Best Credit Card Category Bonuses
If you are looking to maximize your earning thorough using the best credit card with the highest point earnings then you’ll want to review this list of the top credit card category bonuses. Using the right card in each store is critical to maximizing your earning.
| Best Card for Travel & Airline Rewards | Bonus | Earnings | Spend Limits/Notes |
| AAA Member Rewards | 3X | 3% | |
| Amex Platinum (Personal Cards Only) | 5X | 9.10% | 5X only when booked directly with airline |
| Amex Business Gold Rewards | 3X MR | 5.46% | 3X only when booked directly w/ airline. Cardholders can choose one 3X category from: airfare, US advertising in select media, US gas stations, US shipping, US computer hardware, software and cloud computing. Options not selected offer 2X. 3X and 2X earnings apply to your first $100,000 in purchases per category per year, 1X point per dollar thereafter. |
| Amex SimplyCash Plus | 3% | 3% | $50K per year |
| Bank of America Premium Rewards with Platinum Honors Rewards | 3.5X | 3.50% | |
| Barclaycard Uber Visa Card | 3% | 3% | |
| Bank of America Premium Rewards with Platinum Rewards | 3X | 3% | |
| Bank of America Premium Rewards with Gold Rewards | 2.5X | 2.50% | |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve Card | 3X UR | 5.46% | |
| Chase Ink Business Preferred | 3X UR | 5.46% | $150K per year |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred Card | 2X UR | 3.64% | |
| Citi Prestige | 3X TY | 5.46% | 3X for airlines, hotels, and travel agencies |
| Citi ThankYou Premier | 3X TY | 5.46% | 3X for all travel |
| Citi AT&T Access More | 3X TY | 5.46% | 3X for online travel purchases only |
| CNB Crystal Visa Infinite | 3X | 3.75% | |
| Costco Anywhere Visa | 3% | 3% | |
| FNBO TraveElite Credit Card | 3X | 3% | |
| Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card | 7X | 3.15% | Flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com |
| Huntington Voice | 3X | 3% | $2K per quarter |
| Hilton Honors American Express Business Card | 6X | 2.70% | Flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com |
| Morgan Stanley Amex | 2X MR | 3.64% | 2X only when booked directly w/ airline |
| Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express | 3X MR | 5.46% | 3X only when booked directly w/ airline |
| PenFed Premium Travel Rewards | 5X | 4.25% | |
| Sam’s Club MasterCard | 3% | 3% | |
| TD First Class Visa Signature | 3X | 3% | |
| USB Altitude Reserve | 3X | 4.50% | 3X travel categories include: airlines, hotels, car rental companies, taxis, limousines, passenger trains and cruise lines. |
| US Bank FlexPerks Gold Amex | 2X | 3% | Airlines |
| US Bank FlexPerks Travel Rewards | 2X | 3% | Airlines |
| Union Bank Graphite Amex | 3% | 3% | |
| Best Card for Hotels | Bonus | Earnings | Spend Limits/Notes |
| Amex SimplyCash Plus | 3% | 3% | $50K per year |
| Bank of America Premium Rewards with Platinum Honors Rewards | 3.5X | 3.50% | |
| Barclaycard Uber Visa Card | 3% | 3% | Hotels and Vacation Home Rentals |
| Bank of America Premium Rewards with Platinum Rewards | 3X | 3% | |
| Bank of America Premium Rewards with Gold Rewards | 2.5X | 2.50% | |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve Card | 3X UR | 5.46% | |
| Chase Ink Business Preferred | 3X UR | 5.46% | $150K per year |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred Card | 2X UR | 3.64% | |
| Chase Ink Plus | 2X UR | 3.64% | $50K per year |
| Citi Prestige | 3X TY | 5.46% | |
