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Monkey Miles TOP CREDIT CARD PICKS

*What’s new for February 2021 

Jump to Our Favorite Personal Cards

Jump to Our Favorite Business Cards

The first month of 2021 was the best we’ve ever had! Thank you to everyone who visited and hopefully you were able to get some great deals and use our tips and tricks.

Fingers crossed we can be of assistance in making your travel dreams come true in 2021 and beyond. If you’re just getting started in points and miles this is a great time to start. The best cards on the market are still offering some of their highest welcome offers, perks, and incentives to attract new customers.

I want to stress this point though – carrying debt to earn points is a terrible idea and we always recommend paying all of your bills off in full and on time. Second, we make money when you use our links, and greatly appreciate of that, but make sure you’re getting the best deal out there. You could be targeted for a higher offer and we want you to get the best deal. With that said – we are a small business and rely on your support to keep going.

Quick Feb update:

• Chase has updated their Chase Sapphire Preferred Offer with an even better deal that it was before and includes a $50 grocery credit
• Chase Freedom Flex and Freedom Unlimited still have great deals and make great additions to your wallet with no annual fee
• The Chase World of Hyatt card is much better via referral than public offer – so read this post if you’re looking for one of those. You can also leave your referrals on that page.
• Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority is offering a Companion Pass + 30k points after minimum spend
• The Citi Thank You Premier and Citi Double Cash are some of the most underrate cards on the market – you can read more about them here
• American Express Business Gold has a new offer that includes 70k Membership Rewards after $10k spend in 3 months + $300 in statement credits ( Terms apply )
  • Keep your eye out for targeted 90k welcome offers
• Amex Platinum still has its offer featuring a 10x bonus us gas and us supermarkets up to $15k in 6 months – so jealous I already have the card and can’t get this offer.
• Amex Gold now has a $120 Uber Cash credit in addition to a 60k welcome offer after $4k spend in 6 months and 4x on both dining and us supermarkets – one of my favorite cards.

If you’ve found us via TikTok… I gotchu BAYBAY 🙂 Please enjoy this intro video and sizzle that shows what is truly possible with points!

A brief intro to the banks we use most

*Chase Sapphire Preferred has a new welcome offer of 60k Ultimate Rewards after $4k spend in 3 moths + $50 grocery credit ( in the first year on eligible purchases )

If you’re just starting then I would highly recommend beginning with Chase cards since they not only have an incredible transferrable point currency, Ultimate Rewards, they use something called the 5/24 rule to limit approvals. 5/24 represents a policy that Chase has against approving you if you’d had 5 new accounts opened on your personal report in the last 24 months. If you’re thinking of bulking up your wallet with some great point earning cards, you want to make sure you give yourself the best shot with Chase, and a low 5/24 number helps. You can read more about that here, but it’s why I recommend beginning with Chase cards. The goal would be to build a Chase Trifecta or Quadfecta of cards that maximize your ability to earn points on every dollar you spend on them. I won’t get into detail on that, but here’s a link that explains more.

One thing to remember. If you carry a Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve, or Chase Ink Business Preferred you can transfer points to Chase’s amazing partner list. If you carry a cash back card alongside those premium cards, you can merge your points together. Read about that here, but it’s why I stress carrying at least two to increase your earn rate.

The Chase Freedom Flex and Freedom Unlimited are tremendous cards with no annual fee and I would pay close attention to those.  Over on the business front, the no annual fee Chase Ink Business Cash and Unlimited have new and fantastic offers.

• Chase Freedom Flex and Chase Freedom Unlimited have amazing offers currently running and I would highly recommend both cards
  • They were improved in September of 2020 and at least one should be in your wallet
• Chase Sapphire Preferred  is a great started premium card and one that I actually carry
  • I think this is a great card to view as your Chase cornerstone
• Chase Sapphire Reserve is also well worth your interest that includes many additional perks, but has a much higher annual fee
• Chase Ink Business Preferred is one of the best business cards you can carry and I actually have two of them in my wallet ( different businesses )
  • 3x on a litany of categories and earns transferrable points
• Chase Ink Business Cash
  • rotating quartely 5x categories make this a great card to keep in your wallet to maximize spend
• Chase Ink Business Unlimited
  • earn 1.5x on every dollar your business spends

American Express

American has some of the best cards on the market and an incredible Membership Rewards program with over 20 transfer partners. I carry 6 American Express cards and couldn’t recommend them more, and the biggest thing to keep in mind is their welcome offers are once in a lifetime. Make sure you get the highest offer you can find! With that said…Amex has some amazing offers currently running. The two I would pay most attention to are Amex Platinum, and one of my favorite cards of all time the Amex Gold.

