The best credit cards of 2020

The best credit cards of 2020 are those that best adapted to the changing spending habits of consumers during the pandemic. The Finder credit card experts spent hundreds of hours reviewing these changes and determining which cards are positioned as best in class in their respective categories for 2020.

Our rankings are based on factors important to each card category, such as reward rates and redemption opportunities for reward cards, and intro period length and revert interest rates for 0% APR cards. The cards below set the Finder benchmark for card excellence in 10 categories that include cash back, travel and business.

Here are a few of the latest cards to grab our attention for December 2020. Continue to read through our best credit cards list for even more favorites:

Best for rotating cash back

Chase Freedom Flex℠

★★★★★

Go to site

Best for groceries with no annual fee

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

★★★★★

Go to site

Best for long transfer intro APR

Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card

★★★★★

Go to site

Best if you're new to credit

Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card

★★★★★

Go to site

Best rewards credit cards

When choosing this year’s top rewards cards, we looked at a number of factors, including rewards gained per dollar spent, available rewards categories, welcome offers, intro APR periods and other card perks or benefits. We highlighted those that stood out above the others in a particular category.

Best for families
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Finder Rating: 4.3 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (670-850) Apply now on American Express's secure site Rates & fees

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670
Min. credit score

$95 ongoing
Annual fee

Up to 6%
Cash back

$300
Welcome offer

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers a great mix of accessibility and reward potential on everyday purchases for a low annual fee. This card is also a great entry point into the Amex Membership Rewards program.

• Welcome offer. Earn $300 after spending $3,000 in purchases during your first 6 months of card membership. Offer expires on December 10, 2020.
• Earn cash back. Earn 6% cash back at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year. After that, you'll earn 1% back. You'll also earn 6% on select US streaming services and 3% on transit purchases. At US gas stations you'll earn 3% back. For everything else you buy, you'll get 1% back.
• Intro APR period. Enjoy a 0% intro APR period on purchases for the first 12 months of account opening. After that, a variable APR of 13.99% to 23.99% applies. This offer expires December 10, 2020.

• Annual fee. The card comes with a $95 annual fee after the intro period.
• Fees. This card carries a 2.7% foreign transaction fee and late fees of up to $40.
• No balance transfers. Amex removed the ability to perform balance transfers with this card.

Annual Fee	$0 intro annual fee for the first year ($95 thereafter)
Purchase APR	0% intro for the first 12 months (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable)
Balance transfer APR	N/A
Welcome offer	$300 after spending $3,000 in the first 6 months (Offer expires 12/10/2020)
Rewards	6% on select US streaming services, 3% on transit and US gas stations, 6% at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 annually, then 1% after that and on all other purchases

Best if you're new to credit
Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card

Finder Rating: 2.9 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (600-850) Apply now on WebBank's secure site Rates & fees

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600
Min. credit score

$0
Annual fee

Up to 10%
Cash back

n/a
Welcome offer

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

The consumer-friendly Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card doesn't require a credit score, charges no fees and comes with up to 1.5% cash back to boot. If you're new to credit, it's hard to find a more forgiving card.

• No credit history required. To be approved for most rewards credit cards, you need a good or excellent credit score. Petal, on the other hand, analyzes your income and financial records, including your checking accounts and bill payments to determine your eligibility.
• Cash back. Earn 1% cash back on all eligible purchases. After 12 on-time monthly payments, your cash back rate will increase to 1.5%. Also earn up to 10% cash back at select merchants.
• No fees. You won't pay an annual fee for the card, no foreign transaction fees when using the card abroad or overlimit and late payment fees.

• No signup bonus. Most similar cards come with a signup bonus in one form or another. Unfortunately, you won't get anything extra with the Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card.
• Not open to poor credit. The Petal 2 is designed for those new to credit, or with good credit. You may not qualify if you have a poor credit history.

Annual Fee	$0
Purchase APR	12.99% to 26.99% variable
Balance transfer APR	N/A
Welcome offer	N/A
Rewards	Up to 10% cash back from select merchants, on other purchases earn 1% back, 1.25% after six on-time payments and 1.5% after 12 on-time payments

Best for Gas
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

Finder Rating: 3.6 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (740-850) Apply now on Citi's secure site

740
Min. credit score

$0
Annual fee

Up to 4%
Cash back

n/a
Welcome offer

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

Despite the branding, the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi is the top gas card on the market, offering a stellar 4% back on up to $7,000 annually (then 1%). Of course, this card also offers cash back at Costco as well as restaurants and travel, making it a great card for families on the move.

• Annual fee. As long as you're a Costco member, you won't pay anything to use this card. The current cost of a Costco membership is $60.
• Rewards. Earn 4% back on gas on up to $7,000 and 1% back after. Also earn 3% back on restaurants and travel, 2% back on eligible Costco purchases and 1% back on everything else.
• Travel protections. This card comes with an assortment of travel protections, including trip cancellation protection and travel assistance.

• Limited redemption options. You'll receive your cash back only at the end of the year in the form of a Costco coupon.
• Penalty APR. Miss a late payment and you could end up with a penalty APR as high as 29.99%% variable.
• Balance transfer restrictions. You'll need to complete any balance transfers within two months of account opening.

Annual Fee	$0
Purchase APR	15.24% variable
Balance transfer APR	15.24% variable
Welcome offer	N/A
Rewards	4% at gas stations on up to $7,000 annually (then 1%), 3% at restaurants and on travel, 2% at Costco and 1% on all other purchases

Best for large welcome offer
The Platinum Card® from American Express

Finder Rating: 4.4 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (670-850) Apply now on American Express's secure site Rates & fees

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670
Min. credit score

$550
Annual fee

Up to 10x
Points

75,000
Points welcome offer

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

The Platinum Card® from American Express is a strong rewards card that comes with a welcome offer worth up to $4,500 in value. And while the card's annual fee is steep, the card's excellent statement credits and perks makes up for it.

• Earn points. Earn 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels booked directly through Amex Travel. You can use your points toward gift cards, travel rewards, statement credit and more. On all other eligible purchases, you'll earn 1x points. Starting January 1, 2021, your 5x points on flights are capped on up to 500,000 annually, reverting to 1x points after.
• Welcome offer. Get 75,000 membership rewards points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 6 months of card membership. Also earn 10x points at US gas stations and supermarkets, up to $15,000 within your first 6 months of account opening. That's up to $4,500 worth of rewards when transferred to travel partners.
• Airline fee credit. Select a qualifying airline and receive a $200 airline fee credit each year to cover incidental charges, such as checked bags or in-flight purchases.

• Annual fee. As a luxury card, the Amex Platinum Card requires a $550 annual fee for use.
• Narrow reward categories. This card is only particularly strong at earning rewards on travel and dining.
• Charge card. The Amex Platinum Card is a charge card, meaning you can't carry a balance and you'll need to pay your card off in full each month.

Annual Fee	$550
Purchase APR	See rates & fees
Balance transfer APR	See rates & fees
Welcome offer	75,000 points after spending $5,000 in your first 6 months, plus 10x points at US gas stations and US supermarkets on up to $15,000 in combined purchases in the same timeframe
Rewards	10x points at US gas stations and US supermarkets on up to $15,000 combined in the first 6 months, 5x points on directly-booked flights or on flights and hotels on Amex Travel. 1x points on all other purchases. Starting January 1, 2021, your 5x points on flights will be capped on up to $500,000 annually (then 1x points).

Best credit cards for cash back

When choosing this year’s top cashback cards, we looked at several factors, including cashback gained per dollar spent, available cashback categories, welcome offers, intro APR periods and other card perks or benefits. We highlighted those that stood out above the others in a particular category.

Best for groceries with no annual fee
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Finder Rating: 4.6 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (670-850) Apply now on American Express's secure site Rates & fees

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670
Min. credit score

$0
Annual fee

Up to 20%
Cash back

$100
Welcome offer

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

While more cards are offering grocery rewards this year, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express still offers one of the best rates available for groceries at a low cost and is a great pick for families.

• Intro APR period on purchases. Get a 0% intro APR period for 15 months following your account opening. After that, your rate reverts to 13.99% to 23.99% variable.
• Earn cash back. Earn 3% cash back on US groceries, up to $6,000 per year, then 1% after that. You also get to earn 2% cash back at US gas stations and department stores, and 1% cash back on everything else you buy.
• Welcome offer. Get $100 bonus after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 6 months following your account opening. Also get 20% back on Amazon.com purchases, up to $200 within your first 6 months from account opening.

