How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.
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Travel rewards: 2-10x miles per $1
Earn 2X Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 10X Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 5X Miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel.
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a valuable and flexible travel credit card that’s well worth the $395 annual fee for frequent travelers. This card provides luxury benefits like a TSA PreCheck®/Global Entry credit and lounge access that can help you easily recoup the annual fee.
On top of its benefits, it offers a rewarding earning rate on travel, a chance to earn a large sign-up bonus and 10,000 bonus miles on your card anniversary each year.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Rewards: 1-2% cash back per $1 spent
Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically.
The Discover it® Secured Credit Card offers a slew of perks and features for people who want to build credit. You can check your FICO Score for free. In addition, Discover starts conducting monthly account reviews to determine if you’re eligible for an upgrade to an unsecured card after just seven months — making it one of the best secured credit cards as well. In the meantime, you’ll earn cash back rewards and pay $0 in annual fees.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here. Apply Now
Intro balance transfer APR: 0% intro APR for 21 months on Balance Transfers; after, a 18.49% - 29.24% (Variable) APR applies
The Citi Simplicity® Card is a simple but effective card for people looking to transfer a high-interest balance. Its long balance transfer APR gives you nearly two years to pay your balance off. Plus, it offers a $0 annual fee and no penalty or late fees. It doesn’t offer rewards or many benefits beyond its intro balance transfer APR, but earning rewards shouldn’t be your focus when trying to pay off high-interest debt.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here. Apply Now
Reward rate: 2-5x miles per $1
Earn 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 5 Miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one of the top credit cards for travel because it has a simple yet valuable rewards rate. You can use it for a variety of spending categories with no earnings cap, unlike some other rewards cards.
The card has a $95 annual fee, but an up to $120 TSA PreCheck®/Global Entry credit can help you recoup that quickly. Its sign-up bonus will also help make this card worth the annual fee for frequent travelers: Earn 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here. Apply Now
Rewards rate: Earn 1-8% cash back on every $1 spent
Earn 3% Cash Back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply), 8% Cash Back on Capital One Entertainment purchases, 1% Cash Back on all other purchases.
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card offers high cash back rewards rates on several popular spending categories, including dining, entertainment and grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®). This card would be an excellent fit for foodies looking for cash back rewards for a $0 annual fee. You can also take advantage of an easy-to-earn sign-up bonus: $200 Cash Back after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here. Apply Now
Rewards: 1 – 3x points per $1 spent
You’ll earn valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards® points for purchases in common business spending categories like shipping, advertising and travel with the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. Plus, you can pair this card with other Chase cards like the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Freedom Unlimited® to pool points and redeem travel rewards.
Cardholders also earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $1,200 in cash back — or, if you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠, $1,500 toward your next business trip.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here. Apply Now
Intro purchase APR: 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months; then a 19.74% - 28.49% Variable APR applies
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers long intro APRs on both purchases and balance transfers. In addition, you’ll get an excellent intro offer that can help you pay down your purchase in the first year. You’ll 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.
Since this card comes with several benefits and protections, you can keep using it even after your intro APR is over. If you’re simply looking for the longest APR possible without any other card perks, then the Citi Simplicity® Card may be a better fit.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Increase your approval odds by having a balance of at least $250 in a Chase checking or savings account.
The Chase Freedom Rise℠ Credit Card is the best card for building credit. It’s designed for beginner credit cardholders, offers tools to help build your credit and offers automatic credit line reviews. In addition, you won’t have to pay a security deposit and you can improve your approval odds by having $250 in a Chase checking or savings account. It also includes a solid cash back rewards rate on all purchases, as well as valuable perks like travel insurance and purchase protection.
Notably, although there’s a $0 annual fee, the card charges hefty late fees, so you’ll want to use it responsibly.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Sign-up bonus: 25,000 bonus points
Earn 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students is an incredibly rewarding travel card for newbie cardholders. It offers a sign-up bonus of 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases. Plus, earn 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases.
Its $0 annual fee, long intro APR and elevated rewards rate make this an excellent choice for college students traveling or studying abroad. And, it doesn’t have foreign transaction fees.
