Rewards Cards With the Lowest Minimum Spending Requirements

By now, you’ve likely heard all about how lucrative credit card signup bonus offers can be. In many cases, the best rewards credit cards offer signup bonuses worth $300 to $500, or even more. And if you’re able to take advantage, these offers can help you score free travel, gift cards, or even hundreds of dollars in cash back.

Unfortunately, huge minimum spending requirements often serve as a roadblock between the average spender and the best offers. With some cards requiring you to spend $3,000 or more in 90 days, the bonus deals we all wish we could get can sometimes be out of reach.

But, there is some good news: Some of the top rewards cards out there offer minimum spending requirements that even people with few bills and expenses can meet easily. I’m talking cards that require you to spend $1,000 or less within 90 days – or less than $333 per month – on credit.

After all, almost everyone in the U.S. spends at least $333 per month just to live – whether on food, gas, utilities, miscellaneous costs, or a combination of those expenses. By putting those moderate expenses on credit, and paying your bill in full each month, you can secure a hefty sign-up bonus worth hundreds of dollars in cash back or travel.

6 Credit Card Bonuses With a Minimum Spending Requirement of $1,000 or Less

Here are some of the top offers with a minimum spending requirement almost anyone can handle:

Chase Freedom®

With the Chase Freedom® card, you only have to spend $500 in your first 3 months from account opening to earn a $150 signup bonus. Earn 1 point per dollar spent on all purchases, plus 5 points per dollar on categories that rotate each quarter. Use your points for cash back, statement credits, or gift cards. And the best part is, this card never charges an annual fee.

Apply Now on Chase's secure website

Chase Freedom® Highlights

• 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 17.24-25.99%. Balance transfer fee is 3% of the amount transferred, $5 minimum
• Earn a $150 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
• Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate
• Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter
• Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - it's automatic
• Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open and there is no minimum to redeem for cash back.
• Free credit score, updated weekly with Credit Journey℠
• No annual fee

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

With the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, you’ll earn an astounding 3% at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 2% at U.S. gas stations and at select U.S. department stores, 1% on other purchases. This card has no annual fee (See Rates & Fees).

Partner Offer

Apply Now on American Express's secure website

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express Highlights

• Earn a $150 statement credit after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months.
• 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%).
• 2% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and at select U.S. department stores, 1% back on other purchases.
• Low intro APR: 0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable rate, currently 15.24% to 26.24%.
• You spoke, we listened. Over 1.6 million more places in the U.S. started accepting American Express® Cards in 2018.
• Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be easily redeemed for statement credits, gift cards, and merchandise.
• No annual fee.
• Terms Apply.
• See Rates & Fees

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

With the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express you can rack up cash back easily with 6% at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 3% at U.S. gas stations and at select U.S. department stores, 1% on other purchases.

Partner Offer

Apply Now on American Express's secure website

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express Highlights

• Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months.
• 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%) - that means spending $60 a week at U.S. supermarkets could earn over $180 back per year.
• 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations. 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
• You spoke, we listened. Over 1.6 million more places in the U.S. started accepting American Express® Cards in 2018.
• Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be easily redeemed for statement credits, gift cards, and merchandise.
• $95 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.
• See Rates & Fees

IHG® Rewards Club Select Credit Card

As a co-branded hotel card, the IHG® Rewards Club Select Credit Card offers a slew of points for users who are able to put just $1,000 on the card within 3 months. The current sign-up bonus of 80,000 points is worth at least four nights at a lower-tier InterContinental Hotels Group property nearly anywhere in the world. Here are some more details to consider:

Please Note: IHG® Rewards Club Select Credit Card is currently unavailable through our site.

Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card

Rounding out our list is another card with an easy-to-hit minimum spending requirement of only $500, the Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card. On top of the bonus, you’ll also earn a respectable 1.5% cash back on all types of purchases. No annual fee and 0% intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for a limited time also round out this card’s offerings. Here are some details you should consider before you sign up:

Learn More on Capital One's secure website

Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card Highlights

• One-time $150 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
• Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
• No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus, cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
• 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months; 16.24%-26.24% variable APR after that
• 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months; 16.24%-26.24% variable APR after that; 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months
• Pay no annual fee or foreign transaction fees

What to Remember When Pursuing Signup Bonus Offers

Although these rewards offers are easy to earn, it doesn’t make them any less dangerous. In order to really benefit from a signup bonus, you have to make sure you’re using credit to your benefit – and not letting your spending get out of hand.

• Related: Eight Tips to Make Credit Cards Work for You, Not Against You

Remember, it never pays to pursue rewards if you end up carrying a balance on your credit card and paying interest — or worse, spiraling into a lifestyle of debt and worry. To avoid falling victim to this common credit card trap, only pursue rewards if you’re able to use your card for regular bills and expenses and pay it in full every month.

Once you know you have mastered that skill, however, you’ll be in a good position to earn all kinds of rewards for purchases you planned to make anyway.

Rewards Cards With the Lowest Minimum Spending Requirements

• Chase Freedom®
• Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
• Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
• IHG® Rewards Club Select Credit Card
• Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card

For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, please click here.