Best Visa Credit Cards of December 2024
Updated: Nov 18, 2024
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Visa credit cards are widely accepted both in the United States and outside the country. If you’re looking for a new one, options abound — which is good because there’s no such thing as a single “best” Visa card for everybody. To decide which card is best for you, consider your spending, debt and rewards preferences. Here are our top picks for credit cards on the Visa network.
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.
Visa credit cards are widely accepted both in the United States and outside the country. If you’re looking for a new one, options abound — which is good because there’s no such thing as a single “best” Visa card for everybody. To decide which card is best for you, consider your spending, debt and rewards preferences. Here are our top picks for credit cards on the Visa network.
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
Visa credit cards are widely accepted both in the United States and outside the country. If you’re looking for a new one, options abound — which is good because there’s no such thing as a single “best” Visa card for everybody. To decide which card is best for you, consider your spending, debt and rewards preferences. Here are our top picks for credit cards on the Visa network.
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.
Visa credit cards are widely accepted both in the United States and outside the country. If you’re looking for a new one, options abound — which is good because there’s no such thing as a single “best” Visa card for everybody. To decide which card is best for you, consider your spending, debt and rewards preferences. Here are our top picks for credit cards on the Visa network.
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 Visa Credit Cards of December 2024
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card: Best for Flat-rate cash back
Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Best for Bonus category cash back
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card: Best for Customizable categories cash back
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best for Travel rewards
Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card: Best for No-annual-fee bonus travel rewards
Wells Fargo Reflect® Card: Best for 0% interest period
U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card: Best for 0% interest period
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Best for Premium features
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: Best for Small-business travel
PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card: Best for Gas
Show SummaryHide Summary
Best Visa Credit Cards
| Credit card | NerdWallet rating | Annual fee | Rewards rate | Intro offer | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Chase Freedom Unlimited®Apply Now on Chase's website on Chase's website | Best for Bonus category cash back | $0 | 1.5%-5% | Up to $300 | Apply Now on Chase's website on Chase's website |
 Wells Fargo Autograph℠ CardApply Now on Wells Fargo's website on Wells Fargo's website | Best for No-annual-fee bonus travel rewards | $0 | 1x-3x | 20,000 points | Apply Now on Wells Fargo's website on Wells Fargo's website |
 Wells Fargo Active Cash® CardApply 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 |
 Chase Sapphire Preferred® CardApply Now on Chase's website on Chase's website | Best for Travel rewards | $95 | 1x-5x | 60,000 points | Apply Now on Chase's website on Chase's website |
 U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum CardApply Now on U.S. Bank's website on U.S. Bank's website | Best for 0% interest period | $0 | N/A | N/A | Apply Now on U.S. Bank's website on U.S. Bank's website |
 Wells Fargo Reflect® CardApply Now on Wells Fargo's website on Wells Fargo's website | Best for 0% interest period | $0 | N/A | N/A | Apply Now on Wells Fargo's website on Wells Fargo's website |
 Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit cardApply Now on Bank of America's website on Bank of America's website | Best for Customizable categories cash back | $0 | 1%-3% | $200 | Apply Now on Bank of America's website on Bank of America's website |
 Chase Sapphire Reserve®Apply Now on Chase's website on Chase's website | Best for Premium features | $550 | 1x-10x | 60,000 points | Apply Now on Chase's website on Chase's website |
 Ink Business Preferred® Credit CardApply Now on Chase's website on Chase's website | Best for Small-business travel | $95 | 1x-3x | 90,000 points | Apply Now on Chase's website on Chase's website |
 PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card | Best for Gas | $0 | 1x-5x | 15,000 points |
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.
Bonus category cash back
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® was already a fine card when it offered 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Now it's even better, with bonus rewards on travel booked through Chase, as well as at restaurants and drugstores. New cardholders get a great bonus offer, too.
Our Take
This card earns 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase; 3% cash back at restaurants and drugstores; and 1.5% back on other purchases. There's a strong intro APR offer, and new cardholders who apply through NerdWallet get this bonus offer: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!.
While you can earn big rewards on travel bookings with this card, it also charges a 3% foreign transaction fee, so it's not a good companion abroad.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® was already a fine card when it offered 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Now it's even better, with bonus rewards on travel booked through Chase, as well as at restaurants and drugstores. New cardholders get a great bonus offer, too.
No-annual-fee bonus 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.
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. 19.49%, 24.49%, or 29.49% 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
The card earns unlimited 3 points per dollar spent on travel, dining, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. Other spending earns 1 point per dollar. The bonus offer is outstanding for a $0-annual-fee card, and you even get a 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.
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.
Flat-rate cash back
The $0-annual-fee Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card offers an excellent rewards rate on everything you buy, as well as a bundle of other goodies not often found on cards like it.
