Card reviews
Is it worth the fee? Our take on the cards people ask about most, with how each one earns, its credits and who should skip it.
By Quy Dinh
Personal cards
Worth the $895 only if you’ll really use the lounges and most of the credits; for everyone else, a cheaper card does more.
One of the best cards for people who spend most on food: 4x at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, with up to $424 a year in food and Uber credits against a $325 fee.
Strong if you travel often and use Chase Travel, but at $795 it only pays off if you use the $300 travel credit, the lounges and most of the newer credits.
One of the best first travel cards: $95 a year, a $100 hotel credit, 3x on dining and everyday categories, and points that transfer to airlines and hotels.
A strong $95 everyday card: 3x on dining, supermarkets, gas and travel, with points that transfer to American Airlines and Citi’s other partners.
Best for American Airlines flyers who’ll use the Admirals Club passes and book through Citi Travel; for most others the Venture X or Sapphire Reserve fits better.
For renters and homeowners who’ll run most of their spending through one card: 2x on everything, points on rent or mortgage, Priority Pass and $400 in hotel credits for $495.
A $95 card for renters who eat out or cook a lot: 3x on dining or groceries, points on rent with no fee, and Bilt’s transfer partners.
For frequent Delta flyers only: 15 Sky Club visits, Centurion Lounges on Delta days, a yearly companion ticket and a head start on Medallion status, for $650.
The easiest way to Hilton Diamond status, with a free night every year and big hotel credits; worth $550 if you stay at Hilton and use the credits.
Simple cash back for families: 6% at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 a year) and on streaming, 3% on gas and transit, for $95 a year.
A great everyday card for $0 a year: 1.5% on everything and 3% on dining and drugstores, and even better paired with a Sapphire or Ink Preferred.
Worth it if you fly United a few times a year: a free checked bag for you and a companion, priority boarding, two United Club passes and cheaper award flights.
Best for Hyatt fans: a free night every year that’s often worth more than the $95 fee, plus Discoverist status and a faster climb to higher tiers.
Simple travel rewards for $95: 2x miles on everything, transfers to airlines, and a $100 yearly stays credit that nearly covers the fee.
One of the best $0 cards for food and fun: 3% back on dining, entertainment, streaming and groceries, with no caps.
A great $0 card if you don’t mind a little planning: 5% in rotating categories each quarter, 3% on dining and drugstores, and points that pair with a Sapphire.
For frequent Southwest flyers: 7,500 anniversary points, a free checked bag, a preferred seat when you book and Group 5 boarding, for $229.
An easy keep for Marriott guests: a free night every year (up to 35,000 points) that’s usually worth more than the $95 fee, plus Silver Elite and 15 elite night credits.
The easy Delta card: a free checked bag, Zone 5 boarding and Delta credits for $150 a year (the first year is free).
Worth it if you’ll use the yearly companion ticket: Delta bags, a head start on Medallion status and Delta credits, for $350.
Marriott’s top card: Platinum Elite status, a free night up to 85,000 points every year and Priority Pass, for $650.
A simple 2% card for $0: 1% when you buy and 1% when you pay, with points that work with Citi’s Strata cards.
Simple 1.5% cash back on everything for $0, with no foreign transaction fee and an easy $200 bonus.
One of the most generous $0 cards: 3x on restaurants, travel, gas and EV charging, transit, streaming and phone plans, with no foreign transaction fee.
If you book at least $300 of travel a year through Capital One Travel, the travel credit and the 10,000 anniversary miles pay the $395 fee, and 2x miles on everything does the rest.
Business cards
One of the best business cards for its fee: 3x on travel, shipping, ads and phone and internet on up to $150,000 a year, with Chase’s transfer partners, for $95.
For business owners who fly and spend big: the widest lounge access, 5x on Amex Travel flights and hotels, 2x on large purchases and a long list of business credits, for $895.
Strong for businesses whose biggest costs are ads, software, dining, gas, transit or phone service: 4x in your top two categories every billing cycle, for $375.
A $0 business card that pays 5% on office supplies and on internet, cable and phone, and 2% on gas and dining, with a $750 bonus.
The simplest $0 business card: 1.5% on everything, a $750 bonus, and points that become transferable with an Ink Preferred or Sapphire.
The Venture X for businesses: 2x miles on everything, lounges, a $300 travel credit and 10,000 miles a year, plus a huge limited-time bonus for big spenders.