• American Express Platinum 
  • Offers range between 75k and 125k – so look around.
  • It also comes with a limited time 10x on US gas and US supermarkets for 6 months, up to $15k in purchases ( WalMart and Target are not included )
• American Express Gold 
  • Best public offer I’ve seen at 60k after $4k spend in 6 months

Citi

Citi has a great program that offers transferrable points called Thank You points, and several different restrictions regarding approval – namely, 1 application every 8 days and 2 in 65 days.  With over a dozen transfer partners it is a great complement to the programs above. Personally, I carry a Citi Prestige and a Citi Double Cash. Much like the Chase programs that allow the merging of points earned as cashback, Citi allows you to merge Citi Double Cash points with those earned on the Citi Prestige and Citi Premier. The Prestige makes sense for me, but I would typically recommend a combo of Citi Premier and Citi Double Cash.

I would go as far as to say that the combo listed below is one of the most underrated on the market.

• Citi Premier
  • 3x points on Travel and Gas Stations
• Citi Double Cash
  • 2% back everywhere without a limit

You can see how that combo could be great to have and the annual fee on the Citi Premier is just $95.

You can read more about Citi Cards on our partner’s site CardRatings and their list of Best Cards of 2021

Capital One

Capital One really changed their status in the points world when they announced at the end of 2018 that they created a transferrable points program. It has some great partners, and personally I would focus on two cards.

• Capital One Venture
  • The offers continue to vary, but you’ll earn 2 points for every dollar that you spend.
    • The big thing to note here is that MOST Capital One points transfer at a 2:1.5 ratio, meaning for most parnters, you’re earning 1.5x points per dollar spent after you transfer to them. The exceptions are Singapore, Accor, and Emirates.
  • You get a Global Entry fee credit which completely wipes out the annual fee – pretty awesome
• Capital One Spark Miles
  • This is a beast of a business card and keep a look at for massive offers. They’ve been as high as 200k points for $50k spend in 6 months. That’s the time to hop in on this whale of a card.
• Capital One Spark Cash
  • If you’re just looking for straight up cash…this card earns you unlimited 2% back on every purchase. That is a cashback rate you should at least consider; however, the cashback earned on this cannot be combined with the cards above like I have mentioned with Chase and Citi.

If you want to travel like me, you need some fire power, and that means turning your wallet into an armory.

We try and earn the most points on each and every dollar we spend. That’s how we’ve traveled over 500k miles, circled the globe multiple times, redeemed millions of points, and enjoyed over $250k worth of travel in the past 5 years. I’ve done safaris, seen wonders of the world, and I even took my mom and dad on a surprise, 24 day, around the world trip that would have cost $125k had we paid retail ( our cost was just $5k ).  I’m always re-evaluating the credit card marketplace, looking for ways to tweak my current arsenal of point earning powerhouses to see if I can’t do a bit better. Every point counts, right? Each month, we’ll put together a list of cards we think are great at helping readers ( and us ) get closer to our travel goals.

You need a great base of credit cards that are your “Go-Tos,” the ones you constantly pull out for expenses. They offer a great bang for your buck on most of your purchases. But your arsenal…well, those are cards you keep for specific purposes, perks, and benefits that amplify your travel from the sidelines.

Building the right base, and an accompanying arsenal of the great credit cards means you’ll be traveling better and more often. Here’s a look at my current armory 🙂

What’s in my Base?

My base consists of the cards I use on a monthly basis for regular purchases. Currently it consists of this:

• Chase:
  • Chase Sapphire Preferred
  • Chase Freedom
  • Chase Ink Business Preferred
  • Chase Ink Business Cash
  • Chase Ink Business Unlimited
• Amex
  • American Express Platinum
  • American Express Gold
  • American Express Blue Business Plus
  • American Express Green

What’s in my Arsenal?

My Arsenal consists of cards that I use occasionally ( like hotel stays, free baggage, etc ) or ones whose intrinsic benefits outweigh the cost of the card

• Citi
  • Citi Thank You Prestige
  • Citi Double Cash
• Chase
  • IHG Rewards Select
  • Chase World of Hyatt Credit Card
• Amex
  • American Express Business Platinum
  • American Express Blue for Business

Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning we make money off of you using them via our partner Card Ratings.  However, we still include links to cards that we don’t have a financial relationship with, but feel are just cards with great value. We really appreciate you using our links as it’s what keeps the lights on, and Miles’ hunger for first class travel satiated 😉