• No balance transfer option. Amex removed the balance transfer offer for this card in June 2020.
• Cap on groceries. Your accelerated rate on groceries only lasts until you spend $6,000 each year.
• Foreign transaction fees. You'll pay a 2.7% fee on purchases made abroad.

Annual Fee	$0
Purchase APR	0% intro for the first 15 months (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable)
Balance transfer APR	N/A
Welcome offer	20% at Amazon.com up to $200 back in the first 6 months, plus $100 after spending $1,000 in the same timeframe
Rewards	20% at Amazon.com up to $200 back in the first 6 months, 2% at US gas stations and select US department stores, 3% at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year, then 1% after that and on all other purchases

Best for unlimited cash back
Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Finder Rating: 4.7 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (670-850) Apply now on Chase's secure site Rates & fees

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670
Min. credit score

$0
Annual fee

Up to 5%
Cash back

$200
Welcome offer

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

New earning categories added to the Chase Freedom Unlimited® have elevated this card to new heights. You'll earn great cash back no matter where you spend.

• Earn cash back. Earn 5% cash back on Chase Travel Portal purchases, 3% back on dining, including takeout and delivery, and 3% back on drugstore purchases. On everything else, earn 1.5% back.
• Signup bonus. Get a $200 bonus when you spend $500 within your first 3 months of account opening. You'll also get a unique cashback bonus of 5% back at grocery stores on up to $12,000 in the first year.
• Intro APR on purchases. Enjoy a 15 months 0% intro APR period on purchases. After that, a variable APR of 14.99% to 23.74% applies.

• Foreign transaction fee. All purchases made abroad or online with foreign merchants cost 3% of the amount.
• No intro balance transfer. You won't find an intro period on balance transfers with this card.

Annual Fee	$0
Purchase APR	0% intro for the first 15 months (then 14.99% to 23.74% variable)
Balance transfer APR	14.99% to 23.74% variable
Welcome offer	$200 after spending $500 in the first 3 months, plus 5% cash back at grocery stores on up to $12,000 in the first year
Rewards	5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase, 5% on Lyft, 3% on dining and drugstores and 1.5% on all other purchases

Best for rotating categories
Chase Freedom Flex℠

Finder Rating: 4.7 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (670-850) Apply now on Chase's secure site Rates & fees

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670
Min. credit score

$0
Annual fee

Up to 5%
Cash back

$200
Welcome offer

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

Like the Chase Freedom Unlimited, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ gained several new flat-rate earning categories. This bolsters the card's earning potential year round, even on non-rotating categories.

• Cash back. Earn 5% cash back in select rotating categories on up to $1,500 each quarter you activate, then 1%. You'll also earn 5% back on travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards and on Lyft through March 2022, 3% back at restaurants and drugstores and 1% back on all other purchases.
• Signup bonus. Earn $200 cash back after you make $500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. You'll also get 5% cash back at grocery stores on up to $12,000 for your first year following account opening
• Intro APR. Get a 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 15 months from account opening, then 14.99% to 23.74% variable.

• You'll need to keep track of rotating categories. You won't get the 5% cashback rate on the same categories each quarter. Also, you'll need to activate your cashback categories, or you won't receive the bonus rate.
• Categories not always known. Often, Chase won't reveal the whole year's rotating categories until they're close to launching.
• Foreign transaction fees. You'll pay a 3% fee on transactions made abroad.

Annual Fee	$0
Purchase APR	0% intro for the first 15 months (then 14.99% to 23.74% variable)
Balance transfer APR	14.99% to 23.74% variable
Welcome offer	$200 after spending $500 in the first 3 months, plus 5% cash back at grocery stores on up to $12,000 in the first year
Rewards	5% back in rotating categories up to $1,500 combined each activated quarter (then 1%), 5% on travel purchased through Chase, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases

Best for low credit
Petal® 1 "No Annual Fee" Visa® Credit Card

Finder Rating: 4.5 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (550-739) Apply now on WebBank's secure site

550
Min. credit score

$0
Annual fee

Up to 10%
Cash back

n/a
Welcome offer

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

The Petal® 1 "No Annual Fee" Visa® Credit Card offers a similar consumer-friendly take on credit building as the Petal 2, though explicitly designed for those with poor credit.

• No annual fee. You won't pay an annual fee to use this card.
• High potential credit limit. Your minimum credit limit starts at $500 and goes as high as $5,000, which is greater than average for a credit-building card.
• Reports to all three credit bureaus. Petal will report your credit activity to Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

• High APR. The Petal 1's APR ranges from 19.99% to 29.49% variable.
• Fees. Unlike the Petal 2, this card carries fees, including late payment fees.

Annual Fee	$0
Purchase APR	19.99% to 29.49% variable
Balance transfer APR	N/A
Welcome offer	N/A
Rewards	Up to 10% cash back from select merchants

Best credit cards for balance transfers

When choosing this year’s top balance transfer cards, we compared a number of factors among eligible cards, including intro period length, the revert APR, welcome offers and any additional rewards or perks offered. We highlighted cards that stood out in one or more of these categories.

Best card for a long intro balance transfer APR
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card

Finder Rating: 4.6 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (740-850) Apply now on Citi's secure site

740
Min. credit score

$0
Annual fee

18 months
0% intro transfer APR

n/a
Rewards

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card offers one of the longest intro balance transfer APRs on the market, backed up by an equally strong purchase APR and no annual fee.

• No annual fee. You won't pay an annual fee to use this card.
• Intro APRs. You'll an 18 months 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers, reverting to 14.74% to 24.74% variable.
• Additional cards free. You won't pay a fee to add additional cardholders to your account.

• Balance transfer fees. You'll pay the greater of $5 or 3% on all balance transfers.
• Four month transfer limit. You'll have just four months to take advantage of the balance transfer intro period.
• Penalty APR. The penalty APR for missed payments is steep at up to 29.99% variable.

Annual fee	$0
Purchase APR	0% intro for the first 18 months (then 14.74% to 24.74% variable)
Balance transfer APR	0% intro for the first 18 months (then 14.74% to 24.74% variable)
Balance transfer fee	$5 or 3% of the transaction, whichever is greater
Rewards	N/A

Best card for ongoing rewards
Citi® Double Cash Card

Finder Rating: 3.8 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (740-850) Apply now on Citi's secure site

740
Min. credit score

$0
Annual fee

18 months
0% intro transfer APR

Up to 2%
Cash back

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

The Citi® Double Cash Card is not only one of the leading flat-rate cashback cards on the market, but it lets you save money on interest with a long balance transfer as well.

• Intro APR period. Get 18 months of 0% intro APR period when you open your account. A variable APR of 13.99% to 23.99% applies thereafter.
• Cash back. Earn 2% back on all purchases &mdash
• 1% when you make the purchase and 1% back when you pay it off.
• No annual fee. You won't pay an annual fee for the card.

• Foreign transaction fees. Purchases made abroad or online with foreign merchants will cost you 3% of the amount.
• No intro APR on purchases. This card only offers an intro APR on balance transfers.
• No signup bonus. Unlike other cashback cards, the Citi® Double Cash Card doesn't come with a welcome offer.

Annual fee	$0
Purchase APR	13.99% to 23.99% variable
Balance transfer APR	0% intro for the first 18 months (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable)
Balance transfer fee	$5 or 3% of the transaction, whichever is greater
Rewards	Up to 2% cash back on purchases (1% when you buy plus 1% as you pay)

Best for small purchases
Citi Rewards+℠ Card

Finder Rating: 4.1 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (740-850) Apply now on Citi's secure site

740
Min. credit score

$0
Annual fee

15 months
0% intro transfer APR

Up to 2x
Points

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

In addition to a balance transfer opportunity, the Citi Rewards+℠ Card Card rounds up your rewards to the nearest 10 points on every purchase. This makes it a good choice if you frequently make small purchases.

• Reward points. Earn 2x points at supermarkets and gas stations on up to $6,000 in combined purchases each year. Once you reach the cap and on all other purchases, you earn 1x points.
• Round up points. A rewards rate of 2x and 1x points may not seem like its worth earning a spot as one of the best rewards credit cards, but with the rounding up feature, your rewards rate is actually higher. Say you buy a $2 coffee. Your reward points will round up at 10x points, thus earning a 5% reward.
• Bonus points. The card comes with 15,000 bonus points once you spend $1,000 in your first 3 months when you open your credit card account. Also, you get additional 10% bonus points for the first 100,000 points you redeem annually.

