Finding the best credit cards is both an art and science. To some extent it’s about the numbers. You look for cards with the lowest interest rates or 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 what your financial goals are, such as earning rewards, paying down debt with a 0% offer, or just having an everyday card you can use. You also need to consider your credit score.
With those caveats in mind, we’ve assembled a list of the three Best Credit Cards for 2018 by category as selected by the editors of allcards.com. There are, of course, other options. With each category we’ve included a link to a larger list of credit cards. And following this list, you’ll find more details about these offers and information about our ranking methodology.
*I’ve marked with an asterisks those cards that I currently carry and use.
Best Cash Back Cards of 2018
There are two approaches to cash back cards. Either you carry one card with excellent rewards, or you carry 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.
I opt for the simple approach. And for that reason, the Citi® Double Cash Card is my card of choice. It pays a total of 2% cash back once you’ve paid for your purchases. And that’s why it makes the top of our list.
If you want to maximize your cash, the Chase Freedom and Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express are excellent options.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
- Earn $200 back after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months.
- Earn Cash Back: 6% U.S. supermarkets up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 3% U.S. gas stations & select U.S. dept stores, 1% other purchases. Terms and limitations apply.
- With the Blue Cash Preferred® Card, you can start earning cash back. No rotating reward categories. No enrollment required.
- Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit. Cash back is earned only on eligible purchases.
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months, then a variable rate based on your creditworthiness and other factors.
- Annual Fee: $95
- Terms Apply
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
- Welcome Bonus: $150 statement credit after you spend $1,000 in purchases within the first 3 months.
- Cash Back Rewards–
- 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%);
- 2% cash back at U.S. gas stations and at select U.S. department stores; and
- 1% back on other purchases.
- Note: Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be easily redeemed for statement credits, gift cards, and merchandise.
- Intro APR: 0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers.
- No annual fee.
- Terms Apply
Capital One® Quicksilver® Card - 0% Intro APR for 15 Months
- Early Spend Bonus: $150 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase
- Intro APR: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
Chase Freedom Unlimited
- Signup Bonus: Earn a $150 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
- Cash Back: Unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase
- Intro APR: 0% for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers
- Free credit score, updated weekly with Credit Journey
- No annual fee
Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® Card
- Signup Bonus: Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months
- Cash Back: Earn 1.5% cash rewards on every purchase
- Cash Back Bonus: Earn 1.8% cash rewards on qualified mobile wallet purchases during the first 12 months from account opening
- Get up to $600 protection on your cell phone (subject to $25 deductible) against covered damage or theft when you pay your monthly cellular telephone bill with your Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® Card
- Intro APR: 0% Intro APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers
- $0 Annual Fee
- Click here to learn more about the product features, terms, and conditions
Chase Freedom
- Signup Bonus: Earn a $150 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
- 5% Cash Back: Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter
- 1% Cash Back: Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Intro APR: 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers
- Free credit score, updated weekly with Credit Journey
- No annual fee
Capital One® QuicksilverOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Cash Back: Earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase
- Get access to a higher credit line after making your first 5 monthly payments on time
- Free credit monitoring with the CreditWise® app
- $0 fraud liability if your card is ever lost or stolen
- Get customized alerts and manage your account with the Capital One mobile app
- $39 annual fee
Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Early Spend Bonus: Earn $150 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months
- 3% Cash Back: Earn 3% cash back on dining
- 2% Cash Back: Earn 2% on groceries
- 1% Cash Back: Earn 1% on all other purchases
- Intro APR: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 9 months
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
See also: Check out our complete list of cash back credit cards
Best Balance Transfer Cards of 2018
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.
The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express
- Welcome Bonus: Earn 10,000 Membership Rewards® points after you use your new Card to make $1,000 in purchases in your first 3 months.
- Intro APR: 0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
- No Balance Transfer Fee: $0 balance transfer fee. Balance transfers must be requested within 60 days from account opening.
- 2x Rewards: Earn 2x points at US supermarkets, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1x)
- 1x Rewards: Earn 1x points on other purchases
- Rewards Bonus: Use your Card 20 or more times on purchases in a billing period and earn 20% more points on those purchases less returns and credits
- No annual fee
- Terms Apply
Our next option is the Wells Fargo Platinum Visa® Card. With this card you’ll get a 0% introductory rate for 15 months on both purchases and balance transfers. You also get free access to your FICO score and up to $600 protection on your cell phone (subject to $25 deductible) on covered damage or theft when you pay your monthly cellular telephone bill with your Wells Fargo Platinum Visa® Card. And there’s no annual fee.
Learn more about this card here.
