What Are the Best Credit Cards?

As you're looking for the best credit card for you in November, there are a few things to keep in mind. Travel rewards credit cards aren't just for travel anymore. Credit card issuers know that some Americans are still uncomfortable with travel, so travel rewards credit cards will continue to offer excellent rewards on groceries, food delivery services and more. Consumer spending is making a comeback, so be on the lookout for fantastic sign-up bonuses on rewards credit cards as issuers compete with each other for customers. With inflation on the rise, you’ll see cash back credit cards offering generous rewards on everyday purchases, such as gas, groceries, online shopping and drugstores.

What makes these cards the best? Learn about standout features from each of the best credit cards.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Why this credit card is one of the best: Chase Freedom Unlimited charges no annual fee and earns 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% cash back on dining and drugstore purchases and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases. Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back! See our full review.

Discover it® Cash Back

Why this credit card is one of the best: Cardholders can earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and when you pay using PayPal, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. The card offers unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. There's no annual fee and no late fee the first time you pay late. At the end of your first year as a cardholder, Discover will match all the cash back you've earned. The card also provides free access to your FICO credit score and charges no annual fee. See our full review.

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Why this credit card is one of the best: Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express offers a 0% introductory APR on purchases for the first 15 months (then a 14.74% - 24.74% variable APR applies). If you're planning to use the card for purchases, you can earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year and then 1% back. You can also earn 2% cash back at U.S. gas stations and select U.S. department stores and 1% back on other eligible purchases. The card does not charge an annual fee. Terms apply. (See Rates & Fees) See our full review.

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Why this credit card is one of the best: The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card earns cash back rewards on everyday spending and does not charge an annual fee. Cardholders can earn 3% back on dining, entertainment, groceries and popular streaming services, and all other spending earns 1% back. New cardholders receive a $200 bonus if they spend at least $500 in their first three months with an account. The card also comes with a 15-month 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers. See our full review.

Discover it® chrome

Why this credit card is one of the best: This card caters to consumers who want to earn cash back on gas and dining purchases. You'll earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to the first $1,000 in combined purchases quarterly. After that, you'll earn 1% back, along with unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. There's no annual fee and rewards never expire. See our full review.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Why this credit card is one of the best: The Chase Sapphire Reserve card offers a $300 annual travel statement credit against travel purchases charged during the year, including flights. Once you earn the credit, you can begin earning three points per dollar on travel purchases. You also earn three points on dining and one point on all other purchases. When you redeem points for flights through Chase Ultimate Rewards, they're worth 50% more in travel value. See our full review.

Discover it® Student Cash Back

Why this credit card is one of the best: Even individuals with fair credit or who are new to credit may qualify for this card. Cardholders can earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and when you pay using PayPal, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. The card offers unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. There's no annual fee and no late fee the first time you pay late. At the end of your first year as a cardholder, Discover will match all the cash back you've earned. The card also provides free access to your FICO credit score and charges no annual fee. See our full review.

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

Why this credit card is one of the best: Earn $750 bonus cash back after spending $7,500 on the Ink Business Cash Credit Card in the first three months. Cardholders get 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year; 2% back on the first $25,000 in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary; and 1% back on all other purchases. This card charges no annual fee and offers a 12-month 0% APR on purchases. See our full review.

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

Why this credit card is one of the best: The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is a simple cash back credit card that offers 1.5% cash back on every purchase, plus a one-time cash bonus of $200 after you spend $500 on purchases within three months from account opening. The card also offers a 15-month introductory 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers. The card charges no annual fee. For consumer protection, the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card comes with security alerts, $0 fraud liability and card lock. Eno, Capital One’s digital assistant, generates virtual card numbers to conceal your card information during online purchases and alerts you if it detects mistakes on your statement, such as unexpected transactions or duplicate charges. See our full review.

