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Having the right credit card can make your travel less expensive and more enjoyable. Likewise, credit cards can make your everyday expenses more rewarding, since many cards offer cash back or travel rewards on all purchases.
But there’s no one best credit card for everyone. Frequent travelers will have different needs than someone who just wants the most cash back on groceries. Even within each type of credit card, there are different features, spending categories and benefits. So what card is right for another person may not be the right one for you.
Regardless, if you’re in the market for a credit card, having some inspiration can be helpful. So in this article, the CNN Underscored team will show you some of its favorite credit cards, from premium travel cards to cash back and everything else in between.
Prime Visa
Here at CNN Underscored, we’re big fans of Amazon. There’s something to be said for its huge variety of products and fast shipping with Amazon Prime. So naturally, many of our staffers use the Prime Visa card to earn 5% back on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases. Just note that you must be an Amazon Prime member to get these cash back rates.
Chelsea Stone — a Senior Editor at CNN Underscored — loves her Amazon Prime Rewards card:
The Prime Visa card earns bonus cash back on other categories too. You’ll earn 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase, and 2% cash back at gas stations, restaurants, local transit and other commuting expenses. All other purchases earn 1% cash back. If you’re an Amazon Prime member and want cash back rewards, this could be a great credit card to add to your wallet.
Welcome offer: Get a $150 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members
Annual fee: $0.
Learn more and apply for the Prime Visa.
Related: These are the 8 best credit cards to use for Amazon purchases.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a favorite of Hunter Capobianco, CNN Underscored’s Director of Business Development. It’s a cash back credit card that offers up to 6% cash back on some popular everyday purchase categories, like U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%, select streaming services and transit. Plus, it earns 3% cash back on gas.
Here’s what Capobianco said about the Blue Cash Preferred:
The Blue Cash Preferred can be a great option for those who simply want a high cash back return on their everyday expenses. However, it’s not the best option for those looking for travel rewards, as you can only redeem for statement credits.
Welcome offer: Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card within the first six months.
Annual fee: $95, waived the first year (see rates and fees).
Learn more and apply for the Blue Cash Preferred card.
Read CNN Underscored’s full review of the Blue Cash Preferred card.
American Express® Gold Card
The American Express® Gold Card is one of my personal favorites. It’s geared toward foodies, as it earns 4 Membership Rewards points per dollar on dining and at U.S. supermarkets. Plus, frequent travelers will enjoy earning 3 points per dollar on airfare booked through American Express Travel or directly with an airline.
This is why the Amex Gold has a permanent place in my wallet:
On top of stellar points earning rates, the Amex Gold gives monthly Uber Cash credits. Simply add your Gold Card to your Uber account and automatically get $10 in Uber Cash every month for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
Plus, the Amex Gold also gives $10 in monthly dining statement credits that can be used at one of these merchants: Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. This almost completely offsets the card’s $250 annual fee (see rates and fees), giving the Amex Gold a permanent place in my wallet. Enrollment required.
Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new card within the first six months of card membership.
Annual fee: $250.
Learn more and apply for the Amex Gold card.
Read CNN Underscored’s full review of the Amex Gold card.
Bilt Mastercard®
The Bilt Mastercard® was launched in 2021 as the first credit card to directly earn travel rewards points on rent payments. Plus, the card earns bonus points on dining and select travel purchases, and the points you earn can be transferred to various travel loyalty programs, like American Airlines AAdvantage, United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt, among others.
The Bilt Mastercard is one of my favorite credit cards — here’s why:
The Bilt Mastercard is a great starter rewards credit card for anyone that wants to earn points one everyday purchases and pays rent. Card members earn 1 point per dollar on rent payments, up to 100,000 points per year. And if your building doesn’t participate in the Bilt Alliance, Bilt will send a check or ACH transfer to your landlord free of charge. So not only is the Bilt Mastercard rewarding, it’s convenient too.
Welcome offer: None.
Annual fee: $0 (see rates and fees).
Learn more and apply for the Bilt Mastercard.
Read CNN Underscored’s full review of the Bilt Mastercard.
Citi® Double Cash Card
Another one of my favorite cards is the Citi® Double Cash Card. This is our benchmark card at CNN Underscored, and that’s largely because it offers 2% cash back on all purchases awarded in the form of Citi ThankYou points. This is awarded in two steps: 1% when you make a purchase and 1% when you pay your credit card bill. Plus, if you have a Citi Premier® Card, you can transfer them to Citi’s airline and hotel transfer partners.
Here’s why I use the Citi Double Cash for most of my non-bonus spending:
Another big benefit of the Citi Double Cash? It has no annual fee, so you can keep it in your wallet indefinitely and pay no fees so long as you pay your bill in full every month. Just don’t use the card when traveling abroad as it charges a 3% foreign transaction fee. Use one of our favorite credit cards for international travel for purchases made in currencies other than US dollars.
