Credit Cards

Our hand-picked recommendations for the best credit cards. 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 cards for: Rewards (good credit), balance transfers (good credit), fair credit or poor credit. Or, explore our in-depth card reviews and advice.

Rewards Credit Cards (Good Credit – 720+)

Discover it®

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

Credit Needed: Excellent

Average Approved Score: 707

Lowest Approved Score: 673

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  • 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% cash back 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 Concierge℠ 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 Balance Transfer APR Regular APR Annual Fee
0% for 14 Months 0% for 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: 729

Lowest Approved Score: 653

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  • 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 on purchases until June 2014
  • No foreign transaction fees
Intro APR Balance Transfer APR Regular APR Annual Fee
0% for until June 2014 N/A for 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: 734

Lowest Approved Score: 686

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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%on Purchases for 12 months N/AN/A 12.99% – 21.99%* Variable $0


Balance Transfer Credit Cards (Good Credit – 720+)

Citi Simplicity® Card

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

Credit Needed: Excellent

Average Approved Score: 704

Lowest Approved Score: 651

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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 Balance Transfer APR Regular APR Annual Fee
0% for 18 Months 0% for 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: 732

Lowest Approved Score: 675

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  • 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 Balance Transfer APR Regular APR Annual Fee
0% for 18 Months 0% for 18 Months 11.99% – 21.99%* Variable $0*


Fair Credit (550-649)

Barclaycard® Rewards MasterCard® - Average Credit

Great For: Rewards for spending on gas and groceries

Credit Needed: Fair

Average Approved Score: 665

Lowest Approved Score: 614

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  • Earn 2,500 Bonus Points after your first purchase
  • 0% Introductory APR for 6 months on purchases and balance transfers
  • No annual fee
  • Earn 2 points per $1 on gas, grocery, and utility purchases
  • Earn 1 points per $1 everywhere else
  • Use the points you earn like cash to pay for almost any purchases you've made.
  • No blackout date, no redemption fees, no limit on the points you can earn and no complicated set up.
  • Reports to all 3 major credit bureaus monthly providing you the opportunity to rebuild your credit score
Intro APR Balance Transfer APR Regular APR Annual Fee
0% for 6 Months 0% for 6 Months 24.99%* Variable $0

Capital One® Platinum Credit Card

Great For: Balance transfers and a low annual fee.

Credit Needed: Fair

Average Approved Score: 603

Lowest Approved Score: 551

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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 Balance Transfer APR Regular APR Annual Fee
N/A N/A 24.9%* Variable $0 intro for first year; $19 after that


Poor Credit (Under 550)

Capital One® Secured MasterCard®

Great For: No processing fees or application fees.

Credit Needed: Limited

Average Approved Score: 574

Lowest Approved Score: 514

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  • Build credit with responsible use with no processing or application fees
  • Regular reporting to the 3 major credit bureaus
  • Monitor credit with access to a credit score and other tools
  • Your security deposit can get you a line up to $3,000
  • You may qualify for a credit line increase based on your payment history and creditworthiness
  • Use it like any MasterCard credit card, accepted at millions of locations worldwide
Intro APR Balance Transfer APR Regular APR Annual Fee
N/A for N/A N/A for N/A 22.9%* Variable $29

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