Points vs. Cash Back (What’s Better in 2026?)
Video Overview & Insights
Which team are you on?... Check out my favorite cards 👉 https://rdguarantee.com
Surprised the prime card does not get more love you get 5,6 and sometimes 7% cash back on all Amazon purchases.
✅ Featured In This Video:
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Good video from the guy who guarantees. Liked and gave you hype points!!!!!! ❤
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Or just use a Chase Ink that gives 5% at office supply stores, buy Visa/MC gift cards when they sell it fee-free every other week, and BAM! A permanent 5% everywhere you shop.
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I know it doesn’t apply to everyone, but the GM credit card is 3% back on everything and 10x GM parts/service. That can be used towards your monthly payment or on service. No AF. Was my catch all since robinhood wanna be cute with their waitlist.
🏦 SoFi Checking/Savings ($325 bonus!): https://rdguarantee.link/SoFi-Referral
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Don't Miss A Thing:
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With things going up in price and some cards having points devaluation you have to decide for yourself which is better.
‼️ Transfer Bonus Notifications: https://rdguarantee.link/Transfer-Bonus-Notifications
✏️ My Thoughts:
The age old question of cash back vs. points and miles - which is better? Well, honestly, the answer might change for you every single year. I know for me, I feel completely different about this than I did even 2-3 years ago.
So today, I’m here to cover what’s changed in the credit card landscape in 2026 and how that directly influences the value you get from your cards, whether they are points or cash back based.
Great comparison between points and cash back strategies. It really comes down to how you use your rewards and what fits your lifestyle
We have new rewards systems, new cards, new strategies entering the game almost monthly now - honestly, it’s a lot to take in. I have so many thoughts to share on this topic - stick around and make sure you aren’t thinking about your setup wrong and leaving any value on the table.
⏰ Timestamps:
Can't you Just use the cash back to pay for travel?
0:00 - Intro
1:39 - Cash Back Pros & Cons
Love the video. I just transitioned all my spend on the Robinhood Gold to the Palladium since the effective return is so high. Will definitely keep Robinhood Gold for the IRA match alone but I have been loving Bilt
5:44 - Points Pros & Cons
11:43 - The Best Strategy
I have moved $4000 or more a month that was on AmEx Gold to mostly my Fidelity 2% CB Visa. No Games, No Fees, and a growing balance in the investment account there. I use my Wells Fargo Cash Back 2% so I can time particularly big payments like Texas Property taxes with cash flows. So Far AmEx appears to be ignoring the lost spend I was making on their system. I have not yet closed my AmEx Green that the gold was downgraded as that is a 30 year old account on my credit history. I am using my AmEx Blue Cash Preferred for the 6% back on food spend at HEB. I transferred a 30 year old AmEx account number to that account so it shows as a big boost to my 840 Credit Score.
My wife is using here Delta AmEx to see what she can do for her travel spend. Sign On bonuses do not appear an option for us as the offers are lame or non-existent.
Also, as I have retired to spend time with the grand babies, I travel next to naught. I also have next to zero time for stupid games. Points mean nothing with the hoops to use them where they are. The Robin Hood card does appear findable to me, but with links I could learn.
13:42 - RH Gold vs. Palladium
The price for Rakuten is that that browser extension will know everything about you. Where are you shop? Where you go? Where you eat? All your data will belong to them. Is it worth a couple cents? I think not.
More User Perspectives
If team cashback/earning flexible currencies but not transferring them out and instead redeeming them for statement credit wants to succeed then cards like the capital venture X need to give a bonus for the travel redemption like 1.25 or 1.1. Then you’d have a real winner. No blackouts or based on availability just earn on everything and redeem to cover all or part of an airline ticket. No travel portal required.
Till then I am mostly points but use cashback in a few categories where the earnings outpace even points ie Walmart and car maintenance.
My new setup for 2026:
RH Gold - Catch all 3%
BILT Blue - Rent, all reoccurring bills set to 1st for 2x
VX - Premium Travel card, 5x and 10x and travel benefits
And I also have the Costco Citi Visa for the 5% on gas at Costco
Team Hybrid! 🎉
Great breakdown. I’ve been Team Hybrid for a minute. I can’t really transfer my Navy Fed points out, so I stack cash back. I have an equal amount of points and miles travel cards, but as things shift, I’m looking to slim things down.
Have a great day, Mr. Rd!
I get about 5% cashback on all my spend using an optimized cashback set-up and I never have to worry about coupons or annual fees. As someone who vacations once a year at most (and never luxuriously), I just can't find any real value in travel cards. Miss me on those "lounges."
@gecsword09229:03 ahahahahah he said the thing
@greatvalueblooberriesPut in the grind, hit $170K+, but wealth isn't just numbers. It's passing down the mindset so the next generation knows how to build and sustain It.
@wyattTaylor-f6zWould you please rate my set up and tell me how I can improve? Discover Chrome card (first credit card), freedom unlimited (was preferred but downgraded), costco anywhere visa (Gas mostly 5% and sometimes travel), capital one duo (venture X, savorOne), US Cash+ (mainly utilities 5%), and Paypal debit (for 5% groceries)
@SpreadingPeaceToAll5% > 3x(1.5)
@BlueHatchByAlexThe Robinhood Gold isn’t true cash back. It only redeems at .07 or 70 cents per 100 points towards a statement credit. You have to deposit into a Robinhood savings or investing account to get full value.
(Still a great deal but not as flexible as true cash back)
I do a combination of cashback cards and bank churning. It's my own system. I have the banks paying ME thousands instead of me paying them thousands. And no devaluations, higher fees, higher spending requirements, etc.
@Slappy_JYes, Hybrid works for me. I have Citi/Costco and Prime Visa for cash back and rest of cards are Points for travel redemption. In most cases Points/Miles takes care of 75-80 percent cost of Flight and Hotel for trips, which is huge.
@SYS-ky7zknot seeing any of the YouTube creators talking about the citi P2 news and not able to pool points. that's a big time nerf for families
@basmo6803RD is my goat I like the videos and I like the honesty and transparency with these cards
@emirlj.926Team hybrid for me. Hard to beat 5% cash back on things like Amazon, Gas, and Groceries with the Prime Visa, Custom Cash, and PayPal Debit Card. The rest can be dedicated to points.
@KevinFromDuval