The Best Credit Cards for Seniors and Retirees

As you age and your needs change, you should reconsider your credit card. Finding and using the right credit card makes it easy to get rewarded for your purchases. And it’ll give you the spending power you need to save some serious cash.

In this article, we’ll review some of the best credit cards for seniors and retirees. If you’re retired, consider one of these to add to your wallet.

Overview: Best Credit Cards for Seniors and Retirees

Credit Card	Best For
The Platinum Card® from American Express	Frequent Travelers and Travel Perks
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card	Occasional Travelers
AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays	AARP Memberships
American Express Cash Magnet® Card	Doctors’ Visits, Pharmacies, and Drugstores
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card	Identity Theft Protection
Chase Freedom Unlimited®	Elevated Cash Back
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card	Simple 2% Cash Back
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express	Groceries
U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card	0% Intro APR
Fidelity® Rewards Visa Signature® Credit Card	Building your Nest Egg

Best Credit Card for Seniors Who Like to Travel

For seniors who enjoy traveling often, finding a credit card that works for your lifestyle is important. You’ll want to find a travel credit card that provides you with perks that either simplify the process or help you save some money in the long run. Potential perks to look for with a travel rewards credit card are free checked luggage, upgrade options, and airport lounge access to make your travels more enjoyable. You’ll also want a credit card that allows you to collect miles you can use towards flights and hotels. That way, you’ll get rewarded for your spending.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

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Our Rating: 4.5

★★★★★☆

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Welcome Offer

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

Good, Excellent

Rewards: Earn up to 5x points on flights and hotels and 1x points on other purchases.

The Platinum Card® from American Express has been mentioned as one of the top travel rewards credit cards for a long time by many experts. You even get up to $200 in Uber Cash so you can have money to put towards getting around when you travel (Terms Apply). Much of the value comes in the form of credits, and there are a ton of them.

1x points

On all other eligible purchases

1x on other purchases

5x points

Airfare

5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel, on up to $500,000 on these purchases each calendar year

5x points

Hotels

5x points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com

Pros

Welcome offer
No foreign transaction fee
Excellent annual credits
Lounge access
Up to 5x points

Cons

Annual fee
Requires good credit

App Status	Date	Credit Score	Bureau	Credit Limit
Approved	04/28/2023	812	Equifax	---
Approved	04/28/2023	820	TransUnion	---
Approved	04/28/2023	825	Experian	---
Approved	08/16/2023	698	Equifax	$25,000
Approved	08/16/2023	709	Experian	$25,000
Approved	08/16/2023	728	TransUnion	$25,000
Approved	01/04/2023	696	Not Provided	---
Approved	01/23/2023	675	Not Provided	$6,000

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

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Our Rating: 4.9

★★★★★☆

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points (Terms Apply)

Est. Value

Up to $1,290

Annual Fee

$95

APR

21.49%-28.49% Variable

Credit Req’d

Excellent, Good

Rewards: Earn 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards and on dining, online groceries (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs), and select streaming services. Earn 2x points on other travel and 1x points on other purchases.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is an excellent card if you’re not sure your travels justify the The Platinum Card® from American Express, or just don’t want to pay the hefty annual fee. There’s a generous welcome offer and ample rewards, including a $50 annual credit for hotel stay purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards.

1x points

On all other eligible purchases

1x points on all other purchases

2x points

Travel

2x points on all other travel purchases

3x points

U.S. supermarkets

Earn 3x points on online groceries (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs)

3x points

Streaming services

Earn 3x points on select streaming services

3x points

Dining

3x points on dining

5x points

Travel

5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel(SM)

Pros

Welcome offer
No foreign transaction fee
Earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points
Up to 5x points

