Updated December 2024. That space in your wallet or purse is valuable, and you should be the one to get that value. By being smart and picky, you can find offers worth $500+ for a single card, all to encourage you to apply and try it out. This adds up to thousands of dollars in extra income (over $5,000 in 2023). These are the top 10 credit card offers that I would personally apply for right now (or have already). Notable recent changes:

• Added United 60k, IHG 80k/140k, BarcAA 70k, Alaska 75k, Air Canada 100k, Hilton 100k+noAF
• Removed JetBlue 80k, British Airways 85k, CitiAA 75k, Sapphire 60k+$300, Amex Gold 60k+$100, Delta Gold 80k, Bonvoy 185k, Venture 75k+$250, IHG 5FreeNights

This is a companion post to my Top 10 Best Business Card Offers. Small business bonuses are on average even higher than those on consumer cards.

Aeroplan® Credit Card

• Up to 100,000 Aeroplan points. 75,000 bonus points after $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months. Plus, 25,000 bonus points after $20,000 in purchases in the first 12 months. 100,000 points are redeemable for $1,250 against any travel purchased with Pay Yourself Back. See link for details.
• Free first checked bags on Air Canada flights: one free checked bag for the primary cardmember and up to eight other travelers on the same itinerary.
• Aeroplan 25K Elite Status benefits for the remainder of the first calendar year, plus the following calendar year.
• Up to $120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS fee credit.
• $95 annual fee.
• Subject to 5/24 rule.

Hilton Honors American Express Card

• 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after $2,000 in purchases in the first 6 months Limited-time offer. See link for details.
• No annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

• $400 statement credit + 40,000 bonus Rapid Rewards points after $3,000 on purchases in the first 4 months. See link for details.
• Southwest still gives everyone two free checked bags.
• Timing for Companion Pass. If you can sign up for this one and perhaps also the small business version, and time the points to post in 2025, you can qualify for a Companion Pass for 2025 and 2026.
• $69 annual fee.
• Subject to 5/24 rule.*

British Airways Visa Signature® Card

• 75,000 Avios after $5,000 in purchases within first 3 months. See link for details and redemption tips.
• 10% off British Airways flights starting in the US when you book through the website provided in your welcome materials.
• Free Travel Together companion ticket when you spend $30,000 in a calendar year.
• $95 annual fee.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

• 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points (worth $750 towards travel or transferrable to miles/points) after $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months. See link for details.
• $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel^SM, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases.
• $95 annual fee.
• Subject to 5/24 rule.*
• Upgrade pick: Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card. Higher travel perks including airport lounge access, higher annual fee.

IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card

• 80,000 IHG Rewards club points after $2,000 in purchases within the first 3 months. See link for details.
• 4th Award Night Free (Book 3 nights in a row with points, 4th is free)
• No annual fee.
• Subject to 5/24 rule.*

Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Red Mastercard

• 70,000 American Airlines miles after any single purchase and paying the $99 annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days. See link for details.
• First checked bag free on domestic AA flights ($80 value per roundtrip, per person).
• $99 annual fee.

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

• 140,000 Bonus Points after $3,000 in purchases in the first 3 months. See link for details.
• Free Night after each account anniversary year (valued up to 40,000 IHG points).
• $99 annual fee.
• Subject to 5/24 rule.
• Don’t like annual fees? The no-annual fee Traveler version also has a competitive offer with no annual fee.

The Platinum Card from American Express

• 80,000 Membership Rewards(R) points after $8,000 in purchases in the first 6 months.
• Up to $200 Hotel Credits, up to $240 Streaming Credits, $200 Airline Fee Credits, $200 Uber Cash, $199 CLEAR Plus credit, $300 Equinox credit, up to $155 Walmart+ credit and more annually! Enrollment is required.
• Up to $120 Global Entry or $85 TSA PreCheck fee credit.
• Premium airport lounge access through the American Express Global Lounge Collection®.
• $695 annual fee.
• See Rates and Fees

Capital One Venture X Rewards Card

• 75,000 miles (worth $750 towards travel, or transferrable to airline miles) after $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months. See link for details.
• $300 annual travel credit. Get up to $300 in statement credits when booking through Capital One Travel.
• Additional 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary.
• Priority Pass + Capital One airport lounge access. Additional cardholders are free, and also get their own Priority Pass!
• Up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck(R).
• $395 annual fee.

United^SM Explorer Card

• 60,000 miles after $3,000 in purchases within 3 months. See link for details.
• Free first checked bag for both you and a companion (a savings of up to $160 per roundtrip) when you use your Card to purchase your United ticket.
• Up to $120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS fee credit.
• $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
• Subject to 5/24 rule.

