Best Military Credit Cards 2025: Chase Sapphire Reserve + Complete Fee Waiver Guide

The #1 Card for Military Members: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

‍

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

‍

Annual Fee: $795 (waived to $0 for military + spouses)

‍

Why it's the best military credit card:

‍

💰 $300 Annual Travel Credit

‍

• Automatically applies to any travel purchase

• Hotel stays, flights, rental cars, parking, tolls all qualify

• No hoops to jump through—it's essentially $300 cash

‍

✈️ Premium Travel Earnings

‍

• 8x points on Chase Travel℠ purchases including The Edit℠

• 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct

• 3x points on dining worldwide

• 1x points on all other purchases

‍

🛫 Airport Lounge Access Worth $469+

‍

• Complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership (1,300+ lounges worldwide)

• Access to every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests

• Real scenario: PCS move from JBLM to Ramstein? Free meals, drinks, and comfortable seating during your layovers

‍

💎 Elite-Level Perks

‍

• Up to $120 toward Global Entry/TSA PreCheck every 4 years

• Up to $150 statement credits every six months for dining ($300 annually total)

• Primary rental car insurance (no need for extra coverage)

• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance

• Complimentary Apple TV+ and Apple Music subscriptions (through 6/22/27)

‍

The break-even math:

‍

• $795 annual fee: WAIVED

• $300 travel credit: Automatic

• $300 dining credits: Likely used

• $120 TSA PreCheck: Once every 4 years

• Priority Pass value: $469/year if used

• Total value: $1,455+ annually for $0

‍

Best for: Service members who travel frequently (PCS moves, TDY, leave), dine out regularly, and want the simplest premium card to maximize.

‍

[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "510", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Frequent Travelers", "headerHint": "$300 Annual Travel Credit"} ]]

The Ultimate Luxury Experience: The Platinum Card® from American Express

‍

American Express Platinum Card® (See Rates & Fees)

‍

Annual Fee: $895 (waived to $0 for military under SCRA/MLA)

‍

Why military members love it:

‍

🎬 $300 Digital Entertainment Credit

‍

• Up to $25/month for Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, Peacock, The New York Times, Paramount+, YouTube Premium, and more

• Enrollment required

‍

🚗 $320 in Uber Benefits

‍

• $15 Uber Cash monthly ($180 annually)

• Additional $20 in December ($35 total that month)

• $120 Uber One membership credit

• Use it: Uber to base, airport runs, date nights

‍

✈️ $200 Airline Fee Credit

‍

• Select one airline annually

• Covers checked bags, in-flight purchases, seat upgrades

• Many military members use for United TravelBank

‍

🛍️ $300 lululemon Credit

‍

• $75 per quarter for PT gear, activewear

• Enrollment required

‍

🏨 $600 Annual Hotel Credit

‍

• $300 semi-annually on Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings

• Minimum two-night stay required

‍

💡 $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit

‍

• Skip TSA lines at 50+ airports

• Biometric verification

• Game-changer for frequent travelers

‍

🛫 Premium Lounge Access

‍

• Centurion Lounges (most exclusive)

• Priority Pass Select (1,300+ lounges)

• Delta Sky Club when flying Delta

• Plaza Premium, Lufthansa lounges, and more

• Access value exceeds $850 annually

‍

🏨 Elite Status Included

‍

• Hilton Honors Gold Status

• Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status

• Complimentary National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status

‍

The reality check:

‍

The Platinum Card offers $2,500+ in potential annual value, but requires active engagement. You must enroll in credits, select airlines, and track semi-annual periods.

‍

Best for: Military members willing to maximize credits strategically, frequent travelers who value lounge access, and those seeking hotel elite status.

‍

[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "106", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Frequent Travelers", "headerHint": "Serious Points on Flights"} ]]

^{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

Three More Premium Cards Worth Considering

‍

For Hotel Loyalists:

‍

‍

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

‍

Annual Fee: $550 (waived for military)

‍

Why it's valuable:

‍

✅ Automatic Hilton Honors™ Diamond Status—the highest tier

✅ Annual Free Night Reward (any Hilton property worldwide)

✅ $400 Hilton Resort Credit ($200 semi-annually)

✅ $200 Flight Credit ($50 quarterly)

✅ 14x points at Hilton properties

‍

Real scenario: That TDY to DC? Complimentary breakfast for your family at the Hilton, free room upgrades when available, and late checkout—all from Diamond status. The free night alone can be worth $500+ at luxury properties.

