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- Best Visa Credit Cards
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Visa credit cards are widely accepted, making them a smart choice if you want to be able to use your card with as many merchants as possible. There are also many different Visa cards available, which gives you plenty of options but also makes it harder to choose one. Our list of the best Visa credit cards will help.
The Ascent's best Visa credit cards of March 2021:
- Travel sign-up bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Long 0% intro APR offer: U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card
- Gas and grocery rewards: Bank of America® Cash Rewards credit card
- Bonus rewards on everyday spending: Chase Freedom Unlimited®
- Dining: U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card
- Premium travel rewards: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Limited or no credit history: Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card
- Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card
Great for: Travel sign-up bonus
Rating image, 5.0 out of 5 stars.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor.
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
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, N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A, N/A
Ongoing APR
15.99% - 22.99% Variable
Welcome Bonus
60,000 points after spending $4,000 within 3 months
Highlights
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Plus earn up to $50 in statement credits towards grocery store purchases.
- 2X points on dining at restaurants including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out and travel & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- With Pay Yourself BackSM, your points are worth 25% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories.
- Get unlimited deliveries with a $0 delivery fee and reduced service fees on eligible orders over $12 for a minimum of one year with DashPass, DoorDash's subscription service. Activate by 12/31/21.
- Earn 2x total points on up to $1,000 in grocery store purchases per month from November 1, 2020 to April 30, 2021. Includes eligible pick-up and delivery services.
Great for: Long 0% intro APR offer
U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card
Rating image, 5.0 out of 5 stars.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor.
Bottom Line
With a 20 billing cycle intro APR offer for both balance transfers and purchases, this is one of the best low interest credit cards on the market. Read Full Review
Rewards
N/A
Annual Fee
$0
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 20 billing cycles
Balance Transfers: 0%, 20 billing cycles
Ongoing APR
13.99% - 23.99%, variable
Welcome Bonus
N/A
Highlights
- 0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 20 billing cycles. After that, a variable APR currently 13.99%-23.99%.
- No Annual Fee.
- Fraud protection detects and notifies you of any unusual card activity.
- Free TransUnion® Credit Score when you enroll in Online Banking.
- Choose your payment due date.
- Get up to $600 protection on your cell phone (subject to $25 deductible) against covered damage or theft when you pay your monthly cellular telephone bill with your U.S.Bank Visa® Platinum Credit Card. Certain terms, conditions, and exclusions apply.
Great for: Gas and grocery rewards
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor.
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
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
- No annual fee
- $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
- Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice, automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and unlimited 1% on all other purchases
- 0% Introductory APR for 12 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 13.99% - 23.99% Variable APR will apply. A 3% fee (min $10) applies to all balance transfers
- No expiration on rewards
- If you're a Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25% - 75% more cash back on every purchase
- Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap
Great for: Bonus rewards on everyday spending
Rating image, 5.0 out of 5 stars.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor.
Bottom Line
This card includes a lineup of features that makes it a great option for one-card-wallet simplicity. The unlimited cash back makes it easy to earn rewards. The sign-up bonus and long 0% intro APR offer are the cherries on top. Read Full Review
Rewards
Unlimited 1.5% cash back, 5% cash back on travel through Chase
Annual Fee
$0
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 15 months
Balance Transfers: N/A, N/A
Ongoing APR
14.99% - 23.74% Variable
Welcome Bonus
$200 after spending $500 within 3 months
Highlights
- Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
- Earn 5% on travel purchased through Chase, 3% on dining at restaurants and drugstores, and 1.5% on all other purchases.
- No annual fee.
- 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases, then a variable APR of 14.99 - 23.74%.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open.
Great for: Dining
U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card
Rating image, 5.0 out of 5 stars.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor.
Bottom Line
A rare, great pick that offers lucrative rewards (up to 4x points), a big bonus, and a competitive 0% intro APR offer, all somehow with no annual fee. Read Full Review
Rewards
4 points per $1 on dining, 2 points per $1 on groceries, gas, and streaming services, 1 point per $1 on all else.
Annual Fee
$0
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 12 billing cycles
Balance Transfers: 0%, 12 billing cycles for transfers made within 60 days
Ongoing APR
14.99% - 23.99%, variable
Welcome Bonus
25,000 points after spending $1,000 within 90 days
Highlights
- Earn 25,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 90 days of account opening. That's a $250 value redeemable towards merchandise, gift cards, cash back, travel and more
- Earn 4X points on takeout, food delivery and dining
- Earn 2X points at grocery stores, grocery delivery, gas stations and on streaming services
- No annual fee
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
- Low Introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers
- Points never expire
Great for: Premium travel rewards
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor.