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Annual Fee | Rewards Rate | Recommended Credit Credit scores ranges may vary. Your individual chance at approval may vary due to factors such as creditors using a particular variation at their discretion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Apply Now
on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees |
Travel credit card
|
$395 | 2X Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 10X Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 5X Miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel | Excellent |
Apply Now
on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees |
|
Discover it® Secured Credit Card*
|
Bad credit / secured credit card
|
$0 | 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically | Limited / Poor | |
|
Citi Simplicity® Card
Apply Now
on Citibank's secure site Rates & Fees |
Balance transfer credit card
|
$0 | N/A | Good / Excellent |
Apply Now
on Citibank's secure site Rates & Fees |
|
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Apply Now
on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees |
Rewards credit card
|
$95 | 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 5 Miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel | Good / Excellent |
Apply Now
on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees |
|
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Apply Now
on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees |
Cash back credit card
|
$0 | 3% Cash Back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply), 8% Cash Back on Capital One Entertainment purchases, 1% Cash Back on all other purchases | Good / Excellent |
Apply Now
on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees |
|
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
Business credit card
|
$95 | Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases-with no limit to the amount you can earn. | Excellent |
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
|
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
0% APR credit card
|
$0 | 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 | Good / Excellent |
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
|
Chase Freedom Rise℠ Credit Card*
Learn More
on Chase's secure site |
Credit card to build credit
|
$0 | With Chase Freedom Rise℠, you can start building credit while earning 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open and there is no minimum to redeem for cash back. | Good / Excellent |
Learn More
on Chase's secure site |
|
Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students*
Review Coming Soon
|
Student credit card
|
$0 | 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases. | Good / Excellent | Review Coming Soon |
Credit cards work in two main ways:
Credit cards usually charge interest if you don’t pay your credit card statement balance in full by the payment date. Your interest for a billing period is based on the average daily balance of your credit card and the annual percentage rate (APR) associated with your account. Exceptions to this include cards that have introductory 0% APR rates on purchases and balance transfers.
Whenever you can, it’s best to pay in full, as the average credit card interest rate in the U.S. is 24.92%.
Credit scores are a three-digit number ranging from 300 to 850 (the higher the better) representing your ability to handle your financial obligations. These include credit card payments, student loans, auto loans, personal loans and mortgages.
FICO Score and VantageScore are two common credit scores that lenders use to determine your creditworthiness. Credit scores are also used for insurance, housing and employment purposes. Building a good credit score gives you access to credit. It also helps save money on insurance premiums, and may even factor into getting your next apartment or job.
A credit report is like a report card of your borrowing and payment history. Anyone who uses credit has three credit reports: one each with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. It shows your loans and credit cards, as well as payments to each account.
Your credit score is based on the information in your credit report. Your credit report contains your personal information, account history, negative marks, credit inquiries and collections and bankruptcies.
There are many types of credit cards. Understanding them will help you pick the best card for your spending habits.
Cash back credit cards let you earn back a percentage on your purchases, effectively lowering the cost of everything you buy with the card. You usually redeem cash back rewards for statement credits, but you can also redeem them for direct deposits, gift cards and more.
Travel credit cards, in contrast, earn points or miles that you can redeem for flights, hotel stays and more. Points and miles are typically worth around 1 to 2 cents each. Some cards are flexible and allow you to earn rewards on any travel purchase. Others only give you points or miles on purchases from a partner airline or hotel chain.
There are two kinds of cards for people with bad credit: unsecured credit cards (which may come with a lot of fees) and secured credit cards. Secured credit cards tend to be the more affordable option for rebuilding credit. You’ll need to put down a security deposit, but you’ll typically get your deposit back when you upgrade your card or pay it off and close your account.
The best credit cards for people with fair credit may offer no annual fee, rewards programs, lower interest rates and introductory APRs that allow you to pay off a big purchase. While a card for good credit may have all these perks, cards designed for fair credit typically offer one or two. You’ll need to decide which features are most important to you while you build your credit to qualify for a better card.
The best credit cards for making and paying off a large purchase are cards that offer a long introductory 0% APR. You’ll have breathing room — typically between a year and 21 months — to pay off your purchase over time. Look for cards with sign-up bonuses and rewards programs that you can use to offset the cost of your purchase.You can also use these benefits after the intro APR expires.
A student credit card can help you build credit while also earning rewards if you’re enrolled in school. These cards typically earn cash back rewards, offer lower credit limits and are available to people with a limited credit history.
