How many credit cards should I have?

The number of credit cards you should have depends on your goals. For example, you’ll probably want to carry multiple cards if you’re looking to maximize rewards on a broader range of expenses or wield perks specific to your favorite stores, airlines or hotels. However, you may want to stick to one card if you prioritize building credit or a streamlined rewards experience. Having several cards is fine as long as they deliver benefits that you take full advantage of (miles, cash back, perks and so on). Just beware of burdening yourself with annual fees and temporarily bruising your credit score from multiple card applications in a short period. For reference, statistics show that 77 percent of U.S. adults have at least one credit card, with the average American holding three to four credit cards.

What is a good sign-up bonus?

No-annual-fee rewards cards typically offer sign-up bonuses worth $200 to $250 after you spend $500 to $1,000 in the first three months. Meanwhile, premium rewards cards generally offer bonuses worth $500 to $800 after you spend $4,000 to $6,000 in your first three or six months. Business cards often offer even more valuable sign-up bonuses with a bigger spending requirement to match. We’ve already seen a few chart-topping limited-time offers this year — including the Chase Sapphire Preferred card’s highest-ever bonus and a boosted Capital One Venture offer (both recently ended) — and we’ll hopefully see more offers ramp up as the travel season begins.

Does applying for a credit card hurt your credit score?

A credit card application could have a negative (but temporary and relatively small) effect on your credit score. Getting approved for a credit card or other type of credit account requires some scrutiny of your track record as a borrower. The process can involve two types of credit checks: A “hard” inquiry is when the lender pulls your credit report to make a decision about whether to lend to you. A “soft” inquiry is when the lender checks your credit as part of a preliminary screening. Pre-qualified credit card offers involve soft credit inquiries, so keep an eye out for cards that offer pre-qualification. A hard inquiry can subtract a few points from your credit score temporarily, while a soft inquiry usually has no effect. You’ll want to limit the number of hard inquiries on your credit report, so be as selective as possible about which credit cards you apply for and try to get preapproved first.

How old do I have to be to get a credit card?

Generally, you must be at least 18 years old to be the primary cardholder of a credit card. However, there are considerably more strict requirements to hold a credit card if you’re below the age of 21. You must be able to prove that you can independently pay your credit card bill or you can elect to have a cosigner, who is financially responsible for your bills if you cannot pay. There is also the option to become an authorized user on a parent or guardian’s credit card. With this option, you can have access to a credit line before the age of 18, though age restrictions will depend on the issuer.

