Fortune Recommends Best credit cards of 2024

Why we like this card: It can be difficult to earn credit card rewards on rent payments because most landlords either don’t allow credit card payments or charge a hefty convenience fee. With the Bilt Mastercard®, you can make your rent payments through Bilt without the transaction fee and earn rewards on the monthly bill. Just make sure you use the card at least five times per month to earn rewards.

Bilt cardholders earn 3X on dining, 2X on eligible travel, 1X on rent up to 100,000 points per year, and 1X on other spending. You can also earn double the rewards on the first of every month (up to 10,000 points, excluding rent).

The card also offers some solid insurance benefits, including Cell Phone Protection, Trip Delay Protection, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance, and Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver. That said, there are no new-cardholder incentives.

Best balance transfer card: U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card

If you’re trying to consolidate your debt, the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card gives you over a year and a half to pay off the balance with no interest besides the balance transfer fee.

U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card

Intro Bonus

Extended 0% introductory APR period for purchases and balance transfers.

0% balance transfer term	21 months
Balance transfer fee	3%
Annual Fee	$0
Regular APR	18.74%–29.74%

Why we like this card: The U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card offers the longest introductory 0% APR promotion currently available for balance transfers. If you need to pay off high-interest debt from another card, this card should be toward the top of your list of options. The card also offers cell phone protection.

That said, there’s no rewards program and also no welcome bonus, limiting the card’s value after the 0% APR promotional period expires.

Best 0% APR card: Wells Fargo Reflect® Card

A large purchase can take a dent out of your wallet, but saving on interest helps lessen the sting. The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card gives you a long runway to pay down your bill without worrying about interest.

Wells Fargo Reflect® Card

Intro APR

Best in class introductory 0% APR on balance transfers and purchases.

0% balance transfer term	21 months
Balance transfer fee	5%
Annual fee	$0
Regular APR	18.24%, 24.74% or 29.99%

Why we like this card: If you want to maximize your interest savings while paying down a large purchase or some emergency expenses, the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card should be on your radar. The card offers the longest 0% APR promotion currently available for purchases. 

While it doesn’t offer a traditional rewards program, you can earn statement credits when you use the card with select merchants through the My Wells Fargo Deals program. The card also offers cell phone protection.

Best credit card for fair credit: Citi Double Cash® Card

The Citi® Double Cash Card has long been a contender in the cash-back card category. Other cards have upstaged it of late but the Double Cash doesn’t require pristine credit to qualify.

Citi Double Cash Credit Card

Intro Bonus

Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months and get an 18-month 0% introductory APR on balance transfers

0% balance transfer term	18 months
Balance transfer fee	3%
Annual fee	$0
Regular APR	19.24%-29.24%

Why we like this card: Most of the best rewards credit cards require good or excellent credit, but if your credit score is in the fair range, you can still get the opportunity to earn a great rewards rate on all of your purchases with the Citi Double Cash® Card. The card also offers a solid welcome bonus and an introductory 0% APR promotion on balance transfers. 

Best credit card for bad credit: Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa® Credit Card

Whether you’re just starting out or you need to get back on track the Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa® Credit Card could be an effective tool to help you build credit.

Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa® Credit Card

Who is this card good for?

The Chime Credit Builder Visa card is good for those who don’t want to be bound by minimum deposits.

Annual fee	None
APR	None
Security deposit	$0

Why we like this card: If you’re looking to build your credit history, traditional secured credit cards hold your deposit for several months or until you close your account. With the Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa® Credit Card, there’s no minimum security deposit, and you can access your deposit account anytime you want. You’ll use that account to pay your bill, though, so you’ll need to add more to have spending power with the card.

The card is also great for people who are worried about bad credit or who don’t want to deal with the dangers of high-interest credit card debt. But while there’s no credit check when you apply, you’ll need a Chime checking account with monthly direct deposits of at least $200 to qualify.

Best airline card: Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card offers more than enough benefits on Delta to offset the high annual fee.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

See Rates and Fees

Intro Bonus

Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership

Annual fee	$650
Regular APR	20.99%–29.99% variable

Why we like this card: The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card isn’t cheap, but for frequent Delta flyers, it offers extreme value. In addition to a solid welcome bonus, you’ll also get airport lounge access when you fly Delta, an annual companion certificate, annual statement credits on Delta Stays purchases, rideshare, and purchases with Resy, an application fee credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, and much more.

When flying Delta, you’ll also get additional benefits, such as 15% off on award flights, free checked baggage, priority boarding, and inflight discounts.

Best hotel card: IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card punches way above its weight class with benefits like an annual free night certificate and the fourth night free on award bookings.

