Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
If you're looking to earn card rewards, a sign-up bonus is one of the easiest ways to do it. But you need to read the fine print: The most valuable bonuses require a minimum spend within a certain time period.
CNBC Select analyzed dozens of cards to find the best sign-up bonuses in a variety of categories, including rewards, spending requirements, cash back, intro APR and travel benefits. For more on how we made our selections, check out our methodology.
Best credit card sign-up bonuses of June 2026
- Best for no spending requirement: Prime Visa (see rates and fees)
- Best for no annual fee: Citi Double Cash® Card
- Best for cash back: Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees)
- Best for flexible rewards: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees)
- Best for intro APR: Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
- Best for travel: Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees)
- Best for beginner travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Best for premium perks: American Express Platinum Card®
- Best for transfer partner access: Citi Strata Elite℠ Card
- Best for businesses: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates and fees)
Best for no spending requirement
Who's this for? The Prime Visa, issued by Chase, is one of the few cards that automatically award a welcome bonus upon account approval, without requiring you to meet a spending goal.
Welcome bonus: Earn a $150 Amazon gift card instantly upon approval, exclusively for Prime members.
The Prime Visa is only available to Amazon Prime members ($139 for an annual membership and $14.99 for a monthly membership) but is very rewarding for Amazon purchases.
- High rate of return at Amazon and Whole Foods
- Easy-to-earn welcome bonus
- Requires an Amazon Prime membership
- If you choose the promo APR you won't earn rewards on those purchases
Rewards
- Earn unlimited 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership
- Unlimited 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare)
- 10% back or more on a rotating selection of items and categories on Amazon.com with an eligible Prime membership
- Unlimited 1% back on all other purchases
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 4% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Best for no annual fee
Who's this for? The Citi Double Cash Card is a versatile no-annual-fee credit card and a great fit for anyone who wants the simplicity of cash back and the flexibility of travel rewards.
Welcome bonus: Earn a $200 cash bonus after spending $1,500 on purchases within six months of account opening. This bonus is fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which means you can redeem for cash back or transfer to any of the Citi ThankYou® Rewards travel partners.
The Citi Double Cash® Card is one of the best no-annual-fee cash-back cards thanks to its straightforward rewards structure.
- Balance transfers get a long intro APR
- Generous flat-rate cash-back rewards structure
- No annual fee
- Travelers face a foreign transaction fee
- Intro APR only applies to balance tranfer
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
- Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.
- Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 17.49% - 27.49%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
- If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
- There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Balance transfer fee
There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. A balance transfer fee of 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies if completed after 4 months of account opening.
Foreign transaction fee
3%
Best for cash back
Who's this for? The Chase Freedom Unlimited earns at least 1.5% cash back on spending, plus rewards on dining at restaurants, drugstore purchases and Chase Travel℠ purchases.
Welcome bonus: Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first three months from account opening.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a no-annual-fee card that earns generous cash-back on everyday purchases and a lucrative welcome bonus.
- Users get a high rewards rate and strong welcome bonus
- Purchases and balance transfers get long intro APR
- No annual fee
- Travelers face a foreign transaction fee
- Few rewarding ongoing benefits
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
- Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can use points to redeem for cash through an account statement credit or an electronic deposit into an eligible Chase account located in the United States!
- Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.24% - 27.74%.
- No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
- Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Intro fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, in the first 60 days. After that, either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee
3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
Best for flexible rewards
Who's this for? The Chase Sapphire Preferred has an excellent travel-centric rewards program. It earns Chase Ultimate Rewards® points that transfer to airline and hotel partners and features a robust suite of perks, including travel and purchase protections.
Welcome bonus: You can earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card packs a punch for a $95 annual fee card, offering annual travel credits, comprehensive travel protections and more.
- You can transfer rewards to all of Chase's travel partners including World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
- Long list of travel and shopping protections
- $50 annual Chase Travel hotel credit
- Has an annual fee
- Requires a high credit score
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase TravelSM
- 10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Offers in this section are from affiliate partners and selected based on a combination of engagement, product relevance, compensation, and consistent availability.
$0
With over 4,700 branches, Chase has the largest branch network in the U.S. plus access to more than 15,000 ATMs.
