A mediocre card with a decent rewards earn rate on all purchases (1.5x miles) and no annual fee, but also no signup bonus.
$0/yr
total value to you
Issuer
Discover
Discover
Network
Discover
Discover
Credit Score Required
Average (670-739)
Average (670-739)
X
Pros
- 1.5 miles per dollar for all purchases.
- Discover automatically matches all the miles you've earned at the end of the first year.
- No annual fee.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- 0% intro APR.
Cons
- No signup bonus.
Rewards & Perks
- 1.5 miles per dollar on all purchases.
- Discover automatically matches all the miles you've earned at the end of the first year.
Rates & Fees
- No annual fee.
- APR on purchases: 11.99-22.99%. (0% for the first 14 months.)
- APR on balance transfers: 11.99-22.99%. (10.99% for the first 14 months on balance transfers that post to your account within the first 2-3 months.)
- No foreign transaction fees.
Total savings over 5 years: $0
An extremely basic credit card with no annual fee and a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance purchases, but also no rewards.
$0/yr
total value to you
Issuer
Citi
Citi
Network
Mastercard
Mastercard
Credit Score Required
Average (670-739)
Average (670-739)
X
Pros
- No annual fee.
- 0% intro APR.
Cons
- No ongoing rewards.
- No signup bonus.
Rewards & Perks
- This credit card has no notable rewards.
Rates & Fees
- No annual fee.
- APR on purchases: 14.74-24.74%. (0% for the first 18 months.)
- APR on balance transfers: 14.74-24.74%. (0% for the first 18 months on balance transfers that are completed within the first 4 months.)
- Foreign transaction fee: 3%.
Total savings over 5 years: $0
A very plain card with no rewards.
$0/yr
total value to you
Issuer
Bank of America
Bank of America
Network
Mastercard
Mastercard
Credit Score Required
Bad (<580)
Bad (<580)
X
Pros
- No annual fee.
Cons
- No ongoing rewards.
- No signup bonus.
- A minimum refundable security deposit of $300 (maximum of $4,900) is required to open this account.
Rewards & Perks
- This credit card has no notable rewards.
Rates & Fees
- No annual fee.
- APR on purchases and balance transfers: 22.99%.
- Foreign transaction fee: 3%.
Total savings over 5 years: $0
A sub-par travel rewards credit card, with a moderate 25K miles signup bonus and 3x miles on travel and dining, but an $89 annual fee and a value per mile of only 1 cent.
$0/yr
total value to you
Issuer
TD Bank
TD Bank
Network
Visa
Visa
Credit Score Required
Average (670-739)
Average (670-739)
X
Pros
- 25,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 within the first 6 months.
- 3x miles on travel and dining.
- 1x miles on everything else.
- Good APR.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Cons
- $89 annual fee. ($0 in the first year.)
- Not a very good value per mile (only 1 cent per mile) when compared to other travel cards.
- Most other travel cards have superior travel-related perks, such as access to airline clubs, free companion airline tickets, etc.
Rewards & Perks
- 25,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 within the first 6 months.
- 3x miles on travel and dining.
- 1 mile per dollar on everything else.
Rates & Fees
- Annual fee: $89. ($0 in the first year.)
- APR on purchases: 13.24%.
- APR on balance transfers: 13.24%. (0% for the first year.)
- No foreign transaction fees.
Total savings over 5 years: $0
A decent points card for spending on hotels and car rentals (5x points) and restaurants (3x), with a 30K points signup bonus, but also an $85 annual fee.
$0/yr
total value to you
Issuer
US Bank
US Bank
Network
American Express
American Express
Credit Score Required
Average (670-739)
Average (670-739)
X
Pros
- Earn 30,000 bonus points after you spend $2,000 in the first 4 months.
- 5x points on prepaid hotels and car rentals (when booked directly in the FlexPerks Rewards Center).
- 3x points at restaurants.
- 2x points at airlines and gas stations.
- 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Cons
- $85 annual fee.
Rewards & Perks
- 30,000 bonus points after you spend $2,000 in the first 4 months.
- 5x points on prepaid hotels and car rentals (when booked directly in the FlexPerks Rewards Center).
- 3x points at restaurants.
- 2x points at airlines and gas stations.
- 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
Rates & Fees
- Annual fee: $85.
