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The X1 Card is a 17g stainless steel points-earning rectangle of power. For a no annual fee credit card, you have the potential to earn several hundred dollars worth of points each year from moderate everyday spending thanks to continual promotions through the app that allow you to earn between 4 and 10 points per dollar for common expenses like dining, Amazon purchases, etc.

Review: Is the X1 Card the best credit card for you?

Credit card issuers work hard to sire innovation when it comes to earning and redeeming points. It takes a lot nowadays for a rewards program to differentiate itself from the rest.

The $0 annual fee X1 Card does an admirable job to this end. The way you earn points is fun and interactive, and the redemption process (though far from the best in the world of rewards) is simple and unique.

The card will examine more than just your credit score when considering your application. It will look at your employment income, as well, to decide if you're a good candidate. This means that even if your credit score is less than perfect, you may still be approved for the card (though we regularly recommend nobody with a credit score under 700 consider jumping into the world of rewards credit cards).

The $0 leans heavily on its proprietary app, which allows you to earn a considerable bonus on everyday spending with a single tap of your phone. The card earns a minimum of 2 points per dollar on all purchases — but thanks to these in-app “Boosts,” you may find yourself earning 4 or 5 points per dollar more often than not.

Points can be redeemed for 1 cent each at qualifying merchants, which include popular stores, airlines, hotels booking platforms, and more. For most cardholders, this card will provide at least 2% back on everything.

The biggest caveat is that redeeming your points for cash (instead of offsetting your purchases through eligible partners) will give you a value of 0.7 cents per point.

Other cards that may suit you in a similar way to the X1 Card are the Citi® Double Cash Card, which earns 1% back on all purchases and 1% back after you pay off your purchase. That amounts to 2% back everywhere. You can redeem your rewards for cash at a rate of 1 cent each, and you can even transfer your points to airline and hotel partners for outsized value if you've also got a card like the Citi Premier® Card.

We're focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won't be worth it if you're paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it's important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.

How to earn rewards from the X1 Credit Card

The X1 Card doesn't come with a welcome bonus. However, if you apply via a referral link from a friend or family member, you'll receive a bonus on all your purchases (between 4 and 10 points per dollar). This bonus lasts between seven and 30 days, depending on the offer you're targeted for (which you won't know until after you apply).

This card gives you an above-average return rate for having a $0 annual fee. You'll earn a flat 2 points per dollar on all purchases. As we'll discuss soon, points are worth a maximum of 1 cent each. That amounts to a 2% return.

One great feature of this card is that it earns rewards immediately — you don't have to wait until your statement closes. That's uncommon among rewards credit cards.

Now let's talk about a few things you can do to increase your return.

Spend $15,000 in a calendar year

When you spend $15,000 in a calendar year, your earning rate will increase to 3 points per dollar for all purchases that year — including transactions made before you reached the $15,000 threshold. There's only one catch: Any spend above $7,500 per month will continue to earn 2 points per dollar.

For example, If you spend $9,000 in a month, you'd earn 25,500 points ($7,500 x 3 points per dollar + $1,500 x 2 points per dollar).

Take advantage of “Boosts”

X1 has an in-app featured called “Boosts,” which allow you to earn bonus points for select shopping. Boosts are adjacent to the super popular Amex Offers program in that they are targeted bonuses that only work after you enroll your card into each one.

You can earn 4+ points per dollar when you activate Boosts. Here are some examples of what you might find:

• Earn 5 points per dollar when using Google Pay
• Earn 5 points per dollar on your next restaurant purchase
• Earn 5 points per dollar on your next Uber ride

Boosts have varying terms. For example, some are can be used multiple times for 24 hours, some disappear after a specific number of uses, etc. One consistency for all Boosts is that you can only attach one at a time to your card. The best strategy may be to keep from adding any Boost until you're seconds away from making a qualifying purchase.

