We’ve highlighted the best credit cards to use for major bonus categories, such as supermarkets and restaurants. But what should you swipe when a purchase does not fall into a bonus category? These are the credit cards we recommend for your everyday purchases. To make the best decision for your individual needs, consider the flexibility of the points, annual fee and planned usage.

Personal Credit Cards

Chase Freedom Unlimited
This card earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases and carries no annual fee. While the card is marketed as cash back, you can pair it with a card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards, such as Chase Sapphire Preferred, for the ability to transfer to hotel and airline partners or book travel directly through the travel portal.

Capital One Venture Rewards Card
As the commercial touts, this card earns 2x Venture miles on every purchase, every day. While these points are considered less valuable than those from Chase or American Express, the flexibility in being able to “erase” any travel expense from your statement is appealing to many. If you choose, you can also transfer these points to 17 different hotel and airline partners, most of them at a 1 to 0.75 (i.e. 1.5x on all spend). The $95 annual fee is waived the first year.

Citi Double Cash Card
While the card lacks a signup bonus, 2% cash back on all purchases and $0 annual fee make it a solid choice for everyday purchases. You can convert the cash back rewards from the card to Citi ThankYou points if you have a Citi Prestige or Premier, which can be transferred to Citi’s airline partners.

Bank of America Premium Rewards Card
With this card, you will earn 1.5x points for every dollar spent. Points can be redeemed for cash back as a statement credit or for travel purchases made directly through the travel portal. The card has a $95 annual fee, but you earn an annual $100 airline incidental credit.

American Express EveryDay Preferred Credit Card
This card earns 1.5x points on everyday purchases if you make at least 30 transactions per billing cycle, otherwise it is only 1x point. Membership Rewards can be transferred to an array of partner airlines and hotels. The card carries a $95 annual fee.

Business Credit Cards

Final Thoughts

There is no single credit card that can meet everyone’s needs. Consider your unique situation, spending habits and travel goals to determine the option that best suits you. Please let us know in the comments or Facebook group if you use one of the cards we listed or if you have an alternative strategy for maximizing your everyday spend.

Special thanks to Meredith Keyse for writing this article.

Travel on Point(s) has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Travel on Point(s) and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.