I think about credit cards all the time.
As a personal finance journalist, I've written about credit card rewards for a decade now, and have more than three dozen active cards of my own. My family and friends frequently ask me, "What's the best credit card?" and "What credit card should I get?"
What credit card should I get?
I always tell people there isn't a universal best credit card that works for everyone. Some people prefer no-annual-fee credit cards, while others don't mind paying a hefty annual sum for premium credit cards with airport lounge access. Some people value travel rewards credit cards, while others prefer to focus on cash-back credit cards.
If you're a foodie, you'll want to choose one of the best credit cards for dining out in restaurants. But if you're more of a homebody, you may want to focus on the best credit cards for buying groceries and the best credit cards for gas purchases.
If your credit score is lower than you'd like, you may qualify for some of the best credit cards for bad credit or seek a secured credit card, which can help you build credit and even earn rewards while you work toward a stronger financial future.
If you're a first-time credit card applicant or a student with minimal income, you may want to consider one of the best starter credit cards or the best student credit cards.
I compiled this list of the best credit cards for everyone who keeps asking for my recommendations. Each card offers benefits, rewards, and financial protection you won't find from paying cash or using a debit card.
It's impossible to name a single credit card that would be perfect for everyone's needs. But knowing what you want from your credit card can help you find your best option.
I wrote this list for people like my parents, who just want me to tell them what card to apply for. Out of hundreds of credit cards on the market, these are the best options I've found — in fact, you'll find most of them in my own wallet.
Top Credit Card Recommendations for You
- Best for travel rewards: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Best for no annual fee: Chase Freedom Unlimited®
- Best for restaurants: Bilt Mastercard®
- Best for flat-rate cash rewards: Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card (rates and fees)
- Best for 0% intro APR: Discover it® Cash Back
- Best for balance transfers: Citi® Double Cash Card
- Best for U.S. supermarkets: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
- Best for everyday airline benefits: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
- Best for top-tier hotel elite status: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Featured Credit Cards
$0
0% intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 12 months from account opening
19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% variable
Earn $200 cash rewards bonus
Good to Excellent
- Good welcome bonus for a $0 annual fee card
- Straightforward 2% cash rewards on purchases with no categories to track
- Strong benefits including cell phone protection, Visa Signature perks, and an intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
- If you've opened a Wells Fargo card in the past six months, you may not qualify for an additional Wells Fargo credit card
- Foreign transaction fees
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is definitely worth considering if you want to earn a strong rate of cash rewards on purchases without rotating categories or earning caps and with no annual fee. It's got a solid welcome bonus and intro APR offer, which puts it high on our list of the best zero-interest credit cards.
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card- Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
- $0 annual fee.
- No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don't expire as long as your account remains open.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
$95
N/A
20.49% - 27.49% Variable
Earn 60,000 bonus points
Good to Excellent
- High intro bonus offer starts you off with lots of points
- Strong travel coverage
- Doesn't offer a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit
If you're new to travel rewards credit cards or just don't want to pay hundreds in annual fees, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a smart choice. It earns bonus points on a wide variety of travel and dining purchases and offers strong travel and purchase coverage, including primary car rental insurance.
Sapphire Preferred Card- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
- Member FDIC
$0
0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR
Earn Unlimited Cashback Match®
Good to Excellent
- From January 1 to March 31, 2025, earn 5% cash back at restaurants, home improvement stores, and select streaming services on up to $1,500 in purchases after enrollment, then 1%
- Discover will match your cash back earned at the end of your first account year
- No annual fee
- Cap on how much bonus cash back you can earn each quarter
- If the quarterly categories aren't convenient for you, you can earn more cash back with a different card
The Discover it® Cash Back is one of the best credit cards that offers 5% back on popular rotating categories up to a spending limit. Your rewards are matched by Discover after the first 12 months, and the card has no annual fee.
Discover it Cash Back- Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers–only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
- Apply and you could get a decision in as little as 60 seconds. No annual fee.
