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Metal credit cards are perceived by some to be a status symbol.
They shouldn't necessarily be. Some metal cards don't even charge an annual fee — and you can be approved with a less-than-excellent credit score. In other words, the ting that a credit card makes when you drop it on the table at a restaurant doesn't intimate that you're part of the 1%.
Still, a surge of dopamine occurs every time you hand a metal credit card to a cashier. If you're looking for a metal credit card, we've highlighted the best credit cards from each major category.
No matter your money goals or financial situation, you'll find a metal card that suits your lifestyle below.
Compare the Best Metal Credit Cards
Best Metal Credit Cards
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card - Product Name Only : Best overall metal credit cardChase Sapphire Preferred® Card - Product Name Only : Best starter metal credit cardChase Sapphire Reserve® - Product Name Only : Best metal credit card for travel insuranceThe Platinum Card® from American Express - Product Name Only : Best metal card for airport lounge accessMarriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card - Product Name Only : Best hotel metal credit cardDelta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card - Product Name Only : Best airline metal credit cardThe Business Platinum Card® from American Express - Product Name Only : Best small business metal cardU.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card - Product Name Only : Best metal credit card for mobile paymentsU.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card - Product Name Only Best no annual fee metal credit cardAmazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card - Product Name Only : Best metal credit card for online shoppingX1 Card - Product Name Only : Best metal credit card for less-than-perfect credit
Methodology: How We Chose the Best Metal Credit Cards
We chose the metal credit cards on our list because they have one or more of the following attributes:
- A sizable welcome bonus
- Above-average return rates
- Valuable ongoing benefits
Insider has already painstakingly ranked just about every credit card in existence by category (best cash back cards, best travel credit cards, best no annual fee cards, etc.). Check out our credit card reviews hub to see which cards are at the top of their respective food chain. From there, we've simply chosen the metal credit cards that rank highly on those lists.
Why you should trust our recommendations
Insider's credit cards team examines each card's merits and strives to spotlight the cards that offer the most value to each type of financial goal. We do review poor cards, as well. But we will clearly state when we think a credit card is subpar or predatory.
Here's more about how we rate and review credit cards at Insider.
Metal Credit Card Frequently Asked Questions
Who has metal credit cards?
Most major banks issue at least one metal card. To name a few, American Express, Citi, Chase, Capital One, and U.S. Bank have plenty to choose from.
How do you destroy a metal credit card?
To destroy a metal credit card, you can't just feed it through the paper shredder like you can with a plastic card. Without involving a vise grip and a circular saw, the bank gives you a couple of options for how you can dispose of a canceled card — namely, either mail it back to the bank (they will send you a prepaid envelope) or drop it off at a local branch.
Are metal credit cards better?
Metal credit cards are not necessarily better. The material of a credit card does not necessarily indicate its prestige. Even some no-annual-fee credit cards are made out of metal. There are plenty of non-metal cards that top the charts in their respective class.
Best Overall Metal Credit Card
The
There's one big reason this card takes the cake among metal credit cards: Its
Take a look at what you'll get:
- Up to $300 per year in statement credits toward Capital One Travel bookings
- 10,000-mile bonus each account anniversary (worth at least $100 in travel)
- Priority Pass Select membership (worth over $400 per year), Plaza Premium lounge access, and Capital One airport lounge access
- Up to $100 in reimbursements for either TSA PreCheck or Global Entry membership every four years (membership lasts five years)
- Access to the Capital One Premier Collection, a luxury hotel booking program
- Some of the best travel insurance in the industry, with primary car rental insurance, trip delay reimbursement that kicks in after just six hours, and more.
To boot, you'll earn tons of bonus miles when booking travel through the Capital One Travel portal — 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars and 5 miles per dollar on flights. You'll get 2 miles per dollar on everything else.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card Review
Best Starter Metal Credit Card
The
This was my first travel credit card — and I've kept it for eight years with no intention of canceling it. For a
The card earns Chase Ultimate Rewards® points — one of the most valuable travel rewards currencies available. With this card, you can buy airfare, hotel stays, rental cars, cruises, and more through the Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel Portal at a rate of 1.25 cents per point. Or, you can transfer your points to airline and hotel loyalty programs such as Hyatt, United Airlines, Southwest, etc. for a much greater potential value.
This card also comes with a slew of statement credits (some of which are temporary):
- Up to $50 in statement credits toward hotel stays booked through Chase each year
- Complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership through December 31, 2024
- $10 per month in Gopuff credit through December 2023
- Six-month complimentary Instacart+ membership (activate by July 31, 2024)
- Up to $15 per quarter in Instacart credits through July 2024
If you're just beginning in the world of award travel, the
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Review
Best Metal Credit Card for Travel Insurance
The
This card is a beefed-up version of the
- Your points are worth 1.5 cents each when redeeming them for travel through the Chase Travel Portal (instead of 1.25 cents).
