Credit card sign-up bonuses allow new cardholders to quickly earn hundreds to thousands of dollars in rewards by spending a certain amount with their card, typically within the first few months. While many of the best welcome bonuses come from high-fee travel cards, you may still find a good offer on a cash-back card.
Below, we’ve compiled a list of the best credit card welcome offers based on their bonus value relative to the spending requirement and annual fee.
More info on the best credit card sign-up bonuses
The welcome bonus on the Chase Freedom Unlimited card is a bit different than most credit cards. With this card, you can earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year), worth up to $300 in cash back. That’s 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services), and 3% on all other purchases (Note: this offer is available through the LA Times Compare site and may not be available through Chase or another website). While the welcome offer on most cards requires you to spend a certain amount in a set time to earn them, this card’s bonus lets you earn as you go. On top of that, it has no annual fee, so there’s no yearly cost to “make up for.”
If you get the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, you can earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening. This welcome bonus is worth $750 if you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠ and $600 if you redeem for gift cards, statement credits, etc., a fantastic offer for a card with such a low annual fee. Cardholders can also benefit from over $150 worth of value in partner benefits, travel insurance benefits, and more, easily enhancing the card’s value to over $800 in the first year.
On the Capital One Venture Rewards Card, you can earn 75,000 miles when you spend $4,000 within three months of opening your account. This is worth $750 in travel; a great deal for a card with a low $95 annual fee.
The American Express Platinum Card lets you earn 80,000 bonus points if you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases within your first 6 months of membership. This welcome offer alone is worth over $1,000 (potentially up to $1,600, depending on how you redeem your points!), but the annual statement credits you can access with this card provide an additional $1,500+ in value. If you can look past the high annual fee, this card has plenty of value to offer in return.
The Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express lets you earn $250 after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership. It’s not quite as easy to earn as some bonuses on this list, but if you use it as your primary spending card, it shouldn’t be too difficult. This card also has great long-term value, with high reward-earning potential in various everyday categories.
With the Ink Business Preferred card, you can earn an extremely generous welcome offer of 90,000 points after spending $8,000 in the first 3 months of account opening. For many businesses, it would be easy to meet that spending requirement, and the offer is worth up to $1,125 in value ($1,125 when redeemed toward travel through Chase Travel℠, $900 when redeemed toward cash back, gift cards, etc.)! Employee cards are free, the reward categories are practical, and rewards are through Chase Ultimate Rewards, meaning they’re super flexible. Plus, this card only has a $95 annual fee, which is a far lower cost than many business credit cards charge.
It’s easy to earn the welcome offer on the Capital One SavorOne Rewards card. You can earn a one-time welcome bonus of $200 after spending just $500 on purchases within three months of account opening. Especially for a card with no annual fee, this is a solid bonus. The reward-earning categories of this card are also very useful for many people, and it boasts a variety of additional benefits, making this a great option all around.
With the American Express Gold Card, you can earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points when you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases during your first six months of membership, plus 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of Card Membership (up to $100 back). This welcome offer is worth up to $1,300, depending on how you redeem your points. Avid diners can also take advantage of over $300 worth of dining-related statement credits, boosting the potential value of this card to over $1,400 in the first year.
On the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, you can earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 within three months of account opening. This welcome bonus is worth up to $900 ($900 if you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠, $600 if you redeem toward statement credits, gift cards, etc.). Factor in the annual $300 travel credit, the Global Entry/TSA PreCheck® fee credit, lounge access, and more, and the starting value of this card skyrockets to well over $1,500.
On the Capital One Venture X card, you can earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening. This welcome bonus is equal to $750 in travel! Cardholders can also take advantage of an annual $300 travel credit and complimentary lounge access, among other perks, essentially boosting the value of the welcome offer to over $1,000.
It takes quite a bit of spending to earn the welcome bonus on the Capital One Venture X Business card, but if you can manage to spend $30,000 in the first 3 months from account opening, you can earn 150,000 miles. The spending requirement isn’t for the faint of heart, but it’s worth over $1,500 (potentially up to $2,700!), and the card itself is solid on the perks it packs. Cardholders can take advantage of an annual $300 travel credit and 10,000 anniversary miles every year, among other benefits. If your business spends quite a lot on travel, this card could make a valuable addition to your wallet.
What are credit card sign-up bonuses?
Credit card sign-up bonuses, also called welcome bonuses, are part of marketing campaigns that credit card companies use to attract new cardholders. These campaigns can have a big benefit for card members who know how to maximize bonuses.
The structure of the bonus depends on the type of card. Cash-back cards provide bonuses in the form of cash back, while travel rewards cards provide bonuses in the form of points or miles that work with a specific program.
If you sign up for a new credit card and are eligible for a welcome bonus, you can earn hundreds of dollars in value, making these offers attractive. You may be able to earn enough of a sign-up bonus, for example, to cover a flight or a few nights in a hotel.
How does a credit card bonus work?
