CNBC’s best credit cards of 2024

There are credit cards designed to meet all kinds of financial situations and needs. Whether you’re a foodie, road warrior, traveler, student or someone looking to build credit, there are many card options to choose from.

To help narrow down the best credit card for your lifestyle, each month, CNBC Select publishes a list of the top credit cards available. It can change depending on limited-time sign-up bonuses, benefits and more.

However, some cards deserve extra recognition for consistently differentiating themselves from the competition and topping our rankings month after month. These cards offer extra generous rewards and perks and continuously evolve to meet changing needs.

Here, CNBC Select rounds up the best credit cards of 2024 for a variety of consumer habits based on rewards, fees, introductory and standard APRs, as well as other perks like annual statement credits, discounts at select retailers and built-in insurance. (See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best credit cards of 2024.)

This card has no annual fee, and you can benefit from an introductory APR offer. This card also offers 5% cash back on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2025 and complimentary three months of DashPass with 50% off for the next nine months. Simply activate by December 31, 2024.

The value of Membership Rewards points varies depending on how cardholders redeem them. You can use them in a variety of ways, from paying with points at checkout at sites like Amazon to redeeming for gift cards or a statement credit to booking travel. See more on how points are calculated.

Cardholders also receive an annual dining credit of up to $120 ($10 in statement credits a month) at participating partners, including Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Terms apply. Enrollment required. There are also *no foreign transaction fees.

This card does have a *$250 annual fee, but it can be reduced to effectively $130 if you take advantage of the $120 dining credit each year. Then, the rewards you earn help further “pay” for the card.

Gold Card members can also participate in Amex Offers, where you can earn statement credits or bonus Membership Rewards® points at select retailers. For example, a recent offer for Wine.com states: “Spend $50 or more, get $10 back.” These limited-time offers are location-based and additional terms apply.

*See rates and fees.

With this card, there are no blackout dates when you pay for travel purchases using your card. And, you can easily redeem miles as a statement credit for travel, restaurant or gas station purchases, as well as a deposit to your bank account. The best part is that miles earned never expire — even if your account is closed.

This card offers a variable APR of 13.74% to 18.00% on purchases. If you carry a balance, you can benefit from low interest charges compared to other cards that have high interest rates. Balance transfers do incur a fee of $10.00 or 2.00% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater.

Beyond interest rates, the Visa® Titanium Signature Rewards Card offers a generous rewards program: Earn 3X points on gas and grocery purchases and 1.5X points on all other purchases. Plus, there’s a welcome bonus of 10,000 points after you spend $1,500 within the first 90 days.

In order to open this card, you need to join Andrews Federal Credit Union, but anyone can join. If you don’t meet the qualification requirements, you can opt to join the American Consumer Council (ACC) for free with the promo code “Andrews.”

This card requires a minimum $200 security deposit, which is fairly standard for secured credit cards. It stands out from the crowd because it gives users a clear path to upgrading to an unsecured card (and getting their deposit back). Starting at seven months from account opening, Discover will automatically review your credit card account to see if they can transition you to an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit. This takes the guesswork out of wondering when you’ll qualify for an unsecured credit card.

Who’s this for? The Petal 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa Credit Card, issued by WebBank, is easier to get approved for because it takes a different approach to the credit card application process. Instead of judging your creditworthiness solely based on credit history, Petal may ask you to link bank accounts during the application process. Then, WebBank analyzes your bank statements and other data, such as bill payments and earnings, to determine your eligibility.

This is especially beneficial for applicants who may not have any credit history. However, if you do have a credit history, that does factor into the credit decision.

The Petal 2 Visa Credit Card is one of the few cards that charge zero fees*: no annual fee, no late payment fee and no foreign transaction fees. And it stands out for consumers trying to build credit because there’s no security deposit required.

It also offers a rewards program with 1% cash back on eligible purchases right away, which can increase up to 1.5% cash back after you make 12 on-time monthly payments. This is not only a nice perk, but a great way to encourage responsible behavior. Cardholders also earn 2% to 10% cash back from select merchants.

Who’s this for? The Discover it® Student Cash Back is a well-rounded card that offers college students enrolled in a two- or four-year college the chance to build credit while earning rewards. You must be over 18 and a U.S. citizen to apply.

