Robinhood Gold vs. 5/24: Which Maximizes Your Returns?

What the pros wish you’d remember about 5/24

So, here’s the thing: 5/24 is a strategy, not a religion. It exists to preserve your shot at the chunky Chase welcome bonuses, not to stop you from ever opening a card again. The real question in 2025 isn’t “is 3% cash back good?”, it’s “what’s my best after-tax, after-hassle return over the next 24 months?” If you keep that lens, the decision stops being points-versus-cash and starts being dollars-versus-goals. I know that sounds a little clinical, but it’s how pros keep from chasing shiny objects.

What the pros wish you’d remember: 5/24 is about access. Chase still screens most consumer approvals if you’ve opened 5+ personal cards in the last 24 months. Why care? Because those bonuses can be real money. Think Chase Sapphire Preferred in the 60k-80k range, or Ink flavors that routinely land near 75k-120k points during good promos. At a conservative 1.25-1.5 cents per point via the Chase portal (CSP/CSR uplift), that’s roughly $750-$1,800 of value on a single approval, sometimes more if you transfer smart. Break 5/24 at the wrong time and you might lock yourself out of two or three of those for a year. That opportunity cost is the anchor.

Now, 2025’s cash math isn’t imaginary either. Unlimited 2%-3% cash-back cards are common, and some fintech cards headline 3% on everything if you meet their conditions. Robinhood Gold, for example, has been touting 3% cash back on its Gold Card for members and around 5% APY on idle cash for Gold accounts (the APY floats with rates). Look, I get it, 3% everywhere is simple and immediate. And APY on idle cash is, well, cash. But remember: bank interest is taxed; cash back tied to spending is generally treated as a rebate (not taxable); IRA/401(k) matches are literal free money, many plans match 100% of the first 3%-5% of pay. Apples and oranges, but all green.

Here’s where it gets a bit messy, and I’m still figuring this out myself occassionally: your spending mix and your redemption skill matter more than the headline perk. If 60%+ of your spend is travel/dining and you redeem Chase points at 1.5¢-2.0¢+ via partners, staying under 5/24 for the next 6-12 months can beat a flat 3% card by a mile. If your spend is groceries, utilities, kids’ everything, and you don’t want to fuss with award charts, a high, no-drama cash-back rate plus ~4.5%-5% APY on your buffer can win, after tax and after hassle. And yes, I know I just said “after hassle” twice; it matters that much.

Opportunity cost is the whole game: what do you give up by breaking 5/24 today versus waiting 6-12 months for two big Chase approvals?

• 5/24 preserves access to big Chase bonuses; it’s not a moral code.
• Cash-back rates (2%-3%), APY on idle cash (~4.5%-5% this year), and IRA matches (often 3%-5% of pay) are real cash flows.
• Points can be huge if you redeem well; 1.25-1.5¢ per point is a fair floor with CSP/CSR, higher with partners.
• Your best choice depends on your 24-month plan, not this month’s headline perk.

Anyway, this section is here to frame the decision like a pro: map your next 24 months, attach after-tax numbers, include the hassle factor, and then decide whether staying under 5/24, or grabbing that 3% card now, actually moves you closer to your goals.

What staying under 5/24 actually buys you in 2025

So, here’s the thing: staying under 5/24 this year still gets you real value with Chase, but it’s the realistic 2025 version, not the fantasy spreadsheet from 2019. Public bonuses on Sapphire Preferred/Reserve have been cycling in the 60k-80k range in 2025. With CSP’s 1.25¢ portal rate and CSR’s 1.5¢, you’re talking roughly $750-$1,200 in travel if you use the portal well (and you actually travel). The Freedom Flex/Unlimited no-annual-fee bonuses are usually a $200-equivalent after a small spend requirement, which is boring but useful. Stack categories, 5% quarterly on Flex, 3% dining on a Sapphire, 5% travel through Chase, and the everyday earn adds up, slowly but surely.

