Is the annual fee worth it?

$95 – $149 · 49 cards

The entry tier. Most of these earn out on one strong bonus category — the question is whether you have it.

• Is the Aer Lingus Visa Signature Card worth it? $95 fee · $40 credits · break-even $2,116/yr of hotels
• Is the Aeroplan Card worth it? $95 fee · $40 credits · break-even $1,359/yr of groceries
• Is the American Express Business Green Rewards Card worth it? $95 fee · break-even $8,637/yr
• Is the Amex EveryDay Preferred Credit Card worth it? $95 fee · break-even $2,879/yr of groceries
• Is the Bank of America Alaska Airlines Visa Signature (Atmos Rewards Ascent) worth it? $95 fee · $100 credits · covered on paper
• Is the Bank of America Premium Rewards worth it? $95 fee · $100 credits · covered on paper
• Is the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express worth it? $95 fee · $120 credits · covered on paper
• Is the British Airways Visa Signature Card worth it? $95 fee · $40 credits · break-even $2,116/yr of hotels
• Is the Capital One Spark Cash (Spark 2% Cash) worth it? $95 fee · break-even $4,750/yr
• Is the Capital One Spark Miles worth it? $95 fee · break-even $∞/yr
• Is the Capital One Venture Business worth it? $95 fee · $130 credits · covered on paper
• Is the Capital One Venture Rewards worth it? $95 fee · $30 credits · break-even $2,500/yr
• Is the Chase Ink Business Preferred worth it? $95 fee · $120 credits · covered on paper
• Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred worth it? $95 fee · $220 credits · covered on paper
• Is the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard worth it? $95 fee · break-even $3,167/yr of gas
• Is the Citi Strata Premier® Card worth it? $95 fee · $130 credits · covered on paper
• Is the Iberia Visa Signature Card worth it? $95 fee · $40 credits · break-even $2,116/yr of hotels
• Is the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card worth it? $95 fee · $100 credits · covered on paper
• Is the Navy Federal Flagship Premier Visa Signature worth it? $95 fee · $130 credits · covered on paper
• Is the PenFed Pathfinder Rewards worth it? $95 fee · $100 credits · covered on paper
• Is the U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card worth it? $95 fee · $100 credits · covered on paper
• Is the U.S. Bank Business Leverage Visa Signature Card worth it? $95 fee · break-even $9,500/yr
• Is the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card worth it? $95 fee · break-even $∞/yr
• Is the USAA Eagle Navigator worth it? $95 fee · break-even $3,167/yr of travel
• Is the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey worth it? $95 fee · $50 credits · break-even $900/yr of hotels
• Is the World of Hyatt Credit Card worth it? $95 fee · break-even $3,167/yr of dining
• Is the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card worth it? $95 fee · break-even $3,959/yr of gas
• Is the AAdvantage Aviator Business Mastercard worth it? $99 fee · break-even $7,334/yr
• Is the AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard worth it? $99 fee · $25 credits · break-even $5,482/yr
• Is the Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® worth it? $99 fee · break-even $3,667/yr of gas
• Is the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® worth it? $99 fee · break-even $3,667/yr of dining
• Is the Emirates Skywards Rewards World Elite Mastercard worth it? $99 fee · break-even $4,125/yr of travel
• Is the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard worth it? $99 fee · break-even $3,300/yr of dining
• Is the Hawaiian Airlines Bank of Hawaii World Elite Mastercard worth it? $99 fee · break-even $3,536/yr of gas
• Is the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Business Mastercard worth it? $99 fee · break-even $7,072/yr
• Is the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard worth it? $99 fee · break-even $3,536/yr of gas
• Is the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Card worth it? $99 fee · $250 credits · covered on paper
• Is the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card worth it? $99 fee · $310 credits · covered on paper
• Is the JetBlue Business Card worth it? $99 fee · $100 credits · covered on paper
• Is the JetBlue Plus Card worth it? $99 fee · break-even $3,808/yr of dining
• Is the Marriott Bonvoy Premier Plus Business Card worth it? $99 fee · break-even $3,536/yr of gas
• Is the Royal ONE Plus Visa Signature worth it? $99 fee · $230 credits · covered on paper
• Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Card worth it? $99 fee · $40 credits · break-even $2,459/yr of gas
• Is the Travel Rewards+ (Elan) worth it? $99 fee · break-even $2,475/yr of travel
• Is the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card worth it? $125 fee · break-even $4,465/yr of dining
• Is the Disney Inspire Visa Card worth it? $149 fee · $460 credits · covered on paper
• Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Card worth it? $149 fee · break-even $6,209/yr of gas
• Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Card worth it? $149 fee · $40 credits · break-even $4,542/yr of groceries
• Is the Wyndham Rewards Earner Business Card worth it? $149 fee · break-even $4,967/yr of gas

$150 – $299 · 19 cards

Mid-tier cards. Usually a travel or airline card where the credits and perks decide it, not the earn rate.

