Short Review of Best Metal Cards
| Name | Best for | Rewards Rate | APR | Apply |
|---|
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | Travel, Daily use | 5x Miles on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.2x Unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. | 19.99% - 29.99% Variable | Learn more on our partner’s site |
Celtic Bank The Owner’s Rewards Card by M1 | | 10% You’ll get up to 10% Cash Back with select brands you hold in an eligible portfolio.1.5% Cash Back on everything else. | 17.99% - 27.99% Variable | Apply now On Celtic Bank‘s site |
Chase Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature | Metal | 5% Cash Back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market with an eligible Prime membership.2% Cash Back at restaurants, gas stations and drugstores.1% Cash Back on all other purchases. | 20.49% - 29.24% Variable | Learn more |
American Express® Gold Card | Cash Back | 4x Points on dining at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.4x Points on groceries at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 in purchases per year.3x Points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.1x Points on other eligible purchases. | 20.74% - 28.74% Variable | Learn more |
Chase Sapphire Preferred® | Travel, Restaurants, Daily use | $50 Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.5x Points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, excluding hotel purchases that qualify for the $50 Anniversary Hotel Credit.3x Points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out.3x Points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs).3x Points on select streaming services.2x Points on other travel purchases.1x Point per dollar spent on all other purchases. | 22.49% - 29.49% Variable | Learn more |
| Travel, Restaurants, Daily use | 10x Points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually.10x Total points on Chase Dining purchases with Ultimate Rewards®.5x Total points on flights when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually.3x Points on other travel worldwide after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually.3x Points on other dining at restaurants, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out.1x Point per dollar spent on all other purchases. | 22.49% - 29.49% Variable | Learn more |
The Platinum Card® from American Express | Young couples | 5x Points on up to $500,000 spent on directly-booked airfare and flights (per calendar year).5x Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.1x Points on all other purchases. | 21.24% - 29.24% Variable | Learn more |
American Express® Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ | Hotel | 6x Points on hotels. For eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.3x Points on dining at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery.3x Points on flights.2x Points on all other purchases. | 20.49% - 29.49% Variable | Learn more |
U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card | Metal | 5x Points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Center.3x Points for every $1 on eligible travel purchases and mobile wallet spending. | 22.24% - 29.24% Variable | Learn more |
| Metal | 3% Cash Back at Apple.3% Apple Card gives you unlimited 3% Daily Cash Back on purchases you make at select merchants when you use Apple Card with Apple Pay.2% Cash Back on other Apple pay purchases.1% Cash Back on everything else. | 19.24% - 29.49% Variable | Learn more |
Who should apply for metal credit cards
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a good metal card for travelers who want to earn cash-back at a flat rate on all purchases and a variety of options to redeem their points.
Read more about Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Chase Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature
Given that points can be redeemed at Amazon, this card is a good choice for Amazon Prime members who frequently shop at Amazon and Whole Foods Market. The stellar 5% cash back is a big win for customers with Amazon Prime membership.
Read more about Chase Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature
American Express® Gold Card
Earning up to 4X points, the American Express® Gold Card card is good for those who love dining out and shopping at U.S. supermarkets. You'll come out ahead if you can spend enough and take advantage of all the credits to cover the $250 annual fee.
Read more about American Express® Gold Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred®
With a relatively low annual fee of $95 and well-balanced rewards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a good choice for frequent travelers. However, the card doesn't include premium level perks like access to airport lounges or free checked bags and may not work well for high-end travelers looking for premium level perks.
Read more about Chase Sapphire Preferred®
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
The card comes with a hefty annual fee of $550 and $75 for each authorized user. Therefore, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is an excellent choice for frequent travelers who can spend enough to take advantage of the rewards and bonuses to justify the fees.
Read more about Chase Sapphire Reserve®
The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Platinum Card® from American Express® is a good choice for travelers who want to elevate their experience with luxury perks like access to high-end airport lounges, hotel properties and who can maximize the annual credits to recoup the hefty annual fee of $695. If you're looking to save money on travel, this card may not be a good choice for you.
Read more about The Platinum Card® from American Express
American Express® Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™
With the $650 annual fee, this metal card is a good choice for Marriott Bonvoy brand travelers looking to elevate their travel experience and enjoy Elite status by patronizing Marriott Bonvoy hotels to reap the perks fully.
The annual fee may be high for infrequent, budget-conscious Marriott Bonvoy devotees who may not spend enough to justify the fee.
Read more about American Express® Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™
U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card
The US bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card is a sound metal card for US bank account holders who travel frequently. The $325 annual travel credit and other luxury perks bundled with the card can easily justify the $400 annual fee.
Read more about U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card
Goldman Sachs Apple
The 3% cash back at Apple Store and its partners makes the Apple Card great for brand-loyal shoppers, while the 2% cash back is great for Apple Pay users. Plus, the card doesn't charge any fees and has a low minimum APR of 10.99%, making it the least expensive and the only metal credit card with no annual fee on our list.
Read more about Goldman Sachs Apple
What is a metal credit card
A metal credit card is a card made of metallic material like brass, copper, stainless steel, platinum, aluminum, or titanium. They tend to be heavier and more durable than their plastic counterparts and feature a sleek, prestigious design. Again, they may come with higher annual fees, luxurious rewards, and more perks to offset the fee.
Traditionally, metal credit cards were reserved for wealthy, high-end cardholders and came with hefty fees. But things have changed as more card issuers release their version of metal credit cards. Today, anyone with a good-to-excellent credit score can apply for these types of cards.
