Most Used Credit Cards in the USA with Best Signup Bonuses

Introduction

Credit cards are a necessary tool for online shopping and cashback rewards, particularly when they have excellent sign-up bonuses and reward schemes. In the United States, some credit cards excel at providing consumers with useful rewards and benefits. For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a legendary huge welcome bonus and is fantastic for travelers, and The Platinum Card® from American Express is targeted towards luxury flyers.

The rest of the leading cards such as the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and United℠ Explorer Card both have great bonus deals and offers for regular fliers. With high sign-up bonuses and robust reward programs, these cards are perfect for individuals looking to get more out of their spending, especially on online shopping and cashback. Here are the top credit cards in 2025, featuring their best attributes and why they are the top choice among cardholders.

Top 7 Most Used Credit Cards in the USA with Best Signup Bonuses [2025]

Best Most Used Credit Cards in the USA with Best Signup Bonuses [March 2025]

The best credit cards in the USA with top signup bonuses include Chase Sapphire Preferred®, Amex Platinum, Capital One Venture Rewards, United Explorer, Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority, Amex Gold, and Chase Ink Business Preferred®, offering excellent travel perks and rewards.

1. Chase Sapphire Preferred

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is great for regular travelers, with a huge welcome bonus and great earning capacity on dining and travel. Points can be used for travel, cash, or statement credits.

Signup Bonuses

• Issuer – Chase
• Payment Gateway – Visa
• Credit Score – Good-Excellent
• Annual Fee – $95
• International Transaction Fee – No Foreign Transaction Fees
• Cash Advance Fee – 5% or $10
• Intro APR – N/A
• Regular APR – 21.24%–28.24%
• Sign In Bonus – 60,000 points after $4,000 spent in 3 months
• Best For – Dining and Travel

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is ideal for travel enthusiasts. Issued by Chase, it offers generous travel rewards and flexible redemption options. It helps maximize travel benefits and manage expenses efficiently.

The card has an annual fee of $95 and offers 2X points on travel and dining. The credit limit varies, and a good credit score is required. It also includes a referral program and travel insurance.

Pros & Cons:

2. The Platinum Card® from Amex

American Express Platinum Card is a high-end credit card for luxury travel, with a large welcome bonus and rich benefits such as airport lounge access, high-end hotel perks, and more.

Signup Bonuses

• Issuer – American Express
• Payment Gateway – AMEX
• Credit Score – Excellent
• Intro APR – N/A
• Annual Fee – $695
• International Transaction Fee – No Foreign Transaction Fee
• Cash Advance Fee – Cash advance of 5% or $10
• Regular APR – 21.24%–29.24%
• Sign-up Bonus – 80,000 Membership Rewards points after $8,000 spent in 6 months
• Best For – Professionals, Frequent Travelers

The Platinum Card® from Amex, issued by American Express, offers unparalleled travel benefits, including airport lounge access and hotel upgrades. Its best feature is the no pre-set spending limit, providing flexibility and exclusive experiences.

The card has an annual fee of $695 plus applicable taxes. Unique features include access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection and a renewal benefit worth up to ₹35,000. The required credit score is 750+. The referral program offers additional Membership Rewards points.

Pros & Cons:

3. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card gives a rich welcome reward and elite travel rewards. With perks such as 2x miles for every purchase, it’s perfect for both everyday and occasional flyers.

Travel Rewards

• Issuer – Capital One
• Payment Gateway – Visa
• Credit Score – Excellent
• Intro APR – 0% for 15 months
• Regular APR – 20.24%-28.24% Variable
• Annual Fee – $95
• International Transaction Fee – None
• Cash Advance Fee – 5% or $10, whichever is greater
• Sign-up Bonus – 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months
• Best For – Frequent Travelers Professionals

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a premium travel rewards card offering unlimited 2x miles on every purchase. Issued by Capital One, it allows flexible redemption options, including flights, hotels, and statement credits for travel purchases. The card also comes with Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® credit, making it ideal for frequent travelers who want a straightforward way to earn and redeem miles.

