The best credit cards for good credit in 2024
Published 10:37 AM EDT, Wed July 3, 2024
Having good credit opens a lot of doors when you’re looking for a credit card. The best credit cards for good credit offer impressive features, including competitive interest rates and rewards programs — not to mention some pretty stellar welcome bonuses.
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Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Credit Score ranges are based on FICO? credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.
Our team of experts reviewed over 100 credit cards available to consumers with good credit scores, including cards that earn cash back, transferable points, airline miles and hotel points. We considered factors including welcome bonuses, ongoing rewards earning, fees and perks such as cell phone protection and travel insurance. Using a data-based approach, we narrowed down the list to the 10 best credit cards for good credit scores that scored highly based on our weightings. Read our full methodology below.
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Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best credit card for good credit
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Chase Sapphire Preferred? Card: Best for flexible travel rewards
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Wells Fargo Active Cash? Card: Best for cash rewards
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Citi Strata Premier? Card: *Best bonus categories
The information for the Citi Strata Premier? Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
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American Express? Gold Card: Best for foodies
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Citi Double Cash? Card: *Best for balance transfers
The information for the Citi Double Cash? Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
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The Platinum Card? from American Express: Best for luxury travel perks
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Wells Fargo Autograph Journey? Card: *Best for road warriors
The information for the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey? Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
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United Quest? Card: Best airline card
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Marriott Bonvoy Boundless? Credit Card: *Best hotel card
The information for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless? Credit Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
The CNN Underscored Money editorial team has developed a star rating so you can see the best card for specific categories. While we believe this card excels in this category, its overall star rating may differ.
Chase Sapphire Preferred? Card
The CNN Underscored Money editorial team has developed a star rating so you can see the best card for specific categories. While we believe this card excels in this category, its overall star rating may differ.
Wells Fargo Active Cash? Card
The CNN Underscored Money editorial team has developed a star rating so you can see the best card for specific categories. While we believe this card excels in this category, its overall star rating may differ.
Citi Strata Premier? Card
*The information for the Citi Strata Premier? Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The CNN Underscored Money editorial team has developed a star rating so you can see the best card for specific categories. While we believe this card excels in this category, its overall star rating may differ.
American Express? Gold Card
The CNN Underscored Money editorial team has developed a star rating so you can see the best card for specific categories. While we believe this card excels in this category, its overall star rating may differ.
Citi Double Cash? Card
*The information for the Citi Double Cash? Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The CNN Underscored Money editorial team has developed a star rating so you can see the best card for specific categories. While we believe this card excels in this category, its overall star rating may differ.
The Platinum Card? from American Express
The CNN Underscored Money editorial team has developed a star rating so you can see the best card for specific categories. While we believe this card excels in this category, its overall star rating may differ.
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey? Card
*The information for the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey? Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The CNN Underscored Money editorial team has developed a star rating so you can see the best card for specific categories. While we believe this card excels in this category, its overall star rating may differ.
United Quest? Card
The CNN Underscored Money editorial team has developed a star rating so you can see the best card for specific categories. While we believe this card excels in this category, its overall star rating may differ.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless? Credit Card
*The information for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless? Credit Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The CNN Underscored Money editorial team has developed a star rating so you can see the best card for specific categories. While we believe this card excels in this category, its overall star rating may differ.
Our picks at a glance
| Annual fee | Welcome bonus | Best for | 0% introductory APR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
| $95
| 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
| Good credit
| Not available
|
Chase Sapphire Preferred? Card
| $95
| 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
| Flexible travel rewards
| Not available
|
Wells Fargo Active Cash? Card
| $0
| $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first three months
| Cash rewards
| 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, then a 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% Variable APR variable APR applies. Balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a fee of up to 5%, with a minimum of $5 applies.
|
Citi Strata Premier? Card
*
The information for the Citi Strata Premier? Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
| $95
| 70,000 bonus ThankYou? Points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening. Terms Apply.
| Bonus categories
| Not available
|
American Express? Gold Card
| $325
| 60,000 Membership Rewards? points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months of card membership. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible restaurant purchases worldwide (up to $100 back) within the first six months of card membership (offer ends 11/6/24). Terms Apply.
| Foodies
| Not available
|
Citi Double Cash? Card
*
The information for the Citi Double Cash? Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
| $0
| $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening, fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou? Points
| Balance transfers
| 0% intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers APR (then a 19.24% - 29.24% Variable APR)
|
The Platinum Card? from American Express
| $695
| 80,000 Membership Rewards? points after you spend $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of account opening. Terms Apply.
| Luxury travel perks
| Not available
|
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey? Card
*
The information for the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey? Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
| $95
| 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first three months of account opening
| Road warriors
| Not available
|
United Quest? Card
| $250
| 60,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open
| Airline spending
| Not available
|
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless? Credit Card
*
The information for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless? Credit Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
| $95
| three free night awards after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening
| Hotel spending
| Not available
|
How can you choose a credit card when you have good credit?
- Compare annual percentage rates (APRs). You should avoid carrying a balance on your credit cards, but you should know the interest rate you’ll be charged if you aren’t able to pay off your card in full (also called the APR). If you want to transfer a balance from another card, you can compare balance transfer APRs, including looking for cards with promotional 0% introductory rates.
- Consider the welcome bonus. While the terms will vary by card issuer, it can (seriously) pay to compare welcome bonuses, which often offer extra rewards to card holders who spend a certain amount in their first months with the card.
- Look for solid rewards. Rewards credit cards offer an array of different points- or miles-based rewards programs, so you can earn rewards in a way that matters to your lifestyle.
