Best Credit Cards

Up-to-date as of: May 24, 2013

best credit cards People often ask, "What is the best credit card?" The truth is that the best credit card depends on the exact purpose you intend to use it for (day-to-day purchases, balance transfers, etc.). Still, some cards do stand out overall. Our editors believe that the credit card offers listed below are among the best in combining most (or all) of the following features: 0% purchase intro rate, a low balance transfer intro rate, and great rewards for every dollar spent. Read more about our Editor's Picks for the Best Credit Cards.

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Excellent Credit

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Purchase Intro APR: N/A
Transfer Intro APR: N/A
- Transfer Fee: 3%
Regular APR: 15.24% (V)
Annual Fee: None 1st yr, $95 after
Rewards: Points
- Initial Bonus: 40,000 points
- Base Earn: 1 point / $1
- Max Earn: 2 points / $1
Editor's Notes: While you might be able to find an initial bonus that offers more points/miles than the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, it’s hard to argue against this card being the best given the ultimate value and versatility of its rewards. The 40,000 bonus points you get after spending $3,000 during the first three months can be redeemed for a $400 statement credit, which is clearly more useful to the average consumer than a free flight or a couple of complimentary hotel nights. However, it’s important to note that you should only apply for this card if you would ordinarily spend $3,000 within a three-month period.…more
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Slate^SM From Chase

Purchase Intro APR: 0% for 15 months
Transfer Intro APR: 0% for 15 months
- Transfer Fee: None
Regular APR: 11.99% - 21.99% (V)
Annual Fee: None
Rewards: None
Editor's Notes: The Slate Card is what’s known as a free balance transfer credit card, as it offers a 0% introductory rate and charges neither a balance transfer fee nor an annual fee. These unusually attractive terms stand to save the average consumer as much as $1,000 in fees and finance charges. A credit card calculator can give you a more exact sense of how valuable the Slate Card will be in your particular situation.…more
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Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card

Purchase Intro APR: 0% for 18 months
Transfer Intro APR: 0% for 18 months
- Transfer Fee: 3% (min $5)
Regular APR: 11.99% - 21.99% (V)
Annual Fee: $0*
Rewards: None
Editor's Notes: The Citi Diamond Preferred Card offers the longest 0% introductory term on the credit card market, at 18 months. While the 0% rate applies to balance transfers as well as new transactions, it’s best suited for the latter purpose given its 3% balance transfer fee. To maximize this card’s value, use a credit card calculator to determine the monthly payments you’ll need to make in order to pay off your balance before regular rates begin to eat away at your savings.…more
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Capital One® Venture^SM Rewards Credit Card

Purchase Intro APR: N/A
Transfer Intro APR: N/A
- Transfer Fee: None
Regular APR: 13.9% - 20.9% (V)
Annual Fee: $0 for 1st yr, $59 after
Rewards: Miles
- Initial Bonus: 10,000 miles
- Base Earn: 2 miles / $1
- Max Earn: 2 miles / $1
Editor's Notes: The Venture Card has long been one of the most popular and rewarding credit cards for travel enthusiasts. As long as you redeem for travel-related expenses, it will provide you with the equivalent of 2% cash back across all purchases, and spending $1,000 during the first three months will score you a $100 initial rewards bonus. Its $59 annual fee doesn’t take effect until the second year either. The Venture Card is an especially good option if you travel a lot but don’t have a go-to travel provider. Otherwise, a generic cash back credit card or a card tied to a particular hotel or airline might be more appropriate.…more
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Blue Cash Preferred® from American Express

Purchase Intro APR: 0% for 12 months
Transfer Intro APR: N/A
- Transfer Fee: 3%
Regular APR: 12.99%-21.99% (V)
Annual Fee: $75
Rewards: Cash Back
- Initial Bonus: $150
- Base Earn: 1%
- Max Earn: 6%
Editor's Notes: The Blue Cash Preferred Card from Amex is one of the best everyday rewards cards on the market given its exceptional earning rates in important spending categories. It offers 6% cash back at supermarkets (up to a $6,000 annual spending limit), 3% cash back at gas stations and department stores, and 1% cash back everywhere else. Some might be turned off by the $75 annual fee, but that’s a moot point for two years if you manage to spend at least $1,000 during the first three months and thereby qualify for its $150 initial bonus. Depending on your spending habits, the Blue Cash Preferred could very well pay for itself on an ongoing basis. If you don’t spend enough on groceries, gas, and clothing to outweigh the fee, check out the standard Blue Cash Card.…more
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PenFed Platinum Rewards

