any credit card is that some cards have excellent benefits. Credit cards that you can be approved for with excellent credit will often give you rewards and benefits that are worth well over $1000 in value. Because we have excellent credit ourselves, we’re very familiar with the credit card offers. Now that you’ve got it, we’ll show you which are the best credit cards for excellent credit.

Rewards & Benefits of the Best Credit Cards for Excellent Credit

Now that you understand that you can benefit from having an excellent credit score by earning virtually unlimited credit card rewards, let’s find out more about the rewards. The back story is that banks want you as a customer so bad that they’re willing to offer up to thousands of dollars in rewards to get you as one. Banks make money from interest and fees. The more people who have credit cards and are using them, the more money they will make. This is why they’ll give you a ton of value when you get a new credit card.

Many credit cards offer introductory offers that earn travel rewards that can be worth thousands of dollars. The best credit card offers are only available to those with excellent credit, so you’re in luck. As well as earning rewards, many of these cards also offer excellent benefits such as airport lounge access, expedited airport security lines, upgraded hotel rooms, travel statement credits, cell phone protection, and elite status with both airlines and hotels.

Most cards also offer reward earning bonuses for certain spending categories such as gas, groceries, dining, travel, and even on cable and cell phone bills. These earning bonuses can allow you to earn a far larger amount of points on your spending than the typical 1 point per dollar.

How We Travel Luxuriously Now

When my wife and I travel, we zip through security at the airport with our TSA PreCheck, head to the closest airport lounge where we receive free food and drinks (using our Priority Pass), and even sometimes get upgraded seats on the plane and hotel rooms at our destination due to the elite status we have. All of these luxurious benefits have been gained through travel credit cards. They may sound like things you thought were only available to the wealthy, but in reality, they’re available to anyone with excellent credit.

Enough with the back story of excellent credit and how it can get you free travel. Let’s talk about credit cards, already. We’ll lay out the best credit cards for excellent credit and explain why they’re the best.

Best Travel Credit Cards for Excellent Credit

Chase Sapphire Preferred: *BEST FIRST TRAVEL CREDIT CARD

Chase Sapphire Preferred We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
INTRODUCTORY OFFER You'll earn 60,000 points after spending $4000 in the first 3 months.
REWARDS You'll earn 2X points on travel and 3X on dining.
BENEFITS Points are worth 25% more when used in the Chase travel portal. No foreign transaction fees. 1:1 point transfer partner hotels and airlines.
FEES $95 No foreign transaction fees.
TRAVEL FREEDOM THOUGHTS This is the best first travel credit card to get. It has a valuable signup bonus with easy to redeem points. You also get a boost to your points value in the Chase travel portal.
LEARN HOW TO APPLY NOW >> We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

Read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

Chase Sapphire Reserve: *BEST LUXURY TRAVEL CARD

Chase Sapphire Reserve We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
INTRODUCTORY OFFER You'll earn 60,000 points after spending $4000 in the first 3 months.
REWARDS You'll earn 3X points on travel and dining. Also Earn a total of 10X points on Lyft rides.
BENEFITS $300 annual travel credit. Priority Pass Select airport lounge access. TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. Points are worth 50% more when used in the Chase travel portal. No foreign transaction fees. 1:1 point transfers to partner hotels and airlines. 1 year of Lyft Pink.
FEES $550 No foreign transaction fees.
TRAVEL FREEDOM THOUGHTS This is one of the best premium travel credit cards if you want some luxury. It has a valuable signup bonus with easy to redeem points. You also get a boost to your points value in the Chase travel portal. The biggest key to this card is the airport lounge access. If you travel a lot, it's extremely valuable.
LEARN HOW TO APPLY NOW >> We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

Read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

Capital One Venture Rewards: *BEST SIMPLE REWARDS EARNING FOR TRAVEL

Capital One Venture
INTRODUCTORY OFFER You’ll earn 50,000 points after you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months.
REWARDS You’ll earn 2X points on every purchase.
BENEFITS Statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. Transfer points to airline and hotel travel partners.
FEES $95 annual fee. (waived year 1) No foreign transaction fees.
TRAVEL FREEDOM THOUGHTS This is a great travel credit card. It offers a large introductory offer, free TSA PreCheck for 5 years, plus the annual fee is waived the first year.
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Read our full review of the Capital One Venture.

