Best Credit Card for Every Spending Category: Maximise Your Points Per Dollar
For each major spending category, the top 3 cards by earning rate -- with merchant category code notes, spending caps, and the one practical tip that matters most. The "which card do I use?" reference.
01
Travel (Flights, Hotels, Rental Cars)
| Card | Earning Rate | Notes | Spending Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| BESTAmex Platinum | 5x | Flights booked direct or via Amex Travel only | Unlimited on flights |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | 3x | Broad travel definition: ride-share, trains, tolls, Airbnb | Unlimited |
| Capital One Venture X | 5x flights, 10x hotels/cars | Must book through Capital One Travel portal | Unlimited |
Pro tip: Book flights directly with airlines (not aggregators) to ensure the Amex Platinum 5x applies. Chase Sapphire Reserve 3x applies to most travel purchases without portal requirements.
02
Dining and Restaurants
| Card | Earning Rate | Notes | Spending Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| BESTAmex Gold | 4x | US restaurants, international dining, delivery services, coffee shops | Unlimited |
| Chase Freedom Flex | 3x dining | Permanent 3x on dining -- not a rotating category | Unlimited |
| Citi Strata Premier | 3x | Restaurants worldwide | Unlimited |
Pro tip: Amex Gold is the clear dining winner at 4x. However, the Gold's $250 annual fee means you need to use the $120 dining credit and $120 Uber Cash to make it net positive. If you do not use those credits, consider whether 4x dining is worth the extra cost over a 3x card at $95.
03
Groceries and Supermarkets
| Card | Earning Rate | Notes | Spending Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| BESTAmex Gold | 4x | US supermarkets only. Excludes Walmart, Target, Costco | $25,000/year, then 1x |
| Chase Freedom Flex | 5x rotating | When groceries are the quarterly rotating category (typically Q1) | $1,500/quarter |
| Citi Strata Premier | 3x | Includes most grocery stores | Unlimited |
Pro tip: Amex Gold 4x is the consistent best. If you hit the $25K annual cap (~$2,083/month), switch to a 3x card for the remainder. Freedom Flex 5x is best when groceries are the quarterly category, but only on $1,500/quarter.
04
Gas Stations and Fuel
| Card | Earning Rate | Notes | Spending Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| BESTChase Freedom Flex | 5x rotating | When gas is the rotating category (common in Q2 or Q3) | $1,500/quarter |
| Citi Strata Premier | 3x | Gas stations worldwide | Unlimited |
| Capital One SavorOne | 3x gas | No annual fee card | Unlimited |
Pro tip: Watch for EV charging: some EV charging stations code as 'utilities' rather than 'gas stations.' Costco gas (wholesale club MCC) often does not qualify for gas bonuses -- check issuer definitions.
05
Streaming Services
| Card | Earning Rate | Notes | Spending Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| BESTChase Freedom Flex | 3x streaming | Major streaming services qualify | Unlimited |
| Capital One SavorOne | 3x streaming | No annual fee | Unlimited |
| Southwest Priority | 2x streaming | Good pairing for Southwest flyers | Unlimited |
Pro tip: 3x on streaming is widely available for no-fee cards. Not worth holding a premium card for streaming alone. Best approach: use a no-fee 3x streaming card as a set-and-forget card.
06
Online Shopping
| Card | Earning Rate | Notes | Spending Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| BESTChase Freedom Flex | 5x rotating | When online shopping/Amazon is the quarterly category | $1,500/quarter |
| Chase Shopping Portal | 3-15x stacked | Stack card points with portal points for maximum earning | Varies by retailer |
| Any 2x base card + portal | 2x + 3-15x | Use Capital One Venture X + Capital One Shopping or Rakuten | Varies |
Pro tip: The real opportunity in online shopping is shopping portals, not card category bonuses. Before any online purchase, check if the retailer is available through Chase Shopping, Rakuten, or your airline's shopping portal. Stacking can yield 8-20x total points.
07
Transit and Commuting
| Card | Earning Rate | Notes | Spending Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| BESTChase Sapphire Reserve | 3x transit | Includes Lyft, Uber, subway, bus, parking, tolls | Unlimited |
| Chase Freedom Flex | 5x Lyft | Permanent 5x on Lyft, not a rotating category | Unlimited |
| Citi Strata Premier | 3x travel | Covers transit as part of travel category | Unlimited |
Pro tip: Chase Sapphire Reserve is exceptional for urban commuters -- 3x on all transit, parking, taxis, and ride-share makes it easy to earn on daily commuting. The $300 travel credit can cover a transit pass.
08
Everything Else (Base Rate)
| Card | Earning Rate | Notes | Spending Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| BESTAmex Blue Business Plus | 2x | 2x on all purchases (business card, no annual fee) | $50,000/year, then 1x |
| Capital One Venture X | 2x all | Personal card, no cap on 2x earning | Unlimited |
| Citi Double Cash | 2x (1x earn + 1x pay) | Converts to TYP when paired with Strata Premier | Unlimited |
Pro tip: A flat 2x base card is essential for all non-bonus spending. Using a 1x card for purchases outside your bonus categories is leaving money on the table. Amex Blue Business Plus is the best 2x for Amex collectors; Capital One Venture X for Capital One collectors.
Optimal Category Wallet Summary
Based on the categories above, the optimal 3-card wallet for most travelers earning Chase Ultimate Rewards:
Chase Sapphire Preferred ($95/yr)
Travel, 2x. Transfer partner access for all Chase UR.
Chase Freedom Flex (free)
5x dining/rotating. 3x dining permanently. Pools with Sapphire.
Chase Freedom Unlimited (free)
1.5x on everything else. Fills the gap on non-category spend.
Total annual fee: $95. All points pool together as Chase UR and can be transferred. See maximise points guide for wallet comparisons across all ecosystems.
FAQ
What is a merchant category code (MCC)?
A merchant category code (MCC) is a 4-digit number assigned by payment networks to classify businesses by the type of goods or services they sell. Your credit card's bonus categories are based on MCCs, not store names. A gas station convenience store might process as a grocery store in some cases. Costco gas stations often code as 'wholesale clubs' rather than 'gas stations,' which affects which cards earn bonus points there.
Why does my grocery purchase sometimes not earn the bonus rate?
Several common issues: (1) Walmart Supercenter and Target code as 'department stores,' not grocery stores; (2) Costco codes as a 'wholesale club,' excluded from many grocery bonus categories; (3) Online grocery delivery may code as 'delivery services'; (4) Amex Gold's 4x grocery is capped at $25,000/year. Always check your statement to verify the category applied.
What counts as 'travel' for credit card bonus points?
Travel typically includes: airlines, hotels, car rental companies, cruise lines, travel agencies, and sometimes taxis and ride-share. Chase defines travel broadly and includes Lyft, Airbnb, trains, and some toll roads. Amex is narrower -- 'flights' for the Platinum 5x means airlines specifically, not hotels. Always book directly with airlines or hotels rather than third-party sites to ensure the bonus category applies.