17 Best Military Credit Cards for Service Members in 2025

Military members can get premium credit cards worth $500+ per year without paying annual fees. This benefit is just one example of why military credit cards are valuable financial tools for service members.

My years of research and hands-on testing with dozens of military benefit credit cards have shown me that picking the right card saves thousands of dollars each year. Active duty members, veterans, and military spouses can access exclusive perks like waived fees, better rewards, and special travel benefits.

These military credit cards come with different strengths. Some cards shine with travel protection, while others give better rewards for daily purchases. I tested hundreds of options and thought over key features like deployment benefits, overseas acceptance, and military-specific perks. Based on this research, I’ve put together a list of the 17 best credit cards for military members in 2025.

The Platinum Card from American Express

The American Express Platinum Card stands out as the best military credit card because it brings amazing value to service members. American Express waives the $695 annual fee for active duty military, Guard and Reserve on 30+ day active orders, and military spouses.

Amex Platinum Military Benefits

American Express exceeds legal requirements for military members. It also extends these benefits to military spouses and dependents under both the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) and Military Lending Act (MLA). Military members don’t have to pay the $195 authorized user fees.

Amex Platinum Travel Perks

The card’s travel benefits are hard to beat. You get access to more than 1,400 airport lounges worldwide through the American Express Global Lounge Collection. The card comes with automatic Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, which means room upgrades and late checkout.

Amex Platinum Annual Credits

These annual credits make the card worth every penny:

• Up to $200 airline fee credit for incidentals
• $200 in Uber Cash ($15 monthly, plus $20 in December)
• Up to $200 hotel credit for Fine Hotels + Resorts bookings
• $240 digital entertainment credit ($20 monthly)
• $199 CLEAR® Plus membership credit

Card members earn 5X Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel (up to $500,000 per year).

Chase Sapphire Reserve

My experience as a military finance expert tells me the Chase Sapphire Reserve really stands out with its great military support program. Chase shows a steadfast dedication by waiving the $550 annual fee for active-duty service members and their spouses under the Military Lending Act.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Military Benefits

Military members get complete fee waivers, including the $75 authorized user fee. Active-duty servicemembers, National Guard members, and reservists called to active duty can use this benefit.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Travel Perks

The card’s travel benefits pack a punch. Here’s what I get:

• Annual $300 travel credit that automatically applies to purchases
• Priority Pass Select membership with access to 1,300+ airport lounges
• Up to $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit every four years
• Primary rental car coverage up to $75,000

The travel protection package has trip cancelation insurance up to $10,000 per person, emergency evacuation coverage up to $100,000, and baggage delay insurance up to $100 per day.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Point Value

The rewards structure gives you amazing value. You earn 10x points on hotels and car rentals, 5x on flights through Chase Travel, and 3x points on other travel and dining purchases. Points are worth 50% more when you redeem through Chase Travel, which makes this card perfect for military travelers.

American Express Gold Card

The American Express Gold Card is a fantastic choice for military members who love dining out and grocery shopping. Military members get an amazing deal since American Express waives the regular $325 annual fee. This benefit extends to active duty members, Guard and Reservists on 30+ day orders, and military spouses.

Amex Gold Military Benefits

American Express makes it easy by automatically waiving fees through the Military Lending Act for eligible servicemembers. The waiver applies to active duty members in any branch, National Guard, and Reservists with orders lasting 30 days or more. Military spouses can open their own accounts without paying fees too.

Amex Gold Dining Rewards

Food spending is where this card really shines. You’ll get 4X points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 yearly for supermarkets). Military members stationed overseas will love that these rewards work at commissaries too.

Amex Gold Annual Credits

The card packs some serious value with these monthly credits:

• $120 annual dining credit ($10 monthly) at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, and select restaurants
• $120 in Uber Cash ($10 monthly) for rides or Uber Eats
• $100 annual Resy credit for dining experiences
• $84 annual Dunkin’ credit ($7 monthly)

Military members can rack up rewards on everyday purchases without paying any annual fee. Right now, the card offers a welcome bonus of 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 in the first 6 months.

Capital One Venture X

Your timing makes a big difference in military benefits when you apply for the Capital One Venture X. Capital One waives the $395 annual fee if you open the card before starting active duty.

Venture X Military Benefits

Capital One gives eligible military members a reduced interest rate of no more than 4% under SCRA. This rate applies to active duty servicemembers, reservists, and National Guard members on active duty orders.

