Credit Cards that offer sign up bonuses are a great way to put some cash back into your pocket. It feels pretty darn good when you earn a bonus for making purchases you were going to make anyway. Just because a card has a nice bonus offer does not mean you shouldn’t consider other factors of the card. While the bonus is a great perk, there are other features of the card you should review and be aware of. To give you an idea of what to look for with a card that has a bonus offer attached to it, I am going to compare two of the best cash back cards – both of which offer nice bonuses.

Today we will review the Chase Freedom® Visa – $100 Bonus Cash Back offer and the Citi ThankYou^SM Preferred Card – $100 Gift Card offer. Both these cards have bonus offers which require you to spend $500 within a 3 months. We will compare each important feature of the card which includes: the bonus offer, the 0% purchase offer, the 0% balance transfer offer, the regular APR, the annual fee and the earning potential. From there you will be able to decide which of these cards is the best fit for you, but more importantly, you will see the kind of things you should compare when it comes to these types of offers.

To get started here is a snapshot of each card offer we are going to compare.

Chase Freedom® Visa
	This offer is for people with a good to excellent credit history which means, among other things, that your credit history is clear of bankruptcy and seriously delinquent accounts Earn $100 Bonus Cash Back after you make $500 in purchases in your first 3 months 0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers 5% Cash Back on up to $1,500 spent at grocery stores and movie theaters from 4/1/12 - 6/30/12 You'll enjoy new 5% categories every 3 months like gas stations, restaurants and even airlines. It's free and easy to activate your bonus each quarter! Unlimited 1% Cash Back on all other purchases Up to an additional 10% Cash Back when you shop online at select merchants through Chase. No annual fee and rewards never expire
Intro APR Intro APR Period Regular APR Annual Fee Balance Transfer Credit Needed 0.00%* 15 months on purchases* 12.99-22.99% (Variable)* $0.00* Yes Excellent Credit*

Citi ThankYou® Preferred Rewards Card - $150 in Gift Cards
	$150 in gift cards - When you redeem the 15,000 bonus ThankYou® Points received after $1,000 in purchases within 3 months of account opening 5 ThankYou Points for every $1 you spend on purchases at gas stations, supermarkets and drugstores for 12 months and 1 point for every $1 you spend thereafter** No expiration and no limit on the number of points you can earn Redeem ThankYou Points for merchandise, travel rewards, gift cards, cash and more No annual fee*
Intro APR Intro APR Period Regular APR Annual Fee Balance Transfer Credit Needed N/A* N/A* 12.99-22.99% (Variable)* $0.00* Yes Excellent

Compare the bonus offers:

• Chase Freedom® Visa – $100 Bonus Cash Back: With this offer you must spend $500 within the first 3 months and then you will be rewarded the $100.
• Citi ThankYou^SM Preferred Card – $100 Gift Card: This offer requires you to spend $500 within 3 months and once you do you will be rewarded with 10,000 bonus points which are redeemable for $100 in gift cards.

Usually the first thing that catches your attention is the bonus offer. Each of the cards offers a $100 bonus, but one offer is in the form of cash and one offer is in the form of gift cards. Neither offer is bad, but you will have to decide which you would rather have – the cash or the gift cards. If you decide to go with the gift card offer then be sure to find out what gift cards are available.

Compare the 0% on purchase offers:

• Chase Freedom® Visa – $100 Bonus Cash Back: This card gives 0% on balance transfers and purchases. You will get 0% on balance transfers for 12 months and 0% on purchases for 6 months.
• Citi ThankYou^SM Preferred Card – $100 Gift Card: This offer also has 0% on balance transfers and purchases. You will get 0% on balance transfers and purchases for 12 full months.

As you can see the Citi offer give 6 more months of 0% on purchases than the Chase offer. This might not even matter to you unless you know you are going to make a big purchase and having the extra 6 months of 0% will save you some money.

Compare the 0% on balance transfer offers:

• Chase Freedom® Visa – $100 Bonus Cash Back: With this offer you will get 12 months of 0% on balance transfers with a fee of 3%.
• Citi ThankYou^SM Preferred Card – $100 Gift Card: This offer also gives 12 months of 0% on balance transfers with a transfer fee of 3%.

When it comes to the 0% on balance transfers both offers are identical giving a full 12 months. All cards charge a transfer fee so pay close attention to this. In this case both offers have the same fee – 3% of the amount you transfers.

Compare the Regular APR’s:

• Chase Freedom® Visa – $100 Bonus Cash Back: After the introductory period is over your rate will be between 12.99-22.99% (Variable)*, based on your creditworthiness.
• Citi ThankYou^SM Preferred Card – $100 Gift Card: After the introductory rate the regular APR is 12.99-22.99% (Variable)*, based on your creditworthiness.

The Regular APR is one of the most important, if not the most important, features of any offer. This is the interest rate you are going to pay if you carry over a balance. Take a close look at this rate because if a card has a high rate then most likely none of the other features are going to matter. Both rates offered by these cards are typical rates you will find in today’s market. In order to qualify for the best rate you have to have excellent credit.

Compare the Annual Fees:

• Chase Freedom® Visa – $100 Bonus Cash Back: This card has no annual fee.
• Citi ThankYou^SM Preferred Card – $100 Gift Card: There is no annual fee with this card.

