Best Credit Cards

The best credit card is the Chase Freedom Unlimited because it offers top-notch rewards to go along with a low annual fee and low introductory APRs. It’s a great all-around option for people with above-average credit.

Why We Like It: Freedom Unlimited offers 5% cash back on travel through Chase, 3% back at restaurants and drugstores, and 1.5% back on all other purchases. Plus, you get an extra 1.5% cash back on everything you buy, up to $20,000 spent in the first year. 

New cardholders also enjoy introductory APRs of 0% for 15 months on new purchases and balance transfers. Chase Freedom Unlimited has a $0 annual fee, too.

What We Don’t Like: The regular APR is pretty high, and you have to book travel through Chase to get the top rewards rate.

Who Should Get It: Apply for Chase Freedom Unlimited if you have good or excellent credit and want a great all-around credit card – whether it’s going to be your only credit card or one of many.

To learn more about why this is the best credit card on the market right now, check out WalletHub’s complete Chase Freedom Unlimited Review.

Why We Like It: Citi Double Cash is one of the best cash back credit cards on the market thanks to its generous flat-rate rewards and low cost. The Double Cash Card has a $0 annual fee and gives a total of 2% cash back in rewards on all purchases, making it about 2X as rewarding as the average cash back credit card in 2023.

More specifically, cardholders earn 1% cash back in rewards on purchases, plus another 1% cash back when paying the card’s bill.

What We Don’t Like: You don’t get the second half of your rewards until you pay the bill. The regular APR is pretty high, too.

Who Should Get It: Consider applying for Citi Double Cash if you want to earn straightforward rewards without sacrificing value.

To learn more about why this is such a good credit card, check out WalletHub’s complete Citi Double Cash Review.

Why We Like It: The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is one of the best credit cards available right now because it gives 2% cash rewards on purchases. For comparison purposes, the average cash rewards card gives about 1% back. Cardholders can also get an initial bonus of $200 cash rewards after spending $500 in the first 3 months. Wells Fargo Active Cash has a $0 annual fee, too.

What We Don’t Like: Interest charges will be expensive if you carry a balance from month to month after the 0% introductory promotions expire.

Who Should Get It: Apply for Wells Fargo Active Cash if you have good credit or better, want to earn cash back rewards at a flat rate on all purchases, and plan to spend enough to qualify for its initial bonus.

You can learn more from our complete Wells Fargo Active Cash review.

Why We Like It: The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card has a $0 annual fee and gives 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and grocery store purchases, along with 1% back on all other purchases (except for 8% back on Capital One Entertainment purchases and 10% back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats).

In addition, there is an initial bonus of $200 for spending $1,000 in the first 3 months. Similarly, new cardholders enjoy an introductory APR of 0% for 15 months.

What We Don’t Like: The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card has a high regular APR.

Who Should Get It: Consider applying for the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card if you have good credit or better, you don’t want to pay an annual fee, and the card’s bonus rewards suit your spending habits.

Why We Like It: The American Express Blue Cash Preferred card is one of the most rewarding everyday credit cards on the market at the moment. It’s best for people with good or excellent credit whose top expenses include U.S. streaming services, groceries at U.S. supermarkets, gas at U.S. gas stations, and transit purchases. Spending $3,000 within 6 months of opening an account will also earn you a $250 statement credit. Plus, there is a $0 intro annual fee the first year.

What We Don’t Like: The card has an annual fee of $95 from the second year on.

Who Should Get It: Apply for Blue Cash Preferred if you have good credit or better and plan to spend at least $1,600 per year in its bonus rewards categories. That’s all it takes for the card’s annual fee to be worth paying. Qualifying for the initial bonus offer will do the trick, too.

To learn more about why this is one of the best credit cards on the market right now, check out WalletHub’s complete Amex Blue Cash Preferred Review.

Why We Like It: The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card offers some of the best credit card rates available right now, giving introductory APRs of 0% for 21 months from account opening on purchases and 0% for 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers. It also has a $0 annual fee.