Amex Gold Card: GREAT FOR FOOD & TRAVEL

Amex Gold Card
INTRODUCTORY OFFER You’ll earn 35,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months.
REWARDS You’ll earn 4X points at restaurants globally, and US supermarkets. (up to $25k in purchases per year) You'll also earn 3X on AmexTravel.com
BENEFITS Get $10 in statement credits per month for purchases at Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Shake Shack, and Ruth's Chris Steak House. $100 airline fee credit on selected airline. No foreign transaction fees.
FEES $250 annual fee. Terms Apply
TRAVEL FREEDOM THOUGHTS If you spend a lot of money on food and travel, this card will be worth the annual fee. If not, it probably isn't worth paying $250 per year.
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Read our full review of the Amex Gold Card.

PS: There’s also an Amex Business Gold Card

The Platinum Card from American Express: GREAT FOR LUXURY TRAVELERS

Amex Platinum Card
INTRODUCTORY OFFER You’ll earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months.
REWARDS You’ll earn 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel. You’ll earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com.
BENEFITS Enjoy Uber VIP status and free rides in the U.S. up to $15 each month (bonus $20 in December). Enjoy access to the exclusive Global Airport Lounge Collection. $200 Airline Fee Credit, up to $200 every calendar year with one qualifying airline. Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue on your card. Enrollment required. Fine Hotels & Resorts Access. Hilton & Marriott Gold Status. Discounts on First/Business/Premium Economy tickets.
FEES $550 annual fee. No foreign transaction fees. Terms Apply
TRAVEL FREEDOM THOUGHTS With a large introductory offer, statement credits, and airport lounge access, this is an excellent premium travel credit card.
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Read our full review of the Amex Platinum Card.

PS: There’s also an Amex Business Platinum Card

The Best Cashback Credit Cards for Excellent Credit

Chase Freedom: *BEST CARD FOR SPENDING CATEGORIES

Chase Freedom We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
INTRODUCTORY OFFER You'll earn $200 (in the form of 20,000 Ultimate Rewards points) after spending $500 in the first 3 months.
REWARDS You'll earn 5% on rotating quarterly categories. (up to $1500 in purchases per quarter)
BENEFITS Points can be transferred to primary Chase cards for better redemptions. Free credit score.
ANNUAL FEE No annual fee
TRAVEL FREEDOM THOUGHTS This is one of the best "cash back" cards for earning rewards. You can earn up to 5X per dollar and those points can be transferred to a primary Chase card for better redemptions. It's a perfect card to pair with either of the Sapphire cards or the Ink Business Preferred.
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Read our full review of the Chase Freedom.

Chase Freedom Unlimited: *BEST CARD FOR SIMPLE SPENDING REWARDS

Chase Freedom Unlimited We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
INTRODUCTORY OFFER You'll earn an additional 1.5% rewards on all purchases in the first year. (up to $20k purchases)
REWARDS You'll earn 1.5% back on all purchases. (after year 1) No limit.
BENEFITS Points can be transferred to primary Chase cards for better redemptions. Free credit score.
ANNUAL FEE No annual fee
TRAVEL FREEDOM THOUGHTS This is one of the best "cash back" cards for earning rewards. You earn 1.5% per dollar (3% year 1) and those points can be transferred to a primary Chase card for better redemptions. It's a perfect card to pair with either of the Sapphire cards or the Ink Business Preferred.
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Read our full review of the Chase Freedom Unlimited.

We also have a comparison of the two Chase Freedom cards.

The Best Business Credit Cards for Excellent Credit

Chase Ink Business Preferred: *BEST INTRODUCTORY OFFER AVAILABLE

Ink Business Preferred We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
INTRODUCTORY OFFER You'll earn 100,000 points after spending $15000 in the first 3 months.
REWARDS You'll earn 3X points on travel and select business expenses (including online social media ads). *Limited to first $150k per year.
BENEFITS Points are worth 25% more when used in the Chase travel portal. No foreign transaction fees. Employee cards at no additional cost.
FEES $95 No foreign transaction fees.
TRAVEL FREEDOM THOUGHTS The signup bonus alone for this card is amazing. Pair that with some great rewards earning for your business and this card is great. If you have a business, we find the Ink Preferred to be the best offer available.
LEARN HOW TO APPLY NOW >> We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

Read our full review of the Ink Business Preferred.

