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Earn points or cash back while working up a sweat? Yes, you can.
If one of your 2023 resolutions is to try a new at-home workout program or hit the gym or your favorite fitness studio, you’re in the right place to learn how to maximize your rewards.
You may already know how to earn points on travel, dining and purchases in numerous other categories. However, did you know that you can accrue valuable rewards while working out, too?
From CrossFit and calisthenics to bodyweight exercises and Bollywood dance routines, the options are truly endless — and with the right credit card in hand, you’ll be able to reap financial benefits, too.
The best credit cards for gyms, fitness classes and equipment
SKYNESHER/GETTYPaceline Visa Signature Credit Card.The World of Hyatt Credit Card.Chase Freedom Flex.Bilt Mastercard.U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card.Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card.The Platinum Card® from American Express.
The information for the Paceline Visa Signature Card, U.S. Bank Cash+ and Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Beyond gym memberships and workout classes, we also expanded the criteria for this list to include cards to purchase fitness gear and athletic apparel which generate at least 2 points per dollar spent (and in some cases, up to 5 points per dollar).
Related: How to get access to a great gym everywhere you travel
Comparing the best credit cards for fitness purchases
CardBest forEarning ratePaceline Visa Signature Credit CardEligible “health and wellness” purchases.Up to 5% cash back.World of Hyatt Credit CardGym memberships.2 points per dollar on fitness clubs and gym memberships.Chase Freedom FlexGym memberships.5% cash back on rotating bonus categories after activation (up to $1,500 per quarter); Q1 of 2023 includes gym memberships.Bilt MastercardFitness classes.1 point per dollar; however, you can redeem your points for some of the most popular fitness classes in the world, including SoulCycle, starting at 3,000 points a class.U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature CardGym memberships and sporting goods stores.5% cash back on two categories out of a choice of 12, on up to $2,000 per quarter.Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature CardAthletic clothing, gear or equipment purchased on Amazon.com.5% cash back on Amazon.com purchases.The Platinum Card from American ExpressEquinox+ users.Up to $25 back each month in statement credits.Details of each card
Paceline Visa Signature Credit Card
Rewards: Earn 2.5% cash back on eligible health and wellness purchases — including gym memberships, fitness equipment, sporting goods and select athletic apparel retailers. This 2.5% rate also applies to grocery stores and pharmacies. All other qualifying purchases will earn 1.5% back. However, you can double these rewards by meeting weekly activity goals (more details below).
Sign-up bonus: None, though you are eligible for weekly statement credits (up to $429 total in 12 months) toward the purchase of a new Apple Watch, subject to the terms below.
Annual fee: $60.
Keep in mind: The Paceline Visa Signature Credit Card combines your fitness and financial goals and is designed to reward you for both.
The base cash-back rates are solid to begin with — but they get even better.
When you stay physically active — which is defined as just 150 minutes of elevated heart activity per week — your rewards on all purchases double (to 5% on eligible health and wellness purchases plus grocery stores and pharmacies, and to 3% on all other qualifying purchases). The Paceline app and credit card work in tandem to track your progress through a wearable fitness device and then reward you accordingly.
If you don’t currently have such a device, you can purchase an Apple Watch through the app. When you hit that same goal of 150 minutes of activity in a week, you’ll receive a weekly statement credit to cover that purchase (up to $429 in total credits in 12 months).
Read our full article here to learn more about this unique card.
World of Hyatt Credit Card
Rewards: Earn 4 points per dollar on purchases at Hyatt hotels; 2 points per dollar at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from airlines, local transit and commuting, dining, flights purchased directly with the airline, fitness clubs and gym memberships; and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
Sign-up bonus: Earn 30,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Also, receive up to 30,000 more bonus points by earning 2 bonus points total per $1 spent on purchases that normally earn 1 bonus point, on up to $15,000 in the first six months of account opening. Since TPG values Hyatt points at 1.7 cents apiece, the full bonus is worth $1,020.
Annual fee: $95.
Keep in mind: As you can see, the World of Hyatt Credit Card earns 2 points per dollar on fitness clubs and gym memberships — a nice return that can be used toward a Hyatt redemption.
You can also earn up to two free nights per year on Hyatt properties by using this card. You’ll receive a free night certificate usable at a Category 1-4 property after your card anniversary. Earn a second free night at a Category 1-4 property by spending $15,000 on the card in a cardmember year.
Read our full review of the World of Hyatt card.
Apply for the World of Hyatt card.
Chase Freedom Flex
THE POINTS GUY
Rewards: Earn 5% back on up to the first $1,500 spent on rotating categories each quarter (activation required). Earn 3% back on dining (including takeout and eligible delivery services) and on drugstore purchases, and earn 1% back on all other purchases.
Sign-up bonus: Earn $200 cash back after you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee: $0.
Keep in mind: The Freedom Flex could be a great option for the first few months of the year, as the card’s quarterly bonus categories include gym memberships (along with grocery stores and Target purchases) for the first quarter of 2023. However, this only applies to fitness purchases from Jan. 1 through March 31. After that, your earning rate will drop to 1% back.
However, this can be even more lucrative if you also have a higher-end Chase card in your wallet — like the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card or Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. That’s because you can combine your earnings in a single account, effectively converting the cash-back rewards on the Freedom Flex into flexible, fully-transferable Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
Read our full review of the Chase Freedom Flex.
