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Best credit cards for good credit of September 2023

Updated September 07, 2023

Good credit grants you access to many card opportunities, including cash back and travel rewards cards with some of the highest rates available. The best credit cards for good credit offer top-of-the-line features like sign-up bonuses, intro APR periods, cost-saving benefits and have some of the most valuable rewards programs.

To learn more, take a look at the cards available from our partners along with our advice on how to find and make the most of a credit card for good credit.

Image of Discover it® Cash Back

Best for first-year rewards

Discover it® Cash Back

Apply now Lock
on Discover's secure site
Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5
4.4 Bankrate review
Info

Intro offer

Info

Annual fee

Recommended credit

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Image of Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Best for travel redemptions

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

chance of approval
Info
Apply now Lock
on Capital One's secure site
Rating: 4.9 stars out of 5
4.9 Bankrate review
Info

Intro offer

Info

Annual fee

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
chance of approval
Info
Info
Image of Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

BEST FOR DINING AND ENTERTAINMENT

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

chance of approval
Info
Apply now Lock
on Capital One's secure site
Rating: 4.9 stars out of 5
4.9 Bankrate review
Info

Intro offer

Info

Annual fee

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
chance of approval
Info
Info
Image of Credit One Bank® Platinum X5 Visa®

Best for household expenses

Credit One Bank® Platinum X5 Visa®

Apply now Lock
on Credit One Bank's secure site
Rating: 3.8 stars out of 5
3.8 Bankrate review
Info

Intro offer

N/A

Annual fee

Recommended credit

Fair to Good (580 – 740)
Info
Image of Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
chance of approval
Info
Apply now Lock
on American Express's secure site
Rating: 4.6 stars out of 5
4.6 Bankrate review
Info
See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply
See if you're pre‐qualified for this card with Approval Odds

Intro offer

Info

Annual fee

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
chance of approval
Info
Info
Image of My GM Rewards Card™

Best for GM loyalists

My GM Rewards Card™

Apply now Lock
on Goldman Sachs Bank USA's secure site
Rating: 4.1 stars out of 5
4.1 Bankrate review
Info

Intro offer

Info

Annual fee

Recommended credit

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Image of Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
chance of approval
Info
Apply now Lock
on American Express's secure site
Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5
4.4 Bankrate review
Info
See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply
See if you're pre‐qualified for this card with Approval Odds

Intro offer

Info

Annual fee

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
chance of approval
Info
Info
Image of Discover it® Chrome

Best for gas and dining

Discover it® Chrome

Apply now Lock
on Discover's secure site
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
4.0 Bankrate review
Info

Intro offer

Info

Annual fee

Recommended credit

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Image of Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa®

Best for low interest and fees

Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa®

chance of approval
Info
Apply now Lock
on Upgrade's secure site
Rating: 4.2 stars out of 5
4.2 Bankrate review
Info

Intro offer

Info

Annual fee

Fair to Good (580 – 740)
Info
chance of approval
Info
Info

All information about the American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com and has not been reviewed or approved by the issuer.

Compare Bankrate’s top credit cards for good credit

Card Name Best for Card highlights Bankrate Review Score
Discover it® Cash Back First-year rewards

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

4.6 / 5
(Read full card review)
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Travel redemptions

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

2X miles on all other purchases

Redeem flexible miles for statement credits toward eligible travel purchases within the past 90 days

$95 annual fee

4.9 / 5
(Read full card review)
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card Dining and entertainment

10% cash back on Uber and Uber Eats purchases (through Nov. 14, 2024)

8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases

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

No annual fee

4.9 / 5
(Read full card review)
Credit One Bank Platinum X5 Visa Household expenses

5% cash back on eligible gas, grocery, mobile phone service, internet service and cable and satellite TV service purchases (up to $5,000 per year, then 1% back)

$95 annual fee

3.8 / 5
(Read full card review)
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express Families on a budget

3% cash back on U.S. supermarket, U.S. gas stations and U.S. online retail purchases (up to $6,000 each year per category, then 1% back)

No annual fee

4.6 / 5
(Read full card review)
My GM Rewards Card GM loyalists

7X points on eligible GM purchases

4X points on all other purchases

No annual fee

4.1 / 5
(Read full card review)
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express Groceries