Our Favorite Personal Credit Cards for January 2021

	Credit Card	Why Monkey Miles thinks you should consider it
	Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card	For the traveler looking to earn bonus points with dining and travel and great rental car protection, Read More *Highly Recommend*	Learn More
	Chase Sapphire Reserve	For the Traveler looking for lounge access and triple points on dining and travel worldwide + a $300 annual travel credit, and great rental car protection Read More	Learn More
	Chase Freedom Flex	For the traveler who prefers cash back. With opportunities to earn up to 5% cashback on rotating categories each quarter., Read More	Learn More
	Chase Freedom Unlimited	For the traveler looking for no annual fee and worry free unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases, Read More	Learn More
	Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority	For the traveler who values Southwest perks and benefits and the Companion Pass Read More	Learn More
	American Express Platinum	For the Traveler looking for Centurion lounge access, 5x points on airlines, uber VIP status and credits , Read More *Highly Recommend*	Learn More
	American Express Gold	For the traveler who's looking for big dining and us supermarket bonuses. 4x on both! , Read More *Highly Recommend*	Learn More
	American Express Green	For the traveler who's looking to earn 3x on travel and dining + great credits. We highly recommend for beginners! Read More	Learn More here
	Capital One Venture Rewards	For the traveler who wants double points on every purchase and great transfer partners Read More	Learn More
	Chase IHG Premier	For the traveler who wants IHG status and benefits, an annual free night, and 4th night free when booking with points Read More	Learn More
	Chase World of Hyatt	For the traveler who stays at Hyatt and wants status and a free night every year Read More	Learn More
	Chase British Airways Credit Card	For the traveler looking to fly on One World airlines, enjoys British Airways, and values a companion pass. Read More	Learn More
	American Express Hilton Aspire	For the traveler looking for top tier status, resorts credits, and more with Hilton, Read More	Learn More

Chase Sapphire Preferred

(Learn More )

Current Offer:

Earn 60k points after $4k spend in 3 months + $50 Grocery Credit. Annual fee is $95

Why we love it:

In our opinion, this is the one of the best cards you can keep in your wallet. It’s perfect for both newbies and longterm point pros alike. Chase and their Ultimate Rewards program feature an incredible list of transfer partners like Hyatt, British Airways, United, Singapore Airlines, Air France, Virgin Atlantic, IHG, and Marriott.  For a relatively low annual fee of $95 you can earn double points on all your dining and travel purchases, and if you carry this card you can merge the points you earn from Chase’s cashback cards like the Freedom Flex and Freedom Unlimited. If you have a business, you can merge points from those cards as well. I use the Chase Sapphire Preferred as a cornerstone in my Chase portfolio.

Benefit Overview

• 60k Ultimate Rewards after $4k spend in 3 months + $50 Grocery Credit
• No foreign transactions fees
• 2x dining and travel
• Fully transferrable 1:1 to all of Chase’s Ultimate Reward Partners
• Get Primary Auto Collision Coverage
• Trip Cancellation and interruption insurance
• 24/7 Customer Service
• Get Dash Pass
  • Unlimited $0 delivery fee + reduced service fees on eligible orders over $12 for a minimum of one year with DashPass
  • Activate by 12/31/21.

 

Chase Sapphire Reserve

( Learn More )

Current Offer:

Earn 50k points after $4k spend in 3 months. Annual fee is $550

Why we love it

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is the granddaddy of all Chase cards. It’s the card that lit the media on fire when it hit the market just a few years ago with perks like a $300 annual travel credit, full Priority Pass membership with access to great lounges all around the world for you and 2 guests, 3x points on dining and travel worldwide, and points that are worth 1.5c in the Chase Travel Center. And of course, the Chase Sapphire Reserve earns Ultimate Rewards that can be transferred to partners like Hyatt, British Airways, United, Singapore Airlines, Air France, Virgin Atlantic, IHG, and Marriott. When you factor in the $300 travel credit, you’re paying an extra $255 more than the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

Benefit Overview

• $0 Foreign Transaction Fees
• Priority Pass membership
• Fully transferrable 1:1 to all of Chase’s Ultimate Reward Partners
• 3x on dining and travel
• 50k points are worth $750 in Chase Travel Center
• Get Primary Auto Collision Coverage
• Trip Cancellation and interruption insurance
• 24/7 Customer Service

 

Chase Freedom Flex 

(Learn More)

Current Offer:

Earn $200 welcome bonus after spending $500 in 3 months. No annual fee.

Why we love it:

This is a card we have carried for several years now because of 5x rotating category bonuses. Every quarter, Chase selects categories like grocery stores, drug stores, gas, department stores, etc for you to earn 5x points, on up to $1500, on purchases. Now, this is technically a cash-back card, but when paired with a premium Ultimate Rewards card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve, you can transfer that cash-back into you Ultimate Rewards account. This is what I do every year, and if you max out those $1500 quarterly bonuses, you end up making 5x points on $6k of spend. Or 30k points, each and every year.

