Our experts answer readers’ credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here’s how we assess credit cards). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners; however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.
A credit card is one of life’s most powerful tools. Responsible use can result in a good credit score which opens the door to auto loans, mortgages, and even favorable health insurance. Some of the most important things in life are made possible thanks to credit cards.
You can choose from dozens of the best credit cards. Whether you’re after cash back, free hotel stays, super cheap airfare, a tool to help grow your small business, or even if you’ve got poor/no credit and would like to improve your credit score, there’s a card for you.
Insider’s ultimate credit card reviews guide will help you find the exact product you’re looking for.
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first three months from account opening
Rewards
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first three months from account opening
Rewards
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is definitely worth considering if you want to earn a strong rate of cash rewards on purchases without rotating categories or earning caps and with no annual fee. It’s got a solid welcome bonus and intro APR offer, which puts it high on our list of the best zero-interest credit cards.
Details
Rewards
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
Intro offer
$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first three months from account opening
$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first three months from account opening
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Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable
Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
0% intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 15 months from account opening
Editor’s Rating
Insider’s Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
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Alyssa Powell/Insider
In terms of flexibility, cash back is the king of credit card rewards. Many cash back credit cards give you the option to redeem your rewards as either cash, a statement credit, or a transfer to your bank account. Occasionally you’ll be subject to a minimum redemption amount, but that’s the only potential stumbling block you’ll likely encounter.
Flat-rate cash-back cards, like the best 2% cash back credit cards, are suited to those who don’t want to keep track of multiple bonus categories and just want a simple earning structure. But choosing a card that earns maximum cash back in bonus categories where you spend a lot — like groceries, dining, or gas — can make a huge difference in your rate of return.
Best cash back credit cards
This table reflects our current picks from the best cash-back credit cards guide.
Other cash back credit cards
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Rewards
Earn unlimited 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn 5 miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2 miles on all other purchases.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Rewards
Earn unlimited 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn 5 miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2 miles on all other purchases.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is one of the best credit cards for frequent travelers, with top-notch benefits and a wide range of built-in protections. It comes with a generous welcome bonus and statement credits that can help offset the annual fee — which is much lower than similar premium cards.
Details
Rewards
Earn unlimited 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn 5 miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2 miles on all other purchases.
Intro offer
75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
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Recommended Credit
Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
21.99% – 28.99% Variable
Editor’s Rating
Insider’s Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
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Alyssa Powell/Insider
If you want to use travel rewards to save money on flights, an airline credit card is a must. You can choose between credit cards that earn airline miles, or cards that earn more flexible rewards points that you can transfer to various frequent flyer programs.
Airline cards also often come with valuable ongoing benefits like a free checked bag, priority boarding, or even airport lounge access. And it’s not uncommon to find increased welcome bonuses worth well over $1,000 in travel.
Best airline credit cards
This table reflects our current picks from the best airline credit cards guide.
Other airline credit cards
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Rewards
Earn 5x points on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Earn 3x points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out. Earn 3x points on select streaming services. Earn 3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs). Earn 2x points on other travel. Earn 1x point per dollar on everything else.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Rewards
Earn 5x points on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Earn 3x points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out. Earn 3x points on select streaming services. Earn 3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs). Earn 2x points on other travel. Earn 1x point per dollar on everything else.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
If you’re new to travel rewards credit cards or just don’t want to pay hundreds in annual fees, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a smart choice. It earns bonus points on a wide variety of travel and dining purchases and offers strong travel and purchase coverage, including primary car rental insurance.
Details
Rewards
Earn 5x points on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Earn 3x points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out. Earn 3x points on select streaming services. Earn 3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs). Earn 2x points on other travel. Earn 1x point per dollar on everything else.
Intro offer
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
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Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Recommended credit score. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application.
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Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
21.24% – 28.24% Variable
Editor’s Rating
Insider’s Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
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Alyssa Powell/Insider
While it takes more effort to redeem points or miles compared to cash back, the upside is that you can get much more value for your points compared to simply cashing in your rewards for a statement credit or check at a rate of 1 cent per point.
In fact, it’s possible to receive double, triple, or even more than that amount when you’re strategic about how you redeem your rewards for travel, particularly if you book expensive luxury hotels or first-class flights.
While in most cases you’ll pay an annual fee for travel cards, there are some no-annual-fee travel credit cards that come with strong earning rates and benefits that can improve your travel experience.
Best travel credit cards
This table reflects our current picks from the best travel credit cards guide.
Other travel credit cards
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Rewards
Earn 5x points on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Earn 3x points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out. Earn 3x points on select streaming services. Earn 3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs). Earn 2x points on other travel. Earn 1x point per dollar on everything else.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Rewards
Earn 5x points on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Earn 3x points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out. Earn 3x points on select streaming services. Earn 3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs). Earn 2x points on other travel. Earn 1x point per dollar on everything else.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
If you’re new to travel rewards credit cards or just don’t want to pay hundreds in annual fees, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a smart choice. It earns bonus points on a wide variety of travel and dining purchases and offers strong travel and purchase coverage, including primary car rental insurance.
Details
Rewards
Earn 5x points on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Earn 3x points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out. Earn 3x points on select streaming services. Earn 3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs). Earn 2x points on other travel. Earn 1x point per dollar on everything else.
Intro offer
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
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Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Recommended credit score. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application.
