If you’re looking to get more from your credit card in 2020, 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 136 cards in our database, compares over 50 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.
Without further ado, here are our picks for the best credit cards for 2020.
| Credit Card Category | Best Credit Card | Rewards & Savings | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Overall | JetBlue Card | 1.89% avg earn rate | Learn More |
| Best Travel | Amtrak Guest Rewards World Mastercard | 3.02% avg earn rate | Learn More |
| Best Cash Back | Citi Double Cash Card | 2% avg earn rate | Learn More |
| Best No Fee Travel | JetBlue Card | 1.89% avg earn rate | Learn More |
| Best No Fee Cash Back | Paypal Cashback Mastercard | 2% avg earn rate | Learn More |
| Best Low APR | HSBC Cash Rewards Mastercard credit card | 0% balance transfer for 12 months | Learn More |
| Best Balance Transfer | Amex EveryDay Credit Card | 0% balance transfer for 15 months | Learn More |
| Best Rewards | Amtrak Guest Rewards World Mastercard | 3.02% avg earn rate | Learn More |
| Best Grocery | Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express | 4.57% avg return on groceries | Learn More |
| Best Gas | Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi | 4% 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 | The World of Hyatt Credit Card | 2.29% avg return | Learn More |
| Best Perks | The Platinum Card from American Express | 1.63% avg return | Learn More |
| Best Airline | Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard | 2.36% avg return | Learn More |
| Best Hotel | The World of Hyatt Credit Card | 2.29% avg return | Learn More |
| Best Secured | Discover it Secured | 0.99% avg return | Learn More |
Best overall credit card
So what’s the best overall credit card? After taking all 50+ features into account and putting everything through our algorithm, we determined that the JetBlue Card is the best card for 2020.
Why? You’ll earn high value airline rewards, get overall great perks, and it’s all for no annual fee. Earn up to 3 TrueBlue points per $1 spent, get perks on JetBlue flights, good travel insurance, and pay no foreign exchange fees as well.
See more best overall credit cards
Best travel credit card
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 out there. With high average earnings and bonus perks while travelling on Amtrak, it’s a top notch credit card to get top travel rewards.
See more best travel credit cards
Best cash back credit card
Well, since it’s our best overall credit card, it makes sense that it’s the best cash back credit card as well. It’s the Citi Double Cash Card.
A credit card that earns 2% cash back on all purchases, with no annual fee and a great balance transfer offer is tough to beat.
See more best cash back credit cards
Best no fee travel credit card
Prefer to earn travel rewards with no annual fee? Our top choice is the JetBlue Card. Earn up to 2 points per $1 on your everyday purchases (3 on JetBlue), and get JetBlue perks and pay no foreign exchange fees as well.
It’s a complete, no fee travel card.
See more best no annual fee travel credit cards
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 on fees when you make purchases in foreign currency. This feature is enough to put it over the top for best no annual fee credit card.
See more best no annual fee cash back credit cards
Best low APR credit card
To save on credit card debt, you’ll want a card with low interest rates. Our top option is the HSBC Cash Rewards Mastercard credit card.
You’ll get an APR as low as 14.49% on purchases and balance transfers. Plus, it also comes with a balance transfer promotion of 0% for 12 months.
To top it off, you’ll earn 1.5% cash back on all new purchases made with the card.
See more best low APR credit cards
Best balance transfer credit card
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 Amex EveryDay Credit Card. While it doesn’t have the longest balance transfer promotion at 15 months (they go as high as 21), it also has no fee to transfer a balance as well, saving you money upfront.
See more best balance transfer credit cards
Best rewards credit card
Just want the most rewards you can get with your credit card? The Amtrak Guest Rewards World Mastercard is top of our list.
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 earning front.
See more best rewards credit cards
Best grocery credit card
Groceries are a major part of everyone’s budget. And to earn the most rewards for your grocery purchases, the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express tops our list.
You’ll earn 6% cash back on the first $6,000 in annual spend on groceries, after which you’ll earn 1%. Charge $6,000 in groceries to the card, and that’s $360 right there in rewards. No other card can come close to earning that many rewards on any specific category, let alone groceries.
See more best grocery credit cards
Best gas credit card
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 Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi.
Earn 4% cash back on the first $7,000 in annual gas purchases. No other credit card comes close when it comes to earning extra rewards on gas.
See more best gas credit cards
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 Prime Rewards Visa Signature instead, which earns 3% back at Amazon.
Either way, it offers high rewards for the simplicity of shopping at Amazon.
See more best store credit cards
Best student credit card
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.
See more best student credit cards
Best insurance credit card
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.
The World of Hyatt Credit Card is our top overall insurance credit card, with a total of 9 types of coverages, including up to $5,000 in trip cancellation and interruption.
See more best insurance credit cards
Best perks credit card
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.
See more best perks credit cards
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 card actually doesn’t belong to a U.S. airline, it’s the Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard. And even though it’s not a U.S. airline card, you can use your miles to fly on a couple U.S. carriers (Delta and Hawaiian), as well as several other international carriers.
See more best airline credit cards
Best hotel credit card
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 World of Hyatt Credit Card. Earn up to 4 points per $1 spent on your purchases. But the best part? You can earn up to 2 free hotel nights per year – earn 1 every year you have the card, and another when you spend $15,000 per year on your card. You’ll be staying for free with this card in your wallet.
See more best hotel credit cards
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 Discover it Secured. Why this one? It actually earns rewards – up to 2% cash back on your everyday purchases. No other secured credit card 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.
See more best secured credit cards
We’d love to hear from you
There’s a variety of credit cards on the market right now. From travel to cash back, from low fees to low interest…
But what credit card is your favorite?
What do you consider to be the best card for 2020?
Let us know in the comments below.