• Foreign transaction fees. Using the card abroad or online with foreign merchants will cost 3% of the amount.
• Balance transfer limitation. You'll need to complete your balance transfer within four months of account opening to take advantage of the intro APR.

Annual fee	$0
Purchase APR	0% intro for the first 15 months (then 13.49% to 23.49% variable)
Balance transfer APR	0% intro for the first 15 months (then 13.49% to 23.49% variable)
Balance transfer fee	$5 or 3% of the transaction, whichever is greater
Rewards	Earn 2x points at supermarkets and gas stations on up to $6,000 annually, then 1x points after that and on all other purchases

Best for poor credit
Discover it® Secured

Finder Rating: 4.4 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (300-669) Read review

300
Min. credit score

$0
Annual fee

6 months
10.99% intro transfer APR

Up to 2%
Cash back

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

The Discover it® Secured is not only one of the leading flat-rate cashback cards on the market, but it lets you save money on interest with a long balance transfer as well.

• Intro APR period. Get 18 months of intro APR period when you open your account. A variable APR of to applies thereafter.
• Cash back. Earn 2% back on all purchases &mdash
• 1% when you make the purchase and 1% back when you pay it off.
• No annual fee. You won't pay an annual fee for the card.

• Foreign transaction fees. Purchases made abroad or online with foreign merchants will cost you 0% of the amount.
• No intro APR on purchases. This card only offers an intro APR on balance transfers.
• No signup bonus. Unlike other cashback cards, the Discover it® Secured doesn't come with a welcome offer.

Annual fee	$0
Purchase APR	22.99% variable
Balance transfer APR	10.99% intro for the first 6 months (then 22.99% variable)
Balance transfer fee	3%
Rewards	2% back on gas and dining up to $1,000 combined each activated quarter, then 1% after that and on all other purchases

Best travel credit cards

When choosing this year’s top travel cards, we compared a number of factors among eligible cards, including annual fees, airline or hotel brands, welcome offers, reward opportunities, redemption options and other features a consumer might consider in a travel card. We highlighted those that stood out above the others in a particular category.

Best for premier travel
Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Finder Rating: 4.6 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (740-850) Apply now on Chase's secure site Rates & fees

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740
Min. credit score

$550
Annual fee

50,000
Points welcome offer

Up to 10x
Points

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

Combining great travel credit with strong earnings on both travel and dining, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® remains a terrific pick for those who want to earn on the go. Chase also continues to tweak this card to maintain its value during the pandemic.

• Signup bonus. Earn 50,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in your first 3 months of card membership. This is worth $750 if you redeem through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal.
• Earn rewards points. Earn 3x points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide and 1x points on all other purchases. The 3x points can be worth 4.5% back if redeemed on travel purchases through the Chase Ultimate Rewards. You also earn 10x points on Lyft purchases until March 2022. This can be worth up to 15% back in travel purchases via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.
• Annual travel credit. Get $300 in statement credit as reimbursement for your travel purchases every year on your card account anniversary.

• Annual fee. Awesome perks come with a high annual fee. You'll pay $550 annual fee for the card.
• No intro APR. This card lacks an intro APR on purchases and balance transfers.

Annual fee	$550
Purchase APR	16.99% to 23.99% variable
Foreign transaction fee	None
Welcome offer	50,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months
Rewards	10x points on Lyft rides, 3x points on dining and travel after earning your $300 travel credit and 1x points on all other purchases

Best for hotels
IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card

Finder Rating: 4.6 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (670-850) See offer on Creditcards.com's secure site Rates & fees

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670
Min. credit score

$89 ongoing
Annual fee

140,000
Points welcome offer

Up to 25x
Points

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

The IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card should be on the top of your list if you're looking for a hotel credit card to earn the highest number of rewards nights.

• Signup bonus. Earn 140,000 bonus points once you spend $3,000 in your first 3 months of account opening. Most credit cards that offer such generous signup bonuses usually require a higher spend of around $4,000 in the first three months.
• Earn points. Earn 25x points on IHG stays, 2x points at gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants and 1x points on everything else you buy.
• Fourth reward night free. Redeem your points for four or more reward nights and get an additional reward night.

• Annual fee. To use the card and its perks, you'll pay $89 from the second year.
• No intro APR period. You won't find an intro period on purchases or balance transfers on this card.
• Signup bonus restrictions. You can only earn this card's signup bonus if you haven't owned this card and earned the signup bonus within the last two years.

Annual fee	$0 intro annual fee for the first year ($89 thereafter)
Purchase APR	15.99% to 22.99% variable
Foreign transaction fee	None
Welcome offer	140,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
Rewards	25x points at IHG hotels, 2x on gas, groceries and dining and 1x on all other purchases

Best for entry level travel
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Finder Rating: 4.3 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (670-850) Apply now on Chase's secure site Rates & fees

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670
Min. credit score

$95
Annual fee

60,000
Points welcome offer

Up to 5x
Points

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers one of the strongest features available in the Chase Ultimate Rewards program: You get point transfers for a much more affordable price than the Reserve. This combined with the strong earnings makes this card a great entry into the travel program.

• Signup bonus. Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in your first 3 months when you open your account. That's $750 in value when redeemed for travel purchases via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.
• Earn reward points. Every time you use your card toward travel and dining purchases, you earn 2x points. All other purchases earn 1x points.
• Point transfer. You can transfer your points in 1:1 ratio with Chase's hotel and airline partners.

• Annual fee. The card comes with a $95 annual fee.
• No grace period on balance transfers. If you perform a balance transfer, it will begin accruing interest immediately.

Annual fee	$95
Purchase APR	15.99% to 22.99% variable
Foreign transaction fee	None
Welcome offer	60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months, a value of up to $750 through Chase Ultimate Rewards
Rewards	5x points on Lyft, 2x points on travel and dining and 1x points on all other purchases

Best for airline
The Platinum Card® from American Express

Finder Rating: 4.4 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (670-850) Apply now on American Express's secure site Rates & fees

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670
Min. credit score

$550
Annual fee

75,000
Points welcome offer

Up to 10x
Points

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

The Platinum Card® from American Express offers an excellent flat 5x points on airfare purchased directly through airlines or with American Express Travel. This gives you more freedom when choosing an airline for rewards. Plus, this card comes with an assortment of airline and travel perks.

• Earn points. Earn 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels booked directly through Amex Travel. You can use your points toward gift cards, travel rewards, statement credit and more. If you redeem these points for the highest valued rewards, you'll get 5% back. On all other eligible purchases, you'll earn 1x points. Starting January 1, 2021, your 5x points on flights are capped on up to $500,000 annually, reverting to 1x points after.
• Welcome offer. Get 75,000 membership rewards points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 6 months of card membership. Also earn 10x points at US gas stations and supermarkets, up to $15,000 within your first 6 months. That's up to $4,500 worth of rewards when transferred to travel partners.
• Airline fee credit. Select a qualifying airline and receive a $200 airline fee credit each year to cover incidental charges, such as checked bags or in-flight purchases.

• Annual fee. As a luxury card, The Platinum Card® from American Express requires a $550 fee for use.
• Narrow reward categories. This card is only particularly strong at earning rewards on travel and dining.
• Charge card. The Platinum Card® from American Express is a charge card, meaning you can't carry a balance and you'll need to pay your card off in full each month.

Annual fee	$550
Purchase APR	See rates & fees
Foreign transaction fee	None
Welcome offer	75,000 points after spending $5,000 in your first 6 months, plus 10x points at US gas stations and US supermarkets on up to $15,000 in combined purchases in the same timeframe
Rewards	10x points at US gas stations and US supermarkets on up to $15,000 combined in the first 6 months, 5x points on directly-booked flights or on flights and hotels on Amex Travel. 1x points on all other purchases. Starting January 1, 2021, your 5x points on flights will be capped on up to $500,000 annually (then 1x points).

Best credit cards with no annual fees

When choosing this year’s top no-annual-fee cards, we compared a number of factors among eligible cards, including APR, welcome offers, reward opportunities, redemption options and other features a consumer might consider in a no-annual-fee credit card. We highlighted those that stood out above the others in a particular category.

