For cards with annual fees, I think CSP ($95/year) and VX ($395/year) are the most worthwhile options for people who don't spend a lot. Here's a detailed comparison.

Sign-up Bonuses:

• CSP: Spend $5,000 in 3 months → 75k points ($750 value)
• VX: Spend $10,000 in 6 months → 100k miles ($1,000 value) — all-time high, this offer likely ends soon

Both cards offer: Rental car insurance, trip delay protection, no foreign transaction fees.

CSP Pros

1. Many transfer partners — UA and Hyatt are solid options
2. 5% back on Lyft, 3% back on dining
3. $10/month DoorDash credit (can't be used at restaurants, but works at convenience stores like 7-Eleven for pickup)
4. $50/year hotel credit (only redeemable through Chase Travel Portal)

CSP Cons

1. The travel portal is a mess, and unlike VX, there's no price match. Hotel prices are absurd, and flight options are very limited. If you fly economy, Chase's "points boost" is basically useless. Booking travel elsewhere only gets you 2% back.
2. The $10/month DoorDash credit isn't accepted at restaurants, and some convenience stores won't take it either. If there's no suitable store nearby, this benefit goes to waste.

VX Pros

1. Flat 2% back on everything — perfect for lazy folks
2. 10% back on hotels and 5% back on flights through the portal. C1's portal is actually usable thanks to price match and price prediction, plus comprehensive flight options (including budget airlines). If you find a lower price elsewhere (legit sites only), C1 refunds the difference. Auto price tracking: if the price drops within 10 days of booking, C1 automatically refunds the difference (up to $50).
3. $120 TSA/Global Entry credit (requires green card or citizenship)
4. Access to Capital One lounges (all pretty nice). Comes with Priority Pass Select for PP lounges (decent).
5. $300/year travel credit + 10k miles = effectively negative annual fee ($395 – $300 – $100 = -$5). Easy to use with any travel plans.

VX Cons

1. Sign-up bonus requires $10k spend in 6 months. For some (like this broke PhD student), that's tough. But with 2% back on everything, paying rent with it isn't too bad (assuming 2.95% processing fee on $6,000 rent, you'd only lose $57 — a drop in the bucket compared to the $1,000 bonus).
2. Starting Feb 1st, authorized users can no longer access lounges. Entry costs $150 (primary cardholder guests pay $35, waived at $75k spend).
3. Referral bonus only counts if the applicant is new to C1. If you already have a C1 card, apply through the official site (same 100k all-time high offer).
4. $395 annual fee is steep. If you don't travel or forget to use the credit, you're losing money.
5. Fewer transfer partners than CSP, but includes Cathay Pacific and JAL which CSP doesn't support.

Happy to answer any questions!