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The Ultimate Guide To Break-Even Spending To Offset Credit Card Annual Fees

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Stephen Au
Updated: 
Edited by: Keri Stooksbury
The Ultimate Guide To Break-Even Spending To Offset Credit Card Annual Fees
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We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

Key Takeaways

  • To break even on a credit card with an annual fee, you must calculate whether the card’s rewards, perks, and benefits outweigh the fee.
  • We calculate the effective annual fee by subtracting the face-value statement credits from the annual fee and figuring out the break-even spending based on points and miles valuations.
  • Bonus categories like travel and dining can help you accumulate points faster, making the annual fee more justifiable.

Credit cards are one of the easiest ways to get a chunk of your spending back, usually in the form of cash-back, points, or miles rewards.

But with a dizzying array of credit cards with various pros and cons, how can you know if a credit card is worth it for your needs?

Most worthwhile credit cards come with an annual fee, though that doesn’t mean that every credit card with an annual fee is worth it.

Similarly, many credit cards without an annual fee are worth spending on, while other no-annual-fee cards may not make the most of your purchases.

In this guide, we’ll help you demystify just how much you need to spend on a given credit card for it to be worth it — it’s all about break-even spending!

How Much Do You Have To Spend on a Credit Card To Break Even?

To calculate the break-even point for a credit card, we’ll look only at how much you have to spend for your rewards to offset the annual fee. This calculation excludes credit card benefits with a subjective valuation (like annual free night certificates). Calculating based on rewards spending, annual fee, and objectively-valued benefits offers an apples-to-apples comparison.

For example, a flexible $300 travel credit should be valued as such, while the value of a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership is subject to each member’s travel habits. Using a Priority Pass Select membership 20 times per year is a lot more valuable than using it once a year, for example.

Then, we will use our points and miles valuations to figure out how much you need to spend for the break-even point to be reached on a credit card.

We also won’t look at any welcome bonuses because almost all welcome bonuses make it worthwhile to hold a card for at least a year.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
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U.P. Rating 
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®
A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.
Earn 100,000 bonus points + $500 Chase Travel promo credit after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Get more than $2,700 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
100,000 points + $500 Chase Travel credit
$2,000
$795
20.24% - 28.74% Variable
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Excellent
Why We Like This Card

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of the best options.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like worldwide airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options. Plus, it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to cover you at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the more than $2,000 in annual credits, which can offset the annual fee!

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 8x points on all Chase Travel purchases
  • 5x points on Lyft rides
  • 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly
Cons
    • $795 annual fee
Read Full Review
Card Highlights
  • Earn 100,000 bonus points + $500 Chase Travel℠ promo credit after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Get more than $2,700 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
  • Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ 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 Pass™ 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 $250 annually
  • Member FDIC
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: 20.24% - 28.74% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card comes with an annual fee of $795. It also has a $300 annual travel credit and new $300 dining credit, which can easily be used flexibly.

So our “effective” annual fee is $195, which is $795 minus $600.

For the Chase Sapphire Reserve card to be worth it, we’ll need to accumulate at least 10,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which are worth $200 by our valuations.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
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U.P. Rating 
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
75,000 points
$1,500
$95
19.99% - 28.24% Variable
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent
Why We Like This Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
  • 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
  • 2x points on all other travel worldwide
Cons
  • $95 annual fee
  • No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
Read Full Review
Card Highlights
  • 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
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: 19.99% - 28.24% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card has a mild annual fee of $95. It comes with a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards hotel credit, which we consider to be worth face value.

That means the effective annual fee is $45.

With the ability to earn 3x points on online grocery purchases, dining, and select streaming services, you only need to spend $750 per year to break even on this card.

Similarly, if you earn 5x points on Lyft purchases (through September 30, 2027) and travel purchased through Chase (excluding the $50 hotel credit), you’ll only need to spend $450 per year to break even.

Lastly, you could spend $1,125 on other travel purchases (2x points) to break even.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

NEW OFFER
The Platinum Card® from American ExpressTerms Apply / Rates & Fees
The Platinum Card® from American Express
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U.P. Rating 
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.
You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
As High As 175,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.
Up to $3,850
$695
See Pay Over Time APR
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent
Why We Like This Card

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required), Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
  • 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
  • 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com
Cons
  • $695 annual fee (rates and fees)
  • Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)
Read Full Review
Card Highlights
  • You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 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.
  • Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®.
  • $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
  • $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
  • Enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection, with over $500 of annual value if you visit Centurion Lounges and each of our partner lounges including Delta Sky Club® lounges when flying an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations) , select Lufthansa lounges when flying Lufthansa, Plaza Premium lounges and Escape Lounges, and enroll in Priority Pass Select. See terms.
  • A Walmart+ membership can get you free shipping with no order minimum on eligible items shipped by Walmart. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) and receive one statement credit for up to $12.95 (plus applicable taxes. Plus Ups not eligible) each month. Free Shipping excludes most Marketplace items, freight & certain location surcharges. Paramount+ Essential plan only, separate registration required.
  • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your 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.
  • $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can ride or dine in style with $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December after adding their Card to their Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
  • $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. Receive up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for your CLEAR Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the Platinum Card®.
  • Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
  • Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • Use Global Dining Access by Resy to access premium dining experiences. Receive Priority Notify and unlock insider access to some of the world's most sought-after restaurants with Global Dining Access by Resy. Download the Resy iOS app or log into Resy.com and add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile to take advantage of your special benefits and discover restaurants near you.
  • $695 annual fee.
  • Terms Apply.
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: See Pay Over Time APR
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Hot Tip: Apply and find out if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of as high as 175,000 points with the Amex Platinum. Welcome offers may vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

The Amex Platinum card is one of the most exclusive cards with tons of luxury travel benefits.

Sure, it has a $695 annual fee, but it also has an incredible range of benefits that deliver lots of value (see rates & fees).

For our purposes, we’ll consider up to $200 prepaid hotel credit on eligible stays, the $199 CLEAR Plus credit, and up to $200 Uber Cash benefit to be face value. Therefore, the effective annual fee is $106.

The Amex Platinum card earns 5x Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines, as well as flights and prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com. Note that there is a cap of 5x earnings on flights booked directly with airlines or AmexTravel.com to up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.

According to our valuations, you’d need to spend around $964 every year on qualifying flight and hotel bookings to offset the fee.

Alternatively, you could spend around $4,818 per year on non-bonused purchases to reach the Amex Platinum card’s break-even point.

Bottom Line: For this analysis, we excluded a lot of high-value perks and benefits of the Amex Platinum card. For most people interested in luxury travel, it makes sense to keep this card open even if you don’t make a single purchase on the card!

American Express® Gold Card

NEW OFFER
American Express® Gold CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees
American Express® Gold Card
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U.P. Rating 
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

American Express® Gold Card
This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
As High As 100,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.
Up to $2,200
$325
See Pay Over Time APR
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent
Why We Like This Card

The American Express® Gold Card is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 4x points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
  • 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
  • 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com
Cons
Read Full Review
Card Highlights
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 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.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: See Pay Over Time APR
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Hot Tip: Apply and find out if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer as high as 100,000 points with the Amex Gold card. Welcome offers may vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

The Amex Gold card is one of the best cards out there, thanks to a generous rewards structure.

The card comes with a $325 annual fee (rates & fees), though we subtracted $120 for the up to $10 monthly Uber Cash benefit that can be used on Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. Enrollment required and terms apply.

We didn’t value the $10 per month dining credit at face value, since the only flexible way to use it is at Grubhub, even though it’s also valid at The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. It also comes with a Resy credit of up to $100 and a Dunkin’ credit of up to $84. Enrollment required.

So the effective annual fee is $130.