Benefit Overview

• No Annual Fee
• 5x rotating category bonuses
• Combine your cash-back with your premium Ultimate Rewards

Chase Freedom Unlimited

(Learn More )

Current Offer:

Earn $200 bonus after $500 spend in 3 months, earn 1.5% back on all purchases. No Annual Fee. $200 = equivalent of 20k Ultimate Rewards

Why we love it:

The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a fantastic card for those who prefer cash-back, OR ( and this is our fave ) to pair with either the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve. Why? When you team the Chase Freedom Unlimited with a premium Ultimate Rewards card you can take your cash-back earned and transfer it into your Ultimate Rewards account. Why is that a good thing? Because then you can access of all those transfer partners to unlock incredible travel redemptions.

Benefit Overview

• No Annual Fee
• $200 bonus after $500 spend in 3 months
• 1.5% or 1.5x points on every purchase

American Express Platinum Card

 ( Learn More )

Current Offer:

Earn 75k points after spending $5k in 6 months + 10x on US gas and US supermarkets for 6 months, up to $15k. Annual fee of $550

Why we love it

A card we carry and love. The American Express Platinum Card is a heavy hitter, and not just because it’s made of metal. This new welcome offer is stunning because you can earn a whopping 10x points on US gas and US supermarkets for 6 months, up to $15k total. That is a potential 150k Amex points. You’ll also have access to Priority Pass lounges, Amex’s own uber lux Centurion Clubs, earn 5x points on airfare purchased directly with the airlines or Amex Travel, access to Amex’s own Fine Hotels and Resorts program for upgrades, breakfast, and credits, earn $15 a month in Uber credits, and their Membership Rewards are some of the best points you can possibly earn. I love using their points to transfer to programs like Aeroplan, Singapore Airlines, Air France, Emirates, Avianca, Qantas, and many, many more.

Benefit Overview

• $200 airline incidental credit every year
• $15/mo Uber credit, totaling $200 ( $35 in December )
• $100 annual Saks Fifth Avenue credit
• Priority Pass membership
• Access to Centurion lounges
• 5x on airfare purchased directly with the airline or Amex Travel
• Access to Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts
• No foreign transaction fees

American Express Gold Card

( Learn More )

Current Offer: 

Earn 60k bonus points after spending $4k in 3 months. Annual Fee is $250

Why we love it:

American Express revamped their Gold card in 2018 and we named it THE MOST compelling card of the year. I’d argue it’s still the most compelling card in 2021 as well. Earning 4x points on dining worldwide, 4x on US supermarkets ( up to $25k ), 3x points on airfare purchased via Amex Travel and directly with airlines, $10 monthly dining credit at select restaurants, $10 monthly credit on Uber/Uber Eats, let’s just say my Amex Gold card gets a ton of swipes every month. The Amex Gold card also earns Membership Rewards and I love using their points to transfer to programs like Aeroplan, Singapore Airlines, Air France, Emirates, Avianca, Qantas, and many, many more to access those super fancy cabins everyone loves. This is one of the absolute workhorses of my wallet.

Benefit Overview

• 4x points at US Supermarkets ( up to $25k per year )
• 4x points on dining worldwide, plus qualifying takeout, delivery, and Uber Eats
• 3x points on Airfare purchased directly with airlines and via Amex Travel
• $10 monthly dining credit ( Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Shake Shack, and Ruth’s Chris Steak House)
• $120 Uber Cash Credit – $10 a month to be used on Uber or Uber Eats
• No foreign transaction fees
• Annual Fee of $250

American Express Green Card

( Learn More )

 

Current Offer: 

Earn 30k Membership Rewards after spending $2k in 3 months

Why we love it:

The Amex Green Card earns 3x on travel categories, including flights, hotels, tolls, metro, rideshare, and busses. This increased earn structure paired with statement credits of $100 on Clear and Loungebuddy make this a valuable card to keep in our wallet. Plus, it’s another great way to earn referral bonuses!

Benefit overview:

• 30k Membership Rewards Welcome Offer after $2k Spend
• 3x on Travel, transit, and dining
• $100 annualClear credit
• $100 Loungebuddy credit
• $150 annual fee

Capital One Venture Rewards

( Learn More )

Current Offer: 

Earn 60k miles after hitting a min spend of $3,000 in 3 months from account opening. $99 annual fee, waived first year

Why we love it:

Capital One changed the game in 2018 when they opened up their program to transfer partners ( most partners transfer at 2:1.5).  The Capital One Venture Rewards offers 2x miles on everyday purchases, and you’ll also receive a  $100 Global Entry fee credit/TSA Pre✔®

Benefit Overview

• 12 transfer partners ( most transfer at a 2:1.5 ratio, but a few at 2:1)
• Earn 2 miles on every dollar you spend
• Get a $100 Global Entry fee credit/TSA Pre✔®

Chase IHG Rewards Club Premier

( Learn More )

Current Offer:

• Earn 140k IHG points after spending $3k in 3 months.
• $89 annual fee.
• Earn 25x points at IHG

Why we love it.