Neither one of these cards have an annual fee, but many cards do. Sometimes it’s worth paying an annual fee if the card offers other perks. It’s something you should consider when you are choosing the right card for you.

Compare the Rewards Programs:

• Chase Freedom® Visa – $100 Bonus Cash Back:You earn 5 ThankYou Points for every $1 spent on purchases at gas stations, supermarkets and drugstores for 12 months and 1 point for every $1 spent thereafter and for all other purchases. There is no limit on the number of points you can earn and you can redeem ThankYou Points for merchandise, travel rewards, gift cards, cash and more.
• Citi ThankYou^SM Preferred Card – $100 Gift Card: You earn 5% categories every 3 months like supermarkets, gas, drugstores and even home improvement stores with a limit of $1,500. Earn unlimited 1% Cash Back on all other purchases without limits on what you can earn.

The rewards programs are different because the Chase program offers one level of earning for the first 12 months on specific purchases and the Citi program offers rotating categories. Neither program is bad, but your decision should be based on how you plan on using the card. The idea is to earn the most cash back that you can.

The Discover® More® Card is a popular rewards card that is most commonly known for it’s 5% rotating categories. Currently, the card has two offers available with different terms and conditions. The two versions have many similarities, but they also have some key differences that we are going to review. We often mention how important it is to read the terms and conditions before choosing an offer and this article illustrates why. With theses card, depending on how you intend to use the card one offer might be better over the other. We will first highlight the similarities between the two cards and then we will review the big differences. You will also find a side by side comparison below which should help you figure out which card offer is best for you.

Both offers have many of the exact same features which are highlighted below.

• Rewards Program: Both offers feature the Cashback bonus program which allows you to earn Cashback bonuses on every purchase you make. You can earn 5% Cashback bonus on shopping categories as well as 5% Cashback bonus on seasonal spending categories that change each yearly quarter. You have to enroll in each spending category to be eligible. You can also earn up to 1% Cashback bonus on all other purchases. The Discover® More Card earns you .25% Cashback bonus on every purchase up to 3,000 dollars yearly.
• Additional Benefits: The cards offer a variety of additional benefits for being a card member. Such benefits include things like: Fraud Protection and Account Security, Merchandise Protection on Your Purchases, Travel Protection—At No Cost to You, Account Management and Customer Service and Unlimited Rewards.
• Card Fees: All the fees are the same for both cards. The APR for Cash Advances is 23.99%, the Penalty APRs are 16,99% up to 25.99%, Foreign Transaction fee is either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater 2% of the U.S. dollar amount of each purchase made in a foreign currency and the late fee is $35.

Discover® More® Card

(see review)
The best feature of this version of the Discover® More® Card is the introductory rate of 0% for 18 months on balance transfers. This offer makes this card a great choice if you need to transfer a balance from another card with a high rate. Keep in mind there is a balance transfer fee of 3%. To give you an idea of what this means, if you transfer a $10,000 balance then you would have to pay a fee of $300. Paying this fee is going to be more cost effective than paying a high interest rate on the amount you transfer. This offer also give 0% on purchases for 6 months. This will give you a little extra time to pay off any purchases, but other Discover® More® Card would be a better option if you need a longer time period. The next best feature of this card is the low rate. You will receive a rate between [showoff template=cc_reg_apr offer=ncs1800], based on your creditworthiness. If you have excellent credit then you will most likely qualify for the lowest rate. Here’s a recap of the details:
[showoff template=cc_bullets offer=ncs1800]

Discover® More® Card

(see review)
The best feature of this version of the Discover® More® Card is the 0% introductory offer that gives 15 months. You get a full 15 months on both purchases and balance transfers. This is ideal if you are making a large purchase and need need extra time to pay it off or you want to transfer a balance from another card. The 15 months on both purchases and balance transfers is a nice combination to have and it’s one that not all cards offer. If 15 months on balance transfers isn’t long enough then check out the other version of the card that offers 18 months. The 3% balance transfer fee applied to this also. This offer has the same regular APR which is [showoff template=cc_reg_apr offer=ncs2], based on your creditworthiness. Here are the details of the offer:
[showoff template=cc_bullets offer=ncs2]

	0% on Purchases	0% on Balance Transfers	Balance Transfer Fee	Regular APR	Annual Fee
	6 months	18 months	3%	[showoff template=cc_reg_apr offer=ncs1800]	None
	15 months	15 months	3%	[showoff template=cc_reg_apr offer=ncs2]	None

The Discover® Student Card is a rewards credit card intended for college students with good to excellent credit. The card offer comes in two different versions: one with a $25 bonus and one without. The main difference between the two cards is the bonus offer, but you must look closely to the details because there is one other key difference. This article highlights the similarities of the cards and points out the differences.

When it comes to earning rewards, both cards will give you 5% back in rotating categories that change each quarter. You also earn up to 1% Cashback bonus on all other purchases. You can earn up to .25% Cashback bonuses on every purchase up to 3,000 dollars yearly. Below we have a summary of each card, along with a table for a side by side comparison.

Discover® Student Card (with $25 bonus)

This Discover® Student Card offers 0% for the first 6 months on purchases. After that, the APR will be 12.99-18.99% (Variable)* based on your creditworthiness. This card does not have a balance transfer offer.

