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Generally regarded as a status symbol, metal credit cards don't function any differently -- and until recently have been more expensive.
Jaclyn is a CNET Money editor who relishes the sweet spot between numbers and words. With responsibility for overseeing CNET's credit card coverage, she writes and edits news, reviews and advice. She has experience covering business, personal finance and economics, and previously managed contracts and investments as a real estate agent. Her other interests include Tesla, SpaceX, The Boring Company and Neuralink.
CNET editors independently choose every product and service we cover. Though we can't review every available financial company or offer, we strive to make comprehensive, rigorous comparisons in order to highlight the best of them. For many of these products and services, we earn a commission. The compensation we receive and other factors, such as your location, may impact how ads and links appear on our site.
We are an independent publisher. Our advertisers do not direct our editorial content. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in editorial content are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by the advertiser.
To support our work, we are paid in different ways for providing advertising services. For example, some advertisers pay us to display ads, others pay us when you click on certain links, and others pay us when you submit your information to request a quote or other offer details. CNET’s compensation is never tied to whether you purchase an insurance product. We don’t charge you for our services. The compensation we receive and other factors, such as your location, may impact what ads and links appear on our site, and how, where, and in what order ads and links appear.
Our insurance content may include references to or advertisements by our corporate affiliate HomeInsurance.com LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 8781838). And HomeInsurance.com LLC may receive compensation from third parties if you choose to visit and transact on their website. However, all CNET editorial content is independently researched and developed without regard to our corporate relationship to HomeInsurance.com LLC or its advertiser relationships.
Our content may include summaries of insurance providers, or their products or services. CNET is not an insurance agency or broker. We do not transact in the business of insurance in any manner, and we are not attempting to sell insurance or asking or urging you to apply for a particular kind of insurance from a particular company.
In a digital world, information only matters if it's timely, relevant, and credible. We promise to do whatever is necessary to get you the information you need when you need it, to make our opinions fair and useful, and to make sure our facts are accurate.
If a popular product is on store shelves, you can count on CNET for immediate commentary and benchmark analysis as soon as possible. We promise to publish credible information we have as soon as we have it, throughout a product's life cycle, from its first public announcement to any potential recall or emergence of a competing device.
How will we know if we're fulfilling our mission? We constantly monitor our competition, user activity, and journalistic awards. We scour and scrutinize blogs, sites, aggregators, RSS feeds, and any other available resources, and editors at all levels of our organization continuously review our coverage.
But you're the final judge. We ask that you inform us whenever you find an error, spot a gap in our coverage, or have any other suggestions for improvement. Readers are part of the CNET family, and the strength of that relationship is the ultimate test of our success. Find out more here.
Metal credit cards just hit differently -- from the authoritative weight of one in your hand to the distinctive clank they make when hitting the table. If you're drawn to the sleek and durable design of metal credit cards, a handful of cards offer this luxury.
Most credit cards are made of a type of plastic called polyvinyl chloride, commonly referred to as PVC (the same material used in many modern plumbing systems). But metal credit cards can be made from materials like stainless steel, aluminum or titanium. Some metal cards include a mix of materials.
Though typically reserved for premium cards with high annual fees, some metal credit cards on this list defy that trend. Keep in mind that you cannot put a metal credit card through a shredder if you close your account -- your best options are tin snips or returning the card to the issuer.
Read more: The History of Credit Cards
The X1 Card* is a new rewards credit card -- advertised as a "smart" credit card -- that is 17 grams of stainless steel. Its sheen definitely catches the eye, but its gamified rewards structure is the most important draw. You'll earn 2x points on all purchases, but if you spend $15,000 in a year you'll get bumped up to 3x points. There are other opportunities to earn extra points, and points are worth up to 1 cent depending on your redemption method. Not only is its metal design appealing, its innovative virtual credit card tools are highly impressive.
For more information, check out our full review of the X1 Card and its novel features.
While the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card* doesn't technically have an annual fee, you'll need to be a Prime member ($139 annually) to apply for and maintain the card. This metal card is best for frequent Amazon.com and Whole Foods shoppers, offering 5% cash back at both. That's one of the best rates you'll find on groceries, or frankly anything -- and Amazon's e-commerce site covers a wide scope. The other rewards categories and welcome bonus sweeten the pot even more.
For more information, see our full review of the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card.
No, it's not made of gold. But it's still metal, and you can choose between the classic gold or the newer rose gold designs when you're approved for the American Express Gold Card. This card sits at an unusual price point -- the annual fee is $250 -- but it also offers the value of a combined restaurant card, grocery card and travel card.
For more information about the rewards and credits this card offers, check out our full review of the Amex Gold Card.
The Platinum Card from American Express is a long-standing premium travel card with a pricey $695 annual fee. Besides the metal composition, some applicants will have the option to choose among the classic design and two more artsy renditions. This card is expensive compared to our other picks, but if you can take advantage of its many credits, it'll greatly reduce the burden. Credits revolve around travel and general spending.
To learn more about the credits and rewards program, see our full review of The Platinum Card.
This metal premium travel card is a direct competitor of The Platinum Card from American Express (see our comparison between the Chase Sapphire Reserve and The Platinum Card to decide which one works for your spending), though the Chase Sapphire Reserve casts a wider net in its value proposition. In fact, back in 2016 when this card first launched, Chase ran out of metal temporarily due to high demand for this product. Its rewards program is very robust if your goal is travel, placing this card high on our list of best travel credit cards.
For more information about boosting point values and travel credits, see our full review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Metal credit cards are heavier than typical plastic credit cards. Whereas plastic credit cards weigh roughly 5 grams, metal credit cards are often three times that, weighing in at 17 or 18 grams.
Metal credit cards can be made from a variety of materials. Most of these materials are durable -- like stainless steel, aluminum and titanium -- and some use a mix of materials.
Most plastic credit cards should be put through a shredder when you close the account, but you don't want to do that with a metal credit card. You can mail your metal card back to the issuer, or you can use a tool called tin snips to cut up your credit card. Either route will ensure your private information does not get into the wrong hands.
CNET reviews credit cards by exhaustively comparing them across set criteria developed for each major category, including cash back, welcome bonus, travel rewards and balance transfer. We take into consideration the typical spending behavior of a range of consumer profiles -- with the understanding that everyone's financial situation is different -- and the designated function of a card.
*All information about the X1 Card and the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
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