What is the Best Credit Card For You? Compare These 10 Cards

By Myles Leva

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Last Updated: May 27, 2022

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With so many options, how do you decide what is the best credit card for you? 

With so many offering rewards such as cash back and travel miles, it's easy to forget that credit card companies can also charge high interest rates and hidden fees. You do have to remember that no matter what rewards you are getting, they are only beneficial if you pay your card balance every month.

Otherwise, your rewards will actually not be worth anything if you end up paying more in fees and interest on your balances. Make sure to do the math before you commit to any of these cards. 

In this article, we will simply go over some of the most popular credit cards. We included cards for a variety of purposes, considering:

  • Different ages and stages of career progression
  • Levels of income
  • Personal financial needs
  • Differences in credit scores

Keep in mind that we are doing some of the sorting for you! There are so many credit cards to choose from, and we still recommend that you research any credit card you are going to commit to! 

Know more before you sign up! 5 Warning Signs You Absolutely Need to Know Before Getting a Credit Card 

 

 

Comparing 10 Credit Cards for You

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

If flying is an important part of your life, this is a great option for you. The 75,000 miles ($4,000 in purchases for the first 3 months) welcome bonus alone is quite a deal.

While it’s a pricey option reserved for those with excellent credit (750+), this Capital One credit card fits the bill for a premium air miles rewards card.

Interest Rate: 17.24% - 24.24%

Fees: $395 per year

Rewards: 10,000 miles per year default, air miles on every purchase

 

Walmart Credit Card

Walmart has its own credit card, which offers an especially good deal if you shop at the chain.

They offer generous rewards for in-store purchases (including on their website). But they also offer decent rewards for shipping anywhere where their MasterCard card is accepted.

Interest Rate: 17.99%, 23.24% or 26.99%

Fees: $0

Rewards:

  • 5% cashback at Walmart.com
  • 2% at Walmart stores, food stations, and restaurants
  • 1% cashback everywhere else

 

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

For a low-cost premium credit card, Chase offers a solid option here. It’s not the priciest credit card on this list, but it offers a balance between economy and rewards for travel and dining. However, as with most premium card, you need a high credit score (700+) to apply.

Interest Rate: 16.24% - 23.24%

Fees: $95 per year

Rewards:

  • 80,000 welcome miles (with $4,000 spent during first 3 months)
  • points for participating travel, dining (including delivery & take-out), hotel, streaming, and grocery purchases
  • plus 1 point per dollar on all other purchases

 

Discover it® Student Cash Back

Switching from premium cards, let’s have a look at the needs of students. This card from Discover offers students without credit history a chance to build credit. They can also benefit from great rewards appropriate for student life while doing so.

Interest Rate: 0% for the first 6 months; 13.24% - 22.24% after

Fees: $0

Rewards:

  • 5% cashback on applicable purchases (rotates by quarter)
  • 1% cashback on all other purchases

Top 10 Common Credit Card Company Tricks You Need to Know About 

 

Citi Custom Cash℠ Card

For regular people just looking for a low-cost credit card with a good rewards offer, Citi has another good option.

Anyone with a credit score of 690 or higher qualifies for the card. You get up to 5% cashback on purchases, with a strong introductory offer and no annual fee.

Interest Rate: 0% for first 15 months, 14.74% - 24.74% after

Fees: $0

Rewards:

  • $200 cashback and 20,000 points if you spend $750 in the first 3 months
  • 5% cash back on your highest eligible spend category each billing cycle up to $500 spent
  • 1% cashback for every other purchase

 

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

This Capital One card isn’t premium and doesn’t charge an annual fee. But it still offers some of the best rewards for day-to-day purchases that we could find. With a minimum credit score of 670, it’s not especially hard to qualify for either.

Interest Rate: 0% for first 15 months, 15.24% - 25.24% after

Fees: $0

Rewards:

  • $200 for $500 spent within the first 3 months
  • unlimited 3% cashback for applicable streaming, dining, groceries, other entertainment
  • plus 8% cashback for Capital One Entertainment purchases or tickets for Vivid Seats

 

Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card

Like Walmart, Amazon has its own credit card. Amazon’s Visa is a clear choice if you’re addicted. With no annual fee, and well-rounded cashback rewards, it’s a good, modern choice of credit card.

As an addition to its well-rounded offer, the card also doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees.

Interest Rate: 0% for promo period, 14.49% to 22.49% after

Fees: $0

Rewards:

  • $50 gift card for Amazon upon approval
  • 3% cashback for Amazon and Whole Foods Market purchases
  • 2% cashback at restaurants, drugstores, and gas stations
  • 1% cashback for all other purchases

 

 

Credit Cards for Bad Credit

To round off the list, let’s look at the best options if you have bad credit.

OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card

Requiring no credit check at all, this Visa credit card is explicitly meant for credit repair. If you cannot qualify for a regular bank credit card, this is a good alternative.

The main drawback of this card is that it is secured with a minimum deposit. It also doesn’t have the bells and whistles that the credit cards listed above do. So, it’s a second chance credit card for those seeking a chance to restore their credit to good standing.

For that, they report your credit activity to all 3 major credit bureaus.

Interest Rate: Variable; starts at 17.64% APR

Fees: $35 per year

Rewards: None

 

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

Discover’s second entry on this list is its credit repair product. The secured credit card is also meant for people trying to raise their credit scores. To apply, you must provide a minimum refundable security deposit of $200.

Unlike many cards for those with bad credit, this one offers a few small rewards as well. However, the APR is higher than the alternatives.

Interest Rate: Variable; starts at 23.24% APR

Fees: None

Rewards:

  • 2% cashback at gas stations and restaurants up to $1,000 per quarter
  • 1% cashback on all others

 

Tomo Credit Card

Tomo Credit Card is another option that doesn’t require a credit check. Better yet, it includes no annual fees or interest.

This credit card is by far the simplest and most bare-bones on this list. There are no fancy rewards and no interest or annual use charges. So, what you get is a credit card that helps build your credit.

The catch is that many customers complain of very poor customer service, including lack of support when alleging fraud and sudden account closures. Many allege that you get what you pay for (nothing).

Interest Rate: 0%

Fees: $0

Rewards: 1% cashback

 

 

Conclusions: How do I choose the right credit card for me?

Using the basic information provided, you can create a shortlist of credit cards you think would work well for you. But it’s important to read the fine print and consider the card’s repayment options. It’s your responsibility alone to understand, agree to, and honor a contract.

Many people who forgo the latter step become unhappy with their choice of credit cards. This applies for some cards more than others, but it’s always worth considering. In general, if you always pay your bills on time and in full, you should not have any problems with a credit card.

Lastly, the credit card you choose should be appropriate for your lifestyle and spending habits. If you’re a student, for example, any card that isn’t meant for students can easily be:

  • Difficult to qualify for
  • Too expensive
  • Lacking in the rewards you actually need

Credit card providers typically work hard to market their products effectively. By sticking to the cards meant for those with your financial habits and closely considering the offer in its entirety, you can have a better experience with credit cards.

Photo by RODNAE Productions

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