• Experience Discover's great rewards program. Earn $20 Cashback Bonus®* when you make your 1st purchase within 3 months of approval
• 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the variable standard purchase APR of 12.99% - 18.99%*
• 5% Cashback Bonus®* in categories that change like gas, groceries, restaurants, department stores and more. Limitations apply*
• Up to 1% unlimited Cashback Bonus on everything else you buy
• $0 Fraud Liability- you will not be responsible for unauthorized charges
• No Annual Fee
• Text and Email Alerts

Discover® Student Card

The Discover® Student Card offers 0% for the first 9 months on purchases. After that, the APR will be 12.99-18.99% (Variable)* based on your creditworthiness. This card does not have a balance transfer offer.

• 0% intro APR on purchases for 9 months, then the variable standard purchase APR of 12.99% - 18.99%*
• 5% Cashback Bonus®* in categories that change like gas, groceries, restaurants, department stores and more. Limitations apply*
• Up to 1% unlimited Cashback Bonus on everything else you buy
• $0 Fraud Liability- you will not be responsible for unauthorized charges
• No Annual Fee
• Text and Email Alerts

Key Differences

• $25 Bonus: The first card listed above has a $25 bonus after your first purchase and the other offer does not. To get the bonus you just have to make a purchase within the first 3 months and then you will be awarded the bonus.
• %0 on Purchases: The card with the bonus only gives 6 months on balance transfers and the other offer gives 9 months. If you are in need of a longer balance transfer deal then you should go with the 9 month deal. The $25 bonus might be tempting, but having 3 extra months of 0% could be a better savings for you than the $25 bonus.

Side By Side Comparision

The Chase Marriott Rewards Credit Cards are ideal for those seeking a travel rewards card and for those that enjoy staying at Marriott locations while away. The Chase Marriott Visa Rewards Cards are available in two versions: the Marriott Rewards Visa Signature Card and the Marriott Rewards Premier Visa Signature Card. Whether you are a frequent traveler or an occasional traveler, either of these credit cards offers will provide you with great benefits. Both card offers generous rewards and both have a low annual fee. The information below illustrates the main differences between the two cards.

Marriott Rewards Visa Signature Card from Chase

With the Marriott Rewards Visa Signature Card you will earn 3 points for each $1 of purchases made at participating Marriott® locations. You will also earn 1 point for each $1 of all other purchases. You can earn unlimited points because there is no maximum. As a one-time bonus each calendar year, you will receive a $100 Marriott Bonus Bucks® Coupon once you reach $25,000 or more in net purchases. The coupon is valid for 6 months and redeemable toward a two night consecutive stay at any Marriott Hotels & Resorts, JW Marriott® Hotels & Resorts and Renaissance ® Hotels worldwide. As a bonus, after your first purchase you will receive 22,500 bonus points.

• 22,500 Bonus Points after your first purchase, redeemable for up to 3 free nights; plus receive a free night stay e-certificate upon account approval for a total of up to 4 free nights!
• Earn 3 points for every $1 spent at Marriott® locations
• Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on other eligible purchases
• Card members achieve silver elite status with exclusive benefits
• Redeem Marriott Rewards points at other Marriott properties including Renaissance Hotels, Courtyard, Residence Inn, and Fairfield Inn & Suites
• No Annual fee for you first year – that’s a $30 value

Marriott Rewards Premier Visa Signature Card from Chase

The Marriott Rewards Premier Visa Signature Card allows you to earn 5 points for each $1 in purchases you make at participating Marriott® locations. You will earn 2 points for each $1 in purchases made at retail establishments such as airlines, car rental agency, or dining establishment. You will earn 1 point for each $1 of all your other purchases. After a year of cardmember, if you decide to renew your membership, you will automatically qualify for an Anniversary Free Night Stay E-certificate and 15 Nights Credit. As long as your account is in good standing you should be eligible. You will earn 1 Elite night credit for each $3,000 in net purchases. There is no limit to the number of Elite nights that you can earn. You also have the option to earn 15,000 bonus points. To qualify for the 15,000 bonus points, your account must be open at the time of processing and fulfillment. Marriott Rewards members electing to earn miles are ineligible for this offer.

• Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after your first purchase
• Receive a free night stay upon account approval and each year upon account anniversary.
• Earn 5 points for every $1 spent at Marriott® locations
• Earn 2 points for every $1 spent on airline, dining, and rental car purchases
• Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on other eligible purchases
• Receive 15 nights credit toward Elite status
• Redeem Marriott Rewards points at other Marriott properties including Renaissance Hotels, Courtyard, Residence Inn, and Fairfield Inn & Suites

	Marriott Rewards Visa Signature	Marriott Rewards Premier Visa Signature
Marriott Rewards	3 points per dollar at Marriott	5 points per dollar at Marriott
Additional Rewards	1 point per dollar on everything else	2 points per dollar at restaurants, airlines, and car rentals, 1 point per dollar elsewhere
Elite Status Earnings	10 nights credit toward Elite status every year	15 nights credit towards Elite status every year
Annual Fee	$30 annual fee	$65 annual fee
Bonus Offer	22,500 bonus points after first purchase + free night stay upon approval (category 1-4 hotel)	30,000 bonus points after first purchase + free night stay upon approval (category 1-4 hotels)
Anniversary Bonus	N/A	Free night every year on your account anniversary (cat. 1-5 hotels)

How can you spend your points?

