Do credit card rewards expire?

Typically, credit card rewards don’t expire for the life of your account. That means your rewards won’t expire if you keep your account open and in good standing. However, read your rewards program’s terms and conditions carefully since this isn’t guaranteed for all cards.

Are credit card rewards taxable?

Generally, rewards are not considered taxable since the IRS considers the rewards to be a form of rebate on the purchase. Though uncommon, rewards may be taxable if they’re received under circumstances like bonus offers without a spending requirement. Make sure to look at the credit card’s terms to see the conditions of how you can receive and redeem bonus rewards.

What credit score do I need for a rewards card?

You typically need good to excellent credit (FICO score 670 and higher) to qualify for a competitive rewards card. Premium travel cards might require an excellent credit score (FICO score of 800 and above). You can also find rewards cards for people with fair credit, but the rewards and perks might be limited.

Best Rewards Credit Cards of May 2025

Compare Bankrate’s top rewards credit cards

*Bankrate’s points and miles valuations are based on an average of the issuer’s five highest-value transfer partners (if available).

How to choose a rewards credit card you’ll actually love

Navigating the wide range of rewards card options can be difficult. Figuring out your rewards goals and spending habits can help you narrow your choices and find a card that’s right for you. To start, consider the following three questions:

What kind of rewards do you want to earn?

The first thing you need to decide is what kind of rewards you want to earn. Cash back is a simple and flexible rewards currency that tends to offer consistent value. Travel rewards, on the other hand, can provide higher value — but you’ll need to put in some work and strategy to get it.

Here’s a look at the different types of rewards, which cards earn them and the pros and cons of each.

- Cash back cards are often your best choice for saving money on day-to-day purchases. These cards typically earn at least 3 percent back on a well-rounded roster of everyday categories like groceries, gas, dining, transit and drugstores. Plus, some cash back cards have categories that other rewards cards lack, such as online shopping, home improvement, wholesale clubs, entertainment, utilities, gym memberships and specific retailers Amazon and Whole Foods Market.
- Cash back cards often lack notable perks beyond their rewards, but some may offer annual credits, rewards rates or complimentary subscriptions with rideshare, food delivery or streaming services for a limited time.
- No-annual-fee cash rewards cards typically offer welcome bonuses worth around $200 — on par with the value you’ll find on no-annual-fee travel rewards cards. But premium cash rewards card offers are usually worth just $250 to $300 — less valuable than many offers from point- and mile-earning rewards cards with a similar annual fee.
- The most versatile cash back cards earn rewards that can not only be redeemed for cash back, but also pooled with rewards from premium travel cards from the same issuer. This can increase the redemption value of your points. For example, cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards or Citi ThankYou Points can offer higher value when you redeem for eligible travel through the issuer or transfer to airline and hotel partners.
There are two main types of travel rewards credit cards: co-branded and general-purpose.
Co-branded travel cards
- Co-branded travel cards offer unique perks and boosted rewards rates on purchases with specific airlines or hotel brands, typically earning points or miles unique to that brand. This makes them less flexible than general travel cards.
- These cards often offer perks you can’t get with many general-purpose travel cards, such as automatic and expedited loyalty status, discounts and other privileges with a specific airline or hotel brand. For example, airline cards may offer complimentary access to the airline’s airport lounges, priority boarding or companion airfare certificates. Meanwhile, hotel cards may provide complimentary free nights, credits for hotel purchases and automatic room upgrades.
- Although many hotel cards pack high rewards rates, Bankrate estimates most major hotel points hold a less than 1-cent-per-point redemption value on average — less than the average value of most general travel points and airline miles.
General-purpose travel cards
- General-purpose travel cards earn rewards that aren’t tied to a single airline or hotel brand. You can often earn more valuable rewards on a wider variety of everyday and travel purchases with these cards. Some cards even let you transfer points or miles to a partner loyalty program. With the right transfer partner, your points could be worth around 2 cents each on average — double the value you’d get from redeeming for travel via the issuer. However, some rewards programs may net you less than 1 cent per point for some redemption options.
- They’re among the best cards on the market if you’re looking for valuable perks. On top of travel insurance, some general-purpose travel cards carry hundreds of dollars worth of benefits like annual travel credits, expedited airport security screening service credits, and comprehensive airport lounge access perks.
- Premium general-purpose travel cards charge annual fees ranging from $95 to $695. Although several cards carry enough practical perks to offset the cost, some of the cards’ annual credits and benefits may be too niche for the average traveler to comfortably offset the fee without going out of their way.
- Cash back cards can often be more lucrative or flexible than no-annual-fee travel cards. Many of these entry-level options don’t carry notable travel perks, and no-annual-fee travel cards can typically only redeem rewards for up to 1 cent per point or mile since few can use transfer partners.

