If you’re looking to get more from your credit card in 2021, we’re here to help.
We’ve compiled a list of the best available credit cards in the U.S. in 17 different categories.
Curious how we came to these choices?
Our algorithm looks at all 141 cards in our database, compares over 126 different features, and gives each card a final score out of 5 – its Genius Rating.
This way, each card is selected free of judgement or compensation considerations.
Without further ado, here are our picks for the best credit cards for 2021.
| Credit Card Category | Best Credit Card | Rewards & Savings | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Overall | Wyndham Rewards Earner Card | 2.03% avg earn rate | Learn More |
| Best Travel | Amtrak Guest Rewards World Mastercard | 3.02% avg earn rate | Learn More |
| Best Cash Back | Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Card | 1.86% avg earn rate | Learn More |
| Best No Fee Travel | Wyndham Rewards Earner Card | 2.03% avg earn rate | Learn More |
| Best No Fee Cash Back | Paypal Cashback Mastercard | 2% avg earn rate | Learn More |
| Best Low APR | Wells Fargo Visa Signature | As low as 12.49% interest on purchases, and 0% balance transfer for 15 months | Learn More |
| Best Balance Transfer | BankAmericard Credit Card | 0% balance transfer for 12 months | Learn More |
| Best Rewards | Amtrak Guest Rewards World Mastercard | 3.02% avg earn rate | Learn More |
| Best Grocery | Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card | 4.39% avg return on groceries | Learn More |
| Best Gas | Wyndham Rewards Earner Card | 5.5% avg return on groceries | Learn More |
| Best Store | Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature | 5% avg return at Amazon.com | Learn More |
| Best Student | Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students | 1.5% avg return | Learn More |
| Best Insurance | SavorOne Rewards From Capital One | 1.32% avg return | Learn More |
| Best Perks | The Platinum Card from American Express | 1.63% avg return | Learn More |
| Best Airline | JetBlue Card | 1.75% avg earn rate | Learn More |
| Best Hotel | Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card | 2.75% avg return | Learn More |
| Best Secured | Bank of America Cash Rewards Secured | 1.37% avg return | Learn More |
We’ve got a wide selection of credit cards available here.
First, here’s how they compare for average earn rate, based on a typical $2,000 monthly spend.
No matter which card you’re looking at, you’re looking at a good rate of return (except for the dedicated low interest card).
And here’s the annual fees for all of them.
The no annual fee credit cards dominate the rankings. If you don’t want to pay an annual fee, there are plenty of choices in credit cards for you.
1. Best credit card overall
So what’s the best overall credit card? After taking all 126+ features into account and putting everything through our algorithm, we determined that the Wyndham Rewards Earner Card is the best credit card for 2021.
Why? You’ll earn high value travel rewards, get overall great perks, and it’s all for no annual fee. Earn up to 5 Wyndham Rewards points per $1 spent, get perks on your Wyndham stays, and pay no foreign exchange fees as well.
Key benefits
- Up to 5 Wyndham rewards points per $1 spent.
- Automatic Wyndham Gold Rewards membership.
- No foreign exchange fees.
See more best overall credit cards
2. Best credit card for travel rewards
For the best travel credit card, it’s probably not what you think. No, it’s not an airline card, or one for hotels…
It’s for the train.
The Amtrak Guest Rewards World Mastercard is the best travel credit card. With high average earnings and bonus perks while traveling on Amtrak, it’s a top notch credit card to get top travel rewards.
See more best travel credit cards
3. Best credit card for cash back
Prefer simple cash back? There are plenty of cash back cards to choose from. The best one for 2021 is the Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card.
A credit card that earns up to 5% cash back on all purchases, with no annual fee and a great balance transfer offer is tough to beat.
Key benefits
- Earn up to 5% cash back on purchases.
- Balance transfer offer of 0% for 15 months.
- No annual fee.
See more best cash back credit cards
4. Best no fee travel credit card
Prefer to earn travel rewards with no annual fee? Our top choice is the
It’s a complete no fee travel card.
See more best no annual fee travel credit cards
5. Best no fee cash back credit cards
Our best no annual fee cash back card may be a surprise, as our top cash back card also had no annual fee. But the Paypal Cashback Mastercard has one key advantage in the fees department.
