Best credit card for Amazon Prime Day shopping

For those in the know, there are some great credit card options available to squeeze the most out of your Amazon Prime Day shopping.

US Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Visa (The "Secret" 6% Back Strategy)

Your first option is the US Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® card. Why is it a "secret" strategy? Most credit card reviewers don't write about this card because it's not issued by one of the major banks, but it's still a deal. The card offers 6% cash back on the first $1,500 of combined quarterly spending at two big box retailers of your choice each quarter, including Amazon. Other retailers you can choose from include Home Depot, Kohl’s, Lowe’s, Target, Walmart and others. You’ll also earn 3% back (on up to $1,500 in quarterly spending) in a category of your choice — wholesale clubs, gas and EV charging stations, and bills and utilities — and a solid 1.5% on all other spending (most credit cards only offer 1% outside of their maximum-rebate categories).

One benefit of this card is its flexibility. For Prime Day, you can choose to earn 6% cash back at Amazon but then can change retailers afterward depending on where you typically spend the most. Plus, you can earn a $300 bonus after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening. And the $95 annual fee is waived in the first year.

Amazon Prime Visa (The 5% Back Strategy)

Option two is, of course, the Amazon Prime Visa credit card, which just raised its instant bonus offer for new cardholders to $200. The card earns an unlimited 5% back at Amazon.com and affiliated stores. It also earns 5% back on Chase Travel purchases, 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting, as well as 1% back on all other purchases. 

You’ll need to be a Prime member, however, to earn cash-back rewards. An Amazon Prime membership costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year. However, Amazon does offer a 30-day free trial if you’re still considering whether an Amazon Prime membership is worth it. 

You’ll also earn the card’s welcome bonus immediately, with no required spending. Upon approval of your credit card application, you’ll instantly receive a $200 Amazon Gift Card loaded into your Amazon account. The card also has no annual credit card fee (apart from the cost of an Amazon Prime membership).  

The gift card hack

There's a credit card "hack" you can potentially try to maximize your earnings when shopping at Amazon. With the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, you'll earn 6% cash back (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases) at U.S. supermarkets. That means you can potentially earn up to 6% cash back on your Amazon.com purchases, but it’ll take a little more effort. Some shoppers will buy Amazon gift cards at the supermarket, with a 6% cash back rate, and then upload that balance to their account. The card also waives the $95 annual fee for the first year and rewards cardholders with $250 back after they spend $3,000 in purchases in the first 6 months. Keep in mind, however, that Amex frowns upon buying gift cards to meet your minimum spend requirement.

• Intro bonus: Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first six months. 
• Rewards rates: 
  • 6% back on up to $6,000 in annual U.S. supermarket spending, then 1%.
  • 6% on select U.S. streaming services.
  • 3% back at U.S. gas stations and on transit.
  • 1% back on other spending.
• Redemption: Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
• Interest rate: Low Intro APR:  0% on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 19.24% - 29.99%. See Rates and Fees.
• Annual fee: $95, $0 introductory annual fee. See Rates and Fees.
• Terms Apply.

Can you pay for Amazon purchases with points?

We'd recommend not using credit card points to pay directly for Amazon purchases. While it may be convenient, you'll usually end up getting a lower value than if you redeemed those points elsewhere. However, according to The Points Guy, "The exception to this rule is the Prime Visa, because you’ll get the same redemption value whether you cash the points out through Amazon or for a statement credit."

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Plus, with the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card, you get 9,000 "anniversary points" each year (worth about $135). This yearly benefit softens the pain of a $199 annual fee, meaning you'll spend about $64 a year to own this card. 

Southwest business card overview

• Sign-up bonus: Earn up to 120,000 points. Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening and an additional 40,000 points when you spend $15,000 in 9 months.
• Rewards rates: 
  • Four points per dollar on Southwest® purchases.
  • Three points per dollar on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners.
  • Two points per dollar on rideshare, social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services. 
  • One point per dollar on all other purchases.
• Annual benefits: Four upgraded boardings when available and 9,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary. 
• Other benefits: Add employee cards at no cost. There's no limit to the amount of employee cards you can request, and their cards also earn points.
• Redemption: Points may be redeemed for travel on Southwest Airlines or through its Rapid Rewards program; points may also be redeemed for gift cards, merchandise, and entertainment.
• Interest rate: 21.49% to 28.49% variable APR for purchases and balance transfers.
• Annual fee: $199.
• Foreign transaction fee: None, so this is a good card to use abroad.
• Member FDIC

FAQs

Is the Rapid Rewards loyalty program free?

Yes, joining Southwest's loyalty program, Rapid Rewards, is free.

Do the points expire?

No, Rapid Rewards points do not expire. If you close your account, however, you'll forfeit the points.

Are there blackout dates?

There are no blackout dates or seat restrictions on Rapid Rewards points.

How much is a Rapid Rewards point worth?

A recent Bankrate valuation shows that each point is worth 1.5 cents when redeemed for travel. That means that 1,000 points are worth up to $15.

Where does Southwest fly?

Southwest flies throughout the U.S. (including Hawaii, but not Alaska), Mexico, the Caribbean and most of Central America. Southwest does not partner with other airlines, so these aren't the points that will get you a European vacation.

How far can I fly with the 120,000-point bonus?

The points required for each flight will vary according to distance, time of day and other factors. When you book with points, you must also pay taxes, fees, and other government or airport-imposed charges of at least $5.60 per one-way trip.

How is the program improving in 2024?