Best for travel
Chase Freedom Flex℠

Finder Rating: 4.7 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (670-850) Apply now on Chase's secure site Rates & fees

---

670
Min. credit score

$0
Annual fee

Up to 5%
Cash back

$200
Welcome offer

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ offers excellent rotating cash back in useful categories. You'll also find a good signup bonus for a no-annual-fee card, as well as an intro APR on purchases.

• Cash back. Earn 5% cash back in select rotating categories on up to $1,500 each quarter you activate, then 1%. You'll also earn 5% back on travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards and on Lyft through March 2022, 3% back at restaurants and drugstores and 1% back on all other purchases.
• Signup bonus. Earn $200 cash back after you make $500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. You'll also get 5% cash back at grocery stores on up to $12,000 for your first year following account opening.
• Intro APR. Get a 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 15 months from account opening, then 14.99% to 23.74% variable.

• You'll need to keep track of rotating categories. You won't get the 5% cashback rate on the same categories each quarter.
• Foreign transaction fees. You'll pay a 3% fee on all international purchases.
• Rewards must be activated. You'll need to activate your cashback categories each quarter, or you won't receive the bonus rate.

Annual Fee	$0
Purchase APR	0% intro for the first 15 months (then 14.99% to 23.74% variable)
Balance transfer APR	14.99% to 23.74% variable
Welcome offer	$200 after spending $500 in the first 3 months, plus 5% cash back at grocery stores on up to $12,000 in the first year
Rewards	5% back in rotating categories up to $1,500 combined each activated quarter (then 1%), 5% on travel purchased through Chase, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases

Best for cash back
Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Finder Rating: 4.7 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (670-850) Apply now on Chase's secure site Rates & fees

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670
Min. credit score

$0
Annual fee

Up to 5%
Cash back

$200
Welcome offer

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® received several accelerated earning categories on top of its flat-rate earnings, boosting immensely boosting its value. Now it has overtaken the Citi Double Cash as the current industry standard for flat rate cashback credit cards.

• Earn cash back. Earn 5% cash back on Chase Travel Portal purchases, 3% back on dining, including takeout and delivery, and 3% back on drugstore purchases. On everything else, earn 1.5% back.
• Signup bonus. Get a $200 bonus when you spend $500 within your first 3 months of account opening. You'll also get 5% cash back at grocery stores on up to $12,000 for your first year following account opening.
• Intro APR on purchases. Enjoy a 15 months 0% intro APR period on purchases. After that, a variable APR of 14.99% to 23.74% applies.

• Foreign transaction fees. All purchases made abroad or online with foreign merchants cost 3% of the amount.

Annual Fee	$0
Purchase APR	0% intro for the first 15 months (then 14.99% to 23.74% variable)
Balance transfer APR	14.99% to 23.74% variable
Welcome offer	$200 after spending $500 in the first 3 months, plus 5% cash back at grocery stores on up to $12,000 in the first year
Rewards	5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase, 5% on Lyft, 3% on dining and drugstores and 1.5% on all other purchases

Best for large signup bonus
IHG® Rewards Club Traveler Credit Card

Finder Rating: 4.5 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (670-850) See offer on Creditcards.com's secure site Rates & fees

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670
Min. credit score

$0
Annual fee

Up to 15x
Points

100,000
Points welcome offer

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

Meeting the IHG® Rewards Club Traveler Credit Cards signup bonus criteria will get you around $700 in value, which is rare for a no-annual-fee card.

• Signup bonus. Earn 100,000 points once you spend $2,000 in your first 3 months when you open your account.
• Earn reward points. Purchases made at IHG hotels earn 15x points, purchases made at gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants earn 2x points, while all other purchases earn 1x points.
• Fourth reward night free. Every time you redeem your points for four or more reward nights, you get one reward night free.

• No intro APR period. If you're looking to save money on interest with 0% intro APR period on balance transfers and purchases, you may want to look for other credit cards.
• Elite status limitations. To earn Gold Status, you'll need to spend $10,000 on this card. Many similar cards offer complimentary elite status.
• Fourth night free limitations. You can only earn a fourth free night on Reward nights, not nights you pay for in cash.

Annual Fee	$0
Purchase APR	15.99% to 22.99% variable
Balance transfer APR	15.99% to 22.99% variable
Welcome offer	100,000 points after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months
Rewards	15x total points at IHG hotels, 2x points at gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants and 1x points on all other purchases

Best for balance transfers
U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card

Finder Rating: 4.8 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (740-850) Read review Rates & fees

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740
Min. credit score

$0
Annual fee

n/a
Rewards

n/a
Welcome offer

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

The U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card currently sports the longest intro balance transfer APRs on the market. It also comes with an intro APR on purchases, which is a solid value for a card with no annual fee.

• Intro APR period on balance transfers. For transfers made within the first 60 days of your account opening, get a 0% intro APR period for 20 months. After that, your rate will be from 13.99% to 23.99% variable.
• Intro APR period on purchases. You also get a 0% intro APR period on all purchases made within the first 20 months of card membership. A variable APR of 13.99% to 23.99% applies thereafter.
• No penalty APR. You won't accrue a penalty APR for missing payments with this card.

• Foreign transaction fees. Using this card abroad or online with foreign merchants will accrue a 3% foreign transaction fee.
• Balance transfer limits. You'll need to perform your balance transfer within 60 days of card membership to take advantage of the card's intro offer.
• Potentially high APR. If you have a weak credit history, you might end up with an APR of 23.99% variable, which is higher than average.

Annual Fee	$0
Purchase APR	0% intro for the first 20 months (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable)
Balance transfer APR	0% intro for the first 20 months (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable)
Welcome offer	N/A
Rewards	N/A

Best low-interest credit cards

When choosing this year’s top low-interest credit cards, we looked at several factors, including welcome offers, lowest APRs, reward opportunities and other card perks or benefits. We highlighted those that stood out above the others in a particular category.

Best for no late fees
Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card

Finder Rating: 2.9 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (600-850) Apply now on WebBank's secure site Rates & fees

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600
Min. credit score

$0
Annual fee

Up to 10%
Cash back

n/a
Welcome offer

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

Most reward cards come with many fees, including late payment fees. With the Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card, fees are one thing you don't have to worry about.

• No fees. You won't pay an annual fee, late payment fees, no foreign transaction fees or overlimit fees with this card.
• Cash back. Earn 1% cash back on all eligible purchases. Your rate will increase to 1.5% after you make 12 on-time monthly payments. Select merchants let you earn between 2% and 10% cash back.
• No credit history required for approval. Petal analyzes your income and financial records to determine your eligibility, meaning you can apply with no credit history and still get an approval.

• No signup bonus. Most cashback cards offer a signup bonus in one form or another. With this card, you won't earn any bonus when you signup.
• No intro APR period. Another common feature with cashback cards that the Petal 2 lacks is 0% intro APR period on purchases, balance transfers or both.

Annual Fee	$0
Purchase APR	12.99% to 26.99% variable
Balance transfer APR	N/A
Welcome offer	N/A
Rewards	Up to 10% cash back from select merchants, on other purchases earn 1% back, 1.25% after six on-time payments and 1.5% after 12 on-time payments

Best for new professionals
Jasper Mastercard®

Credit recommended (580-850) Apply now on WebBank's secure site Rates & fees

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580
Min. credit score

$0
Annual fee

Up to 1%
Cash back

n/a
Welcome offer

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

Professionals recently graduated from college and professionals relocating to the US can use the Jasper Mastercard® to build credit and earn cash back.

• Cash back. Earn 1% cash back on all purchases.
• No credit history required. You can apply for the card and get an approval without having a credit history.
• High credit limit. Depending on your financial situation, you can get a credit limit of up to $5,000.

• No signup bonus. You won't earn any bonus when you sign up.
• No intro APR period. There's no 0% intro APR period on purchases, balance transfers or both with this card.

Annual Fee	$0
Purchase APR	15.49% to 24.99% variable
Balance transfer APR	N/A
Welcome offer	N/A
Rewards	1% cash back on all purchases

Best for large signup bonus
TD First Class℠ Visa Signature® Credit Card

Finder Rating: 3.5 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (740-850) Read review

740
Min. credit score

$89 ongoing
Annual fee

Up to 3x
Miles

25,000
Miles welcome offer

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

The TD First Class℠ Visa Signature® Credit Card is a rare card that offers low interest rates and a solid signup bonus worth up to $250. It also lets you earn miles on travel and dining purchases.