With the new Marriott Rewards credit card program you have several options you can choose from when it comes to cashing in your points. Here is a quick look at some of the details.

• Marriott Hotel Stays: You can redeem your points for stays at Marriott locations. Each free night at a category 1 hotel is only 7,500 points. The most you will ever pay is 40,000 points per night and that’s for a category 8 (which are their cream of the crop, most luxurious properties). Whenever you use your points for a 7-night stay at a category 7 or 8 property, you are awarded an extra 15,000 bonus points.
• Airline Miles: You always have the option of converting your credit card points to miles and there are about 30 or so participating airlines you can choose from.
• Car Rentals, Cruises, & Trains: You can convert your points to cruise certificates, rental cars, and European train tickets.
• Travel Packages & Services: You can spend your points on an all-inclusive getaway to the Caribbean with airfare, cash them out for a Priority Pass airport lounge membership, professional golf training or just rounds on your own, plus there are many other options.
• Other options: Use your Marriott Rewards to go shopping, give to charity, and more.

Automatic Elite Status

As a card holder, you will automatically start at Silver Elite status every year. Normally, you don’t reach this level until after you stay 10 nights during a calender year. The perks you get with Elite Membership include some of the following:

• 20% bonus on Marriott Rewards base points
• Priority late checkout
• Weekend discount at participating Courtyard & SpringHill Suites
• Private reservation line for Elite members only

Discover offers three popular cash back cards and each card allows members to earn a percentage back on their purchase. Today we are going to compare the Discover More Card, Discover Motiva Card and the Discover Open Road Card. Below we have highlight of each card and a table which will give you a side by side comparison. By comparing the benefits of each card you can determine which card will work best for you based on your spending habits.

Discover More Card

The Discover® More Card is a rewards card that offers cash back on all your purchases. You can earn up to 5% cash back in rotating categories. The card offers 0% on both balance transfers and purchases. There is no annual fee with this card. Here are the details of this offer:

• 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then the variable standard purchase APR of 10.99% - 20.99%*
• 5% Cashback Bonus® in categories that change like gas, restaurants, department stores and more. Limitations apply*
• Up to 20% Cashback Bonus at popular retailers when you shop online through Discover.com
• Discover is ranked #1 in customer loyalty--16 years in a row! (2012 Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index report)
• 24/7 access to a U.S.-based Account Manager within 60 seconds
• $0 Fraud Liability plus automatic mobile and email fraud alert options
• Great rewards with no annual fee, no rewards redemption fee, and no additional card fee
• *Click apply to view rates, fees, rewards, limitations and other important information

Discover Motiva Card

The Discover® Motiva Card allows you to earn cash back on all your purchases. This card is ideal for those that are seeking a low rate for balance transfers and purchases. There is no annual fee with this card and the card give a Pay-On-Time Bonus that is equal to a full month’s interest for every 6 on-time payments in a row. Here are the details of the offer:

• Earn Cashback Bonus® for your good credit management
• 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then the variable standard purchase APR of 10.99% - 20.99%*
• Up to 20% Cashback Bonus at popular retailers when you shop online through Discover.com
• Discover is ranked #1 in customer loyalty--16 years in a row! (2012 Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index report)
• 24/7 access to a U.S.-based Account Manager within 60 seconds
• $0 Fraud Liability plus automatic mobile and email fraud alert options
• Great rewards with no annual fee, no rewards redemption fee, and no additional card fee
• *Click apply to view rates, fees, rewards, limitations and other important information

Discover Open Road Card

The Discover® Open Road Card is for those seeking a no-fee card with double cash back bonus on gas and dining purchases, plus unrestricted travel redemption options. The card offers an introductory rate of 0% on purchases and balance transfers. There is also a version of this card that offers a $150 Restaurant.com gift certificate as a bonus. Here are some of the details for the Discover® Open Road Card:

• 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then the variable standard purchase APR of 10.99% - 19.99%*
• 2% automatically at gas stations and restaurants all year long*
• Plus, up to 20% Cashback Bonus at popular online retailers when you shop through Discover.com
• Discover is ranked #1 in customer loyalty--16 years in a row! (2012 Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index report)
• 24/7 access to a U.S.-based Account Manager within 60 seconds
• Great rewards with no annual fee, no rewards redemption fee, and no additional card fee
• *Click apply to view rates, fees, rewards, limitations and other important information

Discover Cash Back	Rewards Program	Annual Fee	Into Purchase APR	Into Balance Transfer APR	Purchase APR
Discover More	5% Cashback Bonus in categories that change like travel, gas, groceries, restaurants and more, plus up to 1% on all your other purchases.	$0.00	0.00% APR for 15 months then the Purchase APR	0.00% APR for 15 months then the Purchase APR	11.99% - 19.99% variable
Discover Motiva	Pay-On-Time Bonus equal to 5% of your Interest Charges automatically each month you make an on-time payment, plus up to 1% Cashback Bonus on all your purchases.	$0.00	3.99% APR for 12 months then the Purchase APR	3.99% APR for 15 months then the Purchase APR	11.99% - 19.99% variable
Discover Open Road	Double Cashback Bonus automatically on your first $250 in purchases at any gas station and any restaurant each month, plus up to 1% on all your other purchases.	$0.00	0.00% APR for 12 months then the Purchase APR	0.00% APR for 12 months then the Purchase APR	11.99% - 19.99% variable

Recently, American Express added a new card to their cash back card line up. The Blue Cash Everyday card is the newest member to the Amex team and it brings a new cash back formula to the table. This card essentially took the place of the Amex Blue Cash card that many of us are probably familiar with. This article will take a look at the new cash back formula the new card offers and we will even compare the old with the new. Before we jump into the details of new cash back formula the Blue Cash Everyday card uses, we will review some basic details about how cash back cards work.

