Credit cards are a ubiquitous part of modern life, but many people do not understand how to use them and may be wondering which company has the best credit card in February 2022. There is no one definitive answer, since each company will have different perks that appeal to certain consumers. The more important factor for most people will be interest rates and fees; this information can help you decide where your money is best spent when it comes to credit cards.
The “best credit cards 2022” is a list of the best credit cards of February 2022. The list includes some of the most popular credit card companies, such as Chase and American Express.
CNN Underscored assesses the total worth of financial items such as credit cards and bank accounts. If you apply for and are accepted for a card via the LendingTree affiliate network, we may get a commission, but our reporting is always impartial and unbiased. Benefits and offers from American Express are subject to terms. Select American Express perks and offers may require enrollment. To discover more, go to americanexpress.com.
While credit cards have a terrible reputation, having the greatest credit card — or, at the very least, the best credit card for you — may make your life simpler and more enjoyable. And if it’s been at least three years since you’ve carried your current credit card in your purse or wallet, it’s time to think over your alternatives and see if a new credit card could be a better fit for you.
How? A new credit card may assist by allowing you to finance items you need to purchase at 0% interest for a limited time or consolidating debt at a cheaper interest rate. Or maybe you simply want to make sure you’re getting the most out of your rewards when you purchase online, get food delivered to your house, or book that much-needed vacation.
To identify which cards might possibly assist you the most, our rigorous approach analyzes every feature of each credit card to our “benchmark credit card.” So take a few minutes to check through our selection of the top credit cards for February 2022 and see whether one of them is appropriate for you right now.
Best for flat-rate cash back is the Citi® Double Cash Card. Best sign-up bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Chase Freedom FlexSM is the best option for rewards that are flexible. American Express Blue Cash Everyday® Card: Best for supermarkets in the United States Best for eating is the American Express® Gold Card. The Citi Premier® Card is ideal for use at petrol stations. Balance transfers are best using the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card. The best introductory rate on purchases is with the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card. The American Express Blue Business® Plus Credit Card is ideal for small enterprises. Capital One® Spark® Business Miles are best for bigger companies.
Why did we choose these credit cards as our top picks for February 2022? Examine the specifics of each card with us to discover how they compare.
Why it’s amazing in a nutshell: The Citi Double Cash Card is both straightforward and rewarding, with a market-leading 2% cash back on every transaction — 1% when you buy and 1% when you pay your bill — and There is no yearly charge.
This card is ideal for: Those who want a card that works for them but don’t have the time, patience, or motivation to chase bonus categories or decipher intricate travel reward systems.
Highlights:
- Earn 2% cash back on all purchases, up to a certain amount.
- On debt transfers done in the first four months after you get the card, you’ll get a 0% introductory APR for 18 months (13.99 percent -23.99 percent variable afterward).
- When paired with the Citi Premier or (now defunct) Citi Prestige® Card, cash back may be converted to Citi ThankYou travel points at a rate of 1 cent per point.
- There is no yearly charge.
There is no sign-up incentive.
What we appreciate about the Citi Double Cash: Life is difficult enough as it is; no one wants their credit card to be any more confusing. If you don’t want to worry with bonus categories, transfer partners, or spending limits, the Citi Double Cash is the card for you.
However, “simple” does not always imply “weak.” In fact, you’ll earn 2% cash back on almost everything you spend with this card, making it the greatest continuous flat-rate return of any no-annual-fee credit card available.
Yes, you can obtain more total rewards or benefits if you put in additional work to optimize bonus categories or if you’re ready to pay an annual fee. If you don’t want your credit card to become another source of stress in your life, keep the Citi Double Cash in your handbag or wallet and set it and forget it.
What could be more ideal: The Citi Double Cash is a no-frills credit card, which means it doesn’t come with any fancy travel or dining bonuses, nor does it come with any big travel or purchase safeguards. You won’t want to use this card for international transactions since the 3% foreign transaction charge would cancel out any benefits you earn.
When you have other premium Citi cards, the ability to convert the card’s cash back to Citi ThankYou points is handy, but the ThankYou program’s airline transfer partners might be difficult to utilize for novices, who may want to continue with the card’s cash back benefits.
