Erika Kullberg's Favorite Credit Cards
- Best for frequent travelers:
Chase Sapphire Reserve® - Best for dining and entertainment:
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card - Best for rotating cashback:
Chase Freedom Flex® - Best for first-time-cardholders:
Chase Freedom Unlimited® - Best for small businesses:
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card - Best for bad credit:
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
The best credit cards offer lucrative welcome bonuses, outstanding rewards programs, and more. While there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to finding the best credit card, we’ve selected some top contenders that have exceptional features.
Whether you’re looking to build credit, save money on interest, or offset the cost of an upcoming vacation, the cards below are great additions to your wallet.
Best for Frequent Travelers
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Rewards Rate
- 10x points on hotel stays and car rentals through Chase Travel℠
- 10x points on dining purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- 5x points on flights booked through Chase Travel℠ (after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually)
- 3x points on restaurants and travel
- 1x points on everything else
Welcome Offer
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Annual Fee
$550
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a premium travel credit card for frequent travelers.
It’s got great earning rates on flights, hotels and car rentals booked through Chase TravelSM, on Chase Dining purchases, plus all other travel and dining (including takeout and delivery).
It also comes with a generous welcome offer that you can put toward travel.
Some of the card’s perks include:
- $300 annual travel credit
- Statement credit to help with the cost of Global Entry, TSA PreCheck®, or NEXUS
- Complimentary access to any Chase Sapphire Lounge and access to 1,300+ Priority Pass Select lounges
- No blackout dates or restrictions
- 1:1 hotel or airline loyalty program transfer
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance (up to $10,000 per person, $20,000 per trip)
- Trip delay reimbursement (up to $500 per traveler)
- Travel accident insurance (up to $1,000,000 in coverage)
- Lost luggage reimbursement (up to $3,000 per covered traveler)
- Baggage delay insurance (up to $100 per day for 5 days)
- Emergency evacuation coverage (up to $100,000)
- Roadside assistance (up to $50 per incident, 4 times per year)
- Primary rental car insurance coverage (up to $75,000)
- Emergency medical and dental coverage while traveling (up to $2,500 in coverage with a $50 deductible)
- No foreign transaction fees
- 50% more value when redeeming points through Chase TravelSM
- Room upgrades and late checkout at select properties
Some other non-travel benefits include:
- Complimentary DashPass for one year and monthly DoorDash credit (activate by December 31, 2027)
- Purchase protection (up to $10,000 per item)
- Return protection (up to $500 per item, $1,000 in a 12-month period)
- Extended warranty coverage
- 24/7 fraud monitoring
- Zero liability coverage
While the Sapphire Reserve card is a top-of-the-line card for frequent travelers, it isn’t for everyone. The annual fee is high, so you’ll want to make sure you benefit from all of the travel perks before adding it to your wallet.
Also, even though the travel rewards are great, it lacks bonus categories for everyday purchases like groceries or gas.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a must-have for frequent travelers. The high rewards and premium travel perks are hard to beat. A $300 travel credit, lounge access, and 50% redemption boost through Chase TravelSM make the card well worth the annual fee.
Best for Dining and Entertainment
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Rewards Rate
- 8% cashback on Capital One Entertainment purchases
- 5% on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 3% on dining, entertainment, select streaming subscriptions, and grocery store purchases (excluding superstores)
- 1% on all other purchases
Welcome Offer
Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after spending $500 in the first 3 months
Annual Fee
$0
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card offers some of the best rewards for dining and entertainment.
You earn unlimited elevated cashback on dining, groceries, and select streaming services. And if you like to travel or see live shows, you’ll also earn boosted cashback on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and on purchases made through Capital One Entertainment.
Other perks include:
- No foreign transaction fees
- Concierge for dining, travel, or event bookings
- Travel accident insurance
- Access to discounts through Capital One shopping
- Extended warranty on covered purchases
- 24/7 travel assistance
- $0 fraud liability
- Credit alerts through CreditWise
- Exclusive access through Capital One Dining and Capital One Entertainment
With cashback on dining and entertainment, the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is a good option for foodies and culture fans who enjoy a night out. Plus, the rewards on groceries allow you to earn cash on everyday purchases, even when you’re not out on the town.
