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An excellent credit score opens up opportunities to qualify for some of the best credit cards available from our partners. With a FICO Score above 800 (or a VantageScore over 780), you could get a top-of-the line credit card that offers generous rewards programs, lavish perks, low interest rates and more. Learn more about our picks for some of the best credit cards for excellent credit.
Best Credit Cards for Excellent Credit | Bankrate's Top Offers (July 2022):
Our writers, editors and industry experts score
credit cards based on a variety of factors
including card features, bonus offers
and independent research. Credit card issuers have
no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Rewards rate
8%
Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases and tickets at Vivid Seats
5%
Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
3%
Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®).
1%
Earn 1% on all other purchases.
Intro offer
$200
Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
16.49% - 26.49% (Variable)
Recommended credit
Good to Excellent (670 - 850)
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card delivers generous cash back rewards on some of your most pleasurable purchases. It's a tasty, no-annual-fee alternative to the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card.
The intro bonus is pretty easy to hit on this card, giving you a windfall of rewards.
Your cash back earnings won’t expire for the life of the account.
Cons
You cannot transfer rewards earned with this card to airline or hotel loyalty programs.
This card charges a 3 percent balance transfer fee.
Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), plus 1% on all other purchases
Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases and tickets at Vivid Seats
No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 16.49% - 26.49% variable APR after that; 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months
Our writers, editors and industry experts score
credit cards based on a variety of factors
including card features, bonus offers
and independent research. Credit card issuers have
no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Rewards rate
5X
Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
1.25X
Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day.
Intro offer
20,000 miles
Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
16.49% - 26.49% (Variable)
Recommended credit
Good to Excellent (670 - 850)
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
If you’re a traveler who values flexibility in how you can use your rewards, this card is a strong candidate. The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card earns 1.25X miles on all purchases, and you can book travel flights through the Capital One portal or transfer miles to Capital One airline partners without losing value.
The easy-to-reach intro bonus with this card is worth $200 in travel.
It's a great travel companion for trips abroad, as the card charges no foreign transaction fees.
Cons
The rewards rate on this card is fairly low compared to other travel rewards cards.
You’ll only earn boosted rewards rates on hotel and rental car purchases if you book through Capital One’s travel portal.
$0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 16.49% - 26.49% variable APR after that; 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months
Our writers, editors and industry experts score
credit cards based on a variety of factors
including card features, bonus offers
and independent research. Credit card issuers have
no say or influence on how we rate cards.
See if you're pre‐approved for this card with
CardMatch™
Rewards rate
6%
6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
6%
6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
3%
3% Cash Back on transit including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more.
3%
3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations
1%
1% Cash Back on other purchases
Intro offer
$350
Earn a $350 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
Annual fee
$95
Regular APR
16.24%-26.24% Variable
Recommended credit
Good to Excellent (670 - 850)
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
Family-friendly cash back categories with outstanding rewards rates help make the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express an intriguing option. If your household spends a lot at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, this card is well-suited to help you leverage those purchases into generous cash back rewards.
This card has an intro APR on purchases for 12 months (then 16.24 to 26.24 percent variable APR).
You won’t need to keep track of enrollment dates or rotating categories to reap the rewards.
Cons
There is no intro APR on balance transfers with this card.
The annual fee on this card is $95.
Earn a $350 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months after account opening. Plans created after that will have a fixed monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
Low intro APR: 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 16.24% to 26.24%.
6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
1% Cash Back on other purchases.
Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
Our writers, editors and industry experts score
credit cards based on a variety of factors
including card features, bonus offers
and independent research. Credit card issuers have
no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Rewards rate
2%
Earn cash back on your next road trip with 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter.
1%
Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically.
Intro offer
Cashback Match™
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! There's no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
13.49% - 24.49% Variable
Recommended credit
Good to Excellent (670 - 850)
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
With the Discover it chrome, you'll earn 2 percent cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined spending per quarter (then 1 percent), along with 1 percent on all other purchases. Thanks to Cashback Match™, Discover will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year.
Discover’s Cashback Match™ program is a lucrative welcome offer that will match all your reward earnings in the first year.
You can redeem your cash back for any amount at any time.
