The Best Credit Cards of May 2025: Rewards, Top Offers & Reviews

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

Comparing the best credit cards

How To Choose the Best Credit Card 

There are many types of credit cards, from no-frills unsecured cards to luxury travel rewards cards. As you compare credit cards, consider your spending habits, credit history, and benefits you find valuable. These are a few credit card types to consider:

• 0% APR credit cards can save you money on interest charges, offering 0% introductory APR offers on purchases and balance transfers.
• Cash back credit cards let you earn and redeem cash, usually in the form of statement credits, gift cards, checks or direct deposits into your bank account.
• Travel credit cards earn points or miles that can be redeemed for future travel bookings. They often tout additional travel benefits, like annual credits, complimentary lounge access, no foreign transaction fees, airline or hotel upgrades, and supplemental travel insurance.
• Secured credit cards require applicants to make an upfront refundable deposit (typically between $200 and $2,500), which serves as the card’s credit limit. They’re a good option for people with bad or no credit who can’t qualify for a traditional, unsecured credit card.
• Student credit cards are geared toward students and recent graduates. They’re more accessible than traditional credit cards and are typically unsecured, so applicants don’t need a long credit history or security deposit to obtain one. Student cards also usually feature the best rewards rates and lowest APRs and fees compared to other credit-building cards, so they’re a great first credit card option.
• Starter credit cards are beginner-friendly for credit users with trouble qualifying for traditional credit cards. Student cards and secured cards fall under this umbrella, but they can also include unsecured cards for people with no credit, bad credit, or fair credit.
• Business credit cards are designed for entrepreneurs, small-business owners, gig workers, and freelancers. They set themselves apart with rewards for popular business purchases, potentially higher credit limits (or no pre-set spending limits), expense tracking tools, and other features that could be valuable for managing your business.

How credit cards work

In simple terms, credit cards are financial products that allow you to borrow money (usually) without collateral. Essentially, this is how credit cards work:

• When you want to make a purchase, you present your credit card or account number to the merchant, who will run the transaction.
• You’ll receive a bill each month, by email or online, for all of your purchase charges and any interest charges.
• If you don’t carry a monthly balance, you don’t pay interest. Carry a balance, and the interest starts accumulating.

How credit card rewards work

Credit card rewards can be cash back, points, or miles. Cash back is the most straightforward since you earn a percentage of your total spending back based on your card’s rewards rate. For example, a card that earns 5% cash back on groceries would earn $5 back on $100 in grocery purchases. You’ll typically be able to redeem cash rewards as statement credits, direct deposits, mailed checks, or gift cards.

Points and miles usually work the same way, but your redemption options and the value of your rewards may differ depending on the rewards program. For example, if a card offers 5X points on dining, you’ll earn 500 points or miles on a $100 purchase. Still, you may get the best value for your points when you redeem them in a specific way, such as for travel (a card may earn points worth 1.5 cents per dollar when you redeem for travel, but only 0.5 cents per point when you opt for cash back).

Although every rewards program works differently, you should generally choose a card that earns:

• Cash back to keep things simple and save on your everyday expenses.
• Travel miles if you fly or stay in hotels frequently.
• Reward points for flexibility to redeem rewards as either cash back or travel.

Pros and cons of credit cards

How to choose a credit card

Finding your ideal card depends on your spending habits, credit profile, and financial goals. Whether you’re looking to build credit, earn rewards, or finance a purchase, ask yourself these questions as you choose a credit card:

• What’s your credit score? Your credit score is a major factor in which credit cards are available to you. If you have excellent credit, you’ll likely qualify for cards with the best rewards, benefits, and low APRs.
• Will you carry a balance? If you’ll carry a balance, a low-interest or non-rewards 0% card may be better than a rewards card.
• Are you managing existing credit card debt? If you have credit card debt, opt for a balance transfer credit card with a long 0% introductory APR window or a waived balance transfer fee.
• Can you justify an annual fee? Cards with annual fees may offer value that exceeds their fee if you’re a big spender or travel often and can take advantage of enhanced rewards and benefits.
• Do you want to earn rewards and a sign-up bonus? Consider whether cash back, travel, or co-branded credit cards are the most valuable for you. Sign-up bonuses can offer a lot of early value for new cardholders.
• How does a new card fit into your portfolio? If you already have a credit card, choosing a card that earns rewards or offers benefits that complement your existing cards can help you maximize your earnings and gaps in benefits.

