The Best Credit Cards of 2019

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Best travel rewards card.
• Discover it® Cash Back, Best for rewards on quarterly rotating bonus categories with a first-year cash back match.
• Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card, Best dining rewards card
• Chase Freedom®, Best for 5% cash back on quarterly rotating bonus categories.
• Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card, Best flat-rate travel rewards card.
• Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card, Best travel rewards card with no annual fee.
• Chase Freedom Unlimited®, Best for a 15-month 0% balance transfer APR with flat-rate cash back.
• American Express Cash Magnet® Card, Best for balance transfers and 1.5% cash back.
• Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, Best cash back card for everyday purchases.
• Hilton Honors American Express Card, Best hotel card with a low cost.
• Capital One® SavorOne℠ Cash Rewards Credit Card, Best cash back card for dining with no annual fee.
• Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card, Best rewards card with a banking relationship bonus.
• Wells Fargo Visa Signature® Card, Best for five points per dollar on bonus categories for the first six months.
• Citi Prestige® Credit Card, Best travel card with a $250 annual air travel credit.

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  Best travel rewards card.

  Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

  Chase Sapphire Preferred Card holders earn double points on dining and travel and purchases and one point per dollar on all other purchases. Points can be transferred to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs at a 1:1 rate.

  Credit needed: ? Excellent/good

  Best Features:

  • You’ll earn an unlimited two points per dollar for travel and dining at restaurants, then one point per dollar for all other purchases.

  • You can transfer your points to leading frequent travel programs at 1 to 1 value including British Airways, Southwest Airlines, United and Marriott.

  • When you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, you will earn 60,000 bonus points.

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  You can earn two points per dollar on travel and dining at restaurants and one point per dollar on all other purchases with the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. Points can be transferred to several travel partners at a 1:1 rate. You’ll earn 60,000 bonus points (worth $750 when you redeem them for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards) when you spend $4,000 within the first three months of opening your account. Cardholders get access to benefits including trip cancellation and interruption insurance, an auto rental collision damage waiver and extended warranty coverage. Read review

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  Best for rewards on quarterly rotating bonus categories with a first-year cash back match.

  Discover it® Cash Back

  The Discover it Cash Back card offers great cash back rewards on rotating bonus categories every quarter. The card does not charge an annual fee, and it offers a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers.

  Credit needed: ? Excellent/good

  Best Features:

  • Earn 5% cash back at different places each quarter like gas stations, grocery stores or restaurants up to the quarterly maximum each time you activate.

  • All other purchases earn an unlimited 1% cash back automatically.

  • All the cash back you earn is automatically doubled at the end of your first year as a new cardholder.

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  The Discover it Cash Back card offers 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. The card earns an unlimited 1% cash back automatically on all other purchases. Discover will match all cash back earned at the end of the first year for new cardholders. Cardholders will pay a $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fee. The card offers a 14-month 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers. After that, there is a 14.24% - 25.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers. Benefits include the ability to freeze your account if your card is lost or stolen and free monthly FICO credit score access. Read review

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  Best dining rewards card

  Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card

  Cardholders could earn great cash back rewards and a large sign-up bonus with the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card. The card charges no balance transfer fee or foreign transaction fee, and it offers a large suite of valuable card benefits.

  Credit needed: ? Excellent, good

  Best Features:

  • New cardholders can earn a $300 cash sign-up bonus after spending $3,000 within three months of opening an account.

  • Earn unlimited 4% cash on dining and entertainment, 2% at grocery stores, and 1% on all other purchases.

  • Get access to numerous travel and protection benefits, such as extended warranty coverage, travel accident insurance, 24-hour travel assistance and an auto rental collision damage waiver.

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  Earn 8% cash back on tickets purchased at Vivid Seats through May 2020, 4% cash back on dining and entertainment, 2% at grocery stores and 1% on all other purchases with the Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card. Spend $3,000 within the first three months after you open your account, and you'll earn $300. The card has an APR of 16.74% - 25.74% (Variable). It also has a $95 annual fee (waived for the first year) and no foreign transaction fee. Read review

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  Best for 5% cash back on quarterly rotating bonus categories.

  Chase Freedom®

  The Chase Freedom charges no annual fee and offers great cash back earnings in select categories each quarter. New cardholders get access to a long 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers, and the card has a good sign-up bonus that's easy to earn.

  Credit needed: ? Excellent/good

  Best Features:

  • A $150 sign-up bonus is available to new cardholders who spend $500 on the card within the first three months of opening an account.

  • Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 on purchases in rotating categories activated each quarter and an unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

  • Get access to a 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months after opening an account. Afterward, the APR is 17.24 to 25.99% variable.

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  The Chase Freedom card offers 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. You can earn an unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. When you spend $500 on purchases within the first three months of opening your account, you’ll earn a $150 bonus. New purchases made on the Chase Freedom card are protected against damage or theft up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account for 120 days after purchase. The card also offers other benefits, including extended warranty coverage and zero liability protection. Read review

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  Best flat-rate travel rewards card.

  Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card

  The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers excellent flat-rate rewards on hotel purchases and a good sign-up bonus, and cardholders pay no foreign transaction fees.

  Credit needed: ? Excellent, good

  Best Features:

  • Receive a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles after you spend $3,000 within the first three months after opening the account.

  • Earn unlimited 10 miles per dollar on hotels when you pay with your card at hotels.com/Venture through January 2020.

  • Earn 2 miles for every dollar in purchases in all other spending categories and pay no foreign transaction fees.

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  Travelers can earn 2 miles per dollar on all purchases and 10 miles per dollar at hotels.com / venture through January 2020 with the Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card. This card earns 50,000 miles when you spend $3,000 within three months of opening your account. The annual fee is $0 intro for first year; $95 after that. There are no foreign transaction fees, and Visa Signature qualifying cardholders can take advantage of travel upgrades and savings, concierge service, an auto rental collision damage waiver, shopping discounts, extended warranty coverage and emergency card replacement. Read review

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  Best travel rewards card with no annual fee.

  Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card

  The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is a travel rewards card that charges no annual fee or foreign transaction fee. Cardholders earn flat-rate miles on every purchase, and the card includes a good welcome offer that’s easy to earn.

  Credit needed: ? Excellent, good

  Best Features:

  • The card requires no annual fee or foreign transaction fee.

  • Earn unlimited 10 miles per dollar when you pay with your card at hotels.com/Venture through January 2020 and 1.25 miles per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

  • A 20,000-mile welcome offer is available if you make $1,000 in purchases in the first three months of opening an account.

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  The Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card offers 12 months of 0% APR financing on purchases. After that, the APR on purchases and balance transfers is 14.24% - 24.24% (Variable). The card has no balance transfer fee and a $0 annual fee. You can earn the card’s sign-up bonus of 20,000 miles, worth $200 in travel statement credits, after making $1,000 in purchases within three months of opening the account. The card also offers 1.25 miles per dollar spent and a bonus 10 miles per dollar on hotels when you pay with your card at hotels.com / venture through January 2020. Read review

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  Best for a 15-month 0% balance transfer APR with flat-rate cash back.

  Chase Freedom Unlimited®

  Take advantage of a long 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers with the Chase Freedom Unlimited. The card earns flat-rate cash back on every purchase, and it requires no annual fee.

  Credit needed: ? Excellent/good

  Best Features:

  • A 15-month, 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers is included. After that, the standard APR is a variable 17.24 to 25.99%.

  • Earn 3% cash back on up to $20,000 in purchases during the first year. After that, the card offers 1.5% cash back on every purchase.

  • Cash back doesn’t expire for the lifetime of the account, and there is no limit to how much you can earn.

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  Chase Freedom Unlimited cardholders pay no annual fee and earn 3% cash back on up to $20,000 in purchases during the first year. After that, the card earns an unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases. The card requires no minimum redemption amount with Chase Freedom Unlimited rewards, and cash back rewards do not expire as long as the account remains open. Card benefits include purchase protection, extended warranty protection, fraud protection and zero liability protection. Read review

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  Best for balance transfers and 1.5% cash back.

  American Express Cash Magnet® Card

  The American Express Cash Magnet Card is a straightforward cash back credit card that offers flat-rate rewards on every purchase. A good introductory bonus is available to new cardholders, and it offers a large suite of travel and protection benefits.

  Credit needed: ? Excellent/good

  Best Features:

  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every eligible purchase.

  • Cardholders receive a $150 statement credit after spending $1,000 in the first three months of opening an account.

  • The card charges a $0 annual fee.

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  Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase with the American Express Cash Magnet Card. The card offers a statement credit worth $150 after you spend $1,000 in purchases within three months of opening an account. Cardholders get various travel and shopping benefits including extended warranty coverage, return protection, car rental loss and damage insurance and travel accident insurance. Read review

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  Best cash back card for everyday purchases.

  Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

  Earn good rewards on everyday purchases with the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express. The card has solid benefits, and it offers a good introductory bonus to new cardholders.

  Credit needed: ? Excellent, good

  Best Features:

  • Earn 3% cash back on up to $6,000 in purchases at U.S. supermarkets each year (then 1%), 2% back at U.S. gas stations and select U.S. department stores, and 1% on all other purchases.

  • New cardholders can earn a $150 statement credit after spending $1,000 in the first three months after opening an account.

  • Card benefits include fraud protection, car rental loss and damage insurance and roadside assistance and travel accident insurance.

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  Cardholders of the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express will earn 3% cash back on up to $6,000 in purchases at U.S. supermarkets each year (then 1%), unlimited 2% cash back on purchases at U.S. gas stations and select U.S. department stores and 1% cash back on all other purchases. You will earn a $150 statement credit after you spend $1,000 in purchases within the first three months of opening an account. Benefits include fraud protection, car rental loss and damage insurance and roadside assistance and travel accident insurance. Read review

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  Best hotel card with a low cost.

  Hilton Honors American Express Card

  The Hilton Honors American Express Card is an inexpensive hotel co-branded credit card with good travel and protection benefits. The card charges no annual fee or foreign transaction fee, and it offers a large introductory bonus to new cardholders.

  Credit needed: ? Excellent/good

  Best Features:

  • Earn seven points per dollar on eligible purchases at participating Hilton hotels or resorts; five points per dollar at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations; and three points per dollar on all other purchases.

  • New cardholders earn 75,000 bonus points after making $1,000 in eligible purchases within your first three months of card membership.

  • Card benefits include complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status, travel accident insurance, purchase protection, extended warranty coverage, and car rental loss and damage insurance.

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  Earn seven points per dollar on Hilton purchases with the Hilton Honors American Express Card. Purchases at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations earn five points per dollar and all other purchases earn three points per dollar. This card offers 75,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 within the first three months of account opening. Car rental loss and damage insurance, travel accident insurance and shopping and entertainment benefits are some of the benefits offered by this card. Read review

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  Best cash back card for dining with no annual fee.

  Capital One® SavorOne℠ Cash Rewards Credit Card

  Pay no annual fee and earn rewards on everyday purchases with the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card. The card offers a good sign-up bonus and a long 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers.

  Credit needed: ? Excellent, good

  Best Features:

  • The card offers unlimited 3% cash back on dining and entertainment, 2% at grocery stores, and 1% on all other purchases.

  • You’ll earn a $150 cash bonus after making $500 in purchases within the first three months of opening an account.

  • A 15-month, 0% APR is available on purchases and balance transfers. After the introductory period, a 16.24 to 26.24% variable APR applies.

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  Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card holders earn 3% cash back on dining and entertainment, 2% at grocery stores and 1% on all other purchases. The card charges no annual fee and no foreign transaction fee. There is a 15-month, 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers. After that, the card has a 16.24% - 26.24% (Variable) APR. New cardholders can earn a $150 cash bonus after spending $500 on purchases within the first three months of opening an account. Read review

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  Best rewards card with a banking relationship bonus.

  Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card

  Earn bonus rewards on travel and dining purchases with the Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card. The card offers the opportunity to earn a large sign-up bonus, and it includes a generous suite of shopping and protection benefits.

  Credit needed: ? Excellent/good

  Best Features:

  • The card offers two points per dollar on travel and dining purchases and 1.5 points per dollar on all other purchases. Points never expire, and there is no limit to how many points you can earn.

  • When you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of opening an account, you will earn the card’s 50,000-point introductory bonus.

  • Get access to benefits such as baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, trip delay reimbursement, extended warranty coverage, purchase protection and return protection.

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  The Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card is a travel rewards card that offers valuable benefits to offset its $95 annual fee. Cardholders earn two points per dollar on travel and dining purchases and 1.5 points per dollar on all other purchases. Points never expire, and there is no limit to how points can be accumulated. Travelers won't pay transaction fees when traveling abroad, and the card offers up to $200 in combined statement credits for incidental airline fees and Global Entry or TSA Precheck fees. New cardholders will earn 50,000 bonus points (a $500 value) after spending $3,000 within 90 days of opening an account. Read review

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  Best for five points per dollar on bonus categories for the first six months.

  Wells Fargo Visa Signature® Card

  The Wells Fargo Visa Signature Card offers good rewards with flexible redemption options. Great travel and protection benefits are included, and cardholders can access a lengthy 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers.

