Best Credit Cards of November 2025

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Best standalone rewards card

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Recommended credit score:740 - 850

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on Capital One's secure site

Capital One Platinum Credit Card is another fair-credit option from the issuer — it comes with lower fees and no rewards as a trade-off.

Pros

It earns a solid 1.5 percent cash back on general purchases.
The chance to get a credit limit increase in six months with timely payments can help you build credit.

Cons

This card comes with added costs and fees that other fair-credit cards don’t have.
It has limited benefits, even for a card available to people with fair credit.

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Compare Bankrate's best credit cards of 2025

Card name	Our pick for	Card highlights	Ongoing APR	Bankrate Score
Chase Freedom Unlimited®	Standalone rewards card	5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Travel℠ 3% cash back on dining and drugstore purchases 1.5% cash back on all other purchases No annual fee	Regular APR: 18.74% - 28.24% Variable	5.0 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Chase's secure site See Rates & Fees
Wells Fargo Reflect® Card	Balance transfers	0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers (within the first 120 days) and purchases (The regular APR will apply thereafter; 5% balance transfer fee, $5 minimum) No annual fee	Regular APR: 17.74%, 24.24%, or 28.49% Variable APR	4.3 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Wells Fargo's secure site See Rates & Fees
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card	Cash back card for food	8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars through Capital One Travel 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, select streaming services and grocery store purchases (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target) No annual fee	Regular APR: 18.99% - 28.99% (Variable)	5.0 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Capital One's secure site See Rates & Fees
American Express® Gold Card	Travel card for food	4X points on restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases per year, then 1x points) and U.S. supermarket purchases (on up to $25,000 in purchases per year, then 1X points) 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or via Amex Travel Over $400 in various credits in monthly Uber Cash and credits toward eligible dining purchases (Uber Cash expires at the end of the month. Enrollment required for all credits.) $325 annual fee	Regular APR: See Pay Over Time APR	4.9 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on American Express's secure site See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply
Chase Sapphire Reserve®	Luxury card for travel rewards	8X points on Chase Travel℠ bookings 4X points on flights and hotel stays booked directly with airlines and hotels 3X points on dining Top-value travel perks available, including almost $1,700 of recurring perks toward eligible travel and dining, plus Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership Additional Southwest Airlines, IHG One and The Shops at Chase perks for the remainder of each calendar year you spend $75,000 $795 annual fee	Regular APR: 19.99% - 28.49% Variable	4.8 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Chase's secure site See Rates & Fees
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card	Travel rewards value	3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), dining (including eligible delivery services) and select streaming services 5X points on Chase Travel℠ and Lyft Rides (Lyft offer through September 30, 2027) 2X points on other travel Yearly bonus points and credits: $50 annual hotel stay credit and 10% back on your previous year's total combined spending points $95 annual fee	Regular APR: 19.74% - 27.99% Variable	4.9 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Chase's secure site See Rates & Fees
Citi Double Cash® Card	Flat-rate cash back	5% cash back on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked through the Citi Travel® portal 2% cash back: 1% when you buy, 1% when you pay 0% intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers (transfers must be within the first four months) No annual fee	Regular APR: 17.74% - 27.74% (Variable)	4.2 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Citi's secure site See Rates & Fees
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express	Grocery rewards card	6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases (then 1%), and on select U.S. streaming subscriptions 3% cash back at eligible U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more) Up to $120 annually in Disney streaming subscription credits (up to $10 each month toward eligible subscriptions and bundles at Disneyplus.com, Hulu.com, Plus.espn.com U.S. websites) $95 annual fee ($0 intro annual fee the first year)	Regular APR: 19.74%-28.74% Variable	4.4 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on American Express's secure site See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card	Affordable travel perks	10X miles on hotel and rental car bookings through Capital One Travel 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel 2X miles on all other purchases Annual $300 Capital One Travel credit and 10,000 account anniversary bonus miles can help offset part of the annual fee $395 annual fee	Regular APR: 19.99% - 28.99% (Variable)	5.0 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Capital One's secure site See Rates & Fees
American Express Platinum Card®	Luxury card for travel perks	5X points on directly-booked airfare and flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel® (on up to $500,000 spent on flights per calendar year) 2X points on prepaid car rentals, vacation packages and cruise reservations through American Express Travel® Top-value travel perks available, including around $3,500 of recurring monthly and annual credits plus comprehensive airport lounge access $895 annual fee	Regular APR: See Pay Over Time APR	4.8 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on American Express's secure site See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card	Fair credit	Automatic account review starting at 6 months to be considered for a higher credit line 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel 1.5% cash back on all other purchases $39 annual fee	Regular APR: 29.49% (Variable)	4.0 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Capital One's secure site See Rates & Fees
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card	Low-cost secured card	Refundable security deposit starting at $49 to get at least a $200 initial credit line Automatic account review starting at 6 months to be considered for a higher credit line No annual fee	Regular APR: 29.49% (Variable)	4.1 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Capital One's secure site See Rates & Fees

What are the different types of credit cards?

