Credit Card Award Winners of 2025
Updated: Jan 9, 2025
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For a good bit of 2024, inflation remained stubbornly high, and interest rates refused to budge. But by the end of that year, the picture was looking a little better on both counts, with the potential for even more rate cuts in 2025 — all of which could mean a big spending year for consumers. We kept all of that in mind when we chose the winners for NerdWallet’s Best-Of Awards for 2025.
Thankfully, no matter the economic picture, credit cards continue to offer valuable perks and rewards that can help you meet your 2025 goals, whether you’re planning on finally taking that big trip or just aiming to defray everyday household expenses.
Here are our top credit card offers for 2025.
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.
For a good bit of 2024, inflation remained stubbornly high, and interest rates refused to budge. But by the end of that year, the picture was looking a little better on both counts, with the potential for even more rate cuts in 2025 — all of which could mean a big spending year for consumers. We kept all of that in mind when we chose the winners for NerdWallet’s Best-Of Awards for 2025.
Thankfully, no matter the economic picture, credit cards continue to offer valuable perks and rewards that can help you meet your 2025 goals, whether you’re planning on finally taking that big trip or just aiming to defray everyday household expenses.
Here are our top credit card offers for 2025.
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.
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For a good bit of 2024, inflation remained stubbornly high, and interest rates refused to budge. But by the end of that year, the picture was looking a little better on both counts, with the potential for even more rate cuts in 2025 — all of which could mean a big spending year for consumers. We kept all of that in mind when we chose the winners for NerdWallet’s Best-Of Awards for 2025.
Thankfully, no matter the economic picture, credit cards continue to offer valuable perks and rewards that can help you meet your 2025 goals, whether you’re planning on finally taking that big trip or just aiming to defray everyday household expenses.
Here are our top credit card offers for 2025.
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.
For a good bit of 2024, inflation remained stubbornly high, and interest rates refused to budge. But by the end of that year, the picture was looking a little better on both counts, with the potential for even more rate cuts in 2025 — all of which could mean a big spending year for consumers. We kept all of that in mind when we chose the winners for NerdWallet’s Best-Of Awards for 2025.
Thankfully, no matter the economic picture, credit cards continue to offer valuable perks and rewards that can help you meet your 2025 goals, whether you’re planning on finally taking that big trip or just aiming to defray everyday household expenses.
Here are our top credit card offers for 2025.
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 Credit Card Award Winners of 2025
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card: Best for Simple cash back
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for Bonus cash back and for dining
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: Best for Groceries and for streaming
Citi Simplicity® Card: Best for Balance transfer
Citi Custom Cash® Card: Best for Gas
Discover it® Secured Credit Card: Best for Building credit
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: Best for 0% APR for purchases and for online shopping
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card: Best for Small business
Wells Fargo Attune℠ Card: Best for Entertainment
Discover it® Student Chrome: Best for College students
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best for All-purpose travel rewards
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Best for Premium travel card
Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card: Best for No-annual-fee travel card
United℠ Explorer Card: Best for Airline card
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: Best for Hotel card
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Credit Card Award Winners
| Credit card | NerdWallet rating | Annual fee | Rewards rate | Intro offer | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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.
TO RECAP OUR EDITORIAL SELECTIONS
TOP CREDIT CARD OFFERS FOR 2025 | 2025's BEST CARDS FOR SPECIFIC NEEDS |
|---|---|
Best card for simple cash back Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card | Best small-business card Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card |
Best card for bonus cash back Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card | Best card for groceries Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express |
Best all-purpose travel rewards card Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Best card for dining Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card |
Best premium travel card Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card | Best card for entertainment Wells Fargo Attune℠ Card |
Best travel card with no annual fee Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card | Best card for gas Citi Custom Cash® Card |
Best balance transfer card Citi Simplicity® Card | Best card for streaming Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express |
Best 0% APR card for purchases Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express | Best card for online shopping Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express |
Best airline card United℠ Explorer Card | |
Best hotel card Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card | |
Best card for college students Discover it® Student Chrome | |
Best card for building credit Discover it® Secured Credit Card |
PAST YEARS
2024 award winners
Top 11 credit card offers of 2024
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card: Best for simple cash back
Chase Freedom Flex®: Best for bonus cash back
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best for all-purpose travel rewards
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Best premium travel card
Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card: Best no-annual-fee travel card
Citi Simplicity® Card: Best balance transfer card
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card: Best 0% APR card for purchases
United℠ Explorer Card: Best airline card
World of Hyatt Credit Card: Best hotel card
Discover it® Student Chrome: Best card for college students
Discover it® Secured Credit Card: Best card for building credit
2024's best credit cards for specific needs
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card: Best small-business cash-back card
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: Best card for groceries
U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card: Best card for dining
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best card for entertainment
Citi Custom Cash® Card: Best card for gas
2023 award winners
Top 10 credit offers of 2023
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card: Best for simple cash back
Chase Freedom Flex®: Best for bonus cash back
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best for all-purpose travel rewards
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Best for travel perks
BankAmericard® credit card: Best for balance transfers
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card: Best for 0% intro apr on new purchases
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: Best airline card
World of Hyatt Credit Card: Best hotel card
Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for students (at the time this card was chosen, it was known as the Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card)
Discover it® Secured Credit Card: Best for building credit
2023's best credit cards for specific needs