Chase Ink Business Cash: *BEST INTRO OFFER FOR NO FEE CARD (tied)

Ink Business Cash We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
INTRODUCTORY OFFER You'll earn $750 (in the form of 75,000 Ultimate Rewards points) after spending $3000 in the first 3 months.
REWARDS You'll earn 5X points on internet, cable, phone, and office supply stores. *Limited to first $25k per year. Earn 2X at gas stations and restaurants. *Limited to first $25k per year.
BENEFITS Points can be transferred to primary Chase card accounts for better redemption. Employee cards at no additional cost.
ANNUAL FEE No annual fee
TRAVEL FREEDOM THOUGHTS The signup bonus on this no-fee card is amazing. Pair that with some great 5X reward categories for your business and this card is great. This card pairs well with the Chase Sapphire cards and the Ink Preferred.
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Read our full review of the Ink Business Cash.

Chase Ink Business Unlimited: *BEST INTRO OFFER FOR NO FEE CARD (tied)

Ink Business Unlimited We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
INTRODUCTORY OFFER You'll earn $750 (in the form of 75,000 Ultimate Rewards points) after spending $3000 in the first 3 months.
REWARDS You'll earn 1.5X on all purchases. No limit.
BENEFITS Points can be transferred to primary Chase card accounts for better redemption. Employee cards at no additional cost.
ANNUAL FEE No annual fee
TRAVEL FREEDOM THOUGHTS The signup bonus on this no-fee card is amazing. Pair that with 1.5X rewards on every purchase for your business and this card is great. This card pairs well with the Chase Sapphire cards and the Ink Preferred.
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Read our full review of the Ink Business Unlimited.

We also have a comparison of all the Chase Ink cards.

Decision Time: Which is the Best Credit Card for You & Your Excellent Credit?

So, which credit card(s) will you get with your excellent credit score? As you can see there are a lot of cards that offer great bonuses and benefits for travel or for cash back. It really depends on your preferences, as to which card is best for you.

As a first travel credit card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. or Capital One Venture We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. are often recommended. For luxury travel benefits, the Chase Sapphire Reserve We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. or Amex Platinum We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. are great choices. If you have a business (even a sole proprietorship), the Ink Business Preferred We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. has the most valuable introductory offer of all cards. And, if you’re just looking for a cash back card, the Freedom cards are great choices as well.

My first travel credit card was the Chase Sapphire Preferred. I used the introductory offer to book two round trip flights to Hawaii and I’ve never looked back since. My two current favorite cards are the Ink Business Preferred because of its huge intro offer, and the Chase Sapphire Reserve because it offers the best travel benefits. While these are my favorites, you may prefer one or two of the others. There are enough travel points to be had for a lifetime of travel. You might as well start benefiting from your excellent credit score by earning thousands of dollars of rewards through credit cards.

Credit Card		Introductory Offer	Annual Fee	Our Thoughts
Southwest Priority	We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.	50,000 points after spending $1000 in the first 3 months.	$149	Best airline credit card due to the introductory offer and benefits for Southwest flyers. Also allows the opportunity to earn the Southwest Companion Pass.	LEARN HOW TO APPLY >> We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Southwest Plus	We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.	You'll earn 50,000 points after spending $1000 in the first 3 months.	$69	Second best airline credit card due to the introductory offer and low annual fee. Also allows the opportunity to earn the Southwest Companion Pass.	LEARN HOW TO APPLY >> We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Southwest Premier	We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.	You'll earn 50,000 points after spending $1000 in the first 3 months.	$99	Third best airline credit card due to the introductory offer for Southwest flyers. Also allows the opportunity to earn the Southwest Companion Pass.	LEARN HOW TO APPLY >> We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Southwest Premier Business	We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.	60,000 Points after spending $3000 in the first 3 months.	$99	Best business airline credit card due to the introductory offer for Southwest flyers. Combined with one of the personal SW cards, it allows the opportunity to easily earn a Southwest Companion Pass.	LEARN HOW TO APPLY >> We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
United Explorer Card	We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.	60,000 Miles after spending $3000 in the first 3 months.	$95 (waived year 1)	Good introductory offer for United flyers. It also comes with a few extra benefits and waives the annual fee in the first year.	LEARN HOW TO APPLY >> We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

Most people who like to travel, use their credit card reward points towards flights. For this reason, we’d like to introduce you to the best airline credit cards that are available today. While it may be a better option most often, to have a travel rewards card that has transferrable points, there are still some great airline credit cards.