Bottom Line
The sign-up bonus, premium rewards for travel & dining, and wide array of valuable travel credits make this a compelling offer that will offset the cost of the annual fee for many. The array of limited time offers make it even more compelling. Read Full Review
Rewards
3X points on travel immediately after earning your $300 travel credit. 3X points on dining at restaurants & 1 point on all other purchases.
Annual Fee
$550
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Ongoing APR
16.99%-23.99% Variable
Welcome Bonus
50,000 points after spending $4,000 within 3 months
Highlights
- Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year. From 6/1/20 through 6/30/21, gas station & grocery store purchases will also count towards earning your Travel Credit
- 3X points on travel immediately after earning your $300 travel credit. 3X points on dining at restaurants including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. For example, 50,000 points are worth $750 toward travel
- With Pay Yourself Back℠, your points are worth 50% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Access to 1,000+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®
- Earn 3x total points on up to $1,000 in grocery store purchases per month from November 1, 2020 to April 30, 2021. Includes eligible pick-up and delivery services
Great for: Limited or no credit history
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor.
Bottom Line
People with no or limited credit histories will be hard pressed to beat it. The rewards program and lack of fees are clear standouts in the category. Read Full Review
Rewards
1.5% cash back after making 12 on-time monthly payments. 1% cash back on purchases right away
Annual Fee
$0
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Ongoing APR
12.99% - 26.99%, variable
Welcome Bonus
N/A
Highlights
- No fees whatsoever. No late fee, international fee, annual fee, or any-other-kind-of-fee, fee.
- Up to 1.5% cash back after making 12 on-time monthly payments
- 1% cash back on eligible purchases right away
- 2% - 10% cash back from select merchants
- $500 - $10,000 credit limits
- Variable APRs 12.99% - 26.99%
- Build credit alongside tens of thousands of Petal Card members
- Cash flow technology may help applicants without credit history get approved
- Petal's mobile app makes it easy to manage your money, track your spending, and automate payments
- See if you're pre-approved within minutes without impacting your credit score
- Petal reports to all 3 major credit bureaus
- No deposits required
- Card issued by WebBank, Member FDIC
Great for: Flat-rate travel rewards
Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor.
What We Like About The Card
Unlimited 2X miles, TSA Pre✓® credits, and a big, limited time sign-up bonus make this credit card one of the best travel companions on the market. Read Full Review
Rewards
Unlimited 2x miles on all purchases
Annual Fee
$95, annually
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Ongoing APR
17.24% - 24.49%, variable
Welcome Bonus
60,000 miles after spending $3,000 within 3 months
Highlights
- Enjoy a one-time bonus of 60,000 miles once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $500 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®
- Fly any airline, stay at any hotel, anytime; no blackout dates. Plus transfer your miles to over 15+ leading travel loyalty programs
- No foreign transaction fees
- $95 annually
Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card is temporarily unavailable on The Ascent. All information was collected independently from the issuer. Some items may be out of date.
What is Visa?
Visa is a payment network. It partners with banks to issue debit and credit cards, and it partners with merchants who want to accept those cards. Merchants pay processing fees every time they accept payments from Visa credit cards. Visa manages the transaction, ensuring the cardholder's account is charged and the merchant receives the money electronically.
To give an example of how this all works, Visa partners with Chase for several credit cards, including the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. If you are a cardholder, you can use that card with any merchants that have partnered with Visa.
When you make a purchase, you're charged the full amount. Visa and Chase divide the processing fee. The merchant receives the amount you paid, minus that fee.
What are the benefits of a Visa credit card?
The main benefits of Visa credit cards are widespread acceptance and their complimentary consumer protections.
Visa and Mastercard are tied as the most widely accepted payment networks, both in the United States and worldwide. You can use each type of card in over 200 countries. But if you're choosing between Visa or Mastercard based on this factor, Visa holds a slight edge. It's the only payment network accepted at Costco.
Visa credit cards come with several complimentary consumer protections. These protections depend on the brand of Visa card you have. These are the three brands, from the most basic to the most feature-packed: Visa Traditional, Visa Signature®, and Visa Infinite®. The table below highlights many of the protections offered by each Visa card brand.
| Protection | Visa Traditional | Visa Signature® | Visa Infinite® |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auto rental collision damage waiver | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Zero liability for fraud | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Extended warranty coverage | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Return protection | ✓ | ||
| Purchase security | ✓ | ||
| Trip cancellation/interruption insurance | ✓ | ||
| Trip delay reimbursement | ✓ | ||
| Lost luggage reimbursement | ✓ |
Source: Visa.
In addition, Visa credit cards offer various other perks, such as rewards, sign-up bonuses, and zero-interest offers. These features are provided by the bank that partners with Visa to issue the card. That means the bank is also in control of which benefits the card offers.
What could be improved about Visa?
Visa could improve by adding more complimentary benefits and protections to its cards, especially its Visa Signature® and Visa Infinite® cards. Compared to two of its competitors, Mastercard and American Express, Visa falls short in this department.
