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Excellent Credit Cards of 2019

From huge sign-up bonuses to generous rewards, we've picked credit cards that stand out from the crowd. Compare these deals, some of which are from our partners, to find the right one for you.

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

Great for: 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
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  • 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
Close

Annual Fee

$0

Intro APR

0% on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 14 months

Ongoing APR

13.49% - 24.49% Variable APR

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.

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.

Recommended Credit Score

690 - 850

Good - Excellent

Pros

  • Cash back match at the end of your first year
  • Bonus cash back categories
  • No annual fee
  • Intro APR period on Purchases and Balance Transfers

Cons

  • Slightly less merchant acceptance for Discover in US - acceptance outside of US can be an issue
  • If you value simplicity, a flat rate cash back card may be better

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

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VIEW RATES AND FEES

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on Bank of America's website, or call (800) 322-7707

Great for: Cost-Effective Balance Transfer

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Securely with Bank of America

  • 0% Introductory APR for 18 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 14.49% - 24.49% Variable APR will apply. A 3% fee (min $10) applies to all balance transfers
  • No annual fee
  • No penalty APR. Paying late won't automatically raise your interest rate (APR). Other account pricing and terms apply
  • Access your FICO® Score for free within Online Banking or your Mobile Banking app
See card details

  • 0% Introductory APR for 18 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 14.49% - 24.49% Variable APR will apply. A 3% fee (min $10) applies to all balance transfers
  • No annual fee
See card details

Annual Fee

$0

Intro APR

0% on Purchases for 18 billing cycles and 0% on Balance Transfers for 18 billing cycles for balance transfers made in the first 60 days

Ongoing APR

14.49% - 24.49% Variable APR

Bonus Value

None

Rewards Details

n/a

Recommended Credit Score

690 - 850

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

on Capital One's website

Great for: Dining and entertainment rewards with no annual fee

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Securely with Capital One

  • Earn a one-time $150 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
  • Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining and entertainment, 2% at grocery stores and 1% on all other purchases
  • No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
  • 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months; 15.74% - 25.74% variable APR after that
  • 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months; 15.74% - 25.74% variable APR after that; 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months
  • No foreign transaction fee
  • No annual fee
See card details

  • Earn a one-time $150 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
  • Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining and entertainment, 2% at grocery stores and 1% on all other purchases
See card details

Annual Fee

$0

Intro APR

0% on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months

Ongoing APR

15.74% - 25.74% Variable APR

Bonus Value

Earn a one-time $150 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening

Rewards Details

Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining and entertainment, 2% at grocery stores and 1% on all other purchases

Recommended Credit Score

690 - 850

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

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

Great for: Balance Transfers and Bonus Categories

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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.
  • 100% U.S. based customer service.
  • Get your free Credit Scorecard with your FICO® Credit Score, number of recent inquiries and more.
  • 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. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically.
See card details

Annual Fee

$0

Intro APR

0% on Purchases for 6 months and 0% on Balance Transfers for 18 months

Ongoing APR

13.49% - 24.49% Variable APR

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.

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.

Recommended Credit Score

690 - 850

Good - Excellent
See NerdWallet's pros & cons

VIEW RATES AND FEES

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on Capital One's website

Great for: Easy Flat Rate Travel Rewards

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Securely with Capital One

  • Enjoy a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $500 in travel
  • Earn 2X miles on every purchase, every day.
  • Receive up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®
  • Fly any airline, stay at any hotel, anytime; no blackout dates. Plus transfer your miles to over 12 leading travel loyalty programs
  • Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
  • Named ‘The Best Travel Card' by CNBC, 2018
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • $0 intro annual fee for the first year; $95 after that
See card details

  • Enjoy a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $500 in travel
  • Earn 2X miles on every purchase, every day.
See card details

Annual Fee

$0 intro for the first year, then $95

Intro APR

N/A

Ongoing APR

17.49% - 24.74% Variable APR

Bonus Value

Enjoy a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $500 in travel

Rewards Details

Earn 2X miles on every purchase, every day

Recommended Credit Score

690 - 850

Good - Excellent
See NerdWallet's pros & cons
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on Citibank's application

