Which Credit Card to Use for Daily Spend?

I get asked this question a lot…
Which cards are best for what purchase?
Here is a list of MY favorites.
*Please note: I rarely include co-branded cards for top picks. So if you are wondering why they aren’t many on here, it’s because I don’t (usually) recommend daily spend on cards that don’t earn transferable points.

GROCERIES

My Pick: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card – 3x points for online grocery (won’t work with Target/Wholesale stores, must code as grocery)

American Express® Gold Card – 4x grocery (up to $25K annually, US supermarkets)
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card – 2x on everything
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card – 2x on everything
Chase Freedom Unlimited® – 1.5x on all “other” purchases
Amex EveryDay® Credit Card – 2x on grocery
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass®Card – 6x grocery
Citi Premier® Card – 3x grocery
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card – 1.5x on everything
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card – 3X on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining
Hilton Honors American Express Card – 5x grocery

DINING OUT

My Pick: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card – 3x points restaurants

American Express® Gold Card – 4x restaurants
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card – 2x on everything
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card – 2x on everything
Chase Freedom Unlimited® – 3x restaurants
Chase Freedom Flex℠ – 3x restaurants
American Express® Green Card – 3x restaurants
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass®Card – 6x restaurants
Chase Sapphire Reserve® – 3x restaurants
Citi Premier® Card – 3x restaurants
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card – 2x on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card – 3X on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining
Hilton Honors American Express Card – 5x restaurants
The Ritz Carlton Card – 3x restaurants
Citi Prestige – 5x restaurants

GAS

My Pick: Ink Business Cash® Credit Card – 2x on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card – 2x on everything
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card – 2x on everything
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card – 1.5x on everything
Citi Premier® Card – 3x gas
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass®Card – 6x gas
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card – 3X on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining
Hilton Honors American Express Card – 5x gas

DRUGSTORES

My Pick: Chase Freedom Unlimited® – 3x drugstores

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card – 1.5x on everything

TRAVEL

My Pick: American Express Platinum Card® – 5x flights booked directly with airline or with American Express travel

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card – 2x on travel (or 5x if booked in Chase Travel(SM)
Chase Sapphire Reserve® – 3x on travel after first $300 annually (as the 1st $300 is a travel credit) (Or 5x on flights and 10x on hotels when purchased through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually)
American Express® Gold Card – 3x flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com
Citi Prestige – 5x on air travel

STREAMING

My Pick: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card -3x on *select* streaming

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card – 2x select streaming
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card – 2x select streaming

INTERNET

My pick: Ink Business Cash® Credit Card – 5x on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card – 2x internet
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card – 2x internet

PHONE

My Pick: Ink Business Cash® Credit Card – 5x on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card – 2x phone
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card – 2x phone

RIDESHARE

My Pick: American Express® Green Card – 3x transit (ride share, trains, cabs, subway, buses)

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card – 2x ride share, local transit, community
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card – 2x ride share, local transit, community

CAR RENTAL

My Pick: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card – 2x on everything (has primary car rental insurance)

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card — 2x travel purchases (has primary car rental insurance)
The Ritz Carlton Card – 3x
Chase Sapphire Reserve® – 3x on travel after first $300 annually (as the 1st $300 is a travel credit) (10x if booked through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually)

GYM MEMBERSHIP

My Pick: The World of Hyatt Credit Card – 2x gym memberships

What did I miss? Any other points earnings cards you prefer over these?


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Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

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