Types Of Rewards Credit Cards

Key takeaways

Rewards credit cards offer rewards in the form of cash back, points or miles.
You can earn credit card rewards on all eligible spending or through promotional offers like a welcome bonus or a referral bonus.
Cash back cards are usually better for earning rewards on everyday spending, while cards that earn points or miles are usually better for those who travel frequently or are looking to maximize their rewards value.

There are manydifferent types of credit cards available, including rewards credit cards. These cards come in a variety of forms, offering various types of rewards for the eligible spending you do on the card. They are typically tailored to a certain type of spending, such aseveryday spending ortravel spending, which may allow you to earn bonus rewards on the types of spending you do most.

Tochoose the right rewards credit card for you, you’ll need to evaluate the rewards program for each card you’re considering. You’ll also need to analyze your spending habits and the overall structure of the card. If the card you choose doesn’t match your spending habits or lifestyle, you’ll risk missing out on opportunities toearn rewards and get maximum value.

What are credit card rewards?

Rewards credit cards offer rewards in the form ofcash back, points or miles. From there, you’ll be able to earn either a flat rewards rate on all purchases or ahigher rewards rate on purchases made in select categories. For example, bonus categories may include travel, dining or groceries.

Cards that offer higher rewards rates in select categories typically come with fixed or rotating categories, the latter of which may change on a monthly or quarterly basis. Rotating categories are also more likely to be subject to monthly, quarterly or annual spending limits — after which you’ll earn a lower rate of rewards on those purchases. However, some rewards credit cards with fixed categories offer spending limits, too.

In addition to earning rewards on spending, you might also be able to earn rewards in other ways. For example, new cardholders are typicallyoffered a welcome bonus, which can be earned by spending a certain amount on a card within a certain time frame. You can also typically earn more rewards through limited-time offers orreferral bonuses.

Advantages and disadvantages of the different types of credit card rewards

	Cash back credit cards	Points credit cards	Miles credit cards
Advantages	Simplistic rewards structures without complicated points or miles conversions Easy to track and apply savings	Often come with strong rewards programs that offer a lot of versatility Can typically be redeemed for nearly anything, including cash back and travel-related purchase Can often be transferred to partners for even more value	Built to reward those who travel frequently, particularly with a specific airline Typically have specialized rewards structures that pair well with high-value travel partners Can save cardholders thousands on flights and travel-related purchases when used properly
Disadvantages	Limited redemption options as compared to points and miles cards Non-transferrable rewards for most cash back cards	Can be too complex for cardholders who want to keep their finances simplified Can have points that lose value when not redeemed in the best way	Typically limited to travel-related purchases when it comes to high-value redemption options Not very useful for those who don’t travel enough to take advantage of the card’s perks

Cash back credit cards

Points credit cards

Miles credit cards

Advantages

Simplistic rewards structures without complicated points or miles conversions

Easy to track and apply savings

Often come with strong rewards programs that offer a lot of versatility

Can typically be redeemed for nearly anything, including cash back and travel-related purchase

Can often be transferred to partners for even more value

Built to reward those who travel frequently, particularly with a specific airline

Typically have specialized rewards structures that pair well with high-value travel partners

Can save cardholders thousands on flights and travel-related purchases when used properly

Disadvantages

Limited redemption options as compared to points and miles cards

Non-transferrable rewards for most cash back cards

Can be too complex for cardholders who want to keep their finances simplified

Can have points that lose value when not redeemed in the best way

Typically limited to travel-related purchases when it comes to high-value redemption options

Not very useful for those who don’t travel enough to take advantage of the card’s perks

Cash back: Best for simplicity seekers

Cash back is a straightforward way to get rewarded for using your credit card. You’llearn a percentage of cash back on each eligible purchase you make with the card. Some cash back cards offer a flat rate on all purchases (for example, 2 percent cash back on all purchases). In this case, making a $100 purchase with a2 percent cash back card would put $2 into your rewards balance.

Othercash back cards offer higher cash back rates for particular types of purchases (bonus categories) and a lower rate on general purchases. For example, you might be offered 3 percent cash back on grocery purchases, 3 percent cash back on gas purchases and 1 percent cash back on all other purchases.

There are also some cash back cards that offerhigher rates of cash back oncategories that rotate each month or quarter. These cards usually have a spending cap and require category activation to earn the higher rate.

How cash back programs work

When youmake an eligible purchase with a cash back credit card, you receive a small percentage of your purchase back. The percentage you earn depends on the card. As mentioned, you might earn the same rate of cash back on all purchases, or you might earn a higher rate on particular types of purchases.

The redemption process is typically simple. Your issuer should have a redemption portal on its website that offers different ways to redeem.