A benefit to having an airline credit card for your favorite airline is obviously the miles or points you’ll earn, but also the smaller benefits. Some of the best airline credit cards come with free checked baggage, discounts on purchases, lounge passes, and even statement credits for airline fees. They may not seem like much, but a few baggage fees waived adds up quickly. With the Southwest cards, it’s even possible to earn a Southwest Companion Pass through credit card points.

Let’s go ahead and get into the list of the 5 best airline credit cards.

1. Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority

Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority

50,000 points after spending $1,000 in 3 months.

$149 Annual Fee

LEARN HOW TO APPLY >>

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority card is the best of the personal Southwest credit cards and the best overall airline credit card available. It earns our top spot because of the large introductory offer and the valuable benefits it brings with it. The introductory offer counts towards Companion Pass status. Many people take advantage of both a personal and business Southwest credit card to earn the coveted Southwest Companion Pass for up to two years.

The Priority card does come with the highest annual fee of all the Southwest cards, but it also comes with benefits to outweigh the fee. For instance, it offers a statement credit that makes up for half the annual fee. In addition, on your cardmember anniversary, you’ll receive the largest sum of points, just for keeping the card.

Let’s take a deeper dive into the offerings of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority credit card, our #1 option for best airline credit cards.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
INTRODUCTORY OFFER You'll earn 50,000 points after spending $1000 in the first 3 months.
REWARDS You'll earn 3X points on Southwest purchases and Rapid Rewards hotel and car rentals.
BENEFITS $75 Southwest travel credit each year. 4 Upgraded boardings per year. 25% back on in-flight drinks and wi-fi. Earn 7500 points on your cardmember anniversary. All points from credit card count toward Companion Pass.
FEES $149 annual fee. No foreign transaction fees.
TRAVEL FREEDOM THOUGHTS Southwest points are great because when they have a sale, their award chart goes on sale as well. By getting a personal and business Southwest card you can be well on your way to Companion Pass status.
LEARN HOW TO APPLY >> We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

The Pros

• A large introductory offer
• Points count towards Companion Pass status
• Travel credit
• Discounted drinks and wi-fi
• Cardmember anniversary bonus points
• No foreign transaction fees

The Potential Cons

• Has a higher annual fee
• Points are only redeemable on Southwest Airlines flights

Our Overall Thoughts on the Southwest Priority Card

Obviously, we like this card a lot, considering we have it as the best airline credit card. It has multiple great benefits and also gives you the potential to earn the most valuable offer in all of travel. The amazing Southwest Companion Pass. My wife and I have had the Companion Pass multiple times, and if used often, it can save thousands and thousands of dollars in travel expenses.

At Travel Freedom, we value this cards introductory offer at around $1000 towards travel. For more information on this card, you can read our full Southwest Priority review.

2. Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus

Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus

50,000 points after spending $1,000 in 3 months.

$69 Annual Fee

LEARN HOW TO APPLY >>

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus credit card is our second best airline credit card because it has a very valuable introductory offer. Other than the intro offer it doesn’t have a whole lot going for it, other than the annual fee is the lowest of the Southwest cards. It does, though, also count toward Companion Pass status. This is a big reason that it’s our second pick for the best airline credit card.

Also, the introductory offer alone can be worth many round trip flights on Southwest. Especially if you book your flights during Southwest sales, which are plentiful. When they have a sale, not only the paid flights get cheaper, but so do the award flights.

Let’s take a deeper dive into the offerings of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus credit card, our #2 option for best airline credit cards.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
INTRODUCTORY OFFER You'll earn 50,000 points after spending $1000 in the first 3 months.
REWARDS You'll earn points on Southwest purchases and Rapid Rewards hotel and car rentals.
BENEFITS Earn 3000 points on your cardmember anniversary. All points from credit card count toward Companion Pass.
FEES $69 annual fee.
TRAVEL FREEDOM THOUGHTS Southwest points are great because when they have a sale, their award chart goes on sale as well. By getting a personal and business Southwest card you can be well on your way to Companion Pass status.
LEARN HOW TO APPLY NOW >> We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

The Pros

• A large introductory offer, potentially worth multiple round trip flights
• Low annual fee
• Cardmember anniversary bonus points
• Points count towards Companion Pass status

The Potential Cons

• Has an annual fee
• Has foreign transaction fees
• Not many benefits other than the intro offer

Our Overall Thoughts on the Southwest Plus Card

If you’re looking to go for Companion Pass status, this is a great credit card to apply for. The introductory offer will get you a big chunk of the way there. It can be combined with the Southwest Premier Business card to reach status levels quicker. Even if you’re not going for a Companion Pass, the introductory offer is a very valuable one. It can earn you up to around $1000 worth of flights.

