December 22, 2022
*Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author’s opinions and recommendations alone. It may not have been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer. This site may be compensated through a credit card issuer partnership.
This article was last updated December 22, 2022 . Terms and conditions may have changed. For the most accurate information, please consult the issuer website.
If you have a good credit score, our top pick for the best credit card for you is the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. It offers generous cash back rewards, charges a $0 annual fee and comes with solid intro APR periods. Plus, its high rewards rate on travel make this a great choice for both consumers who love cash back and travel rewards.
Citi is an advertising partner.
With a good credit score — meaning a FICO® Score between 670 and 739 or a VantageScore® between 661 and 780 — you can likely qualify for a wide variety of credit cards. We’ve rounded up some of the best options available, including credit cards for cash back, travel rewards, intro APR, credit building and more.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a flexible cash back card with several elevated rewards categories: Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 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.
In addition, this card has a generous sign up bonus: Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That’s 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.
Its high cash back rates — especially on travel — make this a solid choice for both people who enjoy cash back and travel rewards.
It also comes with several other perks and protections, which is great for a $0 annual fee card. Plus, it has a 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months — then it goes to a 19.49% - 28.24% Variable APR.
However, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® isn’t the best card to travel with, since it has a foreign transaction fee of 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars.
This card is best for people looking for solid cash back rewards, especially on travel.
It also has an elevated cash back rate on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, and drugstore purchases. So if you spend good amounts in those categories, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® could be a good fit for you.
Further, this card be a great addition to your wallet if you have another Chase travel card — with a Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® essentially becomes a travel card, as your cash back could be redeemed as Chase Ultimate Rewards® points.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a flexible cash back card with several elevated rewards categories: Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 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.
In addition, this card has a generous sign up bonus: Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That’s 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.
Its high cash back rates — especially on travel — make this a solid choice for both people who enjoy cash back and travel rewards.
It also comes with several other perks and protections, which is great for a $0 annual fee card. Plus, it has a 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months — then it goes to a 19.49% - 28.24% Variable APR.
However, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® isn’t the best card to travel with, since it has a foreign transaction fee of 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars.
This card is best for people looking for solid cash back rewards, especially on travel.
It also has an elevated cash back rate on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, and drugstore purchases. So if you spend good amounts in those categories, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® could be a good fit for you.
Further, this card be a great addition to your wallet if you have another Chase travel card — with a Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® essentially becomes a travel card, as your cash back could be redeemed as Chase Ultimate Rewards® points.
Citi is an advertising partner.
Enjoy the Citi Simplicity® Card‘ introductory APR of 0% for 12 months on purchases; afterward, a 18.74% - 29.49% (variable) APR applies.
You’ll also get an intro APR of 0% for 21 months on balance transfers, with a 18.74% - 29.49% (variable) APR applying after.
In addition, there is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. then a balance transfer fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum. The foreign transaction fee is 3% of each purchase transaction after its conversion into U.S. dollars.
The Citi Simplicity® Card‘s annual fee is $0.
The Citi Simplicity® Card doesn’t come with a lot of bells and whistles — but if you need a card with a lengthy intro APR period for a big purchase or to pay off debt transferred from a high-interest card, this offers very generous intro APR periods.
The Citi Simplicity® Card charges no late fees and won’t raise your APR to a penalty rate if you pay late, in case you happen to miss a payment. However, paying late or not paying at all will damage your credit score heavily, and could prevent you from getting approved for future credit products.
Citi is an advertising partner.
Enjoy the Citi Simplicity® Card‘ introductory APR of 0% for 12 months on purchases; afterward, a 18.74% - 29.49% (variable) APR applies.
You’ll also get an intro APR of 0% for 21 months on balance transfers, with a 18.74% - 29.49% (variable) APR applying after.
In addition, there is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. then a balance transfer fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum. The foreign transaction fee is 3% of each purchase transaction after its conversion into U.S. dollars.
The Citi Simplicity® Card‘s annual fee is $0.
The Citi Simplicity® Card doesn’t come with a lot of bells and whistles — but if you need a card with a lengthy intro APR period for a big purchase or to pay off debt transferred from a high-interest card, this offers very generous intro APR periods.
The Citi Simplicity® Card charges no late fees and won’t raise your APR to a penalty rate if you pay late, in case you happen to miss a payment. However, paying late or not paying at all will damage your credit score heavily, and could prevent you from getting approved for future credit products.