Best Credit Cards of June 2025

Compare Bankrate's best credit cards of 2025

Card name	Our pick for	Card highlights	Ongoing APR	Bankrate Score
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card	Cash back card on food	8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars through Capital One Travel 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, select streaming services and grocery store purchases (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target) No annual fee	Regular APR: 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)	5.0 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Capital One's secure site See Rates & Fees
Chase Freedom Unlimited®	Standalone rewards card	5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Travel℠ 3% cash back on dining and drugstore purchases 1.5% cash back on all other purchases No annual fee	Regular APR: 18.99% - 28.49% Variable	4.6 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Chase's secure site See Rates & Fees
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express	Grocery rewards card	6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%) and on select U.S. streaming subscriptions 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on transit $95 annual fee ($0 intro annual fee the first year)	Regular APR: 20.24%-29.24% Variable	4.4 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on American Express's secure site See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card	Affordable travel perks	10X miles on hotel and rental car bookings through Capital One Travel 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel 2X miles on all other purchases Annual $300 Capital One Travel credit and 10,000 account anniversary bonus miles can help offset part of the annual fee $395 annual fee	Regular APR: 19.99% - 29.24% (Variable)	5.0 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Capital One's secure site See Rates & Fees
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card	Travel rewards value	3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), dining (including eligible delivery services) and select streaming services 5X points on Chase Travel℠ and Lyft Rides (Lyft offer through September 30, 2027) 2X points on other travel 25% point value boost toward Chase Travel℠ redemption Yearly bonus points and credits: $50 annual hotel stay credit and 10% back on your previous year's total combined spending points $95 annual fee	Regular APR: 19.99% - 28.24% Variable	4.9 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Chase's secure site See Rates & Fees
Citi Double Cash® Card	Flat-rate cash back	2% cash back: 1% when you buy, 1% when you pay 0% intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers (transfers must be within the first four months) No annual fee	Regular APR: 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable)	4.2 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Citi's secure site See Rates & Fees
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card	Travel card for everyday spending	10X points on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked via Citi Travel℠ 3X points on air travel, other hotel purchases and purchases at restaurants, supermarkets, and gas and EV charging stations $100 annual hotel benefit discount on a single hotel stay of $500 or more booked via Citi Travel℠ (excludes taxes and fees) $95 annual fee	Regular APR: 20.24% - 28.24% (Variable)	4.6 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Citi's secure site See Rates & Fees
The Platinum Card® from American Express	Luxury travel card	5X points on directly-booked airfare and flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel® (on up to $500,000 spent on flights per calendar year) 2X points on prepaid car rentals, vacation packages and cruise reservations through American Express Travel® Offers one of the most valuable lists of travel perks available, including around $1,700 of recurring monthly and annual credits plus comprehensive airport lounge access $695 annual fee	Regular APR: See Pay Over Time APR	4.8 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on American Express's secure site See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply
Wells Fargo Reflect® Card	Large purchases	0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers (within the first 120 days) and purchases (The regular APR will apply thereafter; 5% balance transfer fee, $5 minimum) No annual fee	Regular APR: 17.24%, 23.74%, or 28.99% Variable APR	4.3 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Wells Fargo's secure site See Rates & Fees
American Express® Gold Card	Travel card for food	4X points on restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases per year, then 1x points) and U.S. supermarket purchases (on up to $25,000 in purchases per year, then 1X points) 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or via Amex Travel Over $400 in various credits in monthly Uber Cash and credits toward eligible dining purchases (Uber Cash expires at the end of the month. Enrollment required for all credits.) $325 annual fee	Regular APR: See Pay Over Time APR	4.9 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on American Express's secure site See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply
Citi Custom Cash® Card	High cash back rates	5% cash back on your top eligible spending category each billing cycle (on up to $500 each billing cycle, then 1%) Category automatically selected from a pool of ten categories, including top options like restaurants, gas, grocery stores and select travel. 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked via Citi Travel℠ (through June 30, 2026) No annual fee	Regular APR: 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable)
U.S. Bank Shield™ Visa® Card	Balance transfer card	0% intro APR for 24 billing cycles on balance transfers and purchases (transfers must be within 60 days; 5% balance transfer fee, $5 minimum) 4% cash back on prepaid flights, hotel and rental cars through the U.S. Bank Rewards Center $20 annual statement credit after 11 consecutive calendar months of purchases No annual fee	Regular APR: 17.74% - 28.74% Variable
Citi Simplicity® Card	Minimizing fees	0% intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers (within the first four months) and 12 months on purchases No late payment fees or penalty APR Low intro balance transfer fee: 3% within the first four months, then 5% ($5 minimum)	Regular APR: 18.24% - 28.99% (Variable)

What are the different types of credit cards?

Credit card issuers offer different types of cards to meet various consumer needs, so no one card will be the “best” for everyone. A credit card’s “type” is mostly determined by the spending categories it rewards, the perks it offers, and how its interest rate and intro APR offer lengths compare stack up.

Frequent travelers will likely value luxury perks like lounge access more than occasional travelers, who might not see such features as worth a high annual fee. Meanwhile, someone trying to pay off debt will be more focused on an intro APR offer

Here are the major credit card types and the best features to look out for:

Best for household shoppers who want a simple card, don’t travel often and mostly spend on groceries, gas, dining and other everyday categories.

Rewards categories: Cash back cards usually earn rewards on everyday purchases. Groceries, dining, gas and online shopping are likely the most lucrative categories for the typical spender — especially if these categories are year-round. However, flat-rate rewards cards are also great fallback cards for many people.
Rewards rates: The best flat-rate cash rewards cards typically offer a maximum of 2 percent back on purchases, while cards with rotating categories or year-round bonus categories can offer anywhere from 2 percent to 6 percent back on certain purchases (sometimes with restrictions on how much you can earn, like spending caps). Good bonus category cards focus your spending in their 3 percent categories, although category spending caps may be hard to avoid.
Perks: Cash back cards typically don’t offer many beyond the rewards program, but standout cards may offer travel protections and perks with partner services like rideshare or delivery services. A rare few cash back cards may even come with annual credits.
Welcome offers: Since many cash back cards have no annual fee, they typically provide a $200 value for spending $500 to $1,000 in the first three months.