Credit card issuers offer different types of cards to meet various consumer needs, so no one card will be the “best” for everyone. A credit card’s “type” is mostly determined by the spending categories it rewards, the perks it offers, whether it has a low interest rate or lengthy intro APR offers.

Frequent travelers will likely value luxury perks like lounge access more than occasional travelers, who might not see such features as worth a high annual fee. Meanwhile, someone trying to pay off debt will be more focused on an intro APR offer.

Here are the major credit card types and the best features to look out for:

Best for household shoppers who don’t travel often and mostly spend on groceries, gas, dining and other everyday categories.

Rewards categories: Cash back cards usually earn rewards on everyday purchases. Groceries, dining, gas and online shopping are likely the most lucrative categories for the typical spender — especially if these categories are year-round. However, flat-rate rewards cards are also great fallback cards for many people.
Rewards rates: The best rotating categories or year-round bonus categories can offer anywhere from 2 percent to 6 percent back on certain purchases. Good bonus category cards focus your spending in their 3 percent categories, although category spending caps may be hard to avoid (typically $6,000 per year, often divided out by quarter or billing cycle).
Perks: Cash back cards typically don’t offer many beyond the rewards program, but standout cards may offer travel protections and perks with partner services like rideshare or delivery services. A rare few cash back cards may even come with annual credits.
Welcome offers: Since many cash back cards have no annual fee, they typically provide a $200 value for spending $500 to $1,000 in the first three months.

Learn more about our picks for cash back cards here:

Dig deeper: How does cash back work?

Best for frequent travelers or anyone who regularly books travel or wants to earn rewards they can use for travel. These cards typically offer above-average reward redemption values, annual travel credits, loyalty program perks and other benefits.

Travel and rewards cards earn points or miles that are most valuable when you redeem them for travel costs. No-annual-fee travel cards are a great entry point for rewards newbies to dip their toes in the waters of traveling on points and miles, while premium travel cards are best for jetsetters who maximize their travel rewards and every feature of their cards.

When you’re shopping for your next travel card, look for these features:

Lucrative categories: The best rewards and travel cards earn at least 2 percent on general purchases or higher rewards rates on everyday purchases like groceries, restaurants, and gas (3 percent or more). Look for cards that earn high rates in categories you spend the most in. If you’re a frequent traveler, consider cards that have 4X to 10X points or miles on common travel bookings.
Welcome offers: The best no-annual-fee rewards cards will come with welcome bonuses worth at least $200 in rewards, ideally with a low spending requirement of $500 to $1,000 in the first three months. Top-tier travel and rewards cards will offer $750 or more in travel or cash back with spending requirements of around $3,000 to $4,000 in spending in the first six months.
Practical and luxury perks: No-annual-fee travel cards come with useful perks like travel insurance, while premium travel cards have credits for travel costs, expedited airport security screening or airport lounge access. Co-branded hotel and airline cards have free checked bags, free nights and more.
Rewards value: Your points and miles’ value can vary depending on how you redeem them. The best rewards cards let you redeem points for cash back or travel at a value of at least 1 cent per point or transfer to airlines and hotels for a chance at an even higher redemption value (the most valuable travel points and miles are worth around 2 cents).

And check out our lists for the best travel and rewards cards:

Dig deeper: Are travel cards worth it?

Best for people who want to pay off debt or keep interest at bay on upcoming purchases.

Intro APR cards offer 0 percent interest for a time after account opening, usually 12 to 21 months (although there are outliers at both ends). This interest-free period could be for balance transfers or new purchases, but longer balance transfer offers are more common.

