Metal credit cards are the new trend among reward seekers. Much heavier than a traditional card, metal cards come in a number of different alloys. Here you’ll find the best metal credit cards of 2020.
The other day our daughter received a replacement card in the mail from Capital One. She opened it up and squealed in excitement as she held up the heavy metal card. My wife looked over at me and said, “she’s just like you.” It’s true. There’s just something about a credit card made from heavy allows.
Of course, what matters most are the terms a credit card offers. Still, issuers reserve the more expensive metal cards for those with excellent rewards. I’d like to believe I’m not so shallow as to care what my credit cards look like. I’m still a work in progress. Fortunately, I’m not alone, as this WSJ report documents.
With that, here are some of the best metal credit cards available today.
Table of contents
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Chase Sapphire Reserve Card
- Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
- American Express Gold Card
- United Club Infinite Card
- IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card
- The Platinum Card® from American Express
- MasterCard Titanium Card
- U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Best overall metal credit card
Rating: 4.75 stars
Learn MoreAnnual Fee
$95
Rewards Rate
2 miles / $1
Credit Needed
Excellent, Good
Rewards Bonus
100,000 miles
Intro Purchase APR
N/A
Intro Transfer APR
N/A
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is made with a stainless-steel veneer and uses 75% recycled materials. Capital One made this change on February 15, 2017. Beyond the stainless veneer is a card with exceptional benefits, including one of the richest signup bonuses available today.
Credit Card Details
- One-time Bonus: Earn 100,000 bonus miles when you spend $20,000 on purchases in the first 12 months from account opening, OR
- Still earn 50,000 miles if you spend $3000 on purchases in the first 3 months
- Earn 2X miles on every purchase, every day.
- Receive up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre?®
- Miles aren’t specific to any airline or hotel, so they can be used antwhere
- Travel when you want with no blackout dates
- Miles won’t expire for the life of the account
- No foreign transaction fees
- $95 annual fee
Chase Sapphire Reserve Card
Best for Chase Ultimate Rewards
Rating: 4.75 stars
Learn MoreAnnual Fee
$550
Rewards Rate
1 - 3%
Credit Needed
Excellent, Good
Rewards Bonus
50,000 points
Intro Purchase APR
N/A
Intro Transfer APR
N/A
I’m holding my Chase Sapphire Reserve Card as I type these words. (Well, I set it on the table while I’m actually typing.). Its metal is of moderate heft. It’s not as heavy as my Amazon Prime or Apple credit card, but it makes up for it with amazing rewards. Simply put, it is one of the best overall travel credit cards available today (check out our review if you have any doubts). It comes with a big annual fee, but its signup bonus, ongoing rewards, and travel credits more than make up for the cost. Oh, and in case there was any doubt, it’s metal.
Credit Card Details
- Welcome Offer: Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- $300 Annual Travel Credit
- 3X points on travel immediately after earning your $300 travel credit.
- 3X points on dining at restaurants & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- $0 foreign transaction fees.
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Access to 1,000+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™
- Select Up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre?®
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Best for dining out
Rating: 4.4 stars
Learn MoreAnnual Fee
$95
Rewards Rate
Credit Needed
Excellent, Good
Rewards Bonus
300 cash
Intro Purchase APR
Intro Transfer APR
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card, like the Venture card, has a stainless steel veneer and is made with 75% recycled material. Capital One introduced the metal version of this card in January 2019. Its big draw is its 4% back on dining and entertainment. It also offers a nice signup bonus.
Credit Card Details
- Early Spend Bonus: Earn $300 cash bonus after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months
- 4% Cash Back: Earn 4% cash back on dining and entertainment
- 2% Cash Back: Earn 2% on groceries
- 1% Cash Back: Earn 1% on all other purchases
- Intro APR: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 9 months
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, $95 after that
- No foreign transaction fees
American Express Gold Card
Best for grocery purchases
Rating: 4.8 stars
Learn MoreAnnual Fee
$250
Rewards Rate
Credit Needed
Good, Excellent
Rewards Bonus
60,000 points
Intro Purchase APR
Intro Transfer APR
The American Express Gold Card is the, well, gold standard when it comes to rewards credit cards. It pairs an incredible welcome bonus and ongoing rewards with best in class customer service. Check out our Amex Gold card review for more details. The card is made out of metal and weighs in at a hefty 15 grams.
Credit Card Details
- Welcome Offer: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 6 months from account opening..
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards points at restaurants worldwide
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X).
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
- 1X points on other purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees, making this an excellent card for international travel.
- Annual Fee $250.
- Terms Apply.
