The best card combinations to maximize your rewards

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Though it may seem like overkill, signing up for multiple credit cards from the same issuer can be a smart strategy.

It allows you to pool your points or cash back, helping you earn rewards faster and redeem them for more value. For example, one card may offer lucrative travel rewards while another may have valuable cash back on everyday spending.

Ready to maximize your rewards? Here are the 4 best credit card combinations to consider.

Best Capital One combination: Quicksilver Cash Rewards Card & SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards

The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card offers unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase. Earn more on travel when booking through Capital One’s online travel portal, including 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars. There’s no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees.

The Quicksilver is a solid card for everyday purchases and travel expenses. But if you want to earn more on groceries and entertainment, consider adding the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card.

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

The SavorOne offers 3% cash back on dining out, entertainment, popular streaming services, and grocery purchases. Plus, you’ll get 1% cash back on all other purchases. Like the Quicksilver, you’ll earn 5% on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel.

“I like using these two cards in tandem since you could use the SavorOne to earn more back on dining out, streaming services, and groceries, and then use the Quicksilver for all of your other purchases to get a flat-rate cash back bonus,” says Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst at Bankrate.

Best Chase combination: Freedom Flex & Sapphire Preferred

Chase Freedom Flex® 

The Chase Freedom Flex® is a reliable everyday card offering 5% cash back in rotating categories each quarter (up to $1,500, then 1%). Categories include grocery stores and gas stations. You’ll earn 3% on restaurants, take-out, delivery, and drugstore purchases. Earn 1% back on all other purchases.

But this card is a good choice for travel because of the 5% cash back you can earn on travel purchases via Chase's travel portal.

Chase Sapphire Preferred

Combine this with the Chase Sapphire Preferred, which gives you elevated points on travel and dining. You’ll get 5X points on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3X points on dining (including eligible delivery services), 3X on select streaming, and 3X on online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs). You’ll also earn 2X points on other travel purchases and 1X on all other purchases.

The Sapphire Preferred Card comes with an annual fee of $95, but the rewards earned will be far more valuable in most cases.

“Combining these cards can help you maximize rewards, as long as you use them wisely,” explains Rossman.

It’s a good idea to only use the Freedom Flex for the rewards category you selected that quarter. This approach helps ensure you earn the highest percentage back on your purchases. Since the Chase Sapphire often offers more rewards value, it’s best to use that card for everyday spending, says Rossman.

You can transfer points between the two cards and redeem them for 25% more when booking travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.

Best American Express combination: Blue Cash Preferred & The Platinum Card

The Platinum Card from American Express 

The Platinum® Card comes with luxury travel benefits that can complement the high cash back earnings on the Blue Cash Preferred® Card.

These cards offer different types of rewards to use in various ways. The Platinum card, known for its travel benefits, has perks like airport lounge access, hotel upgrades, and airline fee credits. 

With the Platinum card, earn 5X points spent on airfare and prepaid hotels booked directly through American Express Travel (up to $500,000 per calendar year). Also, earn 2X points on prepaid car rentals through American Express Travel and 1X on all other purchases.

This card also often features a generous welcome bonus after meeting a specific spending requirement in the first few months of membership. This card has a steep annual fee — $695 — but comes with several credits that may offset the cost. See rates and fees.

Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express 

The Blue Cash Preferred focuses on cash back rewards for everyday spending categories like groceries, gas, and streaming services. Using both cards strategically allows you to maximize your rewards in different areas.

This card offers an excellent 6% cash back on U.S. supermarket purchases (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%). You’ll also earn 6% cash back on U.S. streaming services and 3% on U.S. gas station and transit purchases. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or on Amazon.com at checkout.

This card has an introductory annual fee of $0 in the first year and costs $95 annually afterward. See rates and fees.

Between these two cards, you’ll earn industry-leading rewards in two key categories — travel and groceries.

“Using these two cards in tandem can help you maximize rewards on travel purchases, as well as those daily essentials, including groceries and gas,” says Rossman.

Best Citi combination: Double Cash & Strata Premier℠ 

Citi Double Cash Card 

The Citi® Double Cash Card offers a flat 2% cash back on all purchases (1% at the time of purchase and 1% when you pay for the purchases). It's a great card for everyday spending and provides a reliable cash back rate.

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

On the other hand, the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (formerly the Citi Premier® Card) offers bonus points in various categories — plus some boosted travel rewards. 

You’ll earn 3X points on restaurant, supermarket, gas station, hotel, and air travel purchases. Plus, you’ll earn 1X on all other purchases. You'll also earn 10X points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.

The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card allows you to transfer your points to several airline and hotel loyalty programs, potentially increasing the value of your rewards. This flexibility can be particularly valuable for those who enjoy travel rewards and want to maximize their points' worth. Pairing it with the Double Cash card helps you earn cash back on non-bonus categories while still having the option to transfer points to travel partners.

The Citi Double Cash doesn’t have an annual fee, while the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card only charges a $95 fee, making this pairing a cost-effective option to maximize rewards.

Why should you get multiple cards from the same card issuer

Multiple cards can multiply the rewards you can earn across different spending categories.

“Having multiple credit cards from the same issuer allows consumers to maximize rewards across different spending categories,” says Taylor Kovar, a certified financial planner at Kovar Wealth. “One card might offer high rewards on travel, while another from the same issuer focuses on dining. By using both strategically, consumers can earn more rewards overall.”

Some card issuers offer bonus points for opening multiple cards. Others allow you to combine the points you’re earning across all your cards, helping you reach reward goals even faster.

Plus, keeping all your cards under the same issuer roof makes tracking and managing your finances more manageable. You can streamline your bill payments, reducing the chances of late fees and potential damage to your credit score.

The bottom line

Having multiple cards with a single credit card issuer can ensure you’re making the most of your spending rewards.

But it’s important to shop around and find cards that provide rewards that align with your spending and lifestyle patterns. You’ll also want to select cards that you can afford. Credit cards that offer some of the most lucrative benefits often charge a steep annual fee. Think carefully about your budget and how much you’ll likely use a pricey credit card before adding to your credit mix.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.