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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 | 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 15 months from account opening and 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 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 | 17.24%-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 |
Excellent for: Dining and Groceries + No Annual Fee
NerdWallet rating
Apply Now
on Capital One's website
on Capital One's website
Rewards Rate
10%
Cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats.
8%
Cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases.
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.
3%
Cash back on dining.
3%
Cash back on entertainment.
3%
Cash back on popular streaming services.
3%
Cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®).
1%
Cash back on all other purchases.
Product Details
- 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 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
- 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; 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months
- No foreign transaction fee
- No annual fee
- View Rates & Fees
Apply Now
on Capital One's website
on Capital One's website
Pros & Cons
Pros
- No annual fee
- Intro APR period
- Bonus categories
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Requires good/excellent credit
Excellent for: Cash-Back Pairing with Chase Sapphire Preferred®
NerdWallet rating
Apply Now
on Chase's website
on Chase's website
Rewards Rate
5%
Cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more.
3%
Cash back on drugstore purchases.
3%
Cash back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services.
1.5%
Cash back on all other purchases.
Product Details
- SPECIAL OFFER: Unlimited Matched Cash Back. Use your card for all your purchases and at the end of your first year, Chase will automatically match all the cash back you earned! There is no limit to how much you can earn. Every dollar in cash back rewards you earn is a dollar Chase will match.
- Unlimited 1.5% cash back is just the beginning of what you can earn. You'll enjoy 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
- 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 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!
- 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, real-time alerts, and more.
- Member FDIC
Apply Now
on Chase's website
on Chase's website
Pros & Cons
Pros
- No annual fee
- Intro APR period
- High rewards rate
- No minimum redemption amount
Cons
- Requires good/excellent credit
Excellent for: Cash Back — High Flat Rate + Incentives
NerdWallet rating
Apply Now
on Wells Fargo's website
on Wells Fargo's website
Rewards Rate
2%
Unlimited Cash Back on purchases.
Product Details
- 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 15 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
Apply Now
on Wells Fargo's website
on Wells Fargo's website
Pros & Cons
Pros
- High rewards rate
- No annual fee
- Intro APR period
Cons
- No bonus categories
Apply Now
on Capital One's website
on Capital One's website
Rewards Rate
5X
Miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.
2X
Miles on every purchase, every day.
Product Details
- 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 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 $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Enjoy two complimentary visits per year to Capital One Lounges or to 100+ Plaza Premium Lounges through the Partner Lounge Network
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- View Rates & Fees
Apply Now
on Capital One's website
on Capital One's website
Pros & Cons
Pros
- High rewards rate
- Flexible rewards redemption
Cons
- Has annual fee
- Requires good/excellent credit
Excellent for: Bonus Categories and First Year Cashback Match
NerdWallet rating
Apply Now
on Discover's website,
on Discover's website, or call 800-347-0264
Rewards Rate
5%
Cash back at grocery stores up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.
5%
Cash back at restaurants up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.
5%
Cash back at gas stations up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.
1%
Cash back on all other purchases.
Product Details
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match – 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.
- 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 17.24% to 28.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
- No annual fee.
- Terms and conditions apply.
- View Rates & Fees
Apply Now
on Discover's website,
on Discover's website, or call 800-347-0264
Pros & Cons
Pros
- No annual fee
- Intro APR period
- Bonus categories
- Cash rewards
Cons
- Complicated rewards
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
- Lower acceptance abroad
Apply Now
on Chase's website
on Chase's website
Rewards Rate
5X
Points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
3X
Points on dining.
2X
Points on all other travel purchases.
1X
Point on all other purchases.
Product Details
- 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 Ultimate Rewards®.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, and 2x on all other travel purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
- 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.
- 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, 2024.
- Member FDIC
Apply Now
on Chase's website
on Chase's website
Pros & Cons
Pros
- New cardholder bonus offer
- Bonus categories
- Primary rental car coverage
- Flexible rewards redemption
- Transfer partners
Cons
- Has annual fee
- Requires good/excellent credit
- Complicated rewards
Apply Now
on American Express' website
on American Express' website
Rewards Rate
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.
5X
Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
1X
Membership Rewards® Points on other purchases.
Product Details
- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, 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 with American Express Travel when you pay with 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, SiriusXM, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
- $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.
- $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
- $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card®. Learn more.
- $100 Global Entry Credit: 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.
- $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card®. An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. 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
Apply Now
on American Express' website
on American Express' website
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Bonus categories
- Transfer partners
- Luxury perks
- Lounge membership
- Automatic elite status
Cons
- Has annual fee
- Complicated rewards
- Requires good/excellent credit
