The Ultimate Guide to Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses in 2024
Navigating the realm of credit card sign-up bonuses can unlock incredible opportunities to accumulate miles and points swiftly, potentially yielding a remarkable 20% or higher return on your spending. When strategically combined with rewards cards that maximize everyday purchase returns, you’ll find yourself enjoying numerous free flights or hotel stays. While many of these cards come with annual fees, your decision to keep them beyond the first year should be tailored to your individual financial situation.
Ranking the Best Sign-Up Bonuses
This current guide ranks the best ongoing sign-up bonuses based on our estimates of points and miles valuations. Keep in mind, these valuations depend on your unique circumstances. For each card listed, you’ll find a detailed review and extensive information about its perks. Historical charts of sign-up bonuses are available for each card, helping you decide whether to act now or wait for a more lucrative offer.
Travel credit cards offer the most rewarding bonuses, often requiring careful planning to maximize the value of your points and miles. For those new to credit card rewards or unwilling to dive deep into the research, we have a simplified version in our sign-up bonus ranking for casual users.
Keeping Your Cards Beyond the First Year
Remember, our listing reflects the value you can expect in the first year after signing up. Beyond this period, the return may not cover the annual fee, prompting a reassessment of whether to downgrade or cancel. It’s generally preferable to downgrade rather than cancel, as maintaining a longer average age of credit accounts positively influences your credit score. We calculate first-year value by subtracting the annual fee from the sum of the sign-up bonus and any credits or benefits available in the first 12 months.
Download the USCreditCardGuide App
Stay informed about great deals by downloading the USCreditCardGuide app. Our app not only notifies you of top-notch deals but also lets you customize the sign-up bonuses according to your preferred points valuations.
Top Credit Card Offers
Personal Cards:
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Card 1: First year value ~$2,765
- 175,000 Membership Rewards based points (est. 1.6 cents/point).
- $8,000 spending requirement within 6 months.
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Card 2: First year value ~$1,965
- 125,000 Membership Rewards points.
- $8,000 spending requirement within 6 months.
- Card 3: First year value ~$1,444
- 75,000 Membership Rewards Points + $350.
- $4,000 spending requirement within 3 months.
Business Cards:
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Card 1: First year value ~$3,765
- 250,000 Membership Rewards based points (est. 1.6 cents/point).
- $15,000 spending requirement within 3 months.
- Card 2: First year value ~$2,305
- 150,000 Capital One Points.
- $30,000 spending requirement within 3 months.
These cards bring substantial benefits, but the key is to understand how to make the most from the miles and points. For higher-end rewards, take your time to explore strategies that bring out the best value.
Real-Time Updates and Practical Calculations
This list is dynamically updated based on the calculated benefits over the first year minus the annual fees. We estimate the actual value of various points and miles, which is more accurate than face value if there are usage restrictions. Check out our complete valuations in our Estimated Values for Bank Points, Airline Miles, and Hotel Points post.
For any further assistance, or to explore more about credit cards and miles, head over to USCreditCardGuide.
Conclusion
Remember to leverage our USCreditCardGuide app for timely updates, and do share this guide if you found it useful. Your feedback keeps us motivated!
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