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

Intro bonus

Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening

Annual fee	$99
Regular APR	21.49%–28.49% variable

Why we like this card: The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card charges a modest annual fee, but you can get far more value each year, especially if you’re a big spender. You’ll get a free night reward each year worth up to 40,000 points, plus a $100 statement credit and 10,000 bonus points if you spend $20,000 in a calendar year. Other perks include Platinum Elite status with IHG, an application fee credit toward Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS, and many more.

That said, the card’s rewards program is limited in flexibility and value. You can rack up points quickly but stays also require a lot of points. And while you can technically use your rewards for more than just hotel stays, you may get less value with the alternatives.

What are the different types of credit cards?

There are several different types of credit cards, each one specializing in certain benefits. As you consider your situation and needs, one type of credit card may be a better fit than the others. Here’s a quick summary of what’s available:

• Cash-back credit cards: These cards offer cash-back rewards on your everyday purchases.
• Travel rewards credit cards: With these cards, you can earn general travel rewards, often with flexible redemption options.
• Airline credit cards: These co-branded credit cards allow you to earn rewards and enjoy perks with a specific airline.
• Hotel credit cards: With these cards, you can earn points and take advantage of benefits with a single hotel chain.
• 0% APR credit cards: These cards offer an introductory 0% APR promotion on purchases made within the first 12 to 21 months, depending on the card.
• Balance transfer credit cards: Balance transfer cards allow you to transfer debt from another credit card and pay it off interest-free, usually over 12 to 21 months. If you need help with debt beyond the balances credit cards are offering, you may also want to consider working with a debt relief company.
• Student credit cards: These cards are designed specifically to help college students establish credit and develop good credit habits.
• Secured credit cards: Made for people with bad credit or no credit history, these cards require a security deposit, typically equal to your desired credit limit, which will be returned to you when you close the account or qualify for an upgrade to an unsecured card.
• Starter credit cards: Some card issuers offer unsecured cards that offer basic benefits and a chance to build credit. In some cases, these cards may have alternative requirements beyond your credit score.
• Business credit cards: These cards are made for small business owners and often offer rewards and perks that align with common business expenses and needs.
• Store credit cards: Also called retail or private-label cards, these cards are issued in partnership with retailers. In some cases, you can’t use the card anywhere else.

Note that some credit cards fit into different categories. For example, many cash-back credit cards offer 0% APR promotions on purchases, balance transfers or both. Additionally, some travel credit cards allow you to redeem rewards for cash back.

How to choose the best credit card for you

Credit cards offer a wide range of rewards and other benefits, making it difficult to choose just one that’s best for everyone. To determine which credit card is the best for you, consider the following factors:

• Credit score: Most of the best credit cards require good or excellent credit. But if your credit score needs some work, your options may be limited to the ones for which you have good approval odds. Check your credit score before you apply for a credit card to get an idea of where you stand, then evaluate your options based on your credit profile. If your credit score is low, you may want to consider working with a credit repair company to help improve it.
• Spending habits: If you’re looking for a rewards credit card, take a look at your expenses over the last few months to determine your biggest budget categories. Then, try to find a credit card that offers rewards that align with those categories.
• Preferences: As you compare the best credit cards, review non-rewards features, such as welcome bonuses, 0% APR promotions, travel perks, insurance protections, and annual fees, to get an idea of what you’re looking for in a credit card. Also, consider whether you want to maximize rewards with tiered or rotating bonus categories or whether you’d prefer a flat rewards rate on everything.

How many credit cards should you have?

As you evaluate your options, you may also notice that there’s no single credit card that meets all your criteria. In that case, it can make sense to get multiple credit cards to make the most of all of your everyday spending.

That said, it’s important to avoid opening too many credit cards. The more cards you have, the more difficult it can be to keep track of payment due dates, rewards rates, and benefits. Adding more available credit can also increase your chances of overspending.

To determine the right number of credit cards for you, consider your spending habits and organizational skills. Also, consider whether the potential benefits of adding another card to your wallet are worth the added stress of managing multiple accounts.

Methodology

The best credit cards were chosen as the top pick in their respective categories. For more detail on how they were chosen, check out the respective list:

Frequently asked questions

What is the best type of credit card to own?

Ultimately, the best type of credit card depends on your specific needs and preferences. Consider those, along with your credit score, to determine which type of credit card is best for you. 

Which credit card is easiest to get?

Some credit cards don’t require a credit check when you apply or may determine your eligibility based on other factors, such as how you manage your income and expenses or your banking relationship with the card issuer. 

If you’re new to credit or have poor credit, look for credit cards that don’t focus solely on your credit history.

What is the most difficult credit card to get?

The American Express Centurion Card, also known as the Black Card, is the most exclusive credit card on the market. The card is available by invitation only, and you typically need to have a high net worth and spend several hundred thousand dollars on American Express credit cards each year to get an invite.

 Fortune Recommends™ has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Fortune Recommends™ and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.