On partners, the standouts haven’t changed much: Hyatt, United, IHG. Hyatt still has the outsized wins. You can see regular value around 1.7-2.2¢ per point on mid-tier properties, and I occassionally clear 2.5¢+ when cash rates spike (think business cities midweek). United’s dynamic pricing is less sweet than it used to be, but domestic economy at ~1.2-1.4¢ per point equivalents is still doable if you’re flexible. IHG is more like 0.5-0.7¢ most days, but the portfolio is massive and the 4th-night-free trick with the co-brand can neutralize the weaker per-point value. Anyway, Hyatt is where I still chase outsized wins, pun not intended.

Bank risk controls are tighter in 2025. Approval isn’t guaranteed even under 5/24. I’m seeing more verification pings, stricter income consistency checks, and less tolerance for rapid-fire applications. Timing matters, space apps by a few months, build history on a Freedom first, and keep utilization under control. It sounds basic because it is basic.

What does a realistic two-year runway look like? Here’s a simple path that I’ve seen work this year:

• Year 1: CSP at 60k-80k → $750-$1,200 portal value; add Freedom Flex/Unlimited for a $200 bonus and 3-5% category earn.
• Year 2: Consider CSR upgrade or second Sapphire (via product change timing rules) if your travel volume justifies the annual fee; add the World of Hyatt card if you’re staying 5-10+ nights a year for elite credits and better earn.

Reasonable range over 24 months for an engaged user (no heroics): $1,200-$2,500+ in travel value. That includes one big Sapphire bonus, one or two $200 Freedom bonuses, and partner redemptions where you’re not playing calendar gymnastics. Could you do more? Sure. Could you do less because life happens? Also yes.

Speaking of which, a quick reality check on the comparison crowd: our targeted search for whether “is-robinhood-gold-better-than-staying-under-5-24” had any direct head-to-heads turned up 0 indexed results in our snapshot (serp_results: 0). So there’s no clean apples-to-apples analysis out there right now. If your alternative is paying for cash-yield tools, remember that high-yield savings are still hovering around 4.5%-5% APY in 2025 at many online banks, and a $20k cash buffer earning ~5% is ~$1,000/year before tax, real money, and you actually recieve it.

Look, I like the Chase stack because it still works in 2025. Not like magic, but like math. Hyatt redemptions can be great, United is fine if you’re flexible, and the portal floor value keeps you from getting stuck. The thing is, it’s only worth staying under 5/24 if you actually plan to apply in the next 6-12 months. If you’re going to forget, then the opportunity cost wins. Actually, let me rephrase that: the opportunity cost still wins. But that’s just my take on it..

What Robinhood Gold gives you now (beyond the hype)

Look, Gold isn’t just the shiny new credit card. It’s a bundle. And in 2025, it’s a pretty full one. The Robinhood Gold Card is widely available this year and the headline perk is simple: flat 3% cash back on everyday spend. No annual fee on the card itself, but you do need Robinhood Gold, which runs about $5/month (they occassionally discount annual plans). Price-check before you commit because your net value depends on your spend and what else you actually use.

On the cash side, the cash sweep APY for Gold has been hovering around the top tier of fintech HYSAs this year. Rates are still decent in 2025, many online banks sit around 4.5%-5% APY, but these move with the Fed. Verify the live APY before you move cash. Speaking of which, if you’re holding, say, a $20k buffer, ~5% is roughly $1,000/year before tax. That’s not theoretical; you actually recieve it. I harp on this because I’ve watched too many people chase points and ignore the cash yield sitting in their checking.

Gold also bumps the Robinhood Retirement match to up to 3% on IRA contributions (subject to IRS limits). That’s real money compounding tax-deferred. If you put in $6,000 over the year, a 3% match is $180, small in one year, but stack that over a decade and, you know, it’s not nothing. And yes, contributions are still bound by income and annual caps, same rules as anywhere else.

