The Best Credit Cards for Good and Excellent Credit Scores [2021]

BY 

Christine Krzyszton

- UPDATED: January 5, 2021

1. Credit Cards  / 
2. Strategies & Guides

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Congratulations! Having good or excellent credit means you’ve managed your credit well, and have earned the privilege of being able to select from the best credit cards available.

The world of enjoying premium travel benefits, paying for your trip with miles or points, earning cash-back on your purchases, and knowing you have coverage when things go wrong is great to experience.

However, you probably didn’t reach a high credit rating without having a few premium cards already, so you’ll want to select any new credit cards wisely. Consider factors such as Chase’s 5/24 Rule, avoiding duplication of benefits, and the expense of high multiple annual fees not offsetting the benefits received.

Let’s take a look and compare some of the best credit cards for those who have achieved a good to excellent credit score, review the benefits and drawbacks of each card, and determine which cards are worth adding to your credit card portfolio.

What is Good to Excellent Credit?

Credit scores are used by lenders to determine whether to grant you credit, and the terms under which they’ll extend that credit. Having a credit score that is good to excellent will get you the best terms, including lowest interest rates, lowest down payment, and lowest fees.

The exact numbers for a good to excellent credit score vary. Credit reporting agency Experian, for example, defines a good credit score as one that is 700 or better and an excellent credit score as 800 or better. Equifax, another of the three credit reporting agencies, describes a good credit score as being between 700 and 750 and an excellent score 750 or above.

VantageScore, a credit scoring model developed by the three credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Transunion, and Experian), concurs that a good credit score is one that is at least 700 to 749 and an excellent score is one that is 750-850.

Bottom Line: If your credit score is between 700 and 850, you fall into the good to excellent credit range. If your score is still low, you might need to look into getting a credit card for bad credit to start boosting your score.

For information on monitoring your credit score, see our article “The Best Ways to Monitor Your Credit Score & Credit Report“.

The Best Premium Credit Cards for Travelers with Good to Excellent Credit

Best Rewards Credit Card For Good to Excellent Credit	Benefits	Drawbacks
New Welcome Offer The Platinum Card® from American Express Apply Now (at Amex's secure site)	Earn 60,000 75,000 Membership Rewards® points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases in your first 6 months. Earn 10X Membership Rewards® points on eligible purchases, in your first 6 months, on your new Card at U.S. Gas Stations and U.S. Supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases). Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel. Starting January 1, 2021, earn 5X points on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com. Up to $200 Uber Savings Annually. Up to $200 Airline Fee Credit.	Airline fee credit must be used on one pre-selected airline Annual Fee: $550 Terms Apply. For rates and fees of Amex Platinum Card, click here.

If you’re a frequent traveler with significant travel spending, having a premium travel credit card is essential for earning maximum travel rewards, getting the best travel perks, and being able to redeem those points for the most value flexibly.

Any of these premium travel credit cards can deliver to varying degrees in all cases, so if you can offset a hefty annual fee with the value you receive, select the card that matches up best with your specific travel preferences and spending habits.

All of these credit cards have no foreign transaction fees.

Bottom Line: Premium travel credit cards deliver significant travel benefits, but they often come with a high annual fee. If you think a card may have value for you, try the card for a year, then evaluate whether you received enough value to justify keeping the card and paying the renewal annual fee. 

The Best Overall Rewards-Earning Credit Cards for Good to Excellent Credit

Best Rewards Credit Card For Good to Excellent Credit	Benefits	Drawbacks
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Apply Now (at Chase's secure site)	Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 within the first 3 months Earn 2x points on dining at restaurants including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out and travel. Earn 1x on all other purchases	Annual Fee: $95
Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card Learn More (at our partner's secure site)	Earn 20,000 mile sign up bonus (worth $200) once you spend $1,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening. Earn 1.25x Miles on every purchase Redeem points for travel as a statement credit	Only good for the frequent traveler Cannot transfer miles to partners
Citi Premier℠ Card Learn More (at our partner's secure site)	Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months. Earn 3x at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel, and hotels; plus, 1x on all other purchases.	$95 Annual Fee

The Capital One® Venture® Rewards Card and the Barclays Arrival® Premier Card each earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, not just specific categories. If your purchases don’t fall into the bonus categories offered by other cards, the simple earning structure on either of these cards might serve you well.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns flexible Chase Ultimate Rewards, which are worth 25% more when redeemed through the travel portal, you can transfer points to airline or hotel partners. If your spending is heavy on travel, you can also fare well with the Citi Premier℠ Credit Card.

