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Best-of-the-Best Credit Cards of 2019

NerdWallet's ratings formulas for Credit Cards take into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards, and other features. Some of the products we feature are from our partners.

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on Chase's secure website

Great for: Airline Miles and a Large Bonus

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Securely with Chase

  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
  • 2X points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
  • Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel
See card details

  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
  • 2X points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
See card details

Annual Fee

$95

Rewards Details

2X points on travel and dining at restaurants & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases worldwide

Bonus Value

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®

Ongoing APR

18.24% - 25.24% Variable APR

Recommended Credit Score

690 - 850

Good - Excellent
See NerdWallet's pros & cons
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on Wells Fargo's secure website

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Securely with Wells Fargo

  • Earn 30K bonus points when you spend $3,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $300 cash redemption value
  • $0 Annual Fee
  • Earn 3X points for eating out and ordering in
  • Earn 3X points for gas stations, rideshares and transit
  • Earn 3X points for travel including flights, hotels, homestays and car rentals
  • Earn 1X points on other purchases
  • 0% Intro APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers (fees apply), then a 16.24%-28.24% variable APR; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee
  • Select "Apply Now" to learn more about the product features, terms, and conditions
See card details

  • Earn 30K bonus points when you spend $3,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $300 cash redemption value
  • $0 Annual Fee
See card details

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Details

Earn 3X points for eating out and ordering in; Earn 3X points for gas stations, rideshares and transit; Earn 3X points for travel including flights, hotels, homestays and car rentals; Earn 1X points on other purchases

Bonus Value

Earn 30K bonus points when you spend $3,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s a $300 cash redemption value

Ongoing APR

16.24% - 28.24% Variable APR

Recommended Credit Score

690 - 850

Good - Excellent
See NerdWallet's pros & cons
[object Object] card art

on Citibank's secure application

Great for: Flat Rate Cash Back

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Securely with Citibank

  • Earn 2% cash back on purchases 1% when you buy and 1% as you make payments for those purchases
  • To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time
  • 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 15.74% - 25.74% based on your creditworthiness.*
  • Balance Transfers do not earn cash back
  • Click 'Apply Now' to see the applicable balance transfer fee and how making a balance transfer impacts interest on purchases
  • No categories to track, no caps on cash back, no annual fee*
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  • Earn 2% cash back on purchases 1% when you buy and 1% as you make payments for those purchases
  • To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time
See card details

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Details

Earn 2% cash back on purchases 1% when you buy and 1% as you make payments for those purchases

Bonus Value

None

Ongoing APR

15.74% - 25.74% Variable APR

Recommended Credit Score

690 - 850

Good - Excellent
See NerdWallet's pros & cons
[object Object] card art

on Discover's secure website, or call (800) 347-0264

Great for: 5% Bonus Categories and First Year Cashback Match

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Securely with Discover

  • INTRO OFFER: Discover will match ALL the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year, automatically. There's no signing up. And no limit to how much is matched.
  • Earn 5% cash back at different places each quarter like gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, Amazon.com and more up to the quarterly maximum, each time you activate.
  • Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically.
  • Redeem cash back any amount, any time. Rewards never expire.
  • Use your rewards at Amazon.com checkout.
  • Get an alert if we find your Social Security number on any of thousands of Dark Web sites.* Activate for free.
  • No annual fee.
  • View Rates and Fees
See card details

  • INTRO OFFER: Discover will match ALL the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year, automatically. There's no signing up. And no limit to how much is matched.
  • Earn 5% cash back at different places each quarter like gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, Amazon.com and more up to the quarterly maximum, each time you activate.
See card details

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Details

Earn 5% cash back at different places each quarter like gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, Amazon.com and more up to the quarterly maximum, each time you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.

Bonus Value

Discover will match ALL the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year, automatically. There's no signing up. And no limit to how much is matched.