- Start shopping and earning rewards in minutes with our digital card, before your physical card arrives in the mail, if eligible.
- Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. Activate by mobile app for free.
- Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 18.24% to 27.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
- Terms and conditions apply.
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers from the date of account opening
18.24% - 29.24% Variable
Earn a $250 statement credit
Good to Excellent
- Generous bonus rewards, especially at U.S. supermarkets
- One of a small handful of credit cards that offer bonus rewards on select streaming services
- Intro APR offer
- Unlike many other cash-back cards, it charges an annual fee
- If you spend more than $6,000 at US supermarkets each year, you'll want to use another card once you reach that cap
The Amex Blue Cash Preferred is one of the best cash-back cards, particularly for consumers who spend a lot of money at U.S. supermarkets, use streaming services, or have lots of commuting and gas expenses. The annual fee is worth it if your typical spending lines up with the card's bonus categories.
Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card- Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 intro plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months from the date of account opening. Plans created after that will have a monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each eligible purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
- Low Intro APR: 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 18.24% - 29.24%.
- 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
- 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations.
- 3% Cash Back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
- 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
- Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
- $84 Disney Bundle Credit: With your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred Card, spend $9.99 or more each month on an auto-renewing Disney Bundle subscription, to receive a monthly statement credit of $7. Valid only at Disney Plus.com, Hulu.com or Plus.espn.com in the U.S.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best for travel rewards
Why I think the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is worth getting: I recommended the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to my whole family because it offers a generous welcome bonus and some of the best travel insurance available from a credit card, especially one with such a low annual fee of just $95.
Topping Business Insider's list of best travel credit cards for beginners and experts alike, this card offers newcomers a nice stash of Chase Ultimate Rewards points: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
The points from this welcome offer are worth at least $750 toward travel booked through Chase, or potentially up to $1,080, based on Business Insider's valuations, or more if you redeem your points through transfer partners.
My mom is a cardholder, and she earns 5 points per dollar on travel through Chase Travel℠ and 2 points per dollar on all other travel purchases. She also gets 5 points per dollar on Lyft rides through March 2025, 3 points on dining, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services, and 1 point per dollar on other purchases.
Mom can also transfer Chase points to airline and hotel companies such as British Airways, Hyatt, United Airlines, and Southwest. When she books travel directly through Chase, her points are worth 1.25 cents apiece — a 25% bonus over their redemption value elsewhere.
Beyond the rewards, I feel good about my mom using the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card because it offers some of the best complimentary travel insurance of any credit card.
She gets primary car rental insurance whenever she rents a car and declines purchasing coverage through the rental agency. This means she can file a claim with Chase if her rental gets damaged or stolen instead of filing through her personal car insurance policy, which can increase her premiums.
As a cardholder, my mom is also eligible for trip delay insurance and baggage delay insurance through her Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card benefits. So if her flight is delayed past a certain amount of time or the airline loses her checked bag, she can get reimbursed for basic necessities such as a new toothbrush, change of clothes, or other reasonable replacement items.
Finally, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card comes with a 10% anniversary points bonus and up to $50 a year in statement credits for hotels booked through Chase.
What I love: Primary rental car insurance, generous travel credit, easy rewards
What I don't love: Annual fee
Read our Chase Sapphire Preferred review to learn more about this credit card.
Why I didn't recommend the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or the The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® and The Platinum Card® from American Express are two of the best-known travel rewards credit cards in the world. However, both charge sky-high annual fees even if their benefits are worth far more.
While airport lounge access is a dream for anyone, I often tell infrequent travelers to save some money by getting a card with a much lower annual fee and paying for lounge day passes as needed. Once you find yourself buying more than two lounge passes each year, it might be time to consider an upgrade.
Learn more about both of these premium cards in our Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card review and our American Express Platinum credit card review.
Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Best for no annual fee
Why I think the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is worth getting: The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a top pick from my list of the best no-annual-fee credit cards, and it's particularly attractive for people like myself with other credit cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards.
