The Ultimate Guide To Break-Even Spending To Offset Credit Card Annual Fees

Updated: August 12, 2024, 12:28pm CDT

Edited by:

The Ultimate Guide To Break-Even Spending To Offset Credit Card Annual Fees

How Much Do You Have To Spend on a Credit Card To Break Even?
Break-Even Points on Popular Chase and Amex Cards
Break-Even Points on Other Cards by Issuer
Final Thoughts

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Credit cards are one of the easiest ways to get a chunk of your spending back, usually in the form of cash-back, points, or miles rewards.

But with a dizzying array of credit cards with various pros and cons, how can you know if a credit card is worth it for your needs?

Most worthwhile credit cards come with an annual fee, though that doesn’t mean that every credit card with an annual fee is worth it.

Similarly, many credit cards without an annual fee are worth spending on, while other no-annual-fee cards may not make the most of your purchases.

In this guide, we’ll help you demystify just how much you need to spend on a given credit card for it to be worth it — it’s all about break-even spending!

How Much Do You Have To Spend on a Credit Card To Break Even?

To calculate the break-even point for a credit card, we’ll look only at how much you have to spend for your rewards to offset the annual fee. This calculation excludes credit card benefits with a subjective valuation (like annual free night certificates). Calculating based on rewards spending, annual fee, and objectively-valued benefits offers an apples-to-apples comparison.

For example, a flexible $300 travel credit should be valued as such, while the value of a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership is subject to each member’s travel habits. Using a Priority Pass Select membership 20 times per year is a lot more valuable than using it once a year, for example.

Then, we will use our points and miles valuations to figure out how much you need to spend for the break-even point to be reached on a credit card.

We also won’t look at any welcome bonuses because almost all welcome bonuses make it worthwhile to hold a card for at least a year.

Break-Even Points on Popular Chase and Amex Cards

Break-Even Point for the Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

U.P. Rating

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Welcome OfferEarn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠
60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$1,200

Annual Fee

$550

APR

22.49%-29.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Excellent (740-850)

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® is one of the best options out there.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options. Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!

Pros

10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase TravelSM immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
10x points on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2025
10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025

Cons

$550 annual fee
Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status

Read Full Review

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
$300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck^®
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

APR: 22.49%-29.49% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card comes with an annual fee of $550. It also has a $300 annual travel credit, which can easily be used flexibly.

So our “effective” annual fee is $250, which is $550 minus $300.

For the Chase Sapphire Reserve card to be worth it, we’ll need to accumulate at least 12,500 Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which are worth $250 by our valuations.

That means in a given year, you’ll need to spend $4,167 on 3x categories like travel (excluding the $300 travel credit) and dining for it to make sense.

Break-Even Point for the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

GREAT STARTER CARD

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

U.P. Rating

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Welcome OfferEarn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$1,200

Annual Fee

$95

APR

21.49%-28.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

Pros

5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)

Cons

$95 annual fee
No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status

Read Full Review

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
Enjoy beneﬁts such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

APR: 21.49%-28.49% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card has a mild annual fee of $95. It comes with a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards hotel credit, which we consider to be worth face value.

That means the effective annual fee is $45.

With the ability to earn 3x points on online grocery purchases, dining, and select streaming services, you only need to spend $750 per year to break even on this card.

Similarly, if you earn 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025) and travel purchased through Chase (excluding the $50 hotel credit), you’ll only need to spend $450 per year to break even.

Lastly, you could spend $1,125 on other travel purchases (2x points) to break even.

Break-Even Point for The Platinum Card^® from American Express

BEST LOUNGE ACCESS

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Welcome OfferEarn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
80,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$1,760

Annual Fee

$695

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card^® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

Pros

The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com

Cons

$695 annual fee (rates and fees)
Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

Read Full Review

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
$200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card^®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card^® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
The American Express Global Lounge Collection^® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
$155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card^® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card^®.
$200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
$189 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: CLEAR^® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 year period for TSA PreCheck^® application fee for a 5-year plan only (through a TSA PreCheck^® official enrollment provider), when charged to your Platinum Card^®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card^®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card^® to your Resy profile.
$695 annual fee.
Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

APR: See Pay Over Time APR
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 125k (or 150k) points with the Amex Platinum. The current public offer is 80,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

The Amex Platinum card is one of the most exclusive cards with tons of luxury travel benefits.