With the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, you’ll earn a flat rate of 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 5 Miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Plus, there’s a valuable sign-up bonus: You can enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
The foreign transaction fee is none, but be aware that there is a $95 annual fee.
There’s no intro APR, and the regular APR is 20.24% - 28.24% (variable).
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is best for frequent travelers who appreciate a straightforward rewards program and flexible ways to redeem their miles. There’s a $95 annual fee, but the sign-up bonus more than recoups that value during the first year. On an ongoing basis, if you spend $4,750, you’ll recoup the amount of the annual fee in rewards (if valuing each mile at 1 cent).
You can redeem miles for past travel purchases, use them to book travel through capitalone.com or by calling the Capital One Rewards Center, put them toward online shopping when checking out with PayPal or transfer them to these travel partners (at a rate of 1:1, 2:1.5 or 2:1 depending on the partner):
With the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, you’ll earn a flat rate of 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 5 Miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Plus, there’s a valuable sign-up bonus: You can enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
The foreign transaction fee is none, but be aware that there is a $95 annual fee.
There’s no intro APR, and the regular APR is 20.24% - 28.24% (variable).
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is best for frequent travelers who appreciate a straightforward rewards program and flexible ways to redeem their miles. There’s a $95 annual fee, but the sign-up bonus more than recoups that value during the first year. On an ongoing basis, if you spend $4,750, you’ll recoup the amount of the annual fee in rewards (if valuing each mile at 1 cent).
You can redeem miles for past travel purchases, use them to book travel through capitalone.com or by calling the Capital One Rewards Center, put them toward online shopping when checking out with PayPal or transfer them to these travel partners (at a rate of 1:1, 2:1.5 or 2:1 depending on the partner):
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards for Good Credit lets cardholders earn a competitive flat rate of 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply). Note, though, that there’s no sign-up bonus offered with this card.
Still, you won’t have to worry about a foreign transaction fee — there is none — and the annual fee is $0. However, the regular APR is on the high side at 29.74% (variable), so any balance you don’t pay off by the statement due date will accrue high interest charges.
If you don’t want to bother with different rewards rates for different categories of purchases, a flat-rate card keeps it simple. And if you don’t think you have a stellar-enough credit score to qualify for the regular Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card, the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards for Good Credit is a stripped-down version available to consumers who just have good credit. It doesn’t offer a sign-up bonus or an intro APR, but comes with the same cash back program as the regular version of the card.
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards for Good Credit lets cardholders earn a competitive flat rate of 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply). Note, though, that there’s no sign-up bonus offered with this card.
Still, you won’t have to worry about a foreign transaction fee — there is none — and the annual fee is $0. However, the regular APR is on the high side at 29.74% (variable), so any balance you don’t pay off by the statement due date will accrue high interest charges.
If you don’t want to bother with different rewards rates for different categories of purchases, a flat-rate card keeps it simple. And if you don’t think you have a stellar-enough credit score to qualify for the regular Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card, the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards for Good Credit is a stripped-down version available to consumers who just have good credit. It doesn’t offer a sign-up bonus or an intro APR, but comes with the same cash back program as the regular version of the card.
With the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards for Good Credit, you can earn 3% Cash Back on dining and entertainment; 3% Cash Back on popular streaming services; 3% Cash Back at grocery stores; 1% Cash Back on all other purchases. Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases — that’s a strong cash back rate in an excellent selection of popular categories.
And don’t worry about a foreign transaction fee, as there is none. Plus, the annual fee is $0.
However, the APR is a high 29.74% (variable), so try to avoid carrying a balance.
Note, in addition, that there’s no sign-up bonus when you get the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards for Good Credit.
The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards for Good Credit is a solid choice for foodies, whether you like to cook at home with groceries you selected yourself or dine out at your favorite restaurants. Its rewards on entertainment and streaming sweeten the deal, too.
This is a stripped-down version of the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card and is targeted at consumers with good credit. You won’t get a sign-up bonus or an intro APR, but you will enjoy the same great cash back program as the regular card.
With the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards for Good Credit, you can earn 3% Cash Back on dining and entertainment; 3% Cash Back on popular streaming services; 3% Cash Back at grocery stores; 1% Cash Back on all other purchases. Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases — that’s a strong cash back rate in an excellent selection of popular categories.
And don’t worry about a foreign transaction fee, as there is none. Plus, the annual fee is $0.
However, the APR is a high 29.74% (variable), so try to avoid carrying a balance.
Note, in addition, that there’s no sign-up bonus when you get the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards for Good Credit.