Since cardholders earn 4x points at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 in spending per calendar year, then 1x), 4x points on U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 in spending per calendar year, then 1x), and up to 3x points on flights booked directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com, you’ll need to spend the following amounts every year to reach the break-even point:

  • $1,477 at restaurants or U.S. supermarkets OR
  • $1,970 on flights booked directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com OR
  • $5,909 on other purchases

Bottom Line: If you can use the $10 monthly dining credit and the $10 monthly Uber Cash, having the Amex Gold card open is almost a no-brainer! We didn’t factor in the $10 monthly dining credit in our analysis, but the Amex Gold card is an excellent card to have if you spend a lot on dining, supermarkets, and flights.

Break-Even Points on Other Cards by Issuer

The card products we discussed above are the most popular ones out there. But what about all of the other cards?

In this section, we’ll show you how much you have to spend on all the other major rewards cards available to break even.

Hot Tip: Different cards offer various benefits, including statement credits. And while some statement credits are more useful than others, we factored the statement credits we believe to be worth face value in calculating the break-even points of each card.

American Express

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Image Credit: Upgraded Points
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Card Name

Annual Fee

Effective Annual Fee

Earning Rates

Break-Even Spending Required (Yearly)

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card$0
rates & fees		$0 1%-2% cash-backThe American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
  • Earn 2% cash-back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%.
  • Earn 1% cash-back on all other purchases.
  • Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
  • Terms Apply.

None

American Express® Business Gold Card$375
rates & fees		$375 1x-4x pointsAmerican Express® Business Gold Card
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points on the top two eligible categories where your business spends the most each month from 6 eligible categories. While your top 2 categories may change, you will earn 4X points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1X thereafter). Only the top 2 categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® points on all other eligible purchases.
  • Terms Apply.

$3,352 in combined 4x categories OR

$13,409 in non-bonused purchases

American Express® Green Card*

$150$150 1x-3x pointsAmerican Express® Green Card
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on travel, including airfare, hotels, cruises, tours, car rentals, campgrounds, and vacation rentals.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® Points on transit purchases, including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the US.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on the American Express® Green Card.
  • Terms Apply

$2,272 in combined purchases on 3x categories OR

$6,818 in non-bonused purchases

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express$0

rates & fees

$0 1x-2x pointsThe Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point on other purchases.
  • Terms Apply.

None

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express$0

rates & fees

$0 1%-3% cash-backBlue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
  • 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%.
  • 3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
  • 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
  • 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
  • Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
  • Terms Apply.

None

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95

rates & fees

$95

 1%-6% cash-backBlue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
  • 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
  • 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
  • 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations.
  • 3% Cash Back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
  • 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
  • Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
  • Terms Apply.

$1,583 at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. streaming subscriptions OR

$3,167 on transit and at U.S. gas stations OR

$9,500 in non-bonused purchases

Business Green Rewards Card from American Express

$95 rates & fees

$95

 1x to 2x pointsBusiness Green Rewards Card from American Express
  • Earn 2x for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases at AmexTravel.com
  • Earn 1x for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases
  • Terms Apply

$2,159 on AmexTravel.com OR

$4,318 in non-bonused purchases

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express$695

rates & fees

$0(from $199 CLEAR Plus credit, $200 Hilton credit, and $400 in Dell credit)

 1x-5x pointsThe Business Platinum Card® from American Express
  • Earn 5x Membership Rewards® points on flights, prepaid hotels, and short-term rentals and prepaid flight and hotel packages booked through Amex Travel
  • Earn 1.5x points on each eligible purchase at:
    • U.S. construction material
    • Hardware suppliers
    • Electronic goods retailers
    • Software & cloud system providers
    • Shipping providers
  • Earn 1.5x points on purchases of $5,000 or more, on up to $2 million per Card Account per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
  • Earn 1x points on other eligible purchases

$963 on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com OR

$3,212 in combined purchases on 1.5x categories OR

$4,818 in non-bonused purchases

Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card$0

rates & fees

$0 1x-2x milesDelta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
  • Earn 2X SkyMiles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
  • Earn 2X SkyMiles per dollar spent on Delta purchases
  • Earn 1X SkyMiles on all other eligible purchases

None

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150

rates & fees

$150

 1x-2x milesDelta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
  • Earn 2X SkyMiles on Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.
  • Earn 1X SkyMiles on all other eligible purchases.

$4,125 in combined purchases on 2x categories OR

$8,250 in non-bonused purchases

Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150

rates & fees

$150

 1x-2x milesDelta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
  • Earn 2x SkyMiles on purchases at U.S. Shipping providers and at U.S. providers for Advertising in select media on up to $50,000 of purchases per category, per year.
  • Earn 2x SkyMiles on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and on every eligible dollar spent at restaurants.
  • Earn 1x SkyMiles on every eligible dollar spent on other purchases.

$4,125 in combined purchases on 2x categories OR

$8,250 in non-bonused purchases

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card$350
rates & fees		$350 1x-3x milesDelta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
  • Earn 3X SkyMiles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
  • Earn 2X SkyMiles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
  • Earn 1X SkyMiles on all other eligible purchases.

$6,944 in combined purchases on 3x categories OR

$10,417 in combined purchases on 2x categories OR

$20,833 in non-bonused purchases

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card$350
rates & fees		$350 1x-3x milesDelta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
  • Earn 3x SkyMiles spent on purchases made directly with Delta and hotels
  • Earn 1.5x SkyMiles on eligible transit and U.S. shipping purchases, plus single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more. Terms and miles cap apply. *If your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply.
  • Earn 1x SkyMiles on other purchases

$6,944 in combined purchases on 3x categories OR

$10,417 in combined purchases on 2x categories OR

$20,833 in non-bonused purchases

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card$650
rates & fees		$650 1x-3x milesDelta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
  • Earn 3x SkyMiles on purchases made directly with Delta
  • Earn 1x SkyMiles on other eligible purchases

$15,278 on purchases made directly with Delta OR

$45,833 in non-bonused purchases

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card$650
rates & fees		$650 1x-3x milesDelta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
  • Earn 3x SkyMiles on purchases made directly with Delta
  • Earn 1.5x SkyMiles on eligible transit, U.S. shipping & office supply store purchases
  • Earn 1x SkyMiles on other purchases

$15,278 on purchases made directly with Delta OR

$30,556 in combined purchases exceeding $5,000 each OR

$45,833 in non-bonused purchases

The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card$195
rates & fees		$195 3x-12x pointsThe Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
  • Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on eligible Hilton purchases.
  • Earn 5X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on other purchases made using the Hilton Honors Business Card on the first $100,000 in purchases each calendar year, 3X points thereafter.
  • Terms apply.

$1,583 on Hilton purchases OR

$3,167 in combined purchases on 6x categories OR

$6,333 in non-bonused purchases

Hilton Honors American Express Card$0
rates & fees		$0 3x-7x pointsHilton Honors American Express Card
  • Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
  • Earn 5X Points per dollar on purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
  • Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
  • Terms Apply.

None

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card
 
$250
rates & fees		$250 2x-6x pointsMarriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card
  • Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
  • Earn 4X Marriott Bonvoy® points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets per calendar year, then 2X points).
  • Earn 2X Marriott Bonvoy® points on all other eligible purchases.
  • Terms Apply.

$5,952 in Marriott Bonvoy purchases OR

$8,928 in combined purchases on 4x categories OR

$17,858 in non-bonused purchases

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card$650

rates & fees

$350
(from up to $300 annual dining credit)		 2x-6x pointsMarriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
  • Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®.
  • Earn 3X Marriott Bonvoy® points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines
  • Earn 2X Marriott Bonvoy® points on all other eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.
  • Terms Apply.

$8,333 in Marriott Bonvoy purchases OR

$16,666 in combined purchases on 3x categories OR

$25,000 in non-bonused purchases

Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card$125

rates & fees

$125 2x-6x pointsMarriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
  • Earn 6x Marriott Bonvoy® points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program.
  • Earn 4x Marriott Bonvoy® points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping.
  • Earn 2x Marriott Bonvoy® points on all other eligible purchases.
  • Terms Apply.

