Best credit cards of December 2024

The Bonus: Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening.

Rewards Rate: Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, and an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.

Intro APR Offer: Take advantage of an 18-month, zero interest offer on balance transfers.

Balance Transfer Fee: BalanceTransferFees

Ongoing APR: RegAPR

Annual Fee: AnnualFees

Foreign Transaction Fees: foreign_fee

Credit Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

• Some balance transfer credit cards don't offer ongoing rewards, so earning cash rewards on purchases, and no annual fee, is a great offering.
• Similarly, a 0% intro period on eligible balance transfers is generally the "bonus" with balance transfer credit cards. This card, however, takes things a step further with a cash rewards bonus for new cardholders.

CONS:

• Savvy shoppers willing to employ a little more strategy might prefer cards with rotating bonus categories.

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

The Bonus: Earn a $200 online cash rewards bonus after you spend at least $1,000 on purchases on your new card within the first 90 days of account opening.

Ongoing APR: RegAPR

Annual Fee: AnnualFees

Foreign Transaction Fees: foreign_fee

Rewards Rate:  Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice - now with expanded categories, 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. Choose 3% cash back on gas and EV charging station, online shopping/cable/internet/phone plan/streaming, dining, travel, drug store/pharmacy or home improvement/furnishings purchases.

Credit Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

• The freedom to choose the category in which to earn the highest rewards makes this customizable card an excellent option for many people's spending habits.
• If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards client, you can earn even more: 25%-75% more cash back on every purchase.
• Take advantage of IntroAPRRate, and balance transfers made in the first 60 days (then, RegAPR). Keep in mind though that balance transfer fees apply: balance_transfer_fees.

CONS:

• The cash-back opportunities are good, but they're great for Bank of America Preferred Rewards clients. If that's not you, you might want to look elsewhere for higher cash-back earning.
• Be aware that this card charges foreign transaction fees, so you'll want to carry another option along when you travel abroad or when you shop in foreign currency from home.
• You can only adjust your 3% cash-back earning category once per calendar month. If an unexpected expense arises in a different category after you've already made your choice, you're out of luck for the 3% on that purchase until the following month rolls around.

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

The Bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. You can transfer points to multiple airline and hotel loyalty programs, so you might find that bonus to be worth a lot more when converted to rewards under one of your existing loyalty accounts.

Annual Fee: AnnualFees

Foreign Transaction Fees: foreign_fee

Rewards Rate:  Earn 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. Your points are worth 25% more when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.

Credit Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

• This card's welcome bonus has the potential to go a really long way thanks to the boost in the value of points when redeemed through Chase Travel.
• Points earned with this card stand to be even more valuable when transferred to one of Chase's numerous travel partners.
• This card is an excellent complement to other Ultimate Rewards-earning cards, such as CardName or even business cards like the CardName. Combine all your points into a single pot and, depending on which card you group them under, they may be worth even more. Learn more in our Guide to Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

CONS:

• This card's rewards earning works well for a certain type of spender, but not everyone. Remember you'll only earn bonus rewards in select categories. If these categories aren't among your regular spending categories, you'd likely be better off with a different card.
• There is the AnnualFees annual fee to consider, so make sure you'll earn (and redeem!) enough rewards to more than offset the fee.

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

The Bonus: 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 in the first three months of card membership. Redeemed for statement credit to cover travel, those miles are worth $750. You can also transfer the miles to a number of hotel and airline loyalty programs for possibly more value.

Annual Fee: AnnualFees

Foreign Transaction Fees: foreign_fee

Rewards Rate: Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel; and an unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases.

Is Venture X worth the annual fee?: The annual fee for this card is already lower than most in the premium/luxury category, so that's a good start. Add in perks like a complimentary access to Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network, up to $120 statement credit for your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee, $300 credit annually for travel booked through Capital One Travel as well as 10,000 bonus miles (worth $100 in travel) each year after your account anniversary and it's easy to see how you can almost completely offset that annual fee before you even discuss the day-to-day rewards earning.

Credit Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

• It's nice to be appreciated – with this card, your loyalty is rewarded each anniversary year with 10,000 bonus miles.
• The card's welcome bonus and numerous ongoing perks will more than offset your annual fee for the first year.
• This card offers stellar flexibility when it comes to redeeming your miles. Just cash them in to cover travel purchases charged to your card. The list of loyalty program partners is also growing, so you can explore whether there's good value for you in that redemption path as well. Learn more in our Guide to Capital One miles.

CONS:

• While the $300 annual travel credit is generous, it is only available for purchases made through Capital One Travel, so it's a bit restrictive.
• It's lower than other cards in its class, but there is a AnnualFees annual fee to consider. Ensure you'll earn and redeem enough rewards to make the fee worth your while.
• Capital One's travel loyalty partners aren't the most popular or wide-reaching out there. It's nice to have the options, but they may not be be the most useful to you depending on your travel habits.

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

The Bonus: Limited time offer: Earn 60,000 points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership.

Ongoing APR: RegAPR

Annual Fee: AnnualFees

Foreign Transaction Fee: foreign_fee

Rewards Rate: Earn 4X points per $1 spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X point for the rest of the year; 4X points per $1 spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X point for the rest of the year; 3X points per $1 spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com; 2X points per $1 spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com; and 1X point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.

