The 7 Best Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses of January 2024

Right now, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is dangling a pretty sweet deal in front of us: snag 60,000 bonus points by spending $4,000 in the first three months after you open your account. And since Chase bumps up the value of points used for travel bookings through their Ultimate Rewards by 25%, those points could get you $1,000 worth of travel.

This card is a points-earning powerhouse on just about everything:

• Earn 5x points on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards,
• 2x on all other travel expenses,
• 3x on dining out,
• 5x on Lyft rides up until March 31, 2025,
• 3x on certain streaming services and online grocery shopping,
• And 1x on all your other everyday spending.

Feels like you’re racking up bonuses left and right, doesn’t it? Plus, every year on your card anniversary, you get a 10% boost on all the points you’ve earned.

But the Chase Sapphire Preferred isn’t just about accumulating points; it’s about what you can do with them. You can use them for cash back, travel bookings through Chase Ultimate Rewards, or transferring to popular hotel and airline loyalty programs like Hyatt and Southwest— the choice is yours. 

Let’s not forget the annual $50 hotel credit you get when booking through Chase Ultimate Rewards.

On top of that, Chase throws in a $200 Partnership Benefit Value. Think free memberships and extra perks just for being a cardholder. Currently, there’s a free DoorDash DashPass subscription, a 6-month Instacart membership, and bonus points on Peloton purchases up for grabs. 

If you were eyeing these subscriptions anyway, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card pretty much pays for itself!

The Discover it Cash Back is one of the top cash back rewards credit cards, not just because of its great bonus program but also because of its unique rotating cash back rewards. For 2024, cardholders earn 5% cash back in select categories depending on the month:

For January to March, you’ll earn 5% cash back at restaurants and drug stores. As of publication, Discover has not announced the categories for the remaining categories. Visit the Discover calendar to learn:

• The April to June categories on March 1.
• The July to September categories on June 1.
• The October to December categories on September 1.

The 5% cash back is capped at $1,500 in purchases in the relevant category per quarter. Consumers earn 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases, year-round.

Since the bonus program doubles your cash back total for the entire first year from account opening, you can earn a significant chunk of change — and all for no annual fee. But it’s not just annual fees; you won’t pay any foreign transaction fees for swiping abroad either.

The Discover it Cash Back isn’t the only Discover credit card to offer this unique sign-up bonus. Consumers who open a Discover it Student Cash Back card or even the Discover it Secured Credit Card can access the same Cashback Match. That’s why we named the latter the best secured credit card for borrowers with bad credit.

If you're looking for a travel rewards card that works for you, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card might just be your ticket. This card doesn't just perk up your travel spending; it gives back on every single purchase. With it, you’re not just earning on flights or hotels, but on everything. And for just $95 a year, that's a deal hard to beat, right?

You rack up two miles for every dollar you spend, no matter where you swipe your card. And when you book hotels and rental cars through Capital One Travel, you get five miles per dollar spent. It’s like they’re saying, “Go ahead, treat yourself,” every time you shop or travel.

Now, let's talk travel perks because this card is loaded with them. Hate fees on overseas transactions? They've got you covered. Worry about travel mishaps? There's insurance for that. Plus, they throw in up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, making airport lines a breeze. And if lounging is your thing, enjoy two free visits to Capital One Lounges or their global partners every year.

When it comes to using those hard-earned miles, you have options. Book your next trip through Capital One Travel, wipe travel costs off your statement, or swap miles with airline and hotel partners. And if you snag a hotel through Capital One's Lifestyle Collection, expect VIP treatment with credits, upgrades, and free Wi-Fi.

Thinking about snagging this card? Well, it does ask for excellent credit, but the juicy welcome offer of 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months could make it all worth it. That's like $750 towards your next adventure!

So, if you’re looking to earn big on every purchase and make travel a little more luxe, the Capital One Venture Rewards Card is ready to roll out the red carpet for you.

With the United Quest Card, you can earn 70,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first three months from account opening. You can also earn 10,000 bonus miles for every referral — up to 100,000 bonus miles a year. But the United Quest Card offers value far beyond welcome offers and referral bonuses.