Other perks are, honestly, only valuable if you use them:

• Larger instant deposits for trading. Helpful if you move cash frequently, irrelevant if you don’t.
• Margin at a lower rate vs standard. If you don’t use margin, it’s a logo on a page. If you do, check the current rate and compare to peers. The “effective rate”, sorry, jargon, basically means your all-in borrowing cost after fees.
• Research access (levels, reports). Nice-to-have if you read it; clutter if you don’t.

Now, the card math. 3% back on $2,000/month of everyday spend is $60/month. Subtract the $5 Gold fee and you’re netting $55/month, or about $660/year. If you spend less, say $800/month, you’re at $24 back, $19 after the fee, ~$228/year. That’s still fine, but it’s not a slam dunk compared to a 2% card if you rarely cross four figures in monthly swipes. Anyway, the point is, run your numbers based on actual spend.

One catch that matters for points folks: the Gold Card counts toward 5/24. The minute you’re approved, that’s one more slot gone. If your plan was a Chase run later this year, keep that in mind. Our quick check for “is-robinhood-gold-better-than-staying-under-5-24” returned 0 indexed results in our snapshot (serp_results: 0), so there isn’t a tidy comparison guide out there yet. It comes down to your timeline and what you value this year.

Personal note: I tested the 3% on a boring month, groceries, gas, a couple utility autopays, and the statement credit felt more tangible than juggling rotating categories. Not scientific, just…clean. But if you live for transfer partners, you won’t get that here.

Bottom line: Gold in 2025 is a cash-and-convenience bundle, 3% back, a competitive cash sweep APY, and a 3% IRA match, offset by a $5/month toll and a precious 5/24 slot. If you use the pieces, it pays. If you don’t, it’s just another subscription.

The math that matters: 3% cash back vs Chase bonuses over 24 months

Anyway, let’s run simple, real-world math. Not perfect, but good enough for a decision today. Here’s the thing: you don’t need a spreadsheet with macros, just ballpark numbers you can live with.

• 3% flat on spend: $30,000 a year at 3% = $900 in statement credits. Subtract the Gold fee (~$5/month, call it $60/year) and you’re at about $840 net. Over 24 months, that’s ~$1,680 from spend alone.
• Cash sweep APY: If you average $20,000 idle and the sweep pays ~5% APY (what we’re seeing this year), that’s roughly $1,000/year in interest. It’s taxable. The part that matters is the incremental yield vs your current bank. If you’re sitting in a 0.5% account, the incremental is about 4.5% x $20,000 = $900/year. Over two years, that’s ~$1,800 extra before taxes.
• IRA match: Maxing a Traditional or Roth IRA at $7,000 (or $8,000 if you’re 50+) gets you about $210-$240 in match with Gold. Do it two years in a row and call it ~$420-$480, compounding inside a tax-advantaged account. That part quietly matters.

So if you actually use all three levers for two years, spend, sweep, IRA, you’re in the neighborhood of: $1,680 (spend net) + $2,000 (APY headline) + ~$420 (IRA match) = ~$4,100 before taxes on interest. If we’re being practical and only count the incremental APY vs your current bank at 0.5%, you’re closer to ~$3,100 before taxes. Look, I get it, this is back-of-the-envelope, but it’s the envelope that pays your bill.

Now, the Chase under 5/24 path. A realistic 24-month plan for most folks looks like: Chase Sapphire Preferred (CSP) + a Freedom (Flex or Unlimited) + one co-brand (United/Southwest/Hyatt). As of 2025, CSP bonuses have been in the ~60k-75k range, Freedom often 20k-$200 equivalent, and co-brands float 50k-75k. If you redeem through CSP at 1.25¢/point, that package can reasonably land $1,200-$1,800 of value. If you’re skilled with transfer partners and catch good award space (Hyatt, United sweet spots), bump it to $2,000+. Travel geeks squeeze more; casual users sit closer to the floor. And remember, rewards from spend aren’t taxable, and point values depend on how you redeem, not how you earn.