Cons

Annual fee
High APR
Requires good credit

App Status	Date	Credit Score	Bureau	Credit Limit
Approved	08/03/2023	872	Not Provided	$19,500
Approved	04/19/2023	737	Equifax	$16,000
Approved	04/19/2023	747	Experian	$16,000
Approved	04/19/2023	747	TransUnion	$16,000
Approved	11/11/2023	800	Not Provided	$16,800
Approved	04/18/2023	790	Experian	$17,300
Approved	05/21/2023	703	Experian	$17,300
Approved	04/04/2023	735	Equifax	$17,300
Approved	04/04/2023	825	Experian	$17,300
Approved	07/06/2023	735	Experian	$5,000
Approved	07/06/2023	745	Equifax	$5,000
Approved	07/06/2023	755	TransUnion	$5,000
Approved	10/19/2023	720	Not Provided	$19,500
Approved	06/14/2023	759	Experian	$6,000
Approved	04/06/2023	897	Not Provided	$23,800
Approved	04/14/2023	765	Experian	$7,200
Approved	04/14/2023	777	Equifax	$7,200
Approved	04/14/2023	777	TransUnion	$7,200
Approved	10/23/2023	745	TransUnion	$5,000
Approved	10/03/2023	761	Equifax	$18,000
Approved	10/03/2023	767	Experian	$18,000
Approved	10/03/2023	774	TransUnion	$18,000

Best Credit Card for AARP Memberships

It’s well-known that AARP’s mission is to empower many to choose how they live as they get older. The AARP provides access to many benefits that help you live your best life as you get older and move toward the next stage of life. A standard AARP membership costs about $16 per year and offers plenty of benefits, such as discounts on insurance, airfare, entertainment, cell phone plans… the list goes on.

AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays

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Our Rating: 4.3

★★★★★☆

AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays

Welcome Offer

None (Terms Apply)

Est. Value

None

Annual Fee

APR

21.99% to 29.99% Variable

Credit Req’d

Good to Excellent 670 – 850

Rewards: Earn 3% cash back on gas and drug store purchases (excluding Target and Walmart), 2% on eligible medical expenses, and 1% on all other purchases.

AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays earns rewards in categories where seniors tend to spend the most money. There’s a small welcome offer and no annual fee, and you can even redeem your rewards towards an AARP membership. Barclays also donates $10 for every new account to an AARP Foundation to give back, so you’re contributing to a cause you believe in.

1% cash back

On all other eligible purchases

Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases

2% cash back

Select Categories

Earn 2% cash back on eligible medical expenses

3% cash back

Drugstores

Earn 3% cash back on drug store purchases (excluding Target and Walmart)

3% cash back

Gas

Earn 3% cash back on gas

Pros

Welcome offer
No annual fee
up to 3% cash back

Cons

High APR
Foreign transaction fee
Requires good credit

App Status	Date	Credit Score	Bureau	Credit Limit
Approved	07/23/2022	690	Not Provided	$1,500
Denied	06/04/2022	837	TransUnion	---
Denied	06/04/2022	834	TransUnion	---
Denied	06/04/2022	840	Equifax	---

Best Credit Card for Doctors’ Visits, Pharmacies, and Drugstores

If you find yourself with frequent doctor visits, you’ll want to think about how to pay for these expenses. Unfortunately, the fees associated with visiting your doctor and then paying for prescriptions can add up quickly. This means you may have to place some of these expenses on your credit card. In this case, we want to help you find a credit card you can rely on.

American Express Cash Magnet® Card

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Our Rating: 4.3

★★★★★☆

American Express Cash Magnet® Card

Welcome Offer

$200 (Terms Apply)

Est. Value

$200

Annual Fee

APR

19.24% to 29.99% Variable

Credit Req’d

Good to Excellent 670 – 850

Rewards: Earn 1.5% on all eligible purchases.

The American Express Cash Magnet® Card is unique when handling medical bills because of the Plan it® feature. This allows you to pay certain medical expenses over a fixed period with no additional interest. There’s a fee to use this feature, but there are no fees for interest, so you should save some decent money if you have expensive medical bills. American Express offers a Pre-Purchase calculator on their website so you can see an example of how the feature works. As you know, medical expenses can get stressful, so it’s important to take any assistance you can find.