Ongoing APR

14.24% - 25.24% Variable APR

Recommended Credit Score

690 - 850

Good - Excellent
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VIEW RATES AND FEES

[object Object] card art

on US Bank's secure website

Great for: Long 0% Intro APR period

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Securely with US Bank

  • 0% Intro APR* on purchases and balance transfers for the first 20 billing cycles. After that variable APR currently 12.24% - 20.24%*
  • No annual fee*
  • Zero fraud liability* protects you against unauthorized transactions
  • View Rates and Fees
See card details

  • 0% Intro APR* on purchases and balance transfers for the first 20 billing cycles. After that variable APR currently 12.24% - 20.24%*
  • No annual fee*
See card details

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Details

n/a

Bonus Value

None

Ongoing APR

12.24% - 20.24% Variable APR

Recommended Credit Score

690 - 719

Good - Good
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VIEW RATES AND FEES

[object Object] card art

on Chase's secure website

Great for: Premium rewards and perks

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Securely with Chase

  • Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
  • Named "Best Premium Travel Credit Card" for 2018 by MONEY® Magazine
  • $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year
  • 3X points on travel immediately after earning your $300 travel credit. 3X points on dining at restaurants & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. $0 foreign transaction fees.
  • Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. For example, 50,000 points are worth $750 toward travel
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • Access to 1,000+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select
  • Up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®
See card details

  • Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
  • Named "Best Premium Travel Credit Card" for 2018 by MONEY® Magazine
See card details

Annual Fee

$450

Rewards Details

3X points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.

Bonus Value

Earn 50K bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®

Ongoing APR

19.24% - 26.24% Variable APR

Recommended Credit Score

720 - 850

Excellent - Excellent
See NerdWallet's pros & cons
[object Object] card art

on Capital One's secure website

Great for: Cash Back for Average & Fair Credit

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Securely with Capital One

  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
  • Earn cash rewards without signing up for rotating categories
  • Get access to a higher credit line after making your first 5 monthly payments on time
  • Monitor your credit profile with the CreditWise® app, free for everyone
  • $0 fraud liability if your card is ever lost or stolen
  • No limit to how much cash back you can earn, and cash back doesn't expire for the life of the account
  • Help strengthen your credit for the future with responsible card use
  • Get customized alerts and manage your account with the Capital One mobile app
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  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
  • Earn cash rewards without signing up for rotating categories
See card details

Annual Fee

$39

Rewards Details

Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day

Bonus Value

None

Ongoing APR

26.96% Variable APR

Recommended Credit Score

630 - 689

Average - Average
See NerdWallet's pros & cons
[object Object] card art

on Discover's secure website, or call 800-347-0264

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Securely with Discover

  • No Annual Fee, earn cash back, and build your credit with responsible use.
  • It's a real credit card. You can build a credit history with the three major credit bureaus. Generally, debit and prepaid cards can't help you build a credit history.
  • Establish your credit line by providing a refundable security deposit from $200-$2500 after being approved. Bank information must be provided when submitting your deposit.
  • Automatic reviews starting at 8 months to see if we can transition you to an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit.
  • 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases every quarter, automatically. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
  • Get 100% U.S. based customer service & get your free Credit Scorecard with your FICO® Credit Score
  • INTRO OFFER: We automatically match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year.
  • Get an alert if we find your Social Security number on any of thousands of Dark Web sites.* Activate for free.
  • View Rates and Fees
See card details

  • No Annual Fee, earn cash back, and build your credit with responsible use.
  • It's a real credit card. You can build a credit history with the three major credit bureaus. Generally, debit and prepaid cards can't help you build a credit history.
See card details

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Details

2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases every quarter, automatically. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Bonus Value

Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.

Ongoing APR

25.24% Variable APR

Recommended Credit Score

300 - 629

Poor - Poor
See NerdWallet's pros & cons

VIEW RATES AND FEES

Want to see more winners?
  • Check out our pick for 2019's best-of-the-best balance transfer card, the Amex Everyday®.
  • Check out our pick for 2019's Best Flat Rate Travel Card, Barclaycard Arrival Plus.

    The information related to Amex Everyday & Barclaycard Arrival Plus has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.

    • Want more Best-Of winners?

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