Best Credit Cards – Our Top Picks
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One of the major lessons for many consumers in recent years is that the best financial products are ones that meet as many of your needs as possible. With many people experiencing new economic realities, having credit cards that work for you is essential.
Maybe you’re looking for rewards you can use on something other than travel, or perhaps you want to pay off some older debt more efficiently. Or, maybe you’re just looking for a way to get more cash into your monthly budget. These are all things you can do with the right credit card. Credit card issuers in a competitive market are offering perks and sign-up bonuses in order to outdo their competitors
With so many touting to be the best credit card out there, how do you find a credit card that works for you? Here are some of the best credit cards on the market now for every purpose.
Jump To
Overview of the best credit cards
Issuer | Best for |
Citi Double Cash® Card | Flat-rate cash back |
Discover it Cash Back Card | Cash back |
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express | Cash back rewards at supermarkets |
Chase Sapphire Reserve® | Luxury travel |
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card | Starter card |
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Travel rewards |
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card | Long balance transfer intro APR |
Chase Freedom Unlimited® | Cash back on travel and groceries |
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express | Cash back on purchases with no annual fee |
Raise Your Credit 80 points*
- 5 star service trusted by over 450,000 members
- Have processed over $11,000,000 in bill payments for members
- No deposit, no credit check, no interest
- New member promotions available
*Potential increase based on StellarFi member data. StellarFi numbers observed an average of 80 points VantageScore® 3.0 increase during a member’s lifetime. Score increase based on members with an incoming score range of 300-499 pts, who made regular on-time payments, with regular on-time payments. Results may vary.
Our top credit card picks
These are our top picks for credit cards for 2024.
Citi Double Cash® Card
Citi Double Cash® Card
Card Name
Citi Double Cash® Card
APR
19.24% - 29.24%
Recommended Credit Score
Excellent, Good, Fair
Annual Fee
$0
Special Offer
Earn $200 cash back
Special Offer Terms
after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
Rewards Rate
Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24.
Terms
Why We Like It
- Unlimited cash back earned on every dollar spent.
- Earn cash back when paying your bills on time.
- Intro 0% on balance transfers for 18 months (after which is an ongoing APR of 19.24% - 29.24%)
Discover it® Cash Back
Discover it® Cash Back Card
Card Name
Discover it® Cash Back Card
APR
18.24% - 27.24%
Recommended Credit Score
670 to 850
Annual Fee
$0
Special Offer Terms
0% intro APR for 15 months from date of account opening.
Intro Offer
0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers and 3% Intro Balance Transfer Fee until November 10, 2023.
Rewards Rate
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically. Unlimited Cashback Match.
Why We Like It
- No annual fee.
- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com,4 grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.
- Get an unlimited dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year, automatically.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Card Name
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
APR
19.24% - 29.99%
Recommended Credit Score
Good, Excellent
Annual Fee
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
Special Offer
Earn a $250 statement credit
Special Offer Terms
after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
Rewards Rate
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. 3% Cash Back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more). 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
Why We Like It
- Buy Now, Pay Later options.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Card Name
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
APR
22.49%-29.49%
Recommended Credit Score
Excellent
Annual Fee
$550
Special Offer
Earn 60,000 bonus points
Special Offer Terms
after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
Rewards Rate
Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Terms
Why We Like It
- Generous bonus points offer.
- Annual travel credit on your account anniversary.
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs.
- Access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide.
- Up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®.
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Card Name
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
APR
29.99%
Recommended Credit Score
Average, Fair, Limited
Annual Fee
$39
Special Offer
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back
Special Offer Terms
on every purchase, every day
Rewards Rate
1.5 % Cash Back on every purchase, every day. 5 % Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply).
Terms
Why We Like It
- Earn unlimited cash back on every purchase.
- No rotating categories or limits to how much you can earn.
- Cash back doesn't expire.
- You can be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as six months.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Card Name
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
APR
21.49%-28.49%
Recommended Credit Score
Excellent, Good
Annual Fee
$95
Special Offer
Earn 60,000 bonus points
Special Offer Terms
after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
Rewards Rate
Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
Terms
Why We Like It
- Generous bonus points offered.
