www.nerdwallet.com
Open in
urlscan Pro
104.18.43.71
Public Scan
Submitted URL: https://clicks.nerdwallet.com/u/click?_t=39e7794eece247629b50b18464f32a68&_m=4a337e51f51e452cad3dfdc22828c48b&_e=PiS9Qeplb3CmQ...
Effective URL: https://www.nerdwallet.com/the-best-credit-cards?utm_source=Iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=cc_crm_shop_rotatingvert...
Submission: On November 03 via api from CA — Scanned from CA
Effective URL: https://www.nerdwallet.com/the-best-credit-cards?utm_source=Iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=cc_crm_shop_rotatingvert...
Submission: On November 03 via api from CA — Scanned from CA
Form analysis
0 forms found in the DOMText Content
Credit cards * Credit cards * View all credit cards Best credit cardsBest credit cardsBest bonus offer credit cardsBest balance transfer credit cardsBest travel credit cardsBest cash back credit cardsBest 0% APR credit cardsBest rewards credit cards Explore credit cardsTravel rewards0% APR credit cardsCash back credit cardsBusiness credit cardsAirline credit cardsHotel credit cardsStudent credit cardsStore credit cards Compare credit cards Get a card recommendation Credit card reviews Credit card educationCredit card resourcesGet your free credit scoreCredit card basicsApplying for a credit cardChoosing a credit cardManaging credit card debt Credit card calculatorsBalance transfer savings calculatorCredit card interest rate calculator Banking * Banking * Banking guide Savings accountsSavings account guideBest savings accountsBest high-yield savings accountsSavings accounts alternativesSavings calculator CDsCD guideBest CD ratesBest 3 month CD ratesBest 6 month CD ratesBest 1 year CD ratesBest 3 year CD ratesBest 5 year CD ratesCD calculator Checking accountsChecking account guideBest checking accountsBest free checking accountsBest online check accountsChecking account alternatives Payments and transfers NerdWallet's banking picksBest bank bonuses and promotionsBest money market accountsBest credit unions Bank reviews Banking calculatorsCompound interest calculatorEmergency fund calculator Home * Home Mortgage ratesToday's mortgage rates30 year mortgage rates5-year ARM rates3-year ARM ratesFHA mortgage ratesVA mortgage ratesBest mortgage lenders Best mortgage lendersMortgage guideBest mortgage lendersBest lenders for FHA loansBest lenders for low- and no-down-paymentBest VA mortgage lenders Refinance and HELOCRefinancing and equity guideToday's refinance ratesBest refinance lenders30-year fixed refinance rates15-year fixed refinance ratesBest cash-out refinance lendersBest HELOC Lenders Buying a homeView our home buying hubGet pre-approved for a mortgageHome affordabilityFirst-time homebuyers guideDown paymentRent vs buy calculatorHow much can I borrow mortgage calculatorInspections and appraisalsMortgage lender reviews HomeownershipHomeownership guideManaging a mortgageRefinancing and equityHome improvementHome valueHome insurance Selling a home Home calculatorsMortgage calculatorDown payment calculatorHow much house can I afford calculatorClosing costs calculatorCost of living calculatorMortgage amortization calculatorRefinance calculator First-time homebuyer's guide Loans * Loans * Loans guide Personal loansPersonal loans guideGetting a personal loanLoans for bad creditManaging a personal loanPersonal loan reviewsCompare top lendersPre-qualify for a personal loanPersonal loan calculator Types of personal loans Debt consolidation loans High interest loan alternatives Best quick cash loans Best emergency loans Best home improvement loans Best personal loans right now Cash advances and overdraft protection Student loansStudent loans guidePaying for career trainingFAFSA and federal student aidPaying for collegePaying for graduate schoolRepaying student debtRefinancing student debtBest private student loans NerdWallet's student loan calculators Student loan calculator Student loan refinance calculator Student loan payoff calculator Auto loansAuto loans guideBest auto loans for good and bad creditBest auto loans refinance loansBest lease buyout loans Auto loan calculators Auto loan calculator Auto loans refinance calculator Total car cost calculator Insurance * Insurance * Insurance guide Auto insuranceAuto insurance guideAuto insurance ratesBest auto insurance companiesCheapest auto insurancePolicies and coverageAuto insurance reviews Auto insurance calculators Auto insurance calculator Total auto cost calculator Life insuranceView all life insuranceLife insurance ratesLife insurance policies and coverageLife insurance quotesLife insurance reviewsBest life insurance companiesLife insurance calculator Home insuranceHomeowners insurance guideHome insurance ratesHome insurance quotesBest home insurance companiesHome insurance policies and coverageHome insurance calculatorHome insurance reviews Medicare Renters insurance Pet insurance Personal finance * Personal finance * View all personal finance Tracking creditGet your free credit scoreYour credit reportUnderstanding your credit scoreUsing your creditImproving your creditProtecting your credit Managing moneyMoney Management tipsSaving moneyHandling bills and expensesShoppingFinancial healthSavings goal calculatorNet worth calculator NerdWallet's budgeting basics Budgeting Free budget worksheet How to budget The best budget apps Budget calculator Cost of living calculator Making moneyMoney making guideGig workMaking money online Managing debtPaying debtDealing with debt collectionDebt relief TaxesTax guideTax brackets and ratesHow to fill out or update your W4How to get free tax filing and tax prepCapital gains calculatorFederal income tax calculator TravelView all travelBest travel credit cardsReward optimizationTravel insurance Investing + Retirement * Investing + Retirement Best investment accountsBest IRA accountsBest online brokers for tradingBest online brokers for beginnersBest robo-advisorsBest options trading brokers and platformsBest trading platforms for day trading Investment guidesInvesting guideStocksFundsBondsReal estate and alternative investmentsCryptocurrencyEmployee equity Types of investment accounts401(k)sRoth and traditional IRAsBrokerage accounts529 college savings plans Investment account reviews Compare online brokerages Planning and strategyPlanning and strategy guideBest investments right nowRetirement planningEstate planningFinancial planningSocial Security Investing and retirement calculatorsRetirement calculator401(k) savings calculatorRoth IRA calculatorInvestment return calculatorSocial Security benefits calculator Small business * Small business * View all small business Funding your businessBusiness loansSBA loansBusiness credit cardsBusiness grants NerdWallet's business funding picks Compare small business loans Best small business line of credit Best small business credit cards Managing business financesBusiness bank accountsAccountingPayroll & HRBusiness taxes NerdWallet's finance management picks Best small business checking Best banks for small businesses Running your businessView all running your businessPayment processingE-commerceMarketingBusiness insuranceBusiness legal General business tipsStarting a businessBusiness ideasFranchisingEntrepreneurship Skip to contentNerdWallet Home Page * Credit cards * Best credit cards * Explore credit cards * Compare credit cards * Get a card recommendation * Credit card reviews * Credit card education * Credit card calculators * View all credit cards * Best credit cards * Best bonus offer credit cards * Best balance transfer credit cards * Best travel credit cards * Best cash back credit cards * Best 0% APR credit cards * Best rewards credit cards * Travel rewards * 0% APR credit cards * Cash back credit cards * Business credit cards * Airline credit cards * Hotel credit cards * Student credit cards * Store credit cards * Get your free credit score * Credit card basics * Applying for a credit card * Choosing a credit card * Managing credit card debt * Credit card resources * Balance transfer savings calculator * Credit card interest rate calculator * Banking * Savings accounts * CDs * Checking accounts * Payments and transfers * NerdWallet's banking picks * Bank reviews * Banking calculators * Banking guide * Best savings accounts * Best high-yield savings accounts * Savings accounts alternatives * Savings calculator * Savings account guide * Best CD rates * Best 3 month CD rates * Best 6 month CD rates * Best 1 year CD rates * Best 3 year CD rates * Best 5 year CD rates * CD calculator * CD guide * Best checking accounts * Best free checking accounts * Best online check accounts * Checking account alternatives * Checking account guide * Best bank bonuses and promotions * Best money market accounts * Best credit unions * Compound interest calculator * Emergency fund calculator * Home * Mortgage rates * Best mortgage lenders * Refinance and HELOC * Buying a home * Homeownership * Selling a home * Home calculators * First-time homebuyer's guide * Today's mortgage rates * 30 year mortgage rates * 5-year ARM rates * 3-year ARM rates * FHA mortgage rates * VA mortgage rates * Best mortgage lenders * Best mortgage lenders * Best lenders for FHA loans * Best lenders for low- and no-down-payment * Best VA mortgage lenders * Mortgage guide * Today's refinance rates * Best refinance lenders * 30-year fixed refinance rates * 15-year fixed refinance rates * Best cash-out refinance lenders * Best HELOC Lenders * Refinancing and equity guide * Get pre-approved for a mortgage * Home affordability * First-time homebuyers guide * Down payment * Rent vs buy calculator * How much can I borrow mortgage calculator * Inspections and appraisals * Mortgage lender reviews * View our home buying hub * Managing a mortgage * Refinancing and equity * Home improvement * Home value * Home insurance * Homeownership guide * Mortgage calculator * Down payment calculator * How much house can I afford calculator * Closing costs calculator * Cost of living calculator * Mortgage