Cards
The card layer, retailer by retailer.
These aren't reviews. Each page answers one question: what does holding this card change about the stack on every retailer we cover? Which purchases earn a multiplier, which credits require buying direct (and therefore never combine with a portal), and which card-linked offers do stack. US-issued cards for now; other markets are coming.
American Express Gold
Up to 100,000 pts$325
The $325 Gold earns 1x at nearly every retailer on this site. Where it matters: 5x on prepaid hotels through Amex Travel (raised in April 2026), 3x flights direct, broadly targeted Amex Offers, and taking Rakuten cashback as Membership Rewards.
American Express Platinum
Up to 175,000 pts$895
The $895 Platinum earns 1x at almost every retailer on this site. Its value in a stack is the credits and the Platinum-only Amex Offers: $300 semiannual hotel credit on prepaid FHR, $200 Oura direct, $75 Bose, $50 Nordstrom, and 5x on flights booked direct.
Chase Sapphire Reserve
100,000 pts$795
The $795 Reserve earns 4x on flights and hotels booked direct, 8x through Chase Travel, and 1x at every retailer on this site. Its stack value is the $300 StubHub credit (which does combine with Rakuten), The Edit's $500 hotel credit (which never does), and the $300 travel credit that applies to Sixt and Vrbo.
Bilt
Up to 50,000 pts$0 / $95 / $495
Bilt matters to a stack for one reason above all: Rakuten cashback can be paid out as Bilt points (100 per dollar at Silver and up, 50 at Blue since May 2026), which transfer 1:1 to Alaska, Hyatt, United, and Virgin Atlantic. The 2026 Card 2.0 lineup, what earns at Stackable retailers, and what doesn't.
Chase Sapphire Preferred
75,000 pts$95
After the June 2026 refresh the $95 Preferred earns 3x on vacation rentals booked direct (Vrbo), 2x on other travel (Sixt, Marriott, airlines), and 1x at every other retailer on this site. What that means page by page, plus the Hyatt ratio cut and the $100 Chase Travel hotel credit.