Mastercard's World Mastercard® and World Elite Mastercard® have several valuable extras that Visa doesn't. Both get you complimentary cell phone insurance and a free ShopRunner membership. The World Elite Mastercard® also has benefits with Lyft, Fandango, and Boxed.
The same is true when you look at Visa vs. American Express, which is known for having topnotch extras. American Express also offers a free ShopRunner membership. In addition, most American Express cards offer purchase protection and many offer return protection. Visa, on the other hand, only offers those protections with Visa Infinite® cards.
Types of Visa credit cards
There are quite a few different types of Visa credit cards. A card's features determine which type of card it is. Keep in mind that a Visa card can belong to multiple types. For example, if a Visa card earns cash back and has a 0% intro APR, then it would be both a cash back Visa card and a 0% APR Visa card.
It's much easier to choose a credit card when you know which type you want. Here are all the types of Visa credit cards and how they work.
Rewards Visa credit cards
With a rewards card, you earn rewards any time you make a purchase. The type of rewards you'll earn depends on the card. The most common are cash back, travel rewards you can use for travel purchases, and store rewards you can use for gift cards at the store that issued the card.
Cash back Visa credit cards
These Visa cards earn cash back, so they're considered both rewards cards and cash back cards. You can typically redeem your cash rewards for a statement credit on your credit card bill, a deposit to a bank account, or a check in the mail. Cash back Visa cards are easy to use, making them a great choice for beginners and anyone who wants uncomplicated credit card rewards.
Travel Visa credit cards
Travel Visa cards earn rewards you can redeem for travel purchases. Depending on the travel credit card, rewards are usually referred to as either points or miles. Although there can be more of a learning curve with these Visa cards, they can help you save lots of money on expensive travel bookings. A good travel rewards credit card won't charge a foreign transaction fee.
0% APR Visa credit cards
This type of Visa card has a 0% intro APR that applies to purchases you make. The card issuer won't charge you any interest on your purchases during the intro period. You could save money financing expensive purchases with a 0% APR Visa card. Because the APR goes up when the zero-interest offer ends, it's recommended you pay off your balance before that happens.
Balance transfer Visa credit cards
These Visa cards also have a 0% intro APR, with the difference being that it applies to balance transfers. That means you can move over balances from other credit cards. In some cases, you can also transfer other types of debt. The advantage of a balance transfer Visa card is that it helps you save money on interest while paying down debt. Be aware that you'll likely have to pay a balance transfer fee.
Student Visa credit cards
These cards are aimed at college students who are building credit for the first time. They usually don't have as many features as the top credit cards. However, they may have perks designed with students in mind, such as bonus money for good grades.
Bad credit Visa credit cards
These Visa cards are for consumers who have bad credit or don't have much of a credit history yet. Since they're primarily for increasing your credit score, they're typically light on other benefits. Many credit cards for bad credit require a security deposit upfront, but cardholders can often get their deposit back after making enough on-time payments.
Which Visa card is right for you?
Here's how to decide which Visa card is right for you:
- Figure out what you need most from a credit card. You might find you need to improve your credit score, refinance credit card debt with a zero-interest offer, or earn as much cash back as possible on your everyday purchases. The first thing to look at is your reason for getting a credit card.
- Choose the type of Visa card that matches your needs. This depends on what you're looking for in a card. Whether that's rewards, building credit, a 0% APR offer, or something else, choosing a type of Visa card will help you narrow down your options.
- Pick the Visa card you like the most. By now, you should have a shortlist of potential Visa cards. Check out what they have to offer and go with the one that seems like the best fit. If you want to see how your choices match up, you can get a full breakdown using our tool to compare credit cards.
| Card | Rating | Great For |
|---|---|---|
|
Rating image, 5.0 out of 5 stars.
|
Great For: Travel sign-up bonus |
|
|
Rating image, 5.0 out of 5 stars.
|
Great For: Long 0% intro APR offer |
|
|
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
|
Great For: Gas and grocery rewards |
|
|
Rating image, 5.0 out of 5 stars.
|
Great For: Bonus rewards on everyday spending |
|
|
Rating image, 5.0 out of 5 stars.
|
Great For: Dining |
|
|
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
|
Great For: Premium travel rewards |
|
|
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
|
Great For: Limited or no credit history |
|
|
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
|
Great For: Flat-rate travel rewards |
About the Author
Lyle Daly is a personal finance writer who specializes in credit cards, travel rewards programs, and banking. He writes for The Ascent and The Motley Fool, and his work has appeared in USA Today and Yahoo! Finance. He was born in California but currently lives as a digital nomad with a home base in Colombia.
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We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team. The Motley Fool has a Disclosure Policy. The Author and/or The Motley Fool may have an interest in companies mentioned.
The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Visa.