You don’t automatically earn a welcome bonus simply by being approved for a credit card and opening an account. These bonuses come with spending requirements that must be completed first.
Typically, welcome bonuses require you to spend a certain amount within an initial timeline after opening the new credit card account. How much you have to spend, and how quickly, often correlates to the value of the bonus or the type of card.
For instance, business cards and luxury travel cards tend to require higher spending amounts, but there isn’t a hard and fast rule.
To understand how welcome offers work, consider these examples.
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If you have a cash back card with an offer stating “Earn $200 after spending $500 in the first three months after account opening,” you need to spend $500 on this card within 90 days after getting approved. After meeting that requirement, you’ll earn a $200 bonus, often in the form of a statement credit.
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If you have a travel rewards card with an offer stating “Earn 75,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months after account opening,” the same logic as above applies. However, instead of earning a statement credit, you’ll earn flexible points (credited to your account) which you can redeem for travel, cash back, and more.
In most cases, you’re only eligible for a sign-up bonus if you’re a new cardholder or haven’t had a card in that specific product line. For example, if you already have a United Airlines credit card, upgrading to another United Airlines credit card with the same bank may mean you’re not eligible for any sign-up bonus.
What is the best credit card sign-up bonus?
There isn’t a single best credit card welcome bonus on the market, in part because these offers constantly change.
What’s best for you also depends on your spending habits and goals. A travel rewards card offering an 80,000-point welcome bonus sounds great, but if you never travel or don’t spend enough to earn the offer, it’s not the best credit card option for you.
A good bonus is one that:
- Allows you to earn with regular spending or special planned spending (such as purchasing a kitchen appliance you need with a card that has an introductory APR offer)
- Offers rewards you can use and want
- Has a bonus rewards value that is more than any annual fee
For example, the Capital One Quicksilver card’s $200 cash-back bonus only requires you to spend $500 in the first three months. Most people can easily accomplish that just using the card to cover groceries or gas. Because the card has no annual fee, that $200 value is pure “profit” as long as you pay your statement off every month and don’t incur interest expense. That’s a pretty solid welcome bonus.
The same considerations apply with points and miles cards. Look for welcome bonuses that offer 50,000 or more in miles or points for the best value.
Are credit card sign-up bonuses easy to get?
To earn a credit card sign-up bonus, you must be approved for the card and then meet the minimum spending thresholds within the allotted time. These requirements make the degree of difficulty associated with earning welcome bonuses variable.
Most cards that offer a welcome bonus do require at least a good credit score — or a score in the mid-600s or higher.
Welcome bonuses with higher spending requirements tend to align with the following:
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Business credit cards. Card companies create welcome bonuses with the likely spending habits of cardholders in mind. They expect businesses to spend more, so required spending can be $5,000 or more in three to six months.
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Luxury travel rewards cards. Companies want to attract luxury travelers, so the sign-up bonus may require spending on the higher end.
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High-value bonuses. If a welcome bonus has a value of $800 or more, it typically requires you to spend several thousand dollars or more in the first few months.
How to choose the right credit card sign-up bonus for you
To get the best sign-up bonus for you, consider the big picture. Not all credit cards with a welcome bonus are a good fit for every person.
Let’s take a look at what you should think about.
Think about the rewards you want
Start by considering the type of rewards you can get the most value out of.
Options can include:
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Cash back. This is the easiest reward for most people to use, as you earn various levels of cash back on purchases. You can use those rewards to reduce your statement balance or, in some cases, request a payout via check or PayPal.
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General travel points. These rewards can be redeemed when you book travel. Often, you get the most value when booking through the credit card’s travel program, but some cards let you convert points to use with hotel or airline customer loyalty programs. This is typically the most flexible option for travel rewards.
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Hotel points. Hotel-branded credit cards let you earn points you can redeem on hotel stays and other rewards. This option is good if you prefer a specific hotel brand and stay at its properties often.
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Airline miles. Airline-branded cards let you earn miles for specific programs, such as Delta or Southwest. This option may be a good idea if you fly frequently with a certain airline.
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Other branded rewards programs. Some stores provide rewards credit cards. If you shop often with that store, you may be able to maximize rewards to save money.
Consider the minimum spending requirements and annual fees
Choose a card that matches your budget. If you can meet the spending requirements without maxing out your card and not paying off your balances, it’s not a good option for you. Rewards cards work best when you can earn value on spending you already planned.
Pay attention to the annual fee, too. If you won’t get more in rewards each year than the fee costs, the card probably isn’t worth it.
Look at the drawbacks of each card
Consider any potential negatives, such as high APR, blackout dates for redeeming rewards, or limited cash-back categories that might impact your ability to maximize earnings.
Are credit card bonus offers worth it?
Credit card welcome offers are certainly worth it in many cases, especially if you can meet the spending requirement without changing any of your financial habits. Consider whether you can earn the bonus by using your card to buy gas, groceries, and business supplies or make other planned purchases.
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For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this page.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, please visit this page.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, please visit this page.