Best credit card reviews of January 2023 -

Updated

2023-01-04T01:45:42Z

PFI Illustrations pattern of credit cards with coins, an airplane and credit score — We review credit cards that earn cash back, airline miles, hotel points, and flexible rewards to help you find the right one for your wallet.

Insider’s experts choose the best products and services to help make smart decisions with your money (here’s how). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners, however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.

Credit cards are one of the most powerful tools you can wield in life. Responsible use can result in a good credit score which opens the door to auto loans, mortgages, and even favorable health insurance. Some of the most important things in life are made possible thanks to credit cards.

There are dozens of credit cards to choose from. Whether you’re after cash back, free hotel stays, super cheap airfare, a tool to help grow your small business, or even if you’ve got poor/no credit and would like to improve your credit score, there’s a card for you.

Insider’s ultimate credit card reviews guide will help you find the exact product you’re looking for.

Best cash back credit card reviews

Best overall cash back credit card

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Intro offer

$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months from account opening

Rewards

Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Intro offer

$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months from account opening

Rewards

Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Details

Rewards

Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.

Intro offer

$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months from account opening

Recommended Credit

Good to Excellent

Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% variable

Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

0% intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 15 months from account opening

Pros & Cons

Good welcome bonus for a $0 annual fee card

Straightforward 2% cash rewards on purchases with no categories to track

Strong benefits including cell phone protection, Visa Signature perks, and a 0% intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 15 months from account opening (then 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% variable APR)

If you’ve opened a Wells Fargo card in the past 15 months, you may not be eligible for the bonus or intro APR offer

Foreign transaction fees

Highlights

Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 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, then a 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% variable APR; 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
Enjoy a premium collection of benefits at a selection of the world’s most intriguing and prestigious hotel properties with Visa Signature Concierge
Get up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft when you pay your monthly cell phone bill with your eligible Wells Fargo card. (subject to a $25 deductible).
Select “Apply Now” to learn more about the product features, terms and conditions

Additional Reading

Cash-back credit cards can earn you anywhere from 1% to 10% back on your everyday spending.

Alyssa Powell/Insider

In terms of flexibility, cash back is the king of credit card rewards. Many cash back credit cards give you the option to redeem your accrual as either cash, a statement credit, or a transfer to your bank account.

Flat-rate cash-back cards are best for those who don’t want to keep track of multiple bonus categories and just want a simple earning structure. But choosing a card that earns bonus cash back in categories where you spend a lot — like groceries, dining, or gas — can make a huge difference in your rate of return.

Best cash back credit cards

This table reflects our current picks from the best cash-back credit cards guide.

Other cash back credit cards

Best airline credit card reviews

Best premium card for flexible flyers

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Intro offer

75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening

Rewards

Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Intro offer

75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening

Rewards

Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Details

Rewards

Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases.

Intro offer

75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening

Recommended Credit

Excellent

Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

21.24% – 28.24% Variable

Pros & Cons

Excellent welcome bonus and miles earning

Premium perks including airport lounge access and statement credits

Visa Infinite benefits including travel and shopping protections

High annual fee

Annual travel statement credits only apply to Capital One Travel purchases

Highlights

Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Receive up to $300 back annually as statement credits for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of options
Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and our Partner Lounge Network
Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more – you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

Additional Reading

Airline credit cards aren’t just for earning airline miles; most come with additional perks like free checked bags and priority boarding.

Alyssa Powell/Insider

If you want to use travel rewards to save money on flights, an airline credit card is a must. You can choose between credit cards that earn airline miles, or cards that earn more flexible rewards points that you can transfer to various frequent flyer programs.

Airline cards also often come with valuable ongoing benefits like a free checked bag, priority boarding, or an airline companion ticket.

Best airline credit cards

This table reflects our current picks from the best airline credit cards guide.

Other airline credit cards

Best travel and flexible points credit card reviews

Best overall travel rewards credit card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Intro offer

60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening

Rewards

Earn 5x points on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Earn 3x points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out. Earn 3x points on select streaming services. Earn 3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs). Earn 2x points on other travel. Earn 1x point per dollar on everything else.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Intro offer

60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening

Rewards

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Details

Rewards

Intro offer

60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening

Recommended Credit

Good to Excellent

Recommended credit score. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application.

Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

19.74% – 26.74% Variable

Editor’s Rating

4.8/5

Our editor’s ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available.

Pros & Cons

High intro bonus offer starts you off with lots of points

Strong travel coverage

Doesn’t offer a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit

Highlights

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 a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases, 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.