Great for: Flat Rate Cash Back

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Securely with Citibank

  • Earn cash back twice. Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
  • To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
  • Balance Transfer Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 15.49% – 25.49%, based on your creditworthiness.
  • Click 'Apply Now' to see the applicable balance transfer fee and how making a balance transfer impacts interest on purchases.
  • Balance Transfers do not earn cash back.
  • The standard variable APR for Citi Flex Plan is 15.49% – 25.49%, based on your creditworthiness. Citi Flex Plan offers are made available at Citi's discretion.
See card details

  • Earn cash back twice. Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
  • To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
See card details

Annual Fee

$0

Intro APR

0% on Balance Transfers for 18 months

Ongoing APR

15.49% - 25.49% Variable APR

Bonus Value

None

Rewards Details

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

Recommended Credit Score

690 - 850

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

on Citibank's application

Great for: Longest 0% APR Period

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Securely with Citibank

  • No Late Fees, No Penalty Rate, and No Annual Fee... Ever
  • 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months from date of first transfer. All transfers must be completed in first 4 months. After that, the variable APR will be 16.24% - 26.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
  • 0% Intro APR on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening. After that, the variable APR will be 16.24% - 26.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
  • If you transfer a balance with this offer, after your 0% Intro purchase APR expires, both new purchases and unpaid purchase balances will automatically accrue interest until all balances, including your transferred balances, are paid in full
  • The standard variable APR for Citi Flex Plan is 16.24% - 26.24%, based on your creditworthiness. Citi Flex Plan offers are made available at Citi's discretion.
  • Stay protected with Citi® Quick Lock and $0 liability on unauthorized charges.
See card details

  • No Late Fees, No Penalty Rate, and No Annual Fee... Ever
  • 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months from date of first transfer. All transfers must be completed in first 4 months. After that, the variable APR will be 16.24% - 26.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
See card details

Annual Fee

$0

Intro APR

0% on Purchases for 12 months and 0% on Balance Transfers for 21 months

Ongoing APR

16.24% - 26.24% Variable APR

Bonus Value

None

Rewards Details

n/a

Recommended Credit Score

690 - 850

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

on Citibank's application

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Securely with Citibank

  • 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months from date of first transfer. After that, the variable APR will be 15.24% - 25.24%, based on your creditworthiness. All transfers must be completed in first 4 months.
  • 0% Intro APR on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening. After that, the variable APR will be 15.24% - 25.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
  • If you transfer a balance with this offer, after your 0% Intro purchase APR expires, both new purchases and unpaid purchase balances will automatically accrue interest until all balances, including your transferred balance, are paid in full.
  • There is a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
  • Get free access to your FICO® score online.
  • With Citi Entertainment℠, get special access to purchase tickets to thousands of events, including concerts, sporting events, dining experiences and more.
  • Shop with confidence knowing that you have dependable protection benefits, including $0 Liability on Unauthorized Purchases and Citi® Identity Theft Solutions.
  • The standard variable APR for Citi Flex Plan is 15.24% - 25.24%, based on your creditworthiness. Citi Flex Plan offers are made available at Citi's discretion.
See card details

  • 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months from date of first transfer. After that, the variable APR will be 15.24% - 25.24%, based on your creditworthiness. All transfers must be completed in first 4 months.
  • 0% Intro APR on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening. After that, the variable APR will be 15.24% - 25.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
See card details

Annual Fee

$0

Intro APR

0% on balance transfers for 21 months

Ongoing APR

15.24% - 25.24% Variable APR

Bonus Value

None

Rewards Details

n/a

Recommended Credit Score

690 - 850

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

on Capital One's website

Great for: Cash Back with No Foreign Fee

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Securely with Capital One

  • One-time $150 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
  • No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus, cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
  • 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months; 15.74%-25.74% variable APR after that
  • 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months; 15.74%-25.74% variable APR after that; 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months
  • Pay no annual fee or foreign transaction fees
See card details

  • One-time $150 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
See card details

Annual Fee

$0

Intro APR

0% on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months

Ongoing APR

15.74% - 25.74% Variable APR

Bonus Value

One-time $150 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening

Rewards Details

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

Recommended Credit Score

690 - 850

Good - Excellent
See NerdWallet's pros & cons

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