My Chase Freedom Unlimited® earns 5% cash back on Chase Travel℠ and Lyft purchases, similar to the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. It also earns 3% cash back on dining and drugstore purchases, and a flat 1.5% cash back on everything else.
While this card is technically a cash-back credit card, I can transfer rewards from my Chase Freedom Unlimited® to my Chase Sapphire Reserve® credit card to use for business-class award flights or through Chase Travel℠ for a 50% value bonus.
It also comes with a generous introductory offer: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months, then 19.49% - 28.24% Variable APR. This zero-interest period has been helpful when I make large purchases I plan to pay off over time.
Unfortunately, this card charges foreign transaction fees, and I've paid more than I should whenever I forget and accidentally use this card while traveling abroad.
What I love: Great earning rates and zero-interest period with no annual fee
What I don't love: Foreign transaction fees
Learn more about this credit card in our Chase Freedom Unlimited review.
Why I didn't recommend the Chase Freedom Flex®
I spent a long time deliberating between the Chase Freedom Unlimited® and the Chase Freedom Flex® for this category. After all, both cards offer nearly identical benefits and earn rewards at very similar rates and bonus categories.
I have both cards, and actually utilize my Chase Freedom Flex® more often than my Chase Freedom Unlimited®. But the Chase Freedom Flex® is best for people who don't mind spending extra time and energy tracking 5% quarterly bonus categories.
For the purposes of this guide, I highlighted credit cards that make your life easier, and the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is better for that with a flat 1.5% return on all non-bonus spend.
If you like the thrill of the cash-back chase like I do, the Chase Freedom Flex® might be right for you. Read more about this card in our Chase Freedom Flex credit card review. Like its cousin, this option also pairs well with other Chase cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards.
Bilt Mastercard®: Best for restaurants and double point days
Why I think the Bilt Mastercard® is worth getting: The Bilt Mastercard® is best known as a great credit card for people who pay rent. Renters can pay rent with this credit card without incurring any transaction fees, and they even earn Bilt Points for doing so (up to 100,000 points each calendar year).
But even non-renters like myself earn great rewards with this credit card. I got the Bilt Mastercard® because it earns 3 points per dollar on dining, 2 points on travel, and 1 point on most other purchases. However, I have to make at least five purchases each billing cycle to earn rewards on this card.
Fortunately, it's easy to use this card at least five times a month. I earn double points on the first day of every month, affectionately known as "Bilt Rent Day", on up to 1,000 points. I can also earn bonuses on Bilt Rent Day by playing trivia games and participating in various contests.
Double points don't apply to rent payments, but do stack with other rewards such as bonus points on Bilt Dining. For example, I can earn 9 points on dining on Bilt Rent Day if I go to a Bilt Neighborhood restaurant that earns 3 points per dollar spent, then pay with my Bilt card (3 points on dining purchases plus Bilt Rent Day double points).
Pro tip: You don't have to be a Bilt cardholder to earn Bilt Points. Simply link any credit card to the Bilt app wallet to earn points on all eligible dining purchases.
Bilt Points have an average worth of 1.65 cents apiece, based on Business Insider's valuations. But they're even more valuable when transferred to travel partners like Alaska Airlines, which doesn't accept transferrable points from any other credit card. I can also book travel directly through the Bilt Rewards travel portal at a rate of 1.25 cents per point.
The Bilt Mastercard® also comes with generous benefits including primary rental car insurance, trip delay insurance that goes into effect after six hours, cell phone protection of up to $800 per claim which is subject to a $25 deductible, and no foreign transaction fees (rates and fees).
What I love: Double point days and generous dining rewards with no annual fee
What I don't love: Bilt Rent Day rewards are capped at a 1,000-point maximum
Read our Bilt Mastercard card review to learn more about this card.
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card: Best for cash rewards
Why I think the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is worth getting: The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card earns a flat 2% cash rewards rate on purchases, and comes with a generous welcome bonus for a no-annual-fee card: $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first three months from account opening.