Purchase Intro APR: 9.99% until June 2014
Transfer Intro APR: 4.99% for the life of the balance
- Transfer Fee: None
Regular APR: 9.99% (V)
Annual Fee: None
Rewards: Points
- Initial Bonus: None
- Base Earn: 1 point / $1
- Max Earn: 5 points / $1
Editor's Notes: The PenFed Platinum Rewards Card is one of the best gas credit cards on the market, as it offers the equivalent of 5% cash back on every dollar you spend at stand-alone gas stations and doesn’t charge an annual fee. Sure, you will have to shell out $15 to join the Pentagon Federal Credit Union, but that could end up paling in comparison to how much you stand to save at the pump, especially when gas prices make their annual ascent. …more
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PenFed Premium Travel Rewards American Express® Credit Card

Purchase Intro APR: 9.99% until June 2014
Transfer Intro APR: 4.99% for the life of the balance
- Transfer Fee: None
Regular APR: 9.99% (V)
Annual Fee: None
Rewards: Points
- Initial Bonus: 20,000 points
- Base Earn: 1 points / $1
- Max Earn: 5 points / $1
Editor's Notes: Most airline credit cards only allow you to maximize your rewards earning as well as redeem miles through a specific affiliated carrier. That’s what makes this PenFed credit card so unique. You effectively earn 5% cash back on airfare, regardless of which company you fly, and can redeem for either cash or travel. It therefore saves you from having to peruse rewards flights in order to see how much your miles are worth and provides far more redemption flexibility than most other cards in its class. Don’t be scared off by the fact that a credit union issues this Premium Travel Rewards Amex either because anyone can join the Pentagon Federal Credit Union for a $15 fee.…more
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Good Credit

Capital One® Platinum Prestige Credit Card

Purchase Intro APR: 0% until September 2014
Transfer Intro APR: 0% until September 2014
- Transfer Fee: 3%
Regular APR: 10.9% - 18.9% (V)
Annual Fee: None
Rewards: None
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Capital One® Cash Rewards - $100 Cash Back Bonus

Purchase Intro APR: 0% until June 2014
Transfer Intro APR: 0% until June 2014
- Transfer Fee: 3%
Regular APR: 12.9% - 20.9% (V)
Annual Fee: None
Rewards: Cash Back
- Initial Bonus: $100
- Base Earn: 1.5%
- Max Earn: 1.5%
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Capital One® Venture^SM Rewards Credit Card

Purchase Intro APR: N/A
Transfer Intro APR: N/A
- Transfer Fee: None
Regular APR: 13.9% - 20.9% (V)
Annual Fee: $0 for 1st yr, $59 after
Rewards: Miles
- Initial Bonus: 10,000 miles
- Base Earn: 2 miles / $1
- Max Earn: 2 miles / $1
Editor's Notes: The Venture Card has long been one of the most popular and rewarding credit cards for travel enthusiasts. As long as you redeem for travel-related expenses, it will provide you with the equivalent of 2% cash back across all purchases, and spending $1,000 during the first three months will score you a $100 initial rewards bonus. Its $59 annual fee doesn’t take effect until the second year either. The Venture Card is an especially good option if you travel a lot but don’t have a go-to travel provider. Otherwise, a generic cash back credit card or a card tied to a particular hotel or airline might be more appropriate.…more
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Fair Credit

