This page includes information about the Discover it® Cash Back and Discover it® Student Cash Back products, which are currently not available on Business Insider and may be out of date.
- Please note: While the offers mentioned below are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.
- Banks have added limited-time bonuses for credit card spending in quarantine-friendly categories.
- Some cards are offering bonus rewards on food delivery, streaming services, and drugstores.
- Others, like the
Chase Freedom Flex℠ , earn 5x rewards in quarterly rotating bonus categories. - Read Insider's guide to the best rewards credit cards.
Throughout the pandemic, banks have introduced new ways to earn and redeem rewards and added valuable benefits and perks to keep their credit cards at the top of customers' minds (and wallets). Issuers have also periodically increased rewards earnings in common quarantine spending categories, including grocery stores, streaming services, and food delivery.
As a result, many of us are earning more credit card points than ever, even if we've had to curb our spending and stay close to home. This is especially true for those who already make the most of cards with rotating quarterly bonus categories, like the
Because these credit card spending bonuses eventually expire, and new offers pop up all the time to meet changing customer needs, it can be hard to keep track and maximize your rewards. To help, we've put together a list of the latest limited-time bonuses in the most popular categories, so you can choose the right credit card for your purchases.
Should you take advantage of credit card spending bonuses?
Limited-time credit card spending bonuses can be lucrative — especially if you're already making lots of purchases in these categories. But before you switch your spending to a card with a new category bonus, it's wise to compare the boosted earning rate — and the value of the rewards you'd receive — to what you'd otherwise earn by using one of the best rewards credit cards instead.
You might also skip an increased category bonus if the rewards currency doesn't appeal to you or if you're focused on saving a different type of points or miles for a specific redemption.
Bonuses for meeting spending thresholds
The Chase offers below are targeted and you'll need to activate the offer through the email you receive from Chase, or enter your card details here to see if you qualify.
Chase British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus cards — earn bonus points
If you have the
If you're eligible and activate the offer, you can earn an additional 15,000 bonus Avios points when you spend $5,000 on purchases between January 1 and March 31, 2021.
Chase World of Hyatt card — earn bonus points
Currently, there are two bonus spending offers for
Select Amex business accounts — $25 statement credit for purchases of $500 or more
Some American Express small-business cards, including
Transaction bonuses
Chase World of Hyatt card — earn bonus points for meeting transaction thresholds
The second bonus for
This offer could be very lucrative if you make a lot of small purchases, because you'll earn bonus points for eligible purchases of 1 dollar or more made from February 1 to February 28 when you reach a certain number of transactions:
- 10 transactions = 1,000 bonus points
- 25 transactions = 2,500 bonus points
- 50 or more transactions = 5,000 bonus points
Grocery store bonuses
New Amex Platinum cardholders — 10x at US supermarkets
Combined with valuable perks like up to $30 per month in PayPal statement credits from January to June (Eligibility for this offer is limited. Enrollment is required in the Amex Offers section of your account before redeeming), up to $100 in Saks credits per year, and up to $200 per year in Uber credits, the grocery bonus makes the
Chase Sapphire cards — up to 3x on groceries
Until April 30, 2021, you'll automatically earn 3x Chase Ultimate Rewards points on groceries with the
In addition, you can stack this bonus with Chase's Pay Yourself Back feature, which gets you more value from your points when you redeem them toward grocery, gas, and home improvement store purchases, as well as charitable donations. When you use this option, your points are worth 50% more if you have the
Chase co-branded Marriott, IHG, Southwest, and United cards — 5x on groceries
If you don't have a Chase Sapphire card (or have already maximized your card's bonus), check your email to see if you're targeted for a bonus on your Chase co-branded credit card. This promotion includes select airline and hotel credit cards such as the
With this offer, you'll earn 5x points or miles on up to $1,500 in combined purchases at grocery stores, gas stations, and drugstores until March 31. This offer is targeted, and you'll need to activate it through the link you get in your email — it's not automatic.
