Our editorial team and expert review board provide an unbiased analysis of the products we feature. Our comparison service is compensated by our credit card company partners, and may influence where or how products are featured on the site. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Please note: The star-rating system on this page is based on our independent card scoring methodology and is not influenced by advertisers or card issuers.Learn more about our partners and how we make money.
Having an excellent credit score means having your pick of the very best financial products and services. The range of credit cards available to those with excellent credit tend to have the lowest interest rates, lucrative introductory offers, high rewards, and top-of-the-line luxury perks.
Once you’ve chosen a card that best aligns with your spending habits, it’s important to maintain your excellent credit. Aside from paying your bills on time and carrying a minimal balance, that also includes strategic measures such as consolidating smaller debts and making sure your overall debt doesn’t exceed 20% of your annual income. Below you’ll find the steps you can take to keep your credit score excellent as well as the high-end cards that can help you along the way.
Recommended FICO® ScoreΘ
Good – Exceptional
$0
0% on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months
19.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
19.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
$200 Cash Back after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
See all Capital One’s offers
Recommended FICO® ScoreΘ
Good – Exceptional
$0
0% on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months
19.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
19.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
$200 Cash Back after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
See all Capital One’s offers
Recommended FICO® ScoreΘ
Good – Exceptional
$0
0% on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months
19.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
19.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
$200 Cash Back after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
See all Capital One’s offers
*All information about the Chase Freedom Flex, Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card, and the American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by CreditCards.com and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
| Excellent Credit Card | Best for | Card Highlights | Annual Fee | CreditCards.com Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card | Simple rewards | Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
Cash back can be redeemed automatically at a set amount or date | $0 (See rates and Fees) | 3.7 / 5 |
| Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express | Groceries and gas | 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%) and on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back on transit and at U.S. gas stations | $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. | 4.6 / 5 |
| Discover it® Cash Back | Category variety | 5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories, activation required (on up to $1,500 per quarter, then 1%) | $0 | 4.6 / 5 |
| American Express Green Card | Everyday travel | 3X points on travel, transit, eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide and U.S. delivery and takeout
1X points on other purchases | $150 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited® | A standalone rewards card | 5% cash back on travel through Chase Travel℠, 3% on dining and drugstore purchases and 1.5% on all other purchases | $0 | 5 / 5 |
| Citi Double Cash® Card | Flat-rate rewards | Up to 2% cash back on all purchases (1% at purchase and 1% upon payment) | $0 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card | Dining and entertainment | Unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, select streaming services and grocery store purchases (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target)
8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases | $0 (See rates and Fees) | 4.9 / 5 |
| Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express | Online shopping | 3% cash back on U.S. supermarket, U.S. gas station and U.S. online retail purchases (up to $6,000 in combined purchases per year, then 1%) | $0 | 4.8 / 5 |
| American Express® Gold Card | Foodies | 4X Membership Rewards points at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases per year, then 1X points), and at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases per year, then 1X points) | $325 | 4.9 / 5 |
| Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card | Balance transfers | 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months, and a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months (then 17.24% – 27.99% (Variable) ) | $0 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Citi Rewards+® Card | Small purchases | 2X points at supermarkets and gas stations (on up to $6,000 in combined purchases per year, then 1X points)
Earned points are rounded up to the nearest 10, and 10% of the first 100,000 points redeemed each year are earned back. | $0 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card | A travel card for savers | 2X points on travel and dining, and 1.5X points on all other purchases
Up to $100 in annual statement credits toward incidental airline expenses | $95 | 4.4 / 5 |
Applicants with excellent credit are eligible for top credit card offers from issuers like Capital One, Chase, and American Express.
Related: Expert Ted Rossman: How to maximize your Capital One Quicksilver card
Read our Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details.
Read our full Chase Sapphire Preferred Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details.
Read our full Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details.
Read our full Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express review or jump back to this card’s offer details.
Read our full Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details.
Read our full Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details.
Read our full Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details.
Read our full Blue Cash Preferred Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details.
Read our full Amex Platinum review or jump back to this card’s offer details.
Read our full American Express Gold Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details.
Read our full The American Express Blue Business Cash Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details.
Read our full Discover it® Student Cash Back review or jump back to this card’s offer details.
Read our full Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details.
There are numerous types of credit cards available to consumers, ranging from straightforward, no-frills cards, to options that are packed full of features. You’ll need to compare credit cards based on your spending habits, credit history and any desired benefits. To help you narrow it all down, we’ll detail a few credit card types and their top features.