Chase Freedom Unlimited
- Signup Bonus: Earn a $150 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
- Cash Back: Unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase
- Intro APR: 0% for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers
- Free credit score, updated weekly with Credit Journey
- No annual fee
Click here to learn more about the Chase Freedom Unlimited and similar credit cards.
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
- Welcome Bonus: $150 statement credit after you spend $1,000 in purchases within the first 3 months.
- Cash Back Rewards–
- 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%);
- 2% cash back at U.S. gas stations and at select U.S. department stores; and
- 1% back on other purchases.
- Note: Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be easily redeemed for statement credits, gift cards, and merchandise.
- Intro APR: 0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers.
- No annual fee.
- Terms Apply
Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® Card
- Signup Bonus: Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months
- Cash Back: Earn 1.5% cash rewards on every purchase
- Cash Back Bonus: Earn 1.8% cash rewards on qualified mobile wallet purchases during the first 12 months from account opening
- Get up to $600 protection on your cell phone (subject to $25 deductible) against covered damage or theft when you pay your monthly cellular telephone bill with your Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® Card
- Intro APR: 0% Intro APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers
- $0 Annual Fee
- Click here to learn more about the product features, terms, and conditions
Click here to learn more about the Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® Card and similar credit cards.
Chase Freedom
- Signup Bonus: Earn a $150 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
- 5% Cash Back: Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter
- 1% Cash Back: Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Intro APR: 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers
- Free credit score, updated weekly with Credit Journey
- No annual fee
Click here to learn more about the Chase Freedom and similar credit cards.
Capital One® Quicksilver® Card - 0% Intro APR for 15 Months
- Early Spend Bonus: $150 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase
- Intro APR: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
See also: A longer list of 0% credit cards
Best Travel Rewards Card of 2018
Travel cards represent a diverse universe of rewards. These include general travel rewards that are independent of a specific company, airline miles cards, hotel rewards cards, and even specialty cards. As such, it’s difficult to pick the “best” travel card. A lot will depend on how you use the card and how you travel.
Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card
- One-time Bonus: Earn 50,000 miles once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $500 in travel
- Earn 2X miles on every purchase, every day.
- Earn 10X miles on thousands of hotels; learn more at hotels.com/venture
- Receive up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre?®
- Miles aren’t specific to any airline or hotel, so they can be used antwhere
- Travel when you want with no blackout dates
- Miles won’t expire for the life of the account
- No foreign transaction fees
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year; $95 after that
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
- Receive 50,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. 50k points are worth $625 in travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 2X points on travel and dining at restaurants
- 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
- Earn 5,000 bonus points after you add the first authorized user and make a purchase in the first 3 months from account opening
- $0 foreign transaction fees
- 1:1 point transfer to leading frequent travel programs at full value
- Introductory Annual Fee of $0 the first year, then $95
British Airways Visa Signature
- Limited Time Offer: Earn up to 100,000 bonus points. Here’s how–
- Earn 50,000 bonus Avios after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening;
- Earn 25,000 bonus Avios after you spend $10,000 total on purchases within your first year from account opening; and
- Earn 25,000 bonus Avios after you spend $20,000 total on purchases within your first year from account opening.
- Each year you make $30,000 in purchases on your British Airways Visa card, you’ll earn a Travel Together Ticket good for two years.
- Earn 3 Avios for every $1 spent on British Airways purchases
- Earn 1 Avios for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Pay no foreign transaction fees when you travel abroad.
Click here to learn more about the British Airways Visa Signature and similar credit cards.
Starwood Preferred Guest(R) Business Credit Card from American Express
- Welcome Bonus #1: Earn a $100 statement credit after you make $1,000 in purchases within your first 3 months.
- Welcome Bonus #2: Earn an additional $100 statement credit after your first purchase at a participating SPG(R) or Marriott Rewards(R) hotel within your first 6 months.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
- Until July 31, 2018: Earn 2 Starpoints(R) for every dollar of eligible purchases at participating SPG(R) and Marriott Rewards(R) hotels. Earn 1 Starpoint for all other eligible purchases.
- On August 1, 2018, SPG will convert every one Starpoint in a loyalty member account to three points.
- Effective August 1, 2018: Earn 6 points for every dollar of eligible purchases on the Card at participating SPG(R) and Marriott Rewards(R) hotels.
- Earn 4 points at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers, and on U.S. purchases for shipping. Earn 2 points for all other eligible purchases.
- Annual Fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Terms Apply
Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Credit Card
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Annual Bonus: Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary.
- 6x Rewards: Earn 6 points per $1 spent at participating Marriott Rewards & SPG hotels.
- 2x Rewards: Earn 2 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Automatic Silver Elite Status each account anniversary year.
Click here to learn more about the Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Credit Card and similar credit cards.