Credit cards can offer more than convenience; they can also be a tool for earning valuable rewards points.

According to a 2017 national survey , 40% of credit card users said rewards and cash back were their favorite benefits of the card they used most often. Sixty-two percent of cardholders aged 27 to 36 chose rewards and cash back as their top features. Another national payments survey found that Americans are increasingly using credit cards to make smaller purchases. In that survey, 17% of those polled said they routinely use credit cards to pay for purchases of $5 or less.

Whether you stick to using your credit card for big purchases or also include small ones, you want to make sure you’re getting the most rewards possible on every purchase. With so many different cards from which to choose, however, finding the card with the best rewards program can be difficult. Keep reading to learn how rewards from three of the largest credit card issuers measure up.

Credit Card Rewards Points Go Head to Head

American Express, Chase and Citi are three of the biggest players on the credit card scene. All three offer rewards programs, but there are subtle differences that it pays to understand. Knowing the finer points of each program can help you choose the one that has the best rewards for your spending style.

American Express Membership Rewards

The Membership Rewards® program from American Express (AXP) offers numerous opportunities to redeem rewards points earned with an eligible American Express credit card. For example, you can use your points to book travel through American Express Travel. Your rewards points are redeemable for part or all of the cost of flights, prepaid hotel stays, vacations, and cruise bookings. The redemption value of each point varies based on how you’re using them.

For instance, when you pay with points for flights through American Express Travel, every 10,000 points is worth $100 towards your ticket. Each point is worth one cent. If you book a cruise, on the other hand, 10,000 points are equal to $70 in redemption value. In that case, each point is worth one-seventh of a cent. The distinction is important for getting the most mileage possible from your points.

Membership Rewards® points transfer to participating airline and hotel frequent traveler programs, such as Delta SkyMiles, British Airways Executive Club, Hilton Honors™ and the Hilton Honors program. Points do not transfer on a 1:1 basis for every program. For example, 1,000 Membership Rewards® points are equivalent to 1,000 SkyMiles if you need to catch a flight, but if you’re booking a HIlton hotel, they’re worth 2,000 Hilton Honors Points.

Points can redeemed by shopping at partner merchants like Amazon.com and BestBuy.com as well as to buy tickets to selected entertainment events, make charitable donations, and even catch a NYC taxi cab. They can also be redeemed for gift cards to partner brands like Airbnb, Uber, and HomeChef, as well as a long list of retailers and restaurant. Points can be redeemed for statement credit, but not cash. When you redeem for statement credit, the value of each point is six-tenths of a cent. Be aware that the type of card you have can affect the value of points.

To see a thorough exploration of Amex’s Membership Rewards program please see our complete guide to the program.

Citi ThankYou

To participate in Citigroup’s (C) Citi ThankYou program, you’ll need to have a participating Citi credit card. Once you’re enrolled in an eligible card account and you’re earning points, you can use your rewards in a number of ways. 

Like the Membership Rewards®, Citi ThankYou members can redeem points for travel. Points can be applied to flights, hotel stays, rental cars, vacation packages and cruises booked directly through the Citi Travel Center. The value of reward points varies based on how they’re being used and even what types of Citi credit card is used. For example, if you’re booking flights with JetBlue’s Trueblue, your points will be a 1:1 transfer if you use the Prestige or Citi Premier credit card. But if you book the flight using Citi ThankYou Preferred, Citi Rewards+, Sears Mastercard, or Citi Double Cash, then 1,000 points will be worth only 800 Trueblue points.

ThankYou points can also be transferred to a number of airline and hotel partners, including Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, Emirates Skywards, and Wyndam Rewards. Again, the points don’t always transfer on a 1:1 basis. Like with JetBlue’s TrueBlue, depending on the Citi card used, you can redeem 1,000 ThankYou points for either 1,500 or 2,000 Choice Privileges Rewards points while Wyndam Rewards can be redeemed for either 1,000 or 800 points. You’ll need to compare the transfer options carefully to determine which one offers the most bang for your buck.

Gift cards, shopping, statement credit, charitable donations and cash are other available redemption options. Just remember that your points value may vary based on what type of reward is being redeemed or what type of Citi account is being used for the purchase.

Chase Ultimate Rewards

The Ultimate Rewards program from JP Morgan Chase (JPM) applies to participating Chase credit cards. Members can redeem points for travel, including flights, hotels, cruises and rental cars. Chase offers a unique feature to provide more value for Ultimate Rewards members, compared to the other rewards programs profiled.

Depending on the Chase card when you book travel through the Ultimate Rewards portal, you’ll earn a bonus on the value of the points when redeeming. The Sapphire Reserve Card receives a 50% points bonus when redeeming for travel while the Sapphire Preferred Card only received a 25% bonus. Ordinarily, the points redemption value would translate to one cent for each point. So, 50,000 points would be worth $500 in redemption value. With the 50% points bonus, you would get $750 in travel value, increasing the value of each point to 1.50 cents. With Sapphire Preferred you would get $625 in travel value or 1.25 cents per point.

Reward cards, like Sapphire series, also offer one-to-one points transfers to participating hotel and airline loyalty programs. Those partners include Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, United MileagePlus, Marriott Rewards, and IHG Rewards Club. These options are different than some you’ll have access to through American Express or Citi. The value of points may range from one cent to 1.50 cents each, depending on which card you’re using.

Aside from travel, you can also redeem Ultimate Rewards points for items in the Ultimate Rewards mall or for gift cards and cash. You get a slightly better value on statement credit redemptions compared to American Express. Each point is worth one cent each when you redeem for cash back or statement credit which is 40% more than what American Express offers. The number of points – and the corresponding value – required to redeem for gift cards or merchandise varies based on the card or item to which you’re applying rewards.

To see a more in-depth guide to Chase’s rewards platform please see our Ultimate Guide to Chase Ultimate Rewards.

The Bottom Line

Choosing a winner ultimately depends on what you’re looking for in a rewards card. Certainly, finding a card that optimally rewards your spending patterns is an important factor. And, if it’s a big one-time rewards bonus all three programs feature cards offering new account bonuses of 60,000 points or more. Though if you’re willing to pay a huge annual fee ($695) the Amex Platinum card currently takes the prize with a bonus of 100,000 points after spending $6,000 in the first six months of account membership.

Comparing the relative program redemption options and their associated value is another marker by which you can gauge the quality of each card’s rewards. For example, if you want the ability to transfer your points to a frequent flyer program, you’ll need to look at the airlines with which each card issuer partners. As a general rule, you’ll get the most out of your rewards when redeeming them for travel; changing them into cash or credit statement is likely to yield the least value. Taking in the full picture of each program’s pros and cons can help you narrow down your final choice.