What We Don’t Like: The regular APR can be rather high. Don’t forget to account for the card’s 5% (min $5) balance transfer fee, either.

Who Should Get It: Apply for Wells Fargo Reflect if you have a credit score of 700+ and you need months to pay off a big-ticket purchase or high-interest debt.

For more information, check out our complete Wells Fargo Reflect review.

Why We Like It: The Citi Premier® Card is one of the best credit cards for bonus rewards, offering 60,000 points, worth $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com, to new cardholders who spend at least $4,000 within 3 months of opening an account. There are some attractive ongoing bonus rewards, too: 3 points per $1 spent on travel (airlines, hotels and travel agencies), gas, dining at restaurants (including bars, cafes and lounges) and at supermarkets. All other purchases provide 1 point per $1.

What We Don’t Like: There is a $95 annual fee and a high APR.

Who Should Get It: Apply for Citi Premier if you have a 700+ credit score, can qualify for the initial bonus, and regularly make purchases in the ongoing bonus rewards categories.

You can check out our complete review of Citi Premier to learn more.

Why We Like It: The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers one of the best initial bonuses on the market, especially for people who like to travel and do not mind booking accommodations through Chase. New cardholders who spend $4,000 within 3 months of opening an account receive a bonus of 60,000 points, redeemable for either a $600 statement credit or $750 in travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Add 1 - 5 points per $1 spent on purchases, and you’ve got a card well worth the cost of ownership.

What We Don’t Like: You will have to pay an annual fee of $95. If you carry a balance from month to month, interest charges will also be quite expensive.

Who Should Get It: Apply for Chase Sapphire Preferred if you have at least good credit, expect to spend at least $4,000 in the first 3 months your account is open, and plan to pay the bill in full monthly. Plus, you need to be comfortable booking at least some travel through Chase.

To learn more about why this is one of the best credit cards on the market right now, check out WalletHub’s complete  Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Review.

Why We Like It: Chase Sapphire Reserve® is the best travel credit card for excellent credit because it offers valuable bonus rewards. For starters, Chase Sapphire Reserve has an initial bonus of 60,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. Cardholders can also earn up to $300 in annual travel credits, plus 1 - 10 points per $1 spent on purchases. There are plenty of other benefits, too, including access to 1,300+ airport lounges.

What We Don’t Like: This card has an annual fee of $550. As a result, you will need to use the card a lot in order to take full advantage of its rewards and other benefits if you want to get your money’s worth.

Who Should Get It: Consider applying for Chase Sapphire Reserve if you are a big-spender with a credit score of 750 or higher who travels very frequently.

You can learn more from our full-length Chase Sapphire Reserve Review.

Why We Like It: The Capital One Venture Card offers an initial bonus of 75,000 miles for spending $4,000 within 3 months of opening an account. It also rewards users with double miles (at least) on purchases and doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. 

In addition, the Venture Card lets you use your miles to pay for any travel-related charges once they post to your account. That kind of redemption flexibility is especially helpful for people who like to shop around for the best deals on travel comparison sites.

What We Don’t Like: This card has a $95 annual fee, and carrying a balance from month to month will result in expensive interest charges.

Who Should Get It: Consider applying for the Capital One Venture Card if you have good or excellent credit and want to earn free flights, hotel nights and other travel accommodations without overspending or committing to a single travel provider.

To learn more about why Capital One Venture has been among WalletHub’s picks for the best overall credit cards each year since 2008, check out our complete Venture Card Review.

Why We Like It: The BankAmericard® credit card has some of the best credit card rates available right now, offering introductory APRs of 0% for 21 billing cycles for purchases and any balance transfers made in the first 60 days – much longer than average. BankAmericard credit card also has a $0 annual fee.

What We Don’t Like: This card charges a balance transfer fee of 3%, and its regular APR is 15.99% - 25.99% Variable.

