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U.S. Bank Credit Cards

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While U.S. Bank is not the most recognizable brand when it comes to credit cards, it offers several excellent credit cards. In fact, its 0% APR balance transfer offers is one of the longest available today. Here are the best U.S. Bank credit cards currently available.

U.S. Bank credit cards

Minneapolis-based U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB), with nearly $500 billion in assets, is the parent company of U.S. Bank National Association, the 5th largest commercial bank in the United States. The company operates over 3,000 branches with ATMs in over 40, and provides a comprehensive line of credit cards, banking, brokerage, insurance, investment, mortgage, trust and payment services products to consumers, businesses and institutions.

US Bank has some of the top credit card offers available. From 0% balance transfer to cash back to rewards, US Bank credit cards offer something for just about everybody looking for credit card offers.

U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card

The U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card is a rewards card that pays up to 4x points. It also offers a 25,000 point bonus and a 0% introductory APR. There is no annual fee.

U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card
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  • Earn 25,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases with the card in the first 90 days.
  • Earn 4X points on restaurant purchases–takeout, food delivery and dining
  • Earn 2X points at grocery stores (including delivery), gas stations and streaming services
  • Earn 1X points on all other purchases
  • You’ll get a $15 credit for annual streaming services with Netflix and Spotify
  • 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 billing cycles
  • No annual fee

U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card

The U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card is U.S. Bank’s premier 0% APR card. It currently offers a 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 20 billing cycles.

U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card
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  • 0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 20 billing cycles. After that, a variable APR
  • No Annual Fee*
  • Choose your own payment due date that fits your schedule.
  • 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 U.S.Bank Visa® Platinum Credit Card. Certain terms, conditions, and exclusions apply.

U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card

This cash back card pays up to 5% cash back on the first $2,000 spent each quarter on two categories of your choosing. That benefit along could generate $100 in cash back per quarter, or $400 each year. There is no annual fee and U.S. Bank offers a $200 signup bonus after making $500 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card

This is a more expensive version of the U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card. The first thing to note is that it costs $400 a year. For that big annual fee, you get up to 5x points on some purchases and the chance to earn 50,000 bonus points as a welcome offer.

U.S. Bank FlexPerks® Gold American Express® Card

With this travel rewards card you can earn up to 5x FlexPoints on certain travel purchases. You also earn 3x FlexPoints at restaurants and 2x FlexPoints at airlines and gas stations. You can earn a 30,000 bonus with $450 when you spend $2,000 in purchases in the first four months. There is an $85 annual fee.

U.S. Bank Secured Visa® Card

U.S. Bank offers one of the few secured cards that doesn’t charge an annual fee. With the U.S. Bank Secured Visa® Card, your security deposit of $300 to $5,000 is also your credit limit. The deposit is held in an FDIC-insured account.

Best Gas Rewards Credit Cards of 2021

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For those who drive a lot of miles, a gas rewards credit card can save money. There are several cards available today that pay elevated cash back rewards at the pump. Here are the best gas rewards credit cards of 2021.

best gas rewards credit cards

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

3% at U.S. gas stations

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
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  • Limited Time Offer: $250 statement credit after you spend $1,000 on purchases with the card in the first 3 months.
  • Earn Cash Back: 6% at U.S. supermarkets up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), and 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions including Spotify, Netflix, Hulu, HBO, ShowTime, Pandora, Apple Music, Amazon Music or Video (Does not include Prime membership).
  • Earn 3% at U.S. gas stations and on transit including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more.
  • 1% on all other purchases. Terms and limitations apply.
  • Annual Fee: $95
  • 0% APR on purchases for 12 months
  • Terms Apply
Read our full review here.

Wells Fargo Propel American Express Card

3x points at gas stations

Wells Fargo Propel American Express Card Wells Fargo Propel American Express Card
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  • Earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 within your first 3 months. – that’s a $200 cash redemption value
  • Earn 3X points for eating out and ordering in
  • Earn 3X points for gas stations, rideshares and transit
  • Earn 3X points for travel including flights, hotels, homestays and car rentals
  • Earn 3X points on popular streaming services
  • Earn 1X points on other purchases
  • 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers
  • No annual fee

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Up to 10x points at U.S. gas stations

The Platinum Card® from American Express The Platinum Card® from American Express
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  • Welcome Offer: Earn 60,000 75,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $5,000 on purchases with the card in the first 6 months.
  • Earn 10x points on eligible purchases on your new Card at U.S. Gas Stations and U.S. Supermarkets, on up to $15,000 in combined purchases, during your first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • 5X Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel. Beginning 1/1/2021, the 5X rewards is capped at $500,000 on these purchases annually.
  • 5X Membership Rewards points on eligible hotels booked on amextravel.com.
  • 1X Membership Rewards points on all other purchases.
  • Up to $200 Airline Fee Credit
  • Up to $200 Uber savings every year
  • Up to $100 annual Saks Fifth Avenue credit
  • Annual fee: $550
  • Terms Apply.
Read our full review here.

Chase Freedom Flex

Up to 5% cash back when gas stations part of quarterly category (spending caps apply)

Chase Freedom Flex Chase Freedom Flex
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  • $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases with the card in the first 3 months.
  • 5% on travel purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards
  • 3% on dining at restaurants, including takeout or eligible delivery services.
  • 3% on drugstore purchases
  • 5% on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories every quarter (activation required)
  • 1% on all other purchases
  • 5% cash back on Lyft rides through March 2022
  • Free access to your credit score
  • 0% APR introductory rate for 15 months on purchases.
  • No annual fee
Read our full review here.

Chase Freedom Unlimited

1.5% cash back on gas

Chase Freedom Unlimited Chase Freedom Unlimited
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  • Welcome Bonus: Earn $200 bonus after spending $500 within your first 3 months.
  • Earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
  • Earn 3% cash back at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services
  • Earn 3% cash back at drugstores
  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
  • Intro APR: 0% for 15 months from account opening on purchases
  • Free credit score, updated weekly with Credit Journey
  • No annual fee
Read our full review here.

Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® Card

1.5% cash back on gas

Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® Card
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  • Welcome Offer: Earn $150 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • 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 15 on purchases and balance transfers
  • $0 Annual Fee

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

1.5% cash back at gas stations

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
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  • Early Spend Bonus: $200 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 for 15 months
  • No annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fees
Read our full review here.

You’ll find even more gas rewards credit cards here.

8 Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards of 2021

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A balance transfer card is an important tool to help pay off credit card debt. These cards enable you to move high-interest debt to a new credit card that won’t charge interest for a year or more. Some of the top cards offer a 0% APR well into 2022. Here is our list of the best balance transfer cards available today.

Best Balance Transfer Cards in January 2021

U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card—Editor’s Pick

The U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card earns the top spot for one reason and one reason only–it offers the longest 0% APR on balance transfers available today. At 20 billing cycles, this card’s 0% APR would last until the end of 2022. It comes with no annual fee, but little in the way of cash back or other rewards.

U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card
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  • 0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 20 billing cycles. After that, a variable APR
  • No Annual Fee*
  • Choose your own payment due date that fits your schedule.
  • 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 U.S.Bank Visa® Platinum Credit Card. Certain terms, conditions, and exclusions apply.

