While no single credit card is perfect for everyone, certain cards offer standout benefits that might better suit your needs. Whether you’re aiming to earn travel rewards, get cash back on everyday spending or decrease your debt, our list of the best credit cards for travel rewards, cash back and balance transfers can help you find one that fits your lifestyle and financial goals.
Best for premium travel perks: Platinum Card® from American Express
Here’s why: In addition to exclusive airport lounge access, the Platinum Card® from American Express offers a wealth of travel and lifestyle benefits that make it a great choice for frequent travelers. You’ll earn …
- 5 points per $1 on flights booked directly through airlines or the American Express travel portal (on up to $500,000 spent per calendar year, then 1 point per $1)
- 5 points per $1 on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel
- 1 point per $1 on all other eligible purchases
The card comes with a hefty $695 annual fee, so consider whether you’ll get enough value from the benefits and potential rewards before applying.
Best for budget-conscious travelers: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Here’s why: If you’re looking to boost your travel rewards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card delivers excellent benefits for a modest annual fee of $95.
You’ll earn five points per $1 spent on travel booked through Chase Travel and two points per $1 on all other travel purchases with the card.
You’ll also earn three points per $1 on dining purchases, three points per $1 on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs), three points per $1 on select streaming services and one point per $1 for all other purchases.
Best for simple travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Here’s why: With its straightforward rewards program and annual fee of $95, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card helps travelers to get great value from their purchases without a lot of extra effort.
You’ll earn two miles for every $1 you spend on purchases, plus five miles per $1 spent on hotels, vacation rentals and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel.
Best for simple cash back: Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Here’s why: The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is a good option for people who appreciate the simplicity of using a single card to earn rewards on every purchase.
Every purchase you make with the card earns a flat 2% cash back, regardless of the spending category. With an annual fee of $0, this card is a solid choice for everyday spending.
Best for cash back on dining and entertainment: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Here’s why: The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is an excellent option if you regularly spend on dining, entertainment and groceries and want rewards without a $0 annual fee.
Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and groceries. You’ll also get 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases and 5% back when booking hotels and rental cars through Capital One Travel. For all other purchases, you’ll get 1% cash back.
Best for flexible cash back: Citi Custom Cash® Card
Here’s why: Without much effort, you can earn robust rewards on your top eligible spending category each month with the Citi Custom Cash® Card, which comes with an annual fee of $0.
You’ll earn 5% cash back on whichever eligible spending category was your highest during your monthly billing period — on up to the first $500 spent. Eligible categories for the 5% bonus include restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, drugstores, home improvement stores, selected travel and transit, gyms and entertainment. After you’ve hit the spending cap, you’ll earn unlimited 1% cash back on purchases in your bonus category and all other purchases.
Best for paying down debt: Wells Fargo Reflect® Card
Here’s why: With a long introductory 0% APR offer on balance transfers, the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card could be a great way to save money on interest as you pay off card debt.
This card comes with 0% intro APR for 21 months months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers made within 120 days from account opening. Keep in mind that the fee for a balance transfer is 5% (minimum $5) of the total balance transferred. Plus, after the intro period ends, the card’s APR for both balance transfers and purchases rises to a variable 17.24%, 23.74%, 28.99%.
This card has an annual fee of $0.