Southwest recently modified the Rapid Rewards program to make it easier for members to achieve elite status. You can earn A-List status by flying one-way 20 times in a year (down from 25) and A-List Preferred status by flying one-way 40 in a year (down from 50).

Is the Rapid Rewards travel app any good?

The Southwest Mobile App won the second-best airline travel app ranking in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Manufacturer Website Evaluation Study. 

Other cards to consider

The intro offer on the Capital One Venture X Business card is 150,000 bonus miles, worth between $1,500 and $2,775 when redeemed for travel. To qualify for the offer, you'll need to spend $30,000 on the card in the first three months. Although Southwest is not one of Capital One's travel partners, the Capital One Miles are very flexible. You may get reimbursed for travel on any airline for up to 90 days after you have traveled.

If you want a co-branded Southwest card but don’t feel comfortable paying $199 per year for an airline credit card for your business, consider the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card. This card will cost you just $99 per year, yet you’ll earn the same sign-up bonus and a similar rewards rate.

Rewards cards dos and don'ts

As with any rewards credit card, be sure to weigh these benefits against fees — a $199 annual fee in this case — and make sure you understand how to use the card effectively. That said, $199 should be mostly offset if you travel enough to use the anniversary bonus points.

Reward credit cards are great if you use them wisely. However, always pay them off in full each month to avoid interest, which can dwarf the gain. And don't spend any more than usual to hit any trigger. The last thing you want to do is chase credit card rewards when you're in debt.

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New cardholders earn a bonus of up to 90,000 miles (worth about $1,012) in the United MileagePlus program after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. This offer more than offsets the $525 annual fee in the first year. You'll also get a United Club℠ membership, valued up to $650 per year from perks like free checked bags.

United Airlines: United Club℠ Infinite Card Overview

Travel benefits and fees

• Limited-time offer: Earn 90,000 bonus (worth about $1,012) miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
• Rewards rates:
  • Earn four miles per $1 spent on United® purchases.
  • Earn two miles per $1 spent on all other travel and dining.
  • Earn one mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
• Other benefits:
  • Free first and second checked bags — a savings of up to $360 per roundtrip (terms apply) — and Premier Access® travel services.
  • 10% United Economy Saver Award discount within the continental U.S. and Canada.
  • Earn up to 10,000 Premier qualifying points (PQP) per calendar year (25 PQP for every $500 you spend on purchases).  

• Limitations: This card is subject to the "Chase 05/24 rule." That means you will not qualify for this new Chase card if you have opened five new credit cards (from Chase or any other credit card company) in the past 24 months.  
• Interest rates: 21.99% - 28.99% Variable APR
• Foreign transaction fee: None
• Annual fee: $525
• Member FDIC

What does United Club℠ membership get you?

Are you a lounge lizard? (Sorry, I couldn't resist.) Then, this card should spark some joy in your wallet; the card gives you annual lounge access at a discount. If you were to purchase United Club access, you'd shell out $650 each year, or $125 more than the annual $525 fee of the Infinite card.

United Club gives you access to 45 United Club Lounge locations,  and participating Star Alliance lounges worldwide. One United Club lounge in the Denver airport made our list of the best airport lounges for your money.

To access a United Club lounge, present your same-day boarding pass and your membership status. The Infinite card allows you, the cardholder, and up to two adult companions to enter the lounge. Traveling with children? Then, you can enter a lounge with one adult guest and dependent children under 21. 

How much are miles worth?

Setting the valuation of airline rewards miles can be tricky, as there are often many ways to redeem or convert them for flights, hotels and other services. In the case of United Mileage Plus Miles, we've used the average value as calculated by The Points Guy (1.35 cents per mile) and Bankrate (0.9 cents per mile), or 1.125 cents per mile.

Airline Partners

United is a member of the Star Alliance network of 26 airlines.

Hotel partners

You can earn miles by staying in some MileagePlus partner hotel network properties. Although you can convert hotel points to MileagePlus miles, you likely won't get a good value for your trade. A better route is to book through IHG or Hyatt hotels for a miles bonus or reward.

• World of Hyatt: Earn 500 award miles per stay at the following World of Hyatt brands: Park Hyatt®, Grand Hyatt®, Hyatt Regency®, Hyatt®, Andaz®, Hyatt Centric®, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt™, Hyatt Place®, Hyatt House®, Hyatt Ziva™ and Hyatt Zilara™. Just provide your MileagePlus number when you check in.
• IHG Hotels: Earn two award miles per dollar spent at Six Senses® Hotels, Resorts & Spas, Regent® Hotels & Resorts, Intercontinental® Hotels & Resorts, Vignette™ Collection, Kimpton® Hotels & Restaurants, and other brands. If you frequently stay at IHG hotels, consider the IHG One Rewards Premier Card.  

Other United credit cards

If the annual fee is too much for your budget, Chase has several other United co-branded credit cards that could be a better fit. 

United Gateway℠ Card. This no-annual-fee card's limited-time offer: earn 30,000 bonus miles (worth about $337) after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open. Plus, 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. No annual fee. The standard APR is 21.99% - 28.99% variable.

United℠ Explorer Card: The card's limited-time offer: Earn 60,000 bonus miles (worth about $675) after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open. The annual fee is $0 Intro for the first year, then $95. The interest rate is 21.99% - 28.99% variable APR.

United Quest℠ Card. Limited-time offer: Earn 70,000 bonus miles (worth about  $787) and 500 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open. The annual fee is $250 and the interest rate is 21.99% - 28.99% variable APR.

For more about travel credit cards, check out our selection of the best travel rewards cards. See also Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards 2024: Travel Rewards Credit Cards.

