If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to jump on a new travel card, this might be it. We’re in a rare stretch with a dozen-plus six-figure bonuses on the table.
Almost every card offering a 100,000-plus points bonus right now sits in the premium category – which means tons of benefits, in addition to the big bonus … and also higher annual fees.
There’s no question that these huge bonuses make year one a slam-dunk value. But beyond that first year, the math changes: It’s all about whether you can actually use the ongoing perks – the travel credits, elite status benefits, lounge access, free night certificates, and more – to justify keeping the card long-term. That might be easier said than done with some of these cards.
But here’s what most travelers miss: Points and miles are not created equally. They’re a lot like currencies around the world. Just like 100,000 U.S. dollars are not worth the same as 100,000 Japanese yen, 100,000 Delta SkyMiles won’t get you nearly as far as 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points … and 100,000 Hilton Honors points might only get you a night or two in a hotel.
That’s why, instead of looking only at the size of each bonus, we dug deeper. Using Frequent Miler’s Reasonable Redemption Values (RRVs) as our “exchange rates,” we calculated what each bonus is truly worth – and ranked every qualifying offer from most valuable to least.
Let’s dive in.
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Best Personal Card Offers Over 100,000 Points
- 1. American Express Platinum Card®
- 2. Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- 3. American Express® Gold Card
- 4. Citi Strata Elite℠ Credit Card
- 5. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
- 6. IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
- 7. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
- 8. Hilton Honors American Express Aspire® Card
- 9. Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
- 10. Hilton Honors American Express Card
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Best Business Credit Card Offers Over 100,000 Points
- 1. Capital One Venture X Business
- 2. Sapphire Reserve® for Business
- 3. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
- 4. Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
- 5. American Express® Business Gold Card
- 6. Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
- 7. IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
- 8. The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
Best Personal Card Offers Over 100,000 Points
1. American Express Platinum Card®
Welcome Offer Bonus: bonus_miles_full
Estimated Bonus Value: Up to $2,625 (175,000 x 1.5 cents)
Annual Fee: annual_fees (see rates & fees)
The Platinum Card’s top offer is up to 175,000 points after $8,000 in spend in six months, though not all applicants will see the highest version. Still, the card’s extensive perks make year one an easy win.
The Platinum Card is built for frequent travelers who want a smoother, more premium experience. You’ll get unmatched lounge access – including Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs® (when flying Delta), Priority Pass, and Escape Lounges – plus elite status with major hotel and rental car programs (Hilton Honors™ Gold, Marriott Bonvoy® Gold, Leading Hotels of the World Sterling status, and Hertz President’s Circle).
Add in up to $200 in airline fee credits, up to $600 in hotel credits at Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection properties, up to $300 in digital entertainment credits, up to $300 in Equinox credits, rideshare credits, Walmart+ credits, and much more, and the year-one value becomes undeniable.
Membership Rewards points are also among the most powerful points currencies, thanks to transfer partners like ANA, Air France/KLM, Virgin Atlantic, and more. Whether you’re after premium travel perks, easy statement credits, or big-time points value, the Platinum Card delivers.
Read More: A Full Review of the American Express Platinum® Card
Learn more about *amex platinum*.
2. Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Welcome Offer Bonus: bonus_miles_full
Estimated Bonus Value: $1,875 (125,000 x 1.5 cents)
Annual Fee: annual_fees
The *chase sapphire reserve* has been a top-tier travel card for nearly a decade, and after its recent refresh, it’s more packed with perks than ever … and a higher annual fee to boot. But the card’s easy-to-use $300 annual travel credit automatically erases almost any travel purchase, effectively dropping the real cost of the card to $495 – so long as you plan to spend at least $300 on travel each year.
From there, you get access to Chase Sapphire and Priority Pass lounges, up to a $500 annual hotel credit for prepaid stays booked through The Edit℠ by Chase Travel, up to a $300 Sapphire Dining credit, up to $120 for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck®, or NEXUS, and a long list of smaller but valuable perks like monthly Lyft, DoorDash, Peloton, and Apple Music/TV+ credits.
Your Ultimate Rewards points can be redeemed through Chase Travel – including Points Boost offers worth up to 2 cents per point – or transferred to top airline and hotel partners like World of Hyatt, Air Canada Aeroplan, United, British Airways, and more. Paired with industry-leading travel insurance, the Sapphire Reserve remains one of the most rewarding travel cards on the market for travelers who can utilize its growing suite of benefits.
