15 Best Credit Cards of January 2025
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Allcards. Commissions do not affect our authors’ or editors’ opinions or evaluations. From our partners: See our advertiser disclosure here.
Picking the best credit card is no easy task. It depends largely on your financial goals (e.g., travel, cash back, 0% intro 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 15 of the best credit cards ideal for any financial goal.
Best Daily Driver Credit Cards
We organized this list into three categories: daily driver, triple play, and category king credit cards. We’ll start with daily drivers, which earn 1.5% to 2% cash back (or 2x points or miles) on all purchases. A daily driver should be the first credit card you carry. If you want to maximize your rewards, you can consider adding a triple play credit card (earns 3% cash back or 3x points or miles on at least three categories). Category king cards earn 5% cash back on at least one category.
We’ll begin the list with some standout daily driver credit cards. You can see our full list of daily driver credit cards here.
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Our Rating: 4.9
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Welcome Offer
Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus
Est. Value
$200
Annual Fee
$0
APR
19.24%, 24.24% or 29.24% Variable
Credit Req’d
Good to Excellent 670 – 850
Rewards: Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Our Rating: 4.5
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Welcome Offer
75,000 Miles
Est. Value
Up to $750
Annual Fee
$95
APR
19.99% – 29.24% Variable
Credit Req’d
Excellent, Good
Rewards: Earn 5x miles on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn 2x miles on other purchases.
See also: Our complete list of travel rewards credit cards
Citi® Double Cash Card
Our Rating: 4.9
Citi® Double Cash Card
Welcome Offer
Earn $200 cash back
Est. Value
$200
Annual Fee
$0
APR
18.24% – 28.24%, Variable
Credit Req’d
Good to Excellent 670 – 850
Rewards: Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
Alliant Cashback Visa® Signature Credit Card
Our Rating: 4.7
Alliant Cashback Visa® Signature Credit Card
Welcome Offer
None
Est. Value
None
Annual Fee
$0
APR
16.99% to 26.99% Variable
Credit Req’d
Good to Excellent 670 – 850
Rewards: Earn up to 2.5% cash back on your first $10,000 of qualifying eligible purchases per billing cycle. Earn 1.5% cash back on all other qualifying eligible purchases.
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Our Rating: 4.4
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Welcome Offer
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back
Est. Value
None
Annual Fee
$39
APR
29.74% Variable
Credit Req’d
Average, Fair, Limited
Rewards: Earn 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply). Earn 1.5% cash back on other purchases.
U.S. Bank Smartly™ Visa Signature® Card
Our Rating: 4.8
U.S. Bank Smartly™ Visa Signature® Card
Welcome Offer
None
Est. Value
None
Annual Fee
$0
APR
18.49% to 28.74% Variable
Credit Req’d
Good to Excellent 670 – 850
Rewards: Earn an unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, plus earn up to an additional 2% cash back when paired with a U.S. Bank Savings account.
See also: Our complete list of the best credit cards for credit scores of 650-700, 600-649, and under 600.
Best Triple Play Credit Cards
Triple Play credit cards earn 3% cash back or 3x points or miles on at least three categories. If you already have a daily driver credit card, adding a triple play card to your wallet can help you squeeze out more rewards. Here are some of our favorite triple play cards.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Our Rating: 4.9
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Welcome Offer
Earn 60,000 bonus points
Est. Value
Up to $750
Annual Fee
$95
APR
20.74% – 27.74% Variable
Credit Req’d
Excellent, Good
Rewards: Earn 5x points on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM. Earn 3x points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs). Earn 2x points on other travel purchases. Earn 1x points on other purchases.
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Our Rating: 4.9
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Welcome Offer
Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year)
Est. Value
$200
Annual Fee
$0
APR
19.74% – 28.49% Variable
Credit Req’d
Excellent, Good
Rewards: Earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM. Earn 3% cash back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, and on drugstore purchases. Earn 1.5% cash back on other purchases.
American Express® Gold Card
Our Rating: 4.8
American Express® Gold Card
Welcome Offer (Terms Apply)
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points
Est. Value
Up to $1,200
Annual Fee
$325
APR
See Pay Over Time APR Variable
Credit Req’d
Good, Excellent
Rewards: Earn 4x Membership Rewards® points at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1x points for the rest of the year. Earn 4x Membership Rewards® points at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1x points for the rest of the year. Earn 3x Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. Earn 2x Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. Earn 1x Membership Rewards® on all other eligible purchases. Terms Apply.
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Our Rating: 4.5
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Welcome Offer
$200 Cash Back
Est. Value
$200
Annual Fee
$0
APR
19.24% – 29.24% Variable
Credit Req’d
Excellent, Good
Rewards: Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases. Earn 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply). Earn 3% cash back at grocery stores excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®, on dining, on entertainment, and on popular streaming services. Earn 1% cash back on other purchases.
Best Category King Credit Cards
Category king credit cards earn at least 5% cash back or 5x points or miles on at least one category. Maximize your credit card rewards to the fullest by adding a category king card to your wallet after you have your daily driver and your triple play cards. Here are some great category king credit cards to consider.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Our Rating: 4.5
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Welcome Offer (Terms Apply)
Earn a $250 statement credit
Est. Value
$250
Annual Fee
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
APR
18.24% – 29.24% Variable
Credit Req’d
Good, Excellent
Rewards: Earn 6% cash back on groceries up to $6,000 per year in purchases at U.S. supermarkets, then 1%, and 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions. Earn 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more). Earn 1% cash back on other purchases. Terms Apply.
Prime Visa
Our Rating: 4.5
Prime Visa
Welcome Offer
Get a $100 Amazon Gift Card
Est. Value
$100
Annual Fee
$0
APR
19.74% – 28.49% Variable
Credit Req’d
Rewards: Eligible Prime cardmembers earn 10% back or more on a rotating selection of items and categories on Amazon.com. Earn 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market with an eligible Prime membership. Earn 5% back on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership. Earn 2% back at restaurants, gas stations, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare). Earn 1% back on other purchases.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Our Rating: 4.5
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Welcome Offer (Terms Apply)
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points
Est. Value
Up to $1,600
Annual Fee
$695
APR
See Pay Over Time APR Variable
Credit Req’d
Excellent, Good
Rewards: Earn 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. Earn 5x Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Earn 1x points on other eligible purchases. Terms Apply.
Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards
If you’re not interested in credit card rewards, you may be looking for a 0% introductory APR offer from a credit card. Here are some notable cards with that one feature.
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card
Our Rating: 3.6
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card
Welcome Offer
0% Intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers
Est. Value
None
Annual Fee
$0
APR
17.24% – 27.99% Variable
Credit Req’d
Good to Excellent 670 – 850
Rewards: None
U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card
Our Rating: 3.5
U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card
Welcome Offer
None
Est. Value
None
Annual Fee
$0
APR
17.74% to 28.74% Variable
Credit Req’d
Good 670 – 739
Rewards: None
See also: Our complete list of 0% credit cards
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% intro APR 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.
See also: Our complete list of cash back credit cards
Balance Transfer Credit Cards
Finding the best 0% intro APR 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 nearly 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.