Expert Credit Card Reviews | The Motley Fool (2024)

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The right credit card is just a click away. Our team of experts has reviewed the best and most popular credit cards. You'll find all our credit card reviews here, and since they're separated by card category, you can quickly jump to the type of card you want.

  • Cash back and rewards credit card reviews
  • Balance transfer and 0% intro APR credit card reviews
  • Travel credit card reviews
  • Student credit card reviews
  • Airline credit card reviews
  • Secured credit card reviews
  • Store credit card reviews
  • Business credit card reviews

Credit card rating methodology

Cash back and rewards credit card reviews

Whether you're looking to take some pressure off your budget or simply get something back on your normal spending, cash back and rewards credit cards can help.

CardGreat for
Prime VisaTop-notch cash back rates at Amazon and Whole Foods
Amazon VisaExtra Amazon rewards for cardholders without a Prime membership
American Express Cash Magnet® CardFlat-rate cash back (terms apply)
Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American ExpressBonus rewards for using your card frequently (terms apply)
Apple CardBonus cash back with Apple and Apple Pay
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit cardBonus cash back in the category of your choice
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American ExpressBonus cash back at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations with no annual fee (see rates and fees)(terms apply)
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American ExpressGenerous cash back rate at U.S. supermarkets (terms apply)
Blue from American Express®A starter rewards card from American Express with no annual fee (see rates and fees)
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit CardStraightforward rewards with a competitive flat rate on purchases
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit CardSolid cash back for consumers with fair credit
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit CardOne of the highest cash back rates we've seen for dining and entertainment
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit CardBonus cash back on dining and entertainment for no annual fee
Chase Freedom Flex℠A wide range of bonus cash back categories
Chase Freedom Rise℠A rewards card designed for building credit
Chase Freedom Unlimited®Competitive cash back on purchases
Citi Double Cash® CardDouble cash back opportunity and no annual fee
Citi Rewards+® CardRewards that round up plus a 0% intro APR offer on purchases and balance transfers
Discover it® Cash BackHigh cash back rates in rotating quarterly bonus categories and a first-year match of all your rewards
Discover it® ChromeBonus cash back at restaurants and gas stations and a first-year match of all your rewards
Ducks Unlimited Rewards Visa® CardHelps fund wetland conservation efforts and offers cash back on purchases
PayPal Cashback Mastercard®Impressive cash back rate on purchases
Petal® 1 "No Annual Fee" Visa® Credit CardA starter credit card that earns cash back with select merchants
Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit CardEasy approval process and solid cash back rates
SoFi Unlimited 2% Credit CardStrong cash back rate with no annual fee
U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® CardBig bonus rewards on dining and an annual streaming credit
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® CardBonus cash back in categories of your choosing
Wells Fargo Active Cash® CardUnlimited 2% flat-rate cash rewards
Wells Fargo Autograph℠ CardUnlimited cash rewards on multiple spending categories, plus cellphone protection
Wells Fargo Propel American Express® cardBonus cash back for dining, gas, streaming, and travel

Balance transfer and 0% intro APR credit card reviews

Balance transfer credit cards are a great way to save money while you pay off debt. You can also find cards with the same type of 0% intro APR offer on purchases.

CardGreat for
BankAmericard® credit cardA lengthy 0% intro APR offer for purchases and qualifying balance transfers
Citi® Diamond Preferred® CardA lengthy 0% intro APR offer for purchases and balance transfers and free FICO® Score monitoring
Citi Simplicity® CardNo annual fee, no late fees, and a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers
Discover it® Chrome0% intro APR on balance transfers and competitive cash back rates (the go-to variable rates apply after the intro period)
Simmons Visa®0% intro APR on balance transfers plus a low ongoing APR for both purchases and balance transfers
U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum CardCombination of a lengthy 0% intro APR for purchases and balance transfers
Wells Fargo Platinum cardLong 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers
Wells Fargo Reflect® CardOne of the longest 0% intro APR offers

Travel credit card reviews

Travel credit cards can be your ticket to big savings on airfare, hotels, and your other travel costs.

