POLL: Absolute BEST Credit Cards for CASH REWARDS and AIRLINE MILES

[Crashem]

Single best cash cards (as only cash card): FIA 2% AMEX, JCB Maruki Premium 3% Cash card

Best cashback means using combo of cards and analyzing your main expenses:  For your usual person, Pen Fed 5% gas, AMEX BCP for 6% grocery/3% department store, US Cash+ card for 2 5% categories.

Best airline card: Assuming not sure which airline/hotel, I think Chase Sapphire Preferred card.  You get UR points which can be changed into variety of airlines and hotels.  Most importantly, you get some bonus categories where more than 1 pt per dollar.  Or, Amex PRG card is good in same way.

[CreditScholar]

I can't speak about cash back cards since I have no interest in them.

However for airline miles, it depends on which airlines you want to use. I'd suggest 3 though that are pretty good:

1. Chase Sapphire Preferred as mentioned by the previous poster.

2. Amex SPG (then transfer during bonuses, particularly good if you fly US and AA). With the last 50% transfer bonus, 20,000 Starpoints = 37,500 US miles. That's 1.875 miles per $1 spent.

3. Chase United MileagePlus Club Card - my personal favourite. 1.5 miles per $1 spent and $400 AF, but it's excellent if you spend a lot of money in non-bonus categories.

[Crashem]

I agree that CreditScholar that Amex Starwood card is really nice.  Starwood points are amazing because they can be transferred to many airlines on one to one basis.  No bonus categories for this card however, but low AF.

[MrCredit]

I like the Fidelity Investments Amex Card. 2% on everything. No limits. No annual fee. You can redeem when you reach $50.

It is issued by FIA.

[CS800]

I would say in order of my point of view:

1. PenFed - 5% Gas

2. AMEX 1-2-3 - 3% Gas

3. BCE - 3% gas

4. Discover/Chase Freedom for the 5% rotating rewards

I would say BCP but it was a $75 AF so one needs to spend a lot fo break even. I'll even throw in the US Bank cash card

[crunching_numbers]

BCP is by far the best out there.  No spending cap like Discover More and Freedom.

6% on groceries

3% on Gas

3% on department stores

1% on everything else

Freedom has rotating 5% catagories, with 1% back on everything else. And if you have a Chase checking account you get an extra 10 points per swipe and 10% extra point bonus.

[crunching_numbers]

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@CS800 wrote:

I would say in order of my point of view:

1. PenFed - 5% Gas

2. AMEX 1-2-3 - 3% Gas

3. BCE - 3% gas

4. Discover/Chase Freedom for the 5% rotating rewards

I would say BCP but it was a $75 AF so one needs to spend a lot fo break even. I'll even throw in the US Bank cash card

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If all you bought was groceries, as soon as you spent $1250 you will have broken even. That is $104 per month on groceries.  Most families spend a heck of a lot more than that each month on food. Everything after that is 6% back in your pocket.  You can also buy gift cards at 6% cash back at the grocery store.  

[FrugalRican]

My mix of BCE/Discover/Freedom seem to have just about everything covered.

If you are a higher profile spender BCP > BCE for groceries.

Also, Freedom and CSP could cover your travel needs.

[CS800]

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@crunching_numbers wrote:

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@CS800 wrote:

I would say in order of my point of view:

1. PenFed - 5% Gas

2. AMEX 1-2-3 - 3% Gas

3. BCE - 3% gas

4. Discover/Chase Freedom for the 5% rotating rewards

I would say BCP but it was a $75 AF so one needs to spend a lot fo break even. I'll even throw in the US Bank cash card

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If all you bought was groceries, as soon as you spent $1250 you will have broken even. That is $104 per month on groceries.  Most families spend a heck of a lot more than that each month on food. Everything after that is 6% back in your pocket.  You can also buy gift cards at 6% cash back at the grocery store.  

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Great info about the gift card. So I go to Shaws and get a card like an AMEX gift card and I can use it anywhere else to buy things and since I bought the card at shaws it coults as grocery.

[SoCalBound]

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@CS800 wrote:

I would say in order of my point of view:

1. PenFed - 5% Gas

2. AMEX 1-2-3 - 3% Gas

3. BCE - 3% gas

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If only the surrounding gas stations didnt charge more per gallon for the use of credit cards as opposed to cash....

I have question about pharmacies like Rite-Aid, CVS, Walgreens, under what catagory do they fall with Rewards cards.