Using a credit card wisely can help build good credit. Once you’ve established a good credit rating — usually defined as a FICO score between 670 and 740 — your credit options will increase greatly.
Along with greater eligibility for mortgages and loans, good credit can bring you some excellent credit card deals. Your good credit score might lead to a longer intro 0% APR period, a greater percentage of cash back on purchases or a higher credit limit.
Congratulations — you deserve it. It’s time to reap the rewards of the hard work you’ve done to maintain your good credit. Read on to discover our best partner offers for credit cards for users with good credit.
\n ","topic":"","ttag":"","searchDim":"article-body|listicle|image","variant":"article-body|listicle|image","viewguid":"","event":"listicle|image|1","correlationId":"","_destCat":"https:\/\/oc.brcclx.com\/t\/?lid=26681390&cr=28483&last_updated=1599682186&tid=[subid_value]","productName":"Chase Freedom Unlimited","formatType":"IMAGE","location":"LIST","position":1,"sku":"6564","dwLinkTag":"article-body|listicle|image","selector":"#article-body #listicle-d18ebbc9-1f3c-4d20-9a2b-c505c80262bc .itemImage"}}” rel=”noopener nofollow” target=”_blank”>
Best cash-back card for good credit
Intro OfferIntro Offer: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) – worth up to $300 cash back!
APR15.74% – 24.49% Variable
Intro Purchase APR0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months
Recommended Credit Excellent/Good
- Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more;
- 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service
- 1.5% on all other purchases
Annual Fee$0
Intro Balance Transfer APR0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months
Balance Transfer APR15.74% to 24.49% Variable
Balance Transfer Fee Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign Transaction Fees 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
Penalty APR Up to 29.99%
- Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more;
- 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service
- 1.5% on all other purchases
Our Take
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is one of the most adaptable cash-back cards on the market, and is featured on our best cash-back credit cards list. It basically functions as a travel credit card, dining credit card and flat-rate credit card, all in one. You’ll earn 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% on dining, restaurants and drugstores, and 1.5% back on all other purchases. While you might be able to find stronger returns with other cards in each individual category, this card packs the most punch for a well-rounded budget.
Check out our full review of the Chase Freedom Unlimited.
\n ","topic":"","ttag":"","searchDim":"article-body|listicle|image","variant":"article-body|listicle|image","viewguid":"","event":"listicle|image|2","correlationId":"","_destCat":"https:\/\/oc.brcclx.com\/t\/?lid=26681389&cr=28496&last_updated=1599683586&tid=[subid_value]","productName":"Chase Sapphire Preferred","formatType":"IMAGE","location":"LIST","position":2,"sku":"6562","dwLinkTag":"article-body|listicle|image","selector":"#article-body #listicle-94ebff1e-58f5-456f-b845-76cf6a936b48 .itemImage"}}” rel=”noopener nofollow” target=”_blank”>
Best travel card for good credit
Intro OfferEarn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
APR16.74% – 23.74% Variable
Intro Purchase APRN/A
Recommended Credit Excellent/Good
- 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- 3x on dining.
- 2x on all other travel purchases, plus more.
Annual Fee$95
Balance Transfer APR16.74% – 23.74% Variable
Balance Transfer Fee Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign Transaction Fees $0
Penalty APR Up to 29.99%
- 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- 3x on dining.
- 2x on all other travel purchases, plus more.
Our Take
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is an all-around excellent credit card when you’ve established a good credit history. You’ll quickly earn points (5 points for every dollar spent on travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3 points per dollar on dining and 2 points per dollar on other travel purchases) that can be redeemed for travel, products, services or statement credits. At a redemption rate of $0.01 per point for statement credits, this would also equate to a $600 cash-back value for the sign-on bonus (60,000 points when you spend $4,000 within the first 3 months of account opening).
This card has a lot of other built-in perks, like a 10% anniversary points boost: On your account anniversary, Chase gives you bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year. That means if you spend $25,000 on purchases, you’ll get 2,500 bonus points. Although there’s a $95 annual fee, the quality of perks, including primary auto rental collision damage waiver and travel assistance, easily offset that expense.
