Best Credit Cards of 2018

Best for Travel Rewards. The Capital One Venture Card is travel rewards royalty. The 50,000 bonus miles you get after spending $3,000 during the first three months can be redeemed for a $500 statement credit applicable to any travel-related charges that post to your account. And the 2 points per $1 spent that you will earn on a recurring basis equates to 2% cash back on all purchases, provided that you redeem for travel statement credits. That might be all you need to know before adding Venture to your wallet, but if not, check out our full-length review. For full disclosure, Capital One is one of our advertising partners.

Best for Cash Back Rewards. The Double Cash Credit Card from Citi (one of our advertising partners) is one of the best everyday rewards cards on the market, offering 1% cash back on what you spend and another 1% cash back on what you pay. Plus, Citi had the good sense not to ruin the cash back party by charging an annual fee. To learn more, check out our full Double Cash review.

Best for Travel Rewards. The Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard is one of a select few offers providing consumers with the opportunity to earn an initial bonus worth $700, which itself provides a great deal of flexibility given that it can be applied to any travel-related expense. This card provides the miles equivalent of 2.1% cash back across all purchases as long as users redeem for travel. As a result, this is a great option for travel-minded consumers who will be able to meet the card’s $5,000 initial spending requirement within the first 90 days. Note: Barclays is one of our advertisers.

Best for Everyday Rewards: The Cash Wise Visa Card from Wells Fargo (a WalletHub partner) shines early and often, offering a $200 initial bonus (for spending $1,000 in the first 3 months) and at least 1.5% cash back on all purchases. That’s about twice as much as the average cash rewards card offers bonus-wise and roughly 50% more on an ongoing basis. Plus, there’s no annual fee. And that’s why the Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa is one of the very best everyday rewards cards for people with good credit or better.

Best for Travel Rewards. The Capital One Venture Card is travel rewards royalty. The 50,000 bonus miles you get after spending $3,000 during the first three months can be redeemed for a $500 statement credit applicable to any travel-related charges that post to your account. And the 2 points per $1 spent that you will earn on a recurring basis equates to 2% cash back on all purchases, provided that you redeem for travel statement credits. That might be all you need to know before adding Venture to your wallet, but if not, check out our full-length review. For full disclosure, Capital One is one of our advertising partners.

Best for Rewards. A great everyday credit card for people with good credit, Quicksilver brings value and simplicity to the rewards process, providing 1.5% cash back across all purchases, in addition to a $150 initial bonus for spending at least $500 during the first three months. The fact that this card does not charge an annual fee serves as the cherry on top of this attractive deal. Note: Capital One is one of our advertising partners. To learn more, check out our full review of the Quicksilver Card.

Best Unsecured Card for Bad Credit. We tend not to recommend unsecured credit cards for bad credit given the prohibitive costs and low credit lines typical of the genre. If you truly need an emergency loan, however, this Credit One Bank Visa Card is your best bet. It charges a relatively modest annual fee of $0 - $75 the first year, depending on your credit standing, and $0 to $99 each year thereafter. And it even offers 1% cash back on eligible purchases. For full disclosure, Credit One Bank is one of our advertising partners.

Best Rewards Secured Card. Not only does the Discover it Secured card lack an annual fee, but it actually offers rewards – a rare combination for the bad-credit crowd. You will earn 2% cash back on the first $1,000 you spend at restaurants or gas stations each quarter as well as 1% on everything else. And everything you earn the first year will be doubled. Plus, Discover it’s $200 minimum deposit is lower than what many competing offers require. For full disclosure, Discover is one of our advertising partners.

Best Partially-Secured Card. The fact that the Capital One Secured Mastercard does not charge an annual fee and has the potential to be partially-secured makes it quite attractive for many people. With a partially-secured credit card, your credit line may exceed the amount of your security deposit, thereby providing you with an emergency line of credit, if needed, and enabling you to maximize your available credit. The more credit you have available, the faster your credit standing will improve. The Secured Mastercard credit card from Capital One (one of our advertisers) is therefore an option that at least merits consideration if you have bad or limited credit. To learn more about this helpful credit-building tool, check out our full review.

Best for No Credit Check. The OpenSky Secured Card (Issued by one of our advertising partners) is notable not because of its $200 minimum deposit or $35 annual fee, but rather because no credit check is required for approval. That means you can begin rebuilding your credit right away, no matter how damaged it may be. And with that in mind, $35 seems like a bargain.

Best for Low-Cost Credit Improvement. Given that it does not charge an annual fee, the Capital One Platinum Credit Card can serve as a viable low-cost credit building tool for consumers who have yet to establish much credit history. While this offer does not include rewards or a 0% introductory interest rate, such perks aren't available on any other no annual fee credit card for fair or limited credit either. It was possible for applicants to find cards offering such an attractive collection of terms in years past, but market dynamics have conspired to eliminate their availability. Note: Capital One is an advertising partner.

Best for Rewards. The QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Card from Capital One (one of our advertising partners) represents the absolute best rewards-earning option available to people with fair or limited credit. It boasts a straightforward rewards program, offering 1.5% cash back across all purchases, which will easily overcome its $39 annual fee for users who make most of their purchases with plastic. 1.5% cash back across the board is equivalent to what people with excellent credit get from the best rewards cards on the market.

Best Cash Back Rewards for College Students. Not only does the Capital One Journey Student Rewards Card offer straightforward, lucrative rewards without charging an annual fee, it also promotes good habits. You get a 0.25% rewards bonus each month you make an on-time payment, and getting in the habit of paying for what you spend early in your credit career will put you on the path to excellent credit as well as save you a lot of money in interest in the years to come (assuming you pay your bill in full as well as on time, which we highly recommend). Note: Capital One is an advertising partner.

Best for Student Transfers Offering by far the longest 0% transfer period among student credit cards, the BankAmericard for College Students is an excellent option for reducing the cost of existing debt for anyone with an active college or university email address.