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. 19.49%, 24.49%, or 29.49% 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
You'll earn 2% cash rewards on all purchases, among the best rates on the market for products in its class. But the card also features a generous sign-up bonus: Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. On top of that, it also offers 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 19.49%, 24.49%, or 29.49% Variable APR.
You can find higher cash-back rates in specific, popular spending categories, if you're OK with keeping track of tiered or rotating reward structures. And like many cash-back cards, this one's not ideal for traveling abroad, thanks to its foreign transaction fee.
The $0-annual-fee Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card offers an excellent rewards rate on everything you buy, as well as a bundle of other goodies not often found on cards like it.
Travel rewards
If you're staunchly loyal to a single airline or hotel, a co-branded card might provide specific benefits that the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card does not. But if you want flexibility in earning and redeeming rewards for a reasonable annual fee, this is the best card around.
Product Details
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
- Member FDIC
Our Take
Unlike with cards tied to a specific airline or hotel brand, you can use rewards from the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card in many places. You earn 5 points per $1 spent on all travel booked through Chase; 3 points per $1 spent on dining (including eligible delivery services and takeout), select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (not including Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs); 2 points per $1 spent on travel not booked through Chase; and 1 point per $1 spent on other purchases. Points are worth 25% more when you use them to book travel through Chase, or you can transfer them at a 1:1 rate to several loyalty programs. The sign-up bonus is a huge plus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
As a general travel card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card lacks the special perks — such as free checked bags and free anniversary nights at a hotel — offered by some co-branded cards airline and hotel cards.
If you're staunchly loyal to a single airline or hotel, a co-branded card might provide specific benefits that the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card does not. But if you want flexibility in earning and redeeming rewards for a reasonable annual fee, this is the best card around.
0% interest period
If you need to spread out payments on a purchase as long as possible without interest, here's your card.
Product Details
- 0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 18 billing cycles. After that, a variable APR currently 17.99% - 28.99%.
- Get up to $600 protection on your cell phone (subject to $25 deductible) against covered damage or theft when you pay your monthly cellular telephone bill with your U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Credit Card. Certain terms, conditions, and exclusions apply.
- Choose a payment due date that fits your schedule.
- No Annual Fee
- Terms and conditions apply.
- View Rates & Fees
Our Take
The U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card gives you a good long time to pay off a major purchase. You get 0% intro APR for 18 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 17.99%-28.99% Variable APR.
This card offers no rewards, so there's not a very compelling incentive to keep using it after the 0% intro period runs out.
If you need to spread out payments on a purchase as long as possible without interest, here's your card.
The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card boasts an offer that few other cards can match: a 0% intro APR period potentially approaching two years.
Product Details
- Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 17.49%, 23.99%, or 29.24% variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate, BT fee of 5%, min: $5.
- $0 Annual Fee.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
- Through My Wells Fargo Deals, you can get access to personalized deals from a variety of merchants. It's an easy way to earn cash back as an account credit when you shop, dine, or enjoy an experience simply by using an eligible Wells Fargo credit card.
- View Rates & Fees
Our Take
The highlight of this $0-annual-fee card: It offers a 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 17.49%, 23.99%, or 29.24% Variable APR. It also offers cell phone insurance.
The card doesn't earn ongoing rewards on everyday spending, so the value beyond the intro APR period is limited.
The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card boasts an offer that few other cards can match: a 0% intro APR period potentially approaching two years.
Customizable categories cash back
The option to pick a 3% cash-back category among a list of six makes the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card a flexible pick, and it can become even more valuable if you qualify for the Bank of America Preferred Rewards® program.
Product Details
- $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
- Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice, automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and unlimited 1% on all other purchases.
- Choose 3% cash back on gas and EV charging station, online shopping/cable/internet/phone plan/streaming, dining, travel, drug store/pharmacy or home improvement/furnishings purchases.
- If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more cash back on every purchase. That means you could earn 3.75%-5.25% cash back on purchases in your choice category.
- No annual fee and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
- 0% Intro APR for 15 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 18.74% - 28.74% 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%.
- 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
This card offers useful options for your 3% cash back category: gas, travel, dining, drugstores, online shopping or furniture/home improvement stores. You also get 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs. (The 3% and 2% rewards are capped at $2,500 in combined spending per quarter; all other spending earns 1% back.) Cardholders eligible for the Bank of America Preferred Rewards® program earn higher rewards rates. The annual fee is $0.
It has a complicated rewards structure, and spending caps make it most appealing for low spenders. If you're a big spender with excellent credit and willing to pay an annual fee, there are cards with higher rewards. Even a flat-rate cash-back Visa might be better.
The option to pick a 3% cash-back category among a list of six makes the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card a flexible pick, and it can become even more valuable if you qualify for the Bank of America Preferred Rewards® program.