Wells Fargo Platinum Visa—Editor’s Pick

The Wells Fargo Platinum Visa also earns an editor’s pick for its 0% balance transfer that lasts for 18 months. It too offers little in the way of additional rewards, but doesn’t charge an annual fee either.

Wells Fargo Platinum Visa Wells Fargo Platinum Visa
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  • 0% Intro APR for 18 months on purchases and balance transfers (fees apply) on transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rates and fees
  • 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 card
  • Easy access to your FICO® Credit Score
  • Zero Liability protection for promptly reported unauthorized transactions
  • $0 Annual Fee

Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® Card—Best for Cash Back

For those who want cash back rewards in addition to a solid balance transfer offer, the Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® Card fits the bill. It offers an impressive 0% APR balance transfer for 15 months + up to 1.8% cash back + a signup bonus. And it does all of this without charging an annual fee.

Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® Card Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® Card
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  • Welcome Offer: Earn $150 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • 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 15 on purchases and balance transfers
  • $0 Annual Fee

Citi Double Cash Credit Card—Best for Cash Back

I’ve carried the Citi Double Cash Credit Card for years. In addition to an excellent balance transfer offer, it also pays up to 2% cash back and doesn’t charge an annual fee.

Citi Double Cash Credit Card Citi Double Cash Credit Card
  • 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers and Purchases for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be based on your creditworthiness
  • There is a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
  • The only card that earns you cash back TWICE on every purchase with:
    • 1% cash back when you buy
    • Plus 1% cash back as you pay for those purchases, whether you pay in full or over time*
  • No Category Restrictions, No Caps, No Enrollments in Rotating Categories
  • No Annual Fee
Read our full review here.

Wells Fargo Propel American Express Card—Best Amex Offer

The is the best balance transfer card that uses the American Express platform. It is issued by Wells Fargo, and combines both a 0% APR and rewards (including a signup bonus).

Wells Fargo Propel American Express Card Wells Fargo Propel American Express Card
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  • Earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 within your first 3 months. – that’s a $200 cash redemption value
  • Earn 3X points for eating out and ordering in
  • Earn 3X points for gas stations, rideshares and transit
  • Earn 3X points for travel including flights, hotels, homestays and car rentals
  • Earn 3X points on popular streaming services
  • Earn 1X points on other purchases
  • 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers
  • No annual fee

U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card—Best for Dining Rewards

The U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card combines a good transfer feature with rewards geared for those who eat out. And yes, the rewards apply to food delivery as well. There is no annual fee.

U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card
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  • Earn 25,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases with the card in the first 90 days.
  • Earn 4X points on restaurant purchases–takeout, food delivery and dining
  • Earn 2X points at grocery stores (including delivery), gas stations and streaming services
  • Earn 1X points on all other purchases
  • You’ll get a $15 credit for annual streaming services with Netflix and Spotify
  • 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 billing cycles
  • No annual fee

Citi Diamond Preferred Card—Best Citi Balance Transfer Offer

The Citi Diamond Preferred Card is a 0% APR card. It offers an excellent balance transfer and doesn’t charge an annual fee. It doesn’t, however, offer rewards.

Citi Diamond Preferred Card Citi Diamond Preferred Card
  • The key feature is the card’s 0% Intro APR for 18 months on purchases and balance transfers.
  • After that the variable APR will apply based on your creditworthiness.
  • Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening.
  • There is a fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
  • You get free access to your FICO® Score, although it’s a specialized score designed for credit cards
  • No Annual Fee

Citi Rewards+ Card—Best for Round-Up Rewards

The Citi Rewards+ Card, the last on our list, combines a 0% balance transfer with reasonable rewards.

Citi Rewards+ Card Citi Rewards+ Card
  • The Citi Rewards+ Card automatically rounds up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase – with no cap.
  • Earn 15,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening
  • 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be based on your creditworthiness.
  • Balance transfer fee — either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
  • Earn 2X ThankYou® Points at Supermarkets and Gas Stations for the first $6,000 per year and then 1X Points thereafter.
  • Earn 1X ThankYou® Points on All Other Purchases.

There are some other balance transfer cards from other issuers, which you can check out here.

How to Choose the Best Balance Transfer Offer

Finding 0% balance transfer cards is the easy part. Choosing the best option for your specific circumstances, however, requires a lot more than just comparing transfer fees and length of the 0% introductory rate. In fact, there are several questions you should consider before making a choice. What might be the best option for one person many not be the wisest choice for another.

Here are 6 things to consider.

1. How much debt you have

The amount of credit card debt you have is an important consideration for at least two reasons. First, you may or may not qualify for enough credit on a balance transfer card to cover all of your existing credit card debt. This may mean you need to apply for multiple offers if you want to move all of the debt to a 0% card.

Second, your monthly minimum payment may be higher than what you are paying now. While two percent of the outstanding balance is a common minimum payment formula, not all issuers follow this standard. You’ll want to make sure you understand what the minimum payment will be and that your budget can handle it.

2. Which cards hold your debt now

Credit card issuers do not allow you to transfer debt from one of their cards to another. If you have debt on a Citibank card, for example, you can’t transfer it to another Citibank card. This is particularly important to remember when searching for balance transfer cards. You may find a great offer, but it won’t do you much good if it’s with the same issuer that currently holds your debt.

3. Your credit score

Credit card issuers don’t publish their underwriting standards, including the credit score needed to qualify for one of their cards. The best card offers, however, require a good credit score. While there is no minimum score required, in my experience you want to aim for a FICO score of at least 700. Keep in mind that other factors are important, too, such as your income, debt levels, and history with the credit card issuer.

If you don’t know your credit score, there are several free tools available to get access to your score. One of the free options is credit card issuers. Most major issuers today provide free access to your credit score. You’ll find a list of those issuers here.

4. Time to pay off the debt

Most of the top balance transfer cards today offer 0% for 12 to 20 months. Before transferring a balance, assess whether you’ll be able to pay off the debt before the 0% introductory rate ends. If you can pay off the debt in 15 months, for example, you’ll then want to look for offers of 15 months or longer.

5. Life After the 0% Offer

Make a plan for when the 0% offer expires. In our case, we continued to transfer the balances until we paid off our credit card debt in full. While this is a reasonable option, there are at least two potential hurdles.

First, there is no guarantee that 0% offers will be available a year or two from now. While balance transfer cards have been part of the credit card landscape for many years, all good things eventually come to an end. In fact, many major issuers left the balance transfer space last year because of Covid, including Chase, American Express and Capital One.

Second, even if these offers are available down the road, there is no guarantee that you’ll qualify for them. As noted above, these offers require a good to excellent credit score.

One way to prepare is to understand what the interest rates will be at the end of the 0% offer. As the CFPB has noted, it’s important to understand the interest rate over the life of the new card, not just the introductory rate. All credit card issuers make this information available to you. During the application process, the regular APR is typically stated as a range based on your creditworthiness. If your application is approved, however, you’ll know then what the regular APR is. While this can of course change, you’ll at least have some idea of the consequences should you be unable to pay off the debt before the zero percent rate expires.