Sure, it has a $695 annual fee, but it also has an incredible range of benefits that deliver lots of value (see rates & fees).

For our purposes, we’ll consider up to $200 prepaid hotel credit on eligible stays, the $189 CLEAR Plus credit, and up to $200 Uber Cash benefit to be face value. Therefore, the effective annual fee is $106.

The Amex Platinum card earns 5x Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines, as well as flights and prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com. Note that there is a cap of 5x earnings on flights booked directly with airlines or AmexTravel.com to up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.

According to our valuations, you’d need to spend around $964 every year on qualifying flight and hotel bookings to offset the fee.

Alternatively, you could spend around $4,818 per year on non-bonused purchases to reach the Amex Platinum card’s break-even point.

Bottom Line: For this analysis, we excluded a lot of high-value perks and benefits of the Amex Platinum card. For most people interested in luxury travel, it makes sense to keep this card open even if you don’t make a single purchase on the card!

Break-Even Point for the American Express^® Gold Card

NEW OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

American Express^® Gold Card

U.P. Rating

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

American Express^® Gold Card

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Welcome OfferEarn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $100 back. Limited time offer. Offer ends 11/6/24.
60,000 points + up to $100 back

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$1,420

Annual Fee

$325

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

The American Express^® Gold Card is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

Pros

4x points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com

Cons

$325 annual fee (rates and fees)
No lounge access

Read Full Review

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $100 back. Limited time offer. Offer ends 11/6/24.
Get the American Express^® Gold Card in either the Gold, Rose Gold or Limited-Edition White Gold metal design. White Gold design is only available while supplies last.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards^® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
$84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at Dunkin' locations.
$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit to use towards eligible charges, which may include food and beverage, spa, or other on-property charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Credit use varies by property.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $325.
Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

APR: See Pay Over Time APR
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 90,000 points with the Amex Gold card. The current public offer is 60,000 points + up to $100 back. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

The Amex Gold card is one of the best cards out there, thanks to a generous rewards structure.

The card comes with a $325 annual fee (rates & fees), though we subtracted $120 for the up to $10 monthly Uber Cash benefit that can be used on Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. Enrollment required.

We didn’t value the $10 per month dining credit at face value, since the only flexible way to use it is at Grubhub, even though it’s also valid at The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.

So the effective annual fee is $130.

Since cardholders earn 4x points at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. (up to $50,000 in spending per calendar year, then 1x), 4x points on U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 in spending per calendar year, then 1x), and up to 3x points on flights booked directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com, you’ll need to spend the following amounts every year to reach the break-even point:

$1,477 at restaurants or U.S. supermarkets OR
$1,970 on flights booked directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com OR
$5,909 on other purchases

Bottom Line: If you can use the $10 monthly dining credit and the $10 monthly Uber Cash, having the Amex Gold card open is almost a no-brainer! We didn’t factor in the $10 monthly dining credit in our analysis, but the Amex Gold card is an excellent card to have if you spend a lot on dining, supermarkets, and flights.

Break-Even Points on Other Cards by Issuer

The card products we discussed above are the most popular ones out there. But what about all of the other cards?

In this section, we’ll show you how much you have to spend on all the other major rewards cards available to break even.

Hot Tip: Different cards offer various benefits, including statement credits. And while some statement credits are more useful than others, we factored the statement credits we believe to be worth face value in calculating the break-even points of each card.