Discover Q1 rotating category bonus — 5% back on groceries
For the first quarter of 2021, the
Select Citi cards — 5x on groceries
Some Citi cardholders have received an email with a targeted offer to earn 5x points at grocery stores, gas stations, drugstores, mass transit, and commuter transportation vendors. Registration is required through the targeted email, and you'll receive the bonus on up to $250 in combined spending through March 31.
Bonuses at gas stations
New Amex Platinum cardholders — 10x at US gas stations
Along with US grocery stores, new
Chase Freedom cards — 5% back at gas stations
Chase Freedom cardholders can activate their card by February 28 to earn 5% cash back (5x Chase Ultimate Rewards points) on up to $150 in spending at gas stations for the month of February. Every version of the Chase Freedom card is eligible —
Chase co-branded IHG, Marriott, Southwest, and United cards — 5x on at gas stations
Included with the grocery and drugstore bonus mentioned above, select co-branded Chase cardholders can earn 5x points or miles on up to $1,500 in combined purchases through March 31.
Amex Business Platinum — 5x at US gas stations
There's a new Amex Offer for eligible cardholders with
Select Citi cards — 5x at gas stations
Like the grocery bonus mentioned above, there are targeted offers on some Citi cards to earn 5x points at grocery stores, gas stations, drugstores, mass transit, and commuter transportation vendors. Activate the bonus through the targeted email, and you'll receive 5x on up to $250 in combined spending through March 31, 2021.
Bonuses on streaming services
Chase Freedom Flex Q1 rotating category bonus — 5% back or 5x points on streaming
Both the
From January through March, the Chase Freedom bonus categories are streaming services, wholesale clubs, and internet, cable, and phone services. You'll have to activate the bonus by March 14 to get in on the deal, but once you activate, you'll receive the bonus on eligible spending all the way back to the first day of the quarter.
Capital One Savor cards — earn up to 4% back on streaming subscriptions
Staying home has meant more consumers are turning to streaming services for entertainment, so this is another easy category to maximize for a lot of people. Capital One introduced a limited-time cash-back bonus on streaming purchases with its Savor cards in 2020, and it's been extended through April 30, 2021.
With the
Dining and restaurant bonuses
It's hard to beat the transferable bonus points you'd earn with some of the best cards for dining, like 4x American Express Membership Rewards points with the recently refreshed
Amex Delta, Hilton, and Marriott personal cards — up to $20 per month in dining credits
Eligible cardholders with American Express Delta, Hilton, or Marriott personal cards can activate an Amex Offer to earn up to $20 per month in statement credits toward dining purchases through the end of 2021 (Eligibility for these offers is limited. Enrollment is required in the Amex Offers section of your account before redeeming).
The amount of the monthly credit varies depending on the card; for example, the
Bonuses on wireless purchases
Amex Delta, Hilton, and Marriott business cards — up to $20 per month in wireless credits
Similar to the new dining credits for co-branded cards, Amex has added up to $20 per month in wireless credits for eligible Delta, Hilton, and Marriott small-business cardholders who had open accounts as of January 1, 2021.
These are also Amex Offers that require activation, and the amount of the monthly credit varies by card. For instance,
Chase Freedom Flex Q1 rotating category bonus — 5% back or 5x points on phone services, internet, and cable
From January through March, the Chase Freedom bonus categories include internet, cable, and phone services (combined with streaming and wholesale clubs). Activate the bonus on your
Drugstore bonuses
If you don't have the
Discover Q1 rotating category bonus — 5% back at CVS and Walgreens
One of the rotating categories this quarter on the
Select Citi cards — 5x at drugstores
Check your email for a targeted offer on some Citi ThankYou cards to earn 5x points at grocery stores, gas stations, drugstores, mass transit, and commuter transportation vendors. Enrollment is required, and you'll receive the bonus on up to $250 in combined spending through March 31, 2021.
Chase co-branded Marriott, IHG, and United cards — 5x at drugstores
Combined with the grocery and gas bonus mentioned above, select co-branded Chase cardholders can earn 5x points or miles on up to $1,500 in purchases across these categories through March 31, 2021.