- The temporary DoorDash, Gopuff, and Instacart benefits are more generous.
- The card's earning rates are significantly higher in select categories.
- Its primary rental car insurance covers more expensive cars than the Sapphire Preferred.
- Its trip delay insurance kicks in up to six hours earlier than the Sapphire Preferred.
Talking of credit card travel insurance, there's literally no credit card you can apply for that matches this card. Booking your travel with the
The
- Up to $300 in statement credits each cardmember year toward travel purchases
- Airport lounge access (Priority Pass Select membership, worth over $400 per year; access to Chase Sapphire Lounges by The Club, access to the new Chase Sapphire Terrace at Austin airport)
- Access to Reserved by Sapphire restaurant reservations
- Up to $100 credit toward either Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee every four years (membership is valid for five years)
There's also currently an offer of two free years of Lyft Pink All Access Membership, with 50% off the third year. You must activate the deal by December 31, 2024.
Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card Review
Best Metal Card for Airport Lounge Access
The Amex Platinum is widely regarded to be the most valuable card on the market — if you can use its many benefits. It's possible to receive thousands of dollars in annual statement credits alone. For example, you'll get:
- Up to $200 in airline fee credits each calendar year
- Up to $200 in Uber Cash credits each calendar year**
- Up to $200 in credits per year toward prepaid hotel bookings through Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts or The Hotel Collection (with a two-night minimum)
- Up to $100 in Saks Fifth Avenue credits each calendar year**
- $189 per year in credits for CLEAR® Plus membership**
- Up to $240 in annual credits (up to $20 per month) toward eligible digital subscriptions such as Peacock, Hulu, and ESPN+
- $12.95 in credits each month toward Walmart+ membership**
If you would organically use a few of those benefits, this card could easily save you money despite its lofty
The Amex Platinum is sort of a jack of all trades — but there is one thing this card masters: Airport lounge access. No credit card gives you a wider variety of lounges to choose from. With this card, you can freely enter:
- Amex Centurion lounges, inarguably some of the most quality lounges you'll find. You'll get free cocktails and hot meals, and sometimes even things like free massages, showers, and wine tasting.
- Priority Pass lounges, of which there are more than 1,300 locations worldwide. You can even bring two guests with you. The free snacks and alcohol generally aren't quite as fancy as Centurion Lounges, but they're still a great way to save money and enjoy the airport.
- Delta Sky Club lounges, as long as you're flying Delta and are carrying your Platinum Card at the front desk.
- Plaza Premium lounges, with more than 100 locations around the world
- Escape Lounges
- Certain Lufthansa lounges, as long as you're flying Lufthansa that day.
- Aspire Lounges
- Select Virgin Clubhouses
In other words, if you can't get enough of fancy airport lounges, no other card will better feed your addiction.
American Express Platinum Card Review
Best Hotel Metal Credit Card
The
This card charges an annual fee of
For example, you'll receive:
- Up to $25 in statement credits per month for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide (a $300 value)
- Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Platinum elite status
- An annual free night award worth up to 85,000 points
- 25 elite night credits each calendar year
- Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership** (again, worth over $400 annually)
- Up to $100 in Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit once every four years (memberships last five years)
Insider estimates Marriott points value to be 0.7 cents each. That means an 85,000-point free night award can be worth an average of $595 if you use it on a hotel that costs at least 85,000 points.
Marriott Platinum status can also be wildly valuable, as it offers benefits like suite upgrades (when available), free breakfast, and 50% bonus points on paid Marriott stays.
All to say, if you'll maximize the monthly $25 statement credits as well as the annual free night award, you'll easily receive more value than you're paying. And with the perks like Priority Pass membership and Marriott Platinum status, you'll be many hundreds of dollars in the black.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex Card Review
Best Airline Metal Credit Card
The
To enjoy the best benefits of this card, you'll have to be a frequent Delta flyer. The Amex Delta Reserve confers:
- Free first checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights
- Annual Delta companion certificate that allows you to bring a friend once per year for just the cost of taxes and fees when flying domestically. Even if you're flying first class, your companion's ticket will match your cabin.
- 15,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year (up to four times)
- Access to complimentary upgrades and upgrade priority
- 20% off inflight purchases as a statement credit
- 15% off Delta award flights with TakeOff 15
The Amex Delta Reserve is exceptional for those looking for airport lounge access. That's because it gives you free Delta Sky Club access (when flying Delta) and also Amex Centurion Lounge access (when flying Delta and paying for your flight with the card).
Best Small Business Metal Card
Similar to the personal Amex Platinum, this card is stuffed with valuable statement credits — but they're much more business-focused. Yes, some benefits overlap, such as identical airport lounge access, up to $200 in annual airline fee credits, Gold elite status with Hilton and Marriott**, and up to $189 annually in credits for CLEAR® Plus membership**. But this card has unique offerings, too:
- Up to $400 in U.S. Dell credits each calendar year**
- Up to $120 in credits for U.S. wireless providers each calendar year
- Up to $360 in Indeed credits each calendar year**
- Up to $150 in Adobe credits each calendar year**
Plus, you'll get a 35% rebate when you redeem your points with your selected airline (or for business class or first class seats with any airline) through Amex Travel. You can receive up to 500,000 points per calendar year as a rebate.
