NerdWallet’s Best Metal Credit Cards
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You’re out to dinner with friends when the bill arrives. “Let me get that,” you say as you toss your metal credit card onto the table, where it lands with a satisfying thud.
You’re not one of the plastic masses. You possess the elegance, confidence and possibly even the shoulder pads of one of those rich people in '80s movies.
But rich people wear hoodies now, and metal cards are everywhere. And those friends you just bought dinner for probably also have a metal card or two. They were just too polite to stop you from picking up the check.
Metal cards are ideal for anyone who appreciates a commonplace object that offers both form and function. But after weighing a heavy stack of cards, here was a surprising finding: Some of the most “premium” of the bunch actually weigh less than cards that are of the workhorse cash-back variety. So, yes, style matters, but substance does, too. Picking a card by weight alone might not get you the features you actually want.
Here are some of our top picks for the best metal credit cards in a variety of categories.
The best metal credit cards
General travel credit cards
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Weight: 18.5 grams.
What’s so good about it: The Platinum Card® from American Express has long been one of the toniest cards around. It packed on more perks, along with a switch to a metal design, in a 2017 glow-up that added Uber credits (for rides or eats orders in the U.S. up to $15 each month and $35 in December), access to multiple kinds of airport lounges, exclusive dining experiences and more. The card even offers an annual credit to Saks Fifth Avenue. (Enrollment required; terms apply; see rates and fees.)
How it can make you feel fancy: This absolute unit clocks in at 18.5 grams, making it the card on this list that’s most likely to impress cashiers as they struggle to hoist it into the chip reader. Fun fact: If The Platinum Card® from American Express was actually made of platinum, it would cost more than $780, which makes its $695 annual fee a steal if you think about it.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Weight: 12.6 grams.
What’s so good about it: The Chase Sapphire Reserve® made its societal debut with a splash in 2016 thanks to a jaw-dropping 100,000-point sign-up bonus. (That bonus has since changed.) People were so inspired that they made unboxing videos. Chase swiftly ran out of the metal version of the card and had to ship out temporary plastic placeholders (the horror!). It’s an ideal card if all that influencer stuff means anything to you.
How it can make you feel fancy: At 12.6 grams, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is actually on the lighter side, but it remains a solid premium travel rewards card. One favorite feature that can help defray the card's $550 annual fee: If you carry multiple cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, you can transfer them to this card and redeem them for 1.5 cents each when booking travel through Chase. This card is the ultimate rewards multiplier.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Weight: 12.4 grams.
What’s so good about it: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the older sibling of the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, though it weighs a smidgen less at 12.4 grams and has a smaller $95 annual fee. The earnings rate is lower and you don’t get some of the same travel extras, but the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card rocks a reliably impressive sign-up bonus and packs plenty of punch.
How it can make you feel fancy: Points are worth 1.25 cents each when redeemed for travel through Chase, and you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards® from other cards. That makes this card a very decent downgrade option if you no longer want to pay the fee on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® but you still want that Sapphire sparkle.
U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card
Weight: 13 grams. (This card is no longer accepting new applications, but existing cardholders can still use it.)
What’s so good about it: With the 13-gram U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card, you get loads of premium travel benefits, like a generous annual statement credit, airport lounge access, credit toward TSA Precheck or Global Entry and free passes for in-flight Wi-Fi, but for a slightly lower $400 annual fee. A yearly $325 statement credit for eligible travel and dining purchases (including takeout) wipes out much of the cost.
How it can make you feel fancy: Get 30% off rentals with Silvercar so you can travel in style, instead of traveling around in an economy car. Also, you have to get past the velvet ropes of becoming an existing U.S. Bank account holder before you can qualify for the U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card.
Citi Prestige® Card
Weight: 18 grams.
What’s so good about it: The Citi Prestige® Card is one of the heaviest cards on this list at 18 grams, and it comes with a hefty annual fee to match. But you'll get an impressive rewards rate of 5 ThankYou points per $1 spent on dining and air travel, plus 3 points per $1 spent on hotels and cruises. A $250 annual travel credit helps defray the cost, too.
How it can make you feel fancy: With the Citi Prestige® Card, book four consecutive nights at a hotel on ThankYou.com and get the fourth night for free. So go on, take a slightly longer vacation.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Weight: 18 grams.
What’s so good about it: For a premium travel card, the weighty Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card charges a $395 annual fee, an amount that’s relatively manageable, especially considering its $300 annual travel credit and reimbursement for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry (see rates and fees ).
The cost is offset even more by a generous sign-up bonus and high rewards rate if you use the card to make bookings through Capital One Travel. Plus, your loyalty is rewarded every year with a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus — that’s worth $100 when you redeem it for travel.
How it can make you feel fancy: Capital One has opened several airport lounges, and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card gets you unlimited free access, with two free guests per visit. The lounges will offer the usual food, drinks and comfortable working areas, but wait — there’s more. Enjoy the yoga and cycling room, featuring Peloton bikes (follow this with a trip to the shower suite for the sake of your fellow passengers). Not feeling up for exercise? A soundproof relaxation room features a nap pod offering guided meditations. You just might miss your flight on purpose.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Weight: 16.6 grams.
What’s so good about it: It has that luxury feel at 16.6 grams, but thanks to how simple it is to redeem rewards for travel expenses, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card fits like a pair of comfy sweatpants. Cashing in your miles is as simple as requesting a statement credit to reimburse yourself.
