flexibility in choosing your spending category
Annual fee: $0
Sign-up bonus: Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening.
Why it’s great for flexibility in choosing your spending category: The Citi Custom Cash card allows you to earn 5% cash back on your top eligible spending category, up to $500 spent each billing cycle (then 1% cash back), and 1% cash back on all other purchases. The best part is that you can change your top spending category every month, giving you the freedom to adapt your rewards to your changing spending habits. This is especially useful if your spending varies across different categories throughout the year.
Related: Citi Custom Cash review
Official application link: Citi Custom Cash
Chase Freedom Flex: Best for rotating bonus categories
Annual fee: $0
Sign-up bonus: Earn $200 cash back after you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Why it’s great for rotating bonus categories: The Chase Freedom Flex card offers 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. These bonus categories change every quarter and can include popular spending categories like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more. This allows you to maximize your rewards by taking advantage of the higher earning rate in different categories throughout the year.
Related: Chase Freedom Flex review
Official application link: Chase Freedom Flex
U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card: Best for customizable bonus categories
Annual fee: $0
Sign-up bonus: Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first 120 days of account opening.
Why it’s great for customizable bonus categories: The U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card allows you to choose two categories where you can earn 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter. Additionally, you can choose one category where you earn 2% cash back and all other purchases earn 1% cash back. The categories you can choose from include popular options like gas stations, EV charging stations, grocery stores, and restaurants. This card gives you the flexibility to earn bonus points in the categories that align with your spending habits.
Related: U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card review
Official application link: U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card
U.S. Bank Business Leverage Visa Signature Card: Best for small businesses
Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first 12 months, then $95
Sign-up bonus: Earn $750 cash back after you spend $7,500 on eligible purchases on the account owner’s card within the first 120 days of account opening.
Why it’s great for small businesses: The U.S. Bank Business Leverage Visa Signature Card offers a customizable rewards program for small businesses. You can earn 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Travel Rewards Center, 2% back in the top two categories where you spend the most each month, and 1% back on all other eligible purchases. This card is a great option for small businesses that want to earn rewards on their travel expenses and have the flexibility to choose their top spending categories.
Related: U.S. Bank Business Leverage Visa Signature Card review
Official application link: U.S. Bank Business Leverage Visa Signature Card
Discover It Cash Back: Best for first-year cash back match
Annual fee: $0
Sign-up bonus: Unlimited dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you earn at the end of your first year from account opening.
Why it’s great for first-year cash back match: The Discover It Cash Back card offers a unique cash back match program, where all the cash back you earn in your first year is matched at the end of that year. This means that if you earn $200 in cash back in your first year, Discover will match it, giving you a total of $400 in cash back. Additionally, this card has rotating bonus categories where you can earn 5% cash back, up to the quarterly maximum, and 1% cash back on all other purchases. This card is perfect for maximizing your rewards in the first year and taking advantage of the rotating bonus categories.
Related: Discover It Cash Back review
Official application link: Discover It Cash Back
How to maximize customizable rewards
Now that you have an overview of the best credit cards with customizable rewards, here are some tips to help you maximize your rewards:
1. Analyze your spending habits: Take a look at your past spending and identify the categories where you spend the most. This will help you choose the right credit card that offers bonus points in those categories.
2. Choose the right categories: Select the categories that align with your spending habits and offer the highest earning rate. This will ensure that you earn the most rewards on your everyday purchases.
3. Optimize quarterly bonus categories: If you have a credit card with rotating bonus categories, make sure to activate and maximize your earnings in those categories each quarter. Plan your spending accordingly to take advantage of the higher earning rate.
4. Use multiple cards: If you have multiple credit cards with customizable rewards, strategically use each card for different spending categories to maximize your rewards across all your purchases.
5. Keep track of changes: Some credit cards may change their bonus categories or terms over time. Stay updated with any changes and adjust your spending and card usage accordingly to continue maximizing your rewards.
Final thoughts
Customizable rewards credit cards offer a unique opportunity to tailor your earning rate based on your individual spending habits. Whether you prefer a card with fixed bonus categories or rotating bonus categories, there are options available to suit your needs. By choosing the right card and optimizing your spending, you can maximize your credit card rewards and enjoy the benefits they offer.