US · fees in USD · 87 cards compared

Credit cards in the United States

Compare American credit cards on annual fees, rewards, intro APRs and approval odds — from the issuers that approve US residents, with the rules that only apply in the US.

See the cards Filter & compare
Typical purchase APR20% – 29% variable
Foreign fee (typical)0% – 3%
Score most rewards cards wantFICO 700+
Consumer regulatorCFPB
people passing on road during daytime

Top-rated credit cards in the United States

Ranked by our editorial rating. Fees in USD; confirm current terms on the issuer's site.

Full table
CardAnnual feeRewardsIntro APRForeign feeCredit neededRating
Capital One Venture X RewardsTravelers wanting premium perks at a lower net cost
 $395/yr 10x hotels & cars via Capital One Travel, 5x flights via portal, 2x ev… None None Excellent (740+) 4.8
Chase Sapphire Preferred CardMid-tier travelers who want transfer partners without a premium fee
 $95/yr 5x Chase Travel; 3x dining, gas and EV charging, streaming and online… None None Good to Excellent (700+) 4.8
Chase Freedom UnlimitedChase cardholders who pool points across the ecosystem
 None 5% travel via Chase Travel, 3% dining and drugstores, 1.5% on all othe… 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months 3% Good (690+) 4.7
Chase Sapphire ReserveHeavy travelers who'll actually use the lounges and travel credit
 $795/yr 8x Chase Travel; 4x flights and hotels booked direct; 3x dining; 1x ot… None None Excellent (740+) 4.7
Prime Visa (Amazon)Prime members who spend heavily at Amazon and Whole Foods
 None 5% at Amazon, Whole Foods, Amazon Fresh & Chase Travel (with Prime), 2… None None Good (690+) 4.7
The Platinum Card from American ExpressFrequent flyers who'll exhaust the lounge access and statement credits
 $895/yr 5x flights booked with airlines or Amex Travel; 5x prepaid hotels via… None None Excellent (740+) 4.7
American Express Gold CardBig dining and U.S. supermarket spenders who'll use the monthly credits
 $325/yr 4x at restaurants worldwide, 4x at U.S. supermarkets (up to cap), 3x f… None None Good to Excellent (700+) 4.6
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American ExpressFamilies with heavy supermarket and streaming spend
 $95/yr 6% U.S. supermarkets (up to $6k/yr), 6% select U.S. streaming, 3% tran… 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months 2.7% Good to Excellent (700+) 4.6

Travel Rewards in USA

All travel rewards

Rewards Cards in USA

All rewards cards

No Annual Fee in USA

All no annual fee

Balance Transfer in USA

All balance transfer

Premium Cards in USA

All premium cards

Airline Cards in USA

All airline cards

Dining Cards in USA

All dining cards

Gas & Groceries in USA

All gas & groceries

Student Cards in USA

All student cards

Secured Cards in USA

All secured cards

Business Cards in USA

All business cards

Store Cards in USA

All store cards

Cash Back Cards in USA

All cash back cards
Country guide

How credit cards work in the United States

The United States has the deepest credit card market in the world: richer welcome bonuses, more 0% intro APR offers and more category-bonus cards than anywhere else, backed by the most competitive issuers — Chase, American Express, Capital One, Citi, Discover, Wells Fargo, Bank of America and U.S. Bank. That choice is the problem. This page lays out how US cards actually work, which type fits which spender, and the rules (5/24, credit scores, APR ranges) that decide whether you get approved.

How US credit cards are different

  • Welcome bonuses are huge. 60,000–100,000 points, or $200–$300 cash, after a minimum spend in the first three months is normal. Nowhere else in our coverage comes close.
  • Intro APR offers are common. Many no-fee cards give 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 12–21 months. Balance-transfer fees of 3–5% apply.
  • Category bonuses dominate. 3x–6x on groceries, dining, gas, travel or rotating quarterly categories. Flat 2% cards exist, but the best returns come from matching cards to categories.
  • Credit scores gate everything. Issuers use FICO (300–850) and VantageScore from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Premium cards want 740+; most rewards cards 700+; secured and student cards accept thin or fair files.
  • Interest is expensive. Purchase APRs sit around 20%–29% variable, tied to the prime rate. Any rewards strategy falls apart if you carry a balance.

