Credit card bonus calculator
The credit card bonus calculator shows what each welcome offer is worth after the annual fee, at a value per point you choose, and whether your normal spending can earn it. At 1 cent a point, the best three of the 11 offers we track net $655 to as much as $675 in year one. It also flags the issuer rules that can make you ineligible.
Spending you'd do anyway; never spend more to earn a bonus
The Points Guy: Chase points 2.05 cents, Amex 2.0, Capital One miles 1.85 (Oct 2026). Frequent Miler: reasonable redemption values 1.45 to 1.5 cents (Oct 8, 2026). Third-party estimates.
Cards you’ve had or got a bonus on
Best net value
1 cent a pointFrom the American Express Gold Card, $1,333 a month of your $2,000 normal spend. Regular APR 19.74% to 28.74% variable on Pay Over Time.
| Card | Welcome offer | Monthly spend needed | Annual fee | Regular APR | Net | Eligibility | Rates and fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Gold Card | Up to 100,000 points$8,000 in 6 months | $1,333 | $325 | 19.74% to 28.74% variable on Pay Over Time | Up to $675 | May not be eligibleWelcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer | Rates and fees |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred | 75,000 points$5,000 in 3 months | $1,667 | $95 | 19.49% to 27.74% variable | $655 | Eligible | Rates and fees |
| Capital One Venture Rewards | 75,000 miles$4,000 in 3 months | $1,333 | $95 | 19.74% to 28.74% variable | $655 | Eligible | Rates and fees |
| Bank of America Premium Rewards | 60,000 points$4,000 in 3 months | $1,333 | $95 | 19.74% to 27.74% variable | $505 | Eligible | Rates and fees |
| Chase Freedom Flex | $250$500 in 3 months | $167 | $0 | 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then 18.49% to 27.99% variable | $250 | Eligible | Rates and fees |
| Discover it Cash Back | Matches year-one cash backNo minimum spend | None | $0 | 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then 17.74% to 26.74% variable | $240 | Eligible | Rates and fees |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | 100,000 points$6,000 in 3 months | $2,000 | $795 | 19.74% to 28.24% variable | $205 | Eligible | Rates and fees |
| Wells Fargo Autograph | 20,000 points$1,000 in 3 months | $333 | $0 | 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months, then 18.74%, 24.74% or 28.74% variable | $200 | Eligible | Rates and fees |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited | $200$500 in 3 months | $167 | $0 | 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then 18.49% to 27.99% variable | $200 | Eligible | Rates and fees |
| Capital One Savor | $200$500 in 3 months | $167 | $0 | 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months, then 18.74% to 28.74% variable | $200 | Eligible | Rates and fees |
| Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards | $200$1,000 in 3 months | $333 | $0 | 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 billing cycles, then 17.74% to 27.74% variable | $200 | Eligible | Rates and fees |
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Figures from each issuer's own card page.
Key takeaways
- Chase Sapphire Preferred's 75,000 points take $5,000 of purchases in three months, or $1,666.67 a month, and that should be spending you'd do anyway.1
- Capital One won't pay a Venture bonus if you got a Venture or Venture X new-cardmember bonus in the past 48 months.2
- Valued at 1 cent a point, the Amex Gold Card's offer is worth up to $675 after its $325 annual fee, $20 more than the Sapphire Preferred or Venture, and only if Amex offers you the full 100,000 points.3
How this is calculated
Bonus value = points × the value per point you choose. The default is 1 cent, about what points are worth as cash back or a statement credit.
Net first-year value = bonus value − the first-year annual fee.
Spend check = the required spend ÷ the months allowed, compared with your normal monthly spending. The calculator never assumes you'll spend more than you already do.
Eligibility uses each issuer's own published wording. Rules an issuer hasn't published are labeled that way.
If you don't pay your card in full each month, interest on the balance can cost more than any bonus, and the calculator shows no ranking.
