Best Credit Cards for Good Credit of November 2024
Updated: Nov 12, 2024+ 2 more+ 2 more
When you have good credit, you have great options in credit cards. You can get generous cash back rewards, travel points and perks, or a year or more of 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers. Although credit score alone doesn't guarantee approval for any card — income and other factors also come into play — the possibilities expand as your credit gets stronger.
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NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
When you have good credit, you have great options in credit cards. You can get generous cash back rewards, travel points and perks, or a year or more of 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers. Although credit score alone doesn't guarantee approval for any card — income and other factors also come into play — the possibilities expand as your credit gets stronger.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards.
Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today,
The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America"
and many other national, regional and local media outlets.
Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Show More
When you have good credit, you have great options in credit cards. You can get generous cash back rewards, travel points and perks, or a year or more of 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers. Although credit score alone doesn't guarantee approval for any card — income and other factors also come into play — the possibilities expand as your credit gets stronger.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
When you have good credit, you have great options in credit cards. You can get generous cash back rewards, travel points and perks, or a year or more of 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers. Although credit score alone doesn't guarantee approval for any card — income and other factors also come into play — the possibilities expand as your credit gets stronger.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
NerdWallet's Best Credit Cards for Good Credit of November 2024
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card: Best for Flat-rate cash back
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: Best for Families & households
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for Going out & staying in
Discover it® Cash Back: Best for Rotating bonus categories
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best for Simple travel rewards
Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card: Best for No-annual-fee travel rewards
BankAmericard® credit card: Best for 0% intro APR offer
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Best Credit Cards for Good Credit From Our Partners
Credit card | NerdWallet rating | Annual fee | Rewards rate | Intro offer | Learn more |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apply Now on Capital One's website on Capital One's website | Best for Going out & staying in | $0 | 1%-8% | $250 | Apply Now on Capital One's website on Capital One's website |
Apply Now on American Express' website on American Express' website | Best for Families & households | $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. | 1%-6% | $250 | Apply Now on American Express' website on American Express' website |
Apply Now on Bank of America's website on Bank of America's website | Best for 0% intro APR offer | $0 | N/A | N/A | Apply Now on Bank of America's website on Bank of America's website |
Apply Now on Discover's website, on Discover's website, or call 800-347-0264 | Best for Rotating bonus categories | $0 | 1%-5% | Cashback Match™ | Apply Now on Discover's website, on Discover's website, or call 800-347-0264 |
Apply Now on Capital One's website on Capital One's website | Best for Simple travel rewards | $95 | 2x-5x | 75,000 miles | Apply Now on Capital One's website on Capital One's website |
Apply Now on Wells Fargo's website on Wells Fargo's website | Best for Flat-rate cash back | $0 | 2% | $200 | Apply Now on Wells Fargo's website on Wells Fargo's website |
Apply Now on Wells Fargo's website on Wells Fargo's website | Best for No-annual-fee travel rewards | $0 | 1x-3x | 20,000 points | Apply Now on Wells Fargo's website on Wells Fargo's website |
Find the right credit card for you.
Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.
Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.
Going out & staying in
Go out or stay in? The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is the rare card that rewards you handsomely for either option, with bonus rewards at both restaurants and grocery stores, as well as on entertainment and streaming.
Our Take
You earn 3% cash back at restaurants, at grocery stores, on entertainment (including such things as movie theaters, amusement parks and live theater and sporting events) and on popular streaming services. You also get 8% back on Capital One Entertainment purchases. There's an intro APR period as well as this bonus offer: For a limited time, earn a $250 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. That's a ton of value for a card with a $0 annual fee.
If your food spending is more concentrated in one category over the other — restaurants or groceries — you might do better with a card that specializes in one of those areas.
Go out or stay in? The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is the rare card that rewards you handsomely for either option, with bonus rewards at both restaurants and grocery stores, as well as on entertainment and streaming.
Families & households
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express might be the ultimate family card, with eye-popping cash back rates (up to 6%) on common household spending categories. Terms apply.
Product Details
- Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 intro plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months from the date of account opening. Plans created after that will have a monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each eligible purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
- Low Intro APR: 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 18.49% - 29.49%.
- 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
- 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations.
- 3% Cash Back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
- 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
- Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
- $84 Disney Bundle Credit: With your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred Card, spend $9.99 or more each month on an auto-renewing Disney Bundle subscription, to receive a monthly statement credit of $7. Valid only at Disney Plus.com, Hulu.com or Plus.espn.com in the U.S.
- Terms Apply.