- Check for other benefits. While perks can vary by card and card issuer, you can look for cell phone benefits, travel extras, loyalty perks on other financial products the issuer offers and more.
What is good credit?
Credit scores typically range from 300 to 850, though the exact “good” score range can vary. The two major credit scoring agencies are FICO and VantageScore. A good FICO score is between 670 and 739. With the VantageScore 3.0 model, a good score is between 661 and 780.
These ranges can offer a guide for typical good credit scores, but what each lender considers good can vary. Lenders may also take other factors from your application into account that can determine whether they approve you and how they establish your interest rate.
What places your score in the “good” range and someone else’s in a lower or higher range truly depends. For instance, two borrowers might have the exact same available credit and perfect payment history. But if one borrower has all their credit cards maxed out and the other is only using 20% of their total available credit, the person using less of their credit may have a higher score. The person with a lower score may be able to qualify for the same credit card, but the interest rate might be higher than the person with good credit.
Why is good credit important?
In your search for the best credit card for good credit, your responsible credit management offers several benefits.
- Increased approval odds. A higher credit score can boost the odds you’ll be approved for the best credit cards and other lending products like personal loans and mortgages.
- Access to lower interest rates. Lower interest rates can reduce your cost of borrowing when you carry a credit card balance or have an installment loan. When you have good credit, your credit score could help you qualify for lower interest rates. Lenders are willing to extend these lower rates because your score demonstrates that you’re a good credit risk — someone who responsibly manages their debt and pays back what they borrow.
- Opportunity to earn generous welcome bonuses. Credit cards for those with good scores and higher often offer strong welcome bonuses, which aren’t typically offered on cards designed for consumers with lower scores.
- Ability to use enticing balance transfer offers. You could pay down your debt faster — and for less — with cards offering promotional balance transfer rates for new cardholders.
Even when you’re not applying for a credit card or loan, having good credit can have one other additional benefit: flexibility. If you need to borrow cash or open a line of credit in the future, your good credit will give you more options. Having a choice of lenders, rates and terms puts you in the financial driver’s seat.
Methodology
Our money and data analytics teams evaluated over 100 credit cards available to consumers with good credit. From there, we narrowed down our list of the best credit cards for good credit by giving them a star rating out of five, based on the following factors and our editorial judgment:
Rewards value (30%)
Many credit cards for good credit earn rewards, but not all credit card points and miles are worth the same amount. We used spending data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and estimates of rewards values from The Points Guy to determine which cards dole out the best rewards value.
Sign-up bonus value (25%)
Many rewards cards offer bonus cash back, points or miles to consumers who spend a certain amount in their first months with the card. We calculated how much those bonuses are worth using points valuations from The Points Guy, and boosted cards that offer more value.
Pricing and fees (25%)
Cards with no annual fee, no foreign transaction fee and competitive variable APRs received a boost compared to cards with higher fees and rates.
Benefits (15%)
Cards that offer benefits such as cell phone protection, purchase protection, extended warranty and a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers received a boost.
Annual credits and bonuses (5%)
Credit cards that come with credits and bonuses for spending in categories including groceries, dining, entertainment and gas received a boost.
What didn’t make the cut
Sometimes well-known cards don’t make the cuts in our stringent vetting process. Whether it’s due to fees or other cards offering better benefits for those with good credit, these cards missed making our list of the best credit cards for a good credit score, but may still be a good fit for some consumers.
- Chase Freedom Unlimited?. This card is good for beginners but lacks points transferability, and its base rewards rate is 1.5%, which is lower than the Wells Fargo Active Cash’s 2% rate.
- Instacart Mastercard? * The information for the Instacart Mastercard? has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. . This card offers good benefits including 5% back on Instacart purchases, but it’s only useful if Instacart is already your grocery delivery service of choice.
- American Express? Green Card * The information for the American Express? Green Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. . This card offers 3x Membership Rewards points on travel, transit and dining (including U.S. takeout and delivery), but its $150 annual fee comes in higher than most cards with comparable features on our list (terms apply, see rates and fees).
- Other co-branded airline and hotel cards. Some, such as the Aeroplan? Credit Card, scored well, but their benefits are better for those already loyal to a particular hotel brand or airline. The Aeroplan Credit Card may also be less useful for US-based travelers.
All information about American Express? Green Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Credit card companies assess lower credit scores as a higher lending risk, since lower scores can indicate less credit experience or a history of missing payments. Lenders tend to see those with higher credit scores as lower lending risks, as they’ve demonstrated a history of responsible credit use and on-time payments.
You can maintain your credit score over the long term by making on-time payments, keeping your revolving credit usage low and building a good credit mix. You should also regularly check your credit reports for errors. Over time, all of these factors can help you build a strong credit history and potentially increase your score.
The time it takes to build a good credit score will vary from borrower to borrower. However, you can expect establishing a score from scratch to take at least six months. Once you have a credit score, you can improve your score by paying your bills on time, using only a fraction of your available revolving credit, not closing accounts unless necessary and only applying for credit when you truly need it.
To view rates and fees for American Express? Gold Card, please visit this page.
To view rates and fees for The Platinum Card? from American Express, please visit this page.
To view rates and fees for American Express? Green Card * The information for the American Express? Green Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. , please visit this page.
All information about American Express? Green Card, Citi Double Cash? Card, Citi Strata Premier? Card, Instacart Mastercard?, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless? Credit Card and Wells Fargo Autograph Journey? Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored.
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines, hotel chain, or other commercial entity and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of such entities.
This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended and should not be understood to constitute financial, investment, insurance or legal advice. All individuals are encouraged to seek advice from a qualified financial professional before making any financial, insurance or investment decisions.
Note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed or may no longer be available.