6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year in supermarket purchases, then 1%) and on select U.S. streaming subscriptions

$95 annual fee ($0 intro annual fee for the first year)
4.4 / 5
(Read full card review)
Discover it® Chrome Gas and dining

2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants (on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, then 1%)

No annual fee

4.0 / 5
(Read full card review)
Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa® Low interest and fees

1.5% cash back on all purchases every time you make a payment

Monthly installment payments at a set APR and length instead of traditional cards’ revolving credit line

No late payment fee and no penalty APR

No annual fee

3.0 / 5
(Read full card review)
American Express® Green Card Everyday travel

3X points on travel, transit and restaurant purchases

$150 annual fee

4.5 / 5
(Read full card review)

A closer look at the top credit cards for good credit

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Discover it® Cash Back

Best for first year rewards

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This card’s Cashback Match™ offer comes with unlimited earning potential, since Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of first year with the card. Even just maximizing the high-caliber Discover rotating categories will make the Cashback Match worth a whopping $300 — already one of the most valuable first-year offers of any consumer cash back card.

Strategic spenders who cast a wide net of purchases and who won’t mind tracking and enrolling in quarterly spend categories. Discover’s award-winning customer service and famously low rates and fees also add an edge for people who prefer value and support over padded-out bonus features.

Rotating categories and spending caps could be a steep curve for first-time cardholders and fans of streamlined rewards, so you could get more consistency from a card that offers flat-rate rewards like the Citi® Double Cash Card or additional year-round rewards like the Chase Freedom Flex℠.

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Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Best for travel redemptions

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The unlimited base rewards rate is generous and makes it very easy to rake in miles for travel with everyday spending. When it’s time, Capital One miles can be easier to redeem for max value than some other issuer portals’ allow. The Capital One Travel portal includes a great list of 1:1 transfer partners, diverse redemption options, convenient booking features and the opportunity to redeem miles for a statement credit toward a travel purchase you’ve already made in the past 90 days.
Infrequent travelers who want to stock up on miles for trips with everyday purchases.

The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is the no-annual-fee version of the Capital One Venture Rewards. That can save you money, but as the lower-cost alternative, the VentureOne also reduces your flat rewards rate.

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Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Best for dining and entertainment

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Few credit cards earn such excellent cash back at both restaurants and grocery stores, and even fewer reward entertainment purchases. With sky-high cash back on Capital One Travel and Capital One Entertainment purchases, no annual fee and well-rounded features, the SavorOne is undoubtedly one of the best cards for dining and entertainment.

Foodies and social butterflies alike who will revel in the rewards on key purchases like entertainment, dining and groceries.

The dining and entertainment rates are hard to beat on this card, but there’s something to be desired in terms of travel features compared to some rivals. If you’re after low-cost travel benefits, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® has no annual fee and may be a better fit thanks to its rich Chase Ultimate Rewards travel rewards, impressive travel protections, dining rewards and flat-rate cash back.

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Credit One Bank® Platinum X5 Visa®

BEST FOR HOUSEHOLD EXPENSES

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Few cards available to people with fair credit or borderline good credit offer such a wide variety of practical rewards categories, including gas, groceries and mobile phone, internet, cable and satellite TV services. This roster is exceptionally diverse for year-round categories, since you’d usually need to resort to a rotating category card for this much flexibility.

Homemakers who want to reap the rewards of paying their internet, cell phone, cable, gas and grocery bills with their credit card.

Though the reward categories on this card are interesting, the ways you earn and redeem can get a bit complicated. The card also shoulders you with a strict combined category spending cap, a steep $95 annual fee along with confusing terms and application steps. The Capital One Venture Rewards Card could reward all your purchases with its unlimited flat-rate miles for the same annual fee. The versatile Wells Fargo Autograph Card℠ offers categories similar to the Platinum X5 with unlimited rewards rates and no annual fee.

Read our full Credit One Bank Platinum X5 Visa review, or jump back to offer details.

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Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Best for families on a budget

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Along with its impressive rewards at U.S. supermarkets, it offers a generous cash back rate on U.S. online retail purchases — a hard-to-find bonus category that gives this card extra versatility. Annual credits are also rare among no-annual-fee cards, so families can save a pretty penny with this card’s valuable benefits.