amortization calculator * Refinance calculator * Loans * Personal loans * Student loans * Auto loans * Loans guide * Getting a personal loan * Loans for bad credit * Managing a personal loan * Personal loan reviews * Compare top lenders * Pre-qualify for a personal loan * Personal loan calculator * Personal loans guide * Paying for career training * FAFSA and federal student aid * Paying for college * Paying for graduate school * Repaying student debt * Refinancing student debt * Best private student loans * Student loans guide * Best auto loans for good and bad credit * Best auto loans refinance loans * Best lease buyout loans * Auto loans guide Types of personal loans * Debt consolidation loans * High interest loan alternatives * Best quick cash loans * Best emergency loans * Best home improvement loans * Best personal loans right now * Cash advances and overdraft protection NerdWallet's student loan calculators * Student loan calculator * Student loan refinance calculator * Student loan payoff calculator Auto loan calculators * Auto loan calculator * Auto loans refinance calculator * Total car cost calculator * Insurance * Auto insurance * Life insurance * Home insurance * Medicare * Renters insurance * Pet insurance * Insurance guide * Auto insurance rates * Best auto insurance companies * Cheapest auto insurance * Policies and coverage * Auto insurance reviews * Auto insurance guide * Life insurance rates * Life insurance policies and coverage * Life insurance quotes * Life insurance reviews * Best life insurance companies * Life insurance calculator * View all life insurance * Home insurance rates * Home insurance quotes * Best home insurance companies * Home insurance policies and coverage * Home insurance calculator * Home insurance reviews * Homeowners insurance guide Auto insurance calculators * Auto insurance calculator * Total auto cost calculator * Personal finance * Tracking credit * Managing money * Making money * Managing debt * Taxes * Travel * View all personal finance * Get your free credit score * Your credit report * Understanding your credit score * Using your credit * Improving your credit * Protecting your credit * Saving money * Handling bills and expenses * Shopping * Financial health * Savings goal calculator * Net worth calculator * Money Management tips * Gig work * Making money online * Money making guide * Paying debt * Dealing with debt collection * Debt relief * Tax brackets and rates * How to fill out or update your W4 * How to get free tax filing and tax prep * Capital gains calculator * Federal income tax calculator * Tax guide * Best travel credit cards * Reward optimization * Travel insurance * View all travel NerdWallet's budgeting basics * Budgeting * Free budget worksheet * How to budget * The best budget apps * Budget calculator * Cost of living calculator * Investing + Retirement * Best investment accounts * Investment guides * Types of investment accounts * Investment account reviews * Compare online brokerages * Planning and strategy * Investing and retirement calculators * Best IRA accounts * Best online brokers for trading * Best online brokers for beginners * Best robo-advisors * Best options trading brokers and platforms * Best trading platforms for day trading * Stocks * Funds * Bonds * Real estate and alternative investments * Cryptocurrency * Employee equity * Investing guide * 401(k)s * Roth and traditional IRAs * Brokerage accounts * 529 college savings plans * Best investments right now * Retirement planning * Estate planning * Financial planning * Social Security * Planning and strategy guide * Retirement calculator * 401(k) savings calculator * Roth IRA calculator * Investment return calculator * Social Security benefits calculator * Small business * Funding your business * Managing business finances * Running your business * General business tips * View all small business * Business loans * SBA loans * Business credit cards * Business grants * Business bank accounts * Accounting * Payroll & HR * Business taxes * Payment processing * E-commerce * Marketing * Business insurance * Business legal * View all running your business * Starting a business * Business ideas * Franchising * Entrepreneurship NerdWallet's business funding picks * Compare small business loans * Best small business line of credit * Best small business credit cards NerdWallet's finance management picks * Best small business checking * Best banks for small businesses Sign in Sign up Join Up your money game with a NerdWallet account Up your money game with a NerdWallet account Continue with Apple or continue with email By signing up, I agree to NerdWallet's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Advertiser disclosure BEST CREDIT CARDS OF NOVEMBER 2023 From huge sign-up bonuses to generous rewards, NerdWallet's best credit cards outshine the rest. Compare these deals from our partners to find one that fits your needs. By Paul Soucy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nov 2, 2023 Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money. all cardsBest OffersTravelBalance TransferLow InterestCash BackRewardsBuilding CreditStudentFair CreditBusiness More Find the right credit card for you. Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you. Get Started Best Offers from Our Partners Credit card NerdWallet rating Annual feeIntro offerRewards rateApply now Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card Apply Now on Wells Fargo's website on Wells Fargo's website Rates & Fees 5.0/5 $0 $200 2% cashback Apply Now on Wells Fargo's website on Wells Fargo's website Rates & Fees Chase Freedom Unlimited® Apply Now on Chase's website on Chase's website 5.0/5 $0 Matched Cash Back 1.5%-5% cashback Apply Now on Chase's website on Chase's website Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card Apply Now on Capital One's website on Capital One's website Rates & Fees 5.0/5 $0 $200 1%-10% cashback Apply Now on Capital One's website on Capital One's website Rates & Fees Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Apply Now on Capital One's website on Capital One's website Rates & Fees 4.7/5 $95 75,000 miles 2x-5x miles Apply Now on Capital One's website on Capital One's website Rates & Fees Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Apply Now on Chase's website on Chase's website 5.0/5 $95 60,000 points 1x-5x points Apply Now on Chase's website on Chase's website Discover it® Cash Back Apply Now on Discover's website, on Discover's website,or call 800-347-0264 Rates & Fees 4.9/5 $0 Cashback Match™ 1%-5% cashback Apply Now on Discover's website, on Discover's website,or call 800-347-0264 Rates & Fees Discover it® Balance Transfer Apply Now on Discover's website on Discover's website Rates & Fees 4.9/5 $0 Cashback Match™ 1%-5% cashback Apply Now on Discover's website on Discover's website Rates & Fees Best Credit Cards For BEST OFFERS Best for: Cash back — high flat rate + incentives WELLS FARGO ACTIVE CASH® CARD Apply Now on Wells Fargo's website on Wells Fargo's website NerdWallet rating 5.0/5 Rates & Fees Annual fee $0 Rewards rate 2% cashback Intro offer $200 Recommended Credit Score 690-850 (Good - Excellent) Get your free credit score NerdWallet rating 5.0/5 Rates & Fees Apply Now on Wells Fargo's website on Wells Fargo's website Annual fee $0 Rewards rate 2% cashback Intro offer $200 Recommended Credit Score 690-850 (Good - Excellent) Get your free credit score Product Details Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, then a 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5 $0 annual fee No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don't expire as long as your account remains open Enjoy a premium collection of benefits at a selection of the world's most intriguing and prestigious hotel properties with Visa Signature Concierge Get up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft when you pay your monthly cell phone bill with your eligible Wells Fargo card (subject to a $25 deductible). Select “Apply Now” to learn more about the product features, terms and conditions * View Rates & Fees Our Take Pros * High rewards rate * No annual fee * Intro APR period Cons * No bonus categories Best for: Cash back for travel bookings CHASE FREEDOM UNLIMITED® Apply Now on Chase's website on Chase's website NerdWallet rating 5.0/5 Annual fee $0 Rewards rate 1.5%-5% cashback Intro offer Matched Cash Back Recommended Credit Score 690-850 (Good - Excellent) Get your free credit score NerdWallet rating 5.0/5 Apply Now on Chase's website on Chase's website Annual fee $0 Rewards rate 1.5%-5% cashback Intro offer Matched Cash Back Recommended Credit Score 690-850 (Good - Excellent) Get your free credit score Product Details SPECIAL OFFER: Unlimited Matched Cash Back. Use your card for all your purchases and at the end of your first year, Chase will automatically match all the cash back you earned! There is no limit to how much you can earn. Every dollar in cash back rewards you earn is a dollar Chase will match. Unlimited 1.5% cash back is just the beginning of what you can earn. You'll enjoy 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, 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; and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases. Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%. No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open! No annual fee - You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more. Member FDIC Our Take Pros * No annual fee * Intro APR period * High rewards rate * No minimum redemption amount Cons * Requires good/excellent credit Best for: Bonus rewards: High rates on dining, groceries and more CAPITAL ONE SAVORONE CASH REWARDS CREDIT CARD Apply Now on Capital One's website on Capital One's website NerdWallet rating 5.0/5 Rates & Fees Annual fee $0 Rewards rate 1%-10% cashback Intro offer $200 Recommended Credit Score 690-850 (Good - Excellent) Get your free credit score NerdWallet rating 5.0/5 Rates & Fees Apply Now on Capital One's website on Capital One's website Annual fee $0 Rewards rate 1%-10% cashback Intro offer $200 Recommended Credit Score 690-850 (Good - Excellent) Get your free credit score Product Details Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), plus 1% on all other purchases Earn 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024 Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months No foreign transaction fee No annual fee * View Rates & Fees Our Take Pros * No annual fee * Intro APR period * Bonus categories * No foreign transaction fees Cons * Requires good/excellent credit Best for: Flat-rate travel rewards CAPITAL ONE VENTURE REWARDS CREDIT CARD Apply Now on Capital One's website on Capital One's website NerdWallet rating 4.7/5 Rates & Fees Annual fee $95 Rewards rate 2x-5x miles Intro offer 75,000 miles Recommended Credit Score 690-850 (Good - Excellent) Get your free credit score NerdWallet rating 4.7/5 Rates & Fees Apply Now on Capital One's website on Capital One's website Annual fee $95 Rewards rate 2x-5x miles Intro offer 75,000 miles Recommended Credit Score 690-850 (Good - Excellent) Get your free credit score Product Details 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 Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® Enjoy two complimentary visits per year to Capital One Lounges or to 100+ Plaza Premium Lounges through the Partner Lounge Network Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs * View Rates & Fees Our Take Pros * High rewards rate * Flexible rewards redemption Cons * Has annual fee * Requires good/excellent credit Best for: Flexible redemption + big sign-up bonus CHASE SAPPHIRE PREFERRED® CARD Apply Now on Chase's website on Chase's website NerdWallet rating 5.0/5 Annual fee $95 Rewards rate 1x-5x points Intro offer 60,000 points Recommended Credit Score 690-850 (Good - Excellent) Get your free credit score NerdWallet rating 5.0/5 Apply Now on Chase's website on Chase's website Annual fee $95 Rewards rate 1x-5x points Intro offer 60,000 points Recommended Credit Score 690-850 (Good - Excellent) Get your free credit score Product Details 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®. Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, and 2x on all other travel purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more. Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel. Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more. Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024. Member FDIC Our Take Pros * New cardholder bonus offer * Bonus categories * Primary rental car coverage * Flexible rewards redemption * Transfer partners Cons * Has annual fee * Requires good/excellent credit * Complicated rewards Best for: Bonus category cash back + intro APR period DISCOVER IT® CASH BACK Apply Now on Discover's website, on Discover's website,or call 800-347-0264 NerdWallet rating 4.9/5 Rates & Fees Annual fee $0 Rewards rate 1%-5% cashback Intro offer Cashback Match™ Recommended Credit Score 690-850 (Good - Excellent) Get your free credit score NerdWallet rating 4.9/5 Rates & Fees Apply Now on Discover's website, on Discover's website,or call 800-347-0264 Annual fee $0 Rewards rate 1%-5% cashback Intro offer Cashback Match™ Recommended Credit Score 690-850 (Good - Excellent) Get your free credit score Product Details 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! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300. Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically. Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app. Every $1 you earn in cash back is $1 you can redeem Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 17.24% to 28.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness. No annual fee. Terms and conditions apply. * View Rates & Fees Our Take Pros * No annual fee * Intro APR period * Bonus categories * Cash rewards Cons * Complicated rewards * Spending caps on bonus rewards * Lower acceptance abroad Best for: Balance transfers DISCOVER IT® BALANCE TRANSFER Apply Now on Discover's website on Discover's website NerdWallet rating 4.9/5 Rates & Fees Annual fee $0 Rewards rate 1%-5% cashback Intro offer Cashback Match™ Recommended Credit Score 690-850 (Good - Excellent) Get your free credit score NerdWallet rating 4.9/5 Rates & Fees Apply Now on Discover's website on Discover's website Annual fee $0 Rewards rate 1%-5% cashback Intro offer Cashback Match™ Recommended Credit Score 690-850 (Good - Excellent) Get your free credit score Product Details 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! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300. Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically. Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app. Every $1 you earn in cash back is $1 you can redeem No annual fee. Terms and conditions apply. * View Rates & Fees Our Take Pros * No annual fee * Intro APR period * Bonus categories * Cash rewards Cons * Complicated rewards * Spending caps on bonus rewards * Lower acceptance abroad [back to top] MORE ABOUT THE CARDS FEATURED ON THIS PAGE Use the buttons at the top of the page to see cards in different categories. Best credit card offers * Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card: Enjoy 2% cash back on purchases, plus a great bonus offer and intro APR period. Read our review of the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card. * Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Earn bonus cash back in popular categories, including dining and some travel, plus a relatively high rate on everything else. There's a solid bonus offer, too. Read our review of the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. * Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: Food and entertainment rewards are the centerpiece of this no-fee card, which pays an unlimited 3% cash back at restaurants and grocery stores, but also on streaming and more. Read our review of the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card. * Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Unlimited 2X miles on purchases, plus a great bonus offer and an expanding array of perks. Read our review of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. * Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Bonus rewards on travel and dining, super-flexible points and a terrific bonus offer have long made this card a favorite among travelers. Read our review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. * Discover it® Cash Back: This card offers a high rewards rate in rotating categories, a good intro APR offer and an unusual bonus that could become a windfall. Read our review of the Discover it® Cash Back. * Discover it® Balance Transfer: You expect a balance transfer card to offer a lengthy introductory APR period. But this card also gives you cash back — and a reason to hold on to it long-term. Read our review of the Discover it® Balance Transfer. Top travel credit cards * Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Bonus rewards on travel and dining, super-flexible points and a terrific bonus offer have long made this card a favorite among travelers. Read our review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. * Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Unlimited 2X miles on purchases, plus a great bonus offer and an expanding array of perks. Read our review of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. * Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: A big sign-up bonus, travel credits, high rewards and airport lounge access could make this card worth the hefty annual fee. Read our review of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. * The Platinum Card® from American Express: For a steep price, the original premium card gives you 5X points on certain flights and hotel stays, hundreds of dollars a year in credit for travel and shopping, and a suite of perks for high-end lifestyles. Read our review of the The Platinum Card® from American Express. * Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Earn bonus cash back in popular categories, including dining and some travel, plus a relatively high rate on everything else. There's a solid bonus offer, too. Read our review of the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. Top balance transfer credit cards * Discover it® Balance Transfer: 0% intro APR on Purchases for 6 months and 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months, and then the ongoing APR of 17.24%-28.24% Variable APR Read our review of the Discover it® Balance Transfer. * Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Earn bonus cash back in popular categories, including dining and some travel, plus a relatively high rate on everything else. There's a solid bonus offer, too. Read our review of the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. * Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card: Enjoy 2% cash back on purchases, plus a great bonus offer and intro APR period. Read our review of the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card. * U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card: 0% intro APR for 18 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 18.74%-29.74% Variable APR Read our review of the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card. * Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card: 0% Intro APR for 21 months on Balance Transfers and 12 months on Purchases, and then the ongoing APR of 18.24%-28.99% Variable APR Read our review of the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card. Top low interest credit cards * Discover it® Cash Back: This card offers a high rewards rate in rotating categories, a good intro APR offer and an unusual bonus that could become a windfall. Read our review of the Discover it® Cash Back. * Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Earn bonus cash back in popular categories, including dining and some travel, plus