Editor’s word: It is a recurring put up, frequently up to date with new card particulars and data.
The world of bank cards can appear overwhelming while you’re simply beginning. However for those who’re trying to transfer on out of your cash-back card (or perhaps a pupil card), you’re in the best place. The precise starter journey card can supply way more rewarding perks — a ceremony of passage into maturity.
With a lot data and so many choices, how are you aware which card to decide on? Would you like transferable factors? Airline miles? Free nights at a resort chain?
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Evaluation paralysis and resolution fatigue can actually maintain you again at first. The important thing to selecting the correct bank card is to begin by setting your journey targets.
There are not any proper or mistaken solutions to those questions — it’s all about what’s necessary to you. You might even change your thoughts as you achieve expertise on this planet of factors and miles. When you’ve determined, you can begin matching your solutions to the best card.
We’ve assembled this checklist of the perfect starter bank cards so that you don’t find yourself with rewards that don’t match your targets. We additionally stored simplicity in thoughts when compiling this checklist. None of those playing cards are tied to sophisticated, difficult-to-understand packages, nor have they got intimidating annual charges, although all of them have the potential for outsize worth.
And all of them are price preserving in your bank card stock for the long run.
Greatest starter journey rewards bank cards
Associated: TPG’s inexperienced persons information to bank cards: All the things it’s good to know
Evaluating the perfect starter journey rewards bank cards
Listed below are the important thing particulars of the perfect starter journey rewards playing cards, together with the welcome provides and the important thing incomes options.
| Card | Welcome supply | Bonus classes |
|---|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Most popular Card | Earn 60,000 bonus factors after spending $4,000 on the cardboard inside the first three months of account opening. |
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| Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card | Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases inside the first three months from account opening. |
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| Citi Premier Card | Earn 80,000 bonus factors after spending $4,000 on new purchases inside the first three months of account opening. |
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| American Categorical Gold Card | Earn 60,000 bonus factors after spending $4,000 on purchases inside six months of account opening — although you might even see greater, focused provides within the CardMatch software (topic to alter at any time). |
|
| Bilt Mastercard | None. |
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| Financial institution of America Journey Rewards bank card | Earn 25,000 bonus factors after spending $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days of account opening. |
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Now, right here’s a deeper dive into every of those playing cards.
The data for the Bilt Mastercard has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
Chase Sapphire Most popular Card
Annual payment: $95.
Signal-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus factors after spending $4,000 on the cardboard inside the first three months of account opening.
Why it’s a fantastic starter card: There’s a very good motive why the Chase Sapphire Most popular is our prime choose for our checklist of starter playing cards. Along with the profitable welcome supply, cardholders earn 5 factors per greenback on journey booked by way of the Chase journey portal, together with the next:
- 5 factors per greenback with Lyft (by way of March 31, 2025).
- 3 factors per greenback on eating, together with takeout and supply, choose streaming companies and on-line grocery orders.
- 2 factors per greenback on journey.
- 1 level per greenback on all different purchases.
The Final Rewards factors it earns are straightforward to make use of with 11 airline and three resort loyalty program companions, corresponding to United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt. Your factors may also be redeemed for 1.25 cents apiece to ebook flights on any airline or rooms at any resort by way of the Final Rewards journey portal.
Associated: Why the Sapphire Most popular ought to nonetheless be the first rewards card in your pockets
The cardboard additionally has terrific journey advantages, together with main insurance coverage when renting a automotive and no overseas transaction charges. You’ll additionally take pleasure in $50 in annual assertion credit for resort stays booked by way of Final Rewards, and every year in your account anniversary, you’ll take pleasure in a ten% factors bonus in your spending from the earlier yr.
Once you add within the sign-up bonus of 60,000 factors and an annual payment of solely $95, you’ve acquired a card that gives nice worth, particularly for those who’re beginning on this planet of journey rewards.
For extra data, learn our full evaluation of the Chase Sapphire Most popular Card.
Official software hyperlink: Chase Sapphire Most popular Card with a 60,000-point bonus.
Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card
Annual payment: $95.
Signal-up bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases inside the first three months from account opening.
Why it’s a fantastic starter card: Vacationers getting began within the factors and miles world, or those that aren’t inherently loyal to a single resort chain or airline, can take full benefit of this card’s flexibility.
First, you earn a flat 2 miles per greenback spent on every part, that means you don’t must maintain observe of various spending classes. Nevertheless, that incomes price jumps to five miles per greenback for accommodations and automotive leases booked by way of Capital One Journey.
Whilst you received’t get airline-specific perks, corresponding to free checked luggage, you get two passes a yr to the Capital One Lounge (and pay a particular price of $45 per go to after that). This perk was lately prolonged to Plaza Premium lounges as properly. You additionally get an up-to-$100 credit score to cowl the applying payment for TSA PreCheck or International Entry, in addition to computerized 5 Star standing with Hertz.
