If you’re chasing a huge sign-up bonus, don’t get tricked by the biggest number on the screen. The *type* of points is what decides whether the bonus is truly worth it.
Flexible bank points (like Chase Ultimate Rewards® or Amex Membership Rewards®) can usually transfer to multiple airline and hotel programs, so they’re the easiest to turn into outsized value. Hotel points can still be amazing — but you want to redeem them on nights where cash prices are high.
Below are 10 personal cards with welcome offers of at least 75,000 points/miles, and I added practical notes on who each card is really for.
Quick picks
Best benefits, big bonus, and flexible points: Chase Sapphire Reserve® (125,000 points)
- Best premium perks + potentially the biggest bonus: The Platinum Card® from American Express (up to 175,000 points)
- Best 75K+ offer with a low annual fee: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card (75,000 points)
- Best simple ‘2X everywhere’ travel card: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (75K miles + $250 travel credit)
- Best hotel bonus right now: IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (175,000 points)
How I’m estimating point value (quick and simple)
For easy comparisons, I’m using rough point values based on major industry valuations (February 2026): Chase Ultimate Rewards ≈ 2.05¢, Amex Membership Rewards ≈ 2.0¢, Citi ThankYou ≈ 1.9¢, Capital One miles ≈ 1.85¢. Hotel points are all over the place, so treat those values as a range — the redemption matters more than the chart.
Comparison table (75,000+ welcome offers)
| Card (link) | Welcome offer | Spend requirement | Annual fee | Est. bonus value* | Best for |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® | Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | $6,000 / 3 months | $795 | $2,562 | Premium travel + flexible points |
| The Platinum Card® from American Express | Find out your offer and see if you’re eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $12,000 in the first 6 months (offers vary). | $12,000 / 6 months | $895 | $3,500 | Luxury perks + massive MR bonus |
| American Express® Gold Card | Find out your offer and see if you’re eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 in the first 6 months (offers vary). | $6,000 / 6 months | $325 | $2,000 | Food spend + flexible points |
| Citi Strata Elite℠ Card | Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months. | $6,000 / 3 months | $595 | $1,425 | Premium Citi points + credits |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card | Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | $5,000 / 3 months | $95 | $1,538 | Best-value Chase bonus (low fee) |
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card | Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. | $4,000 / 3 months | $395 | $1,388 | Premium travel, simple rewards |
| Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | Limited-time offer: Enjoy a $250 Capital One Travel credit in your first year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. | $4,000 / 3 months | $95 | $1,388 | Simple 2X miles + big first-year value |
| IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card | Limited-time offer: Earn 175,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | $5,000 / 3 months | $99 | $875 | Huge hotel bonus (IHG stays) |
| Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express | Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 6 months of card membership. | $6,000 / 6 months | $550 | $750 | Hilton loyalists + premium hotel perks |
| Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card | Earn 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months. | $6,000 / 6 months | $650 | $930 | Marriott loyalists + premium benefits |
*Estimated values are rough and depend heavily on how you redeem. Hotel point values vary the most.
Card-by-card rundown
1) Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Welcome offer: Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Minimum spend: $6,000 / 3 months
Annual fee: $795
Estimated bonus value (rough): $2,562
Transfer / redemption angle: Examples: United, Southwest, Air Canada Aeroplan, Virgin Atlantic + hotels like World of Hyatt, IHG One Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy.
- Why it’s worth considering:One of the biggest Chase bonuses we’ve seen for a long time — and Ultimate Rewards are easy to use well.
- If you redeem through Chase Travel (or transfer smartly), this bonus can fund multiple trips.
- Watch-outs / eligibility notes:Chase approvals are often impacted by 5/24 (and Chase may show an on-screen notice if you’re not eligible for the bonus).
- High annual fee — it’s best if you travel enough to use the card’s credits and benefits.
2) The Platinum Card® from American Express
Welcome offer: Find out your offer and see if you’re eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $12,000 in the first 6 months (offers vary).
Minimum spend: $12,000 / 6 months
Annual fee: $895
Estimated bonus value (rough): $3,500
Transfer / redemption angle: Examples: Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France/KLM Flying Blue, ANA, Delta, British Airways, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic (plus hotel partners like Hilton).
- Why it’s worth considering:This is the ‘go big or go home’ welcome offer — the points alone can be worth a lot if you transfer well.
- It’s also packed with premium travel benefits, but only *you* know if you’ll actually use the credits.
- Watch-outs / eligibility notes:The minimum spend is high, and the annual fee is huge — don’t get it unless the math works for your lifestyle.
- Amex offers vary, and eligibility can be restricted (often once-per-lifetime language).
3) American Express® Gold Card
Welcome offer: Find out your offer and see if you’re eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 in the first 6 months (offers vary).
Minimum spend: $6,000 / 6 months
Annual fee: $325
Estimated bonus value (rough): $2,000
Transfer / redemption angle: Same Membership Rewards partner ecosystem as Platinum (airlines + hotels).
- Why it’s worth considering:If you want big Amex points without Platinum’s annual fee, Gold is the sweet spot.
- The best long-term play is pairing Gold with a redemption plan (transfer partners).
- Watch-outs / eligibility notes:Don’t pay $325 just for the bonus — make sure you’ll use the card’s monthly credits and bonus categories long-term.
