Best Credit Cards for Freelancers and Self-Employed of June 2023
Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.
The best credit cards for freelancers and the self-employed offer straightforward rewards, no annual fee and perks to help with cash flow, such as a long 0% APR period or a generous welcome bonus.
Business credit cards with bonus categories also warrant a look, depending on your spending. For example, a card that offers 3% on gas is a great fit for delivery and rideshare drivers.
Business credit cards typically come with bigger sign-up bonuses than personal cards. The difference can mean hundreds of dollars in rewards value.
Freelancers and gig workers can qualify for a business credit card the same as any company, even if your business is your side hustle and not your main gig. Approval is based on your personal credit and business cards typically require a FICO score of 690 or higher.
All of our picks for the best business cards for freelancers are chosen by our editorial team, which independently evaluates and rates dozens of business credit cards, scoring them on fees, rewards rates, bonus offers and other features. Here are our picks for best credit cards for freelancers and gig workers.
Note: Some of our selections can be applied for through NerdWallet, and some cannot. Below, you’ll find application links for the credit cards from our partners that are available through NerdWallet, followed by the full list of our picks.
The best credit cards for freelancers and the self-employed offer straightforward rewards, no annual fee and perks to help with cash flow, such as a long 0% APR period or a generous welcome bonus.
Business credit cards with bonus categories also warrant a look, depending on your spending. For example, a card that offers 3% on gas is a great fit for delivery and rideshare drivers.
Business credit cards typically come with bigger sign-up bonuses than personal cards. The difference can mean hundreds of dollars in rewards value.
Freelancers and gig workers can qualify for a business credit card the same as any company, even if your business is your side hustle and not your main gig. Approval is based on your personal credit and business cards typically require a FICO score of 690 or higher.
All of our picks for the best business cards for freelancers are chosen by our editorial team, which independently evaluates and rates dozens of business credit cards, scoring them on fees, rewards rates, bonus offers and other features. Here are our picks for best credit cards for freelancers and gig workers.
Note: Some of our selections can be applied for through NerdWallet, and some cannot. Below, you’ll find application links for the credit cards from our partners that are available through NerdWallet, followed by the full list of our picks.
Best Credit Cards for Freelancers and Self-Employed From Our Partners
Our pick for
Lucrative welcome offer
on Chase's website
on Chase's website
$0
1.5%
Cashback
$750
Pros
No annual fee
Intro APR period
No reward caps
New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
No bonus categories
Pros
No annual fee
Intro APR period
No reward caps
New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
No bonus categories
Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
No Annual Fee
Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Earn rewards faster with employee cards at no additional cost. Set individual spending limits for greater control.
Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
Member FDIC
Our pick for
Business travel card for freelancers
on Chase's website
on Chase's website
$95
1x-3x
Points
100,000
Points
Pros
New cardholder bonus offer
Bonus categories
Transfer partners
Cons
Has annual fee
No intro APR offer
Pros
New cardholder bonus offer
Bonus categories
Transfer partners
Cons
Has annual fee
No intro APR offer
Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
Member FDIC
Our pick for
Cash back bonus categories + intro APR period
on US Bank's website
on US Bank's website
$0
1%-3%
Cashback
$500
Pros
Bonus cash back categories
No annual fee
Intro APR period on purchases and balance transfers
Cons
Requires good/excellent credit
Low rate outside bonus categories
Pros
Bonus cash back categories
No annual fee
Intro APR period on purchases and balance transfers
Cons
Requires good/excellent credit
Low rate outside bonus categories
Earn $500 in cash back. Just spend $4500 on the Account Owner's card in the first 150 days of opening your account.
Earn 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas stations and EV charging stations, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants.
1% cash back on all other eligible net purchases.
Earn 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Rewards Center.
No limit on total cash back earned.
Rewards never expire.
Earn an annual $100 statement credit for recurring software subscription expenses such as FreshBooks or quickbooks
0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 billing cycles. After that, a variable APR currently 18.99% - 27.99%.
No annual fee.
Great Offer from U.S. Bank, a 2022 World's Most Ethical Company® - Ethisphere Institute, February 2022
Terms and conditions apply
Pay over time by splitting eligible purchases of $100+ into equal monthly payments with U.S. Bank ExtendPay™ Plan.
- View Rates & Fees
Our pick for
Intro APR period for purchases, balance transfers
on Bank of America's website
on Bank of America's website
$0
1.5%
Cashback
$300
Pros
No annual fee
New cardholder bonus offer
High cash back rate
Cons
Has foreign transaction fee
Requires excellent credit
Pros
No annual fee
New cardholder bonus offer
High cash back rate
Cons
Has foreign transaction fee
Requires excellent credit
Get a $300 online statement credit after you make at least $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening.
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
No annual cap and cash rewards don’t expire.
No annual fee.
You can earn up to 75% more cash back on every purchase, if you have a business checking account with Bank of America and qualify for our highest Preferred Rewards for Business tier. That means you could earn up to an unlimited 2.62% cash back on all purchases.
Choose how to redeem your cash rewards – as a deposit into your Bank of America® checking or savings account, as a card statement credit or as a check mailed to you.
0% Introductory APR on purchases for your first 9 billing cycles. After the intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that's currently 18.24% to 28.24% will apply.