The debt transfer offer comes with a 3% charge (minimum $5) for the first four months after account setup, but that’s comparable to other credit cards with similar balance transfer capabilities. Also, since the Citi Double Cash doesn’t have a sign-up bonus, competing cards may be more lucrative right away, but the Double Cash will catch up with time.
The following are the reasons why it is our “benchmark” credit card: The Citi Double Cash is our “benchmark” credit card for comparing the characteristics of other credit cards and determining whether they’re better or worse overall because of its simplicity of use and uncomplicated top-of-market cash-back earning rate.
More information on our benchmark credit card idea can be found in our credit card methodology guide, or you can read our full evaluation of the Citi Double Cash.
Learn more about the Citi Double Cash Card and apply today.
Why it’s great in a nutshell: The Chase Sapphire Preferred card gives you 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of your account, and the points can be redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards or in other eligible categories using the card’s “Pay Yourself Back” tool.
This card is ideal for: People who have higher-than-average travel and/or eating costs who wish to use their credit card points to pay for their vacation.
Highlights:
- For every dollar spent on restaurants, certain streaming services, and some online grocery purchases, you’ll get three points (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs).
- For every dollar spent on travel, you’ll get 2 points, or 5 total points if you buy via Ultimate Rewards.
- Until March 2022, get 5 points each dollar spent on Lyft rides.
- At a cost of 1.25 cents per point, points may be redeemed for travel via the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel site.
- You may also transfer your points to one of Chase’s 14 airline and hotel partners.
- On all of your annual expenditures, you’ll get a 10% bonus on your anniversary points.
- The Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal offers a $50 yearly hotel credit that may be used on any booking made via the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal.
- There are no costs for international transactions.
- An annual charge of $95 is required.
Earn 60,000 extra points after spending $4,000 on purchases during the first three months of creating your account.
What we like about the Chase Sapphire Preferred: It may not seem so, but the Chase Sapphire Preferred is essentially the granddaddy of travel rewards credit cards, having been around for almost a decade. However, Chase does a good job of keeping the card fresh by adding new features that make it even more helpful, which is one of the reasons it’s our greatest travel credit card for beginners.
With classic travel and dining bonus categories, bonus points on streaming services and online groceries, 5 points per dollar on Lyft rides until March 2022, and a 60,000-point sign-up bonus, you should be able to rack up plenty of points even if you don’t plan to fly much in 2022.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred’s true strength lies in its redemptions. When you redeem your points using Chase’s travel gateway, you’ll earn 1.25 cents per point. Furthermore, Chase’s “Pay Yourself Back” option lets you to use points for purchases other than travel.
Plus, if you transfer your points to one of Chase’s 14 travel partners, you might gain even more value. In reality, the Ultimate Rewards program still boasts some of the greatest transfer partners, like as United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Hyatt Hotels, and all partners transfer at a 1-to-1 ratio (meaning you’ll earn 1,000 points in the partner program for every 1,000 points transferred from Chase).
To top it off, you can use the Chase Sapphire Preferred card to make international transactions with There are no costs for international transactions. It also includes primary vehicle rental insurance, so if you have an accident with your rental car, you won’t have to resort to your own auto coverage first.
What might be better: The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a classic, but it’s beginning to show its age in certain aspects. Other credit cards offer larger bonus points for travel purchases (though they normally come with higher annual fees), but if you book travel via Ultimate Rewards with the Sapphire Preferred, you may get 5 total points for every dollar spent.
Even our best Citi Double Cash card gives 2% cash back on everything you spend, including travel — 1% when you make a purchase and 1% when you pay it off — however you may receive more value when redeeming your Sapphire Preferred points than you do with plain cash back.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® isn’t as glamorous as its big brother, the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, which comes with travel advantages and a $300 yearly travel credit (but a much higher annual fee). However, if you don’t need or won’t utilize all of the additional features, you could be better off with this much less priced version.
Where it outperforms our benchmark card is in the following areas: Incentive categories, superior travel coverage, dependable airline and hotel partners, and a sign-up bonus are just a few of the benefits.