‍

‍

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (See Rates & Fees)

‍

Annual Fee: $650 (waived for military)

‍

Why it's valuable:

‍

✅ Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status

✅ $300 Annual Dining Credit ($25 monthly at restaurants)

✅ Annual Free Night Award (up to 85,000 points)

✅ 25 Elite Night Credits toward higher status

✅ Priority Pass™ lounge access

‍

‍

For Frequent Flyers:

‍

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (See Rates & Fees)

‍

Annual Fee: $650 (waived for military)

‍

Why it's valuable:

‍

✅ 15 Delta Sky Club visits per year (unlimited after $75k spend)

✅ Centurion Lounge access when flying Delta

✅ Companion Certificate annually (friend/family flies nearly free)

✅ $2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQD Headstart)

✅ $240 in Resy credits ($20 monthly for dining)

✅ $120 Rideshare Credit ($10 monthly)

‍

Best for: Service members stationed near Delta hubs (ATL, MSP, DTW, SEA) or who fly Delta frequently for TDY/leave.

‍

[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "781", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Frequent Travelers", "headerHint": "Most Premium Delta Offer"} ]]

^{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

Bottom Line: Military Credit Cards Are a Game-Changer

‍

Military members have access to some of the most valuable credit card benefits available. With annual fees waived on premium cards, servicemembers can access:

‍

• $1,000+ in annual fee savings across multiple cards

• Premium travel benefits (lounge access, travel credits, insurance)

• Excellent earning rates on travel and dining

• Welcome bonuses worth $1,000+ in travel value

‍

The combination of fee waivers and premium benefits makes military credit cards one of the best financial benefits of military service.

‍

Ready to maximize your military credit card benefits? Not sure which cards are right for your spending? Our free Dream Wallet tool analyzes your spending to show you exactly which cards would provide the most value based on your lifestyle.

Using Kudos to Maximize Your Military Credit Card Strategy

‍

Once you have 2-3 premium military cards with waived fees, a new challenge emerges: Which card should you use for each purchase?

‍

This is where Kudos becomes your strategic advantage.

‍

How Kudos helps military cardholders:

‍

📊 Automatic card optimization

‍

• Kudos analyzes every purchase in real-time

• Recommends the card earning maximum rewards

• Example: Dining at Chili's on base? Kudos suggests Chase Sapphire Reserve® (3x points) over Amex Platinum (1x points)

‍

💰 Tracks unused benefits worth $624/year

‍

• That $300 CSR travel credit? Kudos reminds you

• $200 Amex airline credit about to expire? You'll know

• Free hotel nights approaching expiration? Tracked automatically

‍

🎯 Identifies hidden savings

‍

• Average Kudos user saves $441/year by using the optimal card

• Combines with military fee waivers for maximum value

‍

Real military scenario:

‍

Captain Martinez has Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Amex Platinum, and Hilton Aspire. She's planning a PCS move from Fort Hood to Okinawa.

‍

Without Kudos:

‍

• Might use wrong cards for different purchases

• Could forget to use $300 CSR travel credit on flights

• May miss $400 Hilton resort credit at her stopover hotel

• Potential loss: $741+ in unused benefits

‍

With Kudos:

‍

• Gets notification to use CSR for flight (3x points + travel credit)

• Reminder to apply Hilton resort credit during Hawaii layover

• Optimizes every purchase during move for maximum rewards

• Potential gain: $741+ in captured value + optimized earnings

‍

Sign up for Kudos free with code "GET20" and earn $20 back after your first eligible purchase—use it toward your next TDY hotel!

The Application Path: Step-by-Step Strategy

‍

Timeline for military members starting from scratch:

‍

‍

Month 1-3: Build Credit Foundation (if needed)

‍

• If credit score below 700: Open USAA or Navy Federal card

• Make small purchases, pay in full monthly

• Goal: Build 720+ credit score

‍

‍

Month 4: Start with Chase

‍

• Apply for Chase Sapphire Reserve® (or Sapphire Preferred if higher bonus)

• Alternative: Start with Chase Freedom Unlimited® if building Chase relationship

• Meet $5,000 minimum spend over 3 months

‍

‍

Month 7: Add Second Chase Card

‍

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® (if you got Reserve first)

• World of Hyatt Credit Card (annual free night)

• IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (annual free night)

‍

‍

Month 10: Move to American Express

‍

• Apply for The Platinum Card® from American Express

• Meet minimum spend requirement

• Enroll in all statement credits immediately

‍

‍

Month 13+: Strategic Expansion

‍

• American Express Hilton Honors Aspire (if you stay at Hiltons)

• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® (if you prefer Marriott)

• Delta Reserve (if you fly Delta frequently)

‍

‍

Critical rules to follow:

‍

⚠️ Never carry a balance—Pay in full every month

⚠️ Space applications 90 days apart—Avoid too many hard inquiries

⚠️ Meet minimum spends naturally—Don't manufacture spending

⚠️ Track annual fee schedules—Know when fees would be charged after leaving service

What Happens When You Leave Active Duty?