Additional Reading

Travel and flexible points credit cards can help you earn rewards you can use for almost any kind of adventure.

Alyssa Powell/Insider

While it takes more effort to redeem points or miles compared to cash back, the upside is that you can get much more value for your points compared to simply cashing in your rewards for a statement credit or check at a rate of 1 cent per point.

In fact, it’s possible to receive double, triple, or even more than that amount when you’re strategic about how you redeem your rewards, particularly if you book expensive luxury hotels or first-class flights.

Best travel credit cards

This table reflects our current picks from the best travel rewards credit cards guide.

Other travel credit cards

Best hotel credit card reviews

Best overall travel credit card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Intro offer

60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening

Rewards

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Intro offer

60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening

Rewards

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Details

Rewards

Intro offer

60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening

Recommended Credit

Good to Excellent

Recommended credit score. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application.

Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

19.74% – 26.74% Variable

Editor’s Rating

4.8/5

Our editor’s ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available.

Pros & Cons

High intro bonus offer starts you off with lots of points

Strong travel coverage

Doesn’t offer a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit

Highlights

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 a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases, 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.

Additional Reading

Hotel credit cards often comes with additional benefits like automatic elite status and free nights on your card anniversary.

Alyssa Powell/Insider

If you’re thinking about opening a hotel credit card, the first step is to analyze your travel goals.

Are you a road-tripper who wants to book cheap hotels along the highway? Do you mostly use small-town hotels during trips to grandma’s for Thanksgiving? Do you want a five-star vacation in the Maldives?

It’s also important to consider the card’s welcome bonus, recurring benefits, ease of earning free nights via credit card spending, category bonuses, and elite status perks (if any).

The best hotel credit cards offer a free night after each account anniversary or for meeting spending thresholds. These nights can be worth much more than the cards’ annual fees, and make them worth keeping year after year.

Best hotel credit cards

This table reflects our current picks from the best hotel credit cards guide.

Other hotel credit cards

Best small business credit card reviews

Best flat-rate cash back business credit card with no annual fee

American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

Intro offer

$250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your card in your first 3 months

Rewards

Earn 2% cash back on everyday eligible business purchases (on up to $50,000 per year in purchases, then 1%). Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.

American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

Intro offer

$250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your card in your first 3 months

Rewards

Earn 2% cash back on everyday eligible business purchases (on up to $50,000 per year in purchases, then 1%). Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.

On American Express’s website

American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

Details

Rewards

Earn 2% cash back on everyday eligible business purchases (on up to $50,000 per year in purchases, then 1%). Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Intro offer

$250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your card in your first 3 months

Recommended Credit

Good to Excellent

Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

17.49% – 25.49% Variable

Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from account opening

Pros & Cons

Good choice for earning 2% cash back on all your eligible purchases up to $50,000 a year

Intro APR offer

No annual fee

If your business spends more than $50,000 a year, you’ll want to use a different card to earn bonus cash back once you meet that threshold

Highlights

Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
From workflow to inventory to floor plans, your business is constantly changing. That’s why you’ve got the power to spend beyond your credit limit with Expanded Buying Power.
Just remember, the amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us and other factors.
0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 17.49% – 25.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening.
No Annual Fee
Terms Apply

Additional Reading

Whether you own a large corporation or have a part-time side gig, opening a small business credit card is a smart move.

Alyssa Powell/Insider

You’d be surprised at what qualifies you for a small business credit card. Small businesses aren’t always multi-million dollar operations — whether you’re a freelancer, an Uber driver, a dog-walker, or have any other side hustle, you could qualify for a small business credit card.

If you’ve got a sizable business, keeping your personal and business finances separate is vital. Things can get murky quickly when you’re cutting personal and business checks from the same account — a business credit card will not only help separate expenses, but also help you establish business credit, so that you have flexibility later on with loans and leases.

Best small business credit cards

This table reflects our current picks from the best small business credit cards guide.

Other small business credit cards

Best credit cards for building credit reviews

Best overall secured credit card

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

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

Rewards

Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. Earn 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

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

Rewards

Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. Earn 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

Details

Rewards

Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. Earn 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases

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

Recommended Credit

New/Rebuilding

Recommended credit score. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application.

Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

26.74% Variable (as of 12/15/2022)

Editor’s Rating

5/5

Our editor’s ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available.