Cons
Other cards on the market offer higher rewards rates for similar bonus categories like gas and restaurant purchases.
Extra cardholder benefits are light outside of account security features.
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! There's no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
Earn cash back on your next road trip with 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.
New! Discover helps remove your personal information from select people-search websites. Activate by mobile app for free.
Redeem your cash back for any amount, any time. Cash rewards never expire.
New Intro APR: Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 13.49% - 24.49% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
Our writers, editors and industry experts score
credit cards based on a variety of factors
including card features, bonus offers
and independent research. Credit card issuers have
no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Rewards rate
5%
Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more;
3%
3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service
1.5%
1.5% on all other purchases
Intro offer
Earn an Additional 1.5% Cash Back
Intro Offer: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
16.49% - 25.24% Variable
Recommended credit
Good to Excellent (670 - 850)
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
If you're looking for a simple way to earn cash back on all of your purchases, the Chase Freedom Unlimited should be at the top of your list. The card comes with an easy-to-hit welcome bonus, unlimited 1.5 percent cash back on eligible purchases and a generous introductory APR offer for new purchases.
The sign-up bonus for this card is fairly easy to attain. Earn an additional 1.5 percent cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year)
There is a fairly decent zero percent intro APR on purchases for 15 months (then 16.49 percent to 25.24 percent variable APR after).
Cons
The card comes with foreign transaction fees.
You must book through the Ultimate Rewards portal to earn 5 percent back on travel.
Intro Offer: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on Chase travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards®, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 16.49% - 25.24%.
No annual fee – You won’t have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more.
Our writers, editors and industry experts score
credit cards based on a variety of factors
including card features, bonus offers
and independent research. Credit card issuers have
no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Rewards rate
5%
Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
1.5%
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
Intro offer
$200
One-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
16.49% - 26.49% (Variable)
Recommended credit
Good to Excellent (670 - 850)
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
If you have excellent credit and want an exceptionally easy way to earn cash back, consider the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card. With no foreign transaction fees, it's also a good choice for shopping online with international merchants.
There is a 15-month zero percent intro APR on purchases and balance transfers (then 16.49 percent to 26.49 percent variable APR.). 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months.
Your reward earning potential is unlimited. There’s no need to think about hitting spending caps and facing reward value deductions.
Cons
This card has a 3 percent balance transfer fee.
You cannot redeem rewards directly for travel.
One-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
$0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus, cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 16.49%-26.49% variable APR after that; 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months
Our writers, editors and industry experts score
credit cards based on a variety of factors
including card features, bonus offers
and independent research. Credit card issuers have
no say or influence on how we rate cards.
See if you're pre‐approved for this card with
CardMatch™
Rewards rate
3%
3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%.
3%
New! 3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
3%
3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
1%
1% Cash Back on other purchases.
Intro offer
$200
Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
16.24%-27.24% Variable
Recommended credit
Good to Excellent (670 - 850)
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
The Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express offers a generous and uncomplicated rewards structure that makes it easy to earn cash back on the purchases you make every day, like gas and groceries. With no annual fee and no rotating categories, this card offers a lot of value to the frequent shopper with excellent credit.
This card has a 15 month zero percent intro APR on purchases and balance transfers (16.24 percent to 27.24 percent variable APR after).
There is a yearly $6,000 spending limit on purchases in the highest percent categories (then 1 percent).
Cons
Popular superstores, like Target and Walmart, do not count as U.S. supermarkets and will not earn the higher bonus rewards.
There is a 2.7 percent foreign transaction fee.
Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
No Annual Fee.
Balance Transfer is back! Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening. After that, 16.24% to 27.24% variable APR.
3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%.
New! 3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
Get $7 back each month after using your Blue Cash Everyday® Card to spend $13.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription to The Disney Bundle, which includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. Enrollment required.
Our writers, editors and industry experts score
credit cards based on a variety of factors
including card features, bonus offers
and independent research. Credit card issuers have
no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Rewards rate
2%
Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
Intro offer
N/A
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
15.49% - 25.49% (Variable)
Recommended credit
Good to Excellent (670 - 850)
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
The Citi Double Cash Card's signature feature is the earn-as-you-go cash back program. You'll earn 1 percent cash back when you make purchases and another 1 percent when you pay for them on your credit card bill. When you factor in the added incentive to practice good credit habits, this card could offer an effective way to maintain your excellent credit while earning a total of 2 percent cash back.