American Express

Amex Gold Upgraded Points LLC 07 Large — Image Credit: Upgraded Points

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Card Name	Annual Fee	Effective Annual Fee	Bonus Categories	Break-even Spending Required (Yearly)
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card	$0 rates & fees	$0	2% cash-back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash-back is automatically credited to your statement.	None
American Express^® Business Gold Card	$375 rates & fees	$375	4x points per dollar spent on your 2 highest purchase categories each month up to $150,000 each calendar year 3x points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card 1x points on all other purchases	$3,352 in combined 4x categories OR $13,409 in non-bonused purchases
American Express^® Green Card	$150	$150	3x points at restaurants, transit, and travel 1x points on all other purchases	$2,272 in combined purchases on 3x categories OR $6,818 in non-bonused purchases
The Blue Business^® Plus Credit Card from American Express	$0 rates & fees	$0	2x points on the first $50,000 spent in purchases each year	None
Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express*	$0 rates & fees	$0	3% cash-back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%) 3% cash-back at U.S. gas stations on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%) 3% cash-back at U.S. online retailers on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%) 1% on all other purchases	None
Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express	$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 rates & fees	$95	6% cash-back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%) and select U.S. streaming subscriptions 3% cash-back on transit, including: Taxis/rideshare Parking Tolls Trains Buses 3% cash-back at U.S. gas stations 1% cash-back on all other purchases	$1,583 at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. streaming subscriptions OR $3,167 on transit and at U.S. gas stations OR $9,500 in non-bonused purchases
Business Green Rewards Card from American Express*	$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95	$95	2x points on eligible purchases at AmexTravel.com 1x points on all other purchases	$2,159 on AmexTravel.com OR $4,318 in non-bonused purchases
The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express	$695 rates & fees	$106 (from $189 CLEAR Plus credit and $400 in Dell credits)	5x points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com 1.5x points (up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year) at: U.S. construction material and hardware suppliers U.S. electronic goods retailers U.S. software and cloud system providers U.S. shipping providers Purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else 1x points on all other purchases	$963 on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com OR $3,212 in combined purchases on 1.5x categories OR $4,818 in non-bonused purchases
Delta SkyMiles^® Blue American Express Card	$0 rates & fees	$0	2x miles at restaurants and purchases made directly with Delta 1x miles on all other purchases	None
Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card	$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150 rates & fees	$150	2x miles at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., U.S. supermarkets, and on Delta purchases 1x miles on all other purchases	$4,125 in combined purchases on 2x categories OR $8,250 in non-bonused purchases
Delta SkyMiles^® Gold Business American Express Card	$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150 rates & fees	$150	2x miles at restaurants, purchases made directly with Delta, U.S. purchases for advertising in select media, and U.S. shipping purchases. 2x earnings on U.S. purchases for advertising in select media, and U.S. shipping purchases will have a cap of $50,000 in eligible purchases per category, per year. 1x miles on all other purchases	$4,125 in combined purchases on 2x categories OR $8,250 in non-bonused purchases
Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card	$350 rates & fees	$350	3x miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels 2x miles at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets 1x miles on all other purchases	$6,944 in combined purchases on 3x categories OR $10,417 in combined purchases on 2x categories OR $20,833 in non-bonused purchases
Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum Business American Express Card	$350 rates & fees	$350	3x miles on purchases made directly with Delta and directly with hotels 1.5 miles on single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more, up to 50,000 additional miles per calendar year 1x miles on all other purchases	$6,944 in combined purchases on 3x categories OR $10,417 in combined purchases on 2x categories OR $20,833 in non-bonused purchases
Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card	$650 rates & fees	$650	3x miles on purchases made directly with Delta 1x miles on all other purchases	$15,278 on purchases made directly with Delta OR $45,833 in non-bonused purchases
Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve Business American Express Card	$650 rates & fees	$650	3x miles on purchases made directly with Delta 1.5 miles on eligible purchases made after a $150,000 threshold is reached through the end of the same calendar year 1x miles on all other purchases	$15,278 on purchases made directly with Delta OR $30,556 in combined purchases exceeding $5,000 each OR $45,833 in non-bonused purchases
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card	$195 rates & fees	$195	12x points for eligible purchases at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio 5x points on other purchases made for the first $100,000 each calendar year, then 3x points thereafter.	$1,583 on Hilton purchases OR $3,167 in combined purchases on 6x categories OR $6,333 in non-bonused purchases
Hilton Honors American Express Card	$0 rates & fees	$0	7x points on eligible purchases charged directly with hotels or resorts within the Hilton portfolio 5x points at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. restaurants 3x points on all other purchases	None
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express^® Card	$250 rates & fees	$250	6x points for eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy 4x points at restaurants worldwide and at grocery stores on up to $15,000 in combined purchases 2x points on all other purchases	$5,952 in Marriott Bonvoy purchases OR $8,928 in combined purchases on 4x categories OR $17,858 in non-bonused purchases
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card	$650 rates & fees	$350 (from up to $300 annual dining credit)	6x points for eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy 3x points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines 2x points on all other purchases	$8,333 in Marriott Bonvoy purchases OR $16,666 in combined purchases on 3x categories OR $25,000 in non-bonused purchases
Marriott Bonvoy Business^® American Express^® Card	$125 rates & fees	$125	6x points for eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy 4x points at restaurants worldwide, U.S. gas stations, U.S. shipping providers, and wireless phone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers 2x points on all other purchases	$2,976 in Marriott Bonvoy purchases OR $4,464 in combined purchases on 4x categories OR $8,929 in non-bonused purchases

