Best Credit Cards for Airbnb of December 2024
Updated: Dec 10, 2024
+ 2 more+ 2 more
Budget travelers, here's a way to stretch your dollars even further: Get a credit card that rewards you for Airbnb stays. Payment networks (such as Visa and Mastercard) classify purchases made through the home-sharing platform in the same way as hotels, Airbnb says. That means that many general travel credit cards will help you earn extra rewards on Airbnb stays while also giving you the option of redeeming those rewards for more purchases with Airbnb.
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Budget travelers, here's a way to stretch your dollars even further: Get a credit card that rewards you for Airbnb stays. Payment networks (such as Visa and Mastercard) classify purchases made through the home-sharing platform in the same way as hotels, Airbnb says. That means that many general travel credit cards will help you earn extra rewards on Airbnb stays while also giving you the option of redeeming those rewards for more purchases with Airbnb.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards.
Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today,
The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America"
and many other national, regional and local media outlets.
Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
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Budget travelers, here's a way to stretch your dollars even further: Get a credit card that rewards you for Airbnb stays. Payment networks (such as Visa and Mastercard) classify purchases made through the home-sharing platform in the same way as hotels, Airbnb says. That means that many general travel credit cards will help you earn extra rewards on Airbnb stays while also giving you the option of redeeming those rewards for more purchases with Airbnb.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Budget travelers, here's a way to stretch your dollars even further: Get a credit card that rewards you for Airbnb stays. Payment networks (such as Visa and Mastercard) classify purchases made through the home-sharing platform in the same way as hotels, Airbnb says. That means that many general travel credit cards will help you earn extra rewards on Airbnb stays while also giving you the option of redeeming those rewards for more purchases with Airbnb.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
NerdWallet's Best Credit Cards for Airbnb of December 2024
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best for Simple, high rate + flexible redemption
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Best for 3X on travel + great perks
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best for Big bonus + flexible points
Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card: Best for 3X points + no annual fee
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card: Best for Simple rewards + no annual fee
Citi Custom Cash® Card: Best for 5% cash back for shorter stays
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card: Best for Simple cash back
Show SummaryHide Summary
Best Credit Cards for Airbnb From Our Partners
| Credit card | NerdWallet rating | Annual fee | Rewards rate | Intro offer | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Chase Sapphire Reserve®Apply Now on Chase's website on Chase's website | Best for 3X on travel + great perks | $550 | 1x-10x | 60,000 points | Apply Now on Chase's website on Chase's website |
 Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit cardApply Now on Bank of America's website on Bank of America's website | Best for Simple rewards + no annual fee | $0 | 1.5x | 25,000 points | Apply Now on Bank of America's website on Bank of America's website |
 Chase Sapphire Preferred® CardApply Now on Chase's website on Chase's website | Best for Big bonus + flexible points | $95 | 1x-5x | 60,000 points | Apply Now on Chase's website on Chase's website |
 Wells Fargo Autograph℠ CardApply Now on Wells Fargo's website on Wells Fargo's website | Best for 3X points + no annual fee | $0 | 1x-3x | 20,000 points | Apply Now on Wells Fargo's website on Wells Fargo's website |
 Wells Fargo Active Cash® CardApply Now on Wells Fargo's website on Wells Fargo's website | Best for Simple cash back | $0 | 2% | $200 | Apply Now on Wells Fargo's website on Wells Fargo's website |
 Capital One Venture Rewards Credit CardApply Now on Capital One's website on Capital One's website | Best for Simple, high rate + flexible redemption | $95 | 2x-5x | 75,000 miles | Apply Now on Capital One's website on Capital One's website |
 Citi Custom Cash® CardApply Now on Citibank's application on Citibank's application | Best for 5% cash back for shorter stays | $0 | 1%-5% | $200 | Apply Now on Citibank's application on Citibank's application |
Find the right credit card for you.
Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.
Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.
Our pick for: 3X on travel + great perks
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $120 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Member FDIC
NerdWallet's take
With its hefty annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® might look like a luxury card, but avid travelers know better. With all its benefits and perks, it can be a relative bargain. Earning with Airbnb: You earn 3 points for every dollar spent on travel, including Airbnb purchases. Redeeming with Airbnb: Points are worth 1 cent apiece when redeemed for statement credit. The card’s annual $300 travel credit can also be used for Airbnb stays.
You get 10 points per dollar spent on Chase Dining purchases, as well as hotel stays and car rentals booked through Chase; 5 points per dollar spent on air travel booked through Chase; 3 points per dollar spent on travel and dining not booked with Chase; and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. Points are worth 1.5 cents apiece when redeemed for travel booked through Chase, or you can transfer them to a dozen hotel and airline partners. You get $300 a year in credit for travel expenses, Priority Pass airport lounge access and reimbursement for the application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. And don't forget the big sign-up bonus.