There are no spending caps to the rewards you can earn with this card.
There is an 18-month zero percent intro APR period on balance transfers with this card (then 15.49 percent to 25.49 percent APR variable)
Cons
There is no intro APR offer on purchases.
This card does not currently offer a sign up bonus.
Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 15.49% - 25.49%, based on your creditworthiness.
Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Our writers, editors and industry experts score
credit cards based on a variety of factors
including card features, bonus offers
and independent research. Credit card issuers have
no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Rewards rate
5%
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and when you pay using PayPal, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.
1%
Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
Intro offer
Cashback Match™
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! There's no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
13.49% - 24.49% Variable
Recommended credit
Good to Excellent (670 - 850)
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
The Discover it Cash Back has the potential for large cash back rewards in categories that rotate each quarter (activation required). If your spending habits match up with the bonus-eligible purchases, this card could deliver a cash back bonanza.
This is an affordable card that’s very light on extra fees, including no annual fee, foreign transaction fee or penalty APR.
The card is forgiving on your first late payment, as it won’t charge you a late payment fee on your first miss (up to $41 after).
Cons
You must keep track of and enroll in bonus categories each quarter.
The intro balance transfer fee of 3 percent moves up to 5 percent after the intro period is over (see card terms).
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! There's no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and when you pay using PayPal, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically.
New! Discover helps remove your personal information from select people-search websites. Activate by mobile app for free.
Redeem cash back in any amount, any time. Rewards never expire.
New Intro APR: Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 13.49% to 24.49% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
Our writers, editors and industry experts score
credit cards based on a variety of factors
including card features, bonus offers
and independent research. Credit card issuers have
no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Rewards rate
5X
For a limited time, earn 5 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent at restaurants up to $6,000 in the first 12 months and 1 ThankYou® Point per $1 spent thereafter.
2X
Earn 2X ThankYou® Points at Supermarkets and Gas Stations for the first $6,000 per year and then 1X Points thereafter.
1X
Earn 1X ThankYou® Points on All Other Purchases.
Intro offer
20,000 points
Earn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening; redeemable for $200 in gift cards at thankyou.com
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
14.99% - 24.99% (Variable)
Recommended credit
Good to Excellent (670 - 850)
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
With the Citi Rewards+ Card in your wallet, you can easily maximize the rewards you earn on everyday purchases. The card has a unique feature that automatically rounds up the ThankYou Points you earn with each purchase to the nearest 10—meaning your $2 morning muffin is worth 10 points instead of just two.
There are zero percent intro APR offers on both purchases and balance transfers for 15 months (then 14.99 percent to 24.99 percent variable APR).
The round up feature on this card bumps your earnings up to the nearest 10 points, granting you even more value for smaller purchases.
Cons
You cannot transfer your basic ThankYou points to travel partners with this card.
There is a $6,000 annual spending cap on categories worth 2X points (then 1X points).
Earn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening; redeemable for $200 in gift cards at thankyou.com
For a limited time, earn 5 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent at restaurants up to $6,000 in the first 12 months and 1 ThankYou® Point per $1 spent thereafter.
0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months from date of first transfer and on purchases from date of account opening. After that, the variable APR will be 14.99% - 24.99%, based on your creditworthiness. There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
The Citi Rewards+® Card - the only credit card that automatically rounds up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase - with no cap.
Earn 2X ThankYou® Points at Supermarkets and Gas Stations for the first $6,000 per year and then 1X Points thereafter. Plus, earn 1X ThankYou® Points on All Other Purchases.
additional features
Purchase intro APR
0% intro for 15 months on Purchases
Balance transfer intro APR
0% intro for 15 months on Balance Transfers
The more you know…
The pandemic resulted in financial challenges for many Americans. A survey conducted by Bankrate found that 42 percent of consumers with credit card debt have increased their credit card balances since that start of the pandemic in 2020.