a relatively high rate on everything else. There's a solid bonus offer, too. Read our review of the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. * Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card: Enjoy 2% cash back on purchases, plus a great bonus offer and intro APR period. Read our review of the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card. * U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card: 0% intro APR for 18 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 18.74%-29.74% Variable APR Read our review of the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card. * Citi Custom Cash® Card: Bonus rewards that adjust automatically, making sure you earn the highest cash-back rate in the category where you spend the most money. Read our review of the Citi Custom Cash® Card. Top cash back credit cards * Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card: Enjoy 2% cash back on purchases, plus a great bonus offer and intro APR period. Read our review of the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card. * Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Earn bonus cash back in popular categories, including dining and some travel, plus a relatively high rate on everything else. There's a solid bonus offer, too. Read our review of the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. * Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: Food and entertainment rewards are the centerpiece of this no-fee card, which pays an unlimited 3% cash back at restaurants and grocery stores, but also on streaming and more. Read our review of the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card. * Discover it® Cash Back: This card offers a high rewards rate in rotating categories, a good intro APR offer and an unusual bonus that could become a windfall. Read our review of the Discover it® Cash Back. * U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card: You get to choose two categories each quarter that earn 5% cash back (up to a spending cap) and one category for unlimited 2% cash back. Everything else earns 1%. Read our review of the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card. Top rewards credit cards * Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Earn bonus cash back in popular categories, including dining and some travel, plus a relatively high rate on everything else. There's a solid bonus offer, too. Read our review of the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. * Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Unlimited 2X miles on purchases, plus a great bonus offer and an expanding array of perks. Read our review of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. * Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card: Enjoy 2% cash back on purchases, plus a great bonus offer and intro APR period. Read our review of the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card. * Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Bonus rewards on travel and dining, super-flexible points and a terrific bonus offer have long made this card a favorite among travelers. Read our review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. * Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: Food and entertainment rewards are the centerpiece of this no-fee card, which pays an unlimited 3% cash back at restaurants and grocery stores, but also on streaming and more. Read our review of the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card. Top building credit credit cards * Self Visa® Secured Card: Read our review of the Self Visa® Secured Card. * Mission Lane Visa® Credit Card: Although it usually charges an annual fee, the Mission Lane Visa® Credit Card could be a reasonable option for someone building or rebuilding credit who doesn't want to tie up money in a security deposit. Not everyone will qualify, but the issuer lets you see whether you do before you apply. Read our review of the Mission Lane Visa® Credit Card. * Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card: You’ll get comprehensive credit reporting, the chance to upgrade to an unsecured product and the ability to earn rewards. Read our review of the Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card. * Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card: Secured cards typically require an upfront deposit of several hundred dollars, and the amount determines your credit limit, but the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card may offer valuable flexibility. Read our review of the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card. Top student credit cards * Discover it® Student Chrome: The rewards structure's simplicity is appealing to busy college students. Read our review of the Discover it® Student Chrome. * Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card: Bonus cash back on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, as well as at grocery stores. Read our review of the Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card. * Discover it® Student Cash Back: For students willing to put in a little work managing their rewards, this card can be lucrative. Read our review of the Discover it® Student Cash Back. * Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students: For travel-loving students who have already established credit, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students offers excellent value. Read more about the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students. Top fair credit credit cards * Mission Lane Cash Back Visa® Credit Card: The Mission Lane Cash Back Visa® Credit Card is a great option for people who aren't sure whether their credit is good enough to qualify for a rewards card. The issuer's prequalification process lets you see the offer you're eligible for before you actually apply. Read our review of the Mission Lane Cash Back Visa® Credit Card. * Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: Designed for people with fair or average credit, this card offers the same 1.5% cash back as the regular Quicksilver card for good credit, although it charges an annual fee. Read our review of the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card. * Discover it® Student Chrome: The Discover it® Student chrome is the rate student card with an introductory APR period for purchases. Some applicants may also qualify for a fairly low ongoing rate. Read our review of the Discover it® Student Chrome. * Capital One Platinum Credit Card: This is a straightforward, no-annual-fee card for people looking to build credit. Read our review of the Capital One Platinum Credit Card. * Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa®: This hybrid credit card/personal loan product is an interesting option for people with lower scores. Read our review of the Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa®. Top business credit cards * Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card: This card earns unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases. It comes with a terrific bonus offer for a card with no annual fee. Read our review of the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card. * Ink Business Cash® Credit Card: Earn bonus cash back in common business spending categories. This card also dangles a big sign-up bonus. Read our review of the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card. * The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express: Earn 2 points per dollar spent on the first $50,000 in purchases each calendar year and 1 point per dollar after that. Terms apply. Read our review of the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express. * The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card: Earn 2% cash back on the first $50,000 in purchases each calendar year and 1% cash back after that. Terms apply. Read our review of the The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card. • • • • • WHAT'S THE BEST CREDIT CARD FOR ... THE 2023 NERDWALLET BEST-OF AWARD WINNERS Each year, NerdWallet's Credit Cards team selects the best credit card in each of an array of categories for the NerdWallet Best-Of Awards. Below are the selections for 2023. Keep in mind that these are not the only good options in each category. There might even be a different credit card that fits your needs more closely (see the "other options" in each category for, well, other options). But most people can't go wrong with these award-winners. Empty Table Header WINNER (Click to read review) WHY IT MADE THE LIST OTHER OPTIONS Best credit card for simple cash back Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card You’ll get 2% cash back on all purchases and a rich sign-up bonus with a single card. That’s market-leading, and makes this card ideal for everyday spending. Best cash-back credit cards Best credit card for bonus cash back Chase Freedom Flex℠ You’ll get rotating 5% cash-back categories as well as fixed bonus categories paying 3% to 5%, like dining and some travel. Best cash-back credit cards Best all-purpose travel rewards credit card Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card For a reasonable fee you’ll earn rich, flexible rewards in many categories, with multiple transfer partner options, an annual hotel credit, anniversary points and a big sign-up bonus. Best travel credit cards Best premium travel credit card Chase Sapphire Reserve® Get a yearly $300 travel credit, airport lounge access, multiple transfer partners, TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit and rich rewards on travel and dining. Best premium credit cards Best balance transfer credit card BankAmericard® credit card This card saves a bundle on interest with its super-long 0% intro APR period on balance transfers (and new purchases), for a low transfer fee. Best balance transfer credit cards Best 0% APR card for purchases Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card It starts with a big bonus and