Welcome offer: None.
Annual fee: $0.
Learn more and apply for the Citi Double Cash card.
Read CNN Underscored’s full review of the Citi Double Cash card.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Platinum Card® from American Express is a classic travel rewards credit card that focuses on high-end benefits like airport lounge access, complimentary hotel elite status and a slew of travel and retail statement credits. If you can make use of these benefits, you’ll quickly offset the card’s high $695 annual fee (see rates and fees).
Here’s why CNN Underscored’s Senior Travel Editor, Emily McNutt, keeps the Amex Platinum in her wallet:
Likewise, Richa Srivastava — a Business Development Coordinator at CNN Underscored — recently used the Amex Platinum and its various perks and welcome offer on a trip to Greece:
I’ve also had the Amex Platinum in my wallet for years because — like my colleagues — I use the card’s benefits and find that I get more value than what I pay for the $695 annual fee. This is especially true as a Delta frequent flyer, as I can access airport Delta Sky Club lounges before flights. Plus, the included car rental elite status has also given me numerous upgrades over the years.
That said, it’s only worth opening the Amex Platinum if you travel enough to use the benefits, as the card has lackluster bonus earning categories. It earns 5 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year) and on prepaid hotel bookings made through American Express Travel. All other purchases earn just 1 point per dollar.
Welcome offer: Earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in your first 6 months of card membership
Annual fee: $695.
Learn more and apply for the Amex Platinum card.
Read CNN Underscored’s full review of the Amex Platinum card.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is another classic travel credit card. Unlike the Amex Platinum, however, it focuses on earning bonus points on dining and travel. And if you’re a frequent Lyft rider, you’ll enjoy earning 5 points per dollar on Lyft rides through March 2025. Plus, the Sapphire Preferred has some interesting special perks like an annual hotel discount and a host of travel protections.
This is another one of McNutt’s favorite cards — here’s why it’s earned a permanent place in her wallet:
Another big reason to sign up for the Sapphire Preferred as one of your first travel credit cards is its welcome offer. The card offers consistently large bonuses, with the current offer being 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on the card in the first three months of account opening. This is worth $750 if you redeem through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal, but can be worth much more if you leverage transfer partners to book first or business class airfare.
Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee: $95.
Learn more and apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.
Read CNN Underscored’s full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® card is the more premium version of the Sapphire Preferred, with increased points earning and a slew of premium benefits. These include Priority Pass airport lounge access, unlimited access to Chase Sapphire Lounges, a $300 travel credit and increased redemption rates through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal.
This is another one of Hunter Capobianco’s favorite cards:
I agree with Capobianco that the Sapphire Reserve is a great card for travel and dining. I personally use the card for the majority of my travel expenses, as it earns 3 points per dollar on all travel and 10 points per dollar on Lyft through March 2025. Plus, the Sapphire Reserve includes many excellent travel protections, like travel delay protection that kicks in if your travel is delayed 6+ hours or requires an overnight stay. If this happens, you’ll be reimbursed for expenses like lodging, food and transportation.
Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee: $550.
Learn more and apply for the Chase Sapphire Reserve card.
Read CNN Underscored’s full review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve card.
Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card
The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card is a newcomer to the rewards credit card world, and it’s largely an upgrade to the Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card which is no longer open to new applicants. It earns 3 points per dollar on a variety of everyday purchase categories: restaurants, gas and EV charging, transit, travel, popular streaming services and phone plans. You can redeem rewards for cash back, travel and gift cards to popular merchants.
Here’s why Editorial Coordinator Joe Bloss keeps the card in his wallet:
The Wells Fargo Autograph card is a great credit card for those who spend in the supported bonus categories and want to keep things simple. The card provides an effective 3% return on these purchases, which you can use to reduce your costs and stretch your money further.
Welcome offer: Limited Time Offer — Earn 30,000 bonus points when you spend $1,500 in purchases in the first 3 months. You must select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer.
Annual fee: $0.
Bottom line
There are a lot of great credit card out there — but there’s not one best credit card for everyone. Here, the CNN Underscored staff showed you their favorite credit cards. Use their favorites as inspiration for finding a credit card or two for your wallet.
So whether you’re looking for cash back or travel rewards, chances are there’s a card that will reward for your purchases. And if you’re looking for travel benefits, there are a variety of credit cards that will give you top-notch benefits like airport lounge access, free checked bags and other interesting perks.
Click here for rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred card.
Click here for rates and fees of the Amex Gold card.
Click here for rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card.
Looking for a credit card that earns travel rewards? Check out CNN Underscored’s list of the best travel credit cards currently available.
Get all the latest personal finance deals, news and advice at CNN Underscored Money.