The Amex Business Platinum charges a
You'll need a business venture — or some activity that warrants a 1099 tax form — to qualify for a small business card. Even if you don't own an enterprise with multiple employees, you may still have a perfectly legitimate small business. Things like delivering for Instacart, selling products on OfferUp, etc. can be a small business if you regularly engage in those activities.
Amex Business Platinum Card Review
Best Cash Back Metal Credit Card
The
To do this, you must also hold a Capital One miles-earning card such as the
The Capital One Savor also has one of the best earning rates in the game. You'll receive:
- 10% cash back on Uber and Uber Eats purchases through November 14, 2024
- 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
- 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 4% cash back on dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services
- 3% cash back at grocery stores
- 1% back on all other purchases
As you can see, you'll receive an above-average return for the vast majority of everyday spending. However, the card incurs a
To complement this card's highest return rate (Uber spending), you'll receive a free Uber One membership through November 14, 2024. Uber normally costs $9.99 per month, and comes with benefits such as unlimited $0 delivery fees on eligible orders, up to 10% off eligible orders with Uber Eats, and more.
Best Metal Credit Card for Mobile Payments
The
If you're specifically looking for a metal credit card, you're probably interested in showing it off — in which case, the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve probably isn't the best card for you. That's because this card's strength is in its return rate when used as the payment method on your phone. You'll get an incredible 3 points per dollar (effectively 4.5% back) on all purchases made through a mobile wallet such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay. Because most merchants take mobile wallets nowadays, you can get 3 points per dollar for just about everything.
The card also earns:
- 5 points per dollar for prepaid hotels and rental cars reserved through the Altitude Rewards Center
- 3 points per dollar for travel purchases
- 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases
For a
- Up to $325 annual credit toward travel and dining
- 12-month Priority Pass Select membership
- Excellent travel insurance (rivaling cards like the
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card - Product Name Only ) - Up to $100 statement credit every four years to offset the application fee to Global Entry/TSA PreCheck
If you spend at least $325 in travel and dining each year, this card's annual fee is effectively $75. You'll have to decide if the remaining card benefits are worth $75 to you.
US Bank Altitude Reserve Review
Best Metal Credit Card for Online Shopping
The
While this card technically does not charge an annual fee, you'll need an Amazon Prime account to get the most from it. Amazon Prime costs $139 per year.
Two features make this card stand out. First are its earning rates. You'll get:
- 5% back on purchases made through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® Travel Portal, with an eligible Prime membership (new)
- 5% back at Amazon and Whole Foods Market, with an eligible Prime membership
- 2% back on local transit and commuting, including rideshare (new)
- 2% back at restaurants and at gas stations
- 1% back on all other purchases
You'll also get 10% back on rotating Amazon items. Offers are limited-time and only for Prime members.
The second notable feature is the card's ability to give you interest-free payments with Amazon. By doing this, you will not earn rewards on your card. You'll receive:
- 6 interest-free months for purchases of $50 or more
- 12 interest-free months for purchases of $250 or more
Similar to the
Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card Review
Best No Annual Fee Metal Credit Card
The
For a no-annual-fee credit card, the return rates for common spending are exceptional:
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining, takeout, and restaurant delivery
- 2 points per dollar at grocery stores, gas stations, EV charging stations, and on grocery delivery and eligible streaming services
- 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases
The card even comes with an annual statement credit worth $15 to offset your streaming expenses. When you pay for an eligible streaming service for 11 consecutive months, your credit will post during month 12. Eligible streaming services include Apple Music, Apple TV+, AT&T TV NOW, Discovery+, Disney+, ESPN+, Fubo TV, Google Music, HBO Max, Hulu, Netflix, Paramount+, Peacock, SiriusXM, Slacker Radio, Sling TV, Spotify, Tidal, Vudu, and YouTube Music.
Also worth noting is that you'll receive
US Bank Altitude Go Card Review
Best Metal Credit Card for Less-than-perfect Credit
The
This card is good for those with a credit history they wouldn't brag about. That's because X1 takes into account more than just your credit score when deciding if you are a good candidate for the card. It looks at your employment income to see how much money you make.
The
You can also earn bonus points by taking advantage of "Boosts" inside the X1 app. They are targeted toward certain merchants and spending categories, and they rotate frequently.
Interestingly, the card allows you to create infinite virtual credit cards, each with custom expiration dates, usage limits, etc. This is great for those who find themselves signing up for free trials and forgetting to cancel — you can simply create a virtual card for the free trial and set the card to expire before the trial ends.