Editor’s note: This post has been updated with new information and offers.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card overview
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is Marriott’s most premium card offering. Standout benefits include automatic Platinum Elite status, an annual free night at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program that is worth up to 85,000 points and up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your card at eligible restaurants worldwide, all alongside its best-ever welcome offer. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐⭐½
*Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Marriott has six cobranded cards available to new cardholders, with fees ranging from none to $650 per year.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is the most expensive one, at $650 a year (see rates and fees). But does that necessarily mean it’s the best?
The Bonvoy Brilliant card is compelling for loyal Marriott guests — but let’s dig a little deeper to see if it’s right for you.
Related: Which Marriott Bonvoy credit card is right for you?
Amex Bonvoy Brilliant welcome offer
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant offers new cardholders 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after using their new card to spend $6,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months; plus, they can earn 50,000 bonus points after they stay 6 eligible paid nights at Marriott hotels through Jan. 31, 2024. Offer ends Aug. 9.
Based on TPG’s valuations of Marriott points at 0.84 cents each, those 200,000 points are worth a whopping $1,680.
The previous highest offer on this card was 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points, meaning that the current bonus is the best-ever welcome offer on the card.
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How do the 50,000 extra points work? Essentially, the promotion earning period runs from the date your new card opens through the end of January. In that time, you’ll have to stay six eligible paid nights at Marriott properties to qualify for the extra points.
Those nights include, per the terms and conditions, “all paid stays, including pre-paid stays and bookings paid with Marriott eGiftCards that are booked using the eligible cardmember’s Marriott Bonvoy account.”
Notably, this offer does not factor in award redemption stays, free night awards, points redemptions or stays booked through third parties. Be sure to check the full terms and conditions before booking to make sure you cash in on this offer.
Also remember that Amex has restrictions limiting your ability to collect a new-member bonus if you’ve had similar Marriott products from Chase or previous Starwood Preferred Guest cards from American Express. Be sure to review the card’s offer details page to ensure you’re eligible.
Related: Is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex worth the $650 annual fee?
Earning points on the Amex Bonvoy Brilliant
The Bonvoy Brilliant’s earning structure is similar to that of the regular Marriott Bonvoy Amex and the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card, but with two additional bonus categories: dining at restaurants worldwide and select airfare purchases.
Cardholders earn 6 Bonvoy points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, 3 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines, and 2 points per dollar on other purchases.
The non-Marriott earning rates are a bit low, so you’ll probably want to pair the card with one or more other cards that offer superior bonus categories, such as The Platinum Card® from American Express for airfare and the Chase Sapphire Reserve for dining and other travel purchases. There are also some other great options for your everyday spending.
Redeeming points on the Amex Bonvoy Brilliant
There are many lucrative ways to use Marriott Rewards points. The most apparent redemption is for free stays. With the ability to book at more than 7,500 properties across 30 brands in over 130 countries, you’ve got a lot of choices. The Marriott portfolio has many fantastic hotels, including some of the world’s most over-the-top, luxurious properties.
These include a number of Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis properties, some of which are all-suite, such as the St. Regis Maldives, and others in dreamy destinations like the Al Maha Resort in the desert outside Dubai. Rooms at top-tier properties like these typically cost 100,000 points (or even more) per night. That may seem like a hefty price in points, but it isn’t that bad, considering room rates can be $1,500-plus per night most of the year.
Related: Maximizing redemptions with the Marriott Bonvoy program
Amex Bonvoy Brilliant benefits
Where the card shines the most is in the perks it offers:
Marriott elite status: Primary cardholders (authorized users aren’t included) receive complimentary, automatic Marriott Platinum Elite status, including perks like upgrades to suites, free breakfast and lounge access. You will receive your upgraded status in less than two weeks, on average, according to spokespeople for American Express and Marriott Bonvoy.
Annual free-night award: Each year after your card renewal month, you’ll receive a free night award worth up to 85,000 points. That’s much more valuable than the free night certificates that come with the lower-tier Marriott cards, which are capped at 35,000 points. Some of the best uses of the certificate include five-star hotels such as The Ritz-Carlton Macau and The St. Regis Langkawi, where rooms routinely top $500 per night — though Marriott’s dynamic pricing may impact the ability to book some of these properties.
$300 in restaurant credits: Cardmembers receive up to $25 in statement credits each calendar month when they use their card at eligible restaurants worldwide. This equates to a total value of $300 each year. (A spokesperson for American Express has confirmed that this credit applies to worldwide restaurants, is automatically applied and does not require registration prior to using this benefit.)
Property credit of up to $100: When you book a paid stay of at least two nights at participating Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis properties with the special “$100 property credit, Luxury Credit Card Rate,” you’ll receive a credit of up to $100 for incidentals.
Priority Pass Lounge access: As is pretty standard among premium travel rewards cards, the card comes with a Priority Pass Select membership, which gives you and two guests unlimited access to more than 1,230 airport lounges worldwide. Additional guests are charged $32 per lounge visit (enrollment required).
Travel protections: This card offers trip cancellation and interruption insurance* as well as trip delay insurance* for trips delayed by more than six hours due to a covered reason. You must book a round-trip ticket and pay entirely with your card to be covered. (Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.)
Application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck: Like many other premium cards, the Bonvoy Brilliant will reimburse you when you charge the application fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck to the card up to $100 ($85 for TSA PreCheck or $100 credit for Global Entry, 4 years for the application fee for either Global Entry or every 4½ years for the application fee for TSA PreCheck). Unlike the Priority Pass membership, which essentially becomes useless if you already receive the benefit through other cards, if you already have Global Entry or PreCheck, you can use this credit to cover a friend or family member’s application fee (enrollment required for select benefits). This benefit is available to cardholders once every four years. Remember, Global Entry includes PreCheck, so it’s typically the smarter choice.
Shopping protections: Purchases made with the card can get up to one year of extended warranty coverage* and 90 days of purchase protection.* This applies to warranties of five years or less on covered purchases in the U.S. or its territories or possessions. (Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.)
Elite night credits: Cardholders will receive 25 elite qualifying night credits per year. This benefit can be stacked with the nights you earn with a Marriott small-business card, allowing you to fast-track up to 40 elite nights per year.
Annual Earned Choice Award: Earned each calendar year after making $60,000 in purchases. This is separate from the Choice Benefits you’d unlock by reaching 50 and 75 elite-qualifying nights. You can choose from the following:
5 Suite Night Awards.
An 85,000-point free night reward.
$1,000 off a mattress or box spring from Marriott Bonvoy Boutiques.
Certain hotels have resort fees.
*Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
Related: The top travel rewards cards that can pay for themselves
Which cards compete with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex?
If you’re not loyal to Marriott, there are a number of cards you might consider instead of the Bonvoy Brilliant:
For additional options, check out our full list of the best hotel and Marriott credit cards.
Read more: Is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex worth the $650 annual fee?
Bottom line
If you’re a Marriott loyalist in need of a cobranded credit card or are looking to change from a different Marriott card, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant is an ideal choice.
Its earning rates are not as lucrative as those of some of its competitors, but the large welcome offer coupled with impressive built-in perks — like $300 in restaurant credits and an annual free-night certificate of up to 85,000 points — make it easy for even an infrequent traveler to get tremendous value out of the card.
Although you shouldn’t have trouble finding a hotel at which to redeem points, the program’s many airline transfer partners also make it a great choice for racking up points to redeem for free flights.
Application link: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant with up to 200,000 bonus points. Offer ends Aug. 9.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex, click here. For rates and fees of the Hilton Aspire Card, click here. For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum Card, click here. For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Amex, click here.
Open a BMO Harris Premier™ Account online and get a $500 cash bonus when you have a total of at least $7,500 in qualifying direct deposits within the first 90 days of account opening. Expires 9/15. Conditions Apply.
You drive a lot. Maybe you have a long commute or use your car for work. Maybe you’re constantly ferrying your kids to and from school and extracurriculars. Maybe you’d take a well-routed road trip over a flight to your destination any day of the week. Or all of the above.
Whatever the case, that much driving makes it imperative to save money on gas. And a gas rewards credit card can definitely help you do that. But maximizing its gas rewards as much as you can takes some work.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Gas Rewards Credit Card
Since you can’t operate your vehicle without it, gas rewards provide some of the lowest-hanging fruit on your rewards card — if you leverage them. Follow these tips to get the most value from your gas rewards credit card.
1. Determine How Many Fuel Credit Cards You Need
Many people, especially infrequent drivers, can probably do with just one general-purpose credit card with gas rewards, like the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express. You earn at the same rate on all fuel purchases, regardless of where you fill up or recharge.
The more you drive, the more likely you are to benefit from having more than one fuel credit card. Ask yourself these questions.
How many fuel or station brands do you encounter in a typical week? If your weekly routine involves 15 station brands belonging to six fuel companies with a branded credit card, applying for each card means you can claim rewards or instant discounts on every purchase.
How many stations are truly convenient? Every extra mile driven or minute spent waiting at a stoplight wastes fuel and cuts into your savings. Determine which stations are most convenient and apply for the one or two best options.
Are you a warehouse club member? If you have a Costco, Sam’s Club, or BJ’s membership, that should be your first (and maybe only) branded gas credit card. All offer above-average returns on fuel spending and reward purchases in other categories as well. And warehouse club gas stations tend to have cheaper fuel, anyway.
Does your go-to supermarket have a fuel rewards program? If your preferred supermarket has a fuel rewards program, look into it. They frequently offer discounts at their own gas stations plus another brand. For example, Kroger’s fuel rewards program discounts purchases at Kroger-operated and participating Shell stations.
2. Choose a Credit Card Type: Co-Branded or General-Purpose
All credit cards are associated with an issuing bank (Chase, Bank of America) and payment network (Visa, Mastercard). But these days, they may also be associated with a specific brand (or co-brand), such as Walmart, Delta, or Hilton — or the gas station you use most often.
