Best Credit Cards of 2019
The best credit cards offer you the chance to earn cash back, travel rewards, exclusive benefits, and more. Compare our top picks to find the best credit card for your spending habits.
It isn't always easy to find the best credit card. Especially when each credit card category has its own unique set of benefits. Our list of the best credit cards includes options that cover multiple categories, therefore maximizing the rewards you can earn on each purchase. You can find the best credit card for each category in the list below, as well as additional options further down the page.
- Best Rewards Credit Card:
Platinum Card from American Express - Best Travel Credit Card:
PNC Premier Traveler Visa Signature Credit Card - Best Balance Transfer Credit Card:
Discover it Card - 18 Month Balance Transfer Offer - Best Cash Back Credit Card:
American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card - Best Secured Credit Card:
Navy Federal nRewards Secured Credit Card - Best Airline Credit Card:
Virgin Atlantic Credit Card - Best Student Credit Card:
Discover it Student Cash Back
LendEDU’s Best Credit Cards of 2019
Credit Cards by Category
Rewards
Earn cash back, travel rewards, and other perks with these cards
Platinum Card from American Express
Good for Uber, airline miles, and luxury travel
$550 annual fee • 60,000 points after spending $5,000 in first 3 months
American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card
Great for people who spend a lot on groceries
$95 annual fee • $200 statement credit after spending $1,000 in first 3 months
Everyday Preferred Card from American Express
Bonuses for making frequent, everyday purchases
$95 annual fee • 15,000 rewards points after spending $1,000 in first 3 months
Travel
Earn perks with airlines and hotels with these travel credit cards
PNC Premier Traveler Visa Signature Credit Card
Great for flyers who enjoy complimentary concierge service
$0 intro annual fee, then $85 • 30,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in 3 months
Capital One Venture Rewards Card
Great for travelers who love staying in hotels
$0 intro annual fee, then $95 • 50,000 bonus miles after $3,000 spent in 3 months
Capital One VentureOne Rewards
Good for those looking for a 0% purchase APR introductory period
$0 annual fee • 20,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 in 3 months
Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard
Great travel card for those looking to do a balance transfer
$0 intro annual fee, then $89 • 20,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 in 3 months
Balance Transfer
Find zero percent introductory APRs to save on interest while lowering your debt
Discover it Card - 18 Month Balance Transfer Offer
Good for earning rewards with your balance transfer card
No annual fee • Double all cash back in the first year
HSBC Gold MasterCard
Good if you want a balance transfer and international travel
No annual fee • No intro bonus
PNC Core Visa Credit Card
Save on interest for new purchases
No annual fee • $100 bonus after spending $1,000 in 3 months
Cash Back
Earn back cash on everyday purchases and take advantage of sign-up bonuses
American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card
Great for grocery shopping
$95 annual fee • $200 statement credit after spending $1,000 in first 3 months
Bank of America Cash Rewards Card
Good for people working on home renovations
No annual fee • $150 cash after spending $500 in first 3 months
World Wildlife Fund Card
Great for animal lovers
No annual fee • $150 cash rewards after spending $500 in first 3 months
Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card
A good card for Amazon Prime subscribers
No annual fee • $70 Amazon Gift Card upon approval
Secured
Build your credit quickly, while potentially earning rewards along the way
Navy Federal nRewards Secured Credit Card
Earn a point on all eligible purchases
No annual fee • Earn 1 point on all eligible purchases
State Department EMV Savings Secured Visa Platinum Card
Good for people who make more than 100 transactions annually
No annual fee • Earn 1 point on all eligible purchases
Discover it Secured Card
Great rewards for a secured card
No annual fee • Earn up to 2% cash back on eligible purchases
First Progress Platinum Select MasterCard
Good starter card to help you build credit
No annual fee • No bonus or rewards
Airline
Earn miles towards upgrades, free flights, baggage discounts, and more
Virgin Atlantic Credit Card
Good for people with additional cardholders
$90 annual fee • Up to 25,000 bonus miles after first purchase and adding a cardholder, plus more
British Airways Visa Signature Credit Card
Excellent for frequent British Airways customers
$95 annual fee • 10,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in 3 months
JetBlue Plus Card
Redeem points for any seat with no restrictions
$99 annual fee • 40,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in 3 months
Miles & More World Elite MasterCard
Great for traveling with a companion
$89 annual fee • 30,000 Bonus miles after spending $5,000 in 3 months
Student
Build credit history, cover expenses, and earn rewards while in school
Discover it Student Cash Back
Earn up to 5% back with a student card
No annual fee • Double all cash back after the first year
Discover it Chrome for Students Card
Great for students with good grades
No annual fee • Double all cash back after the first year
Bank of America Cash Rewards Card for Students
Good for students who spend less than $2,500 each quarter
No annual fee • $150 cash after $500 spent in 3 months
Citi Rewards+ Student Card
Earn more rewards on frequent, small purchases
No annual fee • 2,500 bonus points after spending $500 in 3 months
What Are the Best Credit Cards?
Card | Card Category | Credit Needed |
---|---|---|
Platinum Card from American Express | Rewards | Good/Excellent |
PNC Premier Traveler Visa Signature Credit Card | Travel | Excellent |
Discover it Card - 18 Month Balance Transfer Offer | Balance Transfer | Fair/Good |
American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card | Cash Back | Good/Excellent |
Navy Federal nRewards Secured Credit Card | Secured | Poor |
Virgin Atlantic Credit Card | Airline | Good/Excellent |
Discover it Student Cash Back | Student | Poor |
How We Chose the Best Credit Cards
To find the best credit cards, our Editorial Team analyzed each card by a number of data points including, APRs, fees, bonuses, rewards, security deposit amounts, and more. The weights assigned to each of these data points varied depending on the type of credit card being reviewed.
Learn more about our ratings and methodology here.
How to Find the Best Credit Card for You
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 enough responsibly 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 offers cards that target different categories. The company may claim to offer 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 2018 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:
- American Express (835)
- Discover (827)
- Capital One (808)
- Barclaycard (806)
- Chase (796)
The Customer Satisfaction Index Ranking was based on a 1,000-point scale. The industry average was 802.
How Your Credit Score Impacts Your Options
Credit scores are a significant part of applying for a credit card. The reason for this is that 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:
Credit Cards for Poor to Fair Credit
If your credit score falls within the poor to fair range, you will find it more difficult 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 you 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:
How to Use Your Credit Card Appropriately
It is important 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 expenses on a monthly basis. By doing this, you can spend confidently within your range and reduce the chance of a missed payment.