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- Best Credit Cards
- Credit Cards for Good Credit
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One of the many benefits of having good credit is that it gives you more options when you’re looking for a new credit card. You'll qualify for most cards, from those with large rewards rates and bonuses to others with zero-interest offers. But with so many options, how can you know which card to choose? We've picked out the best credit cards for good credit so you can see which ones are worth considering.
Great for: Sign-up bonus and cash rewards
Bottom Line
Somehow this cash back card packs in a deep bench of perks for no annual fee. The standouts are the highest cash back rate we've come across, a lucrative bonus, and a competitive 0% intro APR offer. Read Full Review
Credit Rating Requirement:
Rewards
Cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and when you pay using PayPal, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically
Annual Fee
$0
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 14 months
Balance Transfers: 0%, 14 months
Ongoing APR
11.99% - 22.99% Variable APR
Welcome Bonus
Dollar-for-dollar match of all cash back earned the first year
Highlights
Great for: Travel sign-up bonus
Bottom Line
With a leading sign-up bonus, the sky’s the limit for this top-rated travel rewards card. Plus, the premium points program for travel and dining make it a no brainer for travel enthusiasts everywhere. Read Full Review
Credit Rating Requirement:
Rewards
2x points on travel and dining, 1x points on all other purchases. 25% more points for travel booked through Chase's portal.
Annual Fee
$95
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Ongoing APR
15.99% - 22.99% Variable
Welcome Bonus
60,000 points after spending $4,000 within 3 months
Highlights
Great for: Travel card with no annual fee
Bottom Line
A no-nonsense, no-annual-fee travel rewards card built for occasional travelers. The unlimited 1.5 Miles takes the hassle out of tracking categories and all of your miles get matched in the first year. Read Full Review
Credit Rating Requirement:
Rewards
Miles per dollar on all purchases
Annual Fee
$0
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 14 months
Balance Transfers: 10.99%, 14 months
Ongoing APR
11.99% - 22.99% Variable APR
Welcome Bonus
Mile-for-Mile match of all Miles earned the first year
Highlights
Great for: Travel card with no annual fee
Bottom Line
No-annual-fee travel cards typically skimp on the sign-up bonus, but this card delivers with its market-leading intro bonus offer, unlimited rewards on purchases, and other wallet-friendly perks. Read Full Review
Credit Rating Requirement:
Rewards
Unlimited 1.5 points per $1 on purchases, 25%-75% more points for Bank of America Preferred Rewards members
Annual Fee
$0
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 12 billing cycles
Balance Transfers: N/A
Ongoing APR
14.99% - 22.99% Variable
Welcome Bonus
25,000 points after making at least $1,000 in purchases within 90 days of account opening
Highlights
Great for: Cash rewards flexibility
Bottom Line
Includes a market-leading bonus in the no-annual fee category and a flexible cash rewards program that enables you to earn premium cash back in a category of your choice. Plus, the long intro APR offer makes this card a standout among its peers. Read Full Review
Credit Rating Requirement:
Rewards
3% cash back in your choice category, 2% at grocery stores & wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases), 1% on all other purchases.
Annual Fee
$0
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 12 billing cycles
Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 12 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days
Ongoing APR
13.99% - 23.99% Variable
Welcome Bonus
$200 after making at least $1,000 in purchases within 90 days of account opening
Highlights
Great for: Travel and dining
Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card
Bottom Line
This no-annual-fee rewards card enables you to earn 3X points for dining out, travel, gas stations, and more, plus a big sign-up bonus. The addition of a 0% Intro APR offer makes it even more surprising that there's no annual fee. Read Full Review
Credit Rating Requirement:
Rewards
3X points for eating out and ordering in, gas stations, rideshares, transit, flights, hotels, and more, 1x points on all else
Annual Fee
$0
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 12 months
Balance Transfers: 0%, 12 months
Ongoing APR
14.49% - 24.99%, variable
Welcome Bonus
20,000 points after spending $1,000 within 3 months
Highlights
Great for: Unlimited cash back
Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card
What We Like About The Card
This may be the most versatile and flexible cash-back card on the market. The long 0% intro APR makes the offer hard to pass up, especially if you're wanting to keep a one-card wallet that packs in a rich rewards program. Read Full Review
Credit Rating Requirement:
Rewards
Unlimited 1.5% cash back, no minimum to redeem
Annual Fee
$0
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, for 15 months
Balance Transfers: N/A
Ongoing APR
15.49% - 25.49%, variable
Welcome Bonus
$150 after spending $500 within 3 months
Highlights
A good credit score is a FICO® Score between 670 and 739 or a VantageScore between 661 and 780. In both scoring systems, the full score range is 300 to 850.