How do you want to earn rewards?

Once you know the type of rewards you want to earn, the next step is to figure out how you will earn them. To do that, you should look at where you spend your money.

For example, if groceries make up a large part of your budget, first look for a card that earns bonus rewards for groceries, then decide whether you want to earn cash back or points. The American Express® Gold Card could be an excellent option for points, while the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card and the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express are better for cash back.

Consider the effort you’ll need to put in earning rewards as well. A card might offer outstanding rewards rates, but the rewards structure might make them challenging to earn. Overall, there are three types of rewards structures:

Flat rewards rates: The easiest to manage since you earn rewards at the same rate on almost all purchases (usually 1.5 percent or 2 percent back). This structure is a great fit if you value simplicity but cards with tiered rates can be more rewarding.
Tiered bonus categories: You can earn anywhere from 2 percent to 6 percent back in popular bonus categories like groceries, dining and travel, but often just 1 percent in less common spending categories.
Rotating categories: You can earn chart-topping 5 percent rewards on categories that change each quarter, but maximizing your rewards requires a lot of effort. This structure may be better suited as a supplement to flat rewards rates and tiered bonus categories.

How likely are you to get approved?

Before you apply for a credit card, it helps to know your approval odds. If you’re not likely to get approved, you may be better off not applying and avoiding a hard credit inquiry.

Rewards cards can be tough to qualify for. A 2025 Bankrate survey found that about 1 in 8 total credit card applicants were rejected (13 percent). And based on Bankrate’s proprietary data, the average approval rate for rewards cards is only now beginning to reverse course after declining for months. After reaching a low of 37% percent in February, the average approval rate for rewards cards rose to 45 percent in March and 54 percent in April.

The best rewards programs

It’s easy to evaluate the potential value of a cash back card since the redemption value of cash rewards don’t change. That’s not always the case with points and miles. Add card benefits to the mix and deciding on the best rewards program to join can be a challenge.

Let’s dig into what various rewards programs offer and what you need to know to choose the right one for you.

How much is a point worth?

When you ask if a rewards card is worth it, also ask what the rewards themselves are worth.

Rewards value doesn’t only vary by program. It can also vary by card and redemption method.

When it comes to travel rewards, there’s typically a baseline value that you get redeeming through the issuer’s travel portal or for cash. Then, some issuers also partner with airline and hotel companies to allow cardholders to transfer their rewards into the partners’ rewards programs. With the right transfer, it’s possible to significantly boost rewards value.

To eliminate some of the guesswork, we evaluated how much points and miles are worth across popular card rewards programs:

Rewards program	Baseline value	Bankrate value*	Estimated value of 50,000 points/miles
American Express Membership Rewards	1 cent(0.6 cents toward cash rewards)	2.0 cents	$1,000
Bank of America travel rewards	1 cent(1 cent toward cash rewards)	1.0 cents	$500
Bilt Rewards	1.25 cents(0.55 cents toward cash rewards)	2.1 cents	$1,050
Capital One miles	1 cent(1 cent toward eligible travel purchase credits; 0.5 cents for other cash back redemptions)	1.7 cents	$850
Chase Ultimate Rewards (Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card)	1.25 cents(1 cent toward cash rewards)	2.0 cents	$1,000
Chase Ultimate Rewards (Chase Sapphire Reserve®)	1.5 cents(1 cent toward cash rewards)	2.0 cents	$1,000
Chase Ultimate Rewards (other Ultimate Rewards cards)	1 cent(1 cent toward cash rewards)	1.0 cents	$500
Citi ThankYou Points (Citi Premier® Card – *No longer available*)	1 cent(1 cent toward cash rewards)	1.6 cents	$800
Citi ThankYou Points (basic ThankYou points)	1 cent(1 cent toward cash rewards)	1.0 cents	$500
Discover miles	1 cent(1 cent toward cash rewards)	1.0 cents	$500
U.S. Bank FlexPerks	1.5 cents(1 cent toward cash rewards)	1.5 cents	$750
Wells Fargo Rewards	1 cent(1 cent toward cash rewards)	1.0 cents	$500

*Based on an average of the issuer’s five highest-value transfer partners (if available).

Once you know how much points or miles in the program you’re interested in are worth, you can estimate how much value you can get based on your spending.

Which rewards card has the best perks?

Rewards aren’t the only source of value, especially for a premium rewards card. You also need to factor in the value of a card’s perks, and that can be a bit trickier to determine.

The most valuable perks are those you will use regularly without disrupting your normal spending. They should fit your habits, not change them. You also should be comfortable with the amount of effort required to use a benefit as some of them might make you jump through hoops.

Based on that, card benefits can be divided into three categories:

High extra value for high effort

Some luxury rewards cards, such as The Platinum Card® from American Express and the American Express® Gold Card, provide excellent value via their perks. You can earn hundreds of dollars in statement credits, but you’ll have to put in some work. These benefits are tied to specific brands and typically offered in small monthly increments. This means that every month, you need to ensure you spend at those brands to use the card to its full potential.

Airport lounge access is another example. While this is an attractive perk, it’s better suited for frequent travelers, especially considering cards that offer this benefit usually come with hefty annual fees.

Solid extra value for medium effort

This category of perks includes a healthy mix of simple statement credits and valuable benefits that don’t take much effort to use.

For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers a $300 annual travel credit that automatically applies to a wide range of travel purchases. Cardholders also receive airport perks, such as Priority Pass Select lounge access (after enrollment) and application fee credits for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS. Lounge access isn’t as extensive as what the Amex Platinum offers, but the annual fee is also lower at $550. Plus, the $300 annual travel credit makes it easier to offset.

Similarly, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card provides a $300 annual travel credit cardholders can redeem for booking through the issuer’s portal. That, coupled with the 10,000-mile anniversary bonus, more than offsets the card’s $395 annual fee. Cardholders also receive Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credits, as well as Priority Pass Select membership and Capital One Lounge access.

Low extra value for low effort

These perks won’t require much effort to maximize, but they also hold less value. On the bright side, cards with only these perks tend to have lower annual fees.

You’ll usually see this tier of perks on cash back cards and more affordable travel cards. For example, the Wells Fargo Autograph® Card doesn’t provide any premium benefits, but it offers travel rewards and doesn’t charge annual fees.

BANKRATE EXPERT FAQ

Staff Picks: Our experts' favorite rewards programs

Ana Staples

Writer and Credit Cards Expert

“I have the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, which earns incredibly flexible travel rewards. I'm not big on rewards transfers, so I appreciate that Capital One miles hold consistent value whether I book travel through the issuer's portal or use miles to cover recent travel purchases. Plus, I convert my Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card’s cash back into miles to earn free travel faster. It's really simple and convenient!"

What makes a “good” rewards card?

There’s no rewards card that’s perfect for everyone, but a good card for you:

Offers rewards you find valuable

Cash back cards are generally easiest if you want to use your rewards to fuel your everyday spending. But if you travel and don’t mind strategizing to maximize your rewards, you could get better redemption value than the standard 1 cent per point or mile, especially with a travel rewards card with redemption options like transfer partners.