Upon activation, cardholders can earn 5% cash back on rotating categories up to a $1,500 maximum each quarter (then 1%). All other purchases earn unlimited 1% cash back automatically.

There is also an introductory APR offer which can be perfect for financing dorm room essentials or textbooks. After you graduate, your Discover it student credit card becomes a regular credit card.

Who’s this for? The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is geared toward foodies and frequent travelers looking for luxurious perks, such as free airport lounge access and complimentary hotel room upgrades. Cardholders earn a competitive 3X points on dining and travel worldwide. Based on CNBC Select’s calculations, we found the average American using this card could earn an estimated $165 per year in rewards for dining purchases alone (assuming you redeem rewards for travel via Chase Ultimate Rewards®, receiving 50% more value).

The value of Chase rewards points varies depending on how you use them. If you redeem points for cash and gift cards, each point is worth $.01, which means that 100 points equals $1 in redemption value. (See more on how the value of points is calculated.)

This card has a unique benefit where all points are worth 50% more when redeemed for travel via Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 redeemed toward airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. This perk is a great way to get the most value for your rewards.

While this card has a robust travel rewards program, it also comes with a steep $550 annual fee. All the card’s added credits and benefits provided by Chase can help offset the annual cost. The $300 annual travel credit effectively reduces the annual fee to $150. Cardholders can take advantage of a Priority Pass™ Select membership that has a value of about $429. They also get a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit of up to $100 every four years.

Cardmembers can also take advantage of Amex Offers, where users earn a statement credit or additional cash back at select retailers. For example, a recent offer gave you $25 back each month (up to three times), if you spent $70 or more a month on Sun Basket meal kit delivery. These limited-time offers are location-based and additional terms apply.

This card has $0 intro annual fee for the first year (then $95), but it can be offset by the cash back you earn and discounts you can get through the Amex Offers. (See rates and fees)

Who’s this for? The Bilt Mastercard® is the only credit card that lets you earn travel rewards on rent payments with no fees.

So long as you make at least five card transactions per statement period, you’ll earn 3X points on dining, 2X points on travel 1X points on rent (on up to $50,000 in rent payments every year) and everything else. Thanks to a new partnership with Lyft, cardholders can now also earn up to 5X points on their rideshares.

Thanks to the BiltProtect feature, cardholders are protected from using up their entire credit limit or risk going into debt by charging their rent to their card every month. Other benefits include cell phone protection; Purchase Assurance Plus, which covers your purchases for 90 days; exclusive discounts with brands like Lyft, DoorDash and ShopRunner; and access to the Mastercard Luxury Hotels & Resorts portfolio, which offers amenities like upgrades, free breakfast and property credits.

Bilt Rewards points are extremely flexible. They can be redeemed for travel either by transferring them to airline and hotel partners or by booking through the Bilt Travel Portal at a fixed rate of 1.25 cents per point. Other redemption options include using them to shop online, book fitness classes, pay rent and even make a down payment on a home.

Beyond entertainment perks, there’s also 10% cash back on Uber rides, 4% cash back on dining and popular streaming services, 3% at grocery stores and 1% on all other purchases. Plus, you can enjoy an Uber One membership through Nov. 14, 2024 and foodie-centric perks through Capital One Dining.

This card does come with a $95 annual fee, but can be offset by the cash back you earn.

Who’s this for? The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers excellent rewards rates: Earn 5X miles on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 2X miles per dollar spent on all other spending. While Venture does come with a $95 annual fee, that’s low compared to some other rewards cards, with some annual fees of up to $550.

In addition to rewards, every four years cardholders receive a credit for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application, up to $100. Cardholders now also get two free visits to Capital One airport lounges per year. If you travel often, these are great perks that can save you time and money.

This card has no foreign transaction fees and comes with a bunch of additional travel perks, such as 24-hour travel assistance services and an auto rental collision damage waiver.

*Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details.

Who’s this for? The Platinum Card® from American Express is for those who want a luxury card with a lengthy list of benefits. Although best known for its travel perks, this card also offers a number of everyday benefits, including digital entertainment, shopping and wellness credits (enrollment required), so you don’t need to be a road warrior to benefit from it.

To start, cardholders earn a respectable 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 per calendar year), 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel and 1X points on all other purchases.