The IHG Rewards Club Premier not only gives you Platinum status in IHG for as long as you have the card, it also gives you a free night every single year after your anniversary ( up to 40k points ). Those two reasons alone are reason enough to acquire and keep the card long term, but here’s an incredible perk for point redemptions: you get a 4th night free when using points for your entire hotel stay. That is incredible. You’ll also get $100 Global Entry fee credit/TSA Pre✔® every 4 years, and earn 25x points per dollar spent at IHG properties. If you’re an IHG fan…this is a fantastic card for you.

Benefit Overview

• IHG Platinum status as long as you keep the card
• 4th night free when using points to book your entire stay
• Annual free night certificate on hotels valued at 40k and under
• $100 Global Entry fee credit/TSA Pre✔®

Chase World of Hyatt Credit Card

(Learn More )

Current Offer:

Earn 30,000 World of Hyatt points after you spend $3k on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Plus, Earn 3x on what would normally give you 1x up to $15,000 in the 6 months after account opening. This means you’d get 60k bonus points after $15k spend in 6 months. Don’t forget you get a free category 1-4 certificate when you spend $15k in a year.

Why we love it

Every year you hold onto this card you will keep Discoverist status within Hyatt, but the big benefit is the annual night certificate at category 4 hotels and below. There are really amazing cat 4 and below hotels around the world, and I’ve stayed at many of them ( Park Hyatt Siem Reap, Saigon, Taipei). Tack on earning 4x points on every dollar you spend at Hyatt properties and the World of Hyatt credit card is a great card to keep in your wallet. You also have the opportunity to earn status nights ( 2 Elite qualifying nights for every $5k you spend ), and if you spend over $15k in a year, you’ll earn another category 1-4 free night certificate. I’ve also been able to save a ton of points through promos directed at World of Hyatt cardholders. The most recent being 25% off stays when using points. These tend to happen at least once per year, but varies. If you like Hyatt hotels, which I love, this is great card to keep in your wallet.

Benefit Overview

• Annual category 1-4 free night certificate
• 4x points at all Hyatt hotels ( this totals 9x points on every dollar spent when you factor in the 5x base points )
• 2x points at fitness clubs
• 2x points on dining
• Earn 2 Elite qualifying nights for every $5k you spend on the card
• Earn a bonus category 1-4 free night certificate when you spend $15k+ on the card.

Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority?

Learn More 

Current Offer:

Receive a Southwest Companion Pass ( valid until 2/28/22) + 30k Rapid Rewards after spending $5k in 3 months

Why we Love it:

If you’re one of the millions of Southwest loyalists this card not only gives you the iconic Southwest Companion Pass, but another 30k Rapid Rewards after hitting the minimum spend requirements. That is an amazing offer, but the card doesn’t stop there. You’ll get a 7500 point bonus after your card anniversary, $75 Southwest Travel credit, and 4 upgraded boardings per year when available. The card carries a $149 annual fee which is worth considering, but it comes packing some heavy punches.

Benefit Overview

• Receive a Southwest Companion Pass ( valid until 2/28/22) + 30k Rapid Rewards after spending $5k in 3 months
• 7,500-point anniversary bonus:
• $75 annual Southwest travel credit:
• Four upgraded boardings per year ( when available ):
  • Want to get in that sweet A1-A15 spot? You can use these at the ticket counter or gate to jump to the front.
• 20% off inflight purchases like Wifi, inflight drinks
• Annual Fee $149

Chase British Airways Credit Card

( Learn More )

Current Offer:

Earn 50k Avios after $3k min spend in the first 3 months from account opening. Note a companion certificate is credited after spending $30k in a cardmember year. Depending on the cabin of service, you are eligible to get some taxes and fees credited back if you are a cardholder

Why we love it

British Airways Avios are great to use on their partners for short flights because you can avoid heavy taxes and fees, but still extract a ton of value. I use these points quite often domestically in the states on American Airlines, as well as in Asia on Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines. There are some great sweet spot redemptions, and this card earns points fast with a 4x offer. On top of the rapid earn, you also get a free companion certificate when you spend over $30k in a year on the card. My family made use of this perk back in 2015 when we took a safari to South Africa and my parents flew roundtrip in British Airways First Class with a Chase BA companion certificate. Taxes and fees add up quickly, and Chase has taken steps to help offset those if you’re a cardholder with $100 off Econ or Premium Econ bookings and $200 back on Business/First one credit per reservation, up to 3 times per year. You do need to use your Chase BA card to pay for the fees.