Associated: 7 causes to get the Capital One Enterprise Rewards card
Use your rewards to leap on the most affordable money ticket to wherever you’re going whereas nonetheless making the most of 14 airline companions in all three main airline alliances (Star Alliance, Oneworld and SkyTeam), together with three resort companions. This card packs so much in for a $95 annual payment and even makes the reduce as certainly one of our general finest journey bank cards.
For extra data, learn our full evaluation of the Capital One Enterprise Rewards card.
Official software hyperlink: Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card out there with 75,000 bonus miles.
Citi Premier Card
Annual payment: $95.
Signal-up bonus: Earn 80,000 bonus ThankYou factors after spending $4,000 on new purchases inside the first three months of account opening.
Why it’s a fantastic starter card: The great thing about the Citi Premier Card is its breadth of bonus classes. The cardboard earns 3 ThankYou factors per greenback on air journey, accommodations, eating places, gasoline stations and supermarkets, serving to you to rack up numerous factors very quickly. On the subject of spending these factors, you possibly can switch them to any of Citi’s 14 airline and two resort companions.
Associated: Chase Sapphire Most popular vs. Citi Premier: Which mid-tier journey card is best?
You can too obtain $100 off one resort keep of $500 or extra per yr when booked by way of thankyou.com (or by calling 800-THANKYOU). The cardboard has no overseas transaction charges and a $95 annual payment.
For extra data, learn our full evaluation of the Citi Premier Card.
Official software hyperlink: Citi Premier Card with an 80,000-point bonus.
American Categorical Gold Card
Annual payment: $250 (see charges and costs).
Welcome supply: Earn 60,000 bonus factors after spending $4,000 on purchases inside six months of account opening. Nevertheless, you’ll want to test the CardMatch software to see for those who’re focused for a fair greater bonus (provides are topic to alter at any time).
Why it’s a fantastic starter card: The Amex Gold Card is unbelievable for anybody trying to leverage their on a regular basis spending for glorious rewards — whereas additionally having fun with helpful assertion credit for issues like eating and ride-hailing companies. You’ll earn 4 factors per greenback at eating places and on as much as $25,000 in purchases per calendar yr at U.S. supermarkets (then 1 level per greenback), 3 factors per greenback on flights booked instantly with airways or on amextravel.com, and 1 level per greenback on every part else.
Cardholders additionally obtain as much as $120 in annual assertion credit ($10 per thirty days) towards eating and as much as one other $120 per yr ($10 per thirty days) in Uber Money towards U.S. Uber rides and Uber Eats orders. Added collectively, that brings the out-of-pocket value of the cardboard’s $250 annual payment nearer to a mere $10. Enrollment is required for choose advantages.
Different perks embrace entry to The Resort Assortment, the International Help Hotline, and several other buying and journey protections on the cardboard.
Understand that you possibly can be focused for a better supply by way of the CardMatch software or referral provides (so test there first). Presents are topic to alter at any time.
For extra data, learn our full evaluation of the Amex Gold Card.
Official software hyperlink: American Categorical Gold Card with a 60,000-point welcome supply.
Bilt Mastercard
Annual payment: $0.
Welcome supply: None.
Why it’s a fantastic starter card: Many inexperienced persons on this pastime additionally pay month-to-month hire. Should you pay by financial institution deposit, money or test, your landlord shouldn’t cost you a payment. Paying your hire by bank card typically includes charges, however that’s not true with the Bilt Mastercard. The Bilt card even works with landlords who don’t settle for bank card funds, so you possibly can earn factors with out paying a payment.
Nevertheless, it’s good to make no less than 5 transactions in your card every month to earn rewards, which come on the price of 1 level per greenback on hire and on a regular basis purchases, 2 factors per greenback on journey and three factors per greenback on eating.
Moreover, the cardboard provides a number of perks like journey cancellation and interruption reimbursement, journey delay safety, automotive rental insurance coverage and no overseas transaction charges. The cardboard additionally provides World Elite Mastercard advantages, together with cellphone safety and $5 in Lyft credit each month you employ your card to pay for 3 or extra Lyft rides.
Associated: Your full information to the Bilt Rewards program
The factors earned on this card may be transferred to 12 airline and two resort companions. Notably, Bilt is the one everlasting switch associate of American Airways AAdvantage.
For extra data, learn our full evaluation of the Bilt Mastercard.
Editor’s word: TPG founder Brian Kelly is a Bilt advisor and investor.
The data for the Bilt Mastercard has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
Financial institution of America Journey Rewards bank card
Annual payment: $0.
