which cards give the best redemption value
37% View from the Wing
35% FrequentMiler
28% Your Mileage May Vary
When it comes to getting the most bang for your points or miles, the cards that consistently deliver the highest redemption value in the sources are:
Cards with the strongest redemption rates
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® – Points can be redeemed through Chase Travel℠ for up to 2 cents per point, and the “Pay Yourself Back” option gives about 1.25 cents per point for eligible categories FrequentMiler Your Mileage May Vary .
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card – Miles are redeemable against travel purchases at a flat 1 cent per mile (effectively a 2 % rebate), and the card also lets you transfer miles to a variety of airline and hotel partners View from the Wing View from the Wing Your Mileage May Vary .
Why these cards stand out
- Transfer flexibility – Both Chase Ultimate Rewards and Capital One Venture points can be moved to airline and hotel loyalty programs, often unlocking even higher value per point when booked for premium awards FrequentMiler View from the Wing .
- Straight‑forward travel‑eraser redemptions – Capital One’s “travel‑eraser” lets you cover eligible travel charges (usually within 90 days) with miles at the 1‑cent rate, while Chase’s “Pay Yourself Back” provides a quick, cash‑equivalent redemption for everyday spending Your Mileage May Vary Your Mileage May Vary .
If you prioritize the highest possible cash‑equivalent value, the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s 2‑cent‑per‑point travel redemption is the top choice; for a simple, flat‑rate redemption without needing to book through a portal, the Capital One Venture card’s 1‑cent‑per‑mile travel credit is the most straightforward option.
Best credit card combinations for earning tons of transferable points
In our opinion, transferable points programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards and Amex Membership Rewards are the most valuable points (or “miles”) to accumulate. These points can often be used to book discounted travel and, even better, can be strategically transferred to airline and hotel programs when valuable awards are available. In some cases, it’s possible to supercharge your points-earning in these programs by combining the benefits of multiple cards. For example, you can use one card to earn more points at gas stations, another card to earn more at grocery stores and yet another card to get the most
Capital One’s Venture Card Has Its Best Offer In Years — Earn 75,000 Miles Plus A $250 Travel Credit
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (See rates and fees.) is probably the simplest high value miles-earning card in the market. And it has the best offer they make for it right now. LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening – that’s equal to $1,000 in travel This $95 card earns unlimited 2x on purchases. And you can redeem points against travel purchases (one cent apiece, effectively a 2% rebate) or transfer to a variety of airline and hotel programs. Most are 1:1, though I note below other ratios: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has imple high value earning as a $95 (not $795!) rewards card and the best offer I’ve seen them make for it in many, many years.
Best Capital One Venture Card Offer In Years — Earn 75,000 Miles Plus A $250 Travel Credit
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (See rates and fees.) is probably the simplest high value miles-earning card in the market. And it has the best offer they make for it right now. LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening – that’s equal to $1,000 in travel This $95 card earns unlimited 2x on purchases. And you can redeem points against travel purchases (one cent apiece, effectively a 2% rebate) or transfer to a variety of airline and hotel programs. Most are 1:1, though I note below other ratios: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has imple high value earning as a $95 (not $795!) rewards card and the best offer I’ve seen them make for it in many, many years.
Chase Extends Pay Yourself Back Into 2026 (New Categories & Bonuses)
Good news for Chase cardholders: Pay Yourself Back is still alive in 2026, with updated bonus categories now in place for the first quarter of the year. Chase originally launched Pay Yourself Back in 2020 as a way to use Ultimate Rewards points for statement credits when travel was on hold. Since then, Chase has kept the feature around — but the “bonus” categories have shifted (and shrunk) over time. Today, it’s best viewed as a rotating perk: check the categories each quarter and use it when it fits your spending. For the current set of categories, the
The Redemption Nobody Brags About (But Everyone Should)
You know the script: in the points-and-miles world, the “right” redemption is always a lie-flat seat that costs $8,000… booked for 60,000 points… with a champagne flute in the stock photo. And sure — those redemptions can be incredible. Ours was. But here’s the part nobody really posts about: most trips aren’t made expensive by the flight or the hotel. They’re made expensive by the other stuff. The unglamorous travel costs that still show up on your card statement, no matter how good you are at award charts. Sometimes the best redemption isn’t aspirational. It’s practical.