A no-annual-fee card for culinary enthusiasts: Review of the U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature credit card by The Points Guy.

Editor’s Note: This post is updated on a regular basis with the latest information and offers.

Overview of the U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card

The U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card is a strong no-annual-fee credit card with an appealing rewards system, especially for those who love food. You’ll receive 4 points per dollar on takeout, food delivery, and dining. However, each point is only worth a fixed 1 cent, making this card essentially a cash-back credit card. Additionally, you won’t earn rewards on travel purchases, an important aspect for many TPG readers. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐⭐

Card rating is determined by the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not affected by the card issuer.

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Currently, I carry seven credit cards in my wallet and have a list of at least three more that I hope to acquire this year. However, this isn’t the situation for everyone, particularly for beginners and busy families. Many people aim to secure one (or perhaps two) credit cards with a reasonable annual fee that can earn rewards for most, if not all, of their primary spending categories.

The U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card is a reliable choice for individuals looking for a straightforward rewards credit card. It features no annual fee and is suitable for those with a recommended credit score of 670.

Let’s explore the specifics.

The Points Guy has independently gathered the information regarding the U.S. Bank Altitude Go. The card issuer has neither reviewed nor supplied the card details presented on this page.

Pros and cons of the U.S. Bank Altitude Go credit card

Welcome offer for the U.S. Bank Altitude Go credit card.

At present, the card provides 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 within the first 90 days of opening the account. Each point is valued at a fixed rate of 1 cent, making this sign-up bonus equivalent to $200, which can be redeemed for gift cards, travel, statement credits, or cash back.

Although this doesn’t rival the benefits of the best travel credit cards, it is comparable to other no-annual-fee cash-back credit cards.

Benefits of the U.S. Bank Altitude Go card

Because there’s no annual fee, you shouldn’t anticipate a lengthy list of benefits with this card.

However, there is a distinctive advantage to mention: a $15 yearly streaming credit. By using your U.S. Bank Altitude Go Card to pay for at least one of your monthly streaming service subscriptions for 11 straight months, you’ll qualify for a $15 annual statement credit towards your streaming service costs. Eligible streaming services encompass Spotify, Netflix, Apple TV+, and others.

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Sure, $15 annually isn’t a substantial amount, and having to keep a streaming service charged to your card for 11 months just to begin enjoying this perk is quite a commitment. However, it’s still $15 saved each year that could otherwise go towards streaming services, especially if you don’t currently have a card that offers more than 2% cashback on such purchases.

The card is contactless and does not incur any foreign transaction fees. Additionally, as a Visa Signature card, it provides those benefits too.

Related: All the essential information about Visa Signature card perks.

Accumulating points through the U.S. Bank Altitude Go.

The key feature of this card is its rewards system. You will receive 4 points per dollar spent on dining (including takeout and delivery), and 2 points per dollar spent on groceries (inclusive of grocery delivery services), streaming services, and gas stations/EV charging stations. Starting September 9, discount stores, supercenters, and wholesale clubs will no longer be included in the bonus categories.

The card additionally accumulates 1 point for every dollar spent on other purchases.

This card covers numerous popular spending categories, such as dining, groceries, gas, and streaming, all without an annual fee or earning limits. While there are other cards that might offer higher rewards in one or two specific categories, they often come with higher annual fees. It’s challenging to find a no-annual-fee credit card that offers more points across all these categories simultaneously.

The only major category that’s absent is travel. However, if you only take one or two trips annually or are a budget traveler who only books trips when you have sufficient rewards to cover at least a portion of the expense, the absence of a travel category isn’t a significant issue.

If you want a versatile credit card that can earn rewards on most of your daily purchases, the U.S. Bank Altitude Go Card is an excellent choice.

Using your points with the U.S. Bank Altitude Go rewards program

Although the card accumulates points, these points have a fixed value. Consequently, this card is more similar to a cash-back credit card than to points-earning cards, which can be optimized for travel purchases through different award charts.

You can exchange points at a rate of 1 cent per point for gift cards, merchandise, travel, statement credits, or cash back — ideal if you share the preference of TPG writer Augusta Stone for uncomplicated rewards. If you opt for cash back, you can have the rewards deposited into your U.S. Bank savings or checking account (with a minimum redemption of 2,500 points).

U.S. Bank provides a feature named Real-Time Rewards, which allows you to sign up and use your points instantly when making transactions. Specifically, you will receive a text message each time you make a purchase that aligns with the preferences you have configured in your account.

You can then respond to that text with a “yes” to have the necessary points to offset the purchase automatically credited to your account (provided you have enough points to cover the expense). You can choose to opt in, opt out, and modify your preferences via your online account.

What are some alternatives to the U.S. Bank Altitude Go card?

Many cash-back cards are available that rival the fixed-value redemption choices offered by the U.S. Bank Altitude Go.

• If you want to achieve higher earning rates:The American Express Blue Cash Preferred® CardProvides 6% cashback at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 of purchases annually, then 1% thereafter), 6% cashback on certain U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cashback on transit, 3% cashback at U.S. gas stations, and 1% cashback on other purchases. Nonetheless, it has a $95 annual fee ($0 introductory annual fee for the first year; see rates and fees). For further details, read our comprehensive review of the Blue Cash Preferred card.
• If you desire additional choices for utilizing your income: TheCiti Double Cash® Credit CardThis card has no annual fee and offers 2 points per dollar spent on all purchases—1 point when you make a purchase and an additional point when you pay your bill. You can redeem these points for cash or use them with hotel and airline programs for travel. For more details, refer to our comprehensive review of the Double Cash Card.
• If you seek flexible rewards and bonus categories, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ card might be ideal. It has no annual fee and offers 5% cash back on travel booked via the Chase Travel portal, 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1% back on other purchases. Additionally, you’ll earn 5% back on up to $1,500 in purchases within rotating categories each quarter, provided you activate them. Your earnings can be redeemed for cash back or converted into points if you hold specific Chase travel cards. For further information, refer to our comprehensive review of the Freedom Flex card.

For more choices, take a look at our comprehensive list of top cash-back credit cards.

Related: Is it better to choose the Blue Cash Preferred or the Blue Cash Everyday card?

Is the U.S. Bank Altitude Go a valuable choice?

The U.S. Bank Altitude Go Card provides strong earning categories, straightforward redemption options, and a respectable sign-up bonus—all without an annual fee. However, if you seek travel rewards and benefits, this card might not be ideal for you as it accumulates bonus points in nearly every major spending category except travel, with points redeemable at a value of 1 cent each. Still, if the bonus categories and redemption options appeal to you, this card is a valuable addition to your wallet.

Bottom line

For beginners to rewards programs or those shopping for a bustling household, the U.S. Bank Altitude Go credit card might be ideal. It has no annual fee and provides rewards across many major spending categories. If you’re seeking straightforward rewards, this card is certainly worth considering.

Related: Top credit cards with no annual fee

For information on the rates and fees associated with the Blue Cash Preferred card, please click here.