It too earns 2% cash back on all purchases and has no annual fee. However, it has no foreign exchange fees as well, saving you even more when you make purchases in foreign currency. This feature is enough to put it over the top for best no annual fee credit card.
Key benefits
- 2% cash back on all purchases.
- No foreign exchange fees.
See more best no annual fee cash back credit cards
6. Best credit card with low APR
To save on credit card debt, you’ll want a card with low interest rates. Our top option is the Wells Fargo Visa Signature.
You’ll get an APR as low as 12.49% on purchases and balance transfers. Plus, it also comes with a balance transfer promotion of 0% for 15 months.
To top it off, you’ll earn 1 point per $1 spent on all new purchases made with the card.
Key benefits
- 1 point per $1 spent on all purchases.
- 0% APR on balance transfers for 15 months.
- No annual fee.
See more best low APR credit cards
7. Best credit card for balance transfers
Have existing credit card debt? Many credit cards offer balance transfer promotions that give you promotional rates of 0% for an extended period of time.
The best one of the bunch is the BankAmericard Credit card. While it doesn’t have the longest balance transfer promotion at 12 months, it also has no fee to transfer a balance as well, saving you money upfront.
Key benefits
- 0% APR for 12 months on balance transfers and purchases.
- No annual fee.
See more best balance transfer credit cards
8. Best rewards credit card
Just want the most rewards you can get with your credit card? The
With an Amtrak point worth up to 2.5 cents each, and the ability to earn up to 3 points per $1 spent, it can’t be beat on the total rewards earned front.
See more best rewards credit cards
9. Best credit card for grocery shopping
Groceries are a major part of everyone’s budget. And to earn the most rewards for your grocery purchases, the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card tops our list.
You’ll earn 4 points per $1 spent on groceries and restaurants, which translates to a return of 4.39% on groceries. Plus you’ll get Wyndham Rewards benefits, and 7,500 bonus points on your card’s anniversary.
Key benefits
- Up to 6 points per $1 spent on all purchases.
- Wyndham Rewards benefits.
- $75 annual fee.
See more best grocery credit cards
10. Best credit card for gas purchases
Unless you own an electric vehicle (or no car at all), getting gas is essential to you getting around and living your life.
To earn the most rewards on gas purchases, you’ll want the
Earn 5 points per $1 spent on your gas purchases, as well as at Wyndham hotels. That translates to a return of 5.5% on gas purchases.
See more best gas credit cards
11. Best store credit card
If you shop frequently at a particular retailer, it can pay to see if they have their own credit card, as they generally offer high rewards when you use it at their stores.
And the best one belongs to the world’s largest online retailer, the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature. Earn 5% cash back when you shop at Amazon.com as long as you have a Prime Membership. If you don’t have a Prime Membership, you can get the Amazon Rewards Visa Signature instead, which earns 3% back at Amazon.
Either way, it offers high rewards for the simplicity of shopping at Amazon.
Key benefits
- 5% cash back when shopping at Amazon.com
- Up to 2% cash back on other purchases.
- No foreign exchange fees.
See more best store credit cards
12. Best credit card for students
If you’re a student, it’s a good time to get a credit card. You’ll be able to start building up your credit score, all while learning good financial habits.
Our best student card is the Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students. You’ll earn 1.5 points per $1 spent on flexible rewards that can be used for everything, all while paying no annual fee.
Key benefits
- 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases.
- No foreign exchange fees.
- No annual fee.
See more best student credit cards
13. Best credit card for insurance
For some peace of mind while traveling, credit card insurance is a must. This way, if you have to cancel your trip early, leave early while on your trip, or just need some coverage if you’re stranded and can’t get home, credit card travel insurance is there if you need it.
SavorOne Rewards from Capital One is our top overall insurance credit card, with a total of 10 types of coverages, including up to $1,500 in trip cancellation and trip interruption.
Key benefits
- 10 types of insurance coverage.
- Up to 3% cash back on purchases.
- $0 annual fee.
See more best insurance credit cards
14. Best credit card for perks
For more than just rewards, some credit cards also offer some pretty sweet perks if you know where to look. Things to make your traveling life easier, earn bonus rewards, or save money on various aspects of your travel.