A closer look at Bankrate’s best cards for excellent credit
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for dining and entertainment
What we love about the Capital One SavorOne: It’s rare for a no annual fee card to earn such robust rewards rates in these particular categories in dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and grocery store categories.
Who this card is good for: Socialites and social butterflies who will make the most out of the SavorOne’s very generous dining rewards.
Alternatives: The Discover it Chrome card is another card that offers competitive rewards rates on dining. It also tacks on gas rewards which is great for people who are often on the go, something that the SavorOne falls a bit short on.
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card: Best for flexible travel rewards
What we love about the Capital One VentureOne: Transferring miles to travel loyalty programs with Capital One has seen some recent upgrades. New partners include British Airways and Choice Hotels, and the number of programs that offer transfers with no loss in point value has grown.
Who this card is good for: Travelers who like a variety of choices in how they can redeem their rewards without being tied to a single airline or hotel chain.
Alternatives: The Chase Freedom Unlimited has a few rewards tiers specifically aimed at travel purchases, along with a slightly higher flat rewards rate than the VentureOne. It also still charges no annual fee so if you’re prioritizing travel rewards specifically, you could get more value for your dollar with the Chase Freedom Unlimited.
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express: Best overall cash back for families
What we love about the Blue Cash Preferred: This card includes a complimentary ShopRunner membership (enrollment required), which offers free two-day shipping at checkout with 100+ online merchants.
Who this card is good for: Big families with big grocery budgets as you won’t find many cards that reward these kinds of purchases more highly.
Alternatives: The Blue Cash Everyday card is the sister card to the Blue Cash Preferred and the two offer some of the same benefits. The Blue Cash Everyday has a lower rewards rate and no annual fee, which could be more appealing for budget-conscious families.
What we love about the Discover it Chrome: The rewards categories on this card are some of the most popular spending categories for most consumers so if you play your cards right (pun intended), you’ll have a nice stack of rewards in your cash back match in your first year.
Who this card is good for: On-the-go people who spend a fair amount of money at gas stations and restaurants. You can earn 2 percent in those categories on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, then 1 percent.
Alternatives: The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards card outpaces the Discover it Chrome by a lot if your main squeeze is getting the most out of dining rewards.
Chase Freedom Unlimited: Best for flexible redemption
What we love about the Chase Freedom Unlimited: At one time, the Chase Freedom Unlimited was a straightforward cash back card that earned 1.5 percent on all eligible purchases. The 2020 upgrade kept that original system but also added the higher-rate categories, all without introducing an annual fee.
Who this card is good for: Chase loyalists who can make a killing when pairing the Chase Freedom Unlimited with other Chase cards to pool rewards and max out earnings in the Chase Ultimate Rewards program.
Alternatives: Staying in the Chase portfolio, the Chase Freedom Flex offers some competitive rates in several categories and adds in an enrollment category that you can max out in each quarter if strategy is more your style. The Chase Freedom Flex also has a straightforward welcome offer, handing you a pretty easy-to-earn lump sum of rewards.
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for simple cash back
What we love about the Capital One Quicksilver: An unlimited flat-rate of rewards is always fairly valuable, as you won’t be limited on where you can earn rewards and how much of them you can rack up.
Who this card is good for: No frills rewards seekers who want to get their rewards and go without having to chase bonus categories or enrollment dates.
Alternatives: If you want a direct line to specific kinds of rewards, some of the tiered cards available on the market can be much more lucrative than the Quicksilver. The Capital One VentureOne Rewards card, for example, lets you earn specifically towards travel with both travel-related purchases and everyday spending.
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express: Best cash back for families with no annual fee
What we love about the Blue Cash Everyday: The American Express brand often brings to mind premier travel credit cards with steep annual fees. The Blue Cash Everyday provides an option for people who are more gas-and-groceries oriented than wining-and-dining.
Who this card is good for: Family-first shoppers who want to earn cash back for their frequent stops at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and on U.S. online retail purchases but don’t want to add an annual credit card fee to their budget.
Alternatives: Families who want to expand their earnings even further outside of gas and groceries but still can’t stomach an annual fee could find a match in the Citi Double Cash, as you earn unlimited rewards when you spend and when you pay and those purchases can be on anything your family needs most.
