Best Credit Cards: Broken Down by Category

Comparing multiple credit cards to try and find the best one for your needs can seem tiresome and, in some instances, leave you pushing off your decision. Luckily, finding the best credit card doesn’t have to be so complicated. Our editorial team reviewed the credit cards offered through our partner to determine which were the best in their respective categories.

Everyone’s spending habits are different. With this in mind, we decided to allow you to choose which credit card category you are most interested in and then show you our top choices within that category. All you have to do is select a category from the list below, and you’ll be dropped down to a section where you can compare these selections.

In general, the cards you’ll find below offer top-of-the-line rewards programs, large welcome offers, affordable annual fees, and more.

Top Cards by Category:

• Cash back
• Travel rewards
• Building credit
• Students
• Balance transfers
• Business

Cash back

Here are our picks for the best credit cards for earning cash back offered through our partner. Click on the name of a card you want to learn more about to drop down to its review.

Card Name	Rewards	Annual fee	Best for
Chase Freedom Unlimited	1.5% – 5%	$0	Best overall for earning cash back
Chase Freedom Flex	1% – 5%	$0	Best for rotating categories
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express	1% – 6%	$0 year one; then $95	Best for groceries and gas
American Express Cash Magnet	1.5%	$0	Best Amex card for earning cash back on all purchases
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express	1% – 3%	$0	Best for groceries and gas with no annual fee

Chase Freedom Unlimited

The Chase Freedom Unlimited card is our top-rated option for earning cash back. New cardholders can earn an additional 1.5% cash back on all purchases in the first year (up to $20,000 spent).

Here is the rewards rate breakdown after your first year or $20,000 spent:

• 5% on Chase travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards®
• 5% cash back on Lyft rides through March 2022
• 3% on dining
• 3% on drugstores
• 1.5% on all other purchases

To learn more about this card and what it offers, click here.

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Chase Freedom Flex

The Chase Freedom Flex card is our top-rated card for earning cash back on rotating categories. New cardholders can earn $200 after spending $500 within the first three months of account opening.

Here is the rewards rate breakdown:

• 5% on Chase travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards®
• 5% on up to $1,500 on combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate
• 5% cash back on Lyft rides through March 2022
• 3% on dining
• 3% on drugstores
• 1% on all other purchases

To learn more about this card and what it offers, click here.

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Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Rates and Fees. Terms Apply.

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is our top-rated card for earning cash back on groceries and gas. New cardholders can earn $250 back in statement credits after they spend $3,000 in purchases with the card in the first six months.

The annual fee of $95 shouldn’t deter those who find themselves paying monthly subscriptions for streaming services or who spend $6,000 a year at supermarkets. The value of that spending, plus spending on other bonus categories, will provide more than enough to cover the yearly cost of card ownership.

Here is the rewards rate breakdown:

• 6% on groceries up to $6,000 per year in purchases at U.S. supermarkets
• 6% on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
• 3% on transit
• 3% at U.S. gas stations
• 1% on other purchases

To learn more about this card and what it offers, click here.

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American Express Cash Magnet

Terms Apply.

The American Express Cash Magnet card is one of American Express’s newer cards. It is excellent for those who prefer to earn more on all purchases than on specific bonus categories. New cardholders can earn $150 after spending $1,000 within the first three months of account opening.

Here is the rewards rate breakdown:

• 1.5% on all purchases

To learn more about this card and what it offers, click here.

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Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Rates and Fees. Terms Apply.

The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is one of the issuer’s most well-known cards and is our top-rated card for earning cash back on groceries and gas without an annual fee. If you are a new cardholder, you can earn $200 in statement credit after spending $2,000 within the first six months.

Here is the rewards rate breakdown:

• 3% on groceries on up to $6,000 per year in purchases at U.S. supermarkets, then 1%
• 3% on U.S. online retail purchases on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%
• 3% on gas at U.S. gas stations on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%
• 1% on other purchases

To learn more about this card and what it offers, click here.

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Travel rewards

Here are our picks for the best credit cards for earning travel rewards offered through our partner. Click on the name of a card you want to learn more about to drop down to its review.

Card Name	Rewards	Annual fee	Best for
American Express® Gold card	1x – 4x	$250	Best overall for travel rewards
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card	1x – 2x	$0 for the first year; then $99	Best for flying Delta
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card	2x	$95	Best for earning miles on all purchases

American Express® Gold Card

Rates and Fees. Terms Apply.

The American Express® Gold Card is our top-rated card for earning travel rewards. New cardholders can earn 60,000 Membership Rewards Points after spending $4,000 within the first six months of account opening.

