The best in credit cards for 2022

• Minimum 1.5 percent cash back offers solid value for everyday spending
• Offers one of the most flexible redemption programs in its category
• Points worth up to 50 percent more when paired with a premium Ultimate Rewards card
• The card’s sign-up bonus is one of the best you can get for no annual fee

The Freedom Unlimited stood out for its high average rewards rate, uniquely flexible redemption options and solid sign-up bonus, which make it a top choice as a standalone no annual fee rewards card.

• Excellent rewards rate for restaurant-lovers and home cooks alike
• Earns bonus points on eligible flights, a category often missing on dining rewards cards 
• The card’s up to $240 per year in dining perks nearly cover its annual fee
• Flexible points can be used for travel with Amex or transferred to partner airlines

• Less expensive than its luxury competitors while potentially offering better value
• Easily recoups its annual fee with 10,000 bonus miles each account anniversary and up to $300 in Capital One Travel statement credits per year
• You can redeem miles for travel through the issuer’s portal, to cover outside travel purchases or transfer to many partners at a 1:1 rate
• Its sign-up bonus is one of the highest currently available on a travel credit card

• One of the few cards that earns bonus rewards in popular bonus categories and general purchases
• Solid mix of perks including trip cancellation/interruption insurance, an intro APR and more
• Features unparalleled rewards flexibility and points become more valuable when you pair with a premium Ultimate Rewards card
• Its sign-up bonus offers one of the best returns on spend available at no annual fee

• Rewards key family spending categories of dining, grocery stores, streaming services and entertainment
• Boasts fantastic first-year value with its intro APR offers and easy-to-earn sign-up bonus
• You won’t have to worry about offsetting an annual fee with card rewards or perks
• Should carry more cash back potential for the average family than many flat-rate cards

• One of the only secured cards to offer rewards (in practical categories, no less)
• Discover matches all of the cash back you earn at the end of your first year — a generous offer that could even beat some unsecured card bonuses
• Its $0 annual fee and low minimum deposit requirement make it accessible to credit builders of all stripes
• Your account will be reviewed to see if you can transition to an unsecured line of credit in just seven months — one of the shortest account review periods available

• Offers terrific cash back potential and variety with its quarterly rotating bonus categories
• One of the few student cards with a welcome offer: Discover matches all the cash back you earn at the end of your first year
• Carries no annual fee, foreign transaction fees or penalty APR, and a forgiving late fee policy
• Outstanding customer service ratings bode well for for students learning the credit ropes

• Features a low average ongoing APR, making it a bit less costly to carry a balance beyond your intro APR period
• Comes with a bonus offer of a $100 statement credit online bonus after you spend $1,000 in your first 90 days — a rare perk for a balance transfer card
• Charges a relatively low balance transfer fee, which could be offset via the card’s bonus
• Features an equally long intro APR period on both purchases and balance transfers

• You can take advantage of thousands of dollars worth of benefits, including statement credits for eligible tech purchases, airline fee credits and more
• Its 35 percent Airline Bonus redemption perk (500,000-point annual cap) makes it one of the most lucrative rewards cards for business travel
• Bonus cash back on large purchases and no preset spending limit 
• Unlike most premium business cards, it offers an intro purchase APR (on eligible Pay Over Time purchases)

• The card can easily pay for itself thanks to the annual companion certificate
• Comes with useful perks for frequent travelers, including a free first checked bag for you and eight companions, credits for TSA Precheck or Global Entry and more
• Earns rewards in practical, popular categories like restaurants and U.S. supermarket purchases
• Can fast-track you to elite status with Delta and perks like complimentary first class upgrades

• Comes with a potentially best-in-class sign-up bonus if maximized (3 Free Night Awards valued at 50,000 points each after you spend $3,000 in your first three months)
• Value of annual Free Night Award alone covers the already-low annual fee 
• Gets you automatic Marriott Silver Elite status benefits and a jump on Gold status
• Earns bonus rewards not only on hotel stays, but also on general purchases

• Includes a 0 percent intro APR on new purchases and on balance transfers made within the first 60 days (0 percent for 18 billing cycles). A 3 percent fee (min. $10) applies.
• Carries a relatively low ongoing variable APR of 12.99 percent 22.99 percent after that
• Few cards with an intro APR offer on both balance transfers and new purchases also offer a welcome bonus
• No penalty APR if you miss a payment due date

• You’ll earn 1.5 points per dollar to 10 points per dollar by juggling these three cards for different types of spending
• You can pool points across all three cards and enjoy a 50 percent higher redemption value when you book travel with Chase
• Better category coverage, redemption flexibility and point value than competing stacks
• Total annual fee is only $550 for all three cards — less than rival card combos

• You can swap your bonus category once per calendar month to maximize your rewards
• Online shopping category offers terrific variety for shopaholics
• Features a long list of popular bonus categories, including gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drugstores, home improvement, grocery stores and wholesale clubs
• The issuer’s Preferred Rewards program can boost your cash back rate by up to 75 percent depending on your membership tier

• Chart-topping 6 percent cash back rate on 31 select U.S. streaming subscriptions — one of the largest rosters available
• One of the best cash back rates available at U.S. supermarkets — a whopping 6 percent back on up to $6,000 in annual spending (then 1 percent)
• Impressive and easily attainable welcome bonus of a $300 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in your first six months
• Also comes with an intro APR offer on new purchases, allowing you to pay off large purchases over time