Best Credit Cards of April 2024 (2024)

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Introduction to the Best Credit Cards

The right credit card can fund your dream trip using points and miles, minimize credit card debt through a no-interest balance transfer, or earn cash back on every dollar you spend. Credit cardholders also enjoy better fraud protection benefits, and can receive complimentary purchase protection and trip insurance benefits.

Read on to learn about the best credit cards available right now.

Compare the Best Credit Cards

Best Credit Cards of April 2024

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best travel credit card
• Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Best no-annual-fee credit card
• Bilt Mastercard®: Best for renters
• Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card: Best cash-back credit card
• Wells Fargo Reflect® Card: Best balance transfer credit card
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: Best airline credit card
• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card : Best hotel credit card
• Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best student credit card
• Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best secured credit card

Best Credit Card Reviews

It's impossible to name a single credit card that would be perfect for everyone given the wide range of benefits, rewards and annual fees available. But understanding what you want from your credit card will help you find the best one for you.

In this guide, our credit card experts summarize common categories of rewards and perks that appeal to different consumers. Note down the benefits that stand out to you as you read our recommendations so you can review them again. If you still have questions or want to further understand each benefit, check out our individualized guides on each topic.

Best Travel Card: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Why the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is worth it: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the best credit cards available to consumers. Topping our list of best travel credit cards for beginners and experts alike, this card pairs a moderate annual fee with a substantial welcome bonus, great redemption opportunities, and fantastic benefits.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card starts you off with a lucrative welcome bonus offer of 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Those points are worth $750 toward travel booked through Chase, or potentially up to $1,080 if you redeem them through transfer partners.

You'll earn 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards (2x points on all other travel purchases); 5x points on Lyft rides through March 2025; 3x points on dining; 3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs); 3x points on select streaming services; and 1 point per dollar on everything else.

You can transfer Chase points to airline and hotel companies such as British Airways, Hyatt, United Airlines, and Southwest, or you can book travel directly through Chase. If you choose the latter, your points are worth 1.25 cents apiece by our valuations — a 25% bonus.

Beyond the rewards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers some of the best complimentary travel insurance of any credit card, let alone at this card's annual fee price point. You'll also enjoy top-tier benefits including primary car rental insurance, trip delay insurance, and baggage delay insurance.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card comes with a 10% anniversary points bonus and up to $50 per year in statement credits for hotels booked through Chase. If you maximize this credit, you can shave off more than half of the card's annual fee.

What the experts love: Lucrative welcome bonus offer, excellent transfer partners, and top-tier travel insurance

What the experts don't love:No airport lounge access or Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit

Read our Chase Sapphire Preferred review to learn more about this credit card.

Best Card With No Annual Fee: Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Why the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is worth it: TheChase Freedom Unlimited® is atop pick in our list of the best no-annual-fee credit cards, and particularly attractive for people who also hold another Chase card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards.

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® earns up to 5x rewards in popular categories with no annual fee. It also comes with a generous 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months, after which there's a 20.49% - 29.24% Variable APR.

Not only does this card help you pay down credit card debt with a generous introductory APR period, but it also offers solid ongoing rewards. You'll earn 5% cash back (5x points) on travel purchases made through the Chase Travel portal; 5% back on Lyft rides through March 2025; 3% back (3x points) on drugstores and dining; and 1.5% back (1.5x points) on everything else.

If you have a Chase card that earns transferable Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve, you can combine your Chase rewards balances and gain the option to redeem your rewards in more ways, including transferring points to Chase's airline and hotel partners.

What the experts love:Great earning rates and decent benefits with no annual fee

What the experts don't love:Foreign transaction fees

Learn more about this credit card in our Chase Freedom Unlimited review.

Best for Renters: Bilt Mastercard®

Why the Bilt Mastercard® is worth it: The Bilt Mastercard® is one of the best new credit cards on the market in recent years. Renters can pay rent on this credit card without incurring any fees, and will even earn rewards for doing so (1 point per dollar on up to $100,000 of rental payments).

But even non-renters can earn significant value by adding this no-annual-fee credit card to their wallets. Cardholders also earn 3 points per dollar on dining, which includes food delivery services; 2 points per dollar on travel purchases booked directly with airlines, hotels, car rentals, or cruise lines; and 1 point on most other purchases but must make at least five purchases per billing cycle to earn rewards on this card.