$2,976 in Marriott Bonvoy purchases OR

$4,464 in combined purchases on 4x categories OR

$8,929 in non-bonused purchases

*The information regarding the American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Capital One

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Card Name

Annual Fee

Effective Annual Fee

Earning Rates

Break-Even Spending Required (Yearly)

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card$0$0 1.5%-5% cash-backCapital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
  • Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cards booked through Capital One Travel
  • Earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day, and rewards don't expire for the life of the account.

None

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Card

$39$39 2x-6x pointsMarriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
  • Earn 6x Marriott Bonvoy® points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program.
  • Earn 4x Marriott Bonvoy® points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping.
  • Earn 2x Marriott Bonvoy® points on all other eligible purchases.
  • Terms Apply.

$2,600 in purchases

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card$0$0 1%-8% cash-backCapital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
  • Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
  • Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
  • Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®)
  • Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases

None

Capital One Spark Cash Plus CardInformation collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One.$150$150 2%-5% cash-backCapital One Spark Cash Plus Card
  • Earn unlimited 5% cash-back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One's travel booking site
  • Earn unlimited 2% cash-back on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions

$7,500 in purchases

Capital One Spark Cash SelectInformation collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One.

$0

$0

 1.5%-5% cash-backCapital One Spark Cash Select
  • Earn unlimited 5% cash-back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One's travel booking site
  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash-back for your business on every purchase, everywhere – with no limits or category restrictions

None

Capital One Spark Classic for BusinessInformation collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One.

$0

$0

Unlimited 1% cash back on every purchase, with no minimums or expiration date

None

Capital One Spark Miles for BusinessInformation collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One.$0 intro for the first year, $95 after that

$95

 2x-5x milesCapital One Spark Miles for Business
  • Unlimited 5X miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One's travel booking site
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles per dollar on every purchase, everywhere, no limits or category restrictions, and miles won’t expire for the life of the account

$1,056 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One’s travel booking site OR

$2,639 in non-bonused purchases

Capital One Spark Miles Select for BusinessInformation collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One.$0$0 1.5x-5x milesCapital One Spark Miles Select for Business
  • Earn unlimited 5X miles on hotel and rental car bookings through Capital One Travel.
  • Earn unlimited 1.5X miles on every purchase for your business.

None

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card$95$95 2x-5x milesCapital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
  • Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
 		$1,056 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel

OR

$2,639 in non-bonused purchases

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card$395

$0 ($300 travel credit and 10,000 bonus miles per anniversary year)

 2x-10x milesCapital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
  • Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases

None

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card$0$0 1.25x-5x milesCapital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
  • Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day.

None

Chase

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Card Name

Annual Fee

Effective Annual Fee

Earning Rates

Break-Even Spending Required (Yearly)

Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card$95$95 1x-3x pointsAer Lingus Visa Signature® Card
  • Earn 3 Avios per $1 spent on purchases with Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, and LEVEL.
  • Earn 2 Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel.
  • Earn 1 Avios per $1 spent on all other purchases

$2,533 in 3x Avios purchases OR

$7,600 in non-bonused purchases

Aeroplan® Credit Card$95$95 1x-3x pointsAeroplan® Credit Card
  • Earn 3X points for each dollar spent at grocery stores, on dining at restaurants, and Air Canada directly.
  • Earn 1X point for each dollar spent on all other purchases.

$2,111 in combined purchases on 3x categories OR

$6,333 in non-bonused purchases

Prime Visa card$0$0 1%-10% cash-backPrime Visa
  • Prime Card Bonus: Earn 10% back or more on a rotating selection of items and categories on Amazon.com with an eligible Prime membership
  • Earn unlimited 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership
  • Earn unlimited 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare)
  • Earn unlimited 1% back on all other purchases

None

Amazon Visa$0$0 1%-3% cash-backAmazon Visa
  • 3% cash-back at Amazon, Whole Foods Market, Amazon Fresh, and Chase Travel purchases
  • 2% cash-back for purchases at gas stations, restaurants, and local transit and commuting
  • 1% cash-back for all other purchases

None

British Airways Visa Signature® Card$95$95 1x-3x pointsBritish Airways Visa Signature® Card
  • Earn 3 Avios per $1 spent on purchases with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, and LEVEL.
  • Earn 2 Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel.
  • Earn 1 Avios per $1 spent on all other purchases.