Where our benchmark card outperforms the competition: The Citi Double Cash card has no annual fee, offers a low introductory rate on balance transfers, and rewards you with easy-to-redeem cash.
Learn more about the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and apply today.
In a nutshell, if you’re undecided about whether you’d rather earn cash back or travel points, the Chase Freedom Flex, when linked with the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve card, lets you do both.
This card is ideal for: Those looking for maximum freedom in a credit card with There is no yearly charge.
Highlights:
- Earn 5% cash back on travel purchases with Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% on dining, and 3% on pharmacy purchases.
- Earn 5% cash back in rotating bonus areas, up to $1,500 in purchases every quarter.
- On all other purchases, you’ll get 1% cash back.
- When you combine the Freedom Flex with a Chase Sapphire Preferred or Reserve card, you may turn the cash back into flexible travel points.
- For the first 15 months, all purchases and debt transfers will get a 0% introductory APR (14.99 percent to 23.74 percent variable afterward).
- There is no yearly charge.
Sign-up bonus: Get $200 in extra cash after spending $500 on purchases during the first three months of establishing your account.
What we like about the Chase Freedom Flex: If you want cash back today but want to try something new in the future, the Chase Freedom Flex may let you have the best of both worlds.
The Chase Freedom Flex begins by earning cash back in three permanent bonus categories: 5% cash back on Chase Ultimate Rewards travel purchases, 3% cash back on eating (including takeout and delivery), and 3% cash back at drugstores.
Then you’ll get 5% cash back on purchases up to $1,500 in bonus areas that change every quarter. Grocery shops and eBay are the categories for January through March 2022, however the categories change each quarter. If you’re a first-time cardholder, you’ll earn 5% cash back on food purchases for the first 12 months, up to $12,000 in total spending.
For a cash back credit card, that’s already a really good deal. You may convert your cash back to points at a rate of 1 cent per point when you combine the Chase Freedom Flex with the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve. Then you may use the Chase travel site to redeem those points for travel at a higher value of 1.25 to 1.5 cents per point, or use the “Pay Yourself Back” option to use them in other categories.
Even better, you may transfer your points to any of Chase’s 14 airline and hotel reward partners after you’ve converted your cash back to points. Because of this incredible versatility, frequent flyer website The Points Guy values Ultimate Rewards points at 2 cents each. At that rate, you may wind up with a 3 percent return on your purchases, thanks to the 1.5 percent cash back on the Freedom Flex.
The Chase Freedom Flex also comes with mobile phone protection, purchase protection, extended warranty protection, and a three-month free DashPass membership.
What’s more, although the permanent bonus categories have no limit, the rotating bonus categories only allow you to receive additional cash back on up to $1,500 every quarter. After that, you’ll only receive a 1% return, so keep note of how much you’ve spent in those areas throughout the course of the quarter.
In order to receive 5% cash back on the rotating bonus categories, you must remember to activate them each quarter. While you may activate them virtually any time throughout the quarter and still earn the additional cash back on previous purchases, it’s critical not to miss the deadline or you’ll miss out on a key feature of the card.
Where it outperforms our benchmark card: Sign-up bonus, purchase and cell phone safeguards, and a 15-month introductory rate on purchases.
Where the Citi Double Cash outperforms our benchmark card: The Citi Double Cash gives a greater total cash back rate.
Learn more about the Chase Freedom Flex and apply now.
In one statement, here’s why it’s great: The Blue Cash Everyday card offers 3% cash back as a statement credit at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 yearly, thereafter 1%), as well as a significant introductory interest rate on purchases for 15 months (see rates and fees), all with no annual fee (see rates and costs).
This card is for those who spend a lot of money at supermarkets in the United States each year and don’t want to pay an annual fee for a credit card.
Highlights:
- Earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 in purchases each year (then 1 percent ).
- Earn 2% cash back at certain gas stations and department shops in the United States.
- On anything else, you’ll get 1% cash back.
- Reward Dollars are a kind of cash back that may be redeemed for a statement credit.
