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Best credit cards of December 2024

Updated December 05, 2024

Advertiser Disclosure: The listings that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which Bankrate receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Here's an explanation for and how we rate our cards.

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Showing 18 results

Best standalone rewards card

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Bankrate score

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4.8
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
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on Chase's secure site

Purchase intro APR

0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months

Regular APR

19.74% - 28.49% Variable

Intro offer

Up to $300 cash back

Rewards rate

1.5% - 5%

Why you'll like this: It’s one of the only cards that offers both a boosted flat rewards rate and bonus rewards in popular categories like dining and travel.

Best for dining and entertainment

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

Bankrate score

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5.0
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
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on Capital One's secure site

See Rates & Fees

Intro offer

$250 Cash Back

Rewards rate

1% - 8%

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

19.74% - 29.74% (Variable)

Why you'll like this: Along with its hard-to-find entertainment category, it earns rewards in lucrative everyday spending categories.

Best starter travel card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Bankrate score

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4.8
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
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on Chase's secure site

Intro offer

60,000 bonus points

Rewards rate

1x - 5x

Annual fee

$95

Regular APR

20.74% - 27.74% Variable

Why you'll like this: It boasts terrific rewards value with its annual bonus points, practical bonus categories, high-value points and redemption flexibility.

Best for balance transfers with excellent credit

Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card

Bankrate score

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4.1
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
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on Citi's secure site

See Rates & Fees

Balance transfer intro APR

0% for 21 months on Balance Transfers

Regular APR

17.49% - 28.24% (Variable)

Rewards rate

N/A

Annual fee

$0

Why you'll like this: Its long balance transfer offer, alternative payment plans and a potentially low ongoing APR can help you save.

Best for long intro APR

Wells Fargo Reflect® Card

Bankrate score

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4.3
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
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on Wells Fargo's secure site

See Rates & Fees

Purchase intro APR

0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening

Regular APR

17.49%, 23.99%, or 29.24% Variable APR

Intro offer

N/A

Rewards rate

N/A

Why you'll like this: It offers perhaps the longest intro APR period available on both new purchases and balance transfers.

Best for food and travel

American Express® Gold Card

Bankrate score

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4.9
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
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on American Express's secure site

See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply

Intro offer

60,000 points

Rewards rate

1X - 4X

Annual fee

$325

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Why you'll like this: Its dining perks and top-tier rewards rate at both supermarkets and restaurants make it a uniquely valuable travel card for foodies.

Best for bonus offer

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bankrate score

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4.9
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
Apply nowLock

on Capital One's secure site

See Rates & Fees

Intro offer

75,000 miles

Rewards rate

2 Miles - 5 Miles

Annual fee

$95

Regular APR

19.99% - 29.74% (Variable)

Why you'll like this: It’s currently offering a competitive sign-up bonus, which adds terrific short-term value to an already lucrative, flexible travel card.

Best for simplicity

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Bankrate score

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4.3
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
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on Wells Fargo's secure site

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Intro offer

$200 cash rewards

Rewards rate

2%

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

19.49%, 24.49%, or 29.49% Variable APR

Why you'll like this: It’s one of the easiest flat-rate rewards cards to use thanks to its well-rounded features and unlimited 2 percent cash rewards with no strings attached.

Best for luxury perks

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Bankrate score

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4.8
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
Apply nowLock

on American Express's secure site

See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply

Intro offer

Earn 80,000 points

Rewards rate

5X - 5X

Annual fee

$695

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Why you'll like this: It boasts the most comprehensive airport lounge access you can get, plus dozens of other perks and credits totaling nearly $2,000 in value.

Best for travel card beginners

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

Bankrate score

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4.1
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
Apply nowLock

on Capital One's secure site

See Rates & Fees

Purchase intro APR

0% intro on purchases for 15 months

Regular APR

19.74% - 29.74% (Variable)

Intro offer

20,000 miles

Rewards rate

1.25 Miles - 5 Miles

Why you'll like this: It’ll rack up miles even if you don’t spend much on travel, and you can transfer miles to partner airlines for a chance at a higher redemption value.