6. Other credit card perks

Finally, it’s worth considering the perks beyond the 0% offer. Some of the best balance transfer cards come with no rewards, as noted above. There are, however, several good balance transfer cards that offer cash back rewards.

For additional balance transfer offers, check out this resource.

10 Best Cash Back Credit Cards of 2021

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Cash back credit cards are an easy way to generate income every month. The key is to find cards with the highest rewards that match your spending habits. To help, here is our updated list of the best cash back credit cards.

“Cash combined with courage in a time of crisis is priceless.” -Warren Buffett

In 2018 I began saving and investing the cash back rewards we earned from credit cards. In 2019 alone we earned $4,177.83 in credit card rewards. As of February 2020, our balance has grown to $9,306.53. As of January 2021, our balance has grown to $16,086.62.

Without sacrificing our lifestyle in any way, we’ve been able to save more than $16,000 by strategically using credit card rewards. To help you maximize your rewards, in this article we’ll look at the best cash back credit card offers available today.

As you map out your own cash back strategy, keep in mind that there are three broad types of cash back cards.

  • One Reward Rate: The most simple approach is a card that pays the same reward percentage on all purchases. The industry standard is 1%, but for those with good credit, you can nab 1.5% or even 2% on every purchase.
  • 5% Rotating Categories: These cards offer 5% cash back on specific categories of purchases that change every three months. There are spending caps eligible for the 5% cash back, typically $1,500 each quarter. All other purchases typically earn 1% cash back.
  • Bonus Categories: Finally, some cards offer bonus rewards for certain categories of purchases, such as restaurants, groceries, or gas. The bonus rates can vary based on the categories, with some cards offering multiple bonus categories. Purchases outside of the bonus categories typically pay 1%.

As we look at the top cash back cards, we’ll point out if a card charges an annual fee, offers a signup bonus, or limits its cash back rewards in any way.

Best Cash Back Credit Cards

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is one of the best cash back cards for groceries, paying 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets. There is a spending cap of $6,000 per year, after which grocery purchases earn 1%. It also offers 6% on streaming services and 3% on transit and U.S. gas stations. Finally, the card offers an excellent bonus in the form of a statement credit when spending requirements are met.

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
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  • Limited Time Offer: $250 statement credit after you spend $1,000 on purchases with the card in the first 3 months.
  • Earn Cash Back: 6% at U.S. supermarkets up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), and 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions including Spotify, Netflix, Hulu, HBO, ShowTime, Pandora, Apple Music, Amazon Music or Video (Does not include Prime membership).
  • Earn 3% at U.S. gas stations and on transit including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more.
  • 1% on all other purchases. Terms and limitations apply.
  • Annual Fee: $95
  • 0% APR on purchases for 12 months
  • Terms Apply
Read our full review here.

Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® Card

The Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® Card is a great all-purpose card. It offers 1.5% cash back on all purchases and a signup bonus. In addition, it comes with a 0% APR introductory rate on both purchases and balance transfers.

Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® Card
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  • Welcome Offer: Earn $150 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • 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 15 on purchases and balance transfers
  • $0 Annual Fee

Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express

The Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express is one of the best cash back cards from American Express that doesn’t charge an annual fee. It pays up to 3% cash back, has a generous welcome offer, and comes with an introductory 0% APR.

Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
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  • Welcome Offer:$100 statement credit after you spend $1,000 on purchases with the card in the first 3 months.
  • Earn 20% cash back at Amazon in the first 6 months, up to $200.
  • 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.
  • No annual fee.
  • Terms Apply

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card stands out as one of the best cash back credit cards for dining out and entertainment. It pays 4% cash back on both, with no spending caps. It offers 2% back on groceries and a $300 bonus when you meet the spending requirements. It’s also ideal for foreign travel as it charges no foreign transaction fees. It does come with a $95 annual fee, which is waived the first year.

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
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  • Early Spend Bonus: Earn $300 cash bonus after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months
  • 4% Cash Back: Earn 4% cash back on dining and entertainment
  • 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
  • $0 intro annual fee for the first year, $95 after that
  • No foreign transaction fees

Chase Freedom Unlimited

The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a 1.5% cash back card similar to other offers. It has no annual fee. One stand out feature is its introductory 0% APR offer.

Chase Freedom Unlimited Chase Freedom Unlimited
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  • Welcome Bonus: Earn $200 bonus after spending $500 within your first 3 months.
  • Earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
  • Earn 3% cash back at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services
  • Earn 3% cash back at drugstores
  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
  • Intro APR: 0% for 15 months from account opening on purchases
  • Free credit score, updated weekly with Credit Journey
  • No annual fee
Read our full review here.

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is the no annual fee version of the Savor card. You save on the annual fee, but the rewards aren’t as rich. Still, for a no fee card, earning up to 3% cash back is a solid offer.

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
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  • Earn $200 cash bonus after you spend $500on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
  • Earn 3% cash back on dining and entertainment
  • Earn 2% at grocery stores
  • Earn 1% on all other purchases
  • 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months
  • No foreign transaction fee
  • No annual fee

U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card

The U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card combines a generous signup bonus with up to 4x in rewards. There is no annual fee and an annual streaming credit.

U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card
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  • Earn 25,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases with the card in the first 90 days.
  • Earn 4X points on restaurant purchases–takeout, food delivery and dining
  • Earn 2X points at grocery stores (including delivery), gas stations and streaming services
  • Earn 1X points on all other purchases
  • You’ll get a $15 credit for annual streaming services with Netflix and Spotify
  • 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 billing cycles
  • No annual fee

Chase Freedom Flex

The Chase Freedom Flex offers a long list of benefits. It offers a signup bonus, up to 5% cash back, and a 0% APR introductory rate. And it manages all of this without charging an annual fee.

Chase Freedom Flex Chase Freedom Flex
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  • $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases with the card in the first 3 months.
  • 5% on travel purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards
  • 3% on dining at restaurants, including takeout or eligible delivery services.
  • 3% on drugstore purchases
  • 5% on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories every quarter (activation required)
  • 1% on all other purchases
  • 5% cash back on Lyft rides through March 2022
  • Free access to your credit score
  • 0% APR introductory rate for 15 months on purchases.
  • No annual fee
Read our full review here.

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is a good option for those who want to use just a single credit card. It pays 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Add a signup bonus and no annual fee, and the card easily makes our list of the top cashback credit cards.

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
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  • Early Spend Bonus: $200 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 for 15 months
  • No annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fees
Read our full review here.

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is a good option for those who have less than stellar credit. You get the same 1.5% cash back on all purchases, but you do pay an annual fee. The good news is that payments are reported to the credit bureaus, enabling you to improve your credit score with on-time payments.

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
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  • Cash Back: Earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase
  • Get automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
  • 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

Compare all of the cards on this page and other cash back cards–and apply online–here.

How to Maximize Cash Back Rewards

As I noted above, we save and invest all of our credit card rewards. Over time, we’ve built a 5-figure portfolio just from credit cards. I’m confident it will soon be 6-figures. Here’s the strategy we follow:

Frequently Asked Questions

What credit card gives you the most cash back?