| Citi ThankYou Premier | 3X TY | 5.46% | |
| Citi AT&T Access More | 3X TY | 5.46% | Online travel purchases only |
| CNB Crystal Visa Infinite | 3X | 3.75% | |
| Huntington Voice | 3X | 3% | $2K per quarter |
| USB Altitude Reserve | 3X | 4.50% | 3X travel categories include: airlines, hotels, car rental companies, taxis, limousines, passenger trains and cruise lines. |
| Mastercard Easy Savings Program | 4% | 4% | Earn a 4% cash rebate in addition to normal card rewards at midscale and economy hotels such as Super 8, Holiday Inn, Ramada, Days Inn, Hampton Inn, EconoLodge, Howard Johnson, Hyatt Place and Hilton Garden Inn |
| Amex OPEN small business card - OPEN Savings | |||
| Dream Hotels: 5% | |||
| MGM Properties: 4% | |||
| Night Hotels: 5% | |||
| La Quinta Inn & Suites: 10% | |||
| Wyndham Hotels (all brands): 5% | |||
| Best Card for Car Rentals | Bonus | Earnings | Spend Limits/Notes |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve Card | 3X UR | 5.46% | |
| Chase Ink Business Preferred | 3X UR | 5.46% | $150K per year |
| Citi ThankYou Premier | 3X TY | 5.46% | |
| Citi Prestige | 3X TY | 5.46% | 3X only for car rentals booked through travel agency |
| Citi CitiBusiness AAdvantage World MasterCard | 2X | 3.46% | |
| Hilton Honors American Express Business Card | 6X | 2.70% | Car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies |
| Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card | 7X | 3.15% | Car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies |
| Huntington Voice | 3X | 3% | $2K per quarter |
| CNB Crystal Visa Infinite | 3X | 3.75% | |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred Card | 2X UR | 3.64% | |
| Morgan Stanley Amex | 2X MR | 3.64% | Select car rental companies (found here) |
| US Bank Cash+ | 5% | 5% | $2000 per quarter |
| Any Amex OPEN small business card via OPEN Savings | 5% | 5% | Earn a cash rebate in addition to normal card rewards at Hertz |
| Any Visa small business card enrolled in Visa SavingsEdge | 4% | 4% | Earn a cash rebate in addition to normal card rewards at National Car Rental and Alamo. |
| Best Card for Gas | Bonus | Earnings | Spend Limits/Notes |
| Amex EveryDay Preferred with Platinum | 2X to 3X MR | 3.64% to 5.46% | US only |
| Amex Blue Cash Preferred | 3% | 3% | US only |
| Amex Blue Cash (old version) | 1%, 5% | 1%, 5% | 1% for first $6500 spend, then 5% capped at $50K spend per year. US only |
| Amex Business Gold Rewards | 3X MR | 5.46% | Cardholders can choose one 3X category from: airfare, US advertising in select media, US gas stations, US shipping, US computer hardware, software and cloud computing. Options not selected offer 2X. 3X and 2X earnings apply to your first $100,000 in purchases per category per year, 1X point per dollar thereafter. |
| Amex SimplyCash Plus | 3% | 3% | $50K per year |
| BOA Cash Rewards for Business | 3% | 3% | $250K per year |
| BOA Americard Cash Rewards | 3% | 3% | $2,500 in combined grocery/wholesale club/gas purchases each quarter |
| Bellco VISA Platinum Rewards | 3X | 3% | |
| BOA Americard Cash Rewards with Platinum Honors Preferred Rewards | 5.25% | 5.25% | $2,500 in combined grocery/wholesale club/gas purchases each quarter |
| BOA Americard Cash Rewards with Gold Preferred Rewards | 4.50% | 3.75% | $2,500 in combined grocery/wholesale club/gas purchases each quarter |
| Chase Ink Ink Plus | 2X UR | 3.64% | $50K per year |
| Chase Ink Cash | 2X UR | 3.64% | $25K per year |