If that’s the case, you could save more if you choose that station’s co-branded credit card. They typically offer instant discounts at the pump in addition to a small amount of cash back. Overall, they may have higher overall returns on spending than general-purpose credit cards that offer rewards on fuel purchases in addition to many other categories.
But gas station-branded cards only work at those stations. If that’s a problem because your fill-up routine varies too much, opt for a general-purpose credit card that earns bonus rewards on fuel purchases. You can consistently earn 3% to 4% back on fuel spending with the right card — without obsessing about where to fill up next.
Pro Tip: If you’re a Costco member, apply for the co-branded Costco Anywhere Visa Card to earn 4% back on your first $7,000 in annual gas station purchases. Unlike most gas credit cards, the full 4% reward applies to purchases at Costco and non-Costco gas stations (so long as they’re coded as gas stations), though Costco stations almost always have the cheapest fuel in the area.
3. Ensure Your Card Rewards Your Fuel Types
Before you apply for a gas credit card, confirm that it rewards the types of purchases you need. For example, if you also drive your partner’s electric vehicle, you probably want a card that rewards both fuel types.
If you live in a dual-fuel household, consider how you each use your vehicles. If your child or partner drives an EV, you definitely need a card that rewards charging purchases. The question is whether you get one card that rewards both or look for separate cards. The answer depends on how you both answer the questions under No. 1 and whether your answers are the same in terms of which stations you frequent.
If anyone in the household drives both vehicles regularly, you each need a card that rewards both fuel types. If you have a driver under 18 in your home, make sure the card’s issuer allows minors as authorized users.
Many fuel cards already reward both gas and charging purchases, and that will only become more common in the future, but it’s not yet guaranteed. Gas station-branded cards are less likely to reward charging purchases because they’re closely associated with oil companies, which are lukewarm at best on EVs.
4. Decide How Long You Can Wait to Get Your Rewards
Money is money, but its value declines over time due to inflation. That means fuel rewards are most valuable when you earn them at the pump. They’re a bit less valuable when you earn them every month, as is typical for most general-purpose credit cards, but the difference is basically negligible unless inflation is really out of control.
But if you have to wait up to a year before you can claim your rewards, the difference in value may be noticeable. That’s a big drawback of the otherwise excellent Costco Anywhere Visa card: Your rewards only come to you once per year, and you can only redeem them at Costco.
5. Calculate Point Values & Real Return on Spending
Calculating a gas credit card’s return on spending is easy when it’s a basic cash-back credit card, where “3% cash back” basically means “$0.03 off every $1 spent.”
It’s trickier when the card earns points or miles worth more or less than $0.01 apiece. That’s often the case with co-branded travel credit cards like the Hilton Honors American Express Card, which earns 5 points per $1 spent on eligible gasoline purchases. Exactly how much those points are worth — and thus your actual return on fuel spending — depends on how and when you redeem them.
Likewise, convert per-gallon discounts to percentages when comparing gas cards’ rewards programs. A flat $0.10-per-gallon discount equals 5% at $2 per gallon, an excellent rate of return. It equals just 2% at $5 per gallon, lower than the 3% to 4% rate you get all the time with the top percentage-based gas cards. Even if you don’t use it much when gas is expensive, it makes sense to keep a per-gallon discount card around because it offers better returns when gas prices fall.
Finally, if you drive a lot, pay attention to annual limits on bonus gas rewards. A card that offers 4% back on the first $6,000 in annual gas purchases is an excellent choice for people who don’t consume tons of fuel.
But if you fill up your full-size SUV twice per week, you’ll probably hit the annual cap by summer. And if you don’t have another gas rewards card that offers a decent return on spending, you’re out of rewards until next year.
6. Understand Which Gas Station Purchases Earn Rewards
Some gas credit cards reward only purchases at the pump. Others reward purchases at convenience stores and other businesses attached to fuel stations, which is particularly useful when you’re fueling at big travel centers with tons of stuff to buy.
If you’re stuck choosing between a card that only rewards purchases at the pump and a card that rewards any fuel station purchase, always go with the latter if you’re frequently inclined to go into the station and stock up on other road trip essentials. Even if the rewards rate is a bit lower, you have more opportunities to earn on purchases you’d make anyway.
7. Stack Supermarket Loyalty Discounts on Top of Your Gas Card Rewards
Many supermarkets have gas rewards programs that can significantly reduce users’ net fuel costs. Generally, eligible supermarket purchases earn loyalty points that automatically convert to instant discounts on pay-at-the-pump gas purchases.
Depending on the program, discounts may apply only at the supermarket’s fuel stations, at stations operated by participating fuel companies, or at basically any station in the United States. To get the discount, you may need to link a credit card to your supermarket’s store loyalty account, which is where your fuel credit card comes in.
The ideal credit card for this setup is one that earns bonus rewards on both supermarket and gas station purchases. For example, the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card earns 2% back on grocery store and wholesale club purchases and 3% back on purchases in the category of your choice — one option being gas stations. That can further reduce the balance left after the instant discount.
8. Don’t Carry a Balance
Unless it’s a true emergency, you should never carry a credit card balance at the regular interest rate. One month of interest charges can wipe out a full year of gas rewards or discounts.
Carrying a balance during a 0% introductory APR period is fine as long as you pay off the balance in full before the introductory period ends. Otherwise, you could be liable for deferred interest charges, wiping out any rewards you earned during the promo (and then some).
9. Don’t Use a More Expensive Station Just to Get Rewards
Sometimes, the smartest thing to do with your gas credit card is not to use it at all. If you have to spend more per gallon to use it than the credit card saves on the purchase, it’s not worth it.
For example, you’re driving past two gas stations on the same side of the road. Station A sells regular unleaded for $3.49 per gallon and Station B sells regular unleaded for $3.69 per gallon. You can get $0.10 off per gallon with Station B’s credit card — a roughly 2.7% discount — or 1% off your entire purchase with a regular cash-back card at either station.
The choice should be clear: Use the regular cash-back card at Station A. The card itself won’t save you as much, but you’ll pay less overall.
The difference isn’t always so stark, but it often makes sense to buy the cheapest possible fuel, even if it means forgoing credit card rewards. Then again, you can usually have it both ways by using an app that helps you find cheap fuel in your area, then filling up with a general-purpose gas credit card.
This guideline also applies to which type of fuel you buy. If your engine can handle regular gasoline, don’t buy premium just to get another couple of cents in rewards. You still pay more overall.
Final Word
These tips are, ahem, a road map for getting the most out of your gas credit card. Your savings journey starts before you even apply, with a careful analysis of each card’s usefulness, versatility, and overall value.
Just don’t overestimate these cards’ financial impact. Pairing the right card with the right spending strategies can measurably reduce your gas bill, but it’s not a replacement for other ways to save.
You should still plan more efficient trips, use an app that helps you find cheap gas, and consider more substantial changes like trading in your gas guzzler for a fuel-sipping ride. After all, the most effective way to save on vehicle fuel is to use less of it.
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Brian Martucci writes about credit cards, banking, insurance, travel, and more. When he’s not investigating time- and money-saving strategies for Money Crashers readers, you can find him exploring his favorite trails or sampling a new cuisine. Reach him on Twitter @Brian_Martucci.
Building projects are facing longer timelines due to a shortage of supplies such as appliances, flooring materials, hardware and lumber, and builders are finding some clever ways to pass the associated costs onto home buyers.
Builders have reported difficulty in securing appliances such as air conditioners, refrigerators and washing machines for new homes due to supply chain disruptions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, and prices are rising because of that, BUILDER reported.
In a survey by Meyers Research in July, almost half of all builders said they faced disruptions to their supply lines, and 80% of 300 division presidents in a survey in August said those challenges are likely to impact their sales plans in 2021.
“When flooring is delayed, we have to rework our schedules to allow for other things to progress, or we have to put the home on hold and wait for the material or reselect something that is available at the time,” Jon McReynolds, Garman Homes division president in Raleigh, N.C., told BUILDER.
Meanwhile, the increase in the cost of lumber has added approximately $16,000 to the cost of building a single-family home since April, the National Association of Home Builders says. In response to this McReynolds said Garman has adjusted the price of its new homes at the community level, while lot premiums now also cost more.
Some builders have resorted to using the escalation clauses in their contracts, so that customers will have to pay the additional costs if prices rise by a certain percentage.
Other builders have smarter ideas to offset the rising costs for buyers. For example Meritage Homes is offering to scale back on upgrades for new homes, so buyers can choose from just a few product collections at the same price point, instead of paying more. It used to offer 56 different dishwashers for instance, but now only provides a choice of six models that are well-stocked.
“We’re going to have a lot more success in being able to procure those dishwashers, for example, than we are some of [Whirlpool’s] slower-selling, more expensive models,” Steve Hilton, chairman and CEO of Meritage Homes, told BUILDER. “That goes on and on for every component of the house, whether it’s door locks, plumbing, fixtures, carpeting, or tile.”
Mike Wheatley is the senior editor at Realty Biz News. Got a real estate related news article you wish to share, contact Mike at [email protected]
In 2022, Choice Hotels launched a new dining rewards program named Choice Privileges Eat & Earn.
This program lets you earn bonus Choice Privileges points whenever you eat at participating U.S. restaurants. It can be a great way to generate extra points without much effort. Here’s what you need to know about the Eat & Earn dining rewards program.
How to earn points with the Choice Eat & Earn dining program
Several other hotel brands have dining rewards programs. You can earn hotel points with Hilton Honors Dining, Marriott Bonvoy Eat Around Town and IHG One Rewards Dine & Earn. So it’s great that Choice Privileges also offers a dining rewards program in case you’d rather earn Choice points.
To use the Choice Privileges Eat & Earn program, you must register and link a credit or debit card to your profile. You don’t need a cobranded Choice Privileges credit card to qualify — you can link almost any credit or debit card to your Eat & Earn account, although we recommend one of the best cards for dining. Please note, you must be a U.S. resident to use the Eat & Earn program.
