What’s the best credit card to use on a business trip? If you’re jetting off to Tokyo, Paris, or Sao Paulo every few weeks, the answer will likely be different than if you’re driving to different client sites every day.
CNNMoney asked experts at two credit-card comparison websites — Jill Gonzalez, an analyst with CardHub and Sean McQuay, credit card analyst with NerdWallet — to share their top credit card picks for 8 kinds of business travelers, from road warriors to small business owners to international jetsetters.
Best all-arounder
For a business person who flies, drives, dines — basically does a little bit of everything — Gonzalez recommends the BarclayCard Arrival Plus. It offers 2x miles on all purchases, while many other cards only double mileage for specific categories.
What’s more, miles can be applied to more than just flights and hotels — they can be used for anything from discount travel sites to cruises to taxis.
The card is ideal for use abroad, Gonzalez says, since there’s no foreign transaction fee. And in general, credit cards offer a much lower exchange rate than banks, credit unions and airports kiosk exchanges, she says.
The card is free for the first year. After that, there’s an $89 annual fee. While that’s higher than some other cards, you can easily make up the difference with extra rewards, says Gonzalez.
“Of course, you should avoid fees if you can,” she says. “But we always say if the rewards are lucrative, and you’re saving money in the long run, go for the card with the fee.”
International jetsetters
Frequent flyers can earn sky-high rewards with this card.
Pentagon Federal Credit Union’s Premium Travel Rewards American Express Card gives you 5 points for every $1 spent on airfare. You’ll receive 1 point per dollar for all other expenses.
If you spend $2,500 in the first 3 months — easy to do with just a couple trips abroad — you’ll earn 20,000 bonus points that can be redeemed for flights, hotel stays, gift cards and more.
Charge more than $15,000 on the card in a single year and you’ll get 2 complimentary lounge club visits, good at airports around the world, Gonzalez notes.
And unlike some other rewards cards, there’s no cap on how many points you can earn or redeem.
To get the card, though, you must be a member of the PenFed Credit Union. You’re automatically eligible to join the credit union if you or a relative are a veteran, in the military or have a government job. The same is true for members and employees of organizations like the Red Cross. Otherwise, you’ll have to make a $15 one-time donation to join. Aside from that, there’s no annual fee.
Airport loungers
If you spend a lot of time waiting around in airports, investing in an Amex Platinum Business Card may be worth the money.
The card gains you entry to hundreds of lounges at U.S. and international airports, including Amex Centurion, Delta Sky Club, Airspace Lounge and Priority Pass Select lounges. So instead of cramming into a metal chair during a long layover, you can spread out in a comfortable seat, take advantage of free Wi-Fi for your laptop, and relax and refresh with often complimentary food and drink.
“It’s a really cool card to carry,” says McQuay at NerdWallet. “It lets you in to a lot of places.”
When making purchases, though, you’re better off using a different card with a more generous rewards program, McQuay advises.
Still, the platinum card comes with a $200 airfare credit each year, which helps offset the steep $450 annual fee.
North American fliers
For business travelers who fly mostly within the U.S., or to Mexico, the Dominican Republic or Jamaica, the Frontier Mastercard offers quick rewards.
Spend more than $500 in the first 3 months and you’ll get 40,000 bonus miles — enough for two round-trip domestic flights. Other cards typically require spending at least $1,000 to $3,000 to earn that many bonus miles, says Gonzalez.
Plus, for every flight you book on flyfrontier.com, you’ll earn double miles. So if you take Frontier Airlines frequently, this card is great, says Gonzalez.
And even if you don’t book flights all the time, just one purchase every six months keeps your miles from expiring.
Road warriors
If your work travel involves more driving than flying, Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card may be right for you.
You’ll earn 3% cash back on gas, which is huge considering that most rewards cards only offer 1% or 2% back.
And if you like to fill up the trunk with snacks for the road, you’ll get double that when buying groceries. Just make sure you stock up at regular supermarkets — big-box stores like Costco or Walmart don’t get the 6% cash back treatment.
But if you travel abroad, consider using a card that doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee on those trips, advises McQuay at Cardhub. Why pay another 2.7% when you don’t have to?
Big spenders
Starting a business or ramping one up? If you’ll be buying a lot of equipment or paying for office space and supplies, it helps to put those expenses on a credit card with a low interest rate.
With the Citi Diamond Preferred Mastercard, you’ll enjoy a 0% initial APR. Even better, that rate lasts a full 21 months. So if you’re planning to make some big-ticket purchases, this card is a great way to get what’s essentially an interest-free loan. And you’ll have almost 2 years to pay it back.
After 21 months, your APR will rise to anywhere between 11.99% and 21.99%, depending on your credit score. Hopefully you’ll pay the card off before that kicks in.
Meantime, every big-ticket office purchase helps you rack up points for getaways, says Gonzalez at CardHub.
The card also provides a 24×7 concierge service to help you book flights, hotels, concerts and more. Plus, you get special access to ticket presales, preferred seating, VIP packages and more.
There is no annual fee.
If you’re interested, apply now, advises Gonzalez at CardHub. With Fed rate hikes looming, that lengthy 0% APR might shrink next year, she says.
Hotel loyalists
If you stay in hotels frequently and don’t mind sticking to a particular chain, Gonzalez at CardHub recommends two cards that offer generous bonus points and lots of upgrades, exclusives and other perks.
IHG Rewards Club Select Credit Card grants 5 points per $1 you spend at any IHG property, including Intercontinental, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites hotels.
Meanwhile, at gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants, you’ll rack up 2 points per dollar. And if you put $1,000 on the card in the first 3 months, you’ll earn 60,000 points redeemable for up to 12 free nights in participating hotels. The annual fee is $49 after a free first year. An added bonus for those who frequently travel abroad: There’s no foreign transaction fee.
For $75 a year, Club Carlson Premier Rewards Visa Signature Card offers similar rewards to travelers who often stay at Radisson, Park Plaza, Park Inn, Quorvus Collection or Country Inn and Suite hotels.
“They group a lot of hotels together which ups your chances” of finding a room in your preferred destination, says Gonzalez.
Plus, Club Carlson adds 50,000 points with your first purchase and another 35,000 if you spend $2,500 in the first 90 days. After a year, you get another 40,000 points for renewing. All told, those 125,000 bonus points are enough for 13 free nights at their hotels.
A 3% fee is levied on foreign charges, though, so you might not want to use this card abroad, says Gonzalez.
Value shoppers
Buy a lot of office supplies or wireless services for your business? You can earn a hefty 5% cash back on those purchases with a SimplyCash Business Card from American Express, says Gonzalez at CardHub.
But even if you’re not always stocking up on copy paper and pens, you can get 3% cash back on purchases in a category of your choice. If client dinners at conferences are a big expense, select dining for your 3% cash back. If you’re always driving to far-flung offices, on the other hand, maximize your benefits by choosing gas stations.
If you apply by January 25, 2016, and spend $5,000 in the first 6 months, you’ll get a one-time $250 statement credit. The card has no annual fee.