Best Credit Cards of October 2023

Looking for a top credit card with a huge sign-up bonus, great rewards, and long 0% intro interest offers? You've come to the right place.

Our experts have compared hundreds of credit cards (216 at last count) to bring you the handful that we think are the best credit cards.

And unlike other sites, we're not just putting cards in front of you that we've been paid to put on our page. We recommend these cards because these are the cards we would (and do!) recommend to our friends and family, and many are the credit cards we use ourselves -- as you'll see in our first-hand reviews below.

The Best Credit Cards

If you're short on time, here's a list of 5 of our top-rated credit card picks:

• Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card (see rates and fees): Our experts' top overall pick. We love the unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases, which is an industry-leading rewards rate for uncomplicated flat-rate rewards. It also currently has a $200 cash rewards offer. And there's no annual fee.
• Discover it® Cash Back (see rates and fees): We think this has the highest cash back potential for cards with no annual fee. The key is the Cashback Match -- Discover will match new cardholders' cash back earned in the first year -- plus the 5% cash back on quarterly rotating categories (up to the quarterly maximum when you activate) and 1% on other purchases.
• Wells Fargo Reflect® Card (see rates and fees): If you need a long period of 0% introductory interest for both purchases and balance transfers, this is our favorite. This card has no annual fee and offers 0% intro APR, 21 months from account opening and 0% intro APR, 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers. The balance transfer fee here is 5%; min: $5. (After the intro 0% period, the go-to rate of 18.24%, 24.74%, 29.99% variable APR applies).
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees): This card is our pick for its generous welcome bonus and premium rewards. New card members earn 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. That's $750 when traveling! There is an annual fee of $95 but the many redemption options, plus no foreign transaction fees, make this card worth it.
• Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card: Our top pick for travel rewards with no annual fee. It's simply a card that packs in a lot. You get 1.5 points per dollar, plus a welcome offer of 25,000 points. And again, that's with no annual fee. This can be a fantastic card if you're looking for a 0% interest offer, but don't need the absolute longest on the market. (After the intro 0% period, the go-to rate of 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable) applies).

Choosing a great credit card being easier than you think -- and the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is proof of that.

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

• Flat-rate 2% cash rewards on spending
• $200 welcome offer (after spending $500 in first three months)
• No annual fee

With the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card you earn 2% cash rewards on your spending. No juggling cards, no figuring out rewards systems. You spend at the grocery store: 2%. At the vet: 2%. Paying for Netflix: 2%. It’s really that easy.

Better still, this card has a welcome offer of $200 after you spend $500 in the first three months of card ownership.

And that's all for a card with no annual fee, meaning that as long as you pay your credit card statements in full and on time (and we suggest that you do), you'll pay no ongoing fee for owning this card and earning cash rewards with it.

The perks on the card aren’t as extensive as a card that carries an annual fee, but hey, we like no annual fee. Still, you do get cell phone protection of up to $600 covering damage or theft (terms apply here) and Wells Fargo’s “Credit Close-Up” that provides your FICO score monthly (enrollment required for this one).

In all, this card is proof that it doesn’t need to be complicated to find a great credit card.

Apply for the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card (on Wells Fargo's website)

If you have credit card debt and are currently paying interest on that debt, getting a credit card with a 0% introductory balance transfer offer – or, better still, a paired 0% purchases and balance transfer offer – can give you some space from paying interest while you work down that credit card debt.

Our top pick: Wells Fargo Reflect® Card

• 0% introductory APR for 21 months on balance transfers (after that, the go-to 18.24%, 24.74%, 29.99% variable APR rate applies)
• 0% introductory APR for 21 months on purchases (after that, the go-to 18.24%, 24.74%, 29.99% variable APR rate applies)
• No annual fee

The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card also makes this list because of its matching 0% introductory offers for 21 months on balance transfers and purchases. This is another card with no annual fee, which is ideal when you’re trying to pay down credit card debt or generally avoid interest. But if you are thinking specifically about a balance transfer, this card does have a balance transfer fee of 5%; min: $5.

One thing I do like about a lot of the Wells Fargo cards, and Wells Fargo Reflect Card has this feature as well, is the $600 in cell phone protection against damage or theft (terms apply here). It’s a perk that you don’t see on most cards.