The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards for Good Credit is a solid choice for foodies, whether you like to cook at home with groceries you selected yourself or dine out at your favorite restaurants. Its rewards on entertainment and streaming sweeten the deal, too.
This is a stripped-down version of the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card and is targeted at consumers with good credit. You won’t get a sign-up bonus or an intro APR, but you will enjoy the same great cash back program as the regular card.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the best travel cards available.
You can earn 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases. There’s also a generous sign-up bonus, as well — it lets you earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Plus, the value of your points can be increased by 25% if you redeem them for travel in the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal, or you can transfer them at a 1:1 ratio to airline or hotel loyalty programs.
It has an annual fee of $95, but its solid rewards rate, sign-up bonus and strong travel protections more than justify the cost.
This card is best for people who travel frequently and take advantage of the card’s travel protections and credits. In addition, its reward structure makes it easy for cardholders to earn points quickly on travel and dining.
But if you’re looking for more card perks, such as lounge access, then you might be better off with the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. It comes with more bells and whistles, but has a steep annual fee of $550.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card isn’t a great choice if you want to earn cash back rewards because of its $95 annual fee. People looking for solid cash back rewards would likely be better off with a $0 annual fee card like the Chase Freedom Flex℠.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the best travel cards available.
You can earn 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases. There’s also a generous sign-up bonus, as well — it lets you earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Plus, the value of your points can be increased by 25% if you redeem them for travel in the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal, or you can transfer them at a 1:1 ratio to airline or hotel loyalty programs.
It has an annual fee of $95, but its solid rewards rate, sign-up bonus and strong travel protections more than justify the cost.
This card is best for people who travel frequently and take advantage of the card’s travel protections and credits. In addition, its reward structure makes it easy for cardholders to earn points quickly on travel and dining.
But if you’re looking for more card perks, such as lounge access, then you might be better off with the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. It comes with more bells and whistles, but has a steep annual fee of $550.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card isn’t a great choice if you want to earn cash back rewards because of its $95 annual fee. People looking for solid cash back rewards would likely be better off with a $0 annual fee card like the Chase Freedom Flex℠.
The Platinum Card® from American Express is known for its premium travel benefits.
You can earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Terms apply.
Its welcome offer lets you earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
But while this card comes with plenty of perks like lounge access, an airline and hotel credit, partner credits and more, those benefits come at a cost — the annual fee for this card is $695.
Still, if you’re a serious traveler and know what benefits you have available, the perks can easily outweigh the annual cost.
To see rates & fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express please click here.
The Platinum Card® from American Express is best for serious travelers who prefer luxury options. However, since the card has a steep annual fee of $695, it’s probably not suited for less frequent travelers.
You should only get this card if you’re going to take advantage of all or most of its benefits. This card requires enrollment for many of its perks, so it takes some effort from the cardmember to find out how and when to enroll.
More casual travelers can opt for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, which only has a $95. It can provide a solid rewards rate and great travel protections for a much lower annual fee.
To see rates & fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express please click here.
To see rates & fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express please click here.
The Platinum Card® from American Express is known for its premium travel benefits.
You can earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Terms apply.
Its welcome offer lets you earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
But while this card comes with plenty of perks like lounge access, an airline and hotel credit, partner credits and more, those benefits come at a cost — the annual fee for this card is $695.
Still, if you’re a serious traveler and know what benefits you have available, the perks can easily outweigh the annual cost.
To see rates & fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express please click here.
The Platinum Card® from American Express is best for serious travelers who prefer luxury options. However, since the card has a steep annual fee of $695, it’s probably not suited for less frequent travelers.
You should only get this card if you’re going to take advantage of all or most of its benefits. This card requires enrollment for many of its perks, so it takes some effort from the cardmember to find out how and when to enroll.
More casual travelers can opt for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, which only has a $95. It can provide a solid rewards rate and great travel protections for a much lower annual fee.
To see rates & fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express please click here.
To see rates & fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express please click here.
Cardholders of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express can earn 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%. 3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%. 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%. 1% cash back on other purchases. Terms apply.
If you max out the annual $6,000 spending cap on the elevated rate for U.S. supermarket purchases, that’s $180 in cash back. For a card with a $0 annual fee, that’s a solid cash back rate.
For the welcome offer, Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
There’s an intro APR of 0% on purchases for 15 months; afterward, a 18.74%-29.74% variable APR applies.
Still, if you’re traveling, beware of the foreign transaction fee: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
To see rates & fees for Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express please click here.