CardGreat for
American Express® Gold CardBig dining and U.S. supermarkets rewards (terms apply)
American Express® Green CardBonus rewards on dining, travel, and transit along with airport lounge credits. (All information about the American Express® Green Card has been gathered independently by The Ascent. Terms apply)
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit cardBig rewards on purchases that you can use for travel or cash back redemptions
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit cardPoints on purchases and no annual fee
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit CardMiles on purchases and a big travel rewards sign-up bonus
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit CardPremium travel perks and big bonus opportunities
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit CardMiles on purchases and no annual fee
Chase Sapphire Preferred® CardVersatile rewards program with a focus on dining and travel
Chase Sapphire Reserve®Luxury travel and lifestyle benefits including airport lounge access and a big annual travel credit
Citi Strata Premier℠ CardValuable travel rewards bonus and an annual hotel savings offer
Citi Prestige® CardHigh-end travel perks including a big annual travel credit and a valuable hotel savings offer
Discover it® MilesMiles on purchases and no annual fee
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire CardHilton's most feature-packed card offering spending credits, airport lounge access, and much more (terms apply)
Hilton Honors American Express CardA no annual fee Hilton card with a big welcome offer (see rates and fees)(terms apply)
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® CardA mid-tier Hilton card with a welcome offer and the opportunity to earn an annual free night certificate (terms apply)
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit CardOne free night per year and huge rewards on IHG® purchases
IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit CardNo annual fee and bonus IHG® rewards
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit CardA no annual fee Marriott card offering complimentary status with the hotel
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit CardThe mid-tier Marriott card offering an annual free night award and complimentary status with the hotel
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® CardMarriott's luxury card offering spending credits, an annual free night award, and airport lounge access (terms apply)
The Platinum Card® from American ExpressLuxury travel and lifestyle benefits including multiple spending credits, airport lounge access, as well as hotel and resort perks (terms apply)
U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® CardPremium travel perks including an impressive annual travel/dining credit and airport lounge access
The World of Hyatt Credit CardOne free night per year, automatic elite status with Hyatt, and high rewards on Hyatt purchases

Student credit card reviews

While you're going to college, student credit cards give you the opportunity to start building your credit and potentially score some useful extra perks as well.

CardGreat for
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card for StudentsBonus cash back in the category of your choice
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for StudentsTravel rewards on purchases
Deserve Edu Mastercard for StudentsFree cellphone insurance and spending credits with multiple retailers
Discover it® Student Cash BackExcellent cash back rates for a student credit card and FICO® Score monitoring
Discover it® Student ChromeBonus cash back at restaurants and gas stations and FICO® Score monitoring

Airline credit card reviews

If you're interested in free checked luggage, airport lounge access, or you just want to collect lots of bonus miles, airline credit cards are exactly what you need.

CardGreat for
Aer Lingus Visa Signature® CardEarning Avios for frequent travelers to Ireland and the U.K.
Alaska Airlines Visa® CardAirline benefits and big rewards on Alaska Airlines purchases
British Airways Visa Signature® CardBonus miles and airline benefits
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®American Airlines benefits and bonus miles
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®Premium American Airlines perks that include airport lounge access
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express CardA no annual fee Delta credit card offering bonus miles on purchases with Delta and at restaurants (see rates and fees) (terms apply)
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express CardA moderately priced Delta card offering multiple valuable perks with the airline (terms apply)
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express CardA high-end Delta card offering extensive travel benefits and savings (terms apply)
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express CardThe top-tier Delta card with the most features
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit CardThe most affordable Southwest credit card
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit CardThe mid-tier Southwest credit card
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit CardSouthwest's top credit card offering bonus points
United Club℠ Infinite CardThe top-tier United card offering extensive benefits with the airline
United Quest℠ CardA high-end United card with big rewards and spending credits
United℠ Explorer CardThe mid-tier United card offering valuable perks at a reasonable price
United Gateway℠ CardA no annual fee United card

Secured credit card reviews

For those who either need to start building a credit history or repair bad credit, secured credit cards are some of the easiest credit cards to get.

CardGreat for
BankAmericard® Secured Credit CardFICO® Score monitoring and no annual fee
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit CardEasy approval process and a flexible starting deposit amount
Citi® Secured Mastercard®FICO® Score monitoring and no annual fee
Discover it® Secured Credit CardBuild credit with no annual fee while earning cash back rewards
OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit CardNo credit check required for approval and a flexible starting credit limit based on your security deposit

Store credit card reviews

By signing up for store credit cards with your favorite retailers, you could score discounts, gift certificates, and possibly qualify for special deals.