The benefits can justify the cost, but the $550 annual fee is still a lot to swallow. The value you get when redeeming points for Airbnb stays is lower than for travel booked through Chase.
Our pick for: Simple rewards + no annual fee
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
- 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
- Use your card to book your trip how and where you want - you're not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
- Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
- 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.49% - 28.49% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
- If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means instead of earning an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1, you could earn 1.87-2.62 points for every $1 you spend on purchases.
- Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
- This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
NerdWallet's take
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card stands out for simplicity and value. Earning with Airbnb: The card earns 1.5 points per dollar spent on all purchases, including Airbnb rentals. Redeeming with Airbnb: Points are worth 1 cents apiece when redeemed for statement credit against travel purchases, including Airbnb.
You earn 1.5 points per dollar spent on everything. (Members of the Bank of America® Preferred Rewards program earn 25% to 75% more.) Redeem miles at 1 cent apiece for any travel or restaurant expense. The sign-up bonus is pretty good for a card with a $0 annual fee: 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases. And this is the rare travel-focused card with a long introductory APR period.
The bonus offer is low compared with the top travel cards on the market. Big spenders and frequent travelers may be better off with a card that offers bonus rewards for Airbnb and other travel purchases, even if it means paying an annual fee.
Our pick for: Big bonus + flexible points
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
- Member FDIC
NerdWallet's take
Super-flexible points and bonus rewards in a variety of categories make the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card a favorite. Earning with Airbnb: You get 2 points per dollar spent on travel, including Airbnb purchases. Redeeming with Airbnb: Points are worth 1 cent apiece when redeemed for statement credit.
You earn 5 points per $1 spent on travel booked through Chase; 5 points per dollar on Lyft rides (through March 2025); 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services and online grocery purchases (not including Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs); 2 points per dollar on travel not purchased through Chase; and 1 point per dollar on other purchases. Points are worth 25% more when you redeem them for travel booked through Chase, or you can transfer them to a dozen airline and hotel programs. There's an annual anniversary bonus of 10% of the points earned the previous year, a $50 hotel credit (terms apply) and a terrific bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
There's an annual fee of $95. The value you get when redeeming points for Airbnb stays is lower than for travel booked through Chase.
Our pick for: 3X points + no annual fee
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.
- Earn unlimited 3X points on the things that really add up - like restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans. Plus, earn 1X points on other purchases.
- $0 annual fee.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. 19.49%, 24.49%, or 29.49% variable APR thereafter.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
- Redeem your rewards points for travel, gift cards, or statement credits. Or shop at millions of online stores and redeem your rewards when you check out with PayPal.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
- View Rates & Fees
NerdWallet's take
The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card delivers so much value, it's hard to believe there's no annual fee. Earning with Airbnb: The card earns 3 points per dollar spent on travel, including Airbnb rentals. Redeeming with Airbnb: Points are worth 1 cent apiece when redeemed for statement credit.
The card earns unlimited 3 points per dollar spent on travel, dining, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. Other spending earns 1 point per dollar. There's a bonus offer for new cardholders, an introductory APR promotion — and an annual fee of $0.
Unlike with many other popular travel cards, there's no option to transfer points to partner programs. The bonus offer is relatively modest in comparison with other cards — but again, there's no annual fee.
Our pick for: Simple cash back
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 19.49%, 24.49%, or 29.49% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
- $0 annual fee.
- No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
- View Rates & Fees
NerdWallet's take
Don't want to fool around with points, miles or bonus categories? The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card keeps it simple. Earning with Airbnb: You earn 2% cash back on all purchases, from A(irbnb) to Z. Redeeming with Airbnb: Redeem cash back for statement credit.
You'll earn unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases, with no categories to track or bonus caps to keep in mind. There's a good bonus offer and an intro APR promotion.
If you're a heavy traveler, a card that earns bonus rewards on travel purchases could be a better match. The bonus offer is solid for a cash-back card, but lower than what many travel cards give you.
Our pick for: Simple, high rate + flexible redemption
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- View Rates & Fees
NerdWallet's take
Easy-to-earn, easy-to-redeem rewards have rightly made the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card one of the most popular cards in its class. Earning with Airbnb: The card earns 2 miles for every dollar spent on most purchases, including Airbnb purchases. Redeeming with Airbnb: Miles can be redeemed for any travel expense, including Airbnb rentals, at a value of 1 cent per mile.
This card earns 2 miles per dollar on all purchases, bumping up to 5 miles per dollar spent on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel. Miles can be redeemed for any travel expense. You're not limited to any single airline or hotel chain, and there are no blackout dates or restrictions on your travel. There's a great sign-up bonus: Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel. And the card also reimburses the application fee for TSA Precheck or Global Entry.
