Credit Cards

Hand-picked credit card recommendations for our readers. Whether you want to pay off a balance faster or max out rewards on daily purchases, our top-rated credit cards can help. Jump to credit cards for: Rewards (good credit), balance transfers (good credit), fair credit or poor credit. Or, explore our in-depth credit card reviews and card advice.

Rewards Credit Cards (Good Credit – 700+)

Discover it®

Great For: Cash back rewards in revolving categories like dining, travel or gas.

Credit Needed: Excellent

Average Approved Score: 0

Lowest Approved Score: 0

Apply Now →

  • The new Discover it card is out to change the way people think about credit cards.
  • Fair…No annual fee. No overlimit fee. No foreign transaction fee & no pay-by-phone fee. No late fee on your first late payment. And we won’t increase your APR for paying late.*
  • Generous…5% Cashback Bonus on up to $1,500 in purchases at Home Improvement Stores now through June with free and easy sign-up. And 1% cash back on all other purchases.*
  • Plus a Cashback ConcerigeSM who guides a free, personalized online tour to help you get the most rewards for how you use your card.
  • Flexible…Choose your own due date and pay up to midnight ET online or by phone.
  • Human…talk to a real person any time with 100% U.S.-based service.
  • Safe…Because you’ll never pay for unauthorized purchases with our $0 Fraud Liability Guarantee.
  • 0% Intro APR* on purchases and balance transfers for 14 months. Then the variable purchase APR applies, currently
    10.99% – 22.99%. *Click apply for Terms & Conditions.
Intro APR Purchases Intro Term Purchases Intro APR Balance Transfers Intro Term Balance Transfers Regular APR Annual Fee
0% 14 Months 0% 14 Months 10.99% – 22.99%* Variable $0

Capital One® VentureOneSM Rewards Credit Card

Great For: Travel rewards with no foreign transaction fees.

Credit Needed: Excellent

Average Approved Score: 730

Lowest Approved Score: 510

Apply Now →

  • 1.25 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day and no annual fee
  • One-time bonus of 10,000 miles once you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first 3 months, equal to $100 in travel.
  • Redeem miles for airline tickets, hotel rooms, car rentals and more
  • No limit on the miles you can earn and miles don’t expire
  • Fly on any airline, any time with no blackout dates
  • 0% intro APR until May 2014 on balance transfers
  • No foreign transaction fees
Intro APR Purchases Intro Term Purchases Intro APR Balance Transfers Intro Term Balance Transfers Regular APR Annual Fee
0% until May 2014 N/A N/A 11.9% – 19.9%* Variable $0

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Great For: Easy cash back rewards with no enrollment or rotating categories.

Credit Needed: Excellent

Average Approved Score: 736

Lowest Approved Score: 535

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  • Earn 100 Reward Dollars after you make $1,000 in purchases in the first three months of Cardmembership.
  • Earn Cash Back: 3% at US supermarkets, up to $6,000 per year in purchases, 2% at US gas stations & select US dept stores, 1% on other purchases. Terms and limitations apply.
  • Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
  • Simple and Straightforward: With the Blue Cash Everyday Card, you can start earning cash back. No rotating reward categories. No enrollment required.
  • No annual fee, 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months. After that, your APR will be a variable rate, currently 12.99%-21.99% with flexibility to pay over time.
  • Terms and Restrictions Apply.
Intro APR Purchases Intro Term Purchases Intro APR Balance Transfers Intro Term Balance Transfers Regular APR Annual Fee
0% 12 Months N/A N/A 12.99% – 21.99%* Variable $0

Balance Transfer Credit Cards (Good Credit – 700+)

Citi Simplicity® Card

Great For: Balance transfers and direct access to service representatives.

Credit Needed: Excellent

Average Approved Score: 707

Lowest Approved Score: 514

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  • 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers and Purchases for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 12.99% – 21.99% based on your creditworthiness.
  • There is a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
  • No late fees – EVER
  • No penalty rate – EVER
  • No annual fee – EVER
  • Save time when you call with fast, personal help, 24 hours a day.
Intro APR Purchases Intro Term Purchases Intro APR Balance Transfers Intro Term Balance Transfers Regular APR Annual Fee
0% 18 Months 0% 18 Months 12.99% – 21.99%* Variable $0*

Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card

Great For: Personalized concierge services and deals on entertainment.

Credit Needed: Excellent

Average Approved Score: 738

Lowest Approved Score: 516

Apply Now →

  • Get 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers and Purchases for 18 months. After that, the APR will be 11.99%-21.99% based upon your creditworthiness.*
  • There is a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer.
  • Citi® Price Rewind searches for a lower price. Learn how you can get lower price after you purchase an item.
  • Let our 24/7 concierge service help book your hotel rooms, flights and more.
  • Enjoy special access to presale tickets, preferred seating, VIP packages, and unique entertainment experiences through Citi Private Pass®.
  • $0 liability on unauthorized purchases and Citi® Identity Theft Solutions
  • No annual fee*.
Intro APR Purchases Intro Term Purchases Intro APR Balance Transfers Intro Term Balance Transfers Regular APR Annual Fee
0% 18 Months 0% 18 Months 11.99% – 21.99%* Variable $0

Credit Cards for Fair Credit (550-649)

Capital One® Cash Rewards

Great For: Cash back rewards and low intro rates.

Credit Needed: Fair

Average Approved Score: 615

Lowest Approved Score: 492

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  • 50% bonus on the cash back you earn every year
  • 1% cash back on all purchases
  • Earn unlimited cash back that doesn’t expire
  • Redeem cash back anytime for any amount, even set automatic redemptions
  • Personalize your card with an image of your choice
  • 0% intro APR until February 2014 on balance transfers
  • 0% intro APR until February 2014 on purchases
Intro APR Purchases Intro Term Purchases Intro APR Balance Transfers Intro Term Balance Transfers Regular APR Annual Fee
0% until Feb 2014 N/A N/A 19.8%* Variable $39

Capital One® Platinum Credit Card

Great For: A low annual fee.

Credit Needed: Fair

Average Approved Score: 620

Lowest Approved Score: 487

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  • $0 intro annual fee for the first year; $19 after that
  • Image Card – personalize your card with an image of your choice
  • $0 Fraud Liability if your card is lost or stolen
  • Monitor your spending with text message alerts
Intro APR Purchases Intro Term Purchases Intro APR Balance Transfers Intro Term Balance Transfers Regular APR Annual Fee
N/A N/A N/A N/A 24.9%* Variable $0 intro first year, then $19

Credit Cards for Poor Credit (549 or lower)

Capital One® Secured MasterCard®

Great For: No processing fees or application fees.

Credit Needed: Limited

Average Approved Score: 573

Lowest Approved Score: 487

Apply Now →

  • Get the credit you need with no application or processing fees
  • Automatic reporting to the 3 major credit bureaus
  • Track credit with access to your credit score and other tools
  • Your refundable security deposit can get you a line up to $3,000
  • You may qualify for credit line increases with no further security deposit required
  • Use it like any MasterCard credit card, accepted at millions of locations worldwide
Intro APR Purchases Intro Term Purchases Intro APR Balance Transfers Intro Term Balance Transfers Regular APR Annual Fee
N/A N/A N/A N/A 22.9%* Variable $29

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