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The best rewards cards for everyday spending in 2025
I first got started in the points and miles game when I realized I was leaving money on the table with every purchase. What finally changed everything was learning how a rewards credit card can turn everyday spending into points, miles and real travel opportunities.
While I was once hesitant to open a credit card, I’ve since learned just how valuable the right rewards card can be, and now I’m building my wallet into a rewards powerhouse that helps me travel more, earn faster and get more out of every dollar I spend.
One of my cards (hint: it’s on this list) even helped me spend three unforgettable weeks traveling through Europe this past summer — a bucket-list trip I never would’ve been able to swing otherwise.
If you’re looking for the best rewards credit cards to add to your wallet in 2025, here are the ones I personally use, as well as the ones I plan to open next.
Comparing my top picks for the best rewards credit cards
Here’s a quick overview of what each of my favorite rewards cards has to offer.
| Card | Welcome offer | Earning rates | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| <strong><a href=”https://thepointsguy.com/oc/10043?pid=10043&name=Prime%20Visa%20PID&issuer=Amazon” target=”_blank”>Prime Visa</a> </strong>(see <a href=”/tc/10043?pid=10043&name=Prime%20Visa%20PID&data-testid=ratesFees” target=”_blank”>rates and fees</a>) | For a limited time, the Prime Visa offers a $250 Amazon gift card instantly upon approval, exclusively for Prime members. | <ul> <li>10% or more back on a rotating selection of items and categories on amazon.com with an eligible Prime membership</li> <li>Unlimited 5% back at amazon.com, Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market, and on Chase Travel℠ purchases with an eligible Prime membership</li> <li>Unlimited 2% back at gas stations and restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including ride-hailing services)</li> <li>Unlimited 1% back on all other purchases</li> </ul> |
$0 (<a href=”https://www.amazon.com/amazonprime” target=”_blank”>Prime membership</a> required) |
| <strong><a href=”https://thepointsguy.com/oc/22125056?pid=22125056&name=Chase%20Sapphire%20Preferred%C2%AE%20Card%20PID&issuer=Chase” target=”_blank”>Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card</a></strong> (see <a href=”/tc/22125056?pid=22125056&name=Chase%20Sapphire%20Preferred%C2%AE%20Card%20PID&data-testid=ratesFees” target=”_blank”>rates and fees</a>) | Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. | <ul> <li>5 points per dollar spent on travel booked through Chase Travel</li> <li>5 points per dollar spent on Lyft (through Sept. 30, 2027)</li> <li>3 points per dollar spent on dining, select streaming services and online grocery orders (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs)</li> <li>2 points per dollar spent on all other travel</li> <li>1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases</li> </ul> |
$95 |
| <strong><a href=”https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/capital-one-venture-x-rewards-credit-card/” target=”_blank”>Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card</a></strong> | Earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $10,000 on purchases in the first six months from account opening. | <ul> <li>10 miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel</li> <li>5 miles per dollar spent on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel</li> <li>2 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases</li> </ul> |
$395 |
| <strong><a href=”https://thepointsguy.com/oc/22504813?pid=22504813&name=American%20Express%20Platinum%20Card%C2%AE&issuer=American%20Express” target=”_blank”>American Express Platinum Card®</a></strong> | Find out your offer and see if you’re eligible for as high as 175,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer. | <ul> <li>5 points per dollar spent on airfare booked directly or through American Express Travel® (on up to $500,000 in spending per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar spent)</li> <li>5 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel</li> <li>1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases</li> </ul> |
$895 annual fee (see <a href=”/tc/22504813?pid=22504813&name=American%20Express%20Platinum%20Card%C2%AE&data-testid=ratesFees” target=”_blank”>rates and fees</a>) |
Prime Visa
Standout benefits: A straightforward, no-annual-fee card that earns 5% back on amazon.com and Whole Foods purchases, making it a top choice for frequent Amazon shoppers.
If there is one card I wish I got before my recent move (and many subsequent Amazon orders), it’s the Prime Visa. While unassuming with its $0 annual fee, this card is a simple yet effective option that helps turn everyday spending into meaningful rewards.
Offering 5% back at amazon.com, Whole Foods Market and Amazon Fresh, this card is one of the best rewards credit cards for furnishing a new apartment, holiday shopping, purchasing weekly groceries and beyond.
Plus, it also offers 2% back at restaurants and gas stations and on local transit, which (combined with its lack of foreign transaction fees), makes for a surprisingly travel-friendly cash-back card. By using your card purchases in these categories, you can maximize your rewards on both everyday and specialty spending.
The Prime Visa also provides a host of protections, including purchase protection and extended warranty protection — something you don’t often see with a no-annual-fee card.
