Top credit card combinations to maximize your rewards
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“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.
BLUEPRINT
Updated 2:42 p.m. UTC May 13, 2024
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Some partnerships are greater than the sum of their parts. Can you imagine Bert without Ernie? Or a jelly sandwich without peanut butter? Although there are plenty of credit cards that can hold a solo place in your wallet, some strategic card couplings can significantly boost your earning potential, allowing you to make the most of your card’s rewards on every purchase. Here are some of our favorite credit card combinations to maximize your rewards and perks.
Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Chase Freedom Unlimited®
The $550-annual-fee Chase Sapphire Reserve® card is a traveler’s delight for its high earning rate of 5 points per $1 on flights and 10 points per $1 on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel℠ after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3 points per $1 on other travel and dining and 1 point per $1 on other purchases, its $300 annual travel credit and its 50% points boost for travel redemptions booked through Chase Travel℠. The card also comes with perks like Priority Pass Select lounge access (enrollment required), a $100 statement credit every four years for a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS application fee paid with the card and travel protections that include, primary rental car insurance and lost luggage reimbursement.
The no-annual-fee Chase Freedom Unlimited® is ideal for everyday spending due to its high rewards rate in several household areas. The card earns 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on eligible dining and drugstore purchases and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases. It comes with a 0% intro APR for the first 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% to 29.24%. An intro transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies in the first 60 days. After that, a fee of either $5 or 5% of each transfer applies. It also includes trip interruption and cancellation insurance.
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Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Why they’re great together
Although it’s marketed as a cash-back card, the Freedom Unlimited turns into an Ultimate Rewards®-earning card when rewards are pooled with the Chase Sapphire Reserve. Together, this high/low pair covers a lot of ground in terms of rewards-earning category bonuses. And when the points earned on the Sapphire Reserve are redeemed for travel through the Chase Travel portal, they’re worth 50% more, making 50,000 points worth $750 when used this way. If points are transferred to one of Chase’s airline or hotel loyalty program partners, the potential for maximized value is even greater.
Not quite sure what to do with an Ultimate Rewards stash? We’ve got you. Here’s some of the best ways to use Chase points
The Platinum Card® from American Express and American Express® Gold Card
The Platinum Card® from American Express (terms apply, rates & fees) is a top luxury travel card with an impressive list of perks that includes a lucrative welcome bonus, generous airport lounge access, Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors Gold elite status (enrollment required) and over $1,500 in potential statement credits. With a $695 annual fee, the perks aren’t cheap but if fully maximized, you can get value that exceeds the annual fee. This card earns 5 Membership Rewards® points per $1 for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 per calendar year, 5 points per $1 on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel and 1 point per $1 on other purchases — making it a prime candidate to pair with a higher-earning everyday card.
The American Express® Gold Card (terms apply, rates & fees) is the ultimate dining card with its excellent earning rate of 4 Membership Rewards points per $1 at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per $1, 4 points per $1 at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1 point per $1), 3 points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express travel and 1 point per $1 on other eligible purchases. The card also comes with up to $120 in annual dining statement credits at participating partners (enrollment required) and up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for purchases in the U.S.; card must be added in Uber account to receive benefit), an annual up to $84 Dunkin’ credit (up to $7 in monthly statement credits), up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year when using the card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases (up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually). Enrollment is required for select benefits. These credits can help justify its $325 annual fee.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Why they’re great together
The Amex Platinum Card and Amex Gold Card make an ideal complement for frequent travelers and foodies who want to earn Membership Rewards® points. Each card has its own set of unique category bonuses that team up to cover most routine spending, along with credits and offerings that make keeping both in your wallet worth it. Transfer points to any of Amex’s nearly two dozen airline and hotel partners for the highest value redemptions.
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card * The information for the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. and Citi Double Cash® Card * The information for the Citi Double Cash® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The Citi Strata Premier Card covers a lot of bases with one swing, earning 10 ThankYou® points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com, 3 points per $1 on air travel and other hotel purchases, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations and EV charging stations and 1 point per $1 on other purchases — all for a reasonable annual fee of $95. The fee can even be offset with its annual credit of $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) booked through the thankyou.com site.
The Citi Double Cash Card is a straightforward card that earns 2% cash back on purchases — 1% when purchases are made and another 1% when they’re paid off, plus, for a limited time, 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24. This no-annual-fee card’s simplicity is its appeal. Although the card is marketed as a cash-back card, rewards are technically issued as Citi ThankYou® points and can be paired with an eligible Citi rewards card.