The card has a $95 annual fee but provides significant value through travel perks. A good-to-excellent credit score (700+) is required for approval. There’s no preset spending limit, making it a flexible option for large purchases. The referral program allows users to earn bonus miles for referring friends. Additional benefits include travel accident insurance, rental car collision coverage, and access to Capital One Travel for price monitoring and booking assistance.

Pros & Cons:

4. United℠ Explorer Card

The United℠ Explorer Card offers a big welcome bonus and travel perks, like free checked bags and priority boarding. It’s a good card for United Airlines frequent fliers.

Travel Rewards

• Issuer – Chase
• Payment Gateway – Visa
• Credit Score – Good to Excellent
• Intro APR – N/A
• Regular APR – 16.49% to 23.49% Variable APR
• Annual Fee – $95 (waived first year)
• International Transaction Fee – No Foreign Transaction Fees
• Cash Advance Fee – Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
• Sign-up Bonus – 50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
• Best For – Frequent Travelers, Lifestyle

Issued by Chase, the United Explorer Card is a top pick for frequent United Airlines travelers. It offers two miles per dollar on United purchases, dining, and hotels, plus a free first-checked bag. It also includes two one-time United Club passes annually.

The annual fee is $95 (waived in the first year). A good to excellent credit score is recommended. The card provides priority boarding and trip protection benefits. It also has a referral program where users can earn bonus miles for referring friends.

Pros & Cons:

5. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is ideal for flyers on Southwest Airlines, with a generous signup bonus and perks such as priority boarding and travel credits towards companion passes.

Travel Benefits

• Issuer – Chase
• Payment Gateway – Visa
• Credit Score – Good to Excellent
• Intro APR – N/A
• Regular APR – 15.99% to 22.99% Variable APR
• Annual Fee – $149
• International Transaction Fee – No Foreign Transaction Fees
• Cash Advance Fee – Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
• Sign-up Bonus – 40,000 points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
• Best For – Frequent Travelers

Issued by Chase, this card is ideal for Southwest Airlines travelers. It offers 3x points on Southwest purchases, 2x on transit, commuting, and internet services, and 1x on other spending. The $75 annual travel credit and 7,500-anniversary points make it stand out.

The annual fee is $149, but the perks offset the cost. A good to excellent credit score is needed. It includes four upgraded boardings per year and no foreign transaction fees. Cardholders can also earn a Companion Pass faster with their spending.

Pros & Cons:

6. American Express® Gold Card

The Amex Gold Card earns 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines and Amex Travel. While a dining rewards card at its core, its travel perks include no foreign transaction fees, hotel perks, and flexible point redemption for flights, making it a good option for infrequent travelers.

Signup Bonuses

• Issuer – American Express
• Payment Gateway – AMEX
• Credit Score – Good-Excellent
• Intro APR – N/A
• Regular APR – 21.24%–29.24%
• Annual Fee – $250
• International Transaction Fee – No Foreign Transaction Fee
• Cash Advance Fee – 5% or $10
• Balance Transfer APR – N/A
• Best For – Food Enthusiasts, Frequent Travelers

The American Express® Gold Card, issued by American Express, provides generous rewards on everyday purchases, including dining and travel. Its best feature is the Membership Rewards program, offering valuable points for various expenses.

The card has an annual fee of ₹4,500 plus applicable taxes. Unique features include no pre-set spending limit and access to the Gold Collection rewards. The required credit score is 700+. The referral program offers bonus Membership Rewards points.

Pros & Cons:

7. Chase Ink Business Preferred

The Chase Ink Business Preferred card helps businesses overcome their funds deficiency and enables them to complete their huge business expenses by offering generous rewards.