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In this article
How to use the credit card bonus calculator
The credit card bonus calculator needs your normal monthly spending and a value per point, and it shows a result as soon as the page loads. The defaults are $2,000 a month, paid in full, at 1 cent a point. Change any of them and the ranking updates.
- Normal monthly card spending: what you'd put on a card anyway. Never spend more to earn a bonus.
- Pay in full every month: if you answer no, the calculator shows a warning instead of a ranking.
- Value per point or mile: 1 cent is the cash floor. Raise it if you redeem for travel.
- Cards opened in the last 24 months: used for issuer rules on new accounts.
- Cards you've had: with the date of any past bonus, for issuer waiting periods.
What your results mean
Your results show the best net first-year value your spending can earn, the monthly spend each card needs, and each card's eligibility status. The value per point can change the winner, because the annual fees differ: below roughly 0.9 cents, the Gold Card's $325 fee drops it behind the Sapphire Preferred and Venture.
At $2,000 a month and 1 cent a point, every card we track fits your spending, the Sapphire Reserve only just. The Amex Gold Card is worth up to $675 after its fee, and the Sapphire Preferred and Venture are worth $655 each. At $1,000 a month, the Gold, Sapphire, Venture and Premium Rewards offers don't fit, and the calculator says so and ranks the no-fee cards instead of suggesting extra spending.
| Card, $2,000 a month | Monthly spend needed | Net at 1 cent | Net at 1.5 cents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Preferred | $1,666.67 | $655 | $1,030 |
| Capital One Venture Rewards | $1,333.33 | $655 | $1,030 |
| American Express Gold Card | $1,333.33 | Up to $675 | Up to $1,175 |
| Bank of America Premium Rewards | $1,333.33 | $505 | $805 |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | $2,000 | $205 | $705 |
Current credit card welcome offers
The current credit card welcome offers below come from each issuer's own card page. The calculator hides any offer that hasn't been rechecked in 14 days.
| Card | Welcome offer | Spend and window | Annual fee | Regular APR | Rates and fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Preferred | 75,000 points | $5,000 in 3 months | $95 | 19.49% to 27.74% variable | Chase rates and fees |
| Capital One Venture Rewards | 75,000 miles | $4,000 in 3 months | $95 | 19.74% to 28.74% variable | Capital One rates and fees |
| American Express Gold Card | Up to 100,000 points, varies by applicant | $8,000 in 6 months | $325 | 19.74% to 28.74% variable on Pay Over Time | Amex rates and fees |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | 100,000 points | $6,000 in 3 months | $795 | 19.74% to 28.24% variable | Chase rates and fees |
| Bank of America Premium Rewards | 60,000 points | $4,000 in 90 days | $95 | 19.74% to 27.74% variable | Bank of America rates and fees |
| Wells Fargo Autograph | 20,000 points | $1,000 in 3 months | $0 | 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months, then 18.74%, 24.74% or 28.74% variable | Wells Fargo rates and fees |
| Chase Freedom Flex | $250 | $500 in 3 months | $0 | 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then 18.49% to 27.99% variable | Chase rates and fees |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited | $200 | $500 in 3 months | $0 | 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then 18.49% to 27.99% variable | Chase rates and fees |
| Capital One Savor | $200 | $500 in 3 months | $0 | 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months, then 18.74% to 28.74% variable | Capital One rates and fees |
| Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards | $200 | $1,000 in 90 days | $0 | 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 billing cycles, then 17.74% to 27.74% variable | Bank of America rates and fees |
| Discover it Cash Back | Matches all cash back earned in year one | No minimum | $0 | 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then 17.74% to 26.74% variable | Discover rates and fees |
Your APR within each range depends on your credit, and you pay no interest at all if you pay in full every month. The no-fee cash back cards pay less, but their small spend requirements fit almost any budget, and Discover's match has no cap, so its value is whatever you earn in year one. Amex tells you your offer amount after you're approved and before you accept the card, so the Gold Card's figures are a maximum.