*All information about these cards has been collected independently by Upgraded Points.

Capital One

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Card Name	Annual Fee	Effective Annual Fee	Bonus Categories	Break-even Spending Required (Yearly)
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card	$0 (rates & fees)	$0 (rates & fees)	1.5% cash-back on all purchases	None
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card	$39 (rates & fees)	$39 (rates & fees)	1.5% cash-back on all purchases	$2,600 in purchases
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card	$95	$95	8% cash-back on tickets at Capital One Entertainment 4% cash-back on dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services 3% cash-back at grocery stores 1% cash-back on all other purchases	$1,188 in ticket purchases at Capital One Entertainment OR $2,375 in combined purchases on 4% categories OR $3,167 at grocery stores OR $9,500 in non-bonused purchases
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card	$0 (rates & fees)	$0 (rates & fees)	8% cash-back on tickets at Capital One Entertainment 3% cash-back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart^® and Target^®) 1% cash-back on all other purchases	None
Capital One Spark Cash Plus Card	$150	$150	2% cash-back on all purchases	$7,500 in purchases
Capital One Spark Cash Select for Excellent Credit	$0	$0	1.5% cash-back on all purchases	None
Capital One Spark Classic for Business	$0	$0	1% cash-back on all purchases	None
Capital One Spark Miles for Business	$0 intro for the first year, $95 after that	$95	5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel 2x miles on all other purchases	$1,056 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel OR $2,639 in non-bonused purchases
Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business	$0	$0	5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel 1.5x miles on all other purchases	None
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card	$95 (rates & fees)	$95 (rates & fees)	5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel 2x miles on all other purchases	$1,056 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel OR $2,639 in non-bonused purchases
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card	$395 (rates & fees)	$0 ($300 travel credit and 10,000 bonus miles per anniversary year)	10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel 5x miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel 2x miles on all other purchases	None
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card	$0 (rates & fees)	$0 (rates & fees)	5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel 1.25x miles on all other purchases	None

