Best metal credit cards

In recent years, the metal credit card craze has picked up enough steam that you don’t need deep pockets to make room for one. There are even a few metal credit cards with no annual fees worth considering. Nowadays, the question isn’t just, “How do I get a metal credit card?” but also, “Are metal credit cards worth it?”

The best metal credit card is always the one that fits your budget and rewards your spending the most, but if deep down what you really want is to flex a hefty card after dinner, we’ve also listed the weight of our top cards.

The Business Platinum Card from American Express: Best for small-businesses owners

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is the heaviest card on our list (and perhaps the heaviest American Express metal card) and one of the most rewarding business cards on the market.

Your purchases can earn a whopping 5X points on prepaid flights and hotels booked through amextravel.com, plus 1.5X points on eligible purchases of $5,000 or more and on eligible purchases in key business categories (on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year; 1X points on all other eligible purchases).

On top of its high-yield reward rates, this Amex business metal card offers a wealth of travel protections, annual credits and elite hotel loyalty status upgrades. Jetsetters will also love its 35% bonus points back (on up to 500,000 points per calendar year) when you Pay with Points for eligible airfare. If you need a card to take on your business travels, the stainless-steel Business Platinum Card can withstand the miles.

You’ll also get 120,000 American Express Membership Rewards points after spending $15,000 in the first three months.

Pros

• Generous welcome bonus
• Lounge access

Cons

• High annual fee
• Must have good to excellent credit

Who should apply: If you make a lot of big-ticket purchases and travel for business often, you’ll do well with this card.

Who should skip: If your purchases don’t fit the card’s spending profile you might want to research a card that offers a higher rewards rate on typical business purchases.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best for flat-rate travel rewards

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is Capital One’s flagship card as well as its heaviest metal version. If travel credit cards with lots of moving parts aren’t your speed, the Venture Rewards card is as streamlined as it is sleek. You can rake in unlimited 2X miles on all purchases without breaking the bank thanks to its $95 annual fee.

Unfortunately, the card’s other features leave a bit to be desired. Aside from the Capital One transfer partners that improve the flexibility of your miles and the up to $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit (which comes standard for many travel cards), you won’t get many value-boosting perks. But if you’re looking for a well-rounded metal rewards card, it doesn’t get much easier than the Venture card.

You’ll also get 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 within the first three months, unlimited 2X miles on all purchases and 5X miles on hotels and rental cars through Capital One Travel.

Pros

• Unlimited 2X miles on all purchases
• More than 15+ airline and hotel travel transfer partners
• Two free visits to the Capital One Lounge
• No blackout dates

Cons

• List of airline partners currently doesn’t include any large U.S. airlines
• $95 annual fee

Who should apply: if you’re looking for a well-rounded metal rewards card with a flat rate on all purchases,, this might be the one for you.

Who should skip: If you really don’t want to pay an annual fee, you should consider other options.

American Express Gold Card: Best for dining and U.S. supermarkets

If you want an Amex metal card with the Midas touch, then the American Express® Gold Card is a perfect match. Its gold-plated exterior is a good bit lighter than its sibling (The Platinum Card® from American Express weighs in at 18.6g but comes with a $694 annual fee), but the Gold Card is worth its weight for cardholders who spend more on groceries and restaurants than flights.

The Gold Card earns a remarkable 4X points on restaurants and groceries at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 in purchases per year, then 1X), plus 3X points on flights booked directly with the airline or via amextravel.com.

Foodies have even more to love since the dining rewards also cover eligible services like Uber Eats. You can also sink your teeth into up to $120 each year in monthly dining credits for participating merchants and up to $120 in monthly Uber Cash each year ($10 monthly credits). These benefits and excellent reward rates can help you easily  offset the annual fee of $250.

This card will earn you 60,000 American Express Membership points after spending $4,000 in the first three months, plus you’ll get more than roughly $400 in credits first year.

Pros

• Points don’t expire
• No blackout dates
• Redeem points for gift cards, shopping, travel, entertainment, merchandise or charity
• Use points for all or a portion of qualifying travel purchases

Cons

• Must redeem travel rewards through amextravel.com
• $250 annual fee

Who should apply: if you spend heavily on food and make the most of its perks on dining and travel, this could be a great choice.