Pros & Cons

Offers cash-back rewards, which isn’t a given for secured credit cards

Discover matches cash back after your first account year

Other secured cards let you start with lower minimum security deposits

You must fund the security deposit from a bank account

Highlights

No credit score required to apply.
No Annual Fee, earn cash back, and build your credit with responsible use.
Establish your credit line by providing a refundable security deposit of at least $200. That means a $200 deposit for a $200 credit line. Or a $500 deposit for a $500 credit line. Bank information must be provided when submitting your deposit, and the security deposit equals your credit limit.
Automatic reviews starting at 7 months to see if we can transition you to an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit.
Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
Discover helps remove your personal information from select people-search websites. Activate by mobile app for free.
Get an alert if we find your Social Security number on any of thousands of Dark Web sites.* Activate for free.
Click “Apply Now” to see terms and conditions.

Additional Reading

If you’re new to credit or rebuilding your score, a credit card for bad/no credit is a good starting point.

Alyssa Powell/Insider

Having a low credit score makes it harder to get approved for a new credit card and other types of loans, and it means that when you do get approved for, say, a mortgage, you’ll generally get less-favorable terms like the highest variable interest rates. A bad credit score is defined as anything below 580, according to the FICO scoring model.

It may seem counterintuitive, but opening and using a credit card responsibly is one of the best ways to build your credit history and score.

Best credit cards for poor/no credit

This table reflects our current picks from the best credit cards for bad credit guide.

Other credit cards for poor/no credit

Best student credit card reviews

Best for rotating bonus categories

Discover it® Student Cash Back

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

Rewards

Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases automatically.

Discover it® Student Cash Back

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

Rewards

Discover it® Student Cash Back

Details

Rewards

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

Recommended Credit

Fair/New to Credit

Recommended credit score. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application.

Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

16.74% – 25.74% Variable (as of 12/15/2022)

Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

0% intro APR for 6 months on purchases

Editor’s Rating

5/5

Our editor’s ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available.

Pros & Cons

From October 1 to December 31, 2022, you can earn 5% cash back at Amazon.com and on digital wallets on up to $1,500 in purchases after enrollment, then 1%

Discover matches your cash back after the first year

Not the most rewarding cash-back card for non-bonus purchases

Highlights

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! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
No credit score required to apply.
Discover helps remove your personal information from select people-search websites. Activate by mobile app for free.
No annual fee and build your credit with responsible use.
0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 16.74% – 25.74% applies. Rates as of December 15, 2022.
Click “Apply Now” to see terms and conditions.

Additional Reading

College students can earn rewards and build their credit history by using a student credit card responsibly.

Alyssa Powell/Insider

Applying for your first credit card is an exciting milestone regardless of age, but young adults can find it hard to get approved with limited income and credit history. Some parents add their children as credit card authorized users while they’re still minors to get a head start on building credit, but this strategy isn’t a good fit for everyone.

If you’re a student without established credit, there are still plenty of credit cards that you can qualify for. Then, once you’ve improved your credit score by using a credit card responsibly, it can be easier to upgrade to more lucrative rewards credit cards.

Best student credit cards

This table reflects our current picks from the best student credit cards guide.

Joseph Hostetler, CEPF

Credit cards reporter

Joseph Hostetler is a credit cards reporter for Insider who also covers helpful miles and points tricks. He is also a Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF). Joseph has more than six years of experience writing professionally about credit cards, previously authoring and editing for The Points Guy and Million Mile Secrets. You can reach Joseph at jhostetler@insider.com. Learn more about how Personal Finance Insider chooses, rates, and covers financial products and services »

Best credit card reviews of January 2023

Best overall cash back credit card

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Details

Pros & Cons

Highlights

Additional Reading

Best cash back credit cards

Other cash back credit cards

Best premium card for flexible flyers

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Details

Pros & Cons

Highlights

Additional Reading

Best airline credit cards

Other airline credit cards

Best overall travel rewards credit card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Details

Pros & Cons

Highlights

Additional Reading

Best travel credit cards

Other travel credit cards

Best overall travel credit card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Details

Pros & Cons

Highlights

Additional Reading

Best hotel credit cards

Other hotel credit cards

Best flat-rate cash back business credit card with no annual fee

American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

Details

Pros & Cons

Highlights

Additional Reading

Best small business credit cards

Other small business credit cards

Best overall secured credit card

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

Details

Pros & Cons

Highlights

Additional Reading

Best credit cards for poor/no credit

Other credit cards for poor/no credit

Best for rotating bonus categories

Discover it® Student Cash Back

Details

Pros & Cons

Highlights

Additional Reading

Best student credit cards

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