Chase

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Card Name	Annual Fee	Effective Annual Fee	Bonus Categories	Break-even Spending Required (Yearly)
Aer Lingus Visa Signature^® Card	$95	$95	3 Avios per $1 spent on flight purchases made directly with Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, and LEVEL 2 Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations purchased with the hotel 1 Avios per $1 spent on all other purchases	$2,533 in 3x Avios purchases OR $7,600 in non-bonused purchases
Aeroplan^® Credit Card	$95	$95	3x points at grocery stores, dining, and purchases made directly with Air Canada 1x points on all other purchases	$2,111 in combined purchases on 3x categories OR $6,333 in non-bonused purchases
Prime Visa card	$0	$0	5% cash-back at Amazon.com, Whole Foods Market, and Chase Travel with an eligible Prime membership 2% cash-back at restaurants, gas stations, and local transit/commuting 1% cash-back on all other purchases	None
Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Credit Card	$0	$0	3% cash-back at Amazon.com and physical Amazon stores 2% cash-back at restaurants, gas stations, and local transit/commuting 1% cash-back on all other purchases	None
British Airways Visa Signature^® Card	$95	$95	3 Avios per $1 spent on flight purchases made directly with Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, and LEVEL 2 Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations purchased with the hotel 1 Avios per $1 spent on all other purchases	$2,533 in 3x Avios purchases OR $7,600 in non-bonused purchases
Chase Freedom Flex℠	$0	$0	5% cash-back on up to $1,500 of combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate and travel purchased through Chase Travel 5% cash-back on Lyft (through March 31, 2025) 3% cash-back on dining and drugstores 1% cash-back on all other purchases	None
Chase Freedom Unlimited^®	$0	$0	5% cash-back on travel purchased through Chase Travel 5% cash-back on Lyft (through March 31, 2025) 3% cash-back on dining and drugstores 1.5% cash-back on all other purchases	None
Iberia Visa Signature^® Card	$95	$95	3 Avios per $1 spent on flight purchases made directly with Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, and LEVEL 3 Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations purchased with the hotel, within the first year of account opening (2 Avios per $1 spent after that) 1 Avios per $1 spent on all other purchases	$2,533 in 3x Avios purchases OR $7,600 in non-bonused purchases
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card	$99	$99	Up to 26 points total per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, gas stations, and restaurants. 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases	$762 at IHG Hotels & Resorts OR $3,960 in combined purchases at 5x categories OR $6,600 in non-bonused purchases
IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card	$99	$99	Up to 26 points total per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, dining, select business purchases, and gas stations. 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases	$762 at IHG Hotels & Resorts OR $3,960 in combined purchases at 5x categories OR $6,600 in non-bonused purchases
IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card	$0	$0	Up to 17 points total per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel 3x on purchases on monthly bills, gas stations, and restaurants. 2x on all other purchases	None
Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card	$0	$0	5% cash-back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services each account anniversary year 5% cash-back on Lyft (through March 31, 2025) 2% cash-back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year 1% cash-back on all other purchases	None
Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card	$95	$95	3x points on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases each account anniversary year on shipping purchases, internet, cable, and phone services, advertising purchases with social media sites and search engines, and travel 5x points on Lyft (through March 31, 2025) 1x points on all other purchases	$1,583 in combined purchases on 3x categories OR $4,750 in non-bonused purchases
Ink Business Premier^® Credit Card	$195	$195	5% cash-back on travel purchased through Chase Travel 2.5% cash-back on purchases of $5,000 or more 2% cash-back on all other business purchases	$3,900 on travel purchased through Chase Travel OR $7,800 on purchases of $5,000 or more OR $9,750 on other business purchases
Ink Business Unlimited^® Credit Card	$0	$0	1.5% cash-back on all purchases 5% cash-back on Lyft (through March 31, 2025)	None
Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Credit Card	$0	$0	Up to 14x points per $1 spent at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy when using your card 2x points per $1 spent on all other travel 1x points on all other purchases	None
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card	$95	$95	6x points for eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy 2x points per $1 on all other purchases	$2,262 in Marriott Bonvoy purchases OR $6,785 in non-bonused purchases
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card	$250	$250	6x points for eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy 4x points at restaurants worldwide and at grocery stores on up to $15,000 in combined purchases 2x points on all other purchases	$5,952 in Marriott Bonvoy purchases OR $8,928 in combined purchases on 4x categories OR $17,858 in non-bonused purchases
Southwest^® Rapid Rewards^® Performance Business Credit Card	$199	$199	4x points on Southwest purchases 3x points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners 2x points on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services, and local transit and commuting (including rideshare) 1x points on all other purchases	$3,827 in Southwest purchases OR $5,103 in purchases at Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners OR $7,654 in combined purchases on 2x categories OR $15,308 in non-bonused purchases
Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Plus Credit Card	$69	$69	2x points on Southwest purchases, Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners, internet, cable, and phone services, and local transit and commuting (including rideshare) 1x points on all other purchases	$2,654 in combined purchases on 2x categories OR $5,308 in non-bonused purchases
Southwest^® Rapid Rewards^® Premier Business Credit Card	$99	$99	3x points on Southwest purchases 2x points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners and local transit and commuting (including rideshare) 1x points on all other purchases	$2,538 in Southwest purchases OR $3,808 in combined purchases on 2x categories OR $7,615 in non-bonused purchases
Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Premier Credit Card	$99	$99	3x points on Southwest purchases 2x points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners, internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming, and local transit and commuting (including rideshare) 1x points on all other purchases	$2,538 in Southwest purchases OR $3,808 in combined purchases on 2x categories OR $7,615 in non-bonused purchases
Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Priority Credit Card	$149	$74 (from $75 Southwest credit)	3x points on Southwest purchases 2x points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners, internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming, and local transit and commuting (including rideshare) 1x points on all other purchases	$1,897 in Southwest purchases OR $2,846 in combined purchases on 2x categories OR $5,692 in non-bonused purchases
United℠ Business Card	$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99	$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99	2x miles on United purchases, dining, gas stations, office supply stores, and local transit and commuting 1x miles on all other purchases	$3,808 in combined purchases on 2x categories OR $7,615 in non-bonused purchases
United Club℠ Business Card	$450	$450	2x miles on United purchases 1.5x miles on all other purchases	$17,308 in United purchases OR $23,077 in non-bonused purchases
United Club℠ Infinite Card	$525	$525	4x miles on United purchases including tickets, Economy Plus, inflight food, beverages and Wi-Fi, and other United charges. 2x miles on travel and dining 1x miles on all other purchases	$10,096 in United purchases OR $20,192 in combined purchases on 2x categories OR $40,384 in non-bonused purchases
United℠ Explorer Card	$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95	$95	2x miles on United purchases, dining, and hotel stays 1x miles on all other purchases	$3,654 in combined purchases on 2x categories OR $7,308 in non-bonused purchases
United Gateway℠ Card	$0	$0	2x miles on United purchases, gas stations, and local transit and commuting 1x miles on all other purchases	None
United Quest℠ Card	$250	$125 (from $125 United purchase credit)	3x miles on United purchases (after the $125 annual United purchase credit) 2x miles on all other travel, dining, and select streaming services 1x miles on all other purchases	$3,330 in United purchases OR $4,808 in combined purchases on 2x categories OR $9,615 in non-bonused purchases
World of Hyatt Business Credit Card	$199	$199	Up to 9x points at Hyatt hotels 2x points in your top 3 spend categories each quarter through December 31, 2024, then your top 2 categories each quarter after that; eligible categories are: Airline tickets when purchased directly with the airline Car rental Agencies Dining Gas stations Internet, cable, and phone services Local transit and commuting Shipping Social media and search engine advertising 2x points on fitness club and gym memberships 1x points on all other purchases	$3,317 in purchases at Hyatt hotels OR $6,633 in combined purchases on 2x categories OR $13,267 in non-bonused purchases
The World of Hyatt Credit Card	$95	$95	Up to 9x points at Hyatt hotels 2x points at restaurants, airline tickets purchased directly from the airline, local transit and commuting, and fitness club and gym memberships 1x points on all other purchases	$1,583 in purchases at Hyatt hotels OR $3,167 in combined purchases on 2x categories OR $6,333 in non-bonused purchases

