Below we list some of the best credit cards on the market right now, with an emphasis on cash back and travel rewards cards:

Best Cash Back Credit Cards

card_name – Why We Like It: Maybe the best rewards credit card for grocery purchases with no annual fee, plus a rare 3% reward for general online purchases. EARN: 3% cash back on groceries at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 3% cash back on gas at U.S. gas stations on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 1% cash back on other purchases. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit. NEW CARDHOLDER WELCOME BONUS OPPORTUNITY: bonus_miles_full card_name. American Express is a ProudMoney advertiser.

card_name – Why We Like It: No-brainer opportunity to earn 5% cash back in the everyday category you shop most each month, with no annual fee! EARN: 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter and on all other purchases. The 5% eligible categories are: Restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, live entertainment. NEW CARDHOLDER WELCOME BONUS OPPORTUNITY: bonus_miles_full

card_name – Why We Like It: Offers generous cash back in everyday categories where you are likely to be doing real spending, with no annual fee! Earn 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), plus 1% on all other purchases. EARLY SPEND BONUS: bonus_miles_full.

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(This is a regularly updated post; last update 6/9/23.) If you’ve ever been pitched on opening a new credit card while making a purchase, you know that some stores are more than happy to give you instant credit — apply on the spot, get approved, use the card immediately. Below we offer a list of such cards, including regular bank credit cards as well as retail credit cards. Apply online and get shopping today. (Note that instant approval is not guaranteed.)

• American Express Credit Cards – Most American Express cards offer the possibility of an “Instant Card Number” upon approval. Your eligibility is based on the “ability to instantly validate your identity.” If eligible, use the Instant Card Number even before you have the physical card (though possibly not the card’s complete credit line). Instant Card Number cards include: card_name, card_name, card_name, card_name. Terms Apply. American Express is a ProudMoney advertiser.
• Chase Credit Cards – Most Chase consumer credit cards (not business cards) now offer a “Spend Instantly” feature that gives you the potential for instant approval and then same-day usage through digital wallets Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay. (You add your new Chase card to the digital wallet via the Chase mobile app.) Popular Chase credit cards include: card_name, card_name, card_name.

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Author: Adam Jusko (NOTE: As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.)

The Amazon Rewards Visa is a popular rewards credit card, thanks to its 5 points per dollar on Amazon.com and Whole Foods purchases for Amazon Prime credit card customers (3 points for cardholders without Amazon Prime), plus 2 points at restaurants, gas stations, and drug stores, and 1 point per dollar everywhere else.

But is your credit score good enough to qualify? What credit score do you need to get the Amazon Visa?

There is no guaranteed answer to this question. But, using a combination of our knowledge of Amazon and Chase practices (Chase issues the Amazon Visa), plus a bunch of data points we’ve hunted down from around the Web, we can make an educated declaration:

• In general, customers with a 650 or better credit score will be approved for the Amazon Visa. However, we have seen reports of approvals as low as 600, and some denials at scores between 650 and 725.

Obviously your odds increase with a higher score. However, remember that your credit score is not the only factor in approving or denying your application. Many credit card companies will pay special attention to the length of your credit history, your current debt, your current income, and how many other credit cards or loans you’ve recently opened. That’s why there is no guarantee when it comes to a minimum credit score for approval.

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The best business credit cards have generous business-focused rewards while allowing you to separate business expenses from personal:

card_name – Why We Like It: Generous, simple CASH BACK rewards formula with no annual fee. Choose this if you want great rewards without having to think too hard about those rewards while you’ve got your mind on your business.

Your business earns: 2% Cash Back on eligible business purchases up to $50,000 per calendar year, automatically credited to your statement. (Eligible purchases are purchases for goods and services minus returns and other credits.) Your business then earns 1% cash back on other eligible purchases after the first $50K spent on your Card, automatically credited to your statement.

New Cardholder Welcome Bonus Opportunity: bonus_miles_full card_name. American Express is a ProudMoney advertiser.

card_name – Why We Like It: High reward opportunities (as high as 5%) on common small business categories, big new cardholder bonus opportunity, and no annual fee.

EARN: 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year. Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.

NEW CARDHOLDER BONUS OPPORTUNITY: bonus_miles_full

card_name – Why We Like It: Simple rewards formula with no annual fee, big bonus opportunity for new cardholders. EARN: 1.5% cash back on all purchases with the card.