Benefit Overview

• 50k Avios after $3k in 3 months after account opening
• 3x Avios on all BA purchases
• Spend $30k in a cardmember year and get a companion certificate good for 2 years on BA ( these are good on both points and cash bookings )
• No foreign transaction fees
• Get Taxes and Fees reduced with credits
  • $100 for an economy or premium economy booking
  • $200 for a business or first class booking.
  • You can receive one statement credit per reservation, up to 3x per calendar year.
  • You have to pay the award taxes and fees with the Chase British Airways Visa to get the credit.

Citi Thank You Prestige

Current Offer: 

Earn 50k points after $4k in 3 months of card membership. Annual fee is $495

Why we love it

The Citi Thank You Prestige gives you a 4th night free when you book via their portal or concierge. That’s incredible value. This benefit changes to just 2x per year in September, but even still…it’s staying in my wallet. It also gives a Priority Pass membership, access to Citi’s transferrable points program Thank You which has numerous transfer partners like Etihad, Virgin Atlantic, Qantas, and Singapore Airlines. You’ll also enjoy 5x on dining, 5x on airfare purchased directly with the airline, and great travel interruption protection.

Benefit Overview

• 5x points on dining worldwide
• 5x points on airfare purchased direction with the airline
• 4th night free benefit ( 2x per year starting sept 2019 )
• Priority Pass Membership
• One of the best travel protection coverage plans
• Access to World Elite Mastercard benefits

Barclay Aadvantage Aviator Red

Current Offer:

Earn 50k points after a single purchase. Annual fee of $99

Why we love it:

You’ll get cool features like a first checked bag free and preferred boarding plus a companion certificate, but what I really enjoy about having the card is access to AA’s reduced mileage awards. This program reduces flights between select cities by 7500 miles when you have a qualifying card, which the Barclay Aviator Red is…that’s an amazing savings on tickets. You also have access to World Elite Mastercard benefits as well.

Other Benefits:

• First checked bag free
• Preferred Boarding
• $99 Companion certificate after you make your first purchase and pay the annual fee
• $25 statement credit on AA in flight Wifi
• 25% off in flight snacks on AA

American Express Hilton AspireLearn More

Current Offer:

Earn 150k points after spending $4k in 3 months. Annual fee of $450

Why we love it

This card is an absolute beast giving members top tier Diamond Status, a free weekend night good at most any Hilton in the world, $250 resort credit ( not good on pre-paid rates ), $250 Airline incidental credit, earn 14x points on Hilton purchases, Priority Pass Select, and shoprunner. I don’t have this card yet, but it’s on my list to get. I absolutely love it, and the Hilton perks are incredible.

Benefit Overview

• Free Annual weekend night on your account anniversary
• Diamond status, top tier, as long as you maintain the card
• $250 resort credit ( not good on prepaid rates)
• $250 annual airline incidental credit
• 14x points at Hilton Hotels
• 7x points US restaurants, airfare booked directly with the airline/Amex travel, select car rental agencies.

Miles’ Top Business Credit Card Picks

	Credit Card	Why Monkey Miles likes this card
	Chase Ink Business Preferred	For the small business looking for free cell phone protection, and big bonuses on travel, shipping, and select internet advertising Read More	Learn More
	Chase Ink Business Unlimited	For the small business looking for a no annual fee card that earns 1.5% cash back on every single purchase regardless of category, Read More	Learn More
	Chase Ink Business Cash	For the small business that spends a lot on office supplies, cable, and internet, and no annual fee, Read More	Learn More
	American Express Blue Business Plus	For the small business looking to avoid an annual fee but still earn double points on every purchase, up to $50k, Read More	Learn More
	Capital One Spark Miles for Business	For the small business looking to earn double points without cap and uses Global Entry/TSA , Read More	Learn More
	Capital One Spark Cash for Business	For the small business that wants to earn 2% cash back on every purchase without limit, Read More	Learn More
	American Express Business Platinum	For the small business that spends a lot on airfare with the airline, enjoys Centurion access, and higher Amex Travel redemption rates, Read More	Learn More
	American Express Business Gold	For the small business that wants 4x on two categories ( like US gas, US restaurants, US Select Media advertising) up to $150k a year. Truly a fantastic way to earn a boatload of points Read More	Learn More

If you’re a small business owner like me, you should be earning points on each and every dollar your business spends. We’ve compiled a list of credit cards, many we have, some we want, but all of them bring a definitive value proposition to the table. Personally, I want as much diversification as possible. The more points I have and the different types of points I accumulate mean I have more options to redeem when I’m ready to plan that dream trip. When you’re earning points in a variety of programs, it increases the odds that you’ll be able to redeem when the time comes. After all, luck is the intersection of opportunity and preparation.