Read More: A Full Review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Learn more about the *chase sapphire reserve*.
3. American Express® Gold Card
Welcome Offer Bonus: bonus_miles_full
Estimated Bonus Value: $1,500 (100,000 x 1.5 cents)
Annual Fee: annual_fees (see rates & fees)
The *amex gold* is one of the strongest everyday points earners on the market, thanks to 4x points at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 spent each year, then 1x) and 4x at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 each year, then 1x), plus 3x points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or Amex Travel. For most households, that makes it one of the fastest ways to rack up valuable Membership Rewards® points.
The credits are easy to use, too: up to $120 in Uber Cash, up to $120 in dining credits (doled out in $10 monthly increments), up to $100 in Resy credits, and up to $84 in Dunkin’ credits each year. Use even a couple of them, and the card’s value quickly outweighs the annual fee.
Read More: A Full Review of the American Express® Gold Card
Learn more about the *amex gold*
4. Citi Strata Elite℠ Credit Card
Welcome Offer Bonus: Earn 100,000 Citi ThankYou points after spending $6,000 in the first three months of card membership.
Estimated Bonus Value: $1,500 (100,000 x 1.5 cents)
Annual Fee: $595
Citi’s newest travel card came out swinging, with a huge limited-time 100,000-point bonus. Paired with Citi’s addition of American Airlines as a 1:1 transfer partner, ThankYou points are more valuable than ever – a major upgrade for a program that previously lagged behind Chase, Amex, and Capital One.
The Strata Elite also packs in a solid mix of perks: an annual $300 hotel credit for two-night stays booked through Citi Travel, a flexible $200 “splurge” credit for brands like American Airlines or Best Buy, a $200 Blacklane credit, four Admirals Club lounge day passes, and Priority Pass lounge access. You'll also earn up to 12x on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through Citi Travel and at least 1.5x on everything else.
While it’s not as feature-loaded as the Sapphire Reserve or the Amex Platinum, the Strata Elite offers a compelling mix of perks at a slightly lower price point – and with the current bonus and American Airlines transfer partnership, it’s easily worth considering for year one.
All information about the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card has been collected independently by Thrifty Traveler and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
Learn more about the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (for full disclosure, this is not an affiliate link).
5. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Welcome Offer Bonus: bonus_miles_full
Estimated Bonus Value: $1,450 (100,000 x 1.45 cents)
Annual Fee: annual_fees
The *venture x* sits in a sweet spot between entry-level and ultra-premium cards, packing in big-time perks without the eye-watering annual fee. And for a limited time, you can earn 100,000 miles after spending $10,000 in the first six months. Since the card earns at least 2x miles on every purchase, you’ll wind up with at least 120,000 miles once you hit the bonus.
Those miles are worth a minimum of $1,200 toward travel when you use Capital One’s “cover your travel purchases” feature … and potentially much more by transferring to partners like Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France/KLM, British Airways, and more.
What makes Venture X so compelling in the long term is how easily it out-earns its $395 annual fee. Each year, cardholders get a $300 Capital One Travel credit plus a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus (worth at least $100 toward travel) starting in your second year with the card. Together, these two benefits more than wipe out the cost of keeping the card.
On top of that, you get complimentary access to Capital One Lounges and Landings, Priority Pass lounge access, elevated earning of 10x miles on hotels and rental cars, and 5x on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel, Hertz President’s Circle status, and strong Visa Infinite travel protections like primary rental car coverage and trip delay insurance.
It’s a premium travel card that delivers lounge access, big earnings, and serious flexibility … without the nearly $800-plus price tag of its competitors.
Read More: A Full Review of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Card
Learn more about the *venture x*.
6. IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
Welcome Offer Bonus: bonus_miles_full
Estimated Bonus Value: $854 (140,000 x 0.61 cents)
Annual Fee: annual_fees
Chase’s *ihg rewards club premier* is one of the best-value hotel cards on the market – especially with its current 140,000-point bonus after spending $3,000 in three months.
Thanks to IHG’s huge global footprint, putting those points to work is easy, whether you’re planning a budget-friendly road trip or a beach getaway. The real long-term value comes from the card’s ongoing perks: automatic IHG Platinum Elite status, an annual free night certificate worth up to 40,000 points (with the option to top it off with additional points for pricier stays), up to $50 in United TravelBank credit, and a fourth-night-free benefit on award stays.