- High points for travel and dining purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards® and points on all purchases.
- Complimentary one-year access to DashPass.
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card
Card Name
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card
APR
18.24% - 28.99%
Recommended Credit Score
Excellent, Good
Annual Fee
$0
Special Offer
0% Intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers
Special Offer Terms
from date of first transfer and 0% Intro APR for 12 months on purchases from date of account opening. After that the variable APR will be 18.24% - 28.99%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening.
Rewards Rate
N/A
Terms
Why We Like It
- Free access to your FICO® Score.
- Special access to purchase tickets to concerts, sporting events, dining experiences and more through Citi Entertainment®.
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Card Name
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
APR
20.49% - 29.24%
Recommended Credit Score
Excellent, Good
Annual Fee
$0
Special Offer
Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year)
Special Offer Terms
— worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.
Rewards Rate
Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases
Terms
Why We Like It
- Higher cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back.
- No annual fee.
- Monitor your credit for free access using Chase Credit Journey.
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Card Name
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
APR
19.24% - 29.99%
Recommended Credit Score
Good, Excellent
Annual Fee
$0
Special Offer
Earn a $200 statement credit
Special Offer Terms
after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
Rewards Rate
3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%. 3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%. 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%. 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
Why We Like It
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening.
- Earn cash back at U.S. supermarkets on eligible purchases
Raise Your Credit 80 points*
- 5 star service trusted by over 450,000 members
- Have processed over $11,000,000 in bill payments for members
- No deposit, no credit check, no interest
- New member promotions available
*Potential increase based on StellarFi member data. StellarFi numbers observed an average of 80 points VantageScore® 3.0 increase during a member’s lifetime. Score increase based on members with an incoming score range of 300-499 pts, who made regular on-time payments, with regular on-time payments. Results may vary.
Best credit cards summary table
Not sure how these credit card options stack up against one another? Here’s what they look like side-by-side.
Issuer | Annual fee | Regular APR | Special rewards |
Citi Double Cash® Card | $0 | 19.24% - 29.24% | Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24. |
Discover it Cash Back Card | $0 | 17.24% to 28.24% | Unlimited cash back match, 5% cash back on everyday purchases such as from Amazon.com |
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express | $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. | 19.24% - 29.99% | 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. 3% Cash Back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more). 1% Cash Back on other purchases. |
Chase Sapphire Reserve® | $550 | 22.49%-29.49% | Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. |
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card | $39 | 29.99% | 1.5 % Cash Back on every purchase, every day. 5 % Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply). |
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | $95 | 21.49%-28.49% | Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more. |
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card | $0 | 18.24% - 28.99% | N/A |
Chase Freedom Unlimited® | $0 | 19.49% - 29.49% | Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases |
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express | $0 | 19.24% - 29.99% | 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%. 3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%. 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%. 1% Cash Back on other purchases. |
What to look for in credit cards
Besides a low interest rate, you want a card that works for you. Look for credit cards that offer these perks.
Cash back rewards
Cash back rewards mean a credit card pays cardholders for using its card. Issuers of cash rewards credit cards offer 1% to 10% cash back on purchases you make, most often determined as travel, dining and grocery, and entertainment expenses. Cards like Amex often feature bonus categories, and if you keep a close eye on the monthly specials offered, you can earn more cash back on qualifying purchases. To make these cards work for you, use your card to earn cash back but be sure to pay your bill in full at each monthly statement to benefit truly. Doing so means you won't pay interest that offsets the reward.
Balance transfer
If you have a high APR, transferring your bet to a balance transfer card will lower the interest so you can pay the debt faster. Many credit issuers will offer introductory APRs at lower rates for a few months to a year, which can help new cardholders get their debt under control.
No annual fee
Annual fees for credit cards can range from $35 to hundreds of dollars each year. Typically, the higher the fee, the more benefits you receive. If you use a credit card often and take advantage of the benefits, those perks may offset the annual fee. Some travel credit cards may charge an $85 annual fee yet provide you with TSA Precheck credit valued at $85 to offset the fee. Still, card members are already paying interest to a credit card company, so if you can avoid additional card fees, do so.
