Card ranking

The best credit cards for travel.

Top US credit cards ranked by effective return on travel — multiplier × point value. Cards earning a baseline 1% return (or less) are excluded as uninteresting.

Top 30Updated May 31, 2026

1
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Chase · $795/yr · Chase Ultimate Rewards
Via Chase Travel portal · forfeits hotel loyalty points & elite status
Requires booking via issuer travel portal
Effective
20.00%
10x · 2.00¢/pt
Should I get this? Issuer page
2
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
American Express · $550/yr · Hilton Honors
Direct booking: 14x card + 10x base + 10x Diamond (100%)
Effective
17.00%
34x · 0.50¢/pt
Should I get this? Issuer page
3
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card
American Express · $650/yr · Marriott Bonvoy
Direct booking: 6x card + 10x base + 5x Platinum (50%)
Effective
16.80%
21x · 0.80¢/pt
Should I get this? Issuer page
4
World of Hyatt Credit Card
Chase · $95/yr · World of Hyatt
Effective
15.30%
9x · 1.70¢/pt
Should I get this? Issuer page
5
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
American Express · $150/yr · Hilton Honors
Direct booking: 12x card + 10x base + 8x Gold (80%)
Effective
15.00%
30x · 0.50¢/pt
Should I get this? Issuer page
6
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Credit Card
Chase · $250/yr · Marriott Bonvoy
Direct booking: 6x card + 10x base + 2.5x Gold (25%)
Effective
14.40%
18x · 0.80¢/pt
Should I get this? Issuer page
7
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Card
American Express · $250/yr · Marriott Bonvoy
Direct booking: 6x card + 10x base + 2.5x Gold (25%)
Effective
14.40%
18x · 0.80¢/pt
Should I get this? Issuer page
8
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card
Chase · $95/yr · Marriott Bonvoy
Direct booking: 6x card + 10x base + 1x Silver (10%)
Effective
13.60%
17x · 0.80¢/pt
Should I get this? Issuer page
9
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
Chase · $99/yr · IHG One Rewards
Effective
13.00%
26x · 0.50¢/pt
Should I get this? Issuer page
10
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
Chase · $0/yr · Marriott Bonvoy
Direct booking: 3x card + 10x base + 1x Silver (10%)
Effective
11.20%
14x · 0.80¢/pt
Should I get this? Issuer page
11
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Chase · $95/yr · Chase Ultimate Rewards
Via Chase Travel portal · forfeits hotel loyalty points & elite status
Requires booking via issuer travel portal
Effective
10.00%
5x · 2.00¢/pt
Should I get this? Issuer page
12
The Platinum Card from American Express
American Express · $895/yr · Amex Membership Rewards
Via Amex Travel portal · forfeits hotel loyalty points
Requires booking via issuer travel portal
Effective
10.00%
5x · 2.00¢/pt
Should I get this? Issuer page
13
The Business Platinum Card from American Express
American Express · $895/yr · Amex Membership Rewards
Via Amex Travel
Requires booking via issuer travel portal
Effective
10.00%
5x · 2.00¢/pt
Should I get this? Issuer page
14
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One · $395/yr · Capital One Miles
Via Capital One Travel portal · forfeits loyalty
Requires booking via issuer travel portal
Effective
10.00%
10x · 1.00¢/pt
Should I get this? Issuer page
15
Hilton Honors American Express Card
American Express · $0/yr · Hilton Honors
Direct booking: 7x card + 10x base + 2x Silver (20%)
Effective
9.50%
19x · 0.50¢/pt
Should I get this? Issuer page
16
IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
Chase · $0/yr · IHG One Rewards
Effective
8.50%
17x · 0.50¢/pt
Should I get this? Issuer page
17
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Capital One · $0/yr · Cash Back
Via Capital One Travel portal
Requires booking via issuer travel portal
Effective
8.00%
8x · 1.00¢/pt
Should I get this? Issuer page
18
JetBlue Plus Card
Barclays · $99/yr · JetBlue TrueBlue
6x on JetBlue purchases
Effective
7.80%
6x · 1.30¢/pt
Should I get this? Issuer page
19
JetBlue Business Card
Barclays · $99/yr · JetBlue TrueBlue
6x on JetBlue purchases
Effective
7.80%
6x · 1.30¢/pt
Should I get this? Issuer page
20
Wyndham Rewards Earner Business Card
Barclays · $95/yr · Wyndham Rewards
8x at Wyndham hotels
Effective
7.20%
8x · 0.90¢/pt
Should I get this? Issuer page
21
United Gateway Card
Chase · $0/yr · United MileagePlus
5x on United flights
Effective
6.50%
5x · 1.30¢/pt
Should I get this? Issuer page
22
Ink Business Preferred Credit Card
Chase · $95/yr · Chase Ultimate Rewards
First $150K/yr combined with shipping, internet, ads
Effective
6.00%
3x · 2.00¢/pt
Should I get this? Issuer page
23
American Express Gold Card
American Express · $325/yr · Amex Membership Rewards
Booked directly with airlines
Effective
6.00%
3x · 2.00¢/pt
Should I get this? Issuer page
24
American Express Green Card
American Express · $150/yr · Amex Membership Rewards
Hotels, flights, car rentals, cruises, vacation rentals
Effective
6.00%
3x · 2.00¢/pt
Should I get this? Issuer page
25
American Express Business Gold Card
American Express · $375/yr · Amex Membership Rewards
Via Amex Travel
Requires booking via issuer travel portal
Effective
6.00%
3x · 2.00¢/pt
Should I get this? Issuer page
26
Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard
Citi · $595/yr · AAdvantage Miles
4x on AA + 10% miles back on AA redemptions
Effective
5.60%
4x · 1.40¢/pt
Should I get this? Issuer page
27
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Credit Card
Bank of America · $95/yr · Alaska Mileage Plan
3x on Alaska Airlines purchases
Effective
5.40%
3x · 1.80¢/pt
Should I get this? Issuer page
28
Alaska Airlines Visa Business Credit Card
Bank of America · $75/yr · Alaska Mileage Plan
3x on Alaska Airlines purchases
Effective
5.40%
3x · 1.80¢/pt
Should I get this? Issuer page
29
Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card
Barclays · $75/yr · Wyndham Rewards
Effective
5.40%
6x · 0.90¢/pt
Should I get this? Issuer page
30
United Quest Card
Chase · $350/yr · United MileagePlus
4x on United purchases
Effective
5.20%
4x · 1.30¢/pt
Should I get this? Issuer page

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Chase Sapphire Reserve

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card

World of Hyatt Credit Card

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card

Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Credit Card

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Card

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred

The Platinum Card from American Express

The Business Platinum Card from American Express

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Hilton Honors American Express Card

IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

JetBlue Plus Card

JetBlue Business Card

Wyndham Rewards Earner Business Card

United Gateway Card

Ink Business Preferred Credit Card

American Express Gold Card

American Express Green Card

American Express Business Gold Card

Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard

Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Credit Card

Alaska Airlines Visa Business Credit Card

Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card

United Quest Card