What is the best credit card?

The best credit card for many people is the Citi® Double Cash Card - 18 month BT offer. It will get you a 2% cash back rate on all purchases, making it one of the most lucrative and flexible credit cards on the market. The $0 annual fee and lengthy balance transfer offer are also a big draw. While this is an easy pick to recommend for many people, it's important to know that the market is packed with plenty of the best credit cards, ones included on this shortlist and not. The best credit card to have will depend on your unique situation.

How do I compare credit card offers?

You can compare credit card offers with our side-by-side credit card comparison tool. Pay attention to key features like the APR, annual fee, rewards system, welcome offers, and credit requirements.

Best Credit Cards: Top Rewards and Offers for April 2021

Our shortlist of the best credit cards for 2021 contains the market-leading picks. They include perks, such as lucrative rewards programs, big sign-up bonuses, long 0% intro APR offers to avoid interest, and no annual fees.

Add up the value of these benefits and it's not uncommon for the best credit cards to pack in upwards of $1,000 in value. That's why we think it's smart to keep a credit card in your wallet. Whether you're looking for a rewards card, a balance transfer card, a business credit card, a secured card to help you build credit, or simply a good credit card offer, there's a card out there for everyone.

To help you navigate the market, we've crunched the numbers on hundreds of credit cards and included only our select few top picks below. Read on to learn more about the hand-picked credit card offers that we would recommend to our closest friends and family.

A credit card can be one of your most valuable financial tools -- if used correctly. When you know the right moves to make, you can maximize cash rewards or travel rewards, avoid decades of debt, and protect your credit score. Our credit card guide could help you learn these important skills -- or maybe even find your next favorite card.

How does a credit card work?

A credit card allows you to pay for purchases by borrowing money. The maximum amount you can borrow at one time is called your credit limit. The money you've already borrowed is your balance, and the amount you have left to borrow is your available credit.

At the end of each billing cycle, the card issuer will send you a statement listing the transactions you made. It will list your total balance, as well as the minimum payment due during that billing cycle. You must pay at least the minimum amount by the due date to avoid a late fee -- although it's a good idea to pay more than the minimum if you can afford it.

Credit cards are most often used for purchases, but many of them can also be used for other types of transactions, such as cash advances and balance transfers.

How does credit card interest work?

Credit card interest is the fee a card issuer can charge when you borrow money with your credit card. The amount of interest charged depends on the card's annual percentage rate (APR). Many credit cards have different APRs for purchases, balance transfers, and cash advances. Most credit cards have a variable APR. A variable APR is an interest rate that can change over time.

The type of transaction also determines when your card issuer starts charging you interest. For example, cash advances almost always start racking up interest immediately. Purchases are different. Just about any top-rated credit card will only charge interest for purchases that aren't paid off by the payment due date. Savvy consumers take advantage of this, pay in full, and never have to deal with credit card interest.

Credit card interest is one of those unnecessary charges that you should do your best to avoid. There are two ways to accomplish this.

Pay off balances by the due date: The simplest option is to only use your credit card for purchases you can afford. Pay the entire statement balance on or before the due date. If you do this every billing cycle, you'll never end up with any interest charges.
Get a 0% APR credit card: With these credit card offers, you'll pay zero interest for the entire intro period. A 0% APR can apply to purchases, balance transfers, or both, so make sure you choose the right one. The APR will go up after the card's intro period ends -- it's important to pay off your balance by then.

Types of credit cards

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 different types of credit cards and the best credit cards and credit card deals right now within each category.

Travel credit cards

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 travel perks, such as free access to airport lounges, hotel upgrades, and travel insurance. An airline credit card, hotel credit card, and general travel credit card would all fall under this category.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: 2 Chase Ultimate Reward points per $1 on travel and dining

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 cards to choose from, you'll find a diverse mix of rewards credit cards 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

With this type of rewards card, you earn rewards that can be redeemed as cash or a statement credit. 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 every purchase as well as cards that earn extra in bonus categories among the best cash back cards.

