Choosing the Best Credit Card for You
There are many credit card offers out there, but which one is the best credit card for you? The answer depends on your needs and your credit history.
If you’re considering a card for rewards, there’s a wide variety of options.
Do you want a simple card that earns you a cash back percentage as a statement credit on all your credit card spending? Or are you looking for a travel rewards card that will earn points, like Chase Ultimate Rewards points, that you can transfer as airline miles, or to another rewards program?
Many rewards cards earn more on certain bonus categories, like gas stations, grocery stores, or wholesale clubs. Choose wisely according to your spending habits.
Are you willing to pay an annual fee? Some cards have a high annual fee, but the value of benefits and rewards can more than make up for it. You may just want to keep things simple and only consider cards with no annual fee.
Consider the sign-up bonuses that many cards offer. Credit card issuers will often award you bonus points when you spend a certain amount within the first few months of opening your new card.
Maybe you’re a student, or someone who has not established credit history yet. If you want to start building your credit, you may want to find a card that will let you monitor one of your FICO scores and track your progress.
If you have bad credit, you still have options to get the benefits of credit cards, but you might have to pay an annual fee or get a secured card. These cards may not earn any rewards, but could help you re-build your credit as long as you pay your bill on time and use the card responsibly.
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How Does a Credit Card Work?
Here’s everything you need to know about credit cards and how they work.
Best Credit Cards
Best for Good Credit: Chase Sapphire Preferred®
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“The Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of the best credit cards on the market.”
Best Cash Back: Blue Cash Preferred® from American Express
“The Blue Cash Preferred from American Express pays a $250 bonus statement credit after you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first three months of opening your account.”
Best for Travel: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
“The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a premium rewards credit card with a large signup bonus, amazing perks, and a higher annual fee.”
Best Airline Credit Card: Gold Delta SkyMiles®
“Earn 30,000 Miles after making $1,000 in purchases in the first three months of card membership and receive $50 cash back in the form of a statement credit after making a purchase directly with Delta in the same time period. “
Best for Dining: Capital One® Savor® Rewards Credit Card
“The Capital One Savor pays a one-time $300 cash bonus after you spend $3,000 on purchases within three months of opening your account. “
Best Business Credit Card: Ink Business Preferred℠
“With the Chase Ink Business Preferred, you can earn 80,000 bonus points for your business when you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months after opening your card. “
Best Low-Interest Rate: USAA® Rate Advantage Visa Platinum® Card
“The USAA Rate Advantage Visa Platinum Credit Card has an APR of as low as 8.90% on purchases — one of the lowest interest rates of any credit card. “
Best Balance Transfer: U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum
“If you’re looking for a credit card with a long promotional period, the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum is your choice.”
Best for Bad Credit: OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
“Having recent delinquencies or bankruptcy can make it tough to get approved for most credit cards — even some secured ones.”
Best Secured Credit Card: Discover it® Secured
“The Discover it Secured credit card pays 2% cash back at restaurants or gas stations on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter and 1% cash back on all other purchases.”
Best for Building Credit: Platinum Credit Card from Capital One®
“Rebuilding your credit starts with finding a credit card that will approve you — even if your credit isn’t too pretty. “
Best Credit Card for Students: Discover it® Student Cash Back
“The Discover it for Students credit card lets you earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 you spend on purchases in categories that rotate each month.”
Best for Average Credit: Capital One® QuicksilverOne® Card
“The Capital One QuicksilverOne Card offers an unlimited 1.5% cash back on all your purchases.”
Credit Card Chips: Everything You Need To Know
This infographic is designed to help users understand the transition to EMV smart chip credit cards.
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4 Ways to Accept Credit Cards
We break down the equipment required, whether you’ll need a merchant account and which types of businesses each option is best for.
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