Frugal families who may not want to pay an annual fee to get great rewards on groceries and gas. Family members who regularly shop online may find this one of the best cards for shopping on Amazon and other internet retailers.

The Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express is the Blue Cash Everyday’s sister card with some key differences — it doubles your rewards rate on U.S. supermarket purchases, but the tradeoff is an annual fee. Urban commuters may also squeeze more value from the Preferred card thanks to its excellent transit and rideshare rewards.
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My GM Rewards Card™

Best for GM loyalists

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Its dedicated value around GM products and the exceptionally few fees for such high rewards rates. The annual fuel credit also shakes out to one of the best returns on gas spending available.

GM consumers who want the most bang for their buck on GM-related purchases. However, the limited reward redemption options mean this card may only be sensible for GM vehicle leases.

This card is highly specialized and geared directly toward GM consumers. If you want a card that’s still pretty lucrative in terms of vehicle-related purchases like gas, the Sam's Club® Mastercard® offers a competitive rate of cash back on gas purchases anywhere. Cards for superstores and wholesale clubs may also be excellent for rewards on purchases from their stores’ auto centers.

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Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Best for groceries

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Its high rate of cash back on U.S. supermarket purchases is perhaps the best grocery rewards rate on the market. If you spend a lot on groceries, you should definitely consider this card if you’re trying to maximize your cash back.

Someone who wants the best reward rate available on supermarket purchases and doesn’t mind paying an annual fee for it. This card’s other well-rounded categories and perks also make it a staple partner for regular commuters and big families

If you spend modestly at grocery stores and don’t want to worry about earning enough cash back to offset an annual fee, you’ll still find a lot of value in the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card. It charges no annual fee and earns a competitive cash back rate at grocery stores and wholesale clubs.
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Discover it® Chrome

BEST FOR GAS AND DINING

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Discover’s lucrative cash back match offer and decent rewards rate on gas station and restaurant purchases can be a rewarding start if you’re looking for a card with simple rewards, but a bit more kick than a basic 1.5 percent flat-rate cash back card.

Roadtrippers and people who love a good restaurant meal, since these spending categories are rewarded the highest. This card’s $1,000 combined category spending limit each quarter is relatively low, so the Discover it® Chrome is a better fit for modest spenders. Otherwise, you may only earn 1 percent back on a lot of your purchases.

For even more bang for your buck, especially in dining, the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is one of the best options available and its categories don’t pose reward spending limits. If you want to earn cash back on both restaurant and gas station purchases, the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card could be a solid option. 

Read our full Discover it® Chrome review, or jump back to offer details.

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Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa®

BEST FOR LOW INTEREST AND FEES

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The unlimited base rewards rate on all purchases every time you make a payment is plenty of incentive to stay on top of your credit card bill, but the remarkably low APR and unique installment payment plan option could save you much more money on potential interest payments than a typical credit card. Plus, it carries far fewer fees than rival cards.

Emergency expense preppers and anyone who wants a low APR card on hand in case they run into any unexpected purchases they’ll need a bit more time to pay off. However, you won’t earn rewards until you pay off your purchase, so leaning on the alternate payment features may not make this a rewarding card.

The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is one of the best flat-rate cash rewards cards available, and it offers a solid intro APR on both purchases and balance transfers. This could make it more cost-effective if you have big purchases coming up but you don’t plan to avoid carrying a balance in the future. You may want to consider applying to the Upgrade Cash Rewards Elite Visa® instead since it offers similar low fees and installment payments, but you’ll be able to earn an outstanding 2.2 percent cash back on all your purchases instead.

Read our full Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa review, or jump back to offer details.

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American Express® Green Card

BEST FOR EVERYDAY TRAVEL

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It racks up valuable Amex Membership Rewards points on some of the most comprehensive travel and dining categories available. In fact, the travel category includes purchases that typically don’t earn rewards, such as transit, campground, vacation rental, rideshare services and tour purchases. What’s more, several airport perks and a flexible spending limit can make your travels smoother.

The moderate traveler who doesn’t travel enough to warrant the highest annual fee and luxury travel perks, but still wants to earn valuable, transferrable rewards on a variety of travel expenses. 

