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Credit Card Rewards Optimizer

10 popular cards compared. Find the best card for every spending category.

CardAnnual FeeDiningGroceriesGasTravelOnlineOther
Discover it Cash Back BEST FOR DINING & RESTAURANTS$05% (rotating)5% (rotating)5% (rotating)1%5% (rotating)1%
Amex Gold Card$2504x4x1x3x (flights)1x1x
Chase Sapphire Preferred$953x1x1x2x3x1x
Chase Freedom Unlimited$03%1.5%1.5%5% (Chase portal)1.5%1.5%
Capital One SavorOne$03%3%1%1%1%1%
Citi Double Cash$02%2%2%2%2%2%
Wells Fargo Active Cash$02%2%2%2%2%2%
Capital One Venture X$3952x2x2x10x (hotels/cars via portal)2x2x
Amazon Prime Visa$0 (Prime req)2%2%1%1%5% (Amazon)1%
Amex Blue Cash Preferred$951%6%3%3% (transit)1%1%

Chase Sapphire Preferred

$95/yr

Dining + travel rewards with flexible point transfers

Signup Bonus60,000 points ($750 travel value)

Amex Gold Card

$250/yr

Foodies — 4x on dining AND groceries (up to $25K/yr)

Signup Bonus60,000 points

Citi Double Cash

$0/yr

Simplicity — flat 2% on everything, no categories to track

Signup Bonus$200 after $1,500 spend

Chase Freedom Unlimited

$0/yr

Everyday card with elevated dining rewards

Signup Bonus$200 + 5% on groceries (1st year)

Capital One SavorOne

$0/yr

No annual fee with 3% on dining AND groceries

Signup Bonus$200 after $500 spend

Amex Blue Cash Preferred

$95/yr

Families spending $250+/mo on groceries (6% back!)

Signup Bonus$350 after $3,000 spend

Discover it Cash Back

$0/yr

First-year bonus — effectively 10% on rotating categories

Signup BonusCashback Match (doubles all cash back year 1)

Wells Fargo Active Cash

$0/yr

Another great flat 2% card with low signup spend requirement

Signup Bonus$200 after $500 spend

Capital One Venture X

$395/yr

Premium travel with $300 travel credit (effective $95 fee)

Signup Bonus75,000 miles ($750 travel)

Amazon Prime Visa

$0 (Prime req)/yr

Amazon addicts — 5% back on all Amazon purchases

Signup Bonus$200 Amazon gift card

The 2-Card Strategy

Most people only need 2 cards: a category card for your biggest spending area (dining, groceries, or travel) and a flat-rate card (2% on everything) for everything else. This simple combo maximizes rewards without the complexity.

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