Apply for the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card (on Wells Fargo's website)

Alternative to this card

Also good: Citi Simplicity® Card

• 0% introductory APR for 21 months on balance transfers (after which the go-to regular APR applies)
• 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases (followed by the same go-to rate)
• Balance transfer fee: 3% ($5 min) for first 4 months, then 5% ($5 min.)

The Citi Simplicity® Card also offers 21 months of 0% introductory interest on balance transfers, is also a no-annual-fee card, and does not apply penalty rates for missed payments. The balance transfer fee here also gives you a bit of a break for the first four months, after which it rises. What’s nice about the Citi Simplicity Card is that there is that there’s also no fee for late payments – a nice complement to the no penalty rate feature. That said, we strongly recommend that you make payments on time, even with these features.

Where the Citi Simplicity Card lags is the intro 0% purchase offer. That’s at 12 months, which is considerably shorter than the 21 months of the balance transfer offer (again, the go-to regular APR applies to purchases after the introductory offer). Maybe not that big of a deal, especially if you’re just focused on the balance transfer offer, but it’s worth noting.

Apply for the Citi Simplicity® Card (on Citi's website)

Who shouldn’t get these cards

If you don’t have credit card debt and you’re not in a position where you need a period of 0% interest on new purchases, then these aren’t the cards for you. Many top cards also include 0% introductory offers, which is fine. But if you don’t need a 0% offer, focus on other card categories instead.

Additionally, if you could benefit from a 0% interest offer, but don’t need the absolute longest period of 0%, then you can typically get a better all-around card by using a shorter 0% introductory offer. And if this sounds like you, just read on – those cards are next.

I tend to be strict when thinking about 0% credit cards. If you have credit card debt, focus on paying that down, worry about rewards later.

You’re going to save so much in interest and make your financial life so much easier by not having credit card debt hanging over you. It just makes sense to make eliminating that debt a priority.

But, is there a world where you can have both? Actually, there is. If you don’t have an overwhelming amount of credit card debt, then the best credit cards for rewards also offer solid 0% term lengths and welcome offers.

Our top pick: Chase Freedom Flex℠

• 0% introductory APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers (after which the go-to variable rate applies)
• 5% cash back rewards on rotating bonus categories (activation required)
• $200 welcome offer (after spending $500 in the first 3 months )

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ is a very close second. There are similar things to like: it has matching 0% intro APR offers for 15 months, a balance transfer fee of Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. , no annual fee, a $200 welcome offer, and an attractive rewards program.

The Chase Freedom Flex rewards program isn’t as simple as the flat cash rewards, but some people may actually like it more. There are rotating categories each quarter like gas, grocery stores (excluding Walmart and Target), and Amazon and Lowe's. If you activate the category for your card, you earn 5% back on purchases in that category for the period that it’s active. But on a regular basis, you’re also earning 3% on dining at restaurants, takeout, eligible delivery services, and drugstores. And then it’s 1% back on everything else.

Apply for the Chase Freedom Flex℠ (on Chase's website)

Who shouldn’t get these cards

If you don’t have credit card debt, these could still be great cards for you. However, if you don’t have a need for a 0% introductory offer, you are probably well served to look at other card categories, rather than being limited to cards that have a 0% intro offer.

And if you have significant credit card debt or you just don’t think that you can realistically pay down your debt in the length of time offered by these cards, then you may be better off opting for the cards with the longest 0% intro offers.

Our pick for simple cash back: Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer

• Flat-rate 2% cash back on spending (1% when you make a purchase and 1% when you pay your bill)
• No cap on the amount of cash back you can earn
• No annual fee

The Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer card is nearly as simple and worth checking out. The rewards program is just a wee bit more complicated – you get 1% cash back when you make a purchase and 1% when you pay your bill, rather than just getting the 2% all at once. But that isn’t a big deal. More notable is that there’s currently no welcome bonus on the card.

Apply for the Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer (on Citi's website)

These cards live somewhere in the Goldilocks zone between flat-rate cash back cards and travel rewards cards. They aren’t as simple as flat-rate cards, nor are they as complicated as travel rewards cards. At the same time, they’re potentially more rewarding than flat-rate cards, but typically a bit less so than travel cards.

