The 7 top stand-alone credit cards

Editor's note: This article is updated regularly with fresh information and offers.

The best-kept secret in travel rewards is that the welcome bonuses from credit cards, rather than earned flight miles or hotel stays, are often the most effective way to gather points and miles these days.

This, along with valuable bonus categories, explains why a multi-card approach like the Chase Trifecta is effective for so many. At TPG, some team members joyfully carry 20 or more credit cards to maximize every expenditure.

However, the reality is that having a wallet full of various rewards cards isn't a feasible (or appealing) option for everyone.

Perhaps you're planning to apply for a mortgage soon and wish to reduce the number of hard inquiries or new accounts on your credit report. You might find it challenging to manage multiple cards with different payment dates and high annual fees. Or maybe you prefer not to invest time in learning the details of these programs to maximize their value.

No matter your circumstances, you can still reap excellent travel rewards with just one rewards card in your wallet.

That said, if you choose to use a single card, it's essential to select it wisely.

Here are some of the top stand-alone credit cards — and as always, don’t forget to check our best credit card offers for all of TPG's recommendations.

Overview of the top stand-alone credit cards

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: The best overall stand-alone card
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Ideal for flexibility and value
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: The best choice for luxury benefits and protections
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Exceptional value for premium perks
• American Express® Gold Card: Top pick for dining and grocery rewards
• The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express: Best for straightforward earning rates
  
• Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card: Perfect for Bank of America customers
  

How we selected our top stand-alone credit cards

In creating this list, I prioritized two key elements:

• Welcome bonus: If you're applying for just one credit card, a substantial bonus is essential to ensure you have enough points for your first significant redemption.
• Bonus categories/earning rate: No matter if you spend $10,000 or $100,000 annually, having a card that rewards your primary spending areas — or one with a simple, flat earning rate — is crucial.

I didn't prioritize perks like Global Entry application credits or lounge access — for infrequent travelers using a single credit card, these are luxuries rather than essentials.

You'll notice that every card on this list is either a transferable points card or one that provides a fixed value. If you have only one rewards currency, it’s crucial to choose a flexible option that can be redeemed whether you're traveling locally or internationally.

All welcome bonus valuations listed below are based on TPG's August 2024 valuations.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

If you've been involved in the points and miles scene for a while, you've certainly heard of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of opening your account, plus a $300 statement credit on Chase Travel℠ purchases during the first year.

Welcome offer value: Up to $1,530 (including the $300 travel credit).

Annual fee: $95

Why we selected it: The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card has consistently been a top choice for TPG staff and readers alike for a variety of reasons.

The Sapphire Preferred boasts a generous welcome bonus along with a reasonable $95 annual fee. It comes loaded with bonus categories and perks, allowing cardholders to earn:

• 5 points per dollar on all travel purchases made through Chase Travel℠ and on Lyft purchases (valid for Lyft purchases through March 2025)
• 3 points per dollar on dining, including eligible delivery services, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding wholesale clubs, Target, and Walmart)
• 2 points per dollar on all other travel expenses
• 1 point per dollar on all other purchases

Additionally, cardholders can benefit from a $50 annual credit on hotel bookings made through Chase Travel, effectively reducing the annual fee to $45. Every anniversary, they will also receive 10% of their points back based on their yearly spending (at a rate of 1 point for each dollar spent).

Moreover, the Sapphire Preferred provides valuable travel insurance benefits and access to an impressive range of Ultimate Rewards transfer partners.

For more information, check out our comprehensive review of the Sapphire Preferred.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

If you prefer a card that doesn’t require tracking multiple bonus categories, the Capital One Venture Rewards is a great choice.

Welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of opening your account.

Welcome offer value: $1,388

Annual fee: $95 (see rates and fees)

Why we selected it: Ongoing award chart devaluations have made fixed-value cards like the Capital One Venture Rewards increasingly appealing for many users.

The card earns 2 miles for every dollar spent on all purchases without any annual limit — additionally, you’ll earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. There’s no minimum redemption requirement, allowing you to redeem your miles freely.

Capital One offers 15-plus transfer partners, most of which transfer at a 1:1 ratio. This combination of excellent earning potential, flexible fixed-value redemptions, and a robust list of transfer partners truly sets the Venture Rewards apart, making it an excellent single card for your wallet.

For more details, check out our comprehensive review of the Venture Rewards.

Chase Sapphire Reserve

Chase's premium consumer card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve, is an excellent choice if you can rationalize its high annual fee.

Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of opening your account.

Welcome offer value: $1,230

Annual fee: $550

Why we selected it: If I had to choose just one credit card to keep for life, I would undoubtedly pick the Chase Sapphire Reserve. This card encompasses nearly everything you could desire, all housed in a sleek metal design.

The 3 points per dollar this card earns in broadly defined travel and dining categories continue to benefit me whether I'm at home or traveling.

The Sapphire Reserve also features impressive category bonuses, including 10 points per dollar on Chase Dining booked through Chase Travel, 10 points per dollar on hotel and car rental purchases via Chase Travel, and 5 points per dollar on airline tickets purchased through the same travel portal.

Despite its $550 annual fee, your effective cost is only $250 thanks to the $300 annual travel credit, which Chase applies automatically.

With additional perks like generous travel and baggage insurance, a Priority Pass Select membership, reimbursement for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, and access to a premium concierge service, it’s clear why the Sapphire Reserve is a top-tier option.