Whenever you use a linked card at an eligible restaurant (search for eligible restaurants), you’ll automatically earn 5 bonus Choice points per dollar. You’ll earn points when dining in or ordering online through the Eat & Earn site.
Plus, you can occasionally earn additional points through promotions. Taxes and tips are also eligible for bonus points when you dine in. But when you order online through the Eat & Earn site, you won’t earn bonus points on taxes, tips or delivery-related fees.
The points you earn through the Choice Privileges Eat & Earn program are in addition to the rewards you’ll earn from your credit or debit card. For example, if you link your Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, you’ll earn 3 Chase Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent at participating restaurants.
Related: The ultimate guide to redeeming Choice points
Should I use the Choice Eat & Earn dining program?
TPG values Choice points at 0.6 cents each. That means you’ll earn the equivalent of 3% back on dining at eligible restaurants. That may sound incremental, but these rewards get you that much closer to your next free vacation. You can read our guide to Choice Privileges to see how powerful Choice points can be.
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That said, an opportunity cost may be involved with using Choice Privileges Eat & Earn over another airline or hotel dining rewards program. For example, American Airlines AAdvantage Dining awards 3 miles per dollar if you opt in for email alerts. After you earn VIP status with 11 purchases in a calendar year, you’ll start earning 5 miles per dollar spent. TPG values AAdvantage miles at 1.77 cents apiece, giving you a 5.3% to 8.8% return on eligible dining. Plus, you’d also earn Loyalty Points toward American elite status.
Of course, which program you should use depends on your travel goals. If you have a specific Choice redemption in mind, it could make sense to use the Eat & Earn program.
Related: Redeem Choice points for a Maldives resort, half-board hotels, suites and more
Bottom line
In most cities, multiple restaurants participate in Choice Privileges Eat & Earn. So there could be plenty of opportunities for you to earn extra rewards. However, since you can only enroll each credit or debit card in one Rewards Network dining rewards program at a time, you have to choose the best program in which to enroll your favorite dining credit card. And you have to decide if the return is high enough to go with Choice Privileges Eat & Earn over another program.
The OG payment app has been around since 1998 and still manages to offer an excellent jack-of-all-trades experience. You can send money to friends, handle payments as a business, and even earn 5% back on PayPal purchases through certain rewards cards.
But 24 years is a long time to let competitors catch up. And while none have managed to topple the titan, contenders like Venmo, Wise, Payoneer, Zelle, and Cash App have gained serious ground by offering a better experience for certain users. Some let freelancers get paid with fewer fees. Others let you pay your friends overseas in their currency of choice. And one is perfect for sending payments to people who don’t have any payment apps installed (e.g., your parents or grandparents).
So which payment app is best for what? And most importantly, which is best for you?
Let’s investigate the 10 best alternatives to PayPal.
What’s Ahead:
PayPal alternatives overview
Venmo: Best for paying friends
Wise: Best for international transfers and currency conversions
Google Pay: Best for sending money through Gmail
Payoneer: Best for receiving online payments as a freelancer
Square: Best for receiving in-person payments as a freelancer/small business owner
Stripe: Best for receiving online payments as a small business owner
ProPay: Best for receiving offline payments as a freelancer/small business owner
Zelle: Best for sending money to people who don’t use payment apps
Cash App: Best for converting received payments into hard cash
Apple Pay: Best for sending, receiving, and paying at the register for iPhones and Apple Watches
Venmo
Fees for personal use: 3% credit card processing fee
Fees for business use: 9% merchant fee plus 10 cents per transaction; Venmo tax applies to all transactions marked “goods and services”
Venmo is so widespread these days that “Do you have Venmo?” has become the new “Cash is king.”
Even though Venmo is technically a subsidiary of PayPal, the numbers show that the former is now nearly as popular as its big brother. PayPal handled a total of $330 billion in transactions in 2021, while Venmo handled $230 billion — up a staggering 44% from the previous year.
And there’s a reason why so many people use Venmo as their go-to payment app: it’s simple, safe, and reliable. Transfers are free, payments to friends and family are free, and the app even has a built-in “newsfeed” showing who among your friends is paying whom for what. There was even a time when Venmo showed you the precise amounts they were paying for rent, food, and more, but naturally that TMI feature was retired.
While popular, Venmo isn’t perfect. It takes between one and three days to withdraw your Venmo funds to your bank account, or you can pay a 1% instant transfer fee. Plus, if you use it to invoice clients, there’s no “tip” option on their end — they have to manually initiate a separate payment.
There are also a few default settings I’d strongly recommend you change if you download Venmo.
Settings > PIN code and biometric lock. Set a 4-digit PIN so that if someone borrows or steals your phone, they can’t Venmo themselves the maximum $3,000 (happens more often than you’d think).
Settings > Privacy > Private. Unless you really want your entire friends list to see who you’re paying and for what, I see no reason to broadcast this sensitive data. Turn it off.
Pros and cons aside, Venmo is so popular that someone’s bound to ask you to use it. Luckily, once you succumb to peer pressure, you have a rock-solid PayPal alternative waiting for you.
Get Venmo for iOS or Android.
Wise
Fees for personal use: Sending rates from 0.41%; conversion rates from 0.41%
Fees for business use: Same as personal, plus a $31 account setup fee
There are plenty of apps to help you split the cost of a pizza with your buddies, but what about your international friends? Wise, formerly TransferWise, helps with that. You can send money to consumers in 51 countries, with new currencies added on an ongoing basis.
Wise is custom-built for any international payment or money transfer you want to make. I just have to enter how much I want to send in USD, then choose the currency of the receiving party. Right there, it shows how much I’ll pay for a monthly fee. There are bank fees and Wise fees, but they are minimal.
To send $100 USD to Europe using Wise’s personal account, I’d pay $0.16 in bank/debit card fees, plus a $0.96 Wise fee. Compare that to $5 per transaction fee for a personal international bank transfer with PayPal payments. That alone makes this perhaps the best PayPal alternative around.
Wise business members pay a fixed fee of $1.40 to send money. PayPal, in contrast, charges a 1.50% international business payments fee in addition to the standard fee (2.89% and up).
I’ve only been a Wise payment recipient, so I had to check out how paying someone works. It’s pretty simple – well, as simple as paying internationally ever is. You’ll need the email address, full legal name, and mailing address of the person. You’ll also need the International Bank Account Number (IBAN) of the recipient, as well as the type of account it is and the name and address of that bank.
The business side of Wise has some advanced features, including invoicing and compatibility with Stripe. You’ll also pay a one-time $31 fee to set up your account for international banking.
Get Wise for iOS or Android.
Google Pay
Fees for personal use: 9% credit card processing fee
Fees for business use: 9% merchant fee plus $0.30 per transaction for transactions under $3,000. Rate drops to 2.5% for transactions above $3,000; 2.2% for $10,000+; and 1.9% for $100,000+.
Google Pay allows you to send money from your bank account or GoogleWallet through Gmail for free. Just look for the $ symbol when you’re composing an email and input the amount of money you want to send. If you’re like me, you already do most of your communication through Gmail, so this may boost Google Pay to the top of your list.
Signing up for Google Pay is easy if you use your Google account for most of your business interactions. You just have to download the app and add your phone number. Google automatically pulls in all your frequent contacts.
The interface with Google Pay is not all too different from Venmo’s. You just choose a name from your contacts and input the amount you want to pay. You can also add a note.
One feature I like with Google Pay is that you can easily split payments with friends. Just tap on “Split with Friends” from the Pay screen and choose the friends from your contacts. There’s also a Scan QR Code feature that will make it easy to pay a business that accepts Google Pay.
Speaking of business use, Google Pay has the same weakness Venmo does when it comes to paying vendors. You’ll have to figure out the tip and add it to what you’re paying. But these apps are designed to keep things as simple as possible, so that’s one unfortunate by-product.
Get Google Pay for iOS or Android.
Payoneer
Fees for personal use: N/A
Fees for business use: $0 for payments from other Payoneer customers; 3% credit card processing fee; 1% ACH debit fee; marketplace fees (Network, Fiverr, et al) vary by marketplace; 0% to 1% receiving account fee
Payoneer is an online payment system and peer-to-peer payment solution that allows you to transfer money to anyone anywhere in the world, in addition to making purchases. It provides you with a pre-paid Mastercard that you can use anywhere Mastercard is accepted.
As a freelancer, I’m familiar with Payoneer through sites like Upwork. The service is useful, but if you’re not a freelancer, there are better options. Professionally, what I like about it is that you can send payment requests to clients and they can pay you directly through the app.
Payoneer is another great option for freelancers who are crossing international borders with their work. You’ll pay no fees on the money your clients send to you, and if you send money, there are no fees as long as the recipient is a Payoneer member. Otherwise, you’ll pay 3% for a credit card payment and 1% on ACH transfers.
But, chances are, if you’re using Payoneer, you’ve encountered it on one of the many platforms that use it. Upwork is where I’ve seen it, but it’s also a payment option on Fiverr, Wish, and Airbnb, among many others. If you pay for products and services on sites like that, a Payoneer account for personal use could come in handy, but otherwise, it’s mostly for freelancers and small business owners.
Get Payoneer for iOS or Android.
Square
Fees for personal use: N/A
Fees for business use: First card reader is free; 2.6% credit card processing fee plus $0.10 per transaction; 3.5% plus $0.15 fee for payments that are manually keyed in
Not every in-person business operates in a storefront with a cash register. Square helps with that, equipping small business owners and freelancers with a way to easily swipe a card. The reader attaches to a phone or tablet, allowing you to accept payments anywhere.
I made the mistake of not using Square when I had an in-person event where I needed to accept cards a few years ago. I used the PayPal reader because I figured I already had an account so it would be easier. The swiper didn’t work, so I had to manually enter every single credit card. It was a pain.
