A good credit score (or a FICO Score of 670 to 739) is usually required for competitive rewards, generous welcome bonuses, long intro 0% APR periods and annual statement credits.
CNBC Select has crowned the best credit cards for good credit in a variety of categories. For more on how we made our choices, see our methodology. And if you don't fall within the good credit range, check out our roundup of the best cards for fair credit (580 to 669) and bad credit (scores below 580).
Best credit cards for good credit
- Best for travel: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Best for intro APR: Wells Fargo Reflect® Card
- Best welcome bonus: Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees)
- Best for cash back: Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
- Best for dining and groceries: American Express® Gold Card
- Best for gas: Citi Strata Premier® Card
Best for travel: Capital One Venture
Who's this for? The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is perfect for turning your credit card expenses into travel experiences, earning at least 2X miles on every purchase.
Standout benefits: You'll earn transferable Capital One miles, which you can redeem for 1 cent each to erase travel purchases or transfer to Capital One's hotel and airline loyalty programs. Partner programs include Air Canada Aeroplan, Emirates Skywards, Air France/KLM Flying Blue, Wyndham Rewards and more.
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has a reasonable annual fee and earns flexible travel rewards, which makes it a great travel card for beginners or heavy travelers.
- Valuable welcome offer worth at least $750 in travel
- You can transfer miles to over 15 Capital One partners, including Emirates Skywards, Choice Privileges and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- No foreign transaction fees
- Lacks ongoing travel benefits such as statement credits or lounge access
- Limited bonus spending category that only applies to certain Capital One Travel bookings
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Top rated mobile app
Balance transfer fee
$0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Foreign transaction fee
None
Best for intro APR: Wells Fargo Reflect
Who's this card for? Anyone who wants to pay less credit card interest will love the Wells Fargo Reflect's balance transfer offer.
Standout benefits: Receive a 0% intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 21 months from the date of account opening (17.49%, 23.99% or 28.24% variable APR thereafter). Balance transfers made within 120 days from account opening qualify for the introductory rate (BT fee of 5%, min: $5).
The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card can help you save on interest charges thanks to its extra generous intro-APR offer on purchases and qualifying balance transfers.
- Best-in-class intro-APR for purchases and qualifying balance transfers
- No annual fee
- Cell phone insurance: up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible
- No rewards
- No welcome bonus
- High balance transfer fee
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 17.49%, 23.99%, or 28.24% variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate, BT fee of 5%, min: $5.
- $0 annual fee.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
- Through My Wells Fargo Deals, you can get access to personalized deals from a variety of merchants. It's an easy way to earn cash back as an account credit when you shop, dine, or enjoy an experience simply by using an eligible Wells Fargo credit card.
Balance transfer fee
5%, min: $5
Foreign transaction fee
3%
Best welcome bonus: Chase Freedom Unlimited
Who's this for? The Chase Freedom Unlimited is worth looking into if you don't want to deal with a high welcome bonus spending requirement.
Standout benefits: The Freedom Unlimited offers a $200 cash-back welcome bonus after spending $500 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. Plus, you'll earn at least 1.5% cash back on every purchase.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a no-annual-fee card that earns generous cash-back on everyday purchases and a lucrative welcome bonus.
- Users get a high rewards rate and strong welcome bonus
- Purchases and balance transfers get long intro APR
- No annual fee
- Travelers face a foreign transaction fee
- Few rewarding ongoing benefits
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
- Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, 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, and 1.5% on all other purchases.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can use points to redeem for cash through an account statement credit or an electronic deposit into an eligible Chase account located in the United States!
- Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.24% - 27.74%.
- No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
- Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Intro fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, in the first 60 days. After that, either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee
3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
Best for cash back: Wells Fargo Active Cash
Who's this for? The Wells Fargo Active Cash is one of the best flat-rate cash-rewards cards, which makes it a strong choice if you value simplicity.
Standout benefits: The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card earns an unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases, with no categories to activate or track. You can also enjoy an easy-to-earn welcome bonus and a short intro APR on purchases and balance transfers.
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is great if you want simplicity thanks to its flat-rate 2% unlimited cash rewards on purchases and $0 annual fee.
- High flat-rate return on purchases
- Intro-APR for purchases and qualifying balance transfers for a year
- No annual fee
- Cell phone protection
- Has a foreign transaction fee
- Limited redemption options unless you pair it with a Wells Fargo card that allows point transfers
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 18.49%, 24.49%, or 28.49% variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
- $0 annual fee.
- No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don't expire as long as your account remains open.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
Balance Transfer Fee
3% intro for 120 days from account opening, then up to 5%, min: $5
Foreign Transaction Fee
3%
Best for dining and groceries: Amex Gold
Who's this for? The American Express Gold is a great fit if you want to earn lots of rewards at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets.