$0
Bank from anywhere with access to more than 15,000 Chase ATMs, more than 4,700 Chase branches, the Chase Mobile® app and Chase.com.
Best for intro APR
Who's this for? The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card offers the best of both worlds: a generous introductory APR offer, plus one of the strongest welcome bonuses you can find with a no-annual-fee credit card.
Welcome bonus: Once approved, you can earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first three months from account opening. That averages about $167 in monthly spending to earn the bonus.
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is great if you want simplicity thanks to its flat-rate 2% unlimited cash rewards on purchases and $0 annual fee.
- High flat-rate return on purchases
- Intro-APR for purchases and qualifying balance transfers for a year
- No annual fee
- Cell phone protection
- Has a foreign transaction fee
- Limited redemption options unless you pair it with a Wells Fargo card that allows point transfers
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 18.49%, 24.49%, or 28.49% variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
- $0 annual fee.
- No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don't expire as long as your account remains open.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
Balance Transfer Fee
3% intro for 120 days from account opening, then up to 5%, min: $5
Foreign Transaction Fee
3%
Best for travel
Who's this for? The Chase Sapphire Reserve earns excellent rewards rates on travel purchases, alongside extensive built-in travel protections. The card comes with a flexible $300 travel credit and earns 8X points on all purchases through Chase TravelSM*.
Welcome bonus: You can earn 150,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
*After the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a standout premium credit card with plenty of luxury perks and statement credits to justify its annual fee.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority PassTM Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests.
- Up to $300 in annual travel credit each account anniversary year
- You can transfer rewards to all of Chase's travel partners including World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
- Top-tier travel and shopping protections
- High annual fee
- Requires a high credit score
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 150,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Get $3,000 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
- Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase TravelSM, including The EditSM and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority PassTM Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® every 4 years
- Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
- Get complimentary Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music — all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 — a value of $288 annually
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Best for beginner travel rewards
Who's this for? The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers a minimum of 2X miles on every purchase for a $95 annual fee, plus access to Capital One transfer partners and up to $120 in credits toward a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application fee every four years.
Welcome bonus: Earn 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.
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has a reasonable annual fee and earns flexible travel rewards, which makes it a great travel card for beginners or heavy travelers.
- Valuable welcome offer worth at least $750 in travel
- You can transfer miles to over 15 Capital One partners, including Emirates Skywards, Choice Privileges and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- No foreign transaction fees
- Lacks ongoing travel benefits such as statement credits or lounge access
- Limited bonus spending category that only applies to certain Capital One Travel bookings
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 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
- 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
- Top rated mobile app
Balance transfer fee
$0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Foreign transaction fee
None
Best for premium perks
Who's this for? The American Express Platinum Card® is a top-tier premium travel credit card with a long list of annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, airport lounge access and more.
Welcome bonus: You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership.
The American Express Platinum Card® is a premium card loaded with annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, extensive airport lounge access, elite status perks and more. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- Access to 1,550+ airport lounges, including Priority Pass™ Select lounges (enrollment required) and Amex Centurion lounges
- Statement credit offers worth up to twice what the annual fee costs
- Elite status perks for hotels and rental cars (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- High annual fee
- Many statement credit offers are complicated and are earned in increments or limited to specific purchases
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges.* As of 07/2025.
- $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
- $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to make eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you.
- $209 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
- $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That's up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®.* Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
Offers in this section are from affiliate partners and selected based on a combination of engagement, product relevance, compensation, and consistent availability.
3.10% APY as of 5/19/2026
Min balance to open = $0
1.00% APY as of 06/24/2024
Min balance to open = $0
Best for transfer partner access
Who's this for? The Citi Strata Elite Card earns solid rewards on travel purchases, and Citi's travel partners make it an excellent option for transferring rewards to airlines and hotels (including American Airlines AAdvantage® and JetBlue TrueBlue).
Welcome bonus: The Citi Strata Elite is offering 75,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 in the first three months of account opening.
The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card aims to brings premium restaurant rewards and travel benefits to users, including an annual hotel benefit of $300.
- High rewards rate on travel
- 6X on restaurants
- Can transfer points to American Airlines at a 1:1 rate
- Up to $200 annual splurge credit
- High annual fee
- Limited rewards categories
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 75,000 bonus Points after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
- Earn 12 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on cititravel.com and 6 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel booked on cititravel.com
- Earn 6 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants including Restaurant Delivery Services on CitiNights℠ purchases, every Friday and Saturday from 6 PM to 6 AM ET. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent any other time
- Earn 1.5 Points per $1 spent on All Other Purchases
- Up to $300 Annual Hotel Benefit: Each calendar year, enjoy up to $300 off a hotel stay of two nights or more when booked through cititravel.com.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
Balance transfer fee
Balance transfer fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
Best for businesses
Who's this for? The Ink Business Preferred Credit Card is ideal for small business owners who want to earn flexible rewards on travel and select business categories.
Welcome bonus: Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is an excellent business card with useful benefits, valuable rewards and a generous welcome bonus.
- Earns flexible travel rewards you can transfer to airline and hotel loyalty programs such as World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
- Valuable welcome bonus worth $1,125 in travel when redeemed through Chase Travel
- Strong travel and shopping protections
- No intro APR offer
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
- Earn 5x total points on Lyft rides through 9/30/27.
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
- Go further when you book with Chase TravelSM. Enjoy competitive rates, seamless booking and premium benefits.
- Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- Receive complimentary access to DashPass by DoorDash.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Best credit card sign-up bonuses comparison
| Type of bonus | Annual fee | Credit score requirement | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Visa | Gift card | $0 (requires Prime membership) | Good to excellent |
| Citi Double Cash® Card | Cash back/flexible travel rewards | $0 | Good to excellent |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited® | Cash back | $0 | Good to excellent |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Flexible travel rewards | $95 | Good to excellent |
| Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card | Cash back | $0 | Good to excellent |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® | Flexible travel rewards | $795 | Excellent |
| Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | Flexible travel rewards | $95 | Good to excellent |
| American Express Platinum Card® | Flexible travel rewards | $895* | Good to excellent |
| Citi Strata Elite℠ Card | Flexible travel rewards | $595 | Good to excellent |
| Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card | Flexible travel rewards | $95 | Good to excellent |
*(see rates and fees)
How do credit card welcome bonuses work?
Welcome bonuses allow new cardholders to earn extra rewards, such as cash back, points or miles, typically during the first several months of opening their new card. To earn the welcome bonus, you often have to meet certain spending targets within a timeframe, which will vary from card to card.
Some cards offer bonuses of $200 or $300, while rewards for premium cards with higher annual fees can reach into the thousands.
Types of welcome bonuses
Cash back or statement credits
Cash back or a statement credit is a common welcome bonus for no-annual-fee credit cards. This is a great option if you want to avoid complex point systems or apply rewards to your balance.
Flexible points and miles
Transferable points or miles are commonly redeemed for elevated value with partner airlines and hotels. There are minor differences between points and miles in terms of redemption value, making either a great option for flexible bookings.
Gift cards
Some issuers offer a gift card that is instantly applied to your account after approval. For example, the Prime Visa comes with a $150 Amazon Gift Card if you're approved and have an eligible Prime membership.
Hotel free nights
Hotel credit cards often tout "reward nights," or complimentary stays at a branded property, usually with stipulations (such as a cap on the room rate).
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® currently offers up to 4 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points; certain hotels have resort fees) after qualifying purchases.
How to meet a welcome bonus spending requirements
Don't spend irresponsibly just to hit a welcome bonus. Having a plan to hit your target spend can ensure you get your rewards while still making sound financial decisions.
- Don't use other cards: You might be tempted to make purchases with cards you own, especially if they earn greater rewards on select categories. But the opportunity cost of earning those rewards might not be worth giving up a larger welcome offer.
- Offer to pick up the check: If you're dining out with friends, offer to cover the bill with your card and have everyone repay you via Venmo or PayPal.
- Sign up before a large purchase: If you know you will be buying an appliance, covering wedding expenses or making some other large purchase, a card with a generous welcome bonus will reward you for spending money you already budgeted for.
How to choose a credit card based on the welcome bonus
A welcome bonus is a one-time perk, so carefully consider all the other benefits, requirements and fees before applying.