At Travel Freedom, we value the points from this cards introductory offer at around $1000 if redeemed as cash back. For more information on this card, you can read our full Southwest Plus review.

3. Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier

50,000 points after spending $1,000 in 3 months.

$99 Annual Fee

LEARN HOW TO APPLY >>

Much like the first two Southwest cards, this one also has a large introductory offer. It comes in third of our list of the best airline credit cards because while it has the same introductory offer as the other two personal cards, it Has a higher annual fee than the Plus card, and less benefits than the Priority card. It has no foreign transaction fees, but other than that it doesn’t offer much outside of the points.

The card is high on our list simply due to the introductory offer and its ability to be used towards earning Companion Pass status.

Let’s take a deeper dive into the offerings of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier credit card, our #3 option for best airline credit cards.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
INTRODUCTORY OFFER You'll earn 50,000 points after spending $1000 in the first 3 months.
REWARDS You'll earn points on Southwest purchases and Rapid Rewards hotel and car rentals.
BENEFITS Earn 6000 points on your cardmember anniversary. All points from credit card count toward Companion Pass.
FEES $99 annual fee. No foreign transaction fees.
TRAVEL FREEDOM THOUGHTS Southwest points are great because when they have a sale, their award chart goes on sale as well. By getting a personal and business Southwest card you can be well on your way to Companion Pass status.
LEARN HOW TO APPLY NOW >> We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

The Pros

• A large introductory offer
• Points count towards Companion Pass status
• Cardmember anniversary bonus points
• No foreign transaction fees

The Potential Cons

• Has an annual fee.
• Not many benefits other than the intro offer

Our Overall Thoughts on the Southwest Premier Card

If you’re looking to go for Companion Pass status, and have applied for the Plus or Priority cards in the past couple years, this is a great credit card to apply for instead. The introductory offer will get you a big chunk of the way there. It can be combined with the Southwest Premier Business card to reach status levels quicker. Even if you’re not going for a Companion Pass, the introductory offer is a very valuable one. It can earn you up to around $1000 worth of flights.

At Travel Freedom, we value this cards introductory offer at around $1000 of travel. For more information on this card, you can read our full Southwest Premier review.

4. Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business

60,000 points after spending $3,000 in 3 months

$99 Annual Fee

LEARN HOW TO APPLY >>

It’s the card we’ve all been waiting for. The one that can be paired with any of the personal Southwest cards in the same calendar year to earn a Southwest Companion Pass. It has a large introductory offer that counts towards Companion Pass status. The Southwest Premier Business credit card also has no foreign transaction fees, and you can get employee cards at no additional cost. That way all your employees, if you have them, will be earning you points.

Let’s take a deeper dive into the offerings of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business credit card, our #4 option for best airline credit cards.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Business Premier We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
INTRODUCTORY OFFER You'll earn 60,000 points after spending $3000 in the first 3 months.
REWARDS You'll earn 3X points on Southwest purchases and Rapid Rewards hotel and car rentals.
BENEFITS Earn 6000 points on your cardmember anniversary. All points from credit card count toward Companion Pass.
FEES $99 annual fee. No foreign transaction fees. Employee cards at no additional cost.
TRAVEL FREEDOM THOUGHTS Southwest points are great because when they have a sale, their award chart goes on sale as well. By getting a personal and business Southwest card you can be well on your way to Companion Pass status.
LEARN HOW TO APPLY NOW >> We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

The Pros

• A large introductory offer
• Points count towards Companion Pass status
• Cardmember anniversary bonus points
• No foreign transaction fees
• Additional employee cards at no additional cost

The Potential Cons

• Has an annual fee.
• Only earns 1X on non-category bonus spend.