Contactless Cards - the security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
This offer may not be available if you leave this page or visit our website. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Our pick for
Business travel card with no annual fee
on Bank of America's website
on Bank of America's website
$0
1.5x
Points
30,000
Points
Pros
No annual fee
New cardholder bonus offer
No reward caps
No foreign transaction fees
Cons
Requires excellent credit
Pros
No annual fee
New cardholder bonus offer
No reward caps
No foreign transaction fees
Cons
Requires excellent credit
Earn 30,000 online bonus points after you make at least $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening which can be redeemed for a $300 statement credit towards travel or dining purchases.
Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all purchases everywhere, every time-no matter how much you spend.
No limit to the amount of points you can earn and points don't expire.
You can earn up to 75% more points on every purchase, if you have a business checking account with Bank of America and qualify for our highest Preferred Rewards for Business tier. That means you could earn up to an unlimited 2.62 points per $1 spent on all purchases.
No annual fee and no international transaction fees.
Choose how to redeem points for a statement credit to offset travel and dining purchases, travel with no blackout dates at the Bank of America® Travel Center, for cash back or gift cards.
0% Introductory APR on purchases for your first 9 billing cycles. After the intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that's currently 18.24% to 28.24% will apply.
Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
This offer may not be available if you leave this page or visit our website. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Our pick for
Overall business card for freelancers
on American Express' website
on American Express' website
$0
1%-2%
Cashback
$250
Pros
No annual fee
High rewards rate
Intro APR period
Cash rewards
Cons
Spending caps on bonus rewards
Requires good/excellent credit
Pros
No annual fee
High rewards rate
Intro APR period
Cash rewards
Cons
Spending caps on bonus rewards
Requires good/excellent credit
Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
From workflow to inventory to floor plans, your business is constantly changing. That’s why you’ve got the power to spend beyond your credit limit with Expanded Buying Power.
Just remember, the amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us and other factors.
0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 18.24%-26.24%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening.
No Annual Fee
Terms Apply
- View Rates & Fees
FULL LIST OF EDITORIAL PICKS: BEST BUSINESS CREDIT CARDS FOR FREELANCERS AND SELF-EMPLOYED
Click the card name to read our review. Before applying, confirm details on the issuer’s website.
Our pick for: Overall business card for freelancers
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card boasts one of the better introductory APR offers among business credit cards. Beyond that, you earn a solid cash-back rate (at least for a while — the rate drops after you hit a spending threshold). There's also $0 annual fee. Learn more and apply.
Our pick for: Lucrative welcome offer
The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card earns a simple, flat cash-back rate on every purchase, with no limit on how much you can earn. The sign-up bonus is outstanding for a cash-back card, particularly one with no annual fee, and there's an intro APR period for purchases. Learn more and apply.
U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®
Our pick for: Cash back bonus categories + intro APR period
The U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard® is a solid cash-back card for business owners. Earn 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas stations, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants. Earn 1% cash back on all other eligible net purchases. Plus, the card offers a competitive welcome bonus and 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 18.99%-27.99% Variable APR — all with a $0 annual fee. Learn more and apply.
Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
Our pick for: Intro APR period for purchases, balance transfers
If your spending doesn't align with typical bonus categories, consider the Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card. This card offers 1.5% cash back on all purchases with no annual cap. Rewards can climb even higher for Bank of America® customers who qualify for the Preferred Rewards for Business tier — up to 2.62% — which is tough to beat among flat-rate cash-back business credit cards. Learn more and apply.
Our pick for: Business travel card for freelancers
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card starts you off with one of the biggest sign-up bonuses of any credit card anywhere (assuming you spend enough to earn it), then gives you bonus rewards in common business spending categories. Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel booked through Chase, or you can transfer them to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. Learn more and apply.
Our pick for: Business travel card with no annual fee
This is the business version of the issuer's excellent no-annual-fee travel card. The Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card pays solid rewards on every purchase and gives you wide flexibility in redeeming your points for any travel purchase, without the restrictions of branded airline and hotel cards. Learn more and apply.
Can freelancers get business credit cards?
If you drive a rideshare part time, regularly resell on eBay or do any other kind of freelance work, you may qualify for a business credit card. You don’t need to have a storefront, employees or an LLC. In fact, your business doesn’t even need to make a profit, and you can say so on the application. If you don’t have a separate tax ID for your business — many self-employed sole proprietors don’t — you can use your Social Security number to apply.
Approval for a small-business credit card is typically based on your personal credit history. Credit scores of 690 or above are generally eligible, although issuers have their own approval criteria, which can vary by type of card.
Should freelancers get a personal or business credit card?
A separate credit card for business spending can help freelancers with expense tracking, running financial reports and gathering tax-return information. There's no rule that this has to be a business credit card, but they do have some distinct advantages over personal cards in these regards, including:
Larger sign-up bonuses — though you'll also have to spend more to get them.
Free employee cards, if more than one person will purchase items on behalf of your business.
Reward categories tailored to self-employed business owners, such as extra cash back on things like office supplies and telecommunications services.
Higher spending limits.
Establishing and building your business credit score.
Whatever card you choose, make sure it fits your needs and spending patterns as a freelancer.
Last updated on June 1, 2023
Methodology
NerdWallet's Credit Cards team selects the best credit cards for small business based on overall consumer value, as evidenced by star ratings, as well as their suitability for specific kinds of small-business operators. Factors in our evaluation include annual and other fees, rewards rates, the earning structure (for example, flat-rate rewards versus bonus categories), redemption options, bonus offers for new cardholders, introductory and ongoing APRs, and other noteworthy features such as special financing arrangements, free cards for employees or tools for managing business expenses. Learn more how NerdWallet rates credit cards.