Credit Score Needed:  CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

• This card is tailor made for folks who prefer to let others do the cooking. Cardholders can earn 4X points for every dollar spent on dining (on up to $50,000), then 1X point for the rest of the year.
• Another tasty perk comes in the form of an annual $120 ($10 a month) dining credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with your card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys (enrollment required).
• If you do happen to like cooking for yourself, you can also earn 4X points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $25,000 per year, then 1X point for the rest of the year.

CONS:

• Membership has its privileges but they come with a price tag. The annual fee is substantial if you don't plan to make regular use of the card.
• As you may know, American Express encourages its members to pay off their balance every month. You do also have the option of "paying over time."

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

The Welcome Offer: Earn $250 in statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases within the first six months.

Intro APR Offer:Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. Balance transfer fee applies: BalanceTransferFees

Ongoing APR: RegAPR

Annual Fee: AnnualFees

Foreign Transaction Fees: foreign_fee

Rewards Rate: Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 spent annually, then 1%) and on select U.S. streaming subscriptions; earn 3% back at U.S. gas stations and on transit like parking, tolls, taxis, bus fares and more; and earn 1% back on your other purchases.

Credit Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

• This is among the highest reward rates out there for U.S. supermarket purchases, meaning it could be a very lucrative card for someone who regularly spends there.
• Low intro APR: 0% on purchases and balance transfers for intro_apr_duration from the date of account opening, then RegAPR. Balance transfer fee applies: BalanceTransferFees
• We love this card for families since it rewards purchases with U.S. supermarkets (6% cash back up to $6,000 spent in a year, then 1%), on select U.S. streaming subscriptions (6% cash back), at U.S. gas stations (3% cash back), and on transit (3% cash back); all categories that many families find themselves spending in with some frequency.

CONS:

• As an American Express card, it isn't as widely accepted as cards issued by Visa or Mastercard, but the American Express network is ever-expanding both in the U.S. and abroad.
• Speaking of using this card while abroad, that's not the best idea as it charges foreign transaction fees, something you can avoid with many cards.
• There's also the annual fee to consider; you'll want to go through your budget carefully to determine whether you'll earn enough rewards to more than offset the annual fee.

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

The Bonus: Spend $1,500 on purchases within the first six months of opening an account and you’ll receive 20,000 ThankYou® Points, worth $200.

Ongoing APR: RegAPR

Annual Fee: AnnualFees

Foreign Transaction Fee: foreign_fee

Rewards Rate: Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent (1% cash back thereafter) - there are no category enrollments to worry about or no need to juggle reward tiers. On everything else you purchase, you’ll get 1% cash back. Eligible 5% categories include: restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, fitness clubs, live entertainment, drugstores, and home improvement stores. As a special travel offer, earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2026.

Credit Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

• This is a good card if you have a large purchase on the horizon, or if you need some time to pay off an existing balance interest free, thanks to intro 0% APR for intro_apr_duration and balance transfers (then RegAPR applies).
• This card is a nice option if you don't want to worry about rotating categories or category enrollments as it automatically earns you bonus rewards in the eligible category where you spend the most, whether that's on gas or in one of the other eligible bonus categories.

CONS:

• If you're willing to keep up with rotating categories or a tiered-rewards structure, you may stand to earn more rewards with another card. That said, this card could complement other cards very nicely.
• This isn't a good card to travel internationally with as it charges a fee on foreign transactions.

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

The Bonus: Earn 90k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 cash back or $1,125 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠

Annual Fee: AnnualFees

Foreign Transaction Fees: foreign_fee

Rewards Rate: Receive three points per $1 spent on up to $150,000 combined spending annually on travel expenses; shipping costs; Internet, cable, and phone services; and advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines. You'll earn one point per $1 in those categories once you reach the spending cap and on all your other purchases.

Additional Perks: Pay your mobile phone bill on your card and you'll enjoy protection for the primary phone on the account as well as all the other phones on the account (yes, that includes employee phones) for covered damage and theft.

Credit Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

• This is the highest signup bonus of any Ultimate Rewards-earning card – 90,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first three months. That bonus is worth $900 cash back or $1,125 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel.
• The spending cap in the bonus categories is high at $150,000, so it can meet the needs of a just-getting-started business as well as an already-on-the-move business.
• Pay your cellular bill on your card and you'll receive cellular phone insurance for the primary line as well as other phones on the account.

CONS:

• There is an annual fee to consider, so make sure the rewards categories truly fit your businesses needs or else the fee might not be worth it.
• Remember that there is a spending cap in the bonus categories, so if you spend well above a combined $150,000 a year on travel and the other select business categories, you'll only earn 1% back on the additional spending.
• Frequent travelers are likely to get the most value out of this card, so if travel isn't a big part of your business' spending, you might want to consider another option as your small business credit card.

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

Intro 0% Offer Details: Take advantage of an introductory 0% APR period of 21 months from date of your first transfer for balance transfers (all transfers must be completed within 4 months) and 12 months for purchases (then, RegAPR).

