Credit Cards
WalletHub makes it easy to find the best credit card for you.
HERE ARE THE BEST CREDIT CARDS:
- Initial Bonus: Barclaycard Arrival® Plus World Elite Mastercard®
- Cash Back: Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer
- Students: Journey® Student Rewards from Capital One®
- Rebuilding Credit: Discover it® Secured
- 0% Purchases: HSBC Gold Mastercard® credit card
- Balance Transfers: Chase Slate®
We're sorry, but after searching our extensive database, we were unable to locate any credit cards that match the following criteria: {{tag.tag}}{{$last ? '' : ', '}}
- Earn 5% cash back at different places each quarter like gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, Amazon.com, or wholesale clubs up to the quarterly maximum each time you activate.
- Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically.
- INTRO OFFER: Discover will match ALL the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year, automatically. There's no signing up. And no limit to how much is matched.
- Redeem cash back any amount, any time. Rewards never expire.
- Use your rewards at Amazon.com checkout.
- Receive FREE Social Security number alerts-Discover will monitor thousands of risky websites when you sign up.
- No annual fee.
- See More Details & Reviews About TheDiscover it® Cash Back
- Enjoy a one-time bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $1,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
- Earn 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day and pay no annual fee. Plus earn 10X miles on thousands of hotels; learn more at hotels.com/venture
- Fly any airline, stay at any hotel, anytime
- Travel when you want with no blackout dates
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Enjoy a low intro APR on purchases for 12 months; 13.74%-23.74% variable APR after that
- No foreign transaction fees
- See More Details & Reviews About TheCapital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card
- Pay no annual fee
- Get access to a higher credit line after making your first 5 monthly payments on time
- Fraud coverage if your card is lost or stolen
- Use online banking to access your account, even from your smartphone, with our mobile app
- Pay by check, online or at a local branch, all with no fee - and pick the monthly due date that works best for you
- Get access to your account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Help strengthen your credit for the future with responsible card use
- See More Details & Reviews About TheCapital One® Platinum Credit Card
- Enjoy a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $500 in travel
- Earn 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Plus earn 10X miles on thousands of hotels; learn more at hotels.com/venture
- Named ‘The Best Travel Card' by CNBC, 2018
- Receive up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®
- Fly any airline, stay at any hotel, anytime; no blackout dates
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- No foreign transaction fees
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year; $95 after that
- See More Details & Reviews About TheCapital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card
- Earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically.
- INTRO OFFER: Discover will match ALL the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year, automatically. There's no signing up. And no limit to how much is matched.
- No Annual Fee, cash back on every purchase, and helps you build your credit with responsible use.
- Your Secured Credit Card requires a refundable security deposit up to the amount we can approve of at least $200 which will establish your credit line. You will need to provide your bank information when submitting your security deposit.
- We will automatically begin reviewing your account starting at 8 months to see if we can transition you to an unsecured line of credit.
- Receive FREE Social Security number alerts-Discover will monitor thousands of risky websites when you sign up.
- See More Details & Reviews About TheDiscover it® Secured
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
- Earn cash rewards without signing up for rotating categories
- No limit to how much cash back you can earn, and cash back doesn't expire for the life of the account
- Get access to a higher credit line after making your first 5 monthly payments on time
- Monitor your credit profile with the CreditWise® app, free for everyone
- $0 fraud liability if your card is ever lost or stolen
- Help strengthen your credit for the future with responsible card use
- Get customized alerts and manage your account with the Capital One mobile app
- See More Details & Reviews About TheCapital One® QuicksilverOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase - it's automatic
- Earn a $150 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
- No minimum to redeem for cash back
- Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open
- 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 16.74-25.49%. Balance transfer fee is 5% of the amount transferred, $5 minimum
- Free credit score, updated weekly with Credit Journey℠
- No annual fee
- See More Details & Reviews About TheChase Freedom Unlimited®
- No annual fee, and all the credit building benefits with responsible card use
- Unlike a prepaid card, it builds credit when used responsibly, with regular reporting to the 3 major credit bureaus
- You will get an initial $200 credit line after making a security deposit of $49, $99, or $200, determined based on your creditworthiness
- Get access to a higher credit line after making your first 5 monthly payments on time with no additional deposit needed
- Easily manage your account 24/7 with online access, by phone or using our mobile app
- It's a credit card accepted at millions of locations worldwide
- See More Details & Reviews About TheCapital One® Secured Mastercard®
- Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $625 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® named a 'Best Travel Credit Card' by MONEY® Magazine, 2016-2017
- 2X points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
- Earn 5,000 bonus points after you add the first authorized user and make a purchase in the first 3 months from account opening
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. For example, 50,000 points are worth $625 toward travel.
- No blackout dates or travel restrictions - as long as there's a seat on the flight, you can book it through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- No foreign transaction fees
- See More Details & Reviews About TheChase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Rates & Fees | Terms Apply
- $150 statement credit after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months.
- 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%).
- 2% cash back at U.S. gas stations and at select U.S. department stores, 1% back on other purchases.
- Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be easily redeemed for statement credits, gift cards, and merchandise.
- Terms Apply.
- Low intro APR: 0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable rate, currently 14.74% to 25.74%.
- Over 1.5 million more places in the U.S. started accepting American Express® Cards in 2017.
- No annual fee.
- See More Details & Reviews About TheBlue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
WalletHub’s Best Credit Cards
WalletHub’s editors compare 1,000+ credit cards on a weekly basis to find the best deals in the most popular categories. You can find their current favorites listed below.Just remember: It’s not finding the absolute best credit card that matters, but rather choosing the best credit card for your particular needs. And that starts with selecting an offer you can get approved for. So make sure to check your latest credit score, too.
Here are 2018’s best credit cards
| Best Credit Card For... | Card Name | Annual Fee | Minimum Credit |
| Initial Bonus | Barclaycard Arrival® Plus World Elite Mastercard® | $89 | Good |
| Cash Back | Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer | $0* | Good |
| Students | Journey® Student Rewards from Capital One® | None | Limited History |
| Rebuilding Credit | Discover it® Secured | None | Limited History |
| Big-Ticket Purchases | HSBC Gold Mastercard® credit card | None | Good |
| Balance Transfers | Chase Slate® | None | Good |
Finding the right credit card for your needs can be difficult, even with more than 1,000 offers distilled into the short list above. With that in mind, we’ve put together some credit card comparison tips that should always help lead you to the proper plastic.
6 Credit Card Comparison Tips
- Check Your Credit Score. Knowing exactly where you stand will enable you to focus your credit card comparison efforts on a particular tier of offers. This makes the process more manageable and minimizes your risk of getting rejected.
- Figure Out Whether Interest Is an Issue. The basic rule of thumb is that you should focus on rewards if you always pay your bill in full and 0% intro rates if you don’t. Trying to earn rewards while carrying a balance on the same card isn’t wise, as interest will eat away at what you earn.
That’s why we recommend using the Island Approach to satisfy multiple needs. For example, using a rewards card for everyday expenses that you can pay for in full by the end of the month and a 0% balance transfer card to reduce the cost of existing debt.
- Decide Which Features Are Most Important. There is no such thing as a perfect credit card. In other words, you won’t find a single offer with the best rewards, the lowest interest rates and the cheapest fees. That means you’ll have to choose. So make a list of the features you want most. Then compare cards based on that list. This will help you avoid getting distracted by flashy features you might never even use.
- Make Sure You Have the Latest Terms. Credit card offers change on a regular basis. So it’s important to confirm that you have the correct fees, APRs, rewards rates, etc., when you do your credit card comparison.
- Don’t Apply For Multiple Cards at Once. Numerous credit card applications within a short period of time can lead to credit score damage. So this strategy is likely to work against you, rather than ensuring approval for at least one card.
Instead, apply for a card that’s suitable for your credit standing. And if you don’t get approved, adjust your sights a bit lower. If you have limited or bad credit, you may just want to place a deposit on a secured credit card at this point.
- Be Realistic. Don’t apply for an offer you have little chance of getting given your credit standing. Don’t apply for a travel rewards card if you haven’t taken a trip in years. And don’t put too much stock in rewards bonuses if you’re unlikely to satisfy their requirements (e.g. spending a certain amount within the first few months of account opening or signing up for bonus earning rates each quarter).
These are just a few examples of how being realistic now can wind up saving you big time later.
You can easily monitor your progress by signing up for a free WalletHub account. This will give you free credit scores and reports, updated daily, as well as 24/7 credit monitoring and personalized money-saving advice.
Questions & Answers
Comparing Credit Cards can be tough. But you’ve got the knowledgeable WalletHub community on your side. We encourage everyone to share their knowledge while respecting our content guidelines. Please keep in mind that editorial and user-generated content on this page is not reviewed or otherwise endorsed by any financial institution. In addition, it is not the financial institution’s responsibility to ensure all posts and questions are answered....show moreshow less
No Matching Results
How do you choose a credit card? Reply
Finding the right credit card can be stressful, with so many offers to consider and so much jargon and fine print to decipher. But as long as you follow these simple pointers, you’ll be fine.
- Compare credit cards before applying. Otherwise, there’s no way of telling whether you’re getting the best deal. Marketing can be deceiving, after all.
- Make sure your credit is match. You should only consider applying for a credit card if it matches your credit standing. For example, don’t apply for an excellent-credit credit card if you have fair credit. Getting turned down will only make it harder to get approved the second time around.
- Don’t apply in bulk. You should not submit more than a couple credit card applications within a short period of time, as this can lead to a roughly six-month dip in your credit score.
For more tips, check out WalletHub’s guide on finding the right type of credit card for your needs. And for your convenience, here are some benchmarks to consider as you wade your way through the credit card comparison process:
Market Snapshot: 1,000+ Credit Card Offers
|
Category |
Average |
|
Annual Fee |
$16.17 |
|
Initial Bonus |
$108.84 |
|
Rewards Rate |
1.03% |
|
APR |
18.36% |
You can learn more about the average terms offered by credit cards in popular categories from WalletHub’s latest Credit Card Landscape Report.