For the next event, I ordered a Square reader and never looked back. It works every time, which comes in handy when you have a line of customers holding credit cards. Fees vary from 2.6% + $0.10 for swiped cards to 3.5% + $0.15 for manually keyed transactions, so while it might come in handy to be able to swipe your buddy’s credit card to pay you back for dinner, one of the apps built for personal payments will likely be better for that.
But Square isn’t just for taking in-person payments on the go. You can use it as a one-stop shop for all your business’s sales. You can send invoices directly from the dashboard, set up gift cards that you sell directly through their site, and even take sales on your website using their platform.
What I like about Square, though, is that you can see, at a glance, your total daily sales. If you’re regularly collecting money from customers — in person or online — having this easy access to your progress comes in handy.
Is it for personal use? Not really. You could swipe your friends’ cards using the reader, but the fees will cut into whatever you’re taking.
Get Square for iOS or Android.
Stripe
Fees for personal use: N/A
Fees for business use: First card reader is $59; 2.9% credit card processing fee plus $0.30 per transaction; 3.4% plus $0.30 fee for payments that are manually keyed in; 0.8% fee for ACH transfers
Another option geared toward the needs of small businesses is Stripe. The payment platform can be integrated with your online store or used separately by directing customers to pay you there.
Stripe is for business. You could use it to send money to friends, but the fees make it cost-prohibitive. Fees start at 2.9% + $0.30 for each successful card charge. You can also accept international transactions, with an additional 1% fee added to each transaction.
Compared to its direct competitor Square, Stripe has higher fees but better tools for online integration. If you’re swiping customer credit cards in-person, use Square. If you accept most payments online and want to offer options like recurring billing and subscriptions, use Stripe.
I’ve used Stripe to accept payments from clients, and I loved the easy sign-up process. They do require identity verification, but all I had to do was snap a photo of my driver’s license and set up two-factor authentication to start accepting payments.
What I like most about Stripe is the dashboard. When you log in, you can see, at a glance, how much you’ve made today, as well as your financial activity over the past seven days. You can also see any disputes customers have filed on previous charges.
Yes, you can send invoices using Stripe, and that’s how I get paid for what I do. But where Stripe really shines is in its API. You can easily add Stripe to your website to start taking payments, and, in fact, if you use one of the top web hosting services, you probably see Stripe as an option when you’re setting up your e-commerce store.
Stripe also has terminals and mobile payment options. You don’t need a card reader to accept in-person payments — simply hold the card in front of your phone and the camera will capture the information you need. If you regularly take payments on the go, it’s worth considering.
Get Stripe for iOS or Android.
ProPay
Fees for personal use: N/A
Fees for business use: $39.95 signup fee; $39.95 annual renewal fee; 2.60% credit card processing fee; 3.55% fee for payments that are manually keyed in; $0.35 bank transfer fee
ProPay offers payment processing tools for businesses of all kinds. Whether your business is small, on the road, or global, they can work with you.
ProPay is for the business that’s serious about accepting payments on the go. You can swipe cards using the ProPay JAK™ card reader. If you aren’t near your card reader, you can manually input the information. You can also opt to securely save a customer’s payment information to make things go more quickly the next time they buy from you.
One thing I love about ProPay is that it works even if you are offline. I’ve sold items at libraries, book fairs, craft fairs, and even in the parking lot after an event. You aren’t guaranteed to have Wi-Fi or even cellular connectivity at all times, and this app comes in handy for that. The transaction is logged the next time you go online.
For personal payments, this is another app that won’t really help you much. But if you’re a freelancer or work in direct marketing, this is a great app for processing payments.
As for fees, they depend on the type of card being used and the account you have. Rates start at 2.40% for swiped transactions. The complete rate chart is posted here.
Get ProPay for iOS or Android.
Zelle
Fees for personal use: None
Fees for business use: None (though there are no business-specific features)
You may already know Zelle as “the payment app my bank wants me to use.”
That’s because while competitors like PayPal and Vemno were marketing themselves to businesses and individuals respectively, Zelle was chatting up the banks. As a result of all that relationship-building, Zelle now interfaces with over 1,000 banks and banking apps worldwide, making it extremely easy to send and receive money directly through your banking dashboard.
The other benefit of using Zelle is it makes it way easier to send money to people who don’t use payment apps at all. For example, let’s say I wanted to send $200 to my grandparents to help them pay for a new fridge. If I said to them, “Do you have Venmo or Cash App?” they’d probably look at me like I was speaking a foreign language.
I don’t want to stress them out with the prospect of downloading an app (or buying a smartphone), so I’ll just send it via Zelle. They’ll receive an email from Zelle that shows them step-by-step instructions on how to enroll and put the money in their account, no apps required.
The other benefit to Zelle is simplicity. You simply send and receive money with no fees ever. That’s it. There are no newsfeeds, social features, nada. And frankly, the only reason I don’t recommend Zelle over Venmo is because the latter is just more recognizable.
Get Zelle for iOS or Android.
Cash App
Fees for personal use: 3% credit card processing fee; 0.5% to 1.75% instant transfer fee ($0.25 minimum); $2 ATM withdrawal fee with Cash Card
Fees for business use: 2.75% transaction fee
Like Venmo, Cash App is another one of those payment apps that everyone’s heard of, and everyone uses. It’s extremely simple, with a no-frills dashboard and no fees for personal use, and for better or worse it lacks the social features of Venmo.
At first glance, Cash App seems to be the Paris Hilton of payment apps: popular just because it’s popular. There’s no option to tip contractors, not much to appeal to business owners, and until you verify your personal information, you’re capped at sending $1,000 every 30 days.
Pretty soon, Cash App’s initial value proposition — barebones simplicity — may start to feel limiting when you see competitors offering compelling features like bank dashboard integration, currency conversions, and free credit card readers.
Thankfully, Cash App starts making way more sense when you learn about the Cash Card. The Cash Card is a debit card linked to your Cash App balance that lets you withdraw your funds from any ATM for a $2 fee.
That’s a big deal for folks who want their cash instantly, since the alternative is to:
Initiate an instant transfer for a fee ranging from 1% to 3%
Find an in-network ATM, or pay out-of-network ATM fees of ~2.5%
Let’s say you receive a $300 payment and want to convert it into cash. With Cash App, the total fee would be $2 or 0.67%. With another app, you could pay up to 5.5% or $18.33 in fees alone, plus having to wait up to 30 minutes for the “instant” transfer to your bank account.
True to its name, Cash App is the best payment app for converting received payments you receive into cold, hard cash.
Get Cash App for iOS or Android.
Apple Pay
Fees for personal use: 5% instant transfer fee (min. $0.25, max $15)
Fees for business use: No additional fees for merchants (though standard credit card issuer fees may apply)
Apple Pay offers more than just another way to send and receive money from friends. The app will also let you securely store all your credit and debit cards in a neat-looking virtual stack. Then, when you reach the register, you can just pull up the card you want to use, hover your phone near the payment terminal, and wait for payment to clear. No need to fiddle with your wallet or let your card out of your sight!
Apple Pay also works with Apple Watch, so you can simply pull up your card there and hold your wrist over the payment terminal until payment clears, signaled by a gentle tap from your watch.
For online stores and in-app purchases, you’ve probably noticed that Apple Pay isn’t quite as widely accepted as PayPal, but it’s getting there. Apple boasts that as of late 2022, over 85% of U.S.-based retailers accept Apple Pay — even vending machines and taxis.
As you might expect, Apple Pay is a perk reserved for iOS users only. In fact, it’s one of the apps that comes factory-installed on Apple devices. At least Android users like me still get Google Pay.
Get Apple Pay for iOS.
Benefits of online payment apps
First, it can help to take a look at the overall features of online payment apps. Online payment apps make it easy for a business of any size to collect money from customers. Peer-to-peer payment apps make it easy to transfer money to your friends.
Here are some benefits to consider:
Easily pay friends and family members
Transfer funds from your bank account to someone else’s with a few clicks
Set up recurring payments to friends or family members
Avoid carrying cash around with you
Skip the trip to the ATM before you go out with friends
Accept secure payments for products or services on your small business website
Set up a Point Of Sale system in a brick-and-mortar business using a tablet
Accept payments on the go using a card swiper
Provide an alternative to personal checks, which can be risky
Some of these won’t appeal to you, while others will. By looking through all the various features that are available, you can start to narrow down what you’re looking for in a payment app.
Features to look for in a payment app
As you’re researching payment apps, there are some features to consider. You may not even realize you can do some of these things using a payment app until you see one offering it.
Fees. Of course, we’d all love for everything to be fee free, but we know there’s a cost associated with some financial transactions. I look for an app that at least has a “friends” option, letting me send money without fees to people I know personally. Often you’ll have to link up a checking account to do this, though, as credit card-based transfers will typically incur a fee.
Social feeds. This isn’t something I look for, but with peer-to-peer payments, some find social updates valuable. When you pay your buddy for your half of those summer concert tickets, this lets all your other friends know about it.
Security. Yes, the verification process can be a pain with some of these apps, but I like it. It means that the platform takes security very seriously, which boosts my confidence that my financial data is safe with them.
Send to email. Some peer-to-peer payment platforms let you send email to someone else using an email address or information from your contacts list. You can even send money within some email and messenger apps with just a tap on the screen. I found this comes in handy when you’re interacting with someone about upcoming plans. You can submit your share of the funds within the same message string to make sure the other person sees it.
All-in-one functionality. Some apps combine the best of peer-to-peer and online payments, letting you pay using the same app. You’ll need to identify which businesses accept payment that way, but it can be a handy way to manage your budget.
Expand payment options. Businesses face the ongoing issue of keeping things as convenient as possible for customers. The more payment options you can offer, the less likely you’ll lose customers who are limited in how they can pay.
International payments. The internet has opened businesses up to reach out to an international customer base. Being able to accept payments across multiple currencies with minimal fees is a huge bonus if you want to go global.
If your business uses financial software, check for integrations. Being able to import information about your transactions can help you stay on top of things while reducing your own workload.
