The best credit cards for active-duty military service members in 2021

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As a newly minted Airman, I was floored when I first found out about all the credit card perks active duty military members receive. After picking my jaw back up, I started immediately applying to some of the dozens of credit cards that offer benefits for active-duty service members, which include things like waived annual fees, lowered interest rates, and even military-specific credit cards. 

Many of these benefits are offered in order to comply with the Servicemembers Credit Relief Act (SCRA) and the Military Lending Act (MLA), which offer financial protections that civilians don’t receive. Even better, many card issuers have gone above the legal requirements and offer additional benefits to all eligible servicemembers, even when it’s not mandatory. 

Though my days in the service are gone (along with those sweet perks), these offers are still available. With waived annual fees for active-duty servicemembers, some cards can get you hundreds of dollars in benefits and credits each year — not to mention the rewards you’ll earn from charging your everyday purchases.

Here are some of the best credit cards for active-duty military — and some of the valuable perks you can receive.

We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.

American Express offers some of the most generous policies for active servicemembers. Unlike other banks, Amex will waive annual fees for all of its credit cards, whether they’re business or personal.

With a huge suite of premium credit cards, like The Platinum Card® from American Express, military members can receive hundreds (or thousands) of dollars per year in free perks. Depending on the card, these include benefits such as monthly or yearly travel and shopping credits, free hotel stays, top-tier elite status, and airport lounge access — all for absolutely nothing out of pocket. 

Even if you’re not a traveler, you can still take advantage of perks, like up to $200 per calendar year in credit at Dell, up to $100 per calendar year credit at Saks Fifth Avenue, and monthly credits for free food delivery. Coupled with the ability to earn a substantial amount of American Express Membership Rewards, airline miles, or hotel points via welcome bonuses and bonus category spending, applying for one of these Amex cards is almost a no-brainer if you’re active duty.

Here are our top picks for American Express’ best credit cards for the military:

American Express Platinum 

The Platinum Card® from American Express is the original “status” card, and has some of the broadest benefits of any card, from any bank. Amex Platinum cardholders receive a slew of valuable credits and perks, including up to $200 per calendar year in Uber credits (good for Uber rides or UberEats), up to $200 per calendar year in airline incidental fee credits on your selected airline and up to $100 per calendar year in Saks Fifth Avenue credits. 

Cardholders also get complimentary Hilton and Marriott gold elite status and airport lounge access including Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs when you’re flying Delta, and Priority Pass lounges. As part of thelimited-time COVID benefits Amex has introduced, cardholders also get to $30 per month in PayPal credits from January through June 31, 2021

The Platinum Card currently offers an excellent welcome bonus of 75,000 points after you spend at least $5,000 in your first 6 months of account opening, plus new cardholders can earn 10x points at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations on up to $15,000 in combined spending (then 1x) in the first six months. The card has a $550 annual fee (See Rates), but that’s waived for active-duty military.

American Express Business Platinum

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is the small-business version of its popular charge card. It offers similar benefits while also targeting small-business owners’ needs, such as up to $200 per calendar year in Dell credit (this isn’t offered on the personal Platinum card). It also comes with up to $200 per calendar year in airline incidental fee credits on your selected airline, Hilton and Marriott gold elite status, and airport lounge access.

With the Amex Business Platinum Card card, you’ll earn a bonus of 85,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases within your first 3 months of account opening. Plus, new cardholders can earn 5x points on eligible U.S. purchases on shipping, wireless telephone services, advertising in select media, office supplies, and gas stations in the first three months of account opening, up to 80,000 bonus points per category.

The annual fee is $595 (See Review), but again, it’s waived if you’re active-duty military.

American Express Hilton Aspire

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is the only hotel credit card that comes with automatic top-tier elite status. It’s an excellent choice for travelers who like Hilton hotels, and because the $450 annual fee is waived for active-duty service members, you can get a ton of value from its perks.

These include Hilton Diamond elite status, which gets you extras like upgrades, hotel lounge access, and free breakfast, and a free annual night each account anniversary valid for use at nearly any Hilton hotel worldwide. You’ll also receive up to $250 per calendar year in Hilton resort credits and up to $250 per year in airline incidental fee credits on your selected airline.

The Hilton Honors Aspire Card offers a welcome bonus of 150,000 points after you spend at least $4,000 in your first 3 months of account opening, and cardholders receive a Hilton free weekend night reward 8-14 weeks after opening the account (and again after each card anniversary).

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express

Marriott Bonvoy loyalists can get huge value from the high-end Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card, which offers cardholders hundreds of dollars in credits and benefits each year. You’ll get perks like up to $300 per year in Marriott property credit (valid on room rates, food and beverage, spa treatments, and other incidentals) and an annual free night every card anniversary, valid at hotels that cost up to 50,000 points.

Cardholders also enjoy Priority Pass Select membership for airport lounge access, and a $100 property credit when booking eligible paid stays of two nights or more at Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis hotels.

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card offers a substantial welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy points after you use your new Card to make $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months. There’s a $450 (See Rates) annual fee, but it’s also waived for active-duty service members.

Delta Reserve American Express 

Even if you only fly Delta occasionally, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card offers perks that make it well worth keeping in your wallet. There’s a $550 annual fee (See Rates), waived for active-duty military.

The card’s benefits include an annual Delta companion ticket (good on domestic flights and including first class), free Delta Sky Club lounge membership, a free checked bag on Delta flights, and priority boarding.

