Finwower The Best Credit Cards Awards of 2024

Do you want a credit card?

Credit cards are convenient and hundreds of millions of people around the world use them for everyday purchases. The reason is simple: banks offer many unique rewards, cashback offers, reward points, frequent flyer miles, insurance and even grace periods.

These financial products are beneficial and reliable because they are accepted worldwide, in all countries where you may travel. If you are looking for the best deals, know that we have conducted extensive research.

Do you want a financial product like this? Find out what we have to offer you.

Here are the winners of the best credit cards 2024

Our experts sifted through the offerings available on the market and came up with a brief description of our top picks. Here's the ranking you've been waiting for: today's best credit cards.

• Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card: the best for 2% cash back.
• Chase Freedom Unlimited® : the best sign-up bonus.
• Wells Fargo Reflect℠ Card℠: the best initial annual rate (21 months).
• Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: best for rewards and family purchases.
• Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card : 0% on balance transfers.
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: the best for travel.
• Discover it® Student Cash Back : best for students (no credit history).

Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card: best for 2% cash back.

The Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ card works like this: It offers unlimited 2% cash back on almost all purchases. It is one of the best cash back credit cards on the market in this niche, which is an important reason why our experts chose it.
There is no limit to the amount you can earn, and rewards do not expire as long as the account is open. The introductory bonus is a Cashback Match™, which means the company will pay out 100% cashback in the first year.
Keep in mind that rewards cannot be transferred to Wells Fargo's travel partners.

• APR from 14.99% to 24.99%.
• Recommended credit history from 670 to 850

Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Best sign-up bonus

Our experts chose Chase Freedom Unlimited® for its free sign-up bonus. All you have to do is spend $500 in the first three months to qualify for the introductory bonus. But that's just one of the benefits.
There is 5% cash back for shopping and travel, and 3% cash back for restaurant payments (which includes takeout or home delivery). Everything else is a standard, unlimited 1.5% cashback.
The only drawback is that purchases at Target and Walmart do not qualify for cashback.

• APR from 14.99% to 24.74%.
• Recommended credit history from 670 to 850.

Wells Fargo Reflect℠ Card: best introductory APR (21 months).

This Wells Fargo product amazed our expert reviewers with 21 months of zero APR. Recall that you can start with eighteen months of promotional interest and you can get the three-month extension simply by paying your credit card statements on time. In short, this is one of the best offers of its kind in the entire U.S. market. Plus, you get protection for your smartphone (up to six hundred dollars).
Pay attention to the contract details (the fine print, to be precise), because any missed payment can reduce the free APR for 21 months.

• APR from 12.99% to 24.99%.
• Recommended credit history from 670 to 850

Blue Cash Preferred® card from American Express: the best for rewards and family shopping.

This American Express card offers a fantastic $300 sign-up bonus if you spend $3,000 in six months. There is no annual fee for the first year, then $95, but don't forget that this banking product offers 6% cash back at most supermarkets, up to $6,000 per year (then 1%).
Other cash back offers include 6% on streaming subscriptions, 3% on public transportation (including parking, tolls, buses, trains, car sharing), 3% at gas stations, and 1% on other purchases.
Our experts chose it because of these extraordinary (though limited) benefits and because it is perfect for large families.

• APR from 13.99% to 23.99%.
• Recommended credit history from 670 to 850

Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card: 0% on balance transfers

Our experts chose this card for its incredible ability to temporarily avoid interest on transferred balances. It is an excellent choice for those who want to stay focused on paying off their debts. The APR promotion period for balance transfers is one of the longest in the U.S. market.
The disadvantage? There is a 5% fee on the amount transferred, but the product gives access to a number of attractive programs, such as Citi Flex Loan, Easy Deals or Citi Entertainment.

• APR from 13.74% to 23.74%.
• Recommended credit history from 670 to 850

Chase Sapphire Preferred® card: the best for travel.

We bet you are already wondering what the best option for travelers is. Well, here it is! Our experts chose this Chase product for its 60,000-point introductory bonus (subject to a $4,000 spend in the first three months), which can be redeemed for $750 in Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Reward rates are 5x for travel purchased under the program, 3x for restaurants, and 2x for all other (travel-related) purchases. The only drawback is the $95 annual fee and the inability to access luxury lounges. However, it is good to remember that the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages if you travel and maximize reward rates.