Apply for the Chase Freedom Flex.
Bilt Mastercard
BILT
Editor’s note: TPG founder Brian Kelly is a Bilt advisor and investor.
Rewards: Earn 3 points per dollar on dining and 2 points per dollar on travel. Additionally, earn up to 1 point per dollar on rent with no fees, on up to the first $50,000 spent. Use your card at least five times each statement period to earn points on all purchases.
Sign-up bonus: None.
Annual fee: $0.
Keep in mind: The Bilt Mastercard is the first and only card on the market that allows you to pay your rent, completely fee-free.
Beyond that, there’s a key reason why this card is included as a great option for fitness purchases: You can redeem your points for some of the most popular exercise classes in the world, including SoulCycle, starting at 3,000 points a class.
Bilt Rewards points are quite valuable, as they can be transferred at a 1:1 rate to nine airline and hotel loyalty programs. Some of our favorite transfer partners include American Airlines AAdvantage and World of Hyatt. Other redemption options include future mortgage or rent credit, fitness classes (if you want to continue to get your sweat on) and more.
Read our full review of the Bilt Mastercard.
U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card
Rewards: Earn 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in eligible purchases each quarter on the combined two categories you choose; 2% cash back on your choice of one everyday category, such as gas stations or grocery stores; and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases. The 5% categories that would fall under exercise purchases include gyms/fitness centers and sporting goods stores.
Sign-up bonus: Earn $200 after you spend $1,000 in eligible purchases in the first 120 days of account opening.
Annual fee: $0.
Keep in mind: While you must enroll each quarter in the categories of your choice to earn 5% cash back, it’s nice to be able to periodically change your selection. Not able to make use of 5% back on gyms this quarter? Pick something else — including TV, internet and streaming services — and save gyms for later this year. Check out the full list of eligible gyms and fitness centers, which include popular spots such as Equinox, Planet Fitness and SoulCycle.
U.S. Bank says the category options are subject to change quarterly. Although most Americans probably don’t have to worry about the quarterly spending cap, the most you could earn with the 5% bonus is $100 per quarter.
Read our full review of the U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card
mazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature
THE POINTS GUY
Rewards: Earn 5% back at Amazon.com and at Whole Foods Market; 2% back at restaurants, gas stations and drugstores; and 1% back on all other purchases.
Sign-up bonus: Receive an Amazon gift card instantly upon approval.
Annual fee: None – but you must be an Amazon Prime member to qualify. Prime subscriptions now cost $139 annually.
Keep in mind: This card offers best-in-class earnings on purchases at Amazon. With such a large selection of workout equipment, gear and exercise apparel available, we consider it a card that is worthy of mention. You can purchase weights, yoga mats, running gear, stationary bikes and much more to build your own home gym.
This card doesn’t technically come with a bonus rewards category for athletic gear, but any clothing, gear or equipment you purchase on Amazon.com should receive 5% cash back.
Read our full review of the Amazon Prime Visa.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Rewards: Earn 5 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or with Amex Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year), 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels through Amex Travel and 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
Welcome offer: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership.
Annual fee: $695 (see rates and fees).
Keep in mind: While you’ll only earn 1 point per dollar on gym memberships and fitness clubs, cardholders of the Amex Platinum can get up to $300 back each year in statement credits for eligible Equinox memberships or the Equinox+ app. Previously, this perk was doled out in monthly increments of $25, but now it’s granted on an annual basis. Enrollment is required in advance.
Whether you choose to work out at home or in person, Equinox members can enjoy a discount on their membership costs thanks to the Amex Platinum.
Read the full review of the Amex Platinum.
Other options
JOHN GRIBBEN/THE POINTS GUY
If you don’t love any of these options, you can still use a card that’s a solid pick for everyday spending. Some of these options include:
Earn 1.5% cash back on exercise spending with Chase Freedom Unlimited (or 1.5 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar if you also have an Ultimate Rewards-earning card).Earn 2% cash back using the Citi® Double Cash Card (1% when you buy plus 1% when you pay).Earn 2 miles per dollar on the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.These are normal earning rates on these cards — but it doesn’t make them any less lucrative.
Note that you should also check for discounts on your cards thanks to programs like Amex Offers and Chase Offers. These are limited and almost always one-time discounts, but can still provide value.
Finally, if you plan on making a large purchase of exercise equipment and want extra time to pay it off, you may want to look at a card with 0% introductory APR. Just be sure to pay off the entire amount before the end of that promotional period. Otherwise, you could be hit with massive interest charges.
Bottom line
You will almost certainly not spend enough money in a year to base your choice of a credit card on whether you can earn bonus points with the money you spend on gym memberships or gear. But if other bonus categories on a particular credit card align with your spending, receiving additional points for your workouts is a great perk.
Official application link: World of Hyatt Credit Card. Official application link: Chase Freedom Flex. Official application link: Bilt Mastercard. Official application link: Amex Platinum.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here. For rates and fees of the Bilt Mastercard, click here. For rewards and benefits of the Bilt Mastercard, click here.
Additional reporting by Ryan Wilcox, Stella Shon and Eric Rosen.
Title: The 7 best credit cards to maximize fitness spending
Sourced From: thepointsguy.com/guide/best-cards-exercise-fanatics/
Published Date: Thu, 05 Jan 2023 19:00:40 +0000
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