Hundreds of credit cards are accessible to consumers, but every person has unique financial needs. Earning rewards might be a priority for you, or saving on interest could be more important. The U.S. News Best Credit Cards analysis identifies the best cards available in categories tailored to consumer priorities, whether you need a balance transfer card to manage debt or a rewards card to earn cash, miles and more for your everyday purchases.
Monthly Best Credit Cards Lists
U.S. News identifies the best credit cards in an overall list and in 19 data-driven card categories updated monthly. U.S. News also periodically reviews credit cards in other categories.
Annual Best Credit Cards Awards
The U.S. News Best Credit Cards Awards recognize the top cards for the year in eight popular card categories. To determine which card is best in each category, U.S. News compiles the scores that top cards have received each month to calculate overall scores. U.S. News Best Credit Cards Awards winners earned the highest average scores in their respective categories the previous quarter.
U.S. News Best Credit Cards Awards winners are the best in their class for airline, balance transfer, business, cash back, rewards, student, travel and 0% introductory annual percentage rate credit cards.
The best credit card for beating inflation is an editors’ choice award for 2022. It recognizes a card with rewards and perks that can help cardholders lessen the burden of rising prices.
How U.S. News Chooses the Best Cards
The data-driven card categories are split into two parts: selecting cards for consideration in Best Credit Cards categories and scoring cards in each category.
Identifying Credit Cards for the Analysis
A card must be active in the U.S. News credit card database and available nationwide from a major U.S. credit card issuer to qualify for a U.S. News Best Credit Cards rating.
Each credit card category also has its own requirements.
Rating Credit Cards
U.S. News scores credit cards by category based on several factors and then identifies which cards received the highest overall scores. The highest-scoring cards are published monthly, along with a unique feature of each card, and the very best cards are showcased in our annual awards.
The scoring factors for each category are:
- Best Airline Credit Cards: U.S. News’ overall issuer satisfaction rating, ease and flexibility of rewards redemption, airline rewards earning rate, rewards redemption value, annual fee, APR, sign-up bonus value, cardholder benefits, foreign transaction fee, and balance transfer fee.
- Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards: U.S. News’ overall issuer satisfaction rating, annual fee, APR, balance transfer offer and introductory APR length for purchases.
- Best Business Credit Cards: U.S. News’ overall issuer satisfaction rating, ease and flexibility of rewards redemption, rewards earning rate, annual fee, APR, sign-up bonus value, cardholder benefits, foreign transaction fee, and balance transfer fee.
- Best Cash Back Credit Cards: U.S. News’ overall issuer satisfaction rating, cash back earning rate, annual fee, APR and sign-up bonus value.
- Best Dining Credit Cards: U.S. News’ overall issuer satisfaction rating, dining rewards earning rate, annual fee, APR and sign-up bonus value.
- Best Credit Cards for Excellent Credit: U.S. News’ overall issuer satisfaction rating, ease and flexibility of rewards redemption, rewards earning rate, annual fee, APR, sign-up bonus value, cardholder benefits, foreign transaction fee, and balance transfer fee.
- Best Gas Credit Cards: U.S. News’ overall issuer satisfaction rating, gas rewards earning rate, annual fee, APR and sign-up bonus value.
- Best Credit Cards for Good Credit: U.S. News’ overall issuer satisfaction rating, ease and flexibility of rewards redemption, rewards earning rate, annual fee, APR, sign-up bonus value, cardholder benefits, foreign transaction fee, and balance transfer fee.
- Best Grocery Credit Cards: U.S. News’ overall issuer satisfaction rating, grocery rewards earning rate, annual fee, APR and sign-up bonus value.
- Best Hotel Credit Cards: U.S. News’ overall issuer satisfaction rating, ease and flexibility of rewards redemption, hotel rewards earning rate, rewards redemption value, annual fee, APR, sign-up bonus value, cardholder benefits, foreign transaction fee, and balance transfer fee.
- Best Low-Interest Credit Cards: U.S. News’ overall issuer satisfaction rating, annual fee, APR, balance transfer offer length and introductory APR length for purchases.
- Best No-Annual-Fee Credit Cards: U.S. News’ overall issuer satisfaction rating, rewards earning rate, APR, introductory APR length for purchases and sign-up bonus value.
- Best Credit Cards With No Foreign Transaction Fee: U.S. News’ overall issuer satisfaction rating, rewards earning rate, annual fee, APR and sign-up bonus value.
- Best Rewards Credit Cards: U.S. News’ overall issuer satisfaction rating, ease and flexibility of rewards redemption, rewards earning rate, rewards redemption value, annual fee, APR, sign-up bonus value, cardholder benefits, foreign transaction fee, and balance transfer fee.
- Best Sign-up Bonus Credit Cards: U.S. News’ overall issuer satisfaction rating, rewards earning rate, annual fee, APR and sign-up bonus value.