Capital One® Cash Rewards for Newcomers

Purchase Intro APR: N/A
Transfer Intro APR: N/A
- Transfer Fee: None
Regular APR: 24.9% (V)
Annual Fee: None
Rewards: Cash Back
- Initial Bonus: None
- Base Earn: 1%
- Max Earn: 2%
Editor's Notes: Finding a card with no annual fee should be the biggest concern for inexperienced consumers, as issuers often like to use fixed costs to offset the risk posed by this unproven demographic. If a card happens to offer any rewards or low rates to speak of, that’s just gravy. The Capital One Cash Rewards Card for Newcomers is therefore ideal as it doesn’t charge an annual fee and offers 2% cash back on travel as well as 1% on everything else.…more
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Capital One® Cash Rewards

Purchase Intro APR: 0% until March 2014
Transfer Intro APR: N/A
- Transfer Fee: None
Regular APR: 19.8% (V)
Annual Fee: $39
Rewards: Cash Back
- Initial Bonus: None
- Base Earn: 1.5%
- Max Earn: 1.5%
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Limited History

College Students

Journey^SM Student Rewards from Capital One®

Purchase Intro APR: N/A
Transfer Intro APR: N/A
- Transfer Fee: None
Regular APR: 19.8% (V)
Annual Fee: None
Rewards: Cash Back
- Initial Bonus: None
- Base Earn: 1.25%
- Max Earn: 1.25%
Editor's Notes: Not only does the Capital One Journey Student Rewards Card offer straightforward, lucrative rewards without charging an annual fee, it also promotes good habits. You get a 25% rewards bonus each month you make an on-time payment, and getting in the habit of paying for what you spend early in your credit career will put you on the path to excellent credit as well as save you a lot of money in interest in the years to come (assuming you pay your bill in full as well as on time, which we highly recommend).…more
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BankAmericard® for Students

Purchase Intro APR: 0% for 15 months
Transfer Intro APR: 0% for 15 months
- Transfer Fee: 3%
Regular APR: 10.99% - 20.99% (V)
Annual Fee: None
Rewards: None
Editor's Notes: It’s rare for a student credit card to offer terms comparable to the best credit cards on the market, but the 15-month 0% intro term that the Student BankAmericard provides on new purchases is only three months shorter than the longest 0% period on the market. This card is therefore a great option for students who will need additional time to pay off significant upcoming expenses. While the 0% rate applies to balance transfers as well, that’s not as notable as you might think given its 3% balance transfer fee and the fact that it’s hard for students to rack up enough credit card debt to warrant a balance transfer.…more
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Non-College Students

Capital One® Cash Rewards for Newcomers

Purchase Intro APR: N/A
Transfer Intro APR: N/A
- Transfer Fee: None
Regular APR: 24.9% (V)
Annual Fee: None
Rewards: Cash Back
- Initial Bonus: None
- Base Earn: 1%
- Max Earn: 2%
Editor's Notes: Finding a card with no annual fee should be the biggest concern for inexperienced consumers, as issuers often like to use fixed costs to offset the risk posed by this unproven demographic. If a card happens to offer any rewards or low rates to speak of, that’s just gravy. The Capital One Cash Rewards Card for Newcomers is therefore ideal as it doesn’t charge an annual fee and offers 2% cash back on travel as well as 1% on everything else.…more
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Bad Credit

Secured Card

Capital One® Secured Mastercard®

Min Deposit: $49 - $200
Annual Fee: $29
Monthly Fee: None
One-time Setup Fees: None
Regular APR: 22.9% (V)
Editor's Notes: While the Capital One Secured MasterCard charges a higher annual fee than certain other cards in its class, the fact that it can be a partially-secured card makes it quite an attractive option for many consumers. With a partially-secured credit card, your credit line may exceed the amount of your security deposit, thereby providing you with an emergency line of credit, if needed, and enabling you to maximize your available credit. The more credit you have available, the faster your credit standing will improve. The Capital One Secured MasterCard Credit Card is therefore an option that at least merits consideration if you have bad or limited credit.…more
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Harley-Davidson® Secured Credit Card

Min Deposit: $300
Annual Fee: None
Monthly Fee: None
One-time Setup Fees: None
Regular APR: 22.99% (V)
Editor's Notes: Don’t let the branding fool you, the Harley Davidson Secured Credit Card is one of the best secured cards on the market given that it doesn’t charge an annual fee. Secured cards are most commonly used by people who have damaged or little credit, and the most important thing to look for in either situation is a card with low fixed costs for which you can qualify. Low interest rates and rewards are of lesser concern because secured cards don’t tend to offer them. The fact that the Harley Card does offer some rewards therefore makes it that much more attractive.…more
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Unsecured Card

VISA® Platinum from Credit One Bank®

Annual Fee: $75 1st yr, $99 after
Monthly Fee: None
One-time Setup Fees: None
Regular APR: 23.9% (V)
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Help others find the Best Credit Card for their needs by providing recommendations, cautions, and insider tips.

