The best credit cards for Facebook ad spend of December 2023

More details on our best credit cards for Facebook ad spending

This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.

American Express® Business Gold Card

Annual fee: $295 ($375 if application is received on or after 2/1/24; see rates and fees).

Current welcome offer: Earn 70,000 bonus points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months of account opening. Based on TPG valuations, this bonus is worth $1,400.

Earning rates: 4 points per dollar on the two select categories where you spend the most each month (up to $150,000 spent each calendar year; 3 points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com, then 1 point per dollar).

Analysis: The American Express Business Gold Card is great because it automatically gives you 4 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent in the two categories where you spend the most each billing cycle. The six possible bonus categories are:

• Transit purchases including trains, taxis, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways.
• Monthly wireless telephone service charges made directly from a U.S. telephone service provider.
• U.S. purchases for advertising in select media (online, TV, radio).
• U.S. purchases at gas stations.
• U.S. purchases at restaurants, including takeout and delivery.
• U.S. purchases made directly from electronic goods retailers and cloud system providers.

TPG values Membership Rewards points at 2 cents apiece, so you’ll earn an 8% return on spending in the two bonus categories where you spend the most each billing cycle. However, you’ll only earn 4 points per dollar on the first $150,000 of bonus category spending each year. All subsequent spending will earn 1 point per dollar, which is the earning rate for all non-bonus category spending.

But if you spend the full $150,000 in 4 points per dollar categories, you’ll earn 600,000 Membership Rewards points each year, which TPG values at $12,000. 

For more details on the card’s other benefits, check out our full card review.

___________________________________________________________________________

Official application link: American Express Business Gold Card.

___________________________________________________________________________

Ink Business Preferred Credit Card

Annual fee: $95.

Current sign-up bonus: Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. Based on TPG valuations, this bonus is worth $2,000.

Earning rates: 3 points per dollar on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases each account anniversary year on travel, shipping purchases, internet cable and phone services and advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines.

Analysis: The Ink Business Preferred offers 3 Chase Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on the first $150,000 in combined purchases each account anniversary year for the following categories:

• Travel.
• Shipping purchases.
• Internet, cable and phone services.
• Advertising purchases with social media sites and search engines.

All other purchases, and purchases in these categories over $150,000 in an account anniversary year, earn 1 point per dollar spent.

This card provides especially good value because it’s part of Chase’s Ultimate Rewards program. You can use your points to book travel directly through the Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel portal at a rate of 1.25 cents each — or 1.5 cents each if you transfer your points to a Chase Sapphire Reserve card. But TPG valuations peg Chase Ultimate Rewards points at 2 cents due to the program’s valuable hotel and airline transfer partners including United and Hyatt.

So you’ll effectively get a 6% return on the first $150,000 you spend each account anniversary year in the 3 points per dollar bonus categories. In fact, if you spend the full $150,000 in 3 points per dollar categories, you’ll earn 450,000 Ultimate Rewards points each year which TPG values at $9,000.

The Ink Business Preferred also comes with the largest points bonus among the three cards featured in this story. You’ll earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first three months. That bonus is worth $2,000 according to TPG’s valuations, which looks even more impressive when you consider this card’s annual fee — a modest $95.

For details on the card’s other benefits, including cellphone protection when you pay your monthly cellphone bill with this card, check out our full card review.

___________________________________________________________________________

Official application link: Ink Business Preferred Credit Card.

___________________________________________________________________________

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

Annual fee: $0 (see rates and fees).

Current welcome offer: Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first three months.

Earning rates: 2% cash back on the first $50,000 in purchases you make each calendar year, and 1% after that.

Analysis: If cash back is more your speed, Amex’s Blue Business Cash Card is another good pick — especially if you’ve maxed out the bonus categories on the other two business cards above.

The card’s earning structure is very straightforward and is good for more than just paying for Facebook ads. The card earns a flat 2% back on all purchases (on up to $50,000 each calendar year; then 1%), whether that’s for advertising or any other business expense.

Interestingly, the card also offers the ability to spend beyond your credit limit to make large purchases (determined by factors like your payment and credit history), though you’ll have to pay off this additional spending every month.

For details on the card’s other benefits, check out our full card review.

___________________________________________________________________________

Official application link: The American Express Blue Business Cash Card.

___________________________________________________________________________

Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card

Annual fee: $199.

Current sign-up bonus: 80,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. Based on TPG valuations, the full bonus is worth $1,200.

Earning rates: 4 points per dollar on Southwest Airlines purchases, 3 points per dollar on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases; 2 points per dollar on rideshare, 2 points per dollar on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable and phone services, and 1 point per dollar spent on everything else.

Analysis: If Southwest is your company’s preferred airline and you’re considering a cobranded card, this is the one to get. Earning 2 Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent on social media and search engine advertising equates to a solid 3% return.

The card also comes with a number of perks that will make business trips on the airline more comfortable. You’ll get four upgraded boarding positions per year, up to 365 $8 inflight Wi-Fi credits per year (covers all-day pass) and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck statement credit every four years, among other benefits. Plus, the 80,000 points you get from the sign-up bonus gets you closer to earning the coveted Southwest Airlines Companion Pass.

For more details, read our Southwest Performance Business credit card review.

___________________________________________________________________________

Official application link: Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card.

___________________________________________________________________________

Are credit cards for advertising worth it?

Online advertising with companies such as Facebook and Google has become an integral part of many business strategies, and luckily there are credit cards that reward spending within this category. If you have a large ad budget, you can spread out the cost over multiple credit cards and continue to bring in significant rewards.

The American Express Business Gold Card is at the top of this list due to its ability to earn 4 Amex Membership Rewards points per dollar on ad spending, which is a terrific 8% return based on TPG’s valuations. Plus, even if your business doesn’t spend much on ads in one month, you’ll still be able to earn 4 points per dollar on other popular bonus categories.

Although it has a slightly lower return, the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card is also a solid choice due to its ability to earn 3 Chase Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on ad spending (a 6% return). It also carries a low annual fee and its current sign-up bonus.

Meanwhile, the American Express Blue Business Cash Card, which offers a lower 2% return due to its straight cash-back offering, is a solid option as well if you don’t want to pay an annual fee. Or, if you’ve already maxed out your bonus categories on the other cards you can get a 3% return with the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card.

For rates and fees of the Amex Business Gold card, click here.

For rates and fees of the Amex Blue Business Cash card, click here.