Tip: Check out our compare credit cards tool to find the best card for you.

How to apply for a credit card

Follow these steps to apply for a credit card:

• Check your credit score to know which cards you’ll likely be approved for.
• Match your credit score and financial priorities to a card.
• Prequalify with a soft credit check if the issuer offers it.
• Apply for a credit card through the issuer’s website and provide key details, including your income, employment status, housing costs, and Social Security number.
• If you’re approved, you’ll get a new account, and a card will be shipped to you. You may get immediate virtual card access, which you can set up in a mobile wallet for same-day spending.
• If you’re denied, you’ll get an explanation. Call the reconsideration line if you’d like the issuer to manually review your application.

How we picked the best credit cards

Our editorial team and expert review board analyzed thousands of credit cards to help you find the right fit for your financial priorities and lifestyle. A number of factors went into our search, but the following were the most important in choosing the best credit cards:

• Standout terms in the card’s category: We assessed whether a card’s terms and conditions were competitive when compared to other cards in its respective category. For instance, for a rewards card, we looked at its rate of return on spending and evaluated whether that return was competitive compared to other cards in the rewards category.
• Reasonable costs: We examined the major costs associated with most credit cards (purchase APR, balance transfer APR, penalty APR, annual fee, foreign transaction fees, etc.) to determine whether a card’s offer was competitive in its category.
• Overall value: If a card does carry certain fees, could those fees be justified by its other benefits? For instance, could you recoup an annual fee via the card’s rewards program? Could you still save on a balance transfer offer, paying the balance transfer fee if you paid your balance off in the introductory 0% interest period?

Full criteria used: Integration with loyalty programs, redemption options, redemption flexibility, sign-up bonus, other benefits, customer service, rates and fees, ease of application. For more detail on our review scores, see our ratings process for creditcards.

Additional information on credit cards

Check out our expert guides below for more information to help you find the best credit credit cards for your needs. Plus, we’ve included a few extra CreditCards.com resources so you can effectively evaluate your options and make the most informed choice.

Credit card guides

• How to choose a credit card
• Types of credit cards compared
• What you should know about credit cards
• When is a credit card annual fee worth it?
• What credit score do you need for a credit card?
• A beginner’s guide to points and miles
• How to maximize credit card rewards
• The average credit card balance – and how to pay off your debt
• Can a credit card help you beat inflation?

Credit card resources

• CardMatch™
• The Credit Card Comparison tool
• Credit card calculators
• Credit card reviews
• Credit card advice
• Credit card news

About the Author

Garrett Yarbrough

Garrett Yarbrough is a staff writer for CreditCards.com, specializing in product news and recommendations. He strives to make navigating credit cards, earning rewards and credit building smooth sailing for his readers.

About the Editor

Tracy Stewart

Tracy Stewart is a personal finance writer specializing in credit card loyalty programs, travel benefits, and consumer protections. He previously covered travel rewards credit cards, budget travel, and aviation news at SmarterTravel Media. His money-saving tips have appeared in the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, Consumer Reports, MarketWatch, Vice, People, the Zoe Report and elsewhere.

About the Reviewer

Jason Steele

Jason Steele is a professional journalist and credit card expert who has been contributing to online publications since 2008. He was one of the original contributors to The Points Guy, and his work has been appearing there since 2011. He has also contributed to over 100 of the leading personal finance and travel outlets. He’s frequently interviewed and quoted by mainstream outlets on the subjects of credit cards and travel. Jason is passionate about travel rewards credit cards, which he uses to earn rewards that he can redeem for him and his family to travel around the world. Jason is also the founder and producer of CardCon, a conference for credit and credit card journalists that’s held annually.