In addition, cardholders can enjoy over a dozen premium travel and lifestyle benefits, including:

• Up to $200 annual hotel credit
• Up to $200 annual airline fee credit
• Up to $300 annual Equinox credit
• Up to $100 annual Saks Fifth Avenue credit
• Up to $189 credit to enroll in CLEAR®
• Up to $240 annual digital entertainment credit
• Up to $155 annual Walmart+ credit. Plus Ups not eligible.
• Worldwide airport lounge access, including Delta SkyClubs and Amex Centurion Lounges
• Up to $200 annual Uber credit
• Up to $100 fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
• Automatic hotel elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy
• Comprehensive travel insurance
• Complimentary Amex concierge service
• Terms apply

Its $695 annual fee (see rates and fees) is higher than any other card on this list, but you can definitely come out ahead if you take full advantage of the benefits. And that’s before factoring in the card’s welcome offer, which many rewards experts value at $2,000. (See more on how the value of points is calculated.)

Cardholders earn 2X miles on everyday purchases, plus 5X miles on flights and a whopping 10X miles on hotels and cars booked through Capital One Travel. These miles can be transferred to airline and hotel partners, such as Accor Live Limitless, Air Canada Aeroplan and Etihad Guest. You can also redeem rewards toward travel through Capital One Travel, cash-back, gift cards, experiences and more.

On top of that, the Venture X card offers up to $100 in statement credit for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®, complimentary cell phone insurance, special perks on hotel stays book through the Premier Collection and access to Capital One Lounges as well as the extensive network of Priority Pass and Plaza Premium airport lounges worldwide. Every year, cardholders receive up to $300 back in statement credits each year for bookings made through Capital One Travel and a 10,000-mile bonus on each account anniversary (worth at least $100 for travel), making it easy to recoup the $395 the annual fee.

*Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details.

There are hundreds of rewards credit cards out there, where you can earn cash back, points or miles on every purchase you make.

And if you want to earn rewards, what specific categories are most important to you?

Rewards credit cards come in all shapes and sizes. If you want to maximize rewards in specific categories, check out cards offering bonus rewards on gas, groceries, restaurants, entertainment, travel and more. Or keep it simple and opt for a flat-rate cash-back card.

Are you looking to get out of debt?

If you’re carrying a balance on a high-interest credit card, consider transferring it to a balance transfer credit card offering no interest for up to 21 months. There are even cards with no balance transfer fees.

Do you want to build credit?

Experts agree the sooner you build credit, the better. Credit cards are a great way to do that. Check out secured cards for credit newbies or other cards for building or rebuilding credit.

Do you travel abroad?

A credit card with no foreign transaction fees is essential to save you the typical 3% fee per purchase made outside the U.S. Also, it can be a good idea to consider cards that waive Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees.

Building and maintaining a healthy credit score helps your personal finances in all sorts of ways outside of increasing your chances of getting approved for a great sign-up bonus. Your FICO score is calculated based on the following factors and each is weighted differently:

• Payment history: 35%
• Total debt: 30%
• Length of credit history: 15%
• New credit: 10%
• Credit mix: 10%

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best credit cards.

To determine which cards offer the best value, CNBC Select analyzed over 250 of the most popular credit cards available in the U.S. We compared each card on a range of features, including rewards (e.g., cash back, points and miles), annual fees, welcome bonuses, introductory and standard APR, balance transfer fees and foreign transaction fees, as well as factors such as required credit score when available. We also considered additional perks (e.g., ongoing travel or merchant statement credits), consumer protections, the application process and how easy it is to redeem points. 

For the cards that offered a rewards program, we considered consumer spending data from location intelligence firm Esri to determine what bonus categories are most useful for consumers. Since the value of a point or mile varies based on what they can be redeemed for, we also considered things like transferability and ability to redeem for cash-back. 

When choosing the best balance transfer card, we focused on the card that provides consumers with the cheapest way to pay off their debt rather than the number of rewards they could potentially earn. When you’re in credit card debt, your primary focus should be repayment. Earning rewards should be seen as a bonus, and you don’t want to spend beyond your means to earn points.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.

For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, click here.

For rates and fees of the Discover it® Secured Credit Card, click here.

For rates and fees of the Discover it® Student Cash Back, click here.

For rates and fees of the Discover it® Miles, click here.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.

Petal 2 Visa Credit Card issued by WebBank.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.