The answer depends on how you use the card. The highest paying cash back card on ALL purchase is the Alliant Credit Union Visa Signature card. It pays 2.5% on all purchases, subject to a spending cap of $10,000 per month. Many cards, however, pay more than 2.5% cash back for specific categories of purchases. Arguably the highest is the Blue Cash Preferred Card by American Express, listed above.

What types of cash back credit cards are there?

Cash back cards fall into one of three categories. The first type provides a set cash back percentage on all purchases. The second provides increased rewards for certain categories of purchases, such as travel or dining out. And finally, some cards offer an increased rewards level in rotating purchase categories that change every three months.

Which credit cards offer 2% or more cash back?

There are a few credit cards that pay 2% or more on every purchase. These include the Alliant Credit Union Visa Signature card (2.5% cash back) and the Fidelity Visa card (2% paid into your Fidelity account).

How do cash back credit cards work?

With each purchase you make to the card, the issuer pays you a certain percentage of the amount charged. The percentage varies from one credit card to the next, the type of purchase being made, and in some cases how much you’ve already charged to the card. Cash back rewards generally range from 1% to 6%.

21 Best Small Business Credit Cards of 2021

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Small business credit cards offer easy access to credit along with excellent rewards. The top offers come with significant signup bonuses and fraud protection. Here are the best business credit cards of 2021.

best small business credit cards

Since launching my own small business in 2007, I’ve used a business credit card. While some entrepreneurs choose not to use a business card, I’ve always found it a good choice for several reasons.

For one thing, using a separate business credit card makes keeping my business expenses separate from my personal expenses a snap. Whether your business has loads of expenses or only a few, good bookkeeping is essential. Getting into the habit of charging all business-related expenses to a separate business credit card early on streamlines bookkeeping and makes tax time easier.

There’s an argument to be made, of course, for simply using a separate personal credit card for business expenses. And some solopreneurs go this route. The one major advantage to using a business credit card, however, is that it allows you to build your business’s credit. If there comes a point when you need a small business loan to expand, you’ll need this credit ready and waiting.

One final reason to consider using a business card is that it’s easier to share expenses safely. You can quickly give your partner or employees access to the company’s money through the card. And individual card-level expense tracking means you know who is spending money on what at any given time.

Business credit cards do have some caveats, which we’ll talk about below. But, first, let’s discuss our top business credit card picks for 2021.

Best Overall Business Credit Cards for 2021

Chase Ink Business Cash Credit Card

The Chase Ink line has been very popular among business owners, and with good reason. These cards are easy to use and offer great rewards. The Chase Ink Business Cash Credit Card is a great card for smaller businesses looking for excellent rewards with a simple cash back structure. You can also scale it up as you start spending more for your business. It offers flexible rewards, and rewards can be redeemed in a myriad of ways.

With all Chase Ink options, you can redeem rewards in several different ways. You can use cash to offset spending right away. Alternatively, you can use the Chase Ultimate Rewards program to buy travel tickets, hotel stays, gift cards, or other items.

The Chase Ink Business Cash Credit Card is an excellent card for business owners with good credit who won’t spend enough to outstrip the annual fee of the Chase Ink Business Preferred Credit Card (see below). It offers great cash back on spending categories typically used by business owners, as well.

Chase Ink Business Cash Credit Card Chase Ink Business Cash Credit Card
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  • Signup Bonus: Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
  • 5% Rewards: Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year
  • 2% Rewards: Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year
  • 1% Rewards: Earn 1% cash back on all other card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn
  • Intro APR: 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
  • No Annual Fee

Blue Business Cash Card from American Express

The Blue Business Cash Card from American Express is one of the few 2% cash back credit cards. It does have a spending cap (see below). However, it offers up to $300 in bonus statement credits, all with no annual fee.

Blue Business Cash Card from American Express Blue Business Cash Card from American Express
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  • Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%.
  • Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
  • Spend beyond your credit limit with Expanded Buying Power.
  • The amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us and other factors.
  • 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening.
  • No Annual Fee
  • Terms Apply

Chase Ink Business Preferred Credit Card

As you can see, we like the Chase Ink line here at allCards. The Chase Ink Business Preferred Credit Card is a bit different from the Chase Ink Business Cash Credit Card above, but offers some excellent rewards. This can be a good card if you’re a big spender for your business, especially in certain categories. This card does have an annual fee, but it makes up for that fee with great rewards.

The card gives you a variety of options for redeeming points, including travel, cash back, gift cards, and more. If you have great credit and spend big for your business, this is a great card to consider. Although it has a $95 annual fee, the signup bonus alone is worth $1,000 in travel. That bonus makes the Chase Ink Business Preferred Credit Card one of the most lucrative rewards cards available today.

Chase Ink Business Preferred Credit Card Chase Ink Business Preferred Credit Card
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  • Signup Bonus: Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Bonus Points worth $1,250 toward travel redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
  • 3X Points Reward: Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year
  • 1X Points Reward: Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn
  • Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards Redeem points for travel, cash back, gift cards and more
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Employee cards at no additional cost
  • $95 Annual Fee
Read our full review here.

Cash Back Business Credit Cards

The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express

The The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express pays 2X Membership Rewards points on every purchase (up to an annual cap). It also offers up to $300 in statement credits and charges no annual fee. The card is ideal for those who want flexibility in how they redeem their rewards.

The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express
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  • Earn 2X points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners.
  • 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter.
  • 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months, then a variable rate based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening.
  • No Annual Fee
  • Terms Apply

Chase Ink Business Unlimited

The third Chase Ink card is the Chase Ink Business Unlimited. It’s the newest business credit card in the lineup. It offers a $500 signup bonus and 1.5% cash back, all with no annual fee. The Chase Ink Business Unlimited is an excellent card for business owners looking for cash rewards without the annual fee.

Chase Ink Business Unlimited Chase Ink Business Unlimited
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  • Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first 3 months
  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase
  • 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
  • No Annual Fee
Read our full review here.

Capital One Spark Cash for Business

A low-fee card with good rewards, this is a great general-purpose credit card for your small business. It offers a flat 2% cash back across all spending categories, which makes it excellent for everyday use. You won’t have to worry about which categories are earning you a bonus, or keep track of rotating categories.

If you’re interested in using a business credit card for its overall benefits, but you don’t want to play the credit card game of netting the best cash back benefits on individual categories, this is a great option.

Capital One Spark Cash for Business Capital One Spark Cash for Business
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  • 2% Cash Back: Earn 2% cash back on all purchases. This is one of the few credit cards offering 2% in rewards
  • Welcome Bonus: Earn $500 cash bonus after spending $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months
  • $0 intro annual fee for the first year; $95 after that
  • Rewards won’t expire for the life of the account, and you can redeem your cash back for any amount
  • Get employee cards at no additional cost, and earn rewards from their business spend

The Plum Card® from American Express

You can think of the The Plum Card® from American Express as a 1.5% cash back business card. You don’t get typical cash back rewards. Instead, you get a 1.5% discount when you pay early. You can also take up to 60 days to pay with no interest.