Not all credit card offers are created equal which is why it’s important to know the key differences between the cards. We have broken down the cards into four different cash back categories: Basic, Specialty, Tiered and Category. Each type of card functions differently, offering members cash back based on what the card issuer determines to be a qualify purchase. Cards all have their own rules when it comes to the amount of cash back you are eligible to earn. Some credit cards will allow you to earn an unlimited amount of cash back, but there are many cards that will place caps on the amount of cash back you can earn in a year or even within any billing cycle. Below you will find details about the four different types of cash back cards.

• Basic Cash Back Cards

  A basic cash back card would be one that pays the same percentage for all eligible purchases. With a basic cash back card, it doesn’t matter if you are making grocery store purchases, gas purchases, clothing purchases, etc. because you will receive the same amount of cash back for each purchase. This type of card would be ideal for someone who uses their credit card often and for a variety of purchases.

• Specialty Cash Back Cards

  A specialty cash back card is one that pays a higher percentage for certain types of purchase. For example, the Discover More Card is a cash back card that pays 5% for gas purchases. This card is ideal for those who spend a high dollar amount at the gas pump. This particular card always pays the 5% for gas purchases and this never changes, unlike with a card that has rotating categories.

• Tiered Cash Back Cards

  A tiered cash back credit card works by offering different amounts of cash back the more or less you spend on the card. Tiered cash back cards can either offer the most cash back when you reach higher levels of spending, or they can offer the most cash back when you only spend up to a certain amount. If you are a big spender on your credit card then a tiered cash back card that offers more cash back for higher levels of spending might help you earn a higher amount of cash back.

• Category Cash Back Cards

  A category cash back card offers a percentage back in certain categories that are determined by the card issuer. One way issuers offer this is by having rotating categories which change each periodically, like each quarter. If a credit card refers to rotating categories, the card offers extra rewards for certain types of purchases. When you make purchases in one of the rotating categories, you get extra rewards for those purchases. For example, the Chase Freedom credit card offers 5 percent cash back on purchases in the rotating categories, as opposed to just 1 percent cash back on all other purchases. We often see the following categories: Grocery stores, drugstores, gas, hotels, airfare, home improvement, charities, restaurants, department stores, movie theaters, health care, fitness and amusement parks have all appeared as bonus categories.

The Amex Blue Cash (the one that is no longer available) fell into the tiered category. The card offered members 5% rebates on gasoline, supermarket and drugstore purchases. It sounds like a great deal, but the problem was the tiered structure. You were required to spend $6,500 annually before you could earn 5%. Prior to that, you earned 1.5% on these categories. This was the only card that offered 5% year round. The obvious problem with this offer was the fact that you had to spend a great deal of money before the 5% kicked in. With the new structure, introduced with the Blue Cash Everyday(SM) card the tiered structure is no longer in effect. However, instead of paying 5%, they are now paying 3% rebates on supermarket, 2% on gasoline and department store spending. They also have a annual fee version ($75) that paid 6% on supermarket, 3% on gas and department store spending. Below we have highlighted some of the features of the Blue Cash Everyday(SM) so you can see how it stacks up.

Blue Cash Everyday(SM) from American Express

The Blue Cash Everyday(SM) from American Express offers exclusive rewards and programs for those with excellent credit. The card offers an introductory rate on purchases and this card has no annual fee. Once a member, you get a $25 Referral Bonus for each friend or family member who is approved for the Card. With this card there are no spending limits, no enrollment needed to earn rewards and there are no rotating categories.

• No annual fee, flexibility to pay over time
• Get 3% cash back at supermarkets, 2% cash back at gas stations and department stores, and 1% cash back on all other purchases
• NO spend minimum, NO enrollment, and NO rotating rewards categories
• Get a $25 Referral Bonus for each friend or family member who is approved for the Card

The Blue Cash(SM) Preferred Card from American Express offers exclusive rewards and programs for those with excellent credit.

With gas prices high and the summer quickly approaching, many of us could use a break at the pump. One great way to save yourself some money is to use a rewards card that gives you cash back on your gasoline purchases. The Blue Cash Everyday(SM) from American Express and the Discover® Open Road Card both offer cash back on gas purchases. This article offers a comparison of the two credit cards so you can choose which card works best for you. The table below provides a quick look at how the cards match up with each other.