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card comes with a solid welcome bonus: Earn 40,000 bonus miles and 10,000 MQMs after you spend $3,000 in purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

While Chase doesn’t waive annual fees for its small-business credit cards, it will waive them for all its personal cards. With a host of co-branded airline and hotel credit cards and Chase Ultimate Rewards cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, military members can take advantage of tons of great perks.

Depending on the card, these include benefits such as travel credits, free hotel stays, food delivery credits, and airport lounge access. And even if you’re not interested in the reward travel game, Chase offers huge potential with its Ultimate Rewards program, which offers tons of redemption options including statement credits, gift cards, and merchandise. 

Here are some of the best Chase credit cards for the military:

Chase Sapphire Reserve

Considered a premium travel card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® provides cardholders with hundreds of dollars in benefits each year, including up to $300 per year in travel credits, which you can use toward just about anything travel-related. 

Cardholders also get up to $60 in DoorDash credit for 2021, one year of free Lyft Pink and DoorDash DashPass membership, and Priority Pass airport lounge access.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® currently offers a welcome bonus of 50,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. There’s a $550 annual fee but Chase waives it for active-duty military members.

Chase United Club Infinite

Fans of the United MileagePlus loyalty program can potentially save thousands of dollars a year in travel with Chase’s most-expensive United Airlines credit card. The United Club℠ Infinite Card comes with valuable travel benefits that include United Club airport lounge membership, including entry for two companions, and two free checked bags on United flights. 

You’ll also get Premier access, which includes priority check-in, security screening, and boarding, and Hertz Gold Plus President’s Circle elite status which can get you rental car upgrades.

The United Club℠ Infinite Card currently doesn’t offer a welcome bonus, but it has in the past. The annual fee is $0 for the first year, then $525, but it’s waived entirely for active-duty military.

Chase Southwest Priority

If you’re a deal hunter, you probably fly Southwest. Owning the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card will drastically improve your experience while also handing you free credits each year. You’ll also get valuable day-of-travel perks and other benefits like up to $75 in annual Southwest credit, 7,500 anniversary points each year when you renew the card, four upgraded boardings per year (A1-A15) when available, and 20{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5} off inflight purchases.

It’s a good time to consider the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card, because it’s currently offering a welcome bonus of 80,000 points (50,000 points after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months ,and an additional 30,000 points after you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 9 months). That’s nearly enough to qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass, which allows a designated companion to fly with you for nearly free (just pay taxes and fees) on paid and award tickets. There’s a $149 annual fee, also waived for active-duty military.

Chase World of Hyatt

Although it doesn’t have as many features as some higher-end credit cards, The World Of Hyatt Credit Card offers plenty of perks and still costs you nothing out of pocket if you’re active-duty military (otherwise, the annual fee is $95).

Cardholders receive an annual award night valid at any Hyatt Category 1-4 hotel, which can easily be worth hundreds of dollars. If you spend $15,000 on the card in an account year, you’ll earn another free night (valid at the same categories).

The World Of Hyatt Credit Card offers a welcome bonus of 25,000 points after you spend $3,000 in the first three months, and another 25,000 points when you spend $6,000 total within six months of account opening. You’ll also get automatic Hyatt Discoverist elite status, which comes with perks like bonus points and early check-in/late checkout when available.

Chase IHG Rewards Premier

One of the more generous hotel credit cards, the IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card offers a large sign-up bonus of 140,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. In addition, you’ll get valuable perks like an anniversary award night each year worth up to 40,000 points and IHG Platinum elite status.

You can also save points with the fourth award night free on all standard award redemptions of four nights or more, which translates to a 25{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5} discount just for being a cardholder. The card also offers up to a $100 statement credit for the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee.

There’s an $89 annual fee, again waived for active-duty military. 

While Discover cards don’t actually charge any annual fees — it’s one of their hallmarks — they’ve outdone much of the competition by eliminating all over-limit and late fees for active-duty military credit cards. They’ve also lowered their interest rates to a staggering 5.9{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5}, which is incredibly low for any credit card. 

Here are our top picks for Discover’s best credit cards for the military:

Discover it Cash Back

With a rotating selection of 5{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5} cash back categories every quarter, it’s easy to maximize your earnings with the Discover it® Cash Back. Discover’s 5{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5} cash back calendar often includes categories and merchants that fit everyday spending habits. You’ll earn 5{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5} back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases (then 1{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5} back) in these categories each quarter when you activate the bonus.  

In addition, Discover will match all cash back earned at the end of your first year.

Discover it Miles

The Discover it® Miles is good for those who don’t want any fuss at all, offering a flat 1.5x miles on all purchases. Like the Discover it® Cash Back, Discover will match all the miles you’ve earned after your first year. 

Navy Federal is a credit union available to those who are tied to the US military. As an active-duty service member, you and your family are eligible to enroll and enjoy membership, which extends beyond good credit cards.

While it doesn’t have a ton of credit card options, there is one Navy Federal card that stands out above the rest:

Navy Federal Visa Signature Flagship

The Navy Federal Visa Signature® Flagship Rewards Credit Card offers high reward-earning opportunities and a very low interest rate.

• The $49 annual fee is waived the first year
• Interest rates as low as 9.99{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5}
• 3x points on travel, 2x points on everything else
• Up to $100 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck