Paul Kessler, WalletHub Credit Card Analyst
@p.kessler
The best credit card for emergencies is a no annual fee Visa or Mastercard with a fairly high spending limit, like the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, so you know you’ll be able to handle a big expense if need be. Visa and Mastercard credit cards are the best because you can use them anywhere. And no annual fee (or at least a low one) is important because you probably don’t want to pay for a card you’re not going to use regularly. Just bear in mind that cards with fees tend to have much higher limits.
Best Emergency Credit Cards
If you have good credit, you should definitely opt for a card with no annual fee, so you won’t have money drained from your account each year for nothing. And if your card has rewards on top of that, all the better.
2025's Best Credit Cards
Olivia Martinez, Member
@olivia_m23
For emergencies, I've learned that having a high-limit card with a low APR is key. The Navy Federal Platinum Visa seems solid if you qualify, though it's variable rate. What I don't get is why more cards don't offer fixed rates - seems way safer when you're in a pinch.
Ethan Foster, Member
@ethan_f_music
An emergency card should be like a fire extinguisher: reliable, easy to access, and never used unless absolutely necessary. Ideally, you want something with a high limit and no annual fee.
Charlotte Lewis, Member
@char_lewis
I prefer a card with no annual fee, even if it has few bells and whistles, for emergencies. I don’t want to be paying for a card that I hopefully never use.
onetray, Member
@onetray
It really depends on your credit rating and you should only get a card "for emergencies" if you have at least good credit, imo. The Citi Double Cash Card or the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card are awesome options, as they'll provide high enough credit limits and have well-known banks backing them.
Ashley Ponts, Member
@ashley_ponts
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® card. It has an intro APR of 0% for 15 months for purchases, $0 annual fee, and you earn 1.5 - 5% cash back to top it off.
Mark Reffo, Member
@mark_reffo
It depends on the type of emergency: If you need to pay something with a card real quick, Citi Double Cash Card is a good pick. If you need quick cash, anything that you can get with a higher credit limit. The cash advance is going to sting, but at least you'll be covered.
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