Travel rewards cards dos and don'ts

As with any rewards credit card, be sure to weigh these benefits against fees — a $525 annual fee in this case — and make sure you understand how to use the card effectively. That said, $525 is a high annual fee but may be worth it for those who fly frequently on United or its partner airlines. That's especially true given that the complimentary United Club membership costs $650.

In addition, while reward credit cards are great if you use them wisely, always pay them off in full each month to avoid interest, which can dwarf the gain. And don't spend any more than usual to hit any trigger; otherwise, rewards cards can be a false economy as you’d be overspending. 

If this is your first foray into credit cards, or you just want a refresher, make sure you know how to choose a credit card. And make sure you are familiar with what counts as a good credit score. 

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The card is also the only cobranded credit card that offers free Admiral Club access for you and your immediate family or up to two guests traveling with you — an added value of $850. To score this deal, search for American Airlines AAdvantage Card 100,000 and click on offers for the "Executive" level of the card. Or follow the link in the box below.

Before you apply, consider this card’s other features to determine if it’s a good fit for you. Also, compare it to competing cards using our list of best rewards cards or use the tool below, powered by Bankrate, to get personalized credit card offers.

Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard Overview 

Frequent American Airlines flyers can reap many benefits from the Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard — as long as they can offset the card’s steep annual fee of $595 and variable purchase APR of 21.24% to 29.99%.

Travel benefits

• Priority boarding, check-in and airport screening for you and up to eight travel companions.
• No foreign transaction fees
• Up to $100 in Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credits every four years
• After taking three eligible rides in a calendar month, earn a $10 Lyft credit, for a total of up to $120 Lyft credits annually
• Earn a statement credit of up to $10 per monthly billing statement on eligible Grubhub purchases, for a total of up to $120 every 12 billing statements
• Earn a $1 statement credit per $1 spent on eligible Avis or Budget rental car purchases, up to $120 every calendar year
• First checked bag free on domestic American Airlines flights for you and up to 8 companions traveling with you on the same reservation
• Earn a 10,000 Loyalty Points bonus after reaching 50,000 Loyalty Points in a status qualification year. Earn another 10,000 Loyalty Points bonus after reaching 90,000 Loyalty Points in the same status qualification year

Partner hotels and airlines

Frequent travelers value Aadvantage points highly for their flexibility and transferability to other solid airlines and for hotel stays. Hotel partners include IHG Hotels & Resorts, Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt. Here are the airline travel partners in the Aadvantage program.

• Air Tahiti Nui
• Alaska Airlines
• American Airlines
• British Airways
• Cape Air
• Cathay Pacific
• China Southern Airlines
• Etihad Airways
• Fiji Airways
• Finnair
• GOL Airlines
• Hawaiian Airlines
• Iberia
• Japan Airlines
• Malaysia Airlines
• Qantas Airways
• Qatar Airways
• Royal Air Maroc
• Royal Jordanian Airlines
• SriLankan Airlines

Other American Airlines and travel cards

If the annual fee is too much for your budget, Citi has several other co-branded American Airlines cards that could be a better fit. For example, the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp Mastercard has no annual fee, earns 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases and at grocery stores and has a sign-up bonus of 15,000 bonus miles after spending just $500 in the first three months of the account opening.

For more about travel credit cards, check out Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards 2024: Travel Rewards Credit Cards.

Rewards cards dos and don'ts

As with any rewards credit card, be sure to weigh these benefits against fees — a $595 annual fee in this case — and make sure you understand how to use the card effectively. That said, $595 is a high annual fee but may be worth it for those who fly frequently on American or its partner airlines. 

In addition, while reward credit cards are great if you use them wisely, always pay them off in full each month to avoid interest which can dwarf the gain. And only spend any more than usual to hit any trigger; otherwise, rewards cards can be a false economy as you’d be overspending. 

If this is your first foray into credit cards, or you just want a refresher, make sure you know how to choose a credit card. And make sure you are familiar with what counts as a good credit score. 

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There were some European budget airline options, but I hadn't flown on any of the available airlines and so didn't feel like I could trust the seat comfort, food options or how much it'd cost to check the large suitcase I knew I was bringing. But then I saw something interesting: a nonstop from CDG to JFK by JetBlue, for half the price of the other American airline flights. 

Most people I talked to have been surprised to hear I was flying home on JetBlue, so I figure it's my duty to spread the news. Yes, indeed, JetBlue has transatlantic flights, at generally good prices, especially through the summer. 

Where do JetBlue's Europe flights go?

JetBlue's transatlantic flight era started in 2021, when they began offering service from New York City's JFK to London's Heathrow. That expanded to include flights between New York and London-Gatwick as well as between Boston and London. 

The expansion of itineraries has just continued over the last few years. Now, JetBlue has flights between the U.S. and Amsterdam, Dublin, Edinburgh and Paris, in addition to London. In late May, JetBlue announced even more transatlantic flights, with a daily flight between JFK in New York and Edinburgh Airport in Scotland through Sept. 30, 2024. 

These are nonstop flights, but only if you can fly direct from Boston and New York. Otherwise, you'll have to connect within the U.S. 

At their earnings call in April, JetBlue said unit revenues were up more than 25% year-over-year in transatlantic performance. "We are currently serving what we believe are sort of the top underserved markets for JetBlue out of Boston and New York. So we'll look to continue doing this," CEO Joanna Geraghty said, emphasizing that some transatlantic markets are seasonal. 

How are the JetBlue transatlantic fares and costs?

Generally speaking, they're alright.

