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Rewards credit cards offer a simple and compelling proposition: Use the card to make purchases, and get cash back, points or miles in return. Plus, you also often get extra cardholder benefits, such as purchase protections and travel-related perks.
But they're not a good fit for everyone. Rewards cards could charge more interest than non-rewards cards, making them a relatively expensive option if you don't pay off your balance in full each month. And the draw of earnings rewards might tempt some people to overspend. But when properly managed, a rewards card can save you money or help you travel for free with little downside.
What Is a Rewards Credit Card?
A rewards credit card is any credit card that offers you cash back, points, miles or another form of rewards when you make a purchase. Many credit cards are rewards cards, and the benefit is so common that credit cards often get categorized by a different trait instead.
For example, you might see advertisements for balance transfer or student credit cards—some of those also offer rewards. Or, the categorization might focus on the type of rewards or how you earn rewards, such as an airline rewards card or flat-rate rewards card.
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How Do Rewards Credit Cards Work?
Rewards credit cards work like other types of credit cards in many ways. Your transactions get added together at the end of each billing cycle, and the resulting credit card statement shows your minimum payment and statement balance.
If you pay the entire statement balance by the due date, you won't accrue interest on your purchases. Or, if you pay less, you can revolve part of your balance to the next billing cycle. But then the revolved balance and all your new purchases will often start to accrue interest daily.
The main differences are that you earn rewards on eligible purchases and that many rewards cards offer a welcome bonus—an opportunity for new cardholders to earn bonus rewards after meeting certain requirements.
Types of Rewards Credit Cards
There are many ways to categorize rewards credit cards, but one of the most important things to consider is what type of rewards the card offers. You can broadly put these into three groups: cash back, points and miles.
Cash Back Credit Cards
Cash back cards can be the simplest to understand and use. For every dollar you spend, you'll get a percentage back in rewards that you can redeem for cash. However, the earnings rates and redemption options can vary depending on the card and issuer.
Best for: Someone who wants to earn rewards without dealing with the intricacy of a rewards program.
| Pros and Cons of Rewards Credit Cards | |
|---|---|
| Pros | Cons |
| Can be simpler to understand and use than points or miles rewards programs—a dollar in cash back rewards is worth a dollar. | Some cards require you to accrue a minimum amount of cash back rewards before redeeming. |
| You can often redeem cash back rewards to help pay your credit card bill. | Miles or points can sometimes offer a much higher redemption value than cash back rewards. |
Points Credit Cards
Many major credit card issuers have their own loyalty programs. You earn rewards—often called points, but sometimes called miles—in the program when you use one of the cards. And there are usually several rewards cards in the program with varying fees and benefits.
Best for: Someone who wants flexible redemption options and is willing to learn how the rewards program works.
| Pros and Cons of Points Credit Cards | |
|---|---|
| Pros | Cons |
| You can generally choose from a wide variety of redemption options, including cash back or transferring your points to a partner hotel or airline's loyalty program. | Keeping up with the ins and outs of a rewards program can take time, but if you don't, you might not get as much value from your rewards. |
| You can get great value from your rewards if you compare the cost of booking travel versus transferring and then redeeming points for rewards travel. | Card issuers can alter the terms and conditions for their loyalty programs, changing how you earn and use rewards. |
Miles Credit Cards
Many rewards cards that earn miles focus on travel rewards, but there are also co-branded hotel and airline travel cards. These cards are the result of a partnership between a card issuer and a hotel or airline company, and they often offer brand-specific perks you won't find elsewhere.
Best for: Current and potential repeat customers who will benefit from the brand-specific perks.
| Pros and Cons of Co-Branded Travel Credit Cards | |
|---|---|
| Pros | Cons |
| You can get benefits that make travel cheaper and more enjoyable, such as annual vouchers for a free hotel stay and access to airport lounges. | Your rewards are tied to a specific brand, which might keep you from comparison shopping when booking a hotel or flight. Or it could turn out poorly if you start to prefer a competing airline or hotel brand. |
| The credit card issuer doesn't control the loyalty program, and you can keep the miles or points even if you decide to close your card later. | Hotels and airlines can increase how many miles you need to book rewards travel without notice, making your rewards less valuable. |
How to Choose a Rewards Credit Card
Choosing the right rewards credit card will come down to what types of cards you can qualify for and what type of rewards, fees and benefits the cards offer.