Check out our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card for more details.
\n ","topic":"","ttag":"","searchDim":"article-body|listicle|image","variant":"article-body|listicle|image","viewguid":"","event":"listicle|image|3","correlationId":"","_destCat":"https:\/\/oc.brcclx.com\/t\/?lid=26682283&cr=28058&last_updated=1598311029&tid=[subid_value]","productName":"Capital One Venture Card","formatType":"IMAGE","location":"LIST","position":3,"sku":"7126","dwLinkTag":"article-body|listicle|image","selector":"#article-body #listicle-6d703a34-8e86-4909-8a50-ff684f22347c .itemImage"}}” rel=”noopener nofollow” target=”_blank”>
Another good travel card
Intro OfferNew Venture cardholders can earn 75,000 miles once they spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
APR17.49% – 25.49% (Variable)
Intro Purchase APRN/A
Recommended Credit Excellent, Good
- Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day.
Annual Fee$95
Intro Balance Transfer APRN/A
Balance Transfer APR17.49% – 25.49% (Variable)
Balance Transfer Fee $0 at this Transfer APR
Late Payment Fee Up to $40
Foreign Transaction Fees None
Penalty APR None
- Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day.
Our Take
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers a flat rate of 2x miles per $1 spent on all purchases, and 5x miles for hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel. According to The Points Guy, these miles are worth $0.01 each when redeemed as a statement credit against travel purchases or used to purchase new travel accommodations through Capital One Travel. Having both options available when redeeming your miles means more flexibility when booking your trip.
The sign-on bonus itself can end up paying for a domestic flight or a hotel for your next trip. You’ll also be able to enjoy the Capital One Lounge at airports twice a year, and receive up to a $100 statement credit for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry. We’ve done a roundup of other good travel credit card options, as well.
Check out our full review of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
\n ","topic":"","ttag":"","searchDim":"article-body|listicle|image","variant":"article-body|listicle|image","viewguid":"","event":"listicle|image|4","correlationId":"","_destCat":"https:\/\/oc.brcclx.com\/t\/?lid=26681570&cr=28241&last_updated=1598482871&tid=[subid_value]","productName":"US Bank Visa Platinum","formatType":"IMAGE","location":"LIST","position":4,"sku":"7587","dwLinkTag":"article-body|listicle|image","selector":"#article-body #listicle-826a67af-978a-49ff-b264-6dd224c6e8e5 .itemImage"}}” rel=”noopener nofollow” target=”_blank”>
Intro OfferN/A
APR15.99% – 25.99% (Variable)
Intro Purchase APR0% for 20 billing cycles on purchases
Recommended Credit Good/Excellent
Reward RatesN/A
Annual Fee$0
Intro Balance Transfer APR0% for 20 billing cycles on balance transfers
Balance Transfer APR15.99% – 25.99% (Variable)
Balance Transfer Fee Either 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater
Foreign Transaction Fees 2% of each foreign purchase transaction or foreign ATM advance transaction in U.S. Dollars. 3% of each foreign purchase transaction or foreign ATM advance transaction in a Foreign Currency
Our Take
The U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card offers one of the longest 0% introductory APR rates on the market, even including credit cards for those with excellent credit. They offer 20 billing cycles of 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers (15.99% to 25.99% variable APR after that). Most cards that offer 0% intro APR deals only offer 12 to 18 months or billing cycles. While there is no sign-on bonus or rewards program associated with this card, there is also no annual fee, so it’s low maintenance. This is a great card to use for an emergency credit card in case of unexpected large expenses.
Check out our full review of the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card for more information.