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is an ideal middle-ground option for travelers who don’t want to pay for top-tier travel benefits, but are willing to shell out more for better lounge access and bonus credits. The annual fee more than double that of the Amex Green, but the Venture X card’s benefits alone can make up for the cost.

What does good credit mean?

A FICO Score between 670 and 739 generally qualifies as a “good” score. The “good” credit range for VantageScore is 661 to 780.

When you have good credit, you’ll have an easier time borrowing money. Lenders use credit scores and information found in your credit report to determine eligibility for financial products. If your credit history shows that you consistently pay your bills on time and don’t carry too much debt, you’re considered a low-risk debtor and are eligible for loans with better interest rates compared to someone who falls below the good credit range.

On top of qualifying for some of the best credit cards and loans, your responsible use of credit pays off in a number of other ways. You’ll have an easier time renting an apartment and you could also qualify for cheaper auto and homeowners insurance, depending on your location, compared to people with bad credit.

Pros and cons of credit cards for good credit

Pros

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    Easier access to more types of credit cards: With better credit comes better credit card options you can feasibly be approved for. Some of the market’s best rewards cards, travel cards, cash back cards and more are often within reach with a good credit score.

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    Rewards potential: As your credit score rises, so does the potential to earn more rewards in various spending categories. A higher score signals to lenders that you’re a responsible credit user, so you could have access to cards with better rewards rates overall.

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    Better perks and benefits: Along with higher rewards rates comes better benefit offerings and added perks with a credit card for good credit. You may get access to better warranties, extra statement credit opportunities and more flexibility.

Cons

  • Higher barrier of entry: The score recommendation for credit cards for good credit may push these cards out of reach for people who have no previous credit history or made credit mistakes in the past. Though these cards could be out of reach at the moment, there’s always the opportunity to raise your score into the recommended range over time.

  • Potential annual fees: As your score continues to increase, you’ll have access to cards with some of the most premium benefits, but they most often will come at a premium price — meaning that some credit cards for good credit will have annual fees in exchange for these improvements.

How to choose a credit card for good credit

Choosing a credit card for good credit will depend on a number of factors, including your financial needs. Here are some questions to consider when shopping for a credit card for good credit.

What's your credit score?

Even though you know you have good credit, you’ll still want to know your credit score, as it can give you an indication of how likely you are to get approved for a credit card. The closer you are to having excellent credit, the easier it will be to qualify for most credit cards that require good-to-excellent credit. Plus, the higher your credit score, the more likely you are to qualify for a lower APR, higher credit limit and other potential perks.

If your credit score only recently jumped from fair to good, you may have some negative marks that have yet to fall off your credit report. Some credit card issuers may think you need more time building credit to show you’re a responsible credit user. 

To help you find the right card for you, it’s a good idea to see if you’re prequalified for a credit card, which could help save you from applying for a card you’re not likely to get approved for.

What type of credit card do you want?

There are different types of credit cards that are available to people with good credit. If you’re looking for a rewards card, you’ll have to decide if you want to earn cash back, points or miles. Depending on what matters most to you, you may want a hassle-free rewards card that doesn’t earn the most rewards, but is far easier to deal with compared to cards that focus on maximizing credit card rewards. Or, you may be on the lookout for a low-interest credit card, which can help you save money if you tend to carry a balance.

Whatever you’re looking for, make sure you choose a credit card that best fits your needs.

What benefits matter most to you?

Top perks include sign-up bonuses that give you the chance to quickly earn cash back, points or miles worth hundreds of dollars and intro APR offers that can help you save on interest charges for a limited amount of time. The best travel rewards cards may even come with complimentary benefits like travel credits and airport lounge access. There are also under-the-radar-perks that get overlooked, but can still add a lot of value to your wallet like travel insurance coverage, roadside assistance or even purchase protection.

However, some features are less common — or aren’t as important — depending on the type of card you’re in the market for. For example, sign-up bonuses and rich rewards rates are harder to find on a balance transfer card, but they ultimately matter less than a long 0 percent intro APR offer. Similarly, no foreign transaction fees and strong travel perks are key for a good travel card, but it’s probably not a deal-breaker if that travel card doesn’t have a rewards category for groceries.

What are the rates and fees?