The best cards for building credit offer free access to your credit score and report to the credit bureaus monthly. Look for cards that don’t charge annual or late fees to keep costs down. Some of our top credit-building card picks even offer sign-up bonuses and rewards programs.
Balance transfer credit cards allow you to save money by transferring your high-interest credit card debt to a card with a lower APR. The best balance transfer cards offer a 0% intro APR for a year or longer.
But while it is possible to find a credit card with no balance transfer fees, those cards tend to offer shorter interest-free periods than ones that charge 3% to 5% of each transferred balance.
If you aren’t able to pay off your card in full every month, skip the rewards and travel cards and choose a low interest credit card. It’s simple math: The interest rates that credit card companies charge will always be higher than rewards rates. A low-interest card is the best way to save money if you regularly carry a balance.
Knowing how to use a business credit card can help keep you out of the red. Look for cards with features that match your current business needs. For instance, look for a card with a 0% APR period to finance a large purchase. Or, look for cards with good rewards programs to earn points or cash back on your most common business purchases.
The best credit card for you will depend on a lot of different factors. You can narrow down your choices by taking inventory of your spending habits, credit history and rewards preferences.
To get a credit card, follow these steps:
Generally, you’ll have a decision within a few minutes of applying for a new credit card. If you are approved, you’ll likely receive the card within seven to 10 business days.
The number of credit cards you should have will depend on your lifestyle and financial goals. You may use one credit card for cash back on your weekly grocery trips and another to finance a large purchase over an extended time, interest free. Having multiple cards will increase the amount of credit you have available, which can have a positive impact on your credit score.
Still, some people find it difficult to juggle several cards with different due dates and interest rates. If you struggle with credit card debt or managing payments, keep the number of credit cards in your wallet to a minimum.
Learn more about how to get instant approval on credit cards.
Credit card company rules to keep in mind:
→ Wells Fargo: If you’ve opened a Wells Fargo credit card in the past six months, you won’t qualify for another card.
→ Chase: Chase has an unwritten rule referred to as the Chase 5/24 rule. If you’ve opened five or more personal credit cards over the past 24 months, Chase will deny your application for a new credit card.
Best travel credit card: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Best credit card for bad credit / secured credit card: Discover it® Secured Credit Card
Best balance transfer credit card: Citi Simplicity® Card
Best rewards card: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Best cash back credit card: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Best business credit card: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Best 0% APR credit card: Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Best credit card to build credit: Chase Freedom Rise℠ Credit Card
Best student credit card: Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students
It can take anywhere from a few seconds to a few days to get approved for a card. Some cards offer instant credit card numbers as soon as you’re approved, but most cards arrive via mail a few days to a couple of weeks later.
Our pick for the best credit card for travel is the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. It lets you earn an excellent sign-up bonus and includes a great set of benefits. Its $300 travel credit and an up to $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck® credit alone make up for the card’s $395 annual fee (see rates & fees).
Our pick for the easiest credit card to get is the Discover it® Secured Credit Card. It’s designed for people with limited / poor credit and you can find out if you’re preapproved for a credit card before you apply.
And if you’re looking for an unsecured credit card that’s easy to get, you should consider the AvantCard Credit Card. It has a $59 annual fee, but it won’t require a security credit. Like the Discover it® Secured Credit Card, you can see if you’re preapproved without a hard pull to your credit.
There’s no limit to the amount of credit cards you can get, in theory. However, credit card applications require hard inquiries — which can bring down your credit score temporarily. Plus, some issuers, like Chase, will deny your application if you’ve opened too many accounts recently. It’s better to plan your applications rather than apply for every card you like on the spot.
To bring you the list of best credit card deals, we use an objective rating and ranking system that compares features across a large set of credit cards (over 200 of them from over 50 issuers). We use calculations to estimate the value of each card for the average cardholder, based on LendingTree and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Depending on the category, we also look at the flexibility rewards, features for building credit and how the card’s overall list of benefits compares to other cards.
Note, that our ratings are a starting point for comparing and choosing the best credit card.
However, your needs may be different from the average cardholder. You should consider the amount you’re likely to spend in a card’s rewards categories and which benefits you value to choose the best card for you.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply
The information related to the Discover it® Secured Credit Card, Chase Freedom Rise℠ Credit Card, Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students, Chase Freedom Flex℠, Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®, Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express, The Platinum Card® from American Express, Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, Discover it® Cash Back and Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.
