Best Credit Cards for Good Credit [September 2023]

The best credit cards for good credit provide plenty of opportunities to take advantage of valuable benefits and rewards while continuing to build your credit and improve your personal finances. These rewards cards range from travel cards to cashback cards.

If you have good credit and you’re interested in applying for a new credit card, here are some terrific options for you to choose from. You can use this guide to compare credit cards and pick the one that rewards you the most.

The best credit cards for good credit

• Best for all-around travel rewards: Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card
• Best for simple travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
• Best for groceries: Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express
• Best for simple cash back: Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
• Best for flexible cash back: U.S. Bank Cash+^® Visa Signature^® Card
• Best for everyday travel rewards: Chase Freedom Unlimited^®
• Best for online shopping: Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express

The best credit cards for good credit for September 2023

Card name	Best for	Welcome offer
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card	All-around travel rewards	Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card	Simple travel rewards	Earn a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express	Groceries	Earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 6 months
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card	Simple cash back	Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card	Flexible cash back	Earn a $200 bonus after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening
Chase Freedom Unlimited®	Everyday travel rewards	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
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express	Online shopping	Earn a $200 statement credit after spending $2,000 in purchases in the first 6 months

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card: Best for all-around travel rewards

Pros	Cons
Up to $50 annual hotel credit through Chase Ultimate Rewards 25% bonus to travel redemptions through Chase Ultimate Rewards Over a dozen Chase transfer partners No foreign transaction fees	$95 annual fee Lack of premium travel benefits

Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Rewards rate: Earn 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®; 3X points on dining, select streaming services, and eligible online grocery purchases; 2X points on all other travel purchases, and 1X points per $1 on all other eligible purchases.

Why we like it: The Sapphire Preferred offers 25% bonus points toward travel for redemptions made through the Ultimate Rewards portal. You can also receive up to a $50 annual credit toward hotel stays purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, which can immediately help offset the $95 annual fee.

What we don’t like: You have to pay a $95 annual fee and you don’t receive any premium travel benefits, such as airport lounge access or elite status with a loyalty program.

Learn more in our Chase Sapphire Preferred review.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best for simple travel rewards

Pros	Cons
Simple earning rate Up to $100 statement credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry Over a dozen Capital One transfer partners No foreign transaction fees	$95 annual fee

Welcome offer: Earn a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.

Rewards rate: Earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day and 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

Why we like it: We like how the Venture Rewards provides a simple earning rate that offers at least 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day. This makes it easy to use the Venture Rewards on all your purchases and start racking up travel rewards.

You also receive two free annual visits to Capital One Lounges or Plaza Premium lounges and up to $100 for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application credit.

What we don’t like: You have to pay a $95 annual fee each year as a cardmember.

Check out our Capital One Venture Card review.

Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express: Best for groceries

Pros	Cons
Amazing earning potential on everyday expenses Intro APR offers on purchases and balance transfers $7 monthly statement credit when you spend $12.99 or more each month on a subscription to The Disney Bundle (enrollment required)	$0 intro annual fee for the first year, $95 per year thereafter (Terms apply) 2.7% foreign transaction fees Spending cap on top bonus category

Welcome offer: Earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 6 months.

Rewards rate: Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (for first $6,000 per year, after that 1%) and on select U.S. streaming services, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on eligible transit, and 1% cash back on other eligible purchases.

Why we like it: We like the Amex Blue Cash Preferred because it provides a competitive rewards rate that’s hard to beat. You can also earn a $7 monthly statement credit when you spend $12.99 or more each month on a subscription to The Disney Bundle (enrollment required).

It also doesn’t hurt that cardholders can take advantage of these two introductory APR offers:

• Intro APR offer on purchases: 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases (then 19.24% - 29.99% Variable)

• Intro APR offer on balance transfers: 0% intro APR for 12 months on balance transfers (then 19.24% - 29.99% Variable)

What we don’t like: You have to pay a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, $95 per year thereafter and 2.7% foreign transaction fees on applicable purchases. There’s also a spending cap on the top bonus category.

