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Best credit cards of January 2025

Updated January 23, 2025

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

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2025 Bankrate Awards Winner

Best standalone rewards card

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Cardholder rating

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4.3

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

19.49% - 28.24% 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.

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2025 Bankrate Awards Winner

Best for dining and entertainment

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

Cardholder rating

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4.4

Bankrate score

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5.0
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
Apply nowLock

on Capital One's secure site

See Rates & Fees

Intro offer

Earn $200 Cash Back

Rewards rate

1% - 8%

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)

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

Best for point value

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Cardholder rating

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4.2

Bankrate score

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

on Chase's secure site

Intro offer

60,000 bonus points

Rewards rate

1x - 5x

Annual fee

$95

Regular APR

20.49% - 27.49% 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)
Apply nowLock

on Citi's secure site

See Rates & Fees

Balance transfer intro APR

0% for 21 months on Balance Transfers

Regular APR

17.24% - 27.99% (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)
Apply nowLock

on Wells Fargo's secure site

See Rates & Fees

Purchase intro APR

0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening

Regular APR

17.24%, 23.74%, or 28.99% 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.

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2025 Bankrate Awards Winner

Best for food and travel

American Express® Gold Card

Cardholder rating

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4.4

Bankrate score

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

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

Cardholder rating

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4.1

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

Earn 75,000 miles

Rewards rate

2 Miles - 5 Miles

Annual fee

$95

Regular APR

19.99% - 29.24% (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)
Apply nowLock

on Wells Fargo's secure site

See Rates & Fees

Intro offer

$200 cash rewards

Rewards rate

2%

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% 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

Cardholder rating

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4.4

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.

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2025 Bankrate Awards Winner

Best for no-frills benefits

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Cardholder rating

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4.5

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

Earn 75,000 miles

Rewards rate

2 Miles - 10 Miles

Annual fee

$395

Regular APR

19.99% - 29.24% (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 for travel card beginners

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

Cardholder rating

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4.3

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

19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)

Intro offer

Earn 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 rotating categories

Discover it® Cash Back

Cardholder rating

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4.2

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

18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR

Why you'll like this: The Discover it® Cash Back is great for cardholders who have the flexibility to follow Discover’s rotating rewards calendar throughout the year.

Best business card for simplicity

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

Cardholder rating

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4.3

Bankrate score

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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

17.49% - 23.49% 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

Cardholder rating

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4.0

Bankrate score

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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

Cardholder rating

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4.0

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

29.74% (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.

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2025 Bankrate Awards Winner

Best for students

Discover it® Student Cash Back

Cardholder rating

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4.5

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

17.24% - 26.24% 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 credit limit policy

Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

Cardholder rating

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4.3

Bankrate score

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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

29.74% (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.

Best for low-cost credit building

Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa® Credit Card

Cardholder rating

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4.6

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.

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