And The Platinum Card from American Express is tops in this regard. Get travel statement credits, automatic upgraded status in various hotel loyalty programs, unlimited airport lounge visits, and preferential treatment at various hotels using the Fine Hotels and Resorts…
And this is only a taste of what this card offers for its $550 annual fee.
Key benefits
- The most perks of any credit card in the U.S.
- Up to 5 points per $1 spent on purchases.
- $550 annual fee.
See more best perks credit cards
15. Best airline credit card
If you take to the sky frequently, an airline credit card may be for you. You’ll get great perks with the airline and earn miles on every purchase you make.
Our top airline card doesn’t even have an annual fee, as it’s the JetBlue Card. You’ll get TrueBlue points on all purchases, along with benefits when flying with JetBlue.
Key benefits
- Up to 3 points per $1 spent on purchases.
- Perks on JetBlue flights.
- No foreign exchange fees.
See more best airline credit cards
16. Best credit card for hotels
Earning airline rewards is all good, but what about when you get to your destination? Want to save on those hotel costs too?
The best hotel card is the
See more best hotel credit cards
17. Best secured credit card
If your credit score is in the dumps, a secured credit card may be the only kind of credit card you can get.
And while they may all seem the same, the best one is the Bank of America Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card. Why this one? It actually earns rewards – up to 3% cash back on your everyday purchases. Not many other secured credit cards will offer you rewards. So you’ll not only be able to build your credit score back up, but earn some rewards on the side as well.
Key benefits
- Up to 3% cash back on purchases.
- No annual fee.
See more best secured credit cards
Credit cards 101
What goes into credit cards? How do they work?
Here’s our primer on them – how to get one, how they work, and the various networks available.
How to get a credit card
How can you get a credit card? First, there’s a couple of basic requirements you need to meet.
They are:
- resident of the United States, and
- reached the age of majority in your state or territory.
If you meet them, you can make an application for a credit card.
As part of the application, you’ll need to consent to a credit check. The issuer will check your credit report from one of the major credit bureaus, and see your credit score and how good you are at making payments (among other things).
Depending on what they see, they’ll either grant you approval, deny your application, or follow up with you for more information.
If approved, they’ll assign you a credit limit – the maximum amount you can use your card for.
How do credit cards work?
So how do credit cards work?
When shopping, simply make the payment with your credit card. At a set time of the month, you’ll get a statement from your credit card issuer, stating how much you owe on your credit card.
You’ll then have approximately 21 days (this can vary by credit card) to pay your bill. It will let you know the minimum payment you’ll have to make.
However, you’ll want to pay it in full. If not, you’ll start to accrue interest on the unpaid balance. Most credit cards have a range of rates, depending on your creditworthiness. These rates can be as high as 20% or more – a substantial amount to be paying.
So, we’ll stress that you need to pay your bill in full so your credit card doesn’t wreck your finances.
Credit card networks
The last thing – the various credit card networks.
There are 4 major credit card networks in the United States that a card can be a part of.
They are:
- Visa,
- Mastercard,
- American Express, and
- Discover.
There are a few differences between them.
Visa and Mastercard don’t issue any credit cards themselves – they’re simply a network. Other banks and issuers use these networks for their self-issued cards.
Discover, on the other hand, both issues the credit cards and runs the network. An all in one package.
American Express lies in between. They issue their own cards, but also let other banks issue credit cards bearing the Amex logo.
Each network has their own perks and features, but a big difference between them is the acceptance.
In the United States, you won’t find acceptance much of an issue for any of these networks. The only big exception is Costco, where you can only use Visa credit cards.
Outside of the United States, that’s a different story. Visa and Mastercards are still almost universally accepted around the globe.
Discover, on the other hand, lacks acceptance outside the U.S., and Amex is in the middle – it will vary by country.
How to choose the right credit card for you
So how can you choose the right credit card for you?
Here are 4 questions you’ll want to ask yourself when getting a credit card.
Do you have poor credit?
First off, what’s your credit score like?
If you have a poor credit score, your options will be limited to secured credit cards.
These credit cards are designed to help people improve their credit scores. To get one, you’ll have to provide a security deposit. This deposit then becomes your credit limit. Use your credit card to make purchases, pay your bill, and slowly over time your credit score will improve.