Many of you reading this may not have businesses that possess an EIN, or an Employer Identification Number, and that’s perfectly ok. Small business credit cards may be a perfect fit for you.

• Gig economy workers: Uber and Lyft drivers, DoorDash/Postmates, etc all receive income via 1099s as independent contractors
• Tutors, consultants, etc
• Ebay, Facebook, and Amazon resalers
• Bloggers, influencers, etc

If you fall into any of those categories above, or something similar and earn 1099 income, you may qualify for a small business credit card.  You’re in the position to take advantage of keeping your expenses associated with being an independent contractor separate so your tax professional can properly deduct applicable expenses from your taxes. Further more, many businesses start as side hustles and hobbies and run as Sole Proprietorships before ultimately becoming S-Corps, LLCs, etc. Small business credit cards are great ways to earn a lot of points for your business spend, keep those expenses separate, and keep your personal credit utilization rates low. Let me explain

Small Business credit card spend doesn’t show up on your personal credit report, and thus, the money that is put on them doesn’t run up your credit utilization number. Remember, your credit utilization is the the amount of credit you use divided by the amount of credit available to you. The majority of my big purchases are business related, and by putting those purchases on my business credit cards instead of my personal cards I am able to more easily keep my credit utilization number in the single digits.

One thing to remember is that your personal credit report and gross income are used to secure your small business credit card so you are personally liable for the money you spend on it, but your business doesn’t have to make a ton of money. For instance, if you’re a lawyer in NYC making $180k/year, but you also have a legal blog that makes some money off Google Ads, you qualify for a small business credit card. Even if you only make a couple grand a year, your personal income may secure you a card with a sizeable credit line.

In the situation I mentioned above,  here is how you would approach the application. The blog would be the business name, you’ll choose Sole Proprietor as your business type, where it asks for Employer Identification Number you’d use your social security number, and your business income would be $2k. It’s run out of your home so it would be your home address. You’ll also fill out information regarding your personal information including other income where you’d fill in the $180k/year.

Chase Ink Business Preferred

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Current Offer:

Earn 100k Chase Ultimate Rewards after spending $15k in 3 months. Annual fee is $95

Why we love it:

This is a powerhouse business card and one we put many of our expense on. It earns 3x points, up to $150k a year, on travel, shipping, Internet, cable, phone, and advertising with specific social media sites. In addition to those great earning opportunities you receive free mobile phone insurance with a low deductible simply by paying your cell phone bill with the card. This card also earns Premium Ultimate Rewards, which means you can transfer points into partners like Hyatt, British Airways, United, Marriott, Iberia, Singapore Airlines, Air France, etc

Benefit Overview

• $95 annual fee
• 3x Points, up to $150k, on
  • Travel
  • Shipping
  • Internet, Cable,Phone
  • Advertising on certain social media sites
• Free cell phone insurance for you and your employees ( who are on your phone bill )

Chase Ink Business Unlimited

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Current Offer:

Earn $750 cash-back ( 75k Ultimate Rewards ) after spending $7500 in 3 months. No annual fee

Why we love it

Earn 1.5x on every single dollar that you spend, but here’s the biggest reason we love it. If you carry a card like Chase Sapphire Preferred/Reserve or Ink Business Preferred, you can combine your cashback with those Ultimate Rewards and transfer them into the fantastic Ultimate Reward partners. The Chase Ink Business Unlimited is an incredible way to assure that your business is earning, at a minimum, 1.5x on every single dollar it spends. That’s pretty fantastic.

Benefit Overview

• Earn 1.5x on every dollar you spend
• No Annual Fee

Chase Ink Business Cash

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Current Offer:

Earn $750 cash back ( 75k Ultimate Rewards ) after spending $7500k in 3 months. No Annual Fee

Why we love it:

You can earn 5x points on every single dollar ( up to $25k ) at office supply stores, cell phone bills, landline, internet, and cable tv services each account year. That is incredible and we make great use of it every year.

Benefit Overview

• 5x, up to $25k at:
  • Office Supply Stores, Cell phone, Landline, internet, cable, and tv services
• 2x on dining and gas

 

American Express Business Platinum

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Current Offer: 85k Membership Rewards

Earn 85k Membership Rewards after spending $15k with the first 3 months of card membership.