gives long breathing room on sky-high interest. Plus, the potential to earn 3% on your big purchase, depending on category. Best 0% credit cards Best airline credit card Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Bonus rewards at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets help rack up miles faster. A generous checked-bag benefit and other perks make travel easier. Terms apply. Best airline credit cards Best hotel credit card World of Hyatt Credit Card The card earns solid rewards and is packed with perks, including a free night every year and a chance to earn a second one, on top of a valuable sign-up bonus. Best hotel credit cards Best credit card for college students Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card Earn triple rewards on everyday spending categories like dining, entertainment, streaming and groceries, all for no annual fee. Plus, it offers a cash sign-up bonus. Best college student credit cards Best credit card for building credit Discover it® Secured Credit Card This card offers ideal features for its category, like no annual fee and automatic reviews for a potential upgrade to an unsecured card. It even earns rewards. * Best credit cards for bad credit * Best starter credit cards * Best credit cards for fair or average credit Best credit card for dining U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card This card offers what few others can: 4x dining rewards for no annual fee. It’s also decent for groceries, gas and streaming, and comes with a sign-up bonus. Best credit cards for restaurants Best credit card for groceries Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express An industry-leading cash back rate at U.S. supermarkets makes it worth the annual fee. Generous rewards in other categories just add to the appeal. Terms apply. Best credit cards for groceries Best credit card for gas Citi Custom Cash® Card It's a versatile card, but use it just for gas and you’ll earn an impressive 5% back per billing cycle, up to $500 spent — for no annual fee. Best credit cards for gas Best credit card for entertainment Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card Triple cash back on entertainment, dining, groceries and popular streaming — all for no annual fee — make it an ideal card for amusement both at home and away. Best credit cards for entertainment spending Best credit card for small business The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card Straightforward, valuable rewards plus a great intro offer and no annual fee will please many busy entrepreneurs. This card delivers all that and more. Terms apply. Best small-business credit cards • • • • • A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO CREDIT CARDS HOW CREDIT CARDS WORK The idea behind credit cards is simple: When you use a credit card, you are borrowing money to pay for something. Later on, you must repay what your borrowed. If you take time to pay it back (rather than pay it in full when your credit card statement comes), you'll be charged interest. The whole credit cards industry rests on this basic premise. A basic credit card transaction works like this: 1. You use your card. When it comes time to pay for something, you use your card at the cash register by running it through a card reader (or, if you're online, you enter your card information on the checkout page). 2. The purchase is authorized. The card reader contacts your credit card company to make sure the card is valid for the purchase amount. Assuming everything is OK, the transaction is authorized. 3. The merchant gets paid. The bank that issued your credit card sends money for the purchase to the merchant where the transaction took place. 4. You pay. The transaction shows up on your credit card statement, and you repay the bank for the purchase. HOW CREDIT CARD REWARDS WORK TYPES OF REWARDS Many of the best credit cards give you rewards for your spending. Rewards come in two basic flavors: * Cash back. You can use cash back to directly reduce your balance. In some cases, you can have your cash back deposited in a bank account or sent to you as a check. * Points or miles. Points and miles can be redeemed for travel, gift cards, merchandise or other things. You may also have the option of redeeming points for credit on your statement, just like cash back. » MORE: Cash back vs. travel — how to choose credit card rewards The card issuer sets the rewards rate that applies on your card. There are two basic kinds of rewards structures: * Flat rate. You get the same rewards rate on all spending done with the card, regardless of what you spend money on. You might get 2 points per dollar on all purchases, or 1.5% cash back on everything. * Bonus rewards. You earn a base rate on all spending (typically 1 point per dollar or 1% cash back) and then higher rates in certain categories — 5% cash back at gas stations, for example, or 3 points per dollar spent on travel. Bonus rewards are awarded based on where you buy something, not what you buy. Every merchant is assigned a category code; if your card pays bonus rewards at grocery stores, for instance, you'll earn those rewards any time you pay at a merchant with a category code that identifies it as a supermarket or grocery store. Many credit card users carry multiple cards with bonus rewards in different categories, plus a flat-rate card for purchases that fall outside those categories. TRACKING YOUR REWARDS The rewards you earn on your card are stored in a rewards account that you can access when you log into your card account online or, often, from the issuer's mobile app. Some issuers credit your rewards account for a purchase almost immediately. In other cases, your rewards account will update when your billing cycle closes and the issuer prepares your credit card statement, so it can take several weeks for rewards from any particular purchase to show up in your account. THE REWARDS PROCESS The rewards process works like this: 1. You make a purchase with your credit card. 2. The issuer calculates your rewards. If you have a card that earns bonus rewards, the issuer looks at the category code of the merchant where you made your purchase and then applies bonus rewards as necessary. Otherwise, the issuer just calculates your rewards based on the flat rate. 3. The issuer credits your rewards to your account. As mentioned, it could take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks for the rewards to show up. 4. You redeem rewards by logging into your account online. Cash-back redemptions are pretty straightforward. Redeeming points or miles might involve booking travel through an online tool similar to Orbitz or Expedia. Every card is different. » MORE: Where does the money for credit card rewards come from? HOW CREDIT CARD INTEREST WORKS When you borrow money from a bank, you usually have to pay interest, which is the cost to you of using the bank's money. Credit cards are unusual in that there is a way to avoid interest entirely. Most cards offer a "grace period": If you pay your balance in full on each statement — meaning you don't roll over any debt from one month to the next — you won't be charged interest. If you carry debt, though, you'll be charged interest. Interest works like this: 1. Your card issuer sets your interest rate. In general, the better your credit, the more likely you are to qualify for lower rates, but credit card interest rates tend to be significantly higher than rates on other consumer debt. 2. Your interest rate is listed on your credit card statement. It's expressed as an annual rate, but in most cases it is charged on a daily basis. So if your interest rate is 17.5% a year, it's actually charged at about 0.048% per day. 3. When your billing cycle ends, your issuer calculates how much interest you owe. Your interest charge is based on your daily balances and your daily rate. 4. The interest charge is included in your next month's minimum payment. Credit card interest generally does not compound — meaning, it does not get added into your balance. You have to pay your full interest cost each month. Read more about minimum payments. » MORE: How credit card interest is calculated DIFFERENT TYPES OF CREDIT CARDS Credit card companies offer different kinds of cards to meet different consumer needs. Some people put a lot of money on their cards every month and then pay them off immediately; those people benefit from a card that returns a portion of their spending in the form of rewards. Others tend to carry a balance from month to month; they're better served with a card that offers a low ongoing interest rate. Still others are working to improve their credit; issuers have cards designed for those people, too. Here are the major types of credit cards. REWARDS CREDIT CARDS These cards "pay you back" for a portion of your spending by giving you cash, points or miles. See our roundup of the best rewards credit cards of 2023 for a range of options for different types of users. Or look into specific types of rewards cards: * Cash-back credit cards give you, well, cash, which you can use to reduce your balance or, in some cases, have deposited in a bank account or sent to you as a check. See our best cash-back credit cards of 2023. * General travel credit cards give you points that you can use to pay for travel. Unlike cards tied to specific airline or hotel loyalty programs, these cards offer a great deal of flexibility. You can use their rewards on airlines, hotels and other expenses. See our best travel credit cards of 2023. * Airline credit cards carry the name of a specific airline. When you use them, you earn miles that you can redeem for free flights or upgrades on that airline. These cards don't offer a lot of flexibility in terms of how you can use your rewards, but they really pack in value with exclusive perks — free checked bags, priority boarding, airport lounge access and more. See our best airline credit cards of 2023. * Hotel credit cards carry the name of a specific