Best Credit Cards for Earning Miles 2026: Top 5

Quick answer: The best credit card for earning miles is the AMEX Gold (€240/year, 50,000 MR welcome bonus) as a starting point. For maximizers: AMEX Platinum (€720, 85,000 MR). For the self-employed: AMEX Platinum Business (€850, 200,000 MR). Free entry point: PAYBACK AMEX (€0, 4,000 PAYBACK points until 14 June 2026). The optimal strategy combines AMEX + Miles & More + PAYBACK cards in parallel.

Which credit card is the best for earning miles? The answer depends on your budget, your spending and your goal. In this comparison I’ll introduce you to the 5 best cards - from free to premium.

The 5 best cards at a glance

Rank	Card	Annual fee	Welcome bonus	For whom?
1	AMEX Gold*	€240	50,000 MR	Best entry point
	AMEX Gold Rosé*	€240	55,000 MR	Same card, +5k bonus
2	AMEX Platinum Personal*	€720	85,000 MR	Maximizers with budget
3	AMEX Platinum Business*	€850	200,000 MR	Self-employed
4	Miles & More Gold	€138/year	4,000 miles	Lufthansa frequent flyers
5	PAYBACK AMEX*	Free	4,000 PAYBACK points	Beginners without risk

Important upfront: AMEX Membership Rewards and Miles & More are two separate systems. The detour MR → PAYBACK → M&M (3:1) isn’t worth it. The optimal strategy combines cards from both systems. More on this: AMEX MR vs Miles & More: What’s the difference?

Rank 1: AMEX Gold - Best entry point into earning miles

The AMEX Gold* is my recommendation for everyone who wants to start earning miles. It offers the best ratio of cost, bonus and benefits.

Feature	Value
Annual fee	€240
Welcome bonus	50,000 MR
Spend requirement	€5,000 in 6 months
Earn rate	1 MR per euro
Mobility credit	€290/year (SIXT+, SIXT rent, FREENOW)
Travel insurance	Yes

Why the AMEX Gold at rank 1?

• 50,000 MR bonus at a realistic spend requirement (~€833/month)
• €290 mobility credit per year (SIXT+, SIXT rent, FREENOW)
• Travel insurance included
• €240 annual fee - the bonus alone is worth €500-1,000

The welcome bonus covers the annual fee many times over. And the earn rate of 1 MR per euro means: every euro on the card earns points - at the gas station, in the supermarket, online.

Downside: No Priority Pass and no lounge access. Anyone who wants lounges needs the Platinum.

Apply for AMEX Gold*

Tip: The AMEX Gold Rosé* offers identical terms to the regular Gold, but 55,000 MR instead of 50,000 MR – so 5,000 MR more welcome bonus at the same price.

Detailed review: AMEX Gold Review 2026

Rank 2: AMEX Platinum Personal - For maximizers

The AMEX Platinum* is the premium card for everyone who wants to get the maximum out of earning miles - including unlimited lounge access worldwide.

Feature	Value
Annual fee	€720
Welcome bonus	85,000 MR
Spend requirement	€10,000 in 6 months
Earn rate	1 MR per euro (1.5x with Turbo for €15/year)
Priority Pass	50 lounge visits/year
Hotel status	Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, Radisson Gold
Credit	€200 travel + €200 SIXT ride

Why the Platinum?

• 85,000 MR bonus - enough for a Business Class flight
• 50 Priority Pass visits + Lufthansa lounges (separate, no guest allowed)
• Hotel Gold status at 3 chains - upgrades, late checkout, breakfast
• €400 credit (€200 travel + €200 SIXT) lower the effective annual fee to €320

Downside: €720 annual fee and €10,000 spend requirement aren’t doable for everyone.

Apply for AMEX Platinum*

Detailed review: AMEX Platinum Review 2026

Rank 3: AMEX Platinum Business - Highest bonus in Germany

200,000 MR welcome bonus - that’s the highest bonus of all German credit cards. But: only for the self-employed and business owners.