Low-interest credit cards feature APRs lower than the average credit card interest rate, which hovers around 20%. They can be a handy option if you need to carry a balance in an emergency. Cards with low rates usually require you to have at least a good credit score.
If you want the absolute lowest ongoing APRs available, or if you have a lower credit score, a credit union credit card may be your best bet. You have plenty of options if you have a good credit score, which means making a decision may take more work. A great place to start your research would be comparing cards like the Discover it Balance Transfer and the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card, one of the best low-interest cards. Both cards prioritize low-interest rates and intro APR offers. The Discover it Balance Transfer also doubles as a cash back card.
Zero-interest credit cards come with introductory periods that let you avoid interest on purchases, balance transfers or both for a limited time. These intro APR periods usually give you 12 to 21 months to pay off your balance. When your 0% introductory period ends, the card’s regular APR will apply, and you’ll begin accruing interest on any remaining balance.
To determine which zero-interest credit card is the best pick, you must evaluate your current debt and the amount of money you plan to spend in the coming months. Zero-interest cards typically have introductory APR offers for both balance transfers and purchases. However, some cards offer an extended intro APR period for one at the loss of the other. Others may include generous rewards programs alongside zero-interest offers.
Comparing two options, like the Capital One Savor card and the Citi Simplicity® Card, can give you a better idea of available intro APR cards. Although the Savor card offers high rewards rates with an intro APR offer, the Citi Simplicity has a much longer intro APR period.
Balance transfer credit cards provide lengthy 0% intro APR offers on balance transfers so that you can transfer your current balance from one or more cards – or sometimes eligible loans – and pay off the consolidated balance without the burden of incoming interest.
Many specialized balance transfer cards cut rewards in favor of 18-month to 21-month intro APRs, but some offer rewards. People who carry high-interest debt on one or more credit cards could save hundreds of dollars by doing a balance transfer. When choosing the most cost-effective card, make sure you account for the card’s balance transfer fee (typically 3% to 5% of your transferred total).
The right balance transfer card for you may come down to how much debt you have on other cards. The more debt you have, the longer intro APR offer you’ll want. For high debt, you should look at cards like the Citi Simplicity Card, which has one of the longest intro APR offers available. If you have moderate debt and still want an all-around great card, consider comparing the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card and the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card. Both cards have boosted cash back rates in several categories and generous balance transfer offers.
A rewards credit card earns cash back, points or miles on eligible purchases, depending on the type of rewards card. Reward rates may apply to all purchases or only to purchases in a specific category like gas or groceries. The best rewards credit cards also often include lucrative sign-up bonuses, intro APR offers, purchase protections or other useful perks. In exchange for an annual fee, some cards also offer especially valuable rewards rates and benefits like annual credits.
There are several rewards cards to choose from, and the right one for you will depend on your unique expenses. If you aren’t sure where to start, consider comparing the American Express Gold Card and the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards credit card to better understand which type of rewards card aligns with your needs.
Cash back credit cards let you earn and redeem cash, usually in the form of statement credits, gift cards, checks or direct deposits into your bank account. They generally fall into three categories:
There’s no shortage of choice regarding cash back cards, and they won’t all be right for you. If you aren’t sure where to start, consider comparing the Wells Fargo Active Cash card and the Blue Cash Everyday card from American Express. The Active Cash is an excellent example of a solid flat-rate card, while the Blue Cash Everyday is a rewarding tiered cash back card. If you can decide between the two, you may be able to determine which cash back program works best for you and whether you should consider a rotating category cash back card to fill in any gaps.
Travel credit cards let you earn points or miles to redeem for future travel bookings. They often tout additional travel benefits, like annual credits, complimentary lounge access, no foreign transaction fees, airline or hotel upgrades and supplemental travel insurance. As with cash back cards, there are several types of travel rewards credit cards.
Choosing a travel card can be overwhelming, but a good place to begin your search will be comparing a general travel rewards card with a branded travel card partnered with the airline or the hotel you travel most frequently with. The branded card will vary by user, but if you look at how a card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred card compares to your preferred airline or hotel card, you might find you value flexibility more than niche extras — or vice versa.
You may have heard that getting a credit card is one of the best ways to build credit. That’s because there are credit cards designed specifically to help people with no, fair or even bad credit do just that.
Business credit cards are designed for entrepreneurs, small-business owners, gig workers and freelancers. When it comes to business credit cards versus personal cards, business cards aren’t required to offer the same legal protections found with consumer cards. However, business cards set themselves apart with rewards in popular business purchases, potentially higher credit limits (or no pre-set spending limits), expense tracking tools and other features that could be valuable for managing your business.
