Whether you’re new to the world of points and miles or just looking for the best ways to level up your current card portfolio, a strategic credit card pairing is one of the easiest ways to maximize your earning potential.
You’ve likely heard of the most popular card groupings — the Chase Trifecta and the Amex Trifecta — but these are far from the only ways to combine credit cards.
Let’s discuss how different credit cards work together to boost your spending and earning power and go over some of the best credit card combinations.
What makes the best credit card combination?
Several factors can make a good card combination, but most simply, a good pair is one in which both cards earn the same rewards but have different bonus categories. This way, you’ll be able to maximize your earnings across a wider range of purchases than you would with just one card.
Each card combination below is a great example of maximizing your earnings with two complementary cards.
The Platinum Card from American Express and the American Express Gold Card
The Platinum Card® from American Express is great for travelers since it earns 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with an airline or through Amex Travel (on up to $500,000 each calendar year, then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter) and comes with extensive airport lounge access, plus a slew of valuable statement credits. Enrollment is required for select benefits; terms apply.
The American Express® Gold Card is a foodie’s dream card. It earns 4 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent at restaurants (up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter) and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 in purchases each year, then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter).
It also comes with up to $424 in credits each calendar year that you can use for dining and takeout purchases. Enrollment is required for select benefits; terms apply.
Why they’re a great combination: These cards work great together because you’ll earn more on flights with the Amex Platinum than you would with the Amex Gold alone (5 points per dollar spent rather than 3) and more at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets with the Gold than you would with the Platinum alone (4 points per dollar spent rather than 1, spending caps apply).
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Additionally, the cards’ benefits and statement credits hardly overlap, meaning you’ll get tremendous value from holding both cards. You can then transfer your Membership Rewards points to any of Amex’s 21 hotel and airline partners.
TPG managing editor for credit cards Matt Moffitt loves this card pairing since it allows him to take advantage of generous lounge access benefits and high earnings on flights combined with bonus earnings on his worldwide dining and U.S. supermarket purchases. He gets even more value from his rewards with Amex’s frequent transfer bonuses.
The annual fee for the Amex Platinum is $695 (see rates and fees), while the annual fee for the Amex Gold is $325 (see rates and fees).
To learn more, check out our full reviews of the Amex Platinum and the Amex Gold.
Apply here: The Platinum Card from American Express
Apply here: American Express Gold Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Freedom Unlimited
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of our favorite travel rewards cards, earning 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on dining, select streaming and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart®, Target® and wholesale clubs), 2 points per dollar spent on all travel purchases and 1 point per dollar spent on everything else. Additionally, it comes with some valuable travel protections — all for a low $95 annual fee.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a great everyday card. It has no annual fee and earns 3% cash back per dollar spent on dining and drugstore purchases and 1.5% back per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Why they’re a great combination: Both cards allow you to earn an impressive return on dining purchases, but you’ll earn double on your non-Chase Travel℠ travel spending with the Sapphire Preferred versus the Freedom Unlimited. Where the Freedom Unlimited really shines is in its non-bonused spending.
By itself, the Freedom Unlimited earns cash-back rewards. However, if you also hold the Sapphire Preferred, you can combine your rewards from the two cards and transfer them to any of Chase’s 14 travel partners for maximum value.
To learn more, check out our full reviews of the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Chase Freedom Unlimited.
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Apply here: Chase Freedom Unlimited
Citi Strata Premier Card and Citi Rewards+ Card
The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (see rates and fees) is a great all-around travel rewards card with broad bonus categories. It features a welcome offer of 70,000 ThankYou points after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.*
It earns 10 points per dollar spent on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com, 3 points per dollar spent on other hotel, flight, restaurant, supermarket, gas station and electric vehicle charging station purchases and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
*Through Citi.com, the Citi Strata Premier is offering 75,000 ThankYou points after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. According to TPG valuations pegging ThankYou points at 1.8 cents apiece, that’s a bonus worth $1,350. If you apply through our affiliate link, you’ll earn a lower 70,000-point bonus, so we suggest applying directly through Citi.
The Citi Rewards+® Card (see rates and fees) generally earns at a lower rate than the Citi Strata Premier: 5 ThankYou points per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through CitiTravel.com, 2 points per dollar spent at supermarkets and gas stations on the first $6,000 per year (then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter) and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
However, purchases on this card automatically round up to the nearest 10, so a $1 purchase will earn you 10 points — more than you would earn with the Strata Premier — making this a great card for small purchases that can rack up ThankYou rewards.
Why they’re a great combination: The Citi Strata Premier earns bonus points in an impressive number of categories, but the rounding nature of the Rewards+ makes it a better option for small purchases that don’t fall under any of the Strata Premier’s bonus categories.
Plus, on its own, the Rewards+ has limited redemption options, but holding the Strata Premier allows you to transfer the points you earn to any of Citi’s hotel and airline partners, increasing their redemption value.
