The right card will pay you back handsomely on your day-to-day purchases.
An everyday credit card rewards you for purchases you make regularly like on gas and groceries. But your savings will differ depending on your card’s annual fee, reward rate and your spending habits.
Our pick for an everyday credit card
Compare everyday credit cards
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The best everyday credit cards of 2019
The best card for you depends on your budget and spending habits. Determine where you spend the most to help you decide which is best for you.
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Citi® Double Cash Card
This is an excellent card to use for all of your day-to-day purchases. If you pay your balance in full every month, the Citi® Double Cash Card is the top no-annual-fee cashback product on the market.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
- Get this card if: You spend for groceries.
If groceries are your biggest bill, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a strong choice. Its grocery rewards are the best on the market, and you’ll earn accelerated cash back on purchases made at US gas stations.
PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card
Among general-rewards cards, the PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card offers the highest rewards rate on gas when you buy at the pump.
Best for dining: Uber Visa Card
This is the card for foodies and socialites, offering a market-leading cashback rate on dining. Unlike its main competitor, the Uber Visa Card also doesn’t charge an annual fee.
Venture® from Capital One®
The Venture® from Capital One® offers a strong and consistent rewards rate on all purchases. And you’ll get tremendous value from the card when you travel, with 10x miles for eligible stays you book through Hotels.com.
How we selected our top cards
When comparing the best everyday credit cards we looked at several features, including eligible reward categories, points or cash back earned per dollar spent, earnings flexibility, annual fees, welcome bonus value, introductory APRs and other reward perks. The cards that stood out in one or several of these categories were chosen for our top picks.
What’s changed in 2019
This year we had heavy competition in the flat-rate travel rewards category. However, this is the last year Venture® from Capital One® offers the 10x miles at hotels.com purchases, which makes it a top pick for 2019.
How to compare everyday credit cards
- Think about your spending.
The beauty of rewards cards is each one offers a different rewards structure. One card might offer elevated rewards for your favorite categories, while another might not fit your spending at all. Take stock of how you spend and find a card that rewards you for your budget. Without changing your spending, you can get paid back daily in the form of cash back, points or miles.
- Annual fee.
This is a great starting point to compare cards. Most cards come with either no annual fee or an ongoing annual fee of around $95. Premium cards typically go for $450 a year. Decide if an annual fee will be worth using the card.
- Signup bonus.
A signup bonus can give you a quick burst of rewards and cover your card’s annual fee several times over. Consider whether you can meet the spending requirement before the signup-bonus window closes.
- Intro APR.
An intro APR can be useful if you want to make a big purchase now and pay it off over time without accruing interest. Make a plan to pay off your purchases before it expires. With rewards cards, it’s wise to pay off your balance in full each month. That’s because interest might offset the value of your rewards.
Bottom line
An effective everyday credit card is one that rewards you for your day-to-day spending. Consider your budget and find a product that offers elevated rewards for your top categories.
If you’re not sure an everyday credit card is right for you, consider other rewards products.