1.5% cash back

All eligible purchases

Earn 1.5% on all eligible purchases

Pros

Welcome offer
$0 annual fee

Cons

High APR
Foreign transaction fee

App Status	Date	Credit Score	Bureau	Credit Limit
Approved	09/20/2023	776	Experian	$33,000
Approved	01/10/2023	756	Experian	$1,000
Approved	01/10/2023	760	Equifax	$1,000
Approved	01/10/2023	765	TransUnion	$1,000
Approved	01/23/2024	612	Not Provided	---

Best Credit Card for Protection from Identity Fraud

If security concerns you, find a credit card that protects you from identity fraud and any other potential issues. Nothing is worse than dealing with the repercussions of a stolen credit card or identity theft issues. As you get older, you don’t want to stress about the security of paying for items with your credit card.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

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Our Rating: 4.9

★★★★★☆

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Welcome Offer

Earn 75,000 bonus miles

Est. Value

Up to $1,300

Annual Fee

$395

APR

19.99% – 29.99% Variable

Credit Req’d

Excellent

Rewards: Earn 10x miles on hotels, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn 5x miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel, and 2x miles on other purchases.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has unique security features. You can create fraud and instant purchase notifications to keep your credit card safe. If you want to protect yourself while you shop online, Capital One makes it easy to use virtual card numbers: just click a button and your card information is protected. Lock your card through the Capital One app if anything suspicious ever happens. You don’t have to worry about calling in to report a lost or stolen credit card. You can do it all through the app. This card has some fantastic travel benefits as well, including 10,000 miles (which equals about $100 towards travel) on your anniversary and a $300 annual travel credit for bookings on Capital One Travel. Those two credits make the annual fee worth paying for if you use them every year.

2x miles

On all other eligible purchases

2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day

5x miles

Airfare

5 Miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel

10x miles

Hotels

10 Miles per dollar on hotels booked through Capital One Travel

10x miles

Rental Cars

10 Miles per dollar on rental cars booked through Capital One Travel

Pros

Welcome offer
No foreign transaction fee
Up to 10x miles on purchases

Cons

Annual fee
Requires good credit

App Status	Date	Credit Score	Bureau	Credit Limit
Approved	02/01/2022	751	Experian	$10,000
Approved	02/01/2022	775	TransUnion	$10,000
Approved	02/01/2022	802	Equifax	$10,000
Approved	02/28/2022	779	Experian	$30,000
Approved	04/13/2022	800	Equifax	$30,000
Approved	10/19/2023	776	Not Provided	$20,000
Approved	12/16/2021	731	Experian	$10,000
Approved	01/26/2022	742	Experian	$10,000
Approved	01/26/2022	754	TransUnion	$10,000
Approved	01/26/2022	756	Equifax	$10,000

Best Credit Card for Cash Back

If you use your credit card for major purchases, consider tapping into cash back rewards to get some money back. Cash back credit cards are ideal for seniors who don’t carry a balance because you get a percentage back of the money you put on your credit card. So, if you decide to place all of your fixed expenses on your credit card and you pay your card off on time, you can benefit from getting some money back.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

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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

APR

20.49% – 29.24% Variable

Credit Req’d

Excellent, Good

Rewards: Earn 5% cash back on Chase travel after your first year or $20,000 spent. Earn 3% cash back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1.5% cash back on other purchases.

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a great choice for cash back because you earn an extra 1.5% cash back (up to $20,000 spent) on every purchase for the first year. That means you get 6.5% cash back on travel, 4.5% on dining and at drugstores, and 3% cash back on all other purchases. Those are excellent cash back rewards, but even after that, this card is a great addition to your wallet.

1.5% cash back

On all other eligible purchases

Earn 1.5% cash back on all other purchases

3% cash back

Drugstores

Earn 3% on drugstore purchases

3% cash back

Dining

Earn 3% cash back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services

5% cash back

Travel

5% cash back on all travel purchased through Chase Travel(SM)

Pros

Welcome offer
No annual fee
Up to 5% cash back

Cons

Foreign transaction fee
Requires good credit

App Status	Date	Credit Score	Bureau	Credit Limit
Approved	03/20/2023	785	Experian	$5,000
Approved	07/18/2023	765	Experian	$12,500
Approved	07/18/2023	773	TransUnion	$12,500
Approved	07/18/2023	785	Equifax	$12,500
Approved	09/06/2023	754	Experian	$9,000
Approved	09/08/2023	740	Equifax	$15,000
Denied	09/05/2023	738	Experian	---
Denied	09/05/2023	740	Equifax	---
Denied	09/05/2023	750	TransUnion	---

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

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Our Rating: 4.9

★★★★★☆

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Welcome Offer

Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus

Est. Value

$200

Annual Fee

APR

20.24%, 25.24% or 29.99% Variable

Credit Req’d

Good to Excellent 670 – 850

Rewards: Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.

