Credit Card Comparison
25 US credit cards ranked on your own spending. Each shows its first-year value with the welcome bonus, what it earns from year 2 once the bonus and fee waivers are gone, the 3-year total and the month it pays for itself. Terms are entered by hand from each issuer's page.
Advertiser disclosure. Some card links may earn us a commission. Cards are ranked only by the value worked out from your spending, never by commission. Approval isn't guaranteed and we don't estimate approval odds. How we make money.
| Card | Year 1 | Year 2+ | 3 years | Break-even | Fee | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Reserve 3x dining and takeout | $1,681 | $681 | $3,043 | Month 2 | $795 | |
| Citi Strata Premier 3x flights, hotels and car rentals, dining and takeout, groceries, gas and ev charging | $1,355 | $755 | $2,865 | Month 2 | $95 | |
| Citi Double Cash 2% on everything | $1,004 | $804 | $2,612 | Month 1 | $0 | |
| American Express Blue Cash Preferred 6% groceries | $1,096 | $751 | $2,598 | Month 1 | $95 (yr 1 free) | |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred 3x dining and takeout | $1,343 | $593 | $2,528 | Month 2 | $95 | |
| Wells Fargo Active Cash 2% on everything | $904 | $804 | $2,512 | Month 1 | $0 | |
| Discover it Cash Back 5% groceries, streaming, dining and takeout, gas and ev charging, transit and rideshare, drugstores, phone, internet and utilities | $1,226 | $613 | $2,453 | Month 1 | $0 | |
| Chase Ink Business Preferred 3x flights, hotels and car rentals, transit and rideshare, phone, internet and utilitiesMostly welcome bonus | $1,475 | $475 | $2,425 | Month 2 | $95 | |
| Capital One Savor 3% dining and takeout, streaming, groceries | $900 | $700 | $2,299 | Month 1 | $0 | |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited 3x dining and takeout, drugstores | $886 | $686 | $2,257 | Month 1 | $0 | |
| Chase Freedom Flex 5x dining and takeout, online shopping, gas and ev charging, transit and rideshare, groceries | $908 | $658 | $2,225 | Month 1 | $0 | |
| American Express Blue Cash Everyday 3% groceries | $838 | $688 | $2,213 | Month 1 | $0 | |
| Wells Fargo Autograph 3x dining and takeout, flights, hotels and car rentals, gas and ev charging, transit and rideshare, streaming | $840 | $640 | $2,119 | Month 1 | $0 | |
| Bank of America Travel Rewards 1.5% on everything | $853 | $603 | $2,059 | Month 1 | $0 | |
| Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards 1.5% on everything | $853 | $603 | $2,059 | Month 1 | $0 | |
| Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards 3% dining and takeout | $930 | $550 | $2,030 | Month 1 | $0 | |
| Capital One Quicksilver 1.5% on everything | $803 | $603 | $2,009 | Month 1 | $0 | |
| Citi Costco Anywhere Visa 3% flights, hotels and car rentals, dining and takeout | $648 | $648 | $1,944 | Month 1 | $0 | |
| Chase Prime Visa 2% gas and ev charging, dining and takeout, transit and rideshare | $708 | $558 | $1,824 | Month 1 | $0 | |
| Goldman Sachs Apple Card 2% groceries, dining and takeout, gas and ev charging, flights, hotels and car rentals, transit and rideshare, streaming, drugstores, online shopping, phone, internet and utilities, everything else | $603 | $603 | $1,809 | Month 1 | $0 | |
| Capital One Venture 2x on everything | $856 | $331 | $1,518 | Month 2 | $95 | |
| American Express Platinum Card 5x flights | $490 | $490 | $1,469 | Month 8 | $895 | |
| Capital One Venture X 2x on everything | $646 | $321 | $1,288 | Month 2 | $395 | |
| American Express Gold Card 4x groceries | $416 | $416 | $1,249 | Month 6 | $325 | |
| Wells Fargo Reflect No rewards | $0 | $0 | $0 | Never | $0 |
Rates and terms are set by the issuer and may change. Check the issuer's page before you apply. Values are estimates from your spending, after fees.
Worked examples
The ten cards worth the most over 3 years on the family preset (USD, points redeemed as cash, typical use of credits).
| Card | Year 1 | Year 2+ | 3 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | $1,681 | $681 | $3,043 |
| Citi Strata Premier | $1,355 | $755 | $2,865 |
| Citi Double Cash | $1,004 | $804 | $2,612 |
| American Express Blue Cash Preferred | $1,096 | $751 | $2,598 |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred | $1,343 | $593 | $2,528 |
| Wells Fargo Active Cash | $904 | $804 | $2,512 |
| Discover it Cash Back | $1,226 | $613 | $2,453 |
| Chase Ink Business Preferred | $1,475 | $475 | $2,425 |
| Capital One Savor | $900 | $700 | $2,299 |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited | $886 | $686 | $2,257 |
Frequently asked questions
Why are Year 1 and Year 2+ so different?
Year 1 adds the welcome bonus, any first-year fee waiver, one-time credits and intro APR savings. From year 2 a card only has what it earns on your spending and its ongoing credits, minus the full annual fee. A card that ranks first in year 1 can be an average card after that.
Which US card is worth the most for a typical family?
On the family preset ($3,350 a month, points redeemed as cash), Chase Sapphire Reserve is worth the most over 3 years at $3,043. From year 2, Citi Double Cash earns the most, $804 a year after fees. Your own spending can change the order, so set it above.
How are points and miles valued?
By how you redeem them. Cash back counts each point at its cash value; travel uses the issuer's own travel booking; transfer partners use published valuations: Chase Ultimate Rewards (Sapphire and Ink Preferred) 2.05 cents, American Express Membership Rewards (US) 2 cents, Capital One miles 1.85 cents, Citi ThankYou Points (Strata Premier) 1.9 cents, Wells Fargo Rewards 1.75 cents. Choose "set point values myself" to slide every program between its low and high value and see the ranking change.
Which cards are mostly their welcome bonus?
On the family preset, 1 card gets more than 60% of their 3-year value in year 1: Chase Ink Business Preferred. They're marked "Mostly welcome bonus" in the table.
How are statement credits counted?
At the share a typical cardholder uses, not face value: a broad travel credit counts nearly in full, a monthly credit at one merchant counts at a third or less. Each card page lists the share used for every credit, and you can count all, half or none of them instead.
Do you show approval odds?
No. Approval depends on your credit file and the issuer's rules, which we can't see. Values assume you're approved for the card as advertised.
Sources
Estimates for information only; not tax, legal or financial advice. See our methodology.