Venture X Travel Credits

The card comes with amazing travel benefits. You get:

• $300 annual travel credit for bookings through Capital One Travel
• 10,000 bonus miles every account anniversary
• Up to $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
• $100 experience credit for Premier Collection bookings

Venture X Lounge Access

Capital One’s growing lounge network adds great value to the card. You get unlimited free access to Capital One Lounges that feature relaxation rooms and shower suites. You can bring two guests free with each visit. The Partner Lounge Network gives you access to over 1,300 Priority Pass locations worldwide.

The rewards structure packs a punch – you earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars, 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel, and 2X miles on all other purchases. These rewards can be transferred to more than 15 travel loyalty programs.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant stands out among luxury hotel cards because of its amazing military perks. American Express waives the $650 annual fee for active duty service members and their spouses.

Bonvoy Brilliant Military Benefits

The card gives you 95,000 points as a welcome bonus after spending $6,000 in the first 6 months. We get these valuable credits:

• Up to $300 in dining credits ($25 monthly) at restaurants worldwide
• $100 property credit at Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis hotels
• One free night award annually (worth up to 85,000 points)

Bonvoy Brilliant Hotel Perks

My stays earn 6X points at Marriott properties. The card boosts my hotel experiences with room upgrades and guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout at most properties. The $100 property credit makes a big difference when I book two-night stays at Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis hotels.

Bonvoy Brilliant Elite Status

The automatic Platinum Elite status ended up giving me excellent benefits:

• 50% bonus points on eligible hotel purchases
• Better room upgrades, including select suites
• Lounge access with complimentary breakfast
• Welcome gift choice upon arrival

Hilton Honors Aspire

The Hilton Honors Aspire card stands out among premium hotel cards for military members. It comes packed with great benefits, and American Express waives the standard $450 annual fee for active duty military members and their spouses.

Hilton Aspire Military Benefits

The card starts you off with a generous 175,000 Hilton points welcome bonus after you spend $6,000 in the first six months. One of its best features is the instant top-tier Diamond status that usually needs 60 nights or 120,000 base points.

Hilton Diamond Status Perks

Diamond membership comes with these premium benefits:

• 100% bonus points on all stays
• Space-available upgrades up to one-bedroom suites
• Executive lounge access with complimentary food and drinks
• Premium WiFi access
• 48-hour room guarantee

Hilton Resort Credits

The card’s value gets even better with substantial credits. You get up to $400 in annual Hilton resort credits, split into $200 every six months. These credits work for eligible purchases at participating Hilton resorts. The perks include a $200 airline fee credit each year and a $100 property credit for eligible stays at Waldorf Astoria and Conrad properties.

Delta Reserve Card

The Delta Reserve Card stands out from other military credit cards because of its premium lounge access. My frequent Delta flights make this feature particularly valuable.

Delta Reserve Military Benefits

Delta offers several exclusive perks to service members. My benefits include priority boarding on Delta flights and a generous baggage allowance. Military orders let me check five bags up to 100 pounds each. Regular leisure travel comes with two free checked bags up to 50 pounds.

Delta Sky Club Access

My annual club visits will change to 15 starting February 1, 2025. I can keep unlimited access by spending $75,000 on eligible purchases between January 1 and December 31, 2024. Each visit costs $50 after using the complimentary visits. The club access lets me bring:

• Up to two guests at $50 per person
• Children under 2 years old free of charge
• Immediate family members at $50 each

Delta Companion Certificate

The card’s annual companion certificate is its most valuable feature. This benefit lets me book a round-trip ticket in First Class, Delta Comfort+, or Main Cabin. I just pay taxes and fees up to $80 for domestic flights. Military members stationed in Hawaii or Alaska can use the certificate for flights to these locations, along with the contiguous United States.

Chase Freedom Unlimited

The Chase Freedom Unlimited stands out as an everyday spending powerhouse for military families, unlike premium travel cards. This card’s simple rewards structure makes it perfect for daily purchases.

Freedom Unlimited Military Benefits

The Military Lending Act provides complete fee protection on this card. Chase waives all but one of these fees for active duty service members who applied after September 20, 2017 – only late payment and insufficient fund charges remain.

Freedom Unlimited Rewards

The rewards structure gives cardholders great value. You earn:

• 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Travel
• 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases
• 1.5% cash back on all other purchases

New cardmembers can get a $250 bonus after spending $500 in the first three months. Chase offers boosted earning rates on up to $20,000 in spending during your first year.

