Every month I make a post with what I consider to be the best credit card offers at the time, with a particular focus on the best travel credit cards. It’s always a great time to start getting your points strategy in order, so you’re ready to plan your dream trip when the time is right.
While there are several excellent long-standing credit card offers, the specifics of the top offers are constantly changing (be it the annual fee, minimum spending requirement, or even amount of the welcome bonus).
If you read my blog on a daily basis then by all means skip this post, but for me it’s a useful, “current” place to refer people who ask about which cards they should apply for, a question I get on a daily basis.
In this post:
Why you should care about credit card offers
Simply put, most people want to travel better, but don’t know how. One of the best ways to improve your travel experience is to pick up an excellent credit card that can add value to you.
After all, doesn’t this…
…look better than this?
When applying for a credit card, consider three main points:
- The bonus — how many points can you earn for signing up for the card and completing some amount of spending; this typically ranges from a single purchase to several thousand dollars
- The rewards structure — pick a credit card that offers bonus points in the categories you spend the most on, whether that’s dining or groceries or gas or airfare
- The perks — some cards offer perks that more than justify the annual fee, even if you don’t spend money on the card; for example, there are hotel credit cards with sub-$100 annual fees that offer annual free night certificates that can be redeemed at hotels that cost $300+ per night
In this post I’m focusing primarily on the welcome bonuses, which can be one of the best ways to get rewarded quickly. Often a good credit card bonus will be enough to earn you an international ticket in first or business class, which many would otherwise assume is off limits.
11 best credit card offers December 2024
Let’s look at some of the best credit card welcome bonuses that are available this month. Below are what I consider the current best offers to be (note that I’m including publicly available offers that are available online — in some cases people may have better targeted offers, but it’s hard to include those).
1. Capital One Spark Cash Plus
Current offer: Cash bonus of $2,000 after spending $30,000 within three months, plus earn an additional $2,000 cash bonus for every $500,000 spent during the first year
Annual fee: $150
Why it’s a great offer: This card is offering a huge bonus of $2,000 cash back after meeting the $30,000 spending requirement, which is incredibly lucrative. This is an all-around great card, as it ordinarily offers 2% cash back with no caps and no foreign transaction fees. Best of all, rewards can even be converted into Capital One miles at the rate of one cent per mile, making this even more lucrative. This is a card that’s good for both for the welcome bonus and for everyday spending.
Learn more about the Spark Cash Plus (apply for the Spark Cash Plus).
2. Capital One Venture X Business
Current offer: 150,000 Capital One miles after spending $30,000 within three months
Annual fee: $395
Why it’s a great offer: Not only does the Venture X Business offer an excellent welcome bonus, but it’s also incredibly lucrative. The card offers a variety of perks, including a $300 annual travel credit, 10K bonus anniversary miles, a Priority Pass membership, access to Capital One Lounges and Capital One Landings, and more.
This is a well-rounded card for the welcome bonus, the perks, and the return on everyday spending. While the spending requirement is significant, I value the welcome bonus on this card at $2,550.
Learn more about the Capital One Venture X Business (apply for the Capital One Venture X Business).
3. Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Current offer: 90,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $8,000 within three months
Annual fee: $95
Why it’s a great offer: This card offers a consistently great bonus. On top of that, the Ink cards have extremely generous category bonuses that help sole proprietorships and small businesses maximize points on everyday credit card spending. This card offers 3x points on the first $150,000 spent annually in combined purchases on travel, shipping, internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines, each account anniversary year.
This is a card that’s good for both for the welcome bonus and for everyday spending. I value the welcome bonus on this card at $1,530.
Learn more about the Ink Business Preferred (apply for the Ink Business Preferred).
4. American Express® Business Gold Card
Current offer: 100,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $15,000 within three months
Annual fee: $375 (Rates & Fees)
Why it’s a great offer: In addition to a great welcome bonus, this is also one of the best Amex business cards for earning Membership Rewards points, given the 4x points categories. I value the welcome bonus at $1,700.
Learn more about the Amex Business Gold (apply for the Amex Business Gold).
5. Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Current offer: 75,000 points after spending $6,000 within six months
Annual fee: no annual fee
Why it’s a great offer: The card has a great welcome bonus, which is especially impressive for a no annual fee card. This is an excellent card for everyday spending, as you can earn 1.5x points on all purchases, and also take advantage of benefits like rental car coverage.
Points can be pooled with the Ultimate Rewards points earned on cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. Assuming you have the card in conjunction with one accruing premium Ultimate Rewards points, I value the welcome bonus on this card at $1,275.
Learn more about the Ink Business Unlimited (apply for the Ink Business Unlimited).
6. Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
Current offer: Limited time 75,000 ThankYou points after spending $4,000 within three months
Annual fee: $95
Why it’s a great offer: This is an often-overlooked mid-range transferable points card, which has a solid bonus. It has excellent bonus categories, as it offers 3x points on gas, EV charging, dining, groceries, air travel, and hotels, and the card also offers up to a $100 annual hotel credit. I value Citi ThankYou points at 1.7 cents each, so to me the welcome bonus on this card is worth $1,275.
Learn more about the Citi Strata Premier (apply for the Citi Strata Premier).
7. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Current offer: 75,000 Capital One miles after spending $4,000 within three months
Annual fee: $95
Why it’s a great offer: This card has an excellent welcome bonus. This is a rewarding card, and offers 2x Capital One miles on all purchases, plus several great perks. You won’t find a better mid-range credit card for everyday spending. I value the welcome bonus on this card at $1,275.
Learn more about the Capital One Venture (apply for the Capital One Venture).
8. Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard®
Current offer: 75,000 AAdvantage miles after spending $5,000 within five months
Annual fee: $99, waived for the first 12 months
Why it’s a great offer: This card has an improved limited time welcome offer, and offers several useful perks, including the ability to earn Loyalty Points with spending. I value AAdvantage miles at 1.5 cents each, so to me the welcome bonus is worth $1,125.
Learn more about the Citi AAdvantage Business Card (apply for the Citi AAdvantage Business Card).
9. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Current offer: 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $4,000 within three months
Annual fee: $95
Why it’s a great offer: This card has a solid welcome bonus, and offers bonus points on dining and travel, great travel protection, and more. Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred at a 1:1 ratio to Singapore KrisFlyer, United MileagePlus, World of Hyatt, and many other programs. See this post to understand eligibility for the Chase Sapphire Preferred. I value Ultimate Rewards points at 1.7 cents each, so to me the welcome bonus is worth $1,020.
Learn more about the Chase Sapphire Preferred (apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred).
10. Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card, British Airways Visa Signature® Card, & Iberia Visa Signature® Card
Current offer: 75,000 Avios after spending $5,000 within three months
Annual fee: $95
Why it’s a great offer: While these are three different cards, they all have the same solid welcome bonuses, and points are transferrable between the various Avios programs. Each card has different perks tailored to the specific airline, and you can find a comparison of them here. I value Avios at 1.3 cents each, so to me the welcome bonus on these cards are worth $975.
Learn more about the Aer Lingus Visa (apply for the Aer Lingus Visa), learn more about the British Airways Visa (apply for the British Airways Visa), learn more about the Iberia Visa (apply for the Iberia Visa).
11. World of Hyatt Business Credit Card
Current offer: 60,000 World of Hyatt points after spending $5,000 within three months
Annual fee: $199
Why it’s a great offer: There are lots of reasons to consider Hyatt’s business card, including the bonus being offered. The card offers up to $100 in Hyatt statement credits every year, Discoverist status for the primary cardmember and up to five employees, and spending on the card can help you earn World of Hyatt elite nights. I value World of Hyatt points at 1.5 cents each, so I value the welcome bonus at $900.
Learn more about the World of Hyatt Business Card (apply for the World of Hyatt Business Card).
Rules of applying for credit cards
Before applying for cards, makes sure you’re aware of the rules each bank has for credit card applications.
One of the common misconceptions people have is that they think applying for credit cards will hurt their credit. The opposite is largely true, actually. Assuming you use your credit responsibly (and make payments on time, don’t utilize too much of your credit, etc.), applying for credit cards can actually help your credit.
Lastly, if you are going to apply for credit cards, make sure you do so responsibly — only apply for them if you have self-control and won’t end up in debt, and try to pay your balance in full every month, or else the interest charges will negate any rewards earned.
Bottom line
The above are just some of the best credit card offers right now, though there are so many others to choose from.
If you’re already into miles & points but don’t have some of the above cards, consider applying. If you’re new to miles & points, now is the time to get started (and I think something like the Capital One Venture X, Chase Sapphire Preferred, or Citi Strata Premier, are great options to start).
The following links will direct you to the rates and fees for mentioned American Express Cards. These include: American Express® Business Gold Card (Rates & Fees).
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