Keep these features in mind as you search for the best intro APR card for your situation:

Long intro APR period: If you need more time to pay off debt, the best card for you will feature a 0 percent intro APR offer of at least 18 months, but the best cards offer 21 to 24 months.
Rewards: If you only need a 12- to 15-month intro APR, a no-annual-fee rewards card with a short intro APR period may be a better choice long term than a card with a longer intro APR but no rewards program or ongoing perks.
Balance transfer fee: Most intro APR cards have a 3 percent to 5 percent balance transfer fee, and cards with lengthy balance transfer offers usually charge a 5 percent fee in exchange. A low balance transfer fee is a key consideration when How to do a credit card balance transfer

Best for small-business owners — including freelancers and side-hustlers — who want help managing spending and earning rewards on common operating expenses.

Here are some of the types of business owners who could benefit from a small-business card:

Online retail store and Etsy store owners with recurring shipping and merchandise costs
Digital artists and freelancers who need capital for software and hardware purchases
LLC owners with established businesses who need employee cards and flexible funding
Corporations and nonprofits with 100 or fewer employees

Gauge the following features on a card to determine whether it's a stand-out option

Rewards: Many business cards offer everyday bonus categories like dining, but some of the best cards earn 2 percent to 4 percent rewards back on business purchases like travel, office supplies, electronics, advertising, shipping and/or telecommunication services.
Perks: The best business cards have specialized features, such as higher credit limits than consumer cards, statement credits for software or hardware purchases,
Welcome offer: The best cards give you a chance at a large cash or travel rewards bonus with a reasonable spending requirement. You may even see premium cards offer $2,000 or more after spending a few thousand dollars in the first few months, while top no-annual-fee business cards tend to offer around $200 to $300 for lower spending requirements.
Management tools: Free employee cards, integration with QuickBooks or other accounting software and customizable spending limits round out common business card features to look for.

Larger corporations and companies may not get much out of a business card if it doesn’t have a high enough credit limit to provide enough purchasing power. In these cases, a corporate credit card may be a better option. Here’s more information about Bankrate’s picks for business cards:

Dig deeper: What is a business credit card and how does one work?

Naturally, these cards are the best options for college students since they offer comparatively low fees and student-oriented perks and rewards. Look for cards with these features to start your credit journey alongside your academic one:

Low credit requirements: If you’re a young adult, you probably don’t have much credit history. Student cards that don’t require good credit for qualification should be at the top of your list.
Reasonable rates and fees: Busy and working students probably don’t want their limited budget eaten up by annual fees or high interest charges. The best way to not pay interest is to not carry a balance, but that may not always be possible. Avoid cards with APRs in the 30s — try to find a sweet spot between 20 percent and 28 percent. Some student cards may even provide intro APR offers, which could be helpful for buying textbooks or moving into student housing.
Rewards: Some of the best student cards offer rewards like cash back or points for your purchases. If you want, you can even consider cards with bonus categories for gas or dining. But you could also keep it simple with a flat-rate cash back student card.
Credit-building tools: Managing credit also means building it. Issuers that offer tools like free FICO score and potential credit limit increases can help you establish a positive credit history

Dig deeper: How to choose a student credit card

Best for people with no credit history looking to establish a credit score, and people with bad or fair credit trying to rebuild their score.

Secured cards are the most rewarding and cost-effective option if you have money for an upfront deposit (refundable when you upgrade or close your account). You won't have to put down a deposit on an unsecured card, but you'll likely have to pay an annual fee. These are the features to consider when shopping for cards to help you build credit:

Security deposit: The best secured cards make it easy to get started with a low security deposit. Secured cards typically require a $200 minimum deposit, but a few cards have lower minimum deposit requirements — some as low as $50.
Low fees: And while unsecured credit cards won't require any deposit, many come with high fees. Look for unsecured credit-building cards that keep annual fees under $70 and don't tack on additional monthly or program fees. However, it’s better to keep your starter card open for a few years to fortify your credit score, so these fees could be a deal-breaker.
Credit limit: Since a secured card's credit limit typically matches your deposit, cards that allow a large deposit can make it much easier to keep your build credit. Secured cards usually have a $2,500 max deposit, but some allow a $5,000 limit. For unsecured cards, make sure you can get at least a $300 starting limit.
Upgrade potential: Consider cards with a clear path to better products after you’ve improved your credit score. Secured card issuers usually review your account after some time to determine if you’re eligible to upgrade to an unsecured card and have your deposit refunded.

Learn more about Bankrate’s picks for the top credit-building cards here:

Dig deeper: Does having two credit cards help build credit faster?

Ask the Experts

What features define the “best” credit cards — now and next year?

John Cabell

Managing director, J.D. Power payments intelligence

The ‘best’ credit card is the one that best fits the individual consumer’s needs, and J.D. Power research shows a point of key divergence with cardholders in this regard: those who maintain a debt balance versus those who transact and pay their statement in full.