- Offer amounts vary; check your offer before applying.
4) Citi Strata Elite℠ Card
Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months.
Minimum spend: $6,000 / 3 months
Annual fee: $595
Estimated bonus value (rough): $1,425
Transfer / redemption angle: Key angle: Citi ThankYou transfers (including American Airlines, plus other airline/hotel partners).
- Why it’s worth considering:If you value Citi’s transfer partners — especially American Airlines — this card can be a serious points engine.
- The credits are meaningful if you actually use them (don’t buy the card for credits you won’t redeem).
- Watch-outs / eligibility notes:Citi has its own bonus rules (read the terms carefully).
- Premium annual fee; best if you’ll offset it with the card’s perks.
5) Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card
Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Minimum spend: $5,000 / 3 months
Annual fee: $95
Estimated bonus value (rough): $1,538
Transfer / redemption angle: Same Ultimate Rewards transfer partners as Sapphire Reserve (airlines + Hyatt/Marriott/IHG).
- Why it’s worth considering:For most people, this is the simplest way to grab a big flexible-points bonus without a premium annual fee.
- It’s also a great ‘hub’ card to make points from other Chase cards transferable.
- Watch-outs / eligibility notes:Chase limits Sapphire bonuses; if you’ve had Sapphire before, check eligibility carefully.
- Chase 5/24 can still be the main hurdle.
6) Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
Minimum spend: $4,000 / 3 months
Annual fee: $395
Estimated bonus value (rough): $1,388
Transfer / redemption angle: Examples: Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways, Flying Blue, Turkish, Singapore, Wyndham, Choice; new partners added Sept. 2025 include Qatar Airways and JAL.
- Why it’s worth considering:This is one of the rare ‘premium’ cards where the annual fee can be outweighed by built-in value (travel credit + anniversary miles).
- If you want simple rewards *and* premium travel perks, this one hits the middle perfectly.
- Watch-outs / eligibility notes:Make sure you can actually use the annual travel credit through Capital One Travel.
- Capital One has its own approval quirks; strong credit profiles do best.
7) Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Welcome offer: Limited-time offer: Enjoy a $250 Capital One Travel credit in your first year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months.
Minimum spend: $4,000 / 3 months
Annual fee: $95
Estimated bonus value (rough): $1,388
Transfer / redemption angle: Same Capital One partner ecosystem as Venture X.
- Why it’s worth considering:If you want one card that’s easy: 2X miles on everything, plus a strong welcome offer.
- The extra $250 travel credit makes the first-year value especially strong.
- Watch-outs / eligibility notes:If you want lounge access and richer perks, Venture X is the step up.
- Offer is limited-time — always confirm the bonus on the application page.
8) IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
Welcome offer: Limited-time offer: Earn 175,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Minimum spend: $5,000 / 3 months
Annual fee: $99
Estimated bonus value (rough): $875
Transfer / redemption angle: IHG points are best used inside IHG (Holiday Inn, Kimpton, InterContinental, etc.).
- Why it’s worth considering:This is a *monster* hotel bonus. If you can use IHG points for high cash-rate nights, it can be a steal.
- Best for people who actually stay at IHG brands — not as great if you don’t.
- Watch-outs / eligibility notes:Hotel points aren’t usually as valuable per point as flexible bank points — redemption strategy matters.
- Issued by Chase, so your 5/24 status can matter.
9) Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express
Welcome offer: Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 6 months of card membership.
Minimum spend: $6,000 / 6 months
Annual fee: $550
Estimated bonus value (rough): $750
Transfer / redemption angle: Hilton points are used inside Hilton Honors; aim for high cash-rate stays and longer trips.
- Why it’s worth considering:If you stay with Hilton often, this can be a long-term keeper card because the perks are strong.
- The bonus is big, but the *perks* are what make Aspire stand out versus cheaper Hilton cards.
- Watch-outs / eligibility notes:Big annual fee — the card is best when you redeem the included benefits every year.
- As an Amex card, offer eligibility can vary.
10) Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Welcome offer: Earn 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months.
Minimum spend: $6,000 / 6 months
Annual fee: $650
Estimated bonus value (rough): $930
Transfer / redemption angle: Marriott points are redeemed in Marriott Bonvoy; value varies heavily by property/date.
- Why it’s worth considering:Good for frequent Marriott travelers who can use the benefits and redeem points strategically.
- Marriott points can be especially useful when cash prices spike — always compare cash vs points.
- Watch-outs / eligibility notes:Marriott point value varies a lot; don’t assume 100K points = X nights without checking your target hotels.
- Premium annual fee — make sure the benefits match your travel patterns.
A simple, smart application order (so you don’t lose bonuses)
1) If you’re under Chase 5/24, grab your Chase cards first (Sapphire Reserve/Preferred, IHG).
2) Then consider Amex (Platinum/Gold) if you’ll use the credits and can handle the spend.
3) Add Capital One (Venture/Venture X) for a simple 2X setup and transfer partners.
4) Finish with hotel cards *only if* you’ll actually stay at those brands.
Most people mess up by applying for 2–3 big-spend cards at once and failing the minimum spend. One big bonus you actually earn beats three bonuses you *almost* earned.
Final tip: Take a screenshot of the offer terms the day you apply. If anything changes later, having proof of the offer you applied for can save you a lot of time.
