Credit cards now offer cash promotions for new card members. We’ve assembled the best credit card signup bonuses for 2021. One pays up to $625!
Credit card signup bonuses. There’s no greater allure to owning a credit card than the free things you can get right away.
When I signed up for my first credit card, I was promised a T-shirt and a duffel bag. After completing my application outside the University of Miami library, I walked away from Mr. Big Shot with my new swag. Today, I know better than to sign up for a credit card because of a free T-shirt. But what if I were offered $100? What if I was offered $500? What if I was offered more?
Dishing out a big bonus is one of the best ways a credit card company can acquire your business. Offering you a few hundred dollars for decades of credit card transaction is an easy sacrifice to make. As a result, more and more issuers are bumping up their bonuses.
Which bonuses to take advantage of and which ones to avoid can be tricky based on personal preference. But I’m confident the below credit card signup bonuses are all great cards. They provide consumers with excellent credit a great way to quickly add a touch of wealth to their portfolio.
The Best Credit Card Signup Bonuses of 2021
Chase Sapphire Preferred®️ Card
What I consider to be one of the best overall credit cards on the market today (top 2) is the Chase Sapphire Preferred®️ Card Card. The initial selling point is it’s 60,000 bonus point offer, which is actually worth $750 in travel if you book through Ultimate Rewards. The 60,000 bonus points can be acquired after spending $4,000 in the first three months of card ownership.
All travel and restaurant purchases receive double points and everything else receives single points per dollar spent. The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card does not charge foreign transaction fees but it does charge an annual fee of $95.
If you’re a big spender and don’t mind a big annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card is also an option with a similar intro bonus offer; but the annual fee is $450.
- Signup Bonus: 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months
- Annual Fee: $95
>>Learn More About This Credit Card Offer<<
The Platinum Card® from American Express
60,000 Membership Rewards Points are yours after spending $5,000 in the first three months with your Platinum Card® from American Express. It might be strange to say, but those 60,000 points are one of the lowest reasons on the totem pole that makes this card fantastic.
When you book through AMEX, airline and hotel purchases earn 5 Membership Points per dollar spent. Every year, you’ll also earn a $200 airline fee credit. This credit is applied to things like baggage fees, meals, and other airline costs. You’ll also receive a $100 fee credit every five years for your application into Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. One additional big benefit to mention; the Platinum Card® from American Express allows you access to over 1,000 airport lounges spanning 120 countries.
For everything you see above (and more), the annual fee hits hard at $550. Remember, the Platinum Card® from American Express is not a credit card. It’s a charge card which means all of the purchases made the previous cycle must be paid off in full. No interest rate, no grace period. American Express might let you slide one month if you’re behind but if you’re not consistently making on time, full card payments, the account will be closed.
- Welcome Bonus: 60,000 bonus Membership Points after spending $5,000 in the first three months
- Annual Fee: $550
>>Learn More About This Credit Card Offer<<
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
50,000 bonus miles are earned after spending $3,000 in the first three months with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. Those miles are good for $500 in travel, or $500 in cash. All purchases earn double miles per dollar spent, with no category or tier level to consider.
Take the amount you spend annually on this card, double it, and that is the total miles you’ll earn. There is no limit to the number of miles you can earn, and no expiration of those miles. For a limited time, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is offering a promotion tied to Hotels.com. When you visit Hotels.com/Venture, search for and pay for a hotel stay, you’ll earn 10x miles for every dollar spent.
There are no foreign transaction fees associated with this card and the $95 annual fee is waived for all first-year cardholders. As this card is a Visa, you’ll be provided all of the Visa Signature benefits.
- Signup Bonus: 50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in the first three months
- Annual Fee: $95 (waived for the first year)
>>Learn More About This Credit Card Offer<<
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Admittedly, the bonus on the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express doesn’t really compare to the others on this list, but a $350 statement credit after spending $3,000 in six months is strong for two reasons. First, it’s the lowest spend hurdle of any card on our list, so it’s likely to open to more consumers. Terms Apply.
Second and perhaps more importantly, it’s the best bonus offer from any cash back credit card. The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a card I use more than any other in my wallet and the $350 welcome bonus was a nice touch to get me started. This card offers a tremendous cashback opportunity in the following amounts:
- 6% cash back at U.S. Supermarkets (on up to $6,000 in purchases each year, 1% after)
- 6% cash back at select U.S. streaming services (like Netflix, Hulu and others)
- 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations
- 3% cash back on transit
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Terms apply
Also included with this card is a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. Your APR, after that, will be a variable APR of 16.24%-27.24%. Not only do they offer a little cash up front, but a year’s worth of interest-free purchases. The one detraction the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express has is that the $95 annual fee is not waived the first year.
- Welcome Bonus: $350 statement credit after spending $3,000 in the first six months. Terms apply.
- Annual Fee: $95
>>Learn More About This Credit Card Offer<<
Important Note! The information in this article is believed to be accurate as of the date it was written. Please keep in mind that offers change frequently. Therefore, we can not guarantee the accuracy of the information in this article. Please verify all terms and conditions of any credit or charge card prior to applying.
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