Data over recent years from the J.D. Power US Card Satisfaction Study shows a trend of slowly increasing debt among credit card users. Currently, about 53 percent of cardholders are not paying their statement in full on a regular basis. This finding is key because it also affects popular card features, since cardholders with debt seek different products than those who are transacting to reap rewards.

Of course, rewards remain popular, with 88 percent of cardholders citing rewards cards as products they use most often. Rewards cardholders report their most frequent purchases with the card are groceries and retail goods, often redeeming for cash back and, less frequently, airline tickets.

Cash back card use remains relatively flat; they comprise the majority of cards used in the marketplace (57 percent). However, we are seeing slowly declining trends in use of point/miles cards (currently 31 percent) and increasing trends in use of ‘value cards’ (currently 12 percent), which have no rewards, no annual fee and often provide low- or no-interest rate intro offers that are important to consumers who are consolidating debt. Consistent with these changes, the last couple of years have also shown the rise of payment plans that some issuers are using to offer lower interest rates and extended payment timelines for large purchases.

In an uncertain economic context, the continued growth of debt is possible, and credit card usage trends we have seen recently will likely continue.

Stanley Eosakul

Card strategy expert and founder, “Stan The Credit Frog”

Simply put, the ‘best’ credit card is the one that provides the most value with the least work. Period. In an era where statement credit perks are the norm, it’s important to realize that while these credits may be helpful, it’s very easy to overspend without realizing it in order to utilize these benefits — both in money and in time.

When it comes to rewards, the most popular credit card rewards categories will always be food-related, specifically groceries and dining. Since premium luxury travel cards are moving towards elevated rewards rate multipliers on their respective travel portals, there will also be a significant demand for cards with a general travel (and transit) category. Cards with both elevated food and general travel rewards multipliers will continue to lead in popularity.

Emily Sherman

Former Senior Editor, Credit Cards

I think the best credit cards right now offer accessible rewards rates in common categories. Money is tight for a lot of people right now, so the opportunity to earn on everyday purchases like groceries and gas offers the best path to bring in rewards without extraneous spending. I also think we are seeing annual fees increase on several popular credit cards, but prospective applicants will want to make sure they can actually get value out of them. Cards are more frequently featuring a lot of statement credits and similar benefits used to offset fees, but these are often restrictive or hard to redeem. Over the next year, I think flexible credits that are useful to the most people will be key to staying competitive.

As far as rewards go, dining and travel are still the most popular categories I see, and not for bad reason. Unfortunately, we’re also seeing a rise in popularity of categories like streaming services and gym memberships that are relatively low-spend for most people. You can only earn so much in cash back on your $20 streaming subscription, compared to a high grocery budget or gas bill. I think we will continue to see these “small potatoes” categories pop up on cards, plus travel categories with more restrictions (like purchasing through a portal for an increased rate).

How to compare cards and get the best one

Choosing the best credit card all comes down to which card is going to provide you with the most value based on your financial situation, spending habits and more. Think about these questions when a credit card offer catches your eye:

What’s your credit score?

The better your credit score, the better your chance of qualifying for a credit card with excellent perks and terms. Check your improving your credit.
Determine which type of card fits your needs

Research what sufficient 0 percent intro APR offer if you have credit card debt. Finally, decide how much effort you'd put into maximizing the card's rewards and benefits. For instance, a card with rotating categories that needs activation every quarter would need more attention than a flat-rate card.
Narrow your list

Whittle down to the right card by calculating which would be the sign-up bonus can be a deciding factor if you’re on the fence between two cards.
Apply

If your credit score is a concern, see if you can referral bonus link instead. If you’re in no rush, you may want to wait for an elevated limited-time offer or a prequalified bonus offer in the mail.

Don’t know where to start? Check out

Bankrate’s CardMatch™ Tool

Bankrate staff picks

Everyone's preferences, goals and financial situation varies, so there's no single best credit card. But a few definitely stand out.

To help you build the best shortlist possible, we asked Bankrate credit card experts what they think are currently the best cash back, travel, 0 percent intro APR and credit-building cards currently on the market.

Many of these recommendations line up with our data and curated list, but hidden gems are sometimes found in the cream of the crop.

Expert Insight

My family’s go-to travel card is the Chase Sapphire Preferred. It pairs well with our other Chase cards and helps us make the most of our points with high-value travel redemptions. We’ve used this card's points to book some great hotels for family vacations, which has made it easier to spend money on other fun things on our trips.