Welcome Bonus	None	$75 gift certificate to Restaurant.com
Cash Back	Earn 3% cash back at supermarkets Earn 2% cash back at gas stations and department stores Earn 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases	2% Cashback Bonus automatically at any gas station and any restaurant 5% to 20% Cashback Bonus at over 150 top retailers through our online shopping mall Up to 1% unlimited Cashback Bonus on all other purchases
Annual Fee	No annual fee	No annual fee
Payment Options	Flexibility to pay charges over time	Flexibility to pay charges over time
APR on Purchases	0% intro APR for up to 6 or 12 months.	0% intro APR for up to 12 months.
Referral Bonus	Recommend the Blue Cash Everyday Card to as many friends as you want and get a $25 bonus for each friend approved for the Card	None

Blue Cash Everyday(SM) from American Express

The Blue Cash Everyday(SM) from American Express offers exclusive rewards and programs for those with excellent credit. The card offers an introductory rate on purchases and this card has no annual fee. Once a member, you get a $25 Referral Bonus for each friend or family member who is approved for the Card. With this card there are no spending limits, no enrollment needed to earn rewards and there are no rotating categories. You will receive 3% for eligible purchases at supermarkets (excluding superstores and warehouse clubs), 2% for eligible purchases at department stores and for automobile gasoline purchased at stand-alone gas stations, and 1% for all other eligible purchases posted to your account.

• No annual fee, flexibility to pay over time
• Get 3% cash back at supermarkets, 2% cash back at gas stations and department stores, and 1% cash back on all other purchases
• NO spend minimum, NO enrollment, and NO rotating rewards categories
• Get a $25 Referral Bonus for each friend or family member who is approved for the Card

Discover® Open Road Card

The Discover® Open Road Card – $75 Restaurant.com Gift Certificate is for those seeking a no-fee card with double cash back bonus on gas and dining purchases, plus unrestricted travel redemption options. After your first purchase, you will receive a free $75 Restaurant.com. The card offers an introductory rate of 0% on purchases and balance transfers. With the card you will get Double Cashback Bonus automatically on your first $250 in purchases at any gas station and any restaurant each month, plus up to 1% on all your other purchases and 5% to 20% Cashback Bonus at over 150 top retailers through the online shopping mall. After your first purchase you will receive a free $75 Restaurant.com gift certificate.

• 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then the variable standard purchase APR of 10.99% - 19.99%*
• 2% automatically at gas stations and restaurants all year long*
• Plus, up to 20% Cashback Bonus at popular online retailers when you shop through Discover.com
• Discover is ranked #1 in customer loyalty--16 years in a row! (2012 Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index report)
• 24/7 access to a U.S.-based Account Manager within 60 seconds
• Great rewards with no annual fee, no rewards redemption fee, and no additional card fee
• *Click apply to view rates, fees, rewards, limitations and other important information

American Express recently introduced two new cash back cards to their line up. The Blue Cash Everyday(SM) and the Blue Cash(SM) Preferred are sure to catch the attention of those seeking a solid rewards card. In an effort to help you decide which card is ideal for you, we are going to offer a comparison of the two cards. When comparing each card you should consider a variety of card details such as the annual fees, bonus offers, the amount of cash back you can earn, and 0% introductory offers. Here are the highlights of each card.

Blue Cash Everyday(SM) from American Express

The Blue Cash Everyday(SM) from American Express offers exclusive rewards and programs for those with excellent credit. The card offers an introductory rate on purchases and this card has no annual fee. Once a member, you get a $25 Referral Bonus for each friend or family member who is approved for the Card. With this card there are no spending limits, no enrollment needed to earn rewards and there are no rotating categories.

• No annual fee, flexibility to pay over time
• Get 3% cash back at supermarkets, 2% cash back at gas stations and department stores, and 1% cash back on all other purchases
• NO spend minimum, NO enrollment, and NO rotating rewards categories
• Get a $25 Referral Bonus for each friend or family member who is approved for the Card

Blue Cash(SM) Preferred from American Express

The Blue Cash(SM) Preferred from American Express offers exclusive rewards and programs for those with excellent credit. The card offers an introductory rate on purchases and has a $100 cash back bonus when you spend $500 within the first 60 days of being a member. Once a member, you get a $75 Referral Bonus for each friend or family member who is approved for the Card. The annual fee for this card is $75.

• $100 cash back bonus offer
• Earn 6% cash back at supermarkets.
• Earn 3% cash back at gas stations and department stores.
• Earn 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
• 0% intro APR for up to 6 or 12 months.
• Recommend the Blue Cash Preferred Card to as many friends as you want and get a $75 bonus

The table below provides you with a side by side comparison of the features of each card. As you will notice, the Blue Cash(SM) Preferred offers a $100 cash back bonus after you spend $500 within the first 60 days of membership. The Blue Cash Everyday(SM) does not offer a bonus. The Blue Cash(SM) Preferred offers 6% back on grocery purchases and an annual fee of $75, whereas the Blue Cash Everyday(SM) offers 3%, but does not charge an annual fee.