Feature	Value
Annual fee	€850
Welcome bonus	200,000 MR
Spend requirement	€15,000 in 6 months
Earn rate	1 MR per euro (1.5x with Turbo for €15/year)
Priority Pass	50 lounge visits/year
Hotel status	Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, Radisson Gold
Credit	€200 travel + €200 SIXT ride

Why the Business Platinum?

• 200,000 MR = up to €4,000 in value on flight bookings
• All the benefits of the personal Platinum plus a higher bonus
• Business expenses automatically earn points

Downside: Requires self-employment or a business. €15,000 in 6 months is a high hurdle - but business expenses like rent, software and service providers count toward it.

Pro tip: How to hit the spend requirement even as a self-employed person on a small budget - including running recurring expenses like rent, insurance and subscriptions through the card - is something you’ll learn in the Premium Handbook.

Apply for AMEX Platinum Business*

All bonuses in detail: Credit Cards with Welcome Bonus 2026

Rank 4: Miles & More Gold - For Lufthansa frequent flyers

Anyone who wants to earn Miles & More miles directly (instead of AMEX MR) needs a Miles & More credit card. The Miles & More Gold is the best choice in the M&M system.

Feature	Value
Annual fee	€11.50/month (€138/year)
Welcome bonus	4,000 miles
Spend requirement	None
Earn rate	1 mile per euro
Mileage expiry protection	Yes (any spend = activity)

Why the M&M Gold?

• Direct Miles & More miles - no transfer needed
• 1 mile per euro - the best earn rate in the M&M system
• No spend requirement for the welcome bonus
• Expiry protection - every card transaction resets the 36-month timer
• Current welcome bonus - no active deadline

Downside: Significantly lower welcome bonus (4,000 miles vs 50,000+ MR with AMEX). Miles & More miles are less flexible than AMEX MR.

Apply for M&M Gold Personal | Apply for M&M Gold Business

Rank 5: PAYBACK AMEX - Get started for free

The PAYBACK AMEX* is the only completely free card in this comparison - and the perfect entry point if you don’t want to take any risk.

Feature	Value
Annual fee	Free
Welcome bonus	4,000 PAYBACK points (until 14 June 2026)
Earn rate	1 point per €3 of card spend
Expiry protection	Yes (any spend = activity)

Why the PAYBACK AMEX?

• Completely free - no risk, no fees
• 4,000 PAYBACK points as a welcome bonus (until 14 June 2026)
• PAYBACK points can be transferred 1:1 to Miles & More
• With a transfer bonus (1-2x per year, 20-25% extra) the value rises considerably
• Expiry protection for your PAYBACK points

Downside: Only 1 point per €3 - the lowest earn rate in the comparison. No Priority Pass, no hotel status.

Bonus deadline: 14 June 2026

Apply for PAYBACK AMEX* | Alternatively: DM PAYBACK AMEX* (same terms)

More on this: Earning PAYBACK Points: 11 Tips & Partners | PAYBACK to M&M Transfer Bonus Guide

Which card suits you?

You just want to get started (without fees)

→ PAYBACK AMEX* (free) as an entry point. Collect points and transfer them with a bonus to Miles & More.

You want to earn miles seriously

→ AMEX Gold* (€240) as your main card. 50,000 MR bonus, €290 mobility credit, insurance.

You fly regularly and want premium benefits

→ AMEX Platinum Personal* (€720). 85,000 MR, 50 lounge visits, hotel status, €400 credit.

You’re self-employed and want the maximum

→ AMEX Platinum Business* (€850). 200,000 MR - the highest bonus in Germany.

You mainly fly Lufthansa and Star Alliance

→ Miles & More Gold (€138/year) as a supplement. Direct miles, expiry protection, no spend requirement.