The Plum Card® from American Express The Plum Card® from American Express
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  • Early Payoff Discount: Get a 1.5% discount when you pay early, with no cap on what you can earn back.
  • Take up to 60 days to pay with no interest, if you pay your minimum due.
  • Additional Employee Cards at no annual fee – and an early pay discount on employee spending.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Introductory annual fee of $0 for the first year, then $250
  • Terms & Restrictions Apply.

Capital One Spark Cash Select for Business

Capital One Spark Cash Select for Business Capital One Spark Cash Select for Business
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  • Welcome Bonus: Earn $200 cash bonus once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
  • Earning unlimited 1.5% cash back
  • Save on interest with 0% intro APR on purchases for 9 months
  • No annual fee
  • Rewards won’t expire for the life of the account, and you can redeem your cash back for any amount
  • Get employee cards at no additional cost, and earn rewards from their business spend

Capital One Spark Classic for Business

Capital One Spark Classic for Business Capital One Spark Classic for Business
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  • No annual fee
  • Earn 1% cash back on every purchase
  • Build business credit with responsible use
  • Fraud coverage
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Year-End Summaries and employee cards at no extra cost

Travel Rewards Business Credit Cards

The Business Platinum Card from American Express

The The Business Platinum Card from American Express is one of the most rewarding business credit cards. It offers a generous welcome bonus and up to 5X Membership Rewards per dollar charged to the card.

The Business Platinum Card from American Express The Business Platinum Card from American Express
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  • Welcome Offer: Earn up to 75,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on qualifying purchases within your first 3 months of card membership.
  • Rewards:
    • Get 5X Membership Rewards points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com.
    • Get 50% more Membership Rewards points on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more.
    • 35% Airline Bonus: Use Membership Rewards Pay with Points for all or part of a flight with your selected qualifying airline, and you can get 35% of the points back, up to 500,000 bonus points per calendar year.
    • Get 35% points back on all First and Business class flights, with all airlines available through American Express Travel.
  • Terms Apply

American Express Business Gold Card

The American Express Business Gold Card is a lower cost and lower reward option to the Platinum card. Its list of rewards and benefits, however, is still impressive.

American Express Business Gold Card American Express Business Gold Card
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  • Welcome Offer: Earn 35,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 within your first 3 months.
  • REWARDS: Get 4X Membership Rewards® points on the 2 select categories where your business spent the most each month (applies to the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these 2 categories each calendar year).*
  • BONUS: Get 25% points back after you use points for all or part of an eligible flight booked with Amex Travel, up to 250,000 points back per calendar year.*
  • Get up to 1 year free on subscriptions to both G Suite Basic for up to 3 users and ZipRecruiter Standard, a combined value up to $3,200.*
  • A flexible payment option to help manage cash flow on purchases of $100 or more.*
  • Connect to Quickbooks, access SpendManager?, receive a Year-End Summary, and more.*
  • Add EMPLOYEE CARDS with a no annual fee option. Earn rewards on employee purchases and track employee expenses with spending limits, alerts, and summary reports.*
  • *Terms Apply

Capital One Spark Miles for Business

Capital One Spark Miles for Business Capital One Spark Miles for Business
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  • Welcome Bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months
  • Earn 2 miles per $1 on every purchase
  • Earn 5X miles on hotel and rental car bookings through Capital One Travel using a Spark Miles card
  • $0 intro annual fee for the first year; $95 after that
  • Transfer your miles to over 10 leading travel loyalty programs like JetBlue and Emirates
  • There’s no limit to the number of miles you can earn
  • Redeem miles for travel, cash back, gift cards and more
  • Get one statement credit for either the $85 TSA PreCheck application fee or the $100 Global Entry application fee
  • No foreign transaction fees and fly on any airline, anytime, with no blackout dates or seat restrictions

Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business

Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business
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  • Welcome Bonus: Earn a one-time bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
  • Earn 1.5 miles per $1 on every purchase
  • Save on interest with 0% intro APR on purchases for 9 months
  • Pay no annual fee or foreign transaction fees
  • There’s no limit to the amount of miles you can earn
  • Fly on any airline, anytime, with no blackout dates or seat restrictions

Hotel Rewards Business Credit Cards

Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card is ideal for businesses that frequent Marriott brand hotels. The card offers an excellent signup bonus and up to 6X in rewards.

Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card
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  • Limited Time Offer: Earn 75,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy points after spending $3,000 within the first 3 months
  • Earn 6x points at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
  • Earn 4x points at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, U.S. purchases on shipping, and wireless telephone services purchased from U.S. service providers
  • Earn 2x points on all other eligible purchases
  • Receive 1 Free Night Award each year after your Card account anniversary you can use at a participating hotel.
  • Enjoy complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status.
  • Earn Gold Elite status after spending $35,000 on eligible purchases on your card in a calendar year.
  • Annual fee is $125

Hilton Honors American Express Business Credit Card

The Hilton Honors American Express Business Credit Card is the business card for those who stay at Hilton brand hotels. It offers a generous signup bonus and up to 12X in rewards on purchases.

Hilton Honors American Express Business Credit Card Hilton Honors American Express Business Credit Card
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  • Welcome Offer: Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases in the first 3 months of Card Membership.
  • Earn 12X at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio
  • Earn 6X on Select Business & Travel Purchases
  • Earn 3X Everywhere Else. Terms & Limitations Apply.
  • Enjoy complimentary Gold status with your Hilton Honors Business Card.
  • Earn a Weekend Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year.
  • Earn another Weekend Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend an additional $45,000 in purchases on your card in the same calendar year.
  • Enjoy 10 free airport lounge visits each year once enrolled in complimentary Priority Pass(TM) Select membership, which offers access to over 1,000 lounges in over 120 countries.
  • Terms apply.

Airline Business Cards

Southwest Airlines Business Credit Cards

There are two Southwest Airlines business credit cards:

They are both great cards. One comes with an annual fee and higher rewards, the other with no annual fees and slightly lower rewards.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
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  • Limited Time Offer: Earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
  • Annual Bonus: Earn 6,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
  • 2X Rewards: Earn 2 points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases and Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partner purchases.
  • 1X Rewards: Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
  • Earn points on employee spending
  • No blackout dates when you redeem points, no seat restrictions, bags fly free®, and no change fees
  • No foreign transaction fees

Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card

Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card
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  • Welcome Offer: Earn 70,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
  • Second Bonus: Earn 9,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
  • 3x Rewards: 3 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines® purchases.
  • 2x Rewards: 2 points per $1 spent on social media and search engine advertising, Internet, cable and phone services. Perfect for online entrepreneurs.
  • 1x Rewards: 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
  • 4 Upgraded Boardings per year when available
  • Inflight WiFi Credits
  • Global Entry or TSA Pre?® Fee Credit
  • Employee cards at no additional cost, earn points on employee spending.
  • $199 Annual Fee

Delta Airlines Business Credit Cards

Delta offers three business credit cards:

As is standard, the cards vary in annual fee and rewards–the higher the annual fee, the better the rewards.