The combination of a big welcome bonus and those ongoing benefits can easily outweigh the modest $99 annual fee. For many travelers, this is a “keep-it-for-the-perks” card that pays for itself year after year, and the current welcome bonus offer makes it even sweeter in year one.
Learn more about the *ihg rewards club premier*.
7. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Welcome Offer Bonus: bonus_miles_full
Estimated Bonus Value: $760 (100,000 x 0.76 cents)
Annual Fee: annual_fees (see rates & fees)
The *bonvoy brilliant* is Marriott’s top-tier personal card, and the current 100,000 point bonus after $6,000 in spending in six months is a big shot of points toward your next stay (or two). But the real draw is the ongoing perks: an annual 85,000-point Free Night Certificate starting in your second year, automatic Platinum Elite status (think free breakfast, room upgrades, and late checkout), and 25 elite night credits every year to fast-track or lock in status.
On top of that, you get up to $300 in dining credits each year (doled out as $25 monthly credits to use at any restaurant), Priority Pass lounge access, and elevated points earning: 6x points per dollar spent at Marriott properties, 3x per dollar spent on restaurants and flights booked direct, and 2x per dollar spent on everything else.
For travelers who can put those perks and the annual free night to work, the Brilliant can easily justify its big annual fee.
Learn more about the card_name
8. Hilton Honors American Express Aspire® Card
Welcome Offer Bonus: Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors points after you spend $6,000 in he first six months of card membership.
Estimated Bonus Value: $718 (175,000 x 0.41 cents)
Annual Fee: $550 (see rates & fees)
Among hotel cards, the Hilton Aspire is in a league of its own. The current 175,000-point welcome offer, which requires $6,000 in spending within six months, is substantial on its own – easily worth hundreds of dollars toward hotel stays – but the ongoing perks are what make this card a cheat code.
You get instant Hilton Honors™ Diamond status (free breakfast or on-property food credits, upgrades, lounge access, and a fifth-night-free on award stays) plus a free night certificate right after opening the card and every year you renew, usable at almost any Hilton property when standard awards are available – including high-end spots like Waldorf Astoria and Conrad resorts. That free night certificate alone can justify the card's annual fee.
You'll also get up to $400 in Hilton resort credits each year ($200 January–June, $200 July–December), up to a $200 annual airline credit ($50 per quarter toward airfare), up to $209 in CLEAR® Plus credits, and up to a $100 on-property credit on select paid stays at Waldorf Astoria and Conrad.
Stack even a couple of those with one high-value free night, and you’re typically hundreds of dollars ahead every year, which is why this card is often called the best hotel credit card on the market, period.
All information about the Hilton Honors Aspire Card has been collected independently by Thrifty Traveler and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
Learn more about the Hilton Honors Aspire Card. (For full disclosure, this is our personal referral link)
9. Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
Welcome Offer Bonus: bonus_miles_full
Estimated Bonus Value: $636 (155,000 x 0.41 cents)
Annual Fee: annual_fees (see rates & fees)
The *Hilton Surpass* is Hilton’s sweet spot card: A big 155,000-point welcome offer bonus after $3,000 in spending in the first six months, automatic Hilton Honors™ Gold status (free breakfast abroad or a daily food & beverage credit in the U.S.), and solid earning without a premium-level fee.
You’ll earn 12x points per dollar spent on Hilton stays, 6x per dollar spent at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations, 4x per dollar spent on U.S. online retail, and 3x per dollar spent on everything else.
There’s real long-term value here, too. You can earn a Free Night award certificate after $15,000 in spend in a calendar year, valid at almost any Hilton property when standard awards are available. Paired with up to $200 in annual Hilton credits ($50 per quarter), the Surpass can easily justify its value for travelers who stay with Hilton a few times a year.
Learn more about the *Hilton Surpass*.
10. Hilton Honors American Express Card
Welcome Offer Bonus:bonus_miles_full
Estimated Bonus Value: $410 (100,000 x 0.41 cents)
Annual Fee: annual_fees (see rates & fees)
Hilton’s no-annual-fee card packs a surprisingly strong punch – especially with the current 100,000-point welcome bonus after spending $2,000 in the first six months.
