Best credit cards for excellent credit of November 2024

Intro Offer: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back! Plus, take advantage of an introductory 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months (then RegAPR).

The Annual fee: AnnualFees

The Rewards: Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on Chase travel; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining; and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

PROS:

• If you have a large purchase to make (or an existing balance on another card that you're willing to transfer) and need some extra time to pay it off, you're sure to love the intro 0% APR offer that comes with this card. (Regular RegAPR APR applies after the intro period.)
• Because this card has no annual fee, it's great for both those looking to amp up their rewards-earning strategy with a solid "everyday" card, as well as for those who just want something simple to use without worrying about any extra costs.
• The new card member bonus opportunity is a good offer for a no-annual-fee card.

CONS:

• Even though there is no annual fee this card does charge for foreign transaction fees so it’s not the best card to travel abroad with.
• The 1.5% rate for all non-bonus category purchases is solid, but to make the most of this card, you might need to strategize a bit.

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

Welcome Bonus: Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.

The Annual Fee: AnnualFees

The Rewards: You earn unlimited 1% back per $1 spent on every purchase, then earn another 1% back when you pay your balance (you must pay the minimum amount due on time to earn cash back). That brings your total cash back opportunity to 2% on every purchase with no caps or categories to think about. Plus, a special travel offer, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25.

PROS:

• The 2% cash back earning (after purchases have been paid) for all purchases is excellent for a no-annual-fee card.
• This card is currently offering an intro 0% balance transfer APR, allowing you the flexibility to transfer a balance and save on interest. After the intro APR period, RegAPR will apply.
• With the ability to earn 1% cash back when you make a purchase and an additional 1% when you pay for your purchase, the Double Cash® Card incentivizes good credit behavior with great rewards.
• If you also have the Citi Premier® card, you can combine your earnings and convert your Double Cash rewards to ThankYou® Points to expand your redemption options.

CONS:

• The intro 0% balance transfer APR offer is one of the best on the market, however this offer does not apply to new purchases, so if you are looking for an intro offer for new purchases this may not be the card for you.
• This card charges foreign transaction fees, which you should keep in mind if you are planning to use it internationally.

*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.

The Rewards: 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. Chase Ultimate Rewards points are transferable to numerous frequent flyer and hotel loyalty programs.

The Annual Fee: AnnualFees

PROS:

• The new cardmember 60,000-point bonus offer after $4,000 spent in three months of membership, is quite the valuable bonus offer, so don't miss out.
• As an Ultimate Rewards earning card, the points earned with Sapphire Preferred® can be combined into a single pot with other Ultimate Rewards-earning cards.
• The points earned with this card are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel through Chase Travel, meaning the bonus alone is worth $750 in Chase Travel.

CONS:

• The annual fee is something to keep in mind if you prefer a no-annual-fee card.
• No introductory 0% APR balance transfer or purchase offer.
• If you are not a frequent traveler there are other cards on the market with higher points earning potential.

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

The Bonus: Earn 25,000 online bonus points – worth $250 when redeemed to cover travel or dining purchases charged on your card – when you spend just $1,000 in the first 90 days.

The Rewards: Earn 1.5 points per $1 spent on every eligible purchase. Additionally, if you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards member you will earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase depending on your tier. That means every purchase could earn 1.87-2.62 points per $1 spent.

The Annual Fee: AnnualFees

PROS:

• Hands down the top perk of this card is the ability to redeem points to cover eligible dining purchases, including those for takeout and delivery. What a fantastic way to use credit card points to extend your vacation food budget.
• There's no annual fee or foreign transaction fees to worry about.
• The points earning is simple; there aren't a lot of tiers or rotating categories to trip you up.

CONS:

• The rewards are quite flexible when it comes time to redeem (which we love), but you lose out on the ability to add value by transferring rewards to a partner or using a proprietary travel portal like you have with some other travel rewards cards.
• Again, the simplicity is key with the rewards here, but flat-rate rewards cards rarely often the highest earning potential; you could likely earn more with a tiered rewards card.

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

The Bonus: For a limited time, new cardholders can earn 60,000 points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership. You can also 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. This is an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.

The Annual Fee: AnnualFees

The Rewards: Earn 4X points per $1 spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year), then 1X points; 4X points per $1 spent at US supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year) then 1X points; 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.

PROS:

• One of the biggest benefits of this card is the points earning potential, especially on dining out. The Gold card earns Earn 4X points per $1 spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year), then 1X points; 4X points per $1 spent at US supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year) then 1X points; 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.
• Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
• 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. This is an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
• The limited time offer bonus of 60,000 Membership Rewards points earned after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new card within the first six months.

CONS:

• Unlike typical credit cards, the card allows you to carry a balance for certain charges, but not all.
• The annual fee is relatively high, especially for those who won’t be able to take advantage of the travel and dining benefits to help offset the fee.
• The overall rewards earning with the Gold card is good, however the travel rewards earning being higher only on specific travel purchases made through American Express can be a bit of a barrier compared to other travel rewards cards that offer higher points earning on most travel purchases.