Delta SkyMiles Gold Business American Express card

Delta SkyMiles Gold Business American Express card Delta SkyMiles Gold Business American Express card
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  • Welcome Bonus: Earn 40,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 within your first 3 months.
  • After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you will earn a $100 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel.
  • Rewards: Earn 2 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta, U.S. purchases for advertising in select media, U.S. shipping purchases, and on dining at restaurants. Earn 1 mile on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
  • Enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding
  • No foreign transaction fees when you spend overseas.
  • $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99.
  • Terms and limitations apply

Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card

Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card
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  • Welcome Offer: Earn 45,000 bonus miles and 5,000 Medallion Qualification Miles after spending $3,000 within your first 3 months.
  • You can also earn a $100 statement credit when you make your first Delta purchase with the card in the first 3 months.
  • Rewards:
    • Earn 3 Miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta.
    • Earn 1 mile on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
  • Check your first bag for free.
  • Priority Boarding.
  • Miles don’t expire.
  • Terms and limitations apply
  • $250 annual fee

Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card

The Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card offers one of the best ways to earn bonus Delta SkyMiles. If your business is a frequent Delta flyer, this card is a must.

Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card
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  • Earn 45,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion(R) Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months. Earn an additional 20,000 bonus miles after your first anniversary of Card Membership.
  • Earn 15,000 Medallion(R) Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you reach $30,000 in eligible purchases on your card in the calendar year, up to 4 times a year.
  • Earn 3 Miles per dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta.
  • Earn 1 mile on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
  • Pay no foreign transaction fees when you spend overseas.
  • Complimentary Delta Sky Club(R) Access.
  • Terms and limitations apply

United Airlines Business Credit Cards

United Business Card

The United Business Card offers United frequent flyers an excellent signup bonus, travel credits and up to 2 miles per $1 spent on the card.

United Business Card United Business Card
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  • Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months.
  • Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on local transit and commuting.
  • Earn a $100 United travel credit after 7 flight purchases of $100 or more each anniversary year.
  • 5,000 mile loyalty anniversary bonus when you have two United credit cards–the United Business Card and a personal Chase United credit card
  • Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United purchases, at gas stations, restaurants and office supply stores.
  • Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Free checked bag, 2 United Club? one-time passes and 25% back on United inflight purchases
  • Priority boarding for you and companions on the same reservation on United-operated flights
  • $0 intro annual fee the first year, then it’s $99 per year.

Choosing the Best Card for Your Business

These are just the top business credit cards of 2021 as we see them. We’ve vetted most of the major players available right now, and these cards offer plenty of variety for different types of businesses. However, choosing between them can be difficult.

When you’re looking at this – or any – list of business credit card options, it’s important to consider your business’s actual spending and expected spending for the coming year. If you don’t spend enough to justify a high annual fee, cross those cards off the list. Also, if you’re looking to finance a big-ticket purchase, check out the cards with the 0% introductory APR option.

Each of these cards has unique perks and benefits. The key is to ensure that those benefits line up with your current and future business spending.

Business Credit Card FAQs

When it comes to business credit cards, you might have a few questions. Here are five that we get most frequently:

Does a business credit card offer federal consumer protections?

The short answer here is no. Business credit cards aren’t protected by federal laws like the Credit CARD Act of 2009, most of the time. This means that your APR can change without notice, and there are fewer limits on fees you can be charged. Fraud protection is also not as strong with business credit cards.

With that said, credit card companies want your business, so many have individual protections written into their business credit card contracts. It’s up to you to be informed about potential fees, fraud protection, and other issues with your business card. Look closely at the fine print before you sign up for a card, as protections vary from company to company.

What’s the difference between a business charge card and a business credit card?

There are two major differences between credit cards and charge cards. Charge cards, unlike credit cards, don’t have a credit limit. However, they also have to be paid in full at the end of the month, or you’ll incur a large penalty fee. With a charge card, you have to plan spending more carefully, and keep closer track of your cash flow.

Charge cards do offer some of the same cash back and travel benefits as credit cards, though many come with annual fees.

Paying off all of your credit card balances each monthis a good habit for any business owner. But the inability to carry balances over from month to month at all can be prohibitive for some. If you ever suffer a tight month and can’t pay your balance in full, you’ll already have been hit with penalty fees, even if you catch up the next month.

For many business owners, it’s better to use a credit card.

Is a business EIN required to apply for a business card?

You can use your federal EIN – employer identification number – to apply for a business credit card, but you don’t have to. Many solopreneurs never get an EIN simply because they don’t need it. If you’re on your own and use your own social security number for other aspects of your business, you can just use that when applying for a business credit card.

Even if you do have an EIN, you may not be able to use it when first applying for a business card. The credit card company can only pull your business’s credit if your business has its own credit file as an entity separate from your personal credit file. If you’re just getting started, you’ll need time to build up your business’s credit file, which is part of the point of using a business credit card.

If you have an EIN but don’t have a credit file associated with it, the credit issuer will simply pull credit based on your social security number.

Will they check my personal credit file when I apply?

The answer to the above FAQ should tell you this! The answer is yes, most of the time. This is especially true at first, when your business doesn’t have its own credit file, or doesn’t have a large enough history for a credit issuer to make a decision. Again, you can enter your EIN instead of your personal social security number. But if the business doesn’t have an adequate credit file for a decision to be made, you’ll see a hard inquiry on your personal credit file.

With that said, other business card owners have noticed that after the original inquiry, the business credit card may not be counted in your personal credit file, unless there’s a major negative to report. Once the account is up and running, most of the credit-building properties will be counted towards your business’s credit, rather than your personal credit.

With all this in mind, it’s important to take care in your business transactions, just as you would your personal interactions. Though you and your business are technically separate, there’s so much interlinking in the world of financial transactions that credit issues in either sphere can impact the other.

What’s my personal liability for the card’s balance?

Depending on the credit card issuer and the arrangement you sign, you may be 100% liable for the credit card’s balance. Most of the time, a credit card issuer will insist that you sign a personal guarantee. This is an agreement you make with your creditor to pay for your business’s debts if your company doesn’t. It’s almost like cosigning for yourself. If your business can’t keep up with the debts, you’ll have to pay them back personally – even if you are the sole owner and operator of the entire business.

Due to personal guarantees, creditors could go after your personal assets if you default on the loan. Even if your company is an S-corporation or Limited Liability Company, you could be on the hook personally for business credit card debts. Limited liability company and corporation classifications shield your personal assets from certain liability situations. But when you willingly enter into a credit card arrangement and willingly make spending choices, you’re still personally liable for the debt.

If you get to the point where your business is more established and has deep pockets and a long credit history, you may be able to get business loans and credit cards with commercial liability. Then, the creditor couldn’t pursue your personal assets in case of failure to pay. However, most small businesses don’t have this option, and especially not when they’re just beginning to apply for business credit.

Managing Business Expenses with a Credit Card

Managing business expenses with a credit card is similar to managing personal expenses using a credit card. But there are a few additional rules. Here are my personal rules for using a business credit card, which are easy to apply to any business model:

Rule 1: Pay the balance in full each month

To get the most out of your business credit card and keep your expenses in check, pay off the full balance of your business credit card each month. This means keeping careful track of your expenses and your cash flow to ensure you’re not overspending.

One potential exception to this rule is to use a 0% introductory APR deal to make a large purchase for your business. Only do this if it’s necessary, and if taking the time to save up for the one-off purchase would cost your business more in the long run. Then, budget carefully to ensure you can pay off the balance in full before your APR goes up.

