Introduction to Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses
The quickest way to boost your stash of points and miles is by applying for a credit card with a large welcome offer, also known as a sign-up bonus. These bonuses are for new cardholders who reach a minimum spending requirement in a specified timeframe — typically three to six months.
The rewards are well worth the effort, especially if you have some large purchases coming up or can strategize your monthly expenses to reach the requirements.
Best Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card — Best travel credit card welcome bonus
- The Platinum Card® from American Express — Best personal Amex card welcome bonus
- American Express® Gold Card — Best mid-tier Amex card welcome bonus
- Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express — Best pure cash back welcome bonus
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card — Best welcome bonus for earning Capital One miles
- Citi Strata Premier℠ Card — Best welcome bonus for earning Citi ThankYou points
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card : Best Marriott bonus for low annual fee
Compare the Top Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses
$95
N/A
20.49% - 27.49% Variable
Earn 60,000 bonus points
Good to Excellent
- High intro bonus offer starts you off with lots of points
- Strong travel coverage
- Doesn't offer a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit
If you're new to travel rewards credit cards or just don't want to pay hundreds in annual fees, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a smart choice. It earns bonus points on a wide variety of travel and dining purchases and offers strong travel and purchase coverage, including primary car rental insurance.
Sapphire Preferred Card- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
- Member FDIC
$695
N/A
See Pay Over Time APR
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points
Good to Excellent
- Long list of travel benefits, including airport lounge access and complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott (enrollment required)
- Annual statement credits with Saks and Uber
- Bonus categories leave something to be desired
- One of the highest annual fees among premium travel cards
If you want as many premium travel perks as possible, The Platinum Card® from American Express could be the right card for you. The annual fee is high, but you get a long list of benefits such as airport lounge access, travel statement credits, and more.
Amex Platinum Card- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
- $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can get out and about and explore their local area with $15 in Uber Cash for US rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December. That can be up to $200 in annual Uber savings. Simply download the Uber app and add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to get started. Available to Basic Card Member only. 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.
- $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
- Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
- $695 annual fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
$325
N/A
See Pay Over Time APR
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of Card Membership
Good to Excellent
- Great rewards for dining and for shopping at U.S. supermarkets
- Monthly statement credit for eligible dining purchases recoups some of the annual fee
- Underwhelming welcome bonus
Foodies and travelers alike will appreciate the American Express Gold's generous welcome bonus and Membership Rewards points earning. Its Uber Cash credits are useful for rides and Uber Eats, and monthly dining credits with participating merchants like GrubHub and Seamless are easy to use.
Amex Gold Card- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year. 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.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers from the date of account opening
18.24% - 29.24% Variable
Earn a $250 statement credit
Good to Excellent
- Generous bonus rewards, especially at U.S. supermarkets
- One of a small handful of credit cards that offer bonus rewards on select streaming services
- Intro APR offer
- Unlike many other cash-back cards, it charges an annual fee
- If you spend more than $6,000 at US supermarkets each year, you'll want to use another card once you reach that cap
The Amex Blue Cash Preferred is one of the best cash-back cards, particularly for consumers who spend a lot of money at U.S. supermarkets, use streaming services, or have lots of commuting and gas expenses. The annual fee is worth it if your typical spending lines up with the card's bonus categories.
Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card- Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 intro plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months from the date of account opening. Plans created after that will have a monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each eligible purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
- Low Intro APR: 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 18.24% - 29.24%.
- 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
- 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations.
- 3% Cash Back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
- 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
- Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
- $84 Disney Bundle Credit: With your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred Card, spend $9.99 or more each month on an auto-renewing Disney Bundle subscription, to receive a monthly statement credit of $7. Valid only at Disney Plus.com, Hulu.com or Plus.espn.com in the U.S.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
$95
N/A
19.99% - 29.24% variable
Earn 75,000 bonus miles
Good to Excellent
- $50 experience credit and free upgrades on Capital One Lifestyle Collection bookings
- Includes a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
- Other credit cards offer higher rewards in certain categories of spending
If you want an easy, no-fuss travel rewards credit card, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a great fit. For a moderate annual fee, it offers plenty of value, useful benefits, and a substantial welcome bonus.
