The top 7 credit cards to optimize your large purchases

When I first entered the world of points and miles, one of the key insights was to put every possible expense on a travel rewards card. Selecting the right card is crucial to maximizing your rewards—especially for hefty purchases.
Today, I’d like to highlight the key factors you should consider when planning to use your credit card for a substantial transaction.
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First, it's important to recognize that what qualifies as a "large" purchase can differ widely among individuals. While charging a new car purchase on a credit card might be impractical, spending $1,000 or more on a medical bill, a new laptop, or a necessary household item is often more typical.
Regardless of your situation, here are key factors to consider when selecting a credit card to optimize your large purchases.
The top cards for making significant purchases
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card — Ideal for earning versatile rewards
- Chase Freedom Unlimited® — Best for initial annual percentage rates
- Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees) — Top choice for cash back rewards
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express — Optimal for significant business purchases
- Ink Business Premier® Credit Card — Best for business cash back options
- American Express® Gold Card — Excellent for purchase protection benefits
- Capital One Venture X Business — Best for travel rewards for businesses
Card | Welcome offer value** | Rewards rate | Annual fee |
---|---|---|---|
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | $1,388 | 2 miles per dollar on all purchases | $95 (see rates and fees) |
Chase Freedom Unlimited | Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year), worth up to $300 cash back. | 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services 1.5% cash back on all other purchases
| $0 |
Citi Double Cash Card | $200 | 2% cash back across all purchases — 1% when you buy and another 1% when you pay your bill
Plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel portal through Dec. 31, 2025 | $0 (see rates and fees) |
The Business Platinum Card from American Express | $3,000 | 5 points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels booked at Amex Travel
1.5 points per dollar on eligible purchases in select business categories and eligible purchases of $5,000 or more; on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year 1 point per dollar on other purchases | $695 (see rates and fees) |
Ink Business Premier Credit Card | $1,000 | 5% total cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
2.5% total cash back on purchases of $5,000 or greater 2% cash back on all other eligible purchases | $195 |
American Express Gold Card | $1,300 | 4 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) and restaurants (on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar)
3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com 1 point per dollar on all other spending | $325 (see rates and fees) |
Capital One Venture X Business | $2,775 | 10 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel
5 miles per dollar on travel booked through Capital One Travel 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases | $395 (see rates and fees) |
** Bonus value is determined by TPG using our monthly valuations and is not supplied by the card issuer.
Details regarding the best cards for large purchases
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Top choice for earning flexible rewards
Annual fee: $95 (refer to rates and fees)
Welcome offer: Receive 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Why it's ideal for significant purchases: You’ll earn 2 miles for every dollar spent on all purchases. Many large expenses, such as wedding costs or home renovations, often fall outside typical bonus categories, making a flat-rate card a smart choice. Additionally, this card serves well for everyday spending after you’ve handled your large purchases. You can redeem miles at a set value as a statement credit for qualifying travel expenses, or take advantage of Capital One's 15-plus transfer partners to enhance redemption value.
Chase Freedom Unlimited: Ideal for introductory APR offers

Annual fee: $0
Welcome offer: Get an extra 1.5% cash back on all purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year), potentially earning up to $300 cash back.
Why it’s ideal for significant purchases: You’ll receive a flat 1.5% cash back (or 1.5 points per dollar if you also hold a Chase Ultimate Rewards card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card) on all purchases.
What truly distinguishes the Chase Freedom Unlimited from other flat-rate cards, in addition to the welcome offer, is its appealing introductory annual percentage rate (APR) period. While it’s always advisable to pay off your credit cards in full each month, an introductory APR period (when managed responsibly) can assist you in spreading out the cost of a larger purchase over time.
Citi Double Cash Card: Top choice for cash back rewards

Annual fee: $0
Welcome offer: Receive $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases within the first six months of account opening.
Why it’s ideal for large purchases: If you prefer cash back over travel rewards, the Citi Double Cash is hard to beat. You’ll earn 2% cash back on every purchase—1% when you make a purchase and another 1% when you pay your bill each month. As a flat-rate card, it simplifies things since you won’t need to worry about which bonus category your purchase belongs to; you’ll earn up to 2% back regardless of the merchant. Additionally, you can earn 5% total cash back on hotel bookings, car rentals, and attractions through the Citi Travel portal until Dec. 31, 2025.
If you wish to use your rewards for travel and possess a card that is part of the ThankYou program, you can easily convert your cash-back rewards into Citi ThankYou points.
The Business Platinum Card from American Express: Ideal for substantial business purchases

Annual fee: $695 (refer to rates and fees)
Welcome offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $20,000 on qualifying purchases within the first three months of card membership.
Why it’s ideal for significant purchases: The Amex Business Platinum is particularly well-suited for larger expenses for several reasons. For starters, making a big purchase can help you meet the high spending threshold needed for the 150,000-point welcome bonus. This bonus is valued at $3,000 based on TPG valuations, but reaching that $20,000 requirement within three months can be challenging.
Moreover, the Amex Business Platinum rewards you with 1.5 points per dollar on eligible purchases in specific business categories and for purchases of $5,000 or more, up to $2 million per calendar year. According to TPG’s valuations, this translates to an effective 3% return in the form of valuable Membership Rewards points. Additionally, the card includes extended warranty* and purchase protection*, providing peace of mind for larger purchases.
*Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. For more details, please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
Ink Business Premier: Top choice for business cash back