$2,533 in 3x Avios purchases OR

$7,600 in non-bonused purchases

Chase Freedom Flex℠$0$0 1%-5% cash-backChase Freedom Flex®
  • 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
  • 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠.
  • 3% cash back on drugstore purchases.
  • 3% cash back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services.
  • 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases.

None

Chase Freedom Unlimited®$0$0 1.5%-5% cash-backChase Freedom Unlimited®
  • 5% cash-back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠.
  • 3% cash-back on drugstore purchases.
  • 3% cash-back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services.
  • 1.5% unlimited cash back on all other purchases.

None

Iberia Visa Signature® Card$95$95 1x-3x pointsIberia Visa Signature® Card
  • Earn 3 Avios per $1 spent on purchases with Iberia, British Airways, Aer Lingus, and LEVEL.
  • Earn 2 Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel.
  • Earn 1 Avios for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

$2,533 in 3x Avios purchases OR

$7,600 in non-bonused purchases

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card$99$99 3x-26x pointsIHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
  • Earn up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts.
  • Earn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, and restaurants.
  • Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases.

$762 at IHG Hotels & Resorts OR

$3,960 in combined purchases at 5x categories OR

$6,600 in non-bonused purchases

IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card$99$99 3x-26x pointsIHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
  • Earn up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels and Resorts.
  • Earn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, select advertising, and restaurants.
  • Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases.

$762 at IHG Hotels & Resorts OR

$3,960 in combined purchases at 5x categories OR

$6,600 in non-bonused purchases

IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card$0$0 2x-17x pointsIHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
  • Earn up to 17 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts.
  • Earn 3 points per $1 spent on purchases on monthly bills, at gas stations, and restaurants.
  • Earn 2 points per $1 spent on all other purchases.

None

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card$0$0 1%-5% cash-backInk Business Cash® Credit Card
  • Earn 5% cash-back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year
  • Earn 2% cash-back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year.
  • Earn 1% cash-back on all other purchases

None

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card$95$95 1x-3x pointsInk Business Preferred® Credit Card
  • Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year.
  • Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases—with no limit to the amount you can earn.

$1,583 in combined purchases on 3x categories OR

$4,750 in non-bonused purchases

Ink Business Premier® Credit Card$195$195 2%-2.5% cash-backInk Business Premier® Credit Card
  • Earn unlimited 2.5% total cash-back on purchases of $5,000 or more
  • Earn unlimited 2% cash-back on all other business purchases.

$3,900 on travel purchased through Chase Travel OR

$7,800 on purchases of $5,000 or more OR

$9,750 on other business purchases

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card$0$0 1.5% cash-backInk Business Unlimited® Credit Card
  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase

None

Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card $0$0 1x-14x pointsMarriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
  • Earn up to 14X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Card.
  • Earn 2X points for every $1 spent at grocery stores, rideshare, select food delivery, select streaming, and internet, cable, and phone services.
  • Earn 1X point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

None

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card$95$95 2x-17x pointsMarriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
  • Earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card.
  • Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining.
  • Earn 2X points for every $1 you spend on all other purchases.

$2,262 in Marriott Bonvoy purchases OR

$6,785 in non-bonused purchases

Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card$250$250 2x-18.5x pointsMarriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card
  • Earn up to 18.5X total points for every $1 spent at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®
  • Earn 4X points per $1 on the first $15,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores and dining
  • Earn 2X points per $1 spent on other travel purchases
  • Earn 2X points per $1 spent on all other purchases

$5,952 in Marriott Bonvoy purchases OR

$8,928 in combined purchases on 4x categories OR

$17,858 in non-bonused purchases

Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card$199$199 1x-4x pointsSouthwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
  • Earn 4X pts on Southwest® purchases.
  • Earn 3X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners.
  • Earn 2X points on rideshare.
  • Earn 2X points on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services.
  • Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