The $250 annual fee can be covered each year as long as you use this card for dining, groceries, and booking flights. Additionally, there are credits you’ll receive as an added benefit for being a cardholder.

Here is the rewards rate breakdown:

• 4x points on restaurants
• 4x points on groceries at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 in purchases per year
• 3x points on flights booked directly with the airlines or on amextravel.com
• 1x points on other purchases

To learn more about this card and what it offers, click here.

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Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

Rates and Fees. Terms Apply.

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is our top-rated credit card for earning rewards with Delta. New cardholders can earn 40,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 within the first six months of account opening.

The $99 annual fee can be covered each year if you spend $10,000 on the card. This is because cardholders who spend $10,000 in a calendar year will earn a $100 Delta flight credit. This benefit alone will provide you with more value than the card’s cost without factoring in the rewards rates and other benefits.

Here is the rewards rate breakdown:

• 2x miles at restaurants
• 2x miles at U.S. supermarkets
• 2x miles on purchases made directly with Delta
• 1x miles on other purchases

To learn more about this card and what it offers, click here.

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Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

The Venture Rewards from Capital One is best for those interested in earning the most miles back on all purchases rather than specific bonus categories. New cardholders can earn a bonus of 75,000 miles if $4,000 in purchases is spent within the first three months from account opening.

The $95 annual fee can be covered each year if you make this your go-to card and utilize the rewards rate of 2x miles back on every dollar in purchases with the card.

Here is the rewards rate breakdown:

• 2x miles on all purchases

To learn more about this card and what it offers, click here.

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Building credit

Here are our picks for the best credit cards for building credit offered through our partner. Click on the name of a card you want to learn more about to drop down to its review.

Card Name	Rewards	Annual fee	Best for
Petal 2 Visa Card	Up to 1.5%	$0	Best overall for building credit
Capital One Platinum Secured	None	$0	Best secured card

Petal 2 Visa Card

Petal credit cards are issued by WebBank, Member FDIC

The Petal 2 Visa Card is our top-rated credit card for building credit. If cardholders make on-time payments, the cash back reward can be increased from 1% up to 1.5% on all purchases. The credit limit will be set between $300 to $10,000.

Here is the rewards rate breakdown:

• Up to 1.5% on all purchases when you pay on time
• 2% to 10% at select merchants

To learn more about this card and what it offers, click here.

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Capital One Platinum Secured

The Capital One Platinum Secured is our top-rated secured credit card. A security deposit of $49, $99, or $200 is needed to open an account. For a higher credit line, cardholders can deposit additional funds before the account opens. There is no cash back or travel rewards earned with this card.

To learn more about this card and what it offers, click here.

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Students

Here are our picks for the best credit cards for students offered through our partner. Click on the name of a card you want to learn more about to drop down to its review.

Card Name	Rewards	Annual fee	Best for
Journey Student Rewards from Capital One	Up to 1.25%	$0	Best overall for students
Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students	1%	$0	Best for international students

Journey Student Rewards from Capital One

The Journey Student Credit Card from Capital One is our top-rated credit card for students. Most student cards avoid offering rewards to cardholders because they are considered riskier than individuals with established credit histories. Luckily, for the Journey Student Credit Card cardholders, earning cash back on all purchases is possible. Better yet, those who pay on time will receive a boost to a total of 1.25% back on all purchases.

Here is the rewards rate breakdown:

• 1% on all purchases, boosted to 1.25% for each month that on-time payments are made
• 5% on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Terms apply.

To learn more about this card and what it offers, click here.

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Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students

The Deserve EDU is a great card for students looking to earn cash back and receive added benefits while building credit. Those interested can prequalify in just seconds with no impact on their credit score. The Deserve app makes managing your credit easy.

Here is the rewards rate breakdown:

• 1% on all purchases

To learn more about this card and what it offers, click here.

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Balance transfers

Here is our pick for the best credit card for balance transfers offered through our partner. Click on the name of the card to drop down to its review.

Card Name	Rewards	Annual fee	Best for
TD Cash Visa Credit Card	1% – 3%	$0	Best for balance transfers and dining

TD Cash Visa Credit Card

The TD Cash Visa Credit Card is best for balance transfers and dining rewards. There is a 0% APR promotional period for twelve billing cycles on balance transfers, and there are no restrictions on how long you have to make that transfer to take advantage of the promotional APR. New cardmembers can earn $150 when they spend $500 within 90 days after account opening.

Here is the rewards rate breakdown:

• 3% on dining
• 2% at grocery stores
• 1% on all other purchases

To learn more about this card and what it offers, click here.

