Consumers need to spend around A$18,000 a year on their credit cards to earn rewards that are worth more than the fees they pay for membership of the various rewards programs, according to consumer finance research company Canstar.This amount corresponds with the average that consumers actually spend each year on credit cards, which means that a lot of people are getting no benefit from their rewards scheme.In a report on credit card reward programs released this week, Canstar found that a consumer spending $12,000 a year on a credit card would earn an average cash-back reward of $57. It found that of 56 programs catering to consumers at that level only 21 offered a benefit that was greater than the reward program fee.Unlike the comparison website Mozo, which reported last month that the value proposition of rewards' programs was declining, Canstar found that their overall value has not changed significantly (the difference comes down to how researchers calculate the benefit of extras, such as bonus points).What Canstar did find was that the card issuers are enhancing their programs by offering greater convenience. A number of issuers offer a separate card (the Indue Rewarder card), where the reward points are stored automatically and can be used as a standard debit card.Other have an auto-redemption facility, so that a gift card is issued when points accrue to an agreed level.Commonwealth Bank and Myer have an agreement that allows CBA credit card users to indicate that they will pay for their purchase with points.For consumers looking for cash-back or voucher rewards and with annual spending of around $12,000 on their credit card, cards that scored well in Canstar's ratings included the David Jones Membership Rewards American Express card, the Coastline Credit Union Rewarder, the Coles MasterCard FlyBuys Rewards card, Myer Visa Rewards and the Queensland Police Credit Union RewarderFor consumers who spend $24,000 a year and redeem cash or vouchers, Canstar gave top ratings to the David Jones Membership Rewards Amex card, ANZ's Rewards Platinum Amex companion card, the Coles MasterCard FlyBuys Rewards card and to Myer Visa Rewards.And for consumers spending $60,000 a year on a credit card, Canstar gave top points to the David Jones Membership Rewards Amex card, the David Jones Platinum Membership Rewards Amex card, ANZ's Rewards Platinum Amex companion card, the Coles MasterCard FlyBuys Rewards card, and Westpac's Altitude Black Rewards Amex card.