The most common type of reward offered by credit cards is points. These points can be redeemed for cash back, travel rewards (such as airline tickets or hotel stays), gift cards, or even merchandise discounts. Some cards also offer bonus points when you make certain types of purchases (for example, bonus points when you use your card at gas stations). To maximize your earning potential with a rewards program, look for one that offers a wide range of bonus categories and/or high-value bonus categories like online shopping or dining out.