Rewards your spending habits

You can match your spending habits with a fitting rewards card once you know your major monthly categories, where you often shop and how much you typically spend. Keep in mind, some cards have caps on your rewards rates and drop your rate to 1 percent after you spend a certain amount in a select category within a timeframe. This is often up to $1,500 per quarter or up to $6,000 per year, which could make a card with no rewards rate cap more valuable depending on how much you typically spend.

The right card for you will reward you at a high rate in your most common spending categories and without much additional effort. Pick the card with a rewards program that matches the amount of effort you’re comfortable with.

Provides benefits you can use consistently;

Perks that come with a card can play a key role in determining its overall value. Many premium cards carry flashy perks like annual travel credits, airport lounge access and automatic loyalty status, but be sure to read the fine print and calculate whether you’ll actually get enough value out of these perks to consistently offset the yearly cost.

Allows you to easily offset fees

If your credit card charges an annual fee, you want to ensure you can offset it with valuable benefits. Additionally, you don’t want to find yourself in a scenario where you incur additional spending just to take advantage of a perk. Card benefits should naturally match your lifestyle.

BANKRATE EXPERT FAQ

Ask the experts: What's your go-to method for maximizing credit card rewards?

Thomas Nitzsche

Financial Educator, Debt and Credit

As someone who travels a lot, I focus on travel rewards, mostly hotel accommodations, with no hotel brand affinity. I use an online discount travel site’s branded card, using promo codes at the point of sale. I earn the most points on travel booked through the site, and I also get a bonus on points I’ve redeemed toward past travel purchases. The points can also be used to purchase trips on the site, and points are earned on those purchases as well. I also use the Upromise.com browser extension that lets you know when you can earn an additional 5 percent cash back shopping online that goes automatically into a 529 college savings account.

What cardholders say

If you browse various credit card forums, you’ll see there are two basic types of rewards cardholders: optimizers, who value simplicity and stick to just one or two cards, and maximizers, who enjoy strategizing to earn the most rewards — even if that means tracking bonus categories and juggling multiple cards.

Which style fits you best will depend not only on how much time and effort you’re willing to put into earning rewards, but also which cards you can qualify for.

Optimizers in credit card forums tend to recommend cards such as the Citi Custom Cash Card and Chase Freedom cards thanks to their flexible rewards programs and low fees. However, higher-tier travel cards like the American Express Gold can also appeal to optimizers — as long as the card offers valuable perks and practical rewards categories that justify their annual fees.

Meanwhile, maximizers tend to stack multiple high-earning cards with different perks and bonus categories to ensure they’re taking advantage of every rewards opportunity.

In forums like Doctor of Credit, you’ll find users who continually apply for new cards to grab exciting new offers or sign-up bonuses. Many of these folks carry dozens of cards. Favorites include the Chase Sapphire and Freedom cards, American Express Gold and Platinum cards and the Discover it® Cash Back.

“All of my cards have annual fees, but are more than offset by the rewards,” shares Signal_13, a contributor at r/Money subreddit. “Just make sure not to chase points to the [extent] that you are not paying off your balance in full every month without fail. No amount of cash back makes any sense if you're paying high credit card interest.”

Frequently asked questions about rewards credit cards

Learn more about rewards credit cards

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How to score a rewards card without good credit

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Should I get a travel credit card that earns points, miles or both

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Best credit card rewards programs

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Underrated ways to earn credit card rewards

Traveler’s guide to the best frequent flyer programs

How we assess the best rewards credit cards

150+

cards rated

50+

rewards programs valued

1800

data points analyzed

40+

perks evaluated

We thoroughly rate and research the best rewards credit cards based on key criteria to help you make confident decisions when choosing your next credit card. Learn more about our methodology below.

