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The best credit cards available now:
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Given the wide range of benefits, rewards, and annual fees available, it’s impossible to name one single best credit card. But if you’re looking to find the best credit card for you, breaking it down by category is a good way to approach your search.
For example, if you’re just getting started with credit, a student credit card or a card that doesn’t require a high credit score is an ideal pick. If you’re looking to earn travel rewards, on the other hand, you’ll want to look at cards like the
The best credit cards in 2021
Best for balance transfers: Citi Simplicity® Card
Pros: Long introductory APR period on balance transfers, 18-month intro APR period for purchases
Cons: No rewards
If you’re looking to transfer your existing credit card balance to a new card that offers a long introductory APR period, you can’t do better than the
Read more: Citi Simplicity credit card review
To get the full benefit out of the
In addition to the stellar introductory offer for balance transfers, the
Read more:
Best for intro APR offer: Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Pros: Long introductory APR period, earns 1.5% cash back on most purchases, pairs well with other Chase cards
Cons: You can get more cash back on bonus categories with other cards
The
Not only does this card help you pay down credit card debt with a generous introductory APR period, but it also offers solid ongoing rewards. You’ll earn 5% cash back (5x points) on travel purchases made through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal, 3% back (3x points) on drugstores and dining, and 1.5% back (1.5x points) on everything else with no cap.
Read more: Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card review
If you have a Chase card that earns Ultimate Rewards points, such as the
Read more about the Chase Freedom Unlimited:
- Chase Freedom Unlimited card review
- Chase Freedom Flex vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited card comparison
- How to turn cash back into Ultimate Rewards points with Chase cards
- Review of all three Chase Freedom cards
Best for cash back: Citi® Double Cash Card
Pros: Strong cash-back rate, solid intro APR offer, pairs well with other Citi cards
Cons: Some cards with bonus categories can get you more cash back on select purchases
Not only does the
As a new cardholder, you get the first 18 months with 0% APR on balance transfers from the date of the first transfer (which must be completed in the first four months from account opening). After that, there’s a
While the
Read more about the Citi Double Cash Card:
- Citi Double Cash Card review
- Why I finally got the Citi Double Cash Card
- Citi Double Cash vs Chase Freedom Unlimited
Best for travel rewards: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Pros: High sign-up bonus, strong rewards, good travel protections
Cons: Some other travel rewards cards offer more bonus points and added benefits
If you want to earn travel rewards, you’ll find that Chase Ultimate Rewards points are the most user-friendly of the various bank currencies, which are also referred to as transferable points because you can transfer them over to various airline and hotel partners. In the case of Chase points, you can redeem them with partners like British Airways, Hyatt, United Airlines, and Singapore Airlines, or you can book travel directly through Chase. If you choose the latter, your points are worth 1.25 cents apiece – a 25% bonus.
Read more: Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card review
The
You’ll earn 2 points per dollar on all travel and dining purchases, and 1 point per dollar on everything else. Beyond the rewards, the
Read more about the Chase Sapphire Preferred card:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. the Chase Sapphire Reserve
- 5 Chase Sapphire Preferred card benefits you should know about
- How to earn, redeem, and maximize Chase Ultimate Rewards points
Best for bad credit: Discover it® Secured
Pros: It’s an attainable option even if you have bad credit, and it earns rewards – which is rare for a secured card
Cons: Some secured cards have lower minimum deposit requirements
If you have a very limited credit history or are looking to repair bad credit, many of the cards on this list won’t be available to you. Most of the top rewards cards require credit scores in the 600s or higher – if that’s not where your credit is, you may need to consider a secured card to repair your credit.
Secured credit cards are easy to get approved for because they require a cash deposit upfront, which minimizes the issuer’s risk. Your credit limit is equal to the cash deposit you put down.
Read more: Discover it Secured credit card review
If a secured card seems like the right option for you, the
Best for fair credit: Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card
Pros: Earns 1.5% cash back on every purchase, no foreign transaction fees
Cons: Other cards offer better rewards
Read more: The best credit cards for fair or average credit in 2021
If you have a credit score in the “fair” range (580-669, according to FICO), you have a good chance of being approved for this card. It offers a respectable 1.5% cash back on all purchases, and there are no foreign transaction fees.
The
Best business credit card: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Pros: Big welcome bonus, great bonus categories for small businesses, benefits like cell phone protection
Cons: Large spending requirement to earn the bonus, bonus category spending is capped
Read more: Ink Business Preferred Credit Card review
There are lots of great small-business credit cards, and if you travel constantly, it could be worth paying the high annual fee for a more premium option like
You’ll earn 3 points per dollar on the first $150,000 you spend each cardmember year in select categories, including travel, shipping, internet/cable/phone, and advertising on social media sites or with search engines, such as Google Ads. Purchases after you reach $150,000, or in any other category, earn 1 point per dollar.
Read more about the Chase Ink Business Preferred card:
- Ink Business Preferred Credit Card review
- Chase Ink Business card comparison: Preferred vs Cash vs Unlimited
- Is the Ink Business Preferred better than the Chase Sapphire Reserve?