Before we compare credit cards, I think it’s also worth noting that, like travel rewards cards, these cards will generally serve you the best when you pair them with other cards to get the most cash back across the most categories.

Our top pick for tiered and bonus category cash back: Discover it® Cash Back

• 5% cash back on rotating categories like grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations (up to quarterly maximum of $1,500; activation required)
• Unlimited cash back match at the end of the first year
• No annual fee

Leading the pack for these cards is the Discover it® Cash Back. This card has a rotating bonus category, which means that it has a different category each quarter that earns a high 5% cash back rate on spending (up to $1,500 in purchases, and note that you have to activate the bonus category). These categories include grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations.

But as good as that 5% is on its own, at the end of your first year of card ownership Discover matches all of the cash back that you've earned in that time. So after the first year of owning the card, you'll essentially have earned double that first year's rate of cash back.

Spending outside of the bonus category is just 1% cash back (though remember, that gets matched 1-for-1 at the end of the first year, too), but the fact that this is a no-annual-fee card makes it pretty valuable overall, especially in year one.

Apply for the Discover it® Cash Back (on Discover's website)

You can’t have a list of the best credit cards of 2023 without featuring cards that can be used to rack up serious points and access quality perks. These cards take a bit of work to get the most value, but if you’re willing to do that work, it can really pay off.

I will note that while you can certainly use a single card from this list, if you’re going the direction of rewards maximization, the best credit cards for travel typically work well when paired with other cards to get the most rewards across the most categories.

Our top pick: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

• Unlimited 2 miles per $1 spent
• 5 miles per $1 spent on hotels and rental cars through Capital One Travel
• 75,000-mile bonus offer (after spending $4,000 within the first 3 months)

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is our top pick and was the anchor card in my wallet for a long time. (See rates and fees.) It’s simply a great card that allows you to earn a solid 2 miles per $1 spent across all of your spending, plus 5 miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

Miles can be used to reimburse yourself for travel you’ve paid for and is on your card statement. You can also use them to book travel through Capital One Travel. Or you can transfer them to Capital One travel partners like Air France KLM, British Airways, and Virgin Red.

There’s a $95 annual fee, but there’s also an impressive 75,000 bonus miles offer when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of having the account. There are a number of nice perks like Capital One lounge visits, a $100 credit for TSA PreCheck, no foreign transaction fees, rental car coverage, and extended warranty coverage.

I mentioned above that this used to be in my wallet. Why not anymore? It was a lifestyle change. We had kiddos enter the picture, which meant less travel, which meant less utility from the card. But this will be top of my list when that changes again, especially if it has a welcome bonus like the current one.

Apply for the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (on Capital One's website)

Also good: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

• 1.5 points per dollar
• 25,000 points (that's 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)
• No annual fee

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is proof that you can have a great travel rewards card with no annual fee.

Yes, when you pay an annual fee for a travel rewards card (like the ones above) you can expect somewhat higher everyday rewards rates and certain extra perks. There's also generally a beefy welcome bonus.

But with the Bank of America Travel Rewards you get a very solid 1.5 points per dollar on your everyday spending. Plus, there's a current welcome bonus of 25,000 points.

And remember, if you are a Bank of America Preferred Rewards member, the rewards rate bumps up between 25% and 75%.

There's also no foreign transaction fee. Which may seem obvious for a travel credit card, but some travel cards do have a foreign transaction fee (so pay attention!).

Finally, though it's not the focus of this section, there is an offer of 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases and 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. So you can not only get travel rewards with no annual fee, but secure a 0% interest offer at the same time. (Note that after the 0% introductory period, the go-to rate, currently 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable), applies).

I don't use this card specifically, but have a very similar Bank of America card and wouldn't give it up. Especially for those that already bank with Bank of America and qualify for Preferred Rewards, these cards have to make the list to consider.

Apply for the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card (on Bank of America's website)

Who shouldn’t get these cards

Travel cards typically aren’t set-it-and-forget-it credit cards. Many have annual fees, so you should make sure you’re actually making the most of them if you’re paying that fee. If you want a simple credit card experience, it’s hard to say that these would be the best credit cards for you.

