There is no one credit card that is best for everyone, regardless of their purchase history or budget. Forbes Advisor has selected the best credit cards to make it easy for as many readers as possible. We didn’t choose the “best credit cards” and rank the nine next options. Instead, we selected the best cards that are suitable for different situations. Below are the star ratings for each card. You can find the global star rating on the card review.
This list does not include personal credit cards. Our top business credit cards list will help you find the right credit card for you.
The Top Credit Cards for 2022
Chase Freedom Flex(sm).
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The Chase Freedom Flex (sm), was launched in late 2020. It can earn powerful Chase Ultimate Reward points when paired with a Chase Sapphire Preferred(r), Chase Sapphire Reserve(r), or Ink Business Preferred (r) Credit Card. It’s a standalone cashback card that is hard to beat, especially since there is no annual fee.
Reward: 5% Cash Back on Up to $1,500 in Categories that Rotate Quarterly (Requires activation), Chase Ultimate Rewards(r) – 5% on Travel Purchases, 5% on Dining and Drugstores, and 1% for All Other Purchases
Sign up now to receive a $200 welcome bonus for spending $500 within the first three months of your account opening
Annual Fee $0
Other benefits and drawbacks: Chase Freedom Flex(sm), a card that doesn’t require an annual fee, packs a big punch. This card’s biggest problem? The biggest problem with this card is that you will need to activate the quarterly bonus categories, and keep track of how much you spend.
When you pay your monthly mobile phone bill with your card, you can also get complimentary cell phone insurance protection. Limitations on claims are $800 per claim, and $1,000 per annum.
The card has a foreign transaction fee, so it’s not the best choice for travelers who plan to travel internationally.
To learn more, read the Chase Freedom Flex(sm), review.
Wells Fargo Active Cash(sm) Card
The Wells Fargo Active Cash(sm), Card* is a standout in a competitive market with 2% cash back cards. This card stands out due to its Visa Signature benefits and introductory APR.
Reward: 2% Cash Rewards on Purchases
Intro-APR Offer: This offer is currently being revised. For the most current APR offers, please refer to these terms
Get a $200 Cash Rewards Bonus after you spend $1,000 on your first 3 months of purchases
Annual Fee $0
Other benefits and drawbacks: The Wells Fargo Active cash(sm) card* provides cell phone protection by allowing you to pay your monthly cell phone bill using the card. It is not recommended for international use as it charges a foreign transaction fee.
Read our complete review to learn more about the Wells Fargo Active cash(sm) card*.
Capital One Venture X Rewards credit card
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The Capital One Venture X rewards credit card, which was launched in November 2021 was a major shakeup in the travel card market. This card offers many of the same benefits as premium travel rewards cards, but with a lower annual cost. It is a great choice for anyone who travels often.
Reward: 2 miles for every dollar spent on eligible purchases, 5 miles for flights, 10 miles per flight when you book via Capital One Travel
Welcome Offer: 75,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $4,000 within the first three month of your account opening
Annual Fee $395
Other benefits and drawbacks: The Capital One Venture X Reward Credit Card offers up $300 annually in statement credits for Capital One Travel bookings, and 10,000 bonus miles each anniversary.
After paying the application fee, cardholders will receive a Priority Pass membership, access at Capital One lounges, and a Global Entry credit or TSA PreCheck application fee.
To learn more, read our complete review of the Capital One Venture X rewards Credit Card.
Chase Sapphire Preferred(r) Card
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The Chase Sapphire Preferred(r)Card is a great place to start if you want to earn transferable points, but are scared by the annual fees on the top-tier cards.
Reward: 5 Points per Dollar on Travel Purchased Through Chase Ultimate Rewards(r), 2 points per Dollar on Dining, and 2 points for All Other Travel Purchases. One point per Dollar on All Other Eligible Purchases
Sign up now to receive a welcome offer: 60,000 bonus point after you spend $4,000 in the first three months of your account opening
Annual Fee $95
Other Benefits & Drawbacks: Chase’s Ultimate Rewards(r), are flexible and valuable. This is why we recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred(r)Card if the Chase Sapphire Reserve(r),’s higher annual fees don’t seem worth it. Ultimate Rewards can be transferred to many airline frequent flier programs as well as hotel chains like Hyatt and United Airlines.
The Ultimate Rewards points from the Chase Sapphire Preferred(r)Card are worth 1.25 cents each when they’re redeemed through Pay Yourself Back or the Chase travel portal. However, if you plan to use the portal, we recommend the Chase Sapphire Reserve(r) with a higher annual fee. Your points will still be worth 1.5 cents in the same circumstances. Although the Chase Sapphire Reserve(r), offers better coverage, the Chase Sapphire Preferred(r)Card still provides best-in-class protection.
Chase Ultimate Rewards cards can be best used as a family. By pairing a Chase Sapphire Card with a Chase Freedom Flexible(sm), and an eligible Chase Ink Business card, you can quickly earn Ultimate Rewards. To really accelerate the process, rewards can be combined among family members.
To learn more, read our Chase Sapphire Preferred(r) card review.
Chase Sapphire Reserve(r)
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There are many non-refundable components to trips that are tied specifically to dates, such as hotel