	Blue Cash Everyday(SM) from American Express	Blue Cash(SM) Preferred from American Express
Welcome Bonus	None	$100 cash back
Cash Back	Earn 3% cash back at supermarkets. Earn 2% cash back at gas stations and department stores. Earn 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases	Earn 6% cash back at supermarkets. Earn 3% cash back at gas stations and department stores. Earn 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
Annual Fee	No annual fee	$75 — If you spend just $25 per week at supermarkets, you can receive over $75 in cash back by the end of the year.
Payment Options	Flexibility to pay charges over time	Flexibility to pay charges over time
APR on Purchases	0% intro APR for up to 6 or 12 months. After that, your APR will be a variable rate, currently 17.24%, 19.24% or 21.24%	0% intro APR for up to 6 or 12 months. After that, your APR will be a variable rate, currently 17.24%, 19.24% or 21.24%
Referral Bonus	Recommend the Blue Cash Everyday Card to as many friends as you want and get a $25 bonus for each friend approved for the Card	Recommend the Blue Cash Preferred Card to as many friends as you want and get a $75 bonus for each friend approved for the Card.
Blue Savings ProgramSM	Offers a wide range of discounts and extras at hotels, restaurants, retailers, and more.	Offers a wide range of discounts and extras at hotels, restaurants, retailers, and more.

Amex Benefits Both Cards Offer

• The possibilities are endless: Find what you need to plan and book your next trip at the American Express Travel website — including competitive prices on airfare, hotel stays, car rentals, cruises, and last-minute deals.
• Easy access to local currency: Be prepared by having foreign currency and American Express® Travelers Cheques delivered directly to your door within five to seven business days.
• Renting a car: Stop worrying about expensive car insurance policies when renting a car — you can be covered with Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance1 at no additional charge.
• Global Assist® Hotline: Have peace of mind when you travel knowing you’re backed by the Global Assist® Hotline. Rely on us 24/7 for medical, legal, financial, or other emergency assistance while traveling more than 100 miles from home.
• Your room is guaranteed: Guarantee all your hotel reservations when using your Card — the room’s yours, even if you arrive late.
• Peace of mind for you and your family: Help protect yourself and your family when you travel with up to $100,000 in Travel Accident Insurance.
• Access to cash when you need it: Enjoy instant access to cash, up to your cash advance limit, at over 500,000 ATMs worldwide with the Express Cash feature.

Blueprint offers a unique way to pay your monthly credit card bill. Blueprint allows you to tailor your monthly payments to fit your needs. This exceptional feature that is only available on four Chase cards: Freedom, Ink, Sapphire, and Slate. Blueprint also includes other impressive budgeting tools that allow cardholders to create and achieve a plan to pay off their balance on their schedule. The ability to pay off some transactions within the grace period while carrying a balance on the other can result in a far lower amount interest paid than any other credit card without Blueprint. Narrowing down which Blueprint card to go with can be a challenge so below we have provide some highlights of each card to help you navigate your way through the offers.

Slate(SM) from Chase

The Slate(SM) from Chase is designed to for those with good or excellent credit. The card offers a 0% APR introductory rate on both purchases and balance transfers. There is no annual fee and the card offers flexible payment options for cardmembers. The best feature of the Slate(SM) from Chase is its 0% introductory offer. The card offers 0% on both purchases and on balance transfers for up to 15 months. The balance transfer has a fee of 3%. There are no fees associated with using the 0% introductory rate on purchases.

Chase Freedom® Cards

Both the Chase Freedom® Visa and the Chase Freedom® MasterCard are designed to catch the attention of those who are seeking a cash back and 0% intro APR card. Both cards offers cash back on purchases such as gas, home improvement, and department stores. In addition, if you are an online shopper the cards is part of the Chase Rewards Plus program that offers up to 10% cash back when shopping online. The cards does not charge an annual fee and you can earn $100 cash back after you spend $500 within the first 3 months.

Chase Sapphire Cards

• The Chase Sapphire^SM Card is designed to for those with good or excellent credit. The card offers new members 25,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. You can redeem points for travel, gift cards, merchandise, cash back and more. This card does not charge an annual fee
• The Chase Sapphire Preferred^SM Card card is an exclusive travel rewards credit card with enhanced benefits. Cardholders can earn up to 50,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 within the first 3 months, which is enough for a free flight, and earn a 7% annual points dividend. Points are redeemable for travel, merchandise, or even statement credits. This card has an annual fee of $95 per year, but it is waived for the first year and this card is for those with excellent credit.

(see our comparison of the Sapphire Card vs. Sapphire Preferred Card)

Ink Cards

• The Ink(SM) with Ultimate Rewards(SM) is designed to for those seeking a small business card. New cardmembers will earn $100 cash back after you first purchase which is equivalent to 10,000 bonus points. The card also offers a 0% introductory rate on both purchases and balances transfers. There is no annual fee for this card.
• The Ink Cash(SM) Business is designed to for those seeking a small business card. New cardmembers will earn $100 cash back after you first purchase which is equivalent to 10,000 bonus points. The card also offers a 0% introductory rate on both purchases and balances transfers. There is no annual fee with this card
• The Ink Bold(SM) with Ultimate Rewards(SM) is designed for those seeking a business charge card that offers members a flexible spending limit. There are no interest charges with this card, but you are required to pay the balance off each month. This card charges a $95 annual fee, but the fee is waived the first year. The card offers a bonus for new cardmembers and the card gives the opportunity to earn points on all your purchases.

Which card should you choose?

In an effort to help you decide which blueprint card is right for you, we have created the table below. This will give you a snapshot of each card and some of their stand out features. If you would more details about the cards, just click the card link and you can check out our full review of the card.