There's an annual fee of $95. Although you can transfer your miles to several partner programs, domestic airline options are scant, and transfers are usually at less than 1:1 ratio — so 2 Venture miles might get you only 1 or 1.5 miles or points in the partner program.
Our pick for: 5% cash back for shorter stays
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
- 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.49% - 28.49%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2026.
- No rotating bonus categories to sign up for – as your spending changes each billing cycle, your earn adjusts automatically when you spend in any of the eligible categories.
- No Annual Fee
- Citi will only issue one Citi Custom Cash® Card account per person.
- View Rates & Fees
NerdWallet's take
The Citi Custom Cash® Card can be the ideal way to pay for a shorter Airbnb stay. Earning with Airbnb: You earn 5% cash back in your top eligible spending category, subject to program terms. "Select travel" is one of the categories. Redeeming with Airbnb: Redeem cash back for credit on your statement.
You automatically earn 5% cash back in the eligible category where you spend the most money each billing cycle, on up to $500 per cycle in spending. Other spending earns 1% cash back. The card's travel category includes "airline, hotel, cruise line and travel agency purchases," and Airbnb confirms that purchases on its platform are coded like hotel stays. (Other categories: Grocery stores; restaurants; gas stations; streaming services; drugstores; home improvement stores; fitness clubs; select transit; and live entertainment.) There's a solid bonus offer, too. And the annual fee is $0.
The $500-per-cycle cap on spending eligible for 5% cash back translates into diminishing returns on longer stays. The bonus offer is solid for a cash-back card, but lower than what many travel cards give you.
FULL LIST OF EDITORIAL PICKS: BEST CREDIT CARDS FOR AIRBNB
Before applying, confirm details on issuer's website.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Our pick for: Simple, high rate + flexible redemption
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is probably the best-known general-purpose travel credit card, thanks to its ubiquitous advertising. You earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases. Miles can be redeemed at a value of 1 cent apiece for any travel purchase, without the blackout dates and other restrictions of branded hotel and airline cards. The card offers a great sign-up bonus and other worthwhile perks (see rates and fees). Read our review.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Our pick for: 3X on travel + great perks
The high annual fee on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® gives many potential applicants pause, but frequent travelers should be able to wring enough value out of this card to more than make up for the cost. Cardholders get bonus rewards (up to 10X) on dining and travel, a fat bonus offer, annual travel credits, airport lounge access, and a 50% boost in point value when redeeming points for travel booked through Chase. Points can also be transferred to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. Read our review.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Our pick for: Big bonus + flexible points
For a reasonable annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns bonus rewards (up to 5X) on travel, dining, select streaming services, and select online grocery purchases. Points are worth 25% more when you redeem them for travel booked through Chase, or you can transfer them to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. The sign-up bonus is stellar, too. Read our review.
Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card
Our pick for: 3X points + no annual fee
The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card offers so much value, it's hard to believe there's no annual fee. Start with a great bonus offer, then earn extra rewards in a host of common spending categories — restaurants, gas stations, transit, travel, streaming and more. Read our review.
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
Our pick for: Simple rewards + no annual fee
One of the best no-annual-fee travel cards available, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card gives you a solid rewards rate on every purchase, with points that can be redeemed for any travel purchase, without the restrictions of branded airline and hotel cards. Bank of America® has an expansive definition of "travel," too, giving you additional flexibility in how you use your rewards. Read our review.
Citi Custom Cash® Card
Our pick for 5% cash back for shorter stays
The Citi Custom Cash® Card offers a lot of value for a $0 annual fee: 5% back automatically in your eligible top spending category on up to $500 spent per billing cycle (1% back on other spending). The list of eligible 5% categories is varied and includes biggies like restaurants, grocery stores and more. And unlike with its competitors, there's no activation schedule or bonus calendar to keep track of. Read our review.
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Our pick for: Simple cash back
Among flat-rate cash-back cards, you'll be hard-pressed to beat the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card. It earns an unlimited 2% back on all purchases, which is excellent. But in addition, the card offers a rich sign-up bonus and a decent intro APR period on both purchases and balance transfers. That's an impressive, hard-to-find combination of features on a card with a $0 annual fee. Read our review.
Last updated on December 10, 2024
Methodology
NerdWallet's credit cards team selects the best credit cards in each category based on overall consumer value. Factors in our evaluation include fees, promotional and ongoing APRs, and sign-up bonuses; for rewards cards, we consider earning and redemption rates, redemption options and redemption difficulty. A single card is eligible to be chosen as among the "best" in multiple categories. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.
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