The best increased card offers to sign up for right now – The Points Guy

We’re now into the second quarter of 2023, and with summer closing fast, now may be a great time to evaluate your credit card portfolio. Credit card sign-up bonuses and welcome offers are the quickest and easiest way to rake in lots of points and miles, so we regularly update the roundup of our favorite current offers in our best credit cards guide.

But to help you keep up with an ever-changing list of bonuses, we’ve also compiled a list of the best card offers currently available — especially the ones that are worth an extra look right now because they are at all-time highs or may end soon.

Since many issuers have restrictions on how often you can earn a bonus on a card, it’s important to time your application for when there’s a good offer. Also, higher bonuses don’t always stick around for long, so if you’re considering one of these offers, you’ll want to hop on it sooner rather than later.

Finally, if you’re not ready to jump on a higher-end card, consider these great starter cards or even one with a 0{d8a8d447f05f03c64398acf0d3c5a745c9c41fc784ba89cd5aecd37177dc7d51} introductory APR offer.

The best credit card offers for April 2023

Card Sign-up bonus/welcome offer Welcome offer value* Annual fee 
The Platinum Card® from American Express 80,000 points after you spend $6,000 in the first six months, though you may be able to get a higher bonus through the CardMatch tool (terms apply). $1,600. $695 (see rates and fees).
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express 120,000 points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the card within the first three months of card membership. $2,400. $695 (see rates and fees).
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

75,000 miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.

$1,388. $395.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card 75,000 miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases in three months of account opening.  $1,388. $95.
Ink Business Preferred Credit Card
100,000 points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the card within the first three months of card membership. $2,000. $95.
Citi® /  AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® 75,000 bonus miles after spending $3,500 within the first four months of account opening. $1,350. $99, waived for the first 12 months.
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
125,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in purchases on your new card in your first three months of card membership. Offer ends May 3. $1,050. $125 (see rates and fees).
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. $1,200. $95.
Chase Sapphire Reserve 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. $1,200. $550.
American Express® Gold Card 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 in the first six months of card membership, though you may be able to get a higher bonus through the CardMatch tool (terms apply). $1,200. $250 (see rates and fees).

* Welcome offer value is determined using TPG valuations and is not provided by nor reviewed by the issuer.

The Platinum Card from American Express

ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY

Often referred to as the king of the premium travel rewards cards, the Amex Platinum offers a slew of benefits — along with a $695 annual fee (see rates and fees). Cardholders enjoy perks such as automatic Gold status with both Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy plus access to a wide range of airport lounges, including Amex Centurion, Priority Pass and Delta Sky Club (on same-day Delta flights). On top of that, you’ll get up to $200 in annual airline fee statement credits, an up-to-$200 hotel statement credit to use toward prepaid Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings (the latter of which requires a minimum two-night stay) via Amex Travel, and an up-to-$189 Clear membership statement credit — along with numerous other perks. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Related: It’s a ‘lifestyle’ card now: A closer look at the Amex Platinum’s 6 new benefits

Non-travel benefits include an up-to-$240 digital entertainment statement credit (split into monthly $20 credits) for Audible, The New York Times, SiriusXM, Peacock and services under the Disney umbrella — including Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu.

Cardholders also receive an up-to-$155 Walmart+ credit (Plus Ups are excluded), an up-to-$300 SoulCycle bike credit and an up-to-$300 Equinox statement credit for eligible Equinox memberships (now available as an annual benefit rather than monthly credits). You also receive Uber VIP status and up to $200 in annual Uber Cash (split into monthly $15 credits for U.S. rides and Uber Eats orders plus a $20 bonus in December).

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Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Finally, cardholders will enjoy enhanced earning rates on many travel purchases:

  • 5 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or with Amex Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year).
  • 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked with Amex Travel.
  • 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases.

And while the current welcome offer provides solid value, be sure to check the CardMatch Tool to see if you can receive an even higher one (offers are targeted and subject to change at any time).

Read our review of the American Express Platinum Card for more information.


Official application link: The Platinum Card® from American Express with 80,000 points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.


The Business Platinum Card from American Express

RYAN PATTERSON/THE POINTS GUY

This business card stands out not only for its 120,000-point welcome offer but thanks to added travel perks that can easily cover the card’s $695 annual fee (see rates and fees). Cardholders enjoy automatic Gold status in both the Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy loyalty programs, along with access to a wide variety of airport lounges — including Amex Centurion, Priority Pass and Delta Sky Club (when traveling on same-day Delta flights). Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Cardholders also enjoy 5 points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels booked at American Express Travel along with 1.5 points per dollar on eligible purchases in select business categories and eligible purchases of $5,000 or more (on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year).

Related: Amex refreshes Business Platinum Card with new perks, higher annual fee and a 120,000-point bonus

On top of that, the card comes with up to $200 in annual airline fee statement credits and a 35{d8a8d447f05f03c64398acf0d3c5a745c9c41fc784ba89cd5aecd37177dc7d51} points rebate for flights booked through Amex Travel in first or business class on any airline (up to 1 million points back per calendar year), or in any class on the U.S. airline of your choice each year. Non-travel benefits include up to $400 in annual statement credits toward U.S. Dell purchases, up to $360 in credits toward Indeed, up to $150 toward select Adobe purchases and up to $120 toward wireless telephone services.

Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Read our review of the American Express Business Platinum Card for more information.


Official application link: The Business Platinum Card® from American Express with 120,000 points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the card within the first three months of card membership.


Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

JOHN GRIBBEN/THE POINTS GUY

The Venture X card is Capital One’s premium rewards card and offers great earning rates and incredible perks.

Aside from a hefty welcome bonus of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months – worth about $1,388 according to our valuations thanks to Capital One’s excellent airline and hotel transfer partners – the card gives members up to $300 back in statement credits annually for bookings made through Capital One Travel and 10,000 bonus miles every account anniversary, starting on their first anniversary (worth $100 toward travel, or $185 by our valuations).

As for earning rates, the Venture X racks up 10 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked via Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights booked via Capital One Travel, and an unlimited 2 miles per dollar on everything else.

Frequent travelers will also enjoy taking advantage of access to Capital One’s developing network of airport lounges as well as the ability to enroll for Priority Pass membership for entry into more than 1,300 lounge locations worldwide (though this no longer includes participating restaurants). It also added the ability to access Plaza Premium lounges worldwide in 2022.

Read our review of the Capital One Venture X card for more information.


Official application link: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card with 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.


Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

WYATT SMITH/THE POINTS GUY

The Venture Rewards packs a pretty good punch for a mid-tier credit card. It earns a flat 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases worldwide, but you can earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel. The miles you earn with this card can be transferred to Capital One’s 17 airline and three hotel partners or redeemed through the Capital One Travel portal.

The card stands out for offering an application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck every four years; many other cards that offer this benefit have annual fees of $400 or more. This TSA PreCheck/Global Entry application fee credit alone is worth up to $100. When making everyday purchases, you may also get extended warranty protection. The Venture Rewards card doesn’t impose foreign transaction fees, so you can use the card overseas without accumulating extra charges.

Read our review of the Capital One Venture Rewards Card for more information.


Official application link: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card with 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.


Ink Business Preferred Credit Card

JOHN GRIBBEN/THE POINTS GUY

Then there’s the Ink Business Preferred. According to TPG’s valuations, this card’s welcome bonus alone is worth $2,000 since you can take advantage of Chase’s excellent collection of airline and hotel transfer partners. Points redeemed through the Chase travel portal are worth 1.25 cents each, which isn’t bad, either.

Another factor in this card’s favor? Its tremendous earning rates. You’ll earn 3 points per dollar across the following categories on up to $150,000 in combined purchases (1 point per dollar thereafter):

  • Travel.
  • Shipping purchases.
  • Internet, cable and phone services.
  • Advertising on social media sites and search engines.

Depending on which categories you spend in, you could earn a whopping 450,000 bonus points per year if you maxed out that $150,000 cap.

Among the Ink Business Preferred’s unsung benefits are cellphone protection, primary rental car coverage (when renting for business purposes) and other travel and purchase protections. You can also add employee cards to your account for free.

Read our full review of the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card for more information.


Official application link: Ink Business Preferred Credit Card with 100,000 bonus points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the card within the first three months of account opening.


Citi® /  AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®

KYLE OLSEN/THE POINTS GUY

Notably, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is offering 75,000 bonus miles after spending $3,500 within the first four months of account opening, matching the best-ever offer we’ve seen on this card.

This is a great option for casual American Airlines flights, with an annual fee of $99 that’s waived for the first 12 months.

The card offers 2 miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, restaurants and gas stations. As a cardholder, you’ll also earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage mile earned from purchases. A great feature of the personal card is the ability to earn a $125 American Airlines flight discount after you spend $20,000 or more in purchases during your card membership year and renew your card.

Read our review of the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select for more information.


Official application link: Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard with 75,000 bonus miles after spending $3,500 within the first four months.


Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card

THE POINTS GUY

Marriott has a number of cobranded credit cards with a pair of issuers (Chase and American Express), but it just launched a limited-time offer on the Bonvoy Business Amex. Beyond the 125,000-point welcome bonus, the card includes a number of valuable perks, including the ability to stack 15 elite night credits with those from a personal card and a free night certificate every year on your account anniversary (valid up to 35,000 points).

The card also got additional perks in 2022, as you’ll now enjoy automatic Gold Elite status plus a 7{d8a8d447f05f03c64398acf0d3c5a745c9c41fc784ba89cd5aecd37177dc7d51} discount on paid rates for standard rooms in the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio — all without any increase in the card’s $125 annual fee (see rates and fees).

Read our review of the Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex card for more information.


Official application link: Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card with 125,000 points after you spend $5,000 in the first three months of card membership. Offer ends May 3.


Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

JOHN GRIBBEN/THE POINTS GUY

If you can’t quite justify a high annual fee or you want a solid card with an appealing set of perks, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is an ideal fit. It earns 5 points per dollar on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards; 3 points per dollar on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out; 3 points per dollar on select streaming services; 3 points per dollar on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs); 2 points per dollar on all other travel; and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

For a limited time, you can also apply for this card in-branch and receive a welcome bonus of up to 90,000 total bonus points: 80,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening, plus an additional 10,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 total on purchases made in the first 6 months.

The points you earn with this card can be transferred to Chase’s airline and hotel partners or redeemed for 1.25 cents each through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. Benefits include a $50 annual credit on hotel stays purchased through Ultimate Rewards, at least 12 months of DashPass membership (when activated by Dec. 31, 2024), primary rental car coverage, up to $500 in trip delay reimbursement if you’re delayed more than 12 hours or overnight, up to $10,000 in trip cancellation and interruption insurance and up to $100 per day for up to five days in baggage delay reimbursement if your bag is delayed more than six hours.

Read our review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred for more information.


Official application link: Chase Sapphire Preferred with 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Or, apply in-branch for up to 90,000 bonus points.


Chase Sapphire Reserve

WYATT SMITH/THE POINTS GUY

This is one of the best premium credit cards available.

It earns a whopping 10 points per dollar on Lyft through March 2025, Chase Dining booked through Ultimate Rewards, and hotel and car rental purchases through the Ultimate Rewards Travel portal. Cardholders also earn 5 points per dollar on airline travel booked through the Ultimate Rewards Travel portal, 3 points per dollar on travel (after using the $300 travel credit) and dining, and 1 point per dollar on everything else.

Chase defines travel and dining quite broadly, including everything from parking fees to Airbnb stays and food delivery orders. Perks of the card include a $300 annual travel credit, Priority Pass membership, a $5 monthly DoorDash in-app credit through December 2024, a complimentary DashPass membership and an impressive array of travel protections.

Read our review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve for more information.


Official application link: Chase Sapphire Reserve with 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of card membership.


American Express® Gold Card

WYATT SMITH/THE POINTS GUY

The Amex Gold card is a favorite of many TPG staffers thanks (in large part) to its terrific earning rates:

  • 4 points per dollar on dining at restaurants (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.)
  • 4 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year (1 point per dollar after that).
  • 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel.
  • 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

The card also offers up to $120 in annual credit for Uber rides and Uber Eats purchases and up to $120 in statement credits for select dining purchases (enrollment is required for select benefits) — all for a manageable annual fee of $250 (see rates and fees)

And while it’s not providing a limited-time bonus for new cardmembers, you can often find elevated welcome offers through the CardMatch tool. The card currently features a public welcome offer of 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months. However, some new customers can earn a 75,000-point or even 90,000-point welcome offer via the CardMatch tool after meeting the same minimum spending requirements. Note that these elevated offers are targeted and subject to change at any time.

Lastly, you can refer a friend through the Amex referral program — and when your friend applies for a new account by June 7, you can earn an additional +5 rewards per dollar (as either points or cash back, depending on the card) on eligible U.S. supermarket purchases for three months after they’re approved (starting from the first date the referred friend’s account is opened), on up to $25,000.

Additionally, new applicants for the Amex Gold will be eligible for an up to $200 statement credit after reaching minimum spending requirements, on top of that card’s usual welcome offer.

Read our review of the American Express Gold Card for more information.


Official application link: American Express® Gold Card with 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 in the first six months of card membership


*Bonus offer value is based on TPG valuations and not provided by issuers.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Gold card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex, click here.

Additional reporting by Ryan Wilcox and Eric Rosen.