Best for students: Discover it® Student Cash Back
Pros: Cash-back reward for good grades, earns up to 5% cash back, no foreign transaction fee
Cons: Other cards offer a higher cash-back rate on non-bonus spending
The
Read more: The best credit cards for students in 2021
Beyond that, the card offers 5% cash back on up to $1,500 of purchases in rotating bonus categories each quarter when you activate, and 1% back on everything else
Other cards that we considered that just missed the cut
Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card : You get a lot of perks, and solid rewards, in exchange for aCapital One Venture Rewards Credit Card annual fee, but your options for redeeming miles for travel aren’t the most competitive due to confusing transfer ratios and only one US airline partner.Platinum Card® from American Express : While this premium card has a long list of travel benefits like airport lounge access, Uber credits, and complimentary hotel elite status that can cancel out the$550 annual fee(See Rates) if you put them to use, not everyone will be able to justify that cost.Chase Sapphire Reserve® : The higher-end sibling of the Chase Sapphire Preferred is another card that offers some great high-end travel perks – like up to $300 in statement credits each year – but with aChase Sapphire Reserve® annual fee it’s not the best travel card for everyone.Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card – It earns 4% cash back on dining, entertainment, and streaming services, plus 3% at grocery stores and 1% back on everything else, but many people prefer earning a higher rate of cash back on all their purchases without any bonus categories.Chase Freedom Flex℠ – This card can help you earn 5% cash back/5x points on rotating quarterly bonus categories (on up to $1,500 each quarter when you activate), but again not everyone wants to keep track of bonus categories, especially when they change several times throughout the year.Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express – It earns 6% back on select US streaming subscriptions and 6% back on up to $6,000 spent at US supermarkets each year (then 1%), so it’s another solid option for those who want maximum cash back on select purchases rather than a higher rate of cash back on all purchases (cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars).Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business – It earns miles instead of cash back, but if you prefer travel rewards this card is a great option.Amex Business Platinum Card – With aThe Business Platinum Card® from American Express annual fee(See Review) , it has lots of travel benefits that could be worth it if you’re constantly on the road.
Other Insider credit card guides
This guide highlights the best credit card option for several different types of users. If you want a to-the-point recommendation for maximizing your spending and enjoying benefits like an intro APR period, this guide will help you find a quick answer. However, if you want to go deeper, check out our in-depth credit card guides for the following categories:
- The best rewards credit cards
- The best cash-back credit cards
- The best travel rewards credit cards
- The best small-business credit cards
- The best no-annual-fee credit cards
- The best credit cards for bad credit
- The best credit cards for average credit
- The best credit cards for students
Methodology: How we chose the best credit cards for 2021
Our list of the best credit cards is the result of an in-depth comparison between credit cards in each sub-category. We looked at America’s largest credit card issuers, as well as cards frequently recommended by blogs, forums, and travel communities.
The values we prioritized when coming up with this list were:
- Simplicity – not everyone wants to invest lots of time and energy into maximizing their credit cards, so we focused on cards that make things as straightforward as possible
- Affordability – while there’s a case to be made for paying a high annual fee when you’re getting high value in return, most credit card users aren’t looking for a card that costs $450 or more
- Value – whether we’re talking about a credit card with or without an annual fee, it’s important that the benefits and features are worth it
Credit card frequently asked questions
Why should I get a credit card?
Credit cards can be powerful tools for improving your credit score and earning rewards – if you use them responsibly. It’s important to only spend what you can afford to pay off each month so you don’t end up in debt and start amassing steep interest fees.
Provided you’re in a position to pay off your credit card statements and spend within your means, there are several reasons opening a credit card could be a good idea. For one, credit cards offer better fraud protection than debit cards or cash – if an unauthorized purchase is made with your card, you won’t be on the hook.
Using a credit card responsibly can also help you build and repair your credit, since your on-time payments will be reported to the credit bureaus. Finally, a credit card can help you maximize every dollar you spend, by earning you cash back, points, or miles.
What is the best credit card?
It’s impossible to name just one best credit card, because there are so many options for so many different types of users. A credit card that earns travel rewards could be the best option for one person, but if you’re looking to earn cash back, you’ll be better served by another pick.
How do I choose a credit card?
Focus on your priorities, and be realistic about what cards you’re able to get approved for. Most of the top rewards cards require credit scores in the high 600s at a bare minimum, so if your credit score isn’t there yet, you’ll want to look at options for bad to fair credit scores so you can focus on building your credit back up.
Beyond that, decide what annual fee you’re comfortable paying. Some people avoid paying credit card annual fees completely, and there are several great cards in the no-annual-fee category, but it could be worth paying a modest annual fee of $95 to $99 for a travel or cash-back card that earns you higher rewards. Also, decide whether you want to earn cash back or travel rewards. Keep in mind that redeeming rewards for travel is more work than simply getting cash back in your account – the payoff can be big, but focus on what is the best option for you.
How do I build credit with a credit card?
Your credit card use is a huge factor in determining your credit score – every on-time payment you make is reported to the credit bureaus and shows potential lenders that you’re able to use credit responsibly. The key to building credit with a credit card is to only spend what you can afford to pay off each month.
How many credit cards should I have?
There’s no one answer to this question – it’s possible to have more than 20 cards and maintain an excellent credit score, but this would probably entail several annual fees. Go slowly, space out your applications, and never bite off more than you can chew. Make sure you’re able to pay off your balances in full each month, because earning rewards is never worth going into debt.
Sarah Silbert is the senior reviews editor at Personal Finance Insider. She’s covered personal finance and credit card rewards for six years, and she’s a Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF).
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