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izusek/E+/Getty Images September 28, 2022 Checkmark Bankrate logo How is this page expert verified? At Bankrate, we take the accuracy of our content seriously. "Expert verified" means that our Financial Review Board thoroughly evaluated the article for accuracy and clarity. The Review Board comprises a panel of financial experts whose objective is to ensure that our content is always objective and balanced. Their reviews hold us accountable for publishing high-quality and trustworthy content. Aja McClanahan is an author, blogger and speaker on personal finance and entrepreneurship. Aja is the author of "How a Mother Should Talk About Money with Her Daughter." Liz Bingler is an Associate Editor for CreditCards.com and Bankrate, where she focuses on product news and reviews. As an editor, her goal is to produce content that will help people to make informed financial decisions. Cathleen's stories on design, travel and business have appeared in dozens of publications including the Washington Post, Town & Country, Wall Street Journal, Marie Claire, Fodor’s Travel, Departures and The Writer. Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. While we adhere to strict editorial integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for how we make money. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
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Before we dive in, it’s important to note that welcome bonuses frequently change. Some cards only offer bonuses of 100,000+ points or more for a limited time (such as three to six months). Regardless, here are some of the best credit cards with a welcome bonus of 100,000 points or more, along with their : Cards Annual fee Welcome bonus/offer Bankrate point value Estimated welcome bonus value $695 100,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 within 6 months of account opening 2.1 cents $2,100 $650 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after spending $5,000 within 3 months of account opening 0.7 cents $1,050 * $450 150,000 Hilton Honors points after spending $4,000 within 3 months of account opening 0.6 cents $900 * $95 130,000 Hilton Honors points after spending $2,000 within 3 months of account opening 0.6 cents $780 * $99 140,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening 0.7 cents $980 $95 Earn 3 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. 0.7 cents up to $700 $0 Earn 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 3 months of Card Membership. 0.6 cents $480 Our picks Top cards with sign-up bonuses of 100 000 points
The Platinum Card from American Express Best for premium travel perks
is one of the on the market for a reason: In exchange for a , you’ll get an incredible welcome bonus — 100,000 points (worth up to $2,100) after spending $6,000 within six months of account opening — and over $1,500 in annual credits. Some of these credits include: Up to $200 in airline fee credits for incidentals with a select airline Up to $200 in hotel credits for prepaid bookings with Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection properties (must book a minimum two-night stay through Amerian Express Travel) Up to $200 in Uber Cash ($15 per month, plus an extra $20 in December) Up to $189 credit for Clear membership Up to $100 credit for (every four years) Up to $240 credit for select digital entertainment services ($20 per month) Up to $100 credit for Saks Fifth Avenue ($50 for January through June and $50 for July through December) Up to $155 in credits for Walmart+ membership In addition to these credits, you’ll get like airport lounge access, no foreign transaction fees, travel and cellphone protection, and boosted redemption values for points redeemed through , which are estimated to be worth up to 2.1 cents each. You’ll also earn 5X points on directly-booked airfare and flights booked through (on up to $500,000 per calendar year), 5X points on prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel, 2X points on prepaid car rentals booked through American Express Travel and 1X points on all other purchases. Hilton Honors American Express Card Best for no annual fee
The is a great choice for travelers who frequent Hilton properties — especially if you like redeeming points for discounted Hilton stays. With this card, you can currently earn a welcome offer of 80,000 points after spending $1,000 within three months of account opening. Plus, you’ll earn 7X points on eligible Hilton purchases; 5X points at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and U.S. restaurants; and 3X points on all other purchases. With no annual fee, it’s clear that since there’s no cost to holding it. Plus, because the is a transfer partner of , this card could pair well with another American Express card that lets you earn points in this program. However, it’s important to note that Hilton Honors points are notorious for their poor value. According to our points valuations, each Hilton Honors point is worth about 0.6 cents (the industry standard is 1 cent per point). That means your welcome offer is only worth up to $480. But for a no-annual-fee card, that’s . Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card Best for Marriott loyalists
