Seeing a $550 annual fee on a credit card application can make you want to slam your laptop shut and keep using your old card. But what you might not realize is that many premium credit cards have extremely valuable perks.
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If you use them right, high-end cards can unlock thousands of dollars in rewards, protections, and perks that more than make up for the fees.
Here’s why premium cards are worth considering — and how to know if one fits your lifestyle.
The best premium credit cards are loaded with benefits that go way beyond cash back or basic airline miles.
Here are a few perks typically found in today’s top cards:
Check out this card as an example of one standout that includes nearly all of the above. If you’re someone who uses these benefits even a few times a year, you could be getting hundreds (or even thousands) in value, which more than covers the fee.
Here’s an example of how quickly perks can stack up and offset a high fee.
Say you’re eyeing a high-end travel card with a $395 annual fee. At first it seems steep. But then you plan on taking advantage of these perks throughout the year:
Added up, that’s a total value of $818 in perks — and you only took one trip! Subtracting the annual fee, that’s a net gain of $423 for the year.
If you travel a few times a year, it’s easy to see how a card like this could easily pay for itself (and then some). Explore all our top-rated premium credit cards for 2025 and see which fits your lifestyle.
Another big draw for premium cards? They usually come with huge welcome bonuses!
These are often worth hundreds toward travel or in cash back, and they can wipe out the annual fee (and then some), especially in year one.
For example, if a card has a $695 annual fee, but the welcome bonus earns you $800, you’re already ahead $105 for the first year of ownership. That’s without even touching any perks.
So even if you’re not 100% sure whether a card’s going to be a long-term fit, choosing credit cards with top sign-up bonuses can make it easy to test-drive. The worst-case scenario is you enjoy the perks for a year or two and walk away while you’re still ahead. Best-case scenario is you find a gift that keeps on giving!
A premium credit card is like a membership. Yes, it’s a high-priced membership, but if you use all (or even just some) of the right benefits, the cost is justifiable.
This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!
Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.
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