Bottom Line: This collection of rewards-earning credit cards focuses on earning and redeeming rewards versus travel perks and benefits. If you travel frequently, you may receive enough value to justify paying the higher annual fee on a premium travel credit card that includes benefits such as lounge access, priority boarding, free checked bags, and airline credits, plus other luxury travel perks. 

The Best Business Credit Cards for Good to Excellent Credit

Best Business Credit Card For Good to Excellent Credit	Benefits	Drawbacks
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card Apply Now (at Chase's secure site)	Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year; plus, earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases—with no limit to the amount you can earn 25% more value when redeeming points through Ultimate Rewards® travel Annual Fee: $95	Not the best card for businesses who spend significantly on office supplies, dining, or gas
New Offer Ink Business Cash® Credit Card Apply Now (at Chase's secure site)	Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Earn 5% cash-back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year Earn 2% cash-back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases, then a variable APR of 13.24% - 19.24% Annual Fee: $0	Larger businesses may have bonus category expenses that exceed maximum spending limits Limited earnings for travel expenses
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express Apply Now (at Amex's secure site)	Earn 2X points on the first $50,000 spent annually on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. Earn 1x thereafter. 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months, then a variable rate, 13.24% - 19.24%. Annual Fee: $0 For rates and fees of The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, please click here.	No additional bonus business expense categories

If your business has high travel expenses, you’ll want to select the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card over the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card, as the latter earns only 1% cash-back on travel expenses, while the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card earns 3 points per dollar spent in this category.

If the majority of your business expenses do not fall into the bonus categories of Chase’s business credit cards, earning 2 points per dollar spent on all purchases (on up to $50,000 annually) with the Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express might be an appropriate choice, especially since it doesn’t have an annual fee.

Another no annual fee card that delivers solid cash back for your business is the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card. No need to keep track of bonus categories or quarterly promotions as the card earns 1.5% cash back on every purchase you make resulting in real dollars you can invest directly back into your business.

Bottom Line: Selecting the right business credit card to maximize earnings requires making sure your most significant business expenses match up with the bonus spending categories of the card you’re considering — and the rewards and benefits you receive offset any annual fees.

The Best Domestic Airline Credit Cards for Good to Excellent Credit

Best Airline Credit Card for Good to Excellent Credit	Benefits	Drawbacks
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard® Learn More (at our partner's secure site)	2 miles earned/dollar spent on American Airlines, 1 mile/dollar all other purchases Free checked bag on domestic American Airlines flights + for 8 companions Priority boarding/screening for cardholder Admiral’s Club lounge membership for cardholder and authorized users (10) 25% off in-flight food/beverage	$450 Annual fee Maximum card benefits only for American Airlines frequent fliers.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Apply Now (at Amex's secure site)	2 miles/dollar spent on Delta, 1 mile/dollar all other purchases Free Delta Sky Club access for cardholder Earn elite qualifying miles at spending thresholds Annual companion certificate Priority boarding & free checked bag on Delta flights In-flight discount on food/beverage Terms Apply	Annual Fee: $450 ($550 if application is received on or after 1/30/2020). Maximum card benefits only for Delta frequent fliers. For rate and fees of the Delta Reserve Card, click here.
Chase UnitedSM MileagePlus® Club Card	2 miles/dollar spent on United, 1.5 miles/dollar all other purchases UnitedSM Club lounge access 1st/2nd checked bag for free Priority check in, screening, and boarding Hyatt/Hertz status	$450 Annual fee Maximum card benefits only for United frequent fliers.
Bank of America Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® Credit Card	3 miles/dollar spent on Alaska Airlines, 1 mile/dollar all other purchases Redeem miles for flights on Alaska Airlines and partners Free checked bag for cardholder +6 $99 annual companion fare	$450 Annual fee Maximum card benefits only for Alaskan Airlines frequent fliers.