Premium features
The best premium travel card on the market gives you both top-notch rewards (what you get for using the card) and valuable perks (what you get just for carrying the card).
Product Details
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Member FDIC
Our Take
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® gives you 10 points per dollar spent on Chase Dining purchases and well as hotel stays and car rentals booked through Chase; 5 points per dollar spent on air travel booked through Chase; 3 points per dollar spent on travel and dining not booked with Chase; and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. Points are worth 1.5 cents apiece when redeemed for travel booked through Chase, or you can transfer them on a 1:1 basis to a dozen hotel and airline partners, possibly giving you even more value. You get $300 a year in credit for travel expenses. Add in the big sign-up bonus, and this card can easily pay for itself and then some, even with an annual fee of $550.
The $550 annual fee is a significant out-of-pocket expense. Much of the value of this card is tied to the $300 annual travel credit; if you don’t travel much, this isn’t the card for you.
The best premium travel card on the market gives you both top-notch rewards (what you get for using the card) and valuable perks (what you get just for carrying the card).
Small-business travel
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card offers one of the richest sign-up bonuses available on any credit card, anywhere, and it pays handsome rewards in a variety of categories.
Product Details
- Earn 90k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 cash back or $1,125 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
- Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
- Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
- Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
- Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- Member FDIC
Our Take
If your business spends enough to earn it, the sign-up bonus can offer a value of $1,250 if you redeem the points for travel booked through Chase. (You can also transfer points to a dozen or so airline and hotel programs, including United, Southwest, Marriott and Hyatt.) You'll earn 3 points per dollar on up to $150,000 a year in spending on travel, telecommunications (internet, phone and cable), shipping, and advertising on social media and search engines; all other spending earns 1 point per dollar.
This card's bonus categories aren't a good fit for all business owners. There's an annual fee of $95. After the first year, you’d have to spend at least $2,534 before the rewards make up for the annual fee. This might not matter as much to you, though, if you deduct the fee as a business expense on your taxes.
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card offers one of the richest sign-up bonuses available on any credit card, anywhere, and it pays handsome rewards in a variety of categories.
Gas
For some, the PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card won’t be an easy card to apply for, and redeeming points might be a hassle. But if you need a sky-high return on your gas spending, it may be the card for you.
Product Details
- Get Rewarded on Everyday Purchases.
- 5x Points on gas paid at the pump and EV charging stations.
- 3x Points at the supermarket (including most Target and Walmart locations), restaurants, and TV, radio, cable, streaming services.
- 1x Points on all other purchases.
- 15,000 Bonus Points when you spend $1,500 in first 90 days.
- 0% Balance Transfers Promo APR for 12 months, 3% fee applies to each transaction. Subject to credit approval. 0% introductory APR for 12 months on balance transfers made in the first 90 days after account opening. After that, the APR for the unpaid balance and any new balance transfers will be a non-variable rate of 17.99%. A 3% balance transfer fee applies to each transfer. This transaction is subject to credit approval. If you take advantage of this balance transfer, you will immediately be charged interest on all purchases made with your credit card unless you pay the entire account balance, including balance transfers, in full each month by the payment due date.
- Annual Fee: $0
- Purchase Variable APR: 17.99%
- Refer to PenFed.org for Terms/Conditions
Our Take
If you’re willing to endure a little hassle in joining this credit union and using its points, it’s hard to beat the return in points on this card, which has an annual fee of $0. Each $1 spent on gas earns the equivalent of 4.25 cents when redeemed for gift cards, which is a superb return. It also helps at the supermarket. The card isn’t issued by a megabank, if that appeals to you.
To apply, you need to join the Pentagon Federal Credit Union, an organization that caters to military and government employees. (You can also join by making a charitable donation.) There is no cash-back option; just merchandise, gift cards and travel. Also, points generally aren’t worth the traditional penny apiece. You’ll typically get a value of 0.85 cent each, although points can be worth more than a penny when used for travel.
For some, the PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card won’t be an easy card to apply for, and redeeming points might be a hassle. But if you need a sky-high return on your gas spending, it may be the card for you.
ALSO SEE: Best credit cards of 2024 || Visa || Mastercard || American Express || Discover || Bank of America® || Capital One || Chase || Citi || US Bank || Wells Fargo
FULL LIST OF EDITORIAL PICKS: BEST VISA CREDIT CARDS
Before applying, confirm details on the 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.
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Our pick for: Bonus category cash back
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® was already a fine card when it offered 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Now it's even better, with bonus rewards on travel booked through Chase, as well as at restaurants and drugstores. On top of all that, new cardholders get a 0% introductory APR period and the opportunity to earn a sweet bonus. Read our review.