Although it’s not the flashiest card on the market, my favorite cash back card is my Fidelity Rewards Visa Signature. It earns 2 percent cash back on every purchase, and the rewards are automatically transferred into my Fidelity IRA every month or so. Putting cash back toward my investments and future financial independence feels like a total hack!

John Puterbaugh, Bankrate senior editorial director

Ask Bankrate Staff

What are currently the best credit cards?

Ana Staples

Writer and Credit Cards Expert

“The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card offers solid cash back in such common everyday spending categories as dining and groceries — and there's no annual fee. With food prices being such a pain point for many, I think this is an excellent choice for many people.”

Other recommendations: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, Citi Double Cash® Card, Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

Katie Kelton, CCC

Senior Writer

“Even with no credit history, you can start earning 1.5 percent cash back on every purchase while practicing on-time payments and responsible use of the Chase Freedom Rise®. Once you’ve built up your credit score, you could ask Chase for an upgrade to another card in the Freedom family, like the Chase Freedom Flex® or Chase Freedom Unlimited®. Both of these cards have a ton of long-term value, making the Rise a great starting point.”

Other recommendations: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

Brooklyn Lowery

Senior Editor, Credit Cards

“It’s hard to beat the U.S. Bank Shield™ Visa® Card when it comes to its intro APR period on purchases and balance transfers. Normally, cards with such a long intro period come with little or no rewards, but the Shield Visa bucks the trend. That means this card can add value to your wallet even after the intro offers end.”

Other recommendations: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card, Chase Freedom Rise®

Learn more: Bankrate staffers share the one card they can’t live without

Popular credit card current trends

No one card will be “the best” for everyone, but certain cards will likely stand out based on your goals, spending habits, credit score and more. Regardless of the type of credit card, Bankrate’s 2025 credit card debt report indicates nearly half of Americans carry a balance — largely due to day-to-day and emergency expenses.

To help give you an objective sense of which credit cards and companies are worth considering to begin with before you dive head-first into research, we’ve combined our Bankrate research with the most recent 2025 J.D. Power Credit Card Satisfaction Study data to rank the highest-rated cards.

Here are issuers ranked by their overall J.D. Power score:

American Express (643)
Bank of America (622)
Capital One (621)
Chase (619)
Discover (617)
Wells Fargo (615)
Citi (608)
U.S. Bank (603)

The newest results are mostly in line with what J.D. Power reported in the 2024 study. New developments include increased satisfaction scores on higher-tier premium cards, seemingly driven by issuers' increased focus on these products for financially well-off cardholders over other credit cards. We can see this trend in action with how the Chase Sapphire Preferred replaced the Chase Freedom Unlimited as the issuer's highest-scoring card (with the Sapphire Reserve falling close behind).

Similarly, issuers that have typically focused on cards for everyday spenders have seen a surge in satisfaction with cards geared toward intro APRs, low annual fees and cash rewards. For example, the BankAmericard topped the Citi Strata Premier® Card.

For a deeper data breakdown of which credit cards are the best — including data from this J.D. Power study, our Bankrate Score system and Bankrate Awards — check out our companion guide:

Bankrate Analysis

Which credit cards are statistically the best?

Frequently asked questions

The number of credit cards you should have depends on your goals. For example, you’ll probably want to carry multiple cards if you’re looking to maximize rewards on a broader range of expenses or wield perks specific to your favorite stores, airlines or hotels. However, you may want to stick to one card if you prioritize building credit or a streamlined rewards experience.

Having several cards is fine as long as they deliver benefits that you take full advantage of (miles, cash back, perks and so on). Just beware of burdening yourself with annual fees and temporarily bruising your credit score from multiple card applications in a short period. For reference, statistics show that 77 percent of U.S. adults have at least one credit card, with the average American holding three to four credit cards.
No-annual-fee rewards cards typically offer sign-up bonuses worth $200 to $250 after you spend $500 to $1,000 in the first three months. Meanwhile, premium rewards cards generally offer bonuses worth $500 to $800 after you spend $4,000 to $6,000 in your first three or six months. Business cards often offer even more valuable sign-up bonuses with a bigger spending requirement to match.