Summary
The beauty of payment apps is that you don’t have to choose just one. You can have a half dozen installed on your phone, so long as you protect yourself with extra layers of security like PIN codes and biometric logins.
And knowing which payment app to use in which scenarios can save you time, stress, and hundreds on fees.
NFTs or non-fungible tokens have gained a lot of momentum in the last few months. Whether it’s because of the digital art, the technology behind them, the money-making potential, or a simple case of FOMO, people can’t get enough of them.
Each day, we wake up to stories of artists and celebrities buying and selling NFTs for insane amounts. Case and point? Eminem recently shelled out 123.45 Ethereum (currently worth over $400K) for a Bored Ape NFT — and that’s not even the most expensive one in the market.
As someone who’s crawling herself out of student debt and on a budget, paying six figures for a digital asset is simply out of the question.
But are all NFTs that expensive? Or is there a way to start small?
I talked to NFT trader investor, consultant, advisor, and founder Ish Verduzco to find out, and, to my surprise, his answers were very promising.
What’s Ahead:
Do you have to be rich to invest in NFTs?
Last March, digital artist Mike Winkelmann, better known as “Beeple,” made headlines when an NFT of his work was sold for a record-breaking $69 million.
Then, we saw Snoop Dogg and Grimes buying and selling NFTs for six and seven figures, while Paris Hilton joined forces with Bill Ackman to back a $300 million NFT Foundation.
With figures like that, it’s easy to think that NFTs are some sort of exclusive investment that only the rich can afford. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth — at least that’s what both Verduzco and the data say. Verduzco says:
“Yes, there is some level of barrier to entry at the moment. But I wouldn’t say that they’re for the ultra-rich either…I think there’s an opportunity to get in.”
What makes NFTs more expensive than your average investment is that most of them are minted through smart contracts that live in the Ethereum blockchain, which Verduzco says is one of the most expensive ones, partly due to the gas fees.
Gas fees are basically the transaction fees of the Ethereum network. These fees are non-refundable, and must be charged to cover the costs of the energy used by the computers when validating and recording each NFT transaction. Verduzco says:
“To give you a very quick overview, it can cost like $50 to a few $100 just to transact, plus the cost of the NFT itself.”
So, how much money do you need to start investing in NFTs?
A recent study by Canadian concept artist Kimberly Parker, which analyzed public API data from sales on popular NFT marketplaces, like OpenSea, Nifty Gateway, Rarible, SuperRare, and MakersPlace, found that most NFTs are actually sold for under $200.
That’s right, you don’t need six figures — not even four figures, to own an NFT.
Verduzco says that a good amount to get started would be $500, which isn’t outrageous. After all, popular investment firms, like Wealthfront and E*TRADE, require minimum deposits of that same amount for you to start investing in their automated portfolios.
Read more: What Is An NFT? – How Nyan Cat Was Sold For $600,000
Why now may be a good time to get into NFTs
Many crypto and NFT experts — Verduzco included, think that the blockchain and smart contract technology behind NFTs will spread like wildfire across multiple industries, changing the world as we know it.
“It’s going to be integrated into almost everything we do,” Verduzco says.
“It’s not just going to be just art, it’s going to go into music, it’s going to go into film, it’s going to go into transacting things like deeds to houses, and anything that has to do with verification of ownership.”
Here’s a quick example of how this could work:
When you’re buying a house, the bank needs to make sure that the title is free and clear before closing on the loan. This process alone can take two weeks, and you’ll have to pay additional fees to the third-party company conducting the search.
But if the house was registered and sold as an NFT, for example, each transaction pertaining to that property would’ve been accounted for and recorded in the blockchain. So, clearing the title would only take a couple of hours instead of weeks, and you’d be able to get rid of the middleman and unnecessary fees.
Although the concept of NFTs is still in its early stages, Verduzco says that “it’s better to be ahead,” and — if possible — invest in it, so you learn the inner workings firsthand.
This will allow you “to spot more opportunities to make money, or find other people that are in this space who compliment your strengths and weaknesses in order to build projects based on needs.”
How to start investing in NFTs when you’re on a budget
As part of my convo with Verduzco, we bounced off some ideas on how you can get into the NFT game without breaking the bank. These are a few of them.
Read more: How To Create And Sell NFTs – The New Way To Sell Your Art
Explore NFT projects that use cheaper cryptocurrencies
If you visit OpenSea, which is currently the world’s largest NFT market, you’ll see that the vast majority of NFTs listed there use the Ethereum network (aka the most expensive NFT blockchain).
But just because most NFTs use this blockchain, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t other options.
Blockchains like Solana and Polygon (which was created as an efficient solution to the Ethereum network and is compatible with it) use cryptocurrencies that are much cheaper than ether, which is Ethereum’s currency.
Here’s an example:
At the moment this article was written, one SOL, which is Solana’s cryptocurrency, was worth $0.26, while one MATIC, which is Polygon’s cryptocurrency, was worth $2.13. But, if you wanted to purchase one ether, which is Ethereum’s cryptocurrency, you’d need $3,121.93 to do so.
So, yeah, there’s a huge difference there.
These alternative blockchains are also rising in popularity. JPMorgan recently released a report in which it states that the Ethereum blockchain is losing a chunk of its market share to Solana, as the blockchain is less congested (aka faster) and cheaper to invest in than Ethereum.
If you’re interested in buying NFT projects that use the Solana network, you can check out marketplaces like Solsea and Solanart, to find them.
When it comes to projects that use Polygon, you can find them just by visiting OpenSea. To see all the NFTs you can place bids on or buy using this network, simply click on the “Chains” option on the left panel, and select “Polygon.”
Mint a project
When you mint a project, you’re basically investing in it before it actually goes live. So, you could think of it as the Kickstarter of an NFT project. Verduzco says:
“The initial mint is usually like 0.05 Ethereum, which is a relatively small amount. If you happen to make it in that initial mint, then you pay only 0.05 Ethereum, versus if the project goes up in value, and then it costs 0.7, or much higher.”
One good example of an NFT project that is currently in its minting phase, and that I happen to like a lot is the Lucky Goat. You can currently mint this project for 0.0777 Ethereum ($243.43).
What has me rooting for the Lucky Goat (besides the art, of course) is that they donate some of their profits to Heifer International, which is a nonprofit whose mission is to help eradicate hunger and poverty.
So, how do you find projects to mint?
Twitter. If you enter “#mint” or “#NFT” on Twitter’s search bar, you’ll find countless threads of founders and artists sharing their upcoming NFT projects.
Discord. In case you don’t know what Discord is, it is a group-chatting app, where users join servers (aka private groups) to chat about a specific topic. Many NFT founders use this app to talk about their upcoming NFT projects, to get both support and feedback from users.
rarity.tools.Although this website is mostly used by NFT traders to vet projects and find rankings based on their rarity or unique traits, it also has an Upcoming NFT Sales section, where you can check projects to mint.
OpenSea’s homepage. They often share new mints, and you can easily browse through their huge NFT market.
But be careful…
Before minting a project, Verduzo says it’s super important to ensure its legitimacy, so you don’t get rugged (NFT lingo for “scammed”). Sadly, just like in any space, there are always bad players that are just there to do a quick cash grab and disappear.
To avoid this, make sure you research the project thoroughly by finding out all you can about its community, founders, and mission, as well as how long they’ve been around in this space.
Why?
If the project disappears into the mist, your NFT most likely will lose all its value, unless someone else decides to take over the project.
Time your purchase
Unlike the stock market, which is open for transactions Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, the NFT market is a global market that is open 24/7.
“So, it’s not just you and everybody else in the United States that you’re transacting with, it’s everybody in the entire world who has access to the Internet,” Verduzco says.
And, the more people that are trying to conduct transactions on the Ethereum network, the more congested it will be, which automatically translates to higher gas fees. This will hopefully be improved once Ethereum 2.0 (also known as the consensus layer) is fully rolled out.
One way to spend less money when buying NFTs is to ensure you conduct your transactions during the time of the day when the network is less congested.
Verduzco says that 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. PST is probably the worst time of the day to buy NFTs because that’s when most people around the world are awake. He suggests timing your transactions to random hours when most people are sleeping, like 2:00 a.m. or 5:00 a.m. PST. Though not always practical, it can help save a good amount of money.
You can also track gas prices by visiting the ETH Gas Station.
Become an NFT expert
Since NFTs are still an emerging concept, Verduzco says that one way you can make money in this space, without being an investor, is by learning all you can about them.
“It doesn’t always have to be investing in an NFT collection, in order to get a return,” Verduzco says.
“Understanding everything about the NFT space and becoming very good on one specific skill set, whether it’s social media marketing, community management, creating Discords, branding, or content creation, is going to provide value because, all of a sudden, you open yourself up to many job opportunities.”
In other words, you’ll be able to profit from your NFT knowledge as this technology becomes more widespread, and companies start searching for people who know their way around this space.
Before investing in NFTs…
Make sure your finances are in order
Investing in NFTs represents a higher risk than investing in traditional stocks or bonds, as their value is determined by speculation, so it fluctuates more than with your average investment.
Besides that, once you purchase an NFT, the transaction is final, and flipping them or reselling them could take a while. That’s why it’s so important you only invest money you have to spare, and not money you’re going to need short-term, as this could result in a financial disaster.
Learn as much as you can
“I would suggest investing your time and energy on learning before putting your money up,” Verduzco says.
“Find really cool projects that you like, and then join the Discords, listen to conversations, ask questions, watch a bunch of videos, read a bunch of blogs before you even think about putting Ethereum in your wallet to spend.”
Learning as much as you can about NFTs will give you a realistic idea of what to expect, plus determine whether you’re ready to take the plunge, or if you should wait a little longer before investing in this space.
If you’re curious about learning, you can check out podcasts, like a16z, which has extensive information on this topic, as well as reading books, like The NFT Handbook: How to Create, Sell and Buy Non-Fungible Token, to get started.