The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is perfect for you if you want cash back but don’t want to think about categories, limits, or caps. You simply earn 2% cash back on every purchase. This card has other great features, such as cell phone protection (unusual for a card with no annual fee) and a nice welcome bonus for a spend that is easily achievable by most seniors.

2% cash back

All eligible purchases

Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases

Pros

Welcome offer
No annual fee
2% cash back

Cons

Foreign transaction fee
Requires good credit

App Status	Date	Credit Score	Bureau	Credit Limit
Approved	04/20/2023	810	Not Provided	$2,000
Approved	09/02/2023	746	Experian	$6,000
Approved	09/02/2023	774	Equifax	$6,000
Approved	09/02/2023	786	TransUnion	$6,000
Approved	06/03/2023	820	Equifax	$30,000
Approved	02/18/2023	800	Not Provided	$20,000
Approved	06/23/2023	700	Experian	$30,000
Approved	04/14/2023	756	Experian	$13,000
Approved	10/23/2023	745	Equifax	$12,000
Approved	04/26/2023	743	Experian	$8,000
Approved	04/26/2023	751	TransUnion	$8,000
Approved	04/26/2023	765	Equifax	$8,000
Approved	10/04/2023	721	Experian	$16,000
Approved	09/24/2023	763	Experian	$15,000
Approved	09/24/2023	784	TransUnion	$15,000
Approved	09/24/2023	792	Equifax	$15,000
Denied	04/01/2023	744	TransUnion	---
Denied	04/01/2023	747	Experian	---
Denied	04/01/2023	767	Equifax	---

Best Card for Groceries

For many of us, groceries are one of our largest expenses each month. The card below offers one of the highest cash back offers for U.S. supermarkets.

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

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Our Rating: 4.5

★★★★★☆

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Welcome Offer

Earn a $250 statement credit

Est. Value

$250

Annual Fee

$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.

APR

19.24% – 29.99% Variable

Credit Req’d

Good, Excellent

Rewards: Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%). 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions. 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit. 1% cash back on other purchases.

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is one of the best for earning rewards on purchases you make anyway, like the supermarket. You can earn a lot of cash back each time you head to the grocery store. It’s an excellent card for those who love to eat in and do a lot of cooking themselves, too. We also love the reasonable annual fee.

1% cash back

On all other eligible purchases

1% cash back on all other eligible purchases

3% cash back

Gas

3% cash back at U.S. gas stations

3% cash back

Transit

3% cash back on transit, such as taxis, rideshare, parking, tolls, trains and buses

6% cash back

U.S. supermarkets

6% cash back on groceries up to $6,000 per year in purchases at U.S. supermarkets, then 1%

6% cash back

Streaming services

6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions

Pros

Welcome offer
Up to 6% cash back

Cons

Annual fee
High APR
Foreign transaction fee

App Status	Date	Credit Score	Bureau	Credit Limit
Approved	01/19/2023	825	Not Provided	$6,000
Approved	05/04/2023	738	Experian	$20,000
Approved	05/04/2023	748	TransUnion	$20,000
Approved	05/04/2023	755	Equifax	$20,000

Best for 0% Intro APR

Seniors often need to watch their budgets, and the last thing you want to do is pay tons of money in interest. If you need to make a major purchase, it helps to find a credit card with a long 0% introductory offer.

U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card

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Our Rating: 3.5

★★★★☆☆

U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card

Welcome Offer

N/A

Est. Value

N/A

Annual Fee

APR

18.74% – 29.74% Variable

Credit Req’d

Good 670 – 739

Rewards: This card doesn’t offer rewards. Instead, you can get one of the longest 0% intro APR offers available.

The U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card delivers with a long 0% intro APR offer. It has such a long 0% APR offer that you won’t need to pay any interest until 2025 or even 2026, depending on when you get your card. So if you have an emergency or need to make a large purchase, this a great card to get.