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

Why this credit card is one of the best: With the Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card from Chase, businesses can earn unlimited 1.5% cash back with every purchase. When you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, you’ll earn a bonus $750 cash back. There is a $0 annual fee, and the card offers a 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases. The Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card comes with travel and purchase coverage benefits including an auto rental collision damage waiver, purchase protection and extended warranty protection. See our full review.

Chase Freedom Flex℠

Why this credit card is one of the best: Chase Freedom Flex offers broad rewards, charges no annual fee and provides a 15-month 0% introductory annual percentage rate on purchases and balance transfers (then a 15.24% to 23.99% variable APR applies). You can earn a $200 cash bonus when you spend $500 on the card within three months of opening it. See our full review.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Why this credit card is one of the best: The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers flexible redemption options when booking flights. Dining purchases earn three points per dollar, and travel purchases earn two points per dollar, which can be redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards for 25% more value. Or, you can transfer points on a 1:1 basis to partner airlines and hotels. This card has a $95 annual fee and no foreign transaction fee. See our full review.

U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card

Why this credit card is one of the best: The U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card earns points across a variety of categories: four points per dollar on dining, takeout and restaurant delivery; two points per dollar at grocery stores, gas stations and electric vehicle charging stations; two points per dollar on qualified streaming services; and one point per dollar on other eligible spending. The card does not charge an annual fee or foreign transaction fee and comes with a 12-month 0% introductory APR. See our full review.

Hilton Honors American Express Card

Why this credit card is one of the best: The Hilton Honors American Express Card earns five points per dollar at U.S. gas stations. You'll earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 3 months of Card Membership. Plus, spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors Gold status through the end of the next calendar year. Terms apply. See our full review.

Citi Rewards+® Card

Why this credit card is one of the best: The Citi Rewards+® Card earns two points per dollar on up to $6,000 in spending at gas stations and supermarkets each year. For a limited time, new cardholders can also earn five points per dollar on up to $6,000 in air travel and hotel spending in their first year with the card. All other spending earns one point per dollar. On top of that, the card rounds up points to the nearest 10 on every purchase, and there is a 15-month 0% introductory APR. See our full review.

Citi Premier® Card

Why this credit card is one of the best: Earn 60,000 bonus points, redeemable for $600 in gift cards at thankyou.com, after you spend $4,000 on the Citi Premier Card in the first three months. Cardholders earn three points per dollar on air travel and at hotels, gas stations, restaurants and supermarkets; all other purchases earn one point per dollar. This card, which charges a $95 annual fee, also comes with a $100 discount on an eligible hotel stay of at least $500 (excluding taxes and fees) purchased at thankyou.com. See our full review.

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Why this credit card is one of the best: Wells Fargo Active Cash Card cardholders will earn 2% cash rewards on every purchase with no quarterly bonus categories to activate or category restrictions. This card can be a good fallback option anytime you won't get more than 2% back with a different credit card. The card has a 15-month 0% introductory APR for balance transfers. The card has no annual fee and comes with cellphone protection and Visa Signature privileges, including access to 24/7 concierge services and assorted benefits at select luxury hotels. See our full review.

American Express Cash Magnet® Card

Why this credit card is one of the best: This card combines a 0% introductory APR on purchases for the first 15 months with unlimited 1.5% cash back on purchases (then a 13.99% to 23.99% variable APR applies). New cardholders can earn a $150 statement credit after spending at least $1,000 in purchases within three months of opening an account. This card does not charge an annual fee. (See Rates & Fees) See our full review.

How Do Credit Cards Work?

When you use your credit card, you are tapping a line of credit your bank has given you and taking out a short-term loan. The amount is subtracted from your line of credit. When you pay your statement each month, you are paying back the money you borrowed and your line of credit grows again.

If you pay your balance in full when your statement is due, your bank won't charge you interest. If you don't, however, your bank will start charging you interest and your credit line will stay lower. Read more details about how credit cards work.

Types of Credit Cards

The sheer amount of possibilities might feel overwhelming, but there are a variety of different card categories, all with different purposes.