You likely have good credit if you've used credit for one to two years, always make your debt payments on time, and keep your credit utilization below 30%. You may also be in this range if you've used credit for more than two years with only the occasional issue, such as one missed payment or high credit utilization.
However, keep in mind that not all good credit scores are created equal. Scores of 675 and 730 both fall in the good credit range. But the latter would help you get better terms on a mortgage and would make approval on credit card applications more likely.
There are three ways to give yourself a better shot at the best credit cards:
If you want a new credit card but aren’t sure your credit is good enough, you'll have to make a decision: Do you apply now or wait until you've improved your credit score?
It's usually smart to go ahead and apply if you're in the suggested credit score range for the card, because you have a good chance of approval. Even in a worst-case scenario in which you're declined, the only effect on your credit will be one hard inquiry from the application. Most consumers will see their FICO® Scores drop fewer than five points from a hard inquiry.
That said, there are two notable exceptions when it's better to wait:
Paying down high balances is the closest you can get to supercharging your credit. Here's why:
Let's say you have high credit utilization impacting your score, but you also have the money to pay down your balances. You go from 60% utilization, which is very high, to 10%, which is ideal. When your card issuers report your new-and-improved utilization, your score should increase.
Considering how quickly you can improve your credit this way, it makes sense to do so. Once you've seen that your credit score has gone up, you can apply for the card you want.
If you're on the edge of a card issuer's qualifications, a recent hard credit inquiry could be more of an issue. These inquiries become less important the older they are, so a little patience goes a long way.
Although there's nothing wrong with good credit, it's important to keep building it. With excellent credit, it's easier to get approved for any credit card you want. You can secure lower interest rates on loans, and depending on where you live, you may even pay less for car insurance.
At this stage of the game, avoiding mistakes is crucial. You can damage your credit much faster than you can improve it. To stay on the right track, you should:
Consumers often wonder if some credit cards will improve their credit faster than others. The truth is that the credit card you have doesn't matter. How you use it is what impacts your score.
You may have heard that there are credit cards that are great for building credit. That's because those cards are easier for people with low credit scores or limited credit histories to get. It doesn't mean the cards speed up the credit-building process. There's no difference in how on-time payments affect your credit based on the card you're using.
The bottom line is that the best credit card for building credit is whichever card you want that you can qualify for.
A good credit score is something to be proud of. It signifies that you've been handling your money properly.
The two things to focus on when you have good credit are getting the right credit card and progressing into the excellent credit range. The right credit card will help you as you work toward your current financial goals, whether they include paying off debt or accumulating rewards. Once you have that excellent credit score, you'll be in an optimal financial position, and you'll qualify for the top offers and the cheapest interest rates.
Card | Rating | Great For |
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Rating image, 5.0 out of 5 stars.
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Great For: Sign-up bonus and cash rewards |
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Rating image, 5.0 out of 5 stars.
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Great For: Travel sign-up bonus |
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Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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Great For: Travel card with no annual fee |
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Rating image, 5.0 out of 5 stars.
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Great For: Travel card with no annual fee |
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Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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Great For: Cash rewards flexibility |
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Rating image, 5.0 out of 5 stars.
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Great For: Travel and dining |
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Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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Great For: Unlimited cash back |
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