Citi Double Cash Card: Best for up to 2% cash back
What we love about the Citi Double Cash: The Citi Entertainment benefit provides access to presale tickets and a variety of events, including concerts and dining experiences.
Who this card is good for: Diligent rewards earners who want to be incentivized for both paying and spending on their card.
Alternatives: The Citi Custom Cash℠ Card puts the power of how and where you earn even more into your hands by giving you the highest tier of cash back earnings on your top eligible spending category each billing cycle. You spend, you earn: your way, all the way with this card option. You just need to beware of spending caps.
Discover it Cash Back: Best for rotating cash back categories
What we love about the Discover it Cash Back: The generous welcome offer and the opportunity to save on interest if you carry a balance because of the card’s intro APR offers on both purchases and balance transfers.
Who this card is good for: Credit strategists who don’t mind keeping tabs on enrollment calendars and rotating bonus categories.
Alternatives: If you need a card that will earn you a lot with a bit less work, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is one of the best flat-rate rewards cards available and the rewards are unlimited, so no need to worry about hitting any quarterly spending caps.
Citi Rewards+ Card: Best for rewards on small purchases
What we love about the Citi Rewards+: Thanks to the Citi Rewards+ Round Up feature, every purchase you make will be rounded up to the nearest 10 points. For example, a $4 coffee would be worth 10 points.
Who this card is good for: Frequent supermarket and gas station shoppers who want to earn cash back rewards easily without big spending habits.
Alternatives: If you want to expand beyond the Citi ThankYou® Points program, the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Card offers unlimited flat-rate rewards on all purchases, casting a wide net on your earning opportunities outside of a designated points program.
An excellent credit score is usually considered an 800 to 850 on the FICO scale. VantageScore is a bit more lenient in considering “excellent” to fall anywhere between 750 and 850. VantageScore and FICO both incorporate data from credit bureaus, but their scores are generated with different mathematical models. Despite their differences, if you have excellent credit, both will generally reflect it.
Achieving excellent credit requires a combination of good financial habits and patience. A great way to get started is with the following key steps.
Familiarize yourself with the factors that make up your credit score. Things like your credit utilization ratio, the age of your accounts, your payment history, credit mix and new credit are all major facets that make up your credit score. Understanding these factors and the effects they have on your score is a key part of making sure you know how to build it up.
Dispute any errors you find on your credit report (which is not the same as your credit score). Your credit report is a compilation of your entire history as a credit user, while your credit score can be thought of as a current-day snapshot. You can remove negative items from your credit report by reaching out directly to the credit bureau, and getting rid of these items that are hindering your score can be a game-changer when building credit.
Pay off debts regularly and keep your credit utilization ratiolow. Overspending on the amount of credit available to you sends signals of financial instability to lenders. Paying your bills on time and in full each month and building a positive payment history is one of the best ways to see steady growth in your credit score.
Have patience. You likely won’t achieve an excellent score within months of opening your first credit card. Also, remember that you don’t need to strive for a perfect 850 credit score. Anyone with a score within the “exceptional” range, which FICO considers 800 and above, should be able to enjoy the same benefits as someone with a perfect score.
Bankrate Insight
An excellent credit score—qualified as 800 and up according to FICO—isn’t as uncommon as you may think. Twenty-one percent of all consumers’ credit scores fall into the excellent category. On the other hand, only 1.2 percent of Americans have a “perfect” FICO Score of 850. However, an exceptional FICO Score of 800 or above means you already enjoy virtually all the benefits of a perfect score.
How to maintain an excellent credit score
Keep up with the positive credit habits you’ve established. If you have excellent credit, odds are you’re already paying your credit card bills on time and in full and keeping your credit utilization low. Continuing with these and other positive credit habits is a solid way to maintain your excellent score.
Dive into a credit card strategy. Having excellent credit affords you access to some of the best credit cards on the market. Put your responsibility skills to good use and develop a strategy to use these top-tier cards to reap the highest returns on your most popular purchases while still putting your good credit habits at the forefront to keep you on top.
Focus on long-term maintenance over short-term fluctuations. As you continue to build your credit portfolio, you may find yourself applying for new cards or upgrading to better versions of the ones you already have. New credit inquiries of any kind may cause small score dips here and there, but as long as you continue to make smart credit choices, you should be able to maintain your excellent score.
