Best Credit Cards of December 2023

Our experts answer readers’ credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here’s how we assess credit cards). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners; however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.The information for the following product(s) has been collected independently by Business Insider: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card. The details for these products have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.Whether you’re looking to consolidate credit card debt with a balance transfer, planning a trip using points and miles, or prefer keeping it simple by earning cash back, it’s an excellent time to open one of the best credit cards.Best Credit Cards of NovemberIt’s impossible to name a single credit card that would be perfect for everyone given the wide range of benefits, rewards and annual fees available. But if you’re looking to find the best credit card for you, breaking it down by category is a good way to approach your search.This guide highlights the best credit card option for several different types of users. If you want a to-the-point recommendation for maximizing your spending and enjoying benefits like a low intro APR period, this guide will help you find a quick answer.Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.$00% intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 15 months from account opening20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variableEarn $200 cash rewards bonusGood to ExcellentThe 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.Why the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card is worth it: Between a flat 2% cash rewards rate on purchases and a generous welcome bonus for a no-annual-fee card, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is an excellent choice if you prefer the simplicity of earning and redeeming cash back.The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card tops our list for its straightforward rewards structure and compelling intro bonus offer. Cardholders earn 2% cash rewards on purchases with no caps and no complicated categories to juggle. That’s why it tops our list of the best cash-back credit cards (and the best Wells Fargo credit cards).It comes with a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first three months from account opening, and you can redeem Wells Fargo Rewards for statement credits, gift cards, travel, and more. For new cardholders, there’s a 0% intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 15 months from account opening (followed by a 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR), which can be helpful if you have big expenses you want to pay off over several months.The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card also offers a decent range of benefits, including cell phone protection, travel emergency assistance services, roadside dispatch, and Visa Signature® Concierge access. Keep in mind this card adds foreign transaction fees, so if you’re traveling internationally, it’s best to use a different card.What the experts love: High rewards rate across purchases, good welcome offer, no annual feeWhat the experts don’t love: Foreign transaction feesEarn 5% cash back on Chase travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards®, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.$00% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months20.49% – 29.24% VariableSpecial Offer: Unlimited Matched Cash BackGood to ExcellentThe Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a great choice for credit card beginners and experts alike. With no annual fee and a high earnings rate, it’s worth considering as an everyday card — and it’s even better when you pair it with an annual-fee Chase card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.Why the Chase Freedom Unlimited is worth it: Along with a generous intro APR on purchases and balance transfers, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® earns up to 5x rewards in popular categories with no annual fee. It’s a top pick in our list of the best no annual fee credit cards, and it’s especially attractive for those with another Chase card.The Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers a long 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months, after which there’s a 20.49% – 29.24% Variable APR.Not only does this card help you pay down credit card debt with a generous introductory APR period, but it also offers solid ongoing rewards. You’ll earn 5% cash back (5x points) on travel purchases made through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® travel portal, 5% back on Lyft rides through March 2025, 3% back (3x points) on drugstores and dining, and 1.5% back (1.5x points) on everything else with no cap.If you have a Chase card that earns transferable Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred or the Chase Sapphire Reserve, you can combine your Chase rewards balances and gain the option to redeem your rewards in more ways, including transferring points to Chase’s airline and hotel partners.What the experts love: Great earning rates and decent benefits with no annual feeWhat the experts don’t love: Foreign transaction fees0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers made within 120 days, then 18.24%, 24.74%, or 29.99% variable APR$00% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers made within 120 days18.24%, 24.74%, or 29.99% variableN/AGood to ExcellentIf you’re looking for the best Wells Fargo credit card for balance transfers, the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card is a great choice. And it offers an extra-long interest-free period on new purchases, too.Why the Wells Fargo Reflect card is worth it: If you’re looking for an ultra-long 0% APR offer for both purchases and qualifying balance transfers, you won’t do much better than the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card.You might wonder why a card that doesn’t earn rewards appears on our list of top credit cards — and if that’s your priority, you can probably give the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card a skip. Where the card