If you want a simpler rewards experience, consider cards with simple cash-back rewards.

These also tend to be heavily geared towards people who travel and dine out a lot. When I had babies enter the picture, I found that my travel cards were suddenly less valuable. They’re still solid credit cards even if you’re not a big traveler, but you’re just not going to get as much value as someone who’s traveling and eating out a lot.

If you want higher rewards without less travel focus, consider tiered or bonus-category cash back cards.

If you don’t think you’ll consistently be able to pay your credit card in full and on time every month, I wouldn’t suggest focusing on this category. Paying off your credit card in full every month is always a good idea, but even more so when you’re paying an annual fee and trying to maximize the value of earning rewards. Paying interest on card balances eats away very quickly at any value these cards bring.

If you could benefit from 0% interest for a big purchase or to help pay down credit card debt, consider cards with long 0% APR introductory offers or cards with 0% APR intro offers and rewards.

If you have a poor credit history or have little or no credit history at all (for example, if you’re still a student), qualifying for a lot of the cards on this page can be difficult, if not impossible. The good news is that there are cards that will help you build your credit and offer some nice features as well.

Our top pick: Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured credit card

• 3% cash back on a category of your choice and 2% on grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined spend per quarter)
• Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases
• No annual fee

Close on the heels of that card is the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured credit card. Here’s another secured credit card that can help you build credit, but also lets you earn cash-back rewards. And the rates of cash back are generous at 3% for your choice of a category like gas, dining, or online shopping; 2% for grocery stores and wholesale clubs; and 1% everywhere else. There is a limit on the amount of spend for the 2% and 3% rewards rates, but it’s a relatively high max of $2,500 per quarter.

The card has no annual fee, and you get free access to your FICO score. Bank of America will periodically review accounts to see if they qualify to be bumped up out of a secured card, but they don’t define specifically when that review happens. A security deposit of at least $200 is required here.

Apply for the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured credit card (on Bank of America's website)

Student cards

Though they also serve people without top-notch credit, the best student credit cards tend to be a bit of a step up from secured cards. Likely because card issuers are aiming for a good first impression to try to win lasting customers.

In any case, rewards are often a bit better, there may be welcome bonuses, there’s rarely a security deposit of any sort, and you might even find a 0% introductory offer.

It’s once again Discover and Bank of America that lead the way in this category. And once again, Discover gets our top marks.

Our top pick for students: Discover it® Student Cash Back

• 5% cash back on rotating categories like grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations (up to quarterly maximum of $1,500, activation required)
• Unlimited cash back match at the end of the first year
• No annual fee

The Discover it® Student Cash Back is a wonderful card in large part because it looks so much like the Discover it® Cash Back. There’s no annual fee, and users earn 5% cash back in rotating categories like Amazon.com, grocery stores, and restaurants (up to the quarterly maximum of $1,500).

But the best part is that Discover matches all of the cash back you've earned at the end of the first year. That effectively makes the base 1% cash back rate 2% during that first year. And the higher 5% bonus rate becomes a whopping 10%.

We’re financially focused, so we’re not the place that’s going to tell you to pick a financial product based on style. That said, the Discover it® Student Cash Back does offer a selection of nice designs, so students are not carrying something that’s the same old boring blue or silver of most standard cards.

Apply for the Discover it® Student Cash Back (on Discover's website)

Who shouldn’t get these cards

Well, this is pretty simple. If you have fair, good, or excellent credit, you will qualify for cards that are better than the secured cards and you won’t have to pay a security deposit. So if that's you, you should probably check out our other categories.

And, if you’re not a student, well … you’re not going to qualify for the best student credit cards with most issuers. Plus, again, if you have good credit, you’ll likely be able to find a better card than a student card anyway.

Other helpful information about credit cards

Haven’t had your fill yet? Find out how credit cards work to help you make an even better decision.

Though there are many different types of credit cards, they all fall into certain categories based on their features and rewards programs. Here are the top credit cards and credit card offers right now within each category.

Travel credit cards

These cards are best suited to people who travel at least a few times per year. Many of these cards charge annual fees, so you want to make sure you're earning enough in rewards to at least make up for what you're paying to own it.