You’ll want to find a business card with rewards rates that align with your business expenses. Sometimes, the best choice may be a flat-rate rewards card like the American Express Blue Business Cash Card. To explore tiered category rewards in specific categories, look at a card like the Chase Ink Business Cash® Credit Card.
In simple terms, credit cards are financial products that allow you to borrow money (usually) without collateral. Essentially, this is how credit cards work:
Credit cards are for short-term borrowing. If you plan on borrowing long term, a personal loan would be a better fit. A credit card APR is much steeper and may lead to hundreds — or even thousands — of dollars in interest charges if you carry a balance long term, especially if you only pay the minimum each month. However, there are ways to avoid paying any interest and ways to make credit cards benefit your whole financial picture.
Credit card rewards come in many forms but generally fall into one of three categories: cash back, points or miles. Cash back is the most straightforward since you earn a percentage of your total spending back based on your card’s rewards rate. For example, a card that earns 5% cash back on groceries would earn $5 back on $100 in grocery purchases. You’ll typically be able to redeem cash rewards as statement credits, direct deposits, mailed checks or gift cards.
Points and miles usually work the same way, but your redemption options and the value of your rewards may differ depending on the rewards program. For example, if a card offers 5X points on dining, you’ll earn 500 points or miles on a $100 purchase, but you may get the best value for your points when you redeem them in a specific way, such as for travel (a card may earn points worth 1.5 cents per dollar when you redeem for travel, but only 0.5 cents per point when you opt for cash back).
Although every rewards program works differently, you should generally choose a card that earns:
| FICO Score ranges | VantageScore ranges |
|---|---|
| 800 to 850 Excellent | 800 to 850 Excellent |
| 740 to 799 Very good | 740 to 799 Very Good |
| 670 to 639 Good | 670 to 639 Good |
| 580 to 669 Fair | 580 to 669 Fair |
| 300 to 579 poor | 300 to 499 poor |
Credit card interest is the fee financial institutions charge you to borrow money. It’s listed as an annual percentage rate (APR) on your credit card statement or in your card’s terms and conditions. There are various credit card interest charges, such as purchase APR, cash advance or penalty APR, but it’s purchase APR you typically encounter the most.
When used responsibly, a credit card gives you substantial advantages, such as the ability to earn rewards, handle emergencies and build credit. Here are some of the most useful benefits of using a credit card, as well as some potential drawbacks of having a credit card.
Finding your ideal card isn’t always an easy process. Your choice of credit card should be one that fits not only your credit score but also your spending habits and financial goals.
As you narrow down your choices, we recommend asking yourself the following questions:
There’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all credit card. Each cardholder will have a unique set of needs, and it’s unlikely that one credit card will tick off every box. When determining which credit card offers the best set of features to fit your must-haves, compromise is the name of the game. If you’re hoping to land a card that comes loaded with premium frills but doesn’t charge an annual fee, you may have to choose one or the other.
When narrowing down the type of card that’s right for you, ask yourself which of the following features you hope to avoid and which you absolutely can’t do without:
While avoiding credit card fees altogether is unlikely, you could keep them to a minimum with certain cards. Annual fees and foreign transaction fees are two fees that may be hard to avoid entirely, depending on the features you need and where you’ll use your card.
You may want to consider a card with no foreign transaction fees if you often travel abroad. Capital One and Discover cards usually don’t charge foreign transaction fees, and Discover cards waive several other common card fees. However, penalty APRs and late payment fees are avoidable on other cards if you use them responsibly.
There are plenty of high-quality credit cards with no annual fee. However, cards with annual fees (which usually range from around $30 to close to $700) typically offer stronger rewards rates and more valuable perks. Whether annual fees are worth it depends on how much use you’ll get from your card’s benefits based on your lifestyle and spending habits.
A card’s interest rate is one of the most critical aspects to be aware of when choosing a card. This is the rate your card issuer will charge you for borrowing from your line of credit, and that rate can vary quite a bit based on your credit score and other factors.
The current average credit card APR is quite high – around 20 percent variable – but your card’s APR could run much higher or lower based on your credit history. A good interest rate is often at least three to four percentage points below average.
You should prioritize your card decision based on your habits. Regarding interest rates, you should look at how reliably you’ll pay your bill each billing cycle. If you frequently pay late or miss payments, you might want to prioritize a low-interest card in your search.
Credit cards often come with handy benefits for cardmembers, such as extended purchase warranties, airport lounge access, travel insurance and discounts on services or at retailers. Premium rewards cards generally offer higher-value benefits.