One of the key reasons I use a business credit card is to make tracking business expenses easier. Yes, you can do this by just looking over your credit card statements monthly. But you can also automate the process by simply linking your credit card to your favorite accounting software.

I link my business credit card to Quickbooks Online. It automatically downloads the transactions as they occur. My bookkeeper then categorizes the transactions at the end of the month.

Rule 3: Use the card only for business expenses

This is an essential rule: don’t ever use this credit card for personal expenses. This will only get you into trouble, especially if this turns into a habit. It’s much easier to keep your expenses separate and easy-to-track by using your business card only ever for business expenses.

Rule 4: Keep your receipts

Even if you have your credit card log, keeping your receipts is essential. The IRS says to keep business receipts for purchases and expenses for at least four years. Keep a file – both digital and hard copy – to keep your receipts organized by date. And if some of your receipts are for expenses that could potentially be questioned, like restaurant expenses, jot down a note on the receipt or in its digital file about the business occasion that led to the expense.

Basics of Business Credit Card Rewards

As you can see from our list of the best business cards above, many come with a variety of rewards. The most popular options, however, are cash back and miles rewards. You can also get purchase rewards, too, though, which give you access to gift cards and other useful items. Understanding rewards and how to use them is a key piece of choosing the best credit card for your business.

Rewards

One mistake business owners often make is choosing a business card that has a great rewards system, but they’re awarded in a way that they won’t use. So as you consider different credit card options for your business, take the time to understand how rewards are earned, and think through how you’d redeem those rewards.

We’ll discuss the most common options, and the best ways to use those rewards:

  • Travel Rewards: Travel rewards come in various flavors. Some travel cards let you rack up points to use for any travel-related purchase–from hotel stays to airline tickets to rental cars. Others only allow you to redeem points with certain providers. If you travel often for business and don’t mind always booking with the same airline or hotel chain, a brand-specific card might work for you. But if you’d rather get the best possible deal on flights and hotels, look for a card with more flexible redemption policies.
  • Purchase Rewards: Some business rewards cards offer purchase rewards options. For instance, with the Chase cards listed above, you can choose to redeem your rewards in several ways. For instance, you can purchase gift cards to various retailers, shop on Amazon.com directly with your points, or redeem rewards for special experiences. Purchase rewards can be more limited, but can be a way to buy customer and employee appreciation gifts. You can also order necessary office supplies using gift cards or Amazon.com points.
  • Cash Back Rewards: Cash back rewards are perhaps the easiest to use. This is my approach. Most major credit card companies will allow you to put cash back rewards directly towards your credit card balance. Most card companies will transfer cash back rewards transferred directly to your bank account.
  • Sign-Up Bonuses: When considering signing up for a new credit card, be sure you check out the sign-up bonuses. These bonuses give you extra spending power or even airline tickets right after you sign up for the new card. While you don’t want to choose a credit card based solely on a one-time bonus, it’s certainly something to take into consideration when choosing a credit card.

Interest Rates

You should consider a business credit card’s interest rate if you carry a balance. Should you need to carry a balance, the lower your interest rate, the better off you’ll be. When choosing a credit card for your business, here are three types of interest rates to consider:

  • 0% Balance Transfers: Are you already trying to pay down some business debt you’ve let pile up? Look for a card with a 0% introductory interest rate on balance transfers. This is a way to save money while you pay down the debt as quickly as you can. Just be sure you don’t use a balance transfer offer to put personal debt onto your business credit card. To pay off personal debt more quickly, check out this list of 0% APR balance transfer credit cards.
  • 0% on Purchases: Again, we don’t recommend regularly carrying a balance on your business credit card. However, if you need to make a one-time purchase of a big-ticket item, a 0% introductory APR may be the way to go. As long as you can pay down the balance before the 0% APR runs out, you can pay no interest on your large purchase. Just be sure you read the card’s fine print. Many will end the deal and hike up your interest rate if you’re even a day late on a single payment.
  • Regular APR: You’ll find a credit card’s regular APR in the fine print. These APRs are often listed as variable. The better your credit score, the lower your APR will be. If you don’t ever carry a balance, the regular APR won’t matter much in your budget. But it’s still important to know your APR before signing up for a credit card.

How to Apply for a Small Business Credit Card

Applying for a business credit card is similar to applying for a personal credit card, with a few differences. Here’s how to get started:

  • Decide whether to apply for an EIN. If you don’t already have an employer identification number (EIN), consider whether you should apply for one. It’s free to do, and is fairly simple to do online at the IRS website. If at any point you’re likely to hire employees, go ahead and apply. If you plan to keep your business to just yourself and, perhaps, your spouse, you can apply for business credit under your social security number.
  • Check your business credit file. If your business has been around for a while, it may already have a credit file. You can check on that here. If your business has a credit file, skip to step four. If not, take step three first.
  • Apply for a D-U-N-S number. This is a unique business identification number, separate from your EIN. You can actually apply for this number, and then add or change information in it on the Dun & Bradstreet site, linked above. When you first establish your business credit file, creditors will still pull your personal credit file first to check for creditworthiness.
  • Apply for a small business credit card. Business credit card applications are similar to personal credit card applications. You’ll just need to fill out all the requested information. Even if you provide an EIN, most creditors will ask for your social security number as part of your personal guarantee. Remember, this makes you personally liable for your business’s debts, which gives you even more reason to be cautious with your credit card spending.
  • Build your business’s credit. As when applying for a personal credit card, you may start off with a relatively low credit limit. You can build up your business’s credit by paying bills on time, keeping your credit card balance low, and keeping a long credit history. You can continue to visit the Dun & Bradstreet website to see your progress with your business’s credit.
  • Ask for a credit limit increase, eventually. If you may need to apply for a large business loan in the future, you would do well to continue building your credit by eventually asking for a credit limit increase. Remember, a large portion of your business’s credit rating comes down to debt vs. credit. The more credit you have available, the higher your rating. Once you’ve used a credit card wisely, you can ask for a credit limit increase.

14 Best Credit Cards of 2021

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I’ve monitored credit card offers since 2007. A lot has changed since then, as credit card rewards have grown in value. From a database of hundreds of cards, this article contains what I think our the overall best credit cards. This list is updated monthly.

best credit cards

Finding the best credit cards is both an art and a 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. If you don’t know your score, there are plenty of ways to access your score for free.

With those caveats in mind, we’ve assembled a list of the Best Credit Cards for 2021. 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.

Best Credit Cards of January 2021

Credit CardBest forKey Benefit
Chase Sapphire Preferred CardSignup Bonus60,000 Bonus Miles
Citi Double Cash Credit CardSimple Cash Back2% Cash Back*
Chase Freedom FlexBonus Cash BackUp to 5% Cash Back
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American ExpressGroceriesUp to 6% Cash Back
Secured MasterCard® from Capital OneBuilding CreditReports to all 3 Credit Bureaus
Chase Freedom UnlimitedTravelUp to 5% Cash Back
U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card0% APR0% for 20 Billing Cycles
Journey Student Rewards from Capital OneStudentUp to 1.25% Cash Back
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit CardFair Credit1.5% Cash Back

*You earn 1% at the time of purchases and 1% when you pay your credit card bill.