does excel, however, is with its intro APR offer. New cardholders receive a 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers made within 120 days (then 18.24%, 24.74%, or 29.99% variable). Balance transfers must occur within 120 days of account opening to qualify for the intro 0% APR rate, and they come with a fee of 5%, min: $5. There are a few other cards that come with balance transfer offers of the same length, but a shorter duration (or none at all) for purchases. That’s why you’ll find this card at the top of our guide to the best balance transfer credit cards.And while many similar cards are skimpy on benefits, the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card does come with cell phone protection against damage and theft. That can be a good reason to keep using the card after the intro period ends — especially since it’s unusual to see no-annual-fee cards with that benefit.What the experts love: Extra long 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers, no annual feeWhat the experts don’t love: No welcome bonus offer or rewards, and few benefits aside from cell phone protectionEarn 5x points on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Earn 3x points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out. Earn 3x points on select streaming services. Earn 3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs). Earn 2x points on other travel. Earn 1x point per dollar on everything else.$95N/A21.49% – 28.49% VariableEarn 60,000 bonus pointsGood to ExcellentIf 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.Why the Chase Sapphire Preferred is worth it: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the best travel credit cards for beginners and experts alike, with a moderate annual fee, substantial bonus, and great redemption options.If you want to earn travel rewards, you’ll find that Chase Ultimate Rewards points are the most user-friendly of the various bank currencies, which are also referred to as transferable points because you can transfer them over to various airline and hotel partners.In the case of Chase points, you can transfer them to partners like British Airways, Hyatt, United Airlines, and Southwest, or you can book travel directly through Chase. If you choose the latter, your points are worth 1.25 cents apiece by our valuations — a 25% bonus.The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card starts you off with a welcome bonus offer of 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Those points are worth $750 toward travel booked through Chase, or potentially up to $1,080 if you decide to redeem with the program’s transfer partners per Insider’s valuations. Insider values Chase points at 1.8 cents apiece, but it’s often possible to get an even higher rate of return when you transfer points to airline partners and book business- or first-class award flights.You’ll earn 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards (2x points on all other travel purchases); 5x points on Lyft rides through March 2025; 3x points on dining; 3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs); 3x points on select streaming services; and 1 point per dollar on everything else.Beyond the rewards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred offers some of the best complimentary travel insurance at this card’s annual fee price point. You’ll also enjoy top-tier benefits including primary car rental insurance, trip delay insurance, and baggage delay insurance.The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card comes with a 10% anniversary points bonus and up to $50 per year in statement credits for hotels booked through Chase. If you maximize this credit, you can shave off more than half of the card’s annual fee.What the experts love: Lucrative welcome bonus offer, excellent transfer partners and travel insuranceWhat the experts don’t love: No airport lounge access or Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee creditEarn 3x Miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 3x Miles at hotels when purchase made directly with the hotel. Earn 2x Miles on dining at restaurants worldwide, and for takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 2x Miles on groceries at U.S supermarkets. Earn 1X Miles on all other purchases.$250N/A20.99% – 29.99% VariableEarn 50,000 bonus milesGood to ExcellentDelta’s mid-tier card is a good choice for frequent flyers who can take advantage of money-saving benefits like a free checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights, an annual companion certificate, and a statement credit for the TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee. However, if you’re unlikely to maximize these perks or you don’t fly Delta that often, a travel credit card with a lower annual fee is a better choice.Why the Delta Platinum card is worth it: If you fly Delta, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is hard to beat for value. (If you’re not a Delta flyer, see our best airline credit cards guide for other top options). This card earns a spot in this guide thanks to benefits that go beyond the standard features like free checked bags and priority boarding — though it offers those, too.The card has an annual fee of $250, but for Delta flyers it can be worth it thanks to its annual Delta companion certificate benefit. This essentially lets you buy one domestic flight ticket and get one free for Delta flights in the continental US when you pay with this card. You’ll only pay taxes and fees on your companion’s ticket. Depending how you use it, this perk can more than cancel out the annual fee.Other top features include TakeOff 15, which gets you 15% off Delta award flights, and an application fee credit for TSA PreCheck and Global Entry.What the experts love: Delta companion certificate, good intro bonus and ongoing earning rates, free checked bag on DeltaCons: Annual fee isn’t worth it if you don’t fly Delta often and can’t take advantage of the companion certificateEarn 14x Points on hotels & resorts at eligible purchases at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio. Earn 7x Points on select travel including flights booked directly with airlines or AmexTravel.com and car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies. Earn 7x Points on dining at restaurants worldwide, and for takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 3X Points on all other purchases.