Cash back cards typically don’t carry as many extra perks as travel cards, but some may offer annual credits or partner perks for domestic expenses like streaming services or food delivery. You’ll need to ask yourself which perks you’ll likely use and how their value compares to the cost of holding a card.
Premium cards also offer a better rewards rate on purchases. When comparing credit card rewards programs, you’ll want to weigh which bonus categories and types of rewards suit your spending habits, your redemption options and how much your rewards will be worth.
To calculate a card’s yearly rewards value:
If you’re not sure what your points are worth, check out Bankrate’s latest point and mile valuations.
Credit cards offer hefty introductory bonuses, also known as welcome or sign-up bonuses, to new cardholders. These bonuses are often given in the form of points or cash after the new cardholder spends a certain dollar amount within a given period of time.
Understanding a typical bonus value and spending requirement is helpful when measuring welcome offers. No-annual-fee rewards cards usually offer around a $200 to $250 value after you spend $500 to $1,000 within your first three months. Premium card welcome offers often deliver $500 to $800 in value after you spend $4,000 to $6,000, and business cards sometimes feature even bigger bonus values and spending requirements.
Choosing a card based on its welcome offer isn’t always wise because this is only short-term value. But if the sign-up bonus is your deciding factor, choose the card with the welcome offer you will most likely obtain with normal spending.
Tip: To help make your decision, check out our compare credit cards tool to find the card that is best for you.
Before you apply for a credit card, you need to know where your credit stands and which credit cards you qualify for. A quick glance over your credit report will also help you spot any errors or potential hurdles and give you an opportunity to correct them before you apply.
You can access your credit for free at AnnualCreditReport.com, or visit the FICO® Score website for more info on where to view your score.
Once you have a sense of the type of cards available to you based on your credit score, it becomes easier to narrow down the search. The card you choose should match your spending habits, budget, and financial goals. For example, is there a chance you may need to carry a balance from time to time? Will you use rewards primarily for travel or would a more flexible rewards card suit you best?
Once you’ve determined exactly what it is you’re looking for in a credit card, it’s time to apply.
There are a number of ways to apply for a credit card. The application process is fairly standard, as you can apply by mail or online directly through the issuer’s site. You can also apply through your financial institution if you like the card’s offerings. Chances are you’ll receive more favorable terms as an existing client. Assuming your account history has remained relatively unblemished, your bank may be willing to approve you for cards you may not be able to get elsewhere.
When applying, you’ll be asked to provide basic personal information such as name, address, SSN and annual income as well as a list of current financial obligations such as your monthly housing costs or auto loan payments. When calculating your income, you may include money earned outside of work such as any government benefits or passive income.
In many cases, your online application is processed right then and there, giving you an answer in a matter of seconds. Once approved, your new card will typically be mailed out to you within a week or two. Other times, the process may take a bit longer and you may receive a later decision by email, snail mail, or telephone.
Card issuers raised the bar for credit card approval during the pandemic and have kept the approval requirements tight as many Americans continue to struggle financially due to inflation. This has resulted in a decline in overall credit card ownership. If your credit card application has been rejected, the issuer must provide you with an explanation for its decision, which is usually sent by email or sometimes snail mail.
There are a number of reasons why an issuer might choose to reject an application, here are a few:
If a rejection takes you by surprise, you can appeal the decision by calling the issuer’s reconsideration line. There you can make your case to an agent and address any concerns they may have about your credit profile. There’s no guarantee that they’ll reverse the decision but it’s worth a shot for those who feel they are a good candidate for the card. If you do plan to reach out to the issuer, it’s best to call within a few days of the rejection and have a copy of your credit report handy for quick reference.
Applying for a credit card results in what is known as a hard pull on your credit, which temporarily dings your score each time. For that reason, you don’t want to apply for another card immediately after you’ve been denied. Issuers will interpret this as risky behavior.
Different types of credit cards are designed to help you achieve different financial goals. As a result, comparing cards across categories can be difficult. The best rewards credit card, for instance, will be characterized by a solid base rewards program, generous sign-up bonus and additional benefits. Meanwhile, the best balance transfer credit card would depend on the length of its balance transfer offer, its balance transfer fee and what its APR might be once the balance transfer expires. Having said that, we picked the best credit cards in our database by considering the following criteria.
Remember, the right credit card for you will vary, depending on your spending profile and financial goals.
*All information about the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card has been collected independently by CreditCards.com and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
Check out our expert guides below for more information to help you find the best credit credit cards for your needs. Plus, we’ve included a few extra CreditCards.com resources so you can effectively evaluate your options and make the most informed choice.