Our Overall Thoughts on the Southwest Premier Business Card

At Travel Freedom, we value this cards introductory offer at around $1000 for travel. But, if you end up earning a Companion Pass, it can double the value of your points. For more information on this card, you can read our full Southwest Premier Business review.

Learn how you can combine any of the personal cards above (1-3) with the Southwest Business Premier card to earn a Southwest Companion Pass, which is valid for free companion flight tickets for up to two years.

5. United Explorer Card

United Explorer Card

60k after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months.

$95 Annual Fee (waived year 1)

LEARN HOW TO APPLY >>

Hey, we finally made it to a card that isn’t in conjunction with Southwest Airlines. The United Explorer Card is valuable if you fly on United Airlines frequently. It offers a substantial introductory offer that has the potential to be used for multiple round trip flights. The card also comes with a few nice perks, such as United Club lounge passes each year, a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck statement credit, free checked bags, and priority boarding.

With all these benefits when flying United, the Explorer Card even waives the annual fee in the first year. Most of the cards that offer TSA PreCheck are premium cards with high annual fees, which makes it a nice surprise perk.

If you’re someone who flies United, this card could be a great addition to your wallet. Let’s take a closer look at the United Explorer Card, our #5 best airline credit card.

United Explorer Card We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
INTRODUCTORY OFFER Earn 60,000 miles after spending $3000 in the first 3 months.
REWARDS You'll earn 2X miles on restaurants and hotel stays.
BENEFITS Free first checked bag for cardholder and one companion. 2 United Club Lounge passes per year. Priority boarding. Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee statement credit.
FEES $95 (waived in year 1)
TRAVEL FREEDOM THOUGHTS If you fly United, this card may make sense for you. The introductory offer is enough miles for multiple round trip flights. That is if you can find award space...
LEARN HOW TO APPLY NOW >> We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

The Pros

• A good introductory offer
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
• Airport lounge access
• Free checked bags
• Priority boarding
• Annual fee waived year 1.

The Potential Cons

• Has an annual fee after year one
• Miles can only be used on United Airlines

Our Overall Thoughts on the United Explorer Card

While some of the transferrable points earning Chase credit cards may be better options to earn United miles, this card is also a good choice. Especially because on top of the introductory offer, it gives you extra perks that can add value to your flight experience.

At Travel Freedom, we value this cards introductory offer at over $500 for the base tier. If you can meet the second tier of the offer, it’s worth even more. For more information on this card, you can read our full United Explorer Card review.

*PS: There’s also a business version of this card. See our full review of the United Explorer Business Card.

The Best Airline Credit Cards

As you can see, there are many great airline credit cards available. These are the Travel Freedom top 5 airline credit card offers available right now. Any of them are great options if you’re looking to earn some free flights. They’re even better options if you can pick up a Southwest Companion pass for you and your travel partner. While transferrable points are our favorites usually, there are some real benefits to having airline cards as well. Good luck choosing the best airline credit card for yourself and enjoy your upcoming free flights!

Credit Card		Introductory Offer	Annual Fee	Our Thoughts
Southwest Priority	We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.	50,000 points after spending $1000 in the first 3 months.	$149	Best airline credit card due to the introductory offer and benefits for Southwest flyers. Also allows the opportunity to earn the Southwest Companion Pass.	LEARN HOW TO APPLY >> We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Southwest Plus	We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.	You'll earn 50,000 points after spending $1000 in the first 3 months.	$69	Second best airline credit card due to the introductory offer and low annual fee. Also allows the opportunity to earn the Southwest Companion Pass.	LEARN HOW TO APPLY >> We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Southwest Premier	We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.	You'll earn 50,000 points after spending $1000 in the first 3 months.	$99	Third best airline credit card due to the introductory offer for Southwest flyers. Also allows the opportunity to earn the Southwest Companion Pass.	LEARN HOW TO APPLY >> We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Southwest Premier Business	We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.	60,000 Points after spending $3000 in the first 3 months.	$99	Best business airline credit card due to the introductory offer for Southwest flyers. Combined with one of the personal SW cards, it allows the opportunity to easily earn a Southwest Companion Pass.	LEARN HOW TO APPLY >> We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
United Explorer Card	We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.	60,000 Miles after spending $3000 in the first 3 months.	$95 (waived year 1)	Good introductory offer for United flyers. It also comes with a few extra benefits and waives the annual fee in the first year.	LEARN HOW TO APPLY >> We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.