- Best Store Credit Cards: U.S. News’ overall issuer satisfaction rating, store rewards earning rate, annual fee, APR and sign-up bonus value.
- Best Student Credit Cards: U.S. News’ overall issuer satisfaction rating, rewards earning rate, annual fee, APR and introductory APR length for purchases.
- Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards: U.S. News’ overall issuer satisfaction rating, ease and flexibility of rewards redemption, travel rewards earning rate, rewards redemption value, annual fee, APR, sign-up bonus value, cardholder benefits, foreign transaction fee, and balance transfer fee.
- Best 0% APR Credit Cards: U.S. News’ overall issuer satisfaction rating, annual fee, APR, balance transfer offer length and introductory APR length for purchases.
About the Scoring Factors
Issuer Overall Satisfaction Rating
Why it matters: Cardholders should be able to trust and expect good customer service from credit card issuers.
How it’s scored: Credit cards from issuers in the study are scored based on their overall satisfaction rating.
Ease and Flexibility of Rewards Redemption
This factor considers the options available for redeeming rewards.
Why it matters: Rewards that can be used anywhere, like cash back, may be functionally more valuable than rewards that can only be used with a single brand or limited redemption options.
How it’s scored: Cards are scored based on which redemption options they offer for their rewards.
Rewards Earning Rate
This factor scores the highest percentage of cash back, or the highest rate of miles or point earnings available with each card, including in bonus categories.
Why it matters: A higher rewards value means you’ll earn more rewards with each purchase.
How it’s scored: Rewards value is scored based on the highest available percentage of cash back, or the highest rate of miles or points you can earn on purchases in any category, including in bonus categories such as travel, gas or groceries.
Bonus Category Rewards Earning Rate
This factor scores the percentage of cash back, or rate of points or miles earned for purchases in select bonus categories.
Why it matters: A higher earning rate in bonus categories means more rewards.
How it’s scored: Rewards value is scored based on the highest available percentage of cash back, or the highest rate of miles or points you can earn on purchases in the bonus category.
Rewards Redemption Rate
This factor scores the value cardholders get when they redeem points, miles or cash back rewards.
Why it matters: Earning rewards doesn’t mean much unless you can get a good value for them.
How it’s scored: Rewards redemption value is scored based on issuer-reported redemption values or U.S. News calculations.
Annual Fee
Issuers may charge an annual fee to keep your credit card account open. Not all credit cards have an annual fee, and of those that do, some waive the annual fee for the first year.
Why it matters: If your credit card has an annual fee, you will need to review the card’s value each year to consider whether you’re offsetting the fee in rewards and benefits.
How it’s scored: Scoring is based on the amount of the fee.
APR
Ongoing APR is determined by the lowest available APR advertised for the card.
Why it matters: If you carry a balance on your credit card, you’ll pay interest. Choosing a credit card with a competitive APR can offer savings.
How it’s scored: Cards are scored according to the lowest minimum APR.
Introductory APR Length for Purchases
Introductory APR length measures how many months a card offers 0% interest on purchases.
Why it matters: A longer introductory APR offers more interest-free time to pay for purchases.
How it’s scored: Introductory APR offers are scored based on the offer duration.
Balance Transfer Offer Length
Balance transfer offer length measures how many months a card provides 0% interest on balance transfers.
Why it matters: A longer 0% balance transfer offer means more time to pay off your balance, interest-free.
How it’s scored: Balance transfer APR offers are scored based on the offer duration.
Sign-up Bonus Value
Sign-up bonus value is the monetary worth of a sign-up bonus at its highest redeemable rate.
Why it matters: A greater sign-up bonus value offers more cash back, points or miles when you sign up for a new credit card.
How it’s scored: This factor is scored based on the value of dollars, points or miles that can be earned with the sign-up bonus when redeemed at the highest available rate. For example, your points may be worth more if you redeem them in a particular category, such as travel.
Cardholder Benefits
Credit cards typically offer cardholder benefits. They can range from zero liability for fraudulent charges to travel insurance policies or annual travel credits.
Why it matters: Cardholder benefits can be worth hundreds of dollars.
How it’s scored: Cards are scored based on the value and availability of benefits.
Foreign Transaction Fee
Credit cards may charge a fee for transactions in a foreign country or currency, usually about 3% of the purchase.
Why it matters: A card with a foreign transaction fee may not be a good choice for international travelers.
How it’s scored: Cards are scored based on whether they charge a foreign transaction fee.
Balance Transfer Fee
Credit cards that accept balance transfers may charge a fee to complete the transfer, usually about 3% to 5% of the amount transferred.
Why it matters: While balance transfers may offer savings on interest, some of that savings can be offset by a balance transfer fee.
How it’s scored: Cards are scored based on whether they charge a balance transfer fee.
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