To learn more, check out our full review of the Citi Rewards+ and Citi Strata Premier Card
Apply here: Citi Strata Premier Card
Apply here: Citi Rewards+ Card
Ink Business Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is one of our favorite business cards. It earns 3 points per dollar spent on the first $150,000 in combined spending on shipping, internet, cable, travel, phone services and advertising on social media sites and search engines.
Cardholders will also earn 5 points per dollar spent on Lyft purchases through March 2025 and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is the premium sibling of the Chase Sapphire Preferred. With it, you’ll get Priority Pass lounge access and a $300 travel credit each year.
It earns 3 points per dollar spent on all travel purchases made outside of Chase Travel (after the annual $300 travel credit is received) and dining purchases, as well as 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Why they’re a great combination: If you have a lot of business expenses, pairing a business card with a personal card can work in your favor. With this combination, use your Ink Business Preferred for the first $150,000 in business purchases each year and your Sapphire Reserve for travel and dining purchases to maximize your 3 points per dollar earning opportunities across the board.
To learn more, check out our full reviews of the Ink Business Preferred and the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Apply here: Ink Business Preferred Credit Card
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One SavorOne has no annual fee (see rates and fees) and is a great option for everyday spending categories. The card earns 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®) and popular streaming services and 1% back on all other purchases.
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has a $95 annual fee (see rates and fees). It earns 5 miles per dollar spent on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars and 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases, making it a good card for spending that doesn’t fall in other cards’ bonus categories.
Why they’re a great combination: Use your SavorOne for purchases in the 3% cash-back bonus categories and your Venture Rewards for all other purchases to earn 2 miles per dollar on them. With this duo, you can convert your SavorOne rewards to Capital One miles and transfer them to any of Capital One’s 15-plus hotel and airline partners.
To learn more, check out our full reviews of the Capital One SavorOne and Capital One Venture Rewards.
Apply here: Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards
Apply here: Capital One Venture Rewards
Other ways to pair cards
Add a cobranded card for one of your card’s travel partners
If you already have a card that earns transferable rewards, pairing a card that earns rewards for one of its travel partners is a great option.
For instance, I earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points with my Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, so I decided to get the World of Hyatt Credit Card to have Hyatt-specific benefits like elite status and a free night each year, as well as the ability to maximize my earning with both cards’ bonus categories.
Diversify your rewards
While most combinations center around earning similar rewards, it’s also a good idea to earn different types of rewards. You could, for example, pair the Amex Gold with the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
In this scenario, you would want to use your Amex Gold to earn bonus points on flights, at restaurants and on U.S. supermarket purchases (up to $50,000 per calendar year for restaurants and up to $25,000 per calendar year for U.S. supermarkets, then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter) and your Venture X for your other purchases to earn 2 miles per dollar spent.
With this option, you can take advantage of both American Express and Capital One’s transfer partners, giving you even more flexibility in your reward redemptions.
No annual fee
If you want to earn transferable rewards without paying an annual fee, pair the Capital One SavorOne (see rates and fees) and the Capital One VentureOne Rewards credit card (see rates and fees). The VentureOne earns 1.25 miles per dollar spent on all purchases and allows you to turn your SavorOne rewards into transferable Capital One miles.
Maximize bonus categories
If you’re OK with earning different types of rewards and want to make sure you’re maximizing all your purchases, you can set up your card portfolio with cards that earn bonus points in the categories you spend the most in.
For example, you might opt for the Chase Sapphire Reserve to earn 3 points per dollar spent on your travel purchases made outside of Chase Travel and dining purchases (bonus points for travel spending outside of Chase Travel are received after the $300 annual travel credit); the Citi Strata Premier Cardto earn 3 points per dollar spent on your gas station and supermarket purchases; and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card to earn 2 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases.
This combination would mean you’re getting a 3.7% to 6.15% return on all your spending, according to TPG’s October 2024 valuations.
Set up your ideal structure
Of course, different card combinations work well for different goals. Identifying your credit card goals will help you decide which qualities to focus on when you choose your next card.
For instance, if you want to minimize your annual fees while earning travel rewards, your best card pairs may differ from those listed above.
TPG senior points and miles writer Katie Genter pairs her Ink Business Preferred Credit Card with her Chase Freedom Unlimited, as it allows her to maximize her Chase Ultimate Rewards points while only paying one $95 annual fee.
Bottom line
Many great credit cards are even better when combined with a complimentary card. Before deciding what your next credit card will be, inventory what you already have in your wallet. Then, consider your spending habits and reward goals to help you determine which card will add the most value to your current portfolio.
Once you’ve got a plan in place, you’ll be well on your way to earning rewards and other perks you can redeem for travel and more.
Related: Have one of the popular credit cards? Here are the others you should get to boost your points
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here
For rates and fees of the Amex Gold, click here