- For the first 15 months, all purchases have a 0% introductory APR (13.99 percent to 23.99 percent variable after that, see rates and fees).
- There is no yearly charge.
- Terms and conditions apply.
Spend $2,000 on your new card in the first six months after creating the account and get $200 back as a statement credit.
What we appreciate most about the Blue Cash Everyday is that for many Americans, grocery costs account up a considerable amount of their monthly family budget. The Blue Cash Everyday card boosts additional cash back in that area as well as at petrol stations, making it a go-to card in your pocket for two common expenditures.
The card also offers an initial 0% APR on purchases for the first 15 months, in addition to its bonus categories. However, you should pay off your loan before the conclusion of the intro period, since the APR will increase to a variable 13.99 percent to 23.99 percent after that.
New Blue Cash Everyday card members will also find a welcome bonus that should come in handy: $200 cash back as a statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases in the first six months. That’s a decent chunk of change for a card that has There is no yearly charge.
What could be more ideal: With the Blue Cash Everyday, bonus cash back isn’t received on purchases made outside of the US, and there’s a 3% international transaction charge on top of that (see rates and fees). Plus, there’s no option to convert your cash back into American Express Membership Rewards points, which might be more beneficial for people who want the most flexibility when it comes to redeeming credit card rewards for future travel.
Some customers may wish to explore American Express’s Blue Cash Preferred® Card, which gets 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets – twice the Blue Cash Everyday — on up to $6,000 in purchases each year (1 percent thereafter). The Blue Cash Preferred also gives 6% cash back on certain streaming subscriptions in the United States, as well as 3% cash back at petrol stations and on public transportation in the United States.
You’ll ordinarily pay a $95 annual fee in return for those higher bonus rates, but the Blue Cash Preferred now has a In exchange for those higher bonus rates, you’ll normally pay a $95 annual fee each year, but right now the Blue Cash Preferred comes with a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year (see rates and fees). So you’ll need to consider whether the Blue Cash Everyday with no annual fee, or the Blue Cash Preferred with a $95 annual fee after the first year, is a better choice for your needs. introductory annual charge for the first year (see rates and fees). So think about whether the Blue Cash Everyday, which has no annual charge, or the Blue Cash Preferred, which has a $95 annual fee after the first year, is a better fit for your requirements.
Where it outperforms our benchmark card is in the following areas: Car rental damage coverage, an introductory interest rate on purchases, and a welcome bonus
Where our benchmark card outperforms the competition: When coupled with the Citi Premier, the Citi Double Cash includes an initial balance transfer offer, and its cash back may be converted to Citi ThankYou travel points.
Get more information about the Blue Cash Everyday card.
Why it’s wonderful in a nutshell: The American Express Gold Card is a top-notch card for food, since you’ll earn a pretty high return at both restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, as well as some fantastic built-in advantages.
This card is ideal for: People who often dine at restaurants or order meals for delivery.
Highlights:
- Earn 4 points for every dollar spent at restaurants around the globe and at supermarkets in the United States (up to $25,000 in purchases each year, then 1x).
- For flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, you’ll get 3 points every dollar spent.
- On anything else, you’ll get one point each dollar spent.
- Annual meal credits of up to $120 are available.
- Uber Cash is worth up to $120 every year.
- Annual charge of $250 (see rates & fees).
- Terms and conditions apply.
Earn 60,000 extra points after spending $4,000 on purchases during the first six months of your account’s establishment.
What we like about the American Express Gold: With a $250 annual fee, it’s not a cheap card. But hold on because, because to its various statement credits, the Amex Gold’s benefits might swiftly exceed its cost.
You may earn up to $10 in statement credits each month with the Amex Gold when you use your card to purchase at certain food merchants, such as Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Boxed, and selected Shake Shack locations, in addition to earning a lot of points (enrollment required).
You’ll also get up to $10 in Uber Cash every month, which you can spend on Uber trips or Uber Eats purchases in the US. If you order out often, you’ll be able to use up both the Uber Cash and the dining credits in a month’s time.
If you use all of these credits each year, you’ll have $240 in credits, which means you’ll only be spending $10 for the card despite the $250 yearly charge.