How do I get the best Visa exchange rate abroad?
Should I get a certain credit card?
…show more
show less
Reply
There is one Visa exchange rate for every type of currency, which can change once every 24 hours. And that rate is automatically applied to any international transaction made with a Visa credit card or debit card. You can easily check the latest Visa exchange rates online to get an idea of what to expect when traveling.
Here’s how to see your Visa exchange rate:
1. Go to Visa’s online Exchange Rate Calculator.
2. Select United States Dollar for your card’s currency.
3. Select the currency used by the merchant.
4. Enter your bank fee (foreign transaction fee), if applicable. Ideally, you should use a no foreign transaction fee credit card.
5. Put in today’s date (the tool can’t predict the future).
6. Click “Calculate Exchange Rates.”
Using a no foreign transaction fee Visa credit card when traveling abroad will save you up to 9% compared to converting hard currency, according to WalletHub’s Currency Exchange Study. But a Mastercard will do the trick, too. There’s actually not much difference between the exchange rates offered by these two worldwide card networks.
Lastly, you should always avoid Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC). This is when a foreign vendor converts the price of a purchase to U.S. dollars, supposedly for your convenience. But that gives the merchant a chance to use an unfavorable exchange rate in place of the low rate you’d automatically get from Visa.
Why do I need a credit card? Reply
We believe most people should have a credit card. It’s simply the easiest way to add positive information to your major credit reports on an ongoing basis. That, in turn, will help you build credit history and improve your credit standing. And credit improvement can save you a ton of money on loans and lines of credit as well as open doors to opportunities such as a new job or apartment.
Actually using your credit card to make purchases is another story, though. Whether that’s a good idea depends on if doing so will cause you to spend more than you would otherwise.
If it won’t lead to bad habits, you’ll be able to take advantage of a credit card’s many other benefits. They range from the ability to earn rewards on everyday spending or pay for big-ticket purchases over time to assorted travel perks and the convenience of shopping online.
And if a credit card would lead to overspending, you can still benefit from its credit-building capabilities. As long as you make sure to pay any fees that are assessed, you can simply lock your card in a drawer and watch positive information flow into your credit report on a monthly basis. After all, your credit utilization will be zero and you’ll be classified as having paid on time.
How do you apply for a credit card? Reply
Depending on the credit card company, you may have up to four options for submitting a credit card application:
- Through the mail
- Online
- Over the phone
- At a branch location
Most people are accustomed to applying for big-bank credit cards through the mail, and online credit card applications are becoming increasingly popular. But the truth is that how you apply for a credit card is just a matter of personal preference. Making an educated decision about which card to apply for is far more important. And that’s why we recommend using WalletHub.
At WalletHub, comparing hundreds of credit cards is as simple as a few clicks of your mouse. Trying to replicate that by spreading paper credit cards applications across your kitchen table, for example, just won’t produce the same results. Plus, for those of you concerned about sharing personal financial information over the internet, every online credit card application is encrypted using SSL technology. You can read more about WalletHub’s data protection practices here.
How much is a Hilton point worth? Reply
Each HHonors point is worth roughly half of one cent ($0.0055), on average, when redeemed for a free night at Hilton Worldwide properties. Of course, the value of a point will vary based on the city you’re staying in, your hotel’s classification within the Hilton portfolio, and your dates of travel. WalletHub's HHonors Rewards Program Review has more information about getting the most bang for your points: https://wallethub.com/edu/hilton-honors-program-review/25913/
Featured Credit Cards
Back-to-school season can be a bummer – not just for students, but for parents and their wallets, too. From binders and bookbags to tablets, computers and the latest clothes, there’s a lot to buy. So it’s no wonder back-to-school shoppers spend about $83 billion per year, according to the National Retail Federation. And while there are lots of savings opportunities, deal-hunting can be stressful in its own right.
To gauge people’s feelings about back-to-school shopping, and thus learn more about the state of family finances, WalletHub conducted a nationally representative online survey of parents with kids in school . We asked about everything from their favorite back-to-school stores to whether back-to-school shopping is worth going into debt for. You can find the complete results in the infographic below.
We work hard to show you up-to-date product terms, however, this information does not originate from us and thus, we do not guarantee its accuracy. Actual terms may vary. Before submitting an application, always verify all terms and conditions with the offering institution. Please let us know if you notice any differences.
† Approval Odds are WalletHub estimates intended to gauge your likelihood of approval for a particular product. Approval Odds are based on WalletHub data and are not provided or endorsed by the lender. Approval Odds are not meant to imply or guarantee that you will be approved by the lender or that credit will be extended.
Ad Disclosure: Certain offers that appear on this site originate from paying advertisers, and this will be noted on an offer’s details page using the designation "Sponsored", where applicable. Advertising may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). At WalletHub we try to present a wide array of offers, but our offers do not represent all financial services companies or products.
Editorial and user-generated content on this page is not provided, commissioned, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any issuer.