Why they’re great together
The Citi Strata Premier Card and Citi Double Cash Card make a great team as they allow you to earn a minimum of 2 points and maximum of 3 points on most purchases for just one low annual fee. When combined, your Citi ThankYou points can be redeemed for travel and transferred to Citi’s multiple airline and hotel loyalty programs, including Air France-KLM’s Flying Blue and Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer.
Before you can pair two cards, you have to get approved for them. Here’s a guide to pre-qualifying for Citi credit cards
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card * The information for the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. and Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card * The information for the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The Capital One Venture X is a hard-hitting premium travel credit card with its $300 annual travel credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, airport lounge access, up to $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee reimbursement and 10,000-mile anniversary bonus — all for a lower-than-its-peers $395 annual fee. The card earns 2 miles per $1 on purchases, 5 miles per $1 on flights booked through Capital One Travel and on purchases through Capital One Entertainment and 10 miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel.
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards card (no longer available for new applicants) is ideal for foodies and entertainment lovers, earning 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 4% cash back on all dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target), 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases and 1% on all other purchases. For a $95 annual fee, this card delivers solid earning potential.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
*The information for the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why they’re great together
The Capital One Venture X and Capital One Savor Cash Rewards cards fit nicely together as the Venture X covers travel benefits and the Savor Cash supercharges your spending with bonus categories not covered by the Venture X. Although the Savor card technically earns cash back, you can combine the rewards earned on the two cards and use them as Capital One miles to reimburse yourself for travel purchases or transfer to Capital One’s multiple loyalty transfer partners for potentially more value.
How many credit cards should you have?
There is no rule or recommended number of credit cards you should have, but there are several factors you should consider before applying for a new card — most importantly: your spending habits, your ability to pay the balances in full, your skill at managing multiple cards, your credit score and which rewards are best for your lifestyle.
Other ways to pair your credit cards
While the most obvious pairings involve combining complementary credit cards from the same issuer, it can make sense to pair your cards in other ways as well.
If earning cash back is your goal, pairing cards that have different bonus categories is a great strategy. For example, the aforementioned Citi Double Cash Card with its cash-back rewards (2% cash back on purchases — 1% when purchases are made and another 1% when they’re paid off, plus, for a limited time, 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24) can serve as an everyday card when spending in areas other than the ones that earn higher rewards on the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards card.
If you’re a frequent flyer of a specific airline or a loyalist of a certain hotel chain, getting cobranded credit cards to complement a broad, transferrable travel rewards card is a way to get benefits that are otherwise for elite status-holders while compiling more points. For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve allows for Ultimate Rewards points to be transferred to both United Airlines and World of Hyatt. Pairing the card with the United℠ Explorer Card * The information for the United℠ Explorer Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. to get a free first checked bag and priority boarding on United flights or owning The World of Hyatt Credit Card * The information for the The World of Hyatt Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. for the card’s anniversary Category 1-4 free night award can be a winning strategy for the right person.
If your lifestyle aligns with the Amex Platinum’s benefits, like Equinox statement credits (enrollment required) or extensive lounge access, but you’d prefer to earn higher rewards on your hotel stays and restaurant bills, pairing the card with the Chase Sapphire Reserve might be a good choice if you can get enough value to justify the two annual fees.
Is pairing your credit cards worth it?
Not only is pairing your credit cards worth it, it’s the best way to use credit cards. By intentionally organizing your regular spending on the right cards, you can add value to your life with cash back or travel and benefit from everyday transactions you’d be making anyway.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
You should have multiple credit cards that cover your different types of spending, as long as you use your credit cards responsibly and don’t carry a balance.
You can get the most rewards points on a credit card by using the card that offers the highest earnings category bonus for the purchase you are making. Hint: There isn’t one card that’s superior across the board, which is why it’s a good idea to use credit card combinations to maximize earnings.
Certain credit card issuers have their own rules about credit card limits, but there is generally no known limit on how many credit cards you can apply for. Applying is one thing, but getting approved is another. One of the better known unwritten rules around this is Chase’s 5/24 rule, which means you’ll likely get declined for a Chase card if you’ve opened five or more cards from any issuer in the past two years. In general, it’s best not to apply for too many credit cards in too short a period of time as it can have an adverse effect on your credit and also signal to issuers that you’re a potentially risky applicant.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at upgraded status level through December 31, 2024. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply.
For rates and fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express please visit this page.
For rates and fees for the American Express® Gold Card please visit this page.
*The information for the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, Citi Double Cash® Card, Citi Strata Premier℠ Card, The World of Hyatt Credit Card and United℠ Explorer Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
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