Kinder Trinstein: My choice for best card has to do with the context in which I have it. This is why I pick the Harley Davidson secured card. When my credit was really terrible (medical bills!) I really did not have many options, but I needed something, not only to act as an emergency stopgap, but also to begin rebuilding my credit score as I paid off my bills. The Harley Davidson secured credit card was perfect for me, as it punished me less for my credit score than several other cards I considered. Not having to pay an annual fee was wonderful, and the interest rate I got was somewhat better than I was offered from other companies. The nice thing was, while using it for emergencies and such, I accrued benefits, which is certainly rare for my class of credit. The hardest time I had using this card was figuring out what to do with them!
April 29 at 5:33pm
Kraig Lasher: When declaring a card to be the best I must take into account the availability of a card. Sure, a Chase Sapphire Preferred Card has tons of perks and is great to have. The problem is only a small percentage of us can qualify for it so how could I call it the best? I will select a card that people with fair credit can make use of. It allows them to build to better credit into the good and excellent ranges just by using it and paying it on time as well. The Capital One Cash Rewards for Newcomers card is the best in my opinion because it benefits those who do not necessarily have good credit. They are still able to enjoy perks with cash back on purchases and there is no annual fee. While the name references new credit card users it is not restricted to them. People can qualify with little credit history or fair and better. They just can't use it if they have bad credit, basically. So the demographics for people whom may use this card are far more open for people than the premium cards. Overall, this is a great card for people who are trying to build credit, or for who are trying to climb in terms of their credit rating. This makes it the best card to me as it may benefit such a large group of people.
April 29 at 5:6pm
Michael Lamb: The best credit card I can think of (and that I actually use most everyday) is the Discover More card. I am really into rebates so Discover's quarterly program of 5% back in a number of buying categories can really add up fast to a big number for me. To make the deal even more attractive, Discover has a couple partner deals that you can combine for even larger rebates: As an example, ShopDiscover is part of the Discover card website. This offers an additional 5% to 20% rebate (this is on top of the usual rebates the card has.) Also if you use your rebates to buy a merchant gift card (and there are a good many stores to choose from at Discover) then Discover adds another $5 to the value of the gift card you get from them! That is more than 5% more buying power than if you were to buy that same value gift card from the merchants store!
April 29 at 4:10pm
Anonymous User: I believe that the best credit card is the Capital One Venture card. It gives you 2% back on every single purchase that you make which is pretty big for a credit card. Plus if you frequently travel to other countries you can take advantage of their no foreign transaction fees. This card does have an annual fee, but you'll quickly find out that the rewards far outweigh the fee, as you'll very quickly break even with the fee that you pay and the rewards that you earn. If you are the type of person that puts everything on a single credit card and pays it off every month for the rewards, this is the card fro you.
April 29 at 2:55pm
Anonymous User: The best card I know hands down, the Chase Freedom Visa Credit Card. I had acquired a modest balance with another institution whose recent policy changes left me disgruntled and decided to look around for another card. Despite looking at many others, I ended up coming back to the first one I looked into-- the Chase Freedom Visa Card. Their balance transfer interest was 0% and they had a $100 cash back promotion running at the time. They offer a 0% APR for the first year or so, then they offer a more individualized rate (and mine is very fair and competitive). Additionally, I get rewards points, 1% at a minimum on everything. They run different promotions that give the earner a higher percentage back on certain things too.
April 29 at 2:54pm
Mike Kaduce: The best card I know about is the Discover Miles card. I was skeptical at first due to the lack of an annual fee - usually that's a failsafe way to determine whether something is too good to be true or not. They downgraded me to this card after I switched from my Discover Escape card due to the aforementioned annual fee. What they didn't tell me when they 'downgraded' me is the rewards system between the two cards is virtually identical, all other terms and rules of the card are the same. It's a Discover, so it's not usable everywhere, but the ease of use of the card makes it my favorite. It's the first one I reach for every time I need to make a purchase. I love this card!
April 22 at 3:34pm
Kinder Trinstein: Bank of America, as a banking conglomerate, is sketchy and I'd never get a mortgage with them, but the BankAmericard for Students was, without a doubt, the best among the multitude of credit card offers I got when I turned 18. Even my parents were impressed, that someone with no credit like me could get a card with APR and terms every bit as good as the card they have with their established and good credit history. There are no rewards, but I don't care about that. What I care about is the relatively generous interest rate and the lack of fees. I think it is the best card on the market for a single, simple reason: I can't find a card (even for those with better credit) which strikes me as a better replacement. I love this card!