When JetBlue first announced the New York-Paris route last year, tickets started at $479 round-trip, per Business Insider, while American Airlines and Delta Air Lines' round-trip costs were over $600. But that was a low fare to kick-off the route, and fares are typically higher than that. 

Taking a look at the travel website Google Flights, prices on JetBlue are comparable to Delta or United round-trip this summer between New York and Paris. On that route, though, there is a major different if you're in my position looking for a one-way flight from Paris to New York. Taking a look at a Saturday in August, a one-way flight from American Airlines is $1,135; from United is $1,397; from Delta $1,594. But the JetBlue flight is $888. 

In my experience, I bought two seats from Paris to New York on JetBlue and upgraded us to "Blue Extra" with additional legroom for less than what I would've paid for one seat at basic fare on United. 

JetBlue also has a card, akin to a travel rewards credit card, that gets you points for travel. Kiplinger readers are fans, ranking it among their favorites in this year's Readers' Choice Awards for airline credit card rewards programs. 

How are JetBlue's transatlantic flights?

The JetBlue transatlantic routes are flown on Airbus A321LR and A321neo aircraft. The A321LR has 114 seats and 24 suites, which, JetBlue says, "means more personalized attention, more personal space (instead of more persons in your space), and less hassle boarding and deplaning." 

If you've flown JetBlue before, you have an idea of what to expect. The airline usually has relatively spacious seats and promising food options. JetBlue took first, second and third place for customer satisfaction in the categories of first/business class, premium economy, and base economy, respectively, in the J.D. Power 2023 North American Airline Satisfaction Study.

Again, speaking anecdotally, my Blue Extra seats were so spacious the stranger sitting next to me exclaimed excitedly when she sat down. My husband is tall and thus usually cramped on airplanes, but he was more than comfortable on the JetBlue flight. 

In terms of food, there are regular meal services as well as a "pantry" of snacks available at any time. There are headrest televisions with plenty of entertainment options, as well as power outlets at seats. You can pick your meal option using the headrest console. 

I'm not the only person impressed by these JetBlue transatlantic flights: Business Insider's travel reporter Joey Hadden called it "the best long-haul flight I've taken," while Kyle Potter at Thrifty Traveler said JetBlue Mint is "my new favorite way to fly to Europe."

So if you're heading to Europe this summer, keep an eye out for those JetBlue options.

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Once a perk exclusively for business and first-class flyers, airport lounges have become havens for all types of travelers. What’s more, a growing number of credit card companies are offering airport lounge access to certain cardholders. For example, the Capital One Venture X Rewards and the Chase Sapphire Reserve include subscriptions to Priority Pass, a network of over 1,500 airport lounges worldwide, as part of their annual fee. (You can find out more details about these cards and other credit cards with travel rewards below and in our roundup of the best travel credit cards.) 

Don’t have a travel rewards credit card? Don’t worry — many airport lounges offer day passes, with prices typically ranging anywhere from $40 to $100 a day, according to Kayak. But which lounges offer the best value?  

5 Best Airport Lounges

Here are five airport lounges in the U.S. that are well worth your travel dollars.

1. Escape Lounge at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

Day pass: $45, or $40 if you pre-book at least 24 hours in advance

Location: Terminal 3

Hours: 4:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily

“It doesn’t get any more bang for the buck than this,” says Scott Leazemby, a San Diego-based travel blogger who chronicles his travel experiences at SANSpotter. Although it lacks private areas, the lounge’s selection of food is “excellent for a small independent lounge, featuring a variety of hot and cold entrées and plenty of snacks,” Leazemby says. The bar offers complimentary drinks such as lattes, draft beer, and wines.  

2. Admirals Club at Miami International Airport

Day pass: $79

Location: North Terminal, Concourse D

Hours: 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily

This two-story lounge offers no shortage of ways for families to pass the time. It features Android tablets, where you can play games, catch up on the news, and browse the Web; an enclosed kids’ room, where the little ones to get their energy out; and a main sitting area with great views of the tarmac, according to a review on the travel site Upgraded Points. 

3. Capital One Lounge at the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport

Day pass: $65

Location: Terminal D

Hours: 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily 

Featuring a cycling and yoga room with Peloton bikes, nap pods, shower suites, and luggage lockers, this buzzy airport lounge from Capital One includes a bar with a wide assortment of beverages, including a pecan Bourbon old fashioned and other craft cocktails, local craft beer, and cold brew coffee on tap. There’s also a grab-and-go cooler with salads, sandwiches, juices, sparkling water, and desserts. Plus, “The décor is sleek and modern, and most areas offer a view of the runway,” writes Stacy Brooks, a Minneapolis- based blogger, in a review of the lounge on her travel and food blog Tangled Up In Food. 

If you're considering a Capital One card with lounge access, read our review of the Capital One Venture Rewards card, offering new cardholders a $750 bonus offer. The luxury version of that card, the Capital One Venture X card, was voted the best airline credit card in the Kiplinger 2024 Readers' Choice Awards for best travel credit cards.

4. United Club B East at Denver International Airport

Day pass: $59

Location: Terminal B

Hours: 5:00 am to 9:30 pm.

This 35,000-square-foot, 600-seat lounge, unveiled in 2023, captures the essence of the Mile High City. Beer lovers can sip on a flight of beers from Colorado breweries in the second-floor bar, which has shuffleboard tables and an industrial vibe with an exposed ceiling. The lounge offers three buffets, serving up unique dishes such as maple-mustard chicken thighs, vegetarian green chili, and an egg frittata inspired by the Denver omelet. Throughout the two-story space you’ll find a wide array of furnishings and artwork from Denver artists, including photography, paintings, sculptures, and murals. Both levels feature floor-to-ceiling glass views of the airfield and a gas fireplace with neatly stacked logs.