Best for Rotating Cashback
Chase Freedom Flex®
Rewards Rate
- 5% cashback on rotating categories each quarter (up to $1,500 in purchases, then 1%; activation required) and travel purchases through Chase Travel℠
- 3% on dining and drugstore purchases
- 1% on all other spending
Welcome Offer
Earn $200 cashback after spending $500 in the first 3 months
Annual Fee
$0
The Chase Freedom Flex® is a great cashback card if you want to maximize your rewards-earning with rotating bonus categories. Plus, there’s no annual fee to open an account.
Every quarter, the categories change, featuring higher rewards on everyday purchases like gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants. You also earn boosted cashback on travel booked through Chase TravelSM, on dining (including takeout and delivery), and at drugstores.
Other benefits include:
- Cellphone protection (up to $800 per claim, $1,000 per year)
- Purchase protection (up to $500 per claim, 120 days)
- Extended warranty
- Zero liability protection
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance (up to $1,500 per person, $6,000 per trip)
- 24/7 fraud monitoring
- Access to Chase Offers for extra savings
Keep in mind that you’ll have to activate the rotating category each quarter, which could be a hassle to manage. And if you forget, you’ll only get 1% cashback on your purchases. There’s also a quarterly cap of $1,500, limiting how much you can get back on purchases.
While the Freedom Flex card gives you access to Chase TravelSM, you won’t have the same travel benefits as other premium cards — notably, no lounge access.
The Chase Freedom Flex® is one of the best rotating category cards, letting you earn boosted rates on travel, dining, and drugstore purchases. If you don’t mind keeping track of each category, it can be a good card to maximize cashback rewards.
You won’t pay an annual fee but you’ll still get access to several perks Chase offers.
Best for First-Time Cardholders
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Rewards Rate
- 5% cashback on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3% cashback on drugstore purchases, restaurants, takeout, and eligible delivery services
- 1.5% on all other purchases
Welcome Offer
Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
Annual Fee
$0
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a top pick for first-time cardholders because it has no annual fee, an easy approval process, and great rewards.
With cashback earned on everything and elevated rates on travel through Chase TravelSM, dining, takeout, and drugstores, the card is a good option for new cardholders who want to get the most out of their spending while still benefiting from all the perks Chase has to offer.
By using the card to pay for expenses you would otherwise make with a debit card, you can build your credit history while earning rewards.
The card comes with several benefits including:
- Three-month DashPass membership (activate by December 31, 2027)
- Auto rental coverage
- Extended warranty protection for eligible purchases
- Purchase protection for items damaged or stolen within 120 days (up to $500 per item)
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance (up to $1,500 per person, $6,000 per trip)
- 24/7 fraud monitoring
Few companies offer trip cancellation coverage or purchase protection on their starter cards, making the Freedom Unlimited stand out.
Most notably, you can use the card to work up to a higher rewarding Chase card like the Sapphire Preferred. There is 1:1 transfer compatibility between the Freedom Unlimited and any other card that’s part of Chase Ultimate Rewards®. So, if you start with the Freedom Unlimited, you can then pair it with an upgraded Chase card down the road.
While the Freedom Unlimited card is a good starter card, it has some limitations. It doesn’t include bonus rewards on general travel or groceries. It also doesn’t give you a way to transfer rewards between hotel or airline loyalty programs that you may already be a part of.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® has a high rewards rate on everyday spending, no annual fee, and extra perks that are hard to find on fee-free credit cards.
The card is a flexible option if you want cashback or access to Chase TravelSM. While there isn’t a cashback category for groceries, the flat 1.5% rate for all other purchases is higher than many beginner cards.
The range of benefits it offers makes it a good card for first-time cardholders who want to build a credit history and earn rewards.
Best for Small Businesses
Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Rewards Rate
- Unlimited 1.5% cashback on every purchase made for your business
Welcome Offer
Earn $750 bonus cashback after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months
Annual Fee
$0
If you’re a small business owner, the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card can help you manage your cash flow while earning rewards. The card offers unlimited cashback on every purchase and there are bonus opportunities to earn even more.
