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by Holly Johnson Holly is a credit card and loyalty program expert who's visited more than 60 countries. She's carried more than 40 cards at one time, and her favorite loyalty programs include Flying Blue and World of Hyatt.

Hi, Reader. If you've ever kicked yourself for missing a great credit card welcome bonus or points transfer bonus, you're not alone. These deals come and go all the time, and it's easy to miss out if you're not checking for them every day.

That's where two free tools from Your Best Credit Cards can help. Transfer Bonus Alerts let you know when banks like American Express, Capital One, and Chase offer a limited-time transfer bonus to an airline or hotel loyalty program. Meanwhile, Bonus Offer Alerts notify you when a credit card launches a new welcome offer, so you can decide whether it's the best time to apply.

Here’s how to get the most out of both features.

Transfer Bonus Alerts

Getting started with Transfer Bonus Alerts only takes a minute. After creating a free account using your name and email address on the Transfer Bonus Alerts page, you'll be prompted to choose the banks and loyalty programs you want to follow.

For example, if you mainly earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points, you can choose to receive alerts only when Chase launches a transfer bonus. If you don't collect rewards through other programs, you won't be bothered with alerts you don't need.

Next, decide when you want to hear about new transfer bonuses. You can get an alert when a promotion launches, when there are seven days left, or when there are just two days remaining. That way, you won't forget about a great offer after seeing it once, only to realize it's expired before you have a chance to use it.

Each alert also includes expert insight that goes beyond announcing the bonus. You'll find guidance on whether the promotion is worth considering, whether it's one to skip, and some of the best ways to redeem your points or miles if you decide to transfer.

Bonus Offer Alerts

With Bonus Offer Alerts from Your Best Credit Cards, you can track every major credit card on the market or focus only on the cards you're interested in. You can use the same account you created for Transfer Bonus Alerts to get notified about new bonus offers, or you can use your name and email to create a new account for Bonus Offer Alerts only.

Bonus Offer Alerts work for a broad range of top rewards credit cards, from the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and United Club℠ Card to top cards that earn Amex Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

Once you've chosen your alerts, you'll get a notification whenever a welcome offer changes.

The alerts do more than tell you a new bonus is available. They also show how the current offer compares to previous offers, so you'll know whether it's one of the best deals the card has ever offered or a more typical promotion that may be worth waiting out. Instead of wondering whether you should apply today or hold off for a better offer, you'll have the information you need to make a more confident decision.

Like Transfer Bonus Alerts, Bonus Offer Alerts are completely free and can be customized to fit your travel goals.

Never miss another opportunity

Whether you're waiting for a bigger welcome bonus on your next credit card or hoping for the right transfer bonus before booking an award trip, timing matters. These promotions don't last forever, and keeping track of them on your own can feel like a part-time job.

With Transfer Bonus Alerts and Bonus Offer Alerts from Your Best Credit Cards, you can stay on top of the offers that matter most without sorting through updates that don't apply to you. Both tools are an easy addition to any points and miles strategy.