CardGreat for
Best Buy Credit CardBonus rewards and zero-interest financing offers on Best Buy purchases
Cabela's CLUB Mastercard®Bonus rewards and a low APR on purchases with Cabela's and Bass Pro Shop
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by CitiBonus cash back rewards at Costco and on eligible gas and EV charging spending
Disney Credit CardSavings and special perks with Disney stores and vacations plus zero-interest Disney vacation financing offers
IKEA® Visa® Credit CardRewards certificates, IKEA family membership, and up to 5% back rewards
Kohl's Rewards® VisaExclusive discounts and sales plus extra convenience with receipt-free returns
Lowe's Advantage CardChoose from either a discount or low-interest financing on Lowe's purchases
Nordstrom credit cardBonus rewards on Nordstrom purchases and automatic Influencer status
Old Navy Credit CardBonus rewards on purchases at Old Navy and other Gap Inc. brands
Sam's Club Credit CardStatement credit for new cardholders and bonus cash back in several spending categories
T.J. Maxx Credit CardBonus rewards at T.J. Maxx stores
Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard®Bonus rewards on Walmart purchases, price protection, and extended warranty coverage

Business credit card reviews

Business credit cards may be intended for managing business expenses, but that's far from their only benefit. They can also offer impressive rewards and 0% intro APR periods to help business owners save money.

CardGreat for
American Express Business Gold CardBonus points in the categories where you spend the most and top-tier purchase and travel protections (terms apply)
Blue Business Cash™ Card from American ExpressHigh cash back rate on up to $50,000 in yearly spending (terms apply)
Capital One Spark 2% Cash PlusBig cash back on purchases and a sign-up bonus
Capital One Spark Cash Select for BusinessCash back on purchases and a 0% intro APR on purchases for an introductory period
Capital One Spark 1% Classic CardCash back rewards for no annual fee and available to business owners with fair credit
Capital One Spark 2X MilesBig rewards on purchases plus bonus miles on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One
Capital One Spark 1.5X Miles SelectMiles on purchases and no annual fee
Capital One Venture X Business Credit CardHuge sign-up bonus and an annual travel credit
Ink Business Cash® Credit CardBonus rewards on business purchases and 0% intro APR on purchases for an introductory period
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit CardFlat-rate cash back and 0% intro APR on purchases for an introductory period
Ink Business Preferred® Credit CardA big sign-up bonus and bonus points in multiple spending categories
Ink Business Premier® Credit CardHuge cash back sign-up bonus and high rewards rate
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®Benefits and bonus rewards with American Airlines
Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by CitiBonus cash back rewards at Costco and on eligible gas and EV charging spending

Our Credit Cards Experts

Expert Credit Card Reviews | The Motley Fool (1)

By:Lyle Daly

Writer

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.

Expert Credit Card Reviews | The Motley Fool (2)

Expert Credit Card Reviews | The Motley Fool (3)Fact CheckedNathan Alderman

Fact checker

Nathan Alderman has worked with The Motley Fool since 2005, making errors his arch-enemies in a variety of roles including a six-year stint as the dedicated fact-checker for The Motley Fool's premium newsletter services. As The Ascent's Compliance Lead, he makes sure that all the site's information is accurate and up to date, which ensures we always steer readers right and keeps various financial partners happy. A graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Nathan spends his spare time volunteering for civic causes, writing and podcasting for fun, adoring his wife, and wrangling his two very large young children.

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, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.


The American Express® Green Card is unavailable on The Ascent. All information was collected independently and not reviewed for accuracy or provided by the credit card issuer. Some items may be out of date.

John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Wells Fargo is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Citigroup is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Bank of America is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. American Express is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Discover Financial Services is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Lyle Daly has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Apple, Bank of America, Best Buy, Costco Wholesale, JPMorgan Chase, Mastercard, PayPal, U.S. Bancorp, Uber Technologies, Visa, and Walmart. The Motley Fool recommends Alaska Air Group, Discover Financial Services, Hyatt Hotels, InterContinental Hotels Group Plc, Lowe's Companies, and Marriott International and recommends the following options: long January 2025 $370 calls on Mastercard, short January 2025 $380 calls on Mastercard, and short June 2024 $67.50 calls on PayPal. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

For rates and fees for the American Express Business Gold Card, click here

For rates and fees for the American Express Cash Magnet® Card, click here

For rates and fees for the American Express® Gold Card, click here

For rates and fees for the American Express® Green Card, click here

For rates and fees for the Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express, click here

For rates and fees for the Blue Business Cash™ Card from American Express, click here

For rates and fees for the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, click here

For rates and fees for the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, click here

For rates and fees for the Blue from American Express®, click here

For rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, click here

For rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, click here

For rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, click here

For rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, click here

For rates and fees for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, click here

For rates and fees for the Hilton Honors American Express Card, click here

For rates and fees for the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, click here

For rates and fees for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, click here

For rates and fees for the The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here

Expert Credit Card Reviews | The Motley Fool (2024)
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