5 Best-Looking Credit Cards of [2024]

The question of which credit cards are the best-looking is entirely subjective, but there are some indisputable winners and losers. For example, I’m not sure anyone would argue that the eye-catching silver The Platinum Card^® from American Express is less attractive than a run-of-the-mill solid-colored card with a bank’s logo slapped on the front.

For some, a metal card will look better than a plastic one, no matter what. But I like a shimmery card, so I much prefer my old Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card to my husband’s Bank of America^® Premium Rewards^® credit card (although I like his for other reasons). American Express, Chase, and Capital One all have beautiful designs to offer, but don’t overlook Apple or Discover for cool-looking cards. Note that many of the best-looking credit cards are premium offerings, meaning they generally have stricter eligibility requirements and may also have annual fees.

The 5 best-looking credit cards

• Chase Sapphire Reserve^®
• American Express^® Gold Card
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
• Apple Card
• Discover it^® Cash Back

Comparison of the best-looking credit cards

Credit card	Card material	Excellent for
Chase Sapphire Reserve®	Metal	Coolest design
American Express® Gold Card	Metal	Gold card options
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card	Metal	Sleekest look
Apple Card	Metal	All-white card
Discover it® Cash Back	Plastic	Customizable designs

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

As far as cool card designs go, I think this card takes the cake. The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a premium travel credit card that looks and feels high-end with its metal construction and elegant, dark blue design. It’s one of the original premium travel cards that still holds up with its benefits, which include bonuses when redeeming points through Chase Travel℠, annual travel credits, airport lounge access, and more. You can also earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

This card has a $550 annual fee, which I won’t pretend isn’t high. This is why I recommend starting with the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card if you’re unsure. It has a $95 annual fee and offers excellent value with its rewards. Plus, it’s also metal and looks a lot like its costlier older sibling (and you can upgrade later if you decide you want more rewards).

Learn more in our Chase Sapphire Reserve review.

American Express^® Gold Card

The Amex Gold displays the classic American Express lettering, logo, and border, which make it stand out when you flash it at a cash register. Well, that and the fact that it comes in gold or rose gold. But more than just a pretty face, this is one of the best cards for dining. It earns elevated rewards in certain categories such as 4X points at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 per year, after that 1X) and 4X points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, after that 1X), plus it includes credits for places like The Cheesecake Factory, Shack Shack, and Uber Eats (enrollment required).

With more points on flights and hotels on top of that, the Amex Gold earns a spot as an everyday card for many who have it. You can also earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of card membership.

Its $325 annual fee is definitely on the higher side, so you’ll want to be sure the benefits offset the cost. A lot of people also like the look of other Amex cards, including the American Express^® Green Card, The Platinum Card^® from American Express, and the Blue Cash cards.

Learn more in our American Express Gold Card review.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Venture X gives off a sleek vibe as a dark blue metal credit card with a minimalistic look, similar to what you see with the Chase Sapphire Reserve. Its appearance correctly suggests that the card likes to keep things simple with its earning potential and benefits. The Venture X is ideal for travelers who want a simple and rewarding card that covers most of their travel needs.

The Venture X is one of the best Capital One credit cards because you can potentially get more than enough value from its perks each year to help offset its $395 annual fee. Apart from its design, the Venture X provides a lot that makes it worth hanging onto, including a high rewards rate, an annual travel credit of $300, and lounge access. And as a new cardholder, you can earn 75,000 miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

If this annual fee is too high for you, which is completely understandable, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has a much lower annual fee of $95 and a similar look, with a subtle passport stamp design on the front that I actually like better.

Learn more in our Capital One Venture X review.

Apple Card

The Apple Card is a beautiful matte white card made of titanium. As an iPhone user, I like that you can specifically earn high rewards within the Apple ecosystem. This is especially true if you use Apple Pay, which makes this card well-suited for Apple fans who value security. You earn cash back as Daily Cash, which is available every day rather than at the end of a statement period or billing cycle. It also doesn’t have foreign transaction fees.

