While Airbnb doesn’t offer a co-branded credit card (yet), plenty of travel and cash-back cards step in to do the job. Whether you’re booking a beachside cottage or a city loft for the weekend, the right credit card can help you stretch your travel budget further. And, maybe even earn a free night or two.
Here’s a rundown of the top credit cards in 2025 that work well with Airbnb bookings and reward you in the process.
1. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best overall for Airbnb
This one’s a crowd favorite, and for good reason. The Venture Rewards card makes it super simple to book an Airbnb and use your rewards to erase that charge later. No hoops. No blackout dates. Just miles that work like cash.
You’ll earn 5x miles on vacation rentals when you book through Capital One Travel, and 2x miles on everything else. There’s a welcome offer of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months. It also offers a sweet bonus $250 travel credit during your first year.
Plus, you get perks like TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credits and some hotel upgrades. For a $95 annual fee, it pulls its weight.
2. Chase Sapphire Preferred®: Best for flexible rewards
This card is the Swiss Army knife of travel rewards. It earns 2x points on travel, including Airbnb, and 5x points when you book travel through Chase Travel℠. You also get 3x points on dining, online groceries, and streaming.
The best part? You can redeem points for Airbnb gift cards, statement credits, or even cash to drop into your bank account. And if you book travel through Chase, your points are worth 25% more.
The $95 annual fee is easy to justify, especially when there’s a 100,000-point welcome offer up for grabs.
3. Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Best no-fee cash-back card
Prefer cash back over points or miles? This one’s for you. With the Freedom Unlimited, you’ll get 5% back on travel booked through Chase Travel, 3% back on dining and drugstores, and 1.5% back on everything else.
The real perk is that you can still redeem rewards for Airbnb gift cards or as a statement credit, just like the Sapphire cards. But unlike those, this one has no annual fee. You won’t get quite as many perks, but if you’re not a hardcore traveler, that might not matter.
4. Citi Custom Cash® Card: Best for automatic 5% cash back
This card is a bit of a wildcard. But, that’s a good thing. It automatically gives you 5% back on your top spending category each month (up to $500), which could easily be travel if you’re booking a couple of Airbnb stays.
That means if you’re planning a trip, this card might bump Airbnb into your top category and reward you accordingly. Just a heads-up: longer stays (like 28 days or more) might not count as “travel,” so check how your booking is categorized.
There’s no annual fee, and you get a $200 welcome bonus after spending $1,500 in six months.
5. Capital One Venture X: Best for Travelers Who Love Perks
This one’s the big sibling to the regular Venture card, and it goes all out. You’ll earn 10x miles on hotels and rental cars, 5x miles on vacation rentals (like Airbnb), and 2x miles on everything else.
There’s a hefty $395 annual fee, but you get a $300 travel credit, 10,000 anniversary miles, and access to over 1,300 airport lounges. If you travel often and love a good airport lounge snack, this card’s a no-brainer.
6. Bank of America® Premium Rewards®: Best for BofA customers
If you already bank with Bank of America, this card becomes way more attractive. You’ll earn 2x points on travel and dining, 1.5x on everything else. Rewards can be redeemed as a statement credit or as cash deposited straight into your Bank of America account.
Preferred Rewards members can earn up to 75% more points, which can add up fast. Plus, the $95 annual fee is manageable and comes with TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credits.
7. Citi Strata Premier℠: Best for stacking points on Airbnb stays
This one flies under the radar, but it’s surprisingly great for Airbnb fans. You earn 3x points on travel, including Airbnb, and a whopping 10x on certain bookings through CitiTravel.com.
Points can be redeemed for gift cards or travel, and you can even transfer them to airline partners. If you want flexibility and don’t mind a $95 annual fee, this is a solid pick.
8. American Express® Gold Card: Best for Food Lovers (who stay in Airbnbs)
This isn’t the best card for Airbnb bookings directly. But it’s fantastic for everything else around your trip, groceries, takeout, and fancy dinners. You’ll earn 4x points at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25K per year), which pairs well with Airbnb stays that involve cooking or ordering in.
There’s a $325 annual fee, but the dining credits and rewards can make it worthwhile if food is a big part of your travel.
9. Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Best for Airbnb credit redemption
This card has a steep $550 annual fee. But it comes with a $300 annual travel credit that can be used on Airbnb stays. That’s essentially $300 off your bookings, no questions asked. Like other Chase cards, you can also redeem points for Airbnb gift cards or as statement credits.
If you’re a frequent traveler who doesn’t mind a higher fee for premium perks, this one’s worth a look.
10. Wells Fargo Autograph® Card: Best low-maintenance travel card
No annual fee. Easy-to-earn rewards. That’s the vibe here. You get 3x points on restaurants, travel, gas, and transit. It’s perfect for road trips and city getaways. If you want a basic rewards card that still earns well on Airbnb and everyday spending, this one fits the bill.
11. Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards: Best for flexible spending categories
With this card, you get to choose your top-earning category each month. Travel is one of the options. So, if you’re planning an Airbnb-heavy month, set your category to travel and earn 3% cash back on your bookings.
No annual fee, and you can change your category whenever your spending habits shift.
What to Look for in an Airbnb-Friendly Card
There are a few things to keep in mind when picking a card:
- Make sure Airbnb counts as “travel.” Most cards treat it that way, but always check the fine print.
- Check the redemption options. Can you get gift cards? Use points to erase purchases? Transfer rewards to your bank account?
- Watch the fees. Annual fees are worth it if you’re getting enough value. Also, consider foreign transaction fees if you like booking stays overseas.
- Sign-up bonuses are your friend. If you’re dropping $4,000 on a family vacation anyway, you might as well earn 75,000 points while doing it.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need a special Airbnb credit card to make the most of your stays. You just need the right rewards card. Pick one that works for your lifestyle, use it wisely, and those Airbnb bookings can start working a little harder for you. After all, if you’re going to spend money on travel, you might as well get something back for it.