How it can make you feel fancy: At times, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers downright enormous sign-up bonuses, but the annual fee remains a modest $95 (see rates and fees).
Some consumers have reported issues in being able to get a metal version of Capital One's Venture products. It's also important to note that Capital One has a third product with "Venture" in the name — the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card - Miles Boost — and it is not a metal card.
Credit cards for dining
American Express® Gold Card
Weight: 14.7 grams.
What’s so good about it: The American Express® Gold Card earns rich rewards in two of the most popular household spending categories: dining and U.S. supermarkets. At 14.7 grams, it doesn’t pack the travel-perks punch of its cousin, The Platinum Card® from American Express. But if you’re more foodie than road warrior, the American Express® Gold Card is worth its weight in, well, you know. (Terms apply; see rates and fees.)
How it can make you feel fancy: Pick between traditional yellow gold, trendy rose gold or (for a limited time) classic white gold for your card.
Airline credit cards
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
Weight: 18 grams.
What’s so good about it: Both its name and its weight (an impressive 18 grams) evoke the seriousness of the status-conscious traveler who has important places to be and important presentations to give once they arrive. The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® comes stuffed with additional perks in exchange for its $595 annual fee. The only thing that won’t be stuffed is your small suitcase: You and up to eight travel companions get a free checked bag on domestic flights.
How it can make you feel fancy: Three words: Admirals. Club. Membership. Plus you and up to eight travel companions can get whisked through the airport with priority screening and boarding (clearly this card is for people with entourages).
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
Weight: 14.8 grams.
What’s so good about it: Several cards in the Delta AmEx family — including the 14.8-gram Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card — match their metal designs with a slew of posh perks aimed at frequent travelers. (The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card are also made of metal.)
How it can make you feel fancy: The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card offers an annual companion pass, which covers airfare for a travel partner and can easily make up for the card's annual fee of $350. (Terms apply; see rates and fees). If you're willing to pay a higher annual fee, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card features companion passes that can be used in first class. (Terms apply; see rates and fees).
United Club℠ Infinite Card
Weight: 12 grams.
What’s so good about it: The United Club℠ Infinite Card is a comparatively light 12 grams, but it’s great if you’re not a light packer. You and a travel companion get two free checked bags.
How it can make you feel fancy: Wait for your flight in style (and without cumbersome luggage) with a United Club membership.
Hotel credit cards
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Weight: 14.6 grams.
What’s so good about it: The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card weighs 14.6 grams. It’s middle-of-the-road, weight-wise, but this is the high-end card of the Bonvoy family. Besides its big welcome offer, you get a Free Night Award worth up to 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points (compared to 35,000 points with other co-branded Bonvoy cards). Terms apply; see rates and fees.
How it can make you feel fancy: Instant Platinum Elite status gets you room upgrades, late checkout and more.
Store credit cards
Prime Visa
Weight: 12.4 grams.
What’s so good about it: Look, there’s nothing particularly elegant about all the shower curtain liners and dog leashes you buy on Amazon. But 5% cash back on Amazon purchases when you use the 12.4-gram Prime Visa? Yes.
How it can make you feel fancy: You also get 5% cash back at Whole Foods. They have elderflower kombucha on draft.
» MORE: Review of the Prime Visa
Verizon Visa® Card
Weight: 16 grams.
What’s so good about it: The Verizon Visa® Card, coming in at 16 grams, earns a rich 4% back at grocery stores and on gas and dining, all in the form of Verizon Dollars, which you can use to pay your wireless bill, buy a new phone, purchase gift cards or cover travel expenses. It also earns 4% at Verizon (excluding your monthly phone bill) and 1% elsewhere.
How it can make you feel fancy: Use your Verizon Visa® Card to pay your Verizon bill via Verizon Auto Pay and get $10 off per month for each eligible account or line on up to 12 lines, depending on plan. (Terms apply.) You can be that magnanimous person who lets a whole bunch of people join their family plan.
» MORE: Review of the Verizon Visa® Card
Options with more style than substance
Apple Card
The Apple Card is titanium, which is pretty impressive if you know anything about metallurgy. You’re advised to clean it with a “soft, slightly damp, lint-free microfiber cloth.” If you shove it into a jeans pocket and it gets stained blue, it can be a collossal disappointment. But as far as rewards go, you earn more of them when you don’t use the physical card. Use Apple Pay (with your significantly more delicate and expensive iPhone) and earn 3% back on purchases at Apple and select merchants, and 2% back anywhere else (assuming Apple Pay is accepted there). The physical card earns just 1% back.
The family of ‘Luxury Cards’
The Luxury Cards from Barclays include the Luxury Card™ Mastercard® Titanium Card™, Luxury Card™ Mastercard® Black Card™ and the Luxury Card™ Mastercard® Gold Card™. They offer many of the perks you’d expect from a premium travel card, like concierge service. The pricier Gold and Black cards come with travel credits, airport lounge access and more. But while the Titanium card charges a $195 annual fee (pocket change!), the Black and Gold cards charge $495 and $995, respectively.
Yes, the Gold card is legitimately plated in 24-karat gold, but higher-karat gold is actually softer and scratches more easily. Keep this card away from your keys.
To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, see this page. To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, see this page. To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, see this page. To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, see this page. To view rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, see this page. To view rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, see this page.
*The information related to the Citi Prestige® Card has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product or service.
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