Best credit cards for high spenders
While anyone can benefit from using a rewards card for regular spending, consumers who make a lot of credit card purchases each month stand to gain the most. For example, if you’re a business owner who spends a ton of money on inventory, payroll and other services, you could score plenty of rewards just by using a top business credit card.
Or, if you use credit cards to pay for regular purchases — or even bills, daycare and health insurance premiums — you can also benefit handsomely by charging everything you can on a flat-rate cash back card and paying it off each month.
Fortunately, some credit cards are geared toward big spenders. These cards usually offer more bonus rewards and a higher rate of return on everything you buy, plus larger welcome bonuses and other perks. If you’re a big spender looking for a rewards card to help you get ahead this year, start your search with the cards on this list.
Chase Sapphire Reserve: Best for everyday big spenders
Why we picked it: If you spend a lot of money on travel or dining each year specifically, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® can help you rack up an incredible amount of rewards. This card currently offers 60,000 points — worth up to $900 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards — when you spend $4,000 on your card within three months of account opening.
You’ll also earn 10X points on hotel stays and car rentals through Ultimate Rewards, 10X points on Chase Dining purchases through Ultimate Rewards, 10X points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025), 5X points on air travel through Ultimate Rewards, 3X points on general travel and restaurant purchases and 1X points on all other purchases.
Pros
- $300 annual travel credit
- Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership
- Up to a $100 credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS
- Excellent travel insurance
- 50 percent points boost for travel redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards
Cons
- $550 annual fee
- Low welcome bonus for a premium travel card
Who should apply: Anyone who spends a significant amount on travel and dining each year.
Who should skip: Anyone who can’t use enough card perks to recoup the card’s high annual fee.
The Platinum Card from American Express: Best for big travel spenders
Why we picked it: If you spend a lot on travel each year, the rewards you can earn with The Platinum Card® from American Express can add up fast. As a welcome offer, you can earn 100,000 Membership Rewards points when you spend $6,000 on your card within six months of account opening.
This card also earns 5X points on directly-booked airfare and flights booked through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 per calendar year), 5X points on prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel, 2X points on prepaid car rentals booked through American Express Travel and 1X points on all other purchases.
Pros
- Up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
- Up to $189 credit for Clear membership
- Up to $200 in airline fee credits for incidentals with a qualifying airline
- Up to $200 in Uber credits each year
- The broadest airline lounge membership available today (including Priority Pass Select membership)
- Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status and Hilton Honors Gold Status
Cons
Who should apply: Anyone who spends a significant amount on travel each year and will be able to use the Amex Platinum’s many cardholder perks.
Who should skip: Anyone who isn’t able to earn enough rewards or take advantage of enough card perks to offset the cost of card membership.
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card*: Best for hotel rewards
Why we picked it: To start with, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card lets you earn 150,000 Hilton Honors points when you spend $4,000 on purchases within three months of account opening.
Beyond the huge initial welcome bonus, this card lets you earn 14X points on eligible Hilton purchases, 7X points on flights booked directly with airlines or via American Express Travel and 7X points at U.S. restaurants and on directly-booked car rentals with select car rental companies. You’ll also earn 3X points on all other purchases.
Pros
- Up to $250 in Hilton resort credits
- Up to $250 in airline fee credits each year for incidental fees with one airline
- One free weekend night reward each year
- Automatic Hilton Diamond elite status
- Airport lounge membership (Priority Pass Select)
Cons
- $450 annual fee
Who should apply: Anyone who frequently stays at Hilton properties.
Who should skip: Anyone who would rather have a general travel rewards card — like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Amex Platinum — that allows cardholders to transfer rewards to many different hotel loyalty programs.
American Express Gold Card: Best for dining and groceries
Why we picked it: With the American Express® Gold Card, you can earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points when you spend $4,000 on purchases within six months of account opening.
This card also earns 4X Membership Rewards points at restaurants, on Uber Eats purchases and at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases per year, then 1X points); 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or via American Express Travel; and 1X points on all other purchases.
Pros
- Up to $120 in annual dining credits on eligible purchases with Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations
- Up to $120 in annual Uber Cash ($10 per month, expires at the end of the month)
- Up to $100 hotel credit after booking two consecutive nights or more with an eligible hotel via American Express Travel
Cons
Who should apply: Anyone who spends a lot on dining, groceries and travel.
Who should skip: Anyone who doesn’t want to pay an annual fee for groceries and dining rewards, or anyone who isn’t able to use at least two of the Amex Gold’s annual credits.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best for flexible rewards
Why we picked it: The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers 5X miles on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel and 2X miles on all other purchases.
With no bonus category spending limits, this card makes things easy to keep track of. You can also enjoy a welcome bonus of 75,000 Capital One miles — equal to $750 in travel — once you spend $4,000 on purchases within three months of account opening.
Pros
- Up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
- Visa Signature benefits
Cons
- $95 annual fee
Who should apply: Anyone interested in an entry-level travel card.
Who should skip: Anyone looking for an entry-level travel card with more perks — like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card — or anyone more interested in a premium travel card with an annual fee under $400, like the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
Chase Ink Business Preferred Credit Card: Best for business owners
Why we picked it: The rewards you can earn with the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card can add up quickly if your business spends a lot in the card’s bonus categories throughout the year. When you sign up, you can earn 100,000 points after spending $15,000 within three months of account opening.
You’ll also earn 3X points on travel; shipping purchases; internet, cable and phone services; and advertising purchases made with social media and search engines (on up to $150,000 per year, then 1X points). You’ll also earn 1X points on all other purchases.
Pros
- Employee cards at no additional charge
- Cellphone protection
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
- 25 percent points boost for travel redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards
Cons
- $95 annual fee (but it’s a low fee for a business card)
- High spending requirement for the welcome offer
Who should apply: Any business owner who spends a lot in the card’s bonus categories.
Who should skip: Any business owner who doesn’t want to pay an annual fee or doesn’t spend a lot in the card’s bonus categories.
Citi Double Cash Card: Best for flat cash back
Why we picked it: With the Citi® Double Cash Card, there aren’t any caps or bonus categories to keep track of, so you can use this card to earn generous rewards on everything you buy.
You’ll earn an unlimited 2 percent cash back on all purchases — 1 percent when you make purchases and another 1 percent as you pay them off. Plus, for a limited time, you can earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening.
Pros
- $0 annual fee
- 0 percent intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months (then a variable APR of 16.24 percent to 26.24 percent)
Cons
- 3 percent foreign transaction fee
Who should apply: Anyone who wants to earn a high, flat rate of cash back on all purchases.
Who should skip: Anyone who wants to earn a higher rate of rewards on select bonus category purchases.
Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card: Best for higher cash back potential
Why we picked it: The Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card comes with a $200 welcome bonus after you spend $1,000 within the first 90 days of account opening. It also earns a flat, unlimited 1.5 percent cash back on all purchases.
While this cash back rate isn’t impressive on its own, this card should be a no-brainer if you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards member with sizeable checking, savings and investment account balances.
As a Preferred Rewards member, you can boost your rewards rate by 25 to 75 percent depending on your membership tier. For example, if you’re a Platinum Honors member, your 1.5 percent cash back rate will get a 75 percent boost. That means you’ll earn 2.62 percent cash back on all purchases — the highest flat rate on the market.
Pros
- $0 annual fee
- 0 percent intro APR for 18 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers (then a variable APR of 16.99 percent to 26.99 percent; balance transfers must be made in the first 60 days to qualify for the intro offer)
- Visa Signature perks like extended warranty coverage, roadside dispatch and travel and emergency assistance
- BankAmeriDeals
- Museums On Us, which provides free admission to over 225 cultural institutions on the first weekend of each month
Cons
- 3 percent foreign transaction fee
Who should apply: Anyone who is at least a Platinum member of Bank of America Preferred Rewards. This tier provides a 50 percent rewards boost, which means you’ll earn 2.25 percent cash back on all purchases.
Who should skip: Anyone who isn’t a Bank of America Preferred Rewards member. You can earn a higher rewards rate with a card like the Citi Double Cash or the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, both of which earn 2 percent cash back on all purchases.
The Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card was last updated on October 3, 2022.
Compare the best cards for high spenders
| Card | Best for | Annual fee | Welcome bonus | Rewards rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | Everyday big spenders | $550 | 60,000 points after spending $4,000 within 3 months of account opening |
|
| The Platinum Card from American Express | Big travel spenders | $695 | 100,000 points after spending $6,000 within 6 months of account opening |
|
| Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card | Hotel rewards | $450 | 150,000 points after spending $4,000 within 3 months of account opening |
|
| American Express Gold Card | Dining and groceries | $250 | 60,000 points after spending $4,000 within 6 months of account opening |
|
| Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | Flexible rewards | $95 | 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 within 3 months of account opening |
|
| Ink Business Preferred Credit Card | Business owners | $95 | 100,000 points after spending $15,000 within 3 months of account opening |
|
| Citi Double Cash Card | Flat cash back | $0 | Limited-time offer: $200 cash back after spending $1,500 within 6 months of account opening |
|
| Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card | Higher cash back potential | $0 | $200 cash back after spending $1,000 within the first 90 days of account opening |
|
How to choose a card for high spenders
The best credit card for big spenders can vary on a host of factors, including the type of rewards you want to earn. To find the best card for your needs, here are the main factors you should consider:
- Which categories do you spend the most money in? If a considerable percentage of your spending falls within a few specific categories like dining, gas or groceries, you should look for a card that offers bonus rewards in those areas.
- What type of rewards do you want to earn? Are you hoping to earn cash back, travel rewards or flexible points you can use in more than one way? Make sure the cards you consider let you earn rewards that work for your goals.
- Are you after specific cardholder benefits? Some credit cards offer better consumer protections or elite travel benefits to big spenders. Make sure to consider which features each card offers and how you might use them to your advantage.
- Consider using a combination of cards to maximize rewards. If you spend a lot each year in several different categories, consider pairing a few cards in order to maximize your rewards. For example, you could pick up one card that offers more rewards on travel and another card that offers superior rewards on dining and groceries. You may also want to consider picking up a card that offers more than the standard 1 percent back on regular purchases so you can use this card for all non-bonus category spending throughout the year.
The bottom line
Big spenders can rack up significant rewards if they’re strategic about their spending and choose a card that best matches their spending habits and goals. However, keep in mind that the top rewards cards tend to have high ongoing variable APRs, which means they’re a poor choice if you need to carry a balance. If your goal is to earn rewards with a credit card, make sure you pay your bill in full each month so you never pay a dime in interest.
*The information about the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.
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