There are many different types of rewards cards. As such, sorting through all the available cards and determining which card (or cards) is best for you can be confusing. Once you have multiple credit cards, remembering which one to use for each transaction can make maximizing the points and miles earned on everything you buy even more difficult.
Today, we’ll look at common bonus categories where you may be making purchases and highlight cards with strong earnings in these categories.
However, in this post, I’ll only discuss consumer rewards cards. So, if you’d prefer a cash-back rewards card or business card, you’ll want to check out our posts on the best cash-back cards for each bonus category and the best business cards for each bonus category.
What is a bonus category for credit cards?
A bonus category is when you earn extra points or miles on certain types of purchases with your card, such as at supermarkets. Which bonus categories your card has can vary greatly. The opposite of a bonus category is “everyday spending,” which you earn when using your credit card outside the bonus categories.
Best cards for airfare
While several cards compete for a place among the best cards for travel and could be used to pay for flights, some credit cards provide a higher earning rate on select airfare purchases. So, here’s a quick look at the best cards for airfare purchases.
Comparison of the top cards for airfare
*Based on TPG valuations and not provided by issuers. See more information here.
The information for the Citi Prestige and American Express Green Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights.
Best cards for Amazon and online shopping
You likely make purchases from Amazon and online merchants frequently. Here are the best cards to use for these purchases.
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Comparison of the top cards for online shopping
*Based on TPG valuations and not provided by issuers. See more information here.
Why the Double Cash card is the best card for online shopping
The Venture and Venture X cards do indeed earn more valuable rewards. However, the Double Cash card has no annual fee, so it is our top pick in this category.
The Double Cash card earns Citi ThankYou Rewards points as follows: 1 point per dollar on all purchases and another 1 point per dollar on payments made against your balance. Thus, you essentially earn 2 points per dollar, and TPG values these points at 1.8 cents apiece. This provides a solid 3.6 cents in return per dollar spent on a card with no annual fee.
Related: Transfer your Citi Double Cash Card rewards to ThankYou Points
It’s also possible to maximize your rewards when shopping online by purchasing gift cards for that store at a supermarket or office supply store to earn bonus points in those categories, then use the gift cards to pay for your online purchases. See more about those categories below.
Best cards for cell phone bills
Paying your cellphone bill with a credit card that offers cellphone insurance is the best way to trigger this coverage. Using a card that offers this protection should factor into your decision.
Comparison of the top cards for cell phone bills
*Based on TPG valuations and not provided by issuers. See more information here.
The information for the Citi Prestige has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why the Venture X is the best card for cellphone bills
The Venture X card provides numerous perks to cardholders, including cellphone protection. If you pay your cellphone bill with the Venture X, you’ll get up to $800 in coverage per claim with a maximum of two claims and $1,600 per 12-month period. There is a $50 deductible per occurrence.
You’ll also earn 2 Capital One miles per dollar when paying your cellphone bill, and TPG values those miles at 1.85 cents apiece. That provides a 3.7% return on spending.
Related: 6 things to do when you get the Capital One Venture X
Best cards for commuting
Commuting takes many different forms: subways, trains, buses, paying for parking or paying for tolls. Depending on how you get to work, a different card may best suit your needs.
Comparison of the top cards for commuting
*Based on TPG valuations and not provided by issuers. See more information here.
Related: Maximize your commute: The 6 best credit cards to use
Best cards for dining and restaurants
Some consumers spend much of their budget on dining, while others focus more on groceries. But, if you like dining out or ordering in — and spend a lot of money doing so — it’s worth adding one of the best cards for dining to your wallet. Don’t forget that you can also double dip your rewards by participating in dining programs such as American AAdvantage Dining.
Comparison of the top cards for dining and restaurants
*Based on TPG valuations and not provided by issuers. See more information here.
The information for the Amex Green card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: The best credit cards for dining
Best cards for food delivery
The best cards in this category are those that will consider food delivery purchases as restaurant and dining purchases. Also, don’t forget to use monthly credits that can apply here, such as Uber credits from American Express (which you can use with Uber Eats) and Grubhub credits.
Comparison of the top cards for food delivery
*Based on TPG valuations and not provided by issuers. See more information here.
Why the Amex Gold card is the best card for food delivery
Aside from providing the best earning rate among these cards, the Amex Gold card also provides three other perks that make it the best card for food delivery. First, it gives you $10 in monthly Uber credits, which you can use for Uber Eats orders. Simply add your card as a payment method to your Uber account, and the credits will appear automatically each month.
Second, these deliveries will code as restaurant purchases, earning 8 cents worth of points. You can do a lot with American Express Membership Rewards, which makes them valuable. Third, the Amex Gold card also provides up to $10 per month in statement credits with several dining partners, giving you $10 worth of free food each month. This includes Seamless and Grubhub. For this benefit, you need to enroll in advance.
Related: Now with new merchants — complete guide to the Amex Gold dining credit
Best cards for gas
Gas is a significant expense for some travelers and commuters. Luckily, there are some great cards with bonus earnings on gas purchases.