If you don’t pay your bills, the issuer has your security deposit to fall back on to cover themselves.
Do you need to save on credit card interest?
Next question – do you have existing credit card debt? Most credit cards have high interest rates on purchases. If you haven’t been paying your bill in full, the interest charges can tear a hole in your finances.
If so, find a credit card with a balance transfer offer, like the aforementioned BankAmericard Credit Card.
Transfer your existing balances to the card, and you can enjoy 0% interest for 15 months.
There is a fee to pay (usually a percentage of the amount being transferred), but it’s usually made up for in terms of how much you’ll save on credit card interest.
Want to see how much you’re paying in credit card interest? Our interest calculator is here to help.
Choosing the right rewards for your credit card
If you’ve answered no to the first 2 questions, then the world’s your oyster and pretty much any credit card is available to you (depending on your exact credit score).
So you’ll want to make sure the rewards you’re earning are right for you. And there are 3 broad types – cash back, flexible, and travel.
Here’s an overview of the 3.
Cash
The simplest rewards you can get. Every purchase you make earns a percentage back in terms of cash.
For most credit cards, you get your rewards back as a statement credit. But for some, you can also get your cash back deposited into a bank account, get a cheque, or convert them into gift cards.
Flexible
Want to redeem for any travel charged to your card? Or get merchandise or gift cards for rewards?
You’ll want to collect flexible rewards. You have a multitude of ways to redeem your points, with travel bookings usually being at the top of the list for value.
Some programs even allow you to transfer your rewards to various hotel or airline rewards programs.
Travel
Finally, pure travel rewards. These are your airline miles and hotel points. They can be difficult to use, have wide running value, and are limited in what you can use them for. And sure, most programs have other ways to use your rewards, but you’re severely cutting your value when you do so.
Travel rewards typically offer the highest rewards value you can get, but have limited scope for redemptions.
Should you pay an annual fee?
So a big question to ask yourself – should you pay an annual fee?
In the U.S. lots of no annual fee credit cards provide top notch rewards. I mean, look at our list above – it’s chock full of cards with no annual fee.
So the question is raised when paying an annual fee – are the extra benefits worth it? Things like free checked bags, free hotel nights, and airport lounge access come with cards that have an annual fee.
It’s these benefits that you’ll have to consider when deciding whether or not to pay an annual fee.
Want to learn more about when to pay an annual fee? Here’s our guide on the subject.
How we find the best credit cards in the United States
So how do we determine the best credit cards in the United States?
First, we track over 126 features of credit cards – from rewards, fees, interest rates, perks, approval, and more.
We then crunch these numbers through our algorithm, which produces a score out of 5 – its Genius Rating, our unbiased, math-based system for determining which credit cards are the best.
We’d love to hear from you
There’s a wide variety of credit cards on the market right now. From travel to cash back, from low fees to low interest…
But which credit card is your favorite?
What do you consider to be the best card for 2021?
Let us know in the comments below.
FAQ
What is the best credit card in the United States?
The best credit card in the United States is the Wyndham Rewards Earner Card. You’ll earn up to 3 Wyndham points per $1 spent, and get Wyndham benefits on the side.
What’s the best cash back card in America?
The best cash back credit card in America is the Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Card. You’ll earn up to 5% cash back on your purchases for no annual fee.
What’s the best travel credit card in the United States?
The Amtrak Guest Rewards World Mastercard is the best travel credit card in the United States. Earning high value Amtrak points at a rate of up to 3 points per $1 spent, plus Amtrak benefits on the side, it’s a top card for the rail enthusiast.
What’s the best no fee credit card?
The best no fee credit card is the Paypal Cashback Mastercard. You’ll earn 2% cash back on every purchase, plus enjoy no foreign exchange fees.
What’s the best American credit card for bad credit?
For those with poor credit, the Bank Of America Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card is the best choice for improving credit. You’ll be able to improve your credit score while earning up to 3% cash back on purchases.
What’s the best low interest credit card in America?
For saving on credit card interest, the Wells Fargo Visa Signature has a 0% APR for 15 months on balance transfers. Plus, the standard APR can be as low as 12.49%.