With the , you’ll earn 6X points on eligible Marriott purchases (up to 21X points with Platinum Elite status), 3X points at restaurants worldwide, 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines and 2X points on all other purchases. This card also has one of the highest welcome bonuses currently offered — you can earn 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after spending $5,000 within the first three months of account opening. However, considering that points are only worth 0.7 cents each, that makes this welcome bonus worth about $1,050. Although that value is low in comparison to the Amex Platinum’s welcome bonus value of up to $2,100, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant makes up for this — and its high annual fee of $650 — with its numerous card perks and credits. Some of these include: Up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 back per month) for dining at restaurants worldwide Up to a $100 credit on directly-booked, eligible purchases (using a special rate for a stay of two nights or more) at The Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve or St. Regis brands Up to a $100 credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry 25 Elite Night Credits each year One Free Night Award (worth 85,000 points or less) at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels each year after card renewal One Annual Earned Choice Award benefit (starting January 2023) each year after making $60,000 in purchases membership Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status Should you get a card with a 100 000-point sign-up bonus
Can you recoup the annual fee
After considering some of the top credit cards with welcome bonuses of 100,000 points or more, let’s talk about what it means to be “worth it.” Cards with high welcome bonuses tend to have numerous card perks — along with an annual fee. The key to determining whether or not a card is worth it for you usually comes down to the annual fee. So, the question is: Will you get enough use out of a card to ? For example, if you’re interested in a card that has an annual fee of $95, but you estimate that you’ll be able to squeeze out $400 or $500 in rewards and perks, then the annual fee would be justified. Alternatively, you can take a look at how much of the annual fee a welcome bonus covers. A card with a sign-up bonus of 50,000 (worth $500) or 100,000 (worth $1,000) points could be said to cover up to 10 years in annual fees for a card with a $95 annual fee. It’s also important to factor in the long-term value you’ll get from a card — especially if it has an annual fee. It’s not ideal to get a card with a large bonus and then ditch it, but you also that you don’t use enough to justify the annual fee. How much value will you get
One thing to note is that not all and programs are created equally. Many loyalty programs have different baseline values and estimated values. That means that a 100,000-point bonus with one program might actually provide less value than a 100,000-point bonus from another program (as demonstrated in the card comparison table above). Plus, the way you — such as for shopping, statement credits or travel arrangements — can also change the value of your rewards. For instance, the — which used to offer a 100,000-point sign-up bonus — currently has a welcome bonus offer of 60,000 points after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening. While you might get 1 cent in value with some redemption options, your value could increase if you redeem your bonus points for travel through the travel portal, where your points will be worth 1.25 cents each (or $750 in travel). And if you transfer your bonus points to a high-value , your points could be worth up to 2 cents each, making that bonus worth $1,200 in travel. The bottom line
Justifying a credit card with a high sign-up bonus comes down to how much value you’ll get from the card’s benefits — whether those benefits are in the form of rewards, card perks, credits, insurance or extended protections. Cards with an annual fee shouldn’t be ruled out, either. You’ll just have to make sure you use enough of a card’s features to make the annual fee worth it. If you’re ready to take advantage of any of these larger welcome bonus offers, make sure has rewards and benefits that make sense for your lifestyle and spending habits. *The information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card, and IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer. SHARE: Aja McClanahan is an author, blogger and speaker on personal finance and entrepreneurship. Aja is the author of "How a Mother Should Talk About Money with Her Daughter." Liz Bingler is an Associate Editor for CreditCards.com and Bankrate, where she focuses on product news and reviews. As an editor, her goal is to produce content that will help people to make informed financial decisions. Cathleen's stories on design, travel and business have appeared in dozens of publications including the Washington Post, Town & Country, Wall Street Journal, Marie Claire, Fodor’s Travel, Departures and The Writer. Related Articles