A good card for spending on restaurants (4x points) as well as groceries, streaming services, and gas (2x), with no annual fee and a 20K points signup bonus.
$379/yr
total value to you
Issuer
US Bank
US Bank
Network
Visa
Visa
Credit Score Required
Above Average (740-799)
Above Average (740-799)
X
Pros
- 4x points on restaurants. 2x on groceries, streaming, and gas. 1x on everything else.
- 20,000 points signup bonus (after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months).
- No annual fee.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- 0% intro APR.
Rewards & Perks
- 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months.
- 4x points on restaurants.
- 2x on groceries, streaming, and gas.
- 1x on everything else.
Rates & Fees
- No annual fee.
- 0% intro APR (on purchases and balance transfers) for the first 12 months (after that, a variable APR of 14.99-23.99%).
- No foreign transaction fees.
Total savings over 5 years: $1,893
A good card for cash back on general spending (2% cash back -- 1% on purchases, plus another 1% when you pay in full), with no annual fee, but also with no signup bonus.
$368/yr
total value to you
Issuer
Citi
Citi
Network
Mastercard
Mastercard
Credit Score Required
Above Average (740-799)
Above Average (740-799)
X
Pros
- 2% cash back on every purchase. (1% when you buy, plus an additional 1% when you pay your credit card statement.)
- No annual fee.
- Good APR.
Cons
- No signup bonus.
Rewards & Perks
- 2% cash back on every purchase. (1% when you buy, plus an additional 1% when you pay your credit card statement.)
Rates & Fees
- No annual fee.
- APR on purchases: 13.99-23.99%.
- APR on balance transfers: 13.99-23.99%. (0% for the first 18 months on balance transfers that are completed within the first 4 months.)
- Foreign transaction fee: 3%.
Total savings over 5 years: $1,840
A mediocre card for frequent United Airlines flyers, offering 2x miles on spending at United Airlines, gas stations, and public transit, as well as a 30K miles signup bonus and no annual fee.
$348/yr
total value to you
Issuer
Chase
Chase
Network
Visa
Visa
Credit Score Required
Average (670-739)
Average (670-739)
X
Pros
- 2x miles on spending at United Airlines, gas stations, and public transit.
- For the first year: 3x miles on spending at grocery stores (on up to $15,000 in grocery spending).
- 15,000 miles signup bonus (after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months).
- No annual fee.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Cons
- If you're willing to pay an annual fee, there are other United credit cards that offer higher miles earn rates and better signup bonuses, such as the Chase United Explorer card and the Chase United Club Infinite card.
Rewards & Perks
- For the first year: 3x miles on spending at grocery stores (on up to $15,000 in grocery spending).
- 2x miles on spending at United Airlines, gas stations, and public transit/commuting.
- 1 mile per dollar for all other purchases.
- 15,000 miles signup bonus after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months.
Rates & Fees
- No annual fee.
- APR for purchases and balance transfers: 16.49-23.49%.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Total savings over 5 years: $1,740
A good no annual fee card, with a $150 signup bonus and 2-5% cash back on certain specific categories (1% on everything else).
$346/yr
total value to you
Issuer
US Bank
US Bank
Network
Visa
Visa
Credit Score Required
Average (670-739)
Average (670-739)
X
Pros
- $150 cash bonus after spending $500 in the first 90 days.
- 5% cash back on the first $2,000 spent in two categories that you choose.
- 2% cash back on one "everyday" category. (Typical 2% categories to choose from include gas, restaurants, and groceries.)
- 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- No annual fee.
- Good APR.
Cons
- Most of the 5% cash back categories are pretty specific, so you'll probably spend more in the 2% cash back category. (For example, as of April 2020, the list of 5% categories to choose from was: Streaming services, home utilities, ground transportation, cell phone providers, electronics stores, fast food, department stores, furniture stores, select clothing stores, gyms/fitness centers, sporting goods stores, and movie theaters.)
Rewards & Perks
- $150 cash bonus after spending $500 in the first 90 days.
- 5% cash back on the first $2,000 spent in two categories that you choose.
- 2% cash back on one "everyday" category. (Typical 2% categories to choose from include gas, restaurants, and groceries.)
- 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Rates & Fees
- No annual fee.
- APR on purchases: 13.99-23.99%.
- APR on balance transfers: 13.99-23.99%. (0% for the first 12 months on balance transfers posted to your account within the first 60 days.)
- Foreign transaction fee: 3% of each foreign purchase transaction or foreign ATM advance transaction in a foreign currency, or 2% of each foreign purchase transaction or foreign ATM advance transaction in U.S. dollars.
Total savings over 5 years: $1,729
A good no annual fee cash back card for students, with 5% cash back in rotating categories (1% for everything else).
$336/yr
total value to you
Issuer
Discover
Discover
Network
Discover
Discover
Credit Score Required
Below Average (580-669)
Below Average (580-669)
X
Pros
- 5% cash back (on up to $1,500 spent per quarter) in categories that rotate each quarter (e.g., gas, restaurants, groceries, and Amazon).
- 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Discover automatically matches all the cash back you earn dollar for dollar at the end of your first year.
- Cash Back for Good Grades: Get $20 cash back each school year your GPA is 3.0 or higher for up to the next 5 years.
- No annual fee.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- 0% intro APR.
Cons
- The 5% cash back categories change each quarter, so you might have trouble remembering them.
