5 Best Metal Credit Cards

I have to admit, I get a kick out of flashing one of my metal credit cards at the cash register. They simply look more impressive than plastic cards. And they’re great conversation starters.

But while those ancillary benefits are nice, other factors like rewards earning potential and redemption flexibility are more important. Thankfully, many of the best metal credit cards on the market today also happen to be some of the strongest rewards cards.

5 Best Metal Credit Cards

Looking for a rewards card that’s more than just a status statement? Here are the five metal credit cards worth checking out!

Chase Sapphire Reserve: Best for Redemption Flexibility

One of the best things about the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is the large variety of ways that you can redeem your points. Points can be redeemed for cash, gift cards, or travel.

And even have more than one option for travel redemption. First, you can book travel directly through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. And if you go this route, you’ll get 50% more value out of your points. Alternatively, you can transfer points to any of Chase’s travel partners, like Southwest Airlines, Flying Blue, Hyatt, and more.

As a Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholder, you’ll earn 3x points on travel and dining, globally.

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®

This card does come with an annual fee that can be scary at first. But when you take the $300 travel credit into account, that drops your actual out-of-pocket cost significantly. If that still sounds too high, you could consider the Reserves sister card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred®, which comes with a more modest $95 annual fee.

Wells Fargo Propel American Express: Best for No Annual Fee

Since the best metal credit cards are usually packed with perks and luxury benefits, most of them charge an annual fee. But the Wells Fargo Propel American Express Card bucks that trend.

You won’t pay any annual fee with this card. But don’t let its low cost fool you. This card is still a rewards-earning heavyweight. With Wells Fargo Propel American Express Card, you’ll earn 3x points on the following bonus categories

• Eating out and ordering in
• Gas stations, rideshares, and transit
• Flights, hotels, homestays, and car rentals
• Streaming services

That’s a ton of bonus categories and earnings potential.

You can redeem your points towards cash, travel, charitable donations, digital rewards, gift cards, and more. Your points never expire and there are no blackout dates if you book air travel through the Go Far Rewards travel portal.

Luxury Card: Best Redemption Rates on Airfare and Cashback

Luxury Card is a credit card brand that offers three individual metal credit cards:

• Luxury Card™ Mastercard® Gold Card™
• Luxury Card™ Mastercard® Black Card™
• Luxury Card™ Mastercard® Titanium Card™

The premier feature of Luxury Card is the redemption rates that it offers on air travel and cash back redemptions. No matter which Luxury Card you choose, you’ll get 2% back on airfare. For cash back, you’ll get:

• 1% redemptions with the Luxury Card™ Mastercard® Titanium Card™
• 1.5% redemptions with the Luxury Card™ Mastercard® Black Card™
• 2% redemptions with the Luxury Card™ Mastercard® Gold Card™

It’s important to point out, though, that these are only the redemption value of your points. When it comes to earning points, none of the Luxury Cards offer any bonus categories. You’ll earn just 1% on your purchases (with 2% value for airfare redemptions).

These cards also come with some serious annual fees, ranging from $195 ($95 for each Authorized User added to the account) to $995 ($295 for each Authorized User added to the account). And, perhaps most disappointing, none of the Luxury Cards currently offer a sign-up bonus. Thankfully, Luxury Card does offer its cardholders several travel perks, including:

• Baggage delay insurance (up to $100)
• Travel Accident Insurance (up to $250,000)
• Rental car collision waiver
• Travel cancellation insurance (up to $5,000 per insured person)

And the Luxury Card™ Mastercard® Gold Card™ and Luxury Card™ Mastercard® Gold Card™ come with an airline travel credit of up to $200, a Global Entry Application Fee Credit of $100, and a complimentary Priority Pass Select lounge membership.

The Platinum Card from American Express: Best for Rideshare Rewards

If you’re someone who spends a lot of money each month on Uber rides, the Platinum Card from American Express could be one of the metal credit cards for you. With this card, you’ll get $15 in Uber Cash added to your Uber account each month.

See Rates & Fees

You will need to pay a hefty $695 annual fee to get this card. But if you subtract, the $200 Uber Cash credit, that brings your true cost down significantly. And this card also comes with a:

• $200 airline credit
• Up to $100 fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre Check.

If you were to take full advantage of each of these perks, that brings the actual annual cost of this card down even more. Terms Apply.

In addition to all the benefits listed above, you’ll earn 5x Membership Rewards Points for flights that are booked directly with airlines. You’ll also earn 5x points for airfare and prepaid hotels that are booked with American Express Travel.

If you’re looking for luxury, the Platinum Card from American Express has got you covered. You’ll receive complimentary benefits at over 1,000 Fine Hotels & Resorts properties. And you’ll get free access to over 1,300 airport lounges through the American Express Global Lounge Collection.

Citi Prestige: Best for Free Hotel Nights

The Citi Prestige Card comes chocked full of benefits, many of which will appeal to travelers. First, you’ll receive a travel credit of up to $250 every calendar year. You’ll also earn bonus points in the following categories:

• Air Travel: 5x points
• Dining: 5x points
• Hotels: 3x points
• Cruise lines: 3x points

But one of the Citi Prestige Card’s best travel perks is its Complimentary 4th Night Hotel Stay. With this benefit, you can get a free night on hotel stays that last at least four nights and are booked through ThankYou.com. And you can take advantage of this perk two times each year.

The Citi Prestige Card comes with a $495 annual fee. But your actual cost drops to $245 after factoring in the travel credit. You can also earn 50,000 bonus ThankYou Points if you spend $4,000 within 3 months of account opening.

Other perks of this card include complimentary access to lounges through Priority Pass Select and the ability to transfer points to any of Citi’s ThankYou Rewards travel partners.

Related: Cool-Looking Credit Cards

Bottom Line

Ultimately, the best metal credit card for you will depend on your preferences and shopping habits. Carefully compare the pros and cons of each metal card and pick the one that best fits your needs.