Best Overall Credit Cards

There are the cards that make the cut as the best overall. I carry and regularly use many of these cards. I should add that I save and invest ALL of the rewards earned from these cards. For more on my approach to credit card rewards, check out this video:

Here are my top three cards.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card makes the cut for several reasons. It has an excellent signup bonus, up to 2x rewards and unparalleled travel benefits and perks.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
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  • Earn 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases with the card in the first months. These points are worth $750 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
  • Get 25% point bonus when you redeem points for travel through Chase
  • $0 foreign transaction fees
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading frequent travel programs at full value
  • $95 Annual Fee

This card does come with a $95 annual fee. The benefits, however, make the card well worth the cost.

Chase Freedom Flex

Chase just introduced the Chase Freedom Flex and it’s loaded with rewards. It’s arguably one of the most rewarding cash back cards available today, and that’s why it made our list here.

Chase Freedom Flex Chase Freedom Flex
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  • $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases with the card in the first 3 months.
  • 5% on travel purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards
  • 3% on dining at restaurants, including takeout or eligible delivery services.
  • 3% on drugstore purchases
  • 5% on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories every quarter (activation required)
  • 1% on all other purchases
  • 5% cash back on Lyft rides through March 2022
  • Free access to your credit score
  • 0% APR introductory rate for 15 months on purchases.
  • No annual fee
Read our full review here.

Cash Back Cards

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.

If you want to maximize your cash, the Chase Freedom Flex mentioned above and Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express are two excellent options.

Here are details on these and other cash back credit cards.

Chase Freedom Unlimited

Chase Freedom Unlimited Chase Freedom Unlimited
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  • Welcome Bonus: Earn $200 bonus after spending $500 within your first 3 months.
  • Earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
  • Earn 3% cash back at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services
  • Earn 3% cash back at drugstores
  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
  • Intro APR: 0% for 15 months from account opening on purchases
  • Free credit score, updated weekly with Credit Journey
  • No annual fee
Read our full review here.

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
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  • Cash Back: Earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase
  • Get automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
  • 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

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
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  • Limited Time Offer: $250 statement credit after you spend $1,000 on purchases with the card in the first 3 months.
  • Earn Cash Back: 6% at U.S. supermarkets up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), and 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions including Spotify, Netflix, Hulu, HBO, ShowTime, Pandora, Apple Music, Amazon Music or Video (Does not include Prime membership).
  • Earn 3% at U.S. gas stations and on transit including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more.
  • 1% on all other purchases. Terms and limitations apply.
  • Annual Fee: $95
  • 0% APR on purchases for 12 months
  • Terms Apply
Read our full review here.

Chase Freedom Flex

Chase Freedom Flex Chase Freedom Flex
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  • $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases with the card in the first 3 months.
  • 5% on travel purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards
  • 3% on dining at restaurants, including takeout or eligible delivery services.
  • 3% on drugstore purchases
  • 5% on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories every quarter (activation required)
  • 1% on all other purchases
  • 5% cash back on Lyft rides through March 2022
  • Free access to your credit score
  • 0% APR introductory rate for 15 months on purchases.
  • No annual fee
Read our full review here.

Alliant Cashback Visa® Signature Credit Card

The Alliant Cashback Visa® Signature Credit Card is my goto cash back credit card. It pays 2.5% on all purchases for the first $10,000 in purchases per month; 1% thereafter. There is a $99 annual fee (waived the first year). That means you’ll need to spend at least $20,000 a year, otherwise, a no-fee 2% cashback credit card is better.

Alliant Cashback Visa® Signature Credit Card Alliant Cashback Visa® Signature Credit Card
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  • 2.5% cash back on all purchases (up to $10,000 in purchases each month)
  • 1% cash back on all other purchases.
  • $99 annual fee (waived the first year)
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Works with Google Pay, Apple Pay and Samsung Pay

Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card

One card that gets an honorable mention is the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card. If you buy from Amazon or Whole Foods, this card is a must. You get 5% cash back on both, with no caps and no annual fee. You also earn 2% cash back at restaurants, gas stations and drugstores.

See also: Check out our complete list of cash back credit cards

Balance Transfer Credit Cards

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.

Here is the best option available today:

U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card

U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card
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  • 0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 20 billing cycles. After that, a variable APR
  • No Annual Fee*
  • Choose your own payment due date that fits your schedule.
  • 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 U.S.Bank Visa® Platinum Credit Card. Certain terms, conditions, and exclusions apply.

With the economic uncertainties brought about my Covid-19, many credit card issuers have removed their 0% balance transfer offers There are cards still remaining, however, that offer 0% on balance transfers and purchases for up to 20 months. You can find these and other offers here and here.

See also: A longer list of 0% credit cards

Travel Rewards Credit Cards

Travel cards represent a diverse universe of rewards. They 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.

With that said, here are our picks for 2020.

American Express Gold Card

American Express Gold Card American Express Gold Card
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  • Welcome Offer: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $4,000 within your first 6 months.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards points at restaurants worldwide
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X).
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
  • 1X points on other purchases.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees, making this an excellent card for international travel.
  • Annual Fee: $250.
  • Terms Apply.
Read our full review here.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
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  • Earn 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases with the card in the first months. These points are worth $750 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
  • Get 25% point bonus when you redeem points for travel through Chase
  • $0 foreign transaction fees
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading frequent travel programs at full value
  • $95 Annual Fee

The Platinum Card® from American Express

The Platinum Card® from American Express The Platinum Card® from American Express
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  • Welcome Offer: Earn 60,000 75,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $5,000 on purchases with the card in the first 6 months.
  • Earn 10x points on eligible purchases on your new Card at U.S. Gas Stations and U.S. Supermarkets, on up to $15,000 in combined purchases, during your first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • 5X Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel. Beginning 1/1/2021, the 5X rewards is capped at $500,000 on these purchases annually.
  • 5X Membership Rewards points on eligible hotels booked on amextravel.com.
  • 1X Membership Rewards points on all other purchases.
  • Up to $200 Airline Fee Credit
  • Up to $200 Uber savings every year
  • Up to $100 annual Saks Fifth Avenue credit
  • Annual fee: $550
  • Terms Apply.
Read our full review here.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
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  • One-time Bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 within your first 3 months
  • Earn 2X miles on every purchase
  • 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 anywhere
  • Travel when you want with no blackout dates
  • Miles won’t expire for the life of the account
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • $95 annual fee
Read our full review here.

Bad Credit, Fair Credit and No Credit

Journey Student Rewards from Capital One

Journey Student Rewards from Capital One Journey Student Rewards from Capital One
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  • Rewards: Earn 1% cash back on all your purchases.
  • Bonus: Pay on time to boost your cash back to a total of 1.25% for that month
  • No annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Get access to a higher credit line after making your first 5 monthly payments on time
  • Monitor your credit profile with the CreditWise® app
  • $0 fraud liability if your card is ever lost or stolen
  • Pick the monthly due date that works best for you
  • Get customized alerts and manage your account with the Capital One mobile app

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
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  • Cash Back: Earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase
  • Get automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
  • 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