Credit card guides
Credit card resources
There is no single best credit card, but the best credit card for you depends on factors like your spending habits, financial needs and your credit profile. Our “How to choose a credit card” guide above can help narrow down your search, but you can save some time by starting with our CardMatch tool for a personalized list of credit card recommendations and exclusive offers.
However, credit cards aren’t created equally – some cards can certainly be stronger than others in their category. You can learn more about these exceptional credit cards in our “Editor’s picks” above. The best credit cards on the market come and go as new cards debut and factors like welcome offers and card features change, but our partners at Bankrate bestow many of our consistently top-rated cards with a Bankrate Award. You can check out the 2023 Bankrate Award winners to help you find the right card for your wallet.
There is no single best credit card, but the best credit card for you depends on factors like your spending habits, financial needs and your credit profile. Our “How to choose a credit card” guide above can help narrow down your search, but you can save some time by starting with our CardMatch tool for a personalized list of credit card recommendations and exclusive offers.
However, credit cards aren’t created equally – some cards can certainly be stronger than others in their category. You can learn more about these exceptional credit cards in our “Editor’s picks” above. The best credit cards on the market come and go as new cards debut and factors like welcome offers and card features change, but our partners at Bankrate bestow many of our consistently top-rated cards with a Bankrate Award. You can check out the 2023 Bankrate Award winners to help you find the right card for your wallet.
The number of credit cards you should have depends on your personal needs and spending habits. You may want to stick to one credit card if you’re new to credit, rebuilding your credit score or you just prefer a standalone card to reward all your expenses. Consolidating your balances to a single balance transfer card may also be helpful if you’re trying to pay off your credit card debt.
On the other hand, you’ll likely want multiple credit cards if you want to maximize your value with access to a variety of bonus reward categories, additional features and redemption options. For example, one of the most common card combinations is a card with bonus categories that rewards your biggest expenses and a flat-rate rewards card to earn rewards on all your other spending. If you prefer cash back, stacking up several cards for a range of categories is one of the best ways to maximize your credit cards’ value.
However, frequent travelers may want multiple cards to shore up their travel perks and leverage the most valuable redemption options for their travel plans. For instance, pairing Chase cash back cards with the Sapphire Preferred – or another Chase Ultimate Rewards card – allows you to receive more rewards value toward Chase travel redemptions and the right Chase transfer partner.
Similarly, traveling often with your favorite airline or hotel may justify adding a co-branded rewards card to your current roster. A brand-specific hotel or airline card could sprinkle additional reward and loyalty perk value onto your rewards card strategy, and smooth out kinks in your travel with features like airport lounge access, complimentary hotel elite status and more.
Learn more: Best credit card combinations for everyday spending
There are a range of credit cards built for each credit score level. Balance transfer credit cards and popular rewards cards often require good to excellent credit – a FICO score of 670 or higher, or a VantageScore of 660 or higher. However, there are plenty of quality credit cards you can get with a fair credit score or lower. In fact, you could even qualify for some credit cards if you have no credit history, such as secured credit cards or student credit cards (if you’re enrolled in college)
The easiest credit cards to get are starter credit cards like secured and student cards, which don’t require a particular credit score to be eligible. To make the application process even easier, there are several instant approval cards available at each credit level that will let you know whether you’re likely to be approved immediately after applying.
Credit card companies consist of credit card networks and credit card issuers. Credit card networks support their branded cards with partner merchants and process transactions made with them. There are four major credit card networks: Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover. Visa and Mastercard are the two largest networks and have the highest acceptance rates worldwide, although cards on all four networks are accepted by a majority of U.S. merchants. Discover and American Express are smaller networks but they issue credit cards as well. Based on the latest J.D. Power Credit Card satisfaction survey, American Express is the best credit card company for customer service, but Discover usually ranks in first or second place as well.
Credit card issuers provide the actual credit cards and manage your credit card account. Popular credit card issuers (besides Amex and Discover) include Chase, Capital One, Citi, Wells Fargo and Bank of America, for example. The best card issuer is the issuer that provides the cards that best support your spending habits with the rewards and features you’re interested in. For instance, Chase credit cards are some of the best for earning rewards and pairing multiple cards, Capital One focuses on streamlined rewards programs and Discover is known for cards with low rates and fees.
In terms of credit card satisfaction, J.D. Power’s 2022 survey ranked Amex, Discover and Bank of America as above average (in that respective order). Chase and Capital One earned almost identical scores and round out the survey’s top five issuers.