$550N/A15.74% to 24.74% variable APR on purchasesLimited Time Offer: Earn 180,000 Hilton Honors bonus pointsGood to ExcellentMany of the best credit cards come with high annual fees that certainly aren’t for everyone, and that’s definitely the case with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card . This is Hilton’s most expensive (and rewarding) card, and it’s geared toward loyal Hilton travelers who can make the most of its many generous benefits.Why the Hilton Honors Aspire card is worth it: You might be wondering why our pick for best hotel credit card has an annual fee of $550. While that’s a steep price to pay up front, you can get back that much value and more if you’re a frequent Hilton guest by taking advantage of this card’s generous perks.Not only does the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card offer a solid welcome bonus of180,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the card within your first six months of card membership (offer ends 1/17/2024) — which can get you a range of free hotel nights depending on where you choose to redeem — but it also comes with an annual Hilton resort credit of $250. You can use this credit toward purchases at Hilton resorts such as room service, spa treatments, or activities. So provided you book at least one Hilton stay per year where you can use this credit, you’re already recouping $250 in value.Plus, the card offers up to $250 in airline incidental fee credits each calendar year. Once you select an airline and pay for eligible charges with this card, you will automatically be reimbursed for baggage fees, seat selection, in-flight purchases and more.The full list of benefits is too lengthy to list here, but other standouts that can get you significant value include an annual free night award (redeemable at almost any Hilton worldwide) and top-tier Hilton Diamond elite status, which gets you bonus points on Hilton stays, free breakfast, space-available room upgrades, and more.If you’re not interested in staying at Hilton locations, see our guide to the best hotel credit cards for other options, including those tied to other hotel chains and cards with rewards that can be redeemed at a wider range of properties.What the experts love: Strong welcome bonus, high earning rates on spending, valuable annual credits and free night certificateWhat the experts don’t love: High annual fee, Hilton-specific benefits mean it’s not the best pick if you prefer other hotelsEarn 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®). Earn 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply). Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.$0N/A19.99% – 29.99% VariableEarn a $50 cash bonusAverage, Fair, LimitedThe Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is a great pick for students who spend a lot on food and going out, because it earns 3% cash back on dining, groceries (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target), streaming, and entertainment.Why the Capital One SavorOne Student card is worth it: Earning 3% cash back in student-friendly categories with the Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card can add up quickly, and because it’s geared to students, it can be easier to qualify with limited credit history.Though there are many options on the market, this is our top pick for the best student credit card. Of the student cards that actually earn rewards, the Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is most aligned with typical college student spending habits. You’ll earn 3% cash back on dining, including restaurants, bars, cafes, and lounges, at grocery stores except superstores like Walmart and Target;  entertainment such as movies, professional sporting events, and amusement parks; and popular streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+. On top of that, it also earns 10% cash back on Uber and Uber Eats through November 14, 2024; 5% cash back on car rentals and hotels booked through Capital One Travel; and 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases. All other purchases earn 1% back.New cardholders can earn a $50 cash bonus once you spend $100 on purchases within three months of account opening. That minimum spending requirement is easy to reach for most students, and less than most other student credit cards that have a welcome offer.You might expect a student credit card to be a little thin in the benefits department, but that’s not the case here. Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card cardholders receive price protection***, extended warranty***, car rental insurance***, roadside dispatch***, and travel accident insurance***. And because the card doesn’t add foreign transaction fees, it’s a great choice to use if you’re studying abroad for a semester or taking a backpacking trip overseas during summer break.What the experts love: Excellent categories for students, good benefits, no annual or foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees)What the experts don’t love: There isn’t always a welcome bonus offer availableEarn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase with a refundable $200 minimum deposit.