Card directory - facts checked October 22, 2026
Credit cards, side by side
25 major US cards from 7 issuers, lined up on the facts that decide what a card returns: the annual fee, the earn rates, the welcome offer, and the foreign transaction fee. Every figure on this page was read from the issuer's own card page and is printed with its check date, most recently October 22, 2026, because offers change without a headline. This is a directory, not a recommendation list: we publish no ranking and no card is endorsed. Read the earn structure against your own spending, then run any points you would earn through the booking test before a balance starts to feel like a plan.
Short answer: what this directory covers
This directory covers 25 major US cards from 7 issuers, each checked against the issuer's own card page, most recently on October 22, 2026, with the annual fee, earn rates, welcome offer and tags for rewards type, fee band and standout earn categories. How to use it: pick a situation below to preset the filters, or use the finder, then sort the table, filter by tag and compare up to three cards side by side before opening a full profile.
Start from a situation
Each situation presets the filters in the directory tool below. Clear them there to see all 25 entries again.
Already know your cards? The Card Spend Optimizer takes a month of your spending by category and routes each category to the card with the highest earn rate recorded here, with monthly and yearly totals in each currency.
Read this before any welcome offer
A welcome offer is one-time. An annual fee is every year. And rewards of any size are wiped out if you carry a balance at interest: one month of interest on a carried balance can cost more than a year of cash back returned. Whether a card belongs in your life is a credit decision. This directory covers the rewards side of that decision with verified figures; the issuer's own rates and terms page covers the rest, and it is the final word.
Independent directory
We are not paid by any card issuer listed here. There are no sponsored placements and no affiliate links. This directory is a free tool to help you compare your options. Cards appear in the order they were added to the directory, grouped by issuer; the table can be re-sorted by any column, and payment never affects placement because no issuer pays for placement at all.
Find cards that fit, in three answers
Answer three questions, one tap each. Your answers filter the full directory list; ties keep directory order, and the first matching cards form the shortlist. That is the whole method: no ranking, no score and no card placed ahead of another for any other reason.
Rewards of any size are wiped out if you carry a balance at interest. Read any welcome offer on a shortlisted card alongside its annual fee and the issuer's own rates and terms page.
Answer all three questions and the matching cards appear here. The full directory below stays visible and usable either way.
Showing all 25 cards.
Tags cover the issuer, rewards type, annual fee band, card network where the issuer states it, and the standout earn categories.
Tick the Compare box on up to three cards and they line up side by side below the table. Click any column header to sort the table; click again to reverse it.
| Compare | Card | Issuer | Type | Annual fee | Headline earn rates | Welcome offer (checked Oct 22, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card | Chase | Points | $95 | 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel; 3x on dining, vacation homes, gas and EV charging, streaming and online groceries; 2x on other travel | 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening | |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card | Chase | Points | $795 | 8x on Chase Travel purchases; 4x on flights and hotels booked direct; 3x on dining | 100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening | |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Card | Chase | Cashback | $0 | 5% on travel through Chase Travel; 3% on dining and drugstores; 1.5% or more on everything else | $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening | |
| Chase Freedom Flex Credit Card | Chase | Cashback | $0 | 5% in rotating quarterly categories when you activate (up to $1,500 combined per quarter); 5% on Chase Travel; 3% on dining and drugstores | $250 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening (labeled a limited time offer on the issuer page checked) | |
| The Platinum Card from American Express | American Express | Points | $895 | 5X on flights booked direct or through Amex Travel; 5X on prepaid hotels on Amex Travel; 1X on other purchases | As high as 175,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $12,000 on purchases in the first 6 months of Card Membership; Amex shows the exact offer when you apply and states that you may not be eligible for a welcome offer | |
| American Express Gold Card | American Express | Points | $325 | 4X at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets (each capped); 5X on prepaid hotels on Amex Travel; 3X on flights | As high as 100,000 Membership Rewards points; Amex shows the exact offer and its spend requirement when you apply, and states that welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer | |
| Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express | American Express | Cashback | $0 | 3% at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. online retail and U.S. gas stations (each capped); 1% on other purchases | $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 6 months of Card Membership | |
| Hilton Honors Card from American Express | American Express | Points | $0 | 7X on Hilton portfolio hotel purchases; 5X at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations; 3X on other purchases | 70,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points plus a Free Night Reward after you spend $2,000 in purchases in the first 6 months of Card Membership (limited time offer ending January 13, 2027, per the issuer terms checked) | |
