Credit card welcome bonuses, ranked by real return.
A $750 bonus on $6,000 of required spend is a different thing than a $200 bonus on $500. We rank by effective return on spend (after annual fee), show transparent points valuations, and flag the application restrictions — Chase 5/24, Amex once-per-lifetime — that other lists hide.
Last updated:Credit card bonus tracker
| Card | Welcome bonus | Min spend | Annual fee | Effective return | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading cards… | |||||
Effective return = (bonus value − first-year annual fee) ÷ required spend × 100. Higher is better. For points cards, bonus value is a conservative cash-equivalent estimate — sophisticated transfer-partner redemption can be 1.5-2.5× higher.
How to actually use this list
Common pitfalls specific to credit card bonuses
- Treating points as cash 1:1. 60,000 Chase points aren't $1,200 in your bank account. They're $750 of statement credit, or $937 of travel through the Chase Portal, or potentially $1,500+ via Hyatt transfer redemption — but only if you actually use them that way. Sitting on hoarded points loses real value to award devaluation over time.
- Triggering a hard pull then getting denied. Always check the application restrictions before submitting. Chase 5/24, Amex 2/90, Capital One 6-month cooldowns — each issuer has rules.
- Forgetting to cancel/downgrade before year 2. Cards with a waived first-year fee charge the full annual fee on the anniversary date if you don't cancel or product-change. Set a calendar reminder for month 11.
- Carrying a balance during the spend period. Credit card welcome bonuses assume you pay your statement in full. Carrying any balance means you pay APR (typically 20-30%) which can erase a $200 bonus in months.
- Manufactured spend gone wrong. Some chasers buy gift cards or use bill-pay services to artificially boost spend toward the threshold. Issuers can claw back bonuses if they detect this pattern. Stick to organic spend unless you really know the manufactured-spend community's risk profile (start at r/churning).
Frequently asked
What is Chase 5/24?
Chase 5/24 is Chase's rule that denies new credit card applications if you've opened 5 or more personal credit cards (any issuer) within the past 24 months. Business credit cards from most issuers don't count, but Capital One and Discover business cards DO. The rule is automated — if you're at 5/24, you'll be declined regardless of credit score. The denial does still trigger a hard pull, costing you 5-10 points.
How much are credit card points actually worth?
It varies wildly by program and redemption. Conservative cash-equivalent values we use: Chase UR $0.0125/pt, Capital One Miles $0.0115/pt, Amex MR $0.0185/pt, Citi ThankYou $0.0145/pt. Sophisticated transfer-partner redemptions (Hyatt rooms with Chase, Singapore Suites with Amex) can yield $0.03-$0.06/pt — but require flexibility, advance planning, and knowledge of partner sweet spots. The values in our table use the conservative rates so the "effective return" is honest for casual users.
Should I wait for a higher welcome bonus?
Sometimes. Most major cards run elevated welcome offers periodically — Chase Sapphire Preferred occasionally hits 80k-100k (vs the 75k baseline), Amex Gold has gone as high as 100k MR with $6k spend. Sign up for tracker services like Doctor of Credit's "elevated offers" email to know when peaks happen. If the bonus you see is already at the historical high (or close), don't wait.
Will applying for cards hurt my credit score long-term?
Short-term, yes: 5-10 points per hard pull, dropping as the inquiry ages (most disappear at 24 months). Long-term, often no: each new card increases your total credit limit and improves your utilization ratio, which is a much bigger factor in your score than inquiry count. Many bonus-chasers maintain 750+ scores while running 8-15 cards. The risk is if you start carrying balances — utilization above 30% (or worse, 90%) tanks your score fast.
Is bonus chasing taxable?
Cashback rewards earned as a percentage of spending are generally NOT taxable — the IRS treats them as rebates on purchases, not income. Welcome bonuses earned through spending typically follow the same rule. The exception: bonuses earned WITHOUT spending (e.g., signup bonuses paid just for opening the account) may be considered taxable income — though banks rarely issue 1099s for credit card welcome bonuses below $600.
What if I get denied?
Call the issuer's reconsideration line within a few business days. For Chase: 1-888-245-0625. For Amex: 1-800-567-1083. For Capital One: 1-800-625-7866. Reconsideration agents have authority to override automated denials if you explain a legitimate reason (e.g., the inquiry that triggered 5/24 was an auto loan, not a card). Success rate is meaningfully higher than first-application approval rates.
Are these bonuses on this site current?
We refresh the third week of every month and verify any time-sensitive bonus weekly. Bonuses do change between our refreshes — always click through to the issuer's official application page to confirm current terms before applying.