• Signup bonus. Earn 25,000 bonus miles worth up to $250 in redemption value after you spend $3,000 in your first 6 billing cycles when you open your account.
• Rewards miles. Earn 3x miles on flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises and dining, and 1x miles on all other purchases.
• Intro APR period on balance transfers. Get 0% intro APR period on balance transfers made within your first 12 billing cycles. After that, a variable APR of 13.24% applies.

• Annual fee. You'll pay a $89 annual fee, which is waived for the first year.
• No intro APR period on purchases. You don't get to save money on interest with a 0% intro APR period on purchases.

Annual Fee	$0 intro annual fee for the first year ($89 thereafter)
Purchase APR	13.24% variable
Balance transfer APR	0% intro for the first 12 billing cycles (then 13.24% variable)
Welcome offer	25,000 miles after spending $3,000 in the first 6 billing cycles
Rewards	3x miles on travel and dining and 1x miles on all other purchases

Best for lowest ongoing APR
Simmons Visa®

Finder Rating: 4.1 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (740-850) Read review

740
Min. credit score

$0
Annual fee

n/a
Rewards

n/a
Welcome offer

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

With the Simmons Visa®, you get one of the lowest APRs currently on the market. As a trade off, there are no rewards and no intro APR period on purchases.

• Low APR. You get 8.25% variable APR on purchases, which is the lowest you can find.
• No annual fee. There's no annual fee for the card.
• Intro APR period on balance transfers. Get 0% intro APR period on balance transfers within your first 12 months when you open your account. After that, a variable APR of 8.25% applies.

• No intro APR period on purchases. You only get 0% intro APR period on balance transfers, but not un purchases.
• Foreign transaction fees. Every transaction made abroad or online with foreign merchants will cost you 2% of the amount.

Annual Fee	$0
Purchase APR	8.25% variable
Balance transfer APR	0% intro for the first 12 months (then 8.25% variable)
Welcome offer	N/A
Rewards	N/A

Best for rewards
Amalgamated Bank of Chicago Union Strong Mastercard® Credit Card

Finder Rating: 4.4 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (670-850) Read review

670
Min. credit score

$0
Annual fee

Up to 5x
Points

$150
Welcome offer

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

The Amalgamated Bank of Chicago Union Strong Mastercard® Credit Card offers generous rewards and some of the lowest interest rates you can find.

• Reward points. Earn 5x points on rotating categories on up to $1,500 each quarter. After that and on all other purchases, you earn 1x points.
• Low APR. You get 9.25% APR on purchases and balance transfers. This is way lower than the APR offered by other rewards credit cards.
• Intro APR period. Get 12 months of 0% intro APR period on purchases and 18 months on balance transfers after you open your account. After the intro APR period ends, your rate reverts to a variable 9.25%.

• Loss of intro APR period. You could lose your intro APR period if you make a late payment.
• Balance transfer limitations. You must transfer your balance within 90 days when you open your account to use the intro APR period.

Annual Fee	$0
Purchase APR	0% intro for the first 12 months (then from 9.25% variable)
Balance transfer APR	0% intro for the first 18 months (then 9.25% variable)
Welcome offer	$150 after spending $1,200 in the first 90 days
Rewards	5x points in rotating categories up to $1,500 combined each quarter, then 1x after that and on all other purchases

Best credit cards with 0% intro APR

When choosing this year’s top 0% APR credit cards, we compared a number of factors among eligible cards, including fees, intro length, the revert APR, welcome offers and any additional rewards or perks offered. We highlighted cards that stood out in one or more of these categories.

Best for groceries and gas
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Finder Rating: 4.6 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (670-850) Apply now on American Express's secure site Rates & fees

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670
Min. credit score

$0
Annual fee

Up to 20%
Cash back

$100
Welcome offer

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express comes with accelerated rewards on groceries and gas, and a long 0% intro APR period on purchases.

• Intro APR on purchases. Get 0% intro APR period for following your account opening. After that, your rate reverts to 13.99% to 23.99% variable.
• Cash back. Earn 3% cash back on groceries on up to $6,000 per year, then 1% after that. Earn 2% cash back at US gas stations and department stores, and 1% cash back on everything else you buy.
• No annual fee. You get to enjoy these perks without paying an annual fee.

• Foreign transaction fees. The card comes with 2.7% fee of the amount of every transaction made abroad or online with foreign merchants.
• No balance transfers. American Express removed balance transfers with this card in June 2020.
• Cashback cap on groceries. Your 3% cashback rate on groceries is capped on up to $6,000 each year, and 1% after that.

Annual Fee	$0
Purchase APR	0% intro for the first 15 months (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable)
Balance transfer APR	N/A
Welcome offer	20% at Amazon.com up to $200 back in the first 6 months, plus $100 after spending $1,000 in the same timeframe
Rewards	20% at Amazon.com up to $200 back in the first 6 months, 2% at US gas stations and select US department stores, 3% at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year, then 1% after that and on all other purchases

Best for flat-rate cash back
Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Finder Rating: 4.7 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (670-850) Apply now on Chase's secure site Rates & fees

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670
Min. credit score

$0
Annual fee

Up to 5%
Cash back

$200
Welcome offer

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

With the 2020 revamp, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is now the best flat-rate cashback card you can get. Aside from earning cashback on multiple categories, you also get a 0% intro APR period on purchases.

• Cash back. Earn 5% cash back on Lyft rides until March 31, 2022, and 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Also, earn 3% back on purchases at drug stores and dining at restaurants, including takeout and delivery, and an unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
• Intro APR period. Use 0% intro APR period on purchases made within the first 15 months when you open your account. After that, your rate reverts to 14.99% to 23.74% variable.
• Signup bonus. Earn a $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 in your first 3 months when you open your account. Plus earn 5% back on groceries on up to $12,000 in purchases for your first year after account opening, then 1.5%.

• Foreign transaction fees. There's a 3% fee for every transaction made abroad or online with foreign merchants.
• No intro APR period on balance transfers. You won't get a 0% intro APR period on balance transfers like you do on purchases.

Annual Fee	$0
Purchase APR	0% intro for the first 15 months (then 14.99% to 23.74% variable)
Balance transfer APR	14.99% to 23.74% variable
Welcome offer	$200 after spending $500 in the first 3 months, plus 5% cash back at grocery stores on up to $12,000 in the first year
Rewards	5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase, 5% on Lyft, 3% on dining and drugstores and 1.5% on all other purchases

Best for no late fees
Citi Simplicity® Card

Finder Rating: 4.4 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (670-850) Read review

670
Min. credit score

$0
Annual fee

18 months
0% intro transfer APR

n/a
Rewards

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

The Citi Simplicity® Card is a simple card with no late payment fees, no annual fee, but also with no rewards.

• Intro APR period. Get 18 months of 0% intro APR period on purchases and balance transfers after you open your account. Once the intro APR period ends, your rate reverts to variable 14.74% to 24.74%.
• No penalty APR and no late fees. You won't pay any fee for being late and you won't accrue a penalty APR, which is known to be up to 32% with other cards.
• No annual fee. The card has a $0 annual fee.

• No rewards. You won't earn any rewards for your purchases.
• No signup bonus. There's no bonus to earn upon signup.
• Foreign transaction fee. Every purchase made abroad or online with foreign merchants will cost you 3% of the amount.

Annual fee	$0
Purchase APR	0% intro for the first 18 months (then 14.74% to 24.74% variable)
Balance transfer APR	0% intro for the first 18 months (then 14.74% to 24.74% variable)
Balance transfer fee	$5 or 3% of the transaction, whichever is greater
Rewards	N/A

Disclaimer

The information about Citi Simplicity® Card has been collected independently by Finder and and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.

Best for longest purchase intro APR
U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card

Finder Rating: 4.8 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (740-850) Read review Rates & fees

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740
Min. credit score

$0
Annual fee

20 months
0% intro transfer APR

n/a
Rewards

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

The U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card offers one of the longest intro APR periods on purchases and balance transfers, which makes it an excellent card for consolidating debt.

• Intro APR period. Get 20 months of 0% intro APR period on balance transfers and purchases when you open your account. After the intro APR period ends, your rate reverts to variable 13.99% to 23.99%.
• No annual fee. You won't pay an annual fee to own the card.
• Cell phone protection. Pay your cell phone bill with your card to get coverage against phone damage or theft up to $600. You're limited to two claims in a 12-month period for a total of $1,200.