- View Rates & Fees
Our Take
You earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 a year in spending, then 1%); 6% on select U.S. streaming subscriptions; 3% at U.S. gas stations and on transit; and 1% elsewhere. New cardholders get this great offer: Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. Terms Apply. There's even a solid intro APR period.
This is one of the few cash back cards with an annual fee — $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. — but you could make up for it with just $132 a month in combined spending on groceries and streaming. Terms apply.
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express might be the ultimate family card, with eye-popping cash back rates (up to 6%) on common household spending categories. Terms apply.
0% intro APR offer
The BankAmericard® credit card has a simple value proposition: plenty of time to pay off debt or finance a big purchase without interest.
Product Details
- 0% Intro APR for 18 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 15.74% - 25.74% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
- No annual fee.
- No penalty APR. Paying late won't automatically raise your interest rate (APR). Other account pricing and terms apply.
- Access your FICO® Score for free within Online Banking or your Mobile Banking app.
- Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
- This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Our Take
You get a 0% Intro APR for 18 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 15.74%-25.74% will apply. The annual fee is $0.
Balance transfers incur a fee of 3% for the first 60 days from account opening, then 4%. The 3% fee is actually on the low end among cards from major issuers, but if you're going to do a transfer, keep it in mind. With no rewards, this card doesn't carry a lot of value beyond the 0% promotion; once the intro period is up, consider requesting a product change to one of the issuer's excellent rewards cards.
The BankAmericard® credit card has a simple value proposition: plenty of time to pay off debt or finance a big purchase without interest.
Rotating bonus categories
The Discover it® Cash Back takes a bit of work, but it's worth it: You earn 5% cash back in quarterly categories that you must activate, on up to $1,500 per quarter in spending, and 1% on other purchases.
Product Details
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers–only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
- Apply and you could get a decision in as little as 60 seconds. No annual fee.
- Start shopping and earning rewards in minutes with our digital card, before your physical card arrives in the mail, if eligible.
- Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
- Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 18.74% to 27.74% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
- Terms and conditions apply.
- View Rates & Fees
Our Take
The rotating categories tend to be heavy-hitters — in recent years, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and more have been on the roster — so most people will have plenty of opportunities to earn bonus cash back. The card comes with Discover's unique bonus, which the issuer describes this way: "INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300." The annual fee is $0.
Keeping track of changing bonus categories can be a bit of a hassle. And you don't start earning the higher rate until you activate for the quarter. Forget, and you earn just 1%.
The Discover it® Cash Back takes a bit of work, but it's worth it: You earn 5% cash back in quarterly categories that you must activate, on up to $1,500 per quarter in spending, and 1% on other purchases.
Simple travel rewards
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card made its name by cutting out the complications found on most travel cards. Though it has added features over the years, its appeal remains centered on simple rewards and flexible redemption.
Product Details
- Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- View Rates & Fees
Our Take
The basics are easy to understand: You earn 2 miles per dollar on all purchases (and 5 miles per $1 on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel). Those miles can be redeemed for any travel expense, with no restrictions. You also get a terrific bonus offer: Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel. And the card reimburses the application fee for TSA Precheck or Global Entry.
There's an annual fee, although it's typical for cards in its class: $95. You can transfer miles to several airline loyalty programs, but your domestic options aren't great.
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card made its name by cutting out the complications found on most travel cards. Though it has added features over the years, its appeal remains centered on simple rewards and flexible redemption.
Flat-rate cash back
Simple and straightforward: The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card pays 2% cash back on every purchase, has a $0 annual fee and throws in some additional goodies.
Product Details
- Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
- $0 annual fee.
- No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
- View Rates & Fees
Our Take
On top of the terrific rewards rate, new cardholders get this offer: Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. You get a break from interest, too, with a 0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months and 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% Variable APR.
If your credit card spending tends to concentrate in specific categories, such as groceries or restaurants, you might come out ahead with a card that pays 3% or better in those areas, even if other spending earns less.
Simple and straightforward: The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card pays 2% cash back on every purchase, has a $0 annual fee and throws in some additional goodies.
No-annual-fee travel rewards
Offering 3X points in multiple categories, the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card delivers more value with a $0 annual fee than many cards do with fees in the $100 range.
Product Details
- Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.
- Earn unlimited 3X points on the things that really add up - like restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans. Plus, earn 1X points on other purchases.
- $0 annual fee.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% variable APR thereafter.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
- Redeem your rewards points for travel, gift cards, or statement credits. Or shop at millions of online stores and redeem your rewards when you check out with PayPal.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
- View Rates & Fees
Our Take
You earn 3 points per dollar spent on travel, at restaurants, at gas stations, on transit, and on popular streaming services and phone plans. Other spending earns 1 point per dollar. The bonus offer is pretty good for a no-annual-fee card: Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value. You even get an introductory APR period.