Determine bonus value
For certain types of cards, it's simple to estimate the bonus value. For example, a $500 cash bonus is worth $500, but how much are 50,000 points or miles worth? The answer depends on the type of rewards and how you intend to use them:
- Hotel points or airline miles: Only redeemable within the specific program, limiting your options
- Transferable points: Can typically be moved to different airlines or hotels, which provides you with more choices
This added flexibility can increase the value of flexible rewards, so 50,000 transferable points are generally worth more than 50,000 hotel points.
Check the bonus restrictions
You may be required to spend a certain amount within a specific number of months or a specific shopping category. There may also be a cap on the rewards you can receive, or blackout dates or other restrictions on travel perks.
Look at the card's overall value
A welcome bonus is nice, but the card should meet your long-term needs. Most of the time, a card with a smaller bonus but lower fees and better perks is the best option.
- Annual fee: Will the card's annual fee undercut its value over the next several years?
- Ongoing rewards: How many points or miles will you earn after the intro period is over?
- Perks: Does the card offer lounge access, rental car protection, waived foreign transaction fees or other benefits?
Know your spending habits
Before you sign up for a card, compare the bonus requirements to your typical monthly budget. Will you need to make purchases you normally wouldn't or shop in categories you usually don't?
Look at your card statements over the past few months. If you usually charge $1,500 per month, try to stick with cards that have a spending requirement of $4,500 or less.
Credit card welcome bonus pros and cons
You can score cash back, points or miles — or other perks, like gift cards and travel statement credits — through a welcome bonus. But these one-time benefits come with some drawbacks.
- Strong return: The best welcome bonuses effectively offer 10X to 20X points per dollar.
- Unique value: You can quickly earn business-class flights, luxury hotels or other valuable rewards.
- Offset large purchases: If you have a wedding, home repairs or other big expenses coming up, a welcome bonus can earn you rewards on money you already planned to spend.
- May lead to overspending: A welcome bonus can entice you to spend more than you normally would or in categories you usually don't.
- One-time event: Intro bonuses expire after several months and can be outweighed by things like annual fees, high interest rates or late fees.
FAQs
How do credit card sign-up bonuses work?
Credit card sign-up bonuses are typically one-time offers you can qualify for when you open a new card. These rewards often come in the form of cash back, points or miles, and they generally require spending a certain amount of money on the card within the first few months of account opening.
Are credit card sign-up bonus offers worth it?
Credit card sign-up bonuses can be worth it, as they typically add hundreds of dollars (and sometimes over a thousand dollars) back to your wallet. Plus, they're generally non-taxable since you have to spend money to earn them. However, you should only pursue a welcome bonus if you can meet the spending requirement without overspending or stretching yourself too thin.
How many credit card sign-up bonuses can you earn?
Some card issuers, like American Express, limit the number of sign-up bonuses you can earn for a card to once per lifetime. Others may allow you to earn a sign-up bonus multiple times but could make you wait a certain period of time before being eligible again.
Are credit card sign-up bonuses taxed?
Credit card sign-up bonuses are typically not considered taxable income. They usually have a spending requirement, which makes them a form of rebate or discount.
What is the $750 bonus on a Capital One credit card?
With the Capital One Spark Cash Select you can earn a $750 cash back bonus when you spend $6,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed financial decisions. Every credit card list is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.
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Our methodology
To determine which cards offer the best value, CNBC Select analyzed over 250 major credit cards issued through FDIC-insured banks and NCUA-insured credit unions that are widely available in the U.S. and offer welcome bonuses.
We compared each card on a range of features, including rewards (e.g., cash back, points and miles), annual fees, welcome bonuses, introductory and standard APR and balance transfer fees and foreign transaction fees. We also considered additional perks (e.g., ongoing travel or merchant statement credits), cardholder protections (e.g., purchase protection, $0 liability protection and travel insurance), the application process when available (e.g., is there a credit pull or required credit score) and how easy it is to redeem points (e.g., are rewards are tied to a specific brand; if transferable, to how many/which partners, can you redeem for straight cash back).
We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools. Since the value of a point or mile depends on what it can be redeemed for, we also considered factors such as transferability and the ability to redeem for cash back.
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For rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, click here.
*For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply
*We may earn commissions from qualifying purchases made through Amazon links.
