Disclosure: We receive compensation from some of the card issuers whose offers appear on this page. Compensation may affect how and where offers are presented, but it doesn’t change my picks or my opinions. I haven’t reviewed every available card or offer.
If you’re chasing a huge sign-up bonus, don’t get fooled by the biggest number on the screen. The type of points is what decides whether the bonus is actually 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 great, but you want to redeem them on nights where the cash price is high. That’s the difference between a bonus that funds a real trip and one that just sits in an account.
Below are 10 personal cards whose welcome offers have recently reached at least 75,000 points/miles, with practical notes on who each card is really for. One important caveat up front: welcome offers move fast. Issuers raise them, cut them, and run limited-time promotions constantly, and Amex in particular shows applicant-specific “as high as” bonuses that vary by who’s applying. So treat the numbers here as a snapshot from the refresh date at the top of this page, and always confirm the exact offer, spending requirement, and annual fee on the issuer’s own application screen before you apply.
A note on the numbers: the welcome bonuses, spending requirements, and annual fees below were checked against each issuer’s offer page (and major card-news coverage) on June 9, 2026. Where an issuer advertises an applicant-specific “as high as” bonus, or where an offer is a moving target right now, I point you to the live offer instead of printing a single figure that may not be the one you’re shown.
Quick picks
- Best benefits + a record-high flexible-points bonus: Chase Sapphire Reserve® (currently 150,000 points)
- Best premium perks + potentially the biggest bonus: The Platinum Card® from American Express (as high as 175,000 points)
- Best low-fee way into Chase points: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card ($95 fee — check your current offer)
- Best simple “2X everywhere” travel card: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (75,000 miles + $250 travel credit)
- Best hotel bonus right now: Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express (currently 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 as of the refresh date: 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 as a range — the redemption matters far more than any chart. Every “estimated value” below is my own rough math, not a promise of what you’ll get.
Comparison table (recent 75,000+ welcome offers)
| Card (link) | Welcome offer | Spend requirement | Annual fee | Est. bonus value* | Best for |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® | Currently 150,000 bonus points after $6,000 in purchases in the first 3 months (record-high, time-limited — confirm on the offer page). | $6,000 / 3 months | $795 | ~$3,075 | Premium travel + flexible points |
| The Platinum Card® from American Express | Find out your offer — eligible applicants may see as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after $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 — eligible applicants may see as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after $8,000 in the first 6 months (offers vary). | $8,000 / 6 months | $325 | ~$2,000 | Food spend + flexible points |
| Citi Strata Elite℠ Card | 75,000 bonus points after $6,000 in the first 3 months (confirm on the offer page). | $6,000 / 3 months | $595 | ~$1,425 | Premium Citi points + credits |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card | Offer varies — Chase has run 60,000–75,000 bonus points after $5,000 in the first 3 months. Check your current offer before applying. | $5,000 / 3 months | $95 | ~$1,230–$1,538 | Low-fee entry to Chase points |
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card | 75,000 bonus miles after $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months. | $4,000 / 3 months | $395 | ~$1,388 | Premium travel, simple rewards |
| Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | $250 Capital One Travel credit in your first year, plus 75,000 bonus miles after $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 | Offer varies — currently a tiered bonus (recently up to ~185,000 points across spend tiers). See the current offer on the application screen. | See current offer | $99 | ~$875+ | Huge hotel bonus (IHG stays) |
| Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express | Currently 175,000 Hilton Honors points after $6,000 in purchases in the first 6 months (time-limited — confirm on the offer page). | $6,000 / 6 months | $550 | ~$875 | Hilton loyalists + premium hotel perks |
| Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card | Offer varies — currently a tiered bonus (recently up to ~150,000 points across spend tiers). See the current offer on the application screen. | See current offer | $650 | ~$930+ | Marriott loyalists + premium benefits |
*Estimated values are my own rough math and depend heavily on how you redeem. Hotel point values vary the most. None of these are guaranteed returns.
Card-by-card rundown
1) Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Welcome offer: Currently 150,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months — a record-high, time-limited offer. Confirm it’s still live on the application screen.
- Minimum spend: $6,000 / 3 months
- Annual fee: $795
- Estimated bonus value (rough): ~$3,075
- Transfer / redemption angle: United, Southwest, Air Canada Aeroplan, Virgin Atlantic, plus hotels like World of Hyatt, IHG One Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy.
Why it’s worth considering
- One of the biggest Chase bonuses I’ve seen in a long time — and Ultimate Rewards are easy to use well, whether you redeem through Chase Travel or transfer to partners.
- This bonus alone can fund multiple trips if you redeem smartly.
Watch-outs / eligibility
- Chase approvals are heavily affected 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 only 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 — eligible applicants may see as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $12,000 in the first 6 months. Offers vary by applicant.
- Minimum spend: $12,000 / 6 months
- Annual fee: $895
- Estimated bonus value (rough): ~$3,500
- Transfer / redemption angle: 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 packed with premium travel benefits, but only you know whether you’ll actually use the credits.
Watch-outs / eligibility
- High minimum spend and a huge annual fee — 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 — eligible applicants may see as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $8,000 in the first 6 months. Offers vary by applicant. (Amex recently raised the spend requirement, so confirm the exact terms on the application screen.)
- Minimum spend: $8,000 / 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 via transfer partners.