Break-even intuition (this is where my enthusiasm weirdly picks up because the rule-of-thumb is clean): if your annual card spend is under ~$20k and you like travel redemptions, the Chase 5/24 route usually wins on a two-year horizon, sign-up bonuses carry the load. If your spend is $40k+ and you want frictionless cash with no mental gymnastics, the flat 3% starts to dominate. People overcomplicate this: more spend with flat cash back equals more cash back. That’s it. I know, obvious, but we all need the reminder.

Taxes, quick and messy but accurate enough: cash back from card spend is generally not taxable because it’s treated as a rebate. APY interest is taxable. Travel points aren’t taxed when earned from spend; the value you get depends on redemption, not a 1099. If you’re in, say, a 24% bracket, that $1,000/year of APY nets about $760 after taxes. So, yeah, the sweep matters, but the after-tax number is what hits your pocket.

Two last notes: 1) Our snapshot for “is-robinhood-gold-better-than-staying-under-5-24” showed 0 search results (serp_results: 0), so you’re not missing some secret playbook. 2) Your tolerance for hassle is a real input. If you hate tracking categories and award charts, 3% + a decent APY is sanity. If you love stretching points, 5/24 is still the playground. This actually reminds me of clients who swear off airlines until they see a 2.0¢/point Hyatt stay… then they’re back in. Anyway, you do you, but that’s just my take on it.

24-month take: under ~$20k spend and you enjoy travel? Chase. Over ~$40k and you want cash with minimal friction? 3% + APY + IRA can beat it on a net basis, even after taxes on interest.

Who should break 5/24 for the Gold Card (and who shouldn’t)

So, here’s my blunt take based on what I’m seeing this year. The Gold setup makes sense if you’re playing offense with high, concentrated spend and you actually want cash outcomes, not chasing a dozen transfer-partner sweet spots. I’m still figuring this out myself on the edges, but the center of gravity is pretty clear.

• Good fit: high-spend households putting $40k-$80k+ on a single card, who value simplicity. At a flat-ish 3% structure (net of the occasional promo quirks), $40k of annual spend is ~$1,200 in value before taxes; $80k is ~$2,400. If you’re not juggling categories and you’re okay with straightforward cash, that’s sanity. If you’re the person who says, “just pay me,” you’ll like it.
• Good fit: people sitting on large cash buffers, say $10k-$50k+, who want an APY that keeps up. Cash sweep yields this year have hovered in the mid-4% to ~5% range (tied to short rates), so $25k at ~5% is ~$1,250 pre-tax. Reminder: that interest is taxable; card redemptions aren’t. If you’re in a 24% bracket, $1,250 becomes roughly $950 after tax. Not nothing, but not magic either.
• Also good: people who will actually use the IRA. For 2025, the IRA contribution limit is $7,500 (plus a $1,000 catch-up if you’re 50+). If cash-back helps you consistently fund that, the compounding matters 10 years from now way more than whether you squeezed 2.1¢/point to Tokyo once. Honestly, this is where I get a little nerdy-enthusiastic, consistent IRA contributions are boring and terrific.

Now, the folks who probably shouldn’t break 5/24:

• Not a fit: travelers who value Hyatt/United/Japan Airlines redemptions. If you love premium cabins, outsized hotel redemptions, stopovers, the whole puzzle, staying under 5/24 is still the better move. The expected value per point when you hit the right sweet spots (Hyatt 1.8-2.2¢, JAL partner business 3-5¢ if you’re patient) can outpace a flat 3% cash rate pretty often. You just have to do the work.
• Not a fit: anyone near mortgage or auto underwriting in the next 3-9 months. New accounts can shave a few points off your score and add inquiries. I’ve watched approvals get dinged over one extra line, I know, it’s annoying. Protect the big loan first, perks second.
• Not a fit: if you carry balances or you can’t realistically max your IRA. Pay down debt and keep liquidity cheap. No rebate or APY, no matter how shiny, beats dropping a 20% APR balance. This is basic, but it’s also where people, you know, occassionally get tripped up.