Best for holiday shopping

Discover it® Cash Back

Bankrate score

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4.4
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
Apply nowLock

on Discover's secure site

See Rates & Fees

Intro offer

Cashback Match

Rewards rate

1% - 5%

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

18.49% - 27.49% Variable APR

Why you'll like this: The Discover it Cash Back’s 2024 4th quarter bonus categories are perfect for holiday rewards.

Best for no-frills benefits

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Bankrate score

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5.0
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(740 - 850)
Apply nowLock

on Capital One's secure site

See Rates & Fees

Intro offer

75,000 miles

Rewards rate

2 Miles - 10 Miles

Annual fee

$395

Regular APR

19.99% - 29.74% (Variable)

Why you'll like this: It offers valuable perks at a much lower cost than other premium cards, including annual travel credits, airport lounge access and more.

Best business card for simplicity

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

Bankrate score

star iconstar iconstar iconstar iconstar icon
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4.2
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
Apply nowLock

on Chase's secure site

Intro offer

Earn $750 bonus cash back

Rewards Rate

1.5%

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

17.74% - 23.74% Variable

Why you'll like this: It’s one of the most straightforward, easy-to-use business cards out there, offering a generous sign-up bonus and flat rewards rate at no annual fee.

Best business card for spending bonuses

Capital One Spark Cash Plus

Bankrate score

star iconstar iconstar iconstar iconstar icon
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4.7
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(740 - 850)
Apply nowLock

on Capital One's secure site

See Rates & Fees

Intro offer

$2,000 cash back

Rewards Rate

2% - 5%

Annual fee

$150

Regular APR

N/A

Why you'll like this: Along with its generous unlimited flat cash back rate, it offers terrific sign-up and annual bonuses that can easily make the card worth it.

Best for upgrading

Capital One Platinum Credit Card

Bankrate score

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4.2
Bankrate review
No Credit History
Apply nowLock

on Capital One's secure site

See Rates & Fees

Intro offer

N/A

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

29.99% (Variable)

Why you'll like this: It offers a clear path to a higher credit limit and several lucrative rewards cards you could upgrade to down the line.

Best for students

Discover it® Student Cash Back

Bankrate score

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5.0
Bankrate review
No Credit History
Apply nowLock

on Discover's secure site

See Rates & Fees

Intro offer

Cashback Match

Rewards Rate

1% - 5%

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

17.49% - 26.49% Variable APR

Why you'll like this: It’ll kick start your credit journey with a high-value welcome offer, a solid rewards program and forgiving rates and fees.

Best for low-cost credit building

Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa® Credit Card

Bankrate score

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4.2
Bankrate review
No Credit History
Apply nowLock

on Chime's secure site

Intro offer

N/A

Annual fee

None

Regular APR

N/A

Why you'll like this: You can avoid traditional secured card costs like a security deposit, interest charges and late payment fees.

Best credit limit policy

Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

Bankrate score

star iconstar iconstar iconstar iconstar icon
star iconstar iconstar iconstar iconstar icon
4.1
Bankrate review
No Credit History
Apply nowLock

on Capital One's secure site

See Rates & Fees

Intro offer

N/A

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

29.99% (Variable)

Why you'll like this: Its minimum security deposit is exceptionally low, and it gives you a chance to increase your credit limit after six months.