	Type of Card	0% Introductory Rate	Rewards	Annual Fee	Credit Needed	Bonus Offer
Slate(SM) from Chase	Basic	15 months purchases/ balance transfers	None	None	Good/Excellent	None
Chase Freedom® Cards - Visa/MasterCard	Cash Back	6 months purchases, 12 months balance transfers	5% in rotating categories 1% all other purchases	None	Good/Excellent	$100 cash back
Chase Sapphire Card	Travel Rewards	None	2X points on airfare & hotel accommodations through Ultimate Rewards 1 point/$1 spent on all other purchases	None	Good/Excellent	25,000 bonus points
Chase Sapphire(SM) Preferred Card	Travel Rewards	None	2X points on airfare & hotel through Ultimate Rewards 1 point/$1 spent on all other purchases	$95 (waived first year)	Excellent	50,000 bonus points
Ink(SM) with Ultimate Rewards(SM)	Business Rewards	6 months purchases/ balance transfers	1 point/$1 spent 2 points/$1 on airfare through the Ultimate Rewards	None	Excellent	$100 cash back
Ink Cash(SM) Business	Business Rewards	6 months purchases/ balance transfers	1 point/ $1 spent 3% cash back on eligible fuel, home improvement, dining, office supply	None	Excellent	$100 cash back
Ink Bold(SM) with Ultimate Rewards(SM)	Business Rewards	Pay In Full	1 point/ $1 spent additional 1 point for each $1 of eligible airfare through online tool	$95 (waived first year)	Excellent	$100 cash back

One great way to determine which credit card is ideal for you is to compare a variety of cards. See how each card stacks up against each other and you will help narrow down your search. Many of the cards available today offer similar features so it can be difficult to have a clear view of their differences. We have three American Express Airline Cards that all offer similar features, but they also have key differences. The table below provides you with a snap shot of what each card offers. Viewing the cards side-by-side will help you figure out which card will work best for you.

Amex Delta Cards	Delta Reserve from American Express	Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card	Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card
Introductory Offer	9.99% on balance transfers for 12 months	9.99% on balance transfers for 12 months	9.99% on balance transfers for 12 months
Annual Fee	$450	$150	$95 (waived first year)
Credit Needed	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent
Good For	Sky ClubTM access and reaching Medallion® status faster	Reaching Medallion® status fast	Earning Delta bonus SkyMiles
Bonus Offer	Get Delta Sky ClubTM access 1 and up to 40,000 MQMs	Get up to 5,000 MQMs and 25,000 Bonus Miles - Good for a free flight	Get up to 25,000 bonus miles - good for a free flight & no annual fee the first year, $95 thereafter
Earning Points	Earn 2 miles on Delta purchases Earn 1 miles everywhere else and MQMs toward status	Earn 2 miles on Delta purchases Earn 1 miles everywhere else and MQMs toward status	Earn 2 miles on Delta purchases Earn 1 miles everywhere else
Using Miles for Rewards	Redeem miles for any Delta seat, any time using Pay with Miles and reach Medallion status sooner	Redeem miles for any Delta seat, any time using Pay with Miles and reach Medallion status sooner	Redeem miles for any Delta seat, any time using Pay with Miles or redeem for Award Travel tickets

Delta Reserve from American Express

The Delta Reserve from American Express is an airline rewards card that offers perks that you won’t find with other cards. The card allows you to earn double miles, redeem miles for airline tickets, earn companion tickets and more. This card is for those with excellent credit who plan to spend a high dollar amount. The Delta Reserve card is considered to be the upper tier card in the American Express Delta card family. The card offers 9.99% on balance transfers for the first 12 months. Each year for being a cardmember you will receive a domestic companion certificate, which can be used for a First-Class or Coach-Class ticket. The annual fee for this card is $450.

Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card

The Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express is designed to benefits those who want a miles rewards card and for those that love to travel on Delta Airlines. The card offers a rewards program that allows you to earn miles on every dollar you spend, even airline purchases. There are opportunities to earn bonus miles and even be rewarded with a companion airline ticket each year you renew your membership. The card offers an introductory rate of 9.99% for 12 months on balance transfers and this card is for those with excellent credit. The annual fee for this card is $150.

Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card

The Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card is a miles rewards card that allows you allows you to redeem miles for travel with Delta. The card offers a 9.99% introductory rate for balance transfers for the first 12 months. You earn miles on every dollar you spend and the card offers a variety of travel benefits. The annual fee for this card is $95, but it is waived for the first year. This card is for those with excellent credit.

Additional Card Perks

It’s important to point out that just for being an American Express card holder of one of the cards above, you will receive the following perks:

• Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance: When you use your Card to rent a car, you’re automatically covered if the car is damaged or stolen.
• Purchase Protection: Protects eligible purchases made with the Card against accidental damage and theft for up to 90 days from the date of purchase (The Platinum Card also covers lost items).
• Travel Accident Insurance: Provides coverage in case of accidental death and dismemberment while traveling on a Common Carrier Conveyance (plane, train, ship, or bus) when the entire fare has been charged to the Card.
• Emergency Travel Assistance: You can rely on Global Assist® 24/7 for medical, legal, financial or other emergency assistance while traveling more than 100 miles from home.