Which card type fits you

If you…Look atTypical fee
Pay in full and want simplicityFlat 2% cash back (Citi Double Cash, Wells Fargo Active Cash)$0
Spend heavily on groceries, dining or gasCategory cards (Amex Blue Cash Preferred, Capital One Savor, Citi Custom Cash)$0–$95
Fly a few times a yearTransferable-points cards (Chase Sapphire Preferred, Capital One Venture, Citi Strata Premier)$95
Fly often and use loungesPremium travel (Chase Sapphire Reserve, Amex Platinum, Capital One Venture X)$395–$695
Carry a balance or have debt to move0% intro APR and balance-transfer cards (Wells Fargo Reflect, Chase Freedom Unlimited)$0
Are building or rebuilding creditSecured and student cards (Discover it Secured, Capital One Platinum Secured)$0
Run a business or freelanceBusiness cards (Chase Ink, Amex Business Gold)$0–$375

The rules that decide approval

Chase 5/24. Chase declines most applicants who have opened five or more personal cards (from any issuer) in the past 24 months. If you are starting out, apply for Chase cards first.

Amex once-per-lifetime. American Express generally pays a welcome bonus on each card only once per lifetime, and limits you to five credit cards.

Capital One 1/6 and Citi 1/8. Capital One typically approves one card every six months; Citi limits applications to one every eight days and two every 65 days.

Hard inquiries and new accounts. Each application is a hard pull. Two or three a year is fine; a dozen will hurt approval odds everywhere for a while.

Fees to check before you apply

  • Annual fee — from $0 to $695. Price it against the credits and perks you will genuinely use.
  • Foreign transaction fee — 3% on many no-fee cards; most travel cards waive it. Check before you travel.
  • Balance-transfer fee — usually 3% (sometimes 5%) of the amount moved, charged up front.
  • Late fee and penalty APR — a missed payment can trigger a penalty rate close to 30% on some cards.
  • Cash advance — a fee plus interest from day one, with no grace period. Avoid.

Consumer protections in the US

The CARD Act of 2009 requires 21 days between statement and due date, limits rate increases on existing balances and caps penalty fees. Under federal law your liability for fraud is limited to $50, and all major networks offer $0 liability. Disputes (chargebacks) are handled through the issuer under the Fair Credit Billing Act, typically within 60 days of the statement. Complaints go to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

How to compare US cards on this site

Every card page shows the annual fee, rewards rate, welcome bonus, intro APR, regular APR range, foreign transaction fee and the credit range the issuer targets — all read from the issuer's terms. Use the filters to narrow by card type, switch to the table view to compare side by side, then confirm the current offer on the issuer's site before you apply.

Best US cards by need

Frequently asked questions — USA

What is the best credit card in the US right now?

There is no single best card. For most people who pay in full, a no-fee 2% cash-back card is the best default; add a travel card like Chase Sapphire Preferred or Capital One Venture if you fly. If you carry a balance, a 0% intro APR card beats any rewards card.

What credit score do I need for a US rewards card?

Most rewards cards target FICO 700 and above; premium cards like Amex Platinum and Chase Sapphire Reserve typically approve 740+. Secured and student cards are designed for scores below 670 or no history at all.

Do US credit cards charge foreign transaction fees?

Many no-fee cards charge 3%. Nearly all travel cards, and some cash-back cards such as Capital One Quicksilver and Discover it, charge none. Check the fee table on each card page.

How many credit cards can I open in a year?

Technically as many as you are approved for, but Chase's 5/24 rule, Capital One's one-every-six-months policy and the impact of hard inquiries mean two to four new cards a year is a sensible ceiling for most people.

Can a non-resident or new immigrant get a US credit card?

You need a US address and usually an SSN or ITIN. Newcomers typically start with a secured card, a student card, or an issuer that accepts foreign credit history (Amex, for example, can use your history from another country where it operates).

Guides for American readers

All guides