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Top picks
The options we would actually recommend this week.
#1 PickHighline Reserve Card
- ✓5x points on flights and hotels booked through the Highline portal
- ✓$300 annual travel credit plus airport lounge access
- ✓Trip cancellation and delay protection included
- ✗$550 annual fee
#2 PickNorthbank Everyday Card
- ✓Flat 2% cash back on every purchase with no categories to track
- ✓No annual fee, ever
- ✓No foreign transaction fees
- ✗No sign-up bonus for new cardholders
#3 PickLumen Travel Card
- ✓2x miles on every purchase with no category limits
- ✓60,000 mile welcome bonus after $3,000 in 90 days
- ✓Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application credit
- ✗$95 annual fee
#4 PickMeridian One Card
- ✓3% cash back at supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year
- ✓1.5% flat rate on all other purchases
- ✓$200 welcome bonus after $1,000 in the first 90 days
- ✗Grocery bonus capped annually
#5 PickVela Cashback Card
- ✓Unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase
- ✓No annual fee and no category enrollment
- ✓Cash back never expires
- ✗Rate trails the best 2% flat-rate cards
#6 PickCardinal Student Card
- ✓1% cash back on all purchases plus 0.25% for paying on time
- ✓No annual fee and no credit history required
- ✓Free monthly credit score tracking to build habits
- ✗Higher APR than cards for established credit
See your annual rewards on the right card.
A card matched to your actual spending pays you back two to five times what the average cardholder earns. Plug in your annual spend and see.
Your annual card spendingQuick comparison
| Provider | Rate | Best for | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highline | 5x travel, 3x dining | Best premium travel | 9.4/10 | View offer |
| Northbank | 2% on everything | Best no annual fee | 8.9/10 | View offer |
| Lumen | 2x miles on all | Best mid-tier travel | 8.8/10 | View offer |
| Meridian | 3% groceries, 1.5% other | Best for everyday spend | 8.6/10 | View offer |
| Vela | 1.5% flat | Best simple cashback | 8.2/10 | View offer |
| Cardinal | 1% + 0.25% on-time bonus | Best for students | 7.8/10 | View offer |
Guides
Read before you apply.
Balance Transfer Credit Cards: Complete Guide
A balance transfer moves high-rate debt onto a 0% intro APR card and saves hundreds in interest. Here is how to find the best offer, run the transfer, and clear the debt before the clock runs out.
Credit Score Explained: What It Is and How It Works
Your credit score shapes loans, credit cards, apartment applications, and sometimes jobs. Here is what the number actually is, how it is built, and how to push yours up.
How to Build Credit from Scratch
Starting from zero credit takes the right product and a few months of boring, on-time behavior. Here is the fastest path from no score to good credit.
How to Choose a Credit Card
Hundreds of cards. One decision. It comes down to your spending pattern, your credit score, and what you actually want this card to do. Here is how to pick.
Best for
Find the right credit cards for your situation.
Credit card questions, answered.
How do credit card rewards actually work?
Rewards cards earn points, miles, or cash back on every dollar you spend. Rates are written as a multiplier: 2x means 2 points per dollar. The value of a point depends on how you redeem it. Cash back is the simplest version: 2% cash back means $20 back for every $1,000 you charge. The card only pays off if you pay the balance in full every month. Otherwise the APR eats the rewards.
What credit score do I need to get approved for a rewards card?
Most premium rewards cards want a good-to-excellent score, typically 670 or higher by FICO standards. No-annual-fee and balance transfer cards are more forgiving, often approving applicants in the 650 to 680 range. Below 620, look at secured cards first and build the score before chasing rewards.
Is an annual fee credit card worth it?
Do the math. Add up the concrete benefits you will actually use, then subtract the annual fee. If you do not travel or spend in the right categories, a no-fee 2% cash back card usually beats a fee card. The issuer's bet is that you pay the fee and forget to use the perks. Don't let them win.
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Chasing rewards while paying 20% APR? Kill the interest first.
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