Citi

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Card Name	Annual Fee	Effective Annual Fee	Bonus Categories	Break-even Spending Required (Yearly)
American Airlines AAdvantage^® MileUp^®	$0	$0	2x miles on eligible American Airlines purchases and grocery stores 1x miles on all other purchases	None
Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Executive World Elite Mastercard^®	$595	$595	2x miles on eligible American Airlines purchases 1x miles on all other purchases	$16,071 in eligible American Airlines purchases OR $32,143 in un-bonused purchases
Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Platinum Select^® World Elite Mastercard^®	$99, waived for first 12 months	$99	2x miles on restaurants, gas stations, and on eligible American Airlines purchases 1x miles on all other purchases	$3,535 in combined purchases on 2x categories OR $7,071 in non-bonused purchases
CitiBusiness^® / AAdvantage^® Platinum Select^® Mastercard^®	$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $99	$99	2x miles at telecommunications merchants, cable and satellite providers, car rental merchants, and gas stations 1x miles on all other purchases	$3,535 in combined purchases on 2x categories OR $7,071 in non-bonused purchases
Citi Custom Cash^® Card	$0	$0	5% cash-back on your top eligible spend category each billing cycle up to the first $500 spent (1% thereafter) 1% on all other purchases	None
Citi Double Cash^® Card	$0	$0	2x points on all purchases (1x when you buy and 1x when you pay your bill)	None
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card	$95	$95	3x points on restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel, and hotels 1x points on all other purchases	$1,979 in combined purchases on 3x categories OR $5,938 in non-bonused purchases
Citi Prestige^® Card (no longer open to new applicants)	$495	$245 (from $250 travel credit)	5x points on restaurants and air travel 3x points at cruise lines and hotels 1x points on all other purchases	$3,063 in combined purchases on 5x categories OR $5,104 in combined purchases on 3x categories OR $15,313 in non-bonused purchases
Citi Rewards+^® Card	$0	$0	2x points at supermarkets and gas stations (on the first $6,000 per year; 1x thereafter) 1x points on all other purchases *rewards round up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase	None