Balance Transfer Fees: BalanceTransferFees

Annual Fee: AnnualFees

Foreign Transaction Fees: foreign_fee

Rewards Rate: There are no traditional rewards offered with this card, however, you could easily consider the extra money you'll save on interest charges thanks to that introductory 0% APR period on purchases and qualifying transfers, as a reward.

Credit Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

• This card has one of the longest intro 0% APR offers that we know of. Enjoy 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months (when made in the first four months) and on purchases for 12 months, then RegAPR.
• This card keeps membership fun with Citi Entertainment®, which gives cardholders special access to purchase tickets to thousands of events, including concerts, sporting events, dining experiences and more.
• Keep track of your credit with free access to your FICO® score online.

CONS:

• This card isn’t a rewards card so if you want a lengthy 0% intro offer AND rewards you might want to consider another option.
• Intro 0% APR for 21 months on balance transfers is one of the longest on the market, but don’t be blindsided by the APR after the intro offer. Depending on your creditworthiness the APR can shoot up significantly.
• If you’re looking for a good credit card to take overseas with you, this card probably isn’t it as it charges foreign transaction fees.

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

The Welcome Offer: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership.

Annual Fee: AnnualFees

Foreign Transaction Fees: foreign_fee 

Rewards Rate: Earn 5X Membership Rewards points for every $1 spent on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel (up to $500,000 spent on these purchases per calendar year); 5X points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com; and one point per $1 spent on eligible purchases elsewhere.

Is CardName Annual Fee Worth It? Again, the short answer is yes... for the right person. Cardholders receive complimentary access to the Global Lounge Collection of airport lounges and are eligible for up $200 annually in statement credit to cover incidental airline charges like baggage fees or in-flight refreshments on one qualifying pre-selected airline, as well as either $120 or $85 in credit to cover your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees, respectively. If you are someone who would have purchased an annual airport lounge membership, that alone largely offsets the annual fee. Plus, the perks just mentioned are in addition to numerous other perks and features you'd want to see with a luxury card. Enrollment required for select benefits. 

Credit Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

• As a luxury card, this is another good travel option packed with useful benefits. Some of our favorites include: a $200 airline fee credit (with one pre-selected airline); Uber VIP status and up to $15 each month, plus a bonus in December, in Uber Cash for your rides and Uber Eats orders in the U.S.; a credit of $120 or $85 for your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, respectively, application fee; access to the Global Lounge Collection, including Centurion Lounge locations around the world; no foreign transaction fees; and car rental loss and damage insurance.
• This card also offers a hefty welcome bonus to get card membership started off on the right foot. New cardholders can earn 80,000 bonus Membership Rewards points once making $8,000 in purchase in the first six months of card membership.
• With 5X Membership Rewards points earned on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express travel, this card makes it easy to rack up rewards quickly.
• Terms apply. Enrollment required for select benefits.

CONS:

• The AnnualFees annual fee this card charges can’t be overlooked. It is a luxury card, however, and there are plenty of beneficial perks to help offset this cost.
• With that said, many of the perks of this card are travel related; if you don’t travel often, you’ll likely have trouble offsetting the annual fee and making the most of the card’s rewards.
• If you anticipate needing to carry a balance you’ll likely want to consider another option. Unlike typical credit cards, this card allows you to carry a balance for certain charges, but not all.

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

The Bonus: Earn an early spend bonus of $50 when you spend $100 in the first three months.

The Annual Fee: AnnualFees

Foreign Transaction Fees: foreign_fee

The Rewards: Earn a flat 1.5% cash back on purchases.

Credit Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

• This card has no annual fee making it an excellent starter option for those just diving into the world of credit cards.
• What college student doesn't want a little extra cash in their pocket? This card offers a nice welcome bonus that can be earned by new cardcholers; a perk not always found with student credit cards.

CONS:

• The rewards earning is nice, but isn't sky high. There are student cards out there that offer higher rewards-earning opportunities if you're willing to be strategic with your spending.
• The high APR of RegAPR can be alarming if you don't stay on top of paying your balance in full and on time.

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

PROS:

• This is a unique secured credit card in that it offers cash-back rewards. Earn 2% back on the first $1,000 spent each quarter at gas stations and restaurants (then 1%) and 1% on all other purchases.
• Not only is this a secured credit card that offers ongoing rewards, but it also offers a nice welcome bonus – another unique feature to secured credit cards. Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year as a cardholder. So say you earn $100 cash back in your first year, you’ll actually pocket $200 that year.
• After seven months, Discover will automatically review your account monthly to determine whether you’re eligible to be transitioned to an unsecured credit card.

CONS:

• Though there’s no annual fee, the minimum security deposit amount could be a stretch for some people at $200. If you can’t see yourself coming up with that deposit, there are other secured credit cards with lower security deposit requirements.
• Although the cash-back rewards associated with this card may entice potential users, the downside is that not every applicant will be approved. Approval depends on credit history and other financial variables. If you’re uncertain that you will be approved and don’t want a hard credit inquiry on your report, a different secured credit card might be a better fit for you.

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.