| Chase AARP | 3% | 3% | |
| Chase MileagePlus Explorer for Business | 2X | 2.80% | |
| Citi ThankYou Premier | 3X TY | 5.46% | |
| Costco Anywhere Visa | 4% | 4% | $7K per year |
| CNB Crystal Visa Infinite | 3X | 3.75% | |
| Diner’s Club Card Elite | 3X DC | 5.46% | |
| Ducks Unlimited | 5% | 5% | |
| Golden1 Platinum Rewards Visa | 3% | 3% | |
| Hilton Honors™ Card from American Express | 5X | 2.25% | US only |
| Hilton Honors Ascend Card from American Express | 6X | 2.70% | US only |
| Hilton Honors American Express Business Card | 6X | 2.70% | US only |
| Huntington Voice | 3% | 3% | $2K per quarter |
| PenFed Platinum Cash Rewards Plus | 5% | 5% | 5% specific to gas purchases paid at pump |
| Fort Knox Federal Credit Union Visa Platinum | 5% | 5% | |
| Mercedes-Benz Credit Card from American Express | 3X MR | 5.46% | US only, for each transaction of $400 or less (Effective May 1 2017, limited to $15K per calendar year year; purchases made before May 1, 2017 will not be counted toward the 2017 calendar year maximum) |
| Paypal Extas MasterCard, EBay MasterCard | 3X | 2.50% | |
| PenFed Platinum Cash Rewards | 3% | 3% | |
| Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express | 2X MR | 3.64% | US only |
| Sam’s Club MasterCard | 5% | 5% | $6K per year |
| Santander Bravo | 3% | 3% | $5K per quarter |
| US Bank FlexPerks Gold Amex | 2X | 3% | |
| US Bank FlexPerks Travel Rewards (2) | 2X | 3% | |
| US Bank FlexPerks Business Edge Travel Rewards (2) | 2X | 3% | |
| US Bank Business Edge Cash Rewards | 3% | 3% | Plus, receive a 25% annual bonus based on your prior year’s Cash Rewards, up to $250 |
| UMB Simply Rewards VISA | 3X | 3% | |
| Wells Fargo Propel American Express Card | 3X | 3% | |
| Wells Fargo Cash Back Card(8) | 5% | 5% | First 6 months on up to $12,500 in purchases |
| Visa Card with SavingsEdge Program | 2% | 2% | Earn a cash rebate in addition to normal card rewards at participating Chevron, Texaco, and Sheetz stations. |
| Mastercard with Mastercard Easy Savings | 1% | 1% | Earn a 1% cash rebate in addition to normal card rewards at participating Fuelman Network stations. |
| Best Card for Grocery Stores | Bonus | Earnings | Spend Limits/Notes |
| Amex EveryDay Preferred | 3X to 4.5X MR | 5.46% to 8.19% | $6K per year, US supermarkets only |
| Diner’s Club Card Elite | 3X DC | 5.46% | |
| Amex Blue Cash (old version) | 1%, 5% | 1%, 5% | 1% for first $6500 spend, then 5% capped at $50K spend per year. US only |
| Amex EveryDay | 2X to 2.4X MR | 3.64% to 4.37%% | $6K per year, US only |
| Amex Blue Cash Preferred | 6% | 6% | $6K per year, US only |
| Amex Blue Cash Everyday® | 3% | 3% | $6K per year, US only |
| Bellco VISA Platinum Rewards | 3X | 3% | |
| BOA Americard Cash Rewards with Platinum Preferred Rewards | 3% | 3% | $2,500 in combined grocery/wholesale club/gas purchases each quarter |
| BOA Americard Cash Rewards with Platinum Honors Preferred Rewards | 3.50% | 3.50% | $2,500 in combined grocery/wholesale club/gas purchases each quarter |
| CNB Crystal Visa Infinite | 3X | 3.75% | |
| Consumers Credit Union Visa Signature Cash Rebate | 3% | 3% | $6K per year beginning Jan 1 2016 |
| Golden1 Platinum Rewards Visa | 3% | 3% | |
| Hilton Honors Ascend Card from American Express | 6X | 2.70% | US only |
| Hilton Honors™ Card from American Express | 5X | 2.25% | US only |
| Huntington Voice | 3X | 3% | $2K per quarter |
| Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express | 2X MR | 3.64% | US only |