Read our American Express Blue Cash Preferred review.

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for simple cash back

Pros	Cons
$0 annual fee Simple earning rate Intro APR offers on purchases and balance transfers (3% fee for the first 15 months. No fee for amounts transferred at the Transfer APR) No foreign transaction fees	Limited bonus categories

Welcome offer: Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.

Rewards rate: Earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day; and 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply).

Why we like it: We like how there’s nothing complicated about the Capital One Quicksilver. You can use it for just about any type of purchase and you know you’ll earn at least 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day.

Even better, the Capital One Quicksilver provides these intro APR offers:

• Intro APR offer on purchases: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases (then 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable))

• Intro APR offer on balance transfers: 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers (then 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)); 3% fee for the first 15 months. No fee for amounts transferred at the Transfer APR

What we don’t like: The Capital One Quicksilver doesn’t provide many bonus categories to earn more cash back on certain types of purchases, such as gas or groceries.

Learn more in our Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards review.

U.S. Bank Cash+^® Visa Signature^® Card: Best for flexible cash back

Pros	Cons
$0 annual fee High rewards rate Choose your bonus categories Intro APR offers on purchases and balance transfers	Has foreign transaction fees Spending cap on top bonus category

Welcome offer: Earn a $200 bonus after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening.

Rewards rate: Earn 5% cash back on two categories you choose (up to $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter) and on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Center; 2% cash back on one everyday category, like gas stations/EV charging stations, grocery stores, or restaurants; and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.

Why we like it: We like how you have the option to choose your cashback categories with the U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature. If your spending tends to vary each quarter, simply choose categories that align with your current spending habits.

The U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card also provides these intro APR offers:

• Intro APR offer on purchases: 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases (then 19.74% - 29.74% (Variable))

• Intro APR offer on balance transfers: 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles on balance transfers (then 19.74% - 29.74% (Variable))

What we don’t like: There’s a limit on how much cash back you can earn with the top bonus category. You also have to pay foreign transaction fees on applicable purchases.

Check out our U.S. Bank Cash Visa Signature Card review.

Chase Freedom Unlimited^®: Best for everyday travel rewards

Pros	Cons
$0 annual fee High rewards rate Intro APR offers on purchases and balance transfers Can combine rewards with other applicable Chase credit cards	3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars foreign transaction fees

Welcome 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.

Rewards rate: Earn 5% cash back on Chase travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards®, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Why we like it: We like how the Freedom Unlimited bonus categories align with everyday expenses, making it easy to earn rewards. It’s also helpful that you can combine points between certain Chase credit cards and potentially increase their value.

For example, moving your rewards from the Freedom Unlimited to a Chase Sapphire Preferred would give your points a 25% bonus toward travel redemptions when you book through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.

The Chase Freedom Unlimited also provides these intro APR offers:

• Intro APR offer on purchases: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases (then 20.49% - 29.24% Variable)

• Intro APR offer on balance transfers: 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers (then 20.49% - 29.24% Variable)

What we don’t like: You have to pay 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars as foreign transaction fees on applicable purchases.

Read our Chase Freedom Unlimited review.

Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express: Best for online shopping

Pros	Cons
$0 annual fee (Terms apply) High rewards rate on common categories Intro APR offers on purchases and balance transfers $7 monthly statement credit when you spend $12.99 or more each month on a subscription to The Disney Bundle (enrollment required)	Spending caps on bonus categories 2.7% foreign transaction fees

Welcome offer: Earn a $200 statement credit after spending $2,000 in purchases in the first 6 months.

Rewards rate: Earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. online retail purchases (up to $6,000 per year on purchases in each category, then 1%); and 1% cash back on other eligible purchases.

