The better your credit score, the better credit card rewards and benefits you can qualify for.
Credit scores range from 300 to 850, and a "good" score is considered anywhere from 670 to 739. Your credit score is mostly determined by your credit history, which includes your track record for making payments on time, how much of your credit you're using at any given time, the average age of your credit accounts and more. If you have at least a good credit score, you can likely qualify for one of the picks below. These cards fit a mix of financial goals, from cash-back rewards to balance transfers, but all offer top-of-class benefits.
Best cash-back card for good credit
Intro OfferEarn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
APR19.24% - 27.99% Variable
Intro Purchase APR0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months
Recommended Credit Excellent, Good
- 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
- 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
- Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Annual Fee$0
Intro Balance Transfer APR0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months
Balance Transfer APR19.24% - 27.99% 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%
- 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
- 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
- Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Our Take
The Chase Freedom Flex℠* offers the widest spread of benefits for a card that requires at least good credit and also has no annual fee. The cash-back categories make this a good card for domestic travel (keep in mind, this card does have foreign transaction fees) and dining, and the introductory APR credit card allows you to finance a large purchase comfortably. The rotating rewards category adds even more value, and covers a lot of common budget items. For January through March, you earn 5% cash back on purchases at grocery stores (excluding Walmart), Target and for fitness clubs and gym memberships, on up to $1,500 in combined purchases throughout the quarter.
Remember to manually activate the bonus rotating category through your online account. Chase doesn't post the upcoming rewards categories until shortly before the new quarter begins.
For more information, see our full Chase Freedom Flex review.
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®.
APR20.24% - 27.24% 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 APR20.24% - 27.24% 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 travel credit card if you've established a good credit history. The welcome bonus alone can earn you enough points to book your next flight, but the rewards program adds extra incentives to your travel spending. If you redeem your rewards points for travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards, you'll get a 25% boost on your points value. So instead of being worth 1 cent each -- like when you redeem them for statement credits -- points used for travel in the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal will net you 1.25 cents each.
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.
Intro OfferEarn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months
APR19.49%, 24.49%, or 29.49% variable APR
Intro Purchase APR0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening
Recommended Credit Excellent, Good
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
Annual Fee$0
Intro Balance Transfer APR0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers
Balance Transfer APR19.49%, 24.49%, or 29.49% variable APR
Balance Transfer Fee up to 5%; min: $5
Foreign Transaction Fees 3%
Penalty APR None
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
Our Take
You don't have to think about which credit card to use for which spending categories with the Wells Fargo Active Cash. Typically for people with good or excellent credit, you earn 2% cash rewards across your purchases. There are no rotating categories to activate, specific portals you need to book through or strategies you need to employ. Besides the simplicity, the Active Cash Card has a competitive welcome offer for credit cards with no annual fee, and the introductory APR allows you to benefit from short-term financing on purchases or a qualifying balance transfer.
For more details, see our full Wells Fargo Active Cash review.
Best balance transfer offer
Intro OfferN/A
APR16.24% - 26.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
Intro Purchase APR0% Intro APR for 21 billing cycles for purchases
Recommended Credit Excellent/Good
Reward RatesN/A
Annual Fee$0
Intro Balance Transfer APR0% Intro APR for 21 billing cycles for any BTs made in the first 60 days. A 3% fee applies.
Balance Transfer APR16.24% - 26.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
Balance Transfer Fee 3% of the amount of each transaction
Late Payment Fee See Terms
Foreign Transaction Fees 3%
Penalty APR none
Our Take
This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
The BankAmericard® credit card gives cardholders 21 billing cycles to pay off a transferred balance at 0% introductory interest (then 16.24% to 26.24% variable APR). It provides the same amount of time for new purchases, but there are no rewards.
It's one of – if not the – longest introductory APR periods available. It does charge a balance transfer fee of 3% of the amount of each transaction, which is pretty standard across balance transfer credit cards. That makes it stand out among its competitors. Keep in mind you'll need to make any balance transfers within 60 days of account opening to qualify for its low-interest offer.
There's little to the card outside of that, but it presents one of the best choices for a balance transfer credit card if you're looking to pay off some credit card debt.
For more information, see our full review of the BankAmericard credit card.
Intro OfferEarn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
APR18.49%-29.49% 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$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
Intro Balance Transfer APR0% on balance transfers for 12 months
Balance Transfer APR18.49%-29.49% Variable
Balance Transfer Fee Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
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 rewards on gas. Though there is a $95 annual fee ($0 intro annual fee for the first year), if you have a hefty grocery or gas bill it may be negligible, as these are some of the best cash-back rates you can earn on U.S. supermarket and U.S. gas station purchases. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, most American households' grocery expenditure sits under the card's $6,000 annual spending threshold for the U.S. supermarket rewards. You will only exceed this spending threshold if you average over $115 in groceries per week in a year. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
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.
Flexible travel rewards with good perks
Intro OfferEnjoy 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
APR20.24% - 28.24% (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 APR20.24% - 28.24% (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* is a solid mid-tier travel card. It features flexible rewards, an application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck and travel accident insurance**.
You'll earn 2x miles per dollar no matter what you're buying. Each mile equates to 1 cent if you redeem for past travel expenses, which means the card essentially earns a 2% return. While that's competitive with many no-annual-fee cards, the extra perks set it apart.
You can find out more in our Capital One Venture Rewards card review.