Additionally, Verduzco’s Twitter account is like a gold mine of NFT info, as he frequently shares projects, articles, and tips to help people learn more about this space.
Summary
You don’t have to be a millionaire to invest in NFTs, however, there’s a learning curve to be successful in this space.
The most important thing is to learn as much as you can about it, vet projects carefully, understand the risks associated with investing in such a volatile space, and make sure you don’t use money you’re gonna need. This will allow you to make the most out of your experience.
Disney’s new live-action version of “The Little Mermaid” is bringing a new generation of fans under the surface and into the timeless, classic story.
If seeing “The Little Mermaid” on the big screen isn’t quite enough for you, then you can book a trip to go “Under the Sea” where life is the bubbles. There are vacation destinations worldwide where you can hang out with mermaids or sometimes even learn to swim, just like Ariel and her mer-friends.
We can’t guarantee that a hot crustacean band will randomly burst into song, but we can bet you’ll have a fin-flipping good time.
Orlando World Center Marriott — Orlando, Florida
Less than 2 miles from Walt Disney World at the Orlando World Center Marriott, guests can meet “real” mermaids during Mermaids & Glow pool parties on select Saturday nights throughout 2023. Parties are at the Falls Pool and include meet-and-greet photo opportunities with the mermaids, pool games, arts and crafts, glow face painting, giveaways and more.
You can browse details and party dates on the hotel’s website.
Pullman Maldives Maamutaa — Maldives
Guests of the all-inclusive Pullman Maldives Maamutaa resort can learn how to become a mermaid in one of four different PADI-certified courses, ranging from beginner to advanced. Guests can test their fins in the PADI Discover Mermaid Experience or take their mer-lessons a step further by completing the full series of mermaid certifications. Beginner courses are designed for guests ages six and older, while more advanced courses require a higher minimum age.
If your schedule doesn’t allow for a full mermaid lesson, you can also schedule a swimming session with the resort’s “real-life” mermaids. Or, opt for a mermaid photo shoot that includes the use of a beautiful, shimmering mermaid tail and 10 digital photos in the resort’s swimming pool.
Kimpton Vero Beach Hotel + Spa — Vero Beach, Florida
The Mermaid For a Day program at the Kimpton Vero Beach Hotel & Spa lets guests ages 6 to 10 “experience the magic of mermaids” with a one-hour group mermaid session that includes a commemorative photo.
Guests can also book the overnight Mermaid For a Day Getaway, which includes a mermaid-themed welcome gift and a colorful mermaid tail for your child to take home. Make reservations for the one-hour experience and the overnight package by calling or emailing the hotel directly.
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Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa — Maui, Hawaii
Guests of the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa can choose from a variety of mermaiding courses designed for a range of ages and skill levels.
There is a Mini Mermaid Class (starting at $109 per person) for children ages 4 to 7 and a Social Media Mermaid Class (starting at $149 per person) that focuses on creating photos and videos for teens and adults. There is also a Beginner Mermaid Class (starting at $149 per person) that focuses on swimming skills for guests ages 8 and older. All classes take place in the resort’s lagoon-style pool.
Mermaid Freedive — Florida (various locations)
If your travels take you to Florida, Mermaid Freedive offers courses, retreats and photo shoots for all skill levels at locations across the state.
You can view the full list of courses on the Mermaid Freedive website. Some options include introductory courses at the Hilton West Palm Beach for children ages 6 to 9 and weekend-long mermaid retreats for adults in North Florida’s natural spring waters. No matter which course you choose, you’ll earn an official PADI mermaid certification after completion.
Four Seasons Bora Bora — Bora Bora, Tahiti
Later this year, guests of the Four Seasons Bora Bora will be able to become PADI-certified mermaids.
No matter your skill level, there will be a class that helps you feel comfortable embracing your mer-sona in the resort’s gorgeous, crystal-clear lagoon. The turquoise waters and the marine life swimming below the surface make a beautiful setting for learning to swim like a mermaid.
Silverton Mermaid School — Las Vegas, Nevada
The Silverton Casino Hotel in Las Vegas is well-known for its mesmerizing mermaid shows. The casino is home to a 117,000-gallon saltwater aquarium with thousands of marine animals, including some very special mermaids. For those who dream of joining their ranks, Silverton holds a 90-minute mermaid experience for visitors ages 7 and older at the Silverton Mermaid School.
Prices start at $175 but vary depending on which class type you choose, and you do not need to be a guest of the hotel to visit the Silverton Mermaid School.
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park — Weeki Wachee, Florida
For decades, people have traveled to Weeki Wachee Springs to see the world-famous mermaid show. However, watching from the other side of the glass just isn’t enough for some visitors. Luckily, Weeki Wachee’s Sirens of the Deep Mermaid Camp allows mer-curious guests to become mermaids during a two-day camp.
The camp is designed for adults ages 30 and older and includes underwater training sessions where you will learn the basic moves that Weeki Wachee mermaids perform during their shows. Former Weeki Wachee mermaids teach the sessions, which occur in Weeki Wachee’s freshwater springs.
Bottom line
Whether your kids are Ariel-obsessed or you want to realize a lifelong dream of donning fins and reliving the days you perfected your mermaid hair flip in the pool, there are vacation spots all over the world that can help you become a mermaid for a day. Whatever you do, though, don’t take relationship advice from evil sea witches.
There are currently increased offers on the American Express Hilton cards:
It seems that users applying through the following link: hilton.com/SeekingSummer are reporting no pop up saying they are ineligible for the bonus whereas if they applied through a different link they are getting the pop up (data points here & here)
American Express cards are the Mercedes of credit cards. They’re not cheap, nor are they easy to get – but boy are they nice…right?
Amex’s stand out as having some of the best perks and rewards in the industry, but they are offset by high annual fees, high credit requirements, and a slightly lower merchant acceptance rate.
That’s quite a list of drawbacks – especially the annual fee – but is it all worth it for the high rewards? Will the perks and points cover the cost of one of these cards, and then some? Or are you better off sticking with a Toyota than a Mercedes?
What’s Ahead:
What makes Amex cards stand out?
Generally speaking, Amex cards stand out from other credit cards in four ways. And like The Rock’s character in Fast Five, I like my dessert first – so let’s start with the good stuff.
Amex cards have industry-leading rewards
In a word, Amex rewards slap.
Not only will you earn crazy cash back with an Amex, but also some impressive sign-up bonuses, too.
Here are just a few examples:
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card
20% back on Amazon.com purchases within the first six months of card ownership.
$200 cash back after spending $3,000 in purchases within six months.
6% cash back at supermarkets and streaming services.
3% cash back on transit purchases.
American Express® Gold Card
75,000 Membership Rewards® Points for spending $4,000 within first six months of card ownership.
4x points at restaurants worldwide and U.S.-based supermarkets.
$120 Uber Cash.
The Platinum Card®
125,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 within first six months.
10x points on purchases at “Shop Small” (i.e. small businesses on this map) and restaurants worldwide.
5x points on flights.
5x points on prepaid hotels.
$200 Hotel Credit.
$200 Airline Fee Credit.
$200 Uber Cash.
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit.
$100 Global Entry or $85 TSA PreCheck®.
And more.
Even The Platinum Card®‘s eye-watering $695 annual fee starts to make sense when you consider it comes with $1,400 in credits for Uber, Netflix, and more.
Now that we’ve eaten dessert, it’s time for the cabbage, so to speak. What’s the bad news?
They have higher credit requirements
I’ll just come out and say it – you’ll need a 700+ credit score to have a good shot at getting approved for an Amex. That’s because Amex wants to attract “Lannister types” – those who spend big but always pay their debts.
Most Amex cards charge an annual fee
Amex currently offers 17 rewards cards, and 11 of them have an annual fee attached.
For reference, the six “freebies” are:
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card.
The Cash Magnet® Card.
The Hilton Honors Card.
Blue from American Express®.
The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card.
The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card.
These cards are OK. They compete with other no-fee cards on rewards, but lose ground on perks, merchant acceptance, and required credit.
Amex’s no-fee cards, then, are like a salad in a steakhouse; they’re perfectly fine, but they’re not why we’re here.
Instead, we’re here for the prime chops. Amex’s paid cards are highly compelling, but they’re definitely not cheap, with annual fees ranging from $95 to $695.
Regardless of how tasty the steak is, the eye-popping bill is an undeniable drawback.
The acceptance rate is better, but still lacking
Nothing deflates an Amex holder’s day faster than the following phrase:
“Sorry – Visa and Mastercard only.”
Poof. All those potential reward points, gone.
Historically, merchants have refused Amex’s because of high merchant fees. In 2017, Visa and Mastercard charged an average of 2.12% compared to Amex’s 2.36%.
0.24% may not seem like much, but when you’re operating on razor-thin margins, it adds up. That’s why, until very recently, only 3.7 million out of 10.6 million U.S. merchants accepted Amex.
Since then the acceptance rate among U.S. merchants has gotten much better – from 35% to 99% in just a few years. However, Amex still struggles internationally. According to a 2020 Nilson report, while Visa and Mastercard are now accepted by over 70 million merchants globally, only 44.2 million of them accept Amex.
It’s ironic, then, that Amex cards offer the industry’s best travel rewards – but there’s a 37% chance you can’t use them when you land.
Are Amex rewards worth the annual fee?
It depends!
If there’s an Amex that clearly fits your existing spending habits and lifestyle, you’ll almost certainly end up using it enough to clear the annual fee and earn serious rewards.
Here’s a quick summary of who is (and isn’t) a fit for an Amex card:
Amex cards are a good fit for:
Big spenders.
Delta Frequent Fliers.
Hilton Honors or Marriott Rewards members.
Amex cards are not a good fit for:
Frugal spenders.
Credit-builders.
Balance transfers.
Which Amex is right for you?
As hinted above, the key to picking the right Amex, and rewards card in general, is to find the card that fits your existing lifestyle and spending habits.