I recommend this card to anyone who's been considering one of the best cash-back credit cards (or the best Wells Fargo credit cards) because it's just so easy to use.
With the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, you'll never have to track which categories earn bonus points because everything earns 2% back: No more, no less. You can redeem Wells Fargo Rewards for statement credits, gift cards, travel, and more.
I always appreciate a good zero-interest period, and this card delivers with a 0% intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 12 months from account opening, followed by a 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% variable APR.
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card also comes with a wide range of benefits, including cell phone protection for up to $600 per claim.
This card does charge foreign transaction fees, so leave it at home on international trips.
What I love: Flat-rate 2% cash rewards and 0% intro APR with no annual fee
What I don't love: Foreign transaction fees
Learn more about this card in our Wells Fargo Active Cash card review.
Why I didn't recommend the Citi® Double Cash Card
It's always challenging to decide which top credit card deserves what accolade. The Citi® Double Cash Card also appears in this guide later on, as our top pick for a good balance transfer credit card.
The primary difference between these two cards is that the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card offers a shorter 0% intro APR period that applies to both purchases and balance transfers, while the Citi® Double Cash Card has a longer period of zero interest that only applies to balance transfers.
Discover it® Cash Back: Best for 5% Cash Back and 0% Intro APR
Why I think the Discover it® Cash Back is worth getting: The Discover it® Cash Back is one of my newest cards, and I got it because I wanted a no-annual-fee credit card offering generous 0% intro APR terms that still earns rewards.
This card offers a longer-than-usual zero-interest period: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then 18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR APR. While some cards offer longer periods with zero interest, few do so while still earning rewards as generous as on the Discover it® Cash Back. The card we mention next for balance transfers, however, gives this one a run for its money.
The Discover it® Cash Back makes earning rewards extra fun, with quarterly bonus categories that change on a rotating cash back calendar (from January 1 to March 31, 2025, earn 5% cash back at restaurants, home improvement stores, and select streaming services on up to $1,500 in purchases after enrollment, then 1%). I earn 5% on bonus categories, and 1% on everything else. This card doesn't earn a traditional welcome bonus, but Discover will automatically match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year for new card members.
What I love: Generous 0% intro APR period and bonus reward categories and double cash back in my first year
What I don't love: 1% flat rate on non-bonus categories
Learn more about this card in our Discover it Cash Back card review.
Why I didn't recommend the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card
The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card was our previous pick for this credit card category, and it offers one of the longest 0% intro APR periods we've ever seen: 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers made within 120 days, followed by a 17.24%, 23.74%, or 28.99% Variable APR.
However, the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card doesn't earn any rewards, while the Discover it® Cash Back offers generous returns on certain categories. While our recommended card has a slightly shorter 0% APR period, it offers cardholders better returns in the long run and more long-term value.
Citi® Double Cash Card: Best for balance transfers
Why I think the Citi® Double Cash Card is worth getting: I spent a lot of time trying to decide between the Citi® Double Cash Card and the Discover it® Cash Back, because both offer great benefits and very similar rewards.
Ultimately, I think the Citi® Double Cash Card is best for people who want to make a balance transfer because it offers 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, then 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR.
Cardholders do have to pay a 3% intro fee of each transfer ($5 minimum) completed within the first four months of account opening, then 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum), but the balance transfer fee is significantly lower than what you'd pay in credit card interest anywhere else.
As the name suggests, the Citi® Double Cash Card also earns great rewards, which can be rare on credit cards with such a long zero-interest period.
You'll earn 2% cash back on all purchases: 1% cash back when you make a purchase, and another 1% cash back when you pay off what you owe. Rewards aren't capped, which is why this card also ranks on our list of the best 2% cash back credit cards.
What I love: Super-long 0% intro APR period for balance transfers with no annual fee
What I don't love: No 0% intro APR for purchases
Learn more about this card in our Citi Double Cash card review.