‍

Your options when separating:

‍

Option 1: Downgrade to No-Fee Versions

‍

• Chase Sapphire Reserve® → Chase Freedom Unlimited®

• Keeps account history, avoids fee

• Lose premium benefits

‍

‍

Option 2: Keep Cards Worth the Fee

‍

• If you value benefits > annual fee, keep it

• Example: CSR's $300 travel credit + lounge access may justify $795 fee

• Do the math based on your actual usage

‍

‍

Option 3: Cancel Cards You Don't Use

‍

• Close before annual fee posts

• Minimal credit score impact if you keep oldest accounts open

• Temporary 60-100 point drop recovers within months

‍

‍

Option 4: Transfer to Spouse (if spouse remains active duty)

‍

• Add spouse as primary on new accounts

• Close your versions before fees hit

• Maintains household benefits

‍

‍

Strategic timeline:

‍

‍

9-12 months before separation:

‍

• Review which cards provide value without fee waivers

• Calculate break-even for each card

• Plan downgrade/cancel strategy

‍

‍

3-6 months before separation:

‍

• Use all remaining credits/benefits

• Redeem points for maximum value

• Apply for any final cards if staying in reserves

‍

‍

Upon separation:

‍

• Monitor accounts for fee postings

• Execute downgrade/cancel plan

• Keep oldest no-fee cards open for credit history

FAQ

‍

Do spouses of active duty members qualify for MLA fee waivers?

‍

Yes, under MLA, spouses of active duty servicemembers qualify for fee waivers on Chase and American Express personal cards. Both Chase and Amex interpret MLA to include spouses, so you can each hold premium cards with $0 annual fees.

‍

Can I apply for these cards before going on active duty?

‍

Yes, but the strategy differs. Cards opened before active duty qualify under SCRA (not MLA). Apply for cards that offer SCRA benefits, like Capital One Venture X, before commissioning/enlisting. Then apply for Chase and Amex cards after you're on active duty to get MLA benefits.

‍

Will opening multiple cards hurt my credit score?

‍

Short-term, yes—expect a 5-10 point drop per application from hard inquiries. Long-term, no—your score recovers within months and improves as you age accounts and maintain low utilization. Most military members with 8-12 cards maintain 750-820 credit scores.

‍

How do I prove I'm on active duty?

‍

Provide a copy of your military ID, recent LES (Leave and Earnings Statement), or orders showing active duty status. Chase and Amex have military benefits departments that handle verification. Process takes 2-6 weeks typically.

‍

Can military members hold multiple of the same card?

‍

Yes! This is a powerful strategy. You can hold multiple Chase Sapphire Reserve® cards or multiple Amex Platinum cards. Each card has its own $300 travel credit (CSR) or credits (Platinum). However, you can only earn the welcome bonus once per card per lifetime.

‍

What if I'm deployed—can I still apply?

‍

Yes, you can apply while deployed. Most applications are instant approval or pending review. Some servicemembers wait until return from deployment to manage minimum spending requirements more easily.

‍

Does Kudos work with military credit cards?

‍

Yes! Kudos works with over 3,000 credit cards, including all military cards with fee waivers. Link your cards to automatically get recommendations on which card to use for maximum rewards on every purchase. Sign up free here.

‍

Are National Guard and Reserve members eligible?

‍

Guard and Reserve members qualify when on active duty orders for 30+ days. MLA protections apply during active duty periods. SCRA applies if called to active duty after opening accounts.

Bottom Line

‍

If you're on active duty, you have access to a benefit that civilians would gladly pay thousands for: premium credit cards with $0 annual fees.

‍

‍

The opportunity:

‍

• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: $1,455+ in annual value

• Amex Platinum: $2,500+ in annual value

• Hilton Aspire: $1,150+ in annual value

• Combined potential: $5,105+ across just three cards—all free

‍

‍

The strategy:

‍

1. Start with Chase Sapphire Reserve® for simplicity and maximum value
2. Add Amex Platinum for luxury benefits and lounge access
3. Choose one hotel card (Hilton Aspire or Marriott Brilliant) based on your stays
4. Use Kudos to optimize which card to use and track benefits

‍

‍

The timeline:

‍

• Month 1-4: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

• Month 7-10: Amex Platinum

• Month 13+: Hotel card

• Ongoing: Use Kudos to maximize every purchase

‍

‍

Critical reminders:

‍

• ✅ Apply for Chase cards first (5/24 rule)

• ✅ Never carry a balance

• ✅ Meet minimum spends naturally

• ✅ Enroll in all statement credits

• ✅ Use Kudos to track benefits and optimize earnings

‍

‍

This benefit exists because of your service. Take advantage of it strategically, and you can travel better, dine out smarter, and build wealth faster—all while serving your country.

‍

Ready to maximize your military credit card benefits? Join over 400,000 Kudos members who are already earning more rewards and never missing a credit again.