Who should skip: If you really don’t want to pay an annual fee, you should consider other options.

Chase Sapphire Reserve card: Best for travel

It’s almost a given for elite travel cards to be made of metal since they symbolize each issuer’s cream-of-the-cards, and the Chase Sapphire Reserve card is no exception. Not only does it carry a lower annual fee than the American Express Platinum, it may also be the better choice for travel considering its wider coverage of travel categories.

If the $550 annual fee is a bit steep for you, however, consider the metal-coated $95 Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, which provides similar rewards on a slightly lighter metal credit card (12.37g).

The Sapphire Reserve also takes the cake when it comes to reward flexibility. Thanks to the Chase Ultimate Rewards program, the 3X points you earn on dining and general travel purchases and up to 10X points when booking travel or dining through the Ultimate Rewards portal, you’ll gain a 50% boost when redeeming points for Chase travel or by using the Pay Yourself Back feature. Points can even be worth more than 2 cents apiece with the right Chase transfer partner.

You’ll also get 50,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after spending $4,000 within the first three months.

Pros

• No blackout dates
• No expiration dates
• No point limits

Cons

• High annual fee
• Lower rewards value for merchandise

Who should apply: If you like using Ultimate Rewards to maximize the value of your points or you’re a frequent traveler looking for some luxury perks, this premium travel cards could definitely work for you.

Who should skip:  If you want a good rewards rate on general purchases and access to more lounges, you might want to look for another card.

Comparing the best metal credit cards

If you really want the extra heft and flash that only a true status symbol credit card can bring, there are a few options beyond these cards, but the actual value and accessibility may be limited unless you’re richer than rich.

The bottom rung of this tier may be the Luxury Card brand, which includes the 22-gram, 24K gold-plated Mastercard® Gold Card™ that charges a $995 annual fee. The most elite credit cards are invitation-only, including the mythical Amex Black Card and the 27-gram J.P. Morgan Reserve – perhaps the heaviest known credit card. Above those, there are even diamond-encrusted and pearl-inlaid luxury credit cards.

How to choose a metal credit card

There are many metal credit cards that offer attractive features and benefits beyond how much they weigh. When choosing a metal credit card, compare these details of each to determine which are most important to you:

• Welcome bonus: Getting a welcome bonus with a new card is the easiest way to earn a lot of rewards quickly. Understand how much you’ll receive, how much you have to spend and in what timeframe. If you can’t spend that much under normal circumstances, consider timing your application with a big purchase, like a home improvement project.
• Earnings rate: Many cardholders want to maximize the rewards that they earn on their everyday purchases. Take a look at which categories you spend the most and match that with a card that offers bonus points for those merchants.
• Transfer partners: Some credit cards allow you to transfer your points to their airline and hotel partners to potentially even greater value.
• Annual credits: Does the card offer annual credits that offset its annual fee? If so, are those credits for retailers that you like to shop at? Credits for businesses that you don’t use or aren’t located nearby have very little value.
• Benefits: What benefits does the card offer, and do they make your life easier or save you money? Some cards provide elite status, airport lounge access, rental car protection and other perks that complement your lifestyle choices.
• Annual fees: How much is the annual fee and can you justify paying it based on the rewards you’ll earn and the benefits you receive?

Application and credit score requirements: Do you qualify for the card based on your credit score, current or previous credit cards and other factors? For example, the Chase 5/24 Rule denies applicants if they’ve opened more than five new credit cards in the last 24 months.

Bottom line

At the end of the day, the choice between a standard plastic credit card and a metal card comes down to either coincidence or personal taste.

Many cards are metal by default – especially high-end cards – but the practical benefits of having a card made of metal are limited. Aside from its extra durability, a credit card made of metal may be most appealing as a statement piece, offering some extra gravity when you toss it on the table.

Ultimately, however, a credit card is meant to be a practical financial tool. The best credit card – metal or plastic –  is the one that complements your spending and comes with features that reward you well beyond its annual fee.