Citi Strata Premier Card

• 75,000 points (worth $750 in gift cards, or transferrable to miles/points) after $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months. See link for details.
• 3X points for every $1 spent on Hotel purchases, Air Travel, Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas Stations, EV Charging.
• Must not have gotten bonus from or closed a Citi Premier or Strata Premier card in the past 48 months.
• $95 annual fee.

Capital One Venture Rewards Card

• 75,000 miles (worth $750 to offset travel purchases, or transferrable to miles) after $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months. See link for details.
• 2 Miles per dollar on all purchases.
• Up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck(R).
• $95 annual fee.

Bank of America Premium Rewards Card

• 60,000 points (worth $600) after $4,000 in purchases within the first 90 days. See link for details.
• $100 annual Airline Incidental Statement Credit.
• Up to $100 credit towards TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee.
• $95 annual fee.

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card

• 60,000 points (worth $600 towards travel) after $4,000 in purchases within the first 90 days. See link for details.
• $50 annual statement credit with $50 minimum airline purchase.
• $95 annual fee.

Alaska Airlines Visa Card (Bank of America)

• 75,000 bonus miles + Companion Fare voucher after $3,000 in purchases within first 90 days. See link for details.
• Companion fare voucher is “Buy one ticket, get one from $23” ($0 fare plus taxes and fees from just $23).
• Free first checked bag on Alaska flights for you and up to six other passengers on the same reservation (worth $70 roundtrip per person).
• $95 annual fee.

Hawaiian Airlines MasterCard

• 70,000 Hawaiian miles after any purchase (of any amount) within the first 90 days. Try any 6-digit code, like “012345”. The normal offer has a higher spending requirement. See link for details.
• Two free checked bags for primary cardmember when you use your card to purchase tickets directly from Hawaiian Airlines.
• One-time 50% off companion discount for roundtrip coach travel between Hawaii and The Mainland on Hawaiian Airlines.
• $99 annual fee.

American Express® Gold Card

• 60,000 Membership Rewards(R) points after $6,000 in purchases in the first 6 months. See link for details.
• $84 Dunkin’ Credit. Up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express(R) Gold Card at US Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment is required.
• $100 Resy Credit. Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express(R) Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. Broken down into up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment is required.
• $120 in Uber Cash annually (good towards Uber Eats or Uber rides in the US). Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
• Up to $120 in annual dining credit at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment is required.
• 4X points at restaurants on up to $50,000 per calendar year.
• 4X points at US supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year.
• $325 annual fee.
• See Rates and Fees

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

• 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy(R) points after $6,000 in purchases in the first 6 months. See link for details.
• $300 in Annual Dining Credits, valid at restaurants worldwide.
• Priority Pass™ Select airport lounge membership.
• Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status.
• Free Night Award upon card anniversary (worth up to 85,000 Bonvoy points).
• $650 annual fee.
• See Rates and Fees

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

• 50,000 Bonus Miles after $2,000 in purchases within the first 6 months. See link for details.
• 50,000 Skymiles are worth at least $500 in Delta airfare with “Pay with Miles” option.
• $200 Delta flight credit after $10,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year.
• First checked bag free on Delta flights ($70 value per roundtrip, per person).
• $0 annual fee for the first year, then $150.
• See Rates and Fees

JetBlue Plus Card

• 50,000 bonus TrueBlue points after $1,000 on purchases and paying the $99 annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days. See link for details.
• First checked bag free for the primary cardmember and up to 3 companions when tickets are purchased with your JetBlue Plus Card.
• $99 annual fee.

Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select Card

• 50,000 American Airlines miles after $2,500 in purchases in first 4 months. See link for details.
• First checked bag free on domestic AA flights ($80 value per roundtrip, per person).
• $0 annual fee for the first year, then $99.

If you pay off your balances every month, then you can join me and many others in funding a huge chunk of your annual travel budget with cash credits, points, and miles. I mostly use my rewards points on family trips – domestic economy flights, mid-range hotels, and cheap car rentals. If you have credit card debt, you should focus on paying that off first as the interest charges could offset most of the perks.

* 5/24 Rule? Certain Chase cards have a “5/24 rule” which is an unofficial rule that they will automatically deny approval on new credit cards if you have 5 or more new credit cards from any issuer on your credit report within the past 24 months (2 years). This rule applies on a per-person basis, so if you are new, you might want to start with those Chase cards.

Delta SkyMiles(R) Gold American Express Card: See Rates and Fees

American Express(R) Gold Card: See Rates and Fees

The Platinum Card(R) from American Express: See Rates and Fees

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant(R) American Express(R) Card: See Rates and Fees