hotel group, and they earn points that you can redeem for hotel stays. As with airline cards, the perks can be fantastic — a free night every year, automatic upgrades, elite status and so on. See our best hotel credit cards of 2023. BALANCE TRANSFER CREDIT CARDS These allow you to move debt from a high-interest card onto a new card and then give you a year or more at 0% interest to pay that debt off. You'll often pay a fee for the transfer, but the interest savings can be substantial. See our best balance transfer credit cards of 2023. LOW-INTEREST AND 0% CREDIT CARDS These cards are best for those who expect to carry debt from month to month. Zero-percent cards offer new cardholders a year or more of 0% interest on purchases, making them suitable for a big expense. Low-interest cards might not offer a 0% period, but they have a low ongoing rate that makes them a good long-term option. See our best 0% and low-interest credit cards of 2023. COLLEGE STUDENT CREDIT CARDS These cards are designed specifically for college students who are just getting started with credit. The application process takes into account the fact that young people are unlikely to have a long credit history or a high-paying job. Be aware, though, that simply being a college student is not enough on its own to qualify. See our best college student credit cards of 2023. SMALL BUSINESS CREDIT CARDS These cards are designed for entrepreneurs and small-business owners. Their rewards and perks are tailored toward businesses, and they offer perks like free cards for employees and tools to track expenses. They're a step below corporate cards, though; when you apply, the issuer takes your personal credit history into account. See our best small business credit cards of 2023. CREDIT CARDS FOR BUILDING CREDIT The credit cards with the richest rewards, plushest perks, lowest interest rates and longest 0% periods are available only to those with good to excellent credit. If you're still building your credit (or rebuilding it after a misstep), you'll want to hold off on applying for these cards until your score improves. However, banks have designed cards specifically for people working to improve their credit. Getting one of these cards and using it responsibly can go a long way toward your goals: * Credit cards for fair credit are intended for those with credit scores roughly in the range of 630-689, sometimes also referred to as "average" credit. See our best credit cards for fair credit of 2023. * Credit cards for bad credit are intended for people with scores of less than 630. The best credit cards for bad credit are secured cards, which require you to put down a cash deposit (which is refunded to you if you upgrade or close the card in good standing). There are "unsecured" cards for bad credit that don't require a deposit, but they tend to charge high fees. See our best credit cards for bad credit of 2023. * Secured credit cards, as mentioned above, require a refundable security deposit, which is usually equal to your credit limit. (The more you deposit, the higher your credit limit.) The deposit protects the issuer in case the cardholder doesn't pay their bill, so these cards are usually easier for people with lower credit scores to qualify for. Be aware that some secured cards are available to people with no credit or a thin credit history but not to people with damaged credit. See our best secured credit cards of 2023. * "Alternative" credit cards are a fairly recent innovation designed for people who have no credit or only a "thin" credit file. Rather than rely solely on credit scores and other traditional methods of determining creditworthiness, the companies behind these cards may look at the applicant's income, assets, even their educational background and job category. See the best alternative cards for no credit for 2023. CHOOSING THE BEST CREDIT CARD FOR YOU If you're a beginner to credit cards, see our step-by-step guide to choosing a credit card. It starts by helping you figure out what cards you can qualify for, then walks you through deciding what kind of card best fits your needs. The process in short: 1. Check your credit. The higher your credit score, the more likely you are to qualify for the best cards. NerdWallet offers free access to credit scores. 2. Decide on a broad card type. If your credit score needs work, get a card designed for building or mending credit. Otherwise, choose between a card that will give you rewards for your spending or one that will save you money on interest. 3. Narrow your choices. If you want a rewards card, do you prefer cash back or points, and how much effort are you willing to put into managing your rewards? If you're looking to save money on interest, do you need a 0% introductory period, or a low ongoing rate? Do you need to do a balance transfer? Are you a student or a business owner who could benefit from a specialized card? 4. Apply for a card that gives you the best overall value. » MORE: How to pick the best credit card for you COMPARING CREDIT CARD FEATURES Every credit card delivers value in its own way, through its own unique combination of features. And there are trade-offs involved. If you want rewards, for example, you'll probably have to accept a higher interest rate. If you want high-value perks, you'll likely pay an annual fee. If you want a low interest rate and no fees, you shouldn't expect much else from the card. In other words, you're unlikely to find a single card that offers a high rewards rate, a long 0% period, a rock-bottom ongoing interest rate, generous perks and no annual fee. Here are the main points of comparison when looking at credit cards. ANNUAL FEE Some people are dead-set against paying a fee just for the privilege of carrying a credit card. But paying an annual fee is worth it in certain circumstances. For example: * To earn significantly better rewards rates. * To unlock valuable perks, such as airport lounge access or free checked bags. * To get a card when you might not otherwise be able to, such as by avoiding a credit check. With any annual fee, the math comes down to whether the value you get from the card exceeds the dollar amount you pay. Still determined not to pay? See our best credit cards with no annual fee of 2023. OTHER FEES Depending on what you plan to do with the card, you'll want to take these other fees into account: * Balance transfer fee. This is a charge you pay to move debt from one card to another. Fees are typically 3% to 5% of the amount transferred, but some cards don't charge a transfer fee, or they waive it for a time. See our best credit cards with no balance transfer fee of 2023. * Foreign transaction fee. Most cards charge a fee of up to 3% on purchases made outside the U.S. If you travel internationally, getting a card that doesn't charge this fee is a must. See our best credit cards with no foreign transaction fee of 2023. * Cash advance fee. Using your credit card to get cash is expensive. You'll usually pay an upfront fee, the interest rate for cash advances is often higher than for purchases, and in many cases, grace periods don't apply to cash advances, so you start paying interest on them immediately. A few cards don't charge a fee for cash advances. Some cards don't allow advances at all. * Late fees and returned-payment fees. These fees can be steep, but they are avoidable. Most cards charge them, but some do not. » MORE: Credit card fees and how to avoid them INTRODUCTORY INTEREST RATE Credit card companies drum up business by offering people with good credit a low introductory interest rate. A bunch of cards offer 0% on purchases and balance transfers for a year or more. Some cards don't go as low as 0% but still offer a lower introductory rate. ONGOING INTEREST RATE The ongoing rate is what you pay after any introductory rate expires. Some cards charge a single rate for all cardholders; others allow for a range of rates depending on your creditworthiness. In general, the better your credit, the more likely you are to qualify for a low rate. That said, if you pay your balance in full every month, your interest rate doesn't actually matter because you're never charged interest. Ongoing credit card interest rates are usually identified as "variable." That means they can change under certain conditions. Most rates are tied to the prime rate, which is the rate that big banks charge their best customers. Typically, a credit card rate is set as the prime rate plus a certain number of percentage points, so if your rate is "prime + 6" and the prime rate is 6%, then your rate would be 12%. When the prime rate goes up (or down), so will your card's rate. What's the lowest interest rate on any credit card? Although introductory interest rates of 0% are common, you're not going to find an ongoing rate lower than the prime rate. Still, some cards offer a rate just a few points above prime. For super-low ongoing rates, your best bet is a credit union. REWARDS Cash-back cards refund a certain percentage of the purchase price. Other cards give you a certain number of points or miles per dollar spent. Every card sets its own rewards structure, so apples-to-apples comparisons can be difficult. But when comparing rewards programs, think in terms of: * Earn rate. What do you get for every dollar spent? * Redemption value. How much do you get for your rewards when it comes time to use them? * Redemption options. How much flexibility do you have in using your rewards? SIGN-UP BONUS The sign-up bonus or welcome offer is a sum of cash (say, $150 or $200) or a batch of points or miles (say, 40,000 points or 50,000 miles) that you can earn by spending a certain amount of money in your first few months with a card. The purpose is to get you in the habit of using the card. The bonuses on many travel cards are often big enough to cover the card's annual fee for the first few years. See our best credit card sign-up bonuses of 2023. PERKS Unlike rewards, which are what you receive for