  Credit needed: ? Good/excellent

  Best Features:

  • Earn five points per dollar spent on up $12,500 in combined gas, drugstore and grocery purchases for the first six months after opening an account and one point per dollar on all other purchases.

  • A 15-month, 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers made within 120 days of opening an account is available to cardholders. Then a variable APR of 14.74 to 27.74% applies, based on your creditworthiness.

  • Cardholder benefits include trip cancellation protection, lost luggage reimbursement, travel accident insurance, auto rental collision coverage and roadside dispatch.

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  Pay no annual fee and earn rewards on everyday purchases with the Wells Fargo Visa Signature® Card. For the first six months after opening an account, you will earn five points per dollar on gas, grocery store, drugstore and combined purchases of up to $12,500, then one point per dollar. The card offers one point per dollar on all other purchases. Points can be redeemed for hotel stays, cruises, car rentals, cash back, gift cards and more, and they have 50% more value if they’re redeemed for airfare. A large suite of benefits is available to cardholders, including auto rental collision coverage, 24 / 7 travel and emergency assistance, travel accident insurance, trip cancellation protection, lost luggage reimbursement, price protection, and cellphone protection. Read review

  The information for the Wells Fargo Visa Signature® Card has been collected independently by U.S. News. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
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  Best travel card with a $250 annual air travel credit.

  Citi Prestige® Credit Card

  Travelers with excellent credit can earn great rewards with the Citi Prestige Credit Card. The card includes a generous sign-up bonus and a large suite of benefits, and cardholders automatically receive an annual reimbursement toward travel purchases made on the card.

  Credit needed: ? Excellent

  Best Features:

  • Cardholders earn five points per dollar on air travel and dining, three points per dollar on hotels and cruise lines, and one point per dollar on all other purchases.

  • Receive 50,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of opening an account.

  • Each year, cardholders automatically receive up to a $250 credit as a reimbursement for travel purchases made on the card.

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  Designed for professional travelers, the Citi Prestige® Credit Card charges no foreign transaction fees and a $495 annual fee. The card earns five points per dollar on air travel and dining and three points per dollar on cruise lines and hotels. All other purchases earn one point per dollar. A 50,000-point sign-up bonus is available to cardholders who make $4,000 in purchases within three months of opening an account. You’ll automatically receive up to a $250 credit each year as reimbursement for travel purchases made with the card, a free fourth night’s stay at a hotel of your choice when booking a minimum stay of four consecutive nights through ThankYou.com, and complimentary VIP lounge access through Priority Pass Select. Read review

Methodology: U.S. News researched nationally available credit cards from the top 10 issuers in the J.D. Power 2018 Credit Card Satisfaction Study. Cards were evaluated based on performance in individual card categories.

How to Choose the Best Credit Card

Ask yourself the following questions when you begin shopping for a new credit card:

1. What is My Credit Score?

2. Do I Have an Existing Credit Card Balance?

3. Are Rewards Right for Me?

4. Am I Willing to Pay an Annual Fee?

5. Will I Use the Cardholder Benefits?

6. Do I Need a Credit Card for My Business?

7. How Many Credit Cards Should I Own?

What Is My Credit Score?

Your credit score is a calculation of your credit risk and how well you use credit. Credit card companies use credit scores to determine creditworthiness. Many creditors use the FICO score. If you have good (670+) or very good (740+) credit, you will qualify for credit cards with better terms. With fair (669 or lower) or poor (579 or lower) credit, you may not qualify for the most attractive card terms. However, there are cards available for those with bad credit.

Credit cards for bad credit

If you have a FICO score below 580, you are considered very risky by credit card companies. People with FICO scores below 580 typically do not qualify for traditional credit cards, however, there are credit cards available for those with bad credit.

Credit cards for bad credit have terms that offset the risk for lenders. They may require an initial deposit, or have a lower credit limit, an above-average APR or additional monthly fees. There are two types of credit cards for consumers with bad credit: secured credit cards and unsecured credit cards. Secured credit cards require a cash deposit, unsecured credit cards do not. Using credit cards designed for people with bad credit, you can rebuild your credit rating if you use them responsibly.

Secured credit cards

Secured credit cards require a cash deposit on activation, usually between $200 to $500. This amount is typically equal to the card’s credit limit. With a deposit, secured cards are less risky for lenders than unsecured cards, so they have easier approvals and lower APRs.

