The best in credit cards

You’ll be hard-pressed to find another card that packs in such a high rewards rate in so many everyday categories. Plus, it’s one of the only no-annual-fee cards that carries credits for popular household expenses like select streaming services and meal kits.

This card offers terrific value whether you dine in, get take out or cook at home. It boasts one of the highest rewards rates you can get on dining and at U.S. supermarkets, plus impressive credits and perks for foodies. Amex points are also among the most valuable and flexible based on Bankrate's valuations. 

The Freedom Unlimited's boosted flat rate and bonus categories makes it a versatile and generous rewards card. You can earn terrific rates on popular categories like travel and dining. Plus, the card is cost effective, thanks to its noteworthy intro APR offers and lack of an annual fee.

This card offers one of the best flat rewards rates on the market. You don't need to worry about rotating bonus categories either, making this a terrific low-hassle card. Plus, you could earn a decent welcome bonus with a fairly low spend requirement.

This card offers terrific rewards value and a great mix of practical, valuable perks for frequent travelers. Its base rewards rate, generous welcome bonus and annual credits easily justify the fee.

Primarily beneficial for American Airlines loyalists, this card’s Admiral Club membership, high travel rewards and various statement credits provide substantial value. Despite its costly annual fee, the perks alone can make prioritizing American Airlines worth it for frequent travelers who value luxury airport experiences.

Travelers who use the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card get instant silver elite status, which puts them on the path toward increased privileges and Gold status as they use the card more regularly toward booking hotel stays. Additionally, its rewards rates combined with the extremely valuable welcome bonus can be quite useful to anyone planning extensive vacations.

This card is ideal for families and large households thanks to its best-in-class cash back rates on eligible U.S. supermarkets and streaming services. It also boasts a diverse mix of bonus categories for commuters, streaming credits, a generous welcome offer and other features that make the card more than worth it.

This card boasts a generous flat rewards rate, flexible spending limit and valuable, practical travel perks for a relatively low annual fee. You’ll get all the most important luxury perks (like lounge access) without the $500-plus annual fee.

This card offers a great mix of bonus categories and one of the best cash back rates you can get if you’re new to credit. It also boasts a decent intro APR offer, which could come in handy if you need to chip away at school expenses while minimizing interest charges. 

This consumer-friendly secured card makes it easy to both build credit and earn rewards thanks to its low deposit requirement and practical bonus categories. Plus, you can earn a sign-up bonus — a rare find on cards in this class. 

It carries low fees and one of the longest intro APR offers you can get on both balance transfers and new purchases, making it an ideal fit if you want to keep things simple as you chip away at debt. 

It’s tough to beat the value, category variety and redemption flexibility you’ll enjoy with this stack. Its mix of flat-rate rewards with year-round and rotating categories helps you earn bonus points on nearly everything you buy. Plus, you get a 50-percent higher redemption value via Chase Travel (possibly even more when you transfer to airline and hotel partners).

Remarkable category coverage and unique choice categories cement the Customized Cash as perhaps the most versatile card for shoppers. The year-round grocery-related categories add a consistent cash back bedrock to the one-of-six choice categories you can swap each month, which lets you adapt your rewards strategy to upcoming expenses.

This card has substantial value for cardholders, primarily those who value home and live entertainment. It doesn’t sacrifice everyday value despite its high rewards rates in entertainment categories, doesn’t charge an annual fee and carries one of the most attainable welcome offers.

This card is on par with some of the top rewards cards in terms of rates and covered purchase categories. Food delivery aficionados will earn the highest rates on delivery purchases, while still winning out with other valuable discounts and travel insurances. 

No credit card purchase is completely private, but the Apple Card shares less of your personal data by default. Unlike most issuers, Goldman Sachs doesn’t share personal information with other companies for marketing purposes. The card also boasts terrific fraud protection and security features.

Not only does this card make it easy to earn rewards on everyday spending, but Sunrise Banks has also scored great marks for social responsibility. It boasts a terrific B Impact score, Community Development Financial Institution certification and invests heavily in the local community.

The Bilt Mastercard offers cardholders a one-of-a-kind experience — the ability to earn rewards on rent payments without transaction fees for paying with a credit card. The card doesn’t stop there, adding great rewards rates on popular categories like travel and dining into the mix. 

The Citi Custom Cash can offer a lot if you commute daily — whether by local transit or car. You earn a top rewards rate of 5 percent cash back in one of 10 popular categories, which includes gas and select transit, based on your highest spend each billing cycle.  With this card, the average rider might be well on their way to high earnings.