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

The Bonus: For a limited time, earn 75,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening, redeemable for $750 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com

The Annual Fee: AnnualFees

The Rewards: 10x on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on air travel and other hotel purchases, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas and EV charging stations. Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases

PROS:

• Traveling abroad? Don't forget to pack this card! It doesn't charge fees on foreign transactions, so it makes a good international travel companion.
• Transfer ThankYou® Points to participating airline loyalty programs or redeem for a wide selection of gift cards at thankyou.com. Points can also be used to shop online at Amazon.com or BestBuy.com.
• If you also have the Citi® Double Cash Card, you can combine rewards and convert your Double Cash rewards to ThankYou® Points.
• Enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more, excluding taxes and fees, through CitiTravel.com once per calendar year. If you frequently stay at hotels, this is a great perk that offsets the cost of the card.

CONS:

• Looking for a no-annual-fee card? Unfortunately, this one charges a AnnualFees fee. We think this is a fair cost considering the perks of the card, but it's something to keep in mind.
• The redemption options are great for the right type of user, but if you prefer the flexibility of cash-back rewards, this might not be the best option for you.

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

The Bonus: 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.

The Annual fee: AnnualFees

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

PROS:

• The points-earning for flights with this card is one of the highest on the market with 5X Membership Rewards points earned on flights booked directly with airlines or with Amex Travel.
• As a luxury travel rewards card, it should come as no surprise that the Amex Platinum has some of the best travel benefits on the market, including a $200 annual airline incidentals fee credit with a pre-selected airline.
• The Membership Rewards points earned with the Platinum Card® are extremely valuable and the new cardmember bonus offer of 80,000 Membership Rewards points earned after spending $8,000 in the first six months can help to get you well on your way to your next redemption.

CONS:

• If you are someone that prefers to have low or no annual fee cards the Amex Platinum will be a poor fit for you.
• Unlike typical credit cards, this card allows you to carry a balance for certain charges, but not all. If you are looking to carry a balance from month to month this probably isn’t the card for you.
• As the card’s features and benefits are heavily skewed towards travel, if you are not a person who frequently travels then it may be difficult to justify the annual fee without taking advantage of the perks.

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

The Bonus: There isn't a traditional bonus, but this card really shines with an intro 21 months no interest on balance transfers from date of first transfer (must be made within four months) and 12 months on purchases from date of account opening. A RegAPR APR applies after the intro periods.

The Annual Fee: AnnualFees

Balance Transfer Fee: BalanceTransferFees

PROS:

• We can't say it enough: 21 months of intro 0% APR on balance transfers is a very solid offer. If you have balances on other cards you need to pay off, and need some more time to make that happen, this card could be a great fit for you.
• This card doesn't charge annual fees so you can enjoy the intro 0% APR periods without worrying about paying anything extra while you do so.
• Enjoy pre-sale tickets and VIP packages to concerts, entertainment and sporting events through Citi Entertainment®.

CONS:

• There are no traditional ongoing rewards offered with this card.
• This card charges foreign transaction fees so it's not the best fit for overseas travel.

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

PROS:

• With its comparatively low RegAPR, the CardName has one of the lowest rates available on the market today.
• With no annual fee, the card can be used without having to budget for the expense of just owning the card.
• This card doesn't charge foreign transaction fees so it's a good one to pack for any trips abroad.

CONS:

• There are no ongoing rewards offered on purchases made with the card.
• This isn't a flashy card. There aren't a ton of perks to attract new cardholders, however, a low APR could be one of the biggest perks of all depending on your financial situation.

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

The Bonus: Earn 90,000 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℠. On an ongoing basis, Ultimate Rewards points are worth 25% more when you redeem them for travel through Chase Travel.

The Annual fee: AnnualFees

The Rewards: Cardholders earn three points per $1 spent on the first $150,000 in combined spending each year on travel; shipping costs; Internet, cable, and phone services; and advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines. You also earn one point per $1 spent on all your other purchases as well as on your bonus purchases after hitting that $150,000 cap annually.

PROS:

• The welcome bonus of 90,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first three months of opening an account is one of the highest on the market. That bonus is worth a whopping $1,125 when redeemed for travel through Chase Travel.
• At $150,000, the cap on rewards earning spend on bonus categories is quite high so depending on your businesses’ spending habits this card can help you to continue earning bonus rewards as your spending grows.
• The rewards earning of 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 is very good. All other spending earns one point per $1.

CONS:

• While the $150,000 cap on purchases in bonus categories is quite high for many, if your business may exceed that amount of spend in those categories you may want to look for a card that has a higher limit of bonus rewards earning.
• There is an annual fee of AnnualFees, so if you are looking to keep your business expenses low there may be alternative small business cards on the market that could be a better fit.
• If your business has varied spend in many different categories that are not covered by the Ink Preferred, a flat rate rewards earning card may be a better fit for your business as this card is geared towards specific kinds of purchases.

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