April 22 at 3:27pm
Alicia Frisone: I think Capital One Platinum, Prestige Credit Card is an awesome card. I have 2 other cards, but this one has decent APR and no annual fee. I was approved for it with alright credit (690) and I had my credit decisions within a couple of days. Capital One is by far my favorite bank for credit cards, as well because they call you within a few minutes of suspicious activity. I went to Florida on vacation and forgot to call them to let them know, and once I made my first purchase they called me to verify it was me spending that amount. Some credit cards will immediately block the transaction until they talk to you, but it allowed the transaction to go through to save the embarrassment of being declined. I love my card. :)
April 22 at 2:5pm
Anonymous User: My card of choice would have to be the Blue Cash Preferred from American Express. The main reasons why I think this particular card is great is the fact that you can earn up to 6% in rewards. Still not impressed? You also get a $150 bonus when you first sign up, that is a most definitely awesome deal. Only downside is the mediocre APR and the Annual Fee is a bit disappointing, but the money savings with this will more then pay for itself. Also American Express is just unbeatable, they have some of the best money saving cards and have superior customer service.
April 22 at 2:0pm
Tom Correa: My favorite card that I have used so far is the Citi Diamond Preferred Card from Citi. Where do I even begin with this card? I love having no annual fee because I feel they are totally unfair. That is a nice perk. No APR for 18 months with the card, which encourages people to spend for a bit. Why else would you get the card anyway? The balance transfer fees can be a drawback, as I have read in many angry reviews of this card online. I usually get 3% personally. The card has a lot of bonus benefits that make things like that worth it I feel, such as some of the crazy rewards you can get. I know I got excellent plane tickets twice thanks to this card, for example. If you are a spender and you are looking for a card, you can't go wrong here. Rating - B+.
April 15 at 1:31pm
Ryan M. Usher: If you have the credit necessary to qualify, the PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Card has got to be one of the best options available to you. If you can handle the purchase intro APR, you'll end up with one of the lowest interest rates on a card like this, a lack of transfer fees, and a very flexible and generous rewards system make this one hard to beat. It is nice to have a card which you can use to redeem for travel rewards when you need to go somewhere, and cash rewards the rest of the time. A nicely-stacked card like this is a great reward for yourself if you've climbed up the credit rating scale near to the top.
April 8 at 5:33pm
Anonymous User: I received the PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Card not to long ago and this has to be one of the best credit cards I have ever signed up for. As far as redeeming gas points goes this is the go to card because you earn 5 percent cash back per dollar spent when paying at the pump, you get 3% cash back at the supermarket and 1 % cash back on all other purchases. One big surprise is that there is no annual fee, which was very surprising since the rewards program is very beneficial to the customer and the interest raters are relatively low. This card would be perfect for anyone who has a long commute to work like myself. Highly recommended.
April 8 at 2:32pm
Sheryl Papageorgio: Best Card has to be the Capital One Cash Rewards card when you look at all the factors involved. First of all, no annual fee. Second, the sign up bonus is inciting at $100 after you spend your first $500, very easy to do. Third, they give you 1.5% cash back on everything you spend with no limits. Now when you combine all three of those, it's a very great card! The Capital One venture card gives 2.0% back, but it has a $59 annual fee attached to it, if you don't spend enough to break even with rewards on the annual fee, it's not worth it. So go with the Capital One Cash Rewards card if you can qualify for it!
April 8 at 1:14pm
Anonymous User: I think the Blue Cash Preferred from American Express is the best card to get. First off Amex is probably the best credit card company around, with superior customer service, and with some of the best reward cards out there. With this card you can get anywhere from 1-6% Cash back and still get a $150 initial bonus when you sign up. This is the best card I've seen for cash back, you can't find a better card in terms of rewards. The only downsides is the Annual Fee and fairly high APR rate. However I feel with the 1-6% rewards plus $150 cash back, makes this an excellent card to have.
April 8 at 1:7pm
Chris Hornbostel: The Chase Slate card is wonderful, especially for credit consumers who find themselves--like I did--with balances across four different cards carrying interest rates over 15%. The Chase Slate is 0% for the first 15 months. Better yet, it has no balance transfer fees. Think about that for a moment, and compare it to other cards out there. No balance transfer fees is wonderful! Thanks to this very unique set of circumstances, I've managed to cut my credit debt in half over the last 10 months or so. You won't get a lot of bells and whistles and sexy extras here. What you will get is a fantastic vehicle to help manage your credit and pay down your debt without simply servicing interest. To add to it, the Slate has no annual fee, and my interest rate after the 0% period is very low. Very highly recommended.