Learn more about our picks for cash back cards here:

Travel and rewards cards earn points or miles that are most valuable when you redeem them for travel costs. No-annual-fee travel cards are a great entry point for rewards newbies to dip their toes in the waters of traveling on points and miles, while premium travel cards are best for jetsetters who maximize every feature of their cards. Consider travel and rewards cards if you:

Travel occasionally and want to save up points and miles to partially or fully pay for your next trip
One or two cash back cards with an issuer and want to add a travel card to start rounding out your credit card rewards strategy
Want to start maximizing your travel strategy with credits and perks to make flights and hotel stays more comfortable

When you’re shopping for your next travel card, look for these features:

Lucrative categories: The best rewards and travel cards earn at least 2 percent on general purchases or higher rewards rate on everyday purchases like groceries, restaurants, and gas (3 percent or more). Look for cards that earn high rates in categories you spend the most in. If you’re a frequent traveler, consider cards that have 4X to 10X points or miles on common travel bookings.
Welcome offers: The best no-annual-fee rewards cards will come with welcome bonuses worth at least $200 in rewards, ideally with a low spending requirement of $500 to $1,000 in the first three months. Top-tier travel and rewards cards will offer $750 or more in travel or cash back with spending requirements of around $3,000 to $4,000 in spending in the first six months.
Practical and luxury perks: No-annual-fee travel cards come with useful perks like travel insurance, while premium travel cards have credits for travel costs, expedited airport security screening or airport lounge access. Co-branded hotel and airline cards have free checked bags, free nights and more.
Rewards value: Your points and miles’ value can vary depending on how you redeem them. The best rewards cards let you redeem points for cash back or travel at a value of at least 1 cent per point or transfer to airlines and hotels for a chance at an even higher redemption value (the most valuable travel points and miles are worth around 2 cents).

And check out our lists for the best travel and rewards cards:

Intro APR cards offer 0 percent interest for a time after account opening, usually 12 to 21 months. This interest-free period could be for balance transfers or new purchases. These cards are best for people who want to pay off snowballing debt or keep interest at bay on upcoming purchases.

Keep these features in mind as you search for the best intro APR card for your situation:

Long intro APR period: If you need more time to pay off debt, the best card for you will feature a 0 percent intro APR offer of at least 18 months, but the best cards offer 21 to 24 months.
Rewards: If you only need a 12- to 15-month intro APR, a no-annual-fee rewards card with a short intro APR period may be a better choice long term than a card with a longer intro APR but no rewards program or ongoing perks.
Balance transfer fee: Realistically, most best balance transfer fees are 3 percent. A low balance transfer fee is a key consideration when choosing a balance transfer card, as you could save more with a low fee than you would with a few extra months of 0 percent APR. If you don’t want to pay a balance transfer fee at all, consider a credit union balance transfer card.

Want more information on intro APR credit cards? Check out more recommendations here:

While owners managing companies with sky-high revenue might want a high-powered business card to expand their purchasing power, freelancers and side-hustlers could use a card to keep personal and business expenses separate.

Here are some of the types of business owners who could benefit from a business card:

Online retail store and Etsy store owners with recurring shipping and merchandise costs
Digital artists and freelancers who need capital for software and hardware purchases
LLC owners with established businesses who need employee cards and flexible funding
Corporations and nonprofits with 100 or fewer employees

Whether you need help managing employee spending, just want to earn rewards on your common operating expenses or you’re somewhere in between, the right card could help you as a business owner manage your company.

Rewards: Many business cards offer everyday bonus categories like dining, but some of the best cards earn 2 percent to 4 percent rewards back on business purchases like travel, office supplies, electronics, advertising, shipping and/or telecommunication services.
Perks: The best business cards have specialized features, such as higher credit limits than consumer cards, statement credits for software or hardware purchases,
Welcome offer: The best cards give you a chance at a large cash or travel rewards bonus with a reasonable spending requirement. You may even see premium cards offer $2,000 or more after spending a few thousand dollars in the first few months, while top no-annual-fee business cards tend to offer around $200 to $300 for lower spending requirements.
Management tools: Free employee cards, integration with QuickBooks or other accounting software and customizable spending limits round out common business card features to look for.