$3,827 in Southwest purchases OR

$5,103 in purchases at Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners OR

$7,654 in combined purchases on 2x categories OR

$15,308 in non-bonused purchases

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card$69$69 1x-2x pointsSouthwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
  • Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases.
  • Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
  • Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
  • Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

$2,654 in combined purchases on 2x categories OR

$5,308 in non-bonused purchases

Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card$99$99 1x-3x pointsSouthwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card
  • Earn 3X points on Southwest Airlines® purchases.
  • Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners.
  • Earn 2X points on rideshare.
  • Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

$2,538 in Southwest purchases OR

$3,808 in combined purchases on 2x categories OR

$7,615 in non-bonused purchases

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card$99$99 1x-3x pointsSouthwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
  • Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases.
  • Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
  • Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
  • Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

$2,538 in Southwest purchases OR

$3,808 in combined purchases on 2x categories OR

$7,615 in non-bonused purchases

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card$149$74
(from $75 Southwest credit)		 1x-3x pointsSouthwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
  • Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases.
  • Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
  • Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
  • Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

$1,897 in Southwest purchases OR

$2,846 in combined purchases on 2x categories OR

$5,692 in non-bonused purchases

The New United℠ Business Card$0 for the first year, $150 thereafter$0 for the first year, $150 thereafter 1x-5x milesThe New United℠ Business Card
  • Earn 5x total miles per $1 spent on hotel stays purchased through United® Hotels
  • Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, dining including eligible delivery services, at gas stations, office supply stores, and on local transit and commuting.
  • Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. Plus, employee cards at no additional cost - miles earned from their purchases accrue in your account so you can earn rewards faster.

$3,808 in combined purchases on 2x categories OR

$7,615 in non-bonused purchases

The New United Club℠ Business Card$695$695 1.5x-5x milesThe New United Club℠ Business Card
  • Earn 5x miles on stays purchased through Renowned Hotels and Resorts for United® Cardmembers
  • Earn 2x miles on United purchases
  • Earn 1.5x miles on all other purchases

$17,308 in United purchases OR

$23,077 in non-bonused purchases

The New United Club℠ Card$695$695 1x-4x milesThe New United Club℠ Card
  • Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
  • Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel and dining
  • Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases

$10,096 in United purchases OR

$20,192 in combined purchases on 2x categories OR

$40,384 in non-bonused purchases

The New United℠ Explorer Card$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150 1x-5x milesThe New United℠ Explorer Card
  • Earn 5 total miles per $1 spent on hotel stays purchased through United® Hotels
  • Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays, and United® purchases
  • Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases

$3,654 in combined purchases on 2x categories OR

$7,308 in non-bonused purchases

The New United Gateway℠ Card$0$0 1x-2x milesThe New United Gateway℠ Card
  • Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, at gas stations and on local transit and commuting
  • Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
  • Earn 2 miles per $1 spent at gas stations, on local transit and commuting
  • Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases

None

The New United Quest℠ Card$350$350 1x-5x milesThe New United Quest℠ Card
  • Earn 5 miles per $1 on stays purchased through Renowned Hotels and Resorts for United® Cardmembers
  • Earn 3 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
  • Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel, dining and select streaming services
  • Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases

$3,330 in United purchases OR

$4,808 in combined purchases on 2x categories OR

$9,615 in non-bonused purchases

World of Hyatt Business Credit Card$199$199 1x-9x pointsWorld of Hyatt Business Credit Card
  • Up to 9 points total per $1 spent at Hyatt - 4 Bonus Points per $1 on qualified purchases at Hyatt hotels & up to 5 Base Points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member
  • 2 bonus points per $1 spent in your top three spend categories each quarter.
  • 2 bonus points per $1 spent on fitness club and gym memberships
  • 1 bonus point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

$3,317 in purchases at Hyatt hotels OR

$6,633 in combined purchases on 2x categories OR

$13,267 in non-bonused purchases

The World of Hyatt Credit Card$95$95 1x-9x pointsThe World of Hyatt Credit Card
  • Earn up to 9x points total for Hyatt stays – 4 Bonus Points per $1 spent on qualified purchases at Hyatt hotels & up to 5 Base Points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member
  • Earn 2x points per $1 at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from the airline, local transit, rideshares, and fitness clubs/gym memberships
  • Earn 1x point per $1 on all other purchases