April 1 at 1:28pm
Anonymous User: I have the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express and I think it is one of the best cards on the market. This is a great cash back card where you earn 6% cash back from supermarkets in the first year, 3% cash back when you put gas in your car or shop at department stores, and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Another feature I like is purchase protection/return protection where you can get a refund for purchases made with your American Express if you change your mind about them for what ever reason or if items were broken, stolen etc. When first signing up you also earn $150 after spending $1,000 within the first 3 months. Overall this is a very good card to have.
April 1 at 1:24pm
Donald McFarland: The Navy Federal Credit Union nRewards Secured Card gets my vote for the best credit card on the market. The nRewards Secured has NO fees. No application fee, no monthly fee, no annual fee and NO late payment fees! Plus this card earns points that can be exchanged for VISA gift cards, points are earned at the rate of one point for each dollar spent. The interest rate on the nRewards card is variable, (as of 1 April 2013 it's 8.99%) and there is a 25-day grace period on purchases. The application process is fast and easy. You must either be a member of the Navy Federal Credit Union or join the credit union before applying. The on-line application takes about 5 minutes to completed and you can fund the required saving account by ACH transfer. I received my cards, (my wife is also on this account) in six business days after I completed my application. I highly recommend the nRewards card for anyone, no matter what their credit score is, who is looking for a zero cost card with a low interest rate.
April 1 at 1:23pm
David Kauffman: I think the best credit card out there right now is this Capital One Cash Rewards card. And that's for several reasons. First of all, there is no annual fee, so you don't have worry about paying $59 a year or using your card enough. Second, the card advertises the rewards in such a weird way I don't think people realize what they are getting. With a 1% base cash back, they offer a "50% bonus" at the end of the year, which makes the card a 1.5% cash back card with no annual fee. I don't think there is any other card out there in the market that compares to that. Sure, there are others that give 2%, but they have an annual fee and you have to spend up to 10K on the card in a year just to break even with your annual fee.
April 1 at 1:8pm
Connie Murphy: The best credit card out there at the moment is the Capital One secured credit card. I've personally had this card for awhile now and it's helped me to rebuild my credit and boost my low score. My credit score was extremely low simply from not having any credit history for the past several years. Many people don't know that no credit history appears just as negative as a low score due to debts, etc. This card will help you build up your credit number and with it's low APR and reasonable fees it won't cause you an unnecessary stress. You can make just one purchase a month and pay it off quickly. Yes, there is a deposit required since the card is secured, but it's more than worth it when you think of the overall benefits of repairing, rebuilding, or simply harvesting a credit history. I highly recommend it.
March 25 at 3:44pm
Joseph Dowling: I had a really big problem with my credit. I had made some major mistakes in the past with credit and as an adult, was realizing it was hard to get approved for anything. I decided to get the Credit One Platinum Card. They do have an extremely high interest rate and a horrible annual fee, but it is a great card for rebuilding credit. As long as you pay your bill every month, in full, there is never any issue. My score has gone up quite significantly in the time that I have had it. Now, I am getting more credit card offers from companies just as Capital One and Even a few Discover card offers have come my way. If you have amazing credit already then this obviously isn't the card for you, but if you need to rebuild, this is a sure fire way to do it. Instant approval and I actually got my card 4 days later.
March 25 at 3:40pm
Jenny Wauson: The best credit card on the market today is the Capital One Cash Credit card. You can earn a great deal more cash back than with many of the other cash back cards that are out there. There are so many options on ways to get your cash back, whether depositing money or gift cards, so many possibilities! The no annual fee is convenient, and at the end of the year you get 50% bonus of all the points you have earned throughout the year! The first year of 0% APR is wonderful and after the first year I made sure to pay my balance asap to avoid too much interest on other purchases. Capital One customer service is always friendly and extremely helpful when I call and makes sure to take the time to answer all my questions to my satisfaction.
March 25 at 3:32pm
