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Don't settle for a basic card. Whether you want massive cash back, discounted flights, or a break from interest charges, the right card can completely change the way you spend. We've sifted through the clutter to bring you the top credit cards of 2025 from our partners – including a few you might not expect.
Keep reading to learn more about our editors' picks for the best credit cards and find your match.
How we evaluate products
We evaluated the best credit cards based on a variety of factors to determine which cards to feature in each category. These factors include annual fees, rewards rates, intro APRs, ongoing APRs, credit requirements, and overall consumer value. We did not evaluate or include all credit cards available, and some cards featured here are from current or past FinanceBuzz partners.
Best balance transfer credit cards
2025 award winner Best for Balance Transfers
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0%, 12 months from date of account opening
0%, 21 months from date of account opening
- No Late Fees, No Penalty Rate, and No Annual Fee... Ever
- 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months and on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening. After that the variable APR will be 18.24% - 28.99%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening.
- There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
- Stay protected with Citi® Quick Lock
2025 award winner Best 0% Intro APR Credit Card
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0%, 21 months from account opening
0%, 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers
- Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 17.24%, 23.74%, or 28.99% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate, BT fee of 5%, min: $5.
- $0 annual fee.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
- Through My Wells Fargo Deals, you can get access to personalized deals from a variety of merchants. It's an easy way to earn cash back as an account credit when you shop, dine, or enjoy an experience simply by using an eligible Wells Fargo credit card.
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0%, 12 months from date of account opening
0%, 21 months from date of account opening
- 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months and on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening. After that the variable APR will be 17.24% - 27.99%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening.
- There is a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
- Get free access to your FICO® Score online.
- With Citi Entertainment®, get special access to purchase tickets to thousands of events, including concerts, sporting events, dining experiences and more.
- No Annual Fee - our low intro rates and all the benefits don’t come with a yearly charge.
Best travel credit cards
2025 award winner Best Overall Travel Credit Card
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- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel℠
- 10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Member FDIC
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- 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
- Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
- Earn 3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases booked through the Bank of America Travel Center.
- Use your card to book your trip how and where you want - you're not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
- Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
- 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.24% - 28.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America.
- If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means instead of earning an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1, you could earn 1.87-2.62 points for every $1 you spend on purchases. You could earn 3.75-5.25 points for every $1 you spend on travel purchases made through the Bank of America Travel Center.
- Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
- This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
2025 award winner Best for Simple Travel Rewards
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- Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
2025 award winner Best No-Annual-Fee Travel Credit Card
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- Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.
- Earn unlimited 3X points on the things that really add up - like restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans. Plus, earn 1X points on other purchases.
- $0 annual fee.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR thereafter.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
- Redeem your rewards points for travel, gift cards, or statement credits. Or shop at millions of online stores and redeem your rewards when you check out with PayPal.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
Best cash back credit cards
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- Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
- Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.
- Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.24% - 28.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
- If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
- There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
2025 award winner Best Overall Cash Back Credit Card
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- Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
- $0 annual fee.
- No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
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- For a limited time, enjoy a $100 credit to use towards flights, stays and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel during your first cardholder year. Plus, earn a $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus, cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.24% - 29.24% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
2025 award winner Best for Dining Out
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- Intro Offer: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
- Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
- Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.99% - 28.49%.
- No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
- Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
- Member FDIC
Best business credit cards
2025 award winner Best Business Credit Card for Solopreneurs
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- Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening
- Earn 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
- Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- No Annual Fee
- Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
- Member FDIC
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- Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
- No Annual Fee
- Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Earn rewards faster with employee cards at no additional cost. Set individual spending limits for greater control.
- Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
- Member FDIC
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- Earn a $1,000 cash bonus when you spend $10,000 within 3 months of account opening
- For businesses that want to earn 2% cash back on all purchases with the familiarity of a traditional credit line
- Earn unlimited 2% cash back for your business on every purchase, everywhere, no limits or category restrictions
- $0 annual fee for the first year; $95 after that
- Free employee cards, which also earn unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases
- Rewards won’t expire for the life of the account, and you can redeem your cash back for any amount
- No foreign transaction fees
2025 award winner Best Overall Business Credit Card
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- Earn 150,000 bonus miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One's travel booking site
- With no preset spending limit, enjoy big purchasing power that adapts so you can spend more and earn more rewards
- Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
- Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Every year, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One's travel booking site
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Enjoy access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month
How to choose the best credit card
Choosing the right credit card for you generally comes down to weighing six key factors. Here's how we recommend narrowing down your options.