Student credit cards: This type of card can be a good choice for a first credit card. But to qualify, you must be enrolled in a college or a graduate school. Many offer benefits such as cash back, rewards for good grades and free credit scores. According to the Credit CARD Act of 2009, cardholders must be at least 21 years old or be able to show adequate proof of income.

Credit cards for bad credit: If you have a FICO score below 580, you are considered very risky by credit card companies. People with FICO scores below 580 typically do not qualify for traditional credit cards. However, there are unsecured credit cards for bad credit that you might qualify for. Read the fine print carefully so you understand what fees, such as annual fees or application fees, come with these cards.

Secured credit cards: These cards are a good way to establish – or rebuild – your credit. Secured cards require a cash deposit, which is usually between $200 to $500. Your deposit decreases the risk for the lender. You receive a credit card to make purchases, so you’re actually buying items on credit. When you close your account, you get your deposit back, unless you have an unpaid balance.

Balance transfer cards: If you have credit card debt but still have a good credit score, getting a balance transfer credit card can help you save money on interest. The best cards offer a 0% introductory APR for a specified period of time, ranging from 12 to 18 months or so. Balance transfer credit cards often charge a transfer fee, which is usually between 3% to 5% of the total balance transferred.

Rewards credit cards: These credit cards earn points or miles that can be redeemed for a variety of rewards, including cash back, travel and merchandise. They offer flexibility with multiple redemption options and some offer additional points in bonus spending categories such as gas, grocery stores or travel.

Cash back credit cards: If you want to save on everyday expenses, these cards offer cash back rewards on a range of categories. You’ll often get a different rewards rate with each category. For example, you might get 3% cash back on grocery purchases, 2% on gas and 1% on all other types of spending.

Travel rewards credit cards:There are different types of credit cards within this category. For example, there are general travel rewards cards with flexible options, airline-branded cards and hotel-branded credit cards.

How to Apply for a Credit Card

After you choose the credit card you want, you can apply for a credit card online. But don’t hesitate to call the card issuer if you have questions.

Be ready to answer questions about your income, employment status and other personal information. You might get a response quickly, but you’ll still have to wait for the physical credit card to show up, which takes about seven to 10 days.

What Is a Credit Score?

Your credit score is a number that measures your credit risk, so it reflects how well you use credit. When you apply for credit, a credit card company requests your credit scores and reviews your credit report. Your credit score can range from 300 to 850, and the average score is around 710.

How Credit Card Rewards and Bonuses Work

Rewards credit cards allow you to earn rewards for using your credit card. You’ll earn points, cash back or miles for every dollar you spend. These rewards can be redeemed for travel, cash back or merchandise. Rewards cards can be an excellent way to profit from your credit cards as long as you don’t carry a balance.

Most rewards cards entice new customers with a sign-up bonus. With a sign-up bonus, you will earn bonus points if you spend a certain amount of money using the card within the first few months of opening your account.

How Credit Card Interest Works

Most major credit card issuers offer a grace period, which is usually around 21 to 25 days, before you need to pay your bill. This is the period of time between when you made the purchase and when the payment is due.

If you pay the balance in full by the due date, you don’t pay any interest at all. But if you carry a balance, the payment for the next month will include compound interest on the balance you carried. In effect, you’ll be paying interest on your accumulated interest. For this reason, credit card debt can grow at a fast rate.

How Many Credit Cards Should I Have?

If you’re able to manage credit responsibly, you may benefit from carrying more than one credit card. With multiple cards in different categories, you can maximize rewards and benefits and build a strong credit history. Whether you have too many credit cards depends on your spending habits and your ability to repay.

Best Credit Cards Methodology

Our team of experts uses a methodology to identify the credit cards most likely to fit your needs. We examine annual percentage rates, annual fees, issuer satisfaction ratings and other factors to determine what cards come out ahead. Learn more»

Choosing the Best Credit Card