Bryan Thomas: The best card on the market is probably the Citi Diamond Preferred card. The interest rate on it is probably one of the lowest on the market, especially if you have really good credit. When you sign up for it you get 18 months no interest which is really nice. That gives you time to pay off the balance on your card without interest charges. Even when the interest finally hits, because the rate is so low the interest amount isn't unbearable. Paying the card is easy and most everything is handled online, including credit increases. Overall if you can get the card I highly recommend it for your credit needs.
March 25 at 3:26pm
Ira Zweifler: Sorry - the rotten credit card was Capitol One!
March 24 at 3:27pm
Ira Zweifler: THE WORST! I used their card extensively for foreign travel. In Papeete, I bought something for approximately $4.50 US. Because of a manual keying error, no decimal was inserted and I was charged $450.00 US. After month of letters, telephone calls, etc. - they decided to close my file. In retrospect, I should be happy it wasn't a $450.00 charge - they would have demanded $45,000. Certainly not what I've experienced with AMEX! With AMEX you are number one and they require the vendor to justify the charge.
March 24 at 3:26pm
Martin Poles: The best credit card that I know of is the Chase Sapphire Preferred. It's great if you are behind on bills you can simply or want a new "toy" you simply get the card pay off your bills each month as you would normally do so you will total 3,000.00 or more in the first 3 months and chase gives you 400.00 as statement credit. So this will help you catch up on bills as I said or help you towards getting that new toy you couldn't justify wasting money on. I would advise after taking advantage of this to cancel the card since the fees may be heavy for some after the introductory period.
March 18 at 3:35pm
Frank Papageorgio: My favorite credit card is my Capital One VentureOne card. It's the bright gold card that Capital One makes, so it's easily identifiable in my wallet! It get 1.25% back on every purchase, plus you can get bonus points by shopping through their online mall. You can cash out your reward points for things such as gift cards, with stores such as Best Buy or Amazon too. My favorite perk has been using this card internationally. You don't get charged any foreign transaction fees ever, and you get the best exchange rate at the time of purchase. I have not seen many cards that do that, so this one is great if you frequently visit Canada, or just often vacation in other countries. And probably the best part of all, no annual fee!
March 18 at 3:31pm
Anonymous User: I can honestly say that I'm very happy with my Capital One Platinum card and it's the best card out there in my opinion. One of the reasons I like the card so much is that it was easy, literally hassle-free, to obtain. I was approved for the card in roughly a minute after I completed the online application. I appreciate not being harangued by multiple forms or having to wait for a snail mail reply to a request for credit. I like the fact that ins spite of some credit hiccups on my report they were willing to not only extend me a bit of credit, but once I used the card and paid the balance down faithfully for a few months, Cap One increased my credit limit without a request! I can't say I've had the same sort of result with any other company. Capital One also gave me an awesome initial offer of no interest for the first 7 months, which was helpful to me due to my financial situation, however even if my finances were better, that's a great offer! My experience with their customer service has also been outstanding for the entire time I've had the card!
March 18 at 3:8pm
Laura Tomaszewski Lund: The best credit card I have used has been the Chase Disney Card. We can pick from a number of favorite Disney Characters for the card design, and the card provides rewards with every purchase. These rewards can be used at Disneyland or Disney World (for tickets, merchandise, food, etc.), as well as at www.Disney.com and Disney Stores. The cards can also be used to pay for trips to Disney; special financing deals are available for using the card, such as 6 months no interest. One of the best features is the card security. If the card seems to be used more frequently than usual, Chase notices and will decline further purchases until I call to confirm that the card has not been stolen and I am using the card.
March 7 at 6:48pm
Anonymous User: The best card to me is my Discover card. The ease of understanding everything with this card and the rewards offer make it the top to me. The online service makes it very easy to see what rewards you've earned, what you can use them on, and how you can best earn more rewards. Whenever I have contacted customer service I have been treated perfectly and they answer all my questions quickly. They also have information on the website for anything you need from how to pay your card off quickly, to how to save more money each month. I have never had an issue with the card and use it every chance I get.
March 7 at 5:40pm
Gregory Hays: Definitely the Capital One Cash Rewards card. If you are the kind of person that doesn't carry a balance, this is the card for you! You basically get 1.5% back on all your purchases, and don't have an annual fee. You can then get bonus points per dollar various ways, by shopping with their online mall (get up to 10% in additional cash back at select stores or online), or using their mobile app which has deals you can activate as well (stuff like 3% back at Starbucks). The base rewards you get back make this card worth it over other cards, just keep in mind you'll get a base of 1% back immediately, and a 50% bonus on all points you earn at the end of the year.
March 7 at 3:30pm