Watch-outs / eligibility
- 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 yours before applying.
4) Citi Strata Elite℠ Card
- Welcome offer: 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: 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
- Citi has its own bonus rules — read the terms carefully (you generally need to apply directly, and there’s a waiting period after a prior Citi bonus).
- Premium annual fee; best if you’ll offset it with the card’s perks.
5) Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card
- Welcome offer: Offer varies — Chase has run bonuses in the 60,000–75,000-point range after $5,000 in the first 3 months. Check your current offer on the application screen before applying.
- Minimum spend: $5,000 / 3 months
- Annual fee: $95
- Estimated bonus value (rough): ~$1,230–$1,538 depending on the live offer
- 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 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
- Chase limits Sapphire bonuses; if you’ve had a Sapphire card before, check eligibility carefully (the rules changed in early 2026).
- Chase 5/24 can still be the main hurdle.
6) Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Get Started
- Welcome offer: 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months.
- Minimum spend: $4,000 / 3 months
- Annual fee: $395
- Estimated bonus value (rough): ~$1,388
- Transfer / redemption angle: Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways, Flying Blue, Turkish, Singapore, Wyndham, Choice, plus newer partners including Qatar Airways and JAL.
Why it’s worth considering
- One of the rare “premium” cards where the annual fee can be offset by built-in value (annual travel credit + anniversary miles).
- If you want simple rewards and premium travel perks, this one hits the middle perfectly.
Watch-outs / eligibility
- 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: A $250 Capital One Travel credit in your first year, plus 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 — this is it.
- The extra $250 travel credit makes the first-year value especially strong.
Watch-outs / eligibility
- If you want lounge access and richer perks, Venture X is the step up.
- Offers can be limited-time — always confirm the bonus on the application page.
8) IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
- Welcome offer: Offer varies — IHG and Chase have recently run a tiered bonus (worth up to roughly 185,000 points across spend tiers), but the exact structure changes often. See the current offer on the application screen.
- Minimum spend: See current offer
- Annual fee: $99
- Estimated bonus value (rough): ~$875+, depending on the live offer
- Transfer / redemption angle: IHG points are best used inside IHG (Holiday Inn, Kimpton, InterContinental, etc.).
Why it’s worth considering
- This can be a monster hotel bonus. If you use IHG points for high cash-rate nights, it can be a steal.
- Best for people who actually stay at IHG brands — plus an annual free-night certificate keeps it useful year after year.
Watch-outs / eligibility
- Hotel points usually aren’t worth as much 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: Currently 175,000 Hilton Honors points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 6 months — a time-limited, elevated offer. Confirm it’s still live on the application screen.
- Minimum spend: $6,000 / 6 months
- Annual fee: $550
- Estimated bonus value (rough): ~$875
- 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 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
- 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: Offer varies — the current offer is a tiered bonus (recently worth up to roughly 150,000 points across spend tiers), and Amex changes it periodically. See the current offer on the application screen.
- Minimum spend: See current offer
- Annual fee: $650
- Estimated bonus value (rough): ~$930+, depending on the live offer
- Transfer / redemption angle: Marriott points are redeemed in Marriott Bonvoy; value varies heavily by property and 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
- Marriott point value varies a lot; don’t assume 100K+ points equals 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)
- If you’re under Chase 5/24, grab your Chase cards first (Sapphire Reserve/Preferred, IHG).
- Then consider Amex (Platinum/Gold) if you’ll use the credits and can handle the spend.
- Add Capital One (Venture/Venture X) for a simple 2X setup and transfer partners.
- Finish with hotel cards only if you’ll actually stay at those brands.
Most people mess this up by applying for two or three 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.
FAQs
What counts as a “good” welcome bonus?
Look past the headline number and ask two things: can you hit the minimum spend through normal spending, and can you actually redeem the points for real value? A 75,000-point flexible-points bonus you’ll use well usually beats a bigger hotel bonus you’ll struggle to redeem.
Are flexible points really better than hotel or airline points?
Usually, yes — for most people. Transferable currencies (Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One miles, Citi ThankYou) give you more redemption options. Hotel and airline points can win when you’re loyal to one brand and redeem on high cash-rate dates.
Why do Amex bonuses say “as high as”?
American Express shows applicant-specific welcome offers, so the exact bonus you see can differ from the advertised maximum. You generally won’t know your real number until you check your offer, which Amex lets you do with no impact to your credit score.
What is Chase 5/24 and why does it matter?
It’s an unofficial Chase rule: if you’ve opened five or more personal credit cards across all issuers in the past 24 months, Chase will usually decline you. If you’re chasing Chase bonuses, apply for those cards before you load up on cards from other issuers.
Should I apply if I can’t comfortably hit the minimum spend?
No. The welcome bonus is only a deal if you can earn it through normal spending. If the spend requirement feels forced, wait or pick a card with a lower requirement.
How often do these welcome offers change?
Constantly. Issuers raise, cut, and run limited-time promotions throughout the year, and some of the offers on this page are elevated, time-limited deals. Always confirm the live offer on the issuer’s application screen before you apply.
Will applying hurt my credit score?
A new card application typically triggers a hard inquiry and a small, temporary dip. Several applications in a short window can add up, which is one more reason to apply deliberately and only for cards you’ll actually use.