Discover it® Cash Back: 5% back in rotating quarterly bonus categories you activate up to $1,500 quarterly spending cap, 1% back on all else
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets up to $6,000 annual spending cap, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on transit, 1% back on all else
Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer: Unlimited 2% back on every purchase (1% when you make the purchase, 1% when you pay it off)
Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Unlimited 1.5% cash back
Chase Freedom Flex℠: Up to 5% back in rotating categories you active each quarter ($1,500 spending cap quarterly)
Bank of America® Cash Rewards credit card: 3% cash back in a category of your choice and 2% back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (on up to $2,500 in combined bonus category purchases per quarter)
Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card: 4% unlimited cash back on dining

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

Balance transfer credit cards

This type of card offers a lower, introductory APR on balance transfers. Many of the top balance transfer 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.

Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card: 18-month 0% intro APR on balance transfers
U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card: 20-billing-cycle 0% intro APR on balance transfers and purchases

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

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% 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% APR credit cards also often have those intro deals for a year or longer.

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

Credit cards for building credit

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. High-quality secured credit cards can usually graduate to unsecured cards, meaning you get your deposit back if you make enough on-time payments.

Discover it® Secured Credit Card: Up to 2% cash back and free FICO® Score tracking

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 a student credit card. Even though these cards are for students, there are some excellent perks to be found with the best student credit cards. Some cards include free credit score tracking and money back for good grades.

Discover it® Student Cash Back: 5% back on rotating quarterly bonus categories you activate up to $1,500 quarterly spending cap, 1% back on all else

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

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 on any zero-interest offers from store credit cards, as they can involve deferred interest, which is tricky and can lead to hefty surprise interest charges.

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

Find the best credit card for your needs

Compare credit card bonuses, rewards, fees and more using our side-by-side credit card comparison!

Should I have multiple credit cards?

The right number of credit cards for most people is one. That's particularly important for cardholders using credit cards for rewards, since the juice may not always be worth the squeeze when carrying multiple cards and using each to optimize rewards for each spending category. It's even more true for cardholders carrying debt. The best credit cards help you earn big on all your everyday purchases while avoiding fees.

But this isn't necessarily the right mantra for everyone. There's no doubt that savvy cardholders carrying multiple cards can wring out a good amount of value. With the right strategy and a financial discipline, having a few of the best cards for different uses can be worthwhile.

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 deals, 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.

How to choose the best credit card

Any time you're going to apply for a credit card, you want to make sure you choose the right one. Here's how to pick a credit card:

Decide which type of card you want. This will narrow down your credit card offers considerably, so it makes sense to do this first. If you're most interested in, for example, earning travel points, then there's no need to look at the best credit card offers for a 0% intro APR.

Compare credit cards in that category. Once you've chosen a type of card, it's time to compare credit cards side by side. Find the best credit cards in that category and then decide which is best for you. Here's how to compare credit cards:

Figure out the features that are most important to you. This will depend on the type of card you're choosing. Let's say you need a balance transfer card. The features to look at would be the length of each card's balance transfer offer and its balance transfer fees.
Check for any annual fees on the cards you're comparing. If you're stuck between two credit cards that work for you, one of them may have a cheaper annual fee.
Use secondary features as your tiebreaker. These are the features that aren't quite as important but still have value. Secondary features could include sign-up bonuses or a FICO® Score for free.
Read the fine print. All credit cards display common card features in a standardized format, including an outline of the APRs and lineup of fees. Keep an eye out for the following fees and compare them to other cards: Annual, balance transfer, cash advance, late payment, and foreign transaction.