If you spend a substantial portion of your budget grocery shopping, you’ll probably get a lot of value from the cash back the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express earns on U.S. supermarket purchases. The cash back rate earned on U.S. online retail purchases and at U.S. gas stations is also competitive.
To see rates & fees for Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express please click here.
Cardholders of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express can earn 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%. 3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%. 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%. 1% cash back on other purchases. Terms apply.
If you max out the annual $6,000 spending cap on the elevated rate for U.S. supermarket purchases, that’s $180 in cash back. For a card with a $0 annual fee, that’s a solid cash back rate.
For the welcome offer, Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
There’s an intro APR of 0% on purchases for 15 months; afterward, a 18.74%-29.74% variable APR applies.
Still, if you’re traveling, beware of the foreign transaction fee: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
To see rates & fees for Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express please click here.
If you spend a substantial portion of your budget grocery shopping, you’ll probably get a lot of value from the cash back the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express earns on U.S. supermarket purchases. The cash back rate earned on U.S. online retail purchases and at U.S. gas stations is also competitive.
To see rates & fees for Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express please click here.
With the Discover it® Student Cash Back, earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically As with the Discover it® Cash Back, there’s a $1,500 spending cap at the 5% rate each quarter, after which your earnings will drop to 1%.
The Discover it® Student Cash Back also offers new cardholders a cash back match your first year with the card: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
Enjoy an intro APR of 0% Intro APR for 6 months on purchases, after which a 17.49% - 26.49% Variable APR applies.
The annual fee is $0 and the foreign transaction fee is none.
If you’re a college student, building credit history now can help set you up for success in the future. A good credit score will help you get better rates on products like auto loans and mortgages, and some landlords will check your credit before extending you a home or apartment lease. The Discover it® Student Cash Back offers the opportunity to build credit while earning cash back at a generous rate.
With the Discover it® Student Cash Back, earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically As with the Discover it® Cash Back, there’s a $1,500 spending cap at the 5% rate each quarter, after which your earnings will drop to 1%.
The Discover it® Student Cash Back also offers new cardholders a cash back match your first year with the card: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
Enjoy an intro APR of 0% Intro APR for 6 months on purchases, after which a 17.49% - 26.49% Variable APR applies.
The annual fee is $0 and the foreign transaction fee is none.
If you’re a college student, building credit history now can help set you up for success in the future. A good credit score will help you get better rates on products like auto loans and mortgages, and some landlords will check your credit before extending you a home or apartment lease. The Discover it® Student Cash Back offers the opportunity to build credit while earning cash back at a generous rate.
The Capital One Spark Cash Select - 0% Intro APR for 12 Months offers 1.5% cash back on every purchase; 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through capital one travel.
And while there’s no sign-up bonus, there is a helpful intro APR: 0% on purchases for 12 months. After, a 20.24% - 28.24% (variable) APR applies. The annual fee is $0 and the foreign transaction fee is none.
The Capital One Spark Cash Select - 0% Intro APR for 12 Months is one of two different versions of this business credit card and is aimed at business owners with good credit who want flat-rate cash back.
It’s also an excellent choice if your business is planning a large purchase and you think you’ll need some time to pay it off. With a solid intro APR period, you have some time without incurring interest charges.
The Capital One Spark Cash Select - 0% Intro APR for 12 Months offers 1.5% cash back on every purchase; 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through capital one travel.
And while there’s no sign-up bonus, there is a helpful intro APR: 0% on purchases for 12 months. After, a 20.24% - 28.24% (variable) APR applies. The annual fee is $0 and the foreign transaction fee is none.
The Capital One Spark Cash Select - 0% Intro APR for 12 Months is one of two different versions of this business credit card and is aimed at business owners with good credit who want flat-rate cash back.
It’s also an excellent choice if your business is planning a large purchase and you think you’ll need some time to pay it off. With a solid intro APR period, you have some time without incurring interest charges.