Rewards & Perks
- 5% cash back (on up to $1,500 spent per quarter) in categories that rotate each quarter (e.g., gas, restaurants, groceries, and Amazon).
- 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Discover automatically matches all the cash back you earn dollar for dollar at the end of your first year.
- Cash Back for Good Grades: Get $20 cash back each school year your GPA is 3.0 or higher for up to the next 5 years.
Rates & Fees
- No annual fee.
- APR on purchases: 12.99-21.99%. (0% for the first 6 months.)
- APR on balance transfers: 12.99-21.99%. (10.99% for the first 6 months on balance transfers that post to your account within the first 2-3 months.)
- No foreign transaction fees.
Total savings over 5 years: $1,680
A decent cash back card with no annual fee, 1.5% cash back on all purchases, and a welcome bonus of $200 if you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months.
$330/yr
total value to you
Issuer
American Express
American Express
Network
American Express
American Express
Credit Score Required
Average (670-739)
Average (670-739)
X
Pros
- Earn $200 back after you spend $1,000 or more in the first 3 months.
- 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
- No annual fee.
- 0% intro APR.
Cons
- The ongoing rewards rate (1.5% cash back) is pretty average. If you're willing to pay an annual fee, there are some better options out there -- especially if you're interested in a travel rewards credit card.
Rewards & Perks
- 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
Rates & Fees
- No annual fee
- APR on purchases: 13.99-23.99% (but 0% for the first 15 months)
- Foriegn transaction fee: 2.7%
Total savings over 5 years: $1,650
A good cash back card for general spending (1.5% cash back), with no annual fee and a $200 early spend bonus.
$329/yr
total value to you
Issuer
Capital One
Capital One
Network
Visa
Visa
Credit Score Required
Average (670-739)
Average (670-739)
X
Pros
- $200 early spend bonus: Earn a one-time bonus of $200 once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months.
- 1.5% cash back on every purchase.
- No annual fee.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- 0% intro APR.
Cons
- Several cards offer 1.5% cash back these days.
- If you're willing to pay an annual fee, the Capital One QuicksilverOne Rewards card offers even better rewards.
Rewards & Perks
- $200 early spend bonus: Earn a one-time bonus of $200 once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months.
- 1.5% cash back on every purchase.
Rates & Fees
- No annual fee.
- APR for purchases: 15.49-25.49% (0% for first 15 months).
- APR for balance transfers: 15.49-25.49%.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Total savings over 5 years: $1,645
A decent cash back card for a spend category of your choice (3% on one of: gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement), plus 2% on groceries, with no annual fee and a $200 signup bonus.
$328/yr
total value to you
Issuer
Bank of America
Bank of America
Network
Visa
Visa
Credit Score Required
Average (670-739)
Average (670-739)
X
Pros
- $200 online cash rewards bonus offer: Online $200 cash rewards bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening.
- 3% cash back in the category of your choice: gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement.
- 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs.
- 1% cash back all other purchases.
- No annual fee.
- 0% intro APR.
Cons
- You’ll only earn 3% and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club purchases each quarter, then it drops down to a 1% cash back rate.
- Some other cards have higher cash back rates on groceries.
Rewards & Perks
- $200 online cash rewards bonus offer: Online $200 cash rewards bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening.
- 3% cash back in the category of your choice: gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement/furnishings.
- 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs.
- 1% cash back all other purchases.
- (You’ll earn 3% and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club purchases each quarter, then earn 1%.)
Rates & Fees
- No annual fee.
- APR for purchases and BTs: 13.99-23.99% (0% for first 12 months).
- Foreign transaction fee: 3%.
Total savings over 5 years: $1,638
A mediocre card with a decent rewards earn rate on all purchases (1.5x miles) and no annual fee, but also no signup bonus.
$324/yr
total value to you
Issuer
Discover
Discover
Network
Discover
Discover
Credit Score Required
Average (670-739)
Average (670-739)
X
Pros
- 1.5 miles per dollar for all purchases.
- Discover automatically matches all the miles you've earned at the end of the first year.
- No annual fee.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- 0% intro APR.
Cons
- No signup bonus.
Rewards & Perks
- 1.5 miles per dollar on all purchases.
- Discover automatically matches all the miles you've earned at the end of the first year.
Rates & Fees
- No annual fee.
- APR on purchases: 11.99-22.99%. (0% for the first 14 months.)
- APR on balance transfers: 11.99-22.99%. (10.99% for the first 14 months on balance transfers that post to your account within the first 2-3 months.)
- No foreign transaction fees.
Total savings over 5 years: $1,620
A good rewards card for general spending (1.5 points per dollar), with a 25K points signup bonus and no annual fee.
$320/yr
total value to you
Issuer
Bank of America
Bank of America
Network
Visa
Visa
Credit Score Required
Average (670-739)
Average (670-739)
X
Pros
- 25,000 bonus points if you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening.
- 1.5 points for every $1 you spend on all purchases everywhere.
- No annual fee.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- 0% intro APR.
Cons
- If you're willing to pay an annual fee, the Bank of America Premium Rewards card offers even better rewards.
Rewards & Perks
- 25,000 bonus points if you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening.
- 1.5 points for every $1 you spend on all purchases everywhere.
Rates & Fees
- No annual fee.
- APR on purchases: 13.99-23.99% (0% for the first year).
- APR on balance transfers: 13.99-23.99%.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Total savings over 5 years: $1,600