For travelers who want easy, low-commitment Hilton perks, it’s a great entry point: You get automatic Hilton Honors™ Silver status, which includes Hilton’s fifth-night-free on award stays, and a path to Gold status after $20,000 in annual spend.
You'll also earn 7x points per dollar spent on Hilton stays, 5x per dollar spent at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations, and 3x per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. With no foreign transaction fees and access to the same Hilton award chart as the higher-end cards, it’s a simple, low-risk way to build up Hilton points – or complement a bigger setup anchored by the Surpass or Aspire.
Learn more about the *Hilton Honors*
Best Business Credit Card Offers Over 100,000 Points
1. Capital One Venture X Business
Welcome Offer Bonus: bonus_miles_full
Estimated Bonus Value: Up to $5,800 (400,000 x 1.45 cents)
Annual Fee: annual_fees
The *venture x business* packs one of the biggest bonuses we’ve ever seen: 200,000 miles after spending $30,000 in three months, plus 200,000 more after spending $150,000 in six months. It’s a huge requirement – but for businesses with serious monthly spend, it’s unmatched.
Hit the full offer, and you’ll have 700,000-plus miles, worth at least $7,000 toward travel (and potentially far more with Capital One’s 1:1 transfer partners). Even earning just the first tier is a massive sum of points that easily outweighs the annual fee.
Year after year, the perks make this card a keeper: a $300 annual Capital One Travel credit, 10,000-mile anniversary bonus, Capital One Lounge + Priority Pass access, and 2x miles on every purchase with no preset spending limit.
For the right business, it’s an easy win.
Learn more about the *venture x business*.
2. Sapphire Reserve® for Business
Welcome Offer Bonus: bonus_miles_full
Estimated Bonus Value: $3,000 (200,000 x 1.5 cents)
Annual Fee: annual_fees
Chase finally built a Sapphire Reserve for business – and it comes with a huge offer: 200,000 points after spending $30,000 in the first six months of card membership.
You get the same core perks as the personal Sapphire Reserve – a $300 annual travel credit, Priority Pass and Sapphire Lounge access, strong travel protections, and big earn rates like 8x points per dollar spent on Chase Travel and 4x points per dollar spent on flights and hotels booked direct, and unlimited 3x per dollar spent on digital ads (social + search), one of the strongest multipliers available for online advertising spending.
What makes it a business card? Up to $500 in “The Edit” hotel credits, plus more than $1,000 in annual business credits (ZipRecruiter, Google Workspace, Lyft, DoorDash, Giftcards.com).
If your business spends on travel or digital ads, and you can use even a slice of those credits, this card more than earns its keep.
Learn more about the *sapphire reserve for business*
3. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Welcome Offer Bonus: bonus_miles_full
Estimated Bonus Value: $3,000 (200,000 x 1.5 cents)
Annual Fee: annual_fees (see rates & fees)
Amex recently refreshed the Business Platinum with a bigger bonus and a few new perks – led by an up to $600 hotel credit each year ($300 every six months). The core benefits remain: Centurion Lounge access, 5x on flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel (on up to $500,000 spent each year), Hilton Honors™ Gold and Marriott Bonvoy® Gold status, and the up to $200 airline fee credit.
Amex also bumped some business spending categories to 2x points per dollar spent, though the card’s once-great 35% rebate on premium cabin flights is now far more limited.
With the annual fee now up to annual_fees, this card only makes sense if your business can reliably use the big annual credits – especially the FHR credit and airline fee credit. If you can, the value is still there. If not, the higher fee is hard to justify.
Learn more about *biz platinum*
4. Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Welcome Offer Bonus: Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 in the first three months of card membership.
Estimated Bonus Value: $1,500 (100,000 x 1.5 cents)
Annual Fee: $95
For small business owners swimming in Chase’s ecosystem, the Ink Business Preferred® is a no-brainer workhorse.
The earning rates are tailored for digital-first businesses: 3x points per dollar spent on the first $150,000 in combined annual spend on travel, shipping, internet/cable/phone, and online advertising with social media and search engines, plus 1x points per dollar spent everywhere else.
Add in strong trip delay and cancellation coverage, primary rental car insurance, and up to $600 in cell phone protection when you pay your bill with the card, and that modest $95 annual fee is easy to justify.
