Best Credit Cards for October 2024

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Looking for the best credit card to get for this month? With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one.

Fortunately, we’ve researched for you and compiled a list of the top credit cards for this month, focusing on travel rewards cards with high welcome bonuses.

If you are looking for a business card, check out our page on the best business credit cards.

1. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

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
Learn More Our Review

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (review) is one of the most popular travel rewards cards because it offers nice welcome bonus and extra points on travel and dining, which can be transferred to airline and hotel partners or redeemed directly for travel at a rate of 1.25 cents per point through Chase Travel℠. The Sapphire Preferred also offers great travel and purchase protections for a card with a $95 annual fee.

Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full

Earning Rewards: 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3x points on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2x points on all other travel purchases, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

Card Benefits: Ability to transfer to airline and hotel partners, 25% bonus when redeeming points through Chase Travel, $50 annual hotel stay credit via Chase Travel, 10% anniversary points bonus, no foreign transaction fees, primary rental car insurance, trip delay insurance, trip cancellation insurance, baggage delay insurance, purchase protection, and extended warranty.

Transfer Partners: Aer Lingus, Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways, Emirates, Air France KLM Flying Blue, Hyatt, IHG, Iberia, JetBlue, Marriott, Singapore KrisFlyer, Southwest, United, and Virgin Atlantic.

2. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
  • bonus_miles_full
  • $75 Annual Southwest Travel Credit
  • 7,500 Points on Every Cardmember Anniversary
  • 3X Points on Southwest Purchases
  • 2X Points on Ridesharing, Local Transit, Internet, Cable, Phone, and Select Streaming
  • 4 Upgraded Boardings Per Year
  • 25% Savings on In-Flight Purchases
  • $149 Annual Fee
Learn More Our Review

The Southwest Rapid Rewards ® Priority Credit Card (review) offers valuable perks for frequent Southwest flyers, including a $75 annual travel credit and 7,500 anniversary bonus points. This premium card provides the most benefits of Southwest’s personal credit cards, making it ideal for loyal customers who want to maximize their rewards and travel experience with Southwest.

Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full

Earn Rewards: 3x points on Southwest Airlines purchases; 2x points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners, local transit and commuting (including rideshare), internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming; 1x points on all other eligible purchases.

Card Benefits: 7,500 points every year on your Cardmember anniversary, $75 Southwest annual travel credit, 4 Upgraded Boardings per year, 25% back on inflight purchases, 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost each year, lost luggage reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, extended warranty, and purchase protection.

3. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
  • bonus_miles_full
  • $300 Annual Credit via Capital One Travel.
  • 10,000 Miles for Each Account Anniversary.
  • Airport Lounge Access (Priority Pass and Capital One) upon enrollment.
  • 10X Miles on Hotels and Rental Cars, and 5x Miles on Flights and Vacation Rentals booked with Capital One Travel.
  • 2X Miles on all other purchases.
  • $395 Annual Fee.
Learn How to Apply Our Review

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (review) delivers both everyday value with unlimited 2x miles on purchases and premium comfort through comprehensive airport lounge access for you upon enrollment. You’ll also receive $300 in annual travel credits plus 10,000 anniversary bonus miles, creating substantial ongoing value.

Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full

Earning Rewards: 10x miles on hotels and rental cars and 5x miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel; 2x miles on all other purchases.

Card Benefits: $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, 10,000 bonus miles every account anniversary, airport lounge access (Capital One and Priority Pass) upon enrollment, Global Entry / TSA PreCheck credit, Hertz President’s Circle elite status, primary rental car insurance, trip delay insurance, trip cancellation insurance, and cell phone protection.

Transfer Partners: Accor (2 to 1), Aeromexico, Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Choice Privileges, Emirates, Etihad, Finnair, I Prefer Hotels (1 to 2), Japan Airlines(2 to 1.5), JetBlue (5 to 3), Qantas, Qatar, Singapore KrisFlyer, TAP Air Portugal, Turkish Airlines, Virgin Red, and Wyndham Rewards.

4. Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Hilton Honors Diamond Status
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
  • Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases within your first 6 months.
  • Hilton Honors Diamond Elite Status
  • 14x Points at Hilton Hotels and Resorts
  • One Free Night Award at Any Hotel
  • $550 Annual Fee and No Foreign Transaction Fees (rates & fees)
Learn More Our Review
All information about this card has been collected independently by Deals Points; Terms Apply; Enrollment is Required for Some Benefits

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card (review) offers top-tier Hilton Diamond status and valuable travel credits. This premium card provides excellent rewards for Hilton stays and nice perks that can easily offset the annual fee for frequent Hilton guests.

(All information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Deals Points and has not been reviewed or approved by the issuer.)

Welcome Bonus: Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases within your first 6 months.

Earning Rewards: 14x points at eligible purchases at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio; 7x points on at U.S. restaurants, flights booked directly with airlines or AmexTravel.com, and car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies; 3x points on all other eligible purchases.

Main Benefits: Complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond elite status, $400 Hilton Resort credit (up to $200 semi-annually), free night award at any Hilton Hotel and Resort; $200 flight credit ($50 each each quarter), $199 CLEAR Plus Credit, $100 Hilton On-Property Credit, National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive Status, and Trip Delay Insurance.

5. Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

12X Points at Hilton Hotels and Resorts
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
  • bonus_miles_full
  • 12X Points at Hilton Hotels and Resorts
  • 6X Points at U.S. Restaurants, U.S. Supermarkets, and U.S. Gas Stations
  • Up to $200 Hilton Credit Each Year
  • Hilton Honors Gold Status
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees
  • $150 Annual Fee (rates & fees)
Learn How to Apply Our Review
American Express is a Deals Points advertiser; Terms Apply

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card (review) offers nice rewards at Hilton properties while providing automatic Gold status that includes valuable perks like room upgrades and breakfast benefits. This mid-tier Hilton card hits a sweet spot for occasional Hilton guests who want elite perks without premium card costs.

Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full

Earning Rewards: 12x points on eligible purchases made directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio; 6x points at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations; 4x Points on U.S. Online Retail Purchases; 3x points for all other eligible purchases.

Main Benefits: Hilton Gold elite status, up to $200 Hilton credit (up to $50 in statement credits each quarter for purchases made directly with a Hilton property), free night award after eligible spending of $15,000 in a calendar year, and National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive Status.

6. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
  • bonus_miles_full
  • 2x Points on Southwest Airlines, Ridesharing, Local Transit, Internet, Cable, Phone, and Select Streaming
  • 3,000 Points Every Year on Cardmember Anniversary
  • 2 EarlyBird Check-Ins Per Year
  • 25% Savings on In-Flight Purchases
  • Lost Luggage and Baggage Delay Insurance
  • $69 Annual Fee
Learn More Our Review

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card (review) offers a solid entry point into Southwest Airlines rewards with basic perks like 3,000 anniversary points and two EarlyBird check-ins annually. While it provides nice rewards for Southwest purchases and everyday spending categories, you’ll get better value from Southwest’s premium card options if you fly the airline regularly.

Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full

Earn Rewards: 2x points on Southwest purchases, Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners, local transit and commuting (including rideshare), internet, cable, phone services, select streaming; 1x points on all other purchases.

Card Benefits: 3,000 points every year on your Cardmember anniversary, 2 EarlyBird Check-In each year, 25% back on inflight purchases, 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost each year, lost luggage reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, extended warranty, and purchase protection.

7. Aeroplan® Credit Card

Aeroplan® Credit Card
  • bonus_miles_full
  • 3x Points at Grocery Stores, Restaurants, and Air Canada directly.
  • New Cardmember Aeroplan 25K Elite Status for This Year and Next Year
  • Free First Checked Bag for You & Up to 8 Companions
  • $95 Annual Fee and No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Learn More Our Review

The Aeroplan® Credit Card (review) stands out with automatic elite status the first year and flexible redemption options across more than 50 partner airlines worldwide. This travel rewards powerhouse offers strong earning rates on dining, groceries, and Air Canada flights, plus valuable perks like free checked bags and priority boarding.

Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full Additionally, new cardmembers will automatically receive Aeroplan 25K Status for the remainder of the calendar year and the following calendar year. Members can keep their Aeroplan 25K Status with $15,000 in account spending during a calendar year.

Earning Points: 3x points at grocery stores, restaurants, and Air Canada purchases; 1x points on all other purchases; 500 bonus points for every $2,000 you spend in a calendar month – up to 1,500 points per month.

Card Benefits: Free first checked bag for cardmember and up to eight travel companions, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS application fee credit of up to $100 every four years, 10% bonus on Ultimate Rewards points transfers, preferred pricing on flight rewards, no foreign transaction fees, travel insurance (trip delay, trip cancellation, baggage delay, secondary rental car), and purchase protection.

Our Methodology

When curating our list of the best credit cards, we employ a comprehensive review process that reviews over 150 cards to ensure we provide recommendations that suit a wide array of financial needs and preferences. Our methodology is data-driven and consumer-focused, taking into account the following key factors:

  • Welcome Bonuses: We assess the value of the welcome bonuses offered by credit cards, understanding that a substantial initial bonus can significantly enhance the cardholder’s value proposition.

  • Fees: It’s essential to consider the cost of owning a credit card. We evaluate annual fees, balance transfer fees, and foreign transaction fees, among others, to determine how they might offset the card’s benefits.

  • Rewards: We analyze the rewards structure of each card, looking at the earning rate on purchases, the variety of categories that earn rewards, the overall value of the rewards points or miles, and redeeming points, miles, or cash back.

  • Travel Benefits: For cards tailored towards travelers, we review all of the cards’ travel benefits including, airport lounge access, travel insurance, and no foreign transaction fees, to judge the card’s utility for frequent travelers.

  • Purchase Benefits: We also consider purchase benefits such as extended warranty, purchase protection, cell phone insurance, and return protection, which can provide additional value and peace of mind for cardholders.

Our selections are regularly updated to reflect the most current offers and card features, ensuring our readers have access to the most relevant and beneficial credit card options on the market.

For the rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card, please click here. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

For the rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, please click here. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, please click here. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card, please click here. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

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