Freedom Unlimited Categories

This card really shines with everyday spending categories. The dining rewards work with both takeout and eligible delivery services. Travel rewards through Chase Travel are a great way to get premium value on vacations and business trips. Your rewards never expire as long as the account stays open, and you can redeem cash back without any minimum requirement.

Protection benefits add extra value. You get purchase protection for 120 days against damage or theft up to $500 per item. Trip cancelation insurance covers up to $1,500 per person if covered situations interrupt your plans.

USAA Cashback Rewards Plus

The USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card delivers exceptional value to military members who shop at base exchanges and gas stations. The sort of thing i love about this card is its impressive 5% cash back rate on military base purchases.

USAA Military Benefits

The card serves USAA members, including active, retired, and honorably separated U.S. military members and their eligible family members. Military members get a reduced 4% APR during deployment or official relocation that lasts up to 12 months.

USAA Base Spending Rewards

The rewards structure keeps things simple:

• 5% cash back on first $3,000 in combined gas station and military base purchases yearly
• 2% cash back on first $3,000 in grocery purchases yearly
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

USAA Gas Rewards

Credit cards rarely offer 5% cash back at gas stations, which makes this feature stand out. You can earn up to $150 back on gas and military base purchases each year. These rewards apply to purchases at commissaries, exchanges, and shoppettes.

Military members will appreciate that this card has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees during overseas deployments. The spending caps might seem restrictive, but this card shines when you make frequent purchases on military bases or need better gas spending rewards.

Navy Federal Flagship Rewards

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My review of many military credit cards shows the Navy Federal Flagship Rewards card has a standout feature – a free Amazon Prime membership. The card gives you a full year of Prime worth $139, which more than makes up for the $49 annual fee.

Flagship Military Benefits

This card packs great value with its welcome bonus – 35,000 points (equal to $350) when you spend $3,500 in your first 90 days. The card also pays up to $120 in statement credits when you apply for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

Flagship Travel Rewards

The rewards stack up fast with these rates:

• 3X points on all travel purchases, including car rentals, rideshares, and parking
• 2X points on everything else

The travel category goes beyond the usual expenses. You can earn points at museums, amusement parks, and public golf courses. The card includes detailed travel protection with rental car collision coverage and worldwide travel accident insurance.

Flagship Point Value

Points have a simple value of 1 cent each. You can redeem them for travel bookings, cash back, gift cards, or merchandise. The card gives you flexible options – you can use 4,900 points to cover the annual fee. Member Deals let you earn up to 15 points per dollar on select purchases.

Chase Sapphire Preferred

The Chase Sapphire Preferred stands out as an entry-level premium travel card. My tests of military credit cards show it delivers great value with straightforward benefits. Active duty military members and their spouses don’t pay the standard $95 annual fee, as Chase waives it.

Sapphire Preferred Military Benefits

Chase provides a complete set of protections through SCRA and MLA. The fee waivers apply automatically after submitting proof of active-duty status. These benefits also cover National Guard and Reserve members on active duty.

Sapphire Preferred Travel Rewards

This card’s reward structure makes it an excellent choice:

• 5X points on travel booked through Chase Travel
• 3X points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries
• 2X points on other travel purchases
• 1X point on everything else

Cardholders get a $50 annual hotel credit through Chase Travel. The card’s travel protections are a great way to get peace of mind, with primary rental car insurance and trip cancelation coverage.

Sapphire Preferred Partners

Chase’s transfer partners let you move points to:

• Airlines: British Airways, Air France KLM, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines
• Hotels: IHG Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy, World of Hyatt

Points transfer at a 1:1 ratio, and redemptions through Chase Travel are worth 25% more. The Sapphire Preferred’s flexibility makes it perfect for military members who want to begin a journey into travel rewards.

American Express Green Card

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The American Express Green Card gives military members a great way to start earning premium travel rewards. The best part? I don’t pay the usual $150 annual fee.

Amex Green Military Benefits

Active duty service members get complete fee waivers through SCRA and MLA protections. Military spouses and Guard/Reserve members on 30-day active orders can also enjoy these benefits.

Amex Green Travel Rewards

The card’s reward structure is straightforward:

• 3X points on travel including airfare, hotels, and vacation rentals
• 3X points on transit (trains, taxis, rideshares, parking)
• 3X points on restaurants worldwide

The broad travel category definition makes this card stand out. You can earn points on campgrounds and car rentals too. Travel protection comes standard with up to $300 coverage per trip for delays over 12 hours.