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Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
21.24% – 28.24% Variable
Editor’s Rating
Insider’s Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
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Alyssa Powell/Insider
If you’re thinking about opening a hotel credit card, the first step is to analyze your travel goals.
Are you a road-tripper who wants to book cheap hotels along the highway? Do you mostly use small-town hotels during trips to grandma’s for Thanksgiving? Do you want a five-star vacation in the Maldives?
It’s also important to consider the credit card’s sign-up bonus, recurring benefits, ease of earning free nights via credit card spending, category bonuses, and elite status perks (if any).
The best hotel credit cards offer a free night after each account anniversary or for meeting spending thresholds. These nights can be worth much more than the cards’ annual fees, and make them worth keeping year after year.
Best hotel credit cards
This table reflects our current picks from the best hotel credit cards guide.
Other hotel credit cards
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
Rewards
Earn 2% cash back on everyday eligible business purchases (on up to $50,000 per year in purchases, then 1%). Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
Rewards
Earn 2% cash back on everyday eligible business purchases (on up to $50,000 per year in purchases, then 1%). Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.
On American Express’s website
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
If you’re spending money on your business anyway, you should be rewarded for those purchases by using one of the best small-business credit cards. With The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, you can earn unlimited cash back on your spending with no annual fee.
Details
Rewards
Earn 2% cash back on everyday eligible business purchases (on up to $50,000 per year in purchases, then 1%). Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
18.49% – 26.49% Variable
Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from account opening
Editor’s Rating
Insider’s Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
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Alyssa Powell/Insider
You’d be surprised at what qualifies you for a small business credit card. Small businesses aren’t always multi-million dollar operations — whether you’re a freelancer, a Lyft driver, an Instacart shopper, or have any other side hustle, you could qualify for a small business credit card. Whether you want a small-business card that earns cash back, a general rewards business card, or a business card with no annual fee, there are plenty of options to choose from.
If you’ve got a sizable business, keeping your personal and business finances separate is vital. Things can get murky quickly when you’re cutting personal and business checks from the same account — a business credit card will not only help separate expenses, but also help you establish business credit, so that you have flexibility later on with loans and leases.
Best small business credit cards
This table reflects our current picks from the best small business credit cards guide.
Other small business credit cards
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
Intro offer
Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year
Rewards
Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. Earn 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases.
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
Intro offer
Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year
Rewards
Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. Earn 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases.
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
The Discover it® Secured Credit Card is worth considering if you’re new to credit or are working on rebuilding your score, since it’s unlikely you’ll be approved for any of the best credit cards on the market. It’s unique because it earns strong rewards when most other secured credit cards do not.
Details
Rewards
Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. Earn 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases.
Intro offer
Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year
Recommended Credit
New/Rebuilding
Recommended credit score. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application.
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Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
28.24% Variable
Editor’s Rating
Insider’s Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
Show more
Alyssa Powell/Insider
Having a low credit score makes it harder to get approved for a new credit card and other types of loans, and it means that when you do get approved for, say, a mortgage, you’ll generally get less-favorable terms like the highest variable interest rates. A bad credit score is defined as anything below 580, according to the FICO scoring model.
It may seem counterintuitive, but opening and using a credit card responsibly is one of the best ways to build your credit history and score. If you’re starting from scratch or need to rebuild from some credit mishaps in the past, consider one of the best secured credit cards as a stepping stone to more rewarding cards in the future.
Best credit cards for limited/no credit
This table reflects our current picks from the best credit cards for bad credit guide.
Other credit cards for limited/no credit
Credit card interest fees can be absolutely crippling if you dig yourself into a hole of debt. Some credit cards incur over 30% APR — meaning you could pay thousands of dollars in interest in a single year by neglecting to pay off your card balances each month.
If you’re paying interest on your credit card — or if you anticipate a large expense that’ll take several months to pay off (medical bills, emergency car maintenance, etc.), a zero-interest credit card with an introductory 0% APR is just what you need. Some cards give you many months to pay off new purchases before any interest accrues. Others allow you to transfer a balance from your high-interest credit card while giving you an equally generous 0% interest window.
Best 0% APR credit cards
This table reflects some of our current picks from the best 0% APR credit cards guide.
Other credit cards for 0% intro APR
Discover it® Student Cash Back
Intro offer
Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year
Rewards
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. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases automatically.
Discover it® Student Cash Back
Intro offer
Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year
Rewards
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. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases automatically.
Discover it® Student Cash Back
The Discover it® Student Cash Back is a great choice if you’re a student with limited credit history and want to earn a strong rate of cash back on your everyday spending without paying an annual fee.
Details
Rewards
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. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases automatically.
Intro offer
Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year
Recommended Credit
Fair/New to Credit
Recommended credit score. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application.
Show more
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
18.24% – 27.24% Variable
Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
0% intro APR for six months on purchases
Editor’s Rating
Insider’s Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
Show more
Alyssa Powell/Insider
Applying for your first credit card is an exciting milestone regardless of age, but young adults can find it hard to get approved with limited income and credit history. Some parents add their children as credit card authorized users while they’re still minors to get a head start on building credit, but this strategy isn’t a good fit for everyone.
If you’re a student without established credit, there are still plenty of credit cards that you can qualify for. Then, once you’ve improved your credit score by using a credit card responsibly, it can be easier to upgrade to more lucrative rewards credit cards.
Best student credit cards
This table reflects our current picks from the best student credit cards guide.
link
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