Best Credit Card Signup Bonuses of April 2026
The best welcome offers ranked by cash value, spend requirement, and whether the card earns well after the bonus. Because a $750 bonus on a bad card is still a bad card.
Best signup bonuses by category (April 2026)
Best personal card bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred — 75,000 points ($750–$1,500) after $5,000 in 3 months.
Easiest to earn: Chase Freedom Unlimited — $250 after just $500 spend in 3 months. Also qualifies as one of the best no-annual-fee travel cards for ongoing earning.
| Card | Bonus Value | Spend Req. | Window | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Ink Unlimited / Cash | $750 cash | $6,000 | 3 months | $0 |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred | 75k pts (~$750–$1,500) | $5,000 | 3 months | $95 |
| Capital One Savor | $300 cash | $500 | 3 months | $0 |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited | $250 cash | $500 | 3 months | $0 |
| Amex Blue Cash Preferred | Up to $300 cash | $3,000 | 6 months | $95 |
| WF Signify Business Cash | $500 cash | $5,000 | 3 months | $0 |
| Citi Custom Cash | $200 cash | $1,500 | 6 months | $0 |
Not seeing an airline card? Airline card bonuses tend to be measured in miles rather than cash and are covered in the best airline credit cards guide, which includes current welcome offers by carrier.
How to evaluate a signup bonus — the right framework
Don’t chase the highest number without considering these three factors:
- Can you naturally hit the spend requirement? Never spend money you wouldn’t otherwise spend just to earn a bonus. $6,000 in 3 months is aggressive for many households. $500 in 3 months (Freedom Unlimited) is easy for almost anyone.
- Does the card earn well after the bonus? A $750 bonus on a 1% flat card is one-time money. A $750 bonus on a 1.5% card with 3% dining earns value every year. Evaluate the ongoing structure, not just the bonus. Use the rewards calculator to model year-1 vs. year-2+ value with your actual spending.
- Is the annual fee justified? A $95 card with a $750 bonus breaks even after 8 years of holding the card (at $95/year). But if the ongoing rewards add $200+/year in value, the bonus is a bonus on top of a good card.
The easiest bonuses to earn right now
These cards have low spend thresholds relative to bonus size — achievable by most people without changing spending habits:
| Card | Bonus | Spend to Earn | $/$ ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Freedom Unlimited | $250 | $500 | 50¢ per $1 spent |
| Capital One Savor | $300 | $500 | 60¢ per $1 spent |
| Citi Custom Cash | $200 | $1,500 | 13¢ per $1 spent |
| WF Active Cash | $200 | $500 | 40¢ per $1 spent |
| Amex Blue Cash Preferred | Up to $300 | $3,000 | 10¢ per $1 spent |
The $/$ ratio measures how much bonus value you earn per dollar of required spending. Higher ratios mean more efficient bonuses — especially useful if your spending can’t easily hit high thresholds.
Are signup bonuses taxable? No — the IRS treats card bonuses tied to spending as a purchase rebate, not income. See are credit card rewards taxable → for the full answer, including the one exception that can trigger a 1099.