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Compare Bankrate's best credit cards of 2024

Card name Our pick for Card highlights
Bankrate Score

Standalone rewards card

5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Travel℠

3% cash back on dining and drugstore purchases

1.5% cash back on all other purchases

No annual fee

4.8 / 5

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on Chase's secure site
Dining and entertainment

8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases

5% cash back on hotels and rental cars through Capital One Travel

3% cash back on dining, entertainment, select streaming services and grocery store purchases (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target)

No annual fee

5.0 / 5

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on Capital One's secure site
Point value

3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), dining (including eligible delivery services) and select streaming services

5X points on Chase Travel℠ and Lyft Rides (Lyft offer through March 31, 2025)

2X points on other travel

25% point value boost toward Chase Travel redemption 

Yearly bonus points and credits: $50 annual hotel stay credit and 10% back on your previous year's total combined spending points 

$95 annual fee

 

4.8 / 5

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Balance transfers with excellent credit
0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers (within the first four months) and for 12 months on purchases (17.49% - 28.24% (Variable) thereafter; 5% balance transfer fee, $5 minimum)
 
Citi Easy Deals, Citi Flex Loans and Citi Entertainment may help save money on eligible purchases, event tickets and alternative payment plans
 
No annual fee
 

4.1 / 5

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Long intro APR
0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers (within the first 120 days) and purchases
 
(17.49%, 23.99%, or 29.24% variable APR thereafter; 5% balance transfer fee, $5 minimum)
 
 
No annual fee

4.3 / 5

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Food and travel

4X points on restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases per year, then 1x points) and U.S. supermarket purchases (on up to $25,000 in purchases per year, then 1X points)

3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or via Amex Travel

Over $400 in various credits in monthly Uber Cash and credits toward eligible dining purchases (Uber Cash expires at the end of the month. Enrollment required for all credits.)

$325 annual fee

 

4.9 / 5

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on American Express's secure site
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Bonus offer

5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars through Capital One Travel

2X miles on all other purchases

Flexible miles can be redeemed for statement credits toward eligible travel purchases within the last 90 days

$95 annual fee

 

4.9 / 5

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Simplicity

Unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases

No annual fee

 

4.3 / 5

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Luxury perks

5X points on directly-booked airfare and flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 spent on flights per calendar year)

2X points on prepaid car rentals, vacation packages and cruise reservations through American Express Travel

Offers one of the most valuable lists of travel perks available, including around $1,700 of recurring monthly and annual credits plus comprehensive airport lounge access

$695 annual fee

 

4.8 / 5

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Travel card beginners

5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel

1.25X miles on all purchases

No annual fee

 

4.1 / 5

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Category variety

5% cash back on activated rotating categories each quarter (on up to $1,500 in purchases, then 1%)
 
Automatic Cashback Match™ for all rewards earned at the end of your first year
 
No annual fee

4.4 / 5

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on Discover's secure site
No-frills benefits

10X miles on hotel and rental car bookings through Capital One Travel

5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel

2X miles on all other purchases

Annual $300 Capital One Travel credit and 10,000 account anniversary bonus miles can help offset part of the annual fee

$395 annual fee

 

5.0 / 5

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Simplicity

Unlimited 1.5 percent cash back on all business purchases

5 percent cash back on Lyft rides through March 2025

 

4.2 / 5

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on Chase's secure site

Spending bonuses

Unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel

Unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase

$150 annual fee (refunded every year you spend $150,000 with the card)

 

4.7 / 5

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Upgrading

Could be available with fair credit without a security deposit

Considered for a credit limit increase after an account review starting after six months

No annual fee

 

4.2 / 5

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Students

5% cash back on activated rotating categories each quarter (on up to $1,500 in purchases per quarter, then 1%)

Automatic Cashback Match™ for all rewards earned at the end of your first year

Low rates and fees, including no foreign transaction fees, penalty APR or late fee on the first late payment (up to $41 after that)

No annual fee

 

5.0 / 5

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on Discover's secure site
Low-cost credit building

No credit check required

Low rates and fees, including no foreign cash advance fees or late payment fees

Potential $10,000 secured credit limit, and no minimum credit limit.

No annual fee

 

4.2 / 5

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Credit limit policy

A security deposit as low as $49 ($49, $99 or $200, based on creditworthiness) that provides at least a $200 credit limit

Considered for a credit limit increase after an account review starting after six months

No annual fee

 

4.1 / 5

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