CardRewardsEditorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Our analysis is based on publicly available card data and is reviewed regularly by our editorial team. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content. Last updated: May 2026.
Ranked by effective value per dollar at travel-related merchants.
Rankings are generated by our algorithm based on earn rates, point valuations, fees, and benefits — not paid placement. We don't accept compensation to rank cards higher. How we rank
Travel covers 288 merchants across 10 sub-categories — from headline brands to specialty retailers. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card earns the top spot at 6.9¢ per dollar in this vertical, with a $395 annual fee. Below: the top-ranked cards across all of travel, the sub-categories you can drill into, and the most popular brands at-a-glance. Each sub-category page surfaces its own top card list, so the right pick depends on where you spend most.
Capital One
Ranked by effective value per dollar at travel-related merchants.
Rankings are generated by our algorithm based on earn rates, point valuations, fees, and benefits — not paid placement. We don't accept compensation to rank cards higher. How we rank
Travel covers 288 merchants across 10 sub-categories — from headline brands to specialty retailers. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card earns the top spot at 6.9¢ per dollar in this vertical, with a $395 annual fee. Below: the top-ranked cards across all of travel, the sub-categories you can drill into, and the most popular brands at-a-glance. Each sub-category page surfaces its own top card list, so the right pick depends on where you spend most.
Capital One
Ranked by effective value per dollar at travel-related merchants.
Rankings are generated by our algorithm based on earn rates, point valuations, fees, and benefits — not paid placement. We don't accept compensation to rank cards higher. How we rank
Travel covers 288 merchants across 10 sub-categories — from headline brands to specialty retailers. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card earns the top spot at 6.9¢ per dollar in this vertical, with a $395 annual fee. Below: the top-ranked cards across all of travel, the sub-categories you can drill into, and the most popular brands at-a-glance. Each sub-category page surfaces its own top card list, so the right pick depends on where you spend most.
Capital One
Citi
Amex
All 10 cards ranked by effective value per dollar.
| Card | Travel Rate | Effective Value | Annual Fee | Fee Offset | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit CardCapital One | 10x Venture Miles | 6.9¢/$ | $395 | — | visa |
| Citi Strata Premier CardCiti | 10x ThankYou Points | 5.0¢/$ | $95 | — | mastercard |
| The Platinum Card from American ExpressAmex | 5x Membership Rewards | 3.5¢/$ | $895 | $286 | amex |
| Chase Sapphire ReserveChase | 4x Ultimate Rewards | 3.6¢/$ | $795 | $230.50 | visa |
| Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa Credit CardWells Fargo | 5x Wells Fargo Rewards | 3.1¢/$ | $95 | — | visa |
| Citi Strata Elite℠ CardCiti | 1.5x ThankYou Points | 2.3¢/$ | $595 | $597.50 | mastercard |
| Capital One Venture Rewards Credit CardCapital One | 5x Venture Miles | 2.5¢/$ | $95 | — | mastercard |
| Fidelity Rewards Visa Signature CardElan Financial | 2% cash back | 2.0¢/$ | $0 | — | visa |
| One Key+ CardWells Fargo | 2% cash back | 2.0¢/$ | $0 | — | mastercard |
| Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit CardCapital One | 5x Venture Miles | 2.5¢/$ | $0 | — | mastercard |
Want to filter by spend amount, network, or fee preference?
Open in full search with filters →Citi
Amex
All 10 cards ranked by effective value per dollar.
| Card | Travel Rate | Effective Value | Annual Fee | Fee Offset | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit CardCapital One | 10x Venture Miles | 6.9¢/$ | $395 | — | visa |
| Citi Strata Premier CardCiti | 10x ThankYou Points | 5.0¢/$ | $95 | — | mastercard |
| The Platinum Card from American ExpressAmex | 5x Membership Rewards | 3.5¢/$ | $895 | $286 | amex |
| Chase Sapphire ReserveChase | 4x Ultimate Rewards | 3.6¢/$ | $795 | $230.50 | visa |
| Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa Credit CardWells Fargo | 5x Wells Fargo Rewards | 3.1¢/$ | $95 | — | visa |
| Citi Strata Elite℠ CardCiti | 1.5x ThankYou Points | 2.3¢/$ | $595 | $597.50 | mastercard |
| Capital One Venture Rewards Credit CardCapital One | 5x Venture Miles | 2.5¢/$ | $95 | — | mastercard |
| Fidelity Rewards Visa Signature CardElan Financial | 2% cash back | 2.0¢/$ | $0 | — | visa |
| One Key+ CardWells Fargo | 2% cash back | 2.0¢/$ | $0 | — | mastercard |
| Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit CardCapital One | 5x Venture Miles | 2.5¢/$ | $0 | — | mastercard |
Want to filter by spend amount, network, or fee preference?
Open in full search with filters →Citi
Amex
All 10 cards ranked by effective value per dollar.
| Card | Travel Rate | Effective Value | Annual Fee | Fee Offset | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit CardCapital One | 10x Venture Miles | 6.9¢/$ | $395 | — | visa |
| Citi Strata Premier CardCiti | 10x ThankYou Points | 5.0¢/$ | $95 | — | mastercard |
| The Platinum Card from American ExpressAmex | 5x Membership Rewards | 3.5¢/$ | $895 | $286 | amex |
| Chase Sapphire ReserveChase | 4x Ultimate Rewards | 3.6¢/$ | $795 | $230.50 | visa |
| Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa Credit CardWells Fargo | 5x Wells Fargo Rewards | 3.1¢/$ | $95 | — | visa |
| Citi Strata Elite℠ CardCiti | 1.5x ThankYou Points | 2.3¢/$ | $595 | $597.50 | mastercard |
| Capital One Venture Rewards Credit CardCapital One | 5x Venture Miles | 2.5¢/$ | $95 | — | mastercard |
| Fidelity Rewards Visa Signature CardElan Financial | 2% cash back | 2.0¢/$ | $0 | — | visa |
| One Key+ CardWells Fargo | 2% cash back | 2.0¢/$ | $0 | — | mastercard |
| Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit CardCapital One | 5x Venture Miles | 2.5¢/$ | $0 | — | mastercard |
Want to filter by spend amount, network, or fee preference?
Open in full search with filters →