Secured credit card deposits are not used for payments. Instead, they are used as collateral for the credit card company if you default on your payments. The deposit will be collected by the bank in full or in part if you default on the card agreement or if your account is terminated. As your credit history improves, you can qualify for credit limit increases and a better credit card with more benefits.

Unsecured credit cards for bad credit

Traditional credit cards are unsecured cards that do not require a cash deposit.

Unsecured cards for bad credit often have processing fees or high annual fees, and typically have higher APRs to offset the risk of lending money to someone with a low credit score. They may also lack a grace period for interest charges.

Credit cards for no credit history

Like those with bad credit, people with no credit history can find it difficult to be approved for a traditional unsecured card, which are cards that don’t require a security deposit. Because unsecured cards aren't backed by collateral, it's difficult to get approved for one if you have no credit history. However, credit card companies have credit cards designed for college students and other consumers who have not yet established a history of using credit.

Student credit cards can be a good choice for a first credit card. Many offer benefits such as cash back, rewards for good grades and credit score tracking. This type of card can typically be obtained by people with average credit or no credit history, however, many lenders will require proof of income. Additionally, the Credit CARD Act of 2009 requires cardholders to be at least 21 years old, unless you or a co-signer have adequate proof of income.

Do I Have an Existing Credit Card Balance?

Carrying a balance from month to month on a credit card with a high APR can be very costly. If you have an existing balance, there are cards that allow you to move debt to a new account where you won’t have to pay interest on it for a promotional period of time, usually 12 to 18 months.

Balance transfer cards often have transfer fees of 3 to 5 percent of the total balance transferred, usually subject to a minimum of $5 to $10. For example, if you transfer a $10,000 balance with a 3 percent transfer fee, you will pay a $300 balance transfer fee. Some cards waive the balance transfer fee, but this is rare. Some balance transfer cards require that you complete your balance transfer within 60 to 90 days of opening the new account.

With a balance transfer card, you will pay less overall interest than if you leave your balance on a card with high interest charges. However, a balance transfer card can be risky if you’re struggling to control debt; you really shouldn’t charge anything else with the new (or old) card until you pay off that balance. You should also be careful not to miss payments, as there can be significant penalties such as losing your introductory APR.

Consumers who carry credit card debt or plan to make a big purchase can also benefit from low-interest credit cards.

Are Rewards Right for Me?

Rewards credit cards allow you to earn rewards for using your credit card. You’ll earn points, cash back or miles for every dollar you spend. These rewards can be redeemed for travel, cash back or merchandise.

Most cards earn one point for every dollar spent, but some credit cards offer a higher rate of earning for bonus categories like travel, gas, groceries and dining. You’ll earn the most rewards if you choose a card with bonus categories that match where you spend the most. Rewards cards usually redeem rewards at a value of 1 cent per point, but rewards valuations can vary depending on the program and type of card.

Most rewards cards entice new customers with a sign-up bonus. With a sign-up bonus, you will earn bonus points if you spend a certain amount of money within the first few months of opening your account.

Rewards cards can be an excellent choice for people who can pay off their balance every month. They typically offer:

• The ability to earn cash back and other rewards as you spend
• Sign-up bonuses worth hundreds that may offset fees
• Cardholder benefits such as travel insurance, rental car insurance and extended warranties and returns
• Brand perks such as free checked bags and access to airport lounges

Rewards cards do have drawbacks, however. These often include:

• Good to excellent credit requirements (a FICO score of 680 or higher)
• Annual fees and above-average APRs, which can offset your rewards
• Foreign transaction fees
• Sign-up bonuses that require at least $500 in spending to earn the bonus reward
• Caps and limitations on earning rewards or minimum redemption amounts that can put a damper on earning and redeeming rewards

General rewards credit cards

General rewards credit cards earn points or miles that can be redeemed for a variety of rewards including cash back, travel and merchandise. They offer flexibility with multiple redemption options and are typically a good choice if you’re just getting started with rewards cards. Most general rewards cards earn one point per dollar and some programs offer additional points in bonus spending categories such as gas, grocery stores or travel.

Cash back credit cards

Cash back credit cards offer cash back when you spend money on your card. You’ll earn a percentage of your spending as cash back, usually between 1 and 6 percent.

Some cash back credit cards offer a flat rewards rate on every purchase. Other cash back credit cards have bonus rewards categories that allow you to earn a higher rate of rewards.

