Credit Cards
Whether you're after your first card, travel rewards, cash back or low-interest options, we’ve got you covered. Explore the best offers, compare cards and find expert tips to help you get closer to your financial happy place.
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Card Type
Some of the Best Card Offers Today
We uncovered the best credit card offers by analyzing over 240 cards and evaluating 32 data points, including reward rates, fees and introductory offers. Using consumer spending models and unbiased economic calculations, we help you find the card that best suits your financial needs. Here are some of the best cards today.
How to Find the Right Credit Card
Whether you're looking for your first credit card or your 50th, here's how to choose the best one for you:
Assess your goals: Based on your current financial goals, decide what you're looking for in a card. Focus on meeting your immediate needs, whether it's to build credit, enjoy lower interest rates or earn richer rewards.
Review credit score requirements: Find cards that require credit scores similar to yours. If you're looking at elite credit cards with a less-than-elite credit score, you may be wasting your time.
Compare cards: Build a list of cards that match your goals and accept applications at your credit score. You can use our rankings, reviews and head-to-head comparisons to understand the differences quickly.
Check fees and interest rates: Every fee and interest rate related to the credit cards you are considering can increase the level of debt you're in. When all else is the same, you want cards with lower fees and rates.
Compare rewards and offers: As you review the cards you've gathered, stay focused on your primary goal for this new card. Remember, you want the best card for your goal, not the OK card with a cool sign-up bonus.
Get pre-approved and apply: Many card issuers, including the major issuers like Citi, Chase and American Express, offer pre-approval processes that allow you to find out if you'll be approved using a soft credit check that won't hurt your credit score. Once you're pre-approved, you'll have the opportunity to formally apply or elect not to get the card.
Use responsibly and assess: Once you have your card, use it responsibly. If possible, pay off your entire balance every month to avoid interest charges. As you build your credit and your needs change, assess your cards at least once a year to see if they're still working for you.
Resources for Getting Your First Credit Card
Here are some additional resources for finding the right credit card, especially if you're looking for your first card.
How to Manage Your Credit Cards
Getting and staying on top of your credit cards is important work that your wallet will thank you for. Check out MoneyGeek's expert guides on the topic.
Credit Card Reviews
Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
A practical no-annual-fee student credit card with cash back
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students
A good student card with higher cash back on bonus categories
Blue Cash Preferred® Card From American Express
A strong cash back card for gas and groceries
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Enjoy flexible travel points and no foreign transaction fees
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Straightforward travel rewards card with premium perks
Alliant Cashback Visa® Signature Credit Card
A top-tier flat cash back card offering that gives you up to 2.5% cash back after a $10,000 spending cap.
Alliant Visa® Platinum Credit Card
A good no-annual-fee credit card with an intro 0% APR offer
Assent Platinum 0% Intro Rate Mastercard® Secured Credit Card
Best for those looking for a credit-boosting card with a 0% intro APR
Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® Credit Card
A great no-annual-fee business rewards card with several added benefits
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card
High cash back on bonus categories especially for BofA loyalists
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card
A great travel rewards card for people who don’t want to deal with blackout dates
Bank of America® Travel Rewards
A no-annual-fee travel rewards card with a good spend-based welcome bonus offer
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
Flat cash back with a lengthy intro 0% APR on balance transfers and purchases
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Same cash back as Quicksilver, but easier to get with a lower credit score.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Strong entry-level travel card with high rewards rates
Chase Freedom Flex® Card
An easy-to-use cash back card with quarterly rotating bonus categories
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
An excellent no-annual-fee card that lets you earn unlimited cash back
Citi Custom Cash® Card
5% cash back on your highest qualifying spend category up to $500 per month
Citi Rewards+® Card
An excellent no-annual-fee rewards card with a 0% introductory APR offer
Citi® Secured Mastercard®
Best credit card for building credit with no or limited credit history
Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit
Best credit card for prequalifying with bad credit
Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students
Best student cash back card for limited credit history
Discover it® Miles
A good no-annual-fee travel credit card with an introductory 0% APR offer
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
A practical no-annual-fee secured card for earning cash back and building credit
Discover it® Student Cash Back
A sound no-annual-fee credit card that offers bonus cash back for students
Fit Mastercard® Credit Card
An unsecured credit card meant for those who wish to rebuild their credit
JetBlue Plus Card
Great for frequent JetBlue travelers looking for additional TrueBlue points and perks from their loyalty
Mastercard® Black Card™
A great travel reward card with no foreign transaction fee and many travel benefits (for a price)
Milestone Mastercard® - $700 Credit Limit
Good choice for rebuilding your credit without paying a security deposit.
Navy Federal Credit Union Platinum Card
A great no-annual-fee balance transfer card for Navy Federal members
Navy Federal Credit Union Visa Signature® Flagship Rewards
A good travel rewards card with nominal annual fees
Navy Federal Credit Union® nRewards® Secured Credit Card
A good secured card for building credit and earning rewards
Navy Federal More Rewards American Express card
A good no annual fee rewards card for people with average credit
PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card
A good travel rewards card that comes with a possible annual fee waiver
PenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card
A good no-annual-fee balance transfer card with cash back
Simmons Rewards Visa Signature®
A great no annual fee card that offers rewards and travel benefits
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
Business owners who want the most benefits
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card
Business owners who prefer low fees
U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card
An excellent balance transfer card with no annual fees and an extended intro APR offer
Credit Card Resources by Category
Sometimes, it helps to get deeper into a particular type of card. Check out our in-depth guides and recommendations for different kinds of cards.
About Doug Milnes, CFA
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.
Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.