The most common redemption options for cash back cards include:

Statement credits
Checks or direct deposits to a bank account
Gift cards
Select merchandise
Charitable donations

Before redeeming, check with your issuer to make sure you’re aware of the rules for cash back redemption and that you’re getting the best value (which typically comes from getting statement credits or direct deposits).

Cash back is Americans' favorite credit card reward because it's simple and universal. Who couldn't use more cash, right? I love to use cash back cards to maximize my family's everyday spending. — Ted Rossman | Bankrate Senior Industry Analyst

Points: Best for rewards maximizers

Many of thebest credit card rewards programs offer rewards in the form of points. Points cards typically reward cardmembers with a fixed amount of points per dollar spent. There are usually moreways to redeem points than with a simple cash back card, although every issuer offers different rewards rates, conversion rates and redemption options.

For example, theChase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers:

5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
5X total points on Lyft rides (2X points on general travel and 3X bonus points through March 31, 2025)
3X points on dining (including eligible delivery services), select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs)
2X points on other travel purchases
1X points on all other purchases

SomeChase Ultimate Rewards redemption options include travel, cash back, statement credits, gift cards and select merchandise.

How points programs work

With credit card points systems, you’re earning points instead of dollars. The value of your points often depends on what you redeem them for.

For example, you’ll typically get 1 cent per point in value for redeeming your points through an issuer portal. However, some credit cards may offer more value for specific types of redemptions through an issuer portal — like the Chase Sapphire Preferred, which offers a 25 percent points boost on travel redemptions through Chase Ultimate Rewards. On the other hand, if you’re able to transfer your points to a high-value airline or hotel partner, you could get muchmore than 1 cent in value for your points.

Additionally, points are often more flexible than cash back and can usually be redeemed for:

Merchandise
Cash back
Gift cards
Travel purchases
Concerts
Sporting events

Most issuers have an online portal that lists the redemption options and values of their points. Remember to be strategic when redeeming and choose the option that gives you the most bang for your buck.

While using points and miles can be more complicated than earning cash back, there is potential for significant extra value if you maximize them in the right place. Issuers like Chase and Amex offer numerous ways to redeem, whether through travel portals or transfer partners. Collecting miles and points started as a simple quest to save money on my wedding and turned into my favorite hobby. Getting that sweet spot for my aspirational travel goals is such a satisfying feeling, letting me go on adventures I could otherwise never afford. — Ryan Flanigan | Bankrate Credit Cards Writer

Miles: Best for frequent flyers

Miles-earning credit cards are typicallyco-branded airline credit cards that allow you to redeem rewards for flights, seat upgrades and other travel-related expenses. These cardsearn miles for every dollar that you spend and often offer boosted rewards rates for travel-related purchases.

For example, theDelta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is a great card for those who fly with Delta frequently. It offers 2X miles on purchases at restaurants (plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.), at U.S. supermarkets and on eligible Delta purchases. It also offers 1X miles on all other purchases. The inclusion of non-travel bonus categories makes it a great card for everyday use.

One notable exception to theco-branded card lineup of miles-earning cards is theCapital One miles program. These cards are popular choices for travel enthusiasts and aren’t tied to a specific airline.

How miles programs work

Credit card miles work in a similar way to points. As with points cards, you’ll typically earn a fixed amount of miles for every dollar you spend — although the rate could be higher in some purchase categories.

Booking a flight with miles is usually quite easy. Simply sign into your airline account while booking the flight and choose to pay with miles.

Keep in mind that somemiles-earning travel cards allow you to transfer miles to travel partners — which usually include airlines and hotels. Doing so can sometimes boost the value of your points, so don’t forget to look into this before booking your next trip.

Check outBankrate’s travel toolkit to learn more about how to make your points and miles work for you.

When you're choosing a rewards card, start by looking at your yesterday, today and tomorrow. Think about your credit history and score to determine what cards you're likely to qualify for. Then consider your current budget and where you spend most of your money these days. Lastly, daydream about your future goals and what kinds of rewards can help you achieve them. Choose a card that sits at the intersection of all those things. And, remember, there's nothing wrong with changing things up or adding a new card to the mix as your lifestyle and needs evolve. In fact, being flexible is the best way to get the most out of any rewards card. — Brooklyn Lowery | Bankrate Senior Credit Cards Editor

The bottom line

The credit card rewards landscape is vast and can be overwhelming for those who are just starting out. By understanding the different types of rewards credit cards that are available, you can decide what type of rewards are most important to you.

Cash back is a great choice if you value simplicity and flexibility, whereas points are great for those who enjoy comparing redemption options to snag the best deal. And if you frequently fly with a particular airline, a co-branded credit card that earns miles with that airline will likely work in your favor.

If you think each type of rewards credit card could benefit you in a different way, you might want to consider accumulating several cards over time. That way, you can maximize your rewards earnings by using the right credit card for each type of purchase you make.

Types Of Rewards Credit Cards | Bankrate (2024)