| Santander Bravo | 3X | 3% | |
| UMB Simply Rewards VISA | 3X | 3% | $5K per quarter |
| US Bank FlexPerks Travel Rewards | 2X | 3% | |
| Wells Fargo Cash Back Card | 5% | 5% | First 6 months on up to $12,500 in purchases |
| Best Card for Bookstores | Bonus | Earnings | Spend Limits/Notes |
| Amazon Prime Rewards | 5% (Amazon purchases only) | 5% | Requires Amazon Prime membership. |
| Amazon Store Card | 5% (Amazon only) | 5% | Requires Amazon Prime membership. |
| Barnes & Noble MasterCard | 5% (Barnes & Noble bookstores only) | 5% | |
| Marvel Mastercard | 3% | 3% | |
| US Bank Cash+ | 5% | 5% | $2000 per quarter |
| Best Card for Charities | Bonus | Earnings | Spend Limits/Notes |
| US Bank FlexPerks Travel Rewards | 2X | 3% | |
| Best Card for Department Stores | Bonus | Earnings | Spend Limits/Notes |
| Blue Cash Preferred | 3% | 3% | US only |
| Citi AT&T Access More | 3X TY | 5.46% | Only online retail purchases earn 3X |
| Huntington Voice | 3X | 3% | $2K per quarter |
| Morgan Stanley Amex | 2X MR | 3.64% | Select US department stores |
| US Bank Cash+ | 5% | 5% | $2000 per quarter |
| Best Card for Drugstores | Bonus | Earnings | Spend Limits/Notes |
| Amex Blue Cash (old version) | 1%, 5% | 1%, 5% | 1% for first $6500 annual spend, then 5% capped at $50K spend per year. US only |
| Huntington Voice | 3X | 3% | $2K per quarter |
| Diner’s Club Card Elite | 3X DC | 5.46% | |
| Wells Fargo Cash Back Card | 5% | 5% | First 6 months on up to $12,500 in purchases |
| Best Card for Office Supply Stores | Bonus | Earnings | Spend Limits/Notes |
| Amex Simply Cash Plus | 5% | 5% | $50K per year. US only |
| BOA Cash Rewards for Business | 3% | 3% | $250K per year |
| Chase Ink Plus | 5X UR | 9.10% | $50K per year |
| Chase Ink Cash | 5X UR | 9.10% | $25K per year |
| Chase MileagePlus Explorer for Business | 2X | 2.80% | |
| Citi CitiBusiness AAdvantage World MasterCard | 2X | 2.80% | |
| Huntington Voice | 3X | 3% | $2K per quarter |
| Discover Business Card | 5% | 5% | $2K per year |
| Lowe’s Business Rewards | 3X | 3% | |
| US Bank FlexPerks Business Edge Travel Rewards | 2X | 3% | |
| Best Card for Shopping Online | Bonus | Earnings | Spend Limits/Notes |
| Amex OPEN Small Business cards - OPEN Savings Program | Varies | Varies | |
| Cash Rebate: | |||
| FedEx: 5%, up to $20K spend per calendar year | |||
| HP: 5%, up to $30K spend per calendar year | |||
| 1-800-Flowers: 5% | |||
| BN.com (Barnes & Noble): 5% | |||
| Visa SavingsEdge Program | Bonus | Earnings | Earn a cash rebate in addition to normal card rewards with various merchants including MailChimp, Godiva, B&H Photo, Lenovo, NewEgg, BoostMobile |
| Amazon Prime Rewards | 5% (Amazon purchases only) | 5% | Requires Amazon Prime membership. |
| Amazon Store Card | 5% (Amazon purchases only) | 5% | Requires Amazon Prime membership. |
| Citi AT&T Access More | 3X TY | 5.46% | 3X for all online retail purchases |
| Ducks Unlimited | 5% | 5% | 5% at Sporting Goods stores & Gas Stations |
| Ebates Cash Back Visa | 3% via Ebates portal | 3% | |
| Marvel Mastercard | 3% | 3% | Marvel shop, movie theaters, video rental and game stores, theatrical and concert promoters, amusement parks (including zoos, aquariums, carnivals, etc.), digital entertainment, games, software, music, books and newstands, toys, and hobby stores. |
| uPromise World MasterCard | 5% via uPromise portal | 5% | |
| USB Altitude Reserve | 3X | 4.50% | 3X for mobile wallet payments |
