Your credit card is only as good as its bonuses, right?
What type of bonuses have you been offered at sign-up? If they weren’t that great, then maybe it’s a good time to start thinking about changing things up.
From cash bonuses to additional points accrued, there are plenty of reasons to pick your next credit card company based on their sign-up bonuses.
Let’s take a look at our picks for the best credit card sign-up bonuses in 2019.
1. Best Business Card with Sign-Up Bonuses: Chase Ink Business Preferred
Business credit cards have a reputation for offering high credit limits and large sign-up bonuses as well.
The Chase Ink business credit card offers its customers up to 80,000 points if they spend $5000 on purchases within the first three months of signing up. If we put that into cash back terms, that's $800. However, if you want to redeem your points instead through their Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal for travel, each point is worth 25 percent more.This means that if you transfer to a partner rewards program, your bonus could end up being worth more than $1000.
The annual fee on this credit card is surprisingly small, at just $95.00. Keep in mind, however, that you need to own a small business in order to qualify for the Chase Ink Business credit card. This is because it's designed to reward small business owners who are frequently spending their money on the internet, advertising, traveling, and shipping.
If purchases are business-related, you can earn 3 points per dollar spent. Any other purchases will earn you 1 point. This credit card covers you up to $600 in mobile phone damage and offers theft protection three times a year. As the cardholder, you can even add employees to the card for free.
The annual percentage rate will vary according to your creditworthiness and can fall anywhere between 17.74% and 22.74%.
2. Best Travel Card with Sign-Up Bonuses: Citi ThankYou Premier
This credit card comes with a sign-up bonus of 60,000 points if you spend $4,000 within the first three months. That's up to $750 towards your next flight because points are worth 1.25 when spent on an airfare.
If you choose to transfer your points to their partners rewards program, you could end up getting even more back.
The annual fee is $95, except it’s waived the first year. The APR can fall within 16.24% and 25.24%.
When it comes to rewards, the Citi ThankYou credit card offers you three points for every dollar you spend on gas and travel, as well as two points on every dollar spent on dining and entertainment. For all other purchases, you will receive one point.
This credit card comes without a foreign transaction fee and also gives you an exclusive membership to Citi Private Pass, allowing you access to presales and VIP packages on a variety of different concert tickets.
Its ShopRunner membership also qualifies you for two-day shipping with certain retailers.
3. Best Cash Back Credit Card for Sign-Up Bonuses: The Capital One Savor
This is a newly revamped credit card which has updated its features to suit the needs and demands of the customers.
It offers an initial sign-up bonus of $500 if you spend $3000 within the first three months of having the card. This bonus is significantly more than many of Capital One’s cash-back competitors, which usually keep it between the $100 and $200 mark. While you charge an annual fee of $95 with the Savor, it's waived in the first year. To offset this fee, it includes a number of enticing rewards, including 4 percent cash back on eating out.
This credit card also dishes out rewards on entertainment, giving you 4 percent cashback here as well. Grocery store spending will get you 2 percent cash back. All other purchases will see you get 1 percent cash back.
The variable APR on this credit card ranges from 16.24% to 25.24%. Additionally, there’s no foreign transaction fee when you’re living or traveling outside of the United States.
4. Best Credit Card for Sign-Up Bonuses with no Annual Fee: Wells Fargo Propel
Similar to the Capital One Savor, the Wells Fargo Propel was recently given a makeover to better suit the needs of the customers.
Now, it offers the largest sign-up bonus among all no-fee credit cards. Cardholders get 30,000 bonus points if they spend $3000 in the first three months. In terms of cash back, that's worth $300.
If you combine this with the Wells Fargo Visa Signature card, you can redeem points on airfares at an even higher value. This credit card has one of the best reward systems among those cards without a fee. This includes 3 points for every dollar spent on dining, travel, gas, and specific subscription services. For all other purchases, you will receive 1 point per dollar.
There is no foreign transaction fee when this credit card is used outside of the United States. It also offers you $600 in mobile phone damage, twice a year, which is subject to a deductible.
Things to Keep in Mind
When you’re in the market for a new credit card and the decision comes down to the sign-up bonuses, there are a couple of things you should know.
Firstly, you typically won’t qualify for the sign-up bonuses if your new card is the same company as the existing one in your wallet. Additionally, your cashback and bonus points may take a couple of months to process after you’ve spent the amount that qualifies you.
Finally, the size of the bonuses may change under select circumstances, so it’s important to read the fine print when signing up for a credit card.
Final Thoughts
While there are many different credit cards to choose from, they all have distinct advantages when it comes to their sign-up bonuses.
At the end of the day, it comes down to your personal preferences and what suits your business and personal needs best.
Choose from our top picks for the best credit cards with sign-up bonuses, and you’ll find life gets a little bit easier.