When evaluating the best rewards cards, we consider a mix of factors, including how cards score in our proprietary card rating system and whether cards offer features that fit the priorities of a diverse group of cardholders, from earning rewards in popular categories to scoring a large sign-up bonus or high-value perks. Whenever possible, we also feature cards that are available at various credit levels and price points.

We analyzed over 150 of the most popular cards and scored each based on its rewards rate, estimated annual earnings, welcome bonus value, APR, fees, perks and more to determine whether it belonged in this month’s roundup of the best rewards cards.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the key factors in our rewards card scoring methodology and details we considered when putting together our list of the best rewards cards.

Overall Score

Value 65%
Flexibility 15%
Perks 15%
Customer experience 5%

The primary criteria for a rewards-earning card’s rating is its rewards value. This includes the card’s average rewards rate, estimated annual rewards earnings, sign-up bonus value and reward redemption value.

To estimate a card’s average annual rewards earnings, we first calculate its average rewards rate based on how much it earns in different bonus categories and how closely its categories align with the average person’s spending habits.

The most recent BLS data estimates average total spending in 2023 was $77,280 per consumer. We then narrow our focus to which purchases are likely to be put on a credit card and earn rewards, subtracting expenditures like housing, vehicle purchases and education. This gives us a total “chargeable” annual spend of around $22,500.

Some of the major spending categories that contribute towards the annual spend include:
- Groceries: $6,000
- Dining out: $3,900
- Entertainment: $2,500
- Gas: $2,400
- Apparel and services: $2,000
Using this data, we assign a weighting to each of a card’s bonus categories. For example, a card’s grocery rewards rate receives a 26 percent weighting based on how much of the average person’s budget is spent on groceries. We also estimate the redemption value of points or miles from various issuer, airline and hotel rewards programs.

This weighting and rewards valuation allows us to estimate a card’s average annual rewards earnings — how many points or miles you’d earn with a given card if your spending was about average and you used the card for all of your purchases — as well as what those points are worth. We also use point valuations to determine a card’s sign-up bonus value

With these calculations complete, we assign each card a score based on how its average rewards earnings, sign-up bonus value, rewards rate and redemption value stack up against other rewards cards.

The better these values, the higher its score will be, making it more worthy of inclusion in our list and increasing its potential ranking.

Here’s a deeper look at the factors considered as part of a rewards card’s “Value” rating:
Overall rating
Pie chart with 5 slices.
End of interactive chart.

5
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Overall Score
- Ongoing rewards value 30%
- Sign-up bonus value 25%
- Annual fee & average APR 20%
- Rewards rate 15%
- Annual bonus value 10%
We also score each card’s set of features – its perks and benefits — against five tiers of features to provide a rating.

We break down these tiers as follows:

Tier 1 includes fewer features than even standard credit cards (for example, an ultra-streamlined card that offers basic utility and next to nothing in the way of ancillary benefits).

Tier 2 includes the benefits you’d expect on standard Visa or Mastercard credit cards, such as free access to your credit score, car rental insurance and $0 liability for fraudulent charges.

Tier 3 includes “prime card” or better-than-average card features like cellphone insurance, lost luggage insurance, concierge services and purchase protection.

Tier 4 includes luxury features such as airport lounge access, elite status with an airline or hotel and credits for expedited security screening membership programs.

Tier 5 includes the sort of exemplary benefits you’ll find on top-tier luxury cards, such as high-value travel credits, cardholder memberships and other unique and valuable perks.

In evaluating the best cards, we tend to favor cards that offer at least Tier 3 benefits, unless they include other unique features that could make up for less-impressive perks.

Have more questions for our credit card editors? Feel free to send us an email, find us on Facebook, or Tweet us @Bankrate.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

Ana Staples Writer and Credit Cards Expert

Ana Staples is a principal writer, credit cards for Bankrate and an expert on all things credit basics and personal finance for the younger generation.