• Foreign transaction fees. Avoid using this card online at foreign merchants or when traveling abroad or you'll pay 3% fee of the amount of each transaction.
• No reward program. You won't earn any rewards on your purchases.
• No signup bonus. There's no bonus to earn upon signup.

Annual fee	$0
Purchase APR	0% intro for the first 20 months (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable)
Balance transfer APR	0% intro for the first 20 months (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable)
Balance transfer fee	$5 or 3% of the transaction, whichever is greater
Rewards	N/A

Best business credit cards

When choosing this year’s top business credit cards, we compared a number of factors among eligible cards, including fees, free employee cards, credit limit, reward opportunities, welcome offers and any additional rewards or perks offered. We highlighted cards that stood out in one or more of these categories.

Best for rewards on office supplies, internet and phone
Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card

Finder Rating: 4.5 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (670-850) Apply now on Chase's secure site Rates & fees

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670
Min. credit score

$0
Annual fee

Up to 5%
Cash back

$750
Welcome offer

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

The is a great card for earning rewards on ongoing business expenses thanks to a massive cashback rate on office supplies, Internet and phone services for your first $25,000 spent annually. You also earn cash back on gas and dining, making it a decent pick for business travel, too.

• Signup bonus. Earn $750 cash bonus after you spend $7,500 in your first 3 months of card membership.
• Cash back. Earn 5% cash back on office supply stores and on Internet, cable and phone services on up to $25,000 annually in combined purchases, 1% after that. Also, earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on the first $25,000 in combined purchases, 1% after that. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.
• Intro APR period on purchases. Get 12 months of 0% intro APR on purchases. A variable APR of 13.24% to 19.24% applies thereafter.

Annual Fee	$0
Purchase APR	0% intro for the first 12 months (then 13.24% to 19.24% variable)
Balance transfer APR	13.24% to 19.24% variable
Welcome offer	$750 cash back after spending $7,500 in the first 3 months
Rewards	5% at office supply stores, on Internet, cable and phone up to $25,000 combined annually (then 1%), 2% on gas and dining up to $25,000 combined annually then 1% after that and on all other purchases

Best for no personal guarantee required
Brex 30 Card

Credit recommended (300-850) Apply now on Brex's secure site

300
Min. credit score

$0
Annual fee

Up to 7x
Points

Other
Welcome offer

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

Business cards with no personal guarantee have become more popular in 2020, thanks in part to the Brex for Startups card. By requiring no personal gurantee, the Brex 30 Card protects your personal assets should your business go belly up. You also get a unique signup bonus worth up to $25,000, as well as rewards on select purchases.

• No personal liability. This card doesn't require personal liability, a credit score, social security number or security deposits. In case your company fails, your personal assets won't be touched to pay off the card's debt.
• Earn rewards. Earn 1x points on all of your purchases. Boost your rewards when you make Brex your exclusive company card. This will make you earn 7x points on rideshares, 4x points on travel booked through Brex Travel, 3x on dining, 2x on recurring software and software as a service and 1x points on everything else you buy.
• Signup bonus. With this card, you don't earn the standard credit card bonus when you meet the spend requirements. Instead, you get up to $25,000 worth of services right off the bat, including $5,000 in credit for Amazon Web Services, a 25% subscription discount of up to $375 for Salesforce, $436 credits per month for 12 months for Zendesk and more.

• Can't carry a balance. You must pay your full balance before your due date, which is 30 days after the close of your statement period.

Annual Fee	$0
Purchase APR	N/A
Balance transfer APR	N/A
Welcome offer	Up to $25,000 worth of credits for business services like Amazon Web Services, Salesforce, Zendesk and more
Rewards	7x points on rideshares, 4x on Brex Travel, 3x at restaurants, 2x on software subscriptions and 1x points on all other purchases

Best for unlimited cash back
Ink Business Unlimited℠ Credit Card

Finder Rating: 4.1 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (670-850) Apply now on Chase's secure site Rates & fees

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670
Min. credit score

$0
Annual fee

Up to 1.5%
Cash back

$750
Welcome offer

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

If you don't want to worry about keeping track of reward categories, the Ink Business Unlimited℠ Credit Card keeps things simple. You can earn a respectable 1.5% back on all of your business purchases. The card also has a surprisingly robust welcome offer, letting you earn $750 after meeting the spend requirements.

• Cash back. Earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
• Signup bonus. Earn $750 cash bonus after you spend $7,500 in your first 3 months when you open your account.
• Intro APR period on purchases. Get 12 months of 0% intro APR period on purchases from the day you open your account. After that, a variable APR of 13.24% to 19.24% applies.

• Foreign transaction fees. Every transaction made abroad or online with foreign merchants will cost you 3% of the amount.

Annual Fee	$0
Purchase APR	0% intro for the first 12 months (then 13.24% to 19.24% variable)
Balance transfer APR	13.24% to 19.24% variable
Welcome offer	$750 back after spending $7,500 in the first 3 months
Rewards	1.5% cash back on all purchases

Best business credit card for signup bonus
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Finder Rating: 4.4 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (670-850) Apply now on Chase's secure site Rates & fees

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670
Min. credit score

$95
Annual fee

Up to 3x
Points

100,000
Points welcome offer

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

While the Business Platinum Card from Amex sports a high welcome offer, it falls short of the Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card card's welcome offer. Spend $15,000 in your first 3 months and you'll earn an astounding 100,000 points. This can be worth up to $1,250, making it a great windfall for business investments.

• Signup bonus. Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months when you open your account. This can be worth $1,250 when you redeem your points through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
• Reward points. Earn 3x points on the first $150,000 spent per year in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, and advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines. After reaching the cap and on all other purchases, you earn 1x points.
• Points transfer. You can transfer your points in 1:1 ratio with Chase's travel partners, including British Airways, Southwest Airlines, IHG hotels and Marriott.

• Annual fee. The card costs $95 annually.
• No intro APR period. You don't get a 0% intro APR period on purchases and balance transfers.

Annual Fee	$95
Purchase APR	15.99% to 20.99% variable
Balance transfer APR	15.99% to 20.99% variable
Welcome offer	100,000 points after spending $15,000 in the first 3 months
Rewards	3x points on the first $150,000 on travel and select business categories annually, then 1x after and on all other purchases

Best business credit card for balance transfers
U.S. Bank Business Platinum

Finder Rating: 3.1 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (740-850) Read review Rates & fees

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740
Min. credit score

$0
Annual fee

n/a
Rewards

n/a
Welcome offer

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

With less balance transfer offers on the market than before, the U.S. Bank Business Platinum has become this year's best bet for business owners looking to consolidate debts. While the card doesn't offer a signup bonus or rewards, it has no annual fee. And if you need to invest in some office supplies, the card also comes with an intro APR on purchases.

• Intro APR. Enjoy a 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers, reverting to a variable APR of 9.99% to 17.99%.
• No annual fee. You won't pay an annual fee to use this card.
• Spending controls. You can adjust spending on your employee cards, including their due dates and spending limits.

• No rewards. This card doesn't feature any rewards for your spending.
• Foreign transaction fees. You'll pay a 3% fee on purchases made abroad, making this card not ideal for travel.

Annual Fee	$0
Purchase APR	0% intro for the first 15 billing cycles (then 9.99% to 17.99% variable)
Balance transfer APR	0% intro for the first 15 billing cycles (then 9.99% to 17.99% variable)
Welcome offer	N/A
Rewards	N/A

Best business credit card for luxury travel
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

Finder Rating: 4.4 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (670-850) Read review Rates & fees

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670
Min. credit score

$595
Annual fee

Up to 5x
Points

75,000
Points welcome offer

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

Like its consumer counterpart, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is is all about luxury. You gain access to more than 1,200 airport lounges around the world, including access to the much praised Centurion Lounge. Of course, this card also comes with other luxury perks, including hotel benefits, travel credits and more.

• Global Lounge Collection. Get access to more than 1,200 airport lounges worldwide, including the Centurion Lounge, International American Express lounges and Delta Sky Club when flying Delta. To get access to Priority Pass Select, Airspace and Escape lounges, you'll need to enroll first.
• Welcome offer. Spend $15,000 on purchases in your first 3 months of card membership and get 75,000 bonus points. This is one of the higher welcome offers on the market.
• Membership rewards. Get 5x points on prepaid hotels and flights through Amex Travel and 1x points on everything else you buy. For purchases of 5,000 and more, you'll get 1.5x points up to 1 million points per year.