$0N/A30.74% VariableN/ALimited, No HistoryThe Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card is a great choice if you’re new to credit cards and working on building your credit history and score. It’s a rare secured credit card that offers decent rewards, but you’ll have to put down a deposit after you’re approved to secure your credit line.Why the Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards card is worth it: The Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card is another secured credit card that stands out for offering rewards. You’ll earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases (and 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel), with no limit and no annual fee (see rates and fees). Secured cards are some of the best credit cards for bad credit, since they’re easier to get. These cards require a cash deposit up front, which lowers the risk for a card issuer. After using this card for a while and making on-time monthly payments, you may see your credit score increase.What the experts love: Earns rewards (a rarity for secured cards), no foreign transaction fees, responsible use can raise your credit score (see rates and fees)What the experts don’t love: No welcome bonus, high APR if you carry a balanceIt’s impossible to pick just one best credit card, because there are so many options for so many different types of users. A credit card that earns travel rewards could be the best option for one person, but if you’re looking to earn cash back, you’ll be better served by another pick.For most people, a no-annual-fee cash rewards card like the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card or Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a good choice if you have to pick just one card.The best credit card company for you comes down to what kind of rewards you want to earn, what benefits you value, and what annual fee you are willing to pay. For example, if you value high-end travel benefits like airport lounge access and statement credits, an American Express card could be the right choice. But if you just want to earn cash back, a card from Capital One, Citi, Chase, Discover, or Wells Fargo could be the best choice, depending on what bonus rewards categories you want. Learn more about the different US credit card companies.The most popular cards are Chase credit cards according to search data, compared to cards from other issuers such as Citi and Amex. Among Chase cards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve are particularly well-known thanks to high-profile advertising campaigns. Some store credit cards are also very popular with consumers, including the Best Buy Credit Card and the Home Depot Credit Card.Find the best credit card by determining your goals for opening a card in the first place. Are you looking to boost your credit? In that case, a secured card or a no annual fee cash-back card could make sense. If you want to earn credit card rewards, you’ll want to narrow down the type of rewards that work for you. There’s cash back, flexible travel rewards like Chase and Amex points, or airline miles and hotel points tied to a specific loyalty program. Credit cards can be powerful tools for improving your credit score and earning rewards — but only if you use them responsibly. It’s important to only spend what you can afford to pay off in full each month so you don’t start amassing steep interest fees and ending up in debt.Provided you’re in a position to pay off your credit card statements and spend within your means, there are several reasons opening a credit card could be a good idea. For one thing, credit cards offer better fraud protection than debit cards or cash — if an unauthorized purchase is made with your card, you won’t be on the hook.Using a credit card responsibly can also help you build and repair your credit, since your on-time payments will be reported to the credit bureaus. Finally, a credit card can help you maximize every dollar you spend, by earning you cash back, points, or miles. Focus on your priorities and be realistic about what cards you’re able to get approved for. Many of the best credit cards require credit scores in the high 600s at a bare minimum. So if your credit score isn’t there yet, you’ll want to look at options for bad to fair credit scores so you can focus on building your credit back up. Beyond that, decide what annual fee you’re comfortable paying. Some people avoid paying credit card annual fees completely, and there are several great cards in the no-annual-fee category. But for many people, a modest annual fee of $95 to $99 for a travel or cash-back card could be worth it for higher rewards and benefits.Also, decide whether you want to earn cash back or travel rewards. Keep in mind that redeeming rewards for travel is more work than simply getting cash back in your account. The payoff can be big, but focus on what is the best option for you.There’s no one answer to how many credit cards you should have — it’s possible to have more than 20 cards and maintain an excellent credit score, but this almost certainly entails several annual fees. Go slowly, space out your applications, and never bite off more than you can chew. Make sure you’re able to pay off your balances in full each month, because earning rewards is never worth going into debt.Nowadays, there are lots of different ways to apply for a credit card, including online, by phone, by mail, through the bank’s app, or in person at a bank branch.Regardless of how you choose to apply, you should have an idea of your credit score before you open a new card to be sure you have a chance of qualifying. In your application, you’ll be asked for personal details like your full name, address, date of birth, Social Security Number, and income. Our list of the best credit cards is the result of an in-depth comparison between credit cards in each sub-category. We looked at America’s largest credit card issuers, as well as cards frequently recommended by blogs, forums, and travel communities.The values we prioritized when coming up with this list were:The best credit card for you very much depends on your financial situation, spending habits, and how you like to redeem rewards. For example, if you’re just getting started with credit, a student credit card or a card that doesn’t require a high credit score is an ideal pick. If you’re looking to earn travel rewards, on the other hand, you’ll want to look at cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.Read Insider’s guide to points and miles valuations to find out what your credit card rewards are worth.See our full methodology for rating credit cards »We evaluated dozens of credit cards to narrow down the best picks in various categories. Some of these cards didn’t make our list for one reason or another — for example, only appealing to a very specific group of consumers, or charging an exceptionally high annual fee.We’ve listed some of our favorite runners-up here, and why they didn’t make our final list:

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