Everything else aside, metal credit cards work pretty much the same as plastic credit cards.
Pros and cons of metal credit cards
| Pros:
| Cons:
|
|---|
| Durability. A metal credit card is sturdy and can withstand breakage, bending, and cracking that’s common with their plastic counterparts.
| Hard to dispose of. All metal credit cards can’t be shredded or cut with scissors, making them hard to dispose of. The only safe disposal option is to send them to the issuer, which may take extra time and money.
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| Sense of luxury. Their sleek, prestigious design comes with a sense of luxury that sets them apart from plastic credit cards.
| Hefty fees. Unless you're strategic with using the card, high annual fees on some cards can easily overshadow the benefits and become a burden on your finances.
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| Premium benefits. Metal credit cards include luxury perks like annual travel statement credits, airport lounge access, and access to luxurious car rentals/hotel brands to elevate the cardholder’s status.
| |
How to choose a metal credit card
When choosing a metal credit card, your considerations should go beyond the look and feel or the feelings of luxury these cards evoke. To determine the best metal credit cards that align with your goals, consider the following:
- Annual fees.Some of the best metal credit cards have annual fees running into hundreds of dollars, and you have to maintain a higher level of spending to justify the annual fee. So make sure the rewards offered are valuable to you and can offset the annual fee.
- Spending habits. Do your spending habits align with the card's spending categories? If you don't spend a lot on the card’s bonus categories, you may not enjoy the included perks. For instance, you may not benefit from a metal card that offers generous rewards on flights and hotels if you aren't a frequent traveler.
- Minimum spend for the welcome bonus. The higher is the sign-up bonus, the more you'll need to spend within the given period to clinch the deal. If you end up with a higher balance trying to chase bonus points, the interest charged may erase the value of the earned rewards.
- Rewards flexibility. Check the issuer's conditions on rewards redemption. What redemption options do they offer? Are they flexible enough? That's important so that you don't accumulate rewards that you may never use.
- Financial needs. Your unique financial needs and goals should guide you when choosing a metal credit card. For example, do you want to travel the world, or fund major purchases? Double down into things like intro APR, balance transfer fees, purchase protection, and other benefits so that you can choose your best metal card on well-rounded criteria.
- Check the issuer requirements. Can you qualify for the card you're considering? The best metal credit cards require you to have good to excellent credit standing to qualify. So check the issuer's requirements and scrutinize the fine print for all terms and conditions, including penalty rates and fees, to avoid annoying surprises down the line.
How to get a metal credit card
Once you've considered all the above factors and chosen the best metal credit card that aligns with your financial goals and fits your spending lifestyle, getting the metal card of your choice is easy.
Visit the issuer's application page and submit the application form online. You can also call the issuer directly to apply or have an application form mailed to you, fill it and send it back for approval.
Are Metal Credit Cards Better
Metal credit cards can be said to be physically better than plastic cards. They are more sleek, heavy, prestigious, sturdy, and durable than plastic cards. The only things that set metal credit cards apart are the metallic material used, the weight of the credit card, and the sense of luxury that comes with their ownership.
But you shouldn't choose a card based on looks and the material it’s made of. Instead, choose a card whose perks align with your goals, budget, and spending pattern, regardless of whether it’s a metal card or plastic card.
Are Metal Credit Cards More Secure
Metal credit cards aren't more secure than plastic ones. That’s because the security and safety of your bank account don’t depend on the material your credit card is made of. Credit card companies offer the same security features to all cardholders.
How to destroy a metal credit card
The procedure of destroying a metal credit card is different from that of a plastic card. While you can shred or cut a plastic card into pieces with scissors, it's not possible to destroy a metal credit card that way. That's why the card comes marked «do not shred» on the back.
The best way to destroy a metal card is to send it back to the issuer. Most issuers, like American Express and Chase, offer a sustainable «Take Back» program for cardmembers to mail or drop off expired metal credit cards to be destroyed.
You'll usually get a pre-addressed envelope from the card company to send your closed or expired metal card back for proper and safe disposal.
How to get a custom metal credit card
The easiest way to get a custom metal credit card is to get an Apple Card. The card comes with your name laser-printed on it.
That said, the practice is not common among credit card issuers, and you may not be able to get a personalized credit card from a majority of the card companies.
To avoid guesswork, call your credit card company to discuss the possibility of getting a custom metal credit card.
FAQ
What are other credit cards to consider?
If you can’t find your fit in our list of the best metal credit cards above, you’ve got other options. Other metal credit cards to consider include:
- Citi Prestige Card
- Verizon Visa Card
- Mastercard Black Card
- Mastercard Gold Card
- Mastercard Titanium Card
Which is the heaviest credit card of the metal ones?
Weighing 22 grams, Mastercard Black Card, Mastercard Titanium Card, and the Mastercard Gold Card are the heaviest metal credit cards.
Is Chase Sapphire Preferred metal?
Why are some credit cards heavy?
The weight of a credit card depends on the material it's made of. For instance, metal credit cards are heavier than plastic cards. Also, some metal credit cards are heavier than others based on the metal and other materials used to make the card.
Why are some credit cards made of metal?
Credit cards made of metal are sturdier and more durable than plastic cards that suffer breakages and cracks. Again, some credit cards are made of metal as a symbol of luxury and prestige.
How much does a credit card weigh?
The weight of a credit card varies depending on whether it's made of metal or plastic. Usually, plastic credit cards weigh around 5 grams, while metal credit cards weigh more than 10 grams.