Comparison of the top cards for gas
*Based on TPG valuations and not provided by issuers. See more information here.
Related: Best credit cards for gas purchases
Best cards for general travel
If you spend a lot on travel each year, it’s worth having one of the best rewards cards for travel purchases. Even if you have a card that earns bonus points on hotel stays and a card that earns bonus points on airfare, it’s still essential to have a card for broader travel purchases such as trains, rental cars and tolls.
Multiple cards offer travel credits that can help to offset the card’s annual fee. Others provide fair earning rates with a moderate annual fee.
So, here are some of the best rewards cards for travel purchases.
Comparison of the top cards for general travel
| Card | Travel category bonus | Value of the points* | Total earned per dollar spent | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | 10 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked with Chase Travel, 5 points per dollar on flights booked with Chase Travel and 3 points per dollar on all other travel (note that purchases covered by the $300 travel credit do not earn bonus points) | 2.05 cents | 20.5 cents, 10.25 cents or 6.15 cents | $550 |
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card | 10 miles per dollar for hotels and rental cars booked with Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar for flights booked with Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar on everything else (not counting purchases covered by the $300 Capital One Travel credit available each cardmember year) | 1.85 cents | 18.5 cents, 9.25 cents or 3.7 cents | $395 (see rates and fees) |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred Card | 5 points per dollar on travel booked with Chase Travel (except for when you use the $50 hotel credit) and 2 points per dollar on other travel | 2.05 cents | 10.25 cents or 4.1 cents | $95 |
| The Platinum Card® from American Express | 5 points per dollar on flights booked directly with the airline or through Amex Travel (up to the first $500,000 per calendar year), 5 points per dollar on hotels booked with Amex Travel and 1 point per dollar on everything else (aside from the credits for Clear Plus, airline incidentals and prepaid hotels; enrollment required for select benefits) | 2 cents | 10 cents or 2 cents | $695 (see rates and fees) |
| Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked with Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar on everything else | 1.85 cents | 9.25 cents or 3.7 cents | $95 (see rates and fees) |
| U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite® Card | 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels and rental cars booked in the Altitude Rewards Center and 3 points per dollar on other travel purchases (aside from the $325 travel credit each year) | 1.5 cents | 7.5 cents or 4.5 cents | $400 |
| American Express® Green Card | 3 points per dollar | 2 cents | 6 cents | $150 (see rates and fees) |
*Based on TPG valuations and not provided by issuers. See more information here.
The information for the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve and Amex Green card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: The best travel credit cards
Best cards for groceries at U.S. supermarkets
For many consumers, purchases at U.S. supermarkets account for a sizable part of their annual budget. If you spend a lot on groceries, you may want to add one of the best grocery credit cards to your wallet. However, if you shop for groceries at a store that isn’t classified as a U.S. supermarket (such as Walmart or Target), you’ll want to use one of the top cards for everyday spending instead.
Comparison of the top cards for groceries at U.S. supermarkets
| Card | Grocery category bonus | Value of the points* | Total earned per dollar spent | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Express® Gold Card | 4 points per dollar (only at U.S. supermarkets and only up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) | 2 cents | 8 cents | $250 (see rates and fees) |
| Citi Premier® Card | 3 points per dollar | 1.8 cents | 5.4 cents | $95 |
*Based on TPG valuations and not provided by issuers. See more information here.
Related: Best grocery credit cards
Best cards for gym memberships and fitness equipment
Several cards can help you save money or earn extra rewards if you’re paying for a gym or fitness membership. If you’re looking to get (back) in shape, here are the cards you should use to pay your monthly fees.
Comparison of the top cards for gym memberships
*Based on TPG valuations and not provided by issuers. See more information here.
Why the World of Hyatt card is the best card for gym memberships and fitness equipment
The Double Cash card earns at a slightly higher rate. However, the World of Hyatt card is the best card for gym memberships because it’s one of the few cards that specifically highlights this category for extra earnings and because you can work toward a second goal with this spending. Each year, World of Hyatt cardmembers can earn a free night award after spending $15,000 on the card in a calendar year (this is in addition to the free night award given on your card anniversary).
Thus, paying for your monthly gym membership with this card can help you earn valuable points and help you earn a very valuable free night award.
Best cards for hotel stays
You could use one of the best cards for travel to pay for your hotel stays. However, some credit cards provide a slightly higher earning rate on select hotel purchases. So, here’s a quick look at the best cards for hotel stays.
Comparison of the top cards for hotel stays
*Based on TPG valuations and not provided by issuers. See more information here.
The information for the American Express Green Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
It’s noteworthy that none of the cobranded credit cards specific to one hotel chain made our list. That’s because they offer low returns on hotels not part of their network. However, if you are loyal to one brand, you can check out our guides comparing the cards from Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott and Wyndham.
Related: Best hotel credit cards.
Best cards for mobile wallet payments
There aren’t many cards that specifically award bonus points for mobile wallet payments. That being said, many of these payments will still code according to the services offered by the merchant (i.e., pharmacy or supermarket), so using the best card for that merchant may still apply.
