A card that seems good on the surface, but has a very low value per point (5 points = 1 cent).
$204/yr
total value to you
Issuer
PNC
PNC
Network
Visa
Visa
Credit Score Required
Average (670-739)
Average (670-739)
X
Pros
- 50,000 bonus points (after spending $750 in the first 3 months).
- 4 points per dollar on all purchases.
- Earn 25% bonus points when you maintain a virtual wallet, Performance checking account, or Performance Select checking account.
- No annual fee.
- 0% intro APR.
Cons
- Each point is worth just 0.2 cents on average, which is low compared to other credit cards.
- Points expire after 48 months.
- No signup bonus.
Rewards & Perks
- 50,000 bonus points after spending $750 in the first 3 months.
- 4 points per dollar on all purchases.
Rates & Fees
- No annual fee.
- APR on purchases: 11.99-21.99%. (0% for the first 12 months.)
- APR on balance transfers: 11.99-21.99%. (0% for the first 12 months on balance transfers posted to your account within the first 90 days.)
- Foreign transaction fee: 3%.
Total savings over 5 years: $1,020
A decent no annual fee card for frequent Marriott guests, with a signup bonus of 30K points, 3x points on Marriott (as well as 2x on other travel and 1x on everything else) and Silver Elite status each year.
$183/yr
total value to you
Issuer
Chase
Chase
Network
Visa
Visa
Credit Score Required
Average (670-739)
Average (670-739)
X
Pros
- 30,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 within the first 3 months.
- 3x points on hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
- 2x points on travel.
- 1 point per dollar on everything else.
- 15 elite night credits each year, which will qualify you for Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status.
- No annual fee.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Cons
- If you like staying at Marriott hotels, there are Marriott credit cards (such as the American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card) that charge annual fees but would probably give you better value than this no annual fee version.
- Each point is worth just 0.7 cents on average, which is low compared to other credit cards.
Rewards & Perks
- 30,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 within the first 3 months.
- 3x points on hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
- 2x points on travel.
- 1 point per dollar on everything else.
- 15 elite night credits each year, which will qualify you for Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status.
Rates & Fees
- No annual fee.
- APR for purchases and balance transfers: 15.99-22.99%.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Total savings over 5 years: $916
A secured card offering 1% cash back on all purchases, with a $69 annual fee, for people with bad credit scores or no credit history.
$111/yr
total value to you
Issuer
Celtic Bank
Celtic Bank
Network
Mastercard
Mastercard
Credit Score Required
Bad (<580)
Bad (<580)
X
Pros
- 1% cash back on all purchases.
- Reports to all 3 major credit bureaus, so it can help you build up your credit history.
Cons
- $69 annual fee.
- It's a secured card (as opposed to a traditional "credit card"), which means you'll need to supply the initial funds that it will draw from.
- Requires an initial refundable deposit of $300, which becomes your initial credit limit.
- Requires a checking account.
Rewards & Perks
- 1% cash back on all purchases.
Rates & Fees
- APR on purchases: 19.99%.
- Annual fee: $69.
- Foreign transaction fee: 3%.
Total savings over 5 years: $555
Official Card Description (from card issuer):
- Initial refundable deposit of $300 becomes your credit limit
- 1% Cash Back rewards on every purchase
- Free access to your Vantage 3.0 Score from Experian* (When you sign up for e-statements)
- Monthly reporting to the three major credit bureaus
- Fast and easy application process; results in seconds
- Use your card at locations everywhere Mastercard is accepted
- Mastercard Zero Liability Protection (subject to Mastercard guidelines)
- Checking Account Required
A very basic card with no annual fee, but also no ongoing rewards and no signup bonus.
$40/yr
total value to you
Issuer
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo
Network
Visa
Visa
Credit Score Required
Average (670-739)
Average (670-739)
X
Pros
- No annual fee.
- 0% intro APR.
Cons
- No ongoing rewards.
- No signup bonus.
Rewards & Perks
- This credit card has no notable rewards.
Rates & Fees
- No annual fee.
- APR on purchases: 16.49-24.49%. (0% for the first 18 months.)
- APR on balance transfers: 15.49-24.99%. (0% for the first 18 months on balance transfers posted to your account within the first 120 days.)
- Foreign transaction fee: 3%.
Total savings over 5 years: $200
A low-APR card with no annual fee, but also no ongoing rewards.
$10/yr
total value to you
Issuer
PenFed Credit Union
PenFed Credit Union
Network
Visa
Visa
Credit Score Required
Average (670-739)
Average (670-739)
X
Pros
- Has a relatively low purchase APR compared to most other credit cards.
- No annual fee.
Cons
- No ongoing rewards.
Rates & Fees
- Annual fee: $0
- Purchase APR: 7.49-17.99%
Total savings over 5 years: $50
This socially-conscious debit card offers up to 5% cash back on purchases with no annual fee, making it a good choice for people with a bad credit score. (All credit scores are considered.)
$2/yr
total value to you
Issuer
Coastal Community Bank
Coastal Community Bank
Network
Mastercard
Mastercard
Credit Score Required
Bad (<580)
Bad (<580)
X
Pros
- A good choice for people with a bad credit score. (But all credit scores are considered.)
