Details: $2,000 Cash Back once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months. Earn an additional $2,000 cash bonus for every $500K spent during the first year
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Picking the best credit card is no easy task. It depends largely on your financial goals (e.g., travel, cash back, 0% APR, build credit), how many cards you want to carry, and your credit score.
For me, the best credit cards are those that allow me to maximize cash back. I use many cards listed here and save and invest ALL the rewards. For more on my approach to credit card rewards, check out the video below.
Of course, you may have different goals. For that reason, we’ve selected 14 of the best credit cards ideal for any financial goal.
Get up to $1,050 in Chase Travel℠ value. Earn 60,000 bonus points after $4,000 in purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. That's worth $750 when redeemed through Chase Travel. Plus, get up to $300 in statement credits on Chase Travel purchases within your first year.
60,000 points + earn up to $100 back Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $100 back. Limited time offer. Offer ends 11/6/24. (Terms Apply)
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. (Terms Apply)
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card makes the cut for several reasons. It has an excellent signup bonus, up to 5x rewards, and unparalleled travel benefits and perks, including no foreign transaction fees.
This card does come with an annual fee. The benefits, however, make the card well worth the cost. You also get a $50 hotel credit for stays purchased through Chase Travel(SM).
Perks include Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Baggage Delay Insurance, and more.
Rewards Recap:
1x points
On all other eligible purchases
1x points on all other purchases
2x points
Travel
2x points on all other travel purchases
3x points
U.S. supermarkets
Earn 3x points on online groceries (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs)
3x points
Streaming services
Earn 3x points on select streaming services
3x points
Dining
3x points on dining
5x points
Travel
5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel(SM)
Annual Fee: $95
Welcome Offer: Get up to $1,050 in Chase Travel℠ value. Earn 60,000 bonus points after $4,000 in purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. That's worth $750 when redeemed through Chase Travel. Plus, get up to $300 in statement credits on Chase Travel purchases within your first year.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a great all-around option for those who want elevated rewards on travel, dining, and drugstore purchases and 1.5% cash back on everything else. Plus, Chase is offering extra cash back in the first year for the welcome bonus.
You also get free credit score access updated weekly with Credit Journey.
Rewards Recap:
1.5% cash back
On all other eligible purchases
Earn 1.5% cash back on all other purchases
3% cash back
Drugstores
Earn 3% on drugstore purchases
3% cash back
Dining
Earn 3% cash back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services
5% cash back
Travel
5% cash back on all travel purchased through Chase Travel(SM)
Annual Fee: $0
Welcome Offer: Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.
0% Intro APR: 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months months. After that, your rate will be 20.49% - 29.24% variable, depending on creditworthiness.
Foreign Transaction Fee: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is an excellent value for anyone who wants to save money on groceries. You’ll earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets up to $6,000 per year, then 1%. Plus, 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming services, 3% at U.S. gas stations and transit, and 1% cash back on everything else. The cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or on Amazon.com at checkout. It’s pretty easy to earn back more than the annual fee, which is waived for the first year anyway.
The annual fee is $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
Rewards Recap:
1% cash back
On all other eligible purchases
1% cash back on all other purchases
3% cash back
Gas
3% cash back at U.S. gas stations
3% cash back
Transit
3% Cash Back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more)
6% cash back
U.S. supermarkets
6% cash back on groceries up to $6,000 per year in purchases at U.S. supermarkets, then 1%
6% cash back
Streaming services
6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
Annual Fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
Welcome Offer: Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
0% Intro APR: Get 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 months months. After that, your rate will be 18.74% - 29.74%, variable, depending on your creditworthiness.
Foreign Transaction Fee: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
If you’re looking for an easy, everyday rewards credit card, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card might be your best choice. It checks a lot of boxes: a welcome offer, cash back rewards, and it’s one of the few cards with no annual fee that offers cell phone protection, up to $600 when you pay your monthly bill with the card.
Rewards Recap:
2% cash back
All eligible purchases
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
Annual Fee: $0
Welcome Offer: Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
0% Intro APR: Get 0% APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for the first 12 months from account opening. After that, your rate will be 19.74%, 24.74% or 29.74% variable, depending on creditworthiness.