United Club Infinite Card
Best for United miles
Rating: 4.2 stars
Learn MoreAnnual Fee
$525
Rewards Rate
1 - 4 miles
Credit Needed
Excellent, Good
Rewards Bonus
cash
Intro Purchase APR
N/A
Intro Transfer APR
N/A
The United Club Infinite Card is one of several cards designed specifically for those United frequent fliers. It does come with a hefty annual fee, but offers ample rewards in return–United Club membership, up to 4X miles, and free first and second checked bags.
Credit Card Details
- Earn 4 miles for every $1 spent on the card for United purchases
- Earn 2 miles for every $1 spent on the card for all other travel
- Earn 2 miles for every $1 spent at restaurants and eligible delivery services (e.g., GrubHub and DoorDash)
- Earn 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases
- $0 intro annual fee, but then it jumps to $525
- Get first and second bags checked for free
- Up to $100 credit for TSA Precheck or Global Entry
IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card
Best for United miles
Rating: 3.9 stars
Learn MoreAnnual Fee
$89
Rewards Rate
Credit Needed
Excellent, Good
Rewards Bonus
140,000 points
Intro Purchase APR
Intro Transfer APR
The metal IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card offers one of the largest signup bonuses of any hotel credit card available today. It’s the fastest way to free hotel stays you’ll find just about anywhere.
Credit Card Details
- Signup Bonus: Earn 140,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening..
- 25x Rewards: Earn 25 points total for every $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel.
- 10X points with the card
- 10X points as an IHG Rewards club member
- 5X points with Platinum Elite Status
- 2x Rewards: Earn 2x rewards on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants
- 1x Rewards: Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Get a free night after each account anniversary year at eligible IHG hotels worldwide.
- Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Premier card member
- Global Entry or TSA Pre?® Fee Credit of up to $100 every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Best for United miles
Rating: 4.6 stars
Learn MoreAnnual Fee
$550
Rewards Rate
Credit Needed
Excellent, Good
Rewards Bonus
75,000 points
Intro Purchase APR
Intro Transfer APR
The The Platinum Card® from American Express is considered by most to the pinnacle of rewards credit cards. The card is made of stainless steal. What really matters are the rewards and fees. Its annual fee is not for the faint of heart. But if you are a frequent traveler, the card can well be worth the cost.
Credit Card Details
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- Welcome Offer: Earn 75,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $5,000 on purchases with the card in the first 6 months.
- Earn 10x points on eligible purchases on your new Card at U.S. Gas Stations and U.S. Supermarkets, on up to $15,000 in combined purchases, during your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Uber Bonus: Up to $200 for Uber rides or eats annually.
- 5X Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel. Beginning 1/1/2021, the 5X rewards is capped at $500,000 on these purchases annually.
- 5X Membership Rewards points on eligible hotels booked on amextravel.com.
- 1X Membership Rewards points on all other purchases.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit, up to $200 per calendar year in baggage fees at one qualifying airline.
- Up to $20 per month on select U.S. Streaming subscriptions
- Up to $20 per month on wireless phone service charges made directly with U.S. wireless telephone service providers
- Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com on your card
- $550 annual fee.
- Terms Apply
MasterCard Titanium Card
Best for United miles
Rating: 3.5 stars
Learn MoreAnnual Fee
$195
Rewards Rate
1 - 2%
Credit Needed
Excellent
Rewards Bonus
cash
Intro Purchase APR
Intro Transfer APR
The MasterCard Titanium Card offers, well, a metal card design. Its rewards and fees place at the end of the list for best metal credit cards. Its primary selling point is the 2% redemption rate on air travel.
Credit Card Details
- 2% reward rate for airfare redemptions
- 1% reward rate for all other purchases
- 24/7 Luxury Card Concierge
- Exclusive Luxury Card Travel benefits
- Cell phone protection
- Annual fee: $195
U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card
Best for United miles
Rating: 4.6 stars
Learn MoreAnnual Fee
$
Rewards Rate
Credit Needed
Excellent, Good
Rewards Bonus
cash
Intro Purchase APR
0% for 12 billing cycles
Intro Transfer APR
0% for 12 billing cycles
The U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card is a competitive rewards card. It has a solid signup bonus and very strong ongoing rewards. It pays up to 4x at restaurants and food deliver, and 2x on a host of other purchase categories. It manages all of this without charging an annual fee.
Credit Card Details
- Earn 200 bonus points after you spend $500 on purchases with the card in the first 3 months.
- Earn 4X points on restaurant purchases–takeout, food delivery and dining
- Earn 2X points at grocery stores (including delivery), gas stations and streaming services
- Earn 1X points on all other purchases
- You’ll get a $15 credit for annual streaming services with Netflix and Spotify
- No annual fee
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