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

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express – 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: Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases within the first 6 months. See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply. American Express is a ProudMoney advertiser.

 

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card – 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: Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.

 

Citi Custom Cash℠ Card – 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: Earn $200 cash back after you spend $750 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening.

 

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express – Why We Like It: 6% cash back on up to $6,000 per year in purchases at U.S. supermarkets, 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back on transit purchases, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, 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: Earn a $350 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases within the first 6 months. Annual fee: $95. See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply. American Express is a ProudMoney advertiser.

 

Chase Freedom Flex℠ – Why We Like It: Good everyday earnings, plus the opportunity to earn 5% cash back in certain purchases throughout the year, all with no annual fee! Earn: 5% on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate, 5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, 3% on drugstore purchases, 1% on all other purchases. NEW CARDHOLDER BONUS OPPORTUNITY: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.

 

Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer – Simple, generous 2% cash back formula on all of your purchases, with no annual fee! 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. NEW CARDHOLDER BONUS OPPORTUNITY: Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening.

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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

Petal® 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa® Credit Card – This up-and-coming credit card company may have a no-annual-fee credit card for you even with bad credit. Your credit limit might start a little lower, but your first credit line increase could come as soon as 6 months after approval. No guarantees, but Petal does offer a pre-approval process to give you an idea if you’re likely to qualify for the card. Petal credit cards are issued by WebBank, Member FDIC.

Capital One Platinum Credit Card – 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, it 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.”

Avant Credit Card – While this card may have an annual fee of $59 and modest credit limits for most new cardholders, it can be a good credit card for rebuilding from bad credit (with responsible use, of course). You can check to see if you qualify without affecting your credit score, and the Avant Credit Card application says you could “Get a decision in as soon as 60 seconds.”

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Credit card issuers are often VERY generous with bonus offers for new cardholders. Here are the best credit card bonus offers right now:

Best Bonus Opportunities on No Annual Fee Credit Cards:

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card – EARLY SPEND BONUS: Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.

Other Reasons To Like This Card: 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 PLUS 3% at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®) PLUS 3% on entertainment PLUS 3% on popular streaming services, plus 1% on all other purchases.

 

Chase Freedom Flex℠ – NEW CARDHOLDER BONUS OPPORTUNITY: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.

Other Reasons To Like This Card: Good everyday earnings, plus the opportunity to earn 5% cash back in certain purchases throughout the year, all with no annual fee! Earn: 5% on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate, 5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, 3% on drugstore purchases, 1% on all other purchases.

 

Citi Custom Cash℠ Card – NEW CARDHOLDER WELCOME BONUS OPPORTUNITY: Earn $200 cash back after you spend $750 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening.

Other Reasons To Like This Card: 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.

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(This is a regularly updated post; last update 8/10/22.) 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 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: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, American Express® Gold Card, The Platinum Card® from American Express. 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: Chase Freedom Flex℠, Chase Freedom Unlimited®, Chase Sapphire Preferred®, Chase Sapphire Reserve®.

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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.

U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card – Balance Transfer Offer: 0% introductory APR for the first 20 billing cycles for balances transferred within 60 days from account opening. After that, 16.74% to 26.74% based on your creditworthiness when you open your account. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate. Balance Transfer Fee: Either 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater.NOTE: Almost all credit cards charge balance transfer fees, but you will almost always pay less in interest over the long run than the fee you’ll pay to transfer your balance — but do the math to make sure that is true in your situation! Like all cards on this list, this one has no annual fee.

 

Chase Slate Edge℠ – Balance Transfer Offer: 0% Intro APR for the first 18 months that your Account is open. After that, 17.24% to 25.99%, based on your creditworthiness. These APRs will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate. Balance Transfer Fee: Intro fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, on transfers made within 60 days of account opening. After that: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. NOTE: Almost all credit cards charge balance transfer fees, but you will almost always pay less in interest over the long run than the fee you’ll pay to transfer your balance — but do the math to make sure that is true in your situation! Like all cards on this list, this one has no annual fee.

 

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express – Balance Transfer Offer: 0% introductory APR for the first 15 months from the date of account opening on balance transfers requested within 60 days of account opening. After that, the APR on future balance transfers is 16.24% to 27.24% based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate. Balance Transfer Fee: Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. NOTE: Almost all credit cards charge balance transfer fees, but you will almost always pay less in interest over the long run than the fee you’ll pay to transfer your balance — but do the math to make sure that is true in your situation!

AND MUCH MORE: 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. No annual fee. NEW CARDHOLDER WELCOME BONUS OPPORTUNITY: Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases within the first 6 months. See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply. American Express is a ProudMoney advertiser.

 

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card – Balance Transfer Offer: 0% introductory APR for the first 15 months that your account is open. After that, your APR will be 16.49%, 22.49% or 26.49%, based on your creditworthiness. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate. Balance Transfer Fee: 3% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account during the first 15 months that your account is open. NOTE: Almost all credit cards charge balance transfer fees, but you will almost always pay less in interest over the long run than the fee you’ll pay to transfer your balance — but do the math to make sure that is true in your situation!

AND MUCH MORE: 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: Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.

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Based on our research, the following credit cards may give you instant approval (instant approval is never guaranteed), and in some cases you’ll be able to use that gas credit card today. Note that we are including credit cards from specific gas stations as well as general bank credit cards that offer an enhanced reward on gas purchases:

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express – This no-annual fee card lets you earn 3% cash back on gas at U.S. gas stations on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), PLUS 3% cash back on groceries at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), PLUS 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), and 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: Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases within the first 6 months. See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply. American Express is a ProudMoney advertiser.

 

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express – Offers 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, 6% cash back on up to $6,000 per year in purchases at U.S. supermarkets, 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back on transit purchases, 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: Earn a $350 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases within the first 6 months. Annual fee: $95. See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply. American Express is a ProudMoney advertiser.

 

Chase Freedom Flex℠ – This is NOT strictly a gas credit card by any means, but it is worth mentioning because for at least one calendar quarter (three months) of each year in the recent past, this card has offered 5% cash back on gas station purchases (excluding big box stores that sell gas, like Walmart and other warehouse clubs) as part of its rotating calendar of 5% reward offerings. (We can’t say for sure that gas stations will continue to be a 5% category, though.) How The 5% Calendar Works: You earn 5% on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. In addition, you’ll earn 5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, 3% on drugstore purchases, 1% on all other purchases. NEW CARDHOLDER BONUS OPPORTUNITY: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.

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