Bilt doubles these earning rates on the first day of every month, affectionately known as "Bilt Rent Day", and Bilt members can earn even more points from playing trivia games and participating in various contests.

Bilt Points are worth 1.65 cents apiece on average, according to Business Insider's most recent valuations, and are especially valuable when transferred to airline and hotel partners. You can also book travel directly through the Bilt Rewards travel portal at a rate of 1.25 cents per point, which creates a stable floor of redemption value.

The Bilt Mastercard® also comes laden with generous benefits including primary rental car insurance, trip delay insurance that goes into effect after six hours, cell phone protection up to $800 per claim which is subject to a $25 deductible, and no foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees).

Read our Bilt Mastercard card reviewto learn more about this card.

Best Cash-Back Card: Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Why the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is worth it: Between a flat 2% cash rewards rate on purchases and a generous welcome bonus for a no-annual-fee card, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is an excellent choice if you prefer the simplicity of earning and redeeming cash back.

The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card offers a beautifully straightforward reward structure and compelling intro bonus offer. Cardholders earn 2% cash rewards on purchases with no caps and no complicated categories to juggle. That's why it tops our list of the best cash-back credit cards (and the best Wells Fargo credit cards).

It comes with a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first three months from account opening, and you can redeem Wells Fargo Rewards for statement credits, gift cards, travel, and more. For new cardholders, there's a 0% intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 15 months from account opening (followed by a 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR), which can be helpful if you have big expenses you want to pay off over several months.

The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card also offers a wide range of benefits, including cell phone protection, travel emergency assistance services, roadside dispatch, and Visa Signature® Concierge access. Keep in mind this card adds foreign transaction fees, so if you're traveling internationally, it's best to use a different card.

What the experts love:High rewards rate across purchases, good welcome offer, no annual fee

What the experts don't love:Foreign transaction fees

Learn more about this card in our Wells Fargo Active Cash Card review.

Best Balance Transfer Card: Wells Fargo Reflect® Card

Why the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card is worth it: If you're looking for an ultra-long intro 0% APR offer for both purchases and qualifying balance transfers, you won't do much better than the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card.

You might wonder why a card that doesn't earn rewards appears on our list of top credit cards — and if rewards are your priority, you can probably give the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card a skip. Where the card does excel, however, is with its intro APR offer. New cardholders receive a 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers made within 120 days (then 18.24%, 24.74%, or 29.99% variable APR). Balance transfers must occur within 120 days of account opening to qualify for the intro 0% APR rate, and they come with a fee of 5%, min: $5.

A few other cards come with balance transfer offers of the same length, but a shorter duration (or none at all) for purchases. That's why you'll find this card at the top of our guide to the best balance transfer credit cards.

The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card comes with cell phone protection against damage and theft — a generous offer on a card with no annual fee. This benefit alone can be a good reason to keep using the card after the intro period ends — especially since it's unusual to see no-annual-fee cards with that benefit.

What the experts love:Extra long 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers, no annual fee

What the experts don't love:No welcome bonus offer or rewards, and few benefits aside from cell phone protection

Learn more about this card in our Wells Fargo Reflect Card review.

Best Airline Card: Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

Why the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is worth it: If you're a Delta flyer, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is hard to beat for value. (If you're not a Delta flyer, see our best airline credit cards guide for other top options).

This card earns a spot in this guide thanks to benefits that go beyond the standard features like free checked bags and priority boarding — though it offers those as well.

The card has an annual fee of $350, which Delta flyers can offset by taking advantage of the annual Delta companion certificate benefit. This benefit lets you receive a companion certificate on main cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights to select destinations each year after renewal of your card. You'll only pay taxes and fees on your companion's ticket. Depending on how you use it, this perk can more than cancel out the annual fee.

Other top features include TakeOff 15, which gets you 15% off Delta award flights, and an application fee credit for TSA PreCheck and Global Entry.

What the experts love:Delta companion certificate, good intro bonus and ongoing earning rates, free checked bag on Delta

Cons: Annual fee isn't worth it if you don't fly Delta often and can't take advantage of the companion certificate

Learn more about this card in our Delta Platinum Card review.