Why we like it: We like that the Blue Cash Everyday is similar to the Blue Cash Preferred but comes with a $0 annual fee. It’s also unique that online shopping (U.S. online retail purchases) — a category not found on many rewards credit cards — is included in this card’s 3% cashback rate bonus category.

Cardholders can take advantage of receiving a $7 monthly statement credit when you spend $12.99 or more each month on a subscription to The Disney Bundle (enrollment required).

The Blue Cash Everyday Card provides these intro APR offers:

• Intro APR offer on purchases: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases (then 19.24% - 29.99% Variable)
• Intro APR offer on balance transfers: 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers (then 19.24% - 29.99% Variable)

What we don’t like: There are spending caps on the top bonus categories and you have to pay 2.7% foreign transaction fees on applicable purchases.

Learn more in our Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express review.

Methodology

If you have good credit, there are loads of credit card products available for you to check out from most credit card issuers. Having a good mix of cards was one of our main priorities when creating this list of the best credit cards for good credit.

Each individual is different and has varying financial needs, so the best credit card for one person may not be the best for another. With that in mind, we found credit cards that require good credit, but also stand out in their particular categories for the benefits and rewards they offer. For example, we chose travel rewards cards with no foreign transaction fee, but also cashback cards with good rewards rates on everyday purchases.

Each of the cards we picked offers excellent benefits in their category, whether it’s travel, groceries, gas, and/or restaurants. Overall, there should be at least one card listed that can suit the specific needs of just about anyone with good credit.

What is a good credit score?

FICO and VantageScore provide the credit score models most recognized by lenders around the country. They use the information on your credit report to create your score. Their models provide credit score ranges from 300 to 850, with 300 being the lowest and 850 the highest. On the FICO model, a good credit score falls between 670 and 739. On the VantageScore model, a good credit score is between 661 and 780.

As you can see, good credit scores are ranked fairly high on both models, well away from the lowest 300 score, which falls under bad credit. If you have a good credit score, you’ve likely met many of the criteria that the major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) take into account when calculating your score.

Here are the common factors that affect your credit score:

• Late payments: Late and missed payments account for a large portion of your credit score. Simply opening a credit account, using it, and never having a late or missed payment will have positive effects on your credit. Not to mention you'll save money by not paying late fees.
• Credit utilization: Lenders want you to use your borrowed credit, but they don’t want you to use up your entire credit limit all the time. If you consistently carry a credit card balance of 30% or less of your available credit, your credit score is likely to increase.
• Credit history: The longer you’ve had open credit accounts in good standing, the better your credit score will be. Lenders want to see a reasonable history of credit before they offer you more.
• Credit mix: Having any type of credit account can help your credit score, but if you have different types of credit, you’re likely to increase your credit score. Credit comes in many forms, including credit cards, car loans, mortgages, student loans, and more.
• New credit: Too many recent lines of credit or hard inquiries into your credit score can lower your credit. Hard inquiries typically occur when a lender needs to see your credit history, so keep that in mind when applying for credit.

Improving your credit score is very much worth your time. Yet, be mindful that your credit score is only one factor credit card issuers take into account, and having a certain score does not guarantee approval.

What is the difference between a good and fair credit score?

The main difference between a good credit score and a fair credit score is that a good score is higher than fair. If you have a good score, lenders will be more willing to let you borrow credit from them. Fair credit scores fall between 580 and 669 on the FICO model and between 601 and 660 on the VantageScore model.

If you have a fair credit score, you may have limited credit card options and less favorable interest rates on credit lines. For instance, you may not qualify for many popular travel credit cards or the best cashback credit cards.

However, you may still be approved for credit cards that have been designed for individuals with fair credit scores. Cards such as the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card or a secured card similar to the Citi^® Secured Mastercard^® could help you improve your fair credit score to a point at which you’ll qualify for cards with increased rewards and benefits.

Learn more in our list of the best credit cards for fair credit.