For starters, you’ll earn a $125 statement credit each year for United purchases made on the Quest Card. Beyond that, you can expect to earn:

• 3x miles for every dollar spent on United Airlines purchases (after the $125 in statement credits)
• 2x miles for every dollar spent on all other travel purchases, including airfare, hotels, rental cars, cruises, rideshare, tolls, trains, local transit and more
• 2x miles for every dollar spent on dining, which includes eligible delivery services
• 2x miles for every dollar spent on select streaming services
• 1x mile for every dollar spent on all other eligible purchases

Cardholders also get 5,000 miles back after taking a United or United Express flight booked with miles — up to two times a year. That’s up to 10,000 extra miles just for booking the United flights you probably planned to purchase anyway.

Finally, you won’t be charged a foreign transaction fee for swiping your United Quest Card abroad, and you’ll get two free checked bags for every trip ($320 in savings for every round trip you book).

To earn the sign-up bonus from the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card, just make $3,000 in purchases in the first three months from account opening. If you do, you’ll receive three Free Night Awards with Marriott. You can also rack up 40,000 bonus points for each referral, up to 200,000 bonus points a year.

Beyond the sign-up bonus, the Boundless card offers a tremendous rewards rate — when you spend at Marriott hotels. Again, hotel cards really only make sense for frequent travelers loyal to hotel chains. If you regularly stay at a Marriott, however, this card can pay off big time. You’ll earn:

• Up to 17x points for spending on Marriott hotels
  • 6x points for booking hotels with the card
  • 10x points from being a Marriott Bonvoy member
  • 1x point from Marriott with Silver Elite Status (you get this perk for being a cardmember)
• 3x points for every dollar spent on groceries, gas and dining (up to $6,000 spent)
• 2x points for every dollar on all other eligible purchases

Another perk of this card: You get one Free Night Award each year on your account anniversary, valid for one night at any hotel with a redemption level up to 35,000 points.

The Platinum Card® from American Express really raises the stakes with its welcome offer, statement credits, and a suite of benefits that, quite frankly, leave others in the dust. But let's address the elephant in the room: that $695 annual fee. It's a hefty sum, no doubt. However, for the avid card user who knows how to squeeze every bit of value out of their card, this could be a game-changer, especially with a tempting 125,000 membership rewards points on the table.

So, about that annual fee—yes, it's the highest we've seen. But when you start adding up the value you get back from the Platinum Card®, it's clear this isn't just any other card.

You'll hit the ground running with 125,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 in the first six months. Imagine what you can do with those points! From dining to travel, entertainment to shopping, you've got over 500 leading brands to play with.

And the perks? They just keep on coming:

• Earn 5x points on flights, either booked directly with airlines or through AmexTravel.com, capped at $500,000 a year.
• Nab 5x points on prepaid hotels booked via AmexTravel.com.
• And get 1x points on pretty much everything else you buy.

But wait, there's more than just points. Check out these extras that add even more bang for your buck:

• $200 a year towards airline fees for those annoying extra charges.
• Another $200 for stays at select prepaid hotels and resorts.
• $15 each month in Uber Cash (and a sweet $20 bonus in December) for both rides and Uber Eats.
• A $20 monthly credit for digital entertainment subscriptions.
• Up to $300 annually for Equinox gym memberships.
• A $155 Walmart+ credit each year.
• $100 to splurge at Saks Fifth Avenue annually.
• And $189 back every year for a CLEAR membership, making airport security a breeze.

When you do the math, these benefits add up to nearly $1,600—way more than you're paying in fees. Plus, with no charges on foreign transactions, VIP status at various hotel chains, and access to a sprawling Global Lounge Collection, the Platinum Card® is in a league of its own.

Additional terms apply.*

The Chase Freedom Flex stands out as a straightforward cash back card. Landing the $200 welcome bonus is a breeze, with just $500 spent in the initial three months. What really makes this deal shine, though, is the first-year bonus of 5% back on groceries and gas. You're looking at potentially an extra $600 back in your pocket on up to $12,000 spent in these categories within the first year.

And there’s always something extra with the Chase Freedom Flex — a rotating 5% cash back in various categories each quarter. 

For 2024, here's the scoop:

• From January through March, you can enjoy 5% back at grocery stores (excluding Walmart and Target), plus on spending at fitness clubs and gyms and on self-care and spa treatments.
• The categories for the rest of the year are TBA, so keep an eye on the Chase Calendar for updates.

Cardholders also consistently earn 5% back on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1% back on all other purchases.

While the Chase Freedom Flex may not pack a ton of travel benefits and does have a foreign transaction fee for overseas spending, it's a solid choice for cash back. Plus, the ease of earning the bonus and the potential for up to $500 yearly in referral bonuses ($100 for each successful referral) add to its appeal.