Welcome supply: Earn 25,000 bonus factors after spending $1,000 on purchases inside 90 days of account opening.
Why it’s a fantastic starter card: For inexperienced persons, factors and miles can appear daunting, so it’s good to have a card that gives a vast 1.5 factors per greenback spent on all purchases with out having to fret about completely different classes (and with out paying an annual payment).
What’s extra, in case you are a Financial institution of America banking buyer, you possibly can earn further factors underneath the Most popular Rewards program, the place members earn a bonus between 25% and 75% (relying in your tier) on each buy. Simply word that you just’ll want a three-month common of no less than $20,000 throughout your Financial institution of America and Merrill accounts to qualify.
Associated: One of the best Financial institution of America bank cards of 2022
The factors earned on this card may be redeemed at a flat price of 1 cent apiece as a press release credit score for journey or eating purchases. The cardboard doesn’t cost a overseas transaction payment. Thus, this can be a nice card for “erasing” journey purchases you needed to pay money for, corresponding to excursions and even the taxes and costs on award flights booked with miles.
For extra data, learn our full evaluation of the Financial institution of America Journey Rewards card.
Official software hyperlink: Financial institution of America Journey Rewards bank card with a 25,000-point welcome supply.
How to decide on the best starter journey card for you
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all journey card. With so many nice choices, it may be onerous to resolve which card (or playing cards) to get to start constructing your bank card portfolio. Be sure to select a card that matches your spending habits, journey targets and funds.
Begin by taking stock of what classes you spend essentially the most cash on every month.
Do you reside in a big metropolis the place groceries and eating usually make up most of your month-to-month spending? If that’s the case, think about playing cards such because the Citi Premier or Amex Gold that provide rewards throughout these classes. From there, slim your choices primarily based in your journey targets.
Final, think about your funds. Should you don’t suppose you’ll get greater than $250 in worth from the Amex Gold yearly, possibly the Premier’s decrease $95 annual payment is a pleasant compromise between your journey targets and funds.
On the finish of the day, it’s all about contemplating which playing cards offers you essentially the most worth every year by way of earned rewards, perks or a mixture of each.
Associated: Why there’s no such factor because the ‘finest’ bank card
What credit score rating do you want for a journey bank card?
It might be a bit simpler to get authorised for one of many playing cards on this checklist than luxurious playing cards corresponding to The Platinum Card® from American Categorical or the Chase Sapphire Reserve. Nevertheless, you’ll nonetheless must have established credit score and a very good rating to have the perfect likelihood of getting authorised.
Should you don’t at the moment have a very good credit score rating or lack credit score historical past, you’ll need to construct credit score with a newbie card, a secured card or by changing into a licensed person on another person’s card. In case your credit score rating is lower than stellar, it’s a good suggestion to take the required steps to enhance your rating earlier than making use of for a journey rewards bank card.
Associated: What credit score rating do I would like for the Chase Sapphire Most popular?
Don’t overlook about Chase’s 5/24 rule
Should you’re nonetheless torn about which card to get, it’s price declaring Chase’s 5/24 rule, as this could probably affect your resolution. Based on this rule, Chase is more likely to reject your software for those who’ve opened 5 or extra private playing cards within the final 24 months throughout all issuers (though most enterprise playing cards don’t rely towards your complete).
Due to this restriction, typical knowledge is to begin through the use of up your 5 slots with Chase earlier than transferring on to different issuers. Once you’re simply beginning with journey rewards, it may be straightforward to underestimate the significance of this rule, however Chase provides a number of the Most worthy journey rewards playing cards in the marketplace. Should you don’t get them first, you won’t be capable of get them later.
There are occasions when it is smart to disregard the 5/24 rule and set off in a unique route, however it’s not a choice you need to make calmly. Until you may have an excellent motive for wanting elsewhere, you need to most likely begin with a Chase card first. And there aren’t many higher selections than the Chase Sapphire Most popular.
Associated: What to do after you attain 5/24
For extra on this rule and the principles the banks use for bank card purposes, see our information to bank card software restrictions.
Backside line
Then, be sure you meet the minimal spending threshold on the cardboard. For instance, for those who lately graduated from faculty (congrats!) and are quickly transferring to a brand new metropolis to begin your first job, it’s possible you’ll need to apply for one of many playing cards above now to satisfy the sign-up bonus necessities. You’ll then have a stash of factors and miles that may be extremely helpful as you intend your subsequent journey.
Further reporting by Emily Thompson, Ryan Smith and Benét J. Wilson.
For charges and costs of the Amex Gold Card, click on right here.
* The Factors Man credit score ranges are derived from FICO Rating 8, which is certainly one of many various kinds of credit score scores. Should you apply for a bank card, the lender could use a unique credit score rating when contemplating your software for credit score.