I emphasize existing because you don’t want to make the same mistake I did – I got a card in my early 20s that fit my aspirational lifestyle – not the one I was already leading. This led to me losing $75 on the card in Year One, and worse, overspending in Year Two to justify having it.
Don’t be like me!
Don’t get a rewards card that encourages unplanned or out-of-budget spending – instead, get a rewards card that gives you 3x, 6x, even 10x points back on stuff you’re already spending money on.
The rewards card should fit the lifestyle, not the other way around.
Examine your existing budget and spending habits
As you probably surmised from my mini-lecture above, the first step in determining if an Amex is right for you is to get a clearer picture of your existing spending habits.
If you use a budgeting tool, take a look at your spending summary for the past few months. If you prefer to budget more manually, pull up your current credit card statement as a substitute.
Now, what common credit card rewards categories are you spending the most in?
Flights?
Hotels?
Groceries?
Amazon purchases?
Making a list of your top three spending categories will help you choose the right Amex card in the next step.
Find the right Amex for you
Next, take a look at Amex’s current stable of rewards cards and spend a good 15 seconds studying each one’s sign-up bonus and rewards.
The travel rewards cards will be the easiest to filter out
Do you fly Delta once a month? The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card might be a fit. Do you fly Delta every week? You’ll almost certainly get value out of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card.
The same applies to the Hilton and Marriott cards. If you already frequent those hotel chains, the points and perks will justify the annual fee almost immediately.
If the travel cards aren’t a fit, that leaves the more general rewards cards
Do you spend a lot on groceries and streaming services? The Blue Cash Preferred® Card might be a fit.
Do you take Ubers frequently and could you benefit from 0% APR for 12 months? Maybe the American Express® Gold Card may be your literal golden ticket.
…or you might prefer The Platinum Card®
Finally, you might be considering the “S-Class” of the Amex lineup – The Platinum Card®. Despite having the highest fee of any Amex card, The Platinum Card® may actually be the best value – if you’re already spending big money on flights, hotels, Uber, SiriusXM®, etc.
If you’re not sure if you’ll be able to justify this or any other Amex’s high annual fee, let’s move onto Step 3 and do some math.
Calculate what you’ll need to spend to cover the annual fee
Let’s say you’re considering the Blue Cash Preferred® Card, but you’re not sure if you’ll spend enough to justify the $95 annual fee.
Thanks to sign-up bonuses, you’ll have no trouble justifying your fee in Year One. It’s Year Two you have to think about.
So, to determine how much you’ll need to spend to cover the fee in Year Two, use this simple equation:
Annual fee / percentage cash back rewards
For example, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card has a $95 annual fee and 6% cash back on supermarkets and streaming – among others, but for simplicity’s sake, we’ll focus on the biggest rewards categories:
$95 / 0.06 = $1,650
You’ll have to spend $1,650 within the 6% cash back categories to cover your annual fee.
Mind you, this is just a break-even point – you’ll have to spend another $1,650, or $3,300 total, to catch up to what you would have earned with a no-fee, 3% cash back card. So if you spend less than $3,300 annually in these categories, a no-fee card is probably a safer bet.
Summary
Amex cards are the Mercedes of credit cards – expensive, but feature-rich. They’re not for everyone – many won’t use them enough to justify the high annual fees. But those whose lifestyle and spending habits already justify the addition of an Amex are in for a treat.
With the start of summer upon us, now may be a great time to evaluate your credit card portfolio. Credit card sign-up bonuses and welcome offers are the quickest and easiest way to rake in lots of points and miles, so we regularly update the roundup of our favorite current offers in our best credit cards guide.
But to help you keep up with an ever-changing list of bonuses, we’ve also compiled a list of the best card offers currently available — especially the ones that are worth an extra look right now because they are at all-time highs or may end soon.
Since many issuers have restrictions on how often you can earn a bonus on a card, it’s important to time your application for when there’s a good offer. Also, higher bonuses don’t always stick around for long, so if you’re considering one of these offers, you’ll want to hop on it sooner rather than later.
Finally, if you’re not ready to jump on a higher-end card, consider these great starter cards or even one with a 0% introductory annual percentage rate (APR) offer.
The best credit card offers for June 2023
Card
Sign-up bonus/welcome offer
Welcome offer value*
Annual fee
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
120,000 points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the card within the first three months of card membership.
$2,400.
$695 (see rates and fees).
Ink Business Preferred Credit Card
100,000 points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the card within the first three months of card membership.
$2,000.
$95.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
80,000 points after you spend $6,000 in the first six months, though you may be able to get a higher bonus through the CardMatch tool (terms apply).
$1,600.
$695 (see rates and fees).
American Express® Green Card
60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in their first six months of card membership. Also, get 20% back on eligible travel and transit purchases in your first six months to earn up to $200 back.
$1,400 ($1,200 in points plus up to $200 in cash back).
$150 (see rates and fees).
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
75,000 miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
$1,388.
$395.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
75,000 miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
$1,388.
$95.
Chase Sapphire Reserve
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
$1,200.
$550.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
$1,200.
$95.
American Express® Gold Card
60,000 points after you spend $4,000 in the first six months of card membership, though you may be able to get a higher bonus through the CardMatch tool (terms apply).
$1,200.
$250 (see rates and fees).
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card, Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card, and Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
60,000 bonus points plus a 30% off promo code after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
$900.
$69 (Plus), $99 (Premier) and $149 (Priority).
United Club Infinite Card
80,000 bonus miles and 1,000 Premier qualifying points (PQP) after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Offer ends Aug. 9.
$880.
$525.
IHG Rewards Premier Business Card
165,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
$825.
$99.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points and a free night reward after spending $2,000 in purchases on the card in the first three months of cardmembership. Offer ends July 19.
$780.
$95 (see rates and fees).
* Welcome offer value is determined using TPG valuations and is not provided by nor reviewed by the issuer.
The Business Platinum Card from American Express
This business card stands out not only for its 120,000-point welcome offer but thanks to added travel perks that can easily cover the card’s $695 annual fee (see rates and fees). Cardholders enjoy automatic Gold status in both the Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy loyalty programs, along with access to a wide variety of airport lounges — including Amex Centurion, Priority Pass and Delta Sky Club (when traveling on same-day Delta flights). Enrollment is required for select benefits.
Cardholders also enjoy 5 points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels booked at American Express Travel, along with 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).
Related: Amex refreshes Business Platinum Card with new perks, higher annual fee and a 120,000-point bonus
On top of that, the card comes with up to $200 in annual airline fee statement credits and a 35% points rebate for flights booked through Amex Travel in first or business class on any airline (up to 1 million points back per calendar year), or in any class on the U.S. airline of your choice each year. Non-travel benefits include up to $400 in annual statement credits toward U.S. Dell purchases, up to $360 in credits toward Indeed, up to $150 toward select Adobe purchases and up to $120 toward wireless telephone services.
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Enrollment is required for select benefits.
Read our review of the American Express Business Platinum Card for more information.
Official application link: The Business Platinum Card® from American Expresswith 120,000 points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the card within the first three months of card membership.
Ink Business Preferred Credit Card
Then there’s the Ink Business Preferred. According to TPG’s valuations, this card’s welcome bonus alone is worth $2,000 since you can take advantage of Chase’s excellent collection of airline and hotel transfer partners. Points redeemed through the Chase travel portal are worth 1.25 cents each, which isn’t bad, either.
Another factor in this card’s favor? Its tremendous earning rates. You’ll earn 3 points per dollar across the following categories on up to $150,000 in combined purchases (1 point per dollar thereafter):
Travel.
Shipping purchases.
Internet, cable and phone services.
Advertising on social media sites and search engines.
Depending on which categories you spend in, you could earn a whopping 450,000 bonus points per year if you maxed out that $150,000 cap.
Among the Ink Business Preferred’s unsung benefits are cellphone protection, primary rental car coverage (when renting for business purposes) and other travel and purchase protections. You can also add employee cards to your account for free.
Read our full review of the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card for more information.
Official application link: Ink Business Preferred Credit Card with 100,000 bonus points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the card within the first three months of account opening.
The Platinum Card from American Express
Often referred to as the king of the premium travel rewards cards, the Amex Platinum offers a slew of benefits — along with a $695 annual fee (see rates and fees). Cardholders enjoy perks such as automatic Gold status with both Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy plus access to a wide range of airport lounges, including Amex Centurion, Priority Pass and Delta Sky Club (on same-day Delta flights). On top of that, you’ll get up to $200 in annual airline fee statement credits, an up-to-$200 hotel statement credit to use toward prepaid Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings (the latter of which requires a minimum two-night stay) via Amex Travel, and an up-to-$189 Clear Plus membership statement credit — along with numerous other perks. Enrollment is required for select benefits.
Related: It’s a ‘lifestyle’ card now: A closer look at the Amex Platinum’s 6 new benefits
Non-travel benefits include an up-to-$240 digital entertainment statement credit (split into monthly $20 credits) for Audible, The New York Times, SiriusXM, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal and services under the Disney umbrella — including Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu.
Cardholders also receive an up-to-$155 Walmart+ credit (subject to auto-renewal; Plus Ups are excluded), an up-to-$300 SoulCycle bike credit and an up-to-$300 Equinox statement credit for eligible Equinox memberships (now available as an annual benefit rather than monthly credits). You also receive Uber VIP status and up to $200 in annual Uber Cash (split into monthly $15 credits for U.S. rides and Uber Eats orders plus a $20 bonus in December).
Enrollment is required for select benefits.
Finally, cardholders will enjoy enhanced earning rates on many travel purchases:
5 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or with Amex Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year).
5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked with Amex Travel.
1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases.
And while the current welcome offer provides solid value, be sure to check the CardMatch Tool to see if you can receive an even higher one (offers are targeted and subject to change at any time).
Read our review of the American Express Platinum Card for more information.
