Best cards/Ranked

Best credit cards, ranked by net value

Every card’s credits added up at face value, minus the annual fee. A positive number means the card pays out more than it costs.

#	CARD	ANNUAL FEE	CREDITS/YR	FEE AS SHARE	NET VALUE
1	Chase Sapphire ReserveChase · 13 credits	$795	$3,071	26% GOES TO THE FEE	+$2,276
2	American Express PlatinumAmerican Express · 13 credits	$895	$3,106	29% GOES TO THE FEE	+$2,211
3	American Express Platinum (Charles Schwab)American Express · 12 credits	$895	$3,076	29% GOES TO THE FEE	+$2,181
4	American Express Platinum (Morgan Stanley)American Express · 12 credits	$895	$3,076	29% GOES TO THE FEE	+$2,181
5	Chase Sapphire Reserve for BusinessChase · 8 credits	$795	$2,070	38% GOES TO THE FEE	+$1,275
6	American Express Business PlatinumAmerican Express · 8 credits	$895	$1,869	48% GOES TO THE FEE	+$974
7	Chase United QuestChase · 6 credits	$350	$806	43% GOES TO THE FEE	+$456
8	United Business CardChase · 5 credits	$150	$441	34% GOES TO THE FEE	+$291
9	American Express Hilton Honors AspireAmerican Express · 4 credits	$550	$839	66% GOES TO THE FEE	+$289
10	Chase United ExplorerChase · 4 credits	$150	$380	39% GOES TO THE FEE	+$230
11	Chase Sapphire PreferredChase · 3 credits	$95	$290	33% GOES TO THE FEE	+$195
12	American Express Business GoldAmerican Express · 3 credits	$375	$557	67% GOES TO THE FEE	+$182
13	United Club Business CardChase · 6 credits	$695	$864	80% GOES TO THE FEE	+$169
14	Citi Strata EliteCiti · 4 credits	$595	$730	82% GOES TO THE FEE	+$135
15	Chase United ClubChase · 5 credits	$695	$814	85% GOES TO THE FEE	+$119
16	American Express GoldAmerican Express · 4 credits	$325	$424	77% GOES TO THE FEE	+$99
17	Delta SkyMiles Platinum BusinessAmerican Express · 3 credits	$350	$440	80% GOES TO THE FEE	+$90
18	American Express GreenAmerican Express · 1 credit	$150	$209	72% GOES TO THE FEE	+$59
19	Hilton Honors American Express Surpass CardAmerican Express · 1 credit	$150	$200	75% GOES TO THE FEE	+$50
20	Hilton Honors American Express Business CardAmerican Express · 1 credit	$195	$240	81% GOES TO THE FEE	+$45
21	Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express CardAmerican Express · 3 credits	$350	$390	90% GOES TO THE FEE	+$40
22	IHG One Rewards Premier Credit CardChase · 3 credits	$99	$120	83% GOES TO THE FEE	+$21
23	Delta SkyMiles Gold BusinessAmerican Express · 1 credit	$150	$150	FEE EXCEEDS CREDITS	+$0
24	American Express Delta SkyMiles Reserve BusinessAmerican Express · 4 credits	$650	$640	FEE EXCEEDS CREDITS	-$10
25	U.S. Bank Altitude ReserveU.S. Bank · 2 credits	$400	$355	FEE EXCEEDS CREDITS	-$45
26	Wells Fargo Autograph JourneyWells Fargo · 1 credit	$95	$50	FEE EXCEEDS CREDITS	-$45
27	Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express CardAmerican Express · 1 credit	$150	$100	FEE EXCEEDS CREDITS	-$50
28	American Express Delta SkyMiles ReserveAmerican Express · 4 credits	$650	$590	FEE EXCEEDS CREDITS	-$60
29	Capital One Venture X BusinessCapital One · 2 credits	$395	$330	FEE EXCEEDS CREDITS	-$65
30	Capital One Venture XCapital One · 2 credits	$395	$330	FEE EXCEEDS CREDITS	-$65
31	The Ritz-Carlton Credit CardChase · 2 credits	$450	$330	FEE EXCEEDS CREDITS	-$120
32	American Express Marriott Bonvoy BrilliantAmerican Express · 2 credits	$650	$330	FEE EXCEEDS CREDITS	-$320
33	Citi AAdvantage ExecutiveCiti · 3 credits	$595	$270	FEE EXCEEDS CREDITS	-$325

Chase Sapphire ReserveChase · 13 credits

$3,071 credits$795 fee, 26% of it

+$2,276 2

American Express PlatinumAmerican Express · 13 credits

$3,106 credits$895 fee, 29% of it

+$2,211 3

American Express Platinum (Charles Schwab)American Express · 12 credits

$3,076 credits$895 fee, 29% of it

+$2,181 4

American Express Platinum (Morgan Stanley)

WHAT’S COUNTED

Credits only. Lounge access, elite status, free night certificates and travel insurance are listed on each card’s page but left out of the total, because putting a dollar figure on them would be us guessing. Credits that reset more than once a year are counted at their full annual amount.

BEST CARDS BY CATEGORY

Each page ranks cards on the credits in that category, with total net value alongside.

Travel Food & Dining Entertainment & Media Business Lifestyle Transportation