Who Should Get It: Consider applying for the BankAmericard credit card if you have a 750+ credit score as well as high-interest debt that you want to get rid of or big-ticket purchases in your near future.

For more information, check out our complete BankAmericard credit card review.

Why We Like It: Capital One Spark Cash Plus is the best business credit card right now, in part because new cardholders can get an initial bonus of $500 for spending $5,000 in the first 3 months and $500 for spending $50,000 in the first 6 months. Capital One Spark Cash Plus also gives 5% cash back on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, as well as 2% cash back on all other purchases.

What We Don’t Like: There is a $150 annual fee, and you have to pay the bill in full every month.

Who Should Get It: Business owners with excellent personal credit who want to earn unlimited cash back rewards on everyday purchases should consider applying.

Why We Like It: The Petal 2 Visa Card has a $0 annual fee, reports to the three major credit bureaus each month, and gives at least 1% cash back on all eligible purchases. It also accepts applicants with limited or no credit history. And that package is pretty much all you could hope for from a starter credit card.

The Petal 2 Card has the potential to get even better if you play your part well, too. After six straight months of on-time payments, the cash back rate increases to 1.25% back on all eligible purchases. After 12 consecutive months of on-time payments, it jumps to 1.5% back.

What We Don’t Like: You have to prove yourself before getting truly competitive rewards, and you won’t get a low APR.

Who Should Get It: Consider applying for the Petal 2 Card if you have limited credit history, are not in college, and don’t anticipate issues paying the bill on time every month.

Learn more from our Petal 2 Card review.

Why We Like It: The Capital One QuicksilverOne Card gives unlimited 1.5% cash back across all purchases. That’s way above average, and for all cards, too – not just starter cards for people with limited-to-fair credit.

What We Don’t Like: There is an annual fee of $39. Carrying a balance from month to month would be expensive, too.

Who Should Get It: Consider applying for Capital One QuicksilverOne if you expect to spend at least $2,600 per year and pay your bill in full every month. If you do that, you’ll earn enough in rewards to cover the cost of the card’s fee.

To learn more about why this is one of the best credit cards on the market right now, check out WalletHub’s complete Capital One QuicksilverOne review.

Why We Like It: Discover it® Secured Credit Card is the best secured credit card out there, and one of the best credit cards for anyone looking to build credit, because it has a $0 annual fee and rewards cardholders with 1 - 2% cash back on purchases.

Cardholders earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants, up to $1,000 spent per quarter, along with 1% cash back on all other purchases. Plus, all the rewards you earn the first year your account is open get doubled by Discover as an account anniversary gift.

What We Don’t Like: You need to place a refundable security deposit of at least $200. The amount you put down becomes your spending limit.

Who Should Get It: Apply for Discover it Secured Credit Card if you have bad credit and want to earn rewards while you fix it.

You can check out our complete Discover it Secured Credit Card review for more information.

Why We Like It: The Credit One Bank® NASCAR® Credit Card is the best unsecured credit card for people with bad credit who are in need of what amounts to a small emergency loan. Cardholders receive a $300 initial credit limit and 1% cash back on all purchases.

What We Don’t Like: This card charges up to $39 in annual fees, and it has a high interest rate.

Who Should Get It: Consider applying for the NASCAR Credit Card if you are in a bind financially and need to borrow a bit of money for an emergency expense. Otherwise, you’re better off placing a refundable deposit on a secured credit card.

Why We Like It: The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card offers better rewards than other credit cards for students with limited credit, and it doesn’t even charge an annual fee. The card’s rewards package includes an initial bonus of $50 for spending $100 in the first 3 months and ongoing rewards of 1 - 5% cash back. Cardholders also enjoy $0 foreign transaction fees.

What We Don’t Like: The card has high regular APR. Carrying a balance from month to month will erode your savings from rewards.

Who Should Get It: Apply for this card if you are a college student with limited credit.