For more details, check out our comprehensive review of the Sapphire Reserve.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X is arguably the most sought-after premium credit card available today.

Welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.

Welcome offer value: $1,388

Annual fee: $395 (see rates and fees)

Why we selected it: If you’re seeking a premium card with a lower annual fee than the Sapphire Reserve, the Capital One Venture X is an excellent choice for your wallet.

For an annual fee of $395, the Venture X provides a variety of benefits beyond the initial welcome bonus, including:

• $300 in annual credits for Capital One Travel bookings
• Complimentary access to Capital One lounges and Priority Pass lounges for you and some authorized users (see rates and fees)
• 10,000 miles each year on your anniversary (equivalent to $100 towards travel expenses)
• Up to $120 in statement credits for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry
• Protection against trip cancellations and interruptions, trip delay reimbursement, and cellphone coverage

The Venture X offers a superior earning rate compared to the Venture Rewards, closely matching that of the Sapphire Reserve. Cardmembers earn 10 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked via the same portal, and 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases.

For more details, check out our comprehensive review of the Capital One Venture X.

American Express Gold Card

The Amex Gold is an excellent option for those who frequently dine out and shop at U.S. supermarkets.

Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 in the first six months of card membership — be sure to use the CardMatch Tool to see if you qualify for an even higher offer (subject to change). New cardholders will also get 20% back in statement credits on restaurant purchases during the first year (up to $100). Offer ends Nov. 6.

Welcome offer value: Up to $1,300

Annual fee: $325 (see rates and fees)

Why we selected it: The Amex Gold stands out with its exceptional bonus categories. It provides 4 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 per year, then 1 point per dollar) and 4 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, then 1 point per dollar). Additionally, you’ll earn 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel.

Furthermore, the card includes up to $427 in annual statement credits, helping to offset its annual fee.

You can earn up to a $10 monthly dining statement credit (up to $120 annually) for purchases at Five Guys, Grubhub, the Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, and Wine.com. Enrollment is necessary; terms apply.

Additionally, you’ll receive up to $120 in Uber Cash each calendar year (distributed in monthly increments of up to $10), which can be utilized for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. To access the Uber Cash benefit, the card must be added to the Uber app. Enrollment is necessary; terms apply.

Other statement credits include up to $100 each calendar year (up to $50 every six months) for spending at Resy-affiliated restaurants in the U.S., and up to $84 annually (up to $7 each month) for purchases at U.S. Dunkin' Donuts. Enrollment is necessary; terms apply.

The Membership Rewards program from American Express provides a variety of valuable redemption options, enhancing the appeal of the earning rates for those eager to maximize their rewards.

To find out more, check out our full review of the Amex Gold.

The Blue Business Plus Credit Card offered by American Express

You don’t need to operate a large business to be eligible for an excellent business card like the Blue Business Plus.

Welcome bonus: Earn 15,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on qualified purchases within your first three months of holding the card.

Welcome offer value: $300

Annual fee: $0 (see rates and fees)

Why we chose it: The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express stands out as one of the few no-annual-fee business cards that earns valuable transferable points. It’s also among the best cards for everyday spending outside typical bonus categories.

You’ll earn 2 Membership Rewards points for every dollar spent on your first $50,000 annually (then 1 point per dollar after that), with no need to track bonus categories.

Points can be transferred to valuable partners like Delta, Air Canada, and British Airways. Instead of focusing on maximizing your spending, you can dedicate that time to refining your redemption strategies.

By maximizing the $50,000 double points limit each year, you could earn 100,000 points, which can take you to some incredible destinations.

To discover more, check out our comprehensive review of the Blue Business Plus.

Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card

While Bank of America may not receive as much spotlight as Chase, Capital One, or American Express, the Bank of America Premium Rewards card is definitely worth your attention.

Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after making $4,000 in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.

Welcome offer value: $600

Annual fee: $95

Why we chose it: The Bank of America Premium Rewards card stands out for several reasons. Its $95 annual fee is effectively nullified by the annual airline incidental statement credit of up to $100, leaving you with an additional $5 each year.

Additionally, you can receive up to $100 every four years to cover Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees.

The card features a distinctive bonus category system that benefits Bank of America's most valued customers. All cardholders earn 2 points per dollar on travel and dining, and 1.5 points per dollar on everyday expenses. However, members of the Bank of America's Preferred Rewards® program can earn significantly more—up to points per dollar on travel and dining, and 2.625 points per dollar on regular purchases.

It's important to note that the number of extra points you can earn is contingent on the amount you maintain with Bank of America or Merrill. To unlock the highest bonus, you need a combined daily balance of at least $100,000 over a three-month period.

For further details, check out our full review of the Premium Rewards card.

Conclusion

Many newcomers to the travel rewards scene mistakenly believe that you need to be as dedicated as TPG to make significant progress with points and miles.

While it’s true that the effort you invest in this hobby correlates with your rewards, I always remind my friends that earning one free flight a year is definitely better than none. While a well-rounded card strategy can yield more points in both the short and long run, you can still derive considerable value from just one card, particularly one of the options mentioned earlier.

For the Capital One products mentioned on this page, some benefits may be offered by Visa® or Mastercard® and can differ by product. Please refer to the corresponding Guide to Benefits for more information, as terms and exclusions apply.