None of these cards charge a foreign transaction fee.

Bottom Line: If you travel frequently and value lounge access, you will benefit greatly from having one of the premium airline-branded credit cards that charge a $450 annual fee and offer airline lounge access. The annual fee you pay for any of these premium cards will be less than a 1-year lounge membership in either the Delta Sky Club, American Airlines Admirals Club, or the United Club. The benefit of free checked bags also provides savings that can offset the annual fee. 

The Best Hotel Rewards Credit Cards for Good to Excellent Credit

Best Hotel Credit Card for Good to Excellent Credit	Benefits
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card Apply Now (at Chase's secure site)	Earn 75,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. A Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary. Automatic Silver Elite Status each account anniversary year. Path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each account year. Earn 6X per $1 spent at over 7,000 participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels and earn 2x on all other purchases. Annual Fee: $95
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card Apply Now (at Amex's secure site)	Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $4,000 on eligible purchases within your first 3 months of card membership Enjoy a free Weekend Night Reward within your first year and every year after renewal. Earn 14x Hilton Honors Bonus Points on eligible purchases at participating hotels or resorts within the Hilton Portfolio. Earn 7x Hilton Honors Bonus Points on eligible purchases: on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, on car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies & at U.S. restaurants. Earn 3x Hilton Honors Bonus Points on all other purchases Annual Fee: $450 Terms Apply For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, please click here.
World of Hyatt Credit Card Apply Now (at Chase's secure site)	Earn 25,000 Bonus Points after $3,000 in purchases within 3 months of account opening. Plus, earn an additional 25,000 Bonus Points after $6,000 total in purchases within 6 months of account opening. 9 points total for Hyatt stays. 4 Bonus Points per $1 spent with Hyatt, including participating restaurants and Exhale locations. PLUS, 5 Base Points per eligible $1 spent you can earn as a World of Hyatt member Annual Fee: $95
IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card Apply Now (at Chase's secure site)	Earn 140,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening Earn up to 25 points total per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel Earn 2x points on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants; then 1 point per $1 on all other purchases. Annual Fee: $89

If you frequently stay with any one hotel brand, you’ll realize co-branded credit cards typically come with a long list of benefits including free nights, elite status, and in some cases, lounge access. There’s a hotel credit card that will fit your hotel stay preferences and elevate your experience.

That said, we’re not comparing apples to apples here, as there are some premium cards on this list with substantial benefits and equally hefty annual fees.

Before applying for Chase credit cards, be sure to check how the Chase 5/24 rule affects each card.

Bottom Line: Select the perfect hotel loyalty credit cards based first on the brand you stay frequently and then on whether the benefits you receive offset the annual fee. 

The Best No Annual Fee Credit Cards for Good to Excellent Credit

Best No Annual Fee Credit Card for Good to Excellent Credit	Benefits	Drawbacks
Chase Freedom Unlimited® Learn More (at Chase's secure site)	Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months. Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases. After that, a variable APR of 14.99% - 23.74% applies. 3% intro balance transfer fee when you transfer a balance during the first 60 days with a minimum of $5. Annual Fee: $0	3% foreign transaction fee
Hilton Honors American Express Card Apply Now (at Amex's secure site)	Earn 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $1,000 within your first 3 months after approval. 7X points on qualifying purchases with hotels from the Hilton portfolio. Annual Fee: $0 For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Card, please click here.	Hilton Honors points offer limited redemption options

There are plenty of no annual fee credit cards to choose from; we’ve just selected a few.