Understand your credit score and credit history
Lenders use your credit score and credit history from the credit bureaus to help determine whether they should give you any money in the form of credit. Many lenders check your FICO score, which is a type of credit score. The FICO scoring model typically uses these score ranges:
- Excellent: 800 to 850
- Very good: 740 to 799
- Good: 670 to 739
- Fair: 580 to 669
- Poor: 300 to 579
You usually need at least a good credit score for many of the better credit card options out there, including credit cards with elevated rewards and benefits. And with excellent credit, you have the best chance of being approved, but a certain score will never guarantee approval.
But there are also credit cards available if you have a fair or poor credit score or you're a beginner and need a credit card with no credit history. And creditors look at more than just your credit score, including your income and borrowing history.
Pay attention to types of rewards
You can typically earn credit card rewards in the form of points, miles, or cash back. Points and miles are often best if you prefer to redeem rewards for travel, such as flights or hotel stays. Cashback rewards are likely best for you if you don't need travel redemption options and prefer the opportunity to save money on everyday expenses.
Consider rewards categories and redemption
Along with types of rewards, you can earn rewards at different rates for each category. There are three different ways to define rewards categories:
- Flat-rate rewards: You earn the same rewards rate on every purchase.
- Bonus categories: You earn more rewards on specific purchases. Typically, certain retailers are excluded from these categories. For example, Walmart and Target aren't often included under grocery store spending.
- Rotating categories: You can earn more rewards on specific purchases at certain times of the year with rotating category credit cards. These categories typically rotate each quarter, sometimes each month, and often require activation.
You might prefer a card with flat-rate rewards because it's simple, and you likely wouldn't have to carry more than one card in your wallet. But you might discover that your everyday spending habits typically align with certain purchase categories, such as groceries, gas, or streaming subscriptions. If that's the case, having a card that earns more rewards in those bonus spending categories could provide more value. If your expenses tend to vary, a credit card with rotating bonus categories might make sense.
You also want to consider rewards programs and redemptions. Chase Ultimate Rewards points differ from Citi ThankYou Points, for instance, in terms of redemption rates and how you can use your rewards. The portal you use to redeem your points, and your options for redemption, play a significant role in the value your card provides.
Learn more: How To Calculate the Value of Your Credit Card Points
Compare annual fees
Some credit card accounts have annual fees, while others don't. Cards with annual fees tend to have more benefits, but you have to consider the annual cost against the value of the benefits to see if it's worth it for you.
Keep in mind that both credit cards with no annual fee and cards with a fee could be worth it, depending on your situation.
Research interest and other fees
We don't recommend using credit cards if you plan to carry a balance that will collect interest or making late payments and having to pay fees. But sometimes things happen, and it's important to be aware of a credit card's interest rate and other fees, like late fees.
And if you're looking for a low-interest credit card, it could make sense to find a card with a 0% intro APR on purchases and/or balance transfers. This could help you avoid interest charges if you have an upcoming large purchase or want to pay down an existing balance.
If you're planning to travel abroad, consider credit cards with no foreign transaction fees.
Note welcome offers
A welcome offer or welcome bonus is typically an offer for new card members that's available on rewards credit cards. These offers can vary, but they often follow the format of giving new cardholders a substantial amount of rewards for spending a certain amount of money on the applicable card within a few or more months of signing up.
For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card provides this sign-up bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Credit card offers can provide loads of value and should be considered if you're comparing multiple credit cards. If two credit cards generally offer the same benefits, the one with the higher welcome bonus might be the better choice. But you shouldn't use a welcome offer as your only determining factor because you want to think about which card will provide the most benefits long-term, not just right now. It's also important to note spending requirements for welcome offers. Sometimes, these will feel reasonable for your current spending habits; other times, they might cause you to stretch your budget in ways you can't afford.
