Best Credit Card Signup Bonuses of 2021

Credit card companies roll out the red carpet to get new card members. From cash to points to miles, signup bonuses abound from top card issuers. It’s for that reason that I complied this exhaustive list of credit card welcome bonuses, deals, and promotions of 2021.

The list starts with the highest bonuses, and then is organized by type of bonus (cash, points, or miles) and by type of card (business and student cards).

As you review this list keep a few things in mind:

• The signup bonus, while certainly a nice perk, is only one factor to consider when comparing the cards;
• The higher the signup bonus, the higher then spending requirement you’ll need to meet to get it;
• The higher the signup bonus, the higher the annual fee; and
• The value of points or miles can vary depending on how you use them.

With that, let’s get to the list:

Best Signup Bonuses

Here are the cards that offer some of the highest bonuses currently available:

Cash Signup Bonuses

As the saying goes, cash is king. The following credit cards pay a cash bonus when you spend a set amount within a certain period of time. Keep in mind that many of the points and miles offers can be converted to cash or statement credits.

Miles Signup Bonuses

Here you’ll find the top miles bonuses, followed by the top points deals in the next section. There really is, however, no practical difference between points and miles.

Airlines typically call their rewards “miles,” although there are exceptions. British Airways calls them “Avios.” Go figure. Southwest Airlines calls them points, but we know Southwest just likes to be different (remember how they board planes). Most hotel cards and non-branded travel cards call rewards points, but again, their are exceptions. The Capital One Venture Rewards card calls its rewards “miles.”

So why did I divide them between miles and points? Simplicity. With that said, here are the Miles promotions:

Points Signup Bonuses

Here are the points promotions. As with miles, it’s not enough to simply compare these bonuses in absolute terms. You need to understand the value of the points when you redeem them. Often, the value depends on how you redeem the points.

Business Card Signup Bonuses

As a small business owner, I know the value of a good credit card. These deals span all categories, cash, miles and points.