5. Chase Sapphire Lounge at New York LaGuardia Airport

Day pass: $100

Location: Terminal B

Hours: 4:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily

This is the highest-priced lounge on our list, but it’s an all-around winner. Opened earlier this year, the 21,850-square-foot lounge offers two floors packed with amenities. The seasonal menu, from West Village bistro Joseph Leonard, features fresh pastries, Korean fried chicken bites, vegan spinach bowls, and other dishes that you can order directly to your seat using a QR code. Ben Schlappig, of the One Mile at a Time travel blog, called the seared salmon and lentil ragout "phenomenal” in a review of the lounge. In addition, the lounge features private rest pods, wellness treatment rooms with complimentary facials, and a retro-inspired game room with a photo booth, pinball machines, a jukebox, and shuffleboard.  

Tips for Saving on Lounge Access

Credit cards with lounge privileges and sign-on bonsues

Some air carriers offer lower lounge membership prices to travelers who have the airline’s credit card and to frequent flyers. Many of these are offering bonuses to new cardholders, listed below. Not all cards provide lounge access, so read the terms carefully. For example, new cardholders can earn points worth up to $937 with a Chase Sapphire Preferred card, but they won't get lounge privileges. Only the Chase Sapphire Reserve card offers lounge access in the Sapphire line.

And don't forget credit cards that are co-branded with hotels. For example, the Hilton Honors Surpass card offers premium airport lounge access with a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership. Enrolled members get ten free airport lounge visits each Priority Pass Membership year.

Hot tip: Some of the best bonus and lounge offers are for business credit card customers. 

• $1,500 to $3,000 Amex Card Intro Offer (for a business card)
• $2,775 Capital One Business Card Intro Offer
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card $750 Bonus Offer
• Alaska Airlines Credit Card: $660 Bonus Offer
• Earn Delta SkyMiles Worth up to $720
• Best Airline Credit Card Bonuses with a Free Ticket
• Hilton Honors Bonus Offer Worth $780 Plus Free Night

Getting access through memberships

Frequently fly a particular airline? A number of major air carriers, such as Alaska Airlines, American, Delta, Hawaiian Airlines, and United, offer annual memberships that provide access to their network of lounges. Prices typically run from $400 to $850 per year. A one-year Delta Sky Club membership, which offers access to more than 50 airport lounges, costs $695. A one-year United Club membership, with access to more than 45 locations, costs $650.

Alaska Airlines won the best airline credit card rewards program in the Kiplinger 2024 Readers' Choice Awards.

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The survey results, which we’re sharing here in our second annual Readers’ Choice Awards, offer valuable insight into which providers shine when it comes to your everyday interactions and experiences with them. Our Awards recognize excellence in everything from credit cards, banks and brokers to insurers, tax software and financial apps.  For each category, we’ve listed an overall winner that earned the highest score. We’ve also highlighted other products and services that earned above-average scores for various criteria we asked readers to assess.

By voting, our community has helped us form our guide to the very best financial products. These are the products and companies that you think stand out from the crowd.

Kiplinger Readers’ Choice Awards Categories

Best Wealth Management

Readers rated wealth managers based on the quality of financial advice they received, the trustworthiness of the advisers, how likely they would be to recommend the firm to others and their overall satisfaction with the wealth manager. 

The overall winner was J.P. Morgan Wealth Management. Read our full guide to the Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards 2024 best wealth management services winners.

Best Donor-Advised Funds

We asked readers to assess the donor-advised funds they use based on how suitable the investment options are, the likelihood they would recommend the fund to others and their overall satisfaction with the fund.

The overall winner was Fidelity Charitable. Read our full guide to Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards 2024 best donor-advised funds to see all of the winners.

Best Cash Back Credit Cards

Many of those who use a rewards credit card prefer simple, straightforward rewards in the form of cash back. That's no surprise, given that a cash back credit card is the simplest and most effective way to earn credit card rewards. We asked respondents to rate their cards on the strength of customer service, how likely they would be to recommend the card to others and how satisfied they are overall.

Our overall winner was Fidelity Rewards Visa. Read our full guide to the Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards 2024 best cash back credit card winners.

Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards

These cards provide the greatest value to frequent travelers, who can redeem points or miles for flights, hotel reservations, car rentals and more. Some come with perks such as rental car insurance and access to airport lounges. Readers judged travel rewards credit cards on the strength of customer service, how likely they would be to recommend the card to others and how satisfied they are overall with the card. 

Our overall winner was Capital One Venture X. Read our full guide to the Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards 2024 best travel rewards credit card winners.

Best Airline Credit Card Rewards Programs

Airline cards provide miles or points on purchases, which passengers can put toward flights. Readers evaluated airline card programs on customer service, how likely they would be to recommend the card program to others and how satisfied they are overall with the card program 

Our overall winner was the Alaska Airlines credit card rewards program. Read our full guide to the Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards 2024 airline credit card rewards programs winners.

Best Hotel Credit Cards Rewards Programs

Readers evaluated hotel card programs on customer service, how likely they would be to recommend the card program to others and how satisfied they are overall with the card program. 

The overall winner was the World of Hyatt credit card program. Read our full guide to the Kiplinger Readers' Choice 2024 Hotel Credit Card Rewards Programs winners.