Venture Rewards Card- Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
$95
N/A
20.24% - 28.24% Variable
Earn 75,000 bonus points
Good to Excellent
- Earn 3x points on most travel, restaurants, gas/EV charging, and supermarkets
- Earn 10x points on hotels, rental cars, and attractions booked via Citi Travel
- $100 annual hotel credit on a single stay of $500 or more
- No foreign transaction fees
- Trip delay/interruption benefits and lost/damaged baggage coverage
- Has an annual fee
- Citi Travel rates often are higher than retail cost of travel
$95
N/A
20.49% - 27.49% Variable
Earn 100,000 bonus points and a $150 statement credit
Good to Excellent
- Annual free night reward for hotels that cost up to 35,000 points can be worth more than annual fee
- The only lucrative bonus category is participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
- Upgrading to Gold status requires spending $35,000 on the card in an account year
If you want to earn Marriott points on your everyday spending, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is a great option with a reasonable annual fee and a generous welcome bonus offer. It comes with good benefits, including a free night award each card anniversary and elite status credits for meeting spending thresholds.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card
Credit Card Sign-Up Bonus Reviews
The sign-up bonus is one of the best perks anyone can get from a new credit card. These bonuses, also called welcome offers, can singlehandedly cover a round-trip business-class flight or several nights in some of the best hotels in the world — and the best cards offer travel and purchase protections and benefits that extend far beyond the lifespan of your initial rewards.
Business Insider's team of credit card experts combed through all of the welcome bonus offers available right now, and pulled together this list of the best credit cards with generous sign-up bonuses for you.
Best Beginner Travel Credit Card Bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
$95
N/A
20.49% - 27.49% Variable
Earn 60,000 bonus points
Good to Excellent
- High intro bonus offer starts you off with lots of points
- Strong travel coverage
- Doesn't offer a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit
If you're new to travel rewards credit cards or just don't want to pay hundreds in annual fees, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a smart choice. It earns bonus points on a wide variety of travel and dining purchases and offers strong travel and purchase coverage, including primary car rental insurance.
Sapphire Preferred Card- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
- Member FDIC
You can't go wrong with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. Not only is this card our pick for best travel credit card, it's one of the best to start with if you're new to credit card rewards (or if you don't want to pay the whopping $550 annual fee on its premium sibling, the Chase Sapphire Reserve®).
The card currently offers a welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. You can find out more about the card in our full Chase Sapphire Preferred card review.
The great thing about Chase Ultimate Rewards® points is their flexibility — redemption options include booking travel directly through the Chase Travel℠ Portal, transferring points to travel partners like United and Marriott, or cashing in rewards for statement credits, gift cards, and merchandise.
Best Personal Amex Card Bonus: The Platinum Card® from American Express
$695
N/A
See Pay Over Time APR
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points
Good to Excellent
- Long list of travel benefits, including airport lounge access and complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott (enrollment required)
- Annual statement credits with Saks and Uber
- Bonus categories leave something to be desired
- One of the highest annual fees among premium travel cards
If you want as many premium travel perks as possible, The Platinum Card® from American Express could be the right card for you. The annual fee is high, but you get a long list of benefits such as airport lounge access, travel statement credits, and more.
Amex Platinum Card- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
- $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can get out and about and explore their local area with $15 in Uber Cash for US rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December. That can be up to $200 in annual Uber savings. Simply download the Uber app and add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to get started. Available to Basic Card Member only. 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.
- $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
- Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
- $695 annual fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
The Platinum Card® from American Express is offering a solid welcome bonus: 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership.
You can get hundreds of dollars in value from benefits you enroll in such as up to $200 in Uber credits (including Uber Eats) per year and up to $100 in annual Saks Fifth Avenue credits. The Platinum Card® from American Express also comes with excellent shopping and purchase benefits, including return protection, extended warranty, and targeted discounts and bonuses through Amex Offers (enrollment required).
Travelers can take advantage of up to $200 in airline incidental fee credits** each calendar year, airport lounge access, complimentary hotel elite status with Hilton and Marriott**, travel insurance, and access to Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts. You can use the Amex Membership Rewards points you'll earn with the card to book flights, hotels, and more through American Express Travel, or transfer points to airline and hotel partners like Delta, British Airways, and Marriott.
The annual fee is $695. However, if you can put these new perks to use, you can get thousands of dollars worth of value from The Platinum Card® from American Express.
Read more in our American Express Platinum credit card review.
Best Mid-Tier Amex Card Bonus: American Express® Gold Card
$325
N/A
See Pay Over Time APR
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of Card Membership
Good to Excellent
- Great rewards for dining and for shopping at U.S. supermarkets
- Monthly statement credit for eligible dining purchases recoups some of the annual fee
- Underwhelming welcome bonus
Foodies and travelers alike will appreciate the American Express Gold's generous welcome bonus and Membership Rewards points earning. Its Uber Cash credits are useful for rides and Uber Eats, and monthly dining credits with participating merchants like GrubHub and Seamless are easy to use.