Many card issuers offer similar types of cards, but you can check and compare the following features to narrow in on a few top picks:
- Type of rewards: Decide if you'd prefer to earn cash back, points in a card issuer's rewards program or travel rewards in a specific loyalty program.
- Annual fee: Paying an annual fee can be worth it, especially if the card offers great rewards rates and benefits. However, some people prefer cards with no annual fees.
- Other fees: Aside from the annual fee, most credit card fees depend on how you use the card. For example, if you plan to use a card when traveling abroad, look for a card that doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee.
- Rewards earning structure: Rewards credit cards could offer you the same rewards rate on every purchase, such as 2 points per $1 you spend; or, tiered rewards rates with bonus rewards on certain types of purchases, such as travel or dining purchases. Depending on the card, you might be able to pick the bonus categories, they might change throughout the year or they might be fixed.
- Rewards expiration: Many programs don't impose expiration dates on their rewards as long as you keep your account open and in good standing, or you regularly earn or redeem rewards. But review the terms and conditions to be sure.
- Intro bonus: Look for a card that meets your criteria and has a large intro bonus that you can earn without overspending. Cards' intro bonuses can also change throughout the year, and sometimes you can only earn the intro bonus on a card once—or once every few years. Depending on how the current intro bonus compares to previous offers, you might want to apply immediately or wait for a better offer.
- Intro interest rate offers: Some rewards credit cards offer an intro 0% APR period and you won't accrue interest during a promotional period, such as the first 15 months. The promotional offer can be a good option if you're financing a large purchase, can pay off the balance during the promotional period and want a card that you'll keep using afterward. However, a low-interest card could be a better option if you think you'll regularly carry a balance.
Sometimes, having several rewards cards can also be a good idea. For example, you might use an airline rewards card that doesn't have an annual fee to get free checked bags on a trip you take to visit family each year. But you also have a cash back rewards card you use for your everyday spending and redeem the rewards to help pay the credit card bill.
Learn more >> How to Choose a Rewards Credit Card
What Credit Score Do You Need for a Rewards Card?
Credit card issuers generally don't publicize—or necessarily have—a specific minimum credit score for each of their rewards cards.
However, the premium rewards credit cards that offer the best rewards rates and cardholder benefits tend to require a good to excellent credit score. In other words, you'll need a FICO® Score☉ in the high 600s to 700s at minimum.
Other rewards cards might be an option even if you have a low credit score. There are even secured credit cards—for people who are new to credit or rebuilding their credit—that offer rewards.
How to Maximize Your Credit Card Rewards
Make the most of your rewards card by avoiding unnecessary spending and strategically earning and redeeming your rewards:
- Manage your spending. It can be easy to talk yourself into making purchases and overspending to earn rewards. However, you might wind up paying more in interest than you earn from the rewards.
- Have a plan for earning the intro bonus. Welcome bonuses often require you to spend thousands of dollars during your first few months with the card. You might want to apply several weeks before a large purchase and consolidate your spending on the card until you reach the minimum spending requirement.
- Align your spending with the card's bonus categories. If you have several rewards credit cards, try to remember which card offers bonus rewards on which categories, and use those cards for those types of purchases.
- Learn the best redemption options. Cash back rewards have a fixed value, but the value of points and miles can sometimes vary depending on how you redeem the rewards. The highest dollar-per-point redemptions tend to be for booking travel, especially if you're booking luxury flights or hotel stays using the airline or hotel rewards program.
Learn more >> The Worst Ways to Redeem Credit Card Rewards
Are Rewards Cards Worth It?
Rewards cards can be worth it, but it depends on how you use the card and how it might affect your spending. Consider whether:
- You usually pay your credit card bill in full each month.
- You'll be tempted to make new or larger purchases to earn rewards.
- You'll learn the basics about the program to make sure you get good value from your rewards and they don't expire.
Sometimes, a rewards card isn't a good fit, or you might not qualify for the rewards card you want right now. If that's the case, you could look into a rewards debit card or improve your credit and try later.
Learn more >> How to Build Credit Without a Credit Card
Compare Rewards Cards Offers
Choosing the best rewards credit card can be difficult when there are hundreds of options available. However, if you've determined that a rewards credit card is a good option, you could start by getting your FICO® Score and credit report for free from Experian. Then, use your account to get matched with rewards card offers based on your unique credit profile.