I’m thinking about adding this card to my wallet soon, as it is currently offering a $250 Amazon gift card instantly upon approval (exclusively for Prime members), making it an easy way to put some money back in my pocket ahead of the holiday season.
To learn more, check out our full review of the Prime Visa.
Apply here: Prime Visa
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Standout benefits: Flexible travel redemptions, valuable transfer partners and a modest annual fee make this one of the best rewards credit cards for anyone starting out with points and miles.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred was the first rewards card I ever opened, and it completely changed how I think about spending. Instead of earning cash back, I began earning Chase Ultimate Rewards points that could be transferred to partner loyalty programs like World of Hyatt, United Airlines MileagePlus and Air France-KLM Flying Blue.
That flexibility is what makes this card a favorite among travelers. Whether you want to book flights through the Chase Travel portal or transfer points to travel partners to maximize value, the Sapphire Preferred keeps your options open.
By taking advantage of a 25% Chase-Flying Blue transfer bonus this past summer, I was able to transfer just 15,000 points for a nonstop flight from Washington, D.C., to Paris — a flight that would have otherwise cost me more than $600. The Sapphire Preferred is simple enough to utilize that I’d say it is one of, if not the, best travel card for beginners (I might be biased, but don’t just take my word for it).
Even with its approachable $95 annual fee, the perks easily justify the cost. You get a $50 annual hotel credit for bookings through Chase Travel, a 10% anniversary points boost each year and useful protections like trip cancellation and purchase coverage.
The Sapphire Preferred has been the foundation of my rewards strategy, and I am always recommending it to people who want to turn everyday spending into their next trip.
To learn more, check out our full review of the Sapphire Preferred.
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Standout benefits: Premium travel perks, flexible redemptions and simple earning make this one of the best rewards credit cards for travelers who want strong value without unnecessary complexity.
The Venture X Rewards Credit Card has been on my wish list for months, and with its current offer of 100,000 miles after spending $10,000 in six months — the strongest we’ve seen since the card debuted in 2021 — I knew it was finally the right time to apply.
After watching friends, family members and co-workers use their Venture X to book flights, relax in airport lounges and rack up rewards with ease, I realized this card deserved to be my first premium travel card.
The card’s simple earning structure is part of its magic. Cardholders earn:
- 2 miles per dollar spent on every purchase
- 5 miles per dollar spent on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- 10 miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
Additionally, Venture X offers cardholders $300 in annual statement credits for bookings made through Capital One Travel, which can help cover a last-minute holiday trip or a much-needed getaway.
And if that wasn’t sweet enough, cardholders also earn 10,000 bonus miles after each account anniversary. This perk alone is worth $185 in value (according to TPG’s November 2025 valuations), and further chips away at the modest annual fee.
Not to mention, the card’s generous, best-since-2021 welcome offer of 100,000 miles after you spend $10,000 in six months is worth $1,850, according to our November 2025 valuations, thanks to the outsize value you can get from transferring Capital One miles to the program’s 15-plus airline and hotel partners.
The six-month spend window also makes this far more attainable than most premium cards, breaking down to just under $1,700 per month.
With its straightforward rewards, lounge access and flexible redemptions, the Venture X proves year over year why it’s one of the best rewards credit cards currently on the market, and I can’t wait to put it to good use.
To learn more, check out our full review of the Capital One Venture X.
Learn more: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
American Express Platinum Card
Standout benefits: Premium travel perks, extensive lounge access and generous statement credits make this one of the best rewards cards for frequent travelers who value comfort and convenience.
The Amex Platinum has long been considered the gold standard of premium travel rewards, and for good reason. While the Amex Platinum isn’t in my wallet yet, it’s firmly on my list.
Offering a valuable mix of travel and lifestyle credits that easily justify the card’s sky-high annual fee when used strategically, it’s a card built for those who value both convenience and elevated experiences.
Add in complimentary access for eligible cardmembers to the American Express Global Lounge Collection — including Centurion Lounges — and it’s easy to see why this card consistently ranks among the best rewards cards available.
To learn more, check out our full review of the Amex Platinum.
Apply here: Amex Platinum
How I chose my top rewards cards
When narrowing down the best rewards credit cards, I prioritized versatility, long-term value and the ability to earn meaningful rewards on everyday spending.
Each of these cards offers strong earning potential across popular categories like dining, travel and online shopping — but more importantly, they make redemptions simple, whether you’re booking flights, transferring points to partners or covering everyday purchases.
Bottom line
Finding the best rewards credit card is about choosing the one that fits your lifestyle and goals.
For me, that meant starting with a versatile card I could use every day, while building toward more premium options as my travel habits evolve. When you take the time to learn how each benefit works, even just one great rewards card can turn everyday spending into something bigger — whether that’s a free flight, a five-star stay or simply more freedom in how you spend.
Related: How to pick the right travel credit card for you
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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