using a credit card, perks are benefits you get just for carrying a card. With some cards, particularly travel credit cards, it may be the perks that provide the bulk of the value. Premium credit cards, which have annual fees of $450 and up, tend to offer the cushiest perks. Airline credit cards and hotel credit cards can easily pay for their annual fee with their perks. A full list of potential perks would be too long to include here, but common examples include: * Airline/airport benefits. Lounge access. Free checked bags. Priority boarding. Elite status. * Hotel benefits. Free nights. Automatic room upgrades. Early check-in/late check-out. Free amenities. Elite status. * Statement credits. Automatic credit for such things as travel expenses, purchases from selected merchants or the application fee for trusted-traveler programs. * Purchase protections. Extended warranties. Protection in case of theft or damage. Price protection (which refunds the difference if you find the same item cheaper elsewhere). Return guarantees. * Rental car coverage. Supplemental coverage on top of your own auto insurance policy, or even primary coverage in place of your own policy. Learn about credit card rental coverage. * Cell phone insurance. Coverage in case of loss or damage. You usually have to pay for your service with your card to qualify. * Credit tracking and security. Free credit score. Credit monitoring services. Ability to "lock" your card. CREDIT-BUILDING HELP When you're looking to build or restore credit, several features are more important for you than for people who already have good credit. * Reporting to credit bureaus. If you're using your card responsibly, you want your credit score to reflect that. Make sure that your card reports payment activity to all three credit bureaus, the companies that assemble credit reports. * Deposit requirements. If you're getting a secured credit card, you'll need money for a security deposit. Minimum deposits are usually in the $200 to $300 range. * Upgrade opportunities. As your credit improves, it's nice to be able to upgrade your account to a better card. * Incentives for responsible behavior. Some cards might boost your rewards rate if you pay on time, or give you access to a higher credit line. HOW THE APPLICATION PROCESS WORKS When you put in an application for a credit card, the card issuer makes its decision based on how risky it believes it would be to lend money to you. The issuer doesn't know you, of course, so it goes by information you provide (about your employment, income and assets) and information contained in your credit report. The basic application process works like this: 1. You fill out an application for a card. Nowadays, this is usually done online, but paper application forms still exist. The application typically asks for: * Your name, address, phone number and email address. * Financial information, including your employment status and annual income. The application may also ask about your assets (such as bank accounts or investments) and your other obligations, such as your rent or debt payments. * Your birthdate and Social Security number. The issuer needs these to access your credit report. 2. The issuer checks your credit. Many people think of their credit only in terms of their credit score. But that three-digit number is really nothing but a summary of the information in your credit report. It's the report that issuers are interested in. You could have a great score but still be rejected for a credit card because the issuer thinks you've applied for too many new cards in the recent past, or because your debt obligations are too big relative to your income. 3. If you meet the issuer's requirements, your application is approved. With online applications, approvals are usually possible within minutes. (If your application is rejected, you can usually expect to receive a written explanation by mail in about a week to 10 days.) 4. Your new card comes in the mail. This typically happens within 10 business days. 5. You activate your card. Do this by calling a phone number or going online. Once it's activated, you can use it. WHAT'S THE EASIEST CREDIT CARD TO GET APPROVED FOR? Approval for a credit card is never guaranteed. Even if you have an excellent credit score, an issuer could still decline your application because you don't have enough income, or because you've opened several other cards recently, or for some other reason. Plus, "easy" is a relative term. Someone with excellent credit and a good income will usually qualify for most cards. Someone with a middling credit score might struggle to get approved even with ample income. With that in mind: * In general, the lower the risk to the credit card issuer, the easier it is to get approved. That's why secured credit cards are a recommended starting point for people working to build or mend credit: The security deposit requirement reduces the risk. See our best secured credit cards of 2023. * If you've begun to build credit and have a score in the mid-600s, look at credit cards for fair credit. These provide more benefits but don't require a top-tier credit score. See our best credit cards for fair credit of 2023. * Store credit cards are also generally easier to qualify for than bank cards. They tend to have low credit limits and high interest rates, but they're a viable credit-building tool provided you keep your balances low relative to the limit and pay them off each month. See our best store credit cards of 2023. HOW MANY CREDIT CARDS SHOULD YOU HAVE? Just as there is no single best credit card for everyone, there is no perfect number of credit cards to have. It depends on your needs and how much effort you want to put into managing your credit cards. Some people carry one card and put everything on it. Others have literally dozens of cards, and for each purchase they use the card best suited for that transaction. When deciding how many is right for you, keep in mind: * There's no limit to how many cards you can have. Each lender evaluates your credit on its own term, but there's no hard limit where you have "too many cards." * You don't need to have multiple cards to maintain good credit score. Credit scoring formulas tend to reward you for having different types of accounts — credit cards, mortgages, loans, etc. — but it's not necessary to have multiple accounts of each type. One credit card, responsibly managed, is enough. ADVANTAGES OF CARRYING MULTIPLE CARDS * Maximizing rewards: One card may pay you a higher rewards rate on groceries. Another may reward you handsomely at restaurants, or on gas purchases, or for spending on travel. Having multiple cards allows you to maximize your total rewards. * Flexibility: Some cards are more widely accepted than others. It’s good to have a backup in situations where one card isn’t accepted. Additionally, if a card is lost, stolen or compromised, you'll have another option while you wait for a replacement. * More available credit: A key factor in your credit score is your credit utilization, or how much of your available credit you're using. Ideally, you'll want to keep utilization below 30%. If you have a $500 balance on a card with a $1,000 limit, your utilization is 50%. If you have $500 in balances spread across three cards with limits of $1,000 each, your utilization about is 17%. RISKS OF CARRYING MULTIPLE CARDS * Losing track of spending: The more cards you have, the harder it is to remember how much you’ve spent on which card. * Missing a payment: Multiple due dates increase the risk of missing a payment, which can trigger a late fee or (if it's late enough) even damage your credit. CREDIT CARD COMPANIES CREDIT CARD ISSUERS, NETWORKS AND CO-BRANDS As you search for the best credit card for your needs, it will help to familiarize yourself with the different types of companies in the industry. That way, you'll know not only what to look for in a credit card but also where to look for it. Every credit card has an issuer and a network. Many of them also have co-brand partners. Each of these provides different kinds of benefits. ISSUER The issuer is the bank that maintains your credit card account. It could be a huge bank like Chase, Capital One or Wells Fargo, or it could be your local bank or credit union. * The issuer takes your credit card application and decides whether you qualify for the card. It sets your interest rate and charges any account fees. * The issuer sends your statement every month and collects your payments. * When you make a purchase on a credit card, you're borrowing money from the issuer, and when you pay off your card, you're paying back the issuer. * Benefits that come from the issuer: Rewards for your spending — cash back, points or miles per dollar spent — are typically paid to you by the issuer. The issuer may also provide perks (benefits you receive just for carrying the card, regardless of whether you use it). NETWORK The payment network acts as a go-between for credit card transactions. Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover are payment networks. * The network determines where you can use your card. * When you pay for something with a credit card, the network makes sure that the transaction gets reported back to the issuer (so it shows up on your statement) and that the merchant gets paid (by your issuer). * American Express and Discover are special in that they are both issuers and networks. * Benefits that come from the network: Network-provided benefits tend to be protections and perks, like rental car coverage or travel insurance. In some cases, networks make certain benefits available on their cards, but it's up to the issuer to decide whether a card will actually include them. CO-BRAND PARTNER The partner is a store, airline, hotel or other brand whose name appears on the card and whose loyalty rewards program is tied to the card. * Not all credit cards have co-brand partners. * The partner administers the loyalty program linked to the card. For example, if you have an American Airlines credit card, you earn miles with your purchases. American operates the frequent-flyer program where you would use those miles. * Benefits that come from the co-brand partner: The co-brand partner lets you redeem the rewards earned on the card and often provides additional perks to cardholders, such as free checked bags for an airline card, automatic room upgrades for a hotel card or discounts for a store card. You can see how it works by taking a look at a few popular credit cards: CARD ISSUER NETWORK PARTNER United℠ Explorer Card Chase Visa United Airlines Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi Citi Visa Costco Hilton Honors American Express Card American Express American Express Hilton Hotels Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card Capital One Mastercard None Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card Wells Fargo American Express None Discover it® Cash Back Discover Discover None U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card U.S. Bank Visa None WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VISA AND MASTERCARD? This is one of the most common questions about credit card companies. Just about every place that takes credit cards takes both Visa and Mastercard, with only a couple of exceptions (such as Visa-only Costco), so consumers are left wondering whether there's a difference at all. The most important thing to remember is that neither Visa nor Mastercard issues credit cards. These companies are just payment networks that process transactions. Most of the benefits that come with a card are provided by the card issuer, not the network. And since their acceptance rates are nearly identical, you're better off focusing on the features of individual cards rather than which network they operate on. Read more about Visa vs. Mastercard. WHAT'S THE BEST CREDIT CARD COMPANY? Just as there is no single best credit card for everyone, consumers have widely different opinions about the best (and worst) credit card issuers. One person could get the runaround from customer service and rate a bank zero stars as a result, while another has nothing but positive experiences and gives it five stars across the board. Still, some trends emerge in customer satisfaction surveys. J.D. Power conducts an annual study of satisfaction among major credit card issuers. It separates the results into "national" and "midsize" issuers. The survey regularly rates Discover and American Express at the top among the biggest issuers. In the most recent study, a new contender emerged for the top slot among midsize issuers: Goldman Sachs, issuer of the Apple Card. USAA and Navy Federal Credit Union tend to have the highest ratings of all, but keep in mind that only people affiliated with the military are eligible for USAA or Navy Federal products. J.D. POWER 2022 CREDIT CARD SATISFACTION STUDY NATIONAL ISSUERS SCORE* Empty Table Header MIDSIZE ISSUERS SCORE* USAA 860 Navy Federal Credit Union 876 American Express 848 Goldman Sachs 843 Discover 841 TD Bank 808 Bank of America 818 Fifth Third 806 SEGMENT AVERAGE 814 PNC (including BBVA) 806 Chase 813 Huntington 804 Capital One 812 Citizens Bank 801 Citi 808 SEGMENT AVERAGE 800 Barclays 797 FNBO 795 Wells Fargo 797 KeyBank 793 U.S. Bank 791 Merrick Bank 789 Synchrony 786 Truist (formerly BB&T and SunTrust) 789 Credit One 738 BMO Harris 771 Premier Bankcard 734 * J.D. Power's "Satisfaction Index" uses a scale of 0 to 1,000. HSBC 724 • • • Frequently asked questions What's the best credit card? No single credit card is the best for everyone. It all depends on how you use credit and how strong your credit is. A rewards credit card gives you a little something back with each purchase you make — usually cash back or travel points or airline miles. These cards are best for people who can pay their credit card bill in full each month. If you carry a balance from one month to the next, the interest you pay will eat up the value of your rewards. A zero percent credit card is ideal if you're looking to finance a big purchase or pay down high-interest debt by way of a balance transfer. If you tend to carry a balance month to month, look for a card with low ongoing interest rate. A credit-building card is designed for people who are just starting out with credit or are trying to bounce back from damaged credit. Rewards cards and zero-percent cards are available mostly to people with good to excellent credit; for those who aren't there yet, there are credit-building cards. There are options for bad credit, for fair or average credit and for people with no credit history. What's the easiest credit card to get? Secured credit cards require you to provide a cash security deposit to open an account. Because that deposit protects the card company from risk, secured cards are much easier to qualify for than other cards. You're not guaranteed approval for a secured card, but the bar is much lower than for regular cards. Store credit cards are also generally easier to qualify for than bank cards. What's the best credit card company? Just as there is no single best card for everyone, consumers have widely different opinions about the best (and worst) credit card issuers. One person could get the runaround from customer service rep and rate a bank zero stars as a result, while another has nothing but positive experiences and gives it five stars across the board. Still, some trends emerge in customer satisfaction surveys. J.D. Power conducts an annual study of satisfaction among major national and regional credit card issuers. It regularly rates Discover and American Express at the top among mass-market issuers. In the most recent study, USAA and Navy Federal Credit Union had the highest ratings of all, but keep in mind that only people affiliated with the military are eligible for USAA or Navy Federal products. ABOUT THE AUTHOR PAUL SOUCY PAUL HAS BEEN THE LEAD CREDIT CARDS EDITOR AT NERDWALLET SINCE 2015. PREVIOUSLY, HE WORKED AT USA TODAY AND THE DES MOINES REGISTER, THEN BUILT A FREELANCE WRITING AND EDITING BUSINESS FOCUSED ON PERSONAL FINANCE TOPICS. HE HAS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN JOURNALISM AND AN MBA. READ MORE TwitterEmail NerdWallet Home Page Make all the right money moves BankingCredit ScoreCheckingSavingsPrepaid Debit CardsMoney TransferCDs Credit CardsCredit Card BasicsStudent Credit CardsCash Back Credit CardsAirline Credit CardsLow Interest and No Fee Credit Cards Financial PlanningPaying off debtCollege SavingsMaking Money Financial News InsuranceAuto InsuranceHomeowners InsuranceLife InsuranceMedicareRenters InsurancePet Insurance InvestingRetirement PlanningRoth IRAEstate PlanningBrokers401k LoansAuto LoansStudent Loans MortgagesMortgage RatesMortgage ProcessHomeownershipHomeownership CostsSelling Your HomeHome AffordabilityProperty Taxes Small BusinessRunning Your BusinessSmall-Business LoansBusiness Credit CardsSmall-Business TaxesStarting a Business TaxesIncome TaxesInvestment TaxesPersonal Taxes TravelVacations & Trip PlanningReward OptimizationsRental CarsTravel Insurance Banking Explore Banking Credit Score Checking Savings Prepaid Debit Cards Money Transfer CDs Credit Cards Explore Credit Cards Credit Card Basics Student Credit Cards Cash Back Credit Cards Airline Credit Cards Low Interest and No Fee Credit Cards Financial Planning Explore Financial Planning Paying off debt College Savings Making Money Financial News Explore Financial News Insurance Explore Insurance Auto Insurance Homeowners Insurance Life Insurance Medicare Renters Insurance Pet Insurance Investing Explore Investing Retirement Planning Roth IRA Estate Planning Brokers 401k Loans Explore Loans Auto Loans Student Loans Mortgages Explore Mortgages Mortgage Rates Mortgage Process Homeownership Homeownership Costs Selling Your Home Home Affordability Property Taxes Small Business Explore Small Business Running Your Business Small-Business Loans Business Credit Cards Small-Business Taxes Starting a Business Taxes Explore Taxes Income Taxes Investment Taxes Personal Taxes Travel Explore Travel Vacations & Trip Planning Reward Optimizations Rental Cars Travel Insurance about Company Leadership Careers Corporate impact Diversity & Inclusion Editorial guidelines Star rating methodologies Editorial team News Press kit Investors help Help center Support team Community Security FAQs legal Terms of use Supplier Code of Conduct Privacy policy California privacy policy Privacy preferences Do not sell or share my personal information Download the app Learn more about the app Disclaimer:NerdWallet strives to keep its information accurate and up to date. This information may be different than what you see when you visit a financial institution, service provider or specific product’s site. All financial products, shopping products and services are presented without warranty. When evaluating offers, please review the financial institution’s Terms and Conditions. Pre-qualified offers are not binding. If you find discrepancies with your credit score or information from your credit report, please contact TransUnion® directly. NerdUp by NerdWallet credit card: Bank services offered by Evolve Bank & Trust, Member FDIC. The NerdUp by NerdWallet Credit Card is issued by Evolve Bank & Trust pursuant to a license from Mastercard International, Inc. NerdWallet Compare, Inc.NMLS ID# 1617539 NMLS Consumer Access|Licenses and Disclosures California: California Finance Lender loans arranged pursuant to Department of Financial Protection and Innovation Finance Lenders License #60DBO-74812 Property and Casualty insurance services offered through NerdWallet Insurance Services, Inc. (CA resident license no. OK92033)Property & Casualty Licenses NerdWallet™ | 55 Hawthorne St. - 10th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105 NerdWallet USA | NerdWallet UK | NerdWallet CA | NerdWallet AU NerdWallet CA|NerdWallet AU © 2023 NerdWallet, Inc. All Rights Reserved. * * *