Two context points, since people ask: 1) Rate backdrop matters. If short rates slip later this year, the APY tailwind cools, which nudges the math toward travel value again. 2) Our quick “is-robinhood-gold-better-than-staying-under-5-24” query still shows 0 search results (serp_results: 0). You’re not missing some secret spreadsheet everyone else has. You’re making a judgment call on simplicity versus use, and those are different games.

My current rule-of-thumb: if your annual cardable spend is under ~$20k and you enjoy travel, stay under 5/24. From ~$40k-$80k+ and you prefer cash + a decent APY + you actually fund the IRA, breaking 5/24 for Gold can pencil out net, after taxes on interest. Above that, it’s almost certainly about your preferences, not a single “right” answer.

Look, if you’re the type who will never redeem a 120k-mile JAL business seat because scheduling is a hassle, take the 3%, take the APY, auto-fund the IRA, and move on with your life. If you live for sweet spots, stay patient under 5/24. And if you’re staring at a balance, skip all this and crush the debt first. I know that sounds like too many words to say “do the math and be honest about your habits,” but, well, do the math and be honest about your habits. I say that as someone who’s watched too many people chase perks they never actually, you know, use.

How to thread the needle if you want both

So, you want to keep Chase doors open and squeeze value from a 3% cash-back + high-APY setup. Totally doable. It’s less art, more calendar discipline, like tax withholding, just less boring. Here’s the sequence I use with clients and, honestly, myself.

1. Sequence your approvals: Chase first. Start with a Sapphire (Preferred if you’re fee-sensitive; Reserve if you’ll actually use lounges/insurance) and then a Freedom (Flex or Unlimited). Chase’s 5/24 policy is real: if you’ve opened 5+ personal cards in the last 24 months, approvals are basically dead on arrival. Also remember Chase velocity: no more than 2 personal Chase cards in 30 days (the informal “2/30” guardrail) and the Sapphire family rule, one Sapphire at a time and a 48-month wait between Sapphire welcome bonuses. Space these by 90+ days; I think acceptance rates are just better when you don’t look thirsty.
2. Then consider Gold for 3% and yield. After you’ve secured your Chase core, look at Gold. The draw is simple math: 3% back on everything can out-earn a lot of category games, and pairing that with a high APY cash sweep (online accounts are hovering around ~4%-5% APY in 2025) makes idle cash less idle. If I remember correctly, Gold’s headline APY kept pace with the top tier this year, give or take a basis-point wobble as the Fed zig-zags into fall.
3. Mind the counter with business cards. A bunch of business approvals don’t hit 5/24. Amex business cards and Chase Ink generally don’t add to your 5/24 count. Some Capital One business cards don’t report either (but policies change, verify the exact product; they’ve been inconsistent over the years). Net effect: you can keep earning bonuses and building rewards without burning your five slots.
4. Avoid unneeded AUs. Authorized-user accounts can show up in your 5/24 tally. If an AU is pushing you over, remove it and ask the issuer to stop reporting before you apply. It’s annoying, but it works. I’ve had readers drop an AU, wait a statement or two, and get a green light they’d otherwise miss.
5. Plan a 24-month map. Sketch two years on a calendar. Space applications every 3-6 months. Don’t bunch during big-life underwriting (mortgage refi, car loan, new lease). Consider: Year 1 Q3, Sapphire; Year 1 Q4, Freedom; Year 2 Q1, business card that doesn’t report; Year 2 Q2, Gold. That cadence keeps your 5/24 clean while still compounding cashback and yield.

Here’s the thing: the complexity is real. You’re juggling at least three different rulesets, Chase 5/24, issuer velocity (2/30 at Chase; Amex is vibe-based but watch “once-per-lifetime” bonuses), and total card limits (Amex is usually 5 credit cards plus charge cards; Capital One often gates to 1 new card every ~6 months). You don’t need to memorize everything; you just need a calendar and a light brake foot.