Nouri Zarrugh Senior Editor, Credit Cards

Nouri Zarrugh is a writer and editor for CreditCards.com and Bankrate, focusing on product news, guides and reviews. His areas of expertise include credit card strategy, rewards…

* See the online application for details about terms and conditions for these offers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. After you click on the offer you desire you will be directed to the credit card issuer's web site where you can review the terms and conditions for your selected offer.

Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including card rates and fees, is accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information.

	Our picks for	Rewards highlights		Learn more
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card Apply now on Capital One's secure site See Rates & Fees	Entertainment + Best overall	1% - 8% Hover to learn more	$0	Apply now on Capital One's secure site See Rates & Fees
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card Apply now on Wells Fargo's secure site See Rates & Fees	Flat-rate cash rewards	2% Hover to learn more	$0	Apply now on Wells Fargo's secure site See Rates & Fees
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express Apply now on American Express's secure site See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply	Groceries	1% - 6% Hover to learn more	$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.	Apply now on American Express's secure site See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Apply now on Chase's secure site See Rates & Fees	Travel rewards value	1x - 5x Hover to learn more Bankrate's rewards value: 2.0 cents per point *Hover to learn more	$95	Apply now on Chase's secure site See Rates & Fees
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Apply now on Capital One's secure site See Rates & Fees	Flat-rate travel rewards	2 Miles - 5 Miles Hover to learn more Bankrate's rewards value: 1.7 cents per mile *Hover to learn more	$95	Apply now on Capital One's secure site See Rates & Fees
American Express® Gold Card Apply now on American Express's secure site See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply	Food and travel	1X - 4X Hover to learn more Bankrate's rewards value: 2.0 cents per point *Hover to learn more	$325	Apply now on American Express's secure site See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card Apply now on Citi's secure site See Rates & Fees	Hotel bookings	1X - 10X Hover to learn more Bankrate's rewards value: 1.6 cents per point *Hover to learn more	$95	Apply now on Citi's secure site See Rates & Fees
The Platinum Card® from American Express Apply now on American Express's secure site See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply	Luxury travel	5X Hover to learn more Bankrate's rewards value: 2.0 cents per point *Hover to learn more	$695	Apply now on American Express's secure site See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply
Discover it® Cash Back Apply now on Discover's secure site See Rates & Fees	Category variety	1% - 5% Hover to learn more	$0	Apply now on Discover's secure site See Rates & Fees
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card Apply now on Capital One's secure site See Rates & Fees	No-annual-fee travel card	1.25 Miles - 5 Miles Hover to learn more Bankrate's rewards value: 1.7 cents per mile *Hover to learn more	$0	Apply now on Capital One's secure site See Rates & Fees
Prime Visa Apply now on Amazon's secure site See Rates & Fees	Online shopping	1% - 10% Hover to learn more	$0	Apply now on Amazon's secure site See Rates & Fees
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card Apply now on Capital One's secure site See Rates & Fees	Affordable travel perks	2 Miles - 10 Miles Hover to learn more Bankrate's rewards value: 1.7 cents per mile *Hover to learn more	$395	Apply now on Capital One's secure site See Rates & Fees
Wells Fargo Autograph® Card Apply now on Wells Fargo's secure site See Rates & Fees	Everyday travel	1X - 3X Hover to learn more Bankrate's rewards value: 1.0 cents per point *Hover to learn more	$0	Apply now on Wells Fargo's secure site See Rates & Fees
Bilt Mastercard® Apply now on Bilt's secure site See Rates & Fees	Paying rent	1X Points - 3X Points Hover to learn more	$0	Apply now on Bilt's secure site See Rates & Fees
Citi Custom Cash® Card	Gas	1% - 5% Hover to learn more	$0

Best rewards credit cards of May 2025

+ Show Summary

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

American Express® Gold Card

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Discover it® Cash Back

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

Prime Visa

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Wells Fargo Autograph® Card

Bilt Mastercard®

Citi Custom Cash® Card