Signup Bonuses

• Issuer – Chase
• Payment Gateway – Visa
• Credit Score – Good-Excellent
• Intro APR – N/A
• Regular APR – 20.24%–25.24%
• Annual Fee – $95
• International Transaction Fee – No Foreign Transaction Fee
• Cash Advance Fee – 5% or $10
• Sign In Bonus – 100,000 points after $8,000 spent in 3 months
• Best For – International Transactions

The Chase Ink Business Preferred® Card is designed for business owners. Issued by Chase, it offers generous rewards on business expenses and helps manage expenses efficiently. It provides flexibility in earning rewards.

The card has an annual fee of $95 and offers 3X points on travel and select business categories. The credit limit varies, and a good credit score is required. It also includes a referral program and travel insurance.

Pros & Cons:

Comparison Table

Methodology

United States residents highly seek credit cards that provide maximum sign-up bonuses because these bonuses deliver substantial rewards at the initial start of card ownership. Sign-up incentives on credit cards exist in three main forms including points, miles, or cash back which make them attractive for consumers to consider new credit cards. Determining the best sign-up bonuses and popular cards involves assessing three key factors between payouts and requirements for bonuses alongside their value against fees and regular benefits.

Evaluation of credit cards with attractive sign-up deals requires analysts to assess accessibility for completing the spending requirements to receive the bonus. A credit card will achieve higher popularity according to how flexible its rewards system is between various spending categories.

The most important elements for customers include satisfaction along with numerous reward options and the overall value that exceeds the sign-up bonus. Consumers seeking maximum value in credit card benefits such as attractive rewards and low fees tend to choose offerings that combine solid rewards programs with little or no fees that apply to international purchases.

Choosing the Most Used Credit Cards in the USA with Best Signup Bonuses

Why Do You Need a Credit Card for Signup Bonuses? 

A credit card that offers a signup bonus presents a chance to acquire points, miles, or cashback as rewards for ordinary spending. Such a bonus helps alleviate the expenses of traveling and purchasing products, or services. It’s quite often offered in exciting features such as travel insurance, protection of purchases, and exposure to exclusive discounts. It’s a method for leveraging purchasing capacity, particularly if there is repeated buying. The more the card is used within the bonus period, the greater the reward that can be earned.

Do Credit Cards Provide the Best Signup Bonuses? 

Yes, credit cards are some of the finest means to make worthwhile signup rewards. Numerous major credit card names are popular for providing huge rewards, particularly to new cardholders who qualify for spending requirements. American Express Platinum and Chase Sapphire Preferred are cards with competitive bonuses that can generate travel rewards or cashback significantly. But the worth of the bonus is variable based on the kind of rewards (points, miles, etc.) and the spending requirement, so selecting the correct card is important.

How Do Credit Cards Help in Signup Bonuses? 

Credit cards assist in signup bonuses by providing a hefty reward after particular conditions are achieved, like reaching a certain threshold of spending during the initial couple of months. These bonuses take the form of points, miles, or cashback. It prompts cardholders to spend what they would anyway, and with that, the rewards are acquired at a speedy rate. The significance of such bonuses is that they give a good and instant reward to open a new card and utilize it judiciously.

Advantages of Credit Cards in Signup Bonuses

FAQs

What is a typical signup bonus for a credit card?

Signup bonuses usually range from 40,000 to 100,000 points, depending on the card and its spending requirements.

Do I need to pay an annual fee for cards with signup bonuses?

Some cards with the best bonuses have an annual fee, but the rewards often outweigh the cost if used strategically.

Are there limits to how much bonus I can earn?

Yes, there are often limits on how much you can earn in the first few months based on spending thresholds.

Can I redeem my signup bonus for cash?

It depends on the card; some cards allow you to redeem points for cash, while others are limited to travel rewards.

What happens if I don’t meet the spending requirement for the signup bonus?

If you don’t meet the spending threshold, you typically won’t earn the bonus, so it’s important to plan purchases accordingly.