11 Best Credit Cards for Teachers

Deals Points is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone. Terms apply to the offers. See our Advertising Disclosure for more information.

As a teacher, you have a lot of expenses. From buying supplies for your classroom to funding your own professional development, it can be hard to keep up with it all.

That’s why it’s important to find a credit card that will give you the most bang for your buck.

Here are the best credit cards for teachers, based on your spending needs.

Best General Spending: Chase Freedom Unlimited® (review)

Best for Paying Rent: Bilt Mastercard® (review)

Best Dining & Groceries: American Express® Gold Card (review)

1. Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Best Cash Back Card for General Spending

No Annual Fee

card_name

  • bonus_miles_full
  • 5% Cash Back on Travel Purchased Via Chase
  • 3% Cash Back at Restaurants and Drug Stores
  • 1.5% Cash Back on All Other Purchases
  • 0% Intro APR for 15 Months (After that, a reg_apr,reg_apr_type APR.)
  • Purchase Protection and Extended Warranty
  • No Annual Fee

Click Here to Learn How to Apply

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® (review) is a good no-annual fee credit card option that offers 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% cash back at restaurants, takeout, eligible delivery services, and on drugstore purchases. Plus it offers 1.5% cash back on all other eligible purchases.

The card also offers nice benefits such as purchase protection, extended warranty, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, and secondary rental car insurance.

2. Bilt Mastercard®

Best for Paying Rent

No Annual Fee
Bilt Mastercard®
  • Pay Rent Without Fees and Earn 1 Point Per Dollar on Rent (up to 50,000 Points Per Calendar Year)
  • No Annual Fee
  • 3x Points on Dining
  • 2x Points on Travel
  • Transfer Rewards to Airlines and Hotels
  • Cell Phone, Primary Rental Car, and Trip Delay Insurance
Learn More Our Review

Bilt Mastercard® is a no-annual-fee credit card that allows you to pay rent without a transaction fee and earn 1 point per dollar on rent (up to 50,000 points per calendar year).

You also earn 3x points on dining, 2x points on travel, and 1x points everywhere else.

The Bilt Rewards card also has great benefits for a no-annual fee card, including cell phone insurance, primary rental car insurance, 90-day purchase protection, trip delay insurance, trip cancellation insurance, and no foreign transaction fees. 

Plus, you can transfer your points to airline and hotel partners such as United Airlines, American Airlines, and World of Hyatt. Or redeem the points for travel or at Amazon.

3. Citi Custom Cash℠ Card

Best for 5% Cash Back on Your Top Category

5% Cash Back in Top Category
Citi Custom Cash℠ Card
  • bonus_miles_full
  • 5% Cash Back on Purchases in Your Top Eligible Spend Category Each Billing Cycle up to $500 (1% after that)
  • 0% Intro APR for 15 Months on Purchases and Balance Transfers ($5 or 5% fee). After that, reg_apr,reg_apr_type.
  • No Annual Fee
Our Review Learn More
Non-Affiliate Link

The Citi Custom Cash is a no-annual-fee card that earns 5% cash back in your top spending category each billing cycle.

Eligible 5% cash back categories, among several others, include:

This allows you to turn the Custom Cash into your 5% cash back card for your favorite category.

4. Chase Freedom Flex℠

Best for 5% Cash Back on Rotating Categories

5% Back in Quarterly Categories
Chase Freedom Flex℠
  • Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months.
  • 5% Cash Back in Quarterly Bonus Categories (up to $1,500 in combined spending after activation)
  • 5% Cash Back on Travel Purchased Via Chase
  • 3% Cash Back at Restaurants, Eligible Food Delivery, and Drug Stores
  • Cell Phone Insurance and Purchase Protection
  • No Annual Fee
Learn More Our Review
Referral Link

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ (review) is a great no-annual fee card that earns 5% cash back in quarterly categories (up to $1,500 in combined spending) and on travel purchased via Chase Ultimate Rewards.

The Freedom Flex also earns 3% cash back at restaurants, eligible food delivery, and drug stores.

The card also comes with nice benefits such as cell phone insurance, extended warranty, purchase protection, secondary rental car insurance, and trip cancellation/interruption insurance.

5. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Best for Teachers Who Want to Travel

Best Starter Travel Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
  • bonus_miles_full
  • 5x Points on Travel Booked Via Chase
  • 3x Points on Dining and Eligible Delivery Services
  • 2x Points on All Other Travel Purchases
  • 10% Anniversary Points Boost
  • Trip Delay and Trip Cancellation Insurance
  • Primary Rental Car Insurance
  • $95 Annual Fee

Click Here to Learn How to Apply

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (review) is one of the best rewards cards for travelers who want solid earning rates for travel and dining expenses. 

For only $95 per year, this card earns 5x Chase Ultimate Rewards points on travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, 3x points on dining, online groceries, and streaming services, and 2x on all other travel purchases

Cardholders will also get a 10% anniversary points bonus, a 12-month DoorDash DashPass subscription when activated by December 31, 2024, and a $50 anniversary hotel statement credit. 

Plus, it provides extensive travel protections, including trip delay, primary rental car, baggage, and purchase protection plans. 