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What is the best credit card to have?
While some credit cards do provide great overall options, it's easiest to determine the best credit card for you as an individual if you know exactly what you will be using the card for. Card Hub's Island Approach recommends having individual credit cards for different purposes, such as earning rewards on everyday purchases, making balance transfers, etc. By concentrating on getting the best credit cards for individual transaction-types, you'll likely be able to get a better combination of rates and rewards than that found on any individual credit card.

How often do the best credit cards change?
Our editors add appropriate offers to this page as soon as they are introduced. Credit card companies change the terms and rewards associated with their products regularly, and as such, the best credit card offers may change regularly as well. Therefore, the Best Credit Cards 2010 will almost certainly differ from the Best Credit Cards 2011. The cards listed on this page also fluctuate based on the rules governing the credit card industry. For example, the best credit cards for college students and young adults changed drastically after the passage of the Credit CARD Act since anyone under the age of 21 now needs a co-signer or proof of income to open a credit card.

What are the best credit card companies?
First of all, it's important to make the distinction between credit card companies and credit card networks. Credit card companies issue credit cards, set rates, charge fees and hold your accounts. A card's network simply dictates where you can use it. The best credit card company for you is simply the one with the best offers. Determining the best credit card deals is far easier now because the Credit CARD Act improved the transparency of the credit card industry and increased the reliability of credit card terms. Now, if a credit card offer looks to be the best, you can be sure it is.

The most widely accepted credit card networks are VISA and MasterCard. Still, this does not mean you should go out looking for the best Visa credit card or the best MasterCard offering. All four major networks (Discover and American Express included) have wide coverage in the U.S., so don't limit your search unless you have a very good reason to get a card on a particular network.

About the Editor's Picks — Best Credit Cards
Our editors' recommendations for the Best Credit Cards are a reflection of their own subjective opinions, and they should not be relied upon as the sole basis for choosing your credit card. Certain offers originate from paying advertisers, and this will be noted on a card’s details page, when applicable. We work hard to present you with the most accurate credit card information, however, the credit card terms and conditions do not originate from us and thus we do not guarantee the accuracy of the information. Before applying for a credit card we recommend that you verify the credit card terms and conditions on the credit card company's web site. Please let us know if you have any questions or suggestions.