topic Re: Best NO AF or Net-Positive Cards - (S-tier)/Unicorn in Credit Cards

Best NO AF or Net-Positive Cards - (S-tier)/Unicorn

Stephen_Credit — Sun, 09 Feb 2025 04:30:40 GMT

I saw the NO AF CU Unicorn thread and thought why not make something similar for non-CUs.

Pretty much the same concept. Explain why your choice(s) should be considered s-tier or a unicorn.

Here are mine:

Venture X: net positive year-over-year in spite of devaluations here and there, but still a good card to have for the avg person.

USB Altitude Connect: $0 AF + 4 visits to PP restaurants/lounges + Precheck credit + 5GB data roaming

Amex Gold: $325 AF but + $400+ in credits (net positive AF if u hit the coupon book)

Bilt: Rent + Bilt Rewards

Honorable mention:

Savor: 3% categories + used to have 10% back on uber eats. So sad that didn't get extended

Share yours!

Re: Best NO AF or Net-Positive Cards - (S-tier)/Unicorn

ptatohed — Sun, 09 Feb 2025 09:06:17 GMT

I think the reason for the CU thread was because these institutions/cards might be less known and that perhaps bank credit cards are more known. But, I'll play.

My SYW MC. I won't go on and on about it here but it is by far my most profitable card as far as cash back, undeniably, period.

The USB Smartly Visa at 4% CB uncapped, non-cat. Of course there is a hefty entry price of $100k in assets to get 4% but, heck, even at a reasonable entry of $5k in assets, show me another 2.5% bank card (there are few CUs at 2.5% but with USB, you don't need to 'tie up' that $5k.) Not bad at all!

citi Custom Cash(es). A super powerful card. YOU choose your 5% cat (based on your spending). And you can hold multiples (via product changes). And you can boost that 5% CB to 5.55% CB for the first $100 CB/yr if you team it with a Rewards+ card. Unbeatable!

I don't personally have these (but I want them). The family of Kroger cards that give 5% CB on anything so long as you can pay with mobile wallet. They have low caps but you can hold multiples. There are a lot of these cards!

WF Attune. I don't have it but 4% CB on a myriad of cats. Seems pretty nice.

What else? Maybe the 5% rotators like Chase freedom flex and Disco-it Cash Back?

I don't have it but the upgrade MyFive is much like the citi CC where you choose your 5% cat and it looks to have much potential (people are scared of upgrade but I am not. Simply set EarlyPay to 'on', and you'll never pay a dime of interest.)

I know I can think of more but that's it for me, others can add more.

Re: Best NO AF or Net-Positive Cards - (S-tier)/Unicorn

CaneVariant — Sun, 09 Feb 2025 08:57:15 GMT

I do not have this card but Wells Fargo's Autograph card looks pretty solid. 3 x cash back on dining, gas, travel and transit, streaming and cell phone plans. Also provides cell phone coverage. No FTF. Decent sub

Re: Best NO AF or Net-Positive Cards - (S-tier)/Unicorn

Stephen_Credit — Sun, 09 Feb 2025 14:15:59 GMT

I appreciate you joining the conversation! I figured it'll be fun and I'm sure someone will find this useful.

Citi CC is a really good one! Used to be my go to gas card but then I got an electric car and a charger installed at home...

SYW MC offers great value!

Smartly is definitely on my radar. But I do think that 5k may be a harder barrier for the avg person.

Not familiar with the Kroger lineup. But I will be doing a bit of research on this!

Attune is on my short list as well, but sadly, im looking at 2027 for next round of apps.

Ill have to look at upgrade lineup again. I've never considered them. Like you said I think there's definitely a certain reputation there

Chase only sees use from me when I apply for a new card and I'm going after the sub. Unless you're committed to their ecosystem I think there are so many other ways (cards) to optimize your reward potential. But those UR points are also very valuable as long as Hyatt stays in play

Re: Best NO AF or Net-Positive Cards - (S-tier)/Unicorn

Stephen_Credit — Sun, 09 Feb 2025 14:53:56 GMT

Thanks for joining the conversation!

My wife loves this card! We use this for all of our dining outside of the US. The points add up quick and they have solid transfer partners. The only reason I don't have one is because we have a two player setup.

Re: Best NO AF or Net-Positive Cards - (S-tier)/Unicorn

Guyatthebeach — Sun, 09 Feb 2025 15:05:51 GMT

Here are my top tier cards for positive returns:

1. Amex BCP. The $95 annual fee is paid for just on Disney bundle credit and one moth of use. This card gets 6% cash back for groceries and streaming services. You can redeem the cash monthly as a statement credit.

2. PNC Cash Rewards Visa. 4% cash back gas, 3% cash back groceries, 2% groceries. Redemptions made in amount of $50.00. This gets used as a backup card when I've maxed out rewards on the Sam's card.

3. Sam's Club MC. 5% cash back on gas, 3% cash back on dining, and 2% or 3% cash back on Sam purchases depending on your membership. Cash can be redeemed for credits for Sam purchases depending or you can get cash back when you go inside Sam's.

4. Target MC. 5% cash back instantly for purchases.

5. SYWR MC. There are so many ways to maximize cash back.

6. Discover It. The 5% cash back rotating categories are worth it. My issue is a lot of the stores I shop in don't accept Discover.

Honorable mentions:

1. The original Capital One Savor Card. 4% cash back on dining.

2. Chase Amazon Visa and American Express Amazon card. 5% on Amazon and Whole purchases. The additional offers are definitely worth it in my opinion.