Learn more: Best time of the year to score a big sign-up bonus
A two types of credit checks:
- A “hard” inquiry is when the lender pulls your credit report to make a decision about whether to lend to you.
- A “soft” inquiry is when the lender checks your credit as part of a preliminary screening. Pre-qualified credit card offers involve soft credit inquiries, so keep an eye out for cards that offer pre-qualification.
A hard inquiry can subtract a few points from your credit score temporarily, while a soft inquiry usually has no effect. You’ll want to limit the number of hard inquiries on your credit report, so be as selective as possible about which credit cards you apply for and try to get preapproved first.
Generally, you must be at least 18 years old to be the primary cardholder of a credit card. However, there are considerably more strict requirements to hold a credit card if you’re below the age of 21. You must be able to prove that you can independently pay your credit card bill or you can elect to have a cosigner, who is financially responsible for your bills if you cannot pay.

There is also the option to become an co-signer on a parent or guardian’s credit card. With these options, you can have access to a credit line before the age of 18, though age restrictions will depend on the issuer (and many issuers don’t allow co-signers or joint credit cards nowadays).

How we choose the best credit cards

250+

cards rated

50+

rewards programs valued

5000

data points analyzed

40+

perks evaluated

We select cards for “Best” credit cards pages based primarily on how cards score in our proprietary card rating system, our editors’ subjective assessment of card quality, card approval odds and credit requirements and unique card features.

Cards typically must score a minimum of 3.0 stars to be included on a “Best” list. However, we may include cards with scores below 3.0 if they have low credit requirements or unique features — despite their scores, these cards may still be among the “best” in certain categories. Card ratings are not influenced by advertisers or issuer relationships in any way.

Card selection and ordering may vary based on business considerations, including Bankrate visitor interest, site interactions and card application volume. Affiliate commissions (see how we make money), limited-time offers and a card’s general popularity in the product landscape may also influence which cards we feature on our pages and the order in which they appear. Bankrate’s editorial and business teams also strive to feature a variety of card types from various issuers.

Here’s a quick look at how our card ratings are distributed as of May 2024, as well as some of the key factors that we considered in selecting this month’s Best Cards.

Overall Score

5 stars 2%
4 - 4.9 stars 35%
3 - 3.9 stars 39%
2 - 2.9 stars 22%
1 - 1.9 stars 2%

Great rewards value: For cards that put earning rewards front and center, a key criteria for their inclusion in our list of the best credit cards is whether they offer impressive rewards value. This includes a card’s average rewards rate, estimated annual rewards earnings, sign-up bonus value and reward redemption value. These factors are all based on its average rewards rate and how closely those categories match the average person’s spending habits according to the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data.
Reasonable fees and APR: We rate all cards based on how their ongoing average APR compares to the average APR you’ll find on other cards in their primary category. For rewards-earning cards, this factor has only a minor influence on the card’s score and whether the card is included in our list, since rewards card users generally try to avoid carrying a balance. That said, rewards-earning cards may get a solid boost in score if they also offer an intro APR on balance transfers or new purchases. More important to these cards’ scores and their inclusion in our list is how their annual fees influence their overall value.
Flexibility and perks: Along with rewards value and cost, we consider other factors that could give cards great long-term value, like flexible rewards redemption, unique and valuable perks or the ability to switch to another card with the same issuer after you’ve paid off debt or improved your credit score. We rate rewards-earning cards based on the restrictions they impose on earning and redeeming rewards and consider this when deciding on a card’s inclusion in our list. We also evaluate each card’s perks based on their value, usefulness and uniqueness.

*The information about the Fidelity® Rewards Visa Signature® Credit Card has been collected independently by Bankrate. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the issuer.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

We use primary sources to support our work. Bankrate’s authors, reporters and editors are subject-matter experts who thoroughly fact-check editorial content to ensure the information you’re reading is accurate, timely and relevant.
1. “Consumer Expenditures 2023,” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed on Nov. 3, 2025.
2. “Show Me the Money! Cashback and Value Credit Cards Grow in Popularity as Financial Health of Cardholders Declines, J.D. Power Finds,” J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Credit Card Satisfaction Study. Accessed on Nov. 3, 2025.
3. “A Tale of Two Types of Credit Card Customers: Financially Healthy Cardholders Drive Gains in Satisfaction While Financially Challenged Cardholders Struggle, J.D. Power Finds,” J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Credit Card Satisfaction Study. Accessed on Nov. 3, 2025.

Ana Staples Writer and Credit Cards Expert

Ana Staples is a lead reporter at Bankrate and writes about credit cards and credit advice. She entered the credit industry contracting with Experian in 2019 and has since written…

Madison Hoehn, CFEI Editor, Credit Cards

Madison Hoehn is a Certified Financial Education Instructor℠ and editor at Bankrate. She brings over six years of editorial expertise to her work and is passionate about making…

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