The optimal combination

The best mile collectors don’t use one card, but a combination:

• AMEX Gold* or Platinum* as your main card (for AMEX MR)
• Miles & More Gold as a second card (for direct miles + expiry protection)
• PAYBACK AMEX* as a free supplement (for PAYBACK → M&M transfer)

Pro tip: The optimal card combination for your personal situation - beginner, maximizer or frequent flyer - is in the Premium Handbook. Including a concrete strategy for running all your recurring expenses (rent, insurance, subscriptions) through credit cards and thereby collecting thousands of extra points per year.

My experience: Which cards I use

I started with the PAYBACK AMEX* - free, no risk. Once I realized how much potential there is in earning miles, the AMEX Gold* was added. Today I use a combination of AMEX and Miles & More cards.

The result: over 200,000 points in the first year, without a single flight. Including long-haul Business Class flights - regular ticket price several thousand euros, paid with miles: €0 plus taxes and fees.

The most important tip: Start with one card and work your way up. You don’t have to take the Platinum* right away. The AMEX Gold* or even the free PAYBACK AMEX* are a perfect entry point.

[TIP] Which card suits your spending? Our earn calculator calculates, based on your monthly spending, how many miles and points you collect per year — personalized for 8 credit cards.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Which credit card is the best for earning miles?

For most people the AMEX Gold* (€240/year) is the best entry point: 50,000 MR welcome bonus, 1 MR per euro, €290 mobility credit. Anyone without a budget starts with the free PAYBACK AMEX* and transfers the points to Miles & More.

Can I transfer AMEX points to Miles & More?

No, that’s not possible. AMEX Membership Rewards and Miles & More are two completely separate systems. AMEX MR can be transferred to 10 airline partners (British Airways, Flying Blue, Singapore Airlines and others). For Miles & More miles you need a Miles & More credit card or the PAYBACK transfer.

Is a credit card with an annual fee worth it for earning miles?

Yes, if the welcome bonus exceeds the fee. Example: 50,000 MR (value €500-1,000) at a €240 annual fee for the AMEX Gold*. Even the Platinum* (€720) is worth it thanks to the 85,000 MR bonus (€850-1,700 value) plus €400 credit.

How many miles can I earn per year with a credit card?

That depends on your spending. At €1,500 of monthly spend on the AMEX Gold* you collect 18,000 MR per year through everyday spending. On top of that come welcome bonuses: with the right strategy, 200,000+ points in the first year are realistic. More on this: Earning Miles Guide

Do I need a business for the AMEX Business cards?

Yes, the AMEX Platinum Business* (200,000 MR bonus) and the AMEX Business Gold* (75,000 MR bonus) require self-employment or a business. For private individuals the AMEX Gold* (50,000 MR) and the AMEX Platinum Personal* (85,000 MR) are the best options.

Which free credit card earns miles?

The PAYBACK AMEX* is completely free and earns PAYBACK points, which can be transferred 1:1 to Miles & More miles. During transfer bonus promotions (1-2x per year, 20-25% extra) the value rises further. There’s no free card that directly earns Miles & More miles or AMEX MR.

Can I combine multiple cards for earning miles?

Yes, and that’s actually the best strategy. The optimal combination consists of an AMEX card* (for MR points), a Miles & More card (for direct miles and expiry protection) and the free PAYBACK AMEX* (for PAYBACK → M&M transfer). That way you collect on all channels at once.

Conclusion: The best credit card for earning miles

There isn’t one single best card - it comes down to your situation:

• Start for free: PAYBACK AMEX*
• Best entry point: AMEX Gold* (€240/year, 50,000 MR)
• Get the maximum: AMEX Platinum* (€720/year, 85,000 MR)
• Highest bonus: AMEX Platinum Business* (€850/year, 200,000 MR)
• Lufthansa loyalty: M&M Gold (€138/year, 4,000 miles)

The complete card strategy with optimal combinations for beginners, intermediates and maximizers - including the recurring-expenses hack for thousands of extra points per year - is in the Premium Handbook.