• High annual fee. This is one of the more expensive business cards with a $595 annual fee.
• Charge card. You'll need to pay your balance off at the end of each month if it isn't eligible for 'Pay Over Time.'

Annual Fee	$595
Purchase APR
Balance transfer APR
Welcome offer	75,000 points after spending $15,000 in the first 3 months
Rewards	5x points on flights and prepaid hotels through Amex Travel, 1.5x points if you spend $5,000 on a single eligible purchase on up to 1 million additional points per year and 1x points on all other purchases

Best business credit card for building credit
Wells Fargo Business Secured Credit Card

Finder Rating: 4.1 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (300-579) Read review

300
Min. credit score

$0
Annual fee

1.5%
Cash back

n/a
Welcome offer

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

If you're starting a business but don't have a prior credit history, the Wells Fargo Business Secured Credit Card is a great choice for kickstarting your score. You can drop a security deposit of up to $25,000 on your account, which can help you avoid hitting a brick wall when it comes to investing. Plus, you'll earn rewards on your card payments, which is a rarity among secured cards.

• Build credit. Build your business credit and graduate to an unsecured card with responsible card use.
• Potentially high credit limit. Deposit between $500 and $25,000 to act as your credit line.
• Cash back. Get 1.5% cash back on all purchases or 1x points plus 1,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 or more per billing cycle.

• Requires secured deposit. You can only use the card if you make a secured deposit to act as your credit line.
• No intro APR on purchases. Any purchases you make on this card will begin accruing interest at the standard rate.

Annual Fee	$0
Purchase APR	15.15% variable
Balance transfer APR	N/A
Welcome offer	N/A
Rewards	1.5% cash back on all purchases

Best for new businesses
Ramp Visa® Commercial Card

Credit recommended (670-850) Read review

670
Min. credit score

$0
Annual fee

Up to 1.5%
Cash back

Welcome offer

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

The Ramp Visa® Commercial Card is the newest business card for startups on the block and offers an array of features that can help new businesses grow. Aside from a solid rewards rate, the Ramp Visa® Commercial Card analyzes your business spending to identify areas you can save. The card also features 18 different signup bonuses, worth thousands of dollars in value.

• Ramp savings. Ramp will analyze your business spending and identify areas where your business may save, such as by eliminating redundant software subscriptions.
• Signup bonus. Ramp's unique signup bonus structure offers up to 18 different bonuses. These offers are through companies that can prove helpful to a growing business, such as Plaid or Twilio.
• Rewards. Earn a flat 1.5% cash back on all purchases.

Annual Fee	$0
Purchase APR	N/A
Balance transfer APR	N/A
Welcome offer
Rewards

Best for payment flexibility
The Plum Card® from American Express

Finder Rating: 4 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (670-850) Read review Rates & fees

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670
Min. credit score

$250 ongoing
Annual fee

Up to x
N/A

n/a
Welcome offer

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

American Express's Plum Card offers a bit more flexibility than its other business offerings. So long as you pay at least 10% of your balance before the due date, Amex offers a 60-day grace period on interest. For businesses uncertain about their finances within their first few months, this extra grace period can help keep things afloat.

• Long grace period. You'll enjoy a 60-day grace period on purchases, so long as you pay at least 10% of your balance by the listed due date.
• Payment discounts. If you pay your balance off within 10 days of closing date, you'll receive a 1.5% discount on your payment.
• No annual fee on additional cards. Any additional employee cards you use won't be charged an annual fee.

• Charge card. While you have a 60-day grace period when used correctly, the Plum Card is ultimately a charge card and balances must be paid in full before the end of that period.
• High annual fee. The Plum Card has a surprisingly large annual fee of $250 after the intro year.

Annual Fee	$0 intro annual fee for the first year ($250 thereafter)
Purchase APR	N/A
Balance transfer APR	N/A
Welcome offer	N/A
Rewards	1.5% discount when you pay early

Best secured and credit building

When choosing this year’s top secured credit cards, we compared a number of factors among eligible cards, including fees, required deposit, credit limit, reward opportunities, welcome offers and any additional rewards or perks offered. We highlighted cards that stood out in one or more of these categories.

Best for lowest ongoing APR
First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® Secured Credit Card

Credit recommended (300-579) Apply now on First Progress's secure site

300
Min. credit score

$49
Annual fee

9.99% variable
Purchase APR

From $200
Min. deposit

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

This card is designed to help you build credit while paying a low APR on purchases. But you'll have to pay an annual fee for the card.

• Fixed APR. Most cards come with a variable APR, but with this card, you'll get one of the lowest APRs at 9.99% fixed.
• Build your credit. The card reports to all three major credit bureaus &mdash
• Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Try to keep your utilization low and pay your balance on time to build your credit.
• No minimum credit score. You can apply without credit history or with a poor credit score.

• Annual fee. You'll pay an annual fee of $49 for the card.
• Foreign transaction fees. Purchases made abroad or online with foreign merchants will cost 3% of the amount.

Annual fee	$49
Minimum deposit required	Starting at $200
Purchase APR	9.99% variable
Balance transfer APR	N/A
Recommended minimum credit score	300

Best for no credit history credit check
OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card

Finder Rating: 3.8 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (300-669) Apply now on Capital Bank N.A.'s secure site

300
Min. credit score

$35
Annual fee

17.39%
variable
Purchase APR

From $200
Min. deposit

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

The OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card doesn’t pull your credit history when you apply. But you'll have to make a secured deposit to use the card.

• No credit check. OpenSky only uses your ID to confirm your identity. It won't do a credit pull.
• Build your credit. The card reports to all three major credit bureaus, which can help strengthen your credit. Just try to keep your utilization low and make timely payments.
• FDIC insured deposit. Your security deposit is FDIC insured.

• Annual fee. The card comes with a $35 annual fee.
• Foreign transaction fees. Using the card abroad or online will cost you 3% fee of the amount.
• Secured deposit required. To use the card, you must make a secured deposit that will act as your credit limit.

Annual fee	$35
Minimum deposit required	Starting at $200
Purchase APR	17.39% variable
Balance transfer APR	N/A
Recommended minimum credit score	300

Best for lowest deposit
Capital One® Secured Mastercard®

Finder Rating: 4.4 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (580-669) Read review Rates & fees

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580
Min. credit score

$0
Annual fee

26.99% variable
Purchase APR

From $49
Min. deposit

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

This card is unique in the secured card space because you can make a secured deposit lower than the amount you receive as a credit limit.

• Lower secured deposit. Depending on your credit score, you may pay a security deposit as low as $49 and still get a $200 credit limit.
• No annual fee. Aside from the secured deposit you won't pay an annual fee for the card.
• Potential credit limit increase. Capital One will check your account after you make five on-time payments, and the bank may increase your credit limit.

• No rewards. You won't earn any rewards on your purchases.
• High APR. This card has a high APR on purchases of 26.99%.
• Secured deposit. You can only use the card after you made a secured deposit.

Annual fee	$0
Minimum deposit required	$49, $99 or $200
Purchase APR	26.99% variable
Balance transfer APR	26.99% variable
Recommended minimum credit score	580

Best for rewards
Bank of America® Cash Rewards Secured

Credit recommended (300-669) Read review

300
Min. credit score

$0
Annual fee

23.99% variable
Purchase APR

From $300
Min. deposit

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

With a cashback rate rivaling non-secured cards, the Bank of America® Cash Rewards Secured is probably the most rewarding secured credit card you can find.

• Cash back. Earn 3% cash back on a category of your choice, gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores or home improvements and 2% back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs. Your 3% and 2% cashback categories are capped on up to $2,500 in combined purchases each year. After that, and on all other purchases, you earn 1% back.
• Solid security deposit amount. You can deposit anywhere between $300 and $4,900 to act as your credit line.
• Potential return of deposit. Bank of America will review your account from time to time. If you have improved your credit score and always paid off your balance on time, Bank of America may return your secured deposit, thus converting your secured card into an unsecured one.

• Secured deposit. You must make a secured deposit to use the card.
• Foreign transaction fees. Purchases made online with foreign merchants or abroad will cost you a 3% fee of the amount.

Annual fee	$0
Minimum deposit required	Starting at $300
Purchase APR	23.99% variable
Balance transfer APR	23.99% variable
Recommended minimum credit score	300

Best student credit cards

When choosing this year’s top student credit cards, we compared a number of factors among eligible cards, including fees, credit limit, reward opportunities, student-specific perks, welcome offers and any additional rewards or benefits offered. We highlighted cards that stood out in one or more of these categories.