With travel cards, you can redeem your points or miles for free or discounted travel. There are also quite a few top travel credit cards that offer extra perks, such as free access to airport lounges, hotel upgrades, and travel insurance. The best airline credit cards, hotel credit cards, and general travel credit cards would all fall under this category.

Compare more picks: Check out The Ascent's best travel rewards credit cards

Rewards credit cards

This category includes every credit card that earns purchase rewards. With so many to choose from, you'll find a diverse mix of the best credit cards for rewards that earn cash back, travel points, and store rewards.

Compare more picks: Check out The Ascent's best rewards credit cards

Cash back credit cards

Cash back cards are best for those who want a versatile card you can use for everyday spending. If you want a card with bonus categories, look for one that aligns well with your spending habits.

With the best cash back credit card, you earn rewards that can be redeemed as cash. Depending on the card, you may be able to redeem your cash back as a statement credit towards your credit card balance, a deposit to a bank account, or as a check. You'll find cards that earn the same flat rate on purchases as well as cards that earn extra in bonus categories among the best cash back cards.

Compare cash back credit cards: Check out The Ascent's best cash back credit cards

Balance transfer credit cards

These credit cards are best suited for those who are trying to pay off credit card debt. Ideally, you can find one with an introductory APR that's long enough to enable you to pay off your full balance. But you should note that you can't transfer a balance to a new card with the same issuer. And any balance transfer card will charge you a one-time fee for making the transfer.

Many of the best balance transfer credit cards have a 0% intro APR on balance transfers and intro periods can last for well over a year. If you want to refinance credit card debt and save money on interest, a balance transfer card is ideal.

Compare more picks: Check out The Ascent's best balance transfer credit cards

Best credit cards for beginners

The best credit cards for beginners accepts applicants with no credit history, don't charge unnecessary fees, and have educational features to help you improve your credit, such as free credit score monitoring. For those who are enrolled at college or university, student credit cards are a great first step into the world of credit.

Compare more picks: Check out The Ascent's best credit cards for building credit

High limit credit cards

Some credit cards tend to offer higher credit limits than most. These high limit credit cards let you spend more, and they can also help you protect your credit by making it easier to keep your credit utilization ratio low. You typically need excellent credit to qualify.

Compare more picks: Check out The Ascent's best high limit credit cards

0% intro APR credit cards

Cards in this category have a 0% intro APR that applies to purchases. They're a smart choice if you need to buy something expensive, but you can't afford to pay in full upfront. The most popular 0% intro APR credit cards also often have those intro deals for a year or longer.

Compare more picks: Check out The Ascent's best 0% intro APR credit cards

Secured credit cards

These cards can be a good starting point for those trying to establish a credit history for the first time or rebuild their credit score if they've managed credit poorly in the past. Annual fees are more common with these cards and rewards are rare, so they're generally not a good fit for those who wouldn't have any trouble applying for credit cards that fall into the categories listed above.

You need to pay a security deposit to open a secured credit card, which is typically used for rebuilding or building credit. The security deposit is often (but not always) equal to your starting credit limit. Even with the best credit cards for bad credit, high-quality secured credit cards usually graduate to unsecured cards. This means you get your deposit back if you make enough on-time payments.

• Discover it® Secured Credit Card: A lucrative rewards program plus Discover matches all the cash back earned in the first year.

Compare more picks: Check out The Ascent's best secured credit cards

Looking to rebuild credit?: Check out The Ascent's best credit cards for bad credit

Student credit cards

If you're in college, you can get started on building your credit with the best student credit card. Even though college students are the primary audience for these credit cards, there are some excellent perks to be found with them. Some cards include free credit score tracking and money back for good grades.

Older adults looking to build a credit history should check out secured credit cards.

• Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card for Students: A rare student credit card pick with a long 0% intro APR, big sign-up bonus, and rich rewards program.

Compare more picks: Check out The Ascent's best student credit cards

Business credit cards

Business credit cards are designed with business owners in mind. This type of credit card offers higher credit limits than consumer credit cards to accommodate business spending. Many of them also have bonus categories to fit typical business spending habits. For example, a business card may offer bonus rewards on advertising, shipping, or office supply store purchases.