There are no limits and you won’t need to keep track of a rotating category. Plus, the card doesn’t come with an annual fee, making it a cost-effective way to earn on all your business spending.
Some benefits of the card include:
- Free employee cards with custom spending limits
- Bonus 5% back on Lyft rides
- Primary auto rental coverage for business rentals (up to $60,000)
- Purchase protection (up to $10,000 per claim, $50,000 per account)
- Extended warranty (adds one year to eligible U.S. warranties)
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance (up to $1,500 per person, $6,000 per trip)
- Travel emergency and roadside assistance
- Chase Pay Over Time to make large purchases more manageable
- Business owner referral bonus
However, the Ink Business Unlimited comes with some trade-offs. While other cards offer extra rewards for things like travel or office supplies, you won’t find that with this card.
Also, if you want to transfer points to an airline or hotel partner you can, but you won’t be able to do so directly. You’ll need to pair this card with a premium Chase travel card and transfer your points to that card — which can make the whole process of transferring points more of a hassle than it’s worth.
The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is a top pick if you’re a small business owner who wants unlimited cashback rewards without keeping track of categories.
The ability to break up payments makes the card a good option for protecting your cash flow, and it comes with a lot of tools to help you stay on top of your business.
Best for Bad Credit
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
Rewards Rate
- None
Welcome Offer
None
Annual Fee
$0
Minimum security deposit
$49
The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card is a great card if you have bad credit. You can access a $200 line of credit with a $49, $99, or $200 deposit, depending on your history. The lower deposit options make the card more accessible than other secured cards that require a full deposit.
There is no annual fee and if you make on-time payments for six months, Capital One may increase your credit limit without a higher deposit or they may upgrade you to an unsecured card. Keeping your credit utilization down can help you boost your score.
Because the card is through Capital One, here are some perks you’ll receive:
- No foreign transaction fee
- Free CreditWise access to track your score
- Flexible payment due date
- Autopay
- $0 fraud liability
- Emergency card replacement
Unfortunately, unlike other Capital One cards, this one doesn’t come with cashback or rewards.
The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card is an accessible secured credit card with a low security deposit, no annual fee, and no hidden transaction fees. With the ability to upgrade to an unsecured card after consistent on-time payments, the card can help you incrementally build your credit history through better habits.
The Bottom Line
There are lots of types of credit cards you can choose from! Depending on your goals, habits, and comfort level, you might maintain just one card or you could open several cards. You might be interested in a rewards card that offers cashback or redeemable travel points, or a business credit card if you're an entrepreneur.
Evaluate your spending habits and goals. The features of a card need to align with your budget, so opt for a card that will complement your lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends. Even though some credit cards charge an annual fee, those cards might provide you with more value in the long run. This is especially true for travel cards. Many of the added rewards that come with these cards, such as lounge access, might be invaluable to you depending on your personal situation.
Do the math and compare the rewards across fee-bearing cards and cards with no annual fees. If the rewards exceed the cost of the annual fee, it could be worth paying it.
The best credit card for you depends on your financial situation and your goals. For example, a simple no-frills credit card like the Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card is available to people with limited credit and is a great way to start building credit.
If you’re a traveler, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is a great beginner travel card, with a big sign-up bonus and low annual fee. Its big sister, the Chase Sapphire Reserve, comes at a much higher cost but delivers high-end travel perks to back it up, so it’s often the best choice for frequent travelers.
A debit card is directly linked to a bank account. When you buy something, the money is withdrawn from your account. A credit card, on the other hand, isn’t connected to a bank account. It essentially acts as a mini loan to cover the cost of the transaction until you can pay it back.
A credit card can protect against fraud and scams. If someone steals your credit card information, they can make fraudulent purchases with your card number, but they won’t access your bank account and saved money. Consumer credit cards provide $0 fraud liability, ensuring you won’t have to pay for fraudulent charges.
It also comes with opportunities to earn rewards for purchases that you won’t get with a debit card. Many credit card companies have special cards that offer cashback on purchases or allow you to earn points you can redeem for travel. This can help you maximize the value of spending money, especially if it’s on things you’re already planning to purchase.
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