Amex Gold Card- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year. 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.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
The American Express® Gold Card is sometimes overlooked as the "kid brother" to its Platinum siblings, but it's actually one of our favorite rewards cards, especially for dining. You'll earn 4x points at restaurants up to $50,000 per year (then 1x) and up to $120 in annual dining credits after enrollment that you can use at select restaurants and on Grubhub and Seamless.
It also offers up to $120 Uber Cash ($10 per month credit) each calendar year (this is only applicable to U.S. Eats orders and Rides, and the Gold Card must be a method of payment in your Uber account to receive the Uber Cash benefit).
The card didn't always come with an attention-grabbing welcome bonus offer. But it's now increased its intro offer to 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership. Considering you can transfer your Amex points to nearly two dozen travel partners, these points can unlock many options for flights or hotel stays.
Read more in our Amex Gold Card review.
Best Pure Cash Back Bonus: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers from the date of account opening
18.24% - 29.24% Variable
Earn a $250 statement credit
Good to Excellent
- Generous bonus rewards, especially at U.S. supermarkets
- One of a small handful of credit cards that offer bonus rewards on select streaming services
- Intro APR offer
- Unlike many other cash-back cards, it charges an annual fee
- If you spend more than $6,000 at US supermarkets each year, you'll want to use another card once you reach that cap
The Amex Blue Cash Preferred is one of the best cash-back cards, particularly for consumers who spend a lot of money at U.S. supermarkets, use streaming services, or have lots of commuting and gas expenses. The annual fee is worth it if your typical spending lines up with the card's bonus categories.
Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card- Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 intro plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months from the date of account opening. Plans created after that will have a monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each eligible purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
- Low Intro APR: 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 18.24% - 29.24%.
- 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
- 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations.
- 3% Cash Back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
- 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
- Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
- $84 Disney Bundle Credit: With your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred Card, spend $9.99 or more each month on an auto-renewing Disney Bundle subscription, to receive a monthly statement credit of $7. Valid only at Disney Plus.com, Hulu.com or Plus.espn.com in the U.S.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
If you like earning cash back and spend a lot on groceries and streaming services, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is tough to beat. It's now offering a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new card within the first six months from account opening, and earns 6% back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 in spending per calendar year (then 1%).
You'll also earn 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions; 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis, rideshares, parking, tolls, trains, and buses); and 1% cash back on everything else. You'll receive cash back in the form of Reward Dollars, which can be redeemed as statement credits or at Amazon.com checkout.
If you max out the $6,000 limit at U.S. supermarkets, you could earn $360 in cash back each year just from that category alone — that's more than enough to offset the annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $95.
Read more in our American Express Blue Cash Preferred review.
Best Welcome Bonus for Capital One Miles: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
$95
N/A
19.99% - 29.24% variable
Earn 75,000 bonus miles
Good to Excellent
- $50 experience credit and free upgrades on Capital One Lifestyle Collection bookings
- Includes a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
- Other credit cards offer higher rewards in certain categories of spending
If you want an easy, no-fuss travel rewards credit card, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a great fit. For a moderate annual fee, it offers plenty of value, useful benefits, and a substantial welcome bonus.
Venture Rewards Card- Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card a earns a generous welcome bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening — worth at least $1,275 in travel, based on Business Insider's valuation of Capital One miles.
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a great mid-tier travel credit card that offers benefits most people can take advantage of, even if they don't hit the road very often. This card earns an unlimited 2x on everything and comes with rental car insurance. You'll also receive other benefits such as a statement credit of up to $120 toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® verification every four years, which can greatly ease your airport security experience.
Like other cards that earn Capital One miles, you can transfer your welcome offer rewards to more than a dozen airline and hotel partners to book award travel. You can also book flights, hotels, and rental cars directly through the Capital One travel portal.
Read more in our Capital One Venture Card review.
Best Welcome Bonus for Earning Citi ThankYou Points: Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
$95
N/A
20.24% - 28.24% Variable
Earn 75,000 bonus points
Good to Excellent
- Earn 3x points on most travel, restaurants, gas/EV charging, and supermarkets
- Earn 10x points on hotels, rental cars, and attractions booked via Citi Travel
- $100 annual hotel credit on a single stay of $500 or more
- No foreign transaction fees
- Trip delay/interruption benefits and lost/damaged baggage coverage
- Has an annual fee
- Citi Travel rates often are higher than retail cost of travel
The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is another card that doesn't always get the attention it deserves. It earns Citi ThankYou Rewards points that you can redeem for travel booked through the Citi Travel Portal, transfer to airline and hotel partners, or cash in for statement credits, gift cards, or merchandise.