Why I didn't recommend the Citi Simplicity® Card
The Citi Simplicity® Card is a sister card of the Citi® Double Cash Card with an even longer zero-interest period for balance transfers: 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months (transfers must be completed within four months of account opening) and on purchases for 12 months, then 18.24% - 28.99% Variable APR.
However, the Citi Simplicity® Card doesn't earn any rewards, and I will always choose the option of earning 2% cash back over three extra months of no interest.
If you just want the longer option for a zero-interest balance transfer, read more about this card in our Citi Simplicity card review.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: Best for U.S. Supermarkets
Why I think the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is worth getting: The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a fantastic household credit card.
This card earns a whopping 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year) and select streaming services, 3% back on U.S. gas stations and transit, and 1% back on several other eligible purchases (cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon checkout).
There are several caveats, of course:
- The 6% bonus only applies to the first $6,000 you spend at U.S. supermarkets each year; after you reach the $6,000 mark, you'll earn just 1% per dollar
- Not all streaming services are included in the bonus amount.
- While transit expenses include train or subway fares and tolls, it doesn't include more popular travel spend such as flights and rental cars.
- Gas or grocery purchases from discount warehouses like Costco or Sam's Club don't count toward bonus cash back
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is one of the few cards on this list with an annual fee after Year 1: $0 intro for the first year, then $95.
But if you max out the $6,000 at U.S. supermarkets bonus each year, that's $360 of cash in your pocket — significantly more than the annual fee you'll start paying in Year 2.
What I love: 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year) and select streaming subscriptions, 3% back at U.S. gas stations and transit expenses
What I don't love: Annual fee after the first year
Learn more about this card in our American Express Blue Cash Preferred review.
Why I didn't recommend the American Express® Gold Card
The American Express® Gold Card is one of the most popular credit cards for foodies, earning 4 Amex points per dollar on both groceries at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases) and restaurants (on up to $50,000 in purchases).
However, I think the card's $325 annual fee is too steep for me to recommend this card for most folks, especially just starting out. Read more about this card in our review of the Amex Gold Card.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: Best for Everyday Airline Benefits
Why I think the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is worth getting: Southwest is one of the most popular airlines for U.S. travelers, and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card gives cardholders a serious leg up on benefits.
This credit card is Southwest's premium consumer card and comes with a $149 annual fee. But cardholders get an annual credit of $75 toward Southwest flights, which effectively halves the out-of-pocket cost of the annual fee.
Cardholders also earn generous anniversary bonuses, four upgraded boardings per year, a nice welcome offer, bonus points on Southwest flights and several other spend categories, and avoid foreign transaction fees.
Southwest will begin charging for seat assignments in 2025. And while we don't know any details about this momentous change, cardholders will likely get exclusive benefits that everyday travelers do not. If nothing else, Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Cardholders will earn 3 points per dollar when paying for preferred seating.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card won't do you any good if you don't fly Southwest, of course. But if you do, this card can help you fast-track your way to elite status and the coveted Southwest Companion Pass, especially if you time your welcome offer just right.
What I love: $75 annual statement credit toward Southwest travel
What I don't love: Annual fee
Learn more about this card in our Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority credit card review.
Why I didn't recommend an airline credit card from any other airline
Airline credit cards rarely offer the best value when used for every purchase. In fact, many savvy travelers use airline credit cards exclusively for the carrier-specific benefits they offer, such as free checked bags and preferred seating.
Since Southwest already offers two free checked bags per traveler, its credit card had more to offer than most competitor options.
We previously recommended the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card as the best airline credit card for most travelers. However, an annual fee increase in 2024 made me reconsider whether it offers the best value for most of my friends and family.
While people often tell me that Delta is their preferred airline, it isn't always the most affordable carrier, whether you pay with cash or Delta SkyMiles.
And in most cases, cardholders still earn more and get better travel insurance protection by using a travel rewards credit card with excellent benefits such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
Learn more about the pros and cons in our guide to the best airline credit cards.
