Icon Defenition

Cash Back
Cards of this type give you Cash Back on All and/or Specific Purchases, depending on a credit card. Cash Back amount is a percentage (usually 1-5%) of the amount of New Purchases. It is distributed back to consumer as a Credit on a billing statement, or by check. The type and frequency of such distributions depend on a particular credit card. You may find more Cash Back cards in section Cash Rebates Cards.

Point Rewards
The cards of this type give consumers Rewards, in exchange for points consumers accumulate with every purchase. Generally, you'll earn 1 point for every $1 you spend (under certain bonus offers, you can earn as much as 10 points for each $1). Reward cards are divided into two categories:

1. Points you accumulate can be redeemed for virtually anything - from gift certificates, merchandize, movie tickets and concerts to free hotel nights, Airline tickets, and vacation packages. If you're interested in Frequent Flyer cards only (those that let you earn Free flights), you should check out our Frequent Flyer Cards section.

2. This type of Rewards cards lets consumers accumulate points (or earn a % of New purchases), and redeem for Rewards and/or Discounts at particular merchant(s).

Charge Card
This type of cards is slightly different from Credit Cards. The main difference is that with a charge card you have to Pay the balance in Full every month. With a Credit card, you can make Minimum monthly payments, usually around 2% of the New Balance.

Frequent Flyer Cards
These cards let you earn points, or Miles, in exchange for Free airline tickets and upgrades. There are cards that are specifically Frequent Flyer cards, which means that the Miles you earn (usually 1 Mile for $1) are transferred every month into your account at a specific airline (Delta, Continental, etc.). With other cards, no points are transferred to an airline account. Instead, you can earn free flights on Any Airline. The industry standard required Mileage for a Free Economy flight within the United States is 25,000 Miles.

Any Purchase
Cards of this type give you Cash Back on All Purchases. Cash Back amount is a percentage (usually 1-5%) of the amount of New Purchases. It is distributed back to consumer as a Credit on a billing statement, or by check. The type and frequency of such distributions depend on a particular credit card.

Any Gasoline
With these cards, you will earn Cash Back on Gasoline and other purchases at Any Gas Station. For the most part, these cards also give a generous Cash Back on Any Purchase, although the Rebate % is smaller than on Gasoline purchases.

Select Gasoline
These cards allow you to earn Cash Back on Gas and other purchases at specific Gas Stations. For the most part, these cards also give a generous Cash Back on Any Purchase, although the Rebate % is smaller than on Gasoline purchases.

Interest Charges
This is a very rare type of Cash Back. Your credit card company will give back a percentage of the total amount of Interest (if any) that you paid throughout the year.

Auto
Auto rewards cards let you earn points with every purchase (1 point for $1, or a % of New Purchases), redeemable for Discounts on cars of specified manufacturers.

All-In-One
The cards of this type give consumers Rewards, in exchange for points consumers accumulate with every purchase. Generally, you'll earn 1 point for every $1 you spend (under certain bonus offers, you can earn as much as 10 points for each $1). Points you accumulate can be redeemed for virtually anything - from gift certificates, merchandize, movie tickets and concerts to free hotel nights, Airline tickets, and vacation packages. If you're interested in Frequent Flyer cards only (those that let you earn Free flights), you should check out our Frequent Flyer Cards section.

Miles
These cards let you earn points, or Miles, in exchange for Free airline tickets and upgrades. There are cards that are specifically Frequent Flyer cards, which means that the Miles you earn (usually 1 Mile for $1) are transferred every month into your account at a specific airline (Delta, Continental, etc.). With other cards, no points are transferred to an airline account. Instead, you can earn free flights on Any Airline. The industry standard required Mileage for a Free Economy flight within the United States is 25,000.

Travel
Travel rewards cards let you earn points (usually 1 for $1) redeemable for a variety of travel options, including cruises, air flights, hotel stays, car rentals, vacation packages, and more.

Retail
Retail rewards cards allow you to earn Free or Discounted merchandize in exchange for points that you accumulate with every purchase (usually 1 point for $1, or a % of New Purchases). Some retail cards let you redeem for products only at specific merchants
(look for the Merchant's name under "Retail" symbol).

Pastime
With these rewards cards, you can earn points (usually 1 for $1), and redeem for a variety of entertainment options, such as movie and concert tickets, CDs, DVDs & interactive games, and much more!