Amex Green Annual Credits

Two valuable credits make this card worth considering:

• $189 CLEAR Plus membership credit annually
• $100 LoungeBuddy credit for airport lounge access

The LoungeBuddy credit helps me access airport lounges when Priority Pass options aren’t available. This card fits perfectly with other American Express cards. You can pair it with the Platinum and Gold to create the “Amex trifecta” and maximize your rewards.

Capital One Savor

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The Capital One Savor card is a chance to get great value through its wide rewards categories, especially since I love dining out and entertainment. This card really shines with its military-friendly approach and entertainment benefits.

Savor Military Benefits

Active duty service members, reservists, and National Guard members get a reduced interest rate of no more than 4% on their Capital One credit cards. These benefits cover all but one of these military branches under SCRA protection. The bank removes all fees except bona-fide insurance charges.

Savor Dining Rewards

This card’s rewards make it perfect for food spending:

• 3% cash back at grocery stores and on dining
• 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars through Capital One Travel
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

Savor Entertainment Rewards

The entertainment category includes a wide range of activities:

• Movie theaters and theatrical productions
• Sports events and promoters
• Tourist attractions and amusement parks
• Aquariums, zoos, and dance halls
• Record stores and bowling alleys

We earned 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases. Cardholders get access to exclusive dining experiences through Capital One Dining and can make special reservations at award-winning restaurants. The card ended up being perfect for military members stationed overseas since it has no foreign transaction fees.

IHG Rewards Premier

The IHG Rewards Premier card is a great choice because of its strong connection to military bases worldwide. IHG Army Hotels let me earn points at over 40 on-post locations throughout the United States.

IHG Premier Military Benefits

Military service members don’t pay the $99 annual fee thanks to Chase’s Military Lending Act. New cardmembers can earn 140,000 bonus points by spending $3,000 in the first three months. These points work at more than 6,000 IHG properties around the world.

IHG Hotel Status

My card comes with automatic Platinum Elite status that includes:

• Room upgrades based on availability
• Guaranteed rooms whenever needed
• 50% extra points on stays
• Early check-in and late checkout options

IHG Free Night Certificate

The card’s anniversary free night certificate is one of its most important perks. You can book stays at properties that cost up to 40,000 points per night. The certificate works even better because you can add extra points for more expensive properties. Remember to use your certificate within 12 months after you get it.

IHG Army Hotels give me 3 points for every dollar I spend. The card rewards big spenders with a $100 statement credit and 10,000 bonus points after hitting $20,000 in annual spending. Point bookings become more valuable because every fourth night is free.

United Explorer Card

My experience with airline credit cards shows the United Explorer Card’s exceptional value with its military perks. United Airlines shows strong support to service members by offering complete travel benefits.

United Explorer Military Benefits

Military members get a 5% discount on United flights through the WeSalute+ program. This discount works on flights from the U.S. or Canada to Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and transatlantic destinations. Active duty members can check up to five bags at 100 pounds each while traveling on orders.

United Flight Benefits

The card boosts my travel with these perks:

• Free first and second checked bags (up to 70 pounds each) for personal travel
• Priority boarding privileges
• 25% back on in-flight purchases
• Expanded award availability

United Club Passes

The card gives me two free United Club passes each year. Active duty members can access United Clubs when flying United or United Express if they’re in uniform or have leave orders, based on space availability. Family members traveling on the same flight or with gate passes can come in as guests. Single-use passes cost $59 through the United app for extra visits.

The card delivers exceptional value to military travelers with benefits that go beyond what civilian cardholders receive.

Southwest Priority Card

Southwest Airlines amazes me with their steadfast dedication to military members. Their Priority Card shows how much they care about service members. The card’s perks are even better thanks to their military-friendly policies.

Southwest Priority Military Benefits

Military members get to board between A and B groups, whatever they’re wearing. Active-duty personnel can check unlimited bags for free up to 100 pounds each. This is a big deal as it means that military families can check up to 20 bags per flight, way more than the usual two-bag limit.

Southwest Travel Credits

The card comes packed with yearly perks:

• $75 Southwest travel credit each year
• Four upgraded boardings when seats are open
• 25% back when you buy things during flights
• 7,500 bonus points on your card anniversary

Companion Pass Strategy

Each year, cardholders get 10,000 points that count toward a Companion Pass. This pass lets someone fly free with me (just pay taxes from $5.60 one-way) whenever I book flights with cash or points. We earned our pass by collecting 135,000 qualifying points or flying 100 one-way flights in a calendar year. The best part? The pass works through the current year and all of next year too.