6. Citi® Double Cash Card

Best for Simplicity

2% Cash Back & No Annual Fee
Citi® Double Cash Card
  • 2% Cash Back (1% on Purchases, 1% When You Pay)
  • 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After That, reg_apr,reg_apr_type.
  • No Annual Fee
Our Review Learn More
Non-Affiliate Link

The Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer boasts a strong 2% rewards rate on purchases, where you get 1% back when you buy and 1% when you pay. 

This zero-annual-fee card offers a solid earning potential as long as you pay your balance on time, and it provides a simple way to rack up points with no bonus categories to track. 

You can also boost your rewards by also holding the Citi Premier® Card (review), which allows you to transfer points to airline and hotel programs. This combination effectively allows you to earn 2 airline miles per dollar on all spending with the Citi Double Cash.

7. American Express® Gold Card

Best for Spending at Restaurants and U.S. Supermarkets

The American Express® Gold Card (review) is one of my favorite cards because it earns:

  • 4x Membership Rewards® points at restaurants, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.,
  • 4x Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x). 
  • 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com

Plus, card members get nice credits when you enroll your Gold Card to offset the annual fee:

  • $120 Uber Cash: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account, and each month automatically get up to $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations.

8. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
  • bonus_miles_full
  • $300 Annual Credit for Bookings through Capital One Travel
  • 10,000 Miles for Each Account Anniversary
  • Hertz President’s Circle Elite Status
  • Airport Lounge Access (Priority Pass, Capital One, & Plaza Premium)
  • 10X Miles on Hotels and Rental Cars, and 5x Miles on Flights Booked with Capital One Travel
  • 2X Miles on All Other purchases
  • $395 Annual Fee
Learn More Our Review

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (review) is a premium travel rewards card that’s perfect for travelers who want outstanding travel perks like annual travel credits, worldwide airport lounge access, and travel and purchase protections. 

The Venture X earns 2x miles on all purchases helping you maximize every dollar of your spending. Plus, you can earn 10x miles on hotels and rental cars, and 5x miles on flights booked through Capital One.

The card has a $395 annual fee, completely offset by a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, and 10,000 points (worth at least $100) for each account anniversary.

Plus, you get airport lounge access via Priority Pass, Capital One, and Plaza Premium Lounges, Hertz President’s Circle elite status, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit, rental car insurance, trip and luggage insurance, cell phone insurance, and purchase protection.

9. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

2x Miles on Everyday Spending
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
  • bonus_miles_full
  • 5x Miles on Hotels and Rental Cars via Capital One Travel
  • 2x Miles Everywhere Else
  • 2 Free Visits to Capital One Lounges Each Year
  • Global Entry or TSA Pre-Check Credit
  • Hertz 5-Star Elite Status
  • Rental Car Insurance and Extended Warranty
  • $95 Annual Fee
Learn More Our Review

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a travel rewards credit card that earns an unlimited 2 miles per dollar on all purchases and 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

The card also comes with a range of travel benefits, including secondary rental car, no foreign transaction fees, and extended warranty coverage.

Plus, you also get two complimentary passes to visit Capital One lounges each year and an application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck (up to a $100 credit every four years).

10. Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

No Annual Fee
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
  • bonus_miles_full
  • 3% Cash Back at U.S. Supermarkets, U.S. Online Retail Purchases, & U.S. Gas Stations (each on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, 1% thereafter)
  • 0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening. After that, a reg_apr,reg_apr_type APR.
  • No Annual Fee (rates & fees)
Learn More Our Review
American Express is a Deals Points Advertiser; Terms Apply; Enrollment is Required for Some Benefits

The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is a great no-annual fee credit card option that earns 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. online retail purchases, & U.S. gas stations (each on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, 1% thereafter).

The Blue Cash also offers $7 back each month after using your Blue Cash Everyday Card to spend $12.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription to The Disney Bundle, including Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. (Enrollment required.)

Plus, a $180 annual credit for Home Chef purchases in the form of a monthly $15 statement credit

11. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
  • Earn 5 Free Night Awards valued up to 250,000 Points (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after you spend $5,000 on purchases in your first 3 months.
  • 6x Points at Marriott Hotels & Resorts
  • 3x Points on Groceries, Gas, and Dining on the First $6,000 in Combined Purchases Each Year
  • One Annual Free Night Award (Up to 35,000 Points Every Year After Account Anniversary)
  • Automatic Silver Elite Status + 15 Elite Credits
  • Trip Delay, Baggage Delay, and Lost Luggage Insurance
  • $95 Annual Fee
Learn More Our Review
Non-Affiliate Link

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card (review) is a good option for travelers who want benefits at Marriott for a reasonable annual fee of $95, which is offset by a free night award of up to 35,000 points after each account anniversary.

The Bonvoy Boundless card also offers Bonvoy Silver status, 15 elite night credits, 6x points at Marriott Bonvoy hotels, 3x points at grocery stores, gas stations, and on dining on the first $6,000 in combined purchases each year.

Plus, the card offers benefits such as baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, trip delay reimbursement, purchase protection, and no foreign transaction fees.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, please click here.

For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, please click here.

Top offers from our partners
60,000 Points
Terms Apply
75,000 Bonus Miles
Terms Apply
100,000 Bonus Points
Terms Apply
100,000 Points
Terms Apply