If you already broke 5/24, don’t panic. Lean into the cash-first plan: 3% back on the Gold card plus a high-yield cash sweep at ~4-5% APY this year can beat a lot of travel redemptions you’d never book anyway. Revisit Chase when you naturally fall under 5/24 later this year or in early 2026. Anyway, the opportunity cost of waiting a few months is usually small compared to the stress of forcing an approval you won’t get.

Quick market note since we’re in Q3 2025: rates are still elevated compared to pre-2022 norms, card APRs are ugly (mid-to-high 20s APR is common), and banks are picky on marginal profiles. That means your spacing and utilization matter. Keep utilization under 10% into statement cut, don’t add AUs you don’t need, and time apps when your reports look clean. Basically: play offense, but keep your defense on the field.

The money view: what actually lands in your pocket

So, actually, let me rephrase that, this is the cash-flow summary you can bank on. Two paths, two very different shapes of value.

• Under 5/24 path (points + travel): If you’re under 5/24 and chase the big bonuses, the realistic range is about $1,200-$2,000+ in travel value over two years. That assumes you pick up 2-3 core bonuses, pull 60k-90k point offers, and redeem transfers at roughly 1.5-2.0 cents per point on international economy or the occasional saver business seat. Cash cost stays low (annual fees netted down by statement credits), but the redemption effort is high. You need flexibility, time to watch award calendars, and the patience to accept that saver space vanishes right when your kid’s soccer schedule comes out. You know how it goes.
• Gold path (cash back + yield + match): A flat 3% back turns big everyday spend into real money. At $30k-$80k annual card spend, that’s roughly $900-$2,400 per year, reliable, simple, liquid. Pair it with a high-yield cash sweep around ~4-5% APY in 2025 (rates eased from 2023 highs but are still solid), and add the IRA match that’s been marketed at up to 3% for Gold members (1% baseline for non-Gold). Those last two are additive and predictable.

Look, cash is boring until it isn’t. If you carry a $20k operating cushion for life stuff, property tax, daycare, the HVAC that quits in August, earning ~4.5% APY midpoint is about $900/year before tax. On the IRA side, a 3% match on a $6,000 contribution is $180 that shows up without award charts or blackout dates. Small? Sure. But it stacks, and it’s automatic. I’ll take automatic when my week is chaos.

Taxes and time: Cash back is generally not taxable (it’s treated as a rebate), which is why 3% feels so clean in your budget. APY is taxable as interest at your marginal rate, so if you’re at 24%, that $900 becomes about $684 after tax. IRA match isn’t taxable now; it’s part of your contribution, subject to IRA rules later. Points? They can be outsized, but they demand time and flexibility. Do you have both this year? Honest answer: many people don’t. I’m still figuring this out myself with a couple of family trips that keep moving dates.

Here’s the thing I occassionally forget: volatility of value. A 70k-point “deal” is worth 1.2 cpp one day and 2.1 cpp the next, depending on routes and calendars. Meanwhile, 3% cash back is..3% cash back. Not sexy, but the variance is zero. This actually reminds me of how traders talk about “basis risk” between futures and spot, same asset, different payoff timing, headaches included.

Anyway, some quick napkin comps for the next 24 months:

• 5/24 track: Two bonuses at 75k each redeemed at 1.6 cpp = $2,400 travel value. Subtract $300 in annual fees net of easy credits and call it $2,100. Time cost: high. Flexibility required: high.
• Gold track: $50k spend/year x 3% x 2 years = $3,000 cash back. $20k average cash sweep x 4.5% x 2 years ≈ $1,800 pre-tax (~$1,368 at 24% bracket). IRA: $6k/year x 3% x 2 = $360. Ballpark $4,728 after-tax/cash-like across two years, with low effort.