Guyatthebeach

Re: Best NO AF or Net-Positive Cards - (S-tier)/Unicorn

Stephen_Credit — Sun, 09 Feb 2025 15:59:16 GMT

Thank you for sharing!

Chase & Amex Amazon cards are definitely great if you shop Amazon & Whole Foods. If I recall correctly, Amex Amazon business has return protection policy too?

BCP offers amazing value. Worst case you can downgrade at the end of the first year.

I personally don't have any store branded cards bc of my setup. But the reward potential there for cash back is really solid!

Re: Best NO AF or Net-Positive Cards - (S-tier)/Unicorn

NoMoreE46 — Sun, 09 Feb 2025 16:33:36 GMT

A few of us have the OG 4% Savor with $0 AF.

Re: Best NO AF or Net-Positive Cards - (S-tier)/Unicorn

Guyatthebeach — Sun, 09 Feb 2025 17:15:50 GMT

@Stephen_Credit,

The Amex Amazon card has a very impressive return policy, purchase protection, and solid extended warranty that is being discontinued. With the BCP, you only have to spend $135 a month on groceries and/or streaming to recoup the AF. It's a no brainer in my situation.

With the Target MC, if you use their Target Circle, you will find prices cheaper than Walmart, and the 5% cash back is a bonus, in my opinion.

@NoMoreE46, I still have my OF Savor card and it's still metal.

Guyatthebeach

Re: Best NO AF or Net-Positive Cards - (S-tier)/Unicorn

salt_water_swimming — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 04:02:02 GMT

AmEx Hilton Aspire can net positive $250 per card per year without setting foot in a hotel lol. And if you do stay at Hiltons, it comes with Diamond status and a barely restricted free night certificate, on top of the usual "big bonus category for the hotel stays". And you can get 3 of them per person. And you can either ride that train, or you can downgrade to Surpass for gas/grocery/restaurant bonus categories and the ability to spend for an extra FNC. Wild card.

Ink Cash has been generating UR out of thin air for certain communities for years.

Bilt and maybe Mesa, turning most people's biggest expense into a new category

Re: Best NO AF or Net-Positive Cards - (S-tier)/Unicorn

ptatohed — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 17:30:07 GMT

@Guyatthebeach wrote:
@Stephen_Credit,

The Amex Amazon card has a very impressive return policy, purchase protection, and solid extended warranty that is being discontinued. With the BCP, you only have to spend $135 a month on groceries and/or streaming to recoup the AF. It's a no brainer in my situation.

With the Target MC, if you use their Target Circle, you will find prices cheaper than Walmart, and the 5% cash back is a bonus, in my opinion.

@NoMoreE46, I still have my OF Savor card and it's still metal.

Guyatthebeach

It's not about "recouping" the AF, it's about exceeding the CB you could otherwise be getting with a no AF card.

Re: Best NO AF or Net-Positive Cards - (S-tier)/Unicorn

Gregory1776 — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 07:09:48 GMT

@salt_water_swimming wrote:
AmEx Hilton Aspire can net positive $250 per card per year without setting foot in a hotel lol. And if you do stay at Hiltons, it comes with Diamond status and a barely restricted free night certificate, on top of the usual "big bonus category for the hotel stays". And you can get 3 of them per person. And you can either ride that train, or you can downgrade to Surpass for gas/grocery/restaurant bonus categories and the ability to spend for an extra FNC. Wild card.

Ink Cash has been generating UR out of thin air for certain communities for years.

Bilt and maybe Mesa, turning most people's biggest expense into a new category

Aspire is something I'm looking at (awesome getting all those credits) or the Marriot Brillant, or getting an airline CC and using their portal for hotel stays and getting miles from that; like the Citi Executive, which a few here have loved, and would open you up to smaller local hotel stays which I would prefer - no chains. AA has a big base (HUB?) near me (PHL), but I dont think they fly to many of the places I'd want to go (West, rockies) Delta seems to connect to many of those out of St Paul. I'd prefer another AmEx (Bonuses on the delta cards rn), dont care too much for Citi. Lounge access & checked bag free would be nice, but as of now I don't fly enough to know what or where they are. plenty to learn and to actually make a couple trips to see what would be most beneficial. I don't want to open a new card until possibly next year, and would love a bonus. And I have to find somewhere to transfer all the points I accrue with the BILT with hopefully a redemption bonus.

I also feel like alot of these hotel chains are very cheap - just stayed at a Home2 and it felt like a community collage dorm. a bit "immature?," i know thats only one hotel brand. seemed strange. I wouldnt pay to stay there if there were other options.

lots to learn and plenty of time.

Re: Best NO AF or Net-Positive Cards - (S-tier)/Unicorn

ElvisCaprice — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 02:31:37 GMT

@Stephen_Credit wrote:
I saw the NO AF CU Unicorn thread and thought why not make something similar for non-CUs.

Pretty much the same concept. Explain why your choice(s) should be considered s-tier or a unicorn.

Here are mine:

Venture X: net positive year-over-year in spite of devaluations here and there, but still a good card to have for the avg person.

USB Altitude Connect: $0 AF + 4 visits to PP restaurants/lounges + Precheck credit + 5GB data roaming

Amex Gold: $325 AF but + $400+ in credits (net positive AF if u hit the coupon book)

Bilt: Rent + Bilt Rewards

Honorable mention:

Savor: 3% categories + used to have 10% back on uber eats. So sad that didn't get extended

Share yours!

Interesting, none of your choices are the best options for my needs.