Pros

No annual fee
Lengthy introductory 0% APR

Cons

No welcome bonus
No rewards
Foreign transaction fee
Requires good credit

App Status	Date	Credit Score	Bureau	Credit Limit
Approved	04/22/2021	800	Not Provided	$5,000
Approved	01/31/2021	750	Not Provided	$1,100
Approved	07/30/2021	740	Not Provided	$500
Denied	05/18/2019	700	Not Provided	---

Best Credit Card for Building Your Nest Egg

Adding to your retirement account is a priority, but it’s easy to push to the side if you’re not paying attention. The card below makes it easier to fund your retirement account.

Fidelity® Rewards Visa Signature® Credit Card

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Our Rating: 4.2

★★★★★☆

Fidelity® Rewards Visa Signature® Credit Card

Welcome Offer

None

Est. Value

None

Annual Fee

APR

19.24% Variable

Credit Req’d

Good to Excellent 670 – 850, Excellent 740 – 850

Rewards: Earn unlimited 2% cash back on everyday spending.

The Fidelity® Rewards Visa Signature® Credit Card is a great card if you already have a Fidelity account. You earn 2% cash back on every purchase, which you can deposit into the Fidelity account of your choice: IRA, HSA, investment, or charitable account. You can set it up so you deposit your cash back automatically. This card also comes with Visa Signature benefits.

2% cash back

All eligible purchases

Earn 2% cash back on card purchases

Pros

No annual fee
No foreign transaction fee
2% cash back

Cons

No welcome bonus
Requires good credit

App Status	Date	Credit Score	Bureau	Credit Limit
Approved	03/21/2024	712	Experian	$19,000
Approved	03/21/2024	728	TransUnion	$19,000
Approved	03/21/2024	734	Equifax	$19,000
Approved	04/18/2023	725	Equifax	$25,000
Approved	04/18/2023	727	Experian	$25,000
Approved	04/18/2023	731	TransUnion	$25,000
Approved	02/06/2024	800	Not Provided	$15,000
Approved	11/28/2023	801	Equifax	$25,000
Approved	02/21/2024	720	Experian	$15,000
Approved	02/21/2024	703	Equifax	$15,000
Approved	02/21/2024	709	TransUnion	$15,000
Approved	02/21/2024	712	Experian	$15,000
Approved	02/21/2024	713	TransUnion	$15,000
Approved	02/21/2024	720	Equifax	$15,000
Approved	02/21/2024	750	Equifax	$15,000
Approved	02/21/2024	752	Not Provided	$15,000
Approved	02/02/2023	690	Experian	$25,000
Approved	10/01/2023	655	Not Provided	$17,000
Approved	10/01/2023	672	Not Provided	$17,000
Approved	10/01/2023	672	Not Provided	$17,000
Approved	10/01/2023	697	Not Provided	$17,000
Approved	10/01/2023	704	Not Provided	$17,000
Approved	10/01/2023	710	Not Provided	$17,000
Approved	10/01/2023	729	TransUnion	$17,000
Approved	10/01/2023	734	Not Provided	$17,000
Approved	09/23/2023	717	Experian	$23,600
Approved	09/23/2023	739	Equifax	$23,600
Approved	09/23/2023	741	TransUnion	$23,600
Approved	06/25/2023	825	Experian	$25,000
Approved	10/13/2023	736	Experian	$500
Approved	01/27/2024	753	Equifax	$5,000
Approved	01/27/2024	769	Experian	$5,000

How We Chose the Best Credit Cards for Seniors

We considered various factors when choosing the best cards for seniors. The main goal of a credit card is to help you maintain your financial wellness in your golden years while you take advantage of perks so that you can make the most of your time.

We looked for credit cards that reward you for spending and provide you with convenience. With time, the offers change, so we’re constantly updating this list with new perks you’ll enjoy.

We’re also aware that every situation is unique. So, we considered credit card options for all possible scenarios, regardless of whether you want to travel more or if you want a credit card for everyday spending.

Bottom Line

As you can see, there are plenty of great credit cards for retirees to choose from. Deciding what is most important to you will help you make the right choice for your needs.