Foreign Transaction Fee: 3% of each transaction converted to U.S. dollars.
The Citi® Double Cash Card offers up to 2% cash back on purchases. You can earn an unlimited 1% on every purchase and an additional 1% when you off your purchases. It’s a very straightforward reward structure so you won’t have to worry about reward categories. However, for a limited time (until 12/31/24) you can earn 5% cash back on hotel and car rentals booked through the Citi Travel portal.
Rewards Recap:
2% cash back
All eligible purchases
Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
Annual Fee: $0
Welcome Offer: Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of your Citi Double Cash® card account opening.
0% Intro APR: Get 0% APR 18 months. After that, your rate will be 18.74% - 28.74%, variable, depending on creditworthiness.
The Alliant Cashback Visa® Signature Credit Card is my go-to cash back credit card. There’s no annual fee, no foreign transaction fees and the card is compatible with Google Pay, Apple Pay, and Samsung Pay.
Rewards Recap:
1.5% cash back
On all other eligible purchases
Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other qualifying eligible purchases.
2.5% cash back
All eligible purchases
Earn up to 2.5% cash back on your first $10,000 of qualifying eligible purchases per billing cycle.
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card has one of the longest 0% APR offers available today. You get 0% APR for 21 months on balance transfers and 12 months.
You won’t get much in the way of rewards and there’s no welcome bonus, but for a balance transfer card, it’s hard to beat.
Rewards: None
Annual Fee: $0
Welcome Offer: None
0% Intro APR: Get 0% APR on Balance Transfers for 21 months and 12 months. After that, your rate will be 17.74% - 28.49% variable, depending on your creditworthiness.
The U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card also offers one of the longest 0% APR windows available for both purchases and balance transfers. If you need to make a major purchase or pay off some higher interest debt, this card is a good choice. It’s a bit lacking in rewards, but you can choose your due date, and you get cell phone protection.
Rewards: None
Annual Fee: $0
Welcome Offer: None
0% Intro APR: Get 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 21 months. After that, your rate will be 18.24% - 29.24% variable, depending on your creditworthiness.
Foreign Transaction Fee: 3% of each foreign transaction
The American Express® Gold Card offers benefits such as $120 dining credit, up to $120 in Uber Cash (up to $10 per month), and $100 credit towards eligible charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Eligible charges vary by property. The Uber Cash credit is only available for use in the U.S. when you add your Amex Gold card to the Uber app. Enrollment is required. Up until 11/6/2024 you earn 20% cash back on restaurant purchases, up to $100 cash back.
There’s a generous welcome offer and American Express has great customer service. There are also no foreign transaction fees, making this an excellent card for international travel. Get the American Express® Gold Card in either the Gold, Rose Gold or Limited-Edition White Gold metal design. White Gold design is only available while supplies last.
Rewards Recap:
1x points
On all other eligible purchases
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
2x points
Hotels
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
3x points
Airfare
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
4x points
U.S. supermarkets
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
4x points
Dining
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Annual Fee: $325
Welcome Offer: 60,000 points + earn up to $100 back Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $100 back. Limited time offer. Offer ends 11/6/24.
The Platinum Card® from American Express has a hefty annual fee, but if you use all the credits it can be a good value. It offers a $200 Hotel Credit, $240 Digital Entertainment Credit, $200 Airline Fee Credit, $200 Uber Cash (Terms Apply), and a $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit. You also get a $155 Walmart+ credit that includes free shipping on Walmart purchases and a Paramount+ subscription.
Rewards Recap:
1x points
On all other eligible purchases
1x points on other eligible purchases
5x points
Airfare
5x Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year
5x points
Hotels
5x Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
Annual Fee: $695
Welcome Offer: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a great travel rewards card. You get a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection. And you can transfer your points to Capital One travel partners. Points can be worth more if you transfer them because the partners place more (or less) value on them than Capital One.
You get two complimentary visits to Capital One airport lounges a year and up to $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Currently, there are only three Capital One lounges in the U.S., so it might not be as useful as you might think. However, Capital One is planning more lounges.
Bad Credit, No Credit, Limited Credit, or Students
Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is a great card for students. It has a small welcome bonus (enough for pizza night) and solid cash back rewards everywhere students spend the most money. And there’s no annual fee.