How to choose a credit card when you have excellent credit
Reaching an excellent credit score isn’t an easy feat, and it doesn’t happen overnight. When you have excellent credit, there are so many options available to you when choosing a credit card that it might be difficult to narrow your choices. Determining what’s important to you will help hone in on the right choice when choosing a credit card. Ask yourself:
There’s a credit card to fit almost any financial situation. The first thing you should address when choosing a credit card is how the credit card will benefit you. For example, many consumers want to stock up on travel rewards with their credit cards but don’t travel enough to justify the costs associated with a travel card. In this case, jumping at the first travel card that appears lucrative won’t serve you well if you don’t take an honest look at your travel habits. On the other hand, most consumers will find real value in a cash back card with elevated rewards in a category they spend heavily in like gas or groceries.
Most credit cards for people with excellent credit come with premium perks, lucrative rewards and a number of fees to match. Paying an annual fee or a foreign transaction fee isn’t necessarily a bad thing if you’re finding value from your card in other places. If you use a card strategically, you can wind up saving money overall despite the fees.
Understand that excellent credit won’t always be enough when you apply for a credit card. Factors such as income and existing debt will play a part in how likely you are to be approved for any credit card. If you want to increase your chances of being approved for the credit card you want, work on improving your finances overall.
How we chose our best cards for excellent credit scores
Bankrate's 5-star scoring system evaluates features that offer maximum value and first-rate user experience. For cards in the excellent credit category, we refine the method to focus on a set of particular factors including:
Rewards value
By matching lifestyle categories with the cards most likely to maximize returns, we've made it easy for you to find the card that will offer the best value — points, miles or cash back.
APR
Annual percentage rate (APR) represents interest charges you would face if you didn't pay your balance fully. With excellent credit, you're more likely to qualify for a low APR.
Extras and discounts
On top of earning rewards, each credit card on this list offers features that raise its overall value. Perks like statement credits on travel, access to travel lounges, and free credit score monitoring allow cardholders to maximize the benefits of achieving a strong credit score.
Cost of ownership
Some of these cards come with an annual fee, but in those cases, the earnings potential should outweigh the cost. The travel cards frequently waive foreign transaction fees.
More resources for excellent credit consumers
If you have excellent credit, you can qualify for some of the best cards on the market. Here are some resources to help you get more information about credit cards and credit scores:
Have more questions for our credit cards editors? Feel free to send us an email, find us on Facebook, or Tweet us @Bankrate.
Frequently asked questions about credit cards for excellent credit scores
If you're starting from scratch, be patient. Experian estimates it takes three to six months to develop a score in the first place. It can take years of good habits to reach the excellent range.
Aside from the roughly 100 point difference between the two on the FICO scale, a higher credit score often means better interest rates on life’s big ticket items like mortgages and auto loans.
There is no perfect number of credit cards you can or should have to maintain excellent credit. However, having access to more credit could reflect positively for you, especially when it comes to your credit utilization ratio. The more available credit you have, the better this ratio can be. You should also keep in mind that applying for too many cards in a short amount of time could drive down your score. Keeping a number of cards you can continue to manage responsibly is your best bet.
Excellent-credit credit cards often feature some of the best benefits on the market, including:
Lengthy 0 percent introductory APR offers on purchases and balance transfers
High rewards rates for cash back, points and miles
As a staff writer for Bankrate and CreditCards.com, Sarah offers sound advice that will improve your financial life and help simplify topics like travel hacking and credit card rewards.
Courtney Mihocik is an editor at Bankrate Credit Cards and CreditCards.com specializing in credit card news and personal finance advice. Previously, she led insurance content at Reviews.com and worked as the loans editor at The Simple Dollar.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including card rates and fees, is accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information.
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Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. The offers that appear on this site are from companies from which Bankrate.com receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site, including, for example, the order in which they may appear within listing categories. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and the likelihood of applicants' credit approval also impact how and where products appear on this site. Bankrate.com does not include the entire universe of available financial or credit offers. Bankrate has partnerships with issuers including, but not limited to, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Discover.
