7 Excellent Credit Cards of 2023
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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NerdWallet's Excellent Credit Cards of 2023
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for Dining and Groceries + No Annual Fee
Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Best for Cash-Back Pairing with Chase Sapphire Preferred®
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card: Best for Cash Back — High Flat Rate + Incentives
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best for Flat-Rate Travel Rewards
Discover it® Cash Back: Best for Bonus Categories and First Year Cashback Match
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best for Airline Miles and a Large Bonus
The Platinum Card® from American Express: Best for Luxury Travel Perks
Excellent Credit Cards From Our Partners
Credit card | NerdWallet rating | Annual fee | Intro APR | Regular APR | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card Apply Now on Capital One's website on Capital One's website | Excellent for Dining and Groceries + No Annual Fee | $0 | 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers; balance transfer fee applies | 19.99%-29.99% Variable APR | Apply Now on Capital One's website on Capital One's website |
| Excellent for Cash-Back Pairing with Chase Sapphire Preferred® | $0 | 0% intro APR on purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months | 20.49%-29.24% Variable APR | Apply Now on Chase's website on Chase's website | |
| Excellent for Cash Back — High Flat Rate + Incentives | $0 | 0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months from account opening and 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers | 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR | Apply Now on Wells Fargo's website on Wells Fargo's website | |
| Excellent for Flat-Rate Travel Rewards | $95 | N/A | 19.99%-29.99% Variable APR | Apply Now on Capital One's website on Capital One's website | |
| Excellent for Bonus Categories and First Year Cashback Match | $0 | 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers | 18.24%-28.24% Variable APR | Apply Now on Discover's website, on Discover's website, or call 800-347-0264 | |
| Excellent for Airline Miles and a Large Bonus | $95 | N/A | 21.49%-28.49% Variable APR | Apply Now on Chase's website on Chase's website | |
 The Platinum Card® from American Express Apply Now on American Express' website on American Express' website | Excellent for Luxury Travel Perks | $695 | N/A | See Pay Over Time APR | Apply Now on American Express' website on American Express' website |
Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
Cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases.
Cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Cash back on dining.
Cash back on entertainment.
Cash back on popular streaming services.
Cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®).
Cash back on all other purchases.
$0
Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
$0
- Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), plus 1% on all other purchases
- Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
- 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 and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
- No foreign transaction fee
- No annual fee
- View Rates & Fees
- No annual fee
- Intro APR period
- Bonus categories
- No foreign transaction fees
- Requires good/excellent credit
Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
Cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠.
Cash back on drugstore purchases.
Cash back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services.
Cash back on all other purchases.
$0
Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
$0
- INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
- Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
- After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
- Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
- No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
- Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
- Member FDIC
- No annual fee
- Intro APR period
- High rewards rate
- No minimum redemption amount
- Requires good/excellent credit
Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
Unlimited Cash rewards on purchases.
$0
Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
$0
- Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
- $0 annual fee.
- No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
- View Rates & Fees
- High rewards rate
- No annual fee
- Intro APR period
- No bonus categories
Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.
Miles on every purchase, every day.
$95
Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
$95
- Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- View Rates & Fees
- High rewards rate
- Flexible rewards redemption
- Has annual fee
- Requires good/excellent credit
INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
Cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.
Cash back on all other purchases.
$0
INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
$0
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers–only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.
- Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
- Apply and you could get a decision in as little as 60 seconds.
- Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
- Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 18.24% to 28.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
- No annual fee.
- Terms and conditions apply.
- View Rates & Fees
- No annual fee
- Intro APR period
- Bonus categories
- Cash rewards
- Complicated rewards
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
- Lower acceptance abroad
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
Points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠.
Points on dining.
Points on select streaming services.
Points on online groceries.
Points on all other travel purchases.
Point on all other purchases.
$95
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
$95
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
- Member FDIC
- New cardholder bonus offer
- Bonus categories
- Primary rental car coverage
- Flexible rewards redemption
- Transfer partners
- Has annual fee
- Requires good/excellent credit
- Complicated rewards
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.
Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
Membership Rewards® Points on other purchases.
$695
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.
$695
- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
- $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
- $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
- Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
- $695 annual fee.¤
- Terms Apply.
- View Rates & Fees
- Bonus categories
- Transfer partners
- Luxury perks
- Lounge membership
- Automatic elite status
- Has annual fee
- Complicated rewards
- Requires good/excellent credit