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Best for Top-Tier Hotel Elite Status
Why I think the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is worth getting: You might wonder why my pick for the best hotel credit card has an annual fee of $550. That's a steep price to pay upfront, but savvy Hilton guests can whiz their way to top-brass elite status with this credit card.
I had this credit card for many years, and only gave it up because I transferred my loyalty to Marriott.
Most premium hotel credit cards offer generous elite status that still requires a certain amount of spend to get to the very top. But the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card comes with automatic Diamond status — Hilton's very highest elite tier. You'll get late checkout, early check-in, free breakfast, and many other perks just by having this card.
The card also comes with a solid welcome bonus of 175,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the card within your first six months of card membership (offer ends 1/8/2025), plus an annual free night award you can use at almost any Hilton worldwide — including the aspirational Waldorf Astoria brand, where reservations routinely average $1,000 or more each night.
Hilton recently poached a partnership with Small Luxury Hotels of the World from Hyatt, which gives Hilton loyalists almost 600 new, premium hotel options to choose from.
Cardholders get an annual Hilton resort credit of $250 toward room service, spa treatments, or activities, as well as up to $250 in airline incidental fee credits each year toward any carrier of their choice.
What I love: Automatic top-tier Diamond elite status, annual free night certificate
What I don't love: High annual fee and Hilton-specific benefits
Learn more about this card in our Hilton Aspire card review.
Why I didn't recommend a Marriott credit card or The World Of Hyatt Credit Card
Marriott offers several great hotel credit cards, and I actually have three of them myself. However, I wouldn't miss any of the cards in my current arsenal, while I regularly think about the benefits I miss from my Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, even when comparing it against the top-tier Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.
Marriott has the world's largest collection of hotels, so getting one of the best Marriott credit cards might be a good option for you if you don't travel to destinations with many Hilton properties to choose from.
If you prefer luxury and don't mind a smaller global footprint, you might consider Hyatt, which only offers The World Of Hyatt Credit Card.
Best credit card frequently asked questions
Yes, many no-annual-fee credit cards offer competitive rewards programs including cash back, travel rewards, and points. These cards can provide excellent value without the cost of an annual fee.
The best credit card will vary based on your individual needs and wants. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a fantastic card for people who travel, while most people can benefit from having a Chase Freedom Unlimited® in their wallet. Chase credit cards as a whole are extremely popular with consumers. Some store credit cards are also very popular with consumers, including the Best Buy credit card and the Home Depot credit card.
The most publicly known premium card in the world is the Centurion "Black Card" by American Express.
A cash rewards credit card with no annual fee is always good to have in your wallet, like the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. The Bilt Mastercard® allows you to pay rent on a credit card, and earns great travel rewards for no annual fee (rates and fees). If you're willing to pay an annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers generous benefits and a strong travel rewards program.
Why you should trust me: How I chose the best credit cards
Choosing the best credit cards is a momentous task, and it's a responsibility I take very seriously. I regularly evaluate dozens of credit cards available to consumers and business owners, and update this guide on a monthly basis.
In addition to considering my own perspective and consulting with industry colleagues, I read popular forums such as Reddit and FlyerTalk to see what everyday consumers are saying about different card as well.
I evaluated each of the cards in this guide — and screened out many others — against the following criteria:
- Simplicity: All of the cards on this list are easy for consumers to use and understand. While I regularly update several credit card guides for maximizing rewards and benefits, my list of top recommendations is meant to help people like my parents find an easy card to use for everyday purchases.
- Affordability: Most of the credit cards in this guide don't cost you any money to keep. While there's a case to be made for paying a high annual fee when you're getting high value in return, most people dislike the idea of paying money to spend money.
- Value: A good credit card should offer enough value to offset any annual fee several times over. When evaluating no-annual-fee cards, I focused on the ones that provide the best benefits or most generous rewards.
Read Business Insider's guide to points and miles valuations to learn what your credit card rewards are worth, and learn more about how we rate credit cards.
