Are Credit Card Rewards Really Worth It in 2026?

What It Covers

Chris Hutchins examines whether premium credit cards remain worthwhile in 2026 after Chase Sapphire Reserve increased fees to $795 and AmEx Platinum to $895, while adding numerous credits and perks that may not benefit all cardholders.

Key Questions Answered

• •Welcome bonuses over category optimization: Opening new cards with 100,000+ point sign-up bonuses generates far more value than earning extra points on small spending categories like streaming services. A card earning 5x on $800 annual streaming spend yields only 2,400 extra points versus six-figure welcome offers.
• •Credit valuation framework: Ask yourself what you would pay a friend for each credit benefit. A $150 StubHub credit has zero value if you never buy tickets, but a $150 restaurant credit at establishments you already frequent approaches full $150 value. This prevents spending money just to use credits.
• •Buying points directly: Hilton sells points for half a cent each on their website, making $2,000 per night rooms bookable for under $600 by purchasing points directly. This strategy bypasses years of credit card point accumulation while still accessing luxury hotel deals without playing the traditional rewards game.
• •Flexible award search tools: New platforms like Points Yeah, AwardTool, and seats.aero allow searching entire regions and date ranges rather than specific routes. This flexibility unlocks business class flights to Europe for under 20,000 points when you can adjust departure cities, arrival cities, and travel dates by several days.
• •Cash back simplification: Bank of America Premium Rewards delivers 3.5% on travel and dining, 2.625% on everything else with no annual fee when maintaining $100,000 in Bank of America or Merrill Lynch accounts. This brokerage balance can remain invested, making cash back competitive with points for those overwhelmed by redemption complexity.