• Is the American Express Classic Green Card worth it? $150 fee · $219 credits · covered on paper
• Is the Barclays Arrival Premier World Elite Mastercard worth it? $150 fee · $30 credits · break-even $5,455/yr
• Is the Capital One Spark Cash Plus (Spark 2% Cash Plus) worth it? $150 fee · $150 credits · covered on paper
• Is the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card worth it? $150 fee · $420 credits · covered on paper
• Is the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card worth it? $150 fee · $270 credits · covered on paper
• Is the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card worth it? $150 fee · $200 credits · covered on paper
• Is the United Business Card worth it? $150 fee · $620 credits · covered on paper
• Is the United Explorer Card worth it? $150 fee · $530 credits · covered on paper
• Is the Chase Ink Business Premier worth it? $195 fee · break-even $9,750/yr
• Is the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card worth it? $195 fee · $240 credits · covered on paper
• Is the U.S. Bank Business Altitude Power Visa Signature Card worth it? $195 fee · break-even $9,750/yr
• Is the AAdvantage Aviator World Elite Silver Mastercard worth it? $199 fee · break-even $14,741/yr
• Is the World of Hyatt Business Card worth it? $199 fee · $100 credits · break-even $3,300/yr of fitness
• Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card worth it? $229 fee · $40 credits · break-even $7,875/yr of gas
• Is the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Card worth it? $250 fee · break-even $8,929/yr of dining
• Is the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card worth it? $250 fee · break-even $8,929/yr of groceries
• Is the Plum Card worth it? $250 fee · break-even $∞/yr
• Is the Graphite Business Cash Unlimited Card from American Express worth it? $295 fee · break-even $14,750/yr
• Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Card worth it? $299 fee · $30 credits · break-even $11,209/yr of hotels

$300 – $499 · 13 cards

Premium. Printed credits often cover most of the fee on paper — only if you would spend that way anyway.

• Is the American Express Gold Card worth it? $325 fee · $424 credits · covered on paper
• Is the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® worth it? $350 fee · $230 credits · break-even $4,445/yr of dining
• Is the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card worth it? $350 fee · $390 credits · covered on paper
• Is the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card worth it? $350 fee · $440 credits · covered on paper
• Is the United Quest Card worth it? $350 fee · $860 credits · covered on paper
• Is the American Express Business Gold Card worth it? $375 fee · $845 credits · covered on paper
• Is the Bank of America Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite worth it? $395 fee · $30 credits · break-even $8,691/yr of dining
• Is the Capital One Venture X worth it? $395 fee · $330 credits · break-even $2,500/yr
• Is the Capital One Venture X Business worth it? $395 fee · $500 credits · covered on paper
• Is the Wyndham Rewards Earner Premier Card worth it? $395 fee · $625 credits · covered on paper
• Is the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card worth it? $400 fee · $355 credits · break-even $1,500/yr of travel
• Is the Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard worth it? $499 fee · $30 credits · break-even $19,542/yr of travel
• Is the JetBlue Premier Card worth it? $499 fee · break-even $19,193/yr of dining

$500 and up · 17 cards

The flagships. Almost always "worth it if you use the credits", and almost never on rewards alone.

• Is the Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite worth it? $550 fee · $450 credits · break-even $5,000/yr of dining
• Is the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card worth it? $550 fee · $919 credits · covered on paper
• Is the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card worth it? $595 fee · $730 credits · covered on paper
• Is the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® worth it? $595 fee · $390 credits · break-even $15,186/yr
• Is the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card worth it? $650 fee · $560 credits · break-even $7,827/yr
• Is the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card worth it? $650 fee · $610 credits · break-even $2,319/yr of transit
• Is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card worth it? $650 fee · $430 credits · break-even $10,477/yr of dining
• Is the Robinhood Platinum Card worth it? $695 fee · $1,420 credits · covered on paper
• Is the United Club Business Card worth it? $695 fee · $940 credits · covered on paper
• Is the United Club Infinite Card worth it? $695 fee · $890 credits · covered on paper
• Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve worth it? $795 fee · $2,190 credits · covered on paper
• Is the Sapphire Reserve for Business worth it? $795 fee · $2,200 credits · covered on paper
• Is the Business Platinum Card from American Express worth it? $895 fee · $2,249 credits · covered on paper
• Is the Platinum Card from American Express worth it? $895 fee · $2,994 credits · covered on paper
• Is the Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab worth it? $895 fee · $2,994 credits · covered on paper
• Is the Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Morgan Stanley worth it? $895 fee · $2,994 credits · covered on paper
• Is the Centurion Card from American Express worth it? $5,000 fee · $1,689 credits · break-even $301,000/yr

Common questions