Depending on the features that matter most to you, you may not be able to avoid an annual fee. Plenty of credit cards with no annual fee are available for people who don’t need all the bells and whistles that premium cards offer. However, a high-end rewards card could be worth the annual fee based on how much you spend or travel.

Other rates and fees to watch out for include the annual percentage rate (APR), foreign transaction fee, late payment fee and balance transfer fee. Checking whether there’s a foreign transaction fee (often 3 percent) or a low balance transfer fee (typically 3 percent or 5 percent) are most important since a good credit score may net you a decent APR. However, we suggest you avoid carrying a balance if you can help it since current APRs are high — and more than enough to eat through your hard-earned rewards.

Who should get a credit card for good credit?

As your score inches into the good credit range, the breadth of credit card options in your reach expands. Some credit cards for good credit may be better than others, depending on the person, so here are a few types of people who would benefit most from these types of credit cards.

Still unsure if a credit card for good credit is right for you? Check out our Credit Card Spender Type Tool where you can get personalized credit card recommendations based on your credit score, spending habits and daily needs.

Tips for getting a credit card for good credit

Having a good credit score is essential when applying for a new credit card, as it can help you get better interest rates, lower fees and better rewards and perks. However, getting a credit card for good credit could prove to be quite the task. With these tips, you’ll be able to find a card that fits your needs and will help you build an even better financial future.

  1. Don’t apply for multiple cards at once. When it comes to maintaining a good credit history, it is important to be mindful of the cards you apply for. Applying for multiple cards at once can have a negative impact on your credit score, so it is best to take your time before applying. By doing this, you can make sure that you are not at risk of damaging your credit history.
  2. Calculate your expected reward savings ahead of time. With the right rewards program, you can get an elevated points or mile value on your purchases that can be redeemed for travel, retail and more. By doing a little research and comparing how much points and miles are worth between cards, you can determine how much money you could save with reward earnings and how you can maximize the benefits that you receive from it. 
  3. Don’t settle for a low credit limit. A higher credit limit means more financial flexibility and it can be beneficial in financial emergencies. It also gives you more breathing room when maintaining a good credit score. But make sure that your credit limit is high enough so your credit utilization stays low.

How to maintain a good credit score

Knowing your credit score is an important step in maintaining good credit. Here are steps you should take to make sure your score is good when you need it, and stays good as you work to raise it

  1. Pay your bills on time

    Your payment history is the most important part of your credit report. Late payments lead to negative marks that can stay on your report for up to seven years. That’s why paying your credit card bill on time is key to maintaining good credit.
  2. Keep your debt to a minimum

    Paying your credit card bill in full is the best way to ensure a low credit utilization ratio, which shows how much credit card debt you carry. But if you do have to carry a balance, making sure to keep your credit utilization well below 30 percent can go a long way to protecting your credit score.
  3. Check your credit report

    Make sure you know what lenders will see when they look at your credit report. If there’s an error, it could lead to you being denied approval for a new credit card or loan. Check your credit report at least once a year, though checking it more often could come in handy in case you need time to dispute an error.
  4. Let an older card age gracefully

    Think twice before closing an old credit card account. An account held for a long period of time lengthens your credit history and shows you’re an experienced credit user.
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Bankrate Insight

As interest rates continue to rise, so does the cost of borrowing money. With the current average credit card APR more than 20 percent, it’s more important than ever to keep your balances low and solidify good credit habits. 

Have more questions for our credit cards editors? Feel free to send us an email, find us on Facebook, or Tweet us @Bankrate.

How we assess the best cards for good credit

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250+
cards rated
Congrats
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rewards programs valued
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5000
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Credit Card Reviews
40+
perks evaluated

When evaluating the best credit cards for good credit, we take into account several factors, including how cards score in our proprietary card rating system and whether they offer features that fit the priorities of a diverse group of cardholders, from earning rewards to scoring a large sign-up bonus to saving on interest. 

We analyzed over 250 of the most popular credit cards and selected standouts that are available with good credit. We scored each card based on the factors most relevant to its primary category, including its rewards rate, estimated annual earnings, intro APR period, ongoing APR, perks and more to determine whether it belonged in this month’s roundup. 

Here are some of the key factors that we considered:

Frequently asked questions about credit cards for good credit scores