Comparison of the top cards for mobile wallet payments
*Based on TPG valuations and not provided by issuers. See more information here.
The information for the Altitude Reserve card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why the Altitude Reserve card is the best card for mobile wallet payments
No other card promises elevated points earning on every mobile wallet purchase, as you’ll find with the Altitude Reserve. The card has a hefty annual fee of $400, which is largely offset by the $325 in annual travel credits that apply automatically to your first eligible purchase(s) each year. The card’s annual fee is further offset by up to $100 in application fee credits for your application to Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
Cardmembers also receive a limited 12-month membership to Priority Pass Select. Plus, you’ll receive complimentary Gogo inflight Wi-Fi passes valid for 12 months from registering your card for this benefit.
Those benefits are in addition to the 4.5 cents in value received on every mobile wallet payment, according to TPG’s valuations.
Related: Bonus points on mobile payments: U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card review.
Best cards for pharmacies and drugstores
Pharmacy and drugstore purchases may code differently on your credit card, depending on where the purchase is made. Brick-and-mortar pharmacies should earn bonus points on the best credit cards for pharmacies. However, if you purchase from a pharmacy located inside a supermarket or superstore, you should use the best card for those retailers.
Comparison of the top cards for pharmacies and drug stores
| Card | Pharmacy and drug store category bonus | Value of the points* | Total earned per dollar spent | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Freedom Flex | 5 points per dollar (only if it’s in the quarterly bonus categories and limited to the first $1,500 of spending in that quarter’s categories when you activate) otherwise 3 points per dollar | 2.05 cents | 10.25 cents (or 6.15 cents) | $0 |
| American Express® Gold Card | 4 points per dollar if the pharmacy is in a supermarket (only at U.S. supermarkets and only up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) | 2 cents | 8 cents | $250 (see rates and fees) |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited | 3 points per dollar | 2.05 cents | 6.15 cents | $0 |
*Based on TPG valuations and not provided by issuers. See more information here.
Related: These are the 8 best cards to use for your next pharmacy run
Best cards for rental cars
The best credit card to use for rental cards should not only earn extra points on the money you spend but also provide rental car insurance as a benefit. An added perk is if the card provides rental car elite status to add ancillary benefits.
Comparison of the top cards for rental cars
*Based on TPG valuations and not provided by issuers. See more information here.
Why the Sapphire Reserve is the best card for rental cars
The Sapphire Reserve is a Visa Infinite card, which provides perks like primary rental car insurance and National Emerald Club Executive membership, as well as perks with Avis and Silvercar.
The card has an easy-to-use $300 annual travel credit that doesn’t require booking through a special portal to use it — unlike the Venture X. The Sapphire Reserve also provides primary rental car insurance and elevated points earning on rentals. In contrast, the Platinum Card provides neither of these. While the Altitude Reserve does provide a travel credit and primary rental insurance, the points earned with Chase are more valuable and more flexible in how you can use them.
While Sapphire Preferred does have primary rental car insurance and a lower annual fee, the status perks, elevated points earning and $300 annual travel credit push the Sapphire Reserve into the top spot here.
Related: 4 things to do once you get your Chase Sapphire Reserve
Best cards for ride-hailing services
Ride-hailing and ride-sharing services are seemingly everywhere these days. Credit card issuers have taken note, and several cards offer spending credits with these services, as well as bonus points for spending with ride-hailing apps.
Comparison of the top cards for ride-hailing services
*Based on TPG valuations and not provided by issuers. See more information here.
The information for the Amex Green and Wells Fargo Propel Amex card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: Frequent Uber or Lyft passenger? These credit cards are for you
Best cards for streaming services
Streaming options have multiplied over the past few years. Chances are you subscribe to one or more of these services. Depending on what cards you have in your wallet, you may be able to get these services for free or earn bonus points if you have to pay for your favorite streaming platform.
Comparison of the top cards for streaming
*Based on TPG valuations and not provided by issuers. See more information here.
The information for the Wells Fargo Propel Amex card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The Platinum Card has added additional streaming platforms to its digital entertainment credit, so you may be able to get your favorite streaming service for free. Enrollment required.
Related: The best cards for streaming service subscriptions
Best cards for non-bonus spending
Finally, every consumer should have a card for purchases that don’t fall into a particular bonus category. My card for non-bonus spending is often a card for which I’m working to meet minimum spending requirements for a sign-up or annual threshold bonus. But when I’m not working toward a bonus, here are my favorite rewards cards for everyday spending.
Comparison of the top cards for non-bonus spending
*Based on TPG valuations and not provided by issuers. See more information here.
Related: Best credit cards for everyday spending
Bottom line
In this guide, I discussed my favorite rewards credit cards for each bonus category, but you may have different favorites. And be sure to check out my posts on the best cash back cards for each bonus category and the best business cards for each bonus category while building the best credit card portfolio for your spending and lifestyle.
For rates and fees of the Amex Gold Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Green Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Surpass Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card, please click here.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