Larger corporations and companies may not get much out of a business card if it doesn’t have a high enough credit limit to meet their needs. In these cases, a corporate credit card may be a better option. Here’s more information about Bankrate’s picks for business cards:

Naturally, these cards are the best options for college students since they offer comparatively low fees and student-oriented perks and rewards. Look for cards with these features to start your credit journey alongside your academic one:

Low credit requirements: If you’re a young adult, you probably don’t have much credit history. Student cards that don’t require good credit for qualification should be at the top of your list.
Reasonable rates and fees: Busy and working students probably don’t want their limited budget eaten up by annual fees or high interest charges. The best way to not pay interest is to not carry a balance, but that may not always be possible. Avoid cards with APRs in the 30s — try to find a sweet spot between 20 percent and 28 percent.
Rewards: Some of the best student cards offer rewards like cash back or points for your purchases. If you want, you can even consider cards with bonus categories for gas or dining. But you could also keep it simple with a flat-rate cash back student card.
Credit-building tools: Managing credit also means building it. Issuers that offer tools like free FICO score and potential credit limit increases can help you establish a positive credit history

Of course, these cards are best for credit-builders with bad credit or no credit history. Secured cards are the most rewarding and cost-effective option if you have money for an upfront deposit, although an unsecured card is viable.

These are the features to consider when shopping for cards to help you build credit:

Security deposit: The best secured cards make it easy to get started with a low security deposit. Secured cards typically require a $200 minimum deposit, but a few cards have lower minimum deposit requirements — some as low as $50.
Low fees: And while unsecured credit cards won't require any deposit, many come with high fees. Look for unsecured credit-building cards that keep annual fees under $70 and don't tack on additional monthly or program fees.
Credit limit: Since a secured card's credit limit typically matches your deposit, cards that allow a large deposit can make it much easier to keep your credit utilization ratio low and build credit. For unsecured cards, make sure you can get at least a $300 starting limit.
Upgrade potential: Consider cards with a clear path to better products after you’ve improved your credit score. Secured card issuers usually review your account after some time to determine if you’re eligible to upgrade to an unsecured card and have your deposit refunded.

Learn more about Bankrate’s picks for the top credit-building cards here:

How to compare cards and choose the best one

Choosing the best credit card all comes down to which card is going to provide you with the most value based on your financial situation, spending habits and more. Think about these questions when a credit card offer catches your eye:

What’s your credit score?

The better your credit score, the better your chance of qualifying for a credit card with excellent perks and terms. Check your credit score before applying for a new card, and, if your credit score isn’t where you’d like it to be, work on improving your credit.
Determine which type of card fits your needs

Start your research by deciding what type of card best suits your spending habits, financial needs and preferred maintenance level. If your spending is concentrated in certain categories, look for a card with a high rewards rate on those purchases (or keep it simple with a flat-rate rewards card). Consider other features that you prioritize too, like perks with your favorite airlines or hotels, or a sufficient 0 percent intro APR offer if you have credit card debt.
Narrow your list

Whittle down to the right card by calculating which would be the most rewarding based on your monthly spending, which perks you’ll actually use enough and whether an annual fee eats into that yearly value too much. Don’t forget to consider whether an issuer’s rewards program suits your redemption options and card combinations. Finally, a sign-up bonus can be a deciding factor if you’re on the fence between two cards.
Apply

If your credit score is a concern, see if you can prequalify on the issuer’s site or through a third-party service like CardMatch. It’s also worth scoping out more sites or prequalification tools to see if you can score a more valuable welcome offer, or checking with friends and family members for a referral bonus link instead. If you’re in no rush, you may want to wait for an elevated limited-time offer or a prequalified bonus offer in the mail.

Don’t know where to start? Check out

Bankrate’s Spender Type Tool

Expert insights: The best and most popular credit cards

No one card will be “the best” for everyone, but certain cards will likely stand out based on your goals, spending habits, credit score and more. To help give you an objective sense of which credit cards and companies are worth considering to begin with before you dive head-first into research, we’ve combined our Bankrate research with the most recent J.D. Power Credit Card Satisfaction Study data to rank the highest-rated cards.

Here are issuers ranked by their overall J.D. Power score and include their cards that ranked above the segment average in any of the study’s card categories. We then added each respective card’s Bankrate Score, and whittled down the shortlist to those with the highest Bankrate Scores.

