How to Sell Credit Card Points: Chase, Amex, Capital One and Citi
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Written and reviewed by the Points Plug team. Last reviewed .
Credit card points are the most flexible rewards currency there is. Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One miles and Citi ThankYou points can each be transferred to a dozen or more airlines, redeemed through a travel portal, or cashed out. That flexibility is also why they are worth more than airline miles when sold.
This guide covers what each program is worth, how selling compares to the built-in cash-out options, and how the process works.
The built-in cash-out options, and their limits
Every major program lets you turn points into cash or credit, but the rates are fixed and usually low:
- Chase Ultimate Rewards: 1 cent per point as a statement credit or deposit. Portal bookings are worth 1.25 to 1.5 cents on Sapphire cards.
- Amex Membership Rewards: statement credits at well under 1 cent per point on most cards. Amex points are designed to be transferred, not cashed out.
- Capital One: 1 cent per mile to erase travel purchases, but only 0.5 cents as a plain statement credit.
- Citi ThankYou Points: 1 cent per point on most cash and gift card redemptions, less on some.
Transferring to an airline can beat these rates, but only if you then find a good award and are able to travel on it. For a large balance that is a lot of planning, and the outcome is uncertain.
What credit card points are worth when sold
Because transferable points can become miles in many programs, buyers value them above any single airline currency. Points Plug quotes credit card points by program and by balance, with higher per-point rates at larger amounts, and the minimum is 100,000 points.
Program pages show what each currency can do and take you straight to a quote: Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One and Citi ThankYou Points.
How selling credit card points works
- Enter your program and balance in the quote form to see an offer and a price per point.
- Accept the offer. Our team contacts you to arrange how the points will be used, which typically involves transferring them to an airline partner for a specific booking.
- Get paid through your preferred method, usually within 24-48 hours.
You keep your card account and your login. As with airline miles, you should never be asked to pay a fee to sell, and you should always see the offer before sharing any account details. Card issuers' terms generally prohibit selling points, so use a buyer whose process is careful and who books a small number of legitimate tickets; our guide to selling airline miles explains what to look for.
When selling makes sense
- You have a large balance and no specific trip planned.
- You would otherwise cash out at 1 cent per point or less.
- You are closing a card and want to realise the value of the points before you do.
- You earned points from business spending and want cash, not travel.
If you fly often and can book premium cabins in advance, transferring to an airline may still give you the most value per point. If not, a cash offer is a certain number you can weigh against the fixed cash-out rate on your card.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I sell Chase Ultimate Rewards points?
- Yes. Points Plug buys Chase Ultimate Rewards points from 100,000 points. Enter your balance in the quote form on the Chase Ultimate Rewards page for an instant offer.
- Can I sell Amex Membership Rewards points?
- Yes. Amex Membership Rewards points from Platinum, Gold and Green cards can be sold from 100,000 points, and they are typically worth more than cashing them out as a statement credit.
- What is the minimum number of credit card points I can sell?
- The minimum is 100,000 points in a single program. Larger balances qualify for higher per-point rates.
- Is it better to sell points or transfer them to an airline?
- Transferring can be worth more if you find a premium cabin award and can travel on it. Selling gives you a fixed cash amount now with no planning or availability risk, and beats the built-in cash-out rate on most cards.