4 types of credit cards
Credit card companies provide many different types of credit cards to help people meet their specific financial goals. For example, you might want to earn rewards on everyday purchases, so you could be interested in comparing the best rewards credit cards to find the right card.
But do you want to earn bonus rewards in the form of cash back, points, or miles? And are you interested in earning a welcome bonus after spending a certain amount on your card within a few months of account opening? Or can you float an annual fee?
It can get slightly overwhelming trying to narrow down the type of credit card that might be right for you. To make it simple, we've separated the different types of cards into five primary categories and who they might be best for:
1. Balance transfer credit cards
Balance transfer credit cards often provide a 0% intro APR offer on balance transfers for a certain amount of time, usually between 12 and 18 months. This type of offer gives you an opportunity to move debt from another credit product onto your new credit card and not have to pay interest on the balance for the specified amount of time.
Note that you typically have to pay a balance transfer fee to do a balance transfer, regardless of whether you have an introductory period with a 0% APR.
You should choose a balance transfer credit card with the longest 0% APR if you need some time to pay off debt without worrying about interest charges for a while.
2. Travel credit cards
Travel credit cards focus on earning travel rewards in the form of points or miles and providing travel-related benefits. You can typically redeem your points or miles toward many types of common travel expenses, including airfare, flight upgrades, hotel stays, and rental cars.
Travel rewards can typically be redeemed when you book travel through the card issuer or when you transfer points to the issuer's travel partners. You can typically also redeem your points or miles for statement credits.
Travel benefits vary by card, but could include:
- Airport lounge access like access Priority Pass lounges
- Travel credit, such as a hotel credit that you can use through the card's travel platform
- Elite status with a loyalty program such as Hilton Honors or Marriott Bonvoy
Some travel credit cards also include travel perks like statement credits to help cover TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fees.
You should choose a travel credit card if you want to earn rewards that you can redeem toward travel and you want benefits that can enhance your travel experiences. You should also consider the card's redemption options and travel partners before you settle on the right one for you.
3. Cash back credit cards
Cash back credit cards are a type of rewards card that earns cash back rather than points or miles. Cashback redemptions vary by card but could include:
- Statement credits
- Deposits into a linked bank account
- Mailed checks
- Gift cards
You should choose a cash back credit card if you prefer earning cash back over points or miles. This typically means you're not as interested in redeeming rewards for travel.
4. Business credit cards
Business credit cards are for small business owners with business expenses. There's not much difference between personal credit cards and business credit cards, but you might find specific business-related benefits and rewards on a business card.
Business credit cards also typically have little impact on your personal credit score, even though you often need a decent credit score to qualify for many business cards. Additionally, business credit cards can help you separate personal and business expenses for tax purposes.
You should choose a business credit card if you're a small business owner who wants to separate personal and business expenses while benefiting from specific business-related card perks.
FAQs
Does opening a credit card hurt my credit?
Opening a credit card could negatively impact your credit score in two ways:
- Lenders check your credit reports with a hard inquiry that can cause a small drop in your credit score.
- A new credit card lowers the average age of your credit accounts and potentially your credit score as well.
Hard inquiries stay on your credit report for two years, but they typically only affect your credit score for one year.
Does closing a credit card hurt your credit?
Closing a credit card could hurt your credit. This is because it lowers the amount of credit you have available, which increases your debt-to-income ratio. In general, it's best to keep accounts open unless there is a compelling reason to close them.
For example, you might close a card that's charging excessive fees.
How often should you use a credit card to build credit?
Credit card issuers and other lenders typically report your credit usage on a monthly basis, so it makes sense to use your credit card each month. This will help build your credit score and keep your credit account active as long as you're making full and on-time payments.
Bottom line
The best credit card for you depends on your spending habits and preferences, credit profile, and financial goals. There are many excellent options for any type of credit card you might be looking for, whether you've got your eye on a travel credit card, a cash back or other rewards card, a balance transfer card, or something else.
As you're searching, consider multiple issuers, look into credit requirements, research benefits and perks, think about how a new card would fit into your current wallet, and make sure you understand the fee schedules and interest rates for any card you're interested in. And when possible, check to see if you can prequalify for a card before you officially apply.
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Current Offer
Benefit from a long introductory APR period on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
Annual Fee
$0