| Credit Card | Welcome Offer | Rewards Rate | Annual Fee | Intro Purchase APR | Regular APR | Intro Balance Transfer Rate | Regular Balance Transfer Rate | Balance Transfer Fee | Recommended Credit | Card Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
|
Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That’s 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases. | Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 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 | $0 | 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months | 19.49% - 28.24% Variable | 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months | 19.49% - 28.24% Variable | Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. | Excellent/Good | Chase Freedom Unlimited® Review |
|
Citi Simplicity® Card
|
N/A | N/A | $0 | 0% for 12 months on Purchases | 18.74% - 29.49% (Variable) | 0% for 21 months on Balance Transfers | 18.74% - 29.49% (Variable) | There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. Then a balance transfer fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum. | Excellent/Good | Citi Simplicity® Card Review |
|
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
|
Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel | 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 5 Miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel | $95 | N/A | 20.24% - 28.24% (Variable) | N/A | 20.24% - 28.24% (Variable) | $0 at this Transfer APR | Excellent/Good | Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Review |
|
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards for Good Credit
|
N/A | 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply) | $0 | N/A | 29.74% (Variable) | N/A | 29.74% (Variable) | $0 at this Transfer APR | Good | Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards for Good Credit Review |
|
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards for Good Credit
|
N/A | 3% Cash Back on dining and entertainment; 3% Cash Back on popular streaming services; 3% Cash Back at grocery stores; 1% Cash Back on all other purchases. Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases | $0 | N/A | 29.74% (Variable) | N/A | 29.74% (Variable) | $0 at this Transfer APR | Good | Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards for Good Credit Review |
|
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
|
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. | 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases | $95 | N/A | 20.49% - 27.49% Variable | N/A | 20.49% - 27.49% Variable | Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. | Excellent | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Review |
|
The Platinum Card® from American Express
|
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. | 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Terms apply. | $695 | N/A | See Pay Over Time APR | N/A | N/A | N/A | Excellent/Good | The Platinum Card® from American Express Review |
|
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
|
Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. | 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%. 3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%. 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%. 1% cash back on other purchases. Terms apply. | $0 | 0% on purchases for 15 months | 18.74%-29.74% Variable | 0% on balance transfers for 15 months | 18.74%-29.74% Variable | Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. | Excellent/Good | Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express Review |
|
Discover it® Student Cash Back
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Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match. | 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically | $0 | 0% Intro APR for 6 months on purchases | 17.49% - 26.49% Variable APR | 10.99% Intro APR for 6 months | 17.49% - 26.49% Variable APR | 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)* | Fair/Limited | Discover it® Student Cash Back Review |
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Capital One Spark Cash Select - 0% Intro APR for 12 Months
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N/A | 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel | $0 | 0% on purchases for 12 months | 20.24% - 28.24% (Variable) | N/A | 20.24% - 28.24% (Variable) | $0 at this Transfer APR | Good | Capital One Spark Cash Select - 0% Intro APR for 12 Months Review |
First, it’s important to understand that you can have multiple credit scores — there are different credit scoring models used for different purposes.
Typically, lenders will use your FICO® Score to evaluate whether to extend credit to you. FICO® Scores can range from 300 to 850 and fall into the following tiers:
Another credit scoring model you might encounter is VantageScore®, which also ranges from 300 to 850. Your VantageScore® can fall into the following tiers:
Even if you have a good credit score, you might be denied for a credit card based on factors like having applied for new credit too recently or having high a debt-to-income ratio (how much debt you’re carrying relative to your ability to pay). Lenders don’t like to see that you’re desperate for new credit or that you’ve maxed out your existing credit cards. You could also be denied based on length of credit history — for more premium cards, issuers typically like to see that you’ve managed credit well for a year or more before they’ll approve your application.
If you have no income, this fact won’t hurt your credit score. However, you do need a source of income to be approved for a credit card. In some cases, even if you don’t have a job, you can count income you have a reasonable expectation of access to when applying for a credit card — for example, a college student may be able to count money provided by parents in their income, or a stay-at-home spouse may be able to count their spouse’s salary.
Typically, once your credit score is over 700, you have a solid chance of being approved for most credit cards, as well as being offered excellent rates on other financial products. However, if you’re pursuing a perfect credit score of 850, know that building credit is a slow and steady process. Keeping your utilization low, maintaining a healthy mix of revolving credit (such as a credit card) and installment credit (such as an auto loan or mortgage) and always paying on time is how you work toward a perfect credit score — there are no shortcuts.
In selecting the best credit cards for good credit, the first thing we considered was the credit required for each of these cards — they should be accessible for people with good credit scores.
We also evaluated the cards’ rewards programs, selecting those with structures that offer value to consumers with a variety of needs.
If a card offers a lengthy introductory APR, that was weighed in favor of its inclusion on this list.
Finally, most of the cards here charge no annual fee and no foreign transaction fee.
To see rates & fees for Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express please click here.
To see rates & fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express please click here.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply
The above offers and/or promotions may have since changed, expired, or is no longer available. Check the Issuers’ website for more details.