Airline and hotel rewards credit cards

Cobranded airline or hotel rewards credit cards earn and redeem points or miles with specific brands. Points or miles are typically earned and redeemed at a higher rate when you spend with the brand or in certain bonus categories. Points or miles can be redeemed for rewards with the brand and qualifying partners. They often come with the most valuable cardholder benefits such as free checked bags, priority boarding and airport lounge access.

Am I Willing to Pay an Annual Fee?

Many card issuers charge an annual fee that can range between $25 and $550. Many issuers waive the annual fee for the first year, especially rewards cards.

Cards that charge an annual fee may have features that make paying the annual fee worth it each year. Often, they have the potential to earn rewards that are greater than the cost of the annual fee. Others come with card benefits, such as a free companion flight or free checked bags that have a value greater than the annual fee.

If you don’t earn more in rewards than you pay in fees or you don’t get value from the card’s benefits, a card with a lower fee or no annual fee may be a better choice. Additionally, length of credit history has an influence on your credit score, so it may hurt your credit if you cancel the card because you no longer want to pay the annual fee. A no annual fee card can be a great option for this reason.

Will I Use the Cardholder Benefits?

Most credit cards come with certain benefits for cardholders. Some are limited to basic benefits such as fraud protection or free FICO credit scores. Others, usually rewards cards, have more comprehensive benefits that offer additional value for cardholders. These often include:

• Auto rental insurance
• Extended warranties on items purchased
• Return protection that extends the time limit on returning an item
• Trip cancellation insurance
• Waived foreign transaction fees
• Purchase protection that protects purchases if they are damaged, lost or stolen

Credit cards with the best benefits may have a higher annual fee, higher APR or require good to excellent credit to qualify, but they can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year, especially if you travel.

Travel cards, particularly airline cobranded cards, have some of the best cardholder benefits available. Travel rewards cards often come with travel insurance, roadside assistance and concierge service. With a cobranded travel card, you can expect brand perks such as priority boarding, free baggage, late checkout and complimentary internet access. Some also offer free companion flights. You may want to carry an airline card just to use its cardholder benefits when you book flights with that airline, but put regular spending on a rewards card that earns more.

Do I Need a Credit Card for My Business?

Business credit cards offer flexible and convenient capital for business needs. They make it easy to separate business and personal assets, manage accounting and keep track of tax deductions. Business credit cards are typically easier to obtain than other business funding options, such as small business loans, and may offer better features, particularly business rewards credit cards.

To qualify for a business credit card, you will need to meet certain requirements, usually providing an Employer Identification Number, proof of revenue and/or your personal credit history. Business credit card approvals for startups are often based on the borrower’s personal credit and income, while established businesses are usually assessed against a business credit score.

Business credit cards often come with the same features found with personal credit cards including:

• Cash back rewards
• Airline and other travel rewards
• Sign-up bonuses
• Introductory incentives such as zero percent APR for new purchases or balance transfers
• Benefits such as extended warranty, trip cancellation or interruption insurance, or free checked bags

How Many Credit Cards Should I Own?

If you’re able to manage credit responsibly, you may benefit from carrying more than one credit card. With multiple cards, you can maximize rewards and benefits and build a strong credit history. Ask yourself the following questions when considering additional credit cards:

Are you paying your balance in full each month? If you’re not able to keep up with your credit card balance, you shouldn’t open up another credit card account unless you are trying to reduce the interest.

Do you have cards with a long account history? The longer you’ve had a credit card account open, the better that account reflects on your credit history. It’s a good idea to keep older accounts open and active for your credit history, but if your card is no longer competitive with rewards or benefits, a new credit card can provide those advantages.

Are you trying to maximize rewards? Some rewards cards earn the most when you fly with a particular airline, others with bonus categories such as groceries or gas and others have an everyday rate that’s up to double cash back. Combining these cards and using the one that offers the highest rewards rate for each type of purchase you make can maximize your rewards earning.

Do you need additional benefits? With cards that offer benefits such as free checked baggage, trip cancellation insurance and roadside assistance, you can get value from a card even if you’re not earning the most rewards from it. For example, you can use an airline card for airfare purchases to get benefits with that airline, or use a card with extended warranty coverage for a major electronics purchase.

Can you manage multiple cards? Having multiple credit cards only makes sense if you can stay on top of multiple payment due dates and annual fees while making sure your total credit card usage doesn’t exceed your budget. And to maximize rewards, you will need to plan your spending around bonus categories and sign-up bonuses.

See all of our credit cards here.

For rates and fees of the American Express Cash Magnet Card, please click here
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express, please click here