Travel rewards
You can earn miles and points toward travel through your preferred airline and hotel brand with a travel card. This helps reduce airfare, car rentals, and hotel stay and is great for frequent travelers. Travel credit cards often feature welcome bonus miles or points as an introductory offer, typically requiring you to spend a certain sum within the first three months. Creditors are banking on you not paying it off immediately so they can collect interest. You'll earn the best rewards with no interest if you can pay it off. Membership rewards often include free baggage, airport lounge access, and upgrades.
FAQs
Still have questions about getting a credit card? Here are answers to the most common questions.
Do you need credit history to get a credit card?
While most rewards or travel-focused credit cards require positive credit history to obtain, some credit cards are geared toward students or those with bad credit or no credit. these starter credit card offers may be secured credit cards meaning you front the money on your card and use it until the money is gone and you replenish it. Though these cards don’t have as many rewards, you don’t need to show a robust credit history in your application, which is helpful if you have not built a credit history yet, and yet the cards help you build creditworthiness and eventually get to an unsecured credit card.
Does applying for a credit card hurt your credit score?
When you apply for a credit card, the card issuer does a credit inquiry, which will impact your credit score. If you have many credit inquiries at the same time, this could show to the credit bureaus that you’re in need of credit, which would lower your FICO score, even if you have excellent credit. Generally, if applying for a credit card does hurt your credit score, the impact is short lived — especially if you repay the balance of your card regularly.
Do credit cards encourage bad spending habits?
Using a credit card instead of cash could cause you to spend more for a number of reasons. Paying with a credit card is quite easy— sometimes it just takes a few clicks. This could cause you to spend more money than you wanted without realizing. Also, it can be difficult for some people to track their spending without the physical reminder of handling cash. While credit cards can also be a savvy financial tool, if you struggle with over-spending they could enable your habit.
Why you should (or shouldn’t) use credit cards
Are credit cards a wise financial choice? There are a lot of advantages to credit cards, but they come with some disadvantages too. It’s important to weigh both to ensure you choose financial products that best fit your lifestyle and needs.
Why you should use credit cards
- Build credit: Credit cards can help you build your credit to make larger purchases such as a car or home.
- Not all merchants accept cash: As social distancing becomes more important, some merchants require you to pay by credit card.
- Rewards can help: If used wisely, credit cards can be a smart financial tool because some of the rewards they offer — such as cash-back rewards — genuinely put money back into your pocket.
Why you shouldn’t use credit cards
- Revolving debt: Some people have difficulty repaying their credit cards because they are a form of debt. You can’t just pay the minimum each month and expect to get out of debt at some point in the future. Unlike a loan, there is no fixed date for when you’ll be fully out of debt, so you have to monitor your debt situation and create your own payment plan.
- Easy to overspend: Credit card purchases can be really easy, sometimes too easy, to complete. Because you don’t necessarily notice the money gone from your wallet or bank account, some consumers spend money they don’t have using a credit card, making it hard to repay in the future.
Raise Your Credit 80 points*
- 5 star service trusted by over 450,000 members
- Have processed over $11,000,000 in bill payments for members
- No deposit, no credit check, no interest
- New member promotions available
*Potential increase based on StellarFi member data. StellarFi numbers observed an average of 80 points VantageScore® 3.0 increase during a member’s lifetime. Score increase based on members with an incoming score range of 300-499 pts, who made regular on-time payments, with regular on-time payments. Results may vary.
The bottom line
No matter what your particular financial goals are, there is probably a credit card on the market that can help you. Credit cards have many niche features and bonuses that can become useful financial tools. However, credit cards can also be dangerous for some consumers, especially those unfamiliar with revolving debt or not confident in their ability to monitor their spending. When it comes down to it, researching and choosing a credit card that meets all your needs is the key to making this financial strategy work for you.
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Writer
Jolene Latimer has her Master's in Specialized Journalism from the University of Southern California. She writes about personal finance, entertainment, sports, and more.
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