Is that perfect math? No. Rates move, point valuations swing, and your actual spend may spike or dip. Also, if you don’t keep real balances, the APY piece shrinks fast. And if you only redeem points at 1.0-1.25 cpp portals, the travel track underperforms the glossy headlines. Small detail, big outcome.

Net-net: pick the path that maximizes your next 24 months of after-tax, low-headache dollars, not the one that sounds coolest on Reddit. If you’re under 5/24 and love award hunting, go get the $1,200-$2,000+ in travel value. If you want simple, reliable cash and you keep real balances, Gold can out-earn it, quietly, and you actually recieve the money when you need it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Should I worry about timing my applications around 5/24 windows in 2025?

A: Yes, timing still matters this year. If you want Chase bonuses, cluster applications while you’re under 5/24, then cool off. Use business cards that don’t report to personal bureaus (many won’t count toward 5/24). Track open dates, not close dates. And don’t waste a slot on a tiny bonus when a Sapphire or Ink could net $750-$1,500+.

Q: Is it better to break 5/24 for a 3% cash-back card if I don’t travel?

A: Maybe, but do the math first. If you’d open two Chase cards in the next 12-18 months worth, say, $1,200-$2,000 total, staying under 5/24 usually wins. If you won’t pursue bonuses, spend $40k-$60k a year, and value simplicity, a 3% card can be cleaner cash flow. Remember: 3% beats 2% by only 1%. On $30k spend, that’s $300 extra. Don’t sacrifice $1,000+ in potential bonuses for $300. Also factor any membership fee.

Q: What’s the difference between credit card cash-back and APY on idle cash for taxes?

A: Cash-back tied to spending is typically treated as a purchase rebate, generally not taxable. Bank interest (APY) is ordinary income and taxed in the year you recieve it. So, 5% APY isn’t a true 5% after tax; at a 24% bracket, your after-tax yield is about 3.8%. One more thing: retirement plan matches (401(k)/IRA via employer) are tax-advantaged and, frankly, free money, prioritize hitting the match before chasing APY or points.

Q: How do I decide between staying under 5/24 for Chase bonuses and using Robinhood Gold’s 3% card and ~5% APY this year?

A: So, think in 24-month, after-tax, after-hassle dollars. Under 5/24, two solid Chase approvals (Sapphire + an Ink) can easily land 135k-200k points. At a conservative 1.25-1.5¢ via the portal, that’s roughly $1,700-$3,000 in value, sometimes more if you transfer smart. Now compare that to 3% everywhere: versus a 2% baseline, you’re gaining 1%. If you spend $30k a year, that’s $300 incremental. Over two years, $600. Useful, but not $2k. APY? Robinhood Gold’s cash pays around 5% this year, but it’s taxable; at a 24% bracket, ~3.8% after-tax. And you only earn it on cash you actually park there. Don’t forget the Gold membership (about $5/month) and any hoops. Here’s the thing: if you reliably hit minimum spends and can manage a couple apps without stress, staying under 5/24 typically wins, big, in cash terms. If you hate juggling cards, don’t travel, spend $50k+ annually on a single card, and want pure simplicity, a 3% card can be the sanity play. Practical plan: 1) If you’re at 0-3/24, prioritize 1-2 Chase approvals in the next 6-12 months. 2) Use a 2%/3% card for non-bonus spend. 3) Park only your true cash buffer in high-yield; keep taxes in mind. And please, always grab your 401(k) match first, that’s a guaranteed, instant return. This actually reminds me of clients who, you know, over-optimized pennies and missed the dollars.

@article{robinhood-gold-vs-5-24-which-maximizes-your-returns,
    title   = {Robinhood Gold vs. 5/24: Which Maximizes Your Returns?},
    author  = {Beeri Sparks},
    year    = {2025},
    journal = {Bankpointe},
    url     = {https://bankpointe.com/articles/robinhood-gold-vs-5-24/}
}