Final Thoughts

Whew! That was intense! Making an informed decision as to whether getting a specific credit card is worthwhile can involve some tricky math, but we laid it all out for you in this guide.

We calculated the effective annual fee by subtracting all of the face-value statement credits from the annual fee.

Then, we used our points and miles valuations to calculate the break-even spending amounts by category.

As you can tell, some cards are much easier to justify while others might not be worth it unless you can take advantage of the other subjective card benefits we didn’t account for.

We hope that you’ve found this guide useful!

The information regarding the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Capital One SavorOne Card Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Capital One Spark Cash Plus Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Capital One Spark Cash Select for Excellent Credit was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Capital One Spark Classic for Business was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the American Express^® Green Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Business Green Rewards Card from American Express was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Chase Freedom Flex℠ was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the United Club℠ Business Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Citi^®/AAdvantage^® Executive World Elite Mastercard^® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Platinum Select^® World Elite™ Mastercard^® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the CitiBusiness^® / AAdvantage^® Platinum Select^® Mastercard^® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Citi Custom Cash^® Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Citi Double Cash^® Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Citi Premier^® Card has expired and the card is no longer open to applicants.
The information for the Citi Prestige^® Card has been collected independently by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Citi Rewards+^® Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Information regarding the Capital One Spark Miles for Business was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express^® Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express^® Business Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of The Blue Business^® Plus Credit Card from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday^® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles^® Blue American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles^® Gold Business American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum Business American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve Business American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express^® Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Business^® American Express^® Card, click here.

Featured Image Credit: Tumisu via Pixabay

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do you have to spend on the Chase Sapphire Reserve card to break even?

By our valuations, you need to spend $4,157 every year on travel or dining for the Chase Sapphire Reserve card to make sense for you. Without travel or dining, you’ll need to spend $12,471 every year for it to be worth it.

How much do you need to spend to break even on the Amex Platinum card?

The Amex Platinum card’s break-even point is when you spend $1,050 or more on flights booked directly with airlines, as well as flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com every year.

Alternatively, you need to spend around $5,270 per year on other purchases if you can’t earn 5x points.

How much do you need to spend to break even with the Amex Gold card?

If you can take advantage of the $10 per month dining credit and the $10 per month Uber Cash benefit, the Amex Gold card essentially pays for itself.

However, if you only use the Uber Cash benefit, you need to spend $1,477 at restaurants or U.S. supermarkets every year for it to be worth it.

Alternatively, you can spend $1,970 per year on flights booked directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com, as well as $5,909 on non-bonused purchases to break even with this card.

How do I break even with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card?

It’s pretty easy to break even. The $95 annual fee is somewhat offset by the $50 annual Ultimate Rewards hotel credit, which means you only need to spend $750 per year on dining, online grocery purchases, or select streaming services to break even.

Alternatively, you can spend $1,125 on travel purchases every year (2x points) or $450 on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025), select Peloton equipment purchases, and travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards (excluding the $50 hotel credit) every year to break even on the card.

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About Stephen Au

Stephen is an established voice in the credit card space, with over 70 to his name. His work has been in publications like The Washington Post, and his Au Points and Awards Consulting Services is used by hundreds of clients.

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