| Citi Double Cash Card | Citi | Cashback | $0 | 2% on purchases (1% when you buy, 1% as you pay); 5 points per $1 on Citi Travel bookings | $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening | |
| Citi Strata Premier Card | Citi | Points | $95 | 10x on hotels, car rentals and attractions on Citi Travel; 3x on air travel, hotels, dining, supermarkets and fuel | No welcome offer published on the issuer page checked October 22, 2026 | |
| Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | Capital One | Miles | $95 | 5X on hotels, rentals and activities through Capital One Travel; 2X on every other purchase | 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months of opening the account | |
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card | Capital One | Miles | $395 | 10X on hotels and rental cars through Capital One Travel; 5X on flights through Capital One Travel; 2X on everything else | 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months of opening the account | |
| Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card | Capital One | Miles | $0 | 5X on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars through Capital One Travel; 1.25X on every purchase | 20,000 bonus miles after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months of opening the account | |
| Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card | Capital One | Cashback | $0 | 3% on dining, groceries, entertainment and popular streaming; 8% on Capital One Entertainment; 1% on other purchases | $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months of opening the account | |
| Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card | Capital One | Cashback | $0 | 1.5% on every purchase; 5% on hotels, rentals and activities through Capital One Travel | $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months of opening the account | |
| Wells Fargo Active Cash Card | Wells Fargo | Cashback | $0 | 2% cash rewards on purchases, unlimited, no categories | $100 cash rewards bonus when you spend $500 in purchases in the first 3 months | |
| Wells Fargo Autograph Card | Wells Fargo | Points | $0 | 3X on restaurants, travel, gas and transit, streaming and phone plans; 1X on other purchases | 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months | |
| Discover it Cash Back | Discover | Cashback | $0 | 5% in rotating quarterly categories when you activate (up to the quarterly maximum); 1% on other purchases | Unlimited Cashback Match: Discover matches all the cash back you earn at the end of your first year (the first 365 days, new cardmembers, no purchase minimum, per the issuer page) | |
| Bilt Blue Card | Bilt | Points | $0 | Up to 1.25X on housing payments; 3X on hotels and 2X on flights through Bilt Travel; up to 4X at partner restaurants; 1X on other everyday spend | $100 Bilt Cash welcome bonus, as published in the issuer's card comparison table | |
| The United Explorer Card | Chase | Miles | $150 (no annual fee for the first year) | 9x total miles on eligible United flights (6x as a MileagePlus member plus 3x from the card); 3x on other eligible United purchases; 2x on dining and on hotels booked with the hotel; 1x on other purchases | 70,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open, plus 10,000 bonus miles after you add an authorized user to your account in the first 3 months your account is open | |
| AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard | Citi | Miles | Waived for the first 12 months; check Citi for the later fee | 2x miles on American Airlines purchases, at restaurants and at gas stations; 1x on other purchases | Not restated here: check the issuer page. Citi fills in the current bonus miles and spend threshold in the browser, and the figures could not be read on October 22, 2026 | |
| Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card | American Express | Miles | $150 (no annual fee for the first year) | 2X miles on Delta purchases, at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets; 1X on other eligible purchases | Not restated here: check the issuer page. On October 22, 2026 the page showed a limited-time bonus after $2,000 in purchases within the first 6 months, with two bonus figures in its markup, so the current amount is not restated | |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card | Chase | Points | $99 | 2x points on Southwest purchases and on the first $5,000 a year in combined gas station and grocery store purchases; 1x on other purchases | 50,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening | |
| World of Hyatt Credit Card | Chase | Points | $95 | 4x points at Hyatt hotels; 2x on dining, airfare bought directly, local transit and commuting, and fitness clubs and gyms; 1x on other purchases | 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, plus up to 30,000 more Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points per $1 (on top of the usual 1) on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point per $1, up to $15,000 in the first 6 months | |
| Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card | Chase | Points | $95 | 6x points at Marriott Bonvoy hotels; 3x on dining, groceries and gas on up to $6,000 combined per year; 2x on other purchases | 3 Free Night Awards, each valued at up to 50,000 points, after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening |
Checked October 22, 2026 against each issuer's official card page. Offers change; the figure inside your own account or on the issuer page today outranks this table. One card in this directory publishes no welcome offer on the page we checked, and the table says so instead of printing a number we could not verify.