• APR from 15.99% to 22.99%.
• Recommended credit history from 670 to 850

Discover it® Student Cash Back: the best for students (without credit history)

Our expert's final choice is Discover it®, which made it onto this list for its powerful cashback program (which is a revolving program). It is a great option for students and those with no credit history. There is no annual fee, and Discover it® agrees to match all cash back earned in the first year, with no maximum limit.
It is also worth noting that the introductory APR is 0% and there are no foreign transaction fees. Finally, if you're wondering what the downsides are, here's one: the evolving rewards system can be confusing for new users, but this is still one of the best student credit cards around.

• APR from 12.99% to 21.99%.
• No credit history required.

How do credit cards work?

To apply for a credit card you must have a good credit history, but some companies do not make this a condition. There are good offers for students or those with no credit history.

It all starts with an application. Your credit rating will be used as an indicator of your creditworthiness, but the bank (or issuer) will also calculate your debt-to-income ratio to determine your ability to make payments. If your application is successful, you will receive a credit card.

The concept of this banking product is simple: with a credit card you borrow money to pay for the goods or services you need. The borrowed funds are repaid at a later date, according to your needs.

If you are late in repaying the borrowed amount (instead of paying it in full when you receive your statement), you are charged interest.

How to choose a credit card

There is no one solution that is better than another, and we are not talking about any particular category. It all depends on your individual needs. Choosing such a product begins with a credit check. You will have to check it yourself when you do your research, and that is only because you want to get the best benefits. A better credit history will give you access to better benefits and rewards.

The next step is to choose the type of product in question:

• Those that help you improve your credit when it is damaged or limited;
• Those that help you save on interest; and
• Those that allow you to get bonuses.

The next step is to narrow down the choices. For example, if you are looking for a loyalty card, do you want points or cash back? And how much are you willing to invest to manage all these rewards? Let's also talk about interest. If you want to save on interest, do you need a 0% introductory period or do you prefer a permanent low rate?

Or maybe you are about to transfer a balance. Or maybe you are an entrepreneur and need a specialized card. Narrow down your choices, get into the details and choose what's right for you.

What credit cards do we offer?

There are many types of cards on the market, and it is difficult to know which one is right for you. Take a look at the different types described below and find out how each can fit your spending habits and financial goals.

Loyalty cards:They usually offer cash back or points based on spending. For example, many banks offer categories with different percentages for supermarkets, restaurants or gasoline. Some offers allow you to exchange points for gift cards, merchandise or statement credits. Depending on the organization you work with, they may also offer children's credit cards.

Cartecashback:There is an incredible variety of cashback products on the market. Some banks offer a fixed rate in terms of cash rewards, while others offer rewards that can change quarterly.

Travelcard:for people who travel a lot, travel credit cards work like rewards cards, but are tailored for this industry. Most bank offerings allow users to enroll in the travel loyalty program (to earn miles to redeem) or the hotel loyalty program (to earn credits to spend on lodging).

Balance transfer cards: this type of card generally has a 0% APR (for 15-21 months), so you pay no interest. Most people use this card to pay off an existing debt by transferring the balance (for a small fee).

Cards with 0% APRareoriservedfor those whowant to make large purchases and repay the amount over time without paying interest. Don't forget that the 0% rate is generally time-limited (up to a year and a half).

The best business credit cards allow cardholders to separatebusiness and personal expenses and benefit from rewards. There is no general rule, as this type of card can include cash back, travel benefits, general rewards and protected cards.

Negative credit cards: for people with FICO scores between 300 and 579, many companies offer credit cards, usually at a higher annual rate. Some are secured (which means you have to provide cash collateral) and most are unsecured. Here are the best credit cards for building credit.

For those with FICO scores between 580 and 669, there aremany options available on the market. Companies like Capital One are known to offer a wide range of options, even in this category.

Store credit cards: can be obtained at retail stores (usually) and are bad credit cards. They encourage cardholders to spend and get rewards for their spending. Beware: these cards have high interest rates and do not offer many benefits (such as a 0% initial interest rate or the ability to defer interest). Credit cards can also be co-branded. These are branded or store credit cards provided by reputable companies such as American Express, Citi, or Chase. These partnerships are typically designed to benefit certain individuals (depending on the industry).

Most banking products of this type are unsecured, meaning that no collateral is required. Secured credit cards, on the other hand, require a cash deposit to access the line of credit.

How many credit cards do I need?

Here's why you may need more than one card. As we have explained so far, benefits vary from product to product. If you are looking for products without annual fees, there is no reason not to have several.

You can have one for travel, one for reward purchases, and one for your business. Once you understand how these financial products work, it is best to combine them for maximum benefits with minimum annual fees.

Which credit cards are easiest to obtain?

In general, these cards are designed specifically for people with bad credit or limited credit history (students). In addition, secured cards are probably the easiest to obtain, as they require only a guarantee. Store cards should also be mentioned.