Issuer + J.D. Power survey rank	J.D. Power’s ranking credit cards + Bankrate Scores
American Express #1 (634)	Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express (4.6 / 5) Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (4.4 / 5) The Platinum Card® from American Express (4.8 / 5) American Express® Gold Card (4.9 / 5) American Express Green Card®* (4.6 / 5) Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (4.6 / 5)
Discover #2 (629)	Discover it® Student Cash Back (5 / 5) Discover it® Cash Back (4.4 / 5)
Capital One #3 (620)	Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card (5 / 5) Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (5 / 5)
Chase #4 (619)	Chase Freedom Flex® (4.8 / 5) Chase Freedom Unlimited® (4.6 / 5) Chase Sapphire Reserve® (5 / 5) Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (4.9 / 5)
Bank of America #5 (616)	Bank of America® Premium Rewards credit card (4.2 / 5)
Citi #6 (611)	Citi Custom Cash® Card (4.4 / 5) Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (4.6 / 5) Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (4.5 / 5)
Wells Fargo #7 (598)	Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card (4.3 / 5)
U.S. Bank #8 (595)	U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card* (4.3 / 5)

For a deeper data breakdown of which credit cards are the best — including data from our Bankrate Score system and Bankrate Awards — check out our companion guide:

Bankrate Analysis

Which credit cards are statistically the best?

In my years of analyzing the credit card market and reviewing each breakthrough card along the way, the best cards for most people tend to be the ones that let you save the most on your expenses at the time. Based on lingering economic uncertainty, elevated living costs, higher credit card balances and decreasing their rewards’ value, cards with solid intro APR periods and everyday cash rewards categories are some of the best options for in today's climate.

For my money, a dependable 2 percent flat-rate cash rewards card is an excellent starting point for any spender, such as the Citi Double Cash — especially if you want to pair it with a Citi travel card. However, other top-rated everyday cards may be able to rack up more rewards depending on your budget.

We measured popularity based on the percentage of users who clicked on a card offer on our site after viewing it. Here are the most popular cards on Bankrate in the past six months, according to our data:

Cash back

Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Travel & rewards

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
Credit One Bank® Wander® American Express® Card

Intro APR & balance transfer

Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Wells Fargo Reflect® Card
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Bad Credit

Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa® Credit Card
Firstcard® Secured Credit Builder Card With Cashback

Students

Discover it® Student Cash Back
Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
Firstcard® Secured Credit Builder Card with Cashback for Students

Bankrate’s data indicates that, regardless of the type of credit card, users prefer straightforward rewards programs, no-annual-fee cards and solid zero-interest periods. The rewards cards that received the most applications largely have a flat rewards rates or a variety of everyday bonus categories like groceries, dining and gas. Even the most popular premium travel cards in our study tend to have a $0 to $95 annual fee and allow you to redeem rewards for cash back without losing value.

Bankrate staff picks

To help you build the best shortlist possible, I asked Bankrate credit card experts what they think are currently the best cash back, travel, 0 percent intro APR and credit-building cards currently on the market.

Many of these recommendations line up with our data and curated list, but hidden gems are sometimes found in the cream of the crop. For example, senior editorial director John Puterbaugh’s go-to cash back recommendation flies under the radar for some people:

It’s not the flashiest card on the market, but my favorite cash back card is my Fidelity® Rewards Visa Signature® Credit Card*. It earns 2 percent cash back on every purchase, and the rewards are automatically transferred into my Fidelity IRA every month or so. Putting cash back toward my investments and future financial independence feels like a total hack!
— John Puterbaugh, Bankrate senior editorial director

Travel: American Express® Gold Card
Cash back: Citi Custom Cash® Card
Intro APR: U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card*
Credit-building: A card in the Capital One Quicksilver family

“I recommend starting with the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card because it sets you up to do a product change to the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card, which I think is the best option if you only want one credit card. Depending on your credit, the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card or Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card could offer a similar step toward the Savor card.”
— Brendan Dyer, Bankrate writer

Travel: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Cash back: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Intro APR: Citi Double Cash® Card
Credit-building: Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

“The Capital One Savor offers solid cash back in such common everyday spending categories as dining and groceries — and there's no annual fee. With food prices being such a pain point for many, I think this is an excellent choice for many people.”
— Ana Staples, Bankrate lead writer and reporter

Travel: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Cash back: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Intro APR: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Credit-building: Chase Freedom Rise®

“Even with no credit history, you can start earning 1.5 percent cash back on every purchase while practicing on-time payments and responsible use of the Chase Freedom Rise. Once you’ve built up your credit score, you could ask Chase for an upgrade to another card in the Freedom family, like the Chase Freedom Flex® or Chase Freedom Unlimited®. Both of these cards have a ton of long-term value, making the Rise a great starting point.”
— Katie Kelton, Bankrate lead writer and Certified Credit Counselor

