Remember the last time you saw someone giving away a stuffed animal or a coffee mug as a bonus for signing up for their credit card?
Hopefully you passed them by, because there are much better deals out there, if you play your (credit) cards right.
To compile this list, we spent hours on the phone with credit card companies, grilling them about their juiciest signing bonuses. Then we rate them in order of awesomeness. Please note:
- We convert each signup bonus into its (approximate) cash equivalent, using the standard benchmark of 1 reward point = 1 cent.
- All cards require you to make at least one purchase to get the signup bonus; we have noted where they require you to spend more than a dollar.
- We generally ignore cards that pay out their signup bonuses over time, since that's hardly a signup bonus. (Sorry, Discover - we still love your Discover More Card though so don't take it personally.)
- Some cards have very good APR deals, but we ignore them. A few even have a 0% APR for balance transfers. But we assume everyone uses credit responsibly, paying off their balance in full each month and using a rewards credit card or points credit card. (Frankly, we're just here for the points.)
American Express Gold Delta Skymiles
Signup Bonus (Cash Value): $250.00
Annual fee (first year): $-
Annual fee (after that): $95.00
Total Bonus (Cash Value): $250.00
Notes: Need to get cards for two additional family members
American Express JetBlue Card
Signup Bonus (Cash Value): $100.00
Annual fee (first year): $40.00
Annual fee (after that): $40.00
Total Bonus (Cash Value): $60.00
Citi Select / AAdvantage American
Signup Bonus (Cash Value): $300.00
Annual fee (first year): $85.00
Annual fee (after that): $85.00
Total Bonus (Cash Value): $215.00
Notes: Need to make $750 in purchases
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card
Signup Bonus (Cash Value): $250.00
Annual fee (first year): $75.00
Annual fee (after that): $75.00
Total Bonus (Cash Value): $175.00
Notes: Companion coupons for $99
British Airways Visa Signature Card
Signup Bonus (Cash Value): $300.00
Annual fee (first year): $75.00
Annual fee (after that): $75.00
Total Bonus (Cash Value): $225.00
Notes: Need to make $750 in purchases
American Express Starwood Preferred Guest Card
Signup Bonus (Cash Value): $100.00
Annual fee (first year): $-
Annual fee (after that): $45.00
Total Bonus (Cash Value): $100.00
Notes: Companion coupons for $99
American Express Premier Rewards Gold Card
Signup Bonus (Cash Value): $100.00
Annual fee (first year):$-
Annual fee (after that): $175.00
Total Bonus (Cash Value): $100.00
CitiForward
Signup Bonus (Cash Value): $85.00
Annual fee (first year): $-
Annual fee (after that): $-
Total Bonus (Cash Value): $85.00
Notes: Need to make $250 in purchases, sign up for paperless statements
BankAmericard Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card
Signup Bonus (Cash Value): $75.00
Annual fee (first year): $-
Annual fee (after that): $-
Total Bonus (Cash Value): $75.00
Notes: Need to sign up for BofA online banking
Citi PremierPass / Expedia.com Card - Elite Level
Signup Bonus (Cash Value): $100.00
Annual fee (first year): $75.00
Annual fee (after that): $75.00
Total Bonus (Cash Value): $25.00
Notes: Need to book travel through Expedia; complimentary companion ticket
