The Best Credit Cards for Every Situation

If you have been bombarded with credit card offers in the mail, cold-called by overzealous salespeople, or chased down near a college campus by a representative from a credit card company trying to convince you that they are in possession of the one special card that will change your life for the better, you might feel a little overwhelmed with all of the different options out there. 

Credit cards are not just about the physical piece of plastic; to own a credit card is to build (or tear down) your credit score, and if you do not know how to negotiate your credit card debt, build good spending habits, and which cards are actually worth it, you might feel a little lost. 

These days, it is nearly impossible to navigate society without having a credit card—but not all credit cards are created equal. To find out which credit cards make the most sense for your goals and lifestyle, take a look at our unbiased roundup of choices and take your financial future into your own hands.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Annual fee: $395
Recommended credit score: Excellent (750-850)

Chase Sapphire Reserve
Annual fee: $550
Recommended credit score: Excellent (750-850)

United Club Infinite Card
Annual fee: $525
Recommended credit score: Excellent (750-850)

U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card
Annual fee: $0
Recommended credit score: Excellent (750-850)

Chase Freedom Flex
Annual fee: $0
Recommended credit score: Good – Excellent (700-749) 

Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
Annual fee: $0
Recommended credit score: Good – Excellent (700-749) 

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Annual fee: $95
Recommended credit score: Good – Excellent (700-749) 

The Platinum Card from American Express
Annual fee: $695
Recommended credit score: Good – Excellent (700-749) 

Aeroplan Credit Card
Annual fee: $95
Recommended credit score: Good – Excellent (700-749) 

Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express
Annual fee: $450
Recommended credit score: Good – Excellent (700-749) 

The World of Hyatt Credit Card
Annual fee: $95
Recommended credit score: Good – Excellent (700-749) 

Wells Fargo Reflect Card
Annual fee: $0
Recommended credit score: Good – Excellent (700-749) 

Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card
Annual fee: $0 with Prime membership
Recommended credit score: Good – Excellent (700-749) 

Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
Annual fee: $95
Recommended credit score: Good – Excellent (700-749) 

Amazon Business Prime American Express Card
Annual fee: $0
Recommended credit score: Good – Excellent (690-850)

Chase Freedom Unlimited
Annual fee: $0
Recommended credit score: Good – Excellent (690-850)

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Annual fee: $95
Recommended credit score: Good – Excellent (690-850)

BankAmericard Credit Card
Annual fee: $0
Recommended credit score: Good – Excellent (690-850)

Citi Custom Cash Card
Annual fee: $0
Recommended credit score: Good – Excellent (690-850)

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Annual fee: $0
Recommended credit score: Good – Excellent (690-850)

Discover it Balance Transfer
Annual fee: $0
Recommended credit score: Good – Excellent (690-850)

Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card
Annual fee: $0
Recommended credit score: Good – Excellent (690-850)

Citi Diamond Preferred Card
Annual fee: $0
Recommended credit score: Good – Excellent (690-850)

Discover it Cash Back
Annual fee: $0
Recommended credit score: Good – Excellent (690-850)

Citi Double Cash Card
Annual fee: $0
Recommended credit score: Good – Excellent (690-850)

Chase Freedom Student Credit Card
Annual fee: $0
Recommended credit score: Good – Excellent (690-850)

American Express Blue Business Cash Card
Annual fee: $0
Recommended credit score: Good – Excellent (690-850)

The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express
Annual fee: $0
Recommended credit score: Good – Excellent (690-850)

Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card
Annual fee: $0
Recommended credit score: Good – Excellent (690-850)

Ink Business Cash Credit Card
Annual fee: $0
Recommended credit score: Good – Excellent (690-850)

Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
Annual fee: $0
Recommended credit score: Good – Excellent (670-850)

Hilton Honors American Express Card
Annual fee: $0
Recommended credit score: Good – Excellent (670-850)

Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99.
Recommended credit score: Good – Excellent (670-850)

Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card
Annual fee: $0
Recommended credit score: Good – Excellent (670-850)

Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Card
Annual fee: $0
Recommended credit score: Good – Excellent (670-850)

REI Co-op Mastercard
Annual fee: $0
Recommended credit score: Good – Excellent (670-850)

Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card
Annual fee: $0
Recommended credit score: Good – Excellent (670-850)

Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card
Annual fee: $0
Recommended credit score: Good – Excellent (670-850)

American Express Gold Card
Annual fee: $250
Recommended credit score: Good – Excellent (670-850)

Discover it Miles
Annual fee: $0
Recommended credit score: Good – Excellent (670-850)

Citi Simplicity Card
Annual fee: $0
Recommended credit score: Good – Excellent (670-850)

PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature Card
Annual fee: $0
Recommended credit score: Good – Excellent (670-850)

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Annual fee: $0
Recommended credit score: Good – Excellent (670-850)

Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa
Annual fee: $0
Recommended credit score: Average – Excellent (630-850)

Upgrade Bitcoin Rewards Visa Credit Card
Annual fee: $0
Recommended credit score: Average – Excellent (630-850)

Petal 2 Cash Back, No Fees Visa Credit Card
Annual fee: $0
Recommended credit score: No Credit – Good (670-739)

Discover It Student Chrome
Annual fee: $0
Recommended credit score: Average (630-689)

Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
Annual fee: $0
Recommended credit score: Average (630-689)

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Annual fee: $39
Recommended credit score: Average (630-689)

Capital One Platinum Credit Card
Annual fee: $0
Recommended credit score: Average (630-689)

Discover It Student Cash Back
Annual fee: $0
Recommended credit score: New to Credit – Average (580-669)

OpenSky Secured Visa Credit Card
Annual fee: $35
Recommended credit score: Poor – Average (300-689)

Chime Credit Builder Visa Credit Card
Annual fee: $0
Recommended credit score: Poor – Average (300-669)

Petal 1 No Annual Fee Visa Credit Card
Annual fee: $0
Recommended credit score: Poor – Average (300-669)

Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
Annual fee: $0
Recommended credit score: Poor (300-629)

Discover It Secured Credit Card
Annual fee: $0
Recommended credit score: New to Credit – Rebuilding Credit 

Titanium Rewards Visa Signature Card from Andrews Federal Credit Union
Annual fee: $0
Recommended credit score: N/A

Interested in other ways to manage debt wisely? Here are 13 tips:

1. Buy long-lasting products once instead of cheap things again and again
2. Decide if the cost of a college degree is worth it
3. Don’t buy worthless stuff
4. Don’t fall for financial scams
5. Follow these tips to save money
6. Get free stuff whenever possible
7. Get paid for things you’re already doing, like watching TV
8. Maintain good money habits in each decade of your life
9. Make extra money whenever possible
10. Move where your money goes the furthest
11. Negotiate your debt down
12. Pay off debt strategically
13. Qualify for better credit terms by improving your credit score