How much are credit card points worth?
Credit card points are worth about 1 cent each as cash back or a statement credit, and more only if you redeem them for travel. That 1 cent floor is where the calculator starts.
Travel sites publish higher estimates. The Points Guy values Chase points at 2.05 cents, Amex points at 2.0 and Capital One miles at 1.85 in its October 2026 figures.4 Frequent Miler's October 8, 2026 estimates are lower, at 1.45 to 1.5 cents for all three.5 Both are third-party estimates of travel redemptions, so use them only if you'd actually book travel with points.
Who isn't eligible for a card bonus
Each issuer writes its own rules for who can't get a card bonus. The calculator marks each card Eligible, May not be eligible or Not eligible from what you enter. Some of the rules aren't published at all.
- Capital One: no Venture bonus if you got a Venture or Venture X new-cardmember bonus in the past 48 months, and no Savor bonus if you got one for Savor in that time.
- Chase: the Sapphire bonuses "may not be available to you if you previously held this card," and Chase "may also consider the number of cards you have opened and closed." The Freedom cards exclude anyone paid a bonus on that card in the past 24 months.
- Wells Fargo: you may not get the bonus if you opened the same card in the past 48 months.
- American Express: "Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer."
- Five new cards in 24 months: many applicants report that Chase declines people who opened five or more cards in 24 months. Chase hasn't published this rule.
Is a credit card bonus worth it?
A credit card bonus is worth it when your normal spending meets the requirement without stretching, you pay the balance in full every month, and the bonus is worth more than the annual fee at the point value you'd actually get. Miss any one of those and the bonus usually costs more than it pays.
A new card also adds a hard inquiry to your credit report and lowers the average age of your accounts. If you're applying for a mortgage or car loan soon, that matters more than a one-time bonus. The bonus can wait.
Frequently asked questions about credit card bonuses
Issuer eligibility rules are covered in their own section above.
Does applying for a credit card hurt your credit score?
Yes, applying for a credit card usually lowers your credit score a little for a short time, because the issuer runs a hard inquiry. A new account also lowers the average age of your accounts. Paying the card in full each month helps your score over time by keeping your balance low.
How long does it take to get a credit card welcome bonus?
A credit card welcome bonus often posts with the statement that closes after you meet the spending requirement, though each issuer's terms set the exact timing. The calculator shows each card's spending window, so you can plan purchases you'd make anyway around it.
Should you spend more to hit a welcome bonus?
No, you shouldn't spend more than you normally would to hit a welcome bonus. Extra spending can cost more than the bonus is worth, especially if any of it ends up on a balance you carry. The calculator only counts your normal monthly spending when it checks whether you can earn a bonus.
Is a cash back bonus better than a points bonus?
A cash back bonus is simpler to value than a points bonus, because its dollar amount is fixed. A points bonus can be worth more if you redeem for travel, but only at the value you get when you redeem. To compare the two fairly, set the value per point to that number.
Do you have to pay the annual fee to get the bonus?
Yes, you usually pay the annual fee to get the bonus, since most fees are charged on the first statement. That's why the calculator subtracts the first-year fee from every bonus. If an issuer waives the fee for the first year, the card's terms say so and the calculator counts it as zero.
Can you get the same card bonus twice?
Yes, you can sometimes get the same card bonus twice, but only if the issuer's rules allow it. Capital One waits 48 months for the Venture, and Chase may decline a Sapphire Preferred bonus if you've held that card before. Enter the cards you've had and when, and the calculator shows your status.
Personal finance writer, former Forbes contributor and This Week in Fintech writer. He isn't a financial advisor or a CPA.
Sources
- https://creditcards.chase.com/rewards-credit-cards/sapphire/preferred
- https://www.capitalone.com/credit-cards/venture/
- https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/card/gold-card/
- https://thepointsguy.com/loyalty-programs/monthly-valuations
- https://frequentmiler.com/rrv/