What’s more, the Amex Gold card accumulates points that may be redeemed for a variety of things, but are best used for travel. That means you’ll probably want to save your points until you’re ready to travel before redeeming them. So, if you’re searching for a card with benefits you can use right away, a cash back card would be a better option.
If you can’t use the yearly credits on the Amex Gold, which are given out monthly and need some work to optimize, you’ll want to seek elsewhere. Otherwise, you’ll be spending a lot of money for a card that won’t provide you the most bang for your buck.
It outperforms our benchmark card in the following areas: welcome bonus, yearly credits, bonus categories, and strong airline and hotel partners.
Where our benchmark card outperforms the competition: No annual fee, introductory rate on balance transfers, and simple cash back are all features of the Citi Double Cash.
More information about the American Express Gold Card may be found here.
Why it’s great in a nutshell: The Citi Premier card has a robust set of bonus categories that make it simple to earn extra points at gas stations and other major household budget staples, plus its points can be easily redeemed for travel or transferred to any of Citi’s airline partners for potentially even more value.
This card is ideal for: Those who want to earn bonus points across a wide range of categories and are prepared to learn how to leverage Citi’s diverse network of transfer partners.
Highlights:
- For every dollar spent at petrol stations, restaurants, supermarkets, air travel, and hotels, you will get three points.
- On anything else, you’ll get one point each dollar spent.
- Points may be redeemed for travel or 1 cent gift cards via the Citi ThankYou Rewards travel site.
- Points may also be transferred at a 1:1 ratio to any of Citi’s 17 airline and hotel partners.
- When you book a single hotel stay of $500 or more via thankyou.com, you’ll get a $100 credit per year, minus taxes and fees.
- There are no costs for international transactions.
- An annual charge of $95 is required.
Earn 60,000 extra points after spending $4,000 on purchases during the first three months of creating your account.
What we like about the Citi Premier: The Citi Premier offers a decent combination of strong bonus categories, substantial travel benefits, and a terrific sign-up bonus for a $95 annual fee, making it a package worth considering.
For starters, the Citi Premier presently offers a generous sign-up bonus. After spending $4,000 on the card in the first three months after creating the account, new cardholders may receive 60,000 bonus points. Citi ThankYou points are worth 1.7 cents each, making 60,000 points worth $1,020 in travel, according to The Points Guy.
While Citi’s ThankYou program isn’t as well-known as Chase and Amex’s, the issuer’s 15 airline transfer partners — as well as two newly added hotel partners — provide a variety of possibilities that aren’t accessible anyplace else.
Of course, if you don’t want to learn about transfer programs, you can always redeem your Citi Premier points for 1 cent per point by utilizing Citi’s travel gateway to book any airline or hotel stay without having to worry about award availability or ban periods. Even if you go the straightforward route, the 60,000-point bonus is still worth $600.
What could be more ideal: While having unique transfer partners is fantastic, the Citi ThankYou airline relationships tilt strongly toward overseas programs that are best used by points and miles specialists who are willing to put in the time and effort. Using them may provide excellent value for your points, but they are not for the faint of heart.
Another surprise disadvantage of the Citi Premier card is that it lacks significant travel and purchase protections for a travel credit card. The great bulk of Citi’s travel insurance coverage was withdrawn from all of its credit cards a few years ago, and as a consequence, it’s the one feature of the Citi Premier that falls short of its rivals.
Where it outperforms our benchmark card is in the following areas: Bonus categories, sign-up bonuses, and airline and hotel transfer partners are all available.
Where our benchmark card outperforms the competition: No annual fee, introductory rate on balance transfers, and simple cash back are all features of the Citi Double Cash.
Learn more about the Citi Premier Card and apply today.
In one phrase, why it’s great: If you need to consolidate debt to save money on interest, the Citi Diamond Preferred credit card provides a zero percent introductory interest rate on balance transfers for the first four months after you activate the card.
This card is ideal for: Those who wish to consolidate their debt at a low interest rate for a long period of time.
Highlights:
- On debt transfers done in the first four months after you get the card, you’ll get a 0% introductory APR for 21 months (13.74 percent to 23.74 percent variable afterward).