How to improve your credit score to excellent

The best way to improve your credit score to excellent is to make decisions that align with the factors that make up your credit score. Most lenders solely focus on these factors when determining your creditworthiness, so it’s essential you focus on them as well. Building credit can take a while, but the benefits and products you have access to once you improve your credit score could make the effort worthwhile.

Here are the best ways to work your way up to an excellent credit score:

• Be vigilant about payments. Because late and missed payments have a huge impact on your credit score, you shouldn’t ever be late on your payments. Set up reminders for yourself when your payments are due using your credit card’s online account. Get into the habit of paying off your balance around the same time every month and you’ll be less likely to forget about it.
• Open multiple credit accounts and keep them open. The more positive credit history you have, the better. As you slowly open more accounts and have them open for long periods of time, your credit score should build if you keep your accounts in good standing. Don’t cancel your credit cards if you don’t have to, especially if they’re your best source for lenders to see a long credit history.
• Utilize different forms of credit. More than one credit card or more than one loan can be beneficial for your credit, but if you also mix up your credit sources, you can build your credit faster. Don’t open more lines of credit if you don’t need to, but keep in mind that a new form of credit can help your score. So if you’ve never had a car loan before and are looking to get a new car anyway, this is a natural way of improving your credit.
• Use the credit you need. If you use too much credit on a regular basis, your credit score can drop. So continue to use credit, but don’t use all of your credit as much as possible. Going over 30% credit utilization may happen now and then, but it shouldn’t be a frequent occurrence.

If you follow these guidelines, you’ll help build your credit up to the point at which it’ll be in the excellent range. At that point, you’ll be in a stronger position to qualify for the best credit cards available and the lowest interest rates.

How to choose a credit card for good credit

Consider these five factors to help choose a credit card if you have good credit:

1. Welcome offers

Many of our top picks and recommended credit card offers have welcome offers or sign-up bonuses. These are typically easy ways for you to earn loads of rewards soon after opening an account. To help narrow down your choices, compare welcome offers between cards and see which credit card provides more rewards for new cardholders.

2. Rewards rates

Rewards rates can help you earn rewards on everyday purchases. The higher the rate, the more rewards you’ll earn on qualifying purchases.

Keep in mind that rewards credit cards can have different ways to earn rewards, called earning categories. For example, you might always earn 3% cash back on dining and takeout with one card. But another card could have rotating categories, where you can earn 5% cash back on common expenses for a limited period of time.

Consider your typical spending habits when comparing rewards rates on different credit cards. You would likely want a card that aligns with your spending habits so you can maximize your earning potential.

3. Types of rewards

Rewards credit cards typically earn points, miles, or cashback rewards. Points and miles are often associated with travel credit cards because common redemptions include flights and hotel stays. Cash back is associated with cashback cards and common redemptions include statement credits and bank deposits.

The type of rewards you want to earn depends on your preferences, but it likely makes sense to apply for a points or miles card if you’re interested in travel. If not, a cashback card might make more sense.

4. Card benefits

Apart from earning rewards, many credit cards also provide different perks and benefits. This could include things like cell phone protection, receiving travel credits each calendar year, or having a 0% APR period intro offer for balance transfers or purchases.

It might not always make sense to choose a credit card only based on its benefits, but looking at card benefits between similar cards can help you narrow down your options.

5. Fees

One of the most common fees with credit cards is an annual fee, or a price you have to pay each year to keep your card. Not all cards have annual fees, but a card with an annual fee typically has more benefits than a no-annual-fee credit card.

FAQs

Bottom line

If you have good credit, you’re well on your way to building your credit score up to an excellent level and reaping the rewards that come with it. Once you have excellent credit, you'll potentially be eligible for even more lucrative travel cards such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® or Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.

We’ve picked a variety of rewards cards from different card companies that can help you on your credit-building journey while also providing useful benefits. Use this guide to compare credit cards, and then choose the right card for you by seeing which one most aligns with your lifestyle and financial goals.