The card doesn't have the perks of a dedicated airline or hotel card. You can transfer points to airline and hotel programs, but the options are limited.
Offering 3X points in multiple categories, the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card delivers more value with a $0 annual fee than many cards do with fees in the $100 range.
FULL LIST OF EDITORIAL PICKS: BEST CREDIT CARDS FOR GOOD CREDIT
Before applying, confirm details on issuer's website.
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Our pick for: Flat-rate cash back
Among flat-rate cash-back cards, you'll be hard-pressed to beat the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card. It earns an unlimited 2% back on all purchases, which is excellent. But in addition, the card offers a rich sign-up bonus and a decent intro APR period on both purchases and balance transfers. That's an impressive, hard-to-find combination of features on a card with a $0 annual fee. Read our review.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Our pick for: Families & households
If your household spends a lot on groceries, gas, transit and streaming, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is for you. The rewards it pays in those categories — particularly at U.S. supermarkets and on select U.S. streaming subscriptions — are among the richest of any card. There's a nice welcome offer for new cardholders and an introductory APR period, too. The generous benefits come at a cost, though: Unlike most cash-back cards, this one charges an annual fee. Terms apply. Read our review.
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Our pick for: Going out & staying in
Some credit cards reward you well for going out, others for staying in. The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is the rare card that does both. It offers a terrific cash-back rate not only on dining and entertainment but also at grocery stores and on popular streaming services. Toss in a good bonus offer and intro APR period, and this card is a winner. (see rates and fees). Read our review.
Discover it® Cash Back
Our pick for: Rotating bonus categories
The Discover it® Cash Back earns bonus cash back in quarterly categories that you activate. In past years, those categories have included common spending areas like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and specific major retailers. Category activation can be a hassle, but if your spending aligns with those categories (and for most households, it probably will), you can rake in serious rewards. You also get the issuer's signature "cash-back match" bonus in your first year. Read our review.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Our pick for: Simple travel rewards
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is probably the best-known general-purpose travel credit card, thanks to its ubiquitous advertising. You earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases. Miles can be redeemed at a value of 1 cent apiece for any travel purchase, without the blackout dates and other restrictions of branded hotel and airline cards. The card offers a great sign-up bonus and other worthwhile perks (see rates and fees). Read our review.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Our pick for: Bonus travel rewards
For a reasonable annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns bonus rewards (up to 5X) on travel, dining, select streaming services, and select online grocery purchases. Points are worth 25% more when you redeem them for travel booked through Chase, or you can transfer them to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. The sign-up bonus is stellar, too. Read our review.
Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card
Our pick for: No-annual-fee travel rewards
The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card offers so much value, it's hard to believe there's no annual fee. Start with a great bonus offer, then earn extra rewards in a host of common spending categories — restaurants, gas stations, transit, travel, streaming and more. Read our review.
BankAmericard® credit card
Our pick for: 0% intro APR offer
The BankAmericard® credit card isn't flashy, nor does it aim to be. You get one of the better introductory APR periods available, providing plenty of time to whittle down debt or finance a large purchase. And that's about it. Read our review.
• • •
What is good credit?
The exact definition of "good credit," particularly as it pertains to eligibility for credit cards, depends on who you ask. At NerdWallet, we generally define it as a credit score of 690 or better. Others might define it as anything in the 700s or 800s. Some issuers and institutions draw a distinction between "good" credit and "excellent" credit, while others use the terms interchangeably. (In general, if a card requires good credit, you can qualify for it with excellent credit, but if the card requires excellent credit, then "good" might not be ... good enough.)
In any discussion of credit scores and credit cards, it's important to understand that a credit score by itself is not usually enough to qualify you for any card. Credit card companies have their own formulas and criteria for determining who would be a good customer, and credit scores are just one factor in the decision. Expect the issuer to look at your income and your other debts and financial obligations when considering your application.
It's possible to be rejected for a card despite having sterling credit, and it's possible to be approved for a card even if your score doesn't fall exactly within a "recommended" range.
• • •
To view rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, see this page.
Last updated on November 12, 2024
Methodology
NerdWallet's credit cards team selects the best credit cards in each category based on overall consumer value. Factors in our evaluation include fees, promotional and ongoing APRs, and sign-up bonuses; for rewards cards, we consider earning and redemption rates, redemption options and redemption difficulty. A single card is eligible to be chosen as among the "best" in multiple categories. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.