How to apply for a credit card online

The simplest way to apply for a credit card is online, where you can complete an application in minutes. Here's how to apply for a credit card online:

Choose a credit card and click "Apply Now": You'll find this link on the credit card page.
Fill out the required information: Card applications ask for your personal information, including your name, mailing address, date of birth, and Social Security number. They also ask for financial information, including your income. Some companies might ask about your net worth.
Submit the application: You may receive an instant decision of either an approval or a denial (hopefully approval). The card issuer could also put your application under review, meaning it needs more time to decide.

Important credit card terms

Annual percentage rate (APR): The rate charged for carrying a balance on a credit card, expressed as an annual percentage. With credit cards, the APR is the same as the interest rate.

Balance: The amount owed on a credit card, including all unpaid transactions and fees. The balance at the end of a statement period is called the statement balance.

Balance transfer: Moving a balance from one credit card to another. This is usually done when the new card offers a lower APR. Not every credit card offers balance transfers, and many of the cards with this feature charge a balance transfer fee.

Cash advance: Withdrawing cash from a credit card, most often through cash advance checks, using the card at an ATM, or by wiring money with the card. Cash advances usually have a higher APR and start accruing interest immediately, so it's a poor way to use a credit card.

Credit card: A payment method issued by a bank and connected to a revolving line of credit. The cardholder can use their credit card for purchases and possibly other types of transactions, although this depends on the card.

Credit limit: The credit card's spending limit. This can vary based on the type of transaction. On credit cards that offer cash advances, there is typically a lower credit limit for cash advances than for purchases. A transaction that would exceed a card's credit limit will be declined unless the cardholder has opted to allow over-the-limit transactions (and any potential fees that come with them).

Credit score: A rating of a consumer's creditworthiness. The score indicates how likely it is that they will make bill payments on time and repay what they borrow. Credit scores are calculated based on the consumer's financial history.

Interest: A fee charged for borrowing money. The APR determines how much interest a credit card company can charge on balances.

Minimum payment: The minimum amount a cardholder can pay by the due date to remain current on their credit card bill and avoid a late fee.

FAQs

The best credit card for many people is the Citi® Double Cash Card - 18 month BT offer. It will get you a 2% cash back rate on all purchases, making it one of the most lucrative and flexible credit cards on the market. The $0 annual fee and lengthy balance transfer offer are also a big draw. While this is an easy pick to recommend for many people, it's important to know that the market is packed with plenty of the best credit cards, ones included on this shortlist and not. The best credit card to have will depend on your unique situation.
You can compare credit card offers with our side-by-side credit card comparison tool. Pay attention to key features like the APR, annual fee, rewards system, welcome offers, and credit requirements.
If you've already mastered managing one credit card, you might be ready to have multiple credit cards. Juggling multiple credit cards can help you earn rewards faster. However, it can also make it easier to miss payments and end up in debt.

To recap, here are the best credit cards of 2021

The Picks
Card	Rating	Great For
Bank of America® Cash Rewards credit card	Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars. 4.50 stars	Great For: Bonus and cash rewards flexibility
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card	Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars. 5.00 stars	Great For: Travel sign up bonus
Discover it® Cash Back	Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars. 5.00 stars	Great For: Bonus category cash back
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card	Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars. 4.50 stars	Great For: Balance transfers and 0% intro APR for purchases
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express	Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars. 5.00 stars	Great For: U.S. supermarkets and gas
Chase Freedom Unlimited®	Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars. 5.00 stars	Great For: Unlimited cash back
Chase Freedom Flex℠	Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars. 5.00 stars	Great For: Cash back versatility with a big bonus
Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer	Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars. 5.00 stars	Great For: Balance transfers and cash back
Discover it® Balance Transfer	Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars. 5.00 stars	Great For: Balance transfers
U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card	Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars. 5.00 stars	Great For: Long 0% intro APR offer
Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card	Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars. 4.50 stars	Great For: Dining
Discover it® Student Cash Back	Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars. 5.00 stars	Great For: Student cash back
Discover it® Secured Credit Card	Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars. 5.00 stars	Great For: Building credit with cash back