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
Our pick for: Customizable categories cash back
The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card gives you a little more control over your credit card rewards by letting you choose which category earns the highest cash-back rate, from a list that includes gas stations, restaurants, travel, home improvement and more. You also get bonus rewards at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, plus a great new-cardholder bonus offer. Read our review.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Our pick for: 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 bonus 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.
Wells Fargo Reflect® Card
Our pick for: 0% interest period
The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card has one of the longest intro APR periods on the market — approaching almost two years. You'll be hard-pressed to find a longer interest-free promotion, and it applies to both purchases and balance transfers. Read our review.
U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card
Our pick for: 0% interest period
A lengthy introductory APR period for both purchases and balance transfers has made the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card a NerdWallet favorite. Read our review.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Our pick for: Premium features
The high annual fee on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® gives many potential applicants pause, but frequent travelers should be able to wring enough value out of this card to more than make up for the cost. Cardholders get bonus rewards (up to 10X) on dining and travel, a fat bonus offer, annual travel credits, airport lounge access, and a 50% boost in point value when redeeming points for travel booked through Chase. Points can also be transferred to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. Read our review.
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Our pick for: Small-business travel
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card starts you off with one of the biggest sign-up bonuses of any credit card anywhere: Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. You also get bonus rewards on travel expenses and common business spending categories, like advertising, shipping and internet, cable and phone service. Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel booked through Chase, or you can transfer them to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. Learn more and apply.
PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card
Our pick for: Gas
For some, the PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card won’t be an easy card to apply for, and redeeming points might be a hassle. But if you need a sky-high return on your gas spending, it may be the card for you. Read our review.
• • •
OTHER RESOURCES
What is a Visa credit card?
A Visa credit card is simply a credit card that operates on the Visa payment network. Understanding exactly what that means requires knowing a little about how the credit card system works.
Credit cards are typically issued by banks. Your card account is with the bank. It’s the bank that puts up the money for the things you buy with the card. And your payments go to the bank. Credit card issuers include huge banks like Chase, Citi and Wells Fargo, as well as smaller institutions and credit unions.
Every transaction involving a credit card is processed through a payment network. The network serves as an intermediary. It ensures that money for the purchase gets from the credit card issuer to the merchant, and that the purchase gets attributed to the correct credit card account. Visa is a payment network, as are Mastercard, Discover and American Express.
So Visa doesn’t issue any credit cards on its own. If your card says “Visa” on it, it didn’t come from Visa. Rather, the bank that issued the card is using Visa to handle card transactions.
A key difference between Visa and Mastercard on one side and Discover and American Express on the other is that Visa and Mastercard are only payment networks. Discover and AmEx, meanwhile, are both card issuers and payment networks.
Visa handles an enormous volume of transactions. According to Visa Inc, for the year ending Sept. 30, 2022:
There were 4.1 billion Visa cards in circulation worldwide.
The Visa network processed 192.5 billion transactions.
The network handled $11.6 trillion in payments.
More than 80 million merchants accept Visa, along with 20 million small businesses that can take Visa through third-party payment systems.
What kind of benefits does a Visa card give you?
The most important features of any Visa card aren’t determined by Visa at all, but rather by the card issuer. These include:
Fees (such as annual, late, cash advance or balance transfer).
Interest rates (such as introductory APR, ongoing APR, purchase APR and transfer APR).
Rewards (including rates paid on purchases, bonus categories, type of rewards and value of reward points).
Bonuses (such as sign-up or anniversary awards).
Visa does offer a benefits package separate from perks provided by the issuer. What’s included in that package depends on what “level” of Visa card you have — Traditional, Signature or Infinite — and what Visa-provided benefits the issuer has opted to include. Traditional benefits include things like zero fraud liability and emergency card replacement. Signature benefits add in things like extended warranty coverage and concierge service. At the Infinite level, cards offer travel coverage and purchase protections. Read more about the three levels of Visa benefits.
What’s the difference between Visa and Mastercard?
For the vast majority of people in the vast majority of cases, the difference between a Visa credit card and a Mastercard credit card is the logo on the front … and nothing else. Nearly every merchant that accepts Visa also accepts Mastercard. (One notable exception: Costco takes only Visa credit cards in its stores, although it accepts Mastercard debit cards in-store and all Mastercards online.)
As discussed, the most important features of your credit card are determined by the bank that issued it, not the payment network it runs on. Like Visa, Mastercard offers its own benefits package, but these are not things that come into play on a regular basis.
Visa and Mastercard are so interchangeable that some major cards have flipped from one network to the other. In 2020, for example, Capital One switched four cards: Three went from Visa to Mastercard, and one went from Mastercard to Visa. But that change affected only new cardholders; existing cardholders stayed with the network they were already on. So if you’re wondering whether the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is a Visa or a Mastercard, the answer is … it could be either, depending on who's carrying it.
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NerdWallet's Paul Soucy contributed to this article.
Last updated on November 18, 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.
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