Do You Need a Travel Card to Earn Rewards?
Cash back needs no travel
A flat cash back card earns a straight percentage on everything and pays you in cash, with no points to manage and no trips required. For someone who does not travel much, this is usually the best option, since the value is guaranteed and simple. Our best cash back cards guide covers the top flat-rate earners that suit non-travelers well.
When a travel card is worth it
Travel cards earn flexible points that can be worth more than a penny each when transferred to airline or hotel partners, but that upside only exists if you redeem for travel. If you would just cash the points out, a travel card often earns the same or less than a good cash back card, and may carry a higher fee. The trade-off is in cash back vs travel points.
Match the card to how you redeem
The right choice comes down to what you will do with the rewards, not what sounds impressive. Enter your spending into the rewards calculator to see cash back and travel cards ranked in real dollars side by side, then pick based on whether you would genuinely use points for trips. For most non-travelers, cash back wins on both value and simplicity.
Frequently asked questions
Related reading