Annual fee: $195
Welcome offer: Earn $1,000 cash back after spending $10,000 within the first three months of opening your account.
Why it’s ideal for large purchases: The Ink Business Premier is designed for business owners with significant operational costs. It provides 2.5% cash back on purchases of $5,000 or more, and 2% cash back on all other eligible purchases. The standout feature is the unlimited potential for earning rewards—so the more you spend, the more rewards you accumulate.
American Express Gold Card: Top choice for purchase protection

Annual fee: $325 (refer to rates and fees).
Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Additionally, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible restaurant purchases (up to $100) during the first six months of card membership.
Why it’s ideal for large purchases: Although the Amex Gold doesn't provide bonus rewards for significant purchases, it does offer up to $10,000 in purchase protection for each covered incident, including accidental damage and loss. American Express makes it straightforward to find out the level of protection available with your card. Simply visit the American Express website, choose the type of protection you need, and then select your card.
Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. For more details, please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
Be aware that most of these policies limit coverage for natural disasters, and you can't apply the benefit to purchases of permanent household fixtures (like carpet or tile). However, if your upcoming large purchase involves an eligible physical item that could be lost or damaged, the Amex Gold could be incredibly helpful. Even without a bonus category, you still earn 1 point per dollar spent (equivalent to a 2% return) on non-bonus spending.
Capital One Venture X Business: Ideal for business travel expenses
Annual fee: $395 (refer to rates and fees)
Welcome offer: Earn 150,000 miles after spending $30,000 within the first three months of account opening.
Why it’s great for large purchases: You’ll earn a remarkable 10 miles per dollar on hotel stays and rental cars, and 5 miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel. The advantage of using this card for business travel is that Capital One partners with over 15 transfer programs, allowing you to redeem points for award tickets through valuable programs like Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, and British Airways Executive Club.
Strategies to optimize large purchases
There are plenty of additional ways to leverage your credit cards for maximizing large purchases.
Utilize large purchases to earn a welcome bonus or sign-up incentive
Even if your card doesn’t provide bonus points in the category where you plan to make a large purchase, it can still be beneficial to use that specific card if you're aiming to meet a high spending threshold.
The Amex Business Platinum from our top card selections for large purchases is one example, as is the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. With the Ink Business Preferred, you can earn 90,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. Using this card for a significant purchase could help you reach that threshold and secure that impressive bonus, making it worthwhile even if you’re not earning bonus points on the specific purchase itself.
Leveraging large purchases to meet spending thresholds for added benefits
Certain credit cards provide valuable bonuses for meeting spending thresholds that reward you for making significant expenditures throughout the year. Here are some examples:
- Points accumulated on co-branded Southwest credit cards contribute toward the Companion Pass, and select cards can even assist in earning elite status by providing tier-qualifying points (TQPs).
- The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card offers a boost in Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQD), granting cardholders $2,500 MQD each Medallion qualification year, plus 1 MQD for every $10 spent thereafter.
- The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card provides a free night certificate after spending $15,000 in a calendar year, along with automatic Hilton Honors Diamond status after spending $40,000 in a calendar year. Enrollment is required for some benefits.
Using a credit card that offers a threshold bonus for a large purchase could bring you closer to meeting the spending requirement needed for that bonus.
Explore Amex Offers, Chase Offers, and shopping portals for merchant promotions
Often missed when maximizing rewards are Amex Offers and Chase Offers. These programs provide statement credits or bonus points when you add an offer to your card and then make a qualifying purchase. You can see the current offers available by logging into your online account.
Generally, you’ll find more Amex Offers available for each card than Chase Offers, but it’s a good idea to review the offers across all your cards before making a significant purchase. These offers often come from travel, shopping, dining, and entertainment merchants, offering everything from bonus points to statement credits.
Additionally, always remember to check online for any possible shopping portal offers if you’re making a large online purchase. Shopping portals enable you to maximize rewards alongside credit card benefits.
For instance, if you buy a $6,000 appliance at Home Depot and have a targeted 10% rebate Amex Offer on your Amex Business Platinum, using a shopping portal could allow you to earn the rebate, 1.5 points per dollar on the purchase itself, and up to 4 AAdvantage points per dollar by going through the AAdvantage shopping portal (note that the payout from the AAdvantage shopping portal is currently 4 points per dollar but may change at any time).
In summary
If a large purchase is on your horizon, it’s essential to consider which credit card will be the most beneficial. Factors discussed relate to both earning and redemption opportunities, while some can serve as protective measures if complications arise. The best card for each transaction will depend on the item being purchased and your individual situation.
For certain purchases — particularly electronics — the advantages of extended warranty protection, purchase protection, and price protection might outweigh the benefits of using a card that offers more points. Additionally, it could be wise to use a specific card if you’re aiming to meet a spending threshold or a minimum spending requirement on that card.

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