The best rewards cards to add to your wallet in 2025

6 Mins read

Anyone who knows me knows that I enjoy singing the praises of rewards credit cards whenever I get the chance.

But the credit card industry offers so many options that even an expert like me can struggle to keep track. That’s why I love helping my friends and family sift through the choices to find cards that fit their lifestyles and travel goals.

With that in mind, let’s go over my top picks for the best rewards credit cards.

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/7538?pid=7538&name=Chase%20Freedom%20Flex%C2%AE%20PID&issuer=Chase” target=”_blank”>Chase Freedom Flex®</a></strong> (see <a href=”/tc/7538?pid=7538&name=Chase%20Freedom%20Flex%C2%AE%20PID&data-testid=ratesFees” target=”_blank”>rates and fees</a>)	Earn a $200 bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.	<ul> <li>5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories each quarter you activate (on up to $1,500 in spending each quarter, then 1% back)</li> <li>5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Travel℠</li> <li>3% cash back on dining and at drugstores</li> <li>2% cash back on Lyft (through Sept. 30, 2027)</li> <li>1% cash back on all other purchases</li> </ul>	None
<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/oc/10987?pid=10987&name=Atmos%E2%84%A2%20Rewards%20Summit%20Visa%20Infinite%C2%AE%20Credit%20Card&issuer=Bank%20of%20America” target=”_blank”>Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Credit Card</a></strong>	Earn 80,000 bonus points and a 25,000-point Global Companion Award after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 90 days from account opening.	<ul> <li>3 points per dollar spent on Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases</li> <li>3 points per dollar spent on eligible dining purchases</li> <li>3 points per dollar spent on foreign transactions</li> <li>1 point 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>	New Amex Platinum cardmembers can find out their offer and see if they’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>)

Chase Freedom Flex

Standout benefits: This card’s best benefit is its rotating quarterly bonus categories. You’ll earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 of spending each quarter in these categories (then 1% back; activation required). Plus, cardholders can enjoy a complimentary six-month DoorDash DashPass membership (activate by Dec. 31, 2027).

a hand holds a credit card — THE POINTS GUY

The Freedom Flex is, in my opinion, one of Chase’s most underrated cards. It often gets overshadowed by its big siblings, the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees).

This card is best for beginners and those looking for an affordable, flexible product. It was my first proper rewards card, and it was the one that truly got me hooked on this hobby.

To learn more, check out our full review of the Freedom Flex.

Apply here: Chase Freedom Flex

Chase Sapphire Preferred

Standout benefits: This card offers access to Chase’s transfer partners, a critical component of maximizing your rewards. If you have an eligible no-annual-fee Chase card, like the Freedom Flex, you can turn that card’s rewards into transferable Ultimate Rewards points with the Sapphire Preferred.

The Sapphire Preferred gets put on a pedestal here at TPG, and for good reason. It’s an affordable card that earns valuable, transferable Ultimate Rewards points. Plus, it’s easy to get your money back (and then some) with the Sapphire Preferred’s annual fee, thanks to its DoorDash DashPass membership (activate by Dec. 31, 2027).

Cardholders also get a $50 credit for an eligible hotel booking through Chase Travel each year, in addition to a 10% anniversary points boost. These approachable perks make this card a great introduction to the world of points and miles — it was even my very first transferable rewards card.

To learn more, check out our full review of the Sapphire Preferred.

Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Atmos Rewards Summit

Standout benefits: If you’re a frequent Alaska or Hawaiian Airlines (or Oneworld alliance airline) traveler looking for travel-related perks, this card deserves a place in your wallet. The Atmos Summit offers eight Alaska lounge passes annually (2 passes per calendar quarter) and a fast track to elite status, thanks to 10,000 status points annually, plus earning 1 status point for every two dollar spent on purchases.

The Atmos Summit is quickly earning a reputation as a top pick for frequent Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines travelers. It offers excellent earning rates on international spending, quarterly lounge passes, a free checked bag on Alaska and Hawaiian flights and fast-tracked elite status. Add in companion awards and points sharing, and the $395 annual fee starts to feel worthwhile.

I don’t carry this card myself, but for anyone flying these airlines regularly or traveling abroad often, it’s definitely one to consider.

To learn more, check out our full review of the Atmos Rewards Summit.

Apply here: Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite Credit Card

American Express Platinum

Standout benefits: Trying to condense this card’s standout benefits into a few sentences is nearly impossible. It boasts a long list of statement credits, elite statuses and lounges you can access, among other benefits. It may feature the highest annual fee of any card on the market, but it’s well worth it for the right cardmember.

The Amex Platinum is my most expensive card, but I’m able to justify it thanks to its various benefits. I just used my statement credits for Resy*, which is up to $400 annually (up to $100 per quarter) and for Lululemon** which is up to $300 annually (up to $75 per quarter). This means I’m already roughly $175 toward breaking even on this card’s annual fee.

I also value this card’s lounge access, which is the furthest-reaching of any card currently available. If you can afford to pay the $895 annual fee in one billing cycle for a card, the Amex Platinum is definitely worth considering.

To learn more, check out our full review of the Amex Platinum.

*U.S. restaurants only; enrollment required
**U.S. stores and online only; outlets excluded; enrollment required

Apply here: American Express Platinum Card

How I chose my top rewards cards

The best rewards cards offer flexibility and a lot of value. Some carry annual fees, some don’t, but each has at least a few tried-and-true ways to justify their place in your wallet. They all offer bonus categories tied to common spending, solid lifestyle credits, brand perks or some combination.

I recommend these cards time and again because I believe they’re the best fit for most travelers. You don’t need all four of these cards to have a well-rounded wallet, but your travels can certainly be elevated if you do.

Bottom line

Ask me for my best rewards card recommendations, and these are the ones you’ll hear about. I have three out of four of them in my wallet, and I don’t regret opening any of them. The Atmos Summit, while not a solid fit for my current personal card strategy, is still on the same playing field as its companions on this list.

Be intrigued, not intimidated, by rewards credit cards. These options can all unlock travel opportunities you might never have thought possible.

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.