Pair it with a Chase Sapphire card or no-annual-fee Chase Ink Cash or Ink Unlimited cards, and you’ve got a cheap, powerful Ultimate Rewards-earning setup for your business.
All information about the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card was collected independently by Thrifty Traveler and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
Learn more about the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (for full disclosure, this is not an affiliate link).
5. American Express® Business Gold Card
Welcome Offer Bonus: bonus_miles_full
Estimated Bonus Value: $1,500 (100,000 x 1.5 cents)
Annual Fee: annual_fees (see rates & fees)
The *biz gold* is built for businesses with big, predictable spend. The current 100,000-point welcome offer, which requires spending $15,000 within the first three months, is already strong; however, some applicants may receive even higher targeted offers via referral links.
Its real value is ongoing earnings: you’ll get 4x points per dollar spent in the top two categories where your business spends the most each month (up to $150,000 a year). Categories include U.S. dining, gas stations, online advertising, transit, wireless, and electronic goods/software providers. Prepaid flights and hotels booked through Amex Travel also earn 3x points per dollar spent.
To help offset the annual fee, the card includes tons of business credits ($20/month at FedEx, Grubhub, or U.S. office supply stores) plus up to $155 a year in Walmart+ credits, and up to a $150 annual Squarespace credit, along with cell phone insurance and no foreign transaction fees.
For many small businesses, the 4x earnings alone make this card a year-over-year winner.
Learn more about the *biz gold*.
6. Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
Welcome Offer Bonus: bonus_miles_full
Estimated Bonus Value: $950 (125,000 x 0.76 cents)
Annual Fee: annual_fees (see rates & fees)
The *Bonvoy Business* currently offers up to 125,000 points – 75,000 points after $6,000 in spending, plus an additional 50,000 points after spending $3,000 more in the first six months. For a low-fee business card, that’s a strong haul that can easily cover a few free nights, even at higher-end Marriott properties.
The standout perk is the annual 35,000-point Free Night Certificate (starting in year two), which you can top off with up to 15,000 points to book rooms costing up to 50,000 points. You’ll also get automatic Gold Elite status, 15 elite night credits, and a 7% discount on standard rates.
Learn more about the *Bonvoy Business*.
7. IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
Welcome Bonus Offer: bonus_miles_full
Estimated Bonus Value: $854 (140,000 x 0.61 cents)
Annual Fee: annual_fees
IHG’s business card is one of the easiest ways for small business owners to rack up hotel points on the cheap. The 140,000-point bonus alone can cover several free nights at mid-tier IHG hotels or deeply offset a stay at brands like Kimpton, InterContinental, or Regent.
Plus, the perks are surprisingly strong for a sub-$100 annual fee card. You get automatic Platinum Elite status, the incredibly valuable fourth-night-free on award stays, and starting in year two, an annual free night certificate worth up to 40,000 points (with the ability to top it up). Add in a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck®, or NEXUS credit, plus up to $50 in United TravelBank credit each year, and it’s easy to come out ahead.
For business owners who stay at IHG even occasionally, this card is an outstanding low-cost keeper.
Learn more about the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card.
8. The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
Welcome Bonus Offer: bonus_miles_full
Estimated Bonus Value: $718 (175,000 x 0.41 cents)
Annual Fee: annual_fees (see rates & fees)
The Hilton Business Card is out with a big 175,000-point welcome offer, and its a great chance for small business owners to stock up on Hilton points despite recent devaluations. That bonus alone can score several free nights at mid-tier Hilton properties or meaningfully offset a stay at one of Hilton’s higher-end resorts or SLH properties.
The card also packs strong ongoing value: Hilton Honors™ Gold status, up to $240 in annual Hilton credits ($60 quarterly), and National Emerald Club Executive status. Spend $40,000 in a calendar year, and you’ll unlock Hilton Diamond, the chain’s top tier.
Learn more about the *Hilton Honors Business*.
Bottom Line
Huge bonuses are everywhere right now – but the size of the number means nothing unless the points are actually valuable to you. Once you apply a real-world “exchange rate” to each offer, the gap becomes obvious: Some 100,000-point bonuses are worth more than $1,500 … others barely clear a few hundred.
Focus less on the headline number and more on two things: what the points are worth and whether you’ll use the ongoing perks to justify the annual fee after year one. Do that, and it’s easy to spot the true standouts.


