BEST CREDIT CARDS
For many years, metal credit cards were elusive luxuries, out of reach for everyday people. That’s changed in recent years, and many banks now offer metal credit cards. While most of these cards are still luxury cards, their benefits make up for the fees that they charge. But the best metal cards are good because of the value they offer, not because they are made of metal.
A card is the same whether it’s made of metal or plastic, but having a metal card can be a fun luxury. Here are some of the best metal credit cards that you can put in your wallet.
The Best Metal Credit Cards
You might want a card made of metal, but that’s not the only thing you should be thinking about when choosing your card. Depending on what you plan to use the card for, you’ll want to choose the metal card with the right rewards and perks that fit your spending habits. That depends on how you tend to use a credit card, but these are some of the best credit cards in their respective categories that come in metal.
- Best for Business: American Express Business Gold Card
- Best for Travel: Chase Sapphire Reserve
- Best Rewards: American Express Gold Card
- Best Cash Back: Apple Card
Metal Credit Cards by Issuer
If you want to add some metal to your wallet, here is a list of all the issuers that offer metal credit cards and which of their cards come in metal.
- Amazon
- Amazon Prime Rewards Visa
- American Express
- Amazon Business Prime Card
- American Express Business Gold Card
- American Express Gold Card
- American Express Business Platinum Card
- American Express Platinum Card
- Apple
- The Apple Card
- Capital One
- Capital One Savor Cash Rewards
- Capital One Venture Rewards
- Chase
- Chase Sapphire Preferred
- Chase Sapphire Reserve
- United MileagePlus Club
- Citi
- Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite
- Citi Prestige
- HSBC
- HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard
- IHG
- IHG Rewards Club Premier
- MasterCard
- MasterCard Black Card
- MasterCard Gold Card
- MasterCard Titanium Card
- Propel American Express Card
- U.S. Bank
- Wells Fargo
- Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite
What Makes a Metal Credit Card Special?
You might be wondering why metal credit cards are a big trend. Other than the obvious, the fact that they’re made of metal, it can be hard to tell the difference between a metal card and a normal credit card.
What makes the best metal credit cards special is that most of them are luxury products. That means that they offer luxury benefits. This can include airline fee credits, lounge access, premium status at hotel chains, and more. Of course, these perks can’t be free. Most metal cards charge high annual fees.
While you might want to get a metal card just because it’s made of metal, you should make sure that you can make the most of the card you choose.
When looking at the different metal cards on the market, consider the following things:
- What is the annual fee?
- Will the benefits offer enough value to offset the fee?
- What type of rewards are offered?
- How much money do you spend in the card’s bonus categories?
Annual Fee
Metal credit cards tend to be luxury cards. That means that most of the cards will charge an annual fee. Some cards charge no or reduced fee for the first year, but you’ll have to close the card or pay the full fee once the first year I sup.
If the card you choose charges an annual fee, make sure that the value it provides is more than the fee costs.
Sign Up Bonus
Luxury cards have great sign up bonus offers but can have large spending requirements. For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s sign up bonus can be worth as much as $750 in travel but you have to spend $4,000 in a short time to earn it. If you care about the rewards, which you should, try to get a card with a bonus that you can reasonably earn.
Rewards
Having a metal credit card is cool if you get to use it but if your other cards offer better rewards, when will you have the chance to take the metal out of your wallet? Try to apply for a metal card that offers bonus rewards in the categories where you spend the most.
Perks
Luxury cards provide strong sign up bonuses and rewards but the things that really make them special are the perks. It can feel pretty cool to walk up to an airport lounge counter, flash a metal credit card, and to wait for your flight in-style with free snacks and drinks.
Each card offers different perks, and the most premium cards have a lot of different perks. Take the time to read about what each card offers and find the one that has the most perks that you’ll use.
FAQs
Here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about metal credit cards.
Why are some credit cards metal?
Some credit cards are made of metal largely as a marketing tool. People like having things that are interesting and unique. Because most credit cards are made of plastic, having a metal card feels like an exciting luxury. Card issuers are capitalizing on that feeling by making their premium cards out of metal, adding to the premium feel of the cards.
How to destroy metal credit cards
With a typical plastic card, destroying the card is as simple as taking a pair of scissors to it. Metal cards are harder to destroy. Some issuers offer destruction services, allowing you to mail in your old card for destruction.
If you’d rather use a DIY solution, heavy-duty scissors, a shredder, bolt cutters, or other tools might be able to do the trick. You can also get power tools involved and drill a hole in the chip or try melting it down in a campfire.
Which credit cards are metal?
The following are some of the metal cards that are available on the market.
- Amazon Prime Rewards Visa
- Amazon Business Prime Card
- American Express Business Gold Card
- American Express Gold Card
- American Express Business Platinum Card
- American Express Platinum Card
- The Apple Card
- Capital One Savor Cash Rewards
- Capital One Venture Rewards
- Chase Sapphire Preferred
- Chase Sapphire Reserve
- United MileagePlus Club
- Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite
- Citi Prestige
- HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard
- IIHG Rewards Club Premier
- MasterCard Black Card
- MasterCard Gold Card
- MasterCard Titanium Card
- Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite
- Propel American Express Card
Who makes metal credit cards?
The following issuers offer metal credit cards.
- Amazon
- American Express
- Apple
- Capital One
- Chase
- Citi
- HSBC
- IIHG
- MasterCard
- U.S. Bank
- Wells Fargo
More details on the best metal credit cards
American Express Business Gold Card
Amex Business Gold Card
Annual Fee: $295
APR: 15.74% - 23.74% Variable
Bonus: 35,000 Membership Rewards points
Best Perks: 25% point rebating when booking reward travel, $100 hotel credit at participating hotels
Pro/strength: Great for travel rewards
Con/weakness: Only offers good rewards for businesses who focus spending on one or two categories
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Annual Fee:
APR:
Bonus:
Best Perks: $300 travel credit, airport lounge access
Pro/strength: Travel credit is easy to use, points are worth 1.5 cents when used for travel
Con/weakness: Only useful for travel and restaurant purchases
American Express Gold Card
Amex Gold Card
Annual Fee:
APR:
Bonus:
Best Perks: $120 restaurant credit $100 airline fee credit
Pro/strength: Credits almost entirely offset fee
Con/weakness: No premium travel perks, such as lounge access
Apple Card
Annual Fee: None
APR: 12.74% to 23.74%
Bonus: None
Best Perks: Use your card through Apple Pay without waiting for a physical card to arrive
Pro/strength: Cash back in easy to redeem
Con/weakness: Best value requires using Apple Pay
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