Best Hotel Card: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Why the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is worth it: You might be wondering why our pick for best hotel credit cards has an annual fee of $550. While that's a steep price to pay upfront, you can get back that much value and more if you're a frequent Hilton guest by taking advantage of this card's generous perks.

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card offers a solid welcome bonus of 150,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the card within your first six months of card membership, which can get you a range of free hotel nights depending on where you choose to redeem them.

It also comes with an annual Hilton resort credit of $250. You can use this credit toward purchases at Hilton resorts such as room service, spa treatments, or activities. So you'll recoup at least $250 in value each year if you take advantage of these services.

The card also offers up to $250 in airline incidental fee credits each calendar year. Once you select an airline and pay for eligible charges with this card, you will automatically be reimbursed for baggage fees, seat selection, in-flight purchases and more.

The full list of benefits is too lengthy to list here, but other standouts that can get you significant value include an annual free night award (redeemable at almost any Hilton worldwide) and top-tier Hilton Diamond elite status, which gets you bonus points on Hilton stays, free breakfast, space-available room upgrades, and more.

If you're not interested in staying at Hilton locations, see our guide to the best hotel credit cards for other options, including those tied to other hotel chains and cards with rewards that can be redeemed at a wider range of properties.

What the experts love:Strong welcome bonus, high earning rates on spending, valuable annual credits and free night certificate

What the experts don't love:High annual fee, Hilton-specific benefits which aren't useful if you prefer other hotels

Learn more about this card in our Hilton Aspire Card review.

Best Student Card: Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

Why the Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is worth it: Earning 3% cash back in student-friendly categories with the Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card can add up quickly, and because it's geared to students, it can be easier to qualify with limited credit history.

There are many student credit card options on the market, but the Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is our top pick.

The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 3% cash back on many common college student categories of spend including dining at restaurants, bars, cafes, and lounges; at grocery stores except for superstores like Walmart and Target; on entertainment such as movies, professional sporting events, and amusem*nt parks; and popular streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+.

This card also earns 10% cash back on Uber and Uber Eats through November 14, 2024; 5% cash back on car rentals and hotels booked through Capital One Travel; and 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases. All other purchases earn 1% back.

You might expect a student credit card to be a little thin in the benefits department, but that's not the case here. Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card cardholders receive price protection***, extended warranty***, and travel accident insurance***. And because the card doesn't add foreign transaction fees (rates and fees), it's a great choice to use if you're studying abroad for a semester or taking a backpacking trip overseas during summer break.

What the experts love:Excellent categories for students, good benefits, no annual or foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)

What the experts don't love: The card doesn't always offer a welcome bonus

Read our Capital One SavorOne Student Card review for more in-depth coverage.

Best for Poor Credit: Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card

Why the Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards card is worth it: The Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card is a secured credit card that stands out for offering rewards. You'll earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases (and 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel), with no limit and no annual fee (rates and fees).

Secured cards are some of the best credit cards for bad credit, since they're easier to get. These cards require a cash deposit up front, which lowers the risk for a card issuer. After using this card for a while and making on-time monthly payments, you may see your credit score increase.

What the experts love: Earns rewards (a rarity for secured cards), no foreign transaction fees, responsible use can raise your credit score (rates and fees)

What the experts don't love:No welcome bonus, high APR if you carry a balance

Read our Capital One Quicksilver Secured card review to learn more about this card.

Credit Card Frequently Asked Questions

Why You Should Trust Us: How We Chose the Best Credit Cards

Business Insider's experts constantly evaluate the best credit cards on the market, and update this guide on a regular basis. We consider a wide range of products that consumers love, and evaluated each card's merits according to its primary benefits.

The values we prioritized when coming up with this list of the best credit cards were:

• Simplicity: All of the cards on this list are easy for consumers to use and understand. While we offer a wide range of credit card guides for maximizing rewards and benefits, we kept our tops list straightforward for people seeking a daily card to use.
• Affordability: We focused on cards that offer low or no annual fee. Most credit card users aren't looking for a card that costs $450 or more, even though there's a case to be made for paying a high annual fee when you're getting high value in return.
• Value: A good credit card should offer enough value to offset its annual fee, if any. When evaluating no-annual-fee cards, we focused on the ones that provide the best benefits compared to its competitors.

Read Business Insider's guide to points and miles valuations to learn what your credit card rewards are worth.

See Business Insider's full methodology for rating credit cards.