| Best Card for Telecommunication (Internet/Phone) | Bonus | Earnings | Spend Limits/Notes |
| Amex SimplyCash | 5% | 5% | $50K per year. US wireless telephone services only. |
| Chase Ink Plus | 5X UR | 9.10% | $50K per year |
| Chase MileagePlus Explorer for Business | 2X | 2.80% | |
| Chase Ink Cash | 5X UR | 9.10% | $25K per year |
| Chase Ink Business Preferred | 3X UR | 5.46% | $150K per year |
| Citi CitiBusiness AAdvantage World MasterCard | 2X | 2.80% | |
| Hilton Honors American Express Business Card | 6X | 2.70% | US service providers only |
| Lowe’s Business Rewards | 3X | 3% | |
| US Bank FlexPerks Travel Rewards | 2X | 3% | |
| US Bank FlexPerks Business Edge Travel Rewards | 2X | 3% | |
| US Bank Business Edge Cash Rewards | 3% | 3% | Plus, receive a 25% annual bonus based on your prior year’s Cash Rewards, up to $250 |
| Best card for Dining/Restaurants | Bonus | Earnings | Spend Limits/Notes |
| Amex SimplyCash Plus | 3% | 3% | $50K per year. US only |
| Bank of America Premium Rewards with Platinum Honors Preferred Rewards | 3.5X | 3.50% | |
| Bank of America Premium Rewards with Platinum Preferred Rewards | 3X | 3% | |
| Bank of America Premium Rewards with Gold Preferred Rewards | 2.5X | 2.50% | |
| Barclaycard Uber Visa Card | 4% | 4% | |
| Capital One Savor | 3% | 3% | |
| Chase AARP | 3% | 3% | |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve Card | 3X UR | 5.46% | |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | 2X UR | 3.64% | |
| Chase Sapphire | 2X UR | 3.64% | |
| Chase Ink Cash | 2X UR | 3.64% | $25K per year |
| Chase MileagePlus Explorer for Business | 2X | 2.80% | |
| Citi ThankYou Premier | 2X TY | 3.64% | |
| Citi ThankYou Preferred | 2X TY | 3.64% | |
| Citi Prestige | 2X TY | 3.64% | |
| CNB Crystal Visa Infinite | 3X | 3.75% | |
| Costco Anywhere Visa | 3% | 3% | |
| EBay MasterCard | 3X | 2.50% | |
| Golden1 Platinum Rewards Visa | 3% | 3% | |
| Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card | 7X | 3.15% | US only |
| Hilton Honors Ascend Card from American Express | 6X | 2.70% | US Only |
| Hilton Honors American Express Business Card | 6X | 2.70% | US Only |
| Hilton Honors™ Card from American Express | 5X | 2.25% | US Only |
| Huntington Voice | 3X | 3% | $2K per quarter |
| Lowe’s Business Rewards | 3X | 3% | |
| Morgan Stanley Amex | 2X MR | 3.64% | US only |
| Mercedes-Benz Credit Card from American Express | 2X MR | 3.64% | US only |
| Paypal Extas MasterCard | 3X | 2.50% | |
| Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express | 2X MR | 3.64% | US only |
| Sam’s Club MasterCard | 3% | 3% | |
| UMB Simply Rewards VISA | 3X | 3% | |
| US Bank FlexPerks Travel Rewards AMEX (2) | 2X | 3% | |
| US Bank Cash+ | 5% | 5% fast food only | $2000 per quarter |
| US Bank FlexPerks Gold Amex | 3X | 4.50% | |
| Santander Bravo | 3X | 3% | $5K per quarter |
| Visa SavingsEdge - Cash rebate | Varies | Varies | |
| Restaurants: | |||
| Corner Bakery: 2% | |||
| Panda Express: 2% | |||
| Papa John’s: 2% | |||
| Panera: 2% | |||
| Red Robin: 1% | |||
| Mastercard Easy Savings - Cash rebate | 4% | 4% | Earn a 4% cash rebate in addition to normal card rewards at more than 14,000+ restaurants. |
| Best Card for Quarterly Category Bonuses | Bonus | Earnings | Spend Limits/Notes |
| Chase Freedom | 5X UR | 9.10% | $1500 per quarter |
| Citi Dividend Platinum Select | 5% | 5% | $6K per year |
| Discover It | 5% | 5% | $1500 per quarter |
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