Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are personal referral links. If you apply and get approved, I may receive a compensation at no extra cost to you. You don’t have to use my links, but I’m grateful when you do. only recommend cards I find valuable.
1. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Annual Fee: $395
Benefits:
- 10x miles on hotels & rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
- 5x miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel.
- 2x miles on all other purchases, every day.
- Access to Capital One Lounges and Partner Lounge Network with Priority Pass™.
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
- Get 10,000 bonus miles every year, starting on your first anniversary.
- Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel.
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global entry or TSA PreCheck®.
- Get upgraded to Hertz President’s Circle® status.
- Up to four additional cardholders to your account (each allowed to bring two guests at lounges).
- Protect your cell phone every time you pay your bill with your Venture X card. If it’s stolen or damaged, you’ll get reimbursed up to $800.
This is the newest addition to my wallet—and it’s quickly become my go-to travel card. I was looking for something packed with travel perks, and this one checks all the boxes: lounge access, a $120 Global Entry credit, and no foreign transaction fees, which makes it perfect for international trips. The miles are easy to rack up with 2x on every purchase, and redeeming them is seamless thanks to its strong lineup of travel transfer partners. It’s the card I reach for when I want simplicity, value, and solid rewards all in one.
2. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Annual Fee: $95
Benefits:
- 5x total points on travel purchased through Chase Travel.
- 2x on other travel purchases.
- 3x points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out.
- 3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs).
- 3x points on select streaming services.
- 1x on all other purchases.
- $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays purchased through Chase Travel.
- Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening (normally 60,0000 bonus points after you spend $4000, offer ends soon).
- Get complimentary access to DashPass—a membership for both DoorDash and Caviar—a value of $120 for 12 months.
- On each account anniversary, you’ll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous anniversary year.
- 5x points on Lyft rides.
- 5x total points on Peloton.
This card is the key to unlocking the full value of my Chase points. It lets me combine rewards from all my other Chase cards, making it easy to maximize redemptions—especially when transferring to travel partners like Hyatt, where I get some of the best value per point. It’s also my second travel card with no foreign transaction fees, making it great for trips abroad. With a modest $95 annual fee, the perks easily outweigh the cost—it basically pays for itself.
3. Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Annual Fee: $0
Benefits:
- 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel.
- 3% cash back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and delivery services.
- 3% cash back when you spend at drugstores.
- 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
- 2% cash back on Lyft Rides.
- Earn a $200 bonus after spending $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
This card is a great everyday catch-all, especially for beginners just starting to build their credit card strategy. The 3% cashback on dining and drugstores is a standout perk—perfect for frequent takeout nights or regular pharmacy runs. Plus, with no annual fee, it’s a no-brainer to keep in your wallet long-term. It also pairs really well with other Chase cards if you’re looking to stack points through the Chase Ultimate Rewards ecosystem. Whether you’re grabbing lunch, picking up prescriptions, or covering random purchases, this card earns solid rewards without any added cost.
4. Chase Freedom Flex®
Annual Fee: $0
Benefits:
- Earn a total of 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate.
- 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel.
- 3% cash back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and delivery services.
- 3% cash back when you spend at drugstores.
- 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- 2% cash back on Lyft Rides.
- Earn a $200 bonus after spending $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
What makes this card stand out is its rotating 5% cashback categories. When the bonus lands on popular categories like Amazon or streaming services, as it does this quarter—it becomes a go-to for everyday spending. And since the card has no annual fee, it’s pure value with no downside. As long as you activate the bonus categories each quarter, this card can rack up serious rewards on purchases you were already going to make.
5. Discover it® Cash Back Credit Card
Annual Fee: $0
Benefits:
- Earn a total of 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate.
- One dollar earned is worth one dollar you can spend.
- 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Double all the cash back you earn at the end of your first year.
This was the very first credit card I added to my wallet—and honestly, it was the perfect way to start building credit. With no annual fee and 5% rotating categories, it’s easy to earn solid cashback without spending a dime on fees. The Cashback Match in your first year is a huge bonus too—Discover automatically doubles all the cashback you earn, which really adds up. It’s simple, rewarding, and beginner-friendly—exactly what you want in your first card.
That wraps up what’s in my wallet for 2025. These cards each play a role in my everyday spending, travel, and rewards strategy—and they’ve helped me get more value out of the things I was already going to spend on anyway. If you’re thinking about picking any of them up, I’ve included my referral links above. Using them helps support what I do (at no extra cost to you), and it’s always appreciated!