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for entertainment (at the time this card was chosen, it was known as the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card)
U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card: Best for dining
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: Best for groceries
Citi Custom Cash® Card: Best for gas
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card: Best for small business
2022 award winners
Top 9 credit card offers of 2022
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card : Best for simple cash back
Chase Freedom Flex®: Best for bonus cash back
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card : Best for basic travel rewards
Chase Sapphire Reserve® : Best for travel perks
Wells Fargo Reflect® Card : Best for intro 0% APR and balance transfer
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card : Best airline card
World of Hyatt Credit Card : Best hotel card
Discover it® Chrome : Best for students
Discover it® Secured Credit Card : Best for building credit
2022's best credit cards for specific needs
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card (no longer available): Best for entertainment (this was the annual-fee version of the Savor card, which has since been discontinued; the no-annual fee card formerly known as SavorOne now bears the "Savor" name)
U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card : Best for dining
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express : Best for groceries
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card : Best for small business
2021 award winners
Top 10 credit card offers of 2021
Citi Double Cash® Card: Best for flat-rate cash back
Chase Freedom Flex®: Best for bonus cash back
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best for flat-rate travel rewards
American Express® Gold Card: Best for bonus travel rewards
Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card: Best for no-annual-fee travel rewards
U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card: Best for 0% intro APR and balance transfer
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: Best airline card
World of Hyatt Credit Card: Best hotel card
Discover it® Student Chrome: Best for college students
Discover it® Secured Credit Card: Best for building credit
2021's best credit cards for specific needs
Capital One Spark Cash: Best for small-business cash back
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: Best for groceries
U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card: Best for dining out or ordering in
Prime Visa: Best for staying at home
2020 award winners
Top 10 credit card offers of 2020
Citi Double Cash® Card: Best for flat-rate cash back
Discover it® Cash Back: Best for bonus category cash back
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best for flat-rate travel rewards
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Best for bonus travel rewards
Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card: Best for no-annual-fee travel rewards
Amex EveryDay® Credit Card: Best for balance transfers
U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card: Best for 0% intro APR
The Platinum Card® from American Express: Best premium card
ABOC Platinum Rewards Mastercard® Credit Card: Best for fair credit
Discover it® Secured Credit Card: Best for building credit
2020's best credit cards for specific needs
Capital One Spark Cash: Best for small-business cash back
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Best for small-business travel
Discover it® Student Chrome: Best for college students
Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students: Best for international students
United℠ Explorer Card: Best airline card
World of Hyatt Credit Card: Best hotel card
Capital One® Walmart Rewards™ Mastercard®: Best store card
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: Best for families
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card (no longer available): Best for dining and entertainment (this was the annual-fee version of the Savor card, which has since been discontinued; the no-annual fee card formerly known as SavorOne now bears the "Savor" name)
Ducks Unlimited Rewards Visa® Card: Best for gas
2019 award winners
Top 10 credit card offers of 2019
Barclaycard Arrival Plus® World Elite Mastercard®: Best for flat-rate travel
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best for bonus travel rewards
Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card: Best for no-annual-fee travel
Citi Double Cash® Card: Best for flat-rate cash back
Discover it® Cash Back: Best for bonus cash back
Amex EveryDay® Credit Card: Best for balance transfers
U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card: Best for 0% interest
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Best premium card
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for fair credit
Discover it® Secured Credit Card: Best for building credit
2019's best credit cards for specific needs
Capital One Spark Cash: Best for small-business cash back
The Platinum Card® from American Express: Best for small-business travel
Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students: Best for college students
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card: Best airline card
Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Credit Card: Best hotel card
Prime Visa: Best store card
Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card: Best gas card
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: Best for families
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for dining and entertainment (at the time this card was chosen, it was known as the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card)
2018 award winners
Top 10 credit card offers of 2018
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best flat-rate travel rewards card
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best bonus category travel rewards card
Citi Double Cash® Card: Best flat-rate cash back card
Discover it® Cash Back: Best bonus category cash back card
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: Best family card
Citi Simplicity® Card: Best 0% Intro APR card
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best card for fair/average credit
Discover it® Secured Credit Card: Best card for building credit
Discover it® Student Cash Back: Best card for college students
SimplyCash® Plus Business Credit Card from American Express: Best small business card
2017 award winners
Top 10 credit card offers of 2017
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best flat-rate travel rewards card
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best bonus category travel rewards card
Citi Double Cash® Card: Best flat-rate cash back card
Chase Freedom®: Best bonus category cash back card
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: Best card for everyday spending
Chase Slate®: Best card for balance transfers
Citi Simplicity® Card: Longest 0% Intro APR period
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best card for fair/average credit
Discover it® Student Cash Back: Best card for college students
Capital One Spark Cash: Best small business card
2016 award winners
Top 10 credit card offers of 2016
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
: Best for travel
(TIE) — Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and Barclaycard Arrival Plus® World Elite Mastercard®: Easiest travel redemption
Citi Double Cash® Card: Best for cash back
Chase Freedom®: Best for bonus categories
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: Best for everyday spending
Chase Slate®: Best for balance transfers
Citi Simplicity® Card: Longest 0% Intro APR period
Citi ThankYou® Preferred Card for College Students: Best for students
Ink Plus® Business Credit Card: Best for business
Barclaycard Rewards MasterCard®: Best for fair/average credit
Last updated on January 9, 2025
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.
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