Bottom Line: If your credit card portfolio includes several cards with annual fees and you’re trying to reduce these costs, you may want to find similar cards that do not charge annual fees. For example, the Hilton Honors Surpass® Card charges an annual fee, while the Hilton Honors® Credit Card does not charge an annual fee. There may be a trade-off in benefits that you’ll have to evaluate in the process, but you could save a lot on annual fees. 

The Best Quarterly Bonus Category Cards for Good to Excellent Credit

Best Quarterly Bonus Credit Card for Good to Excellent Credit	Benefits	Drawbacks
Chase Freedom® Credit Card Learn More (at Chase's secure site)	Earn 5% cash back on quarterly bonus category purchases (up to $1500 in purchases) Points can be transferred to premium Chase Ultimate Rewards-earning credit cards for greater redemption value 0% APR purchases/balance transfers 15 months No annual fee.	3% Foreign transaction fee Quarterly registration required to earn 5% cash back
Discover It® and Discover It® Cash Back	5% Cash back on quarterly bonus category purchases (up to $1500 purchases) Cash back matched at first card anniversary No foreign transaction fees. No annual fee	No travel perks Not as widely accepted as Visa, MasterCard, American Express Not as valuable the second year without the double cash back Quarterly registration required for 5% cash back

The Chase Freedom earns valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards Points with rotating bonus categories. You can transfer these points to premium Chase cards such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card, where they are worth 50% more when redeemed for travel on the Ultimate Rewards travel center.

Discover It® and Discover It® Cash Back Match cards earn 5% cash-back on quarterly bonus category purchases, and all cash-back is doubled on your first year card anniversary, making these cards good savings tools to fund an annual vacation at the end of your first year as a new cardholder.

Bottom Line: Credit cards with quarterly bonus earnings limit the amount you can earn annually, but there may be value beyond the quarterly earnings, such as additional redemption options, 0% APR periods, or other perks and benefits. 

The Best Cash-Back Cards for Good to Excellent Credit

Best Cash Back Credit Card for Good to Excellent Credit	Benefits	Drawbacks
Blue Cash Everyday® from American Express Apply Now (at Amex's secure site)	Earn 20% back on purchases at Amazon.com on the Card in the first 6 months, up to $200 back. Plus, earn $100 back after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. 3% cash-back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%). Earn 2% cash-back at U.S. gas stations and select U.S. department stores. Earn 1% back on all other purchases. Low intro APR: 0% for 15 months on purchases from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 13.99% to 23.99%. Annual fee: $0 Terms Apply. For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday, please click here.	2.7% foreign transaction fee 3% at U.S. supermarket cash-back is on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then earn 1%
Discover It®	0% APR for 18 month on balance transfers, 6 months for purchases 5% Cash back on quarterly category purchases Cash back matched at first card anniversary No annual fee	No travel perks Not as widely accepted as Visa, MasterCard, American Express Not as valuable the second year without the double cash back

If you want to transfer high-interest credit card balances, the Discover It® may be a good choice, with its 0% APR for 18 months balance transfer option. If you can max out earning 5% cash-back on quarterly category purchases and have all your cash-back doubled at the first card anniversary, you can use those funds to help repay the balance transfer amount before the 0% APR period expires.

If you have significant everyday spending for groceries, gas and department stores, the Blue Cash Everyday® by American Express is a good choice with 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%).

Bottom Line: Cash-back is the most flexible reward you can earn, so you can’t go wrong having a cash-back card in your wallet. For the best possible earning potential, it is critical to select a card that closely matches your spending habits. 

Final Thoughts

Although this may seem like an exhaustive list, this is only a sample collection of credit cards we consider best for good to excellent credit. Depending on the category of card you’re looking for, you’ll find dozens, if not hundreds, of other choices.

We’ve abbreviated some of the benefit summaries for condensed content and easier comparisons, so you should review cardholder agreements for each card before applying.

The information regarding the Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card, Citi Premier℠ Card, Chase United^SM MileagePlus® Club Card, Bank of America Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® Credit Card, Chase Freedom Unlimited®, Chase Freedom®, Discover It®, Discover It® Cash Back, and Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. 

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, click here.
For rate and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday® from American Express, click here.