If you could only keep 4 credit cards, which would they be?

I have 7 credit cards right now and I’m trying to simplify my finances. If you could only have 4 credit cards, which ones would you keep and why?

I eat out moderately, travel occasionally, drive an EV (so no gas expenses), and rent an apartment. Just looking for well-rounded recommendations.

I trimmed down to four cards, and it’s been working well for me:

  • Capital One Venture X – 2x points on everything, good travel perks
  • Capital One Savor – 3% on entertainment and dining
  • Citi Custom Cash – 5% on groceries (caps at $500 monthly)
  • BILT – 1% on rent, plus decent points for dining and travel

This setup covers all my major spending categories while keeping it simple.

My ideal 4-card setup:

  • Amex Gold – 4x dining, 4x groceries
  • Chase Sapphire Reserve – great for travel, 3x on dining, access to Priority Pass lounges
  • BILT – 1x rent, 3x dining, no annual fee
  • Discover Cash Back – rotating 5% categories

This covers travel, dining, and rent while keeping it flexible.

Mine would be:

  • US Bank Altitude Reserve – 4.5% on mobile wallet purchases
  • Capital One Venture X – 2x on everything, solid travel perks
  • Amex Gold – 4x groceries and dining
  • BILT – 1% rent, 3x dining, 2x travel

This covers everyday spending, rent, and travel while keeping point-earning optimized.

Venture X, Savor, Bilt, Amex Gold. It’s a well-balanced mix of cash back, travel perks, and useful category bonuses.

Chase trifecta + BILT:

  • Chase Sapphire Preferred – Travel, dining, transfers to Hyatt/United/Southwest
  • Chase Freedom Unlimited – 1.5x on everything, 3x dining/drugstores
  • Chase Freedom Flex – 5x rotating categories
  • BILT – Rent and extra points on dining/travel

I only need three:

  • Capital One Venture X – 2x on everything, travel perks
  • Capital One Savor – 3% dining, entertainment, grocery
  • Chase Amazon Visa – 5% Amazon

That setup covers all my expenses efficiently.

Hilton Aspire, Amex Gold, Venture X, and BILT. All solid cards with good value if you travel and dine out.

Venture X (2x), Savor (3% groceries), CSP (3% dining/travel), Costco Citi (gas).

BILT for rent, Amex Gold for dining/groceries, Charles Schwab Platinum for lounge access + MR cashouts, Chase Freedom Flex for 5% rotating categories.

If you want maximum value:

  • BILT – Rent + 3x dining, 2x travel
  • Bank of America Premium Elite – 3.5% on travel/dining (or 4.38% if used for flights)
  • Bank of America Customized Cash – 5.25% in one chosen category
  • US Bank Smartly – 4% cash back if you hold assets with them