Shop from inside the X1 Card app

The card's proprietary app acts as a sort of shopping portal, allowing you to earn bonus points with select online stores. Here are a few examples from the X1 Card's site:

• 10 points per dollar at Warbyparker.com
• 4 points per dollar at Macys.com
• 4 points per dollar at Bedbathandbeyond.com
• 5 points per dollar at Underarmour.com

Whenever you shop online, you should examine the return rate across multiple shopping portals before you make your purchase. Use a site like Cashback Monitor to quickly scan all offers and see if the X1 app is your best option.

Refer a friend

When you refer a friend to the X1 Card, you'll receive an unspecified bonus on all your purchases for the next seven to 30 days — effectively the same type of bonus that your friend will receive by applying through your link. Again, bonuses are between 4 and 10 points per dollar.

How to use X1 Credit Card rewards

There are two ways to use the rewards you earn from the X1 Card:

1. Redeem them for cash at a rate of 0.7 cents each
2. Offset purchases at popular stores at a rate of 1 cent each

If you can manage to organically spend with the below qualifying stores (and there are some extremely practical options), you should value these rewards at 1 cent each.

One important note is that you must have enough points to entirely offset whichever purchase you're redeeming against. Partial redemptions are not allowed.

X1 Credit Card benefits and features

Virtual credit card numbers

One of the best parts of the X1 Card is its ability to instantly manufacture an infinite amount of virtual credit card numbers. You can create different types of credit cards numbers to fit your needs which comes in handy for online spending:

• Standard card — Serves at a simple proxy between your card and the merchant. you can cancel this number at any time.
• Free trial card — This number auto-cancels after 24 hours, allowing you to sign-up for free trials and not worry about forgetting to cancel your membership before the trials ends. If the merchant tries to charge your account after 24 hours, they will receive an error.
• Single-use card — If you're especially paranoid about your spending, you can opt to generate a new virtual credit card number that is only valid for one transaction. This ensures you can't be double charged for anything.

You can also customize a virtual credit card which can expire at various times and enforce strict transaction limits.

Cell phone protection

When you pay your monthly cell phone bill with the X1 Card, your phone will be covered against damage or theft, up to $500 per claim. You must pay a $50 deductible.

Travel insurances

The X1 Card offers a handful of travel benefits that benefit the casual traveler — a nice bonus considering it's decidedly not a travel credit card. Here's what you'll get:

• Trip cancellation/interruption coverage — If you're not able to take a covered trip — or if the trip is interrupted due to injury, weather, illness, etc. — this card will cover you for up to $2,000 in expenses. 
• Auto rental collision damage waiver — You'll receive secondary auto rental insurance for damage or theft when you waive the rental agency's CDW. This card will cover you for any remaining expenses that your personal auto policy will not.
• Travel and emergency assistance — You'll receive round-the-clock access to concierges which can help you to arrange emergency transportation, medical referrals, etc. when things go awry during your trip.
• Roadside Dispatch — If you get a flat tire, your battery dies, you lock your keys in the car, or even if you run out of gas, you can call a number any time which will help you to arrange for help. You can receive towing, winching, fuel delivery, etc. to help you get back on the road — though much of these services will cost you (they're not all free with the X1 Card).

Purchase insurances

The X1 Card also comes with various coverages when making eligible purchases. It's an excellent card through which to funnel expensive purchases:

• Purchase security — You'll receive coverage against theft or damage for up to 90 days from your purchase date.
• Extended warranty protection — Receive one additional year on eligible US manufacturer's warranties of three years or less.
• Return protection — If you buy something and decide you don't want it, sometimes the merchant will either deny your return request or incur a restocking fee. This card gives you up to $250 in protection if the merchant is being difficult.

Visa Signature Concierge service

Visa Signature Concierge provides help with things like booking travel, making dining reservations, and booking concert and event tickets (accessible 24/7).

Fees and costs

The X1 Card is very fee-light. It comes with a $0 annual fee, and it doesn't charge foreign transaction fees or late fees, either.

You'll pay an interest charge whenever you carry a balance month-to-month, and you'll also pay a variable APR for balance transfers.

Comparison: X1 Card vs other cash back credit cards

X1 Card vs other no annual fee rewards credit cards

X1 Credit Card frequently asked questions (FAQ)