Rewards Recap:
1% cash back
On all other eligible purchases
Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
3% cash back
Supermarkets
Earn 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®)
3% cash back
Streaming services
Earn 3% cash back on popular streaming services
3% cash back
Dining
Earn 3% cash back on dining
3% cash back
Entertainment
Earn 3% cash back on entertainment
5% cash back
Hotels
Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply.
5% cash back
Rental Cars
Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply.
8% cash back
Select Categories
Earn 8% cash back on entertainment purchases when you book through the Capital One Entertainment portal
Annual Fee: $0
Welcome Offer: Earn $50 Cash Back when you spend $100 in the first three months
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card offers a simple1.5% cash back on every purchase. The card also offers up to 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (see terms).
You can get automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as six months, free credit monitoring with the CreditWise® app, and $0 fraud liability if your card is ever lost or stolen. You can also get customized alerts and manage your account with the Capital One mobile app.
Rewards Recap:
1.5% cash back
All eligible purchases
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
5% cash back
Hotels
Earn 5% cash back on hotels booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)
5% cash back
Rental Cars
Earn 5% cash back on rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)
See also: Our complete list of the best credit cards for credit scores of 650-700, 600-649, and under 600.
How to Choose the Best Credit Card for You
Finding the best credit card for you is both an art and a science. To some extent, it’s about the numbers. You can look for cards with the lowest interest rates and fees or the highest rewards. But it’s also about matching the best credit card with your specific financial needs.
As a result, the top card will vary from one person to the next. You should consider your financial goals, such as earning rewards, paying down debt with a 0% offer, or just having an everyday card you can use. Also, consider your credit score. If you don’t know your score, there are plenty of ways to access your score for free.
Cash Back Credit Cards
For cash back cards, there are two approaches. You either carry one card with excellent rewards or multiple cards to get the most out of every purchase. The one-card approach is simple but doesn’t maximize your rewards. The multiple-card approach is a bit of a hassle, but you get the most cash back.
Finding the best 0% card for balance transfers is primarily about the numbers. You want a 0% offer that lasts as long as possible. And to the extent available, you’d prefer not to pay a transfer fee. That has become impossible today, as many balance transfer offers have left the market. Still, paying even a 3% balance transfer fee is better than paying a 15% interest rate if you’re carrying a balance on another credit card.
Travel Credit Cards
Travel cards represent a diverse universe of rewards. They include general travel rewards independent of a specific company, airline miles cards, hotel rewards cards, and even specialty cards. The “best” travel card depends on how you use the card and how you travel.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How many credit cards should I have?
There’s no “right” answer here. The amount of cards you should have depends on what you use them for and your ability to pay them off monthly.
If you travel by plane often throughout the year, a travel rewards card can get you great air miles. If you also travel by car or have a long commute, you might also choose a credit card offering high cash back for gas station spending.
If you don’t want to keep track of multiple cards and remember which one to use to get the most rewards, a basic everyday spending card might be your best option.
When is it time to get a new credit card?
If you have good or excellent credit, check if the card you’re currently using offers the same or better rewards and perks as the ones listed above. If you find another credit card that can beat yours and you haven’t applied for credit in the last six months, it might be time for a new credit card. Choose carefully though, applying for too many cards in a short period can be a reason to deny your application.
Are credit cards with annual fees worth it?
If you can get your money back in the form of cash back, paying an annual fee for a credit card is worth it. These cards usually come with additional perks including airport lounge access or travel credits. Before you commit to applying for the card, do the math and be sure you can easily earn that annual fee back by using the card.
Final Thoughts
I’ve monitored credit card offers since 2007 and gathered this information from a database of hundreds of cards. This article contains what I think are the overall best credit cards available today.
Please note this list is updated monthly, and offers are subject to change. If you’re just as keen about using the best credit cards as I am, be sure to revisit this page. I’m confident you’ll find one that works for you.
Rob Berger is the founder of allCards.com. He's written about personal finance and investing since 2007 and is the author of the highly acclaimed book, Retire Before Mom and Dad. He is a former litigation attorney in the securities field and the Founding Editor of Forbes Advisor.
