Which credit card is right for me

You don't have to be a customer of Discover or Capital One to use these services. Once you know what range you fall in, you can use that information to fine-tune your credit card search.

Consider cards that require credit equal to or less than yours. If you have good credit, consider cards that state good or fair credit requirements. Even if your credit score falls within the good range that doesn't guarantee you'll be approved for a credit card requiring good credit.

Card issuers look at more factors than just your credit score, including income and monthly housing payments. If you have no debt and have already established good credit, rewards credit cards can help you offset the cost of purchases and pay for upcoming travel by redeeming points or miles.

Rewards cards come in all shapes and sizes with cards offering cash back, points or miles in common spending categories travel , gas , groceries and dining out that can be redeemed for statement credits , gift cards, airfare , hotels and more.

Depending on the rewards card you open, you may receive added perks. Here are some of our favorites:. Balance transfers must be completed within four months of account opening.

During the interest-free period, you can benefit from substantial savings versus carrying a balance on a high interest credit card, where a portion of your payment goes toward interest charges.

Just make sure to pay off your balance before the intro period ends. We can look for cards with this perk if it's important to you.

Certain credit cards offer free or reduced-rate lounge access with affiliate airlines. Certain rewards programs may restrict booking options during busy travel periods. If flexibility is important to you we'll look for cards with no blackout dates. If you book hotel reservations on a credit card, we can look for credit cards that offer special rewards for hotel purchases.

We'll estimate how much you'll benefit from cards that offer perks and extra rewards on hotel purchases. To see how much you would benefit from credit cards with special rewards rates on hotel spending. This will help us recommend the best cards that fit the way you intend to use them. If you want a card for specific type of spending, such as groceries, gas, travel, etc. Many of the credit cards with the highest rewards rates come with annual fees. Any recommendations we provide account for the cost of fees, but if you're someone who wants to avoid annual fees we'll leave those out.

We want to make sure you're a good fit for any cards you apply for. If your credit needs work, we'll recommend cards to help you improve it. What is an Index Fund? How Does the Stock Market Work? What are Bonds?

Investing Advice What is a Fiduciary? What is a CFP? I'm an Advisor Find an Advisor. Let's get started and save you some money! What do you prefer? Why are we asking this? Many cards on the market offer other perks like extended warranty protections and other travel protections and insurances. Even cards without an annual fee may offer several money-saving benefits. Cards aimed at helping you shore up your credit profile, like secured cards, work by reporting your on-time payment behavior to the credit bureaus so that over time, your score can improve with a record of positive payment history.

There are many cards on the market aimed at those seeking to boost their profile. There are some unsecured cards available too, although these tend to be unavailable to those with a recent bankruptcy. In general, there are several steps to applying for a credit card : First, check your credit score through a credit card issuer or by ordering it from one of the three main credit agencies. Credit cards typically fall into one of three categories: rewards, low APR or credit-building.

Most cards can be applied for online, although you can go to the issuing bank and apply in person or call them on the phone. Having multiple credit cards can either be a boon or a bust depending on how you acquire and use the cards. Having more than one or two credit cards can be a good fit for most people as a credit card allows you to establish credit history.

A good credit history over time will save you money as it can help you qualify for lower rates on other types of loans, like mortgages, auto loans or student loans. Since many rewards cards offer tiered rewards in different areas of spending, for someone with a careful strategy of pairing rewards cards , it can be more beneficial than just one card. Too many credit cards can entice you to overspend and take on more debt than you can handle.

This can ding your score. And, some issuers will turn you down if you apply for too many cards in too short a period of time. Some credit cards have the issuing bank as part of their name, like Chase or Citibank. Others work behind the scenes as the issuing bank for credit cards that may not be part of a traditional financial institution, like Chime or Upgrade.

Card networks process the payments between the buyer and the merchant. American Express and Discover are unique in that they are also card issuing companies in addition to owning a card network. Popular brands like JetBlue, Hyatt and Disney have all partnered with credit card companies to offer cards that earn rewards in their loyalty programs and offer brand specific perks.

Typically a co-branded credit card will offer rewards and or other perks within the brand. But both cards offer perks and benefits specific to their brand and type of card within the brand.

For example, a traditional Visa or Visa Platinum card may offer roadside dispatch services and lost card replacement assistance. A Visa Signature card may offer these benefits plus travel insurances and protections. Each individual Visa card will come with different benefits based on the type of Visa and the perks selected by the issuing bank to include. The same holds true for Mastercard: There are different types of Mastercards with varying perks and benefits depending on the type of Mastercard.

Instead think of any extras offered by the payment networks as a bonus, with the focus on the main features of the card itself. You have to be at least 18 years old to get a credit card in the U. The law requires those who apply to have a source of income to demonstrate that they can pay back any amount they might charge to a card.

Some issuers have a minimum age requirement to be an authorized user, others do not. To cancel a credit card, you can contact the issuer and ask them to close the account. Keep in mind that closing a credit card can have an adverse impact on overall credit score.

There are multiple ways to get a handle on your credit card debt. The right one for you will depend on your budget and goals. The debt snowball and debt avalanche methods are two commonly used ways to pay down debt. With the debt snowball method you make the minimum payment on each card. Then you put any additional money you have toward the card with the smallest balance. The debt avalanche method the focus shifts from the smallest balance to the highest interest rate. All extra funds above the minimum payment go to the card with the highest interest rate.

Once paid in full, money is then directed to the card with the next highest interest rate. Some issuers will provide you with an instant card number so you can begin to use your new account ASAP. But getting the physical card in the mail can take a few days. She's a credit card enthusiast and digital nomad who has leveraged credit cards to travel around the world for next to nothing, often in style.

Prior to working for Forbes, she contributed to other leading publications in the credit cards and rewards space. She would like to visit every country and try as many different local culinary specialties as possible. Robin Saks Frankel is a credit cards and personal finance writer for Forbes Advisor.

Previously, she covered credit cards and related content at other national web publications including NerdWallet, Bankrate and HerMoney.

Follow her on Twitter at robinsaks. Select Region. United States. United Kingdom. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team. Caroline Lupini, Robin Saks Frankel. Editor, Forbes Advisor Staff. Editorial Note: Forbes Advisor may earn a commission on sales made from partner links on this page, but that doesn't affect our editors' opinions or evaluations. Read more. Find the Best Credit Card. Click Here To Apply Now. Forbes Advisor created additional star ratings so that you can see the best card for specific needs.

This card shines for this use, but overall the star ratings may differ when compared to other cards. Welcome Bonus None. Regular APR Credit Score Excellent, Good - Why We Picked It. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. After that, the variable APR will be Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases. If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance including balance transfers by the due date each month.

This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed. Up to 10X Reward Rate Earn 2 miles per dollar on all eligible purchases and 5 miles per dollar on flights and 10 miles per Read More.

Welcome Bonus , miles. Credit Score Excellent - Annual fee lower than others in its category Annual travel credit and anniversary points alone could justify the annual fee Points are easy to earn and easy to use. Lack of domestic airline and upscale hotel travel partners Capital One lounge network in its infancy Lack of hotel status benefits. Welcome Bonus 60, points. Earn high rewards on several areas of spending Transfer points to travel partners at rate Many travel and shopping protections.

Take classes using a phone, tablet, or TV. No fitness equipment is required. No annual fee. Choosing the best credit card can be hard. There are thousands of cards available, each offering an array of rewards, insurances, protections and other perks that make it hard to choose.

There's no one-size-fits-all answer to what's the best credit card — it all depends on your spending habits and needs. Whether you want to build credit, get out of debt, earn rewards or travel the world, there's an array of options.