In addition to offering a bonus of 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening, the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card stands out for its wide range of bonus categories. Outside of the welcome bonus earning, cardholders earn 3 points per dollar at restaurants and supermarkets. This makes the card a great option for maximizing your everyday purchases — because everyone has to eat.
The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card also comes with a hotel savings benefit that can offset its entire $95 annual fee. This perk will save you $100 once per calendar year when you book a hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) through ThankYou.com.
Read more in our Citi Premier card review.
Best for Generous Marriott Bonus With Low Annual Fee: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
$95
N/A
20.49% - 27.49% Variable
Earn 100,000 bonus points and a $150 statement credit
Good to Excellent
- Annual free night reward for hotels that cost up to 35,000 points can be worth more than annual fee
- The only lucrative bonus category is participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
- Upgrading to Gold status requires spending $35,000 on the card in an account year
If you want to earn Marriott points on your everyday spending, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is a great option with a reasonable annual fee and a generous welcome bonus offer. It comes with good benefits, including a free night award each card anniversary and elite status credits for meeting spending thresholds.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless CardThe Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is the younger sibling of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, with fewer benefits and a significantly lower annual fee. This card is perfect for travelers who occasionally stay at Marriott properties but don't need all the bells and whistles of premium elite benefits.
This card made our list of top credit cards for sign-up bonuses because it has a welcome offer of 100,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in your first three months from account opening plus a $150 Statement Credit after you make your first purchase in the first 12 months from account opening, worth $700 by Business Insider's valuations. This offer is especially generous because it's nearly as great as that of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, but with annual fee savings worth hundreds of dollars.
Read more in our full Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Amex card review.
Credit Card Sign-Up Bonus Frequently Asked Questions
A sign-up bonus, also known as a welcome bonus or intro offer, is a reward of points, miles, or cash back for new cardholders who meet designated requirements. Usually, these requirements involve meeting a minimum spending threshold within the first few months after you open your new credit card account.
Yes, credit card sign-up bonuses change frequently. If you're considering opening a new rewards credit card, do your research to see whether the card you want has previously offered a higher bonus. If it has, it could be worth waiting until that elevated offer returns, or you may even be able to find that higher offer through the credit card issuer's website.
The best credit card sign-up bonus depends on the person. Even if one card offers more points, not all points and miles are valued equally. There are also different types of credit card rewards — points, miles, and cash back — so the best welcome bonus for you depends on the rewards you value most.
Typically, you can use a credit card sign-up bonus in a variety of ways. If you earn a cash-back welcome bonus, you could be able to use it toward a statement credit to reduce your credit card bill, or you could receive the money in check form. With a travel rewards card, you could use your points or miles to book an award trip, or cash them out for gift cards, money back, or merchandise.The exact options depend on the credit card you have and its specific rewards program.
Yes, a credit card without a sign-up bonus is still worth it. Intro offers can be a great incentive to apply, especially if you're looking at a card that has an annual fee, but not every good credit card offers an intro bonus. For example, the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card is one of the best balance transfer credit cards, but it doesn't offer a welcome bonus or earn rewards. It could be worth forgoing an intro bonus if that card's 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers made within 120 days (then a 17.24%, 23.74%, or 28.99% Variable APR) appeals to you.
Yes, you should earn credit card rewards even if you don't have upcoming travel planned. Earning a welcome bonus now can put you in a great position to use points and miles for your next vacation, whenever that may be. But before you apply for a new credit card, make sure you understand how credit card applications affect your credit score.
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Chose the Best Credit Card Welcome Offers
Business Insider carefully evaluates the potential value of welcome bonuses and categorizes them according to which profile each will best serve. We also look at the ongoing benefits and earning rates of these cards, but our chief goal is to uncover the biggest, juiciest intro offers.
Our credit cards team is primarily concerned about one thing: that you open the right credit card for your lifestyle. There are lots of excellent credit cards out there (and just as many bad ones) — but even a credit card with an enormous value proposition isn't necessarily for you. Our job is to help you find the perfect product for your unique situation.
See our full methodology for how Business Insider rates credit cards.
