Best Credit Card Bonuses of December 2023
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If you want to earn lots of points, miles, or cash back quickly, the best strategy is to apply for one of the best credit cards and earn its welcome bonus offer. You'll usually have to meet a credit card minimum spending requirement in a specified time frame (typically a few months), and it's well worth the effort to unlock a big sign-up bonus.
Some of these offers are only available for a limited time, so you shouldn't wait long to apply.
Current Credit Card Bonus Offers
Best Credit Card Bonus Offers
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card - Product Name Only — Best welcome bonus overallThe Business Platinum Card® from American Express - Product Name Only — Best welcome bonus for earning Amex Membership Rewards points-
The Platinum Card® from American Express - Product Name Only — Best personal Amex card bonus American Express® Gold Card - Product Name Only — Best mid-tier Amex card bonusBlue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express - Product Name Only — Best pure cash back bonusAmerican Express® Business Gold Card - Product Name Only — Best mid-tier business Amex card bonusCapital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card - Product Name Only — Best welcome bonus for earning Capital One milesCiti Premier® Card - Product Name Only — Best welcome bonus for earning Citi ThankYou pointsChase Sapphire Preferred® Card - Product Name Only — Best beginner travel credit card bonusChase Sapphire Reserve® - Product Name Only — Best credit card bonus for booking travel through the Chase Travel PortalInk Business Cash® Credit Card - Product Name Only — Best no annual fee credit card bonusInk Business Unlimited® Credit Card - Product Name Only — Best no annual fee small business credit card bonus
Best Credit Card Offers Frequently Asked Questions
What is a sign-up bonus?
A sign-up bonus, also known as a welcome bonus or intro offer, is a reward of points, miles, or cash back for new cardholders who meet designated requirements. Usually, these requirements involve meeting a minimum spending threshold within the first few months after you open your new credit card account.
Do credit card sign-up bonuses change?
Yes, credit card sign-up bonuses change frequently. If you're considering opening a new rewards credit card, do your research to see whether the card you want has previously offered a higher bonus. If it has, it could be worth waiting until that elevated offer returns, or you may even be able to find that higher offer through the credit card issuer's website.
What is the best credit card sign-up bonus?
The best credit card sign-up bonus depends on the person. Even if one card offers more points, not all points and miles are valued equally. There are also different types of credit card rewards — points, miles, and cash back — so the best welcome bonus for you depends on the rewards you value most.
How can I use a credit card sign-up bonus?
Typically, you can use a credit card sign-up bonus in a variety of ways. If you earn a cash-back welcome bonus, you could be able to use it toward a statement credit to reduce your credit card bill, or you could receive the money in check form. With a travel rewards card, you could use your points or miles to book an award trip, or cash them out for gift cards, money back, or merchandise.The exact options depend on the credit card you have and its specific rewards program.
Is a credit card without a sign-up bonus still worth it?
Yes, a credit card without a sign-up bonus is still worth it. Intro offers can be a great incentive to apply, especially if you're looking at a card that has an annual fee, but not every good credit card offers an intro bonus. For example, the
Should I earn credit card rewards if I don't plan to travel yet?
Yes, you should earn credit card rewards even if you don't have upcoming travel planned. Earning a welcome bonus now can put you in a great position to use points and miles for your next vacation, whenever that may be. But before you apply for a new credit card, make sure you understand how credit card applications affect your credit score.
More About the Best Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses
Best welcome bonus overall
The
Plus, it has generous bonus categories — you'll earn 3 points per dollar in the first $150,000 in combined purchases you make on categories including travel, shipping, and advertising (and 1 point per dollar on everything else). This card has a
Best welcome bonus for earning Amex Membership Rewards points
Small-business owners have a big opportunity to earn a massive amount of points with the limited-time welcome bonus offer on
If you're not sure which version of the card is best for you, our comparison of the Amex Platinum and Business Platinum can help narrow down your choice.