Best National Banks

These large brick-and-mortar institutions have a presence in many states, and they offer a range of products and services, including checking accounts, savings accounts, certificates of deposit and loans. We assessed readers’ overall satisfaction with their bank, their opinion of its customer service, and the likelihood they would recommend the bank to others. 

Our overall winner was KeyBank. Read our full guide to the Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards 2024 best national banks winners.

Best Internet Banks

Survey respondents judged these institutions on customer service, how likely they would be to recommend the bank to others and how satisfied they are overall with the bank.

Our overall winner was Discover Bank. Read our full guide to the Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards 2024 best internet banks winners.

Best Full-Service Brokers

We asked readers to assess brokerage firms that offer a breadth of services, whether online, by phone, through in-person assistance at branches, or some combination. Readers rated the strength of their broker’s customer service, how likely they would be to recommend the firm to others and their overall satisfaction with the broker.

Our overall winner was Fidelity Investments. Read our full guide to the Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards 2024 best full-service brokers.

Best Auto Insurance Companies

Readers weighed in on their auto insurance provider based on how competitive the rates are, their experience with filing claims and how likely they would be to recommend the insurer to others.

Our overall winner was Erie Insurance. Read our full guide to see all the winners of the Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards 2024 auto insurance companies.

Best Homeowners Insurance Companies

Readers assessed their homeowners insurance provider based on how competitive the rates are, how positive the experience has been when filing a claim and how likely they would be to recommend the insurance company to others. Several of the winners here are also winners in auto insurance, making it easier for you to select a bundled service with one outstanding company.

The overall winner was USAA. See Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards 2024: Homeowners Insurance Companies to learn more about the companies you chose as winners.

Best Peer-To-Peer Payment Apps

Peer-to-peer payment apps have developed a wide reach as they have become faster and easier to use. Readers rated the P2P service that they use most based on ease of use, the likelihood they would recommend it to others and their overall satisfaction with the service.

Our overall winner was Apple Cash. Read our full guide to the Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards 2024 best peer-to-peer payment apps.

Best Tax Software

We asked readers to rate their preferred tax-filing software based on ease of use, how likely they would be to recommend the service to others and overall satisfaction with the software.

Our overall winner was FreeTaxUSA. Read our full guide to the Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards 2024 tax software winners.

How Readers Chose Their Winners

Kiplinger readers were invited to take the Readers’ Choice Awards survey on Kiplinger.com between February 20 and March 15, 2024. The survey was fully completed by 4,528 people. 

The survey asked respondents to choose the financial product or service that they most frequently use in 13 categories: full-service brokerage firms, wealth managers, donor-advised funds, cash-back credit cards, travel rewards credit cards, airline credit card rewards programs, hotel credit card rewards programs, national banks, internet banks, auto insurers, homeowners insurers, tax software and peer-to-peer payment services. (Because of a scripting error, the survey did not collect scores for Wells Fargo in the national banks category. We apologize for the omission.) 

We asked readers to rate each provider they selected on a scale of one to 10 based on a few criteria. In many categories, readers rated the strength of customer service, how likely they would be to recommend the product or service to others, and how satisfied they are overall with the provider. In some categories, we included more nuanced criteria. With wealth management firms, we asked respondents to rate the trustworthiness of a firm’s advisers and the quality of its financial advice. For donor-advised funds, respondents evaluated the suitability of investment options. For peer-to-peer payment apps and tax software, respondents evaluated ease of use, and for auto and home insurance companies, readers judged the competitiveness of rates and strength of the claims experience. 

We calculated an average (mean) score for each criterion with each provider. We also calculated an overall mean score for all providers for each criterion we asked readers to judge. We compared individual provider mean scores with the overall mean, and the three highest-scoring providers that had a score above the overall mean won an “outstanding” accolade; in cases of a tie, more than three providers are named, and if fewer than three qualifying providers achieved an above-average score, only those providers are named “outstanding.” In each category, providers are generally listed in descending order by the number of criteria for which they received the “outstanding” designation — so a product or company that is deemed “outstanding” in three areas, for example, is listed before a provider with one or two “outstanding” awards. 

To choose an overall winner in each category, we added together the mean scores for each criterion rated for each product or service. The provider with the highest total score in each category took the prize for overall winner.

Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards Categories

• Wealth Managers
• Donor Advised Funds
• Cash Back Credit Cards
• Travel Rewards Credit Cards
• Hotel Rewards Credit Card Programs
• Airline Rewards Credit Card Programs
• National Banks
• Internet Banks
• Full-Service Brokers
• Tax Software
• Auto Insurance Companies
• Homeowners Insurance Companies 
• Peer-to-Peer Payment Services

 The Kiplinger Readers’ Choice Awards aim to recognize and celebrate the best products and services in the personal finance arena. We asked you, our Kiplinger community, to help us name the products and services you think have delivered excellent value in the past year.

The survey results, which we’re sharing here in our second annual Readers’ Choice Awards, offer valuable insight into which providers shine when it comes to your everyday interactions and experiences with them. Our Awards recognize excellence in everything from credit cards, banks and brokers to insurers, tax software and financial apps.  For each category, we’ve listed an overall winner that earned the highest score. We’ve also highlighted other products and services that earned above-average scores for various criteria we asked readers to assess.

By voting, our community has helped us form our guide to the very best financial products. These are the products and companies that you think stand out from the crowd.

Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards: Hotel Credit Card Rewards Programs

Each hotel chain below earned top marks from our readers for their credit card programs. Frequent guests can get great value from these cards, earning extra points for hotel stays and other purchases. Plus, enjoy benefits such as free-night awards and elevated loyalty status. Readers evaluated hotel card programs on customer service, how likely they would be to recommend the card program to others and how satisfied they are overall with the card program. 

