WSJ Buyside's Top Credit Card Picks

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Our rating:4.8

Add to compare

Recommended credit

Good to Excellent CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Apply now

Rewards rate

5X: 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®.

Intro offer: As High As 175,000 points. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

Annual fee: $695

Regular APR: See Pay Over Time APR

Recommended credit: Good to Excellent CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

See if you’re pre-approved for this card using our CardMatch tool.

Overall rating

Our rating:4.8

Rating methodology

Rewards Value:: 5.0
Annual Percentage Rate:: 4.0
Rewards Flexibility:: 4.0
Features:: 5.0
Issuer Customer Experience:: 5.0

Highlights

You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®.
$200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
Enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection, with over $500 of annual value if you visit Centurion Lounges and each of our partner lounges including Delta Sky Club® lounges when flying an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations) , select Lufthansa lounges when flying Lufthansa, Plaza Premium lounges and Escape Lounges, and enroll in Priority Pass Select. See terms.
A Walmart+ membership can get you free shipping with no order minimum on eligible items shipped by Walmart. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) and receive one statement credit for up to $12.95 (plus applicable taxes. Plus Ups not eligible) each month. Free Shipping excludes most Marketplace items, freight & certain location surcharges. Paramount+ Essential plan only, separate registration required.
$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® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
$200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can ride or dine in style with $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December after adding their Card to their Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
$199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. Receive up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for your CLEAR Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the Platinum Card®.
Receive either a $120 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.
Use Global Dining Access by Resy to access premium dining experiences. Receive Priority Notify and unlock insider access to some of the world's most sought-after restaurants with Global Dining Access by Resy. Download the Resy iOS app or log into Resy.com and add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile to take advantage of your special benefits and discover restaurants near you.
$695 annual fee.
Terms Apply.

Rates & Fees

Annual Fee: $695
Intro Purchase APR: N/A
Regular APR: See Pay Over Time APR
Intro Balance Transfers APR: N/A

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Our rating:4.8

See Rates & Fees

Add to compare

Recommended credit

670-850 (Good to Excellent) CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Apply now

Rewards rate

5x: Earn 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠.
3x: Earn 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries.
2x: Earn 2x on all other travel purchases.
1x: Earn 1x on all other purchases.

Intro offer: 75,000 bonus points Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Annual fee: $95

Regular APR: 19.99% - 28.24% variable

Recommended credit: 670-850 (Good to Excellent) CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Overall rating

Our rating:4.8

Rating methodology

Rewards Value:: 4.8
Annual Percentage Rate:: 1.0
Rewards Flexibility:: 5.0
Features:: 3.0
Issuer Customer Experience:: 4.0

Highlights

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Enjoy beneﬁts such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel℠
10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
Member FDIC

Rates & Fees

Annual Fee: $95
Intro Purchase APR: N/A
Regular APR: 19.99% - 28.24% Variable
Intro Balance Transfers APR: N/A

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Our rating:4.1

See Rates & Fees

Add to compare

Recommended credit

670-850 (Good to Excellent) CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Apply now

Rewards rate

2%: Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases

Intro offer: $200 cash rewards Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months

Annual fee: $0

Regular APR: 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR

Recommended credit: 670-850 (Good to Excellent) CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Overall rating

Our rating:4.1

Rating methodology

Rewards Value:: 4.0
APR:: 1.0
Rewards Flexibility:: 4.7
Features:: 3.0
Issuer Customer Experience: 2.0

Highlights

Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% 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.

Rates & Fees

Annual Fee: $0
Intro Purchase APR: 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening
Regular APR: 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR
Intro Balance Transfers APR: 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Our rating:4.9

See Rates & Fees

Add to compare

Apply now

Rewards rate

5 Miles: 5 Miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
2 Miles: 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day

Intro offer: Earn 75,000 miles Earn 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening

Annual fee: $95

Regular APR: 19.99% - 29.24% variable

Recommended credit: 670-850 (Good to Excellent) CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Overall rating

Our rating:4.9

Rating methodology

Rewards Value:: 4.3
Annual Percentage Rate:: 4.0
Rewards Flexibility:: 5.0
Features:: 3.0
Issuer Customer Experience:: 4.0

Highlights

Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

Rates & Fees

Annual Fee: $95
Intro Purchase APR: N/A
Regular APR: 19.99% - 29.24% (Variable)
Intro Balance Transfers APR: N/A

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

Our rating:2.3

See Rates & Fees

Add to compare

Apply now

Rewards rate

4% and 5%: Earn 5% cash back rewards on gas at Costco and earn 4% cash back on other eligible gas and electric vehicle (EV) charging purchases for the first $7,000 combined spend per year, and then 1% thereafter.
3%: 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases and eligible travel, including Costco Travel.
2%: 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com
1%: 1% cash back on all other purchases

Intro offer: No current offer

Annual fee: $0

Regular APR: 19.49% - 27.49% variable

Recommended credit: 740-850 (Excellent) CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Overall rating

Our rating:2.3

Rating methodology

Rewards Value:: 2.6
Annual Percentage Rate:: 3.6
Rewards Flexibility:: 2.3
Features:: 3.0
Issuer Customer Experience: 3.0

Highlights

Discover one of Citi's best cash back rewards cards designed exclusively for Costco members
Earn 5% cash back rewards on gas at Costco and earn 4% cash back on other eligible gas and electric vehicle (EV) charging purchases for the first $7,000 combined spend per year, and then 1% thereafter.
3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases and eligible travel, including Costco Travel.
2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com
1% cash back on all other purchases
No annual fee with your paid Costco membership and enjoy no foreign transaction fees on purchases
Receive an annual credit card reward certificate, which is redeemable for cash or merchandise at U.S. Costco warehouses, including Puerto Rico

Rates & Fees

Annual Fee: $0
Intro Purchase APR: N/A
Regular APR: 19.49% - 27.49% (Variable)
Intro Balance Transfers APR: N/A

WSJ Buyside’s Top Credit Card Picks

Why Trust CreditCards.com

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Rewards rate

Overall rating

Highlights

Rates & Fees

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Rewards rate

Overall rating

Highlights

Rates & Fees

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Rewards rate

Overall rating

Highlights

Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Rewards rate

Overall rating

Highlights

Rates & Fees

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

Rewards rate

Overall rating

Highlights

Rates & Fees

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Rewards rate

At A Glance

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Rewards rate

At A Glance

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Rewards rate

At A Glance

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Rewards rate

At A Glance

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

Rewards rate

At A Glance