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Best Credit Cards
Choosing a credit card can be daunting. With so many options, how do you find the best one? It’s important to look at key factors such as rewards, interest rates, and fees. Understanding these aspects helps in making informed decisions.
Cash Back Credit Cards
Cash back credit cards are popular. They offer a percentage of cash back on purchases. The percentages can vary based on the category of spending. Some offer higher cash back rates for groceries or gas.
- Chase Freedom Unlimited: Offers 1.5% cash back on all purchases. No annual fee. Offers a bonus if a certain amount is spent in the first few months.
- Discover it Cash Back: Rotates categories each quarter. Offers 5% cash back on categories like groceries, restaurants, and gas stations. 1% on other purchases. No annual fee.
- Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express: Offers 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets up to a certain amount per year. Also 6% on select streaming subscriptions. 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations. Annual fee applies.
Travel Reward Credit Cards
Travel reward credit cards offer points or miles for travel-related expenses. These can be used for flights, hotels, and more. Often, they come with travel-specific perks like insurance or access to airport lounges.
- Chase Sapphire Preferred: Offers 2 points per dollar spent on travel and dining. 1 point per dollar on other purchases. Points can be transferred to various airline and hotel partners. Annual fee applies.
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earns 2 miles per dollar on every purchase. Miles can be redeemed for travel expenses or transferred to travel partners. Annual fee applies, but it is waived for the first year.
- The Platinum Card from American Express: Offers 5 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel. Also 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked on Amex Travel. Includes many high-end benefits such as lounge access and travel credits. High annual fee applies.
Balance Transfer Credit Cards
Balance transfer credit cards help manage existing debt. They offer low or 0% interest rates on balance transfers for a set period. This can lead to significant savings on interest.
- Citi Simplicity Card: No late fees, no penalty rate, and no annual fee. Offers 0% intro APR on balance transfers for a set period. After the intro period, a variable APR applies.
- BankAmericard Credit Card: Offers 0% intro APR on balance transfers made within the first 60 days for a set period. No annual fee. Variable APR after the intro period.
- Wells Fargo Platinum Card: Offers 0% intro APR on balance transfers for a set period. No annual fee. Variable APR after the intro period.
Student Credit Cards
Student credit cards are designed for college students. They often have lower credit requirements. These cards can help build credit history and offer rewards or benefits tailored to students.
- Discover it Student Cash Back: Offers 5% cash back on rotating categories each quarter. 1% on other purchases. No annual fee. Also includes a Good Grades Reward feature.
- Journey Student Rewards from Capital One: Offers 1% cash back on all purchases. Increases to 1.25% if payments are made on time. No annual fee.
- Bank of America Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students: Offers 3% cash back in a choice category, 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, and 1% on all other purchases. No annual fee.
Secured Credit Cards
Secured credit cards are for those looking to build or rebuild their credit. These require a security deposit. The deposit acts as the credit limit. They can be a stepping stone to an unsecured card.
- Discover it Secured: Requires a security deposit. Offers 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants. 1% on other purchases. No annual fee.
- Capital One Secured Mastercard: Security deposit required. Offers a higher credit line after making the first five monthly payments on time. No annual fee.
- OpenSky Secured Visa Credit Card: Requires a security deposit. No credit check necessary to apply. Reports to all three major credit bureaus. Annual fee applies.
Business Credit Cards
Business credit cards help manage expenses and earn rewards for business-related purchases. They often offer higher credit limits and additional perks for businesses.
- Ink Business Preferred Credit Card: Offers 3 points per dollar on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping, Internet, cable, and phone services, and advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines. 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. Annual fee applies.
- American Express Blue Business Cash Card: Offers 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. No annual fee.
- Capital One Spark Miles for Business: Earns 2 miles per dollar on every purchase. Miles can be used for travel expenses or transferred to travel partners. Annual fee applies, but it’s waived for the first year.
No Annual Fee Credit Cards
Some people prefer cards with no annual fees. These cards still offer useful rewards and benefits without the added cost of an annual fee.
- Citi Double Cash Card: Earns 2% cash back on all purchases – 1% when you buy and 1% when you pay. No annual fee.
- Wells Fargo Propel American Express Card: Offers 3 points per dollar spent on eating out and ordering in, gas stations, rideshares, transit, flights, hotels, homestays, and car rentals. 1 point per dollar on other purchases. No annual fee.
- Chase Freedom Flex: Offers 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase. 3% on dining and drugstores. 1% on all other purchases. No annual fee.
Choosing the right credit card depends on your financial habits and goals. Looking at the features and benefits of each type can help you narrow down your options. Weighing the pros and cons can help you find a card that meets your needs and maximizes your benefits.