- For the first 12 months, all purchases get a 0% introductory APR (13.74 percent to 23.74 percent variable afterward).
- There is no yearly charge.
There is no sign-up incentive.
What we appreciate about the Citi Diamond Preferred: The first step to getting out of credit card debt is to stop the bleeding by paying off the high interest you’ve amassed. The doctor prescribed a credit card with an extended introductory balance transfer deal.
The Citi Diamond Preferred has a long 21-month promotional period, during which any balance transfers performed within the first four months of card ownership would incur a 0% APR. However, you’ll want to pay off your whole amount transfer within those 21 months, since the APR will soar to between 13.74 percent and 23.74 percent, depending on your creditworthiness, after the promotional period finishes.
Even better, for the first 12 months, you’ll enjoy the same 0% APR on new purchases using the card. Again, depending on your creditworthiness, the APR will increase to between 13.74 percent and 23.74 percent after the conclusion of the intro period, so make sure you pay off your debt before then.
The Citi Diamond Preferred card also includes a free FICO credit score and enables you to select your payment due date, which is ideal for those who pay their credit card bills around their income schedule and want maximum flexibility.
What could be more ideal: There aren’t many intriguing benefits with the Citi Diamond Preferred, other from the debt transfer option and free FICO score. There are no rewards on the card, and there are no significant extra benefits.
Any balance transfers to the Citi Diamond Preferred will likewise incur a 5% charge (with a $5 minimum). This is more than the industry average for a balance transfer charge, which is normally about 3%, so bear that in mind when moving debt to the card.
Consider our benchmark Citi Double Cash card, which not only gives a 0% APR on balance transfers for the first 18 months (after which a variable APR of 13.99 percent to 23.99 percent applies), but also earns cash back on all purchases (though balance transfers do not).
Still, if you need to pay no interest on both new and current debt for a long time, the Citi Diamond Preferred may be worth the additional cost to give you time to get back on track and straighten up your finances.
Where it outperforms our benchmark card is in the following areas: A 12-month introductory interest rate on purchases and a longer 21-month introductory interest rate on balance transfers.
Where the Citi Double Cash outperforms our benchmark card: The Citi Double Cash gets cash back incentives on all transactions.
Learn more about the Citi Diamond Preferred Card and apply today.
The U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card provides a 0% APR on all purchases for the first 20 billing cycles, which is ideal for consumers who would prefer pay no interest on purchases for as long as possible rather than collecting cash back or travel rewards (the APR rises to a variable 14.49 percent to 24.49 percent after the introductory period ends).
People who want the longest possible introductory interest rate term on purchases when they initially receive a credit card should get this card.
Highlights:
- For the first 20 payment cycles, all purchases get a 0% introductory APR (14.49 percent to 24.49 percent variable afterward).
- On debt transfers done in the first 60 days after you get the card, you’ll get a 0% introductory APR for 20 payment cycles (14.49 percent to 24.49 percent variable afterward).
- Protection for your cell phone.
- There is no yearly charge.
There is no sign-up incentive.
What we enjoy about the Visa Platinum from the United States Bank: Credit cards are notorious for having exorbitant interest rates, making them unsuitable for significant expenditures. The U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card, on the other hand, is an exception, at least for the first 20 billing cycles (i.e., your first 20 monthly bills) after you get the card.
During that period, you may use the card to make purchases and pay them off over time without paying any interest. It’s a terrific option to finance a huge emergency buy or even simply everyday costs if you’re in a rush since it provides a longer intro period than practically any other credit card on the market.
But be cautious! Any debt left on the card after the promotional rate period expires will be subject to a variable APR of 14.49 percent to 24.49 percent, depending on your creditworthiness. If you haven’t paid off all of your purchases in full by then, you’ll be liable for some astronomical interest charges. Still, if you’re simply trying to make ends meet for the time being, this is a card that might come in handy.
There’s also an added perk on this card: ongoing Protection for your cell phone. When you pay your cell phone bill with the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum, you’ll be covered for damage or theft to your cell phone up to $600, with a $25 deductible, for up to two claims per 12-month period.