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Business

Here is our pick for the best credit card for businesses offered through our partner. Click on the name of the card to drop down to its review.

Card Name	Rewards	Annual fee	Best for
Ink Business Unlimited	1.5%	$0	Best overall for businesses

Ink Business Unlimited

The Ink Business Unlimited card is our top-rated credit card for businesses. New businesses can earn $900 after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months after account opening. All cash back made can be redeemed without any restrictions on the amount you take out or how you want to take it out.

Here is the rewards rate breakdown:

• 1.5% on all purchases

To learn more about this card and what it offers, click here.

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What are the best credit cards?

Here is a recap of the top-rated credit cards for each category.

Card name	Category	What stands out
Chase Freedom Unlimited	Cash back	1.5% cash back on all purchases
American Express® Gold Card	Travel	4x points on restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets
Petal 2 Visa Card	Credit building	Up to 1.5% cash back
Journey Student Credit Card	Students	Up to 1.25% cash back on all purchases
TD Cash Visa Credit Card	Balance transfers	3% cash back on dining
Ink Business Unlimited	Business	1.5% cash back on all purchases

How we chose the best credit cards

To find the best credit cards, our editorial team reviewed cards offered through our partner by specific categories, including rewards rates, welcome bonuses, annual fees, and more. The weight assigned to each category was dependent on the type of credit card reviewed.

To learn more about our ratings and methodology, click here.

How to find the best credit card

When it comes to finding the best credit card, you’ll need to determine what you plan to use the card for. Since most credit cards are designed to target specific categories rather than offer everything in one, you won’t find one credit card claiming to be the best for all purposes.

When looking for the best credit card, you should consider several things. That includes what you want to use your card for, what you want to get out of your card, and whether or not you will be able to spend responsibly enough to make the card worth it.

Who offers the best credit cards?

There is no single credit card company that offers the best credit cards. This is because each company provides cards that target different categories. The company may claim to provide the best credit card for travel but provide a second-rate secured credit card.

Depending on the cardholder, there will be different views on whether or not a company is the best. For this reason, the best credit card company depends highly on whether or not you, the cardholder, are satisfied with the product. However, it’s a good indicator when many customers generally agree that a company offers good products and services.

With that in mind, J.D. Power’s 2020 Credit Card Satisfaction Study reviewed all the eligible companies to provide a ranking of the top credit card companies in the eyes of the cardholders. Here are the top five national issuers:

• American Express (838)
• Discover (837)
• Bank of America (812)
• Chase (809)
• Capital One (808)

The Customer Satisfaction Index Ranking was based on a 1,000-point scale. The industry average was 810.

How your credit score impacts your options

Credit scores are a significant part of applying for a credit card. This is because credit card companies use your credit score to determine the risk they are taking when providing you with a form of credit. Your score will help them with the approval process and will be a factor in determining your interest rate if you’re approved. Credit scores are generally broken down like this:

• Excellent (720 – 850)
• Good (690 – 719)
• Fair (630 – 689)
• Poor (350 – 629)

Credit cards for good to excellent credit

If your credit score falls within the good to excellent range, you are more likely to be approved for the best credit cards. With a higher credit score, credit card companies look at you as less risky and more likely to pay off your bill on time. Here are some credit cards worth considering if you have good to excellent credit:

• Rewards credit cards
• Travel credit cards
• Cash-back credit cards
• Airline credit cards

Credit cards for poor to fair credit

If your credit score falls within the poor to fair range, you will find it more challenging to be approved for some of the best credit cards. Credit card companies will see you as a risky candidate and will likely decline you if you apply for most unsecured credit cards.

For students, it is expected that they have little to no credit history. So companies offer student credit cards that allow you to build your credit history while potentially earning rewards along the way.

For people with bad credit, there are still options. Credit cards for bad credit are available, but the terms will be different than typical unsecured cards. For example, these cards will likely require a security deposit and offer a lower credit limit. Here are some credit cards worth considering above if you have poor to fair credit:

• Secured credit cards
• Student credit cards

How to use your credit card appropriately

It is essential to take your time when looking for the best credit card. Credit cards come with a lot of responsibility, so ensuring you can make on-time payments will take you a long way in earning the rewards you signed up for. Make sure you find a comfortable spending limit that considers your income and monthly expenses. By doing this, you can spend confidently within your range and reduce the chance of a missed payment.

Other credit card resources

• Credit cards for military members and veterans
• Best no annual fee credit cards
• Best credit cards for restaurants
• Best credit cards for groceries
• Best business credit cards
• Best balance transfer credit cards

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LendEDU has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. LendEDU and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.