How to Use CardBonusTracker

A sign-up bonus (also called a welcome offer or welcome bonus) is a one-time reward a credit card issuer gives you for opening a new account and meeting a minimum spending requirement within a set window — usually 3 to 6 months. Bonuses are paid as points, miles, or cash back and can range from $150 to well over $1,500 in value.

The minimum spend requirement (sometimes called a spending threshold) is the dollar amount you must charge to your new card within the introductory period (typically 3–6 months) to trigger the sign-up bonus. For example, "Earn 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months." If you do not hit the threshold by the deadline, you forfeit the bonus.

The "best" bonus depends on how you travel and spend. In terms of raw dollar value, premium travel cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Amex Platinum, and Capital One Venture X regularly offer bonuses worth $600–$1,500+. For pure cash back, cards like the Chase Freedom Unlimited or Citi Custom Cash often offer $200–$300 bonuses with low minimum spend. Use our bonus calculator to compare estimated values side by side.

It depends on the issuer. American Express enforces a strict once-per-lifetime bonus rule — if you've ever had the card and received the bonus, you generally cannot earn it again on a new application. Chase, Capital One, and Citi allow you to re-earn a bonus after a waiting period (typically 24–48 months since you last received it, provided you no longer hold the card). Always read the terms on the application page.

Card churning is the practice of repeatedly opening new credit cards primarily to earn sign-up bonuses, then closing or downgrading them before the next annual fee is due. Churning can be lucrative — experienced churners earn tens of thousands of dollars in free travel each year — but it requires careful management of credit score, spending, and issuer rules. Issuers have anti-churning policies (see 5/24, Amex once-per-lifetime) specifically to limit this practice.

The 5/24 rule is Chase's unofficial policy that automatically denies applications from consumers who have opened 5 or more new credit card accounts across all issuers in the past 24 months. It applies to most Chase cards, including the Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, Freedom Unlimited, and Ink Business cards. Authorized user accounts may or may not count toward your 5/24 number depending on how they appear on your credit report.

Generally, no — credit card sign-up bonuses earned by meeting a spending requirement are considered a rebate by the IRS and are not taxable income. However, bonuses awarded without any spending requirement (such as referral bonuses deposited as straight cash with no spend condition) may be reported on a 1099-MISC if they exceed $600 in a calendar year. Consult a tax professional for guidance specific to your situation.

Cash back is the simplest — it's a straightforward percentage returned as a statement credit or direct deposit. Points (like Chase Ultimate Rewards or Amex Membership Rewards) and miles (like United MileagePlus or Delta SkyMiles) are currency-like rewards redeemable for travel, merchandise, or transfers to airline/hotel partners. Points and miles can be worth anywhere from 0.5 cents to 2+ cents each depending on how you redeem them, while cash back is always worth exactly face value.

Most cards give you 3 months (90 days) from account opening to meet the minimum spend. Premium cards with higher thresholds often extend this to 6 months. The window is counted from the account opening date on your statement, not from the day your card arrives in the mail. Set a calendar reminder and track your spending to avoid missing the deadline.

Premium travel cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, Amex Platinum, and Capital One Venture X typically require good to excellent credit — a FICO score of 700+ is a reasonable baseline, though scores of 720–750+ improve approval odds significantly. Mid-tier cards (Chase Sapphire Preferred, Citi Premier) are accessible at 690+. Some cash-back cards (Discover it, Capital One Quicksilver) approve applicants with fair credit (650+). Note that credit score is just one factor; income, existing debt, and number of recent inquiries also matter.