Standout benefits: Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year) and 4X points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year). Plus, you can receive over $400 in dining and rideshare benefits each year.
The American Express Gold Card is great for earning valuable Membership Rewards® points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets.
- You can earn $400+ in dining and rideshare credits every year (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- Exceptionally rewarding for eligible restaurant and U.S. supermarket purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
- Larger annual fee
- Credits are more complicated, you earn them monthly or semi-annually
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You'll know upfront exactly how much you'll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Foreign transaction fee
None
Best for gas: Citi Strata Premier
Who's this for? The Citi Strata Premier® Card offers a simple way to earn uncapped, flexible travel rewards on your gas purchases.
Standout benefits: Earn an unlimited 3X points on gas and EV charging station purchases. You'll also enjoy the same rewards rate on spending at supermarkets, restaurants, air travel and general hotel purchases.
The Citi Strata Premier® Card has competitive rewards rates and unlocks access to all of the Citi ThankYou® transfer partners, which boosts the value of your points.
- Unlocks point transfers to all of the Citi ThankYou® partners, including Emirates Skywards, Choice Privileges, Flying Blue and more
- Generous bonus spending categories include dining, supermarkets, hotels and flights
- Valuable welcome bonus
- Has an annual fee
- Car rental coverage is secondary, not primary
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
- Earn 10 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
- Earn 3 Points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations.
- Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.
- No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
Balance transfer fee
Balance transfer fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
Compare the best credit cards for good credit
Best credit cards for good credit comparison
| CNBC's pick for | Welcome bonus | Rewards | Intro APR | Annual fee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | Travel | Yes | Flexible travel rewards | None | $95 |
| Wells Fargo Reflect® Card | Intro APR | None | None | Yes, purchases and balance transfers | $0 |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited® | Welcome bonus | Yes | Cash back | Yes, purchases and balance transfers | $0 |
| Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card | Cash back | Yes | Cash rewards | Yes, purchases and qualifying balance transfers | $0 |
| American Express® Gold Card | Dining and groceries | Yes | Flexible travel rewards | N/A* | $325* |
| Citi Strata Premier® Card | Gas | Yes | Flexible travel rewards | None | $95 |
*See rates and fees
What is a good credit score?
The two most popular types of credit scores are the FICO Score and the VantageScore, and both range from 300 to 850. A good (or prime) VantageScore is 661 to 780 and a good FICO Score is 670 to 739.
Although there are differences in how different credit scores are calculated, much of the same information matters regardless of which credit score your lender or card issuer uses. Things such as payment history, the age of your accounts and your credit utilization all impact your score to varying degrees.
Pros and cons of credit cards for good credit
- Top-tier rewards: With a good credit score, you can more easily qualify for most of the best cards for earning cash back and every type of travel rewards
- Lucrative benefits: The most valuable statement credit offers, travel insurance perks and luxury benefits are typically attached to cards that require a good credit score or better
- Harder to get: If you're building or rebuilding your credit, you'll have a much harder time qualifying for these cards
- High APRs: Credit cards usually have much higher interest rates compared to other types of financing
FAQs
What qualifies as a good credit score?
A FICO score between 670 and 739 is classified as good.
What is the best way to raise my credit score?
Your payment history and the amount of debt you have are the two largest factors in your credit score. So the most sustainable way to improve your credit score is to pay all your bills on time while paying down your debt.
Can I raise my credit score overnight?
It would be difficult to raise your credit score in a meaningful way overnight since your credit reports are normally only updated monthly. Some tools can add additional information to your credit report, but they typically only affect a single credit report, and credit scores boosted by this type of tool may not be accepted by every lender.
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best credit cards for good credit.
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Our methodology
To determine which cards offer the best value for those with good credit, CNBC Select analyzed over 250 major credit cards issued through FDIC-insured banks and NCUA-insured credit unions that are widely available in the U.S.
We compared each card on a range of features, including rewards (e.g., cash back, points and miles), annual fees, welcome bonuses, introductory and standard APR and balance transfer fees and foreign transaction fees. We also considered additional perks (e.g., ongoing travel or merchant statement credits), cardholder protections (e.g., purchase protection, $0 liability protection and travel insurance), the application process when available (e.g., is there a credit pull or required credit score) and how easy it is to redeem points (e.g., are rewards are tied to a specific brand; if transferable, to how many/which partners, can you redeem for straight cash back).
When choosing the best credit cards for good credit, we focused on cards that offer high value for your spending and excellent benefits for a range of needs. We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.
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Read more
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
For rates and fees of the American Express Gold Card®, click here.