Rotating rewards and a great welcome bonus
Intro OfferIntro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match - only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year! There's no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
APR16.24% - 27.24% Variable APR
Intro Purchase APR0% for 15 months
Recommended Credit Good/Excellent
- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.
- Earn 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
Annual Fee$0
Intro Balance Transfer APR0% for 15 months
Balance Transfer APR16.24% - 27.24% Variable APR
Balance Transfer Fee 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*
Late Payment Fee None the first time you pay late. After that, up to $41.
Foreign Transaction Fees None
- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.
- Earn 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
Our Take
The Discover it® Cash Back* offers high rewards for bonus categories that change every three months.
While its 5% cash-back rate is higher than most credit cards without an annual fee, you'll only earn that rate on up to $1,500 in quarterly spending upon activation. That means you can earn a maximum of $75 in rewards before your cash-back rate drops to 1%. The Discover it Cash Back also has one of the best welcome bonuses on the market. Discover will essentially double the rewards you earn at the end of your first year with the card.
You can read all about it in our Discover it Cash Back review.
Earn rewards or eliminate credit card debt
Intro OfferN/A
APR18.49% - 28.49% (Variable)
Intro Purchase APRN/A
Recommended Credit Excellent, Good
- Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
Annual Fee$0
Intro Balance Transfer APR0% intro for 18 months on Balance Transfers
Balance Transfer APR18.49% - 28.49% (Variable)
Balance Transfer Fee There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. A balance transfer fee of 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies if completed after 4 months of account opening.
Late Payment Fee Up to $41
Foreign Transaction Fees 3%
Penalty APR Up to 29.99% (Variable)
- Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
Our Take
The Double Cash Card is a great choice if you need to improve your credit by paying down existing credit card debt with a balance transfer or if you're looking for consistent rewards. While it doesn't offer many additional card perks like shopping protections, it does offer cardholders a relatively generous amount of time to pay down a transferred balance.
You can find all the details in our Citi Double Cash Card review.
Intro Offer$200 bonus after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening.
APR18.99% - 28.99% (Variable)
Intro Purchase APR 0% intro APR Intro APR on purchases for the first 15 billing cycles.
Recommended Credit Excellent/Good Credit
- 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in eligible net purchases each quarter on the combined two categories you choose.
- 5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Center.
- 2% cash back on one everyday category, like Gas Stations/EV Charging Stations, Grocery Stores or Restaurants.
- 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
Annual Fee$0
Intro Balance Transfer APR0% intro APR Intro APR on balance transfers for the first 15 billing cycles.
Balance Transfer APR18.99% - 28.99% (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
- 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in eligible net purchases each quarter on the combined two categories you choose.
- 5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Center.
- 2% cash back on one everyday category, like Gas Stations/EV Charging Stations, Grocery Stores or Restaurants.
- 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
Our Take
With the U.S. Bank Cash+, you'll earn the most rewards in the two eligible categories you spend the most in each month, plus unlimited rewards for either grocery store, gas station or restaurant spending. Some of the eligible top-spend categories are fast food, home utilities, department stores, cell phone service, electronic stores and TV, internet and streaming.
While 5% is a high rewards rate, it's hampered by its spending limit. Your 5% rewards will fall to 1% after $2,000 in spending each quarter. An unlimited flat-rate rewards card could earn more rewards given enough spending, considering you could use it for all of your purchases.
What qualifies as "good" credit?
There are two prominent credit scoring models, FICO score and VantageScore. Each has different designations for the various credit levels. Take a look:
Credit score ranges
FICO | VantageScore |
---|---|
Poor: 300 to 579 | Very Poor: 300 to 499 |
Fair: 580 to 669 | Poor: 500 to 600 |
Good: 670 to 739 | Fair: 601 to 660 |
Very good: 740 to 799 | Good: 661 to 780 |
Exceptional: 800 to 850 | Excellent: 781 to 850 |
In order to qualify for good credit, your credit scores need to be at least 670 for FICO and 661 for VantageScore.
Benefits of a good credit card
Credit cards that require higher credit generally offer higher reward rates, larger welcome bonuses and more benefits. Your credit score tells lenders how good you are at managing debt, so typically the better your score, the better features the lender will entice you with.
Annual fees -- are they worth it?
Annual fees typically translate to better card features. While no-annual-fee cards are still a good choice, if you're looking for a travel credit card with annual statement credits or a rewards card with a larger welcome bonus, you'll usually have to pay an annual fee.
How to choose a credit card for good credit
Make sure the card matches your budget. If it has an annual fee, be sure that you can generate enough rewards through normal spending to cover it and then some. If it offers a welcome bonus, try to reach it with your typical spending. Don't get enticed into spending on unnecessary purchases to reach it.
For travel cards, make sure you can take advantage of any benefits it offers, whether that be annual statement credits or loyalty programs with hotel or airline brands.
FAQs
What's the difference between good and fair credit?
A fair FICO credit score is 580 to 669 while good credit is 670 to 739. To qualify as fair credit with VantageScore, you'll need to be 601 to 660. For good credit, it's 661 to 780.
How do I go from good to excellent credit?
Excellent credit is the most difficult to reach. Avoid missing a payment, properly manage your credit utilization, keep an eye on your credit reports for any discrepancies and use your credit card responsibly to have the best chance of reaching excellent credit.
How long does it take to build good credit?
Depending on your habits, it could take three to six months to reach good credit from scratch.