- APR on purchases and balance transfers: 14.49-24.49%.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Total savings over 5 years: $0
A great choice for people who have a poor credit rating, which has no annual fee and comes with 3% cash back on a category of your choice, 2% on groceries and wholesale clubs, and 1% on everything else.
$0/yr
total value to you
Issuer
Bank of America
Bank of America
Network
Visa
Visa
Credit Score Required
Bad (<580)
Bad (<580)
X
Pros
- A great card if you have bad credit.
- 3% cash back on a category of your choice, 2% on groceries and wholesale clubs, and 1% on everything else.
- No annual fee.
Cons
- No signup bonus.
Rewards & Perks
- 3% cash back on a category of your choice
- 2% on groceries and wholesale clubs
- 1% on everything else
Rates & Fees
- No annual fee
- APR (on purchases and balance transfers): 23.99%
- Foreign transaction fee: 3%
Total savings over 5 years: $0
A very basic card with no annual fee (but also no rewards) for people with bad or limited credit.
$0/yr
total value to you
Issuer
Capital One
Capital One
Network
Mastercard
Mastercard
Credit Score Required
Bad (<580)
Bad (<580)
X
Pros
- People with bad or limited credit can get the card.
- No annual fee.
- No balance transfer fees.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Cons
- No ongoing rewards.
- No early spend bonus.
- High APR.
Rewards & Perks
- This credit card has no notable rewards.
Rates & Fees
- No annual fee.
- Required Security Deposit: $49, $99, or $200 refundable deposit based on your creditworthiness
- APR for purchases and balance transfers: 25.99%.
- No balance transfer fees.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Total savings over 5 years: $0
A decent cash back card for a spend category of your choice (3% on one of: gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement), plus 2% on groceries, with no annual fee and a $200 signup bonus.
$0/yr
total value to you
Issuer
Bank of America
Bank of America
Network
Visa
Visa
Credit Score Required
Average (670-739)
Average (670-739)
X
Pros
- $200 online cash rewards bonus offer: Online $200 cash rewards bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening.
- 3% cash back in the category of your choice: gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement.
- 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs.
- 1% cash back all other purchases.
- No annual fee.
- 0% intro APR.
Cons
- You’ll only earn 3% and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club purchases each quarter, then it drops down to a 1% cash back rate.
- Some other cards have higher cash back rates on groceries.
Rewards & Perks
- $200 online cash rewards bonus offer: Online $200 cash rewards bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening.
- 3% cash back in the category of your choice: gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement/furnishings.
- 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs.
- 1% cash back all other purchases.
- (You’ll earn 3% and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club purchases each quarter, then earn 1%.)
Rates & Fees
- No annual fee.
- APR for purchases and BTs: 13.99-23.99% (0% for first 12 months).
- Foreign transaction fee: 3%.
Total savings over 5 years: $0
A decent no annual fee card for frequent Marriott guests, with a signup bonus of 30K points, 3x points on Marriott (as well as 2x on other travel and 1x on everything else) and Silver Elite status each year.
$0/yr
total value to you
Issuer
Chase
Chase
Network
Visa
Visa
Credit Score Required
Average (670-739)
Average (670-739)
X
Pros
- 30,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 within the first 3 months.
- 3x points on hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
- 2x points on travel.
- 1 point per dollar on everything else.
- 15 elite night credits each year, which will qualify you for Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status.
- No annual fee.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Cons
- If you like staying at Marriott hotels, there are Marriott credit cards (such as the American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card) that charge annual fees but would probably give you better value than this no annual fee version.
- Each point is worth just 0.7 cents on average, which is low compared to other credit cards.
Rewards & Perks
- 30,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 within the first 3 months.
- 3x points on hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
- 2x points on travel.
- 1 point per dollar on everything else.
- 15 elite night credits each year, which will qualify you for Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status.
Rates & Fees
- No annual fee.
- APR for purchases and balance transfers: 15.99-22.99%.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Total savings over 5 years: $0
A basic card for people who have below-average credit and/or don't care about rewards.
$0/yr
total value to you
Issuer
Capital One
Capital One
Network
Mastercard
Mastercard
Credit Score Required
Below Average (580-669)
Below Average (580-669)
X
Pros
- No annual fee.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Cons
- No ongoing rewards.
- No early spend bonus.
- High APR.
Rewards & Perks
- This credit card has no notable rewards.
Rates & Fees
- No annual fee.
- APR for purchases and BTs: 25.99%.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Total savings over 5 years: $0