Best Credit Cards in December 2024

The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card offers up to 8% cash back in a variety of popular spending categories, making it our top pick for cash back and rewards credit cards. Its $0 annual fee and high cash back rate make it valuable for almost anyone who spends much on dining, grocery stores and entertainment.

You can earn up to $300 back on gas purchases in a year with the Citi Custom Cash^® Card if you max out the $500 spending cap every month. So if you’re looking to earn as much as you can at the pump with a dedicated gas card, you’d be hard pressed to find a better option.

The Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express offers one of the best earning rates on U.S. supermarket purchases. If you max out the spending cap, you’ll earn $360 cash back on those purchases alone each year. It’s our pick for the best everyday credit card, as it offers high rates of cash back on common categories like gas, transit and select U.S. streaming subscriptions. Plus, you can easily redeem your cash back for statement credits or at Amazon.com checkout.

If you want to earn a sign-up bonus that can cover the cost of your next flight (or two), take a look at the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card. Jetsetters will love the travel protections, as well as the access to the Chase Travel^SM program — which allows you to redeem points with a host of airline and hotel partners.

It’s hard to find a better rewards rate on restaurants with a $0 annual fee than the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card. Its elevated 3% earning rate is unlimited — other cards will typically cap their highest earning rate.

If you need to carry a balance from month to month and are looking for the best credit card interest rates, we recommend the BECU Visa Credit Card. It offers one of the lowest APRs of any credit card — 14.24% to 25.24% variable APR. Plus, you’ll get introductory APRs for purchases and balance transfers, which can make paying off credit card debt more affordable.

The Discover it^® Secured Credit Card is our pick for the top secured credit card because it offers perks like cash back rewards and a valuable sign-up bonus — rare features for a card geared toward consumers with limited / poor credit. Plus, you can see if you’re preapproved without damaging your credit.

As far as credit cards go, the AvantCard Credit Card is one of the easiest to get. It’s available to consumers with limited / poor / fair credit and allows you to check if you prequalify without damaging your credit with a hard pull. If you aren’t able to pay off your card every month, though, the high interest rates and late payment fees will make this card an expensive addition to your wallet.

With the Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card, you’ll earn valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards® points for purchases in common business spending categories like shipping, advertising and travel. Plus, you can pair this card with other Chase cards to pool points and redeem travel rewards.

You’ll also earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $1,000 in cash back — or, if you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠, $1,250 toward your next business trip.

Frequent flyers will find a lot to love about The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express. You’ll get airport lounge access, valuable travel and business credits, as well as the ability to earn a welcome offer that can offset the cost of your next business trip (or two). Plus, you won’t have to worry about foreign exchange fees when you use your card abroad — this card charges none.

Busy business owners will appreciate the ease of using the Ink Business Unlimited^® Credit Card. You’ll earn unlimited cash back rewards on every purchase, so you won’t have to track bonus categories or spending caps. Plus, you can earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

The Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card is a simple yet valuable cash back card that has a $0 annual fee. Its elevated flat rewards rate can rack up cash back quickly on its own — or complement other cards with different bonus categories.

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ is our favorite 5% cash back credit card — it offers new bonus categories every quarter, allowing savvy cardholders to maximize their rewards when they pair it with other Chase cards.

It offers 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter. Plus, earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve^® is one of the most valuable travel credit cards out there. It comes with benefits like a $300 travel credit, lounge access and travel protections that help cover the $550 annual fee. It also earns flexible points that can be transferred to partners like JetBlue, Southwest, United, Marriott and Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio.

The Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card offers rewards and perks that any frequent flyer will love. You’ll get free checked bags, baggage and car rental insurance and access to the Global Assist® Hotline for travel emergencies.

If you’re looking for an elite card that’ll help you travel in style, the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express fits the bill. You’ll get Hilton Honors Diamond status (enrollment required), Hilton credits, a valuable welcome offer and high rewards rates on a variety of purchases. Note, however, that these perks and benefits come with a hefty annual fee of $550.

The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card allows you to earn miles on every purchase while paying $0 in annual fees. If you want a travel card that allows you to redeem miles for travel, but you don’t want to pay an annual fee in exchange for more valuable perks and benefits, you’d have a hard time finding a better option.

With fee credits for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck and access to over 1,400 airport lounges, The Platinum Card^® from American Express can make your next trip more comfortable. And the benefits don’t stop at the airport — you’ll get more than $1,000 in travel and experience credits, too. Further, cardmembers can also enjoy elevated perks at high-end hotels, as well as higher elite status with Hilton and Marriott’s programs through their cards (enrollment required).

With the Capital One Platinum Credit Card, you’ll get free access to your credit score and pay $0 in annual fees while you build your credit. Plus, you won’t have to put down a security deposit to get the card.

If you’re willing to pay a $39 annual fee in exchange for earning cash back on every purchase, consider the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card. The cash back rates are excellent, considering that the card is available to consumers with limited / fair credit. Plus, you can safely take this card abroad without worrying about paying foreign exchange fees, as there are none.

The Wells Fargo Reflect^® Card offers one of the longest intro APRs on the market — you’ll have almost two years to pay off a big purchase or balance transfer without accruing any interest.

Purchase APR: 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening then a 17.49%, 23.99%, or 29.24% Variable APR applies.

Balance transfer APR: 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers, then a 17.49%, 23.99%, or 29.24% Variable APR applies.

The Citi Simplicity^® Card is a solid pick for consumers looking for a simple card with long intro APR periods on balance transfers and purchases. You won’t pay much in fees with this card — there are no late fees or penalty APRs — but you also won’t get cash back in the form of rewards or a sign-up bonus.

The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students is a solid choice if you’re a student on the lookout for cash back rewards you can tailor to your spending. You’ll earn cash back on all purchases, including up to 3% cash back in certain popular categories. Still, note that you’ll need to pay your bill on time if you want to avoid high interest rates — the card charges a penalty APR for late payments.

The Capital One Platinum Credit Card reports your credit usage to the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) and automatically begins reviewing your account at six months to see if you qualify for a higher credit limit. Not every card for fair credit offers automatic reviews, so this is an especially helpful feature if you want to build your credit.

The Discover it^® Secured Credit Card offers a slew of perks and features for people who want to build credit. You can check your FICO Score for free. In addition, Discover starts conducting monthly account reviews to determine if you’re eligible for an upgrade to an unsecured card after just seven months. In the meantime, you’ll earn cash back rewards and pay $0 in annual fees.

The Citi Double Cash^® Card has an intro APR that gives you more than a year to pay off your balance transfer. Plus, it has a rewards program, which makes the card worth having in your wallet for years to come.

The Wells Fargo Reflect^® Card is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a card that’ll give you the most time possible to pay off your balance transfer. You’ll have almost two years to pay off your balance, but you won’t have to pay anything in annual fees — the card charges $0.