Best personal Amex card bonus
You can get hundreds of dollars in value from benefits such as up to $200 in Uber credits (including Uber Eats)** per year and up to $100 in annual Saks Fifth Avenue credits**. The
Travelers can take advantage of up to $200 in airline incidental fee credits** each calendar year, airport lounge access, complimentary hotel elite status with Hilton and Marriott**, travel insurance, and Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts. You can use the Amex Membership Rewards points you'll earn with the card to book flights, hotels, and more through American Express Travel, or transfer points to airline and hotel partners like Delta, British Airways, and Marriott.
The annual fee is
Best mid-tier Amex card bonus
The
It also offers up to $120 Uber Cash ($10 per month credit) each calendar year (this is only applicable to U.S. Eats orders and Rides, and the Gold Card needs to be added to the Uber app to receive the Uber Cash benefit).
The card didn't always come with an attention-grabbing welcome bonus offer. But it's now increased its intro offer to
Best pure cash back bonus
If you like earning cash back and spend a lot on groceries and streaming services, the
You'll also earn 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions; 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis, rideshares, parking, tolls, trains, and buses); and 1% cash back on everything else. You'll receive cash back in the form of Reward Dollars, which can be redeemed as statement credits). If you max out the $6,000 limit at U.S. supermarkets, you could earn $360 in cash back each year just from that category alone — that's more than enough to offset the annual fee of
Best mid-tier Amex card bonus
The
One reason the Amex Business Gold card has remained popular with small-business owners is the ability to earn 4x Amex Membership Rewards points in the top two categories you spend the most in each month, on up to $150,000 in combined purchases each year (then 1x).
These categories include U.S. gas stations, U.S. restaurants, U.S. shipping providers, U.S. purchases made from electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, U.S. purchases for advertising in select media and transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways.
Best welcome bonus for earning Capital One miles
The
The
Cardholders receive $300 per year in credits through Capital One Travel purchases, Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, and Capital One airport lounge access (even for authorized users), a 10,000-mile bonus on each account anniversary (worth $100 in travel), access to the Capital One Premier Collection (a luxury hotel booking program), and Visa Infinite travel and purchase benefits.
Like other cards that earn Capital One miles, you can transfer rewards to over a dozen airline and hotel partners to book award travel.
Best welcome bonus for earning Citi ThankYou points
The
In addition to offering a bonus of
The
Best beginner travel credit card bonus
You can't go wrong with the
The card currently offers a welcome bonus of
The great thing about Chase Ultimate Rewards® points is their flexibility — redemption options include booking travel directly through the Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel Portal, transferring points to travel partners like United and Marriott, or cashing in rewards for statement credits, gift cards, and merchandise.
Best credit card bonus for booking travel through the Chase Travel Portal
The more premium sibling of the
It also earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, allows transfers to Chase airline and hotel partners, and offers the same variety of options for points redemption as the
The
Like the
Cardholders can also access Chase's Sapphire Terrace at the Austin airport (AUS), an indoor-outdoor space offering free drinks, grab-and-go bites, and Wi-Fi. Read our full review of the
Best no annual fee credit card bonus
If you're looking for a Chase small business card but can't meet the hefty spending requirement on the
It's offering a welcome bonus of
The
- 5% cash back (5x points) on the first $25,000 spent (then 1x) in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services each account anniversary year
- 2% back (2x points) on the first $25,000 spent (then 1x) in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year
- 1% back (1x points) on all other purchases with no cap.
Find out more in our
Best no annual fee small business credit card bonus
Some small-business owners don't want to fuss with bonus categories or spending limits. If that's your style, the
It's also offering a bonus of
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Chose the Best Credit Card Welcome Offers
Personal Finance Insider looks carefully at the potential value of welcome bonuses and categorizes them according to which profile each will best serve. We also look at the ongoing benefits and earning rates of these cards, but our chief goal is to uncover the biggest, juiciest intro offers.
The Personal Finance Insider credit cards team is primarily concerned about one thing: that you open the right credit card for your lifestyle. There are lots of excellent credit cards out there (and just as many bad ones) — but even a credit card with an enormous value proposition isn't necessarily for you. Our job is to help you find the perfect product for your unique situation.
See our full methodology for how Business Insider rates credit cards.