What could be more ideal: This isn’t a card that will do anything for you, except from the initial interest rate on purchases and a comparable promotional interest rate on balance transfers (which comes with a 3% charge). It doesn’t earn any points, doesn’t offer a sign-up bonus, and doesn’t come with any other substantial benefits.
Although the US Bank Visa Platinum has no annual cost, it does have a 3% international transaction fee, so you won’t want to use it abroad. In reality, it’s not a card we’d suggest for long-term use, apart maybe financing purchases during the promotional period.
If you’re willing to trade a slightly shorter introductory period for more rewards, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card may be worth considering. It offers a 0% introductory interest rate on purchases for the first 15 months, as well as 1.5 percent cash back on all purchases and additional bonus categories.
Where it outperforms our benchmark card is in the following areas: Cell phone insurance and an introductory interest rate on purchases for the first 20 billing cycles.
Where the Citi Double Cash outperforms our benchmark card: The Citi Double Cash receives rewards on all purchases.
Learn more about the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum and apply today.
In a nutshell, the Blue Business Plus from American Express is a great and simple choice for businesses with annual expenses of less than $50,000, because it earns a flat rate of 2 Membership Rewards points for every dollar spent on all business purchases up to $50,000 per year, then 1 point per dollar spent after that, all with no annual fee (see rates and fees).
This card is right for: Small businesses that want to stockpile transferable travel rewards to use for the future and a credit card with There is no yearly charge.
Highlights:
- Earn two points for every dollar spent on all purchases up to $50,000 per year, then one point for each dollar spent beyond that.
- At a rate of up to 1 cent per point, points may be redeemed for travel via Amex Travel.
- Amex points may also be transferred to any of the airline and hotel partners that Amex has.
- For the first 12 months, all purchases have a 0% introductory APR (13.24 percent -21.24 percent variable after that, see rates and costs).
- There is no yearly charge.
- Terms and conditions apply.
Earn 15,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on qualifying purchases during the first three months of your account’s creation.
What we like about the Blue Business Plus: The Blue Business Plus is a good option for small firms seeking for a business credit card that compares to the personal Citi Double Cash, which is our benchmark card.
For every dollar spent on all purchases, the Blue Business Plus receives 2 Membership Rewards points, up to $50,000 per calendar year. If you plan on traveling this year or next, the points may be redeemed for travel directly at a rate of up to 1 cent per point, or transferred to any of Amex’s 21 airline and hotel partners for potentially considerably more value.
Your business can also take advantage of the card’s 0% introductory APR on purchases for the first 12 months you have the card — just make sure it’s paid off by the end of that time, or you’ll find yourself facing an ongoing variable APR of 13.24%-21.24%, depending on your creditworthiness. Overall, it’s a pretty sweet package for small businesses, and all for There is no yearly charge.
What could be more ideal: The American Express® Blue Business Cash Card, which has all of the same features as the Blue Business Plus but earns cash back automatically credited to your statement instead of points, can be converted to cash back at a poor rate of 0.6 cents per point, so small businesses focused on earning cash back instead of travel rewards should choose the American Express® Blue Business Cash Card, which has all of the same features as the Blue Business Plus but earns cash back automatically credited to your statement instead of points.
You won’t want to use this card for international purchases since it comes with a 2.7 percent foreign transaction charge (see rates and fees). Larger organizations with more than $50,000 in annual credit card costs may find the Blue Business cards restricting, since all charges beyond that level earn just 1 point per dollar in a calendar year. (For firms with higher yearly costs, see our option for larger enterprises below.)
Where it outperforms our benchmark card: a large number of airline and hotel partners, certain travel and transaction protections, and an initial purchase discount.
Where our benchmark card outperforms the competition: The Citi Double Cash offers a low introductory rate on balance transfers and cash back that is simple to redeem.
Get more information about the Blue Business Plus Card.
In a nutshell, the Capital One Spark Miles for Business card earns an unlimited 2 miles for every dollar spent on the card — plus 3 additional miles for hotel and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel with the card — and those miles can be redeemed for any travel purchase at 1 cent per mile or transferred to Capital One’s airline partners for potentially even more valuable redemptions.