$1,583 in purchases at Hyatt hotels OR

$3,167 in combined purchases on 2x categories OR

$6,333 in non-bonused purchases

Citi

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Card Name

Annual Fee

Effective Annual Fee

Earning Rates

Break-Even Spending Required (Yearly)

American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®

$0

$0

 1x-2x milesAmerican Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®
  • Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for each $1 spent at grocery stores, including grocery delivery services
  • Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
  • Earn 1 AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on other purchases
  • Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases

None

Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®$595$595 1x-10x milesCiti® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
  • Earn 10x AAdvantage® miles on eligible hotels booked through aa.com/hotels and on eligible car rentals booked through aa.com/cars
  • Earn 4x AAdvantage® miles spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
  • Earn 5x AAdvantage® miles after you spend $150,000 in purchases in a calendar year on eligible American Airlines purchases for the remainder of the year
  • Earn 1x AAdvantage® miles on all other purchases

$16,071 in eligible American Airlines purchases OR

$32,143 in un-bonused purchases

Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®$0 intro annual fee, then $99 after the first year

$99

 1x to 2x milesCiti® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
  • Earn 2x AAdvantage® miles at restaurants
  • Earn 2x AAdvantage® miles at gas stations
  • Earn 2x AAdvantage® miles on eligible American Airlines purchases
  • Earn 1x AAdvantage® mile on all other purchases

$3,535 in combined purchases on 2x categories OR

$7,071 in non-bonused purchases

CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $99

$99

$3,535 in combined purchases on 2x categories OR

$7,071 in non-bonused purchases

None

None

$1,979 in combined purchases on 3x categories OR

$5,938 in non-bonused purchases

(no longer open to new applicants)

$245

(from $250 travel credit)

$3,063 in combined purchases on 5x categories OR

$5,104 in combined purchases on 3x categories OR

$15,313 in non-bonused purchases

None

Final Thoughts

Whew! That was intense! Making an informed decision as to whether getting a specific credit card is worthwhile can involve some tricky math, but we laid it all out for you in this guide.

We calculated the effective annual fee by subtracting all of the face-value statement credits from the annual fee.

Then, we used our points and miles valuations to calculate the break-even spending amounts by category.

As you can tell, some cards are much easier to justify, while others might not be worth it unless you can take advantage of the other subjective card benefits we didn’t account for.

We hope that you’ve found this guide useful!

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do you need to spend to break even on the Amex Platinum card?

The Amex Platinum card’s break-even point is when you spend $1,050 or more on flights booked directly with airlines, as well as flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com every year.

Alternatively, you need to spend around $5,270 per year on other purchases if you can’t earn 5x points.

How much do you need to spend to break even with the Amex Gold card?

If you can take advantage of the $10 per month dining credit and the $10 per month Uber Cash benefit, the Amex Gold card essentially pays for itself.

However, if you only use the Uber Cash benefit, you need to spend $1,477 at restaurants or U.S. supermarkets every year for it to be worth it.

Alternatively, you can spend $1,970 per year on flights booked directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com, as well as $5,909 on non-bonused purchases to break even with this card.

How do I break even with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card?

It’s pretty easy to break even. The $95 annual fee is somewhat offset by the $50 annual Ultimate Rewards hotel credit, which means you only need to spend $750 per year on dining, online grocery purchases, or select streaming services to break even.

Alternatively, you can spend $1,125 on travel purchases every year (2x points) or $450 on Lyft purchases (through September 30, 2027), select Peloton equipment purchases, and travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards (excluding the $50 hotel credit) every year to break even on the card.

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About Stephen Au

Stephen is an established voice in the credit card space, with over 70 to his name. His work has been in publications like The Washington Post, and his Au Points and Awards Consulting Services is used by hundreds of clients.

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