In addition, a business card can help you build your business credit score. Just like your own credit score is a rating of your personal creditworthiness, businesses have credit scores that rate their creditworthiness. By using a business credit card and paying on time, you can raise your business credit score. That can help you qualify for business financing in the future.

Your business doesn't need to be a separate entity to qualify for a business credit card. It's possible to open a business credit card with a sole proprietorship. No matter what type of business you have, it's smart to compare credit card offers.

Compare more picks: Check out The Ascent's best business credit cards

Want cashback on business purchases? Check out The Ascent's Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express review.

Store credit cards

Many chain stores, from Macy's to Target to Lowe's, offer their own credit cards. Sometimes these credit cards are accepted everywhere, but often they're only for use in-store. Store credit cards usually come with exclusive discounts and rewards that can only be used at that store. Make sure to read the fine print when you apply for a credit card, especially with any 0% intro APR offers, as they can involve deferred interest, which is tricky and can lead to hefty surprise interest charges.

Opening one of these cards is best if you frequently shop at a particular retailer. But if you only shop there once or twice per year, it may not be worth it.

Although a credit card isn't a necessity, there are several ways it can help you financially. Our credit card guide could help you learn these important things:

• Improving credit: The best credit cards can help you build or rebuild your credit. When you use your credit card and pay the bill on time, your credit score will go up. This can help you qualify for financing, such as a car loan or mortgage, at a low interest rate.

• Earning rewards: With rewards credit cards, you can earn cash back or travel points on purchases.
• Fraud protection: Legally, you're only liable for up to $50 in losses if your credit card is used fraudulently. But most credit card companies go even further. Many credit cards offer zero-liability policies -- meaning you aren't responsible for any fraudulent charges. You also don't need to worry about a thief draining your bank account through your credit card (which could happen if your debit card was stolen).
• Extra perks and discounts: Credit cards can offer all kinds of benefits, such as extended warranty coverage on purchases or complimentary rental car insurance. Many of the best credit cards of 2023 have features that can be worth hundreds of dollars or more.

When should I have one credit card?

You should stick to one credit card if:

• You want to keep your finances as simple as possible.
• You've never had a credit card before, or you've been using credit cards for less than a year.
• You've had problems with missed credit card payments or overspending.
• You value simplicity in managing your finances and don't want to worry about tracking multiple bills.

When should I have multiple credit cards?

You should carry multiple credit cards if you want more card benefits and you're confident in your ability to manage everything. There are some big advantages to having multiple cards:

• You can carry cards that earn more in different areas, such as one flat-rate cash back card and another with bonus categories. This is a simple way to maximize your rewards.
• You can use features from each of your cards and get more value overall. Instead of choosing between two of the best credit card offers, you can have both.
• You'll have more available credit, which helps you maintain a lower credit utilization ratio. This can result in a higher credit score.

Your credit score plays a large role in which credit cards you can get. If you have a low credit score and you work on raising it, that will open up more credit card options for you.

Here's the best advice you can follow to improve your credit score.

Review your credit report

You're legally entitled to a free annual credit report from each credit bureau (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). Go to AnnualCreditReport.com to request it.

Once you have your credit reports, review them for errors that could be damaging your credit score. If you find any errors, visit the website of the credit bureau that issued the report to file a dispute.

Get a credit card

The easiest way to improve your credit is by using a credit card and paying the bill on time. If you don't have a credit card, look for the top credit cards aimed at consumers in your position.

If you don't have much credit history yet, the best credit cards for beginners would be ideal. If you're rebuilding credit from issues on your credit history, then secured credit cards are the most suitable option.

Stay below 30% of your credit limit

The amount of your credit that you use impacts your credit score. Say you have a card with a $1,000 credit limit. If the balance is $500, that would put your credit utilization ratio at 50%.

A lower credit utilization helps your credit score. As a rule of thumb, aim to stay under 30% credit utilization at all times. It's good for your credit, and as an added perk, it helps you stay out of credit card debt.

Follow good payment habits

Learn your credit card's due date and always make your payment on time or early. Each on-time payment improves your payment history, which is the biggest factor in your credit score. You may want to set automatic payments so you don't miss any.

It's also recommended that you pay off your credit card every month. While this isn't necessary for your credit score, it's a way to avoid interest charges on your credit card purchases.