Best Credit Cards by Category
The best card depends on where the money goes. These pages rank the cards in our database by their earn rate in each spending category, with annual fees, so you can see which card belongs at which checkout.
Rates update from the Pointalize card database whenever an issuer changes a card.
- Best Cards to Build or Rebuild Credit
Cards for limited or rebuilding credit, how secured cards work, and how to move up to a regular card.
- Best Cash Back Credit Cards
Cash back cards ranked by their top earn rate, with the flat, tiered, and rotating designs explained.
- Best Credit Cards for Airfare
Cards ranked by what they earn on flights, and how co-branded airline cards compare with flexible-points cards.
- Best Credit Cards for Dining
Cards ranked by what they earn at restaurants, plus what counts as dining and when a dining card pays for itself.
- Best Credit Cards for Drugstores
Cards ranked by drugstore earn rate, plus how pharmacy coding works and when a rotating category is enough.
- Best Credit Cards for Gas
Cards ranked by what they earn at gas stations, plus how fuel purchases are coded and what to watch for at the pump.
- Best Credit Cards for Groceries
Cards ranked by what they earn at supermarkets, with the caps and store exclusions that decide the real return.
- Best Credit Cards for Home Improvement
Cards ranked by what they earn at hardware and home improvement stores, and how store cards compare with rewards cards.
- Best Credit Cards for Hotels
Cards ranked by what they earn on hotel stays, and when a co-branded hotel card beats a general travel card.
- Best Credit Cards for Online Shopping
Cards ranked by what they earn on online purchases, and how to stack them with shopping portals.
- Best Credit Cards for Streaming
Cards ranked by what they earn on streaming subscriptions, and how streaming credits differ from earn rates.
- Best Credit Cards for Transit
Cards ranked by what they earn on trains, buses, rideshare, and other commuting costs.
- Best No Annual Fee Cash Back Credit Cards
No-fee cash back cards ranked by their top earn rate, and how to combine two or three of them.
- Best No Annual Fee Credit Cards
Cards with no annual fee, ranked by their top earn rate, and where a no-fee card is the smarter pick.
- Best No Annual Fee Travel Credit Cards
No-fee cards ranked by their travel earn rate, and what you give up compared with a premium travel card.
- Best Points Credit Cards
Points cards ranked by their top earn rate, and how to judge a points program before you commit.
- Best Travel Credit Cards
Cards ranked by what they earn on travel, with the portal rules, foreign transaction fees, and perks that decide the real value.
- Business Credit Cards for Startups and Side Businesses
Business cards ranked by their top earn rate, plus who can apply and how to keep business and personal spending apart.
- Credit Cards With No Foreign Transaction Fee
Cards that waive foreign transaction fees, ranked by their top earn rate, and how to avoid conversion markups abroad.
- Premium Credit Cards: Are They Worth It?
High-fee cards ranked by their top earn rate, and a simple way to check whether the credits and perks cover the fee.