Best for no fees
Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card

Finder Rating: 2.9 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (600-850) Apply now on WebBank's secure site Rates & fees

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600
Min. credit score

$0
Annual fee

Up to 10%
Cash back

n/a
Welcome offer

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

The Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card is the new card on the block aimed at newly graduated professionals.

• Cash back. Earn 1% cash back on all purchases.
• No credit history required. You can get the card with no prior credit history.
• High credit limit. Your credit limit can go as high as $5,000, depending on your financial situation.

• No signup bonus. This card doesn't come with a signup bonus, unlike most other cashback cards.
• No intro APR period. There's no 0% intro APR period on purchases, balance transfers or both with this card.

Annual Fee	$0
Purchase APR	12.99% to 26.99% variable
Balance transfer APR	N/A
Welcome offer	N/A
Rewards	Up to 10% cash back from select merchants, on other purchases earn 1% back, 1.25% after six on-time payments and 1.5% after 12 on-time payments

Best for paying off student loans
Sallie Mae Accelerate℠

Finder Rating: 3.4 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (670-850) Read review

670
Min. credit score

$0
Annual fee

2.5%
Cash back

Welcome offer

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

The Sallie Mae Accelerate℠ offers 1.25% cash back on every purchase. But if you use it to pay down your student loan, your rate goes up by another 25% for a total cashback rate of 1.56%.

• Cash back. Earn 1.25% cash back on all purchases. Redeem your cash back toward your student loan payments and earn another 0.31% back as a bonus.
• Signup bonus. Earn 2.5% cash back on all purchases within your first 12 months of card membership on up to $20,000.
• Intro APR period on purchases. Get 15 months of 0% intro APR period on your purchases. After the intro period expires, your rate reverts to variable 12.99% to 22.99%.

• Foreign transaction fee. Using the card online at foreign merchants or abroad will cost you a 3% fee of the amount.

Annual Fee	$0
Purchase APR	0% intro for the first 15 months (then 12.99% to 22.99% variable)
Balance transfer APR	0% intro for the first 15 months (then 12.99% to 22.99% variable)
Welcome offer
Rewards	1.25% cash back on all purchases

Best for studying abroad
Bank of America® Travel Rewards for Students

Finder Rating: 4.1 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (580-850) Read review

580
Min. credit score

$0
Annual fee

1.5x
Points

25,000
Points welcome offer

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

This card offers solid, consistent rewards that you can redeem as statement credit for a variety of travel purchases. An excellent choice for a study-abroad trip, as you'll pay no foreign transaction fees.

• Reward points. Earn 1.5x points on all purchases made with this card.
• Signup bonus. Earn 25,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 in your first 90 days days of account opening. That's worth $250 in statement credit on your next travel purchase.
• Intro APR period on purchases. Get 12 billing cycles of 0% intro APR period on purchases. After that, your rate reverts to variable 14.99% to 22.99%.

• No balance transfer intro APR period. You only get 0% intro APR period on purchases, but not on balance transfers.

Annual Fee	$0
Purchase APR	0% intro for the first 12 billing cycles (then 14.99% to 22.99% variable)
Balance transfer APR	14.99% to 22.99% variable
Welcome offer	25,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days
Rewards	1.5x points on all purchases

Best for rewards
Bank of America® Cash Rewards for Students

Finder Rating: 4.4 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (580-850) Read review

580
Min. credit score

$0
Annual fee

Up to 3%
Cash back

$200
Welcome offer

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

The Bank of America® Cash Rewards for Students offers strong rewards in a variety of common student spend categories. Its cashback rates are among the highest you'll find for student cards.

• Cash back. Earn 3% cash back on a category you choose &mdash
• online shopping, dining, gas, drug stores, travel or home improvements &mdash
• and 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs. Your cash back is capped at $2,500 each quarter on combined purchases at the 3% and 2% categories. Once reaching the cap, you earn 1% cash back, which is the same rate you earn on all other purchases.
• Signup bonus. Earn a $200 online cash rewards bonus once you spend $1,000 in your first 90 days of account opening.
• Intro APR period. Get 0% intro APR period for the first 12 statement closing dates on purchases and balance transfers made within the first 60 days of card membership. A variable APR of 13.99% to 23.99% applies thereafter.

• Foreign transaction fees. Every time you use your card online at foreign merchants or abroad, you'll pay a 3% fee of the amount.
• Balance transfer limitations. You must make your balance transfers within the first 60 days of card membership or you won't get to use the 0% intro APR period on balance transfers.

Annual Fee	$0
Purchase APR	0% intro for the first 12 statement closing dates (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable)
Balance transfer APR	0% intro for the first 12 billing cycles (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable)
Welcome offer	$200 after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days
Rewards	3% and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in combined choice category, grocery and wholesale club purchases each quarter, then 1%

What is the best credit card company?

Just as there is no single best credit card out there, there is no single best credit card company that will fulfill all your needs. With that said, many of the most popular credit card companies are sought after for a reason. Here’s a quick look at the top issuers based on market share according to Finder’s most recent research.

What makes a credit card company “the best”?

Credit card companies that are known as the “best” usually specialize in one area where they outperform competitors. They will focus on serving their niche market through quality, variety or both.

Here are a few examples from some of the more popular card issuers today. You’ll note that in each example, a different type of cardholder stands to most benefit from the services offered.

Amex: American Express caters to cardholders in the high-end market, offering numerous perks and benefits. This includes concierge service, Centurion Lounge access, ShopRunner membership and more.

Chase: Chase offers a wide selection of credit cards for nearly every type of cardholder. Chase also possesses one of the more valuable rewards programs in the Chase Ultimate Rewards program.

Citi: Citibank runs head to head with Chase and Amex when it comes to rewards. However, Citi’s cashback cards, in particular, are standouts in the industry and a go-to for consumers looking for a simple and valuable cashback program.

Discover: Discover is known in part for not offering any credit cards that require annual fees. Despite this, Discover still offers some great rewards and will match rewards earned at the end of the first year in lieu of a traditional signup bonus.

Wells Fargo: Wells Fargo offers easy-to-understand, straightforward credit card options, which is ideal for those who simply need a credit card for standard purposes. As a tradeoff, it lags behind other front runners when it comes to rewards and perks.

Your questions about the best credit cards, answered

• What's the best way to apply for a credit card?

  To apply for any of the cards you see on this page, click the green Go to site button next to the card in our comparison table. Fill out the application on the provider’s website, and you should receive an answer on your application within a few minutes to a few days.

• What makes one credit card better than another?

  There are a variety of reasons that a particular card will be better for your situation. Of course, the most important are those that work for your needs and spending habits.

  Often there is a primary factor that differentiates cards. For example, you may be looking for a balance transfer card. In that case, the primary consideration might be how long the 0% APR transfer period is.

  When multiple cards are strong in that primary factor, compare the secondary features.

  Does the card offer a $0 annual fee? A 0% intro APR for purchases? Excellent cashback options?

  Chances are you’ll find a well-rounded card that’s attractive for you in every respect.

• What does my credit score need to be before I apply for a credit card?

  Required credit scores can vary. Typically, however, you’ll qualify for most cards with a good or excellent score of 680 or higher.

  If you have fair, bad or nonexistent credit, you may be limited to secured cards. These require initial deposits, but will help you build your credit as long as you make timely payments.

• What is an APR?

  Short for annual percentage rate, an APR is a card’s interest rate expressed yearly. Basically, it’s the fee you’re charged for the privilege of borrowing money through your credit card company.

• What are cash back, points and miles?

  With cash back, a percentage of your spending is paid back to you. For example, if you get a 1.5% rate on $100, you’ll get $1.50 cash back.

  Points and miles are based on the same concept, except you trade them for other rewards. For example, you may get 2 miles for every $1 you spend — that’ll net you 200 points if you spend $100. You can later redeem those miles for rewards like vacation getaways and travel statement credit.

• What is an intro APR period?

  An intro APR period means that you’ll pay a special interest rate for a certain period of time. For example, “a 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months” means you’re not charged interest on any spending in the 15 months following your account opening.

  Keep track of when your intro APR expires. If you haven’t paid off your purchases by the end of your intro APR, you’ll immediately accrue interest on your balance.