\n ","topic":"","ttag":"","searchDim":"article-body|listicle|image","variant":"article-body|listicle|image","viewguid":"","event":"listicle|image|5","correlationId":"","_destCat":"https:\/\/oc.brcclx.com\/t\/?lid=26675521&cr=28251&last_updated=1598494682&tid=[subid_value]","productName":"Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express","formatType":"IMAGE","location":"LIST","position":5,"sku":"6575","dwLinkTag":"article-body|listicle|image","selector":"#article-body #listicle-6024b48a-a5cc-4fe2-84fe-ab394ab3ab2b .itemImage"}}” rel=”noopener nofollow” target=”_blank”>
Intro OfferEarn a $350 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
APR15.49%-25.49% Variable
Intro Purchase APR0% on purchases for 12 months
Recommended Credit Excellent/Good
- 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%)
- 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
- 3% Cash Back on transit including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations
- 1% Cash Back on other purchases
Annual Fee$95
Balance Transfer Fee N/A
Late Payment Fee Up to $40
Foreign Transaction Fees 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
Penalty APR 29.99% Variable
- 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%)
- 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
- 3% Cash Back on transit including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations
- 1% Cash Back on other purchases
Our Take
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a top choice if you have a credit score over 670 and want to earn maximum rewards on groceries and gas. You’ll earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%) and 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit. Plus, you can earn $350 back in the form of a statement credit when you spend $3,000 within the first six months of card membership.
This Amex card also offers a Buy Now, Pay Later feature that allows you to enjoy $0 intro plan fees during your first 12 months of account opening when you use the American Express Plan It® feature to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Plans created after that will have a fixed monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to purchases, and other factors. Check out our other picks for best grocery credit cards and best gas credit cards.
See our full review of the Blue Cash Preferred Card for more details.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
FAQs
What does it mean to have ‘good’ credit?
Good credit is a general term. Credit bureaus have various requirements to achieve ‘good’ credit. For instance, FICO’s good credit score ranges from 670 to 739 out of a possible 300 to 850 points. FICO is one of the most popular scoring methods, but it’s not the only one. With VantageScore 4.0, another popular scoring model, your score must be between 661 and 780.
Creditors see prospective cardholders with good credit as lower risk. Individuals with a clean credit history are more likely to spend carefully and make payments on time and are less likely to default on their card balances. As a result, having good credit means you’re more likely to get approved for most credit cards at a lower interest rate and higher limit.
How do I get a good credit score?
Getting a good credit score takes time. Everyone starts with no credit history and works their way up. You can start with a credit-building card or personal loan with a low credit limit and make payments on time. You can continue building credit by adding other credit cards or loans. Some of the factors that are used to rate your credit include payment history, overall credit available, utilization and age of your accounts. The longer you make thoughtful spending choices and keep your current accounts in good standing, the better your chances of achieving good credit.
Which cards are the easiest to get with a good credit score?
Applying for a credit card is a bit of a gamble. There is no guarantee you’ll be approved, even if you have good credit. Your credit score could dip after a card application due to the hard inquiry on your credit report — even if you’re denied after applying.
The easiest card to get with a good credit score is an instant approval card that makes an immediate decision. Another option is a preapproved or prequalified credit card. Online prequalification lets you see whether you could be approved if you formally apply — without any commitment. Best of all, a prequalification won’t affect your credit score so you can check risk-free to see if it’s worth applying.
Our methodology
CNET reviews credit cards by exhaustively comparing them across set criteria developed for each major category, including cash-back, welcome bonus, travel rewards and balance transfer. We take into consideration the typical spending behavior of a range of consumer profiles — with the understanding that everyone’s financial situation is different — and the designated function of a card.
For cash-back credit cards, for example, key factors include the annual fee, the “welcome bonus” and the cash-back rate (or rates, if they differ by spending category). For rewards and miles cards, we calculate and weigh the net monetary value of a card’s respective perks. And with balance transfer credit cards, we analyze specs such as the duration of the introductory 0% APR period and the balance transfer fee, while acknowledging secondary factors such as the standard APR and the length of time you have to make a balance transfer after you open the account.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express, click here
The editorial content on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by our partners.