Official application link: The Platinum Card® from American Express with 80,000 points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
The American Express Green Card
The American Express Green Card provides a compelling offering in the mid-tier travel category. With 3 points per dollar on broader travel, restaurants and transit as well as annual statement credits for Clear and LoungeBuddy that more than cover its annual fee, the Green from Amex is a card that modern travelers should consider.
The earning rates and benefits of the American Express Green Card will be most attractive to young professionals and millennials (or millennials at heart) who travel for work, pleasure or both. The card earns 3 Membership Rewards points per dollar on travel, restaurants and transit, so you’ll want to consider this card if a large chunk of your budget goes toward these categories.
The Amex Green also offers annual up to $189 Clear Plus and up to $100 LoungeBuddy statement credits that can more than offset the $150 annual fee (see rates and fees) while making your time in the airport more efficient and relaxing. If you can utilize these statement credits, the card can easily be a worthwhile addition to your purse or wallet.
Read our review of the Amex Green for more information.
Official application link: Amex Green with 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first six months of card membership. Also, get 20% back on eligible travel and transit purchases in your first six months to earn up to $200 back.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
The Venture X card is Capital One’s premium rewards card and offers great earning rates and incredible perks.
Aside from a hefty welcome bonus of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months – worth about $1,388 according to our valuations thanks to Capital One’s excellent airline and hotel transfer partners – the card gives members up to $300 back in statement credits annually for bookings made through Capital One Travel and 10,000 bonus miles every account anniversary, starting on their first anniversary (worth $100 toward travel, or $185 by our valuations).
As for earning rates, the Venture X racks up 10 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked via Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights booked via Capital One Travel, and an unlimited 2 miles per dollar on everything else.
Frequent travelers will also enjoy taking advantage of access to Capital One’s developing network of airport lounges as well as the ability to enroll for Priority Pass membership for entry into more than 1,300 lounge locations worldwide (though this no longer includes participating restaurants). It also added the ability to access Plaza Premium lounges worldwide in 2022 and launched The Premier Collection in 2023, giving cardmembers on-property perks at a curated set of luxury hotels.
Read our review of the Capital One Venture X card for more information.
Official application link: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card with 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
The Venture Rewards packs a pretty good punch for a mid-tier credit card. It earns a flat 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases worldwide, but you can earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel. The miles you earn with this card can be transferred to Capital One’s 17 airline and three hotel partners or redeemed through the Capital One Travel portal.
The card stands out for offering an application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck every four years; many other cards that offer this benefit have annual fees of $400 or more. This TSA PreCheck/Global Entry application fee credit alone is worth up to $100. When making everyday purchases, you may also get Warranty Manager Service which can be used for extended warranty protection. The Venture Rewards card doesn’t impose foreign transaction fees, so you can use the card overseas without accumulating extra charges.
Read our review of the Capital One Venture Rewards Card for more information.
Official application link: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card with 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Chase Sapphire Reserve
This is one of the best premium credit cards available.
It earns a whopping 10 points per dollar on Lyft (through March 2025), Chase Dining booked through Ultimate Rewards, and hotel and car rental purchases through the Ultimate Rewards Travel portal. Cardholders also earn 5 points per dollar on airline travel booked through the Ultimate Rewards Travel portal, 3 points per dollar on travel (after using the $300 travel credit) and dining, and 1 point per dollar on everything else.
Chase defines travel and dining quite broadly, including everything from parking fees to Airbnb stays and food delivery orders. Perks of the card include a $300 annual travel credit, Priority Pass membership, a $5 monthly DoorDash in-app credit (through December 2024), a complimentary DashPass membership and an impressive array of travel protections.
Read our review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve for more information.
Official application link: Chase Sapphire Reserve with 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of card membership.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
If you can’t justify a high annual fee or want a solid card with an appealing set of perks, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is an ideal fit. It earns 5 points per dollar on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards; 3 points per dollar on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out; 3 points per dollar on select streaming services; 3 points per dollar on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs); 2 points per dollar on all other travel; and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
The points you earn with this card can be transferred to Chase’s airline and hotel partners or redeemed for 1.25 cents each through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. Benefits include a $50 annual credit on hotel stays purchased through Ultimate Rewards, at least 12 months of DashPass membership (when activated by Dec. 31, 2024), primary rental car coverage, up to $500 in trip delay reimbursement if you’re delayed more than 12 hours or overnight, up to $10,000 in trip cancellation and interruption insurance and up to $100 per day for up to five days in baggage delay reimbursement if your bag is delayed more than six hours.
Read our review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred for more information.
Official application link: Chase Sapphire Preferred with 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
American Express® Gold Card
The Amex Gold card is a favorite of many TPG staffers thanks (in large part) to its terrific earning rates:
4 points per dollar on dining at restaurants (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.)
4 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year (1 point per dollar after that).
3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel.
1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
The card also offers up to $120 in annual credit for Uber rides and Uber Eats purchases and up to $120 in statement credits for select dining purchases (enrollment is required for select benefits) — all for a manageable annual fee of $250 (see rates and fees)
And while it’s not providing a limited-time bonus for new cardmembers, you can often find elevated welcome offers through the CardMatch tool. The card currently features a public welcome offer of 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership. However, some new customers can earn a 75,000-point or even 90,000-point welcome offer via the CardMatch tool after meeting the same minimum spending requirements. Note that these elevated offers are targeted and subject to change at any time.
Alternatively, you can refer a friend through the Amex referral program — and when your friend applies for a new account by June 7, you can earn an additional +5 rewards per dollar (as either points or cash back, depending on the card) on eligible U.S. supermarket purchases for three months after they’re approved (starting from the first date the referred friend’s account is opened), on up to $25,000.
Additionally, new applicants for the Amex Gold through a referral link will be eligible for an up to $200 statement credit after reaching minimum spending requirements, on top of that card’s usual welcome offer.
Read our review of the American Express Gold Card for more information.
Official application link: American Express® Gold Card with 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 in the first six months of card membership.
Southwest personal cards
All three personal of Southwest’s personal credit cards — the Rapid Rewards Plus, Rapid Rewards Premier and Rapid Rewards Priority — are currently sporting identical welcome offers: 60,000 bonus points plus a 30% off promo code after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. This is the first time Southwest has offered a promo code as part of a sign-up bonus on a credit card.
The code will appear directly in your Southwest.com account within eight weeks of meeting the spending requirement. It can be used — only once — on a single one-way or round-trip Wanna Get Away, Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime and Business Select fare, and is available for use until October 31, 2024.
Given it is a single-use promo code, it would be best to save this for a more expensive ticket. You’ll get the biggest savings when using the code for round-trip travel and/or during peak travel periods like the summer or the holidays.
Read more about the three cards and this limited-time offer.
Official application link: Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus
Official application link: Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier
Official application link: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
United Club Infinite Card
The United Club Infinite Card is the ideal card for United lounge access — bar none.
The United Club Infinite Card’s $525 annual fee sounds high until you factor in the United Club membership included with the card. Membership normally costs $650 per year for non-elite members.
In addition, one of the primary disadvantages of many airline credit cards is a low return on spending, even on branded purchases, as most airline cards only offer 2 or 3 points per dollar on airline purchases. But the United Club Infinite Card sets a new standard with an impressive 4 points per dollar on United purchases.
If you spend thousands of dollars on United flights each year, the United Club Infinite Card is worth considering.
Read our review of the United Club Infinite for more information.
Official application link: United Club Infinite with 80,000 bonus miles and 1,000 Premier qualifying points (PQP) after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Offer ends Aug. 9.
IHG Rewards Premier Business Card
New applicants for the IHG Rewards Premier Business card can earn 165,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within three months from account opening.
Your bonus will come in the form of IHG points, which TPG values at half a cent each. Thus, this bonus is worth $825.
Generally speaking, you won’t get fantastic earning rates on most hotel credit cards — especially on broad categories like dining and groceries. That said, the IHG Premier Business card could be a solid option, especially at participating IHG properties.
When you use your card at IHG hotels and resorts, you’ll earn 10 points per dollar spent on your stay. This is in addition to the 10 base points that all IHG One Rewards members accrue at most participating brands. And since you have automatic Platinum Elite status with the card, that’ll give you another 60% bonus on top of the base points. When combined, that translates to a total of 26 points per dollar spent on most IHG stays — or a 13% return on spending, based on TPG’s valuations.
Beyond IHG purchases, cardholders of the IHG Premier Business will earn points at the following rates:
5 points per dollar spent on travel, dining and gas purchases.
5 points per dollar in select business categories, such as social media and search engine advertising and at office supply stores.
3 points per dollar spent on all other purchases.
You’ll also receive a free night certificate (worth up to 40,000 points) every year when you renew your card and enjoy your fourth night free on award stays of four nights (or longer)
Read our full review of the IHG Rewards Premier Business for more information.
Official application link: IHG Rewards Premier Business card with 165,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within three months from account opening.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card provides solid earnings at Hilton properties and automatic Hilton Gold elite status, which offers complimentary breakfast, increased earnings and space-available upgrades when you stay at Hilton properties.
Hilton Honors Gold status is one of the best mid-tier hotel loyalty statuses you can obtain. As a Hilton Gold elite member, you’ll get complimentary breakfast, space-available room upgrades and improved earnings when staying at Hilton brands. Luckily, you can easily earn and maintain Hilton Gold status since it is an automatic perk of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card.
The Hilton Surpass card is an ideal choice for those who stay at Hilton properties often and want a cobranded credit card with a modest annual fee and valuable perks.
Read our full review of the Hilton Surpass for more information.
Official application link: Hilton Surpass with 130,000 bonus points and a free night reward after spending $2,000 in purchases on the card in the first three months of cardmembership. Offer ends July 19.
*Bonus offer value is based on TPG valuations and not provided by issuers.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card, click here. For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum card, click here. For rates and fees of the Amex Gold card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Green card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors Amex Surpass, click here.
Additional reporting by Ryan Wilcox and Eric Rosen.