Travel: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Cash back: Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
Intro APR: U.S. Bank Shield™ Visa® Card*
Credit-building: Chase Freedom Rise®

“It’s hard to beat the U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card’s intro APR period on purchases and balance transfers. Normally cards with such a long intro period come with little or no rewards, but the Shield Visa bucks the trend. That means this card can add value to your wallet even after the intro period ends.”
— Brooklyn Lowery, Bankrate senior editor

Learn more: Bankrate staffers share the one card they can’t live without

Frequently asked questions

A credit card application could have a negative (but temporary and relatively small) effect on your credit score. Getting approved for a credit card or other type of credit account requires some scrutiny of your track record as a borrower. The process can involve two types of credit checks:
- A “hard” inquiry is when the lender pulls your credit report to make a decision about whether to lend to you.
- A “soft” inquiry is when the lender checks your credit as part of a preliminary screening. Pre-qualified credit card offers involve soft credit inquiries, so keep an eye out for cards that offer pre-qualification.
A hard inquiry can subtract a few points from your credit score temporarily, while a soft inquiry usually has no effect. You’ll want to limit the number of hard inquiries on your credit report, so be as selective as possible about which credit cards you apply for and try to get preapproved first.

How we choose the best credit cards

250+

cards rated

50+

rewards programs valued

5000

data points analyzed

40+

perks evaluated

We select cards for “Best” credit cards pages based primarily on how cards score in our proprietary card rating system, our editors’ subjective assessment of card quality, card approval odds and credit requirements and unique card features.

Cards typically must score a minimum of 3.0 stars to be included on a “Best” list. However, we may include cards with scores below 3.0 if they have low credit requirements or unique features — despite their scores, these cards may still be among the “best” in certain categories. Card ratings are not influenced by advertisers or issuer relationships in any way.

Card selection and ordering may vary based on business considerations, including Bankrate visitor interest, site interactions and card application volume. Affiliate commissions (see how we make money), limited-time offers and a card’s general popularity in the product landscape may also influence which cards we feature on our pages and the order in which they appear. Bankrate’s editorial and business teams also strive to feature a variety of card types from various issuers.

Here’s a quick look at how our card ratings are distributed as of May 2024, as well as some of the key factors that we considered in selecting this month’s Best Cards.

Overall Score

5 stars 2%
4 - 4.9 stars 35%
3 - 3.9 stars 39%
2 - 2.9 stars 22%
1 - 1.9 stars 2%

Great rewards value: For cards that put earning rewards front and center, a key criteria for their inclusion in our list of the best credit cards is whether they offer impressive rewards value. This includes a card’s average rewards rate, estimated annual rewards earnings, sign-up bonus value and reward redemption value. These factors are all based on its average rewards rate and how closely those categories match the average person’s spending habits according to the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data.
Reasonable fees and APR: We rate all cards based on how their ongoing average APR compares to the average APR you’ll find on other cards in their primary category. For rewards-earning cards, this factor has only a minor influence on the card’s score and whether the card is included in our list, since rewards card users generally try to avoid carrying a balance. That said, rewards-earning cards may get a solid boost in score if they also offer an intro APR on balance transfers or new purchases. More important to these cards’ scores and their inclusion in our list is how their annual fees influence their overall value.
Flexibility and perks: Along with rewards value and cost, we consider other factors that could give cards great long-term value, like flexible rewards redemption, unique and valuable perks or the ability to switch to another card with the same issuer after you’ve paid off debt or improved your credit score. We rate rewards-earning cards based on the restrictions they impose on earning and redeeming rewards and consider this when deciding on a card’s inclusion in our list. We also evaluate each card’s perks based on their value, usefulness and uniqueness.

The information about the U.S. Bank Shield™ Visa® Card, Citi Custom Cash® Card, American Express Green Card®, Citi Premier® Card, Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card, Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card, Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card for Students, Chase Freedom Flex®, BankAmericard® credit card, Citi Simplicity® Card, U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card and Fidelity® Rewards Visa Signature® Credit Card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

We use primary sources to support our work. Bankrate’s authors, reporters and editors are subject-matter experts who thoroughly fact-check editorial content to ensure the information you’re reading is accurate, timely and relevant.
1. “Consumer Expenditures 2023.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed on May 16, 2025.
2. “Show Me the Money! Cashback and Value Credit Cards Grow in Popularity as Financial Health of Cardholders Declines, J.D. Power Finds.” J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Credit Card Satisfaction Study. Accessed on May 16, 2025.

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