This card is ideal for: Larger organizations looking for simple-to-redeem travel rewards points with the chance to learn how to master transferrable miles later on for even more value.
Highlights:
- For every dollar you spend on your card on hotels and rental vehicles booked via Capital One Travel, you’ll earn 5 miles.
- All other purchases earn 2 miles per dollar, with no limit.
- At a cost of one penny per mile, miles may be redeemed for any travel transaction.
- Miles may be transferred to 16 different airline and hotel partners.
- When you apply for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, you may get a $100 credit.
- There are no costs for international transactions.
- For the first year, there is no yearly cost; after that, it is $95 each year.
Earn 50,000 extra miles when you spend $4,500 in the first three months after creating your account.
What we like about the Capital One Spark Miles: Businesses with substantial spending that may be charged to a credit card will like the Spark Miles for Business card’s limitless 2 miles per dollar, as well as the bonus 3x miles when booking hotels or auto rentals via Capital One Travel.
Capital One miles may be redeemed for 1 cent per mile on any travel expenditures made with the card, or transferred to any of Capital One’s 16 airline and hotel partners for a potentially greater value with a little more effort.
The Spark Miles card also comes with a 50,000-mile sign-up bonus after spending $4,500 in the first three months, which is a very modest barrier for any company with large monthly costs.
The greatest thing is that the card’s $95 annual cost is waived for the first year, allowing you to test it out for a full year to determine whether it meets your requirements.
What might be better: Most firms aren’t thinking about business travel right now, so if you’d rather earn cash back than miles, the new Capital One Spark Cash Plus card is a good alternative. It gets 2% cash back on all purchases and has no spending limits, but it lacks a few bonuses, such as 5x on car rentals and hotels via Capital One Travel, and it has a higher annual fee of $150.
Capital One deserves credit for expanding its mileage program in 2018 to include transfer partners and recently adding even more. However, because it’s a new part of the program, the Spark Miles for Business airline partners aren’t as lucrative as those from Chase and American Express, though you can still find fantastic value with some effort.
It’s also inconvenient that you must book hotels and car rentals via Capital One Travel to earn 5 miles per dollar, particularly because most hotels won’t respect achieved elite status or offer elite nights or points for bookings made through third-party sites. Capital One Travel’s new price prediction and protection features, on the other hand, are worth a look.
Because the Spark Miles card has a $95 annual fee beyond the first year, it’s more costly than our benchmark Citi Double Cash, so companies should make sure they’re gaining enough additional value from their miles to justify the expense.
Sign-up bonus, purchase protections, and travel coverage are all areas where it outperforms our benchmark card.
Where our benchmark card outperforms the competition: There is no annual fee on the Citi Double Cash, and there is an introductory rate on balance transfers.
For more information about Capital One Spark Miles for Business, click here.
The Blue Cash Everyday card’s rates and fees may be seen here. The Blue Cash Preferred card’s rates and fees may be seen here. The American Express Gold card’s rates and fees may be seen here. The Blue Business Plus card’s rates and fees may be seen here.
Do you need assistance paying off your credit card debt? Discover which cards CNN Underscored selected as the top debt transfer credit cards currently available.
CNN Underscored Money has the most up-to-date personal financial offers, news, and advice.
The “best credit cards 2021” is a list of the best credit cards in February 2022. The list was compiled by using data from various sources, including Credit Karma’s research and the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time of year are the best credit card offers?
A: Credit card offers are best in the summer and fall, but can be found all year long.
Which credit card is the most prestigious?
A: The American Express is the most prestigious credit card, though all credit cards are very prestigious in their own way.
Which credit card is best for 40000 salary?
A: For this question, there is no definitive answer. The best card will depend on your financial situation. Some cards may charge you a lot in interest while others may have high limits or low rates. As such, it would be best to contact a credit card company for more information about their product and how it might work for you if the answers from my research are not enough.
Related Tags
- best credit cards for travel
- best cash back credit cards
- best credit cards to build credit
- best credit cards 2021 no annual fee
- best credit card signup bonus 2021