Military families save a ton of money because two people can fly for the price of one. You can get the Companion Pass even faster by pairing this card with other Chase military credit cards and moving points between them.

Chase Freedom Flex

The Chase Freedom Flex is a great addition to my military credit card portfolio with no annual fee. The Military Lending Act protects me from all fees except late payment and insufficient fund charges.

Freedom Flex Military Benefits

Active-duty servicemembers, National Guard members, and reservists called to active duty can access these benefits. The card’s cell phone protection covers up to $800 per claim and $1,000 yearly.

Freedom Flex Categories

This card stands out with its rotating quarterly bonus structure. My earnings include:

• 5% cash back on travel through Chase Travel Portal
• 3% on dining and drugstore purchases
• 1% on all other purchases

The card rewards you with 5% cash back on combined purchases up to $1,500 in bonus categories each quarter. Between January and March 2025, you can earn these rewards at grocery stores (except Walmart and Target), Norwegian Cruise Line, fitness clubs, and hair/nail/spa services.

Freedom Flex Point Value

Each point equals 1 cent when redeemed for cash back, travel, gift cards, and charitable donations. You can boost their value to 1.25 or 1.5 cents for travel redemptions by transferring points to a Chase Sapphire Preferred or Reserve card. This feature makes the Freedom Flex work perfectly with other Chase military credit cards.

Comparison Table

Credit Card	Standard Annual Fee (Military Waiver)	Key Rewards	Notable Travel Benefits	Annual Credits/Perks	Military-Specific Benefits
Amex Platinum	$695 (Waived)	5X on flights booked directly/Amex Travel	Access to 1,400+ airport lounges, Hilton/Marriott Gold status	$200 airline fee, $200 Uber, $200 hotel, $240 entertainment, $199 CLEAR®	Fee waiver extends to spouses & dependents
Chase Sapphire Reserve	$550 (Waived)	10X hotels/car rentals, 5X flights via Chase Travel, 3X travel/dining	Priority Pass membership, Primary rental coverage	$300 travel credit, $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck	Complete fee waivers including authorized users
Amex Gold	$325 (Waived)	4X restaurants & U.S. supermarkets	N/A	$120 dining, $120 Uber Cash, $100 Resy, $84 Dunkin’	Applies to active duty, Guard/Reserve on 30+ day orders
Capital One Venture X	$395 (Waived if opened before active duty)	10X hotels/rental cars, 5X flights, 2X everything else	Capital One Lounge access, Priority Pass	$300 travel credit, $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck	4% max interest rate under SCRA
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant	$650 (Waived)	6X at Marriott properties	Automatic Platinum Elite status	$300 dining credits, $100 property credit	Fee waiver for active duty & spouses
Hilton Honors Aspire	$450 (Waived)	Bonus points on Hilton stays	Diamond status benefits	$400 resort credits, $200 airline fee credit	Complete fee waiver for active duty & spouses
Delta Reserve	Not mentioned (Waived)	Delta flight rewards	Delta Sky Club access (15 visits/year)	Annual companion certificate	5 free checked bags up to 100lbs on orders
Chase Freedom Unlimited	$0	5% travel via Chase, 3% dining/drugstore, 1.5% else	Travel insurance coverage	$250 welcome bonus	Complete fee protection under MLA
USAA Cashback Plus	$0	5% gas/military base (first $3K), 2% grocery	N/A	N/A	4% APR during deployment/PCS
Navy Federal Flagship	$49	3X travel, 2X everything else	Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit	Free Amazon Prime membership	Travel accident insurance

Space limits this table to the top 10 cards. Other cards follow similar patterns with different benefits.

Conclusion

Military credit cards are a great way to get value through complete fee waivers and exclusive benefits. Premium cards like American Express Platinum and Chase Sapphire Reserve excel by providing exceptional travel perks. These cards waive their usual $500+ annual fees for service members.

The right military credit card choice depends on your spending habits and travel needs. USAA Cashback Plus cards work best for base purchases. Delta Reserve cards benefit frequent flyers. Military spouses should apply separately because many issuers extend fee waivers to them.

The best approach combines a premium travel card with everyday spending cards to maximize rewards for all purchases. American Express tops the list with military benefits. Chase and Capital One’s military programs also deliver strong value.

These cards prove more valuable during deployments and PCS moves. They offer additional protections and reduced interest rates. Active duty service members should upgrade their credit card portfolio to leverage these military-exclusive benefits fully.