- 5% cash back on "Conscience Coalition" purchases with the Aspiration debit card, or 10% cash back on "Conscience Coalition" purchases if you're an Aspiration Plus member. (The "Conscience Coalition" includes companies like TOMS, Warby Parker, and Blue Apron.)
- No annual fee (unless you choose to upgrade to the Aspiration Plus debit card, which would cost $7.99/month, or $5.99/month if you pay annually).
Cons
- It's a debit card (rather than a credit card), so you'll need to already have the money for any purchases you make.
Rewards & Perks
- 5% cash back on "Conscience Coalition" purchases with the Aspiration debit card, or 10% cash back on "Conscience Coalition" purchases if you're an Aspiration Plus member. (The "Conscience Coalition" includes companies like TOMS, Warby Parker, and Blue Apron.)
Rates & Fees
- No annual fee.
Total savings over 5 years: $12
Official Card Description (from card issuer):
- Earn cash back on debit card purchases and up to 83x the national interest rate on savings
- Choose a monthly fee you think is fair
- Aspiration Spend and Save account does not include a credit card
- Spend and save with fossil fuel-free deposits
- Fee-free ATM withdrawals at 55,000+ Allpoint ATMs
- Cash back on debit card purchases at socially conscious businesses
- Up to 5.00% in interest on savings with Aspiration Plus
- Option to plant a tree with every roundup
- Personal impact score to help you shop to match your values
Disclaimer: The Aspiration Save Account’s up to 5.00% Annual Percentage Yield (“APY”) with up to 83x the national interest rate is variable, subject to change, and only available to customers enrolled in Aspiration Plus after conditions are met. Customers not enrolled in Aspiration Plus receive 3.00% APY after conditions are met. Terms & FAQ. The Aspiration Spend & Save Accounts are cash management accounts offered through Aspiration Financial, LLC, a registered broker-dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC, and a subsidiary of Aspiration Partners, Inc. (“Aspiration”). Aspiration Financial LLC is unaffiliated with any other named entity. Aspiration is not a bank.
A decent credit card offering cash back on dining and entertainment, a $200 early spend bonus, and no annual fee.
$0/yr
total value to you
Issuer
Capital One
Capital One
Network
Mastercard
Mastercard
Credit Score Required
Average (670-739)
Average (670-739)
X
Pros
- $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months.
- 3% cash back on groceries, dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services.
- 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- No annual fee.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- 0% intro APR.
Cons
- If most of your purchases will be on things outside of the 3% cash back categories, then the 1% cash back rate isn't as good as cards that offer 1.5% cash back on all spending.
- If you're willing to pay an annual fee, the Capital One Savor Rewards card offers even better rewards.
Rewards & Perks
- $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months.
- 3% cash back on groceries, dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services.
- 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Rates & Fees
- No annual fee.
- APR for purchases: 15.49-25.49% (0% for the first 15 months).
- APR for balance transfers: 15.49-25.49%.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Total savings over 5 years: $0
An extremely basic credit card with no annual fee and a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance purchases, but also no rewards.
$0/yr
total value to you
Issuer
Citi
Citi
Network
Mastercard
Mastercard
Credit Score Required
Average (670-739)
Average (670-739)
X
Pros
- No annual fee.
- 0% intro APR.
Cons
- No ongoing rewards.
- No signup bonus.
Rewards & Perks
- This credit card has no notable rewards.
Rates & Fees
- No annual fee.
- APR on purchases: 14.74-24.74%. (0% for the first 18 months.)
- APR on balance transfers: 14.74-24.74%. (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: $0
A good cash back card or dining, entertainment, and grocery spending (4% on dining, entertainment, and streaming services, 3% on groceries, 1% elsewhere), with a $300 early spend bonus, but a $95 annual fee.
$0/yr
total value to you
Issuer
Capital One
Capital One
Network
Mastercard
Mastercard
Credit Score Required
Average (670-739)
Average (670-739)
X
Pros
- $300 Cash Bonus: Earn a one-time bonus of $300 once you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
- 8% cash back on tickets at Vivid Seats using your Savor card.
- 4% cash back on dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services.
- 3% cash back on groceries.
- 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Cons
- Not a great cash back rate for categories outside of dining, entertainment/streaming, and groceries.
- $95 annual fee.
Rewards & Perks
- $300 Cash Bonus: Earn a one-time bonus of $300 once you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
- 8% cash back on tickets at Vivid Seats using your Savor card.
- 4% cash back on dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services.
- 2% cash back on groceries.
- 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Rates & Fees
- $95 annual fee.
- APR on purchases and balance transfers: 15.99-24.99%.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Total savings over 5 years: $0
A basic card for people who have below-average credit and/or don't care about rewards.
$0/yr
total value to you
Issuer
Capital One
Capital One
Network
Mastercard
Mastercard
Credit Score Required
Below Average (580-669)
Below Average (580-669)
X
Pros
- No annual fee.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Cons
- No ongoing rewards.
- No early spend bonus.
- High APR.
Rewards & Perks
- This credit card has no notable rewards.
Rates & Fees
- No annual fee.
- APR for purchases and BTs: 25.99%.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Total savings over 5 years: $0