The Apple Card loses a lot of its earning potential if you don’t use Apple Pay, and the fact that you should be using Apple Pay with this card also means you might not see it all that often. If you prefer all-black to all-white, consider the Bilt Mastercard^®. This card has a completely different earning structure that is unique for earning points when you pay rent.

Learn more in our Apple Card review.

Discover it^® Cash Back

The Discover it Cash Back is available in 25 unique designs, ranging from solid colors to graphics, landscapes, and cute animals. Unfortunately, it’s not made of metal, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a fun-looking card (I’ve seen the cassette tape one in the wild a lot). And the card’s rotating categories can provide loads of value year after year. In fact, according to our FinanceBuzz credit card rewards valuation model, it offers a potential value of $1,070 in year one and $535 in year two.

The Discover it^® Student Cash Back is also customizable. This was my first credit card, and I chose the burgundy, but I would have picked the coral image if it had been available.

If you’re not a fan of tracking rotating categories every quarter, this won’t be the right card for you. Instead, I recommend checking out the Discover it^® Miles, which earns the same flat travel rewards rate on all purchases in a palm tree-wrapped package.

Learn more in our Discover it Cash Back review.

How to choose the best-looking credit card

While I understand wanting to pick a card you like to look at, I would never recommend applying for a credit card simply because you think it’s pretty or cool. Instead, consider these key factors to choose a card that’s easy on your eyes and right for your wallet.

• Earning potential: What are your typical spending habits? To earn more rewards (and offset annual fees), choose a card that aligns with your everyday spending. For example, eating out a lot might mean the Amex Gold is a better fit, while flying often would make the Sapphire Reserve more likely to pay off.
• Material: Is it made from plastic or metal? Metal credit cards often look and feel good, but maybe you don’t care about the material as much as a nice color or fun picture, in which case plastic might win.
• Fees: Cards with high annual fees tend to have more benefits, but the cost might not always make sense. And besides annual fees, it’s important to consider whether you have to pay foreign transaction fees on a card if you frequently travel abroad.

  Pro tip: If you don’t think an annual fee is worth it now, don’t force it. Consider a stripped-down version of a card instead. In many cases, you can upgrade a more basic card to its premium counterpart. For example, you could upgrade from Chase Sapphire Preferred to Reserve or Capital One Venture to Venture X.

• Credit score: Many credit cards, especially those with sleeker designs, require a good or excellent credit score, which is at least a 670 on the FICO scoring model. Note that your credit score alone doesn’t determine approval, as credit card issuers also use various other factors when evaluating your creditworthiness.
• Perks and benefits: The best credit cards have many excellent benefits, from rewards and statement credits to purchase protection and insurance. If you want a specific benefit, such as airport lounge access, make sure a credit card has it before you apply.
• Welcome offer: To break a tie between two similar cards, consider how many rewards points or how much cash you could earn from a welcome offer. Don’t let this perk alone make any decisions for you, though.

FAQs

Bottom line

Beauty might be in the eye of the beholder, but there’s something to be said for attractive metallic designs and cool colors. Beautiful cards are popular, and we like them best when they’re coupled with excellent rewards and benefits. Check out Chase, Capital One, American Express, Discover, and Apple for some of the best-looking credit cards.

Premium Travel Benefits

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

5.0

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

Apply Now

Current Offer

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

Annual Fee

$550

Rewards Rate

5X points on flights and 10X points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually; 3X points on other travel and dining & 1X points per dollar on all other purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• Up to $300 in annual travel credits
• Great rewards on travel purchases and dining
• Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership
• Comprehensive travel protections, including trip delay and cancellation insurance
• 50% point redemption bonus when booking through Chase Travel

Drawbacks

• $550 annual fee
• High spending requirement for the welcome offer
• $75 annual fee for each authorized user

Card 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.
• 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 $120 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Member FDIC