Annual fee is $595

Why we love it:

This all metal beast is a powerhouse card that will give you access to Amex’s own Centurion Club Lounge, Priority Pass lounges, $200 incidental airline credit, 50% bonus on purchases over $5k, 35% back on points redeemed on your airline of choice/premium cabin tickets, 5x points on flights purchased in Amex Travel, and $200 annual Dell statement credit.

Benefit Overview

• $200 Incidental Airline Credit with your specified airline
• $200 Annual Dell credit ( split $100 each 6 months of the year )
• Centurion Club Lounge Access
• 50% bonus on purchases over $5k
• 35% back on points redeemed on your airline of choice/premium cabin tickets
• 5x points on flights purchased in Amex Travel
• $595 annual fee

American Express Business Gold

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Current Offer:

Earn 70k Membership Rewards after spending $10k in 3 months. Get an additional $300 in combined statement credits on eligible US Select Advertising ( see terms ) and US Shipping. Annual fee is $295

Why we love it:

You’ll get 4x points on 2 of the categories listed below where you spend most in a billing cycle, up to $150k total per year. You’ll also enjoy 25% points refunded back into your account if you use them to purchase airfare through Amex Travel (any class on your selected airline, or biz/first on any airline). The biggest reason to get this card is to earn a ton of points via category bonuses. If you spend a lot on any of the ones listed below, you’ll earn your annual fee back in the form of bonus points many times over.

Benefit Overview

• • 4x on 2 of the following categories where you spend most per billing cycle(capped at $150k)
    • Airfare purchased directly from airlines
    • U.S. purchases for advertising in select media (online, TV, radio)
    • U.S. purchases made directly from select technology providers of computer hardware, software, and cloud solutions
    • U.S. purchases at gas stations
    • U.S. purchases at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
    • U.S. purchases for shipping
  • 25% points refunded back when you buy a flight on Amex Travel on
    • your airline of choice in any cabin
    • biz/first on any airline
    • capped at 250k refunded points per year.
  • $295 annual fee

American Express Blue Business Plus

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Current Offer:

2x purchases on the first $50k of all purchases throughout the year. FYI Referrals vary between 10k and 20k on welcome offers, but varies throughout the year. No Annual Fee.

Why we love it.

Plain and simple, you’re getting double points, up to $50k, on everything you spend.

Benefit Overview

• 2x points on all purchases
• No Annual Fee

Capital One Spark Miles for Business

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Current Offer:

50k Miles after spending $4500 in 3 months plus earn 2x miles on every dollar purchase. $95 annual fee, waived first year.

Why we love it

Capital One changed their entire strategy at the end of 2018 when they introduced transfer partners. In fact, up until that point, I hadn’t really seriously considered picking up a Cap1 card because I extract the most value from by transferring into partners. Cap1 has a very solid group of partners now that mostly transfer 2:1.5, meaning, you’re earning a worry free, without limit, 1.5 miles ( post transfer ) on every single dollar your business spends. That’s amazing. You’ll also get a $100 Global Entry/TSA Pre credit and no foreign transaction fees

Benefit Overview

• 2x miles on every dollar your business spends, without limi ( mostly equates to 1.5 miles post transfer to partners. There are exceptions )
• Low annual fee
• Access partners like EVA, Aeroplan, and Singapore Airlines
• $100 Global Entry/TSA Pre credit
• Annual fee waived first year

Capital One Spark Cash for Business

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Current Offer:

Earn $500 cash back after spending $4500 in the first 3 months of card membership. 2% back on all purchases, no limit. $95 Annual Fee, waived first year.

Why we love it:

If you want a worry free, hassle free way to earn cash back on your purchases, The Capital One Spark Cash for Business is a cash back machine. Earning 2% back on all purchases without any limitation is incredible. There’s no limit, you’ll earn 2% back whether you spend $1 or $1B on your card.

Benefit Overview

• $0 annual fee first year, then $95
• 2% back on every single purchase, everywhere, without limit
• $500 after spending $4500 in the first 3 months of card membership.

Barclay Aviator Red Business

Current Offer:

Receive 65k AA miles after spending $1k in 90 days. Another 10k AA miles when an employee makes a purchase on their card. Annual fee of $95

Why we love it:

You’ll not only earn a great welcome bonus, but you’ll also get a free checked bag. You can earn 3k EQM when your business spends $25k a year + a $99 companion certificate when you spend $30k. Other benefits include preferred boarding and a 25% discount on in flight purchases.

Benefit Overview

• 65k welcome bonus
  • 10k when an employee uses their card to make a purchase in 90 days
• Annual fee of $95
• Free checked bag
• 3k EQM bonus after spending $25k/year