OVERALL WINNER: World of Hyatt Credit Card

Outstanding for:

• Customer service
• Most recommended
• Overall satisfaction

Our readers gush about the World of Hyatt credit card. “Best rewards of any card, as far as I can tell. If only there were more Hyatts!” one survey respondent says.

For a $95 annual fee, cardholders earn nine World of Hyatt Bonus points per dollar spent at Hyatt hotels; two points per dollar on restaurant spending, airline tickets, local transit and gym memberships; and one point per dollar on other spending. You also get a free night at an eligible property yearly, an additional free night if you spend $15,000 on the card in a calendar year and automatic Discoverist loyalty status.

IHG 

Outstanding for:

• Customer service
• Most recommended
• Overall satisfaction

IHG brands include well-known hotels such as Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn and Kimpton. Chase issues two personal cards on behalf of IHG: IHG One Rewards Traveler and IHG One Rewards Premier ($99). You can rack up points quickly—cardholders earn up to 17 and 26 points per dollar spent at IHG hotels and resorts, respectively — but point values are generally lower than with competing programs. 

The Premier card also rewards five points per dollar spent on travel and hotels, at gas stations, and at restaurants, and three points per dollar on all other spending. Plus, Premier cardholders get one free hotel night each year and a fourth night free after you redeem points for a consecutive four-night stay.

Marriott Bonvoy cards

Outstanding for:

• Customer service
• Most recommended
• Overall satisfaction

Frequent guests of Marriott hotels can get good value out of the credit card program. Cards issued by Chase include Marriott Bonvoy Bold, Boundless ($95) and Bountiful ($250). American Express has two co-branded cards, Bevy ($250) and Brilliant ($650), with Marriott. Several readers expressed appreciation for the free one-night stay the Boundless card offers yearly. 

“You definitely get the value out of the fee,” says one respondent. Marriott Bonvoy points are quite flexible: You may redeem them at Marriott properties or transfer them to the frequent-flier programs of 38 airlines, including American, Delta, Southwest and United.

Choice Privileges cards 

Outstanding for:

• Most recommended

The Choice Privileges credit card program rewards stays at a wide variety of hotel brands, such as Radisson, Quality Inn and EconoLodge. Wells Fargo issues two cards for the program: the Choice Privileges Mastercard and the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard ($95). Each card offers strong earnings rates on hotels, gas, phone plans, grocery stores and home improvement stores. The Select card provides a 30,000-point bonus each year.

Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards Categories

• Wealth Managers
• Donor Advised Funds
• Cash Back Credit Cards
• Travel Rewards Credit Cards
• Airline Rewards Credit Card Programs
• National Banks
• Internet Banks
• Full-Service Brokers
• Tax Software
• Auto Insurance Companies
• Homeowners Insurance Companies 
• Peer-to-Peer Payment Services

The Kiplinger Readers’ Choice Awards aim to recognize and celebrate the best products and services in the personal finance arena. We asked you, our Kiplinger community, to help us name the products and services you think have delivered excellent value in the past year.

The survey results, which we’re sharing here in our second annual Readers’ Choice Awards, offer valuable insight into which providers shine when it comes to your everyday interactions and experiences with them. Our Awards recognize excellence in everything from credit cards, banks and brokers to insurers, tax software and financial apps.  For each category, we’ve listed an overall winner that earned the highest score. We’ve also highlighted other products and services that earned above-average scores for various criteria we asked readers to assess.

By voting, our community has helped us form our guide to the very best financial products. These are the products and companies that you think stand out from the crowd.

Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards: Best Cash Back Credit Cards Winners

Many of those who use a rewards credit card prefer simple, straightforward rewards in the form of cash back. That's no surprise, given that a cash back credit card is the simplest and most effective way to earn credit card rewards. We asked respondents to rate their cards on the strength of customer service, how likely they would be to recommend the card to others and how satisfied they are overall.

OVERALL WINNER: Fidelity Rewards Visa

Outstanding for:

• Most recommended
• Overall satisfaction

This card from Fidelity Investments is a consistent reader favorite, winning best overall cash-back credit card for the second year in a row. Our readers praised the card’s simple reward structure. “Zero effort to get the reward,” says one respondent. 

Fidelity customers earn 2% cash back on each purchase with this card if they deposit rewards into qualifying Fidelity accounts, including brokerage and cash-management accounts, 529 college-savings plans, retirement accounts, and donor-advised funds. 

“It helps with funding my Roth IRA each year,” says one respondent. You can also direct your rewards to a friend’s or family member’s account (excluding donor-advised funds).

American Express Blue Cash Preferred

Outstanding for:

• Customer service
• Most recommended

The Blue Cash Preferred card from American Express ($95 annual fee, waived the first year) provides 6% cash back on supermarket spending (up to the first $6,000 spent annually; 1% thereafter), as well as select streaming subscriptions; 3% on transit and fuel purchases; and 1% on other spending. “Even with the $95 yearly fee,” remarks one reader, “we still come out way ahead every year.”

Citi Double Cash Mastercard 

Outstanding for:

• Most recommended
• Overall satisfaction

Many readers commented on this card’s ease of use and the simplicity of its rewards structure. “I have three different cards. This is my go-to 99% of the time,” says one respondent. The card offers a total of 2% cash back on all spending: 1% for each purchase you make and an additional 1% when you pay the bill

American Express EveryDay 

Outstanding for:

• Customer service

Amex EveryDay earns kudos from our readers for customer service, with one respondent describing it as “always dependable.” Earn two Membership Rewards points for each dollar spent on the first $6,000 of supermarket purchases each year and one point per dollar on all other spending. If you use your card 20 or more times in a billing period, you get 20% more points on those purchases.

Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi

Outstanding for:

• Overall satisfaction

Readers who are loyal Costco Wholesale customers like this card for its ability to provide substantial cash back. “We recently got back a little over $500 from last year’s purchases,” one respondent says. The card requires a Costco membership (starting at $60 annually).

Get 4% back on gas and electric vehicle charging on the first $7,000 spent per year and then 1% thereafter. You also get 3% back on dining and eligible travel; 2% on purchases from Costco and Costco.com; and 1% back on all other purchases.

Discover It

Outstanding for:

• Customer service

Readers singled out this card for excellent customer service. One wrote, “The folks who man the phones are so patient and kind.” The card provides 5% cash back on the first $1,500 spent on rotating categories that change each quarter. Typical categories include grocery stores, gas and EV stations, and restaurants. Earn 1% back on all other purchases.

USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature

Outstanding for:

• Customer service

USAA is a bank for current and former members of the military and their spouses and children. USAA members may apply for the card, which provides unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Our readers praise its customer service. “If you want 100% support, you want this card,” says one survey respondent.

Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards Categories

• Wealth Managers
• Donor-Advised Funds
• Travel Rewards Credit Cards
• Airline Credit Cards
• Hotel Rewards Credit Card Programs
• National Banks
• Internet Banks
• Full-Service Brokers
• Tax Software
• Auto Insurance Companies
• Peer-to-Peer Payment Services
• Homeowners Insurance Companies

The Kiplinger Readers’ Choice Awards aim to recognize and celebrate the best products and services in the personal finance arena. We asked you, our Kiplinger community, to help us name the products and services you think have delivered excellent value in the past year.

The survey results, which we’re sharing here in our second annual Readers’ Choice Awards, offer valuable insight into which providers shine when it comes to your everyday interactions and experiences with them. Our Awards recognize excellence in everything from credit cards, banks and brokers to insurers, tax software and financial apps.  For each category, we’ve listed an overall winner that earned the highest score. We’ve also highlighted other products and services that earned above-average scores for various criteria we asked readers to assess.

By voting, our community has helped us form our guide to the very best financial products. These are the products and companies that you think stand out from the crowd.

Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards: Airline Credit Card Rewards Programs

Each of the airlines below earned top marks from our readers for their credit card programs. Airline cards provide miles or points for purchases, which passengers can put toward flights, upgrades or related travel perks.

OVERALL WINNER: Alaska Airlines Visa Signature

Outstanding for:

• Customer service
• Most recommended
• Overall satisfaction

What sets the Alaska Airlines credit card ($95 annual fee) apart from most other travel cards is the annual Free Companion Fare. It allows you to purchase one round-trip coach companion fare on Alaska Airlines for a flat rate of $99 plus fees (starting at $23, for a total price starting at $122). Get three points for every dollar spent on Alaska Airlines travel; two points on gas, cable, select streaming services and local transit; and one point on all other purchases. 

Other card perks include free checked bags and the chance to travel with your pet in the cabin (for a $100 fee). As one respondent wrote, it is “just a really fine all-around card that affords discounts in-flight, a luggage allowance and a companion pass.”

JetBlue Cards

Outstanding for:

• Customer service
• Most recommended
• Overall satisfaction

Barclays issues two tiers of JetBlue cards: the JetBlue World Mastercard and the JetBlue Plus World Elite Mastercard ($99 annual fee). Both cards offer JetBlue TrueBlue points on every purchase, with variations in the number of miles offered per dollar in different categories. 

The Plus card comes with a 10% bonus on points redeemed for JetBlue flights, 5,000 bonus points each year, and a free first checked bag for the primary traveler and up to three travel companions on one reservation.

Southwest Airlines cards 

Outstanding for:

• Customer service
• Most recommended
• Overall satisfaction

The Rapid Rewards credit cards from Southwest Airlines, issued by Chase, get plaudits from readers for offering ample perks. Of the Priority card ($149 annual fee), one respondent wrote, “I love the fact that you get four priority boardings per year and a $75 flight credit yearly, essentially cutting the actual yearly fee in half.” 

Other Priority card benefits include a bonus of 7,500 Rapid Rewards points on each yearly anniversary of card membership and 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points each year. (A Companion Pass allows you to fly with one person free of airline charges each time you purchase or redeem points for a flight.)

Southwest’s other credit cards include the Plus card ($69 annual fee) and the Premier card ($99).

Delta Air Lines cards

Outstanding for:

• Customer service

Delta offers four consumer credit cards issued by American Express: Delta SkyMiles Blue, Gold ($150 annual fee, waived the first year), Platinum ($350) and Reserve ($650). All of the cards offer Delta SkyMiles on every purchase, with variations in the number of miles offered per dollar in different categories. 

The Platinum and Reserve cards also offer reimbursement of the application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, as well as a companion certificate for a round-trip flight each year you renew the card, among other perks.

Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards Categories

• Wealth Managers
• Donor Advised Funds
• Cash Back Credit Cards
• Travel Rewards Credit Cards
• Hotel Rewards Credit Card Programs
• National Banks
• Internet Banks
• Full-Service Brokers
• Tax Software
• Auto Insurance Companies
• Homeowners Insurance Companies 
• Peer-to-Peer Payment Services