Side by side
No cards picked yet. Tick Compare on two or three rows above and the picked cards appear here on identical rows: fee, earn rates, welcome offer, foreign transaction fee and currency.
Every card in the directory
Each profile carries the full verified record: who the earn structure suits, every earn rate as the issuer prints it, the welcome offer with its check date, and the traps to confirm in your account before any points move.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card
5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel; 3x on dining, vacation homes, gas and EV charging, streaming and online groceries; 2x on other travel
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Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card
8x on Chase Travel purchases; 4x on flights and hotels booked direct; 3x on dining
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Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Card
5% on travel through Chase Travel; 3% on dining and drugstores; 1.5% or more on everything else
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Chase Freedom Flex Credit Card
5% in rotating quarterly categories when you activate (up to $1,500 combined per quarter); 5% on Chase Travel; 3% on dining and drugstores
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The Platinum Card from American Express
5X on flights booked direct or through Amex Travel; 5X on prepaid hotels on Amex Travel; 1X on other purchases
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American Express Gold Card
4X at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets (each capped); 5X on prepaid hotels on Amex Travel; 3X on flights
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Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
3% at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. online retail and U.S. gas stations (each capped); 1% on other purchases
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Hilton Honors Card from American Express
7X on Hilton portfolio hotel purchases; 5X at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations; 3X on other purchases
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Citi Double Cash Card
2% on purchases (1% when you buy, 1% as you pay); 5 points per $1 on Citi Travel bookings
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Citi Strata Premier Card
10x on hotels, car rentals and attractions on Citi Travel; 3x on air travel, hotels, dining, supermarkets and fuel
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Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
5X on hotels, rentals and activities through Capital One Travel; 2X on every other purchase
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Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
10X on hotels and rental cars through Capital One Travel; 5X on flights through Capital One Travel; 2X on everything else
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Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
5X on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars through Capital One Travel; 1.25X on every purchase
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Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
3% on dining, groceries, entertainment and popular streaming; 8% on Capital One Entertainment; 1% on other purchases
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Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
1.5% on every purchase; 5% on hotels, rentals and activities through Capital One Travel
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Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
2% cash rewards on purchases, unlimited, no categories
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Wells Fargo Autograph Card
3X on restaurants, travel, gas and transit, streaming and phone plans; 1X on other purchases
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Discover it Cash Back
5% in rotating quarterly categories when you activate (up to the quarterly maximum); 1% on other purchases
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Bilt Blue Card
Up to 1.25X on housing payments; 3X on hotels and 2X on flights through Bilt Travel; up to 4X at partner restaurants; 1X on other everyday spend
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The United Explorer Card
9x total miles on eligible United flights (6x as a MileagePlus member plus 3x from the card); 3x on other eligible United purchases; 2x on dining and on hotels booked with the hotel; 1x on other purchases
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AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard
2x miles on American Airlines purchases, at restaurants and at gas stations; 1x on other purchases
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Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
2X miles on Delta purchases, at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets; 1X on other eligible purchases
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Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
2x points on Southwest purchases and on the first $5,000 a year in combined gas station and grocery store purchases; 1x on other purchases
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World of Hyatt Credit Card
4x points at Hyatt hotels; 2x on dining, airfare bought directly, local transit and commuting, and fitness clubs and gyms; 1x on other purchases
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Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card
6x points at Marriott Bonvoy hotels; 3x on dining, groceries and gas on up to $6,000 combined per year; 2x on other purchases
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How to read a welcome offer
Three checks separate an offer from a number. First, the spend requirement: the bonus only lands if the stated spend clears inside the stated window, on purchases, in an account that stays open and in good standing under the issuer's terms. Second, the fee: divide the fee by the years you realistically keep the card, because the bonus arrives once and the fee arrives every year. Third, the currency: a bonus in a transferable currency is only worth what a real booking pays for it, so run the trip you actually take through the Cash or Points Calculator and read the matching program hub for that currency's doors and clocks. For how points move once earned, the transfer guides cover ratios, timing, and when not to transfer. Sources and method are on the methodology page.