NEW CARDHOLDER BONUS OPPORTUNITY: bonus_miles_full

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Best Buy offers three credit cards (in partnership with Citi), which is actually a little confusing, so be careful, especially if you have a lower credit score, because one of their cards has a $59 annual fee. (See our Best Buy credit card review here.) With three Best Buy credit cards targeting a range of customers in different credit score ranges, your chances of approval are high. But the question is: what credit score is needed for each card?

One Application, Three Possible Best Buy Credit Cards

When you apply, you’re going to be considered first for the no-annual-fee My Best Buy Visa Platinum, which can be used at Best Buy and anywhere else that Visa is accepted. To qualify for this card, you’ll probably need a 650 credit score to feel good about your approval odds, though it’s possible you’d be approved slightly below that score.

Now, if your application is denied for that card, you would then automatically be considered for one of Best Buy’s other credit cards (no need to fill out another application):

• The My Best Buy store credit card, only accepted at Best Buy. This one has no annual fee, or…
• The My Best Buy Visa Gold, which is accepted at Best Buy and anywhere else that takes Visa, BUT has a $59 annual fee that you might not want to pay!

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When it comes to credit cards for people with bad credit, your choices are limited. But you don’t have to be stuck with a lousy credit card. Below we list some of the best credit cards for people with bad credit. If your credit is too bad for an unsecured credit card (unless it comes with outrageously high interest and fees), then consider a secured credit card that requires a refundable deposit but often has better terms otherwise.

Unsecured Credit Cards for Bad Credit

card_name – No frills, but this no-annual-fee credit card has been the starting place for many people with poor credit scores who’ve been turned down by other credit card issuers — as a result, the Capital One Platinum has a fan club of grateful cardholders who held it while building their credit scores to a place where they could qualify for one of Capital One’s generous reward credit cards. If approved, Capital One says you’ll be “automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months.”

card_name – Mission Lane branded credit cards are for people who are rebuilding credit after past credit problems. Card terms vary, with the possibility of a $0 annual fee up to a $59 annual fee, depending on your credit history. You’ll get an instant decision on your application, and you could qualify for a higher credit line after making your first 6 payments on time.

The good news: You can see which offer you could prequalify for on the card_name website with NO HARD PULL on your credit report. If you like the terms, you can go ahead and complete a firm application, which would then result in a hard pull.

Worried that your application could still be denied after being prequalified? After prequalification, the only way your application can be declined is if Mission Lane cannot verify your identity or income with the information you’ve provided. Pre-qualify for the card_name now with NO Hard Pull.

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If you have a big credit card balance sitting at 20% interest or even higher, the following cards allow you to transfer your balance over to the new card and get over a year to pay it off at a 0% interest rate. All of these cards have no annual fee.

card_name – Balance Transfer Offer: balance_transfer_intro_apr,balance_transfer_intro_duration. After the introductory period ends, an APR of reg_apr,reg_apr_type, based on your creditworthiness. Balance Transfer Fee: balance_transfer_fees. NO ANNUAL FEE.

card_name – Balance Transfer Offer: balance_transfer_intro_apr,balance_transfer_intro_duration. After that, the APR will be reg_apr,reg_apr_type, based on your creditworthiness. Balance Transfer Fee: balance_transfer_fees

REWARDS: Earn 2% cash back on purchases: 1% when you buy and 1% as you pay — no categories to worry about, and no cap on the 2% cash back you can earn.

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Capital One offers a range of consumer credit cards that target different consumer groups based on rewards preferences and credit history. Below we offer our ranking of the five “best” Capital One credit cards:

card_name – Why We Like It Best: Offers generous cash back in everyday categories where you are likely to be doing real spending, with no annual fee! Earn 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), plus 1% on all other purchases. EARLY SPEND BONUS: bonus_miles_full

card_name – Why We Like It: Offers the desirable features of more expensive travel cards, but strips away the fluff to keep the annual fee reasonable. That annual fee is annual_fees, but you can get up to $300 in travel credits when you book through Capital One Travel, and there is a strong Early Spend Bonus: bonus_miles_full. The Anniversary Miles